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NEW CST REPORT RAISES CONCERN ALONGSIDE WJC WARNING

BY ADAM MOSES

The World Jewish Congress has warned European leaders that anti-Semitism is increasing at an alarming rate.

President Ronald S. Lauder speaking at the Rome International Conference on anti-Semitism told delegates that ‘New Europe’ is looking an awful lot like the Europe of the 1930s.

“In country after country we are watching a growing wave of farright, ultra-national and in some cases neo-Nazi parties gaining strength,” he said.

“As a Jew, I can think of nothing more dangerous.”

Noting governments might face difficulties in cracking down on elements of society, Lauder added: “Democracies have implicit constraints but its leaders must stand up and say – strongly – the hatred of

Jews ends here and now.”

Lauder also pointed out that Euro leaders must stand up for other persecuted minorities, including in Africa and the Middle East.

“Jews understand the high price of silence,” he noted.

“The silence, the indifference of almost every world leader in the 1930s allowed Hitler to move closer and closer to Auschwitz.

Lauder added: “I can promise you this, any political leader that stands up against anti-Semitism or any form of bigotry will have the full support of the Jewish people.

“We must do this together, we must never ever be silent.”

The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe convened the conference.

Days after Lauder’s statement, the Community Security Trust’s annual report noted that a record number of 1,382 anti-Semitic incidents had

taken place in the UK in 2017.

The highest total in a calendar year since records began in 1984 eclipses the previous high of 1,182 three years ago.

“Anti-Semitism is a despicable form of abuse that seeks to undermine our values of diversity and openness and which has absolutely no place in British society,” said Home Secretary Amber Rudd.

“I welcome this reports findings that the rise in reported incidents partly reflects the improving response to these horrendous attacks and better information sharing between the CST and police forces around the UK. But even one incident is one too many and any rise in incidents is clearly concerning, which is why this Government will continue its work protecting the Jewish community and other groups

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

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2 NEWS

01 FEBRUARY 2018

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

Netanyahu slams new law outlawing “Polish nation” from Holocaust crimes

BY ADAM MOSES

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has slammed proposed new legislation in Poland prohibiting any reference to “Polish nation” crimes during the Holocaust.

Israel’s Ambassador in Warsaw will meet Poland’s Prime Minister to stress Netanyahu’s opposition to the proposed bill.

And Poland’s deputy Polish Ambassador in Israel will be admonished at the Foreign Ministry as the Polish ambassador is abroad.

“The law is baseless, I strongly oppose it,” said Netanyahu (JTA).

“One cannot change history and the Holocaust cannot be denied.”

In a statement from the President’s Office, President Reuven Rivlin, lambasted the bill (JTA).

“Only 73 years have passed since the gates of hell were flung open,” Rivlin said.

“Living Holocaust survivors are disappearing from the world and we still have to fight for the memory of the Holocaust as it was. The Jewish people, the State of Israel, and the entire world must ensure that the Holocaust is recognized for its horrors and atrocities.

“Also among the Polish people there were those who aided the Nazis in their crimes. Every crime, every offense, must be condemned.

They must be examined and revealed.”

Polish parliament’s ‘lower house’ approved the law, which also bans the term “Polish death camp”, last Friday. Those violating the statute, including non-Polish citizens,

Polish Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki

Pressure mounts on Inner London Coroner over Jewish burials

BY ISAAC SHERMAN

Pressure is intensifying on Inner North London Senior Coroner Mary Hassell regarding her approach to religious burials and non-intrusive autopsy techniques.

Labour MPs Sir Keir Starmer and Tulip Siddiq together with Camden leader Cllr Georgia Gould have written to Sidney Sinitsky of the Adath Yiroel Burial Society and Mohamed Omer from the Gardens of Peace Islamic Cemetery in Ilford supporting the call for the under-fire Coroner to be dismissed.

Hundreds of emails from constituents initiated the letter for Hassell to consider her position.

The Board of Deputies have already written to the Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, David Gauke, and the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Burnett of Maldon, requesting her removal from post.

BoD vice president Marie van der Zyl has described the situation for over 30,000 Jews as “deeply

troubling”.

Camden Council’s chief executive is in dialogue with Hassell but only the Lord Chancellor can axe the coroner who covers Hackney, Camden, Islington and Tottenham, and has concerned Orthodox leaders for years.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has “welcomed” the Board’s intervention surrounding the issue.

could be fined or imprisoned up to three years. And Jewish survivors from Poland living in Israel in theory would be liable for imprisonment in Poland.

Whilst the law has to be passed by the Senate and Polish President, observers view the biggest hurdle has been overcome.

Furious Yesh Atid party head Yair Lapid entered into a Twitter argument with the Polish Embassy in Israel within 24 hours (JTA).

“I utterly condemn the new Polish law which tries to deny Polish complicity in the Holocaust,” he tweeted. “It was conceived in Germany but hundreds of thousands of Jews were murdered without ever meeting a German soldier.

“There were Polish death camps and no law can ever change that.”

Poland’s Embassy in Israel responded: “Your unsupportable claims show how badly Holocaust education is needed, even here in Israel… The intent of the Polish draft legislation is not to ‘whitewash’ the past, but to protect the truth against such slander.”

Lapid replied: “I am a son of a Holocaust survivor. My grandmother was murdered in Poland by Germans and Poles. I don’t need Holocaust education from you. We live with the consequences every day in our collective memory. Your embassy should offer an immediate apology.”

Various politicians joined the Twitter debate reported Ha’aretz.

Transportation and Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz: “The Polish parliament’s law is to deny Poland’s part in and responsibility for the massacre that took place on its soil. We will not forgot or forgive.”

Labor Party chairman Avi Gabbay: “The decision will encourage Holocaust deniers around the world to spread their lies. Ignoring history does not change it.”

MK Isaac Herzog: “The bill which had just passed in Poland is morally and factually wrong. It should not have been legislated. I sincerely hope that it will be abolished soon by the Polish leadership

Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu

and legislature.”

Yad Vashem issued a statement on Saturday night noting the legislation would “blur historical truths” regarding assistance Germans received from Poles during the Holocaust.

The statement noted: “There is no doubt that the term “Polish death camps” is a historical misrepresentation! The extermination camps were set up in Nazi-occupied Poland in order to murder the Jewish people within the framework of the “Final Solution.” However, restrictions on statements by scholars and others regarding the Polish people’s direct or indirect complicity with the crimes committed on their land during the Holocaust are a serious distortion. Yad Vashem will continue to support research aimed at exposing the complex truth regarding the attitude of the Polish population towards the Jews during the Holocaust.”

World Jewish Congress CEO Robert Singer admonished the law.

“Poles are understandably sensitive when Nazi annihilation and concentration camps are referred to as ‘Polish,’ simply due to their location on Polish soil, and they want it to be clear that Germans, not Poles, were responsible for establishing and maintaining these factories of death in which millions of Jews were murdered during the

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Holocaust,” he said.

“While it is true that Auschwitz-Birkenau, Treblinka, Majdanek, Chełmno, Sobibór and Bełżec should be referred to as ‘Nazi’ or ‘German’ camps in occupied Poland, it is a serious mistake for Poland to seek to criminalise those who do not adhere to this practice.

“Having spent decades in the field of education, I deeply believe that this must be changed through a campaign of education, not criminalization.

“Poland’s new law is especially objectionable as it stifles any real confrontation with the most chilling aspect of the country’s wartime history - the extent to which local Poles were complicit in the destruction of their Jewish neighbors.”

He added: “Outstanding Polish scholars have made very clear in their meticulously researched writings that this was hardly an isolated phenomenon.

“Declaring that such literature is defamatory and that those who have produced it are engaged in criminal activity amounts to a whitewash of the historical record and must be thoroughly rejected.

“The passage of this law can only be seen as an act of historical obfuscation and an attack on democracy.”

WHAT’S INSIDE THIS WEEK 02 News 06 Israel News 08 Letters 10 Community News 18 Judaism 22 Business 24 Sports

26 Kids 30 Youth 34 Women 35 Nutrition 36 Travel 37 Food 39 Classifieds

01 FEBRUARY 2018

NEWS 3

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

Anti-Semitism on increase at “alarming rate” across Europe

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

from Anti-Semitism and hate crime.

“In addition to the £13.4m funding the Government provides to protect Jewish sites, this year we will be refreshing our 2016 Hate Crime Action Plan, which sets out our strategy for tackling this scourge.”

Last years’ high continues a pattern of incidents sustained by factors including an increase in recorded hate crime and publicity regarding alleged anti-Semitism in the Labour Party.

Worryingly, there were over 100 monthly anti-Semitic incidents from January to October, continuing a pattern of 19 consecutive months from April 2016.

As a comparison totals exceeding 100 incidents occurred on only six occasions in a decade preceding April 2016.

Monthly incidents however did decline in November and December, but remain double the level five years ago.

CST reported a 34 per cent increase in ‘violent’ antisemitic assaults up 108 to 145 in 2017.

There is no single explanation for

t.

Es

the total but none were classified as ‘extreme’ violence, which would involve potential grievous bodily harm or threat to life.

Here, the most common type of incident involved ‘verbal’ abuse randomly directed at visibly Jewish people in public.

In 356 incidents, victims were attacked or abused while going about their daily business in public places. And in at least 283 cases, victims were visibly Jewish due to religious or traditional clothing, school uniform or jewellery bearing Jewish symbols.

CST recorded 247 antisemitic incidents that involved social media but the figure is skewed.

Although a 15 per cent fall on 2016, which may be a consequence of sustained efforts to tackle hate speech online combined with Police arrests and prosecutions restricting activities of prolific online anti-Semites, the report noted targeted campaigns directed at individual victims can involve dozens of social media accounts sending hundreds or thousands of tweets, images or posts within a concentrated timespan.

Social media is a growing concern and incidents were recorded if

a victim or a witness reported them, if the comment shows evidence of antisemitic content, motivation or targeting, if the offender is based in the UK or has directly targeted a UK-based victim.

Other highlight numbers included 81 incidents of damage and desecration of Jewish property, 1,038 incidents of abusive behaviour, 95 direct anti-Semitic threats and 12 cases of mass-mailed anti-Semitic leaflets or emails.

Three-quarters of incidents occurred in Greater London (773) and Greater Manchester (261).

Beyond these Jewish conurbations there were 348 incidents in 80 locations around the UK. “The findings are extremely concerning and emphasise how important it is that we all make a conscious effort to call out and confront anti-Semitism,” noted Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Andrew Gwynne.

“No one should feel unsafe or discriminated against while going about their daily business in public places,” added Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Sajid Javid. “We must root out anti-Semitism whenever

1983

Yo u r l i n k t o a w o r l d o f t r a v e l

and wherever it takes place.”

“These figures are troubling and show why we must keep on our toes when it comes to acting and speaking out against anti-Semitism,” said All-Party Parliamentary Group Against Anti-Semitism Chair John Mann.

“The partnership between Police and CST is central to our efforts to protect our Jewish communities from hate crime,” added National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Hate Crime, Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton.

“There is never any excuse for hate crime and Police forces are committed to protect the Jewish community from racism and abuse.

“I would encourage anybody who suffers hate crime to report it to the Police and to CST. We will do everything we can to support you and to bring offenders to justice.”

Stephen Silverman, Director of Investigations and Enforcement at Campaign Against Anti-Semitism, said: “These figures from the Community Security Trust are normally indicative of the official 2017 police statistics that are currently being compiled. Antisemitic crime has been rising dramatically since 2014

| WORLDWIDE HOLIDAYS | CRUISE EXPERTS | ISRAEL SPECIALISTS

and that rise is not explained by an increase in reporting and we have seen no noticeable impact from Brexit.

“We believe that Jews are being singled out disproportionately and with increasing violence due to the spread of antisemitic conspiracy myths originating from Islamists, the far-left and the far-right which society is failing to address, as evidenced by the ongoing disgraceful situation in the Labour Party; and because the Crown Prosecution Service declines to prosecute so often that antisemites no longer fear any consequences to their actions.

We will continue to take the Crown Prosecution Service to court and prosecute antisemites ourselves, but until the criminal justice system and political parties stop paying lip service to Anti-Semitism and instead punish and excise it by implementing our simple recommendations, the threat to the security of British Jews will reach crisis point.”

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4 NEWS

01 FEBRUARY 2018

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

YouGov hate speech survey reveals “shocking” results

BY ADAM MOSES The head of Holocaust Memorial Day Trust has labeled a YouGov survey on hate speech in the UK as “shocking”.

Whilst 8,000 commemorative events marked Holocaust Memorial Day last weekend Olivia Marks-Woldman warned research shows how prevalent hate speech is today.

“These findings are shocking, our research shows just how powerful our words are,” she commented.

The poll of 2,111 people showed 27% of UK adults had witnessed one or more incidents of hate speech in the last year, 12% witnessed over five incidents and 41% saw an incident based on a person’s race or ethnicity.

Of the figures, 59% witnessed incidents on social media, 41% in the street, 23% on public transport and 24% in a pub or shop.

When asked to share what they witnessed, many reported seeing anti-immigrant or anti-refugee hate speech, racist abuse or anti-Muslim comments.

Two thirds of respondents felt angry about what they saw, 45% were shocked, 43% felt sorry for the victim and 22% were worried an incident may lead to a physical attack.

The research also showed 82% held the view that social media

CST OP-ED DR DAVE RICH, CST HEAD OF POLICY

The number of antisemitic incidents has gone up again, and once more we are left asking what can be done to reverse this alarming trend.

CST now records roughly double the number of antisemitic incidents than we did five years ago – and some months, much more than that.

It used to be an extreme case if we recorded more than 100 incidents in a single month: from April 2016 until October 2017, we had over 100

organisations like Facebook and Twitter should do more to tackle hate speech online.

“The repeated use of words normalises dangerous language and allows hatred to take root, which can ultimately lead to persecution,” said Ms Marks-Woldman.

“Today is about remembering the atrocities of the Holocaust and subsequent genocides, but also about finding ways to make sure they can never happen again.

“Recognising the power our words have is an important first step. On Holocaust Memorial Day, please choose to use your words for good.”

Backing up the worrying statistics, Barbara Winton, the daughter of Sir Nicholas Winton – who rescued 669 Jewish children children from Nazi occupied Czechoslovakia in 1939, said: “In 1939, as today, there were those including mainstream media who used dehumanising language against refugees fleeing destruction and violence and seeking shelter in Britain.

“My father set out to change views and encourage compassion by writing to papers and magazines to present the moral and humane case for accepting vulnerable refugee children and giving them a home. He used the power of words to stir consciences. His rallying cry then seems to me to be just as

relevant today when we are faced with what appear to be insurmountable problems, too big for us as individuals to affect.”

Among many events Holocaust survivors joined Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis together with faith, civic and political leaders at the UK commemorative ceremony.

HMDT chief executive Olivia Marks-Woldman introduced the ceremony narrated by Sameena Ali-Khan.

Participants Charles Dance, Sir Derek Jacobi and Maureen Lipman recited letters of Holocaust survivor Vera Schaufeld.

Helen Aronson shared a personal testament and Jonathan Dimbleby spoke about his father Richard Dimbleby’s report from Bergen Belsen concentration camp in April 1945.

Helen Aronson, Tomas Grundza, Sokphal Din, Immaculee Hedden, Sabit Jakupović and Ismail Yagoub lit memorial candles.

Chazan Jonny Turgel recited El Male Rachamim and Laura Marks closed the ceremony.

World leaders paid respect to those who perished over seven decades ago during the atrocities.

At Auschwitz-Birkenau, survivors gathered to mark the 73rd anniversary of the former death camps’ liberation.

President Donald Trump in a

statement released ahead of HMD, said: “We take this opportunity to recall the Nazis’ systematic persecution and brutal murder of six million Jewish people.”

He added: “Although they (survivors) are aging and their numbers are slowly dwindling, their stories remain with us, giving us the strength to combat intolerance, including anti-Semitism and all other forms of bigotry and discrimination.”

In Warsaw, Poland, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson spoke at a memorial service remembering Jews who died in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in 1943.

The head of Warsaw’s Jewish community recited a prayer.

Prime Minister Teresa May said a new national memorial to the Holocaust would act as a commitment to teach future generations to fight hatred in all its forms.

“By supporting the Holocaust Educational Trust, we will safeguard the memories of survivors and learn the lessons for generations to come,” she said.

Jewish Leadership Council chief executive Simon Johnson criticised Jeremy Corbyn’s HMD message for failing to mention either Jews or anti-Semitism.

“It is hard to believe anybody can neglect to mention Jews when writing a Holocaust Memorial Day

incidents nineteen months in a row.

There has also been a sharp rise in the number of antisemitic assaults, although thankfully most of them were relatively minor and did not result in serious injury.

More generally, it sometimes feels like people can say things about Jews in public now that just a few years ago, they would have not said. Whether it is the rise of political extremism or the freedom people think they have on social media, there is increased anger and division in our society and Jews, with others, are suffering as a result.

Beneath the headlines, though, there may be reasons for optimism.

Incident reports did seem to tail off towards the end of 2017, suggesting that they may have reached a peak and could even begin to fall in 2018. The number of incidents on social media, long a cesspit of hatred and bile, fell in 2017 as Twitter, Facebook and the rest introduced new measures to

make it easier to report and remove hate from their sites.

There have been arrests and prosecutions for antisemitism, with several members of the neo-Nazi terrorist group National Action taken off the streets (and off the internet) over the past year or two.

CST helped the Crown Prosecution Service design a specialist training programme to help their staff recognise and prosecute antisemitic hate crimes.

The Jewish community has allies in Government and politics, in the Police and in broader society.

Increasing numbers of people feel revulsion towards antisemitism and are speaking out against it. CST will continue to do what we can, working with our community and beyond, to turn back this tide.

England International Williams to lead Girls Football at first Maccabi Youth Games

BY LEAH WAXLER

Former Arsenal Ladies and England International Sian Williams will oversee Team Maccabi GB’s Girls Football squad at this summer’s inaugural Maccabi Youth Games in Israel.

Williams, twice a domestic ‘treble’ winner, has played, coached and managed in the UK and abroad.

Most recently she was Hertfordshire Schools FA head coach for Girls U14 and U16.

Her vast experience made her an ideal candidate for the Games.

Yvie Curtis, part of the Junior management team at last years Maccabiah Games, will assist Williams.

Maccabi GB Head of Sport, Neil Taylor, said: “We are delighted to have a coach of this pedigree involved with Team Maccabi GB. Her exceptional caliber we hope will have an effect not only on the

Olivia Marks-Woldman

Message, let alone the leader of the opposition,” he commented.

“Mr Corbyn displays a complete lack of sensitivity to those who survived the atrocities of the holocaust and its impact on the Jewish community.”

Environment Secretary Michael Gove said: “The Holocaust was a unique evil.

“We have a duty to remember its victims and ensure there is no place for prejudice in our hearts.

Anti-Semitism is a virus which mutates over time and we must be constantly vigilant to ensure we fight this hatred with all our energy.”

Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry wrote: “Throughout the world we must always challenge the development of an attitude of ‘the other’. There is no ‘other’, there is only us.”

Girls Football squad but the Great Britain delegation as a whole.”

Williams commented: “I hope the players have an experience of a lifetime and they leave feeling they have had fun, developed as players and grown as people.”

A few places remain for the squad.

To apply: www.maccabigb.org/ youthgames

6 NEWS IN ISRAEL

NEWS IN ISRAEL

Brussels hosts emergency Gaza meeting An emergency meeting of key donors to Gaza will meet in Brussels today to discuss ways to alleviate the humanitarian situation and reduce the risk of conflict.

The 15-member Ad Hoc Liaison Committee will discuss the severe humanitarian and economic challenges within Gaza, the impact of the US decision to freeze half its contribution to UNRWA and the heightened risk of conflict.

Israel will present a $1bn plan to improve the situation in Gaza at the meeting. The plan is expected to centre on Israeli assistance on major infrastructure projects, including improving Gaza’s desalination plants, electricity lines, gas pipelines, and upgrading the Erez industrial park on the Israeli border.

Palestinian Authority (PA) Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah and US Special Representative for International Negotiations Jason Greenblatt will both attend the meeting, the first time that a senior US official has met with their Palestinian counterparts since President Trump’s Jerusalem announcement

Mortar strike in Gaza

in December.

Speaking at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) conference in Israel yesterday, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nikolay Mladenov said that “as we meet tomorrow we must do what we can to preserve hope to the people of Gaza”. Mladenov also stressed that “returning Gaza to PA control is critical – to Israel’s security, to Egypt’s security and to people of Gaza”.

“We’re in the midst of a major humanitarian crisis – we’re on the verge of a total system failure, collapse of the economy. As we meet tomorrow we must preserve

hope for the people of Gaza,” he continued.

US Special Representative for International Negotiations Jason Greenblatt tweeted that he “spoke with EU Heads of Mission & reps from Norway, Switzerland, Canada, & Australia to Israel” and reiterated that the US “will work together with our friends and allies in Europe & beyond to advance peace”.

More missiles have been fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel since the US Jerusalem announcement in December than in the entire period since the end of Operation Protective Edge in Summer 2014.

Netanyahu meets Putin in Moscow Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow earlier this week.

The meeting was the seventh between the two leaders in the last two and a half years. Netanyahu described the talks as “frank, very straightforward, in the positive sense of the word”.

After the meeting, Netanyahu said: “The question is: Does Iran entrench itself in Syria, or will this process be stopped. If it doesn’t stop by itself, we will stop it.”

He raised the issue of Lebanon with Putin and his fear that it “is becoming a factory for precision-guided missiles that threaten Israel. These missiles pose a grave threat to Israel, and we cannot accept this threat”. “I explained our policy. These are not idle words,” added Netanyahu. “The Russians understand our position, they understand well the significance that we give to these threats.” He acknowledged that he could not say the Russians “accepted” the Israeli position.

Writing in Maariv, Yossi Yehoshua reported that the Israeli delegation presented Putin with intelligence material from Lebanon showing that Iran was helping

01 FEBRUARY 2018

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Vladimir Putin

Hezbollah to convert regular missiles to accurate missiles — whose purpose is to hit strategic targets in Israel.

Yehoshua concludes that “Israel would prefer intervention by the international community to prevent the factories being built. We have to wait and see how Putin responds.

Even if his means of pressuring Iran are limited, relative to Syria, he still has the power to influence the Iranians to calm the winds of war blowing from the direction of Lebanon”.

Commenting on the same issue yesterday, Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said: “I can make it clear that we are determined to prevent Iran from entrenching itself in Syria. We know about sites for building missiles, for converting missiles in Lebanon, and we

know the figures involved in manufacturing these missiles… We are determined to stop Lebanon from becoming one large factory for manufacturing accurate missiles.”

Netanyahu and Putin also discussed the Iran nuclear deal, to which Russia is a signatory. Netanyahu said: “I raised our objections and also those I heard from US President [Donald] Trump. I can’t speak for the Russian position, but they understood that if certain changes weren’t made, it is very possible that the US would make good on its threat [to withdraw from the deal].”

Netanyahu was accompanied on the trip by a number of officials including National Security Council head Meir Ben Shabbat and Military Intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Herzl Halevi.

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

IN ASSOCIATION WITH BICOM

Jerusalem Mayor misses thrill of business

BY JAMES MARLOW In a meeting with the Mayor at the Jerusalem Municipality, Nir Barkat revealed how much he misses the business and technology world after being the city’s mayor for 10 years.

But he also said that he is proud of making a strong contribution to building up the capital of Israel.

Barkat has been working closely with the company “Our Crowd” who find investors from all over the world for Israeli start up’s and therefore manages to stay well connected with business.

Jerusalem is the largest city in Israel at just under 900,000 residents of which a third are children. Eight years ago there were 9000 hotel rooms in Jerusalem but today there are 12,000. In four years there will

be 16,000 to cope with the demand of more tourists.

On the issue of his political ambitions as a member of the Likud, Nir has still not decided whether he will run for the leadership of the party.

But a lot depends on whether Binyamin Netanyahu decides to resign either later this year or next year or whether anyone of up to 9 Likud candidates challenge the leader.

Jewish Weekly columnist, James Marlow with Mayor of Jerusalem

Tel Aviv conference hosts Israeli politicians and top security experts Security experts and commentators discussed Israel’s security challenges and relations with the Palestinians at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) annual conference earlier this week.

At a panel discussing Israel’s relations with its Arab neighbours, Thomas Friedman of the New York Times said that “Saudi Arabia cannot formally expose itself as an ally with Israel” because “it would be a gift to Iran”.

“Anyone who thinks the Saudis will make peace or up relations with Israel above the narrow issue of confronting Iran without peace with the Palestinians is living a fantasy,” he continued.

Speaking about the regional challenged posed by the endgame of the Syrian War, Chagai Tzuriel, Director-General of the Israeli Ministry of Intelligence said that “what happens in Syria will have a huge impact on the different scenarios that may play out in the Middle East”.

Orit Perlov, research fellow at INSS warned that “the average age of the population in the Middle East is 24. The average age of the leaders in the Middle East is 70. This is not sustainable. The young generation that started the Arab Spring still feels oppressed”.

Another session discussed the lessons to be learned from previous rounds of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, which concluded that a final status deal is not currently on the agenda. BICOM Senior Visiting

Fellow Brig. Gen. Michael Herzog said that he doubted US President Donald Trump would be in a position to facilitate an “ultimate deal”.

In a keynote speech, Zionist Union leader Avi Gabbay said if he was elected Prime Minister he would halt settlement construction outside the existing settlement blocs and complete the security barrier.

Gabbay also said that “the greatest challenge of our generation is a nuclear Iran” and that “we must prevent Iran from attaining a nuclear bomb”.

In an interview yesterday with Al-Arabiya, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson confirmed that the UK still favours retaining the Iran nuclear deal, but stressed that “the crucial thing is to make sure that Iran obeys”.

Johnson continued: “Iran is up to all sorts of no good in the region…

The number one issue on my agenda is that it is unacceptable for them to be conniving in the Houthis’ use of missiles against Saudi Arabia. It is a catastrophic policy they are following and we are very clear about that in the UK.” Addressing the conference on Wednesday morning, Yeah Atid leader Yair Lapid said that Prime Minister Netanyahu could be questioned by Police soon about the purchase of German submarines.

He said that if the Prime Minister knew that his advisors profited from the purchase then he should go to prison.

PHOTO CREDIT: BICOM

8 LETTERS

01 FEBRUARY 2018

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Letters to the Editor

Send in your comments to letters@thejewishweekly.com

Kosher Food

Amnesty and Human Rights

Dear Sir,

Dear Sir,

I have been slightly concerned over the past few months by many kosher supermarkets across England selling out of date manufactured products.

There is no excuse for this and the managers of these shops must take this issue seriously.

Instead of Amnesty walking away from discussing their views with Anglo-Jewry, there are many areas of human rights where we can well work together. We should be raising the alarm about the use of beheading stoning amputation female genital mutilation sex slaves honour killings, as many as 1,000 or even 2,000 lashes for criticising their government. What is Amnesty doing about these ongoing human rights issues?

There are many issues of territory being ‘occupied’. How much is Amnesty doing about ‘disputed territories’ such as Tibet Gibraltar the Falklands Kurdistan Kashmir South Ossetia Chechnya Western Sahara North Cyprus Quebec Crimea,Kabylia and Eastern Ukraine.

Regarding Israeli settlements on the West Bank, the heart of Biblical Judea/ Israel, Britain gave 77% of Mandatory Palestine to create the Arab Kingdom of Jordan on the East Bank with the intention of making the 23% on the West Bank the Jewish National Home. Winston Churchill confirms this in Sir Martin Gilbert’s volume ‘Churchill and The Jews’. Churchill also states clearly that he supported the Jewish claim to Jerusalem. British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, to appease the Arabs, closed the gates of Palestine to Jews fleeing Nazism

Yours faithfully, R Katz London EC1V

Yours faithfully, Joe Feld London NW11

Please note: The views of the letters do not necessarily reflect the views of this newspaper. Letters may be edited and publication is at the discretion of the editor.

Selection of Regular & Illuminated

MEGILLAHS

01 FEBRUARY 2018

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Tu B’Shvat Photo collage

Elderly and young participate in Tu b’Shvat activities at Nightingale House

Bnos Beis Yaakov Nursery go shopping to buy some fruit in TESCO’s, Brent Cross

Children at an Emunah day care centre near the Gaza border did gardening ahead of Tu b’Shvat. The minor chag was also marked at the charity’s 200+ centres and services throughout Israel, 37 of which are supported by British Emunah.

Hadassah Hilbert, Tirtza Hibbert, Molly Samuels, Eli Harris, Simon Cassel, Sienna Haffner and Katie Edwards at Whitefield Synagogue celebrations

Fruit baskets at Goldies Nursery, participating in GIFT’s Tu b’Shvat activities

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175 people attend musical Shabaton AJR commemorates Shabosos L’menucha, once again held a highly successful Shabaton at Wickham, in the Fareham beautiful countryside, two hours drive from London. 175 people, including 65 children with special needs, spent an exciting musical Shabbat with famous singer and badchan Michoel Shnitzler of New York.

Leading up to the weekend, a kumzitz was organised on Thursday night for special guests only, Hosted by Mr Kuki Wiesenfeld, Moishy Weiss, Sruly Margulies, Elimelech Feldman, Ephraim Shlomo Goldstein and Shmaya Herbst ,and Yanky Rothchild and– whose company Symphony Productions also arranged the entire affair – the kumzitz took place at Reich’s catering hall on Golders Green Road till late night and attracted 80 people. Michoel Shnitzler sang his most heart warming songs and he was accompanied by the popular Neginah choir.

The Shabbaton provides respite for the parents and fun for 65 boys of all ages with special needs. The children and their volunteers together with the organisers and other assistants left on Friday morning with coaches travelling from Stamford Hill Edgware and Golders Green. The coaches were are outfitted with many conveniences to make travelling with special needs children easier. Some children were transported by special ambulance.

Each child gets his own personal volunteer to care for him while some more difficult children get two or even three carers. Each carer receives training and is fully CRB checked. Before Shabbat each volunteer speaks to the parents to ensure that he is fully informed of his protégé’s needs and medications .

Arriving on Friday afternoon, each carer settled his child in the room which they shared together and then went to join kabbalat Shabbat

HMD 2018

A group photo at the Shabaton

which was led by talented singer Chaim Shaye Weill, a member of Negina Choir. The Friday night seuda was led by Michoel Shnitzler with his beautiful zemiros where everyone joined in and every child received his personal attention when he was called up to the stage to either share a dvar torah or sing a song, each according to his ability.

Later on, the volunteers joined michoel Shnitzler in their own beautiful kumzitz which went on until the early hours of Shabbat morning. Volunteers say that they never had such a kumzits in their life. The davening was Carlebach style and this was followed by a big Kiddush and entertainment for the kids. After seuda and seuda shishlit which was once again very enjoyable with Michoel Schnitzler ,came the highlight of the weekend for the kids – havdalah and melave malka with kumzitz style singing, stunning music played by Shaye Austerlitz and spirited dancing untill late motzei shabbos .

After such a fun-packed Shabbat and inspiring singing and dancing, it was hard to get the children back onto the buses.

Hatzolo volunteer Motty Friesel

was present throughout the Shabbat and other professionals who volunteered their services were Yitchok Freilich who captured the videos and Chili Green and Menachem Bokshin the photographers.

A special thank you to the chef of the weekend, Avromy Getter a who outdid himself with his soul cooking. Another special thank you goes to the three main organisers Reb Nachman Grunbaum, Mordechai Shlomo Schmerler and Yanky Erlanger reports Menachem Liberman who is the founder and Director of Shabosos Lmenucha, “and also to thank Elimelech Feldman and Efrayim Shlomo Goldstien who arranged Michoel Shnitzler to come to London”. He also mentions Yisroel Greenstien Yanky Frankel and Mordcha Grosskopf and thanked them for all their help.

Besides the twice or thrice yearly respite weekends, Shabosos L’menucha also organises exciting events on Purim, Chanukah and Chol HaMoed Pesach and Succos and also takes out some children every Shabbat afternoon.

The Association of Jewish Refugees held a panel discussion before their annual Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration this week, where advice was given to members looking to donate family memorabilia to educational and research institutions.

The event featured representatives from the Jewish Museum, the Wiener Library, the Imperial War Museum, the Research Centre for German and Austrian Exile Studies, and the London Metropolitan Archives, who presented their collections and addressed the protection and preservation of documents.

Chaired by Dr Bea Lewkowicz, Director of the AJR Refugee Voices Archive, the panel provided attendees with the opportunity to ask questions about their own family heirlooms.

Sir Eric Pickles lights a candle watched by the Mayor of Camden and Rabbi Wittenberg.

HMD commemoration at Southend & Westcliff

An extremely emotional and moving afternoon when close to 400 hundred people attended the annual Holocaust Memorial Day the theme of which was “The Power of Words” organised by Southend Council in the Council Chamber in conjunction with the local Jewish Community. The Mayor, Councillor Fay Evans lit the Holocaust candle in memory of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkanau on 27th January 1945. Rabbi Bar said “We owe it to humanity to reflect on the power of words in free speech.

When words fail violence begins”.

Guest speaker was Holocaust survivor Mr. Manfred Goldberg who was in the Stutthof Extermination camp in Poland and then on the

Patricipants at the Shabaton

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AJR Chief Executive Michael Newman said, “The panel discussion was a great success and we are looking into how we can develop the discussion we started.”

After the panel discussion there was an HMD commemorative service led by Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg. Guests included Sir Eric Pickles, the Mayor of Camden Richard Cotton, the Ambassador of Slovakia and representatives from the Embassies of Austria, Hungary and Germany.

During her talk on this year’s HMD theme ‘The Power of Words’ author and sociologist Anne Karpf noted, “words only have power if there are people to hear them.”

Also speaking was Holocaust survivor Manfred Goldberg who said, “once words are spoken they can never be unsaid.”

Death March in April 1945 he said “The gas chamber and crematorium are now part of a museum and are still in pristine condition to this day. Social websites deny the Holocaust and spout racial hatred and must be controlled.” He was rescued by a British Tank Column and expressed his heartfelt gratitude for how this Country had looked after him. Refreshments were provided by the Southend and Westcliff Hebrew Congregation’s Ladies Guild.

As usual, a tree was planted in a special ceremony to commemorate the lives of those who perished in the Nazi Holocaust and more recent genocides.

12 NEWS

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Youngest ever volunteers help JNF UK’s Green Chabad & Jami team up for Sunday raise money to combat hunger in Israel fundraising dinner in Essex

JNF UK kicked off its annual Tu’Bishvat fundraising drive on 21 January as dozens of dedicated volunteers met in London to make phone calls to JNF UK donors. This year the charity was particularly pleased to count among its volunteers children as young as 11 and 12 years old, as well as volunteers from across the community. They gathered to make calls all day, educating thousands of people about the charity’s work to feed the hungry in Israel and asking for their support.

In Israel a group of volunteers from a JNF UK-supported pre-army leadership programme also made calls for the first time as part of Green Sunday.

This year’s Green Sunday appeal is raising money to combat hunger in some of the Negev’s poorest communities. JNF UK has selected key organisations working to improve the lives of thousands of

A phone call in action

Some of the dedicated volunteers

Israelis by providing them with healthy, nourishing food. These include soup kitchens in Be’er Sheva and Eilat which provide hundreds of children with school lunches, as well as serving hot meals each week in community restaurants. SAHI, an organisation that makes and distributes weekly food parcels to hundreds of families in Kiryat Malachi and Kiryat Gat, draws on the help of teenage volunteers, giving them a sense of community and responsibility for others.

For over thirty years Green Sunday has provided the community with the opportunity to come together and raise money for essential projects in Israel. As Britain’s oldest Israel charity, JNF UK is dedicated to building Israel and securing its future. Current focus is to support people living on Israel’s peripheries, particularly in the south where the need is greater. From improving education and welfare to boosting employment and healthcare, JNF UK works on projects aimed at improving all areas of life for Israelis of all ages.

Yonatan Galon, CEO of JNF UK, said “Israel is rightly well known for its successes but the disparity between the rich and the poor is

widening. Around 10% of Israelis including 300,000 children suffer a severe lack of food. Thanks to the generous support of our British donors, we are determined to help as many people as possible out of hunger. From holocaust survivors in Be’er Sheva to single parents in Kiryat Malachi, the organisations we are supporting make a real difference every day.”

Nigel Saidler, who volunteered on Green Sunday, said “the atmosphere was buzzing and it’s amazing to have been part of such an exciting fundraising drive. As well as raising money to feed those in need in Israel, we all felt the strength of our own community, too. People were so generous with their donations.”

Leighann and Isaac Barashi who are 11 and 12 years old, said: “We volunteered because we wanted to help those who don’t have any money to buy food for their kids, We feel very sorry for those families that are sending their kids to school with no food.”

The fundraising drive continues over the next few weeks. Lines are open for donations on 0208 732 6100 or online at www.jnf.co.uk/ donate.

Holocaust Memorial Day theme expressed at Enfield Council’s HMD commemoration This years Holocaust Memorial Day’s theme - The power of words, both positive and negative was powerfully expressed by Rabbi Emanuel Levy, of the Palmers Green and Southgate Synagogue in his address at Enfield Council’s HMD commemoration last Wednesday at the Dugdale Centre in Enfield Town. Speaking to a capacity audience Rabbi Levy recalled the stirring words of Sir Winston Churchill in the darkest days of WW11 when he united the nation to defy and ultimately defeat Nazi Germany. Rabbi Levy continued to recall the horror that suffered under the Third Reich,

which first found expression in scapegoating Jews through the medium of relentless Nazi propaganda in all its forms.

The Keynote speaker was Gerald Granston BEM, a survivor of the ship SS. St. Louis. Mr Granston spoke about the discrimination he endured as a young child and recalled how as a six year old boy he fled Hamburg in 1939 with his father on a doomed voyage to Cuba.

The ship docked in the Cuban harbour within clear sight of the lights of its capital Havana only for its passengers to be refused entry by the Cuban government and subsequently also the US. and Canada.

The Captain of the ship was forced to return to Germany.

Mr Granston was saved by the intervention of a relative in England. who was able to guarantee that he would not be dependent on the British government for his welfare.

Mr Granston was awarded the British Empire Medal in the New Years’s honours list in recognition of the many years of Holocaust education he has dedicated himself to both in Germany and the UK. The event was attended by Joan Ryan MP. Chair of of the Labour friends of Israel and the Leader of Enfield Council, Doug Taylor.

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Last week, Chabad of Buckhurst Hill hosted their Annual Ladies Dinner and their dedicated charity this year was Jami, the Community Mental Health Charity.

Over 90 guests enjoyed a fabulous evening with delicious food, a stunning room, great entertainment and a well-supported raffle.

In order to make the evening a truly communal event and profitable for the charities who would benefit, absolutely everything was done in-house. The Shul hall was transformed into a beautiful function room fully decorated by a dedicated team of ladies. Louise Osen, a member of the community generously donated and arranged stunning flower arrangements for the tables. A three course meal was prepared by chef and community chocolatier Andrew Kennard and desserts were made by Karen Wise, Daphne Benham-Whyte, Martine Groman-Marks and Paul Benham-Whyte. The room was organised by two other dedicated community volunteers, Howard Wise and Greg Warren with some support from the Rabbi, Rabbi Odom Brandman.

There was a packed programme

Enjoying the evening

with entertainment from the world renowned Fabian Sisters who sang a compilation of songs covering many genres. Speeches were made

by Rebbitzen Henny Brandman who welcomed all the guests, Louise Palmer from Jami spoke about the important work the charity does. Prayers were said for all who needed led by Esther Joseph and Laraine Warren, two of the lead committee members who put the dinner together.

Many prizes for a raffle were donated by local community members and supporters and a cheque to Jami for £500 was presented on the night. Gifts were presented to each lady and appeal cards were also given out for others to make private donations following the event.

The beautiful centre pieces

£430 raised for Dementia UK

Alex Hoppen, who paid for the skydive himself, takes the big leap to raise money for Dementia UK

01 FEBRUARY 2018

BES community joins JRoots for inspiring journey to Poland

BY JW REPORTER Borehamwood and Elstree Synagogue (BES) Community Rabbi, Rabbi Alex Chapper and his wife Eva, together with Rabbi Garson of JRoots, recently led a group of 40 members on an emotional trip to Poland to honour the memory of Holocaust victims and be inspired for the future.

In just 36 hours, from 21-22 January, the BES community members experienced a jampacked itinerary, visiting key sites of loss, but also triumph for our European ancestors.

These included Dąbrowa Tarnowska, a town which once had a thriving Jewish presence dating back to the 16th Century. There the group visited the stunningly restored main Synagogue, where they were fortunate to meet students of Yavneh College and share a special moment, dancing, singing and praying together, as the BES journey began and the Yavneh students’ journey came to an end.

The group also visited Tarnów Town Square – where Jews had been rounded up ready for deportation – and stood in the ruins of what was left of a once beautiful shul, as well as Zbylitowska Góra forest, a site of mass murder of the Jews from Tarnów, Schindler’s factory, Auschwitz I, Auschwitz II Birkenau and

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finally, the Tempel Synagogue in Kazimierz district of Krakow.

Commenting on this emotional journey, Rabbi Chapper said: “Eva and I were privileged to accompany 40 BES members on a truly memorable trip to Poland. Led and inspired by Rabbi Raphy Garson of JRoots, in just 36 hours this deeply moving journey was packed full of tremendous lows but also amazing highs.”

A second community trip to Poland in May this year is already in the advanced planning stages and will include visits to Warsaw and Lodz.

Group photo at the synagogue

Chief Rabbi Goldschmidt tells Davos, “Religion and ethics must be part of the conversation” Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, President of the Conference of European Rabbis, has co-hosted a breakfast panel discussion alongside President of the World Jewish Congress Ambassador Ronald S. Lauder at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

The event entitled ‘Ethical Challenges with New Technologies’, investigated the ethical and moral challenges posed by new means of communication and new technologies. The panel consisted of Mr. Edi Rama, the Prime Minister of Albania, Mr. Isaac Herzog, the Opposition Leader in the Knesset Israel, Mr. Eli Groner, Director General of the Prime Minister’s Office of the State of Israel and Ambassador Stuart E. Eizenstat, Former US Under Secretary of State and Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, each sharing their expert guidance. Chief Rabbi Goldschmidt moderated the panel.

Commenting on the event, Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, President of the Conference of European Rabbis, said: “It is an honour that for the first time the Conference of European Rabbis, together with the World Jewish Congress, have organised a breakfast briefing in Davos. World leaders come together at Davos to discuss the most important issues of our time and religion and ethics must be part of the conversation.

Technology has made us change the way

Outstanding Mitzvah Day Group - Stanmore & Canons Park United Synagogue Stanmore & Canons Park delivered one of the biggest, most inclusive Mitzvah Days that has ever taken place under one roof. 18 different projects took place throughout the entire week of Mitzvah Day – including soup making for the homeless, an interfaith gardening project with the Shree Swaminarayan Hindu Temple in Stanmore, collectathons for many different charities, a knitathon, Mitzvah Mummies taking their babies to a local Jewish Care home and an afternoon tea for seniors and ex-servicemen/women in the community and to honour AJEX and anyone visiting the Cenotaph. The day brought together the entire community, of all ages.

bank. This Mitzvah Day, Muslims from the new Islamic Centre in Golders Green decided to join the neighbourhood initiative and donate blood. Given recent controversy around the centre, Mitzvah Day was a great vehicle to demonstrate the power of people of faith coming together.

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Outstanding Mitzvah Day Outside the UK - Together Plan Belarus Special International Awards - Mitzvah Day Germany and Mitzvah Day Australia Mitzvah Day 365 Award - Salaam Shalom Kitchen, Nottingham Outstanding Interfaith Partnership - Golders Green (United) Synagogue and Interfaith Matters The blood drive at Golders Green Synagogue was originally facilitated alongside the local temple. After the temple closed, Rabbi Belovski from the synagogue, who used to frequent the blood drive regularly with his members, decided to continue the initiative in the shul instead. Open to anyone on Mitzvah Day, it saw a mix of Hindus, Muslims and Jews donating blood to the national blood

Members of the panel

that we behave, but it must not be at the expense of our beliefs or our integrity. I hope that by having this discussion, we will be able to keep these principles at the forefront of our minds.”

Mr. Edi Rama, the Prime Minister of Albania, said: “My sense of what is going on is that technology is depriving us of the capacity to doubt in the same way. We don’t have time to doubt and the decision-making process is very fast because interactions are very fast. I’m not talking about this germane process as prime minister, I’m talking about this germane process as a father, as a husband, as a son and as a public officer, because interactions make it too fast. There is no time to think enough, to doubt, and to put yourself in a situation that you can come out with a decision that is matured.”

Golders Green Synagogue with MDs Lady Daniela Pears PHOTO CREDIT: YAKIR ZUR

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100 homeless people benefit from Project ImpACT Eighty young volunteers ages 1315 gathered at JW3 on Sunday 28th January for the launch of Project ImpACT. A ground-breaking social action cross communal programme, which has been rolled out across 10 communities in North London, Project ImpACT supports communities to offers tangible, meaningful and accessible volunteering opportunities for teens, enabling them to make a real difference on a regular basis.

The time that participants give to the various opportunities on offer, set up in conjunction with the

Jewish Volunteering Network, can be counted towards the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and other nationally recognised schemes, such as vInspired.

Theo Landau, Director of Youth at Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue said: “Project ImpACT has transformed our youth. They really feel they are making a difference, and doing practical things to help different charities. It has shown them that they can have an impact on society through enjoyable activities and gives a structure to their volunteering that will hopefully

Participating in the cook-a-thon

encourage them to make it a permanent fixture in their routine.”

Project ImpACT launched with a packed out evening’s cook-a-thon.

Teenagers from all participating communities and beyond joined together to cook for 100 homeless people at The Manna and CARIS Islington homeless centres. They also heard from a young homeless man about what it is like to be homeless and the challenges he faces. Several further Project ImpACT events are planned at JW3 in the coming months and in several communities across London, with more charities and vulnerable groups set to benefit from their efforts.

Devorah Weisz from the Village Shul said: “There was incredible energy at the launch, everyone working together for the homeless. We met Jante, a young homeless man struggling to get on his feet and it left a deep impression on our youth.

We are delighted to be part of this fantastic initiative.”

Alex Fenton Youth Director at Southgate and Cockfosters says.

“We started individual Project ImpACT sessions, but when we came together for the big launch event, we realised the power of what we

& Volunteer Spotlight How and why did you get into volunteering?

I’ve been volunteering since I was a teenager, running after school clubs and local shabbat groups.

Eventually I volunteered abroad leading summer and winter camps for various Jewish communities and in Israel at a disabled children centre. I enjoy travelling and have volunteered in most of the countries I have visited, which has enabled me to learn and under-stand different cultures.

Some highlights were giving English classes in a monastery in Laos, teaching Hebrew to a Jewish community in Uganda, and teaching the 7 Noahide laws

to a school Sri Lanka. I’ve also volunteered in children centres after natural disasters in villages in Haiti, Philippines and Nepal, with NGO’s that offer a support to communities as they rebuild their educational infrastructures.

Who do you currently volunteer for and what do you do?

A few years ago I established The Step Up, which offers holiday educational programmes for refugees that have fled conflict.

We have led projects in Uganda, Ethiopia and Djibouti, with various local partners including IsraAID and LWF. We teach

the children valuable life skills, health and hygiene, English, and values such as respect for all cultures and faiths. When the local staff see our team from abroad volunteering, it inspires them to volunteer themselves and give back to their own communities.

I recently launched a new initiative called Project ImpACT, a post bar and bat mitzvah youth volunteering programme. Project ImpACT supports communities and youth groups, and facilitates

The young volunteers

are doing. I don’t know any other programme like this that gets the kids so involved. It has really given the kids an ability to look beyond themselves.”

Chayli Fehler, Director of Education at Norrice Lea synagogue and Founder of Project ImpACT, said: “There was a clear lack of opportunity for young people to easily access practical and impactful volunteering opportunities, particularly those who do not attend Jewish schools.

Project ImpACT fills that gap and helps young teens to enhance their skills, gain qualifications, and give back to the community.”

“Chayli’s idea was the perfect fit for us,” added JVN Director Leonie Lewis MBE. “It echoes our core

age appropriate, impactful volunteering initiatives for a range of charities. The volunteers also join central ImpACT events and volunteer together, such as our recent cookathon for the homeless with 80 youth from several communities. Aside from enhanced skills and character development, volunteering and giving back to the community should ideally be part of every teenagers journey into adulthood.

(Chayli also works as Director of Education at Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue and is on the advisory board of the Jewish Volunteering Network) To find out out Project ImpACT or The Step Up, contact info@ projectimpact.org.uk

Why do you volunteer?

I think volunteering is important, no matter how busy we are. It brings us together, connects us to each other and makes our society a better place. It’s about looking for opportunities to give to others and not waiting for them to approach us.

Think Volunteering, Think JVN www.jvn.org.uk info@jvn.org.uk 020 8203 6427 @JVN_org_uk THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

belief that everyone, regardless of their age or ability, can and should have the opportunity to give back to society. We particularly applaud her determination to make opportunities available in both Jewish and non-Jewish communities, exemplifying the concept of Tikkun Olam.”

Project ImpACT will continue over the next few months in various locations and communities. The next central event is scheduled for 18 March. If you are interested in joining Project ImpACT, please get in touch with your local Youth Director, email info@projectimpact. org.uk, or visit www.projectimpact. org.uk.

CHAYLI FEHLER

01 FEBRUARY 2018

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400 people help raise awareness for JRoots Renowned historian Simon Schama and Emmy award-winning filmmaker Andre Singer have endorsed the Holocaust education work of JRoots and the charity’s increasing focus on combating Holocaust denial.

The Apollo Theatre, on Shaftesbury Avenue saw 400 people help raise awareness and support for the charity’s work to engage young Jews with the Holocaust. The charity, whose main work takes thousands of students each year to Poland to connect Jews with their past, has increasingly found young Jews want help to deal with Holocaust denial online.

Sunday’s event screened segments of Mr Singer’s documentary Night Will Fall. The film won him an Emmy for unearthing the most most graphic and harrowing footage of liberated Nazi death camps shot by British and American army photographers in 1945. The footage

remained buried by both governments for 70 years due to political concerns about Palestine and the Cold War. The evening also saw the premiere of the a new biographical film about 88-year-old JRoots guide and Auschwitz Survivor Leslie Kleinman entitled: “#8230 A Legacy of Love”.

Mr Kleinman, whose Auschwitz number is 8230, returned to the death camp seven times last year to help guide JRoots tours. The film was produced by the charity and directed by JRoots’ co-founder Rabbi Naftali Schiff.

JRoots also screened a short film about the fierce Holocaust denial increasingly faced by school-aged young Jews on their social media.

Simon Schama comments during the event’s debate: “We are living in a time when truth itself cannot be taken for granted, empirical evidence cannot

Simon Schama makes an impassioned point on stage with JRoots Co-Founder Tzvi Sperber (left) and Emmy award-winning filmmaker Andre Singer

be taken for granted. Even the testimony of survivors, by those who are under the spell of some malignant fascination with conspiracy, will not be persuaded.

“We begin with somebody in the Whitehouse, in the US where I live, who willfully, out of a combination of mischief and ignorance and idleness refuses to recognise the basic empirical standing of evidence.

He’s not an antisemite, I’m not talking about that “We once thought that the Web would deliver us from untruth and would bring everybody together, but it took us a long time to realise that the Web is the perfect nest of fantasy,demonic fantasy; that you can have communities that are nourished by the mutual supply of lies.

This is an issue for everyone here tonight to go out into the street and the rest of the world and be warriors for truth.”

Discussing the proposed new Polish law making it a criminal offence to attribute Holocaust history to Polish nationals, and asked if we are entering a new phase of what’s permissible when discussing the Holocaust, Andre Singe’s comments during the event’s debate were: “It still shocks me that political expediency can so override an obvious moral imperative of exposing

NEWS IN BRIEF

Enterprise supper raises £14,00 for “amazing” Norwood Norwood’s Enterprise supper quiz raised a fantastic £14,000 on Sunday, 28 January. Held at Alyth Gardens Synagogue, the event saw teams pitting their wits against quizmaster, Alan Dedicoat – better known as The National Lottery’s voice of the balls!

Team 1 came out on top in the quiz, winning a tense head-tohead round to edge out runners-up Trivia Newton John.

Wayne Chodosh also introduced Norwood’s appeal film on the night. Wayne’s son Jake has

autism, is non-verbal and lives in Norwood’s Highview residence.

He and Jake’s relationship with Norwood is but one example of the incredible difference Norwood makes to young people and their families.

Wayne said: “When you have a child with special needs, your aspirations are different to parents who have a “normal” child. Your aspirations are that they’re going to be looked after when you’re no longer here. That’s what Norwood does; it’s amazing.”

Young US and St John’s Wood ski trip Young US and St John’s Wood US organised a short skiing break in Canazei for 20 Young Professionals to escape their busy work schedules and relax.

Happy skier

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Auschwitz survivor Leslie Kleinman BEM thanks for his educational work with JRoots by JRoots Founder Director Rabbi Naftali Schiff

what had happened 70 years ago.

That’s what terrifying about the footage shown in my documentary being put under the carpet and stuck on the shelf for so long. Whether we are now entering a new phase of that kind of thing now, who knows, but it’s the fact of political expediency seems to me to still override telling the truth.”

Addressing the audience, Leslie Kleinman said: “JRoots do not take people to Poland to talk about death and sadness, they talk about life and life that can still be. They talk about Am Yisrael Chai. I have seen thousands and thousands of Jews be connected in their own way to the Jewish story as a result of what JRoots does. And they have allowed me to connect with my past as well.”

JRoots co-founder Rabbi Naftali Schiff said:

“Simon Schama, a globally respected historian, has no doubts about that the fight of the next generation will be for the very historical truth of the Holocaust to remain a truth. We thank him for making that shocking reality eloquently clear to our audience and for endorsing our work. JRoots is dedicated to equipping young Jews with the experience, facts and desire to take up this critical fight against Holocaust denial into the post-survivor generation, and we are deeply touched that so many supporters will be with us on this journey.”

“We also pay special tribute to Auschwitz survivor Leslie Kleinman BEM for his unrelenting efforts to guide thousand of JRoots participants around Poland giving an unparalleled first-hand education.”

PHOTO CREDIT: BLAKE EZRA

16 NEWS

Holocaust memorial assembly at BWJP Holocaust Memorial Assembly was held at the Bury and Whitefield Jewish Primary school Thursday morning, before the school’s morning prayers, when year 6 children lit Six Jewish Memorial candles in memory of the Six Million Jews who were murdered in the Holocaust, and read extracts from Holocaust survivors.

01 FEBRUARY 2018

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

Head teacher Mrs Claire Simon, commented ‘’We had to hold this Holocaust assembly to remind the children that over 70 years ago Jewish children in Nazi occupied Europe would be rounded up and murdered, like the 1.5M Jewish children murdered during the Holocaust’’ and ‘’Jewish children like

Leeds Kollel tested by Dayan Refson

you were selected to be murdered for being Jewish’’, explaining to the young children at the special assembly on Thursday morning at the schools Holocaust Memorial assembly.

As part of the study and Semicha program in the Leeds Kollel, the Avreichim were tested by the esteemed Dayan Refson Shlit”a, the Av Beis Din of the Leeds Beis Din. The Dayan was very impressed with their familiarity and comprehension of the subjects.

Holocaust Memorial assembly at Bury and Whitefield Jewish primary

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I decided to apply for a Lottery

Survivors tell their story

Holocaust assembly minutes silence at BWJP School

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18 JUDAISM

ASK THE RABBI Looking for answers? Send your question to Rabbi@RabbiSchochet.com All The President’s Men Dear Rabbi, I should be interested in your opinion about charities accepting funds raised in a “dubious” manner or in an inappropriate venue.

You know what I’m referring to.

Michael Dear Michael, There are two general halachic principles that come to mind.

One is the notion of “a mitzvah that comes by way of a sin.” So for example stealing matzah to eat at Seder night presents a problem.

The person who stole the matzah gets no credit for fulfilling his mitzvah obligation. (To get a little polemical, there are those who

maintain that it is only invalid from a rabbinic perspective, but even so, the mitzvah action per se is not acceptable to G-d). To that end, stolen money which is then distributed to charity would fall into this category. There is no mitzvah being fulfilled regardless of the beneficiary. But that’s not your case scenario. The money in your case is a hundred percent kosher. It’s just that it was raised in a dubious manner.

That brings us onto another principle that comes into play here: Certain actions through which one seeks to fulfil a mitzvah are considered contemptible before G-d.

(To use the Hebrew Botzea berech nietz Hashem). By definition, the monies per se are OK, but the process is contemptible. It doesn’t negate the mitzvah but it’s not nice.

So let’s cut to the chase here.

Tehillim Psalm 38

For a Refua shalema for Yaakov Yitzchok ben Pesha Feiga

In life, people are often beset by misfortune. From the beginning of one’s life, a person will always encounter troubles along the way. But it is crucial to recognise suffering as a way of helping to cleanse us of our sins. King David requests from Hashem that he does not unleash the full intensity of His rage upon him at once, or to rebuke him in his rage.

He tells Hashem that his “arrows have been shot, and come down upon me, and upon me has your hand struck.” Our righteous King certainly suffered his fair share during his lifetime, and indeed toward the end of his life, he was constantly cold, never warmed by clothes or fire.

“Ein shalom baatzomi mipnei chatasi – there is no peace in my bones because of my sins.” He recognised that his sins were the true cause of

01 FEBRUARY 2018

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

You say I know that you are referring to The President’s Club. Did inappropriate things go on there?

Absolutely so! Did the media exaggerate and all the liberals fall all over themselves to condemn?

Very much so. This is a family paper so I need to be careful with my choice of words here – but I challenge all those sanctimonious people who were outraged to tell me that they never attended a stag night or hen party when members of the opposite gender were being objectified. I’m not condoning the behaviour. I’m condemning the hypocrisy.

To be sure, the fallout from the Weinstein saga and the whole #metoo campaign only proves so fundamentally how the Jewish laws of “seclusion” etc. was so far ahead of itself even as many considered them outdated. But I This tehillim is fo a refuah shalema for Yaakov Yitzchok ben Pesha Feiga

his suffering and he requested that he has help in repenting.

Hashem truly has the power to heal both spiritually and physically, and if we only try, He will lead us down the correct path to both spiritual and physical health.

have little time for bleeding-heart liberals who are quick to score the moral sound bite even as many of them are guilty of the same to one extent or another. (Do you know how many critics of Trump’s shameful remarks about women fell like a stack of cards when their own behaviour was exposed?).

As for the charities that have received the monies – it was donated in good faith.

The inappropriateness of whatever the goings on at the Club is one thing.

But which imbecile at Great Ormond Street Hospital is going to condemn an innocent child to death because treatment can’t be provided on account of monies being returned? Please! If no journalist would have called and asked “what are you going to do with that money?” no one would have thought twice about it. It’s the public persona and fear of the militant liberal backlash.

Bottom line: Society is finally waking up to the inappropriateness of certain behaviour that was shockingly commonplace for all too long. Judaism for all its perceived outlandish and old-fashion rules has been vindicated. Liberals need something of a reality check in their glasshouses, and Great Ormond Street et al should ensure to put the money to good use so that at least something good can come out of a sorry saga.

A Pre-Pesach Panic Dear Rabbi, I’m thinking a little ahead as it is only two months away. But my doctor recommended I have a shot of whiskey before I go to bed at night as it will help me sleep better. It seems to work but what with Pesach coming up, is there anything available that I can use which is acceptable?

To sponsor a Tehillim for £54 call 0203 906 8488 or email office@thejewishweekly. com

Morris Dear Morris, Can you introduce me to your doctor? Sounds like my kind of guy! The first two nights should take care of themselves. By the time you’re done with four cups of wine, you’re good to go, unless you’re one of those who is already snoring through dayenu.

That aside, there are any number

of kosher for Pesach alcoholic drinks available at any good kosher shop - those that are not made of, or contain, fermented grain.

Plum brandy and potato vodka are two that come to mind if you’re brave enough. If all else fails and you find that you cannot sleep at night, be sure you’re in shul in the morning in time for your Rabbi’s sermon – that should do the trick!

Does G-d Look Like Me? Dear Rabbi, A question that has arisen for a religious study essay: Could you please tell me in what way are we made in G-d’s image?

Kendra Dear Kendra, I could spend ten pages here citing the great anthropomorphism debate, to analyse the precise meaning of that famous Biblical passage. Suffice it to say however, that you, the human being, are animated by a soul, which is an extension of the Divine. Hence you might think you are your own person with minimal accountability and even less responsibility. The hard fact is however that whatever you do – you’re drawing G-d into it with you. So be sure to do it good and do it right!

Follow Rabbi Schochet at: RabbiSchochet.com Twitter: @RabbiYYS Facebook: facebook.com/Rabbiyys.

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01 FEBRUARY 2018 Volume 30 No. 20

3 February 2018 Shabbat ends

18 Shevat 5778 London THE5.43pm JEWISH WEEKLY Jerusalem 5.53pm

Yitro Artscroll p.394 | Hertz p.288 Haftarah Artscroll p.1154 | Hertz p.302

JUDAISM 19

Parshat Yitro

| Soncino p.445

In loving memory of Harav Yitzchak Yoel ben Shlomo Halevi

| Soncino p.464

In loving memory of Harav Yitzchak Yoel ben Shlomo Halevi “They journeyed from Refidim, and arrived at the desert of Sinai, and they encamped in the desert, and Israel encamped there, opposite the mountain” (Shemot 19:2).

The Right Time

by Rabbi Baruch Davis, Chigwell & Hainault United Synagogue From the moment that G-d created the universe, He looked forward to the day when Israel would come to Mount Sinai to receive the Torah (see Rashi to Bereishit 1:31). This is why the Torah describes Israel’s arrival at Mount Sinai with such excitement: “In the third month of the children of Israel's departure from Egypt, on this day they arrived in the desert of Sinai” (Shemot The excitement was so 1st Aliya (Kohen)19:1).

– Vayikra 12:1-23 greatchildbirth, that this verse actually outseveral of sequence; After a ladyis would wait weeks only inbringing the following verse do offering we learn(olah) aboutand theira before an elevation journey to (chatat).

Mount Sinai commentary of Ohr sin offering This (see completed her post-birth HaChaim, Rabbi Chaim ibn Attar d. 1743). purification process.

God told Moshe and Aharon that someone who If this was such an had the appearance of aimportant, particular momentous type of skin occasion, what took so have long?toWhy only the disease (tzara’at) would show theinwhite third month, weeks after thewould Exodus? blemish to a seven Kohen.

The Kohen evaluate and decide if the affliction was clearly tzara’at, The rendering Sages of the the giving of thus theTalmud person compare impure (tameh).

If the the Torah at Mountthe Sinai to a wedding; G-d was case was unclear, Kohen would quarantine theperson groom in and Israel the bride. days, At weddings, we the a house for seven after which often hearwould how the couple met it sometimes the Kohen re-inspect the and afflicted area and turns out that they had met earlier, but “it wasn’t declare whether the person was tameh or tahor the right time”. (pure).

The stop before Mount Sinai was Refidim, a place full of arguments and bickering, both with G-d and with each other. This had caused the people to loosen their grip on Torah values. The Kli Yakar therefore understands the phrase “they journeyed from Refidim”, in verse 2, as informing us that their journey away from Refidim was not only geographical but also spiritual; they left the arguments and bickering behind and came to Sinai, in readiness for accepting the Torah.

Sidrah Summary: Tazria-Metzorah

Sidrah SidrahSummary: Summary:Yitro Yitro encroach onto the mountain for the next three 1st Aliya (Kohen) – Shemot 18:1-12 Yitro, Moshe’s father-in-law and a Midianite days. Moshe relays this to the nation. G-d's priest, hears about the miraculous Exodus from Presence descends on the mountain; there is thunder, lightning andencamped shofar blasts; thedesert, mountain "They journeyed from and arrived at the desert of Sinai, and they in the and Egypt.

He comes to Refidim, meet Moshe in the desert, is covered Israel encamped opposite the mountain" (Shemot 19:2). in smoke. together with there, his daughter (Moshe’s wife) Tziporah and Moshe’s two sons. Moshe greets 6th Aliya (Shishi) – 19:20-20:14 Yitro and relates to him what has happened to the G-d ‘descends’ upon Mount Sinai and Moshe Israelites. Yitro and Moshe bring offerings. ascends again. G-d once again tells Moshe to Question: Why did Moshe call his first son warn the people not to encroach onto the mountain. After Moshe descends, G-d speaks Gershom? (18:3) the Ten Commandments: 2nd Aliya (Levi) – 18:13-23 1. Faith in G-d's existence According to Rashi’s commentary, the narrative 2. Prohibition of idol worship now skips forward to an incident after the giving 3. Prohibition of swearing false oaths of the Torah. Moshe is busy making halachic 4. Keeping Shabbat rulings from morning to evening. Concerned 5. Honouring one’s parents about this being too much for Moshe, Yitro Prohibition of: advises him to set up an alternative system of 6. Murder judging the people, involving the appointment of 7. Committing adultery a cascading system of judges. Only the major 8. Stealing issues would be brought directly to Moshe for his 9. Bearing false testimony judgement.

10. Coveting what others have 3rd Aliya (Shlishi) – 18:24-27 Moshe accepts Yitro’s advice and appoints 7th Aliya (Shevi’i) – 20:15-23 judges over sub-groups of 1000, 100, 50 and 10 Trembling from this awesome experience, the men. Yitro returns to Midian. people retreat and ask Moshe to be G-d's Point to Consider: Why did Yitro choose to return conduit, instead of G-d speaking to them directly, lest they die. Moshe reassures them. G-d tells to Midian? (see Rashi to 18:27) Moshe to warn the nation not to carve certain 4th Aliya (Revi’i) – 19:1-6 images (see Rashi). The commandment is given The narrative switches back to Rosh Chodesh to build a designated altar upon which offerings Sivan, one and a half months after the Exodus, to G-d should be brought. prior to the giving of the Torah. The people travel from Refidim and arrive in the Sinai Desert (see Haftarah The prophet Yeshaya sees a vision of the p.3 article). Moshe ascends Mount Sinai. G-d heavenly court, occupied by G-d and His angels. tells Moshe to inform the people that if they listen Whilst the angels assure Yeshaya that he is to His voice and keep His covenant, they will become “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation”. personally free of sin, G-d tells him to warn the people of their eventual exile, due to their 5th Aliya (Chamishi) – 19:7-19:19 stubbornness and iniquities. The evil king Achaz The people agree to G-d's offer. G-d tells Moshe ascends the throne; he will be shown Divine to instruct the people to wash their clothing, mercy in order to save his righteous son, the refrain from marital relations (Rashi) and not to future king Chizkiyahu.

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 To sponsor Daf Hashavua please contact Loraine Young on 020 8343 5653, or lyoung@theus.org.uk If you have any comments or questions regarding Daf Hashavua please email rabbigross@theus.org.uk

1

Question: what were the three types of blemish So why, in the weeks before the people’s arrival at called? (13:2) Answer on bottom of page 6.

Mount Sinai, was it “not the right time”?

2nd Aliya (Levi) – 13:24-39 ItThe wasKlialso possible for tzara’at to develop from a Yakar (Rabbi Shlomo Luntschitz d. 1619) burn. could on theshalom scalp or on the givesTzara’at the answer in erupt one word: (peace). beard area, causing atoloss of hair.

In fact, in response several questions on the firstAliya two verses of chapter 19, he says that these 3rd (Shlishi) – 13:40-54 aredifferent “proof that Israel was notisworthy of Averses slightly form of tzara’at detailed, receiving the Torah untilsubstantial there was peace between which caused a more loss of hair. A them”. (one who has been contaminated with metzora tzara’at) was sent outside of the camp and had to The his/her Kli Yakargarments notes that(see the sign of the zodiac for tear p4 article).

Tzara’at the third is Gemini, identical twins could alsomonth, infect Sivan, clothing.

A suspected garment holding hands, representing closeness love,a was quarantined before the Kohen and made i.e. peace. decision about whether it was tameh. If it was declared tameh, the garment was burnt.

metzora would three offerings Finally, the Kli also Yakarbring brings theanimal well-known and three offerings.

Midrash thatmeal the people camped at the mountain Point Consider: what is the significance of the ‘as one to person with one heart’ (see Rashi to ibid.

19:2). entire nationthread is referred to in the cedarThe wood, crimson and hyssop? (see singular Rashi toform 14:4)(“vayichan”), reflecting unity. He also says (Chamishi) that the people understood that 5th Aliya – 14:21-32 G-d had chosen Mount Sinai, a low, ‘humble’ A metzora who could not afford three animal mountain, on which to give the Torah. The way to offerings could instead bring one animal offering, peace is through humility, not an inflated ego. one meal offering and two birds.

6th Aliya (Shishi) – 14:33-15:15 The Ohr HaChaim, who described the great Tzara’at also houses.

The house owner excitement of affected the arrival of Israel at Sinai, would report the suspicious signs to a Kohen.

The identifies three pre-conditions for them to receive house bethese evacuated before the Kohen’s the Torah.would Two of echo the thoughts of the If the Kohenand saw aunity. deep The greenthird or deep Kliarrival.

Yakar, humility pre-red ‘affliction’, order thestrength house and to be condition is he that would it takes great quarantined for week.

Hekeep would then re-inspect determination to a learn and the Torah.

The journey fromIf the Refidim to had Sinaispread, represents the the house. affliction the infected resolve leave behind their weaknesses. stonestowould be removed and replaced. If the affliction nevertheless returned, the house would However, if replacing the stones It be wasdemolished. “time” to receive the Torah! 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.

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 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 details the process through which a siege and ensuing famine of the Shomron area 3 In memory of Chaya Rachel bat Moshe metzora purified himself/herself afterBen-tzion 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 In of Chaya Rachel batmetzora.

Moshe Ben-tzion its memory blood seven times on the The end their famine.

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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

The Kaddish-sayer prays for G-d's ‘amen’. between the person saying Kaddish and the congregation. congregation. The Kaddish-sayer prays for G-d's Name to be enhanced (through His Presence The congregation now responds with ‘amen, felt more and theresponds world's purpose being yeheh sh’meh rabbah mevarach le-alam ul Name to be enhanced (through His Presence being The congregation now with ‘amen, 20 JUDAISM 01hasFEBRUARY 2018 JEWISH WEEKLY being felt more and the world'sTHE purpose being realised) yeheh sh’meh mevarach le-alam ul al’mei al’maya’. This and the rabbah congregation responds in kind: the same meaning as realised) and the congregation responds in kind: al’mei al’maya’. This has the same meaning as the opening yitgadal request of the Kaddishthe opening yitgadal request the Kaddishve'yitkadash Sh’mehof rabbah – 'may sayer, just this time it is in pure Aramaic (the Bein Adam Lechaveiro Part 25:Yitgadal Honouring Parents Bein Adam Lechaveiro Part 25:Yitgadal Honouring Parents ve'yitkadash Sh’meh rabbah – 'may sayer, just this time it is in pure Aramaic (the His great Name be increased and sanctified’. yitgadal ve'yitkadash opening two words are in His great Name be increased ve'yitkadash opening two words are in (Kibud Av V’eim) VI and sanctified’. yitgadalwords (Kibud Av V’eim) VI are taken from verses in the book of These words are taken from verses in the book of These Hebrew). congregation add that His great Hebrew). The congregation add that His great

by Rabbi Daniel Fine, Rabbi, Stanmore &The Canons Park Synagogue

by Rabbi Daniel Fine, Community Rabbi, Stanmore & Canons ParkCommunity United Synagogue (Ezekielforever.

38:23)United which referword to the Yechezkel (Ezekiel 38:23) which refer to the Yechezkel Name be blessed They add this to Name be blessed forever. They add this word to Messianic era. emphasise that the Kiddush Hashem not be Messianic era. emphasise that the Kiddush Hashem not be Continuing our theme of Continuing our theme of Bechayechon uvyomechon uvechayei dechol Bechayechon uvyomechon uvechayei dechol rescinded, unlike the glory of the first and second rescinded, unlike the glory of that the first and second parents, in the last – this is a plea the request be beit yisrael honouring parents, in the last beit yisrael – thishonouring is a plea that the request be Be'al’ma di v’ra chirutei – this is a continuation Temple periods, which came to an end.

Be'al’ma di v’ra chirutei – this is a continuation articleand we‘inbegan to study article we began to study fulfilled ‘in our days’ the days of thefulfilled ‘in our days’ and ‘in the days of the Temple periods, which came to an end. of the request. Wethe areKaddish asking that this Kiddush prayer, usually Jewish People’ as whole. of the request.

Wea are asking that this Kiddush the Kaddish prayer, usually Jewish People’ as a whole.

Hashem (sanctification Hischildren Name) (amongst occur “in Hashem The Kaddish-sayer then of underlines thisoccur request recitedof by (sanctification His Name) “in The Kaddish-sayer then underlines this request recited by children (amongst the world that He created according to His will”. Ba-agala by adding a further eight words asking for other relatives) of the recently – we now ask that the by adding a further eight words asking for G-d's uvizman kariv will”. other relatives) of the recently Ba-agala uvizman kariv – we now ask that thethe world that He created according to HisG-d's In essence the world is perfect. Similarly, we too request Name tobebefulfilled blessed and increased.

Together deceased. and in our days”. deceased.

In essence the world“speedily is perfect.

Similarly, we too Name to be blessed and increased. Together request be fulfilled our days”. are internally perfect “speedily – our soulsand are in pristine.

Any Sometimes with the opening twoorwords of Kaddish (Yitgadal we ask pray for events to occur, Sometimes we ask or pray for events to occur, are internally perfect – our souls are pristine.

Any with the opening two words of Kaddish (Yitgadal problem in the world (or within us) is effectively ve'yitkadash) this makes a sum total of ten, but we may not want to experience them Aruch Hashulchan (Rabbi Yechiel Michel but we may not want to experience them The Aruch Hashulchan (Rabbi Yechiel Michel The problem in the world (or within us) is effectively ve'yitkadash) this makes a sum total of ten, caused by subsequent errors of choice that we ourselves. corresponding to the Commandments. for aTen Kiddush Hashem to occur d. Asking 1908) for devotes several paragraphs ourselves. amade.

Kiddush Hashem toworld occurcaused byAsking Epstein d. 1908) devotes several paragraphs Epstein subsequent errors of choice that we (or others) might have Yet since the to explaining the meaning of the Kaddish ‘in our days’ means that we are truly invested in corresponding to the Ten Commandments. ‘inessentially our days’ perfect, means that are truly invested to explaining the meaning of the Kaddish is it willwe one return thatinthe (or others) might have made. Yet itsince the world prayer.

Here is a summary ofday what he tosays, idea – we want to experience ourselves. prayer. Here is a summary of what he says, state, the idea –things we want to experience ittheir ourselves. as naturally return to essence. is essentially perfect, it will one day return to that concentrating mainly on the start of the prayer: concentrating mainly on the start of the prayer: This is what is meant by the world being “created state, as things naturally return to their essence.

Veimru amen – the mourner calls upon the according to His will”.

Veimru amen – the mourner calls upon the This is what is meant by the in world being Kaddish is structured as a call-out and response congregation to respond kind by “created saying Kaddish is structured as a call-out and response congregation to respond in kind by saying between the person saying Kaddish and the ‘amen’. according to His will”. ‘amen’. between the person saying Kaddish and the congregation. slightfor addition Ve'yamlich malchutei – this is aprays The Kaddish-sayer G-d's to thetoprevious request.

We are asking that congregation. The Kaddish-sayer prays for G-d's Name be enhanced (through His Presence The congregation now responds with ‘amen, the Hashem beresponds substantial, His Ve'yamlich malchutei – this is a slight addition Name to be enhanced (through His Presence being The Kiddush congregation withthat ‘amen, felt more and now the world's purpose being yeheh sh’meh rabbah mevarach le-alam ul kingship (His overtrabbah presence) be manifested. to the previous request. We are asking that being felt more and the world's purpose being realised) yeheh sh’meh mevarach le-alam and the congregation responds in kind:ul al’mei al’maya’. This has the same meaning as the Kiddush Hashem be substantial, that His realised) and the congregation responds in kind: al’mei al’maya’. This has the same meaning asthe opening yitgadal request of the Kaddishkingship (Histhis overt presence) manifested. the opening yitgadal request the KaddishYitgadal ve'yitkadash Sh’meh of rabbah – 'may sayer, just time it is in be pure Aramaic (the Yitgadal ve'yitkadash Sh’meh rabbah – 'may His sayer, just this time it is in pure Aramaic (the great Name be ben increased and sanctified’. yitgadal ve'yitkadash opening two words are in 4 In memory of Yehuda Yaakov HaCohen His great Name be increased and sanctified’. These yitgadal ve'yitkadash opening twoin words areofinHebrew). The congregation add that His great words are taken from verses the book These words are taken from verses in the book of Yechezkel Hebrew). The congregation add that (Ezekiel 38:23) which referHis to great the Name be blessed forever. They add this word to Yechezkel (Ezekiel 38:23) which refer to the Messianic 4 Name be era. blessed forever. They add this word toemphasise In memory ofthat Yehuda Yaakov Hashem HaCohen not be theben Kiddush Messianic era. emphasise that the Kiddush Hashem not berescinded, unlike the glory of the first and second In memory of Yehuda ben Yaakov HaCohen rescinded, the glory theisfirst and secondTemple periods, which came to an end.

Be'al’ma di unlike v’ra chirutei – of this a continuation Be'al’ma di v’ra chirutei – this is a continuation ofTemple periods, which came tothat an this end.Kiddush the request.

We are asking of the request. We are asking that this Kiddush Hashem (sanctification of His Name) occur “in The Kaddish-sayer then underlinesHistory this requestPart 94: The Pharisees Insights into Jewish Rabbinic Innovators of the Medieval Period Part 6:according tothisHisrequest that He created will”. by adding a further eight words asking for G-d's Hashem (sanctification of His Name) occur “in the Theworld Kaddish-sayer then underlines

by Rebbetzen Ilana Epstein, Cockfosters & N Southgate United Synagogue; AtheNew Code world eight is perfect. weG-d's too Name world that He created according to His will”. Inbyessence to be blessed and increased. Together adding the a further wordsSimilarly, asking for Head of Project Development, US Living & Learning are internally perfect – our souls are pristine.

Any with the opening two words of Kaddish (Yitgadal In essence the world is perfect.

Similarly, we too

by Rabbi Meir Shindler, Richmond United Synagogue Name to be blessed and increased. Together in the world (or within us) is effectively ve'yitkadash) this makes a sum total of ten, are internally perfect – our souls are pristine. Any problem with the opening two words of Kaddish (Yitgadal During the latter half Onecaused sectarian rivalry (the Roman Jewish first-century historian) writes of the by sons of the Rosh was choice known as we corresponding to the The subsequent errors Ten Commandments. problem in the world (or within us) is effectively ve'yitkadash) this makes a of sum totalthat of ten, of the 13th century, Rabbeinu that Aristobulus was tricked into having his between the Sadducees, Yaakov Ba’al HaTurim.

He was born others) mighttohave Yet since the world caused by subsequent errors of choice that we (or corresponding the made.

Ten Commandments. an astounding number in Germany Essenes and Pharisees brother Antignus murdered. Within a year of in 1270 and itfled with his father to is essentially perfect, will one day return to that (or others) mightofhave made. Yet since the world exceptional scholars played a central role in taking the throne, suffering from mental health Spain. He completed several works, but by far is essentially perfect, will one day return to that state, as things naturally return to their essence. and itleaders emerged, the background to the issues, Aristobulus died. the This mostis monumental was theworld Arba’ah Turim, what is meant by the being “created state, as thingswho naturally return toa their essence. produced wealth destruction of the second which organised halacha in a novel way. Arba’ah according to His will”.

This is what is meant by the worldTalmudic being “created of literature: Temple. In fact, there is a The next in line to the throne was his wife, Turim means ‘four rows’, named after the four according to Hiscommentaries, will”.

Torah rows of precious stones on the breastplate of well-known view that it Shlomtzion HaMalka, or Queen Salome. She was Ve'yamlich malchutei – this is a slight addition (Highrequest.

Priest). ItWe categorises all that was internal fighting that ultimately led to the the sister of the great Pharisee Sage Shimon commentaries, responsa (written halachic the Kohen to the Gadol previous are asking ben Shatach. Alexander Yannai, the brother Ve'yamlich malchutei – this is a slight addition material Hashem relevant to life in that the His destruction and the nation’s exile. rulings) and books on Jewish philosophy. The halachic the Kiddush be Jewish substantial, of Aristobulus, then married the childless to the previous We Jewry are asking post-Temple era into four major sections, each outstanding leader request. of Spanish was that kingship (His overt presence) be manifested.

Shlomtzion, thus fulfilling the mitzvah of levirate Who were these sects?

The Sadducees were the the Kiddush Hashem be substantial, that His Rabbeinu Moshe ben Nachman, known as the with its own name. Their main contents are heirs to the Hellenists. They believed only in the marriage (yibum). Shlomtzion’s political acumen kingship(or (HisNachmanides overt presence)1194-1270). be manifested.

Ramban He summarised below: Written Torah and were from the upper echelons and relationship to Shimon ben Shatach meant greatly influenced the leaders of the following (1) Orach Chaim: Daily routine, including prayer, of Judean society. They included many Kohanim 4 that the Pharisees found themselves once more in In memory of Yehuda ben Yaakov HaCohen generations due to his revered stature and blessings, Shabbat and festivals. in their ranks. The Essenes, who we will discuss control; the persecution against them was halted comprehensive writings.

(2) Yoreh Deah: Including dietary laws, family In memory of Yehuda ben Yaakov HaCohen in 4next week’s article, were perhaps an off-shoot for a time. The Talmud (Berachot 48a) relates the purity, charity, circumcision, mourning and After the Ramban’s death, the acknowledged following story: of the Sadducees. agricultural laws. leader of Sephardi Jewry became Rabbi Shlomo ben Avraham Aderet, referred to as the Rashba (3) Even HaEzer: Relationships, marriage and The Pharisees were the precursors of the King (Alexander) Yannai and the Queen sat at a (1235-1310), who wrote over 10,000 responsa divorce.

Talmudic Sages and the Judaism we practise banquet. Since Yannai had killed the Sages, there to Jewish communities all over the world. At a (4) Choshen Mishpat: Civil and criminal today. The word Pharisees is a translation of the was no one to lead Birkat Hamazon. Yannai similar time, the leading authority of Ashkenazi Hebrew word Perushim, meaning ‘separate’ or turned to his wife and said: “who can get us a laws including loans, damages, theft, Jewry was Rabbeinu Asher ben Yechiel, ‘apart’. As part of their identity they adhered man to recite the blessing?” She answered: partnerships, ownership and inheritance. (referred to as the Rosh c. 1250-1327). strictly to the laws regarding ritual purity (tahara). “swear to me, that if I bring you such a man, you In order to ensure that this code would not They endeavoured to remain ritually pure at all will not cause him anguish”. Yannai agreed and Ashkenazi Jews during that time faced physical suffer from the two main issues that many times, while the common people would just purify swore. The Queen then brought her brother threats, which caused the Rosh to flee to Spain scholars saw in the Code of the Rambam (who themselves three times a year, when making the (Shimon ben Shatach). He sat down between the in 1303. He was received in Barcelona by the did not identify the sources of his halachic pilgrimage to the Temple for the three festivals King and the Queen. The King said to him: “do Rashba, with whom he had already had much rulings and rarely quoted dissenting opinions), (Pesach, Shavuot and Succot). The Pharisees you see what honour I show you?” He bravely correspondence. The Rosh settled in Toledo, Rabbeinu Yaakov instead brought a broad range strictly adhered to the Oral Torah, not just the responded: “It is not you who honours me; it is where he became the Rabbi. This turn of events of opinions (both Sephardi and Ashkenazi) in his the Torah that honours me”.

Written Torah. meant that the Rosh served as a bridge discussions of each law. In addition, he quoted between the Sephardi and Franco-German each source by name. This masterpiece, John Hyrcanus (known in Rabbinic literature as schools of Torah study. consisting of a total of 1714 chapters, soon Yochanan Kohen Gadol) switched allegiance from Among his numerous literary works, his magnus became universally recognised as a milestone the Pharisees to the Sadducees towards the end opus was most definitely Hilchot Rabbeinu Asher, in halachic transmission of his life and decided to disband the Sanhedrin a halachic code based on that of the Rif (whom and became the prototype (Rabbinic high court). By the time Yochanan’s son we discussed in Part 2), but providing more for a new format used to Aristobulus came to the throne in 104 BCE, the elaborate explanations and drawing heavily from create the Shulchan Aruch, control and power balance had shifted into the other opinions such as those of Rashi, the which we will discuss next hands of the Sadducees.

Rambam, the Tosafists, the Ramban and many week, in the final article of Aristobulus was hostile towards the Sages. He others. The work of the Rosh ‘bridged’ that of all this series. was the first Hasmonean to change the form of of these scholars to a new phase, marking a Image published in 1553 by Guillaume Rouille government from a constitutional semi-monarchy fundamental milestone in the halachic process First page of the third book to a full monarchy, with himself as king.

Josephus by providing the backbone for what was later to of the Arba’ah Turim, written in Mantua in 1435. Housed become a new structure and method in at the Vatican Library. establishing a universal halachic code.

Bein Adam Lechaveiro Part 25: Honouring Parents (Kibud Av V’eim) VI

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

Answer: It refers to Moshe "being a sojourner in a strange land"

In memory of Yisrael Shmuel ben Yirmaya Yehoshuah

In memory of Yisrael Shmuel ben Yirmaya Yehoshuah

5

In of of Yaacov benben Shmuel Inmemory memory Yaacov Shmuel

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

6

THE

COMMUNITY

01 FEBRUARY 2018

YITROYITRO

questioned Moshe’s allowance of such a thing (Shemot 18:17): “‫לא טוב הדבר‬, this is notTHE good!”

JEWISH WEEKLY Yitro suggested that instead of everyone queuing to see Moshe, he should organise judges of tens, hundreds thousands etc in order to alleviate the work load. Only tough cases should be brought to Moshe.

so that together they could work through the challenges of life and help each other maximize their potential.

JUDAISM 21 A man and woman have the ability to work together and to spur each other DVAR TORAH What is the connection betw on grow to isgreat spiritual heights. great things are accomplished.

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RABBI YITSCHAK HAKOEN

dred people in which one man and one that signified one of his greatest acAwoman study werewas put indone a roominvolving together 200 complishments: teaching the lesson of What’s interesting to note is the hundred people in which one man and and given five minutes to memories people working together!OUR CHACHAMIM language Yitro used. He specifically one woman were put in a room together To receive this via email or for sponsorship opportunities please email us info@torahactionlife.com www.torahactionlife.com Yitro was so called RABBI for his name one hundred unrelated words on a RAPHAEL PINTO stated – this is ‘not good’. and given fi ve minutes to memories To receive this via emailThis or forweek’s sponsorship opportunities please email us (Yeter) means to add.

Due to his wise wide range of topics.

Half of the subwww.torahactionlife.com Parsha Sheet is sponsored Lirfuatinfo@torahactionlife.com Moshe Ben Rav Yitschak Hakohen Betoch Shaar Cholei Yisrael. one unrelated wordsof on a a wide To receive this via email or for sponsorship opportunities please email us thinking Torah an entire home Chapter (in jectshundred were to one another and info@torahactionlife.com www.torahactionlife.com greatest true is which one Hashem told Moshe, listen tomarried Researchers This week’sconcluded Parsha Sheet is sponsored based Lirfuat Moshe Benon Rav Yitschak Thus Hakohen Betoch Shaar Cholei points Yisrael.

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RABBI ELI MANSOUR RABBI JONATHAN TAWIL loneliness of man and the way Moshe Rabbi Yossi & Sharona David words (not good) is when Hashem Is there a connection between the Yitro is such an important Parasha words (not good) is when Hashem creand there.

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G-d. R. Elazar HaModai however to accept upon lifestyle The expected that day”.us Rashi This newsletter contains Divrei Torah and may contain Sheimoton - Please dispose of accordingly the connection between to grow to great spiritual bybyidolaters, would be be different, andheights. would idolaters, would different, and would true the belief must beWhat put into is...? true belief must be put into practice!

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When we sit down and Q&A AND CARTOON P4 to be alone; I (Hashem) will make for He get the task cally done signifi cantly better that to to be a faithful Jew living together eentails Tim language Yitro used. specifi achieving our togoal! that be a faithful Jew entails living together in Torah and Mitzvoth!

‘Jew at heart’ is oneachieving who takes heartgoal! study Torah, we must beware of the one woman were put in a room together our than the random men and women.  him a helpmate.”

RABBI RAPHAEL PINTO with the community amongst other Jews, in Our Torah is a living Torah!

Yithro his beliefs, performing and acting in danger of “habit” turning our lifestyle stated – this is ‘not good’. with given the community amongsttoother Jews, in “On this day they came and fi ve minutes memories to theroutine.

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Every word “And Yithro came…” (18:1) Sinai” (19:1). spiritual growth in Torah and Mitzvoth!

Sinai” (19:1). spiritual growth in Torah and Mitzvoth! they no doubt became the talk of the es us to relate to Him. It is insuffi cient growth in the traditional Torah mode is of Torah should be approached with The that what the range of topics. Half of the subjects TheBaal TalmudHaturim (Zevachimpoints 116a) out discusses Our verse opens the famous Chapter dealing TheThe Talmud (Zevachim 116a) discussworld!

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R.nation?

Yehoshua says itthewas of come to join (not our R. YehoshTorahthe stirred Yithro to come? us a unique of nation “On this day they camethe to the Wil- merit that we have involve ourselves words good) is when Hashem with Divine Revelation attoMt. Sinai.

The other half were men and women who G-d giving over His Torah to our this Torah uses the present phrase on this day nation?

R. Yehoshua says it was the war of implies that He wishes us to relate to Him. ua says it was the war of Amalek; R. He offers to us the following suggeslife, demonstrating to us how to live derness of Sinai” (19:1). in studying G-d’s holy Torah!

■ Amalek; R. Elazar HaModai says the giving of created Adam andof thestated (Berieshit uses the present phrase this day met for theemerging first time thento and implies that wishes us toa treasrelate Him. Elazar HaModaiR. says the giving tion.

Originally, Yithro of most had holy livesHe with Him, Our verse rather opens1Torah the famous than theChapexpected “on that day”. on Rashi Itcertainly is just insuffi cient merely to acknowledge His Amalek; Elazar HaModai says the giving the Torah; R. Eliezer says the splitting of the 2:18), “‫טוב‬says ‫לא‬, is not - for than the the expected that day”.

Torah; R. Eliezer the itsplitting of good heard about the man plagues andthere. theIt exoured nation!

The Torah calls us to able ter dealing therather Divine The married people were to is insuffi cient merely to for acknowledge Hiswith explains to Revelation us that Torah “on is teaching us Rashi which could be carried out at home the Torah; R. Eliezer says the splitting ofabandoned the existence, sea! the sea! dus.

As a result he his idolput our knowledge of G-d into practice, at Mt. Sinai.

The Torah uses the presto be alone; I (Hashem) will make for get that moment the Torah teaching us the task done cantly better existence, which could beunique carried home that explains we must to viewusevery as ifis we are inhis Midyan!

G-d gives usinvolving asignifi wayoutofat life, R.sea!

Nathan Ordman z.t.l. asks that atrous ways, and strengthened be- studying His Torah, ourselves must the viewTorah everyanew! moment if we are than thewithrandom men and women. him a helpmate.” in Midyan!

G-d us a unique waywith oflife, just that R. Yithro Nathan Ordman z.t.l. asksliefthat surely Yithro surely (originally one of Pharin G-d.

However, Yithro mistakenly His When Torah was demonstrating toMitzvoth! usgives how to the live holy lives now we receiving Our as Torah aoh’s advisors) heard all about the felt that he could remain a believer in given, our people stood encamped by R. Nathan one Ordman z.t.l. asks that surely (originally of Pharaoh’s advisors) heardYithro all demonstrating us how nation! to live holy justevery nowsingle receiving the Torah Our Torah Him, emerging a to treasured The lives Torahwith affects moment of our anew! lives. From This newsletter contains Divrei Torah and may contain Sheimot Please dispose of accordingly Ten(originally Plagues, the famous exodus from G-d whilst remaining in his hometown Mt.Sinai unifi ed “like one man with one onePlagues, of Pharaoh’s advisors) heard about the Ten the famous exodus fromall calls Him, treasured nation!

Theinto Torah the moment affects every single of our lives. From foremerging us to (Rashi putaour knowledge of G-d that we wakemoment up in the morning, Egypt, and the splitting of the sea – Midyan. Although surrounded there heart” (19:2)) with one united about thethe famous frombe practice, Egypt, andTen thePlagues, splitting of – exodus these calls forstudying us- totoserve putG-d our knowledge of G-d into hundreds His Torah, involving ourselves these were the such famous events that bysea idolaters, he were would different, goal in the best possible the moment thatlaws weand wake up in lead the morning, of religious customs us

RABBI JONATHAN TAWIL

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such famous events that of they doubt became Egypt, and the splitting thenosea – these were the talk of theevents world!that If so, whynodoes R.became Elazar such famous they doubt HaModai that Ifonly of the talk ofsuggest the world! so, the whylater doesgiving R. Elazar

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P1

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OUR CHACHAMIM

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P4

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with His Mitzvoth! the Torah was given, practice, studyingWhen His Torah, involving ourselves through the day. steplaws in life hascustoms its Torahlead us hundreds of Every religious and ourwith people stood encamped by Mt.Sinai unifi ed THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM His Mitzvoth! When the Torah was given, solution!

There infinite wisdom greatness through theis day.

Every stepand in life has its Torah “like one man with one heart” (Rashi (19:2)) our people stood encamped by Mt.Sinai unified contained in our holyisTorah. we sit solution!

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22 BUSINESS

01 FEBRUARY 2018

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CURRENCY US DOLLAR.......... 1.41

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EURO............................... 1.14

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UNITS/1GRB GBP / 1 UNIT

Should I invest through passive or active investment funds ?

BY MARC OVITS

BA (HONS) APFS CERT PFS (DM)

PART 2 OF 2 Strengths and weaknesses Passive funds have several characteristics which make it hard not to like them.

They are cheaper than the average active fund, typically by 50bp.

1. They are simple to understand. They only try to match the performance of market capitalisation-based indices. That makes them also precise and consistent.

Unlike active funds, there is no fund manager looking to change his approach, to retire or possibility of judgment error stalling the portfolio, perhaps in an urge to be ‘contrarian’ or to outthink ‘the herd’.

A passive fund should simply match the outcome of its underlying benchmark. Also, as their framework is generic it has proved straightforward for passive managers to spread out from their base in the large cap stock exchange

indices and today there is choice across a bewildering range of asset classes, across large cap, small cap, UK, Europe, US, Emerging and Frontier markets, index linked and corporate bonds. You name it, there’s a way to track it. Even Bitcoin.

But perhaps the greatest advantage passives have possessed has been luck. They have been blessed twice, once by the liquidity driven markets following quantitative easing, making it harder for the active manager to spot value, and secondly by a regulatory focus on cost which seems, by the law of unintended consequences, to have inhibited a debate about value from a client’s point of view.

The other side of the coin The chief weakness to consider assessing passive funds, of course, is that they are blunt instruments which do not discriminate. In pursuit of the average, you must fail to capture potential returns. Some stock market investors cannot accept that their portfolio should contain holdings of shares which are ‘obvious losers’. I suggest that all

active managers and some academics agree. Where this may be seen to bite most deeply is in the field of corporate bond trackers where you are most exposed to the most deeply indebted companies, not those whose debts are well under control.

Why wouldn’t you pick a star fund manager, with a great track record? The answer of course is that there’s a balance of risk. Last year’s star manager, is this year’s friendless holder of bad luck stories.

What are the opportunities now?

The passive market continues to grow and this will mean even lower cost, good news for investors. Advisers can help you source tracking funds at under 10bp (in other words

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0.1% annual management charge).

This could be crucial as further savings on fixed costs will pay off handsomely over time via the route of higher compound returns.

Threats.

What about the downside?

So why use active funds ? Without doubt risk control is an area of fund management which has improved considerably over the last ten years. Great care is taken to control risk, to the point of stepping back from investment and holding cash if the market doesn’t offer the opportunities a fund manager seeks.

You have none of this advantage with passive investment. You have to accept the market return, good and bad.

One can see this variation in approach very clearly in the bond space. While the passive fund holds bonds of all maturities, market weighted, the active manager only buys those bonds he likes.

The effect is that passive bond funds look more vulnerable to turbulence. The current duration of a UK Government bond index fund is around 12 years and that of a typical active fund in the same area is around 4 years. On the standard rule of thumb, the passive fund will underperform the active by 8% for each 1% rise in interest rates going forward.

Where next?

To conclude, my view of markets is that I expect passive fund volatility to nudge up from its current level.

We have already seen some hints

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.

of this last year as bond market volatility rose, but this is likely to be modest in comparison to what it might be in equities if investor sentiment were to take a turn for the worse or bond rates spike sharply.

This isn’t an immediate concern, however.

In a world of extreme bond yield compression, quality bonds not paying much less than junk, investors have ended up allocating to equities for lack of an alternative.

It is wise to consider how fast that tranche of late cycle money would flow out of markets on a shift in paradigm.

Ensuring your portfolio is aligned to your attitude to risk and capacity for loss has seldom been more important. It is notable that given a choice more and more investors are combining active and passive, to get the best of both styles.

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24 SPORTS

01 FEBRUARY 2018

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

SPORTS

ONE NATION... ...MANY TEAMS

W E E K LY

‘Seventh heaven’ for new Premier leaders Hendon

BY DAVID SAFFER Hendon United Sports top the Premier Division after a 7-1 victory against Brady Maccabi.

Dovi Fehler struck a hat-trick and Zac Lewis notched a brace as Hendon head Oakwood A on goal difference.

Rafi Kon and Ari Last also scored for the new title favourites who have a game in hand on Oakwood.

“It was a fantastic performance from the team,” said Hendon manager Greg Corin.

“We dominated throughout today but Brady were still in the game at half-time with the score only 1-0.

“We had a tactical chat at the break and a few minutes of excellent wing play by Yoav Kestenbaum found ourselves a few goals in front. The team continued to play at a good tempo until the last kick and by the end, the result was well-deserved.”

Oakwood A dropped two crucial points in a hard fought 1-1 draw at Redbridge Jewish Care A. The visitors opened the scoring through Brad Wine only for Steve Summers to equalised on the hour with a close range finish.

“A tough day out in Essex where I felt we just edged the game,” summed up Oakwood boss Adam Kristall.

“The pitch and conditions were atrocious. It restricted us playing our fast flowing attacking football.

They battled well but we dominated the opening hour of the game although we tired and in the end it could have gone either way. I can’t argue with the result.”

Kristall added: “The result shows how far that we have come as a team, we are disappointed with this draw but it’s a good point.

The league is strong, Hendon are favourites but they have tough tests to come so nothing is decided yet. We will keep fighting and once we recover injured players, we will be in the mix at the end of the season.”

North London Raiders A eased

relegation fears with a 3-1 win at Maccabi London Lions Blue Two Josh Green strikes and a Joe Cohen goal won the spoils.

Oakwood B enjoyed a 3-0 win over injury-hit Scrabble.

Ben Feingold’s first goal of the season, Sam Modlin’s strike and Daniel Seligman’s penalty moved Jason Stein’s team to within two points of second place North London Raiders B. “We played really well today and deserved the win,” commented Stein.

“At our best we can create numerous chances but today we put them away clinically. We needed it after weeks in which we were disappointed to only take one point from two games.

“We are pleased to do the double over Scrabble who are historically a tough opponent.”

Scrabble, missing six first team players, battled to halt a poor run of results and manager Ray Abrahams was philosophical at full time.

“Oakwood are a good side and deserved to win the game on the day,” he said.

“We lost the midfield battle after their first goal went in, but all three goals were fortunate.

“The first was a ricochet, our keeper Adam Solomons got a hand to the second then the referee made a huge mistake for the penalty as he gave handball when the ball clearly hit the players’ side.

“On another day that would never have been given and at 2-0 you’ve still got a chance. That decision effectively killed off the game.”

He added: “The boys are disappointed but we looked a lot better today particularly in the second half and had a few chances that we failed to take.

“At the moment we can’t buy a goal, let alone pick up points, but we have to keep working hard and I’m confident we will turn things around.

“We’ve played the top three twice so it’s in our hands against teams below us to make sure we

Premier leaders, Hendon United Sport

pick up enough points to start pushing up the league.

“The last thing we want is to get drawn into a relegation battle.

“Due to a ridiculous number of injuries we’ve used nearly 40 players but everyone in the squad has done us proud. There is great camaraderie and determination to finish the league season strongly and have a good Cup run in the Supplementary Cup which starts in two weeks.”

The match between Redbridge Jewish Care C and North London Raiders B was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

Bayern Mincha edged two points clear of Mill Hill Dons in Division Two following a 3-1 victory against Straw Hat Pirates.

This was a must-win game for Bayern as Dons have two games in hand over the league leaders.

After Bayern ‘keeper Joseph Nyman kept his team in the game in a goalless first half player-boss Alon Pinhas opened the scoring on the hour. Adam Ellis fired home a brace to seal the win.

Aron Gale scored a consolation for the Pirates late on.

“Our attack couldn’t get the final

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touch in the first half but we really stepped it up,” said Pinhas.

“It was a good game of football and could have gone either way.

We now look forward to our match against Dons next week. Hopefully we will win and make the title challenge more interesting.”

“We matched Bayern all over the park for 60 minutes, creating attacks and causing their defence plenty of problems,” said Pirates manager Elliot Cuckier.

“Unfortunately, their keeper kept them in it when we should have gone ahead, but we showed in our debut season we are able to mix it with the best and take the game to them.

“Some of our boys had brilliant games and on another day more would have been on the score-sheet.

“We now have two crucial games in the next few weeks so look forward to the next challenge.”

Third place FC Team kept up their title challenge with a dominating second half performance in a 4-1 win over Temple Fortune B. A Richard Salmon brace, David Grossman strike and an own goal proved decisive.

“Fortune’s goalkeeper kept them in it with a number of fine saves so we didn’t feel too aggrieved to be drawing at the break,” said player-manager Mitch Young.

“It was a sound performance in the end and we also managed to give everyone decent game time.”

Daniel Garfinkle fired home four goals as Fairlop FC defeated bottom club Faithfold B 5-1 Fairlop, who scored an own goal, grabbed a consolation score through ‘A’ team regular David Leiwy with a solo effort.

“Daniel hit four great strikes, he’s a great addition to the club, his pace is phenomenal,” said Fairlop manager Aaron Dias.

“We knew today wouldn’t be as easy. Faithfold brought players in from the ‘A’ team, but once the first goal went in the game was never in doubt.”

North London Raiders C moved above Hertswood Vale on goal difference following a 3-2 win.

Simon Englander and Josh Gorb scored for Vale.

01 FEBRUARY 2018

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

SPORTS 25

Manchester Macabbi Yellow 3rd v Leeds Macabbi (7-6)

Heads up...

Manchester Macabbi 1st v Greenfinch (5-0)

Richard Buxton scores for Manchester

Teams shaking hands just before kick off

Powerful challenge

PHOTO CREDIT: LAWRENCE PURCELL

Fixtures for Sunday 4th February

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

26 KIDS

01 FEBRUARY 2018

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

Parshat Yitro Qu i z

Can you put the 10 commandments in order: Do not be jealous

Do not lie Do not kill

Honour your parents

Keep the Shabbat

Do not to worship idols or other gods Do not steal

Believe in one G-d Do not say G-d’s name in vain

Be faithful to your spouse Answers

Believe in one G-d Do not to worship idols or other gods Do not say G-d’s name in vain Keep the Shabbat Honour your parents Do not kill Be faithful to your spouse Do not steal Do not lie Do not be jealous

Arts and Crafts Mini Torah Scrolls

You will need • • • •

Wooden skewers Coloured paper Scissors Clear Tape

• • •

White tape Pen Wrapping Paper

Method 1. Cut skewers into 2 inch lengths 2. Cut strips of coloured paper 3. Using clear tape two cut skewers to each end of the coloured paper.

4. Start rolling the paper, first from one end and then from the other to create two equal scrolls.

5. Release the rolls somewhat so that paper isn’t so tightly rolled, to create more volume, and then adhere from the back with a piece of tape.

6. Decorate scroll with white tape, wrapping paper, pen, stickers etc..

7. Use the mini Torah scrolls to make napkin rings, cupcake or cake decorations etc.

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Moshe’s father-in-law, Yitro, who lives in Midian, hears the news of all the incredible miracles that Hashem did for the Jewish people, and he decides to go visit. So he, together with his daughter, Moshe’s wife Tzipporah, and their two sons Gershom and Eliezer leave Midian and head for the desert, where they meet Moshe.

Now, Yitro sees that Moses is incredibly busy, because anytime the Jews have a problem, or they want to understand how to do a certain mitzvah, they come to Moshe. And so, every day, from morning until night, Moshe sits and answers questions. Yitro tells Moshe he should appoint judges who will be in charge of smaller groups of people, and then if those judges don’t know the answers, they will go to the higher judges in charge of larger groups, and if those don’t know, they’ll go to the higher level judges, all the way up, until it reaches Moshe. This way, Moshe will only get the hardest questions, and he’ll have time for other things. Moshe does as his father-in-law suggests, and appoints the judges.

Next, the Jews travel to a part of the desert called Sinai, where Hashem tells them that if they accept the Torah, they will be a chosen and special nation. The Jews respond, “Naseh vanishma” - “We will do and we will listen”. They receive instructions about a Mountain called Sinai where they will receive the Torah, because it is so holy, no one is allowed to touch it, and they must be very careful to not even come too close. There is booming thunder and flashes of lightning and they see a thick cloud over the mountain and hear a long, powerful blast of a shofar. Then G-d comes down to the mountain and proclaims the Ten Commandments.

01 FEBRUARY 2018

CUT OUT & KEEP

KIDS 27

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

TO CREATE YOUR VERY OWN JEWISH WEEKLY RECIPE BOOK

quick and easy Har sinai Cake Ingredients: • 1 dome shaped cake tin or instead you can use 1 large foil tin and 1 medium one and 1 smaller one.

• Chocolate Cake Mix, eggs, water and oil

• Chocolate Icing: Icing sugar and water • Chocolate lentils

Method:

1. Grease the cake tin or foil tins 2. Make a chocolate cake using a bought cake mix - follow the

instructions and use the correct amount of eggs, water and oil and bake as instructed)

3. Let the cake or cakes cool 4. Turn the cake/s upside down on a plater. If you do not have a

dome shaped cake tin, place the cakes on top of each other. (The biggest on the bottom and the smallest on the top.

5. Make a chocolate icing and spread around the cake 6. Decorate using the chocolate lentils as seen in the photo

Did you know?

Facts about countries around the world Italy and France produce over 40% of all wine.

Iceland consumes more Coca Cola than any other country.

French fries are originally from Belgium.

The wheelbarrow was invented in China.

India has the most post offices than any other country (over 100,000).

40% of Amsterdam commuters get to work by bicycle.

Peru has more pyramids than Egypt.

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The United States of Americas top selling ice cream flavour is vanilla.

28 KIDS

e m i T s d Ki

01 FEBRUARY 2018

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

TEST YOURSELF - Q&A ➊ Yitro had 7 names. Why was one of his names Yeter? ➋ News of which two events motivated Yitro to come join the Jewish People? ➌ What name of Yitro indicates his love for Torah? ➍ Why was Tzipora with her father, Yitro, and not with Moshe when Bnei Yisrael left Egypt? ➎ Why does verse 18:5 say that Yitro came to the desert - don’t we already know that the Bnei Yisrael were in the desert?

Answer

➊ 18:1 - Because he caused a Parsha to be added to the Torah. Yeter means addition. ➋ 18:1 - The splitting of the sea and the war against Amalek. ➌ 18:1 - Chovav. ➍ 18:3 - When Aharon met Moshe with his family on their way down to Egypt, Aharon said to Moshe: “We’re pained over the Jews already in Egypt, and you’re bringing more Jews to Egypt?” Moshe, hearing this, sent his wife and children back to Midian. ➎ 18:5 - To show Yitro’s greatness. He was living in a luxurious place, yet he went to the desert in order to study the Torah.

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For more info contact us at : For more E: info@torahactionlife.com T: 07722080717 E: info@t T: 07722

GALADINNER GALA G DINNER A THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

01 FEBRUARY 2018

KIDS 29

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

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YfTlW: REVELATION TO Tl-IE NATION!

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Tribe is the Young People's Department of the United Synagogue: Creating a future for our community through engaging, educating and inspiring the next generation.

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

30 YOUTH

01 FEBRUARY 2018

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

Parshat Yitro In a Nutshell Yitro, the father-in-law of Moshe hears of the great miracles which G-d performed and comes from Midian to the Israelite camp, bringing with Tziporrah (Moshe’s wife) and her two sons (Gershom and Eliezer).

Yitro was a righteous convert who had 7 names. He was also known as Yeter, Chovav, Re’u’el, Chever, Puti’el, and Keni.

Yitro advises Moshe to appoint a hierarchy of magistrates and judges to assist him in the task of governing and administering justice to the people.

On the sixth day of the third month (Also known as the festival of Shavuot), seven weeks after the Exodus, the entire nation of Israel assembles at the foot of Har Sinai.

G d descends on the mountain

Starting in the bottom left corner and moving either up or right, adding up the numbers along the way, what is the largest sum which can be made?

amidst thunder, lightning, billows of smoke and the blast of the shofar, and The children of Israel camp opposite Har Sinai, where they are told that G d has chosen them to be His “kingdom of priests” and “holy nation.” The people respond by proclaiming, “Naaseh venishma” - “We will do and we will listen” G-d proclaims the Ten Commandments.

1. I am the L-rd your G-d.

2. You shall have no other gods before Me. 3. You shall not take the name of the L-rd your G-d in vain; for the L-rd will not hold him guiltless that takes His name in vain.

4. Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all your work; but the seventh day is a Sabbath unto the L-rd

Print this puzzle and cut the four rings out. To play this game, you need to rotate the rings and align them so that four 5-letter words will appear.

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your G-d.

5. Honour your father and mother, so that your days may be long upon the land which the L-rd your G-d gives you.

6.You Shall not murder.

7.You Shall not commit adultery.

8. You shall not steal.

9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.

10. You shall not covet.

You may be wondering what this blank grid is all about. Can you place the words ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN and EIGHT into a 5x5 grid of letters. The words must be in a straight line, but can be in any direction, including diagonally.

01 FEBRUARY 2018

YOUTH 31

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

News Bites SLEEP WALKER SURVIVED FALL FROM EIGHTH-FLOOR APARTMENT VILA,ONE OF THE WORLD’S OLDEST GORILLAS, DIES IN CAPTIVITY AT 60 One of the oldest gorillas in the world has died at the age of 60.

San Diego Zoo Safari Park announced on Friday that Vila, who was born in the Congo in 1957, died surrounded by members of her family troop.

She was the “matriarch”, they said, of five generations.

“There are very few gorillas anywhere near that age,” said Peggy Sexton, a lead animal keeper at the safari park in

A sleepwalker has survived falling out of his eighth floor apartment in New York after climbing out through his window.

Randy Phothisane, 35, had to be helped to safety through a window by a firefighter after landing on scaffolding six storeys below. He fell on Sunday morning at around 5am

on South Street near Clinton Street. His sister said that she had told him off adding that next time he might not be so lucky.

California. Gorillas typically live for 35-40 years.

“She will be missed by zoo members, guests, volunteers and staff,” said Randy Riches, mammals curator at the safari park.

The oldest gorilla living in the care of humans is thought to be 61-year-old Trudy at Little HAPPY 60TH BIRTHDAY LEGO! THE BRILLIANT BRICKS THAT BUILT A Rock Zoo in Arkansas.

WORLD OF CREATIVITY Like Vila, she was captured The little building blocks first from the wild. appeared 60 years ago and now kids just won’t Lego of the toy box favourite.

Since it was patented on January 28, 1958, fans young and old have been building Lego creations.

Piece by painstaking piece, Lego has been shaped into, well, almost anything, from of the Danish words “leg” and Today not only do children a magnificent tree to the Star “godt” - meaning “play well”. love the toy, excited AFOLs Wars Millennium Falcon.

In 2017 it became the world’s (Adult Fans of Lego) also gathAnd it has certainly lived up most powerful brand, worth er to create jaw-dropping sets at to its name, an abbreviation £5.6billion. conventions.

KEEP CALM AND ASK

AGONY AUNT MIA AND AGONY UNCLE JOEY The Jewish Weekly’s Teen Agony Aunt and Agony Uncle are here to help with all your questions, problems and difficulties. Just write your letter to agonyaunt@thejewishweekly.com or agonyuncle@thejewishweekly.com Disclaimer: All letters that are published may be edited. All letters are kept confidential and names can be changed for confidentiality upon request.

Dear Agony Uncle Joey,

Dear Aaron,

Unfortunately , when I was around 7, I had a bad experience in the swimming pool and developed a fear of deep water. In short, my parents had to take me out of swimming lessons and I have not been in deep water since.

Thanks for getting in touch; you sound like you are extremely ambitious and determined. It is a huge achievement to overcome a fear and I am sure you will succeed.

Over the years I have tried to tackle the fear, although it has been exceptionally hard. When I go on holiday with my family, I tend to stay only in the shallow end and prefer to stay out of the water most of the time and watch my family splash around.

I am now 14 and It has got to a point where I feel that I am ready to go into deep water again but I was hoping you could give me some advice.

Firstly, I would advice you to start a swimming course with trained instructors. Do thorough research by asking around for a good swimming school. From now on always think of positive images whilst you are in the water. Hold your breath under the water and breathe out into the water. Basically blowing bubbles! Don’t feel rushed to make progress and learn at your own pace.

I would love to join my family in the deep end , this summer holiday!

It is important to seek therapy if you feel there is a need.

Speak to your school councillor and she or he should be able to guide you to the right therapist. Remember you are not alone, there are many famous people, who also had this fear and overcame it later in life.

Many thanks,

Good luck and keep in touch!

Aaron

Uncle Joey

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32 YOUTH

01 FEBRUARY 2018

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

Q. Have you heard about corduroy pillows?

A. They’re making headlines.

Q: What do Alexander the Great and Winnie the Pooh have in common?

A: Same middle name.

(Answers at the bottom of page upside down)

Q: What did the left eye say to the right eye?

A: Between you and me, something smells.

1. I have no sides and no lid, yet golden treasure lays inside.

What am I? Q: Never criticize someone until you have walked a mile in their shoes.

2.A cowboy rides in a town on Friday stays for three days and leaves on Friday. How is that possible?

A: That way, when you criticize them, you’ll be a mile away, and you’ll have their shoes.

3. What two words can open doors for you for the rest of your life?

2.

His horse is named Friday.

Dingbats Answers THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

1.

An egg

3.

Push and Pull!

1.Grandstand 2. Bigdipper 3. First aid 4.Play to win 5. Apple pie 6. Missing you PART 3 OF UP, UP AND AWAY WILL CONTINUE IN NEXT WEEK’S ISSUE

34 WOMEN

W oman of W orth

NAOMI DICKSON

‫ֵֽא ׁ ֶשת ַֽחיִ ל ִמי יִ ְמ ָצא‬

Naomi Dickson

Naomi Dickson has been involved with Jewish Women’s Aid (JWA) for the past 17 years. Having started her career as a Housing Officer working for a large housing association, she was able to use this knowledge and experience when she took on a voluntary role at the Jewish Women’s Aid refuge. As a Housing Officer, she dealt with many cases relating to women in abusive domestic situations, and was able to offer help and advice to women at the refuge about finding alternative accommodation to enable them to escape domestic violence and abuse. After working at the refuge on a voluntary basis for seven years, she eventually took on a permanent role as a Refuge Manager in 2006.

Jewish Women’s Aid is the only specialist organisation in the UK which specifically supports the needs of Jewish women and their children affected by domestic abuse and violence. The organisation aims to support and empower women and girls in violent or abusive relationships, and to raise awareness and educate the Jewish community in order to prevent

01 FEBRUARY 2018

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

these situations.

After maternity leave, Naomi returned to JWA in a different role based at Head Office in Finchley focussing on training and communication. As part of her role, she would regularly visit synagogues and Rosh Chodesh groups to raise awareness of the work of the charity and how it can help women and children within the community. She began to realise that there was a real need for proper training and further education on this subject, and worked on launching a training programme for those within the community from Rabbis and Rebbetzens to therapists and even those in the emergency services who might come into contact with women in vulnerable situations. The programme runs throughout the year, and offers information and help on how to support people within abusive situations, and how to help them get out of dangerous domestic situations. Naomi feels that these programmes have had a significant effect in raising awareness throughout the wider community.

She explains, “Since running the training, we have a seen a huge rise in the amount of referrals we receive, around 70%, which shows that more people are able to understand the signs and that within society in general the attitude to domestic abuse and now recognise it is an issue.”

For any women who may need the help and support of JWA, the first point of contact is through the confidential helpline. Women can speak to trained volunteers

who will be able to assess their situation and refer them to a case worker who can help with reducing the risk of their situation and increase their safety through offering advice and support. Together with being given an allocated case worker free counselling is available which can be done either face to face or on the phone.

In addition, there is also a 10 week group course which helps women to develop resilience and strength, and to share their experiences in a confidential environment.

Naomi explains, “Often the situations of the women in the group are quite similar, and being able to share their own experiences makes them realise that they are not alone, and that they can make a change.”

As Chief Executive, Naomi is involved in the day to day running of the organisation, what she calls the ‘nuts and bolts’, and this covers everything from recruitment to governance. She feels that the organisation is going through an interesting time, and one area that she has been closely involved in relates to a programme developed for young adults. The ‘Safer Dating’ programme is a peer-led programme for 16-25 year olds and helps to teach them about healthy relationships and how to recognise signs of abuse within their friendship group. The programme has been taken to schools and universities across the country, and Naomi believes that it has been very successful in helping this age group gain a better understanding of healthy, safe relationships and

hopes that they will be able apply this information in the future.

For organisations such as JWA, Naomi believes that this dialogue is a good thing in raising awareness. “If high profile people bring attention to their situations, then it can only help the cause and enable people to gain a better understanding of domestic abuse, so that as a community we are more aware of these issues, and more receptive to women who are seeking support.”

Although based in London, JWA is committed to helping women and children across the country.

Currently there is a case worker based in Manchester, and the organisation is planning to build on their work in Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool, so that Northern provincial communities are adequately supported through counselling, casework, training and education.

Having been involved with the charity for so many years, Naomi feels that the organisation has very much developed and its overall professionalism has gained recognition from the Women’s Aid Federation of England, for the impact and work it is doing. On a personal level, Naomi feels a tremendous amount of pride for the organisation, and feels that her job is both a privilege and an honour. “Being able to do the job I do is so special to me, but also so humbling as well. “ In order to be able to continue their work, JWA have fundraising events throughout the year.

They also hold an annual womens

lunch with female guest speakers attending, which helps to raise awareness of the organisation.

Jewish Women’s Aid is a charity run by women for women, and Naomi believes that the women involved in the organisation are all Women of Worth in their own right. As well as the staff and the volunteers, which she calls ‘incredible’, Naomi also recognises the strength and bravery of the women who use the service and take the first step to changing their situation by contacting the organisation. “I am always amazed by the resilience and bravery of the women that use the service, and the way that they come out of these situations stronger despite everything they have been through. Being able to help them get their lives back together makes the work we do really worthwhile.”

If you would like to know more about the work that Jewish Women’s Aid do, and how you can help, please visit their website www. jwa.org.uk

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

You’re never too old to learn something new, so here are a few hacks that might just teach you a thing or two: • Peanut Perfection – Fed up of your peanut butter separating? Always store natural peanut butter upside down to avoid it getting too oily on the top, and too dry on the bottom. You’d be nuts to store it any other way!

• Handy holder – Next time you have a can of fizzy drink, try using the little tab on the ring pull to keep your straw in place. Apparently, this is what it is designed for, who knew? You now!

• The monkeys know best – Believe it or not you have probably been peeling bananas the wrong way your whole life. Rather than from the stalk, you should peel from the other end. Crazy huh, bananas in fact!?

• Cooking up a storm – After stirring, use the hole in the handle of your saucepan to rest your spoon and avoid making a mess on the worktop. Genius!

If you have any questions or you have a top tip you want to share, please contact us on office@thejewishweekly.com. Your question might be someone else’s solution!

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

01 FEBRUARY 2018

NUTRITION 35

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

Where is the Education?

BY ALAN FREISHTAT

They come all ages, all genders, all shapes and all sizes. In the age group of 30 or over, usually their overweight issues are due to poor habits, emotional eating, sedentary living and sometimes, we even find a metabolic issue like a slow thyroid causing their weight gain.

But I would like to discuss something very distressing. People are sent to me by Roshei Yeshiva, doctors, mashgichim, Rebbes, parents, and sometimes by their next door neighbors. I am speaking about Yeshiva Bochurim and Seminary girls--. From ages 15 through 25, they are very overweight and out of control. Life has already become difficult at a young age. Mostly, it’s just very uncomfortable to be lugging around a lot of weight. But already some of them have fatty livers, high cholesterol and blood sugar readings that indicate the beginnings of diabetes. Some of them really can’t stand it anymore, others realize that shidduchim are going to be difficult in their current state. What has me in a state of utter shock is that no matter what background they come from—none of them seem to have any idea about the dangers of overweight and obesity and they have no understanding at all of what healthy food and healthy eating is. How can this be?

The Problem How do we celebrate any occasion in school and Yeshiva? FOOD! A Chanukah Mesiba is sufganiot. Purim is Hamintashen and Meshloach Manos. When our Mechina boys or first grade girls get their first siddu, they celebrate with rugalach, cakes and sugared drinks. This holds true all through school and Yeshiva— a class finishes mishnayot or even a perek of gemmorah in the younger grades and there is the junk food, this time including borekas too.

When the girls have their class Bat Mitzvah—more junk food. And every tiyul is an excuse to go buy out the makolet for a day’s worth of supplies. Do we ever see fruits or nuts as snacks and water or flavored seltzer as the beverage?

Perhaps if the children and young adults would have a basic education into what healthy eating is and what unhealthy eating and obesity bring in terms of disease, they would consider better choices.

The concerns for children who are overweight are not just

aesthetic.

There isn’t one major organ of the body which isn’t affected by an excess of weight.

Complications include asthma, sleep apnea, gallstones, liver dysfunction, bone fractures and girls can become infertile. Really, all of the complications of adult obesity, like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol and metabolic syndrome are present in obese children. A study a few years ago in the Netherlands found two-thirds of obese children aged 2-18 had one or more of the following cardiovascular risk factors: • • • • •

High blood pressure High cholesterol, with high LDL and low HDL High Trigycerides High fasting glucose Type 2 diabetes

Confirming this data, a National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey done by the centre for Disease Control showed that half of overweight teenagers and twothirds of obese teens have a least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Type 2 diabetes in children has skyrocketed over the past 18 years. With the current trend, children who were born in the year 2000 have about a 35% chance of developing diabetes in their lifetime.

Health Education It starts early on. Even in first grade, children need to learn how to wash their hands and brush their teeth correctly. Usually a nurse can come in and explain on an elementary level proper technique but can also explain why taking care of our basic hygiene is so important.

As children get a little older, they can be taught about the basics of healthy eating. Fruits and vegetables are healthy, rugalach, knishes and borekas are not. Whole grains are better than refined grains.

Eventually, what are the food groups and are we getting basic nutrition? None of this has to be complicated, just the basics. And finally, what happens, Chas V’shalom when we don’t get good nutrition and activity.

For children and adolescents, it is activity which can make the biggest difference. Start by having your child walk or bike to and from school. Have them get on and off buses a stop or two from the bus stop. Use stairs and not elevators.

Schools must be encouraged to incorporate physical activity into the school day. It doesn’t have to be competitive sports if that is problematic.

Formal programs are needed in the schools to introduce exercise and activity into our children’s lives. This can even be fun, enjoyable and rewarding, even without being competitive.

At home Education starts at home. We all know that and it applies to everything including health education. If kids see parents with good health habits, they will emulate many of those behaviours. However, like all education, it is up to our schools and yeshivas to step up and make sure that every child learns the basics of health.

Maybe it is difficult to avoid having to be tempted by poor quality food in schools and Yeshivas, and even in some of the homes of their friends. But what about the food in our own homes? Setting the proper example is imperative for parents.

Are you serving enough fruits and vegetables? Are you trying to use whole grains most of the time? Is there a limit as to the amount of

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treats and junk food served in the home?

If you are the parent, it is difficult and most likely detrimental to try to impose your will concerning healthy food on your children.

However, there are a few things you can do that will encourage better and more nutritious eating for your kids. First, always have good choices available. Your children might be used to coming home and taking a snack bag of chips or something similar, but if on the kitchen table, there are vegetable sticks and cut up fruit, eventually your children will begin to sample them and might even enjoy them. In the summer months, slices of melon and watermelon can easily take the place of candy and ices. The changeover won’t be instantaneous, but gradually, they will go for the healthier choices.

The other side of the equation is not to hide junk food, but make it less convenient to take. If healthy food is quickly accessible in the refrigerator, on the kitchen counters, or on lower shelves in the food pantry, there is a better chance it will be taken. Keep the junk food in harder to reach places such as higher up shelves or in the back of the fridge.

The cost The economic burden of childhood obesity is also pronounced. It effect the family and the economic burden of society has a whole. According to the CDC in Atlanta, Ga., for the 20 years from 1979-1999, hospital costs related to child and adolescent obesity was about $127 million. By 2009, the estimate was up to $14.1 billion for the same thing.

Although there is certainly too much smoking still happening, over the years the dangers of smoking have become well known and the numbers of people smoking has greatly decreased. It is puzzling to me as to why the dangers of being

obese, eating poorly and being sedentary are not looked upon with the same gravity. The amount of people getting sick from cigarettes and from unhealthy lifestyle of very, very similar. Imagine when some of the boys I see ALSO SMOKE! People who don’t take care of themselves will spend the later part of their lives going from doctor to doctor and standing in line at the pharmacy.

I am making a personal plea to parents, administrators of schools and Yeshivas, Roshei Yeshiva, Rebbes and community leaders— please take action. Health education must be mandatory and parents must make more of an effort to set the best example possible. The only way we can all serve G-d to our fullest is to be healthy. By being the proper example as parents and getting the schools involved (encouraging activity and limiting junk food in the school) we can save the lives of OUR CHILDREN before it is too late. Dealing with overweight and obesity in our children before it is too late will “add hours to your day, days to your year and years to your life.”

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

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

For more information visit www.alanfitness.com

36 TRAVEL

01 FEBRUARY 2018

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

Travel News Roundup

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 is always pleased to hear from tour operators and travel agents who have packages that might interest Jewish Weekly readers.

No flights to Eilat If you were thinking of taking a flight direct to Eilat to coincide with a stay for Passover, forget it. The new airport, called Ramon on Highway 90 and less than 15 miles from the centre of Israel’s southern gateway, will not be open in time.

The airport is substantially structurally complete but reports in the Israeli media suggest that the security aspects, always important to Israel, have not been satisfied. Ramon actually sits on the border with Jordan.

Up until the demise of Monarch last year, visitors to Eilat could fly to Ovda Airport, a military base with a civil operation, non-stop from Luton. It was hoped that perhaps easyJet or Wizz might come into the new airport. Now if you are visiting Eilat from Gatwick, Heathrow or Manchester (or Stansted next summer) the only way down is via a difficult change at Ben Gurion, and onwards with Arkia or Israir, but without the facility of through luggage in either direction. Ovda is served from Continental Europe by a number of airlines including Finnair and Ryanair. Connections can be made from

Ramon airport

Setai, Tel Aviv

London.

Israel Airport Authority was unable to indicate a possible date for the airport’s start-up. When that happens the present operation, in the centre of the city, with only domestic flights, will close. www.ramon-airport.com Fast train to Jerusalem The long-awaited Tel Aviv – Jerusalem express will open on 30 March, the Israeli transport minister Israel Katz has announced.

will open enabling services to increase to three trains per hour in peak times, with six trains per hour planned for the longer term. The trains will reach speeds of up to 100mph.

The building of the trainline has provoked controversy. Environmental activists raised concerns about potential damage to the protected hills and valleys surrounding the capital. However, their argument was dismissed by the Interior Ministry’s Planning Committee. The high-speed rail line also

On track for a passover opening

The estimated $1.8bn project will cut journey times significantly, from the 78-minute ride on the old line built during the days of the Ottoman Empire, to just 28 minutes. It will link Tel Aviv HaHagana to Navon station, Jerusalem. Plans are also under way to extend the line to Herzliya and Karmiel.

A few months later a second track

crosses the Green Line twice, once near Latrun and also near Mevasseret Zion which invited criticism from the Israeli left and pro-Palestinian groups.

A German company advising the project withdrew in the face of pressure from activists.

“I have promised and I keep my word; on the Passover holidays we will take trains to Jerusalem”, said Katz, when the opening date was announced. www.rail.co.il/en Dan Hotels, Bengaluru, India Do not worry if you have never heard of Bengaluru. It used to be called Bangalore and is the capital of India’s southern Karnataka state and the centre of India’s high-tech industry. The city is also known for its parks and nightlife. Former royal residences include

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19th-century Bangalore Palace, said to be modelled after England’s Windsor Castle, and Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace, an 18th-century teak structure.

You can fly direct from Heathrow.

Bengaluru has been chosen as the first overseas property for Dan hotels, a gesture toward Israel’s technology advancement and presence in the city.

Now open, and called The Den, it is beautifully appointed and situated near to the city’s IT parks and business areas. Dan Hotels says this property reflects the innovative and progressive elements that make modern day Bengaluru come alive, and is the smartest choice for luxury business travellers in the area.

With four different categories on offer, providing a total of 226 guestrooms and suites, guests can find the accommodation best suited to their needs. Visitors will be able to choose from various dining options, conference rooms and leisure facilities. Ideal for business and leisure guests, each room features the latest in-room technologies; mini bar; electronic safe; an exclusive espresso machine and 49 inch Smart Screen.

Dan Hotels has confirmed that kosher food is not currently available but efforts will be made to ensure this requirement is fulfilled for guests requesting in advance. www.denhotels.com The Setai Tel Aviv Jewish Weekly has used the official

Dan Hotel

title but perhaps this new property, about to be opened, should be named the Setai, Jaffa. It is just at the point you enter Old Jaffa from Tel Aviv and even from the Dan Panorama and the Intercontinental it is a good mile.

The 120-room luxury hotel comprises five buildings of the former and historical Ottoman prison and police station, imaginatively transformed with contemporary touches and classic refurbishments. The Setai Tel Aviv’s marble and stone corridors connect the buildings and converge within a central courtyard. Original design details and stonework harmoniously compliment modern accents, converging with the restored Turkish Hamam Spa and infinity rooftop pool overlooking the entire Tel Aviv skyline. It is described as a prestigious five-star urban resort.

Also under way is the Setai Sea of Galilee, both hotels associated with the 38-floor Setai luxury property in Miami. The Setai Sea of Galilee will be a five-star deluxe resort with 110 rooms, of which 88 are suites with private pools or heated hot tubs. The Setai is the first new luxury resort to be constructed in the Galilee region in some time, and will feature Israel’s largest spa complex, featuring massage rooms, indoor pool, Turkish Hamam, and fitness centre. www.thesetaihotel.co.il

01 FEBRUARY 2018

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

5 min Prep Time 10 min Cook Time 15 min Duration 4 Servings

joyofkosher.com This salad is so delicious you may be tempted to eat if for dinner! Great served warm or cold.

INSTRUCTIONS • • • • • •

1 large orange 1 cup uncooked Israeli Couscous 1 1/2 cups orange juice 2 tablespoons Olive Oil 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice 1 tablespoon grated orange peel

FOOD 37

• 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger • 3 tablespoons raisins • 1/4 cup chopped walnuts, lightly toasted (see Note) • 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley

PREPARATION 1.

2.

Peel and dice orange, removing pits.

Cook Israeli Couscous according to package directions, substituting orange juice for water as the cooking liquid. When cooked, transfer couscous to a bowl and fluff with a fork, separating any lumps.

3. Drizzle Olive Oil and lemon juice over couscous; continue to fluff the grains.

4. Add ginger, orange peel, orange piece, raisins, walnuts and parsley.

Mix well.

5. Refrigerate several hours before serving. Toss lightly just before serving.

Note: To toast walnuts, spread them in a shallow pan. Heat in preheated 300-degree oven or toaster oven for 10 minutes, stirring often to prevent burning.

FRUIT AND NUT COUSCOUS SALAD

PASSION FRUIT SANGRIA Give this Sangria a little twist by adding stone fruit, that pairs beautifully with the floral passion fruit taste. Add ice cubes right before serving.

If you plan ahead you can make orange juice ice cubes and add them to the sangria instead of plain ice cubes. Allow the sangria to sit for a few hours in the refrigerator before serving.

Serve Cold.

5 min Prep Time 5 min Duration 4-6 Servings

INGREDIENTS • • • • • • • • •

2 cup morad passion fruit wine 1 1/2 cup italian sparkling water 1/4 cup orange juice 2 tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice 1 peach 1 nectarine 1 plum 1 lime 2 cup ice cubes

PREPARATION 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Slice the fruit.

In a large pitcher combine wine, orange juice, lemon juice and sparkling water.

Add sliced fruit.

Chill in the refrigerator for a few hours.

Add ice before serving.

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United Synagogue Programming Manager – Maternity Cover

Shadchan service Text or WhatsApp Mrs Miriam Saunders on 07714 139 791 to arrange an appointment.

Email your resumes to: miriamsaunders26@gmail.com

Stanmore & Canons Park United Synagogue Salary: £25,000 per annum Full-time, 35 hours per week incl. Sundays/Even.

Stanmore and Canons Park United Synagogue is one of the largest Synagogues in the UK. The successful candidate will help to enhance the informal Jewish education of the Youth and encourage participation in events. The role involves working closely with Tribe and staff in the Synagogue, in particular the Community Rabbi.

Responsibilities will include organising youth services on Shabbat and festivals, building relationships planning and running innovative programmes for youth and young families.

Applicants should have proven experience in youth positions and demonstrate the ability to plan events from conception through to execution.

You must be able to work on your own initiative, have good organisational, administrative and communication skills as well as demonstrating a passion for Judaism and the desire to help nurture that enthusiasm in others.

Closing date: – Friday, 9th February 2018 To view the job description and apply for this position, please log on to our website: www.theus.org.uk/vacancies United Synagogue Registered Charity No. 242552

Young father desperately needs urgent medical treatment Dear friends, We appeal to you to open up your hearts to help a worthy couple with a young child who have suffered years of crushing financial difficulties. To make matters worse the husband now faces urgent and costly medical treatment abroad. This particular vital treatment is not currently available in the UK. This hardworking couple now have the extra burden of medical and travel costs on top of their ongoing expenses. Local communal leaders are supporting this effort together with me.

Please donate whatever you can so as to give this family a positive future.

To donate, visit Yours sincerely, Rav Y. Reuven Rubin Advert sponsored by:

www.thechesedfund.com/campaign/3948