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KAY’S DESTROYED BY FIRE @TheJewishWeekly 013 £1.50

14 June 2017/ 20 SIVAN 5777

BY JAMES MARLOW

A dog named Daisy raised the alarm last Sunday morning on Golders Green Road and probably saved the lives of at least two people. But sadly Daisy, a cross between a poodle and a cavalier, was overwhelmed with smoke inhalation and died in the flat.

Events unfolded quickly when smoke was spotted by a passerby who entered the newspaper store next door to Kay’s kosher grocery store after 7 a.m. Within a few minutes fire services arrived as families in flats above were hanging their children out of windows, screaming for help.

Alex Gibson and his pregnant wife Charlotte had been woken earlier by Daisy, who had been barking intensely. The flat above Kays was filled with black smoke as panic set in and the dog continued to bark. Mr Gibson smashed a window just before fire engines arrived but then saw they were able to get out through the rear stairs. In the confusion the dog ran back into the flat and hid behind some furniture.

At that point a fireman raced up a ladder to take toddlers to safety from the window, but he himself was eventually overcome with

smoke as he was not wearing a mask and became one of the casualties taken to hospital.

Screams were heard from other flats close by as the black smoke thickened, and Alex was unable to return to locate his mother’s dog.

Sandra Carney from Bell Lane in Hendon told The Jewish Weekly how her son and daughter-in-law asked their mother if her dog could stay over with them that night. “In the end, it was Daisy that saved their lives because she woke them up by barking.”

Mrs Carney added, “If it wasn’t for her I could have been burying my son and his pregnant wife – she saved my children’s lives.” She said that she was so thankful the dog stayed over that night.

However Sandra also spoke about her sadness about how their 3-year-old dog, who was like a member of the family, had died.

“The firemen found her lifeless body and it was so sad.”

Alex and his wife were placed in the flat by the council for two months whilst a more permanent home could be found, “but they lost everything except the night clothes they

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THE JEWISH WEEKLY

May vows to stay on in June and beyond

BY JAMES MARLOW

A defiant Theresa May clings to power by turning to the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in Northern Ireland to shore up

her lost Tory majority. What began as a routine general election to increase a Conservative majority turned into a miscalculation of the Labour machine, which convinced the under-25 voters to get to the polling stations in droves.

Jeremy Corbyn promised the electorate nationalisation of companies, a revamped NHS, more police officers on the streets,

Theresa May

No leadership

BY ERIC MOONMAN If the snap election hardly justified all the fuss about “strengthening” the Prime Minister, then the actual result shed hardly any light on what our politicians might do next.

One thing is certain. None of the three party leaders appeared able to offer any form of purpose and direction for the nation. Theresa May ran a miserable campaign, which relied far too heavily on Brexit (now admitted by her). However, her limited communication skills never excited or influenced the wider community. Corbyn appeared to enjoy his open air tours. He promised much and offered handouts - cost was no object. Interestingly he was kept in the shadows by troubled Labour candidates. In many areas both his message and photograph were excluded from election literature. Even with several Jewish Labour candidates Israel was a no-go area for Corbyn.

Professor Eric Moonman

As for the LibDems, Tim Farron had some relevant policies but he was simply ignored.

And now another general election cannot be too far away but unlikely before 2018. Thus an image of government will have to prevail whilst hoping that no major security issue or threat occurs, nor a visit from US president Trump.

free university education, a minimum wage of £10 per hour, the abolition of zero hours contracts and a distribution of the wealth.

So the Communists, Marxists and Socialists all returned to Labour in large numbers, and astonishingly the party increased their majorities in seats across the country with policies that appealed to so many, but who are more than happy to bankrupt the country.

“Remarkable” and “worrisome” is how the Jewish community reacted to the rise of Jeremy Corbyn and old Labour. Non-stop talk was heard in Jewish shops, shuls and schools condemning the Conservative party for what they said was a badly ran campaign that let in

Op-Ed

BY RABBI SCHOCHET For the past several weeks I had been posting on Facebook and tweeting about the general election. “Typical North American rabbi,” is the natural response.

“They all get heated up over politics.” To be sure, I’d like to make something abundantly clear for the record. As a rabbi I rarely speak about politics from the pulpit or indeed talk about it in any other forum. Much as it is all too commonplace in the States, I fundamentally disagree with doing so. For one, I will invariably alienate those who hold an opposing view – and for some people, politics rates right up there with religion. For another, I don’t vote in the UK elections – I don’t even have a British passport (yes I know, I know – save it).

But in this particular instance I spoke out, not because of politics but because of my future as a Jew in this country.

Rarely if ever has there been a scenario where the choice was between one of democracy and one of chaos. Mr Corbyn’s track record as a Hamas sympathiser, as an IRA supporter, as an apparent terrorist enabler (weeks before the 7/7 bombings he ranted about “terror hysteria” and then apparently said the Islamist murderers were “denied hope and opportunity”) and as someone whom it is alleged by those close to him, has a problem with Jews – the choice was clear: A future of stability and security or one of increased anti-Semitism – which

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Corbyn’s political rise to power through the back door.

The concern now is that if another general election is held soon, Labour under Mr Corbyn, who once described Hamas and Hezbollah as “friends,” could win an overall majority in the House of Commons, and Corbyn could become the next prime minister.

The night began with shocking exit polls for the Conservatives, putting them on 314 seats with labour on 266. In the end the Tories managed to clock up their score to 318 with Labour falling to 262.

Over in the borough of Barnet in northwest London it was anything but a routine election.

At around 3am last Friday

morning, it looked like all three of its constituencies would turn from Conservative held to Labour gains, which left Tory team members absolutely baffled as to what was happening.

In the end Mike Freer retained Finchley & Golders Green, which is home to the largest Jewish constituency in the country. Mathew Offord held on to Hendon, which is the second largest Jewish constituency, and the former Northern Ireland minister, Theresa Villiers, scraped in with just a 353 majority after her constituency, Chipping Barnet, was once seen as a safe Conservative seat.

is already so manifest in his party – and unruliness.

I remain especially perturbed by the fact that two Jews stood for Labour in staunchly Jewish districts. I challenged one, Mike Katz, when chairing a hustings evening several weeks ago. His reply was, “I can only effect change from the inside.”

The thinking defies logic. When Corbyn’s own party voted overwhelmingly no confidence in him, it forced a leadership election which he won. How much less likely was anyone going to “effect change” if he is voted in as prime minister. I maintain for each vote those two took for Labour they contributed to the ever-increasing general hate in the UK, and anti-Semitism in particular.

I’d like to think Labour lost because Corbyn is at the helm and that he will never see power.

But we came precariously close. If we should find ourselves here again, sooner than we expect, then it is incumbent upon all to do the necessary. It will make all the difference to you as a Jew, to you as a citizen who believes in democracy, and to keeping the “Great” in Britain.

Rabbi Schochet Contact details:

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14 JUNE 2017

NEWS 3

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Mayor of London praises work of Jewish Care Jewish Care were delighted to announce that they raised just over £5 million from their annual dinner on Monday evening. The event was held at The Grosvenor House Hotel in Mayfair, and the guest speaker was the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.

Addressing over 1,000 people at Jewish Care’s fundraising dinner, the mayor pledged to do all he can to create new opportunities for the Jewish community and continue in his fight to stamp out anti-Semitism in the capital.

He told the packed audience that

Hyman Pittal shows Mayor of London Sadiq Khan his medals

“I’m working hard to tackle issues that affect the Jewish community in particular, and a key priority for me is tackling the rise in anti-Semitism. It’s simply not acceptable in London in 2017 - and I’m determined to stamp it out. As long as I’m mayor, we will not rest until we win this battle.

“Jewish Care is an incredible charity and one that I’m proud to support. I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Jewish Care’s Wohl Campus in Golders Green and have seen first-hand the great work the charity does. What’s easy to see is that the values that are the basis of Jewish Care’s work are the values that are rooted in your religion. As a community, you care for one another, you look out for each other – something that’s an inspiration to us all.”

The mayor stressed the importance he places on supporting the Jewish community. He said: “I’m working hard to create new opportunities for your communities - as I do for all Londoners.”

The mayor was welcomed into the room by Lord Levy, Jewish Care’s president, who commented, “We are honoured and delight-

ed that you are here with us this evening. We are a small and very proud community, and being part of the fabric of London and our country is very special and meaningful to us. And to know that our mayor of London is a true friend to our community is very important to each and every one of us.”

Before delivering his speech the mayor spent time talking to the Jewish Care clients, including David, Sid and Hyman, whose stories appeared in a powerful film shown during the event.

Hyman Pittal, aged 95 years old, proudly showed off his war medals to the mayor. They talked about his prized French Légion d’honneur medal, awarded by the French government to D-Day veterans as a way of honouring and thanking those who risked their lives to secure France’s liberation during the Second World War. Hyman, joined by his son David and daughter Hilary, told the mayor how Jewish Care have kept the family together after Hyman suffered a huge stroke. He could no longer provide the care and support his wife of 71 years, Rosalind, required. Rosalind moved into

Jewish Care’s Lady Sarah Cohen ing our revenue fundraising target House. Three weeks later Hyman of £15m for the year ahead. I am joined her. Hyman commented: also delighted to announce that “Jewish Care kept my wife and we have made significant progress me together when we both needed with securing commitments of each other and provide us with the £36m for our next capital developcare and support we need.” ment project in Stanmore, leaving The evening was brought to us with £9m more to raise to meet a close by award-winning artist the £45m build cost.”

Craig David, who donated his time Nicola Loftus, Chair of the to perform at the event. The South- Campaign Dinner and Jewish Care ampton-born star made a visit to Trustee, said, “It was a special and a Jewish Care home the week be- incredibly moving evening. At fore the dinner to see first-hand the a time when social care has been impact the organisation has on the under the political spotlight, we at lives of individuals. He comment- Jewish Care are proud of what our ed: “Visiting a Jewish Care home community has created on behalf had a very special meaning for me of the elderly and vulnerable in our as my manager of 17 years and community.” close friend Colin Lester’s mother is a resident at Otto Schiff Care Home in Golders Green. The dedication and care I witnessed were incredible, as helping to restore elderly and sometimes sick people’s dignity is a difficult task. This is an amazing environment.”

After the event Chairman Steven Lewis proudly announced the amount of money raised. “Thanks to the generosity of our guests, last Jewish Care president Lord Levy with night we have raised over £5m. the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and This is a great start towards meet- Chairman Steven Lewis

Devastating fire causes havoc The night of the fire CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 were wearing at the time.”

A GoFundMe online page was set up, and Sandra Carney said that she was overwhelmed with people who keep bringing so many items around to her house in Hendon.

“I am so grateful to the Jewish community who have brought so many items – clothes,

The aftermath of the fire

even clothes for the unborn baby not due until November – please say thank you to them from me.”

As the couple were taken to Daisy the heroine hospital more fire engines arrived on the scene. Flames were billowing out from the back of the store, and a house that was used as their storeroom was almost completely engulfed by fire.

Golders Green Road and all its side streets from the North Circular Road to Highfield Avenue were completely shut down to vehicles and pedestrians as the fire raged for an entire day. At one time there were 32 fire trucks seen at the scene, along with 14 ambulances, Hatzalah volunteers, a helicopter above and other emergency vehicles.

The owners of Kay’s were on the scene for several hours, liaising with police and fire officials, but did not wish to be quoted.

Those who lived in the flats above the Kay’s store, which has four shop fronts, were mostly students, young people and an elderly disabled person, all of whom lost much of their property.

BY ISAAC SHERMAN It seems almost surreal as I walk around the pitch-black Golders Green streets surrounding Kay’s superstore late on Sunday evening. 260 properties are without power after the fire, which is still burning after 11pm, wrecked the entire building. The area looks like something out of a war zone. No street or house lights are on, and the flashing blue police and fire engine lights half blind me as I walk around.

Many couples are walking around, and children are seen peering out of upstairs windows with their green glow sticks, given to them by a national power grid welfare officer, with the flicker of candlelight casting shadows behind them.

I meet one local resident, Zevi Tessler, from Highfield Gardens. He show me his generator, plugged into his car, which was providing power to his entire house. Not everyone was as fotunate, with some people having to store meat in their friends freezers and children going to stay elsewhere as they were afraid of the dark.

One Hatzola member who wished to remain anonymous tells me how he was one of the first on the scene at 7.50 in the morning. He spent the day ferrying people to hospital, including a 10-year-old child.

I am immensely proud of how the local Jewish people have helped out so much.

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One woman was seen handing out tea and coffee, whilst a collection for the five families who lost all their processions in the fire was so full that the organiser Sara Benbassat had to tell people to not bring anymore until further notice.

Slice owner Avi Schwartz was seen handing out free pizza to the emergency services. He humbly told me that “It was a pleasure to help and I’m sure anyone would have done the same.”

As I end my midnight stroll, I find out from the welfare officer, Sunny, how Jews best respond in a crisis. With a smile, he tells me that he offered free food all day to local residents, but “all they have used us for is to charge their phones in my van!”

Sunny the welfare officer handing out glow sticks

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THE JEWISH WEEKLY

Swastika painted on Zac Goldsmith’s placard in Richmond

BY JAMES MARLOW Police opened an investigation into Conservative Party election material being spray-painted with the Nazi symbol just before polling day last Thursday.

The election placard was seen outside a house in the Richmond Park constituency where Zac Goldsmith was representing the Conservatives.

Mr Goldsmith resigned from the Tories after their decision to expand Heathrow airport, which he bitterly opposed. He stood as an independent in a bi-election last year but, in a dramatic result,

lost to Sarah Olney from the Liberal Democrats.

The local Conservatives forgave him and he was allowed to stand again, this time narrowly winning back the seat with just 24 votes.

Zac Goldsmith, whose grandfather was Jewish and in fact built the King David hotel in Jerusalem, was targeted as a “Jew” during the London Mayor election, in which he lost to Sadiq Khan.

Goldsmith tweeted last week: “Lots of you have emailed me about defaced posters in the last few days. We will make sure to

replace all of them. You know you’ve lost the argument if you have to resort to stuff like this.”

Nazi swastikas were also daubed on the posters of Conservative candidate Sheryl Murray, who stood for re-election in Cornwall South East and won with a majority of more than 15,000.

Ms Murray said she was “sickened by the daubing of swastikas” and reported it to Devon and Cornwall police, who confirmed the incident was reported as criminal damage.

False Beliefs

May’s earrings depict her friendship with Israel

The real “disaster” of the recent election wasn’t the loss of a Conservative 20-point lead, it was the belief that such a lead existed.

In the 2015 election, the Tories were expected to fall short of a majority, but they surprised everyone by gaining a majority unlike in 2010. In fact, it is over a generation since the only concern at election time was the size of the Conservative majority.

Just what have the Tories done to deserve such trust from the electorate?

In truth, people were not looking at the Conservatives to make that judgement, they were looking at Labour. Just as the elections were called, the Labour party looked an incoherent, incohesive, self-destructing mess. Against this pre-electoral illusion, the Tories looked invincible. The media ignored Tory weakness and Labour strength and plugged an unassailable lead. Just like Edward Smith, captain of the Titanic, Theresa May bought into the hype and considered the non-existent lead indestructible, and Groupthink tainted the entire process. Theresa May called an election based on a myth.

In the right corner, we had the most over-confident, arrogant, self-destructive political campaign of modern times. The Tory party should have been in a fight for every seat; instead they acted as if they were untouchable.

Labours “longest ever suicide note” in 1983 was beaten by the Conservatives in 2017 by almost

A large banner portraying Theresa May wearing a Star of David earring alongside a banner of Jeremy Corbyn was spotted in Bristol in the South West of the country just before last Thursday’s election.

The many negative sentences next to her picture included the word “Balfour” in an apparent reference to the famous Lord Balfour letter written to Lord Rothschild in November 1917. . In contrast, the words next to Corbyn’s picture were from the Labour manifesto. While positive and negative words next to a politician’s name or face are acceptable electioneering in a democratic society, some local Jewish residents called the blue Magen David earing and the word “Balfour” anti-Semitic.

Although the banner was removed just before last Thursday’s

BY DAVID COLLIER

David Collier

8000 unnecessary and increasingly depressing words. Even a discussion about fox hunting made it onto the TV screens.

In the left corner was Corbyn with hundreds of thousands of helpers, supported by the experienced political machinery of the radical left. These people pull PR stunts out of hats for fun. Hundreds of thousands have joined the party specifically because they believe in the promises and are willing to fight for and defend him. They campaign yearround on a whole labyrinth of social issues.

Social Media has increased their influence and reach exponentially. They base their strategy on intersectionality, and they have infiltrated every campus, every union and every social cause. There is absolutely nothing like this in the Tory party.

Instead, Mrs May felt secure enough to attack parts of her core support. This meant Corbyn was able to successfully attack the Tories, pulling off clever stunts as he went. Look at the TV debate: a single trick that made the Tory party look hopeless, scared, ineffective and lost.

vote, the local Bristol Post traced down the organisers and asked them if it was meant to be anti-Semitic.

Ms Nina Masterson denied the accusation and said the banner was simply emphasising the government’s relationship with Israel.

“It is a critique of Theresa May’s government’s foreign policy, rather than against religion,” she said, adding, “I’m definitely not an anti-Semite. I have Jewish friends, and my half brother and sister are Jewish.”

The anti-Semitic banner PHOTO CREDIT: JENNIE BANKS / BRISTOL POST

Calculation says your vote makes the difference

If between 11 to 25 people, voted Conservative instead of Labour or SNP in key marginal seats, the Tories could have a working majority as Sinn Fein who won 7 do not take their seats in the House and the speaker is impartial.

Let’s do the maths: The Conservatives could have taken • Kensington (margin 20) if 11 voters had switched from Labour • Perth and North Perthshire (margin 21) if 11 voters had

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

switched from the SNP • Dudley North (margin 22) if 12 voters had switched from Labour • Newcastle Under Lyme (margin 30) if 16 voters had switched from Labour • Crewe and Nantwich (margin 48) if 25 voters had switched from Labour In the end, the Conservatives won 318 seats while Labour won 262 and with a House of 650 MP’s, one needs 326 to obtain the overall majority. However, if you take

away the Sinn Fein seats and the Speakers seat, you are left with 318, which is exactly what the Conservatives won.

Of course, this rides on the fact that all 318 Conservative MPs will also be present and vote with the government, which can be risky.

So did you express your democratic right?

ANSWERS OR COMMENTS? Letters@TheJewishWeekly.com

6 NEWS

14 JUNE 2017

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

Media bosses censor migrant Muslims’ hate of Europe’s Jews

The Sunday Times reported that European broadcasters have been accused of censorship after refusing to air a documentary highlighting the rising anti-Semitism in Muslim migrant communities across Europe.

The film, Chosen and Excluded - The Hate for Jews in Europe, depicts the plight of Jewish people suffering violence at the hands of their Muslim neighbours in cities such as Paris.

The Franco-German broadcaster Arte and WDR, a German public broadcaster, shelved the film, saying it had failed to offer a “multi-perspective” approach and lacked reporting from European countries.

This was in defiance of experts who had been commissioned to evaluate the film and who praised it, calling for its release. Germany’s highest Jewish body also wanted it aired.

Joachim Schroeder, the co-director of the film, said television chiefs had told him the subject of anti-Semitism in migrant

communities was “very sensitive”, and the documentary had to be “balanced” in presenting the problems facing all minorities.

“If I make a documentary about Auschwitz, must I also report on the suffering of the families of SS guards?” Schroeder asked.

“French Jews think they have no future here”, he claimed, adding that TV bosses had believed the involvement of Ahmad Mansour, a German author of Palestinian origin, would ensure the film would “not be perceived as critical of Muslim communities.”

When the bosses saw the finished product, however, they changed their mind. “It seems we hit the nail on the head and it was too much for the TV management,” said Schroeder.

Michael Wolffsohn, a German historian who was part of the team evaluating the film, said: “This is by far the best, most intelligent and [most] historically profound film on this subject, which is sadly extremely topical.”

Götz Aly, another historian

Sears finally pulls “Free Palestine” clothing from its site

The famous American department store Sears which now have branches worldwide including in the UK was forced to pull a line of clothing from its website last week after it was criticised for promoting violence and terror.

The store chain known for its brand-name on appliances, tools, various home goods and much more had been selling “Free Palestine” clothing because they were “good sellers.”

Sears in New York said the goods were offered for sale by another company called Spreadshirt Collection, through Sears Marketplace which offers third-party sellers to sell their products through websites managed by Sears. The offensive clothing included tank tops, t-shirts and hoodies featuring a variety of pro-Palestinian

The offensive T-Shirt

messages and included a design of a clenched fist in the Palestinian flag colours and statements opposing the “Israeli occupation.”

The items were first spotted by a Jerusalem Post reader called Larry Sherman, who said, “It is unacceptable to de-legitimize the State of Israel.”

When questioned, a Sears’s representative told The Jerusalem Post that they were aware of the items and said “We will be removing the items soon. Please allow us 24 hours. Thank you for understanding,” he said last week.

According to the statement released the line was pulled from the site based on feedback the company received. But added, Sears felt it had been “unfairly singled out on this issue,” as similar items are available for purchase from other companies, such as Amazon and Walmart.

The Sears statement noted that the company serves “a broad base of customers around the country and around the world,” and that it has 200 employees in Israel. A search on the Sears Website this week did not locate any of the offensive clothing.

who has watched the film, accused the producers of outright “censorship”.

The film, which has been seen

by The Sunday Times, was shot in France, Germany, Hungary, Israel and the Palestinian territories.

It shows Jewish teenagers in a Paris suburb complaining they would have to join the exodus of French Jews leaving for Israel under pressure from Muslim neighbours.

“This is a Jewish quarter surrounded by banlieues. We’re trapped here - when we go out we risk our lives,” says a Jewish schoolboy from Sarcelles, a Paris district that saw violent attacks on Jews during pro-Palestinian riots in 2014.

The teenagers described frequent beatings.

“Everybody here wants to move,” says one. “Almost everyone from Sarcelles has moved to Netanya [in Israel]. If you go there it’s like Paris — there are only French [people] around.”

Their testimonies are followed

Anti-Israel Protesters at the march

by an interview with François Pupponi, the Socialist mayor of Sarcelles, who admits the gravity of the problem but calls for the young to persevere for the sake of France.

“French Jews think they have no future in France, that they have to leave the country to live in security and peace,” Pupponi said.

He claimed that pro-Palestinian groups had encouraged hatred of Israel.

“For a certain number of young people ‘Jew’ and ‘Israel’ are one and the same so if you’re against Israel, you’re also against

synagogues,” he said.

Leading French and German newspapers, such as Le Monde and Bild, have joined the campaign to push for a release of the film.

Josef Schuster, head of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, said it was “extraordinarily important” for it to be broadcast.

Alain Le Diberder, the director of Arte, said the film had been shelved for “honourable and good” reasons and it had focused too much on the Middle East rather than events in Europe.

Hezbollah and Hamas march in London The annual Al-Quds Day parade, where bigotry and hatred are once again permitted onto our streets just two weeks after the latest terrorist atrocity in London, returns to the capital on Sunday 18 June.

The venom and anti-Semitism heard at these rallies in an already divided society will do absolutely nothing to heal wounds after three terrorist attacks in the UK that killed at least 36 people and injured hundreds in just two and half months.

Each year these marches call for the complete destruction of Israel and all of its Jews, and in some cities across Europe you will even hear the chanting of this world event: “Death to the Jews.”

Last year in London some marchers were photographed carrying the outlawed Hezbollah and Hamas flags.

Despite requests from the Jewish and Christian communities for the march to be cancelled, the mayor of London and the Metropolitan police have refused to do so.

Mayor Sadiq Kahn believes that despite the fact that those marching for terrorist group Hezbollah could be a little provocative, there has never been violence at these marches in previous years.

The Zionist Federation has once again arranged a counter rally,

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which has the full support of the Board of Deputies, the Jewish Leadership Council, We Believe in Israel, Sussex Friends of Israel, North London Friends of Israel and the Israel Advocacy Movement.

The ZF said in a statement, “Together we can show those who propagate hatred and support for terrorism will not go unchallenged.”

The Jewish Weekly believes that at a time of heightened tension and with a security level at severe, it is simply a bad political decision to allow groups such as these to march with full police and London mayor backing.

It is important to stress that the organisers of the Al-Quds rally are not exercising their democratic right to free speech. Rather they are demanding death and destruction to those who live in Israel. That is

The Hezbollah flag

nine million citizens, of which almost two million are Arabs.

Mayor Khan spoke about curbing terrorism after the recent atrocities in London and Manchester.

But allowing this rally to go ahead at this time suggests he simply does not understand the discourse and nature of the problem.

The Zionist Federation will hold their rally on Sunday between 3pm to 5.30pm and later in the week will post the exact location on their Facebook page which can be found at www.facebook.com/zionistfed/.

8 ISRAEL NEWS

NEWS IN ISRAEL BY JAMES J. MARLOW

“All I did at the UN was tell the truth” The three-day visit to Israel last week by US Ambassador to the U Nikki Haley, is still causing excitement throughout the political corridors. Over the years, royalty, heads of state and government, high-ranking ministers and diplomats from many countries have visited the President’s residence, but rarely has the visit of any dignitary generated as much feeling of great enthusiasm and eagerness as the US Ambassador.

President Reuven Rivlin usually welcomes guests in a reserved way but this time was more enthusiastic. With his face radiant and in a voice so soft that it was barely above a whisper, he told Ms Haley how delighted he was to see her.

“It’s a real pleasure,” he repeated over and over, eventually saying, “We appreciate your strong hand on the world’s most important stage in support of the security of

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the people and the State of Israel.

With your support, we see the beginning of a new era. Israel is no longer alone at the UN. Israel is no longer the UN’s punching bag.”

The two did not engage in much political debate, unlike the meeting last month with President Trump, but there was a subtle difference for all to see. Trump had been Israel’s best friend before his election and then, like his predecessors, had reneged on his promise to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Haley had proved to be Israel’s best friend in the United Nations after she was appointed, and the difference was clear for many to see.

The US Ambassador was accompanied by her Israeli counterpart Danny Danon, who was warmly embraced by Rivlin – both of them having been Likud members of Knesset in the past. The

Nikki Haley at the Kotel

FOLLOW JAMES AT TWITTER: @JAMES_J_MARLOW

US Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, was also present alongside a five-member delegation.

In his speech to the dignitaries present, President Rivlin said there was still a long way to go for the UN to change its biased stance against Israel. He mentioned the Human Rights Council, which he said had been hijacked as a weapon against Israel and UNESCO that “seeks to rub out the history of the Jewish people.”

Ms Haley was thrilled to be in Israel and very appreciative of the support received from the people of Israel. But she said, “I feel a little guilty because all I did at the United Nations was tell the truth.” She had never taken kindly to bullies, she added, “and the UN has bullied Israel for a very long time.” Pledging that she would not let that happen any longer, Haley declared, “This is a new day for Israel in the United Nations.” She was also optimistic that, following her recent visit to Geneva, in matters pertaining to Israel it would also be a new day at the Human Rights Council.

During her visit, she saw and experienced many places in Israel including the Western Wall. Her visit was exactly 50 years after the Wall was captured by Israeli forces in the Six-Day War, and she said a prayer.

The ambassador received a

detailed explanation of the history of the Kotel from the rabbi of the Western Wall, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz. When a fence was put up to separate her from the crowd, she insisted on praying together with all the women who were there at the time, saying she wanted to be treated like everyone else. In her meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu, she said “If there is one thing I have no patience for, it is bullies” and “the UN was being such a bully to Israel, because they could.” Ms Haley also told Netanyahu, “I think they know they can’t keep responding in the way they’ve been responding.

They sense that the tone has changed. We were talking with some ambassadors in Geneva, who are all on the Human Rights Council, about Agenda Item Seven [which calls for Israel to be singled out for constant condemnation], and some of them were embarrassed by it.

They acknowledge the fact that it just makes no sense. You can’t sit there, and of all countries, Israel?” Nikki Haley also visited the Holocaust Museum and Yad

Ethiopia was renewed in October 2016 as an implementation of the government decision from November 2015 to bring over the Falash Mura community within five years.

The plan’s renewal was made possible after months of government foot-dragging because Likud Members of Knesset, Dudi Amsalem and Avraham Neguise, exerted pressure in the correct circles.

The 70 immigrants who landed last week are only the second group to arrive in Israel since the government decision was announced last August. The plan is

to bring over 1,300 of the 9,000 who are waiting in transit camps in the Ethiopian cities of Gondar and Addis Ababa.

“We are happy to be partners in family unification and to help bring people who have been waiting for many years to come to Israel,” said

Nikki Haley praying at the Western Wall (Photo: AFP)

Vashem. Accompanied by Danny Danon, she was taken north to a location overlooking the borders with Lebanon and Syria, where she received security briefings from Israeli military officials.

Haley then observed various UN operations in various parts of the country and concluded her visit with meetings in the Palestinian Authority area.

President Trump’s pick for United Nations representative has gained much popularity in Israel.

Haley gave her very first press briefing at the UN back in February when she strongly denounced the Security Council’s bias against Israel and vowed that the US would no longer turn a blind eye to it.

Later in April, as she presided over the council, Haley set new rules for the forum’s monthly Middle East debate and insisted that countries discuss issues such as Iran’s support for terrorism, the Syrian crisis, Hezbollah and Hamas, instead of exclusively focusing on what she called “Israel bashing.”

Israel brings another 70 new olim from Ethiopia Some 70 Ethiopian immigrants arrived in Israel last week as part of a joint operation between the Jewish Agency and the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem.

Their arrival was made possible due to a government decision passed in November 2015, which agreed to bring over 9,000 members of the Falash Mura community from Ethiopia, but activists criticised the slow pace at which the decision has been implemented.

Dozens of excited family members gathered at Ben-Gurion Airport to meet their relatives, whom they had not seen for more than 25

years.

Among them was Malaso Bardokai, who waited quietly to greet his daughter. “We have been waiting for this for so long, and now the family is finally reuniting,” he said.

Eliyahu Tadale was waiting for his nephews, whom he has not seen since Operation Solomon.

“It’s been 25 years. My brother has not seen his children all these years and only after we fought for it were his children allowed to make aliyah to Israel,” he said.

After a three-year halt in the process, the Aliyah project from

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Immigrants arriving

the very pro-Israel International Christian Embassy president, Dr. Jürgen Bühler. He went on to say that “Some of the families have been separated for over two decades, and we have the honour to bring them to Israel.”

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Pro-Israel event scrapped due to security concerns A large pro-Israel event which was to have been held at a venue in Westminster has been scrapped amid fears of another London terror attack. Security officials from both the UK and USA advised the organizers, Christians United for Israel (CUFI) to cancel the annual event following the recent attacks in central London and Manchester.

The organisers had sold nearly 1,000 tickets and expected to sell several hundred more in the week leading up to Thursday 22 June when the event was due to take

place. But in view of a number of foiled attacks in recent weeks and the on-going terror threat which remains at “severe,” the decision was made to cancel.

In a statement posted online, devastated organisers Christian United for Israel said, “Having assessed the current situation and received independent advice we have taken the difficult decision to postpone the event.”

“Islamic extremists have called for the specific targeting of Christians and Jews during the month of

Ramadan, during which our event was set to take place.”

The group added that it was cancelling the event “with wisdom and not fear” for the “protection” of attendees from two faiths which are facing a terror threat.

The event would have seen Christians and Jews come together for a night of celebrating Israel’s history and achievements. Colonel Richard Kemp who commanded British troops in Afghanistan and who has more than 30 years military experience was scheduled

Terrorists promoted with “pride and honour”

The Palestinian Authority has rewarded another terrorist with more than £125,000 for planning and carrying out terror attacks in which 14 people were murdered.

The official PA TV network recently visited the home of imprisoned terrorist Nasser Awais, who is serving 14 life sentences to document his story as heroic.

According to Palestinian Media Watch (PMW) which regularly monitors the official Palestinian media in the West Bank, the PA TV host referred to the killer with “pride” and “honour” for the murder of 14 and saluted him and his actions “on behalf of every member of the Palestinian people.”

The host continued that he had “left behind a name and a legacy that cannot disappear” and that “everyone knows what he did for the homeland and so that we will live in freedom and dignity.”

The host from the PA news network controlled by President Mahmoud Abbas also said “He gave his freedom so that we would all live in freedom and

dignity - All the glory is yours, my brother Nasser Awais.”

Palestinian Media Watch confirms that the official Palestinian TV regularly glorifies murderers and all Palestinian terrorists imprisoned by Israel receive a high monthly salary from the PA which originates from overseas.

Awais who was also one of the founders of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades terror organization, has already received 558,200 shekels (£125,000) in salary, as mandated

by Palestinian law.

Under the PA legislation, the salaries of terrorist prisoners always rise the longer they are imprisoned. In other words, the worse the crime, the longer the time in prison, the higher the salary. In January 2011, the PA also raised the salaries substantially and Mahmoud Abbas insists on continuing to pay these salaries.

PA TV routinely honour terrorist murderers as “heroes,” visit their homes and even participates in their birthday celebrations.

Jonathan Arkush leads bikers off on solidarity ride from London to Jerusalem

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to speak on the night along with author and journalist Melanie Phillips.

The CUFI said it had already planned to increase security to a much higher level than usual at the Westminster venue which would have been a short distance away from the two recent London attacks on Westminster Bridge and London Bridge.

The statement also said “We are determined that the impact of Islamic extremism will not win” and pointed out that “the roots of the

threat currently facing this nation is the same that Israel has faced for years.”

Customers who had booked tickets for “A Night to Honour Israel” have been offered a full refund.

In contract, a pro-Palestinian event organised by the Friends of Al-Aqsa is still set to go ahead at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in Westminster next month.

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Chief Rabbi visits school for 10th Anniversary celebrations Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis visited Beit Shvidler Primary School in Edgware as part of the school’s ongoing 10th Anniversary Celebrations.

The Chief Rabbi started by joining the Key Stage two shacharit tefillah and assembly, and was entertained by the pupils culminating in a hugely enthusiastic action-filled sing-a-long.

Pupils then heard about

growing up in South Africa and Rabbi Mirvis stressed how lessons in his childhood helped him learn to always be proud of being Jewish, whatever the situation.

He said, “Pupils at Beit Shvidler are immensely lucky to be able to attend a school like this. You should feel very proud to be a part of this school.”

The Chief Rabbi spent time touring the school and visiting pupils

in their classrooms and in the playground. He learnt about the school from school Principal, Rabbi Zvi Lieberman, and Headteacher Rabbi Jonny Spector.

Other 10th Anniversary events have included a community kiddush sponsored by the school’s link shul, the Edgware Adath Yisroel Congregation (EAYC) and in March pupils celebrated at a PTA hosted event with a theatre

company show and afternoon tea.

The year of celebrations will culminate on Monday 3rd July at the Beit Shvidler 10th Anniversary Dinner, where guests will enjoy hearing from guest speaker, Rabbi Jonathan Rietti, Director of the ‘Breakthrough Chinuch’ programme in New York and a

lecturer on the Gateways Seminar Programme. Rabbi Rietti has authored over 25 lecture albums on inner growth, parenting, chinuch and Jewish identity.

If you would like to attend the Beit Shvidler Dinner, please contact bsps10@beitshvidler.org.uk.

GGBH celebrates new Sefer Torah This past weekend The Golders Green Beis Hamedrash (GGBH) celebrated a joyous Hachnosas Sefer Torah marking the completion of a Sefer Torah written by its members in honour of Rav Feldman, the emeritus Rav of the Shul, and his Rebbetzen. The writing of the Sefer Torah highlighted the GGBH’s illustrious past and its vibrant future, and the event demonstrated the strong foundations that GGBH’s past Rabbis have put in place and the strong and energetic leadership of its current leader, Rabbi Greenberg.

The project began in earnest last Shavuot, with members of the community sponsoring Parshot, Pesukim and even, for the younger members, words and letters. Shiurim being given on the subject of Sefer Torah and a Committee was formed under the leadership of Mr Benzy Adler and Rabbi Zvi Zimmels which worked tirelessly to ensure that everything was meticulously organised. The sofer chosen was Rabbi Shlomo Rosenberg of Ashdod was commissioned to write the new scroll.

The weekend started with the GGBH’s annual Youth Shabbos: The prayers were led by the teenagers, learning sessions were arranged and the Shabbat was concluded with a youth Seudah Shelishit.

The festivities continued on Sunday morning. Dozens of members of the community wrote a letter in the Sefer Torah, finishing the project the way it started: for the community, by the community.

At 2.30pm with the excitement already building, Rav Feldman arrived, together with the Rebbetzen and their children, at the Ohel David Synagogue Hall to complete the Sefer Torah. The shul, situated on Broadwalk Lane was

the original site of the GGBH at its inception over 80 years ago; highlighting further the transition from old to new. The Sefer Torah was then wrapped with a specially made Wimpel - a tradition that dates back to the time of Chazal decorated with the names of over 130 boys from GGBH under the age of Bar Mitzvah; our precious link to the future.

At 3pm, the Shul’s Chazan Nathan Gluck began the Torah procession and then with the music and singing of world famous singer Shloime Gertner and children holding fire torches, hundreds of men and women accompanied the Sefer Torah the short distance to the Shul. The Sefer Torah was held by Rabbi Feldman, Rabbi Greenberg, and local rabbis together with prominent members of the community.

At the entrance to the Shul courtyard, members came to welcome the new Torah and the spirited dancing continued in the courtyard before heading into the shul. Rabbi Greenberg then addressed the packed Shul about how every moment in a person’s life must be used to learn Torah and in the service of Hashem. The children were of course treated to Pekelach and ice-cream outside in a marquee, ensuring that

The prossession under way

PHOTO CREDIT: YANKI WERTHAIMER

a weekend was fully enjoyed by all ages.

The GGBH moved from the same place almost 60 years earlier on 20th September 1959

Beit Shvidler pupils meeting the Chief Rabbi

Proud pupils with the Chief Rabbi

London taxi drivers re-kindles historic relationship with Norwood

Since 1928, The London Taxi Drivers’ Fund for Underprivileged Children (LTFUC) with the help of many London taxi drivers and carers, has hundreds of outings for children with special needs.

The annual trips to the seaside in convoys of taxis are always a firm favourite, but taking children to the circus, the zoo, and theatres are also very exciting events. Not forgotten are the dependents of London taxi drivers, who have hit hard times through illness and other unfortunate circumstances.

The LTFUC and Norwood have now revived a historic relationship that goes back almost 90 years.

Taxi driver Mick Cohen, who was housed at the Jewish orphanage in Norwood as a child, first had the idea to raise money for the Norwood orphanage in 1928 and recruited 12 black cab drivers to help his cause. As well as organising the first outing for the children, he and his colleagues raised money for the home – and the LTFUC was born.

The fund, which to this day supports children with special needs through donating to

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relevant charities and organising outings, last week donated £1,214 to Norwood’s Bucket and Spades children’s service in East Finchley. The money has gone to a specialised shower chair, which is a crucial piece of equipment that allows the young people who use the home to bathe safely and comfortably.

Three committee members of the LTFUC, Hon. Secretary Malcolm Shaffron, PR Raymond Levy and Appeals Officer Colin Greaves took a tour of the home on Wednesday 7th June, 2017 to see what their donation had paid for, as well as taking a tour of the service and meeting home manager Annette Shimoni.

Buckets and Spades home manager Annette Shimoni said: “Donations like this are absolutely crucial for us to be able to keep offering the support we do for these young people. We receive some funding but it only covers staffing costs, so for everything else here we rely on the generosity of people like LTFUC. This shower chair will do a lot of good as it will allow people to shower

safely.”

LTFUC Honorary Secretary Malcolm Shaffron commented that “We chose Norwood because of the incredible shared history between the two organisations. As we approach our 90th anniversary in 2018, it’s great to re-visit the relationship that started it all. It’s also great to come to a service like this and see directly what difference our donation will make.”

Taxi drivers show off the shower chair

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Wembley - more than just a football stadium

BY DAVID SAFFER

‘Wembley’ is a place and name globally recognised because of the many sporting and music events synonymous with Wembley Stadium.

Built over nine decades ago the original stadia with its distinctive ‘Twin Towers’ first hit the Pathe News headlines when it hosted the ‘White Horse’ 1923 FA Cup final.

The Great Empire Exhibition, 1948 Olympic Games with Jewish Dutch superstar Fanny Blankers-Koen, 1953 ‘Matthews Final’ and ‘Boys of ’66’ World Cup final followed, adding to its iconic status.

Rugby league, rugby union, speedway, American and Gaelic football, stock car racing, ‘Wrestlemania’ have enjoyed glory days.

And before a major redevelopment project at the turn of the Millennium, Live Aid and Nelson Mandela charity gigs made headline news.

The likes of Michael Jackson, Tina Turner, Madonna, Oasis, Guns ‘N’ Roses, The Who, Bruce Springsteen, Simon & Garfunkel to name but a few have played to sellout crowds.

And the stadium even featured in the opening scene of a movie, The Kings Speech and Cecil Freeman Gregg’s crime novel Tragedy at Wembley (Meuthen, 1936).

Since the stadium reopened in 2007, Wembley has continued to be a mainstay of major events including UEFA Champions League finals, the 2012 Olympic Games, NFL international series and music concerts for Take That, Coldplay, Metallica and AC/DC. But what do these facts about a

Rabbi Simon Harris

historic stadium of excellence have to do with Wembley United Synagogue, which has a Jewish community of 350 members?

Well, if you speak with clergy or congregants there are many a sporting, music or cultural tale of fans dropping into services on route to the famous venue.

After all, an extra prayer at the North London shul might bring a team some good luck in a cup final or pass some time before an unforgettable occasion!

Rabbi Simon Harris has been the shul’s minister for the past decade and sees the trend continuing especially as a certain football club in London is due to play at the stadium next season as White Hart Lane undergoes a complete rebuild.

“Normally when we see someone new we offer an aliyah and who knows we may get some more regulars,” he quipped.

“Jokes aside, Tottenham Hotspur played in the Champions League last season at Wembley so we had extra visitors midweek and they are set to again next season.

“We often get fans rocking up before or after a big match, I’m sure that will continue and they are very welcome.”

Historical records show that a few Jewish families in Wembley gathered to facilitate Hebrew and religious education in 1928. At the time the nearest communities were Cricklewood, Harrow and Ealing.

But the movement of Jewish populations from east, north and central London towards the northwestern suburbs had begun, made accessible by fast transport facilities by Metropolitan and railways lines.

Wembley Hebrew Congregation came into being at a meeting on 5 September 1928.

Mr H. Hooberman was appointed the chairman of the congregation, which became affiliated with the United Synagogue in 1931 with a membership numbering just 64.

Services were held initially at festival times at venues including the Union Hall in Ealing Road, Mitchell’s Restaurant in Wembley High Road and the Capital Ballroom in Empire Way. The Wembley community became a District synagogue by the end of 1934.

Sir Isidore Salmon laid the foundation stone of a first temporary synagogue on 22 April.

Wembley Synagogue choir at the Jerusalem Concert

Rev. Myer Berman was appointed minister by June, and during a monumental period, Chief Rabbi, Joseph H. Hertz inducted Rev. Berman and consecration the synagogue later that same year on September 2.

The Ladies Guild purchased the first Sefer Torah for the shul five years later as membership rapidly increased up to the outbreak of World War Two. The coming years would see much discussion about a new site for the shul, which eventually came to fruition shortly before then after the unforgettable ‘Matthews final’ of ’53, when Chief Rabbi Israel Brodie consecrated the new shul on 25 October 1953.

After numerous fundraising efforts, building operations on the new synagogue started in 1956 and a foundation stone was laid on 17 November that year.

Rabbi Harris, who grew up in Cricklewood in the swingin’ sixties, was appointed to Wembley United Synagogue in July 2007.

Educated at Hasmonean School, he read Hebrew at SOAS University of London, followed by six years studying in Jerusalem.

He received semicha from, among others, HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Kolitz Z’tl.

Rabbi Harris, who is married to Alison, the couple have two children (both third generation Hasmoneans), holds a Masters in Oriental Studies from Oxford University, and is currently occupied with post-graduate research focused on the Redaction of the Babylonian Talmud.

So where did his rabbinical journey start?

“During the 1960s, there were

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some amazing Chazanim including Yehuda Landenberg,” he recalled.

“It was not a sermon that made me feel frum but another world this man transported us to. “Chazan Landenberg was magical when he davened during Yom Kippur.

“I was very young, but at the same time got this tremendous inspiration from hearing someone put his whole soul into what he was doing. Chazan Landenberg had so much energy, and what a voice he was blessed with, it was incredible.

“Whilst I remember going to Bromdesbury Park Synagogue, mostly I davened at a Chassidishe stiebel called Keser Torah D’Ravzin which Rebbe Beirus Finklesteins ran.

“It was known as Finklesteins and we used to davern in his study but it never occurred to me there were not many people there. There were maybe 20 people, but to me, it was the centre of the universe. It was very special to grow up in such a spiritual environment.

“At yeshiva, I loved hearing Chazan Naftali Hershtik when he was at the height of his powers at the Great Synagogue in Jerusalem. It was a wonderfully uplifting time.”

Rabbi Harris was appointed minister of Bournemouth Hebrew Congregation in May 1990.

“They were a delightful community, were mainly elderly and treated me like a grandson,” he recalled.

“I was fortunate though as there were younger families so we did celebrated bar and batmitzvah’s.

“In Judaism you must respect and value experience and age. The congregation was so kind to me, and it was a wonderful way to begin my career.

“We had a great discussion group with some incredibly bright lively minds.

“I learnt so much during this period, every rabbi should work in a provincial community because you do so much, you learn to network and lead a congregation.

“You also learn practically how to do things.”

From Bournemouth, Rabbi Harris took up a post as Chief Rabbi of Ireland.

“Arguably, I left Bournemouth too soon but this chance was too much to resist,” he recalled. “There were around 1,000 Jews, and again I learnt so much. In some ways, it was even more practical in terms of my role than my first posting.”

Rabbi Harris worked at Yakar as director of programmes, a pioneering adult educational organisation in Hendon before a brief spell as Minister of Western Marble Arch Synagogue.

Following an approach from Cyril Harris, Chief Rabbi of South Africa, Rabbi Harris flew to Cape Town to lead the Jewish community of The Great Synagogue.

“This was the mother shul of the country, next to Parliament, elegant and structurally stunning with a beautiful choir,” he recalled.

While in South Africa during the mid-90s, Rabbi Harris met Nelson Mandela, who became president of the Rainbow nation during his tenure.

And this senior statesman made a big impression.

“It was a really exciting time and I met Mandela on a number of occasions,” he recalled.

“Mandela had a great relationship with Chief Rabbi Harris. They got on really well, which was great

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Support for Torah Vodaas

A 260 strong crowd gathered at VIP lounge in Edgware last Sunday evening to take part in a Gala Dinner to show support towards Torah Vodaas Primary School The evening began with a performance by the school choir, expertly directed by longstanding Rabbi in the school, Rabbi Chaim Weiss and accompanied on the violin by another one of the Rabbis, Rabbi Avrohom Goldman. Two representatives of the student body then presented flowers to both Mrs Levison and Mrs Bamberger in recognition of their efforts when setting up the recently launched school library. The chairman, then introduced the headteacher, Rabbi Yehuda Feldman who spoke about the importance of reaching every child and ensuring a warm and caring

Aryeh Melinek and Motti Vorhand

New Mayor honoured

A reception was held last week at the Hershel Weiss Children and Family centre to honour Councillor Peter Connor the new Ceremonial Mayor of Salford with a thank you reception.

The crowd watching the choir perform

atmosphere at the school.

The proceedings continued with presentations to the school’s founders, Rabbi Shlomey Klor, Mr Leiby Levison and Mr Yitzi Bamberger.

A slideshow displayed during the evening allowed the guests a glimpse of the school in action showing an array of the various activities enjoyed by the pupils both in and out of school.

The highlight of the evening was then introduced, and the inspirational words of guest speaker Rabbi Shlomo Yitschok Bixenspanner, Rabbi of the Hendon Adath, left those present with a meaningful message to take home.

Rabbi Bixenspanner began by noting that a school has an obligation

to educate each child to the best of his ability as it is not necessarily the most talented who will become the leaders of the next generation.

Skilfully weaving together various Torah thoughts Rabbi Bixenspanner ended with a call to support chinuch of our children remembering that the our future Gedolim are the children of today.

The evening was graced by the presence of local Rabbis, most notably Rabbi Berel Knopfler, the president of the school.

Finally, the grand raffle was drawn and Mr Leiby Levison was delighted to discover that he had won a magnificent Becher and Tray set, kindly arranged by The Silver Place.

Rabbi Shlomey Klor was honoured with bentching.

Broughton Jewish hold annual garden party

Bouncy castle pupils at the garden party

Father and son Martin Sheldon and Eliel, 6

Friends as they enjoy the activities

A group of pals at the Garden party when the sun came out

PHOTO CREDIT: LAWRENCE PURCELL

Rabbi Simon Grant, Director of BINOH gives a presentation to the new Mayor Peter Connor.

The Mayor greets youngsters at the centre

The ultimate off-road race The annual Prestwich Challenge 2017 was held on Sunday endurance over eight miles through natural and man-made obstacles going through the Prestwich Clough and Prestwich Forest Park and finishing at Sedgley Park RFU ground.

If it wasn’t tough enough you had to carry tyres at the start of the race if you were in a group of runners.

This year’s winner was 28 year old Matt Harratt in a time of 1hour and 17.07 seconds.

Richard Abramson and Brother in Law Eddie Edwards both 50 PHOTO CREDIT: LAWRENCE PURCELL

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New play welcomed by holoucaust survivors

BY DAVID SAFFER The Holocaust Survivors Friendship Association has welcomed a new play based on a best selling book on the holocaust.

Northern Ballet's 'Boy in the Striped Pyjamas' premiered at The Cast Theatre in Doncaster.

Inspired by John Boyne's ac-

claimed book and produced by artistic director and choreographer Daniel de Andrade, HSFA and London based agencies were engaged in the creative process of the production.

HSFA chair Lilian Black attended the premiere with holocaust survivor Trude Silman and Susie Gordon, Leeds Jewish community ex-

Author John Boyne, his agent, Lilian Black and Mark Skipper of Northern Ballet

ecutive director.

“According to my father, Eugene Black, who survived Auschwitz, the book is controversial as it is a scenario that could never have happened in Auschwitz-Birkenau but I have to say this ballet was simply gripping,” she said.

“The holocaust was captured in its entirety through the story telling of the dancers' performance, interpretation, lighting, costumes and music.

“As a group so close to the experience we were deeply affected and moved.

“Images are what survivors are often left with because words cannot express their experience and this is what Northern Ballet achieved so thoughtfully.”

Susie, commented, “Daniel as choreographer from the start was really welcoming in the whole process.

He wanted to listen and get us on board with the project.

Shul film on Holocaust nominated for award A Made in Leeds documentary on the United Hebrew Congregation’s trip to Auschwitz has been nominated for a Royal Television Yorkshire Region award.

Fear No Evil is one of three nominations selected for the Best Single Documentary category.

The winners will be announced on July 7.The ‘Unity is Strength’ trip to Krakow and Auschwitz-Birkenau took place in March 2016.

Over 240 people, mostly from the Leeds Jewish community, included delegates from a number of faiths. Holocaust survivor Arek Hersh accompanied the party.

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis led an emotional memorial service at sunset at the death camp.

“It was a huge surprise to be considered for such a high-profile mainstream award,” said UHC senior minister Chazan Albert Chait, who organised the trip.

“Being nominated is amazing, after all how many synagogues get this type of accolade.

“Sadly in a world so currently fragile, the importance of education and understanding about each other and our collective history is still one of the key ingredients for a brighter future.

“The producers and directors embraced this opportunity to bring Holocaust education to the wider television audience and, for that, I thank them.”

Mark O’Brien the film’s director noted he was “very proud” that Fear No Evil had

been shortlisted.

“We are up against two brilliant and highly impactful documentaries that aired on BBC One and Two so to be counted in such illustrious company is humbling,” he said.

“The power of any documentary hinges primarily on its subjects and stories, and in Arek, we were privileged to share one of the most searing stories I’ve ever come across.

“Albert’s vision and dedication in organising the incredible community trip to Auschwitz is another great story that Fear No Evil captured.

“We also couldn’t have made this documentary without the support of the team at UHC Synagogue.”

Northern Ballet also wanted to be as connected to the Jewish community as possible.”

Regarding the ballet, Susie felt it was heart wrenching but a beautiful produciton.

Lillian added, “It was a special occasion to meet author, John Boyne.

“The auditorium was completely packed, clearly demonstrating the high level of interest in the subject.

“Our welcome by the Doncaster community, theatre staff and Mark Skipper and David Nixon of Northern Ballet was truly heart warming.

“Well done to Northern Ballet for such courage in tackling a difficult subject, which honours the victims and survivors, and truly showed where hatred may ultimately lead.”

Leeds-based Northern Ballet has gone on to perform at theatres in Wolverhampton, Leicester and Richmond.

The tour continues at West Yorkshire Playhouse (September 5-9)

Northern Ballet dancers in The boy in the striped pyjamas

and Hull New Theatre (October 18-30).

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New Sefer Torah in memory of Rabbi Brodie On Sunday afternoon over 3,500 people from across the whole Manchester community joined together for a Hachnasat Sefer Torah written by the Manchester Beth Din in memory of the late Rabbi Yehuda Brodie zt’’l, registrar of the Beth Din for over 40 years.

It was one year ago on the first yartzheit for Rabbi Brodie when Mr Modi Spitzer, an honorary officer of the Beth Din presented the idea of commissioning the writing of a Sefer Torah in memory of Rabbi Brodie. Over the past year, twenty different shuls, organisations and individuals have sponsored a parsha in the new Sefer Torah. Additionally, hundreds of school children from many different schools have joined in this unique community Sefer Torah by purchasing a letter and they each received a certificate.

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis

After the last letter which was written by Mr Moderchai Halpern, there were speeches by Mr Moddi Spitzer who thanked all those who made a special effort to attend, including the Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, Rav Schneelbalg, Dayonim from the London and Federation Botei Din. The Chief Rabbi spoke first, praising the Beth Din and the Manchester community as one of the jewels in Anglo Jewry. He continued that we find that Eliezer is never referred to by name in the parsha of looking for a shidduch for Yitzchok, he is known as Eved Avrohom, a servant of Avrohom, to be servant is the greatest compliment and Rabbi Brodie was exactly that, he was a servant to the whole kehilloh, helping anyone and everyone at all times.

Dayan Yehuda Osher Steiner from the Manchester Beth Din was the second speaker who expanded on the words of the Sages that tzaddikim (The righteous) are called “Chaim” (life) even after their death. Dayan steiner explained this is not only referring to in Olam habbah, but rather this includes this world as well. Not a day goes by when at the Beth Din, someone says “How would Rabbi Brodie deal with this situation, Reb Yehuda did it like this” etc, two years after he was nifter, he is very much still “Alive”.

The final speaker was Rafi Brodie, a son of Rabbi Yehuda Brodie who compared his father to every aspect of a Sefer Torah, including all the tropp, how his father helped

Rabbi Brodie’s ZTL son Rafi

Rabbi Yehuda Brodie zt’l with KD Primary Reception children

Rabbi Benjy Simmonds, Stenecourt

those who were distanced, how he managed to gather in those who were scattered around the community, never giving a break, but rather always finishing the job.

Following the words and the final letter being written, the hachnasat Sefer Torah procession began from Stenecourt shul, down singleton road which was closed to all vehicle traffic, crossing over Bury New Road to the Beis Yisroel shul where it will be used by Misaskim. Rabbi Brodie was a founding trustee of the Misaskim organastion, which he was very instrumental in helping Misaskim in its first few years.

When the Sefer Torah entered the shul, hakafot and tefillot were said

by Chazzan Muller.

It was a wonderful afternoon full of unity. Despite a rain forecast for the whole afternoon, the weather was beautiful as was the whole atmosphere, together with the lively dancing from all ages joining in.

Rabbi Brodie Senior

Dayan Abraham writing one of the final letters

The torch bearers leading the procession

The Sefer Torah guard of honour

PHOTO CREDIT: LAWRENCE PURCELL

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The large crowd at the event

14 JUNE 2017

BUSINESS 25

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

Diary of a Jewish Estate Agent

BY WILLIAM SUSMAN MRICS

I’m a Chartered Surveyor by trade, ventured into estate agency about twelve years ago and now run two estate agency businesses, both with my ‘better’ half, Natalie. Certainly the best thing about our working ‘together’ is that actually we work about two miles apart! This works extremely well and certainly saves on the potential need for divorce lawyers. Actually, we work very well together, she thinks she is the boss, I know I am the boss!

When I was asked to write this monthly column, I thought that I’d work through my average working week, so for this first venture back to story writing, last attempted at my English Language ‘O’ level… here goes.

There seems no better time of the week to start than on a Friday night, and on this particular Friday, we happen to be off to the Rabbi’s, which is great at it saves the stress of the “thanks for coming back to help me” from my ‘better half’, so after sorting the light settings and filling our Shabbat urn, it’s time to go.

I like going out, always have done, part of my job is meeting new people, but sometimes it’s not all it is cracked up to be, especially when my day job comes into the conversation. Anyway, walking to the Rabbi’s, fortunately not too far, we arrive just in time for Kiddush and Hamotzi. And before we know it, chicken soup is being dished out and we begin eating.

I am distanced from my ‘better half’ and sat between Maureen, head of the Ladies Guild and one of her many dear friends, Esther whom I have not had the pleasure of meeting before. Esther turns to me and asks what I do for a living.

Nonchalantly, I respond, “I’m an Estate Agent”. Esther’s husband almost chokes on his kneidlach! I may just as well have announced that I am an embalmer, Parking Enforcement Officer (Traffic Warden to those of us over forty) or tax investigator. Yes, this reaction is

very normal believe it or not, and it seems that estate agency is a career that only your mother can be proud of you for!

So after the looks up and down that would also be proffered to a used car or double glazing salesmen then follow the onslaught of questions, and I become quizmaster and gameshow host fielding the interrogation that is being hurled at me.

Feeling like Arsene Wenger at the press conference after the last Bayern-Munich match, I am bombarded with the most pressing question on the lips of all present this week round the table… what will the effect of the election have on the housing market? At this point I morph from Estate Agent into an Economist, prospective Chancellor of the Exchequer and fortune teller all in one.

Markets dislike nothing more than uncertainty and surprises, and this general election result has certainly not failed to deliver this. This may be likely to have an adverse impact on demand for property as potential buyers play the ‘waiting game’ to see what happens… I’m not really sure buyers know what they are waiting for but they are ‘playing safe’ as its easier to do nothing than something.

A hung parliament is also potentially bad news for housebuilders, who are likely to hold back from developing more much needed new homes. Many would-be buyers may again sit tight over the coming weeks and months to see what the economic impact of the shock general election result will be. The volume of property sales

across the country will almost certainly fall but ultimately, the inherent housing shortage in this country means that property prices are likely to increase further in the medium to long term, even if there is a dip in the short term.

After hopefully reassuring everyone that their biggest asset is still ‘safe as houses’, they then wish to know how much their house is worth. If I am looking for a quick getaway then a quick retort of “as much as someone is prepared to pay” usually stops them in their tracks and allows me a quick getaway. But stuck at the table with the chopped liver course, main course and dessert still to come, I know this is not an option so with my Estate Agent hat on, it’s time for a

serious answer.

There is a huge amount of data out there on the internet, if you just want to see what your neighbours just paid for their house then the government’s own website is the place to go; www.gov.uk/search-house-prices Zoopla’s valuation tool at Zoopla.co.uk takes sold price information and applies various algorithms, allows you to make certain adjustments and comes up with a figure. Do however take this information from a site like Zoopla with a pinch of your salt, challah salt at this moment, as nothing really beats taking advice from your local agent who knows the specific market and can tailor your figure accordingly. In my experience, I

have found that most people have a pretty good idea of what their property is worth but sometimes the reassurance of a discussion with a well-qualified local estate agent is worthwhile.

I hope this column has not only given you a little insight into my world of estate agency, but has offered some interesting information.

I am looking forward to sharing with you what I hope is more useful information over the coming months and to aid that objective feel free to send any questions you’d like answering. Send them to editorial@thejewishweekly.com

William Susman

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14 JUNE 2017

SPORTS 27

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SPORTS

W EEKLY

Team GB Maccabiah Games coverage

Team GB competing in new sports at Maccabiah Games

BY DAVID SAFFER

The final countdown has begun to the 20th Maccabiah Games in Israel. Around 10,000 athletes from 80 countries will compete in 47 sports from July 4 to 18. Team Maccabi GB has a 400 strong delegation heading out to the Games and many will have aspirations to win a gold medal.

Team Maccabi GB is competing in almost half of the 47 sports at the 20th Maccabiah Games next month.

A delegation of 400 competitors is amongst 10,000 athletes from 80 countries taking part at the sporting fiesta in Israel from July 4 to 18.

Teams from around the globe will participate at a number of cities including Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Acre and Netanya.

The opening ceremony takes place at Teddy Stadium, Jerusalem, on Thursday, July 2.

Team GB competes across a range of sports including cricket and lacrosse for the very first time.

Father and son duo Philip and Elliott Mayer head up the Junior cricket squad with all players competing for the first time.

And the family continues as Oliver Nathanson competes for the ‘Juniors’ whilst dad, Hilton Nathanson, takes part in the Open cricket tournament.

“We have selected a squad full of experience with several players already achieving district or county honours for their age groups,” said Philip.

“We are confident in giving it our all and challenging for a medal position.”

Elliott added, “As every player will be experiencing the Games for the first time, we are aiming to give each player the best possible journey.

“We are excited to show them the unique sporting, social and

Press conference for the opening ceremony of the 20th Maccabiah!

cultural elements the Games offer where life long memories and friendships are made.”

Junior cricket squad: Joshua Avigdor, Sam Clarfield, Jack Davis, Alexander Fachler, Joel Freedman, Aron Gale, Matthew Gittleson, Daniel Glicher, Dylan Heller, Samuel Margo, Gregory Mayer, Toby Michaels, Oliver Nathanson.

Amy Ansell represented Team GB in medal winning sides netball in 2005 and 2009.

The sporting super mum is now the inspiration behind the Junior lacrosse squad.

Following her success at the ‘05 Maccabiah, Amy met with the then European Maccabi chairman, Stuart Lustigman, to initiate getting a GB lacrosse team to the Maccabiah.

Twelve years on a squad is now ready to take on the rest of the world as the first GB lacrosse team at the Games.

Amy won’t be joining the group in Israel as she has recently had her third child but is backing the team all the way to be competitive.

“These juniors are super excited to be a part of something so special,” she said.

“The number of Jewish girls playing lacrosse has increased since 2011, they are a young squad but we make up for that in enthusiasm.”

Amy added, “Many of the team has competed at the JCC Maccabi Games but they’ll soon learn that Maccabiah is on a whole different level.”

Regarding the management team, she commented, “Carrie Goldstein, has a plethora of experience as an American lacrosse player and coach and is helping the team realise their potential.

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The prize medals

“Our manager, Jessica Tray, is a Maccabi GB legend who is currently studying at Cambridge University. Jessica is super organised and helping to keep us all in check.”

Junior lacrosse squad: Jessica Bloom, Chloe Cresswell, Isabella Davis, Daisy Gershon, Lara Hugh, Jenna Jacobs, Georgia Koopman, Natasha Leek, Kezia Levy, Charlotte Morley, Taryn Onnie, Yves

Schreiber, Tami Schwarzmann, Libbi Wise.

Daniel Reuben and Andrew Myers head up the GB Masters Over 45 football team.

The squad, coached by ex-professional footballers Steve Grenfelll and Tibor Kukan, is made up of a number of footballers that have yet to compete at a Maccabiah Games.

These Games will also be special

2017 coverage sponsored by

28 SPORTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27

as some of the player’s children compete in Junior squads.

“We have a great bunch of boys with immense ability and are confident every player can and will play a major part of our success in Israel,” noted Daniel.

“We look forward to having a great time on and off the pitch.

“Participating at a Maccabiah is a fantastic experience on many different levels.”

He added, “As joint managers we endeavoured to create a professional and enjoyable environment for the squad throughout the build up and our time in Israel.

“We have been part of special experiences at a number of Maccabiah Games and understand what it takes to have a successful and memorable time.”

Masters Over 45 squad: Michael Abraham, Gideon Barnett, Laurence Beck, Paul Buxton, Richard Buxton, Daniel Gordon, Peter Lazard, Bradley Lazarus, Bradley Lee, Kevin Lotzof, Max Radford, Jonathan Rayner, Danny Schweiger, James Temple, Mark Wagman.

Simon Zamet, Ricky Lawrence and Adam Fegan oversee the Maccabi GB U18 boys football team.

The experienced trio will be looking to equal the teams’ gold

14 JUNE 2017

THE JEWISH WEEKLY medal performance at the European Maccabi Games two years ago.

Simon, who is team manager, believes the squad includes a mix of players starting to gel on and off the pitch.

“We’ve managed to keep a lot of the boys who won in Berlin together as well unearthing some gems from elsewhere,” he said.

Ricky, assistant manager, added, “We are going out there to win.

“Adam and I have tasted gold in a Maccabiah or European Games before and Simon badly wants to upgrade on his silver medal that he picked up in Berlin.

“The excitement is building and the boys cannot wait to get out there. It’s going to be an incredible experience for all of us.”

Adam, who is coaching the squad, noted, “We have hammered home the point what an incredible two weeks they are going to have in Israel.

“We know we have to prepare the squad correctly to make it the best possible Games in every aspect, both on and off the pitch.”

GB U18 football squad: Shaun Levine, Daniel Lewis-Green, Harry Margolis, Nathan Anders, Kieran Beech, Benjamin Case, Jamie Cohen, Daniel Creese, Jordan Green, Jayden Huglin, Callum Lee, Joe Leslie, Jack Mattey, Michael Perkins, Reuben Rabstein,

Alexander Randall, Joshua Shack, Tyler Smith.

Murray Ayrton heads up both the swimming and athletics teams.

The largest swimming squad to date has been selected from some of the top clubs in the country including Camden Swiss, Broomfield Park, LB Redbridge and Staines.

“We have selected an exceptionally strong team with all our swimmers having competed at either regional or national level,” he explained.

“In Ellie Grant and Ewan Taylor (Scottish national 50 meters freestyle age-group champion) we have genuine medal potential.”

Squad member Josh Foreman said, “I love the fact that I’m representing my country and going to meet Jewish athletes from all around the world. I can’t wait for this once in a lifetime experience.”

For many of the athletes, the Games are extra special as family members played a big role in their Maccabiah journey.

“My grandfather managed the Maccabi GB 1997 golf team at the Maccabiah Games so to follow in his footsteps representing GB in swimming will be both an honour and hugely emotional especially as Israel is so close to my family’s heart,” said Alicia Slater.

Team manager Naomi Ayrton

One of the banners overlooking The Old City

won a bronze medal four years ago and now leads the team in Israel.

“It is a huge honour for me to return to the pool,” she noted.

“I made so many wonderful friends and had such a great experience, I can’t wait to help this team have an unbelievable time as I had.”

Samantha Russo assists Naomi in Israel.

“My Maccabiah dream was born after returning from an incredible European Maccabi Games in 2015,” she said. “As a coach all you want and can hope for in a squad is that their competitive drive is laced with sportsmanship of honour for their country and their culture.

“I know they will do themselves and their integrity proud, and hopefully smash a few personal best records.”

Swimming squad: Jacob Boyden, Joshua Foreman, Ellie Grant, Nathalie Lustig, Jason Pears, Zack Rothman, Rebecca Saville, Alicia Slater, Ewan Taylor.

Team GB’s eleven-strong track and field team has genuine medal opportunities across 24 separate track events.

Eden Davis is the current English Schools 100m bronze medalist whilst Lucie Wolfenden finished eighth at the English National age group championship.

“We have assembled an

exceptional team with a great mix of experience and youth,” commented Murray Ayrton.

Former Maccabi GB track star Ellie Edwards, who won gold four years ago, manages the team. “I am very excited for these young athletes to take part in the experiences I had on and off the track.”

Lucie Wolfenden is the youngest member of the team.

“I am really excited to have the opportunity to compete in the Maccabiah Games and am also looking forward to creating lots of memories with the rest of the team,” she said.

Allana Edwards will participate at the Games with both her sisters.

“This is really special and a unique opportunity,” she commented. “I’m also excited to be able to compete alongside people who share the same passion for athletics as myself.”

Tal Pelmont represented Maccabi GB at the JCC Maccabi Games in 2014.

“That experience gave me the impetus to compete further and was the start of my running journey,” he said. “This is an exciting new stage for us all by competing at the third biggest sporting event in the world.”

GB’s track and field team: Joel Alexander, Rachel Ayrton, Eden Davis, Allana Edwards, Idan Gal-Shohet, William Levy, Ben Oehley, Tal Pelmont, David Stone, Lucie Wolfenden.

2017 coverage sponsored by

10,000 athletes, 80 countries, 47 sports and 1 Maccabiah

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14 JUNE 2017

PARENTING 29

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

The opportunity of disappointment

RABBI MALCOLM HERMAN

We want our children to be constantly happy -but is that realistic and does it prepare for the actualities of day to day life?

I must confess this is my first experience of writing a column. In everyday life, I talk to people who talk back to me! We sit around a table or in a lecture hall with an audience that is never shy to interject, challenge or disagree – which is great. It is a very different experience writing to an audience that I do meet and might never know. In a live setting, one can begin with certain assumptions and review them as necessary as the presentation progresses. There is no such opportunity facing the screen. That brings me to two important points. Firstly it would be very nice to hear from you in person! So drop me a line and say hello. Secondly, although this column was originally intended to serialise the book that I coauthored with Professor Irvine Gersch, “Everyday Parenting for Everyday Parents”, I decided that some of those assumptions needed articulating. So over the past few weeks, we have been looking at the atmosphere at home and the environment in which healthy parenting happens. Parenting does not happen in a vacuum. You can choose whichever techniques or methodology you want, but they

only succeed if the home structure supports them.

In today’s column, we look at the delicate balance required to prepare children for real life with its ups and downs, challenges and disappointments.

One of the classic Jewish works on successful Jewish living raises a fascinating issue. Why did G-d create “teething”? Why not let those newcomers make their way painlessly through the gums when the time is right without all the agony of teething? His answer is profound, simple and important.

Pain is part of life. That is a fact of our world and subliminally this is introduced to the child. It is one of life’s lessons. So we have to equip our children to handle life’s disappointments as they confront them without falling apart or resorting to constant distraction.

The latter is a particularly dangerous route. As life presents more challenges, those distractions would need to ever more alluring.

When our eldest was very small, about two and a half, we had arranged to go an exciting outing to the local park. (Outings were cheap at that age..). We spoke about it in anticipation

for days ahead... This was to be special father/daughter time. The great moment arrived.

Sunday afternoon at 2pm and we set out for the long trek around the corner naturally equipped with snacks, drinks and enough equipment for every possible weather outcome.

When we finally made it to the summit – well, the swings and

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roundabout, we discovered to our frustration that the area was closed for repairs. This was, of course, a major blow to our great plans. The Jewish dad Gene began itching and my initial inclination was to compensate. I checked my watch “Toys R Us” would still be open. Nothing too extravagant, just a couple of hundred pounds.

Then I realised that she was going to be fine. It was more about spending the time together than the destination. We chatted on the way home and played in the garden instead. We may not have had our outing but we swapped it for an opportunity to practice dealing with disappointment.

If we overcompensate, we under prepare our children for the realities of life. That is a disservice, not an education.

Today there is a pressure to keep children constantly happy, constantly occupied and constantly entertained. Yet there are times when life is not happy or entertaining. It is sometimes dreary at best and even downright depressing at worst. How will they survive those disenchanting moments in later life if we replace every broken toy and every car journey is fun?

The most difficult challenge of good parenting is that it begins with a look in the mirror! Our fifth tool of parenting is that we have to “Live the message”. Maybe we too have forgotten how to stand for three minutes in a queue without checking our phones or to take a solitary walk without listening to music. Our children observe us and mimic.

When life throws up difficulties, we need to acknowledge a child’s feelings, listen to their frustration and help them move on. However, we don’t need to fix everything or ensure that they are continuously busy.

Rabbi Malcolm Herman Associate National Director seed uk For questions or comments email mherman@seed.uk.net He is the co-author of Everyday Parenting for Everyday Parents together with Professor Irvine Gersch. To find out more about classes and courses see www.seed.uk.net Rabbi Herman’s parenting column features every fortnight in The Jewish Weekly and his book can be purchased on Amazon.

34 YOUTH

14 JUNE 2017

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

Shelach Lecha In a Nutshell Moshe sends one spy from each tribe to the land of Canaan (12). Forty days later they return, carrying a huge cluster of grapes, a pomegranate and a fig, to report on a beautiful land. But ten of the spies warn that the inhabitants of the land are giants and warriors “more powerful than we”. Calev and

Yehoshuah are the only two spies that insist that the land can be conquered, as G-d has commanded.

The people weep that they’d rather return to Egypt. G-d decrees that Israel’s entry into the Land, will be delayed by forty years, during which time that entire generation will

die out in the desert. A group of regretful Jews storm the mountain on the border of the Land, and are routed by the Amalekites and Canaanites.

The laws of the menachot (meal, wine and oil offerings) are given, as well as the mitzvah to consecrate a portion of the dough to G-d when making

bread. G-d instructs to place tzitzit (fringes) on the four corners of a garments, so that we should remember to fulfill the mitzvot (divine commandments).

5 MUST HAVE SUMMER GADGETS Summer is just around the corner and to compliment your entertainment we have gathered some of the best gadgets and accessories to enhance your summer adventures.

1

USB FAN

For times when you are stuck in the scorching heat and have nothing but your laptop with you, this USB fan from Skyleo is all that you’ll ever need. Prices start from £2.00.

2

3

ACTION CAMERA AND GO PROS

If you spend your summers hiking, biking surfing and swimming, chances are you’ve thought about an action camera.

Take the plunge and get a GoPro, or something similar, to record those action packed memories. Pricest start at £45.99 5

4

SOLAR PANEL PHONE CHARGER

These chargers mean you can keep your device charged while out and about. Prices start from £4.99

NE

O DR

PORTABLE SPEAKER

Sometimes we couldn’t be any more )grateful for technology and, well, this is one of those times. We never take for granted how cool and convenient it is to be able to listen to our music from our phone to our wireless bluetooth speaker.

These Bose speakers do the treat for those portable tunes.

Summer has always been the perfect time to enjoy the thrill of flying, making it the ideal time to unpack and launch a drone. Drones can now be equipped with equipped with HD cameras, making them ideal for aerial exploration of summer vistas. It’s not hard to spend a tidy sum on these high tech drones, but even the pricier ones are bargains compared to the cost of flying a real airplane, prices start at £110.99

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

14 JUNE 2017

YOUTH 35

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

News Bites SWEDISH TOWN CONSIDERS MUSICAL SCHOOL TOILETS FOR PUPILS

A Swedish councillor has suggested installing music in school toilets, to help pupils worried about embarrassing noises.

Centre Party councillor Cecilia Cato, in the town of Tingsryd, says some are so concerned that they refuse to use the toilet all day.

She raised the musical solution in a proposal to the council.

“I don’t think it’s just about number two on the toilet, but many also don’t do number one,” Ms Cato told The Local.

The local authority will now take a vote on her suggestion.

7-FOOT ALLIGATOR TAKES A DIP IN FAMILY POOL A 7 foot alligator took a dip in a family from Florida’s pool before being caught and released into the wild.

Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office was called to the scene where an alligator was found at in their swimming pool.

The animal, which measured between seven and eight feet, was eventually captured.

The sheriff’s office wrote in a

Facebook post: “Luckily, these homeowners took a second look this morning before jumping in to kick off their Memorial Day.”

KEEP CALM AND ASK

AGONY AUNT MIA AND AGONY UNCLE JOEY

The Jewish Weekly’s Teen Agony Aunt and Agony Uncle are here to help with all your questions, problems and difficulties. Just write your letter to agonyaunt@thejewishweekly.com or agonyuncle@thejewishweekly.com

HUGE BEE SWARM SPARKS RUSH-HOUR STANDSTILL IN SOUTH EAST LONDON

A giant swarm of bees brought rush-hour traffic to a standstill and sent onlookers ducking for cover in south east London.

Commuters stopped in their tracks as the swarm filled the air in Greenwich Church Street, close to Greenwich market last

week.

Many shared videos of the unusual scene on social media, while Transport for London posted a photograph of the bees resting on traffic lights.

The swarm stayed for at least an hour, with onlookers shocked at the “hideous” sight.

TREE-CLIMBING GOATS AID FARMING IN MOROCCO Scientists are challenging the idea the the goats are a menace to the trees because they like climbing them and eating the fruit.

It’s tough for trees to thrive in the semi-desert Sous valley region of southern Morocco, but scientists have found that some might be getting a helping hand from an unlikely source.

While the local goats have been considered something of a menace because of their fondness for the argan fruit,

Spanish ecologists have observed an unusual way in which they might actually be helping - they are constantly spitting out their seeds.

Local goatherds are

known to encourage the activity, pruning the bushy, thorny trees to make it easier for goats to ascend them, and even helping the goats’ kids to learn how to climb.

Dear Agony Uncle Joey,

Dear Andrew,

I am approaching my GCSE’s next year, and I have always wanted to be a politician. I have always spoken well in school debating sessions, and I enjoy the thrill of a good solid debate. I am doing Government and Politics and have been predicted good grades. However, the events of last week, and in particular the way in which our Prime Minister has been ferociously hounded, by the press, her own colleges and political opponents alike, has really put me off. It’s a nasty cut-throat world out there and I am seriously thinking of dropping it and pursuing a less volatile career, one that may be ‘safer’ to one’s health, peace of mind and family life.My parents are both telling me to carry on, but I’m really torn on this one.

Politics is definitely on the forefront of everyone’s mind right now! The first thing I will say is that you definitely should not drop it as a subject. Even if you don’t end up as a politician it is still highly useful on your CV for other employment opportunities. You’re clearly a talented individual, and the fact that you have been predicted good grades, means that you certainly should finish the course. With regards to later life, every job or business brings with it a wealth of potential problems and challenges on a daily basis, and we cannot simply avoid difficult situations; rather we must learn how to handle them.Having said that, not many people end up becoming a world leader, and for most ordinary people, the intense level of scrutiny that Prime Ministers, footballers and celebrities etc. are constantly under is not something that should cause too many sleepless nights to an average person. Follow your brain and see where it takes you, and remember if you do end up in number 10, invite me round for a coffee!

Any thoughts?

Andrew

Good luck,

Disclaimer: All letters that are published may be edited. All letters are kept confidential and names can be changed for confidentiality upon request.

Joey

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

36 YOUTH

14 JUNE 2017

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

ROOD

thingthing

PA PER

OTTFFSSENT

HOROBOD Uous

am

Q: Why did the picture go to prison?

A: Because it was framed.

“How do you shoot a killer bee?”

A: “With a bee bee gun.”

Q: Why can’t you give Elsa a balloon?

A: Because she will Let it go.

(Answers at the bottom of page upside down)

1. Can you name three consecutive days without using the words Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday?

Q: What did the baby corn say to the mama corn?

A: “Where’s Popcorn?”

1.

Yesterday, today and tomorrow.

3.

The letter ‘m’.

1.Back Door 2.One thing after another 3.Robin Hood 4. Paper Cut 5. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 6.Ambiguous

Dingbats Answers THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

2.

The word is starting! starting, staring, string, sting, sing, sin, in, i.

3. What comes once in a minute, Twice in a moment, But never in a thousand years.

2. What 8 letter word can have a letter taken away and it still makes a word. Take another letter away and it still makes a word. Keep on doing that until you have one letter left.

What is the word?

14 JUNE 2017

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

YOUTH 37

14 JUNE 2017

MUSIC 43

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

A musical genius on Israel and Yiddish poetry Hannah Harnest was born in New York in 1985 and grew up in Munich and Paris. She is a professionally trained pianist, having played internationally as a soloist and chamber music partner, and holds Masters degrees from the London School of Economics and the Royal Academy of Music, London. She currently works as a principal instrumental and vocal coach within the music department of the University of Edinburgh, and starting from the summer of 2017, she will take up studies at the prestigious School of Journalism at Columbia University New York.

BY HANNAH HARNEST Russian-born pianist Evgeny Kissin is a phenomenon. Hailed as an exceptional wunderkind, I remember attending a concert of his in the early ‘90s as a 5-year-old child and being completely blown away. Not only is his playing more than technically accurate, it is also infused with high intelligence and a rare sensibility and understanding of the music in question. This gift that few are given in their youth, and that bestows on them a moment of unmatchable fame in history, usually abates at the end of their adolescence due to various factors, such as mental overload, psychological problems, or the typical burnout. However, Kissin has managed to put himself up in the sphere of those eternally valid masters at the piano – and justifiably so. I grew up with his exemplary art, and it seems like an eternity that he has continuously been filling soldout concert halls all over the world.

He will turn only 46 in autumn this year, and he just got married.

If you imagine an iTunes library on someone’s computer which has been used to its fullest capacity, this will approximately correspond to the abundance of repertoire that is stored away in Kissin’s head (and to be retrieved at will), which explains his notoriously famous

encores. He was the first pianist to play a solo piano recital in the BBC Proms’s history in 1997 at the Royal Albert Hall, and he must have played at least seven encores.

Today, Kissin is not a prodigy anymore; he is far more than that.

This is of course thanks to his music, but also to the versatility of his personality, which is partly expressed in his courage to publicly advocate for Israel and to proudly show his Jewish roots.

Being a traveller of the world, he became a British citizen in 2002.

Kissin’s use of his popularity to publicly support Israel has been ongoing for a while, and in December 2009 he sent an open letter to the Director-General of the BBC, criticising the institution of daily slander and bias towards Israel and comparing this to the old Soviet anti-Zionist propaganda. He took as culmination of this attitude the BBC’s Persian service’s blood libel concerning Israel’s alleged harvesting of Palestinian organs and blood for future transplant. Being a very thoughtful, considerate and educated person, it is worth even more if this critique comes from someone like him.

Kissin grew up in an assimilated Russian-Jewish household in Moscow. He says that although he knew nothing about Jewish history and religion, he was always strongly aware of his identity. For some time now, he has been performing music by forgotten Jewish composers, and this in world-famous settings such as Carnegie Hall in New York (December 2015), where he played pieces by Bloch, Veprik, Krein, and Mikhail Moshe Arnoldovich Milner. Most important of all, Kissin has given readings of other people’s and his own Yiddish poetry. I have listened to him myself at the Center for Jewish History in New York in December 2015, and it was astounding to become a witness of this man’s mastery of the Yiddish language. His memory is a phenomenon, and the melodic contour of his speaking reminds you of the shtetl.

Kissin’s next solo recital in London will be on 29 March 2018 at the Barbican Center, with a programme of Beethoven’s Hammerklavier Sonata and a selection of Rachmaninoff’s preludes. This seems

Evgeny Kissin PHOTO CREDIT: STEVE J SHERMAN

far away, but it is advisable to book

early because he attracts large

crowds.

Chazan

Available for Shabbat services for all your simchas

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44 NUTRITION

14 JUNE 2017

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

The hidden tricks to lose weight

BY ALAN FREISHTAT I hope the title of this article doesn’t have you thinking that I have found some great shortcut to weight loss.

There isn’t one. We still don’t have a proven and safe medication, nor do we even have a surgical procedure that we are absolutely sure is safe or even effective in the long term. As much as my clients would love it if I pulled some magic wand out of my desk drawer and waved it over their head a few times, making them lose 15 kg over the next few days, it just won’t happen.

As a matter of fact, weight loss is exactly the opposite. It takes hard work, along with awareness and mindfulness, good planning and investing time into proper eating and exercise. But, what if there was a way to change your focus to make it easier for you to lose weight?

Brian Wansink Ph.D has been researching food-related behaviors for 25 years. His research is fascinating to say the least. He has concluded that it is easier to change the eating environment than to change your mind. He points out that most of us eat mindlessly and that many of the solutions for that problem go undiscovered because, as he says, “we just don’t look for them.” Dr Wansink says we get too focused on eating less of certain foods and more of others, or on trying some new-fangled diet we hear about from a friend or read in the newspaper, rather than taking a close look at environment around us.

Let’s remember that behavioural change, which is what eating and exercising differently is really all about, has two main components.

What is my motivation levels to change (is it worth it), and how is my ability to change (can I do it)?

If you want to throw willpower into the equation you can, but that rarely brings on permanent and sustainable change. It can be a valuable tool for a while, but ultimately, your willpower will just plain run out.

However, not everyone is ready to work on changing their habits full throttle. And one good way to get started is to look at areas other than food consumption and exercise. So what factors should you look at in order to find success? Dr Wansink says the solution is to tweak our homes, workplaces, schools, restaurant dining and grocery shopping so that we mindlessly eat less instead of more.

So what are some of these tricks?

Here’s the first one—always use plates that are NOT the same color as your food. In an experiment at Cornell University, people who put white pasta on a white plate, or pasta in red marinara sauce on a red plate, ate 18% more than those who did the opposite and put contrasting plates and foods together. So in your home, don’t use plates that are the same color as the food you put on them.

In another piece of research known as the Syracuse study, researchers visited 230 homes in Syracuse, NY, took pictures of all

the food that was left on the kitchen counters, and weighed the occupants of these homes. The first thing they found is that the size of the kitchen itself made very little difference, but what food was left out on the counters made a big difference. The average woman who left crisps on her counter as opposed to having them put away in a food pantry weighed 8 pounds more. But the most dangerous food to keep out are breakfast cereals.

Women who kept the cereal out on the counter, even one box, had an average weight of 21 pounds more than those who didn’t.

One of the reasons this is a big culprit is that the boxes say things like “Contains only whole grains” or “11 Essential Vitamins and Minerals.” We figure it must be healthy so we don’t think twice about taking a little extra and then even a

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little more extra. As Dr Wansink says, “In sight, in stomach.”

How do you serve your food? If you serve family style, that is, that you put your food in serving bowls and bring those bowls to the table, you are eating 19% more than if you bring a plate with the proper portions on it from the kitchen to the dining room. One is much more likely to take seconds or thirds if the food is on the table than to get up and walk a few metres over to the kitchen to take seconds. If you do need to serve family style, bowls with lids are helpful.

Dr Wansink’s research has come up with 150 proven ways to help you lose weight. 100 of them are home-related. Although we can’t enumerate all of these in this article, here are 10 tips that are related to your home environment and that will help you keep your weight down: 1. Serve salad and vegetables first, before the entrée and starches are brought to the table.

2. The main dish is pre-plated and served from the stove or counter.

3. Your dinner plates are 9-10 inches wide (not larger).

4. You eat sitting at a table without distractions (like your tablet or laptop computer).

5. There are two or fewer cans of soft drinks in your refrigerator at any one time.

6. Your kitchen counters are organised and not messy.

7. Precut fruit and veggies are now on your middle refrigerator shelf.

8. At least six single servings of protein are in your fridge— eggs, yogurt, string cheese or tofu are some common choices 9. Your snacks are kept in one

INCONVENIENT place.

10. The only food on your kitchen counter is a bowl of fruit.

In today’s busy world where all of us are overscheduled, not everyone will be able to engage in weight loss through the standard, and even successful, ways. But if we can take some time once to reorganise our kitchen and institute a few rules about how we serve our food, we can all begin the weight loss process without totally overhauling our lives. Making any or all of these small changes just may help you to lose weight and “add hours to your day, days to your year and years to your life.”

Alan Freishtat is an A.C.E. certified personal trainer and a behavioural change and wellness coach with over 19 years of professional experience. Alan is the creator and director of the “10 Weeks to Health” programme for weight loss and is available for private coaching sessions, consultations, assessments and personalised workout programmes both in his office and by telephone or Skype. Alan also lectures and gives seminars and workshops.

Contact Alan on 02-651-8502 or 050-555-7175, or email alan@alanfitness.com.

For more information visit www.alanfitness.com

14 JUNE 2017

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

55 min Duration 35 min Cook Time 20 min Prep Time 8+ Servings

joyofkosher.com INGREDIENTS

Poaching Liquid • 2¼ cup all purpose flour • 1½ cup white sugar • 3½ teaspoon baking powder • 1 teaspoon salt • ½ cup canola oil • 1 cup non-dairy creamer • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract • 4 egg whites Custard Filling • 1½ cup non-dairy creamer, divided

FOOD 45

• ½ cup white sugar • 1 pinch salt • 4 tablespoon cornstarch • 2 egg yolks • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract Chocolate Frosting • 2 cups confectioners’ sugar • ¾ cup cocoa powder • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract • ¼ cup soy or rice milk or water

PREPARATION Cake 1. Preheat oven to 175°C. Grease and flour 2 round 9-inch baking pans.

2. In a large bowl, measure flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, oil, non-dairy creamer, and vanilla.

Beat 2 minutes on high speed, scraping bowl occasionally.

3. In a large glass or metal mixing bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form.

4. Fold ⅓ of the whites into the batter, then quickly fold in remaining whites until no streaks remain.

5. Pour batter into pans.

6. Bake 30 to 35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the cake will come out clean.

Filling 1. Over a medium flame, heat 1¼ cups non-dairy creamer until bubbles begin to form around the edge of the saucepan. Immediately add sugar and salt, stirring until dissolved. Remove pan from the heat.

2. In a small bowl, combine remaining ¼ cup non-dairy creamer with cornstarch and whisk to remove lumps.

Whisk in 2 egg yolks.

3. Pour hot creamer mixture into cold creamer mixture in a thin stream, whisking constantly.

4. Return the mixture to the saucepan, bring to a boil, and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the custard thickens and is smooth (5 to 10 minutes). Remove from heat.

5. Stir in vanilla. Allow to cool to room temperature.

Chocolate Frosting 1. Whisk all ingredients together in a heavy saucepan over low heat, whisking vigorously until smooth.

2. Add extra water or soy or rice milk if needed until desired consistency is reached.

To assemble cake: 1. Remove cakes from pans.

2. Place 1 cake on a serving plate or board, and spread with the custard filling.

3. Top with second cake layer.

4. Pour chocolate frosting over and down the sides of the cake.

5. Store in refrigerator.

BOSTON CREAM PIE

SPARKLING MANGO STRAWBERRY SANGRIA • • • •

• • • • •

•

1 bottle sparkling wine (chilled) 4 ounce orange liqueur 4 ounce lime-flavored soda 9 ounce Fresh mango & strawberry puree (6 large strawberries with 1 ounces simple syrup + 6 ounces strained mango puree) 6 ounce fresh orange juice 6 ounce fresh lemon juice 3 ounce simple syrup or to taste (mint infused) 2 cinnamon sticks Mango diamond chunks, strawberries, orange & lemon slices, mint sprig Large Boudreaux glass with ice

Place the ingredients (excluding sparkling wine) into a large glass container, cover and refrigerate overnight. When ready to serve pour into an ice filled pitcher to 2/3 full. Add fresh sliced fruits and top with sparkling wine, stir gently to mix.

8 Servings

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46 PUZZLES

14 JUNE 2017

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

Number Puzzle

Puzzle Page

Place the numbers 1 to 9 to make a valid equation

CRISS-CROSS Fill in the blanks with the words. To help you get started one letter is already in place.

Easy Sudoko

Hard Sudoko

Visual Puzzle

Spot the two identical images.

Visual Puzzle

Spot the two identical images.

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