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BICOM CEO WARNS OF ‘SERIOUS HARM’ IN REPORT

Jeremy Corbyn

A Labour government could impact alarmingly on UK-Israel relations in the Middle East and around the world according to a new briefing report by Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre (Bicom).

The pro-Israel think tank outlined potential implications of a Jeremy Corbyn led administration adopting a pessimistic stance towards Israel in its paper ‘Labour Party Foreign Policy in the Middle East - an Analysis’ published on Tuesday.

BICOM CEO James Sorene lambasted Corbyn’s Party in his assessment of the paper.

“Labour’s foreign policy is an issue of deep concern to many of Britain’s closest allies in the Middle East, and around the world,” he said.

“Decades of intelligence and defence cooperation are at risk.

“Booming bilateral trade, inward investment and job creation could be in peril, precisely when we need them the most as we leave the EU. “If Labour move too close to Iran and Hamas and Hezbollah, then this will also undermine international efforts to fight terrorism and even limit the sharing of vital intelligence that saves British lives.”

He further warned, “If Labour recognise a Palestinian state and adopt the Palestinian position of putting international pressure on Israel it could lose its influence with

TRUMP’S RETWEETS CAUSES STORM

Israel to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“Moves towards a boycott of settlement goods could provide a slippery slope to wider boycotts of Israel and this would seriously harm Britain-Israel relations and impair an expanding trade partnership that creates thousands of UK jobs.”

Board of Deputies President Jonathan Arkush backed BICOM’s document.

“BICOM’s briefing should be widely read, it is cogent and timely,” he said.

“As the report warns, if past form were to be repeated in Government, this could damage Britain’s interests in the Middle East and around the world.

“Cosying up to Iran Hamas and Hezbollah, the world’s principal sponsors of terrorism, would

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Labour has “unequivocal support” for Israel says Shadow foreign secretary at LFI lunch

BY ADAM MOSES Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry reiterated Labour’s “unequivocal support” for the State of Israel in a keynote speech at a Labour Friends of Israel annual lunch on Tuesday.

She also reaffirmed the Party’s manifesto pledge to support a twostate solution in a secure Israel.

And closer to home, the shadow minister said Labour would apply a “zero-tolerance approach” to anyone holding anti-semitic views “We must continue to protect the rights of Jewish people to enjoy the most basic freedom of all - freedom from fear, persecution and violence,” Thornberry told guests despite her “profound differences” with the current government of Israel.

Thornbury said the Middle East had much to learn from Israel and viewed a positive vision how a

Labor-led government could build a more peaceful, more prosperous and more progressive future both for Israel and its neighbours.

Recalling her recent trip to Israel, she said there was a long way to go before Israeli citizens can feel safe in their homes streets and borders.

Whilst recognising the issues of Israeli life under a constant undercurrent of fear, she noted a Labour government would tell the Israeli government it must cease settlement-building.

“We will work for a solution to the tragic plight of Gaza – one that seeks both to end the blockade, while also protecting the people of Israel from Hamas rocket attacks,” Thornberry said. “And we will recognise the State of Palestine, because it is in the interests of Israel, the Palestinians and peace.”

She added. “Recognition of a Palestinian state is just a starting point. The next Labour government

will be strong advocates of a twostate solution: one that brings the people of Israel lasting security and peace and one that brings the people of Palestine a viable, democratic and prosperous state.”

In terms of the much-publicised anti-semitic views in the Labour Party, she noted there was no place for anyone holding anti-semitic views or who denies the right of Israel to exist.

“Any people who hold those views must and will be drummed out of our party,” Thornberry said.

“It would be a crying shame if when voters next go to the polls, we fail to win councils like Barnet or seats like Finchley and Golders Green, not because we don’t have the right policies or the right candidates, but because large parts of those communities feel that we are not doing enough to tackle the bigotry and prejudice that they face.

“Instead, if we can demonstrate

Labour government could “seriously harm” Britain-Israel relations warns BICOM CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

threaten Britain’s security.

“Such countries and groups must be challenged, not indulged.

“Like all political parties, it is up to Labour to convince the UK’s Jews that they are worthy of our support. As we saw in the 2017 General Election, the Jewish community made a clear difference in a series of tight marginal seats.

“I hope that Labour will read the BICOM briefing carefully and heed its warnings.

Mr Arkush added, “Polls suggest

BICOM CEO James Sorene

that Labour has alienated almost all the support from Jews in Britain that it previously counted on.

“It is not too late to turn the tide, but Labour needs urgently to adopt policies that will protect Britain’s security and British jobs, and preserve the relationship with Israel, Britain’s most dependable ally in the Middle East and a key partner in counter-terror, trade and co-operation in the high tech industries of the future.”

Among key points, the report noted Labour’s position in the 2017 manifesto and in Corbyn’s speeches and interviews since becoming leader threatened to “drive a wedge between Britain and its traditional allies – both Israel and Western-aligned Arab states.”

In terms of Labour’s clear commitment to supporting a two-state solution, a manifesto pledge to recognise Palestine would likely be “swiftly fulfilled by a Labour government, boosting the Palestinians’ campaign for recognition outside the context of an agreement with Israel, whilst having a chilling effect on UK-Israel relations”. This in turn could be compounded if Labour leader’s calls for increasing international pressure on Israel resulted in a shift in voting patterns

in the United Nations, UNESCO and the UN Human Rights Council to move closer to Palestinian positions.

The report also highlighted a recent visit to Israel when Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry stressed Labour’s commitment to UK-Israel relations and her opposition to boycott, divestment and sanctions, but also said she would personally avoid buying goods from settlements.

The paper added that whereas the Conservatives have worked against local government boycotts, Labour has said local councils should set their own policies, raising concerns that pro-boycott positions – which have support on the Labour left – may gain ground under a Labour government.

Other concerns raised included how a Labour government might react to wars between Israel and Hamas or Hezbollah.

Emily Thornberry

that zero-tolerance approach to anti-semitism, not just in words but in action, then I hope we can get back to having a conversation with those Jewish voters about the other issues on which we all agree.”

Thorberry’s speech came 24 hours after Bicom’s scathing report on a potential Labour government when chief executive James Sorene said Labour’s foreign policy is an

Florida bomb plotter set for 25 year life term

BY ISAAC SHERMAN

A 41-year-old Florida man who conspired to bomb a local synagogue and Jewish school last Pesach could receive a 25 years jail sentence.

James Medina pleaded guilty in a US district court to a religious

James Medina

The Jewish Weekly www.thejewishweekly.com office@thejewishweekly.com editorial@thejewishweekly.com letters@thejewishweekly.com advertising@thejewishweekly.com London tel. 0203 906 8488 Manchester tel. 0161 804 1321

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issue of “deep concern” to many of Britain’s closest allies in the Middle East and around the world.

He added that recognition by Labour of a Palestinian State and adoption of the Palestinian position could lose its influence with Israel to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

hate crime and attempt to use a weapon of mass destruction.

Whist his bomb provided by an FBI informant was fake, the Muslim convert planned to blow up the Aventura Turnberry Jewish Centre in Miami in 2016.

The FBI noted Medina intended using AK-47-style weapons at the 800-member Florida shul.

An unnamed informant recorded the plot, including one where Medina claimed allegiance to Islamic State and felt obligated to attack Jews in America.

Medina, who accepted he required help for his mental state, has been hospitalised in federal custody.

Under the terms, Medina will return to court once his treatment is complete. And he may receive a life sentence as Judge Robert Scola noted the severity of the offence.

WHAT’S INSIDE THIS WEEK

04 News 08 Israel News 12 Community News 24 Judaism 28 Business 30 Sports 32 Kids

36 Youth 40 Women 32 Comedy 33 Travel 42 Travel 44 Nutrition 45 Food 46 Puzzles

30 NOVEMBER 2017

NEWS 5

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Jewish leaders wish Mazel Tov to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on engagement

BY DEBORAH WAXLER Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis has wished Prince Harry and American actress Meghan Markle a “lifetime of happiness” following their engagement.

Clarence House made the official announcement on Monday morning.

And Israel’s president Reuven Rivlin invited the couple to honeymoon in Israel.

The Royal wedding is set to take place in Spring 2018.

The fifth in line to the throne told The Queen, close members of his family and received the blessing of Ms. Markle’s parents.

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were “delighted for the couple and wish them every happiness”, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said.

Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, were “very excited for Harry and Meghan”, adding: “It has been wonderful getting to know Meghan and to

see how happy she and Harry are together.”

Prince Charles on a visit to Poundbury in Dorset said: “We’re thrilled, thank you so much. I hope they’ll be very happy indeed.”

The Chief Rabbi was thrilled to hear news of the engagement.

“I wish them a lifetime of health, happiness and continued blessings together,” he said. “Mazal tov.”

Israel’s president noted on Twitter, “Mazal Tov to HRH Prince Harry & fiancé Meghan Markle.

Sending our warmest regards to Her Majesty the Queen, Duke of Edinburgh, all the Royal Family & the British people, from Nechama & me, & all the Israeli people. We invite them to enjoy their honeymoon in Israel!”

The Board of Deputies tweeted, “Mazeltov to Prince Harry and Meghan. We wish them a very happy life together.“ Jewish Leadership Council’s CEO Simon Johnson said: “We wish a huge Mazal Tov to HRH Prince Harry on his engagement to Meghan Markle. Such happy news

is very welcome and we wish the happy couple every happiness for their lives ahead.”

Political leaders joined in the congratulations.

Prime Minister Theresa May offered her “very warmest congratulations and wished the couple “great happiness for the future.”

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn wished them well.

He added, “I hope they have a great life together. Having met Harry a couple of times I’m sure they’re going to have a great deal of fun together.”

Ms Markle, who hails from Los Angeles is a widely respected humanitarian campaigner.

Harry, 33 and Ms Markle, 36, made their first public appearance together at the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games in September.

The couple has been dating since the summer of 2016 and were secretly engaged earlier this month.

After press photographs on Monday afternoon, they held a broadcast interview in the evening.

The couple will live in

Prince Harry

Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace, where the Duke and

Meghan Markle

Duchess of Cambridge have an apartment.

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6 NEWS

Jewish future to be discussed in Hungary Summit

BY ISAAC SHERMAN The future for Jews in Europe, in particular Hungary, was the theme of a high-level meeting of Jewish leaders, politicians and security experts in Budapest yesterday.

Hungarian Interior Minister Sándor Pintér hosted the high-level conference organised by The Action and Protection Foundation.

TEV’s fifth anniversary conference comprised of a series of lectures and panel discussions regarding how migration patterns effect European identity, the rise of anti-Semitic incidents and how they are measured, and how young people adapt to anti-Semitic threats.

Panelists also focused on how Hungary is facing the challenge of extreme-right party Jobbik looking set to become the second largest political force despite a history of anti-Semitism, which have only been superficially addressed before upcoming elections.

TEV Secretary Kálmán

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Board slams US President over Far-Right group retweet

Szalai, who organised the event said, “This was an extremely important gathering for Euro- BY MELANIE SINCLAIR pean Jewry.

“The two biggest challenges Board of Deputies Vice President to Europe today will be dis- Marie van der Zyl has condemned cussed. Migration and terrorism President Donald Trump’s retweets of both have a serious impact on videos posted by Britain First Deputy the Jewish community.

Leader Jayda Fransen.

“In Hungary, we face an A Downing Street spokesman said additional challenge from an Trump’s actions were “wrong”. extreme right party, the JobThe media storm follows Trump’s bik, which has built its base on Twitter account retweeting a trio of spreading rational hatred and inflammatory videos from the Britantisemitism, and today is using ish far-right group allegedly showing the general frustration of voters Muslims committing hate crimes. to gain favour.

Ms Fransen has over 50,000 follow“Education is the only way to ers on Twitter. form an inclusive society and She responded with glee, posting: we hope that this conference “God bless you Trump! God bless will be part of that solution.”

America!”

High profile speakers includMs van der Zyl lambasted Trump’s ed Dr István Mikola, Hungarian actions, “It is of grave concern that Minister of State for Security the President of the United States Policy and International Coop- would retweet videos from the deputy eration, Rabbi Andrew Baker, leader of Britain First.

Personal Representative of the “They are a nasty far-right group OSCE Chairperson-in-Office which seeks to intimidate minorities, on Combating Anti-Semitism, especially Muslims.

Mike Whine, Community Secu“We call on the President to delete rity Trust and Eli Hazan, Likud the tweets and make clear his opposiParty Foreign Affairs Secretary. tion to all sorts of racism and hatred.”

With Trump sharing tweets with 43.6 million followers political comment was swift.

With Prime Minister Theresa May on an overseas trip, a Downing Street spokesman said Britain First used “hateful narratives which peddle lies and stoke tensions”.

He continued, “British people overwhelmingly reject the prejudiced rhetoric of the far right which is the antithesis of the values that this country represents - decency, tolerance and respect.”

Regarding Trump, the spokesman added: “It is wrong for the president to have done this.”

Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn called the retweets “abhorrent” and “dangerous”.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said Mrs May and other world leaders knew videos highlighted “real threats that we have to talk about”.

BOD expresses solidarity with Belgian Jews over kosher slaughter ban

BY ISAAC SHERMAN

The Board of Deputies has expressed solidarity with the Jewish community in Belgium as it files a legal challenge to Belgium’s Constitutional Court regarding a law passed by the Walloon Parliament banning Shechita – the kosher slaughter of animals.

The legal challenge was submitted to Belgium’s Constitutional Court by the Belgian Federation of Jewish Organizations (CCOJB), the Belgian sister organisation of the Board of Deputies. The lawsuit is being supported by The Lawfare Project, a Legal Think Tank and Civil Rights litigation fund, which files legal cases against anti-Jewish discrimination around the world.

The Parliaments of both the Wallonia and Flanders regions, the two largest in Belgium, passed laws earlier this year designed to outlaw religious slaughter, which includes kosher and halal slaughter. In May, the Wallonia parliament voted unanimously to ban the traditional methods of religious slaughter. The parliament in Flanders, where half of Belgium’s Jews live and where

the majority of Belgium’s kosher facilities provide meat for Jewish communities in Belgium and beyond, followed suit in July. The CCOJB and The Lawfare Project may file a similar lawsuit against the Flanders legislation early in 2018.

If the legislation is not annulled prior to coming into force in 2019 it would undermine the ability of minority faith communities to practice central tenets of their religions in Belgium. Such legislation violates EU law on this issue, the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, the European Convention on Human Rights and the Belgian Constitution itself, all of which guarantee freedom of religion.

Yohan Benizri, the President of the Belgian Federation of Jewish Organizations (CCOJB) and a vice-president of the World Jewish Congress, who submitted the lawsuit said: “Irrespective of its justification, a ban on kosher meat production sends a message to Belgian Jews that they can choose between living in Belgium and practicing their religion, but they

cannot do both. It sends a clear message to Belgium’s Jewish and Muslim communities that they are not welcome here. This is a violation of Belgian constitutional principles, EU law, and the freedom of religion enshrined as a fundamental right - we will challenge it as such, in Wallonia and in Flanders.”

“This lawsuit will also make it clear how important animal welfare is for us. In fact, it is particularly taxing that some try to portray our tradition as cruel whereas Jewish laws and traditions aim precisely at promoting animal welfare throughout the animal life cycle.”

Board of Deputies Senior Vice President Richard Verber said: “We stand resolutely with our friends and colleagues in the Belgian Jewish community as they challenge this unjust ban which strikes at the heart of sustainable Jewish life in the Europe. We have previously raised this issue with the Belgian Ambassador to the UK with unsatisfactory results and completely understand that the community has been left with no other option but to pursue all legal avenues open to it.”

“Whether it’s a real video, the threat is real,” she added.

The Muslim Council for Britain called on the Prime Minister’s government to “distance” itself from the comments.

“This is the clearest endorsement yet from the US president of the farright and their vile anti-Muslim propaganda,” a spokeswoman said.

31-year-old Fransen appears at Belfast Magistrates’ Court in December following her arrest by the Police Service of Northern Ireland in London on Saturday charged with using “threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour” at a Northern Ireland Against Terrorism rally at Belfast City Hall in August.

Former members of the British National Party founded Britain First in 2011.

Members, who failed to secure seats at European elections, had a 1.2% vote at the last London mayoral elections.

Supreme Court President launches BOD Family Life and Customs booklet

BY JW REPORTER President of the Supreme Court Lady Hale last night spoke at the launch of the Board of Deputies’ booklet, Jewish Family Life and Customs: a Practical Guide.

Speaking at the Supreme Court Lady Hale said that the Board of Deputies “should be congratulated” for producing a document which is “for all those legal professionals seeking to understand the Jewish community”.

In her speech, Lady Hale also praised her counterparts at the Israeli Supreme Court which, she said “deserves our support whenever we can give it to them”.

The booklet Jewish Family Life and Customs: A Practical Guide is intended for lawyers and judges who are working with Jewish

clients and Jewish contexts who need a trusted resource that provides baseline understanding of Jewish practices. It is a new edition of a booklet that was previously published in 2006. In that time much has changed in the wider legal context – from marriage laws to coroners’ practices.

The launch was attended by more than 100 people, including senior legal professionals, parliamentarians and communal figures.

Also speaking were Eleanor Platt QC, chair of the Board of Deputies’ Family Law Group and a co-editor of the guide; President Jonathan Arkush and Vice President Marie van der Zyl. The guide is available from the Board of Deputies website as well as on request in hard copy.

Family Life and Customs Guide launch

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8 ISRAEL NEWS

30 NOVEMBER 2017

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NEWS IN ISRAEL

Theresa May visits the Middle East British Prime Minister Theresa May arrived in the Middle East earlier this week for a three day visit to Jordan and Saudi Arabia aimed at strengthening links with trading partners as Britain makes plans to leave the European Union.

The Prime Minister’s spokesperson said that the visit “demonstrates that, as the UK leaves the EU, we are determined to forge a bold, confident future for ourselves in the world. We must look at the challenges that we and future generations will face and build stronger partnerships with countries that will be vital to our security”.

May will meet Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman today, with the diplomatic spat with Qatar and the vhumanitarian crisis in Yemen expected to be high on the agenda.

Speaking to a group of journalists ahead of the visit, May said she was “concerned about the humanitarian situation in Yemen. We are very clear that we want to see full humanitarian and commercial access through the port of Hodeida

– and that’s obviously an issue I will be raising when I am in Saudi Arabia”.

May is meeting this week with Jordan’s King Abdullah and Prime Minister Hani Al-Mulki to assess how Britain can support the Jordanian economy and ongoing efforts to defeat ISIS. More than 3,000 UK service personal are currently involved in training the Jordanian armed forces.

A British Government spokesperson said: “Jordan’s continued security, stability and economic sustainability are central to a peaceful future in the Middle East and are clearly in our mutual national interests”.

King Abdullah of Jordan was in Washington yesterday for meetings with US Vice President Mike Pence and National Security Adviser H R McMaster. King Abdullah also discussed efforts to revive the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and the Syrian War with Jared Kushner and Special Representative for International Negotiations Jason Greenblatt.

Theresa may at ath Middle East PHOTO CREDIT: BICOM

King Abdullah warned Greenblatt and Kushner that “failure to reach a just and comprehensive

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solution to the Palestinian cause will fuel further extremism and violence in the Middle East”.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH BICOM

30 NOVEMBER 2017

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New York event celebrates 70th anniversary of UN partition resolution US Vice President Mike Pence attended an event in New York earlier this week to mark the 70th anniversary of UN General Assembly Resolution 181 that recommended partitioning Mandatory Palestine into a Jewish state and Arab state.

The event was organised by the World Jewish Congress and the Israeli mission to the UN and was held in the Queens Museum in New York where the UN General Assembly met in 1947. Representatives of the 33 countries that supported the resolution were in attendance.

Pence said: “I bring the congratulations and support of a champion of Israel, President Donald Trump” and that “The President sent me with a simple message: Under our administration, America will always stand with Israel”.

70 years ago Pearce said: “The United Nations declared to the world an ancient truth. That the Jewish people

have a national, irrevocable right to an independent state in their ancestral and eternal homeland”. He also said that “the days of Israel-bashing at the UN are over”.

Pence also said that US President Donald Trump was “actively considering” moving the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the event via video link and described Israel as “a thriving democracy that helps so many people around the world” with many allies, “including the United States”.

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin published a video yesterday to mark the anniversary of the partition plan in which he said that “The United Nations vote on the 29th of November 1947, will stay in the memory of the Jewish people forever”. The President recalled that on the night of the vote, as a small child aged nine years old, he

had fallen asleep only to be awoken by the cheers from his family who were huddled around the radio listening to the vote.

Rivlin said: “We always knew and we know to this day, that our independence, our sovereignty in this land, was not based only on diplomats making votes. And the State of Israel has not flourished into a thriving economy and a vibrant democracy, because of a ‘yes’, a ‘no’, or even an ‘abstain’. The State of Israel, was born out of the 2,000 year old hope of the Jewish people to return to our homeland: to return to Zion, to Jerusalem. But the vote in the UN, 70 years ago, gave Israel something very special: a place among the nations.”

UN General Assembly Resolution 181 passed on 29th November 1947. 33 countries votes in favour, 13 against and 10 countries, including the United Kingdom, abstained.

ISRAEL NEWS 9

Netanyahu meets African leaders in Nairobi Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attended Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta’s inauguration ceremony in Nairobi earlier this week.

During his visit Netanyahu met with the leaders of Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Rwanda, Togo, Botswana, Namibia, Ethiopia and the Vice President of Nigeria. This was the his third visit to Africa in 18 months, part of a concerted effort to deepen ties between Israel and African countries.

Speaking at the inauguration, Netanyahu told the crowd: “We would like to work with you and with every one of your countries to electrify Africa. We

Netanyahu meeting African leaders PHOTO CREDIT: BICOM

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believe in Africa. So for every one of your initiatives, there will be an initiative on our part to seize the future, to make life better and safer for your people.”

“I hope that we will all find a way to have Israel to get observer status in the African Union because we can help, we can not only observe, we can help build together a better future for Africa,” he added.

The Israeli Prime Minister announced after his meeting with Rwandan President Paul Kagame that Israel will open a new embassy in Kigali and work has begin to open a direct air link between the two countries.

10 ISRAEL NEWS

ISIS Muslims murder Sufi Muslims

BY JAMES MARLOW IN JERUSALEM

Egypt remains in mourning after one of the deadliest attacks in its modern history occurred last Friday on its soil in northern Sinai.

At least 305 people were murdered with 27 of the dead being children as terrorists opened fire and tossed grenades into the Al Rawdah mosque where some 500 worshippers were praying.

A stampede broke out as hundreds rushed to the door screaming when the gunfire rang out and the blasts shook the mosque. Others tried desperately to force their way out of the windows.

Israel has offered assistance in seeking out and destroying terrorist bases in the Sinai which the Jewish state returned to Egypt under the 1978 Camp David Peace Accords.

Foreign reports have often said that Israel uses drones to target ISIS bases in the area.

Those who survived the Mosque attack spoke of children screaming as they saw parents and older brothers mowed down by gunfire or shredded by the blasts. Some families lost all or most male members

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in the massacre.

The attack began when the Imam was about to deliver his Friday sermon from the pulpit. Some 30 heavily armed Islamist militants wearing camouflage and carrying Islamic State black flags, took up positions across from the mosque’s door and windows.

They had earlier arrived in masked and dressed with black T-shirts. The devastating attack lasted for around 20 minutes.

One witness, a 38-year-old government employee, who did not want to be named for fear of retaliation said “There was a stampede. I fell down and then bodies piled up on top of me.”

Ebid Salem Mansour was another witness who told police he was a 38-year-old worker in the nearby salt factory and only settled in the town 3 years ago to escape the bloodshed and fighting elsewhere in northern Sinai. He suffered two gunshot wounds in the legs.

“Everyone lay down on the floor and kept their heads down. If you raised your head you got shot.”

Mansour also added the terrorists were shouting Allahu Akbar, or

God is great and many of the worshippers recited their final prayers.

So, composed were the terrorists that they checked their victims for any sign of life after the initial round of blazing gunfire. Those still moving or breathing received a bullet to the head or the chest, the witnesses said. When the ambulances arrived they also shot at them before fleeing.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi ordered warplanes to hit targets in the Sinai last weekend and the Egyptian military said it targeted several vehicles in which some of the terrorists of the attack were travelling. Although it was impossible to independently verify the claim since the media is virtually banned from working in Sinai.

The victims were Muslims who follow the mystical Sufi branch of Sunni Islam which ISIS has branded heretic because of their less literal interpretations of the faith.

Millions of Egyptians belong to Sufi orders, which hold sessions of chanting and poetry meant to draw the faithful closer to God. Sufis also hold shrines containing the tombs of holy men in particular

reverence.

The Egyptian military and security forces have been waging a tough campaign against extremists in towns, villages and in the desert mountains of Sinai whilst Egypt has been in a state of emergency since last April. Across the country, thousands have been arrested in a crackdown on suspected Islamists as well as against other dissenters and critics, raising concern about human rights violations.

Seeking to spread the violence, ISIS over the past year have carried out deadly bombings on Churches in the capital Cairo and other cities, killing dozens of Christians.

The terrorists are also believed to have downed a Russian passenger jet that killed 226 people over Sinai in 2016.

Last year, ISIS beheaded a leading local Sufi religious figure, the blind sheikh Suleiman Abu Heraz, and posted photos of the killing online. In the January edition of an IS online magazine, a figure purporting to be a high-level official in the Sinai affiliate of the group vowed to target Sufis, accusing them of idolatry and heretical “innovation”

in religion and warning that the group will “not permit (their) presence” in Sinai or Egypt.

But last Friday’s assault was the first major terrorist attack on a Muslim congregation in Egypt far exceeding past attacks even dating back to the previous Islamic militant insurgency in the 1990’s.

James Marlow is a freelance journalist specialising in British and Israeli politics along with Middle East and Regional Affairs. In addition, he is an experienced media and communications trainer and advises on a consultant basis. james@thejewishweekly.com @James_J_Marlow

IN LONDON FOR ONE WEEKEND hosted by Ner Yisrael Community

LANDER COLLEGE FOR MEN BEIS MEDRASH L'TALMUD

a division of Touro College and University System

Rabbi Yonason Sacks Rosh HaYeshiva, Lander College for Men Rabbi, Agudas Yisroel Bircas Yaakov of Passaic

Rabbi Dr. Moshe Sokol Dean and Professor, Lander College for Men Rabbi, Yavneh Minyan of Flatbush

Parshas Vayishlach 1-3 December 2017 Highlighting Two Special Events Friday Night @ Ner Yisrael - 8.30pm

Panel Discussion on Rabbinic Authority and Personal Autonomy Sunday Morning @ Ner Yisrael and Evening Beis - 10am-12.15pm

Pre-Chanuka Boker Iyun

TRACK A - Machshava Shiurim by Rabbi Sacks (10.15) and Rabbi Dr. Sokol (11.15) TRACK B (men only) - Seder with prepared mekoros followed by Shiur on Hiddur Mitzvah by Rabbi Sacks For more information and the full schedule of shiurim with titles please go to www.lcm.touro.edu/london

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30 NOVEMBER 2017

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

Local Angels lunch raises a record £34,500 for Jewish Care Celebrity Judge, Robert Rinder entertained guests with his stories of his rise to fame, strictly and his love for languages at the 9th annual Local Angels lunch in Essex on Thursday 23 November. No stranger to Jewish Care, having spoken at three in the last few months, Judge Rinder said; “One of the benefits of being in the public eye is you are gifted to be an ambassador for charities”.

He went on to talk about how as a community he feels we can combat anti-Semitism, not by trying to defend, but by showing others how we care and support each other; “the example I give is Jewish Care – it reminds me that as a community we have something special we can share with the wider community

and that is derech eretz – the spirit and responsibility of looking out for our elders. Jewish Care represents and articulates the very best of our community.”

The lunch raised a record £34,500 to help support local services, for people age 3 to 103+, provided by Jewish Care in Redbridge and the wider Essex area.

Over the last nine years, the Local Angels Committee have raised £225,00 helping to fund local services including the Jewish Care buses transporting older people to Jewish Care’s Redbridge Jewish Community Centre (RJCC), The Dennis Centre for people living with dementia and the Memory Way Cafe. They have helped fund

Judge Rinder

one to one support for children with special needs to attend holiday schemes at Jewish Care’s RJCC and the MIKE leadership training programme for teenagers as well as contribute to the Mitkadem allotment for people with mental health needs.

Marlene Sugarman gave an emotional appeal speech in memory of her mother, Hetty Yaros who passed away in April of this year and was cared for by Jewish Care. She spoke about how Sinclair House – The Redbridge Jewish Community Centre has always been part of her family’s life but it wasn’t until her mum became ill that she realised quiet how much support Jewish Care had on offer; “I no longer take for granted the amazing services of Jewish Care and how unknowingly they have always been a part of my family’s life and were there to support me at a most difficult time. Making my mums deterioration easier to bear by guiding and giving me, first the help in allowing my mum to retain her independence and then the options on how best to care for my mum when she could no longer care for herself.

Even though I had been using

the services of Jewish Care to facilitate meals for mother, I never realized just how important their support was to us as a family until we reached crisis point. Phone calls were made and the response was immediate, the genuine concern, empathy and understanding that was shown to mother and indeed extended to me, greatly eased the trauma of moving mother into residential care. The special care and support Jewish Care gave to us in this most difficult time has had a huge impact on us as a family and we will be forever grateful”.

Speaking after the event, Chair of Local Angels Committee and Jewish Care Trustee, Gayle Klein said, “Judge Rinder proved a real hit with the guests, he was warm, open and extremely entertaining. I’d like to thank all of our guests for their generosity and thank the Committee for their hard work which makes us so proud of everyone at the Local Angels events.

“The money we have raised will make a real difference to the lives of the most vulnerable members of our community. Increasing numbers of people are turning to us as we are living longer and with more complex needs.”

NEWS IN BRIEF

Spinathon raises £8,000 for charity The first Maccabi GB Community ‘Spinathon’ took place on Sunday.

Over 50 cyclists were put through their paces whilst raising £8,000 for charities.

Members of the community, who collectively spun for 75 hours could choose to fundraise for Aleh, British Friends of Israel Guide Dog Centre, Camp Simcha, Save a Child’s Heart or Maccabi GB. Love Velo and the Elms Sports in School sponsored the event at The Fitness Mosaic in Chalk Farm.

Participants got active by selecting a one, two or six hour time slot.

The bike that covered the longest distance each hour won a prize, which included a signed Team GB jersey and personal training vouchers.

“It was fabulous to see all the charities and dedicated spinners,” said coordinator Stacey Abendstern.

“It was a real ‘community’ day and an event we look forward to hosting again.”

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30 NOVEMBER 2017

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

Woodford Shul holds an annual lecture in memory of Harold Weinberg Woodford Shul has had an annual lecture in memory of Harold Weinberg who was a prominent member who died aged 65 in 1986. Harold was very involved in Jewish learning and education as well as the community and there has been an annual lecture ever since.

This year the Shul has partnered with JAMI as their Kol Nidrei

charity and as a partner throughout the year to raise awareness of mental health issues.

As well as making a donation on Kol Nidrei, the Shul is running a number of events throughout the year including Mental Health First Aid training for all of the Shul’s staff and community members, JAMI conversation evenings with

L-R Graeme Taylor, Vice-chairman of Woodford Forest US, Rabbi Mordechai Wollenberg Senior Rabbi, Jonny Benjamin, Neil Layton, Rabbi Yaakov Abrams, Assistant Rabbi

Nancy Reuben Primary Shabbaton with Chief Rabbi Mirvis

Around 300 parents and pupils participated at a Nancy Reuben Primary School Shabbaton held at the school and at the adjoining Od Yosef Chai Simcha Hall. The Chief Rabbi Efraim Mirvis joined parents and children on Shabbat afternoon at which the Chief Rabbi spoke on the importance of the family and education and he then followed this with a short question and answer session. Fifteen madrichim from Hasmonean High School 6th Form looked after the children during the Chief Rabbi’s talk to parents.

After Maariv, the Chief Rabbi led

Havdalah ceremony

a beautiful sing-a-long Havdalla during which the children sang with him. The Chief Rabbi congratulated the school on its recent successful Ofsted inspection and wished everyone involved with the school continued hatzlocho. Paying tribute to the PTA Shabbaton Committee, Head Teacher Anthony Wolfson said The Chief Rabbi’s participation in our NRPS Shabbaton added a very special dimension to what was a truly inspirational Shabbaton, a first for the school.

supper and discussion around mental health and mindfulness, and other talks and events.

Earlier this week the Shul held the annual “Harold Weinberg” lecture featuring Mental HEalth campaigners Jonny Benjamin and Neil Layton. Jonny and Neil met when Jonny was about to end his life by jumping off a bridge in Central London, and Neil, a complete stranger, stopped to help him. The story featured in the documentary “The Stranger on the Bridge”, a story of simple human kindness and caring. Jonny survived and went on to become a champion for Mental Health causes, saving other lives in the process through helping people to talk about and destigmatise mental health. He only met Neil again six years after the initial event when they were reunited and now they both campaign together.

As part of the JAMI partnership, Jonny and Neil spoke to over 150 people at Woodford Forest United Synagogue, Essex marking the Harold Weinberg lecture 2017.

Johnny Benjamin and Neil Layton addressing the crowd

Rabbi Mordechai Wollenberg, Senior Rabbi of Woodford Forest, introduced the talk with reference to the idea that saving one life is like saving a whole world, one explanation being due to the ripple effect - seen very much in this case with Jonny going on to help many more people and save lives.

Graeme Taylor, Vice-Chairman of WFUS gave a vote of thanks and a presentation at the end.

Rabbi Wollenberg said “we are humbled by the number of people who came to this important

presentation. If just one person feels able to speak out, and not suffer in silence, we will have achieved something. With suicide as the main cause of death in men under 45, this is literally life-saving work. We are incredibly grateful to Jonny and Neil for their moving and thought-provoking presentation of this very human story and we look forward to continuing to build a strong and mutually beneficial partnership with JAMI to help their vital work in our community”.

High Noon at Bushey Synagogue Not quite High Noon, but closer to 2.30pm last Friday afternoon, Bushey Synagogue was honoured with a visit from the High Sheriff of Hertfordshire, Will Hobhouse, accompanied by his wife Kate and the mayor of Hertsmere Cllr Charles Goldstein.

The position of High Sheriff has existed for at least 1000 years, it is the oldest continuous secular crown appointment, and was until the 20th century senior to the Lord Lieutenant of the county.

Traditionally the High Sheriff represents the monarchy in all matters relating to law and order. These days, however, the High Sheriff plays an increasingly active and supportive role in lending encouragement to voluntary sector organisations involved in crime reduction and social cohesion.

His visit to Bushey Synagogue, coincided with both Mitzvah Day and the annual Bushey Interfaith Forum meeting and he spent time discussing Bushey’s many interfaith, charitable and outreach programmes with Bushey’s Senior Rabbi, Elchonon Feldman, Synagogue Chair Sas Ezekiel, and many of the volunteers.

He was also very interested in being able to view the Torah Scrolls, especially those which were rescued from Czechoslovakia after the Holocaust.

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30 NOVEMBER 2017

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

Chief Rabbis Goldschmidt leads delegation to meet Prince Albert of Monaco

BY JW REPORTER Chief Rabbi Goldschmidt has praised Prince Albert of Monaco for his kindness to the Jewish community while leading a small delegation of Europe’s top Chief Rabbis to meet the Prince at his residence in Monaco.

The delegation discussed Monaco’s flourishing Jewish community as well as the many issues that are affecting Jews across Europe including the rise of anti-Semitic incidents, Islamic extremism and the rise of nationalism. President of the Conference of European Rabbis (CER), Chief Rabbi Pinchas

Visiting the Memorial to those deported

Goldschmidt, was accompanied on the visit by First Vice President Chief Rabbi Korsia of France, Associate President, Chief Rabbi Mirvis of the UK and the Rabbi of Monaco, Rabbi Torgmant.

Reflecting on the meeting, Chief Rabbi Goldschmidt said: “Prince Albert has welcomed the Jewish community to Monaco and they are flourishing under his leadership.

The Prince recognised the issues that the Jewish community is facing and has ensured that Monaco is a place where Jews and Judaism can flourish.”

The meeting was part of the Conference of European Rabbis Standing Committee meeting, currently taking place in Monaco. The Rabbis are being hosted at the new Edmond Safra Synagogue in Monaco and during the visit, Following recent elections in Austria and Germany, the Standing Committee meeting will allow the Rabbis to assess the possible consequences for the Jewish communities involved. Sebastian Kurtz, the new Austrian President, has written to

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on the other. For many Nationalism has been a response to the terrorism related to religious extremism.

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THE JEWISH WEEKLY

Kisharon launches Kisharon & Co Chaverim wins top award On Sunday 26th November Kisharon launched their Kisharon & Co initiative, for committed longer term young supporters spearheaded by Fella Salama, Perri Noé and Riki Greenberg who have come together to help shape the future of people with learning disabilities.

Kisharon & Co is a committed giving membership programme for key supporters who are also considering how best to impact working with the organisation, over and above their financial commitments.

“While for some this is was their first connection with Kisharon, for many their involvement started with Young Kisharon through their early career years to a point where, they are now in a position to reflect further on their philanthropic values”, said Richard Franklin, Kisharon’s Director of Fundraising.“ This co-coincides with a time when many are in the early years of parenthood and the future of

Nicole Peppi, Perri Noe, Fella Salama and Riki Greenberg

their children and the communities children are at the forefront of their minds”.

The inaugural Kisharon & Co sushi and wine evening raised over £6,000, with the guests also hearing from Jeffrey Rubinoff, father

of Evie who attended Kisharon’s Tuffkid nursery.

Perri Noé adds: “Fabulous evening enjoyed by everyone who attended! Great feedback - including great food, great company and great ambience.”

Shmuel Yosef Davidsohn, the founder of Chaverim, was presented with a special award for being an outstanding service provider on the 3 Faith Forum’s recognition and celebration event held at the Royal Society of Medicine. Winning the top award for the category Offering Specialised Services: (Advocacy, Education, Employment and Housing,) Davidsohn said he was proud to receive the award, which acknowledges the importance of community inclusion and belonging. Referring to Chanukah, he stated that each person, whatever their faith or none, by participating in activities that help others, brings light to the world. He added how pleased he was that: “a religious organisation had won such a prestigious award, and that it was a great kiddush Hashem.” The award

Shmuel Yosef Davidsohn with his award and Mr Kenneth Olisa

was presented by Mr Kenneth Olisa OBE, The Lord Lieutenant of London and Phil Champain, the Director of the 3 Faith Forum.

Enabling Enterprise Challenge Day at New Rabbi for Ilford Federation Synagogue Wohl Ilford Jewish Primary School

BY JW REPORTER

Pupils at Wohl Ilford Jewish Primary School participated in the Enabling Enterprise Challenge Day. These days are designed to develop skills through challenges which bring the whole school together whilst focusing on key skills including problem solving, using imagination and aiming high. This was a fun educational experience for all pupils as made their own future transport models, sharing ideas and leading their own teams.

Reception pupils enjoy an arts and crafts session

Edgware restaurant controversy resurfaces Many Edgware residents have become alarmed by an application to Barnet’s Trading and Licensing Department to considerably extend the permitted hours for music and alcohol provision at a local restaurant.

The restaurant , called “Hollywood”, which many describe as more like a bar , is on the corner of Penshurst Gardens and Station Road in the heart of Edgware’s residential area. It attracts large numbers of customers of diverse nationalities, mainly from outside the area. Often groups gather on the pavements outside.

The restaurant was the subject of controversy in the summer of 2016. Consent for alcohol and music was then granted after a public hearing where many residents

came to express their concerns. The Council’s subcommittee, sitting as a tribunal, significantly curtailed the night hours then being requested. Concerns have subsequently arisen periodically about anti- social behaviour, drunkenness and an atmosphere of intimidation outside the premises.

The new application, by the same owners ,seeks to extend the permitted hours for alcohol and music to 11pm Monday to Thursday and as late as 3am Friday to Sunday . Letters of objection must be sent to the Licensing Officer, Daniel Pattenden by no later than 12 December. Contact details are: e mail - daniel.pattenden@barnet.gov.uk or address - Barnet House, 1255 High Road London N20 0EJ . Those wishing to

speak at the hearing likely to follow must request to do so in their letter and be prepared to attend on the date fixed – usually during daytime hours.

Edgware Councillor Brian Gordon said he had already received a number of complaints. He commented “I, along with Ward colleagues, will do all we can to represent the concerns of the local community. No one seeks to oppose the existence of the restaurant . But by any standards the idea of crowds milling around with alcohol and music till 3 am in a quiet and peaceful area is totally out of order for neighbouring residents”.

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

Ilford Federation Synagogue are delighted to announce that Rabbi David Singer will be taking the position that was recently vacated by Rabbi Chapper. He hopes to start after Pesach.

Rabbi Singer was born in Birmingham and is married to Judith.

They lived in Israel for 40 years apart from a short 3 year break when he was back in Birmingham.

He has been Rabbi in Belfast since 2013.

He gained Semicha in 1981 from

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20 NEWS

30 NOVEMBER 2017

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

The world’s most precious Yarmulke encrusted with over 3,500 Swarovski crystals and a 2 carat diamond Celebrity Artist Toks Daniel and luxury 0site VeryFirstTo.com are launching the world’s most precious Yarmulke (skullcap), which is encrusted with over 3,500 sparkling Swarovski crystals and crowned with a stunning 2 carat D colour flawless diamond. It is unveiled in time for Chanukah, the Jewish festival of lights, celebrated around Christmas time (December 12th – December 20th 2017).

Toks Daniel is famed for his dazzling pieces adorned with crystals and diamonds with work admired and owned by celebrities throughout the

globe. The creation of his first religious piece is inspired by his attraction to Judaism. Toks says: “Whilst I was a youngster in Nigeria, Jews had a rather exotic image. The more I have since been exposed to Jews and Judaism, the more I have become enamoured with its rituals, principles and aesthetics. My Yarmulke design is a manifestation of my enchantment with the religion.”

Toks has created pieces, from crystal encrusted soccer boots to effervescent caps, for famous personalities including: Didier Drogba; Jourdan Dunn; Jermaine Jackson; Leona Lewis; Sean Paul;

Cristiano Ronaldo; Desmond Trufant; and Ian Wright. The boot designed for Ronaldo is displayed in Cristiano Ronaldo’s CR7 Museum.

It took Toks 14 days to conceive and create the Yarmulke, which requires every one of the crystals to be painstakingly placed and applied to a pre-ordained position.

He collaborated with jeweller Robert Goodman for the pièce de résistance: a glorious solitaire cut diamond supplied

by Goodman and set proudly atop a Star of David at the Yarmulke’s summit. Robert Goodman, has been a highly respected jewellery designer

NEWS IN BRIEF

and maker based in Hatton Garden, the heart of London’s jewellery district, for twenty years.

A $1,330 (£1,000/ €1,123) donation will be made to Chabad Lubavitch of Nigeria should the yarmulke be purchased. The charity provides for the spiritual welfare of the Jewish community in Nigeria as well as promoting understanding, respect and diversity.

The world’s most precious yarmulke is available to purchase from VeryFirstTo. com at $167,000/ £125,000/ €140,000. Should one wish to purchase the yarmulke without the diamond the cost is $9300/ £7000/ €7800.

Marcel Knobil, founder of VeryFirstTo, Superbrands and Cool BrandLeaders says: “This remarkable Yarmulka is simultaneously a spectacular item of headwear and a scintillating work of art. However, we can’t guarantee that it enhances the likelihood of ones prayers being answered!”

Norwood CEO Elaine Kerr To Step Down In New Year Elaine Kerr, Chief Executive, will be leaving Norwood at the end of May 2018, having held the position for six and a half years. During the next six months she will ensure an orderly transition to her successor.

Elaine will be leaving at a time when Norwood has a solid, talented and committed team of Directors with an exceptional team of Heads of departments below them. Norwood has an excellent fundraising strategy and will shortly be launching its new service strategy. These together will ensure that Norwood has a bright and sustainable future. Elaine therefore believes it is the right time to hand over to a new Chief Executive to take forward these exciting plans and the right time for her to seek new challenges.

The search will commence shortly for Elaine’s replacement.

Commenting on the announcement, David Ereira, Chairman of Norwood, said: “I, together with the Board, our Presidents and Life Presidents wish her all the very best for the future and we are grateful for her exemplary leadership and enormous contribution over the past six years.”

Commenting on the announcement, Elaine Kerr, Chief Executive of Norwood, said: “I am proud to be leaving the organisation in good shape with a confirmed direction of travel over the next five years.

Norwood is fortunate to have a fantastic workforce of staff and volunteers supported by a committed Board of Trustees, who will ensure its services, which the community depends on, are secure.”

The World’s Most Precious Yarmulke

Jewish Care residents share stories with Leyton Orient players On Thursday 23rd November, Leyton Orient players, Myles Judd, Freddy Moncur and Jamie Sendles-White were greeted with a warm welcome from residents of Jewish Care’s Vi & John Rubens house in Ilford. The visit was arranged as part of Mitzvah Day, the community wide inter-faith day, bringing together people to unite for social action across communities.

Resident and lifelong Orient fan, 97-year-old Harry Buitekant talked to the players about his history with the club and his fond memories of attending games from the age of 6.

He said; “My proudest moments were standing outside the grounds after we had won to see the players and congratulate them. I remember when we were playing in the 1st division”.

95-year-old Monty Ward was delighted to be able to chat to the players about his memories of Orient, the team that Monty and all his friends supported.

Former Boxer Harold Crown told the players about his own sporting achievements showing

Harry Buitekant with players

them how he ‘packed a punch’ and sharing stories of big name sports stars that he had met.

Midfielder, Freddy, 21, said, “I am really happy to be here again. It was good to see familiar faces and chat to both the residents I met on my last visit and some new people too. Lots of smiley faces which has been good to see”.

His team mates Myles and Jamie agreed; “It’s nice to come somewhere different and be able to put smiles on people’s faces”.

Howard Gould, Orient’s Community Liaison Manager began

organising the annual visits following a conversation with Leyton Orient fan and Director of Jewish Care Neil Taylor. Howard commented, “Visiting Vi & John Rubens as part of their Mitzvah Day celebrations is always a pleasure. We always meet some passionate lifelong fans who talk about their favourite players who none of us have ever heard of because they are often going back 70 or 80 years. We always leave feeling inspired and leave with a smile. We look forward to coming back again soon”.

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30 NOVEMBER 2017

NEWS 21

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Sir Eric Pickles speaks at Emunah Esther Cailingold Group dinner Former Secretary of State the Rt Hon. Sir Eric Pickles showed his support for Israel and the Jewish people when he spoke at Emunah’s Esther Cailingold Group’s recent dinner. Co-chaired by Reva Ross and Doris Lanzkron the event raised £4,000 for Emunah projects in Israel where the organisation is the largest provider of residential services for children including those who are vulnerable or at-risk.

Addressing an audience of 130 people at Mill Hill United Synagogue Sir Eric, who is a former chair of the Conservative Friends of Israel, spoke of his role as the

Prime Minister’s special envoy on post-Holocaust matters and what antisemitism means today, and the importance of us being “custodians of the truth”.

Sir Eric Pickles said: “We are in this extraordinary place where it is necessary to clearly demonstrate what happened all those years ago... “[People are] hiding behind anti-Israel and anti-Zionism, which they substitute for antisemitism…”

On the subject of Israel, he said while it was legitimate to criticise the Israeli government it was “not legitimate to criticise Israel’s right to exist. It is not legitimate to

Sir Eric Pickles with Doris Lanzkron, Reva Ross and Deborah Nathan at Emunah Esther Cailingold dinner. Photo by Sue Rifkin

Melodies through the years

compare Israel to the Nazis and it is not legitimate to boycott Israeli goods.”

Referring to Israel’s achievements, Sir Eric said that seven out of ten patients using our National Health Service benefitted from treatments for heart disease, dementia and other conditions, thanks to Israeli technology, as well technology for computers and phones.

Sir Eric added: “It is massively important that we hold onto the truth and the truth gets out.”

He was interested to hear about Emunah’s work in Israel having seen two short films following an address by British Emunah director Deborah Nathan. This included the sad case history of “little Leah” a young girl who was abused by her father and was now safely in the charity’s care.

Ms Nathan praised the Esther Cailingold committee – which was “a jewel in Emunah’s crown… You have been working for Emunah for so many years and have raised so much money, it has helped our children so much.”

Earlier, Reva Ross, the co-chair of Emunah’s Esther Cailingold group gave a warm welcome to Sir Eric Pickles, saying: “You are indeed a true friend of the Jewish people and of Israel.”

Committee members Rivka Persoff and Valerie Kohn also spoke – the latter gave the vote of thanks.

Before a capacity audience at the home of a member Hampstead Synagogue presented “Melodies through the Years” - a history of popular music with member Stephen Goldwater at the piano.

Stephen talked about aspects of popular music since the 1890s from popular songs to pop, the gramophone to TV, and films to musicals, illustrated with piano selections. The evening was a continuation of the Synagogue’s 125 Anniversary celebrations.

Board Of Deputies on IPSO ruling of ‘Muslim Problem’ column Board of Deputies of British Jews Vice President Marie van der Zyl has reacted to a ruling by the Independent Press Standards Organisation which acknowledged that a line in a column by Trevor Kavanagh “was capable of giving serious offence” but concluded there was no breach of its code.

Marie said: “This decision suggests that the IPSO code is unfit for purpose and is in urgent need of redrafting. It is incomprehensible that the committee could at once acknowledge that the article “was capable of giving serious offence, given it could be interpreted as a reference to the rhetoric preceding the Holocaust”,

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and yet conclude that there was no breach of the code. The IPSO code clearly needs to be reviewed to protect minority groups, not least from comments that echo the tone of Nazi propaganda.”

22 NEWS

30 NOVEMBER 2017

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

Leeds Jewish Housing Association seeks new chief executive

BY DAVID SAFFER Leeds Jewish Housing Association is seeking a new Chief Executive after current CEO, Lee Bloomfield, announced he is leaving in January.

During a near four year tenure at the Association, Lee has brought about major changes to the organisation including delivery of a £1.2m investment programme in tenant’s homes, a full governance review

Interim CEO, Craig Simons

resulting in a new Board of Management, day to day repairs and maintenance services in-house and an office move from the MAZCC community centre to their premises in Stonegate Way. Lee is taking up a similar role at Manningham Housing Association in Bradford.

“I am incredibly proud of what LJHA has achieved and will miss the organisation,” he said.

“I will also miss working with the fantastic staff team, board members and residents.

“I am confident the organisation will continue to go from strength to strength.”

Director of Operations, Craig Simons, will be acting CEO in the interim period.

“Working with Lee over the last four years has been a pleasure,” he said.

“The organisation has improved in many ways since he started and I hope that I can continue where he

BY ADAM MOSES

Outgoing CEO, Lee Bloomfield

left off.

“The focus moving forwards will be to ensure that tenants and residents remain at the forefront of all that we do and we continue to plan for the future needs of our community.”

Kate Pearlman-Shaw, Chair of LJHA, commented, “Lee leaving will be a huge loss to our organisation and we wish him well.

“In the meantime the Board of LJHA have commenced a recruitment process.

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Brodetsky pupils enjoy thrill a minute adventure residential in Buckden Twenty seven Brodetsky Primary School year six pupils enjoyed a weeklong residential adventure in Buckden, North Yorkshire.

Pupils stayed in the picturesque village where activities included hikes, caving, ghyll scrambling, orienteering, the ‘Buckden challenge’, high ropes and a ‘leap of faith’.

The annual activity is a highlight for year six pupils every academic year.

Eleanor Shenderey thought caving was a highlight but she also enjoyed getting “wet and squeezing through tiny holes and narrow spaces”.

“We climbed in unusual places but the most challenging task was the ropes where we had to work as a team to cross a river,” she said.

“I loved the views from Buckden house and the walks were amazing.”

Zev Cundle enjoyed everything on the trip.

“The most challenging was the leap of faith as you had to climb to the top and stand without anything to hold onto before leaping into the air to hit a ball. It was scary as it wobbled.

“Orienteering showed us teamwork and it was hard to do as we had to agree what to do.

“Buckden House was fascinating, it had many areas so you could get lost.”

Rachel Cohen commented, “My highlight was ghyll scrambling because I love climbing on rocks, the

Pupils embark on the ‘Buckden challenge’

most challenging was the leap of faith.”

Harvey Walker said, “Caving was a highlight as he had never done it before and I was proud of himself for doing it.

“The leap of faith was the most challenging task as I am scared of heights.

“The scenery at Buckden was also breathtaking with all the different colours of the leaves.”

“Children bond together from team building activities that hopefully helps them in the classroom,” said year six teacher Sandy Bowman.

“The residential also helps them be independent and resilient which will continue in the classroom with work and the build up to Sats.

“It is the highlight of the year for children now in the 20’s still talk about the time they went to Buckden when they get together.”

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Leeds Young Professionals is again breaking new ground! After spearheading the National Jewish Singles Weekend last month, there was a feeling that more events, better events and bigger events are needed.

To this end JMT Events have joined forces again with Chabad Young Professionals International and are utilising the Charidy platform to try and raise £18,000 in one day.

Charidy’s unique approach has helped charities across the world raise millions of pounds. In a

Charidy campaigns every penny raised is matched by local matchers. So every donation is tripled.

But the campaigns are 24 hour campaigns and all or nothing! So if the goal isn’t hit then no donations are processed and nothing is raised.

The local matchers in Leeds are the Erner Family, the Mack Family, Direct Law Personnel and the Beth Hamidrash Hagadol.

To donate to the campaign please visit www.Charidy.com/leeds

30 NOVEMBER 2017

NEWS 23

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

Heathlands Resident Celebrates 104th Birthday! Chief Inspector On The Heathlands Beat!

Heathlands Village Resident Miriam Fields recently celebrated her 104th birthday at the Fed-run Care Home in Prestwich.

And for Miriam, life couldn’t be better!

“Living at Heathlands Village is the best alternative to living in my own home. I love going to the music appreciation group, the discussion group, quizzes and the exercise class.”

Miriam was born in 1913 in Liverpool, before moving to Manchester six years later.

Marc Cunningham and Miriam Fields

One of eight children, her father worked as a shochet and minister after arriving in England from Russia, before working with the Oxford Jewish community. She described her early years as ‘a very happy childhood’.

Miriam worked for four years as a teacher, before working in her late husband, Abraham’s, pharmacy for the next 34. “Pharmacies nowadays aren’t what they used to be back then!” she said.

Asked for her secret to such a long life, she replied, “There is no secret really – although I do take vitamins now I’m a bit older. All my siblings lived long lives. My sister Dr Eva Clines lived a good life, as did my other sister Freda Brown, who died at 98 and who had a lot to do with the League of Jewish Women. I have another sister who is 94 and lives down South.”

At a party to celebrate, Miriam was presented with flowers and a card from Fed CEO Mark Cunningham, who said, “Miriam is an incredible and outgoing lady who amazes us every day. She proves that coming to Heathlands Village can be a new lease of life, and something to be truly enjoyed.”

Many happy returns, Miriam, and here’s to many more!

The Fed recently welcomed Chief Inspector Jo Marshall-Bell to their offices at Heathlands Village, along with Inspector Jim Jones of the Greater Manchester Police.

They were on a visit to meet residents of Heathlands, and talk about their careers and roles within the community.

Chief Inspector Marshall-Bell held the attention of a room full of residents as she described her early career in the army, before

switching to the police force and progressing up the ranks to reach her current position.

Inspector Jones spoke about the police force’s work with veterans and vulnerable women.

Regular Fed volunteer Steven Mintz chaired the session – in addition to his duties with the charity, he is a Volunteer Support Officer and was also dressed in uniform.

Chief Inspector Jo Marshall-Bell addressing residents at Heathlands Village

We Stand Together campaign launches charity Chumash Seuda for Chinuch Neorim School

Photo l-r: Steering Group Co-Chair Qaisra Shahraz, Trustees Umer Khan, Erinma Bell, Nidhi Minocha, Mohammed Ullah, Sir Peter Fahy, Rabbi Robyn Ashworth-Steen, Carl Austin-Behan and Dean Rodgers Govender, Steering Group Co-Chair Jonny Wineberg.

Last few spaces for our:

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Boys celebrate at MH Shul hall on Sunday afternoon.

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Bat-Mitzvah build-a-bear

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!!

Batmitzvah girl Libby Gordon, from Yavneh Girls, Manchester celebrated her special day by inviting her friends to make up build-a-bear teddies for children in need.

30 girls were involved in the celebration activities run by GIFT Manchester’s Aliza Noe and Helah Nadler. The children were delighted to be involved in such a meaningful project.

GIFT provides a range of meaningful Bar and Batmitzva activities to enhance one’s Simcha and to inspire and facilitate giving in the community. For more information contact info@jgift.org

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Libby Gordon

24 JUDAISM

ASK THE RABBI Looking for answers? Send your question to Rabbi@RabbiSchochet.com King David – Reality check Dear Rabbi, I recently read a suggestion that King David was a rapist and other suchlike derogatory statements about a lofty king in Israel. I am aware of the Bathsheba episode but is there more to his story that I don’t know about?

Jeremy Dear Jeremy, Let me guess – this suggestion emanates from the same people who argue in favour of transgenderism because G-d is gender fluid. The trouble with liberals is

30 NOVEMBER 2017

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

not that they’re ignorant. It’s just that they know so much that isn’t so. When one becomes a liberal, he or she pretends to advocate tolerance, equality and peace, but hilariously, they’re doing so for purely selfish reasons.

The hard fact is that one cannot understand the Written Law without the Oral Law and when you have so-called Rabbis who don’t believe in the Oral Law and even deny the Divine authenticity of the Written Law, you’re going to get rape theories and whatever other misconstrued notions which suit their liberal agenda.

Let’s be clear. The ancient Rabbis never had any qualms about declaring that someone sinned and they did so even about Mo-

ses. Therefore, if they tell us that David did not sin they know what they’re talking about far more so than a modern day so-called Rabbi.

The halachic facts are simple: All Jewish soldiers would give their wives a divorce document before they went out to battle; lest they not return from the battlefront and their wives would not be able to remarry due to inconclusive evidence that their husbands had actually died. As such, Bathsheba was perfectly permitted to King David.

Let us consider King David’s motives here in a moral sense.

Jewish mysticism makes the point, citing the Talmud that “Bathsheba was destined for David from the

day the world was created.” They both knew this (akin to Tamar and Judah and the Davidic dynasty that ultimately emerged from their relationship). There was some necessary convoluted steps along the way (including a deliberately arranged and never consummated marriage with Uriah) and the argument goes that David moved too quickly, but it was ultimately intended to be. In fact, consider this: Lot had an incestuous relationship with his daughter from whom was born Moav – the forebear of Ruth. Judah had a promiscuous relationship with Tamar whom he thought to be a harlot. They had twins, one who was the forebear of Boaz. Ruth and Boaz marry and become the great grandparents of King David. David has an adulterous relationship with Bathsheba and they have Solomon who was to be King David’s successor. Jewish tradition maintains that Moshiach will emerge from the Davidic dynasty. How utterly bizarre that of all the potential relationships, this ultimate salvation should emerge from such a seedy chain.

The obvious point is that each “player” in this Divine scheme, was acutely aware of the role they were to play. No one did anything with salacious intent. They all knew they were intended for each other, thus planting the seeds for the ultimate redemption.

As a final point, we find G-d berates King David for his action which seems to imply wrongdoing. To be sure, this is not for the action per se but for the way he went about it. You see, G-d knew, as we have come to discover, that there would be liberals in the future who would operate under the guise of being “rabbis” and utterly distort the Torah to suit their own agenda. While King David could have waited a little longer with the same ultimate end result, the particulars of his story leaves itself open to distortion – as is quite evident now, and that would have been better avoided.

Is a Chanukah bush ok?

the very least to have a Chanukah bush so they can have some presents underneath and not feel different to their friends. I don’t have the heart to say no to them even though my wife thinks we are giving them the wrong message. Isn’t it after all harmless fun?

Joe Dear Joe, How do you define ‘harmless’ fun? Something that looks innocuous on the external might be causing more damage than you think, especially where it conveys a mixed message, as your wife rightly observes. In a day and age where the Chanukah bush reflects our new brand of Judaism-Lite - bending over backward to blend as much as possible with a touch of Jewish twist, we should be looking to encourage the next generation to appreciate their own festivals rather than having to celebrate other ones. Explain to your kids the reason why it is inappropriate, how Xmas has nothing to do with nice Jewish children, and be sure to put the emphasis on having them light their own chanukiah, singing traditional tunes, spinning a dreidel and turning our joyous festival into a meaningful experience for them. Today it’s a harmless Santa, tomorrow it’s a not so harmless relationship that will be no ho-ho-ho. Education starts now – seize the moment.

Dear Rabbi,

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My kids want to partake in some Xmas festivities this year. I’m thinking I might dress as Santa. At

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2 December 2017 Shabbat ends

30 NOVEMBER 2017 Volume 30 No. 11

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Vayishlach Artscroll p.170

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Hertz p.122

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Soncino p.195

Haftarah Artscroll p.1139 |

Hertz p.135

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Soncino p.220

JUDAISM 25

Parshat Vayishlach In loving memory of Harav Yisrael ben Uriah

In loving memory of Harav Yisrael ben Uriah

“So he said to him, ‘What is your name?’ and he said, ‘Yaakov’. And he said, ‘Your name shall no longer be called Yaakov, but Yisrael, because you have commanding power with [an angel of] God and with men, and you have prevailed’” (Bereshit 32:2829).

Locked in a Box

by Rabbi Chaim Gross, Editor, Daf Hashavua The night before Yaakov was expecting to encounter Esav, having not seen him for decades, the verse reports: “And he [Yaakov] arose that night and took his two wives, two maidservants and eleven children and crossed the Yabok stream” (Bereishit 32:23).

begins and ends with acts of kindness”; it begins with G-d clothing Adam and Eve and ends with G-d Himself attending to the burial of Moshe.

What greater act of kindness could Yaakov have done for his brother than giving him Dinah as a wife, who might have helped him to improve?

Yaakov’s decision to hold her back therefore constituted the neglect of a life-changing chessed.

Of course, given the terrible risks, there was no expectation at all that Yaakov should actually metzora would also bring marry Dinah off to Esav.

Yetthree on aanimal subtleofferings level, and three meal offerings.

Yaakov could have felt greater inner pain that he was, albeit justifiably, missing out significance on what would Point to Consider: what is the of the have been, fromcrimson Esav’s perspective, mighty act(see cedar wood, thread anda hyssop? ofRashi chessed, which is such a basic tenet of to 14:4) Creation. the very high standards to which 5th AliyaBy (Chamishi) – 14:21-32 Yaakov was held, this subtle lack of pain was a A metzora who could not afford three animal punishable mistake. offerings could instead bring one animal offering, one meal andthere two birds.

Perhaps foroffering us too, is a lesson to be

Sidrah Summary: Tazria-Metzorah

Rashi (d. 1105) questions why the verse refers to Yaakov’s “eleven children”, when in fact (at that 1st Aliya – Vayikra 12:1-23resolves this stage) he(Kohen) had twelve.

The Midrash After childbirth,“Where a lady would wait several weeks discrepancy: was [Yaakov’s daughter] before an elevation (olah) and it, a Dinah?bringing He [Yaakov] put her inoffering a box and locked sin (chatat). herwithholding post-birth so offering that Esav wouldThis not completed see her. For her [Dinah]process. from seeing his brother, Yaakov purification was told punished, as perhaps shesomeone would have God Moshe and Aharon that who turned towardsofa abetter way type of life. had the Esav appearance particular of As skina consequence, Dinah washave violated in Shechem”. disease (tzara’at) would to show the white

Sidrah Summary: Vayishlach

Sidrah Summary: Vayishlach

“So he said to him, ‘What is your name?’ and he said, ‘Yaakov’. And he said, ‘Your name shall no longer be called Yaakov, but Yisrael, because you have commanding power with [an angel of] G-d and with men, to secure her as his wife, whilst still holding Dinah 1styou Aliya (Kohen) – Bereishit 32:4-13 and have prevailed’” (Bereshit 32:28-29).

Yaakov sends angels to inform (his brother) Esav captive. Yaakov’s sons are outraged. Chamor that he is returning home, after decades away. speaks to them, suggesting that their two families Yaakov’s message offers Esav the chance to unite in marriage, as well as offering them trade make peace, but also conveys Yaakov’s own and land prospects. Shechem offers a large dowry strength (Rashi). The angels return, warning for Dinah. Yaakov’s sons trick Chamor and Yaakov that Esav is approaching with 400 men. Shechem – they offer the Israelite girls only if all Yaakov becomes afraid, divides his camp into two the town’s males are circumcised. They agree; all the men of Shechem circumcise themselves. and prays to G-d for survival.

Three days later, when they are in great pain, 2nd Aliya (Levi) – 32:14-30 Shimon and Levi kill them all, take Dinah back and Yaakov sends many gifts to Esav, hoping to plunder the city. Yaakov rebukes them. appease him. That night, Yaakov’s family crosses over the Yabok stream. Yaakov is left alone. He is G-d appears to Yaakov, telling him to go back to Beit El, where he originally built an altar after attacked by ‘a man’, identified by the Midrash escaping from Esav. As the angel had previously as the ministering angel of Esav. They wrestle mentioned, G-d changes Yaakov’s name to until dawn. The ‘man’, unable to defeat Yaakov, nevertheless dislocates Yaakov’s hip. The ‘man’ Yisrael. then tells Yaakov that his name will later change Point to Consider: why did Shimon and Levi kill everyone in the city if only Shechem had to ‘Yisrael’ and blesses him. committed the crime? (34:25) 3rd Aliya (Shlishi) – 32:31-33:5 Yaakov’s injury is the source of the prohibition of 6th Aliya (Shishi) – 35:12-36:19 eating the sciatic nerve of an animal. As Esav Rachel dies whilst giving birth to Binyamin and is approaches, Yaakov bows to him seven times. buried in Beit Lechem. After Rachel’s death, Esav embraces and kisses Yaakov, and they both Reuven, Leah’s son, moves his father’s bed out of Bilhah’s tent into Leah’s (Rashi). Yitzchak dies, weep. aged 180. He is buried by Esav and Yaakov. Esav’s Question: what is the Hebrew term for the sciatic descendants are listed. nerve? (32:33) Answer on bottom of next page.

4th Aliya (Revi’i) – 33:6-33:20 Each person in Yaakov’s family bows to Esav.

Yaakov successfully urges Esav to accept the gifts he had sent. Esav suggests that he and Yaakov travel together, but Yaakov politely declines.

Esav departs for Seir and Yaakov departs for a place called Succot. Yaakov then travels to Shechem.

5th Aliya (Chamishi) – 34:1-35:11 Dinah is captured and violated by Shechem the son of Chamor, ruler of the town of Shechem.

Chamor falls in love with Dinah and asks his father

7th Aliya (Shevi’i) – 36:20-36:43 The Torah lists eight Edomite kings and their origins.

1

blemish to a Kohen. The Kohen would evaluate Aside from the question of why Dinah suffered and decide if the affliction was clearly tzara’at, because of Yaakov’s mistake, there is another very thus rendering the person impure (tameh). If the basic question that this Midrash begs. What did case wasdounclear, the Kohen Yaakov wrong here?

Esav would was a quarantine violent and the person incharacter. a house forWhy sevenwould days, Yaakov after which dangerous be the Kohen would re-inspect the afflicted areaalone and expected to allow her to meet, let declare whether the person tameh tahor encourage his daughter to was marry him?orWhilst (pure).

Dinah might have rehabilitated Esav, this was only – as the Midrash itself putstypes it – aof‘perhaps’.

Question: what were the three blemish Yet the(13:2) opposite might occurred, called?

Answer onhave bottom of pagethat 6. Esav would have turned Dinah to his evil ways.

2nd Aliya (Levi) – 13:24-39 ItAn was also possible for tzara’at to develop a answer to this question is given by thefrom great burn.

Tzara’at erupt on of theSlabodka’ scalp or on the scholar knowncould as the ‘Alter (Rabbi beard area, d.1927). causing aA loss N.Z Finkel lookofathair. the Midrash in its original form– reveals that G-d (so to speak) 3rd Aliyalonger (Shlishi) 13:40-54 ‘neglecting kindness’ when Aaccused slightly Yaakov differentofform of tzara’at is detailed, lockingcaused Dinah aaway. verse in Tehilim which moreAsubstantial loss of(Psalms hair. A 89:3) states G-d built the contaminated whole world forwith the metzora (onethat who has been sake of kindness (chessed). It was an act of tzara’at) was sent outside of the camp and had to selfless generosity for G-d to create us, allowing tear his/her garments (see p4 article). Tzara’at us the opportunity to come close to Him through could also infect clothing. A suspected garment our actions and decisions. We are encouraged to was quarantined before(Talmud the Kohen made a emulate His kind ways Shabbat 133b). decision about whether was that: tameh. it was The Talmud (Sotah 14a) itadds “theIf Torah declared tameh, the garment was burnt.

7th Aliya (Shevi’i) – 15:16-33 A similar set of laws is listed for a lady who has specific discharges, as well as the laws of niddah (menstruation), which form the basis of the laws of family purity.

Haftarah Alter of Slabodka (Rabbi N.Z. Finkel, d. 1927) From the Book of Melachim (Kings II), the haftarah 4th Aliya (Revi’i) – 13:55-14:20 takes places upon the background of the long The Torah of details process which a 3 In memory Haravthe Binyamin ben through Harav Shalom siege and ensuing famine of the Shomron area metzora purified himself/herself after the period (Samria) by the King of Aram. Four metzora’im of isolation and the healing of the affliction. This were put outside the city gates because of their involved a Kohen taking two birds, cedar wood, affliction. They discovered and reported that the a crimson thread and hyssop. The Kohen would Arameans had actually left their camp, which slaughter one of the birds and – using the wood, thread and hyssop together in a bundle – sprinkle allowed the Jews to plunder the camp and thus end their famine.

In of Harav Binyamin Harav The Shalom its memory blood seven times on the ben metzora.

Haftarah The Haftarah, according to the general United Synagogue custom, is taken from the Book of Hoshea (chapters 11-12). The prophet refers to events in Yaakov’s life, such as his struggle with the angel. Hoshea encourages the people to learn from Yaakov’s responses to the spiritual challenges he faced, so that they can become worthy of being his descendants.

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United Synagogue Daf Hashavua Produced by US Living & Learning together with the Rabbinical Council of the United Synagogue Editor: Rabbi Chaim Gross Editor-in-Chief: Rabbi Baruch Davis Editorial Team: Ilana Epstein, Michael Laitner, Sharon Radley Available also via email US website www.theus.org.uk ©United Synagogue

6th Aliya (Shishi) – 14:33-15:15 learned from this understanding of the Midrash.

There mayalso be occasions when tough decisions Tzara’at affected houses.

The house owner must bereport taken,the when we justifiably to denyThe would suspicious signs have to a Kohen. others chessed that theybefore seek. the Yet Kohen’s G-d, housethe would be evacuated who builtIf the the Kohen world saw for the sake of kindness, arrival. a deep green or deep red expects that he this would denial order shouldthe at least ‘affliction’, housecome to be with a heavy heart. quarantined for a week. He would then re-inspect the house. If the affliction had spread, the infected stones would be removed and replaced. If the affliction nevertheless returned, the house would be demolished. However, if replacing the stones solved the problem, the Kohen would declare the house tahor (pure).

The Torah lists specific discharges that would cause a man to be considered tameh, and details the purification procedure.

Produced by US Living & Learning together with the Rabbinical Council of the United Synagogue Editor: Rabbi Chaim Gross Editor-in-Chief: Rabbi Baruch Davis Editorial Team: Ilana Epstein, Michael Laitner, Sharon Radley

prosperity but also that our prayers will be

26 JUDAISM

bring blessings in tzedaka? return, not just for andus does itKesafim differ from Bein Adamkesafim, Lechaveiro 18:from Ma’aser What is ma'aser where doesPart it come prosperity but also that our prayers will be answered.

by Rabbi Daniel Fine, Community & Canons Park United Synagogue from and does it differ from tzedaka? Rabbi, Stanmore answered.

Ma'aser kesafim is the practice to give a tenth of THE JEWISH WEEKLY

30 NOVEMBER 2017 Rabbi Moshe Feinstein (d. 1986) extolled the

to needy causes.

Theextolled Rambam Ma'aser kesafim is the practice to give a tenth of one's Rabbiearnings Moshe Feinstein 1986) the virtues of also contributing ten percent of rule that it is a(d.Rabbinic enactment.

G-d The is Rambam not a others one's earnings to ‘Testing’ needy causes.

(Maimonides d.

1204) attributes the originsof one's time to a worthy cause, similar to giving virtues of also contributing ten percent The halachic consensus follows the third view, good idea.

If He promises Bein Adam Lechaveiro Part 18:(Maimonides Ma’aser d.Kesafim 1204) attributes the origins ofone's this time practice to Yitzchak.

However, the ma'aser kesafim of one’s income; for example toma'aser a worthy cause,issimilar to strong giving something, He However, can be relied that giving kesafim a very of this practice to Yitzchak. the Ra'avad

by Rabbi Daniel Fine, Community Rabbi, Stanmore & Canonsupon Park United Synagogue (Rabbi Avraham ben David d.

1198) ma'aser kesafim of one’s income; for example through. by 'donating' time to teach others Torah and (custom).

Ra'avad (Rabbi Avraham toben follow David d.

1198) minhag by 'donating' time an to teach and finding even others earlier Torah source, onedisagrees, thus assist them in their general Jewish practice. disagrees, findingHowever, an even there earlier issource, thus assist themgave in theira general Jewish practice. when Avraham tenth of his spoils of exception when Avraham gave a tenthtoofthis his rule. spoilsThe of Perhaps we can add that in a society which it is a (Ta'anit Rabbinic9a)enactment.

‘Testing’ G-d is not a others rule that Talmud to Malki-tzedek (Bereishit 14:20). recordswar war to Malki-tzedek (Bereishit 14:20). follows third to view,often promotes materialism and amassing good idea. If He promises The halachic consensus that when it the comes wealth, donating ten percent of one’s earnings something, He can be relied giving that giving ma'aser very strong ma'aser, one iskesafim allowedis toa ‘test’ G-d. to charitable causes sets a phenomenal commentators explain that the Rambam The commentators explain that the Rambam The upon to follow through. This minhag (custom). is derived from a verse in the prophetic example to others of establishing perspective does not consider the case of Avraham and does consider the case of Avraham and However, there is one writings of Malachi: “And you shall test Me in and not priorities in life. It emphasises that our Malki-tzedek as a classic example of ma'aser Malki-tzedek as a classic example of ma'aser exception to this rule. The this, says G-d, if I will not open for you the Perhaps we canit add that done in atosociety whichincome may be hard-earned yet it is a gift kesafim, because was also give honour Talmud (Ta'anit 9a) records windows kesafim, because it was also done to give honour of the heavens and I will amassing empty often promotes to Malki-tzedek andmaterialism only involved and giving a tenth from G-d, which is why we are prepared to that when it comes to them out for you in blessings endlessly" (3:10). to Malki-tzedek and only involved giving a tenth wealth, ten percent of one’s earnings of somedonating of Avraham’s wealth i.e. the spoils of re-apportion a significant amount of it. giving ma'aser, one is allowed to ‘test’ G-d. G-d promises to pay sets back aanyphenomenal ma'aser of some of Avraham’s wealth i.e. the spoils of to charitable causes war, not his total income. The Ra'avad would This is derived from a verse in the prophetic donations several-fold, and one can even keep not his total income. The Ra'avad would example to others establishing counter that partial ofma'aser kesafimperspective is also war, As the verse from Malachi (quoted above) writings of Malachi: “And you shall test Me in records ascertaining this! counter thatgiving partial ma'aser kesafim is alsoto and priorities in life. It emphasises that our considered ma'aser. indicates, ma'aser kesafim promises this, says G-d, if I will not open for you the income may be hard-earned yet it is a gift considered bring us ma'aser. blessings in return, not just for windows of the heavens and I will empty What is ma'aser kesafim, doesprepared it come G-d, which is whywhere we are Bein Adam Part 18:from Ma’aser Kesafim There are three different opinions about thetoprosperity but also that our prayers will be them out for you in Lechaveiro blessings endlessly" (3:10). from and doesa itsignificant differ fromamount tzedaka? re-apportion of it. kesafim. answered. level of obligation to donate ma'aser Daniel Stanmore & Canons Park United Synagogue There are three different opinions about the G-dby Rabbi promises to Fine, pay Community back any Rabbi, ma'aser donations several-fold, and one can even keep Some Rabbinic authorities consider ma'aser level of obligation to donate ma'aser kesafim.

Ma'aser the practice to (quoted give whereas a tenth of Rabbi Moshe Feinstein (d. 1986) extolled the kesafim toverse be aisfrom Biblical obligation, As the kesafim Malachi above) records ascertaining this!

Some Rabbinic authorities consider ma'aser earnings to itneedy Theenactment.

Rambam to indicates, ma'aser kesafim promises others rulegiving that is a causes.

Rabbinic ‘Testing’ G-d is not a one's virtues of also contributing ten percent of kesafim to be a Biblical obligation, whereas (Maimonides d.

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However, something, can itbe relied of that giving ma'aser a very strong prosperity but also that ouris prayers willthebema'aser kesafim of one’s income; for example4 In memory(Rabbi of Harav Avraham Yitzchak Yaakov ben Harav Nata Gershon from and does it differ from to tzedaka? upon follow through. Ra'avad minhag (custom). Avraham ben David d. 1198) by 'donating' time to teach others Torah and answered.

However, there is one disagrees, finding an even earlier source, thus assist them in their general Jewish practice.

4 Avraham gave a tenth of his spoils of In memory of Harav Avraham Yitzchak Yaakov ben Harav Nata Gershon exception this arule.

Ma'aser kesafim is the practice to to give tenthThe of when Perhaps we can add that(d.in14:20). a society which Rabbi Moshe Feinstein 1986) extolled the war to Malki-tzedek (Bereishit Talmudcauses.

(Ta'anitThe 9a)Rambam records often promotes materialism and amassing one's earnings to needy virtues of also contributing ten percent of that when it comes to wealth, donating ten percent of one’s earnings (Maimonides d. 1204) attributes the origins one's time to a worthy cause, similar to giving allowed However, to ‘test’ G-d. commentators explain thata the Rambam ofgiving this ma'aser, practice one to is Yitzchak. the The to charitable ma'aser kesafimcauses of one’ssets income;phenomenal for example This is derived from a verse the prophetic not to consider the establishing case of Avraham and Ra'avad (Rabbi Avraham ben inDavid d. 1198) does example others of perspective by 'donating' time to teach others Torah andIn memory of Harav Avraham Yitzchak Yaakov ben Harav Nata Gershon writings of finding Malachi: an “Andeven you shall Me in Malki-tzedek as a classic example of ma'aser disagrees, earliertestsource, and priorities emphasises that our thus assist themininlife. their Itgeneral Jewish practice. this, says G-d, gave if I will not open forspoils you the was also doneyet to give when Avraham a tenth of his of kesafim, income because may be it hard-earned it is honour a gift Parallel Thinking Partand 38:I The Emergence Faith IIwhy –involved windows of the heavens will empty to Malki-tzedek andisonly a tenth war to Malki-tzedek (Bereishit 14:20). from G-d,ofwhich we aregiving prepared to Insights into Jewish History Part 88: Yonatan’s Death them out for you in blessings endlessly" (3:10). of some of Avraham’s wealth i.e.of the spoils of

by Rebbetzen Ilana Epstein, Cockfosters & N Southgate United Synagogue; re-apportion a significant amount it.

Teaching Complex Ideas in a Black and White World G-d promises to pay back any ma'aser war, not his total income. The Ra'avad would Head of Project Development, US Living & Learning The commentators that can the even Rambam by Rabbi Dr Mosheexplain Freedman, New West Endcounter United that Synagogue donations several-fold, and one keep partial ma'aser kesafim is also As the verse from Malachi (quoted above) does not consider the case of Avraham and considered ma'aser. records ascertaining this!

In 2012, archaeologists behind them and they were ambushed; all were If an answerkesafim is too definitive, afternoon, I walked into counterproductive. indicates, giving ma'aser promises to Malki-tzedek as One a classic example of ma'aser excavating in the northern slain apart from Yonatan, who was taken hostage. it could inadvertently shut down the discussion the living room to find my bring us blessings in return, not just for kesafim, because it was also done to give honour Israeli port city of Acre, at Tryphon’s troops immediately ran after the rest of are three different opinions about the What is ma'aserfive-year kesafim, where does it comeandThere therefore stifle the educational process.

This old son blowing to Malki-tzedek and only involved giving a tenth prosperity but also that our prayers will be the foot of the city's Yonatan’s disbanded army and annihilated them. from and does it kisses differ from tzedaka? level of obligation to donate ma'aser kesafim. is especially true between an adult and a child. to the air.

When I answered. of some of Avraham’s wealth i.e. the spoils of southern seawall, found a Sometherefore Rabbinicbeauthorities ma'aser It may preferableconsider to use the himThe what he was war, not his totalasked income.

Ra'avad would quay and other evidence of Shimon, the fifth Maccabean son, heard what had kesafimof to be a Biblical obligation, whereas language response and approach.

This leaves doing, he told me that he Ma'aser kesafim is the practice to give a tenth of counter that partial ma'aser kesafim is also Rabbi Moshe Feinstein (d. 1986) extolled the a 2,300-year old port. The happened to his brother and the Judean army, and the door open for a child to ask follow-up was “kissing one's earnings to needy causes. Hashem”.

The Rambam considered ma'aser. virtues of also contributing ten percent of city of Acre named in the that Tryphon was on the march from the north questions and extend the learning process, “Hashem is everywhere!” he (Maimonides d. 1204) attributes the origins one's time to a worthy cause, similar to giving prophets as the most prominent of the five towards Jerusalem, holding Yonatan as hostage. helping them to see that their question was said “so I wanted to show how much the of innocently, this practice to Yitzchak.

However, ma'aser one’s Yitzchak income; Yaakov for example In memorykesafim of HaravofAvraham ben Harav Phoenician Nata Gershon seacoast cities was already4 Tryphon declared that he would exchange are (Rabbi three Avraham different ben opinions the intelligent and leaving them feeling empowered I There love Him!” Ra'avad Davidabout d. 1198) by 'donating' time to teach others Torah and considered ancient by the time of the Maccabees. It Yonatan for 100 talents of silver and two of level of obligation to donate ma'aser kesafim. to be ever more inquisitive. disagrees, finding an even earlier source, thus assist them in their general Jewish practice. was there that Yonatan, the fourth Hasmonean Yonatan’s sons.

Some authorities ma'aser Besides being a gave very a cute moment, this of when Rabbinic Avraham tenthconsider of his spoils brother to lead the Judeans, met his ultimate fate. kesafim to a Biblical obligation, whereas highlights the be simplistic way young children view When considering how best to reconcile war to Malki-tzedek (Bereishit 14:20).

Shimon faced an unenviable choice, to let his the spiritual concepts they learn about. Yet as nuanced Jewish arguments and secular sources, Five years after the Chanukah story, all was still brother face certain death if he did not negotiate it is helpful to remember that sometimes two inquisitive children mature and they seek to The commentators explain that the Rambam not settled in the Land. As in-fighting continued in with Tryphon, or relinquish a vast fortune and ideas can seem to clash but that is because they understand the worldthearound theyand notofconsider ofthem, Avraham 4 Indoes memory Harav Avrahamcase Yitzchak Yaakov ben Harav Nata Gershon the Selucid kingdom, the small province of Judea perhaps condemn two of his nephews (and are actually looking at the same thing from naturally ask deep and intelligent questions Malki-tzedek as a classic example of ma'aser was being used as a pawn in the power struggle. possibly even their father) to death. Shimon chose different angles.

For example, imagine a circle. about G-d, the Torah and spirituality.

Answering kesafim, because it was also done to give honour Demetrious the king of the Selucids was ousted to pay the ransom, yet Tryphon did not release those questions is challenging because they It has no corners and is completely round.

Now to Malki-tzedek and only involved giving a tenth

by Alexander Balas and his wife Cleopatra Thea, Yonatan. often contain abstract concepts are of imagine a rectangle. It has four corners and four of some of Avraham’s wealth i.e.which the spoils who was a daughter of the ruling Egyptian house edges.

How could these two shapes be part of difficult evenhis for total adultsincome. to truly grasp. war, not The Ra'avad would of Ptolemy. After Alexander’s untimely death, his Tryphon took his army and went on the offensive, the same thing?

Now imagine a cylinder.

If you counter that partial ma'aser kesafim is also son Antiochus VI Dionysius was crowned king and attacking the villages and cities of Judea; yet at One parent mentioned considered ma'aser. to me that they came into look at it edge on, it appears to be a circle but if his tutor Diodotus Tryphon, referred to simply as every turn, Shimon thwarted his attacks. In deep the kitchen one morning to find their seven-year you look at it sideways, it can appear to be a Tryphon, was appointed regent. frustration, Tryphon murdered Yonatan in the city old daughter sitting at the breakfast table in a rectangle.

There are three different opinions about the of Gilead, on the eastern shore of the Jordan river. flood of tears. She had been taught at her shul level of obligation to donate ma'aser kesafim.

The Book of the Maccabees relates that in cheder that G-d had created the world and all of Just as both shapes are part of the cylinder, so Some Rabbinic authorities consider ma'aser Tryphon’s bid for increased power, he The book of Maccabees details Yonatan’s ‘final the animals. Yet at school, she had been taught too science and Torah can view reality from two kesafim to be a Biblical obligation, whereas assassinated his young charge and appointed journey’, as his brother Shimon transported his that the animals came about through evolution valid but different perspectives. We can strive to himself as king. All of this left Yonatan in the bones to the family grave in Modi’in, where he and natural selection. She did not know which appreciate the value of both. difficult position of choosing sides between the erected a monument to his parents and four one to believe. How could the parents help their rightful heir to the throne Demetrius V, and brothers. daughter understand that the Yitzchak two concepts 4 In memory of Harav Avraham Yaakovare ben Harav Nata Gershon Tryphon. not necessarily mutually exclusive?

Bein Adam Lechaveiro Part 18: Ma’aser Kesafim

by Rabbi Daniel Fine, Community Rabbi, Stanmore & Canons Park United Synagogue

Yonatan eventually chose to side with Tryphon, helping him win the battle against Demetrius. But betrayal was to follow. Tryphon grew suspicious of the battle-hardened Jews, and asked them to meet him for a ‘friendly chat’. Yonatan came to the meeting with 40,000 men. Tryphon said he was surprised and disappointed that Yonatan could not trust him, claiming that he just wanted to meet up and exchange gifts. Yonatan disbanded his army and followed Tryphon to the walled city of Acre. As Yonatan and his 1,000 strong personal guard entered the city, the walls were closed

This issue is often compounded by a tendency for complex issues to be simplified into black and white concepts. Whether it is done to sensationalise, save time or dumb-down information, the effect is that we tend to eschew complex and nuanced discussion in favour of simplistic, alluring and persuasive sound bites.

We also naturally assume that questions require answers. Yet from a pedagogical perspective, if being inquisitive is the first stage in learning, giving answers to questions may be

Answer: gid ha'nashe

memory of Harav Yisrael ben Eliyahu InInmemory of Harav Yisrael ben Eliyahu

5

In memory Yitzchak YoelYoel ben Shlomo In memoryofofHarav Harav Yitzchak ben Shlomo Halevi Halevi

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30 NOVEMBER 2017

Parshat Vayishlach

In this week’s D’var Torah the Chief Rabbi wonders whether El Al is a suitable name for an airline.

Is El Al a suitable name for an airline?

The term el al is taken from the opening verse of the Haftarah for Parashat Vayishlach

Tehillim Psalm 31

Sometimes people question the righteous. There is nothing wrong with questioning. The error people make is when they jump to conclusions, based on their own limited understanding of the situation.

Some people question King David.

Some people still point the finger at King David, using him and his son as a classic example of what ‘modern Judaism’ must correct. Yes there are questions as to his conduct with Batsheva. These are serious points which are clearly answered by the Oral Torah.

It is beyond the scope of this article to delve into all the answers given.

However, he was undoubtedly one of the most righteous people of all time.

The fact that he was the author of Tehillim, a book that is still used by Jews around the world until this very day, is clear testimony from Hashem, our G-d and Master of the entire world that King David was a true Tzadik. He and his descendants would never have been given the privilege of starting and completing the building of the Temple of G-d if he had truly sinned.

Indeed, the Messiah himself will herald from the house of David. The Gemarah says “David Hamelech lo chata, King David did not sin.’ Any orthodox Jew who faithfully follows the Oral Torah as well as the Written Torah, and who loyally trust the Rabbis of the Talmud, and indeed the halachic guidelines learnt out from the Talmud, will easily see that King David was not G-d forbid ‘a rapist’ as some people today claim. People who make this

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which is read according to most traditions The prophet Hoshea says ‘v’ami telu’im limshuvati – and my people, says G-d, are hesitating to come back to me.’ ‘V’el al yikra’uhu – and even though they are called upon to go up,’ ‘yachad lo y’romem – together

This week’s Tehillim is Shoshana Rhonda bas Freida claim are clearly not following orthodox tradition.

In this week’s Psalm, King David makes the point that although he was relentlessly pursued by wicked people trying to destroy him, he was always ultimately rescued. He constantly asks G-D to let him ‘not be ashamed.’

Our Rabbis tell us that when a person suffers embarrassment, his blood drains from his face and he goes red. This is akin to murder, when blood also drains from one’s face, and bloodshed is a terrible sin. Our Rabbis also tell us that embarrassment is 1/60th of experiencing Gehinnom. Part of the pain of hell is suffering the embarrassment of knowing that you were wrong, in a world of truth. Because Hashem saves him, he rejoices in G-d’s kindness, happy in the knowledge that he is ‘ not delivered into the hand of the foe,’ but that he can stand firmly ‘ in a broad place.’ He prays that those who lie and speak ‘falsely with arrogance and utter contempt,’ about a Tzadik, shall be muted.

Once this has happened, then the words of the next verse, that we say at levayas and shiva houses will come true. ‘ ma rav tuvcha, asher tzafanta lerecha’ how abundant is your goodness that you have hidden away for those who fear you.’ May we all merit to see revelation of the hidden light once more in the days of the righteous Mashiach ben David. Amen

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they do not ascend.’

A nation given a great opportunity, the potential to cling to Hashem and to raise their spiritual identity but they were hesitating The particular historical context here relates to a nation given a great opportunity, the potential to cling to Hashem and to raise their spiritual identity but they were hesitating. And as often happens, when given such a glorious opportunity, they missed it. Invited to go upwards in their profile, their achievements – they stayed on the ground. ‘El’ which means ‘to’ and ‘Al’ meaning ‘on’ indicates that you ascend to a place from which you can look down and therefore it’s a brilliant name, an inspirational name for an airline.

Some of our mefarshim tell us that el al is a shortened version of one of the names of G-d: kel elyon. Therefore, the prophet is saying v’el al yikra’uhu – they are called upon to connect with G-d.

I find that this is highly relevant for me and I’m sure for many others because

I always think of G-d when I’m in an aeroplane. How can you not think of G-d then?

The incredible ability of human beings to create this massive machine which, like a bird, can transport you from one continent to the other within just a few hours. Particularly when I look through a window of an aeroplane I imagine in a tiny way that I’m a little bit like G-d, I can look down and see everything. But Hashem is chacham harazim, he sees into the hearts and the minds and the souls of every single one amongst billions of people, he knows all and that’s just in our world not to mention the entire universe.

Therefore, the name el al serves as a reminder to us every time we fly that we should contemplate on the absolute greatness of Hakadosh Baruch Hu who is kel elyon koneh shamayim va’aretz – G-d on high who governs both heaven and earth.

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Analysis of last week’s Budget

BY MARC OVITS

BA (HONS) APFS CERT PFS (DM)

If the Chancellor suffers from claustrophobia, he’ll have been having a hard time of it in recent weeks. Mr Hammond has been hemmed in on one side by sobering economic and fiscal forecasts; on another by public services and national infrastructure showing the strain after seven years of austerity; and on a third by members of his own party, willing him to fail.

So when it came to this, his third Budget, how did the Chancellor play his unlucky hand?

Mr Hammond tried to strike a note of economic and fiscal optimism. As expected, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), the Chancellor’s independent economic and fiscal arbiter, lowered its estimate for public borrowing in 2017/18 by £8.4 billion, on the basis of stronger-than-expected tax revenues and lower public spending so far this year. The country’s debt burden is still expected to start falling next year, allowing Mr Hammond to argue that we have turned the corner on the public finances. He was also keen to highlight the upward trend in employment.

Using what little flexibility he had, the Chancellor portrayed this as a Budget creating “a country fit

Mr Hammond

for the future”. The reclassification of housing association debt from the public to the private sector has conveniently allowed Mr Hammond to shift his fiscal goal posts by around £5 billion a year. He also outlined plans to raise additional taxes from the corporate sector, including via indexation freezing, and through the “usual suspect” of clampdowns on tax evasion and avoidance. As a result, he was able to loosen his fiscal stance by £7 billion over the period to 2023 – a little more than expected ahead of his speech.

Some of this additional funding has gone to the National Health Service. Mr Hammond has allocated an extra £3.4 billion over the next three years, presumably hoping to avoid negative headlines over the winter months, and additional capital spending of £4.2 billion out to 2023. But the Chancellor is still intent on meeting his self-imposed fiscal goals, lowering government borrowing to 2% of national income by 2020-21 and eliminating the deficit altogether by the mid-2020s.

But that’s where the good economic news ended

The OBR downgraded its outlook for UK GDP growth both in the short and medium term by more

than expected. The short-term cuts – to projected growth rates of 1.5% this year and 1.4% next, from 2.0% and 1.6% respectively in the March Budget – are a little below economists’ current consensus.

They are also disappointing for a small, open economy that would normally be benefitting from a world economy that is expanding at its fastest sustained pace since the global financial crisis. But it is the long-term downgrades – to growth rates averaging an anaemic 1.3% in 2019 and 2020 and only modestly higher beyond – that are ultimately more damaging to the Chancellor’s aspirations.

And Mr Hammond’s Brexit-fighting “war chest” has shrunk.

The worsening economic news, combined with the fiscal impact of Mr Hammond’s U-turn on raising taxes for the self-employed back in March and the £1 billion post-election sweetener for the Democratic Unionist Party, has cut his headroom relative to his own fiscal rules from £26 billion at the time of the previous Budget to £14.3 billion currently. He chose to position this as a positive choice, to help hard-working families and ready the economy for the future.

However, it leaves him with a very small margin to play with, given total tax revenues and public spending commitments amounting to hundreds of billions of pounds each year.

The Chancellor attempted to fight back on the OBR’s negative productivity message, with some productivity-boosting measures of his own. After all, the only way the UK can hope to escape its current economic challenges is by improving its productivity performance, enabling economic growth and tax revenues to rise faster than the OBR currently expects. Mr Hammond set out parts of the government’s industrial strategy, allocating tens of millions of pounds to skills training and transport infrastructure over the

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next few years, and hundreds of millions to increasing research and development tax credits. All other measures to create “an economy fit for the future” are, however, dwarfed in terms of funding by the £3 billion to be allocated over the next two years to preparing for EU exit – a concession from Mr Hammond to his pro-Brexit critics.

Housing market in focus

As expected, Mr Hammond also portrayed this as a Budget to tackle the UK’s “broken” housing market – and this is also where this Budget’s inevitable surprise came from. He repeated his goal of raising housebuilding to 300,000 new homes per year, aided by the commissioning of new building on public land and funding for local authorities. This will go some way – albeit modestly – towards addressing “supply side” problems in the housing market. But the “demand side” measures announced today, particularly his rabbit-fromthe-hat of a stamp duty cut for most first-time buyers, risk adding more to house prices than to addressing issues with the housing stock. Indeed, that’s exactly what the OBR is predicting. It believes the stamp duty cut will increase house prices by 0.3%, mainly in 2018, with the biggest gainers, therefore, being people who already own property – not first-time buyers themselves.

So how did he do?

Budgets in the early years of an administration are normally when Chancellors get the “heavy lifting” done – raising taxes or shifting spending priorities in anticipation that this will pay dividends in time for elections up to five years into the future. However, these are not normal times.

Mr Hammond’s constraints meant that, despite his best efforts at vision and vigour, this Budget

went with more of a whimper than a bang. A bold approach would have been to take housebuilding and infrastructure spending out of his budgetary rules altogether, arguing that they are too important to be left inside a self-imposed fiscal straitjacket.

Despite [Mr Hammond’s] best efforts at vision and vigour, this Budget went with more of a whimper than a bang.

Today could have been a golden opportunity to take a distinct, longterm view of the UK’s prospects, tackling the country’s productivity performance head on. An expanding economy would underpin confidence, spending and tax revenues, ultimately benefitting the public finances.

Instead, the two most notable measures in today’s Budget were the £3 billion allocated to Brexit preparations and the stamp duty cut for first-time buyers. The first was directed at Mr Hammond’s critics, many within his own party, who would like to see him replaced. The second was intended to provide a boost for young, aspiring house purchasers but may ultimately benefit their middle-aged peers.

Market implications The Budget is likely to be received calmly within equity, currency and, perhaps most importantly for the Chancellor, debt markets.

However, as already noted, it was delivered against a backdrop of a very disappointing UK economic outlook and with considerable uncertainty around the likely implications of Brexit. While Mr Hammond outlined a variety of measures that will affect the corporate sector, this anaemic growth environment is likely to have the greatest impact on companies operating in the UK over the coming years.

The Chancellor announced a raft of initiatives to improve productivity and to enhance the UK’s

30 NOVEMBER 2017

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position in the technology and digital economy, the most material of these being the increase in the R&D expenditure credit to 12%. Time will tell as to the efficacy of these initiatives, but they will broadly be welcomed by the business sector.

Corporation tax rates were left unchanged, remaining competitive with our global peers.

However, several initiatives, such as the freezing of the indexation allowance and the application of

income tax to royalties relating to UK sales, will result in companies experiencing a tax increase.

The measures on the housing market were well-trailed overall and were broadly in line with investors’ expectations. However, the Chancellor is obviously losing patience with what he sees as the large housebuilders’ inefficient use of their land banks. His announcement of an “urgent review” into the “significant gap between the

number of planning permissions granted and the number of homes built” reflects this impatience, with housebuilders’ shares weakening on the announcement. The supportive comments on the purpose-built private rented sector will be welcomed by institutions eager to participate further in this area.

Stability for pension and savings

Mr Hammond made few changes to the UK savings market. This will be welcomed by an industry that had called for stability in pensions and investments policy following some fairly significant changes over the past few years.

As a follow-up to the Treasury’s recent Patient Capital Review, the Chancellor announced a £20 billion action plan to unlock new investment in UK “scale-up” businesses. Alongside this will be a new fund through the British Business Bank, seeded with £2.5 billion of public money. The Chancellor also made reference to “facilitating pension fund access to long-term investments”. All these measures will be welcomed and may allow the further closing of the financing gap at the smaller end of the private equity market.

The Chancellor’s statement did not move markets significantly, an outcome that he is likely to be happy with. It was also a statement delivered in the context of a global economy that, while growing at a healthy pace, may be seeing the liquidity tide of low-interest rates and quantitative easing starting to ebb. The outcomes of events beyond our shores are, therefore, once again, likely to have more influence on UK markets, in all

Last few spaces for our:

their forms, than the Chancellor’s pronouncements from the dispatch box this afternoon.

The Writer is the owner and Managing Director of Alpha Wealth Management Limited. Drawing on over twenty years’ experience in financial services, Marc helps private clients, businesses, charities, and trusts optimize their finances. He is a Chartered Financial Planner providing ‘Independent’ financial advice. Prior to being a financial adviser, Marc was a Director at several global investment banks, providing investment advice to Europe’s leading institutional investment and pension fund managers. For advice on inheritance, investment, protection, or retirement planning, please contact Marc on 020 8203 6920 or 07866 503 898 or marc@alphawm.co.uk.

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Brady Maccabi top of Premier League after comeback win against Redbridge

BY DAVID SAFFER

Brady Maccabi came from behind to defeat Redbridge Jewish Care A 4-2 in a top two clash as the battle for the Premier League title hots up.

Reiss Mogilner, Sam Castle, Charlie Kasler and David Cohen struck the goals for the league leaders.

Nathan Sollosi scored a brace for Redbridge.

“A great win against a very good team,” commented Brady boss Joel Nathan.

“We took an early lead but Redbridge stepped up a gear and finished the half in a deserved lead but we knew we weren’t out of it and after some strong words at half time we were quickly back on level terms. From then on we moved up a gear and scored a cracker before rounding off the win with a goal in the last couple of minutes as Redbridge looked for an equaliser.

“Man of match was Marc Rister who filled in at centre back and didn’t put a foot wrong.”

Nathan was delighted with the win but critical of the officialdom along with Redbridge manager Jon Jacobs.

“The only downer was both

Redbridge go close against Brady

teams having a player sent off in my opinion by a poor official,” said Nathan.

“As good as we were in the first half, the referee stopping the game every few minutes killed us in the second half,” said Jacobs. “The referee had zero control on the teams.”

He added, “We should have been out of sight in the first half but Brady hung in and probably shaded the game.”

Hendon United Sports are serious contenders following a fourth consecutive league win.

They moved into second place on goal difference alongside Redbridge after a 3-0 win against North London Raiders A. Ari Last, Avi Korman and Yoav Kestenbaum scored the Hendon goals.

“It wasn’t the hardest Raiders team we’ve played over the last few seasons which is a shame for the league, but credit to their young side who at times caused us problems,” said joint-manager Greg Corin.

“We dominated the game but should have scored more earlier in the game and that created some unnecessary nervy moments when we should have had the game dead

and buried.

“Hendon are definitely moving in the right direction and we have a few more big games this year which if we can get positive results will put us in a great position for the New Year.”

Camden Park dominated much of their clash with Maccabi London Lions White but went down to a 3-0 defeat.

Adam Burchell, Kiki Levin and James Gold scored the Lions goals.

“Man of the match was the Lions keeper,” commented Camden boss Stirling Kay. “In the first half, he saved three one-on-ones and pulled of umpteen great saves. They got into our penalty box once and scored from a penalty.

“We were superb in the first 45 minutes yet found our selves a goal down.

“Lions were awarded a second penalty 15 minutes into the second half, that 99 times out of 100 would not of been given. They scored which was a big blow because we had continued to dominate the half. Then with 10 minutes to go they scored from a free kick.”

Kay added, “David Kallarchie was injured but volunteered to play in goal to help the team, he only had one save to make in 90 minutes. He’s a top man and a top club man.”

“David Kazan had his best game, how he did not score was purely down to great keeping. Jake Saunders was a massive part in our dominant display and like the rest of team did not deserve to be on the losing side.

“This result badly hurt the boys, they deserved so much more from the game, but goals win games and their keeper was brilliant. We move on.”

Title chasing Faithfold A increased the lead at the top of Division 1 to five points in an 11-goal thriller against North London Raiders B.

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Brady mark up at a corner

Ben Shirbini (4) Zalmi Cohen, Gav Lewis and Amit Dinowitz hit the target for the league leaders in a 7-4 triumph.

“After the mauling in the cup last week, it was essential that we bounced back and we certainly did that,” said player-manager Avi Markiewicz.

“We started the game off well and had chances, but were a goal down in a goalmouth scramble after a long-range set-piece. Soon after we brought the game level and looked the more likely team to go and score, but as is the way of things we didn’t and Raiders did.

“At half-time, I made it clear that nothing less than a convincing win would do and my boys responded.

“We played some really excellent football with most of the joy coming down the wings through David Leiwy and Amit Dinowitz on his debut. We scored three in quick succession to take the score to 4-2.

“The pace of the game slowed and at 6-2 settled a little too much and allowed a couple of silly goals to go in, including a contentious penalty. With things getting a little edgy man-of-the-match Ben (Shirbini) came back on to score his fourth and put the game to

bed.”

Ashley Rubin scored a late winner as Redbridge Jewish Care C claimed the shock of the day with a 2-1 win against Scrabble, their first league defeat of the season.

Redbridge led at half time thanks to a Mitch Hahn lob that crept in the top corner.

The goal gave Redbridge confidence but Scrabble rallied and centre back back Ben Cantopher leveled on with a close range header on the hour.

“All teams get these weeks when things just don’t happen as you would hope and expect,” commented Scrabble manager Ray Abrahams.

“We just weren’t on our game today and all credit to Redbridge who clearly wanted it more than us and we got punished with two very soft goals against us.

“We just didn’t perform at anywhere near the level we have been and we are capable of much better and the boys know that. They’ve let themselves and the club down today with this performance.

“We were simply not good enough in many areas and got what we deserved from the game, nothing.

“Next week’s game becomes

30 NOVEMBER 2017 massive against Faithfold A as we have the opportunity to bounce back from this defeat against the league leaders and I will be looking for an immediate reaction from the players in that game.”

Oakwood B moved into third spot with a 4-1 win at Los Blancos.

Jacob Richler Kleiman (2), Ben Loofe and Sam Modlin scored the goals as the Oakwood’s promotion charge continues.

Simon Moses scored the Blancos goal.

“I’m very happy with that win, our most important of the season,” said Oakwood boss Jason Stein.

“I felt we were the better team throughout and really put together our best performance of the season.

“At times it was heated and as usual I was my boisterous self, but wins like this are the reason why you put so much effort into a Sunday league team.

“Now we absolutely must follow it up with wins against L’Equipe and Temple Fortune. If we do, we will be right up there.”

L’Equipe pulled out of the fixture with Redbridge Jewish Care B. Mill Hill Dons moved two points clear in Division Two following a 4-0 win at Bayern Mincha.

After a cagey opening Adam Isaacs opened the scoring for the Dons, reacting quickest in the box to turn home a Josh Cinna header on 22 minutes.

Isaacs was in the right place shortly after from a Cinna long throw was flicked on by Zach Cohen to tap in at the back post.

The Dons scored early in the second half when Cohen headed home and completed the scoring with a 67th minute strike from a tight angle.

“This was a defining moment in our season not just because we dominated against a title rival or because we now sit top of the league, we showed a defensive maturity that I hadn’t seen from us before,” Dons assistant manager Jamie Nagioff.

“Until now, we hadn’t kept a clean sheet this season, so to shut out the top side and top scorer in the division shows just how good we were defensively.

“Harry Moss, in particular, was immense. Adam Ellis has tormented teams all season, including those in the Premier Division, but Harry ensured Ellis didn’t get a look in today. The rest of the team was also exceptional defensively but Harry totally shut their main threat out the game.”

He added, “We knew we were in with a shout of going top because of our game in hand, but now have the chance to pull five points clear of Bayern if we keep this momentum going over the next few weeks.

It’s an exciting time for the club right now.”

All eyes on the ball as Brady defend a corner kick

Temple Fortune B moved off the foot of the table with a Gab Saul wonder goal and Jordan Jay strike deep into stoppage time for a 2-1 win against Faithfold B. Sam Garson scored for the home team.

“An absolute howitzer and injury time finish secured the points,” said Fortune co-manager Steven Black.

“If we’re being honest with ourselves, we were absolutely hopeless first half but gave a far better account of ourselves in the second half and are delighted with the outcome.

“November has been a good month for us with two wins, we’re really starting to build some confidence in ourselves and gel as a team. This win was really crucial for the rest of the campaign and everyone can be very proud of themselves.”

He added, “Midfield maestro Jacob Kalms filled in at centre half and put in one of the performances of the season. Jacob won everything in front of him and capped it off with a goal-line clearance and outstanding tackle at the death to rob Faithfold of a certain goal.”

Regarding Saul’s effort, Black said, “Faithfold looked to have cleared a long throw only for the ball to bounce in front of Saul 30 yards from goal and he rocketed a half volley into the corner of the net.

The technique was sumptuous.”

As for Jay’s winning goal, he commented, “My word does that lad have an eye for goal.”

Hertswood Vale defeated North London Raiders C 2-1 with a left foot strike by Ariel Weinstein on his debut and Gal Alkalay header from a Josh Cohen cross.

Raiders pulled a goal back with late on.

Fairlop FC won at Real Hendon 5-0 for only a second league

victory of the season.

James Jaconelli (2) Bradley Gayer (2) and Daniel Rosen struck the away day goals.

“It’s always wonderful to watch your side win 5-0 away from home and also see your supposed rivals get thumped 4-0,” said Kane Hopps of Fairlop.

“Against a better side we put in a battling performance with Gilad Kestenbaum outstanding in the defence, playing the ball on the floor and dribbling out of tackles with aplomb,” said Rafi Addlestone of Hendon.

“We saw Jordan Alex put in a good shift and a battling debut from Harley Patoff. We now look forward to the return of some big name players for upcoming fixtures.”

Straw Hat Pirates pulled out of their fixture with Catford & Bromley Maccabi.

London Lions Vets (Masters) stunned defending Premier League champions Oakwood A 4-2 in the Peter Morrison Cup second round.

Oakwood led twice through Daniel Seligman only for Joel Berg and Dan Stanton to level the scores.

A Lee Cash strike put Lions ahead before Stanton’s second sealed a last 16-place.

“This was a bad day at the office but the best team won,” said Oakwood manager Daniel Kristall.

“I have no complaints with the scoreline, our squad was stretched missing several key players but Lions used their experience and quality to come through.

“Having taken the lead twice, we didn’t manage the game well enough. We gave away poor set pieces and allowed Lions to play to their strengths.

“The match hinged on a big decision when we led 2-1 with a very poor challenge their manager agreed should have been a straight red card after the game, and a follow up incident, which I don’t think the referee saw, should also have resulted in a red card.

“This didn’t excuse who the better side were but we’d have won comfortably against nine or ten men.”

Kristall added, “We will regroup, recover some missing players and get back to basics. We have big decisions to make ahead of next weeks cup quarter final against North London Raiders A. “We’re having a wobble we’ll be in contention at the end of the season.”

start of the season that I thought Everton could seriously challenge for the top 4, I had a slight doubt in my mind as to where their goals would come from considering the sale of top scorer Romelu Lukaku.

I even mentioned it in my very first article saying that although their midfielders were world class, the powerhouse up top was nowhere to be seen. But, besides that I still thought they’d conjure up goals somehow, yet boy was I wrong.

Everton have now scored 13 goals, the 13th worst in the league and have conceded 28 goals in the Premier League this season - their worst tally after 13 games since 1958-59, showing how defence

starts from the attack. To say the club is a shambles after their 4-1 loss to Southampton on Sunday, is an understatement and the talk of Sam Allardyce becoming their permanent manager, shows their true fall from grace after expecting Champions league qualification at the beginning of the season to hopes of staying up by December already.

Other results include Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea which displayed one of the greatest unintentional goal ever seen in the Premier League courtesy of Willian, Arsenal’s jammy last minute penalty to snatch a victory at Turf Moor to the expense of angry Burnley manager Sean Dyche and a narrow victory for Manchester

United against Brighton leading Jose Mourinho to say “it was probably the hardest match we’ve had this season”. But to see Newcastle be condemned to a 4th straight defeat at the hands of high flyers Watford was a sad sight to watch indeed. The most important question to me however is how Newcastle striker Joeslu is a footballer, not even a Premier League one but a straight out footballer. I mean the man was through on goal with all the time in the world and instead of looking up and finishing it like a Newcastle United striker should do, he slid for the ball. SLID. A true travesty of injustice if I’ve ever seen one.

Dan’s football round up column

BY DAN SILVER

When a team plays outstanding, audacious, sublime football, yet still loses, I’m sorry to tell you but they receive no points. Yet when a team plays poor football considering their standards, yet still wins, guess what, they still receive 3 points. So for me, coinciding with the fact that they’ve played incredible football this season barring this performance, to beat Huddersfield at the weekend and not even playing their high quality standard of football, shows just why Manchester City have the character to become Premier League champions this season.

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After conceding a goal on the stroke of half time through a Nicolas Otamendi own goal, City fought back when Sergio Aguero’s penalty early in the second half drew City level, and Raheem Sterling producing the winner with only six minutes to go. This was the first time City have come from behind at half-time to win a Premier League away match since April 1995 and this sort of resilience to come from a goal down shows not only the depth in their squad to sub quality players on when their players are fatigued, but also the fight and determination that true champions only have.

Now listen, when I said at the

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Redbridge look to strike

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Parshat P Vayishlach Whilst they travel towards Esav, Yaakov and his family cross a river. Yaakov forgets a few of his things across the river and he crosses back alone. There, he meets with an angel, who says he is Esav’s spirit. He attacks Yaakov and they fight the whole night.

Yaacov gets hurt on his hip but he wins the battle. When the morning comes, the angel goes back to heaven, after this, he tells Yaakov that now Yaakov will have another name which will be Yisrael.

The next morning Esav and Yaakov meet and they hug and cry together . Yaakov’s preparations have helped!

Yaakov travels on, without Esav, to Shechem. There, his daughter Dinah gets kidnapped

by Shechem (yes, he had the same name as the city!). Luckily, they get back Dinah.

Again, the family travels on and then another sad thing happens, Rachel passes away just after she gives birth to her second son Binyamin. Yaakov finds a grave for her on the side of the road where they are travelling through, in a city called Betlechem.

At the end of the Parashah, we read how Yaakov arrives in Chevron, where his father Yitzchak lives his last few years. Yitzchak passes away at the age of 180 years.

Questions

QUIZ

1. After Yaakov wrestled with the angel, he received another name, what was that name?

2. How many people did Esav approach Yaakov with?

3. What three things did Yaacov do to prepare to see Esav?

4. When did Rachel pass away?

5. How old was Yitzckak when he passed away?

Answers 1. Yisrael 2. 400 men 3. He prepared for war, he prayed and he sent gifts to Esav.

4. Right after she gave birth to Binyamin.

5. 180 years old.

Yaakov returns to Canaan (Israel) and knows that he is going to meet his brother Esav. This will be the first time he will see him after he fled from him many years ago. Yaakov sends ahead messengers and they come back and tell him that Esav is coming with 400 soldiers.

Yaakov prepares in three different ways to greet Esav: 1. He prepares for war.

2. He prays to Hashem.

3. He sends gifts to Esav to appease him.

Arts and Crafts Tissue Paper Flowers You will need • Tissue paper in different colours • Green pipe cleaners • Scissors

Method

1. Place a few tissue papers on top of each other and fold them like an accordion.

2. Tie a pipe cleaner around the middle of the strip.

3. Gently pull the sheets apart, creating the flower shape.

4. Repeat a few times until you have a bunch of pretty flowers!

5. Give them to your mother or grandmother as a shabbat gift.

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30 NOVEMBER 2017

CUT OUT & KEEP Ingredients:

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TO CREATE YOUR VERY OWN JEWISH WEEKLY RECIPE BOOK

Chocolate Dipped Pretzels

• 12 oz. chopped semi-sweet chocolate or chocolate chips • 24 pretzel pretzel twists or sticks

• Assorted sprinkles, small sweets, or crushed nuts (optional) • 1 tbsp. shortening (optional)

Method: 1. Prepare a baking sheet with baking paper.

2. Place the chopped chocolate with a drop of water and microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring after every 30 seconds. When chocolate overheats, it thickens, so watch the chocolate carefully. If needed, you can add some shortening to keep the chocolate smooth.

3. When the chocolate is almost totally melted, take it out and stir until smooth.

4. Dip the pretzel into the chocolate. If you are using pretzel sticks, hold the stick by one end and dip until just before your fingers. If you chose to use the pretzel twists, just drop the pretzel into the chocolate mixture and take it out with a fork or spoon.

5. Place the pretzels on the prepared baking sheet.

6. If you want to top the pretzels with sprinkles, nuts, or candies, sprinkle them on when the chocolate is still wet.

7. Place the pretzels in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes to set the chocolate.

Did y u kn w?

Fun moon facts

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth is between the Sun and the Moon.

The Moon orbits (makes a full circle around) the Earth every 27.3 days.

The first person to set foot on the Moon was Neil Armstrong.

This was in 1969.

Neil Armstrong

The average distance from the moon to the earth is 384,403 kilometres (238,857 miles)

The Moon is very hot during the day but very cold at night.

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The Soviet Union were the first to successfully bring an unmanned spacecraft to the moon in 1966.

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KIDS 35

Yello!

By Chaya Sandler “After much careful deliberation, we have decided that Benjy, you may have a pet.”

“Yes!” Benjy punched the air and whooped like an Indian.

“But,” His father’s stern tone brought Benjy back to earth and he followed his father’s finger, and took a seat again. “You must show us that you can be responsible.”

“Responsible? That’s my middle name. “ “Actually it’s Shalom, but this is why we decided to allow you to have a pet- in order to teach you responsibility. You need to buckle down and start taking life seriously, actions have consequences Benjy.

We’re giving you a 5 week trial, if you don’t take care of your chosen pet, then we will return it and you can never have another one.”

“Relax, everything will get taken care of.”

In the end, Benjy settled on a budgie.

He had wanted a Boa Constrictor but he had since discovered that was illegal Then he had decided he would take any snake but his mother vehemently declared that no snake would ever cross the threshold of her house and if he wanted to live at home, he would have to get rid of the snake. When Benjy offered drape it across her shoulders to show to her how cute and harmless it was, she pointed an icy glare at Benjy and he dejectedly returned it. After he came home

with a tarantula, his father decided to accompany him to the pet shop and steered him clear of all the interesting choices. The parrot was too expensive and his didn’t even bother replying when he asked about eagles.

So he was stuck with a boring budgie.

Still, she was beautiful and graceful and now all she needed was a name.

He settled on Dark Lord of the Universe. That lasted until his parents heard him say it. He tried Vanquisher of hope but his father vetoed that too.

Eventually he was fresh out of ideas.

Benjy decided to go for Yello!

Yello! was beautiful and she was graceful but…. That was it. Benjy found himself beginning to tire of his new friend.

One day, his friends came over to see his new pet. “Ta dah!” He exclaimed.

His friends just stared.

“That’s it?”

“She’s not an it. She Yello!”

“Aww Benjy we though you got a cool pet. This is rubbish.”

“She has a name….and my parents wouldn’t let me get anything else ok.”

“I bet we could make her do something cool.”

“I don’t think Budgies do anything cool.”

Benjy moaned.

“Yeah, but we could at least let her fly around.” Benjy hesitated. He really wasn’t supposed to let Yello! Out of her cage without his parents around…. But his friends were sort of

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pressurising him and he didn’t want to let him down. What would everyone think of him?

“Fine.” His friends didn’t seem to hear the reluctance in his voice.

They immediately opened the little door of the silver cage.

“Wait! We didn’t close the window!” It was too late.

Yello! Soared high and free and straight out of the window….. Benjy ran outside tears streaming down h i s face. What would his parents say? He had promised to be responsible! Hot, salty tears dripped onto his jumper. If only he had never listened to his friends. After his friends beat a hasty retreat, Benjy sat alone, staring mournfully at Yello!’s cage. He was surprised to find that he actually missed her. Could it be that the boring bird ha had resented was actually sort of sweet? “I guess you were cool. In your own way…. Now you’re free. I should’ve taken care of you properly….I’m sorry.”

Benjy put his head down, sobbing. Suddenly something pinched his arm. “Hey!” Benjy exclaimed, annoyed. “Hey!” he yelled when he realised that Yello!” had returned.

“You came back! You’re a true friend! And now It’s my turn to look after you properly.”

THE END

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Parshat Vayishlach In a Nutshell After years of living with Lavan, Yaakov wants to return to his own country, Canaan (Israel).

He will meet Esav, but will Esav greet him with a smile or with a sword? Yaakov had “taken” his blessings many years before and he doesn’t know whether Esav is still angry about this.

Yaakov sends messengers ahead and they come back telling him that Esav is in for war.

Yaakov prepares himself in 3

ways: firstly, he prepares himself for war, in case Esav will start fighting. Secondly, he prays and lastly, he sends presents to Esav.

On their way to meet Esav, Yaakov and his family cross the Yabok-river. Before night falls, Yaakov realises he forgot some of his possessions on the other side of the river. He crosses back and meets with the angel of Esav’s spirit and they wrestle the whole night. Yaakov gets

wounded on his hip, but wins the battle. When morning dawns, the angel tells him he has to go back up to heaven, but he blesses Yaakov and gives him another name, Yisrael.

The next morning Yaakov and Esav meet. They hug and kiss and Esav seems to have changed his mind about attacking Yaakov. They part ways again and Yaakov and his family travel on. When they arrive in the city

of Shechem, Dinah, Yaakov’s daughter, gets kidnapped by Shechem, one of the inhabitants of the city with the same name.

They find and take Dinah back, but Shimon and Levi are so angry that they go into the city of Shechem and kill all the inhabitants. Yaakov is not happy with their actions.

The family travels on, and then tragedy hits again. On the way, Rachel passes away after

giving birth to her second son Binyamin. Yaakov buries her, on the side of the road in the city of Betlechem. He builds a monument around her grave, which still stands there till this day.

Yaakov arrives in Chevron, where his parents live. Rivkah has already passed away earlier. After Yaakov arrives, his father Yitzchak passes away at 180 years old and is burried in Mea’arat Hamachpela.

5 ways to FOCUS F

O

F = FIVE MORE

When you start losing your focus, do “five more”. Read five more pages, do the task for five more minutes, do five more questions. This way, you push past your point of “exhaustion” and you build up stamina.

O = ONE THINK AT THE TIME

When your mind starts wandering to other places, a lot a time slot to think about that issue. So when you start thinking about what you are going to do this coming Sunday, think “Now, for the next 30 minutes, I am NOT going to think about that. Tonight, when I finish my homework I will consider what I will do next Sunday”. This way, you don’t push aside the thought, but merely postpone it.

U

S U = USE YOUR HANDS

Your brain takes in everything that it sees. When you are looking at your study book and see lots of things around you happening, focussing becomes very difficult. Therefore, cup your hand around your eyes, so you have a “tunnel vision”, thereby focussing your eyes and your brain on one thing: your task at hand.

C

C = CONQUER PROCRASTINATION

Postponing, the occupation that takes most time. Next time you postpone a task, think: “Will it be easier to postpone this task?

Or will it be more comfortable when it is off my mind?”. This way, you face the fact that the postponing does not really help.

S = SEE AS IF FOR THE FIRST TIME

When you imagine you are seeing something for the first time, you really focus.

Imagine not being able to see and then opening your eyes and seeing, you would focus on every detail of the object you are seeing. Try imagining this when you are lacking for focus.

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YOUTH 37

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

News Bites MISSING TEDDY BEAR FLOWN 200 MILES HOME TO ORKNEY FROM EDINBURGH

A teddy bear lost in an airport has been flown 200 miles to be reunited with a young girl after a cabin crew member spotted a social media appeal.

Four-year-old Summer, from Orkney, forgot to put ‘Teddy’ back in her bag at the security area of Edinburgh Airport.

Loganair cabin crew member Kirsty Walter saw a missing bear appeal, and asked colleagues to find the toy in lost property.

Teddy was then flown to Kirkwall to be reunited with his delighted owner.

Summer and mum Donna had only noticed the toy was missing after take-off.

The bear was later given his own seat on a flight to Kirkwall and was also given a tour of the flight-deck.

Kay Ryan, commercial director at Loganair, said: “Whenever our team was made aware of the grizzly

situation, we knew there could be pandemonium if we didn’t help.

“Our cabin crew team quickly tracked down the bear and arranged for him to be on the next service up to Orkney.

“It was wonderful to see Teddy back in the company of Summer and we’re pleased to have played a role.”

AND ASK

AGONY AUNT MIA AND AGONY UNCLE JOEY

A half-aeroplane, half-eel creation has been named Japan’s favourite mascot following a vote in which hundreds of thousands of people took part.

The city of Narita’s Unari-kun polled a staggering 805,328 votes in the annual Yuru Chara Grand Prix to choose the country’s top regional mascot, the Mainichi Daily News reports, 40,000 votes

ahead of its nearest rival.

Unari-kun represents two things for which the city of Narita is famous - its airport, which serves as Tokyo’s main international terminal, and unagi freshwater eels, a common ingredient in Japanese cuisine.

The honour proved too much for Narita’s deputy mayor Kenji Sekine, who was present at the

Pupils in a Siberian town are still going to school after outdoor temperatures plunged to -50C (-58F), it’s been reported.

Oymyakon in Russia’s Sakha Republic of north-eastern Siberia might be in a deep freeze but it’s not too cold to prevent children heading to the classroom, local news portal News.Ykt.Ru reports.

School in the settlement is officially closed for children in grades 1 to 5 when temperatures drop below -52 degrees. “Today it was -50C in the morning, all the children are studying,” an official in the Oymyakon administration told Ykt.Ru. In the city of Yakutsk, situated

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

30 kilometres south of Oymyakon, -50C is considered too cold for school children. Pupils there only get the day off if temperatures fall to a comparatively balmy -45 Celsius, regional administrators say.

Oymyakon, also called the Pole of Cold, is one of the coldest inhabited places on Earth. The coldest temperature recorded there was noted in January 1973, when temperatures reached -65 degrees Celsius (-85F).

In Britain, there’s no minimum outdoor temperature to keep children out of school. Government guidelines for classrooms and workplaces say that schools should only consider closing if classroom

temperatures dip below around 16 Celsius.

Dear Agony Aunt, I am in high school and have faced an interesting challenge recently. I am doing really well in school, I get good grades and the teachers think highly of my achievement. However, some of the other students seem to be getting jealous of my academic success. I approached my mentor with this and she advised me to act more dumb than I really am and to pretend I don’t know things I really do know. This doesn’t sit well with me, I feel like I would be acting and cheating. What should I do?

is a person who can make the people around him/her feel comfortable and good. However, this should be done without forgetting who you are. By pretending to be “dumber” than you really are, you are pushing yourself totally aside, which is not a great formula for a friendship. Balancing being capable and making other people around you feel good is your goal in life.

Practically speaking, I would say: try to balance it.

Don’t jump in to answer every question you know, but also don’t say you don’t know the answer when really, you do.

A confused high school student

Aside from that, being kind to others is a great way to eliminate any jealous feelings they may have.

Being you is what you are here for!

Dear Confused High School Student, 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

event. “I’m close to tears,” he said as he thanked the voting public.

SIBERIAN PUPILS GO TO SCHOOL AS TEMPERATURES HIT -50C

Correction: The Jewish Weekly wish to apologise for the article in last week’s edition titled ‘Worlds oldest wine found in 8000-year old jars in Georgia’. The view of this newspaper is that the world is 5778 years old in line with Jewish tradition, we apologise for any offence caused.

KEEP CALM

EEL-AEROPLANE HYBRID NAMED JAPAN’S BEST MASCOT

Wow, that is quite a challenge! Your mentor obviously wanted to help you get along with your friends but forgot one part in the equation: You. The question is how to balance your talents and capabilities with your friends’ feelings.

The definition of a socially successful person

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Good luck, Agony Aunt Mia

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Q: “Little Jonny, why did you put your teddy in the freezer?”

A: “I would like to have a polar bear.”

“Mom, don’t get alarmed, but I’m at the hospital.”

“Son, please. You’ve been a surgeon there for 8 years now.

Can we start our phone calls differently?”

(Answers at the bottom of page upside down)

Q:Why is it a bad idea to insult an octopus?

A: Because it is well armed.

1.

What has a neck but no head?

Q: What did the judge ask when he went

2.

There was a plane crash every single person died. Who survived?

to the dentist?

A:“Do you swear to pull the tooth, the whole tooth and nothing but the tooth?”

3.

What can be swallowed but swallow you also?

2.

Married couples 1.

A bottle

Pride 3.

1. Feeling under the weather 2. Side salad 3. Paradise 4. Good intensions 5. Bend over backwards 6. Love at first sight

Dingbats Answers THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

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Be Careful What You Wish For

PART 5 OF 5 WE GET SWASHBUCKLING

BY CHAYA SANDLER Toby has always known he was special, problem is no-one else does and even he gets a little stuck on how. Is the school newspaper his big break? With the discovery that Elliot has a time machine and the addition of Charles Dickens and Griff ,a swashbuckling detective from the 1700’s to their team, the paper is a big success. But they are arrested and sentenced to death by the Interera court . Chased through time, they escape into the 1700’s but the time police have followed them.

For the 3rd time today I was about to die.

The time police raised their weird space guns and I sighed. This was getting old. “Not today,” Griff drew his pistol, fired dramatically in the air, raised his other hand to grab the rope that came swinging down and executed a perfect arc into the police sending them flying like skittles. When I say flying, I literally mean flying because the Interera police float. “You gave Tarzan a run for his money there.”

“I do not know this Tarzan to whom you refer Master Toby, but might I suggest we make haste and flee forthwith,” he replied, his hand already pushing me through the crowd. Oh yeah, the ship was in the midst of being overtaken by pirates. The noise!

Gunshots, cannon smashing through the atmosphere, thick smog descending all over the place, whooping and screaming “Where exactly shall we flee, my dear Lord Griff, we are on a boat,” Dickens pointed out.

“True. But it’s my boat.”

He strode into a room at the

other end of the deck and we followed, ducking, weaving, hiding and shrieking at regular intervals. “Arm yourself my friends. Today we shall fight like men. Today I shall die my father’s son.”

“Ok, Griff, I have no idea what you are talking about. You obviously have issues there but um... I don’t want to die today. Elliot is there any way you can get us out of here.” “ Yeah, it needs a few minutes to charge, but it should be done in about 20 seconds.”

“The time police will just follow us again.”

Dickens pontificated.

“If I get a minute I can confuse the time trails for a bit but er, I’ll need about 2 minutes.”

“Elliot! You’re a genius!”

“Yeah,” he shrugged, “no biggie.”

“No bi- Elli- oh whatever, just do it and quickly, they’re here already.”

“Never fear,” Griff interjected gallantly, “I shall grant you the two minutes you need.”

He drew his pistol in one hand and his sword in the other and stood resolute, before leaping valiantly unto the breach without giving us any time to object.

“He was a noble soul, lad,” Dickens patted my arm, “a noble soul...” There wasn’t a moment to protest as the now familiar darkness enveloped us and the feeling of my stomach turning itself upside down intensified before we fell with a thus into a Roman fortress. “Griff!” The nobleman detective stood at our side.

“I locked onto his DNA molecules so we could pull him in from wherever we was in time like.”

“Elliot,” I bear hugged

him. But the Romans general coughed and we turned to stare at the 50 or so fully armed Roman Legionaries, spears drawn, surrounding us. The Commander barked some sort of Latin at us but none of us had any idea what it meant. We were saved from the Romans by the arrival of the Interera police officers.

This time they brought the weird judge with the feathered white robe that rose above her head and the glittery glasses. The Romans ran off. Her dress sense is truly terrifying.

Although it could have been the appearance of a whole bunch of strange characters, some flying, dropping out of mid air that sent them running. We’ll know though because I don’t speak Latin. I’m banking on her dress sense.

“You said they couldn’t follow us,” Dickens turned to Elliot, “what happened lad?”

“Dunno, oops,” Elliot shrugged and stuck some earphones in his ear, tapping away to a beat. I stared, Dickens gawked, Griff lent forward to peer at him and wrinkled that perfect brow of his. Even the Judge seemed taken aback, her mouth receded into itself and her eyebrows bent until they bashed into each other. The floating officers didn’t really know what to do. Elliot looked up, pulled out a bud, “Wha?” Dickens shook his head, Elliot popped the bud back in and the situation resumed itself.

“Wait, hold it!” I yelled, stepping in between Griff and the buoyant bobby he was about to punch in the face, Dickens and the cruising constable aiming at Dickens’s head.

“Wait.”

“Yers?” The Judge’s expression was bored and presumptuous at the same time. You have to give credit to her face, it even managed to be contemptuous and condescending as well. “Make it quick?”

“Pray tell why my dear Lady, you do have all the time in existence,” smirked Griff. She

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harrumphed at him.

“Mrs Judge Lady, you accuse us of messing up the time space continuum, but surely you are doing the same if not worse- you’re showing all this future tech stuff to ancient civilisations! At least we were discreet.....”

We held gazes until I was beginning to think my eyes would pop out of their sockets. Finally she answered cooly, “Go home and do not speak of this again. If you attempt time travel after this, I shall execute you without thought.” With that she swivelled on her heel and sauntered into the void followed by her airborne assistants.

“I say my golly that was some excitement eh old chaps?” Griff punched the air triumphantly.

“Quite enough for one day I believe,” Dickens enjoined. We took Dickens home first, “Goodbye sir Totobee.”

“It’s not...oh whatever” Before Griff left though, I had a few questions for him.

“Griff, Lord Griffindor… who are you? The son of a lord who becomes a detective, who helps the royal navy fight sea crime in his spare time, what is your story.” Griff smiled mischievously.

“Oh my mystique is my charm young Master Toby....” he stared pensively into the distance.” If you’ll escort me home,” he answered finally, “per’aps I shall tell you some of my tale, per’aps not, still no time to waste.” We didn’t quite ride off into the sunset, but it was close enough. I’m a time traveller now, I finally found the greatness I wanted. My name is known throughout all of time, just not quite how I’d imagined it.

As for Griff’s story? A story in its own right, it deserves to be told properly. See you next time.

The curtain has fallen but the story continTHE END ues, look out next week....

40 WOMEN

W oman of W orth ‫ֵֽא ׁ ֶשת ַֽחיִ ל ִמי יִ ְמ ָצא‬

Loraine meeting the Duke of Cambridge

Loraine Midda received an MBE from the Duke of Cambridge last week in recognition of her work within Parliament, as well as for her involvement with Haven House Children’s Hospice.

She attended the ceremony with her husband Martin, and children, Gia and Harrison, at Buckingham Palace, and was amongst 73 recipients.

Although she was initially nervous about meeting the Duke, he put her at ease when they chatted as he presented her with her award. “What a lovely man.

We discussed my role, and had a giggle too, he was just so natural.

I even managed the curtseys (both of them) with no problem, which I was a little worried about. It was a wonderful day, and the smile I had stayed with me for hours afterwards.”

When she initially received the letter informing her of the award, she experienced a range of emotions. “At first, I was very shocked and surprised, and had what I call a ‘jumping up and down moment’, then I began to think about the fact that my parents were no longer around to share this special moment with me, and it made me quite emotional, but I know that they

Family at Buckingham Palace

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will be proud of me and what I have achieved.” She had to keep the news a secret from her friends and family until it was offficially announced in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in June which she found very tricky, and was very relieved when she could finally share her amazing news.

Loraine has been involved with the Haven House Children’s Hospice based in Woodford Green for many years, and first became aware of the charity through a personal family situation. “My mother in law was unfortunately in ill health, and we had started to research hospices in the local area. Whilst Haven House is obviously a hospice specifically for children, the experience with my motherin-law, made me realise how important these hospices are. I had heard of the charity before, and thought it sounded like a great organisation doing amazing things for children who have long-term ill health and life affecting conditions. It resonated with me and my own situation, and I wanted to help in some way.”

That way is through fundraising on behalf of the charity, which

LORAINE MIDDA

helps raise not only much needed funds, but awareness of the cause and the work that it does.

Her most recent fundraising feat was to abseil 262 feet down the side of the Arcelor Mittal Orbit at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford. Although she enjoyed the experience, she was a little apprehensive at the start. “Stepping off the ledge initially was the hardest part, but after that it was fine, and when I reached the ground in one piece my relief turned quickly to happiness at the sponsorship money my antics had raised.”

Having now ticked that off of her bucket list, Loraine is already thinking of her next challenge to raise money. She is not revealing anything at the moment, but promises that it will be something unusual and a little bit wacky!

Loraine is no stranger to setting herself challenges, all in the name of charity. She has previously run half marathons and taken part in tandem skydives in order to raise money for worthy causes, such as Alzheimer’s UK, Cancer Research, Jewish Care, and a charity called Tomorrow’s People who help young people trapped by unemployment to break free, to find and keep a job, and to transform their future, as well as for Haven House.

She believes that it is important to recognise the hard work that many of these charities do, and she is happy to help in any way she can. “I try to help charities that are close to my heart or make an impact on the local community, and I think that Haven House Hospice definitely does that. Not only is it doing something amazing for children with life limiting conditions, but it also helps their families to deal with the situation as well.”

She often visits the hospice, and describes it as a “magical place where the staff and patients generate a positive atmosphere. I am delighted to be able to help the hospice.”

Raising money for Haven House Hospice is essential to help with the shortfall in the charity’s funding. “Haven House

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Hospice only receives 20% of its finding from the government, and the deficit is made up by fundraising, which is why it is so important to be able to help them, so they can continue to do the work they are doing in the local community.”

The charity has recently started running a new scheme which allows children to receive hospice-standard care but remain at home, without having to stay in a hospice. She is also a supporter of another scheme run by Haven House, called the ‘buy a toy’ initiative, whereby donations can be made to the charity in order to buy toys and games for many of the children at the hospice. “I think this is a really great and easy way to help, particularly around this time of year, at Chanukah. By giving one less gift at Chanukah to your own children, you could use that money to buy a toy for someone who would really appreciate it! A real mitzvah!”

When she isn’t throwing herself off tall buildings, or out of planes, Loraine is Head of Members Services working in the Parliamentary Digital Services, which supply IT equipment and software. Across the whole of the Houses of Parliament, as well as improving the website and offering support for all members of Parliament.

In recent years, Loraine has started to run one-to-one coaching sessions for colleagues to help develop their confidence, and encourage leadership skills.

She also holds regular 8 week mindfulness group courses, to help with the welfare of her team mates within the working environment, and has even taken additional teaching qualifications to develop her knowledge and expertise in this area. Loraine does not charge participants for taking part in these sessions, but instead asks for donations to be

Loraine with her MBE medal

made to Haven House Hospice, which ensures that the charity ultimately benefits from her hard work.

Her hard work and dedication has not only been recognised in the award of her MBE, but also by those she works closely with at Haven House, and Mike Palfreman, Chief Executive of Haven House Children’s Hospice, commented on her ongoing involvement. “Loraine has been a strong and active supporter of our hospice for many years and her generous fundraising has helped us care for more life-limited children and their families. As a local resident, we can always expect to see Loraine volunteering at our annual fundraising events.

She is a fantastic champion of Haven House and her energy and enthusiasm inspires us all.”

Loraine is extremely grateful to have received her MBE, and believes that this kind of recognition will encourage her to continue with the work that she so obviously enjoys. “To be honoured for undertaking a role that I love within Parliament and my involvement with Haven House Childrens Hospice is a joy and privilege, and I feel very humbled. ”

Correction: The previous Woman of Worth article featuring Katie Korklin may have suggested that Katie had been responsible in some way for the two week summer camp programme run by the Grief Encounters charity for the children and families of the Grenfell tragedy. To clarify, her main involvement was through the contribution of art and craft supplies, and full credit should be given to Grief Encounters for the organisation and facilitation of the actual programme.

30 NOVEMBER 2017

MAZI COHEN – COHEN’S CATERERS Mazi, short for Mazel, started her career working in education both in the UK and her native Israel, before deciding to set up her own business with her husband, Samuel, a qualified chef.

Initially, the couple worked on small events from their home, whilst Mazi continued her teaching, but as the business began to grow, she chose to focus her efforts on catering, and in the past 5 years, Cohen’s Caterers has been going from strength to strength.

Cohen’s Cateres currently work from a unit in Tottenham, but are planning to move to bigger premises soon, and are certified under the Kedassia, as well as KLBD. As well as simcha catering, they also cover corporate events and private dining for businesses and organisations, and have previously worked with the Israeli Ambassador.

Another area that Mazi has developed is catering for non-supervised events where kosher meals are required. She works closely with the client and the main caterer to create kosher options of the same menu. “The food is presented on proper china plates with real cutlery, and does not look too different from what everyone else is eating, so the guests don’t feel left out or different, which I think is important.” Cohen’s Caterers is also able to work with groups and events based outside of London, offering

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either fully prepared catering that can be delivered, or supplying an onsite chef Although she had never run a business before, Mazi has learnt a lot, and really enjoys the challenge.

“I always knew that I wanted to open my own business, and have always been a hardworking person, so am happy to put in the hours.”

Having three children, aged 8, 11 and 15, she often has to juggle her business and home life, but feels she has managed to find the right balance. “Cohen’s Caterers is very much a family business, and I love that they are involved along with myself and my husband. I think it is important that my children recognise that in order to achieve your dreams, you have to work hard, and nothing is just given to you. I work hard during the day, but I make sure that I am finished by 4pm, so that I can be at home when the children come back from school, and I can spend time with them. I then begin again at around 8pm, and can work until late. I love meeting and working with new people, and to share in their special events, which makes all the hard work worthwhile.”

For many, the leap from education to catering could be considered an extreme career change, but Mazi recognises similarities between the two. “I think that both teaching and catering are very giving professions. With teaching, you are giving information and knowledge

to students for their future, and with catering you are giving your clients happy memories and adding to Mazi Cohen their celebrations through the food you serve. For me, whether it is teaching or catering, I always do it from my heart.” She has stayed in touch with many of her students, and in her new role has even been responsible for catering at their barmitzvahs.

When it comes to finding the right caterer for your event, Mazi recognises that this can be a very difficult task, but has some words of advice. “Money is a key consideration when organising an event or simcha, but try not to let that dictate in terms of caterers. You can always make things work for your money, if you are willing to be flexible, and I would suggest getting at least three quotes so that you can compare prices.” As well as the cost, Mazi believes that it is essential that you feel comfortable with the caterer, and that you can work with them together. “Sometimes it is good to get recommendations not only about the food, but about the person you will be dealing with, and whether you feel that you can work together. For this reason, Mazi would suggests working with smaller companies which can offer a more personal approach. “I always try and attend every event that I have been working on, or if I am not able to another member of our team will attend, so that the client knows that Cohen’s Caterers are in control.”

Working in the catering indus-

try is not only about food, but very much about people, and understanding that each client has their own tastes. “I love meeting and working with new people, and being sociable is a big part of the job. The Jewish market is tough, and there is a lot of competition, so you have to flexible, and always looking to try something new and different, which I think my clients like.” When a potential enquiry comes in, Mazi will make contact usually within 24 hours to discuss further. “I like to chat to work out what they want, and will then send over initial menu options as a starting point.” She will then organise a face-to-face chat to discuss in more detail. Once the booking has been made, a confirmation and welcome pack will be sent with further information, and closer to the time, tastings are arranged and final details of set up and numbers will be discussed.

With many people’s tastes moving away from more traditional menus, Mazi feels that the style and flavours of her food offer something new and exciting. “Our food has a lot of flavours and textures, and we can work with specific cuisines or tastes to make the menu unique.” One of the most popular dishes served by Cohen’s Caterers is the schwarma, which Mazi says is ‘always a big hit.’ When it comes to trends, she has also noticed that the concept of ‘bowl food’ has become very popular. “It is a less formal option than a sit-down meal, and the food is served by waiters directly to the guests. There is a lot of choice, rather than just having one plateful of food, and it means that unlike a buffet they don’t have to queue, so it does not stop them from socialising or dancing.”

Mazi very much believes ‘never

say no to anything’ when it comes to developing her business. She recently catered for a group of businessmen and women who came to the UK from Colombia for a work trip. A member of the group enjoyed her food so much, he booked her for his wedding in the UK next year. “If I had not done that initial job, I would not have received the booking, which shows you have to be flexible, and try new things to see how they work out.”

For anyone who might be thinking of setting up their own business, Mazi encourages them to go for it, and never give up. “As I tell my children, it is important to follow your dreams, and to work hard to achieve what you want.”

Cohen’s Caterers would like to offer a special offer to Jewish Weekly readers. Any bookings made by the end of December 2017 would receive a free sweets station, worth £350. Please contact via www.cohenscaterers. com or call Mazi on 07853 721 787. Please also follow Cohen’s Caterers Facebook page for further offers and monthly promotions.

Do you know anyone who specialises in an area of female expertise and would like to be featured on this page? Let us know by emailing micaela@thejewishweekly.com

TIPS & TRICKS – PLASTIC

Jewish Weekly aims to source the most genius, time saving and useful hacks for you every week, so watch this space!

Every year, 275,000 tonnes of plastic are used in the UK, with most families throwing away around 40kg of plastic, which could otherwise be recycled. In today’s modern world, it can be tricky to go completely plastic-free, but here are a few handy tips to make a difference.

• Invest in a re-usable water bottle - Drinking water is obviously good for us, but throwing away plastic bottles is not so healthy for the environment. Buy a good quality water bottle (make sure it is BPA free) and you can reuse and refill wherever you go.

• Say no to plastic straws if you don’t use them – Cafes and restaurants sometimes give you a straw as standard, but tell them before they bring the straw they you don’t need one, if you know you won’t use it.

• Bring your own cup – If you are coffee-holic why not invest in a lovely mug to have at work instead of using re-usable cups. A little bit of washing wont hurt!

• Carry a shopping bag – You can get some really snazzy little reusable material bags that fold up to nothing, and can fit in your handbag so you will never be caught out when you pop to the shops. Now that many stores charge 5p for a plastic bag, this is another way to save a bit of money and put it in the Tzedakah box instead!

If you have any suggestions or there is something you want feedback on, please contact us on office@thejewishweekly.com. Your question might be someone else’s solution!

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42 TRAVEL

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Travel News Roundup Update on Eilat Work is proceeding fast to complete a new airport, called Ramon, less than 20 miles north of Israel’s Red Sea resort of Eilat. An opening date has yet to be announced, probably for next April.

The state-of-the-art operation features a 3,600m runway, long enough for Airbus A380 operations, and with the latest sophisticated security and terminal arrangements. In the middle of the town, Eilat Airport will close, and the three-letter international airport code EHT transferred. All current civil traffic using the Ovda military facility will also transfer.

With the demise of Monarch, no UK airline flies to Ovda but Ramon should be attractive to both Ryanair, its largest operator, and Wizz, who already fly to Tel Aviv. From Stansted Jet2 and Arkia are possibilities whilst easyJet, the largest foreign carrier into Israel is monitoring the situation. At present Ovda serves 26 destinations in 14 countries. The current Eilat Airport

Travel News Roundup is brought to you by Malcolm Ginsberg, Editor in Chief of Business Travel News (www.btnews.co.uk). He is a member of the International Travel Writers Alliance, a noted analyst on aviation matters and is seen from time to time on TV and heard on the radio. He would be pleased to hear from tour operators and travel agents who have future packages of a general nature that might interest Jewish Weekly readers. info@btnews.co.uk

has domestic services by Arkia and Israir from both Tel Aviv airports and Haifa, moving around 1.5m passengers last year “Following the Open Skies agreement, charters and low-cost airlines started bringing passengers from Russia, France, England, Scandinavia, Hungary, Poland and Lithuania,” says Hanan Moscovitz, managing director of Eilat and Ovda Airports for the Israel Airports Authority. “Today, for example, Ryanair has approximately six flights every day.”

The airport is named in memory of the first Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon, who perished in the Space Shuttle Columbia, and his son Assaf Ramon killed six years later when his F-16 fighter jet crashed on a training flight. www.ramon-airport.com

Sicilian Synagogue set to return after 500 years A synagogue is to open in the island’s capital, Palermo over 500 years since the expulsion of Jews from Sicily, which led to the destruction of an ancient culture and the obliteraING T A R tion of one of EuB CELE S rope’s oldest JewAR E Y 0 ish communities,.

1 At that time, it is estimated that around 30,000 Jews – around 10% of Sicily’s total population – lived across the island. Their ancestors had first settled on the island as early as the 1st century

CHANUKAH IN THE SQUARE WC2 CITY OF WESTMINSTER

TuesDAY 12TH DECEMBER 2017 TRAFALGAR SQUARE 6pm Candle Lighting With Mayor of London, Sadiq KhAn 5:30pm - 7:30pm Entertainment

Palmero, Italy

AD, meaning that Sicily was home to one of the oldest Jewish communities in Europe.

Situated in what used to be the town’s old Jewish quarter, in an area formerly occupied by the Great Synagogue, the building is to undergo an extensive refurbishment before its official opening in 2018.

If you want to be one of the first to visit, The Thinking Traveller has come up with a package that includes a guided tour of the synagogue and the centre of Palermo. Amongst the many excursions on offer Jewish Weekly has picked out one based at a villa called Faraflioni in Scopello, located just 30 minutes from the centre of the city. It sits amongst an oasis of sea-view terraces overlooking one of Sicily’s most picturesque stretches of coastline. The cost of around £5,000 a week for a party of up to ten. www.thethinkingtraveller.com Jerusalem Launches Millennials Discount Package The Jerusalem Development

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Panoramic view of the old city, Jerusalem

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Authority (JDA) has announced the launch of a package of discounts for young professional tourists visiting Jerusalem on a city break. Aimed at millennials in their twenties and thirties, the discount package allows this group to experience some of Jerusalem’s top attractions and offers a wide range of exciting reductions on hotels and transport, historical tourist sites, festivals and events, restaurants and bars. The package, offers young professionals travelling for business or pleasure, the opportunity to discover Jerusalem for under €40 per day.

Two hostels and six hotels are partnering with the City Break Millennials package and will cater to a wide range of budgets. The Abraham Hostel, Eyal Hotel, Herbert Samuel Hotel, Ibis City Center Hotel, Post Hostel and Shani Hotel will also offer a 15% discount on the booking. All are conveniently located in the City Centre and close to the Old City, Jerusalem’s bustling restaurants and the Machane Yehuda Market. www.jda.gov.il/english.aspx

30 NOVEMBER 2017

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Trieste A delightful experience

By MARCEL MANSON Tel: 020 8954 5074 www.jewishheritagetours.co.uk A Division of West End Travel Email: marcel.manson@westendtravel.co.uk

CONTINUING HIS FORTNIGHTLY COLUMN, MARCEL MANSON OF JEWISH HERITAGE TOURS AND WEST END TRAVEL, TAKES US ON A TOUR OF MORROCO. One can never turn down an excuse to visit Venice or Italy for that matter so when several months ago, I was invited to something called JEWISH HERITAGE TOURISM

in the DIGITAL AGE, I gladly took up the offer.

The details of what was discussed during the 3 day conference is for another article but I took the opportunity of extending my journey by another 3 days and took the incredibly cheap 2 hour train ride to Trieste for only 16€ . Trieste is located in the North Eastern corner of Italy close to the border with Slovenia.

I stayed in a residence called Residenza Le 6a full of Italian charm, in the heart of the city. The residenza which is a lodge/upmarket B & B is Jewish owned with Mezuzahs on the doorposts and although the city does not have kosher restaurants, kosher meals can be supplied

Economy Class from £299 Business Class from £995 Valid on selected departures from Luton Subject to availability.

upon request if arranged through a kosher caterer in advance and can be eaten in their ample lounge area.

I was keen to learn about the Cities Jewish past and headed for the Jewish museum that is housed in an historic building that had a Synagogue, where after the holocaust the Jewish Agency headquarters was located. A Community that was once 7,000 strong with a dozen Synagogues has now dissipated to 500 of which almost half of the current Jewish population must have visited the main shul on Shabbat as there was a Bar Mitzvah of one of the local families. The Trieste Synagogue is one of the grandest in Europe and housed in a huge magnificent building inaugurated in 1912 with massive Babylonian pillars as its centre piece adorning the Aron Kodesh. A site to behold with its various imposing styles with columns supporting a circular dome.

You will learn at the Jewish museum about the City’s strategic position at the crossroads of Europe and after the devastation of the

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Trieste’s bay landscape in Italy

Shoah it was the best port from where survivors and their families could take boats to beat the British Blockade prior to the formation of Israel in 1948 and for other journeys across the world. The city had a Jewish presence recorded for over 700 years with the importance of Jewish individuals making a big contribution to the business life of the city and moreover across wider Italy and Europe.

The Jewish museum gives the history of the nearby Jewish Ghetto and you may also wish to visit the cemetery a short bus ride across the city with many graves being housed in enormous marble tombs.

Also interesting to see is the Riseria Di san Sabba a factory used by the Nazis as a dentention camp where many prisoners, partisans and Jews were murdered . Here the Nazis interned Jews and other political prisoners plus partisans in

horrific conditions.

Within easy reach of the city is 15 kilometres of coastline that stretches to the Miramar Castle designed by the brother of Emperor Franz Joseph, its brilliant white facades dazzling against the cliff face and sea it overlooks. The Castle is a must to visit, beautifully placed by the sea in a national park and marine reserve and housed in exquisite grounds.

We intend running a trip that will start next November 2018 to coincide with the beginning of their annual Opera season and after spending Shabbat in Trieste, we intend travelling down Italy to visit Mantua, Verona Padua Venice, Bologna and conclude with Ferrara that by then completed its Jewish History of Italy museum. Please contact me on 0208 958 3188 if you wish to join us.

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JEWISH HERITAGE ESCORTED TOURS 2018 BUDAPEST 18TH JANUARY 5 Days at a stunning Corinthia Spa Hotel Includes Tosca Opera visit LONDON GUIDED WALK - 28TH JANUARY West End Theatre land walk with acclaimed guide Rachel Kolsky £15 need to pre-register as numbers limited INDIA - 14TH FEBRUARY Choice of 3 parts: Mumbai - Kerala - Golden triangle

MOROCCO 22ND FEBRUARY Join Cassablanca Purim party and see all Impoerial cities from Marrakesh to Fez plus desert stay in extended 10 day trip ARGENTINA - 11TH APRIL Join our 2 week tour to beautiful Argentina WEST BALKANS - 13TH JUNE 12 Days Covering Montenegro Croatia Bosnia & finally Serbia for the Jewish music festival in Belgrade

Call Marcel 0208 958 3188 or email marcel.manson@westendtravel.co.uk

020 8958 3188 Email: info@westendtravel.co.uk Head Office: 4-6 Canfield Place, London NW6 3BT 020 7644 1500 Email: admin@westendtravel.co.uk www.westendtravel.co.uk Edgware Office: 70 Edgware Way, Edgware, Middlesex, HA8 8JS

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44 NUTRITION

30 NOVEMBER 2017

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

Using exercise to manage stress

BY ALAN FREISHTAT We all have stress. It’s a fact of life. And it’s a good thing that we all have some stress. Imagine a world with no stress at all. When our kids cry, we might not respond.

When a term paper is due in to your teacher, you might not get it done in time. And when your wife calls that she is ready and please come pick her up with the car, she might just be standing outside in the rain for a while. Your boss might get upset with you because you don’t turn in your work to him on time.

So we need to have some stress in order to accomplish important daily tasks. It’s when stress become excessive that we can get into trouble. Constant extreme stress damages our mental and physical health and must be dealt with.

Yonatan is a client of mine who is 45 years old. He runs a large company and although not the owner, the day to day responsibilities are his. He has to answer to the ownership and must submit a comprehensive report to them monthly on profits, losses, revenue and what future projects are in the pipeline.

He has been trying to lose weight and work on his stress levels.

One of the main reason he hasn’t been successful in his weight loss attempts in the past has been his stress. His stress is on such an intense and consistent level that he has developed a metabolic cascade which isn’t letting his body’s metabolism function correctly, and therefore, all his efforts in weight loss are only bringing small results.

What is stress?

Stress is the normal physical response to a threat. It is based on what we call fight or flight otherwise known as the acute stress response. Essentially, the response prepares the body to either fight or flee the threat. It is also important to note that the response can be triggered due to both real and imaginary threats. Imagine yourself driving along a road near your house. Suddenly a car zooms out of nowhere. You slam on the brakes just in time to avoid an accident.

That’s the stress response at its best. You suddenly become extra-alert, energetic, and focused.

But what happens when stress is constant? Stress, when excessive can be debilitating. It can make you exhausted, and it can cause serious health issues. Most stress

experts now agree that roughly 85% of all illness and disease in the United States is stress induced or stress exacerbated.

What are some symptoms of stress?

• Pain of any kind • Heart disease • Digestive problems • Sleep problems • Depression • Obesity • Autoimmune diseases • Skin conditions Although we commonly think of either medication or talk therapy as the best treatments for stress,

research over the past 20 years has demonstrated that exercise, when done consistently may be one of the best treatments for stress Exercise as a prime treatment Numerous studies in 2011 and 2012 showed that exercise has shown tremendous promise as a neuroprotective intervention. Exercise protects our brains from stress in several ways. When we exercise (and the more intense we can exercise the better the result) we increase something called Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), which maintains brain health. Not only does exercise give us more BDNF, it also triggers the brain’s self-repair processes. And last, exercise also activates the brain’s self-calming system by releasing a neurotransmitter called GABA ((gamma-Aminobutyric acid) in order to restore balance in the autonomic nervous system.

Perhaps the most encouraging research is that for someone who makes exercise a part of his or her life, exercise can create a STRESS RESISTANT BRAIN! (Fleshner et. al. 2011).

The question is how much does one need to exercise and at what intensity? As previously stated, intense exercise is good, but intense exercise for a prolonged period of time is not good for our cardiovascular system, our immune system or our brains. So it seems that moderate exercise for less than an hour at a time brings great results and intense exercise in shorter bouts can also help change your neuropathways.

Good for depression too!

Remember that exercise in all of its forms, aerobic and resistance training does help us manufacture more of the feel-good neurotransmitters in our brains, serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine.

These are the same hormones that anti-depressant medications work on. The now famous SMILE (Standard Medical Intervention and Long-term Exercise) study at Duke University in 1999 the researchers followed 156 patients between the ages of 50 and 77 who had been diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD). They were randomly assigned to one of three groups: exercise, medication or a combination of medication and exercise.

The exercise group spent 30 minutes either riding a stationary bicycle or walking or jogging three times a week. The anti-depressant used by the medication group was

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

sertraline (trade name Zoloft), which is a member of a class of commonly used anti-depressants known as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors. To the surprise of the researchers, after 16 weeks, all three groups showed statistically significant and identical improvement in standard measurements of depression, implying that exercise is just as effective as medication in treating major depression and it doesn’t have the negative side effects of the various medications.

Exercise exceeded the other two treatments on follow up results proving that exercise works better for long-term sustained results.

Counter intuitive Stress and exercise go both ways!

Greater stress is associated with less physical activity, and less physical activity is associated with greater stress. So here the very thing that can help your stress is something that you don’t want to do when stressed.

Stress can be measured via objective means, for example, in terms of number of daily stressors or stressful life events like divorce or death of a loved one. Or it can be measured subjectively, in terms of general perceived stress. Both measures result in lower rates of physical activity. One review of several studies showed that physical activity is lower in times of acute stress and among people who experience chronic stress. They also found that the relationship between stress and exercise appears to differ based on one’s regular exercise habit, such that those who are regular exercisers show higher levels of exercise during stressful periods, while those who are not regular exercisers show lower levels of exercise during stressful periods. This could be a result of certain people having a predisposition to experience stress reduction from exercise, or perhaps that stress reduction is not experienced until a person achieves a certain level of exercise. Regardless, not everyone will have poor adherence to exercise in the presence of stress.

Metabolic cascade As we mentioned earlier, Yonatan’s chronic stress had him develop a metabolic cascade. In this situation, stress acts as a trigger to interrupt the processes of normal cellular function. In other words, the stress cascade is responsible

for allowing the body to make the necessary physiological and metabolic changes required to cope with the demands of normal function in times of stress, until it is overloaded. When in this state, weight loss becomes difficult and the likelihood of illness can increase.

We started Yonatan on an exercise program that gradually increased in intensity. In addition, we began meeting weekly for coaching in order to help him work through his stresses and problem solve several aspects of his responsibilities in his work place. After 6 weeks, there were noticeable changes in Yonatan. He began to lose weight at a faster pace of about a pound a week and he was so much more relaxed.

Even his wife called me to tell me how their home had become a more relaxed place.

We live in a stress-filled society.

The difficulties on us financially, keeping our relationships sound, raising our children and meeting the daily demands of working and learning can take their toll. But if we take the proper steps to manage our stress and make sure we use exercise in that realm, we will “add hours to our day, days to your year and years to our 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

30 NOVEMBER 2017

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

joyofkosher.com To cut spinach into chiffonade (thin ribbons), stack the spinach leaves on top of each other, roll them tightly like you are rolling a cigar, cut the “cigar” into thin slices or ribbons.

Japanese Omelets can be used instead of tortillas to make these wraps gluten free.

Dressing • 3 tablespoons mayonnaise • Zest of 1 orange • 2 tablespoons orange juice • 1 tablespoon soy sauce • 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil • 2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar • Dash of hot sauce (optional)

FOOD 45 30 min Duration 10 min Cook Time 20 min Prep Time 2 Servings

Filling • ½ cup cooked chicken, shredded • 1 celery rib, sliced finely • 1 small carrot, grated • 2 scallions, sliced thinly • ½ cup fresh baby spinach leaves, cut into chiffonade (thin ribbons) • 1 large flour tortilla, nori sheet, or Japanese omelet (link under photo)

TANGY ORANGE AND SESAME CHICKEN SUSHI WRAP CRANBERRY SPINACH SALAD WITH POPPY SEED DRESSING

PREPARATION

1. Whisk mayonnaise, orange zest, orange juice, soy sauce, sesame oil and vinegar and hot sauce together. Toss with chicken, celery, carrot, scallions, and spinach.

2. Arrange half of the filling on tortilla, nori, or Japanese omelet, close to you and being sure to leave a half-inch border. Roll away from you as tightly as possible, tucking the sides in as you roll. Slice into half-inch thick slices and store, seam side down in the bento box.

15 min Duration 15 min Prep Time 2-4 Servings

Poppy seed dressing adds flavour and style to this spinach, cranberry and feta cheese salad.

INGREDIENTS • • • • • • • • • • •

1 bag of baby spinach leaves 1 cup dried cranberries 2/3 cup toasted shaved almonds 4 green onions, diced 1/3 cup crumbled light feta cheese 150ml canola oil 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar with raspberry juice vinegar 1 tablespoon poppy seeds 2 teaspoons granulated sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper

PREPARATION 1.

2.

3.

In a large salad bowl, combine spinach, cranberries, almonds, green onion and feta cheese.

In a separate small bowl, combine canola oil, balsamic vinegar, poppy seeds, sugar, salt and pepper. Mix well.

Pour dressing over top of salad ingredients and toss lightly. Serve immediately.

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

46 COMEDY

30 NOVEMBER 2017

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

Slumming it

COMEDY BY ED MOSS

With the increase in traffic making the journey to my main place of work rather stressful of late, I decided to take both life and dignity in hand and bus it to town.

And what a forgettable experience it was! I was amazed by the number of middle to late-aged people playing extremely noisy, mindless games on their phones at unholy o’clock in the morning! However, all was not lost as a quite pleasant young lady asked me the time.I tendered her the time, noting rather bizarrely for this day and age where her entire generation glue 24/7 to their phones, that she did not have a mobile phone herself to check the time.

However, what she did have was a black woolly hat with the word “SICK” emblazoned on it in bright, yellow lettering. Now I’m not sure whether this was a warning that she was carrying the plague, that she was suffering from typhoid or whether she was simply telling fellow passengers like myself that she was not feeling altogether well. All rather strange.

Meanwhile, those of you living in London using Go-Ahead buses may not have to suffer people who are or aren’t “sick”, play smartphone games loudly or have a whiff of the farmyard about them, as you will soon have a parcel as bus seat companion instead. Yes, in order to stop their underutilised

depots being used as a large canteen for equally underutilised management who can’t get to the golf course, the company is chatting about using its depots as hubs for delivering parcels for that wellknown internet company, the one that has helped to decimate the High Street while at the same time avoiding serious conversations with HMRC. According to their announcement flannel, this is all about contributing towards getting some white van men off the road, reducing congestion in the Capital and making a few pence at the same time. So while you may not immediately have to share your bus seat with a computer games console, bagless vacuum cleaner or a boxed DVD set of Series 9 of Grey’s Anatomy, you canot say you have not been warned.

On this subject, you may remember back a few years the singer Michael Jackson gave the world “bad” as meaning “good”. Then there are the “brothers from the hood” who speak in fork tongues as they make English their second language (despite not actually speaking another language).

Needless to say, I remain mystified by the passion exhibited by the young to destroy English as we know it. And the fact the Oxford English Dictionary regularly adds otherwise meaningless words to itself, totally defies logic. To me, if something is bad (like a bad

apple), one avoids it. Similarly if something is sick, either heal it or allow someone else to heal it.

I suspect fellow congregants would think I was “well mad, innit” (how’s that for use of current parlance? Cutting edge me, eh!) if I wished their bar mitzvah boy a “sick bad mazel tov”.

Onwards to Berlin, where I went for a weekend break. Wonderful cultural city, full of open spaces, yes a bit of a builder’s yard in many places but chock-full of friendly and helpful locals, nearly all of whom speak English. Or should I say, they speak “sick, bad English, innit”. Anyway, the city has a growing Jewish population once more, and while some may harbour misgivings, the city certainly recognises and honours the victims of its once murky past with dignity and total respect.

What I did notice is that we here in the UK could teach them a thing or two about train travel. Oh yes.

Why they have clean, 10-carriage trains on busy commuter routes so that people can travel comfortably at a reasonable price, free FROM peak fares, is beyond me! I mean, we here in the UK, for the Liverpool to Newcastle run as the perfect example, have a wonderful three-carriage (with the half of one of the three devoted to first class) service at peak hours where passengers are offered the free opportunity to learn about body odour and how sardines are packed, safe

in the knowledge that their train will certainly arrive at its destination . . . . . within at least a half an hour of its stated time of arrival.

Give or take a few wrong leaves or too much water on the tracks.

What is so sad is that Great Britain is the country that introduced trains to the world. I wonder what the geniuses who were Stevenson and Brunel would think about British public transport today! I know what I think of it myself, but I also know the editor would have excised it had I deemed to share it with you here!

I was delighted, nay ecstatic to read that there could possibly be life as we don’t know it on Ross 128b. Yes, Ross 128b, according to the boffins, is a planet they have discovered in the Universe with a temperature of between -60 degrees C (somewhat rather cold) and 20 degrees C (the average British summer) and which could therefore support life, whether or not we know it. Now, while I can immediately concede these boffins are really quite clever, I for one will nevertheless tend to only believe something that can be proven or at the very least, supported by a quantifiable photograph.

However, there is a slight problem with full 100% trust in said boffins. Planet Ross128b is eleven light years away from the UK. Or some 650 trillion miles (650,000,000,000,000) away in old money. Methinks not quite achievable on a tank of BP leadfree, although think of the Nectar points if it was!

Finally, I wanted to refer back

Wishing you all a very Happy Chanukah!

A choice of Menorahs and every type of wick and candle you could possibly need.

Three oon boxes f colour f or candles (lesfo s ra tha n34p 99p box of

Custard, Indigs ts Chocolate, nu Dough day Jam y r e v e

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to exam result time. I was chatting with a close colleague who quite rightly pointed out that it always seems to be only the Double and Treble A-Star pupils who get the plaudits, their mug shots in the media and their place at some stuffy so called Ivy-League University.

The very ones for whom studying can often come quite easily to.

Yet poor Jacob or Esther, who work like Trojans for the entire year in their Comprehensive and manage to personally overachieve with two B’s and a C and a place at Hull University (other universities are available) instead of their previously projected result of a place, day-release at their local poly, well these hard-working folk are seldom rewarded with any publicity for their hard work.

Personally I think it is time this inequality was stopped. I’m afraid a term at Oxbridge does not necessarily maketh the man or woman any more.

Ed Moss

30 NOVEMBER 2017

Puzzle Page

sword no 14,839

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PUZZLES 47

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

17

18

19 21

22

18 Visitor (5) 19 Organised group of labourers (4)

Medium Sudoko

Down 1 French wooden shoe (5) 2 Contest between teams from different countries (13) 3 Exercise gently before strenuous activity (6,2) 4 Put down in writing (6) 5 Attempt — search (4) 6 Incorporating the very latest developments (2-2-3-6) 7 Spanish drink of red wine and lemonade (7) 12 Songwriter, winner of the 2016 Nobel Prize for Literature (3,5) 13 Chatter inconsequentially (7) 15 Unoccupied — unthinking (6) 18 Visitor (5) 19 Organised group of labourers (4) Across 1 Confess the lot (5,4,4) 8 Flying mammal (3) 9 Showing severe signs of wear and tear (4-5) 10 Distresses (8) 11 Prison (slang) (4) 13 Annoy continually (6) 14 Spanish wine shop (6) 16 Sour — vitriolic (4) 17 Hanging about (8) 20 Without success (2,2,5) 21 Purpose (3) 22 State of awareness (13)

Solution no 14,838 F L Y ON T H EWA L L O A M A X C E S AUT E BOUQUE T T N N B L T I EDDY S ENT I ENT N E B D A B TAR ZAN ONEDGE A C H T O K TRAC T I ON GO I N I X E B V D O OM I C R O N I N L AW U O I O A E N S OMN AMB U L I S M

Easy Sudoko

Puzzle Sources: www.theguardian.com THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

Crossword Answers

Know a friend or a family member in hospital or in care?

We will come along & hand out the Chanukah package & arrange our cheer up squad to entertain the patient.

New: We have built our own electric menorahs for those that cannot use regular ones due to fire hazards.

We have 400 in stock.

Wishing You a Happy Chanukah NORTH WEST LONDON COORDINATOR 07506 750023 eliezer@jgift.org

chanukah@ahelpinghand.org.uk www.ahelpinghand.org.uk Tel: 020 7502 0200 or 077 256 3441