IDF strikes after Hamas breach deal
BY DAVID SAFFER
Israel has resumed its ceasefire position after the IDF struck dozens of terror targets in the Gaza Strip including “over 30 terrorists holding command positions”.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the IDF to carry out “forceful strikes” after Hamas breached the US-brokered agreement with an attack on Israeli soldiers in Gaza on Tuesday.
Master Sergeant (Res.) Yona Efraim Feldbaum, 37, from Zayit Raanan, of the Combat Engineering Corps, fell in Rafa, inside the Israeli-controlled territory ‘Yellow Line’.
The father of five was killed when RPGs were fired at an armoured vehicle. No other casualties were reported. Feldbaum is the third IDF soldier to fall since the ceasefire deal began.
US President Donald Trump backed Israel’s retaliatory operation.
“They killed an Israeli soldier, so the Israelis hit back, and they should hit back,” he told reporters on Air Force One. “Hamas is a very small part of peace in the Middle East and if they’re good, they’re going to be
happy, if they are not good they’re going to be terminated… they understand that.”
Vice President JD Vance added that the ceasefire would hold.
Israel also responded because the terror group has continually claimed the remains of 13 hostages are unknown though drone footage emerged dismissing the assertion.
Over a week had passed since the last deceased hostage was handed over. Israel has stated Hamas can locate and hand over 10.
Following diplomatic pressure, the Red Cross is preparing to
Trump, had given Hamas till Tuesday to respond, after warning of “repercussions” from countries backing his ‘historic’ peace deal following Shabbat if they did not “quickly” transfer hostages bodies.
Defence Minister Israel Katz accused Hamas of the attack that killed Feldbaum and breaching terms on hostages’ bodies.
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return for burial the bodies of Amiram Cooper, 86, of Nir Oz, and Sahar Baruch, 25, from Kibbutz Be’eri, both killed in captivity, to Israel.
IDF Reservist Yona Efraim Feldbaum HYD Killed in Gaza Clashes
ROSH HASHANAH 2025
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“Hamas will pay many times over for attacking the soldiers and for violating the agreement to return the fallen hostages,” he warned.
Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir added: “Hamas committed to returning the remaining deceased hostages, but it is violating its commitment. We know well the nature of this organisation, an organisation built on terror, on deception, and on treachery.”
He continued: “We will not remain
silent about this, we will continue to act to return all our hostages for burial; this is our moral and ethical duty. If Hamas does not fulfil its commitments, it will bear responsibility and will pay a heavy price. Many challenges still await us, the war is not yet over.”
It has been reported Israel could expand the ‘yellow line’, a buffer zone between border communities attacked on October 7 and Gaza.
Once all hostages are released Israel are set to apply further territorial withdrawals.
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Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir
Herzog calls on 39th WZC to fight antisemitism
BY ADAM MOSES
President Isaac Herzog called on over 1,400 delegates from 43 countries to fight rising antisemitism at the 39th World Zionist Congress at the International Conference Center in Jerusalem on Tuesday.
Addressing over 1,400 participants Herzog warned Hamas to fulfil its obligation to return murdered hostages and lay down their weapons in accordance with the US-led ceasefire deal.
“Antisemitic and anti-Zionist hatred has returned, striking us once again with horrifying and violent force, in every corner of the globe and in every arena,” he said. “We saw it unleashed in the horrific
terror of October 7. We see it on campuses that were supposed to be beacons of enlightenment. We see it on the streets of Manchester, Washington, Toronto, Melbourne, Paris and many more.
“We all feel the immense challenges, we all witness the depth of antisemitism. We all see and hear the haters of Israel, the State of Israel and the people of Israel, shouting ‘from the river to the sea’, calling to erase our state, to erase Zionism.
“We all hear young people, ignorant and misled, brainwashed and full of hate, who have even coined a new slur for us ‘Zios’. Yes, those who once called us ‘Yids’ or ‘kikes’ now call us ‘Zios.’
“Let me tell you, as President of the Jewish, democratic State of Israel, from our eternal capital, Jerusalem, these ‘Zios’ are the finest of human beings, who returned to their ancestral homeland, their biblical, historic, promised land, after millenniums of persecution, after the devastation of the Holocaust, and built a Jewish, democratic, life-affirming and peace-seeking state. A nation of doing good. A nation of healers of the world in almost every field.”
Referring to the 10/7 terror attack, Herzog
continued: “These ‘Zios’ were brutalised, assaulted, taken hostage and burned in their homes by their neighbours, with whom they tried to live peacefully. These ‘Zios’ while deep underground, in the dungeons of Hell in Gaza fought to maintain their Israeli and Jewish identities, their humanity. These ‘Zios’ dropped everything, grabbed their uniforms, and risked their own lives to save their sisters and brothers. These ‘Zios’ came to Israel by the thousands and thousands from all corners of the globe, made Aliyah, built a life and a future. These ‘Zios’, in communities all over the world, saw their sisters and brothers under attack in Israel, and showed up, no questions asked. These ‘Zios’ have the heart and soul, the invincible strength and the eternal spirit of which you could only dream. These ‘Zios’ are us. The men and women in this hall, across Israel, and throughout the Jewish world.
“We are proud of our Zionism and we will never forsake it. We will fight for it and defend it. We will remember and we will proudly declare: the people of Israel live. Am Yisrael Chai.”
Regarding the latest Hamas breaches and violations of the ceasefire agreement, Herzog updated delegates.
“We have seen again, last night, this morning, and even at this very hour, who Hamas is, a cynical, bitter
and cruel enemy that will not hesitate to use any trick or manipulation,” he said.
“It is upon us, upon the family of nations as a whole, and certainly upon the states that signed the important accords initiated by President Trump, to use every lever and every pressure available to ensure that all the fallen hostages are brought to eternal rest without any further delay.”
Over three days delegates attended plenary sessions including on Progressivism and Antisemitism, Zionism on Social Media and Women and Zionism.
Congress committee sessions took place including on Sovereignty and Borders; Language and Cultural Identity; Pluralism, Social Justice and Jewish Unity; Social and National Policy, Resilience and Healing, Combating Antisemitism, Education and Memory, Leadership and Empowerment.
- 10th, 11th & 12th
President Herzog addressing the World Zionist Congress
Rav Doron Perez of the Mizrachi carrying the flame of the WZO
Barnet Conservatives Condemn Council’s Decision to Remove Hostage Ribbons Before Ceasefire
Barnet Conservatives have expressed deep concern over the Council’s decision to remove hostage awareness ribbons and posters from public property before the ceasefire in Israel was announced and before all hostages had been released.
The motion, tabled by Councillor Josh Mastin-Lee, noted that the ribbons and posters, displayed across Barnet since the October 7 atrocities, had served as symbols of solidarity, remembrance, and resilience for two years. Their removal, he said, sent the wrong message to Barnet’s Jewish residents at a time of rising antisemitism.
where Jews are not merely tolerated but wanted.”
Cllr. Mastin-Lee told the Council:
“Every Sunday for two years, residents in my ward have gathered at a vigil to sing in hope for the hostages. That song has finally become a sign of relief, but this remains a nerve-wracking time for Britain’s Jewish community.
What does it say about London when my residents fear to walk its streets in their religious dress, when they fear abuse for wearing a ribbon badge? In Barnet, those ribbons were more than symbols they were reassurance that our borough is one corner of London
The motion called on Barnet Council and Transport for London to explain why they chose the second anniversary of October 7th, before any ceasefire negotiations or releases, as the moment to remove the ribbons.
Cllr. Mastin-Lee continued:
“Do not tell us it was for health and safety, or that two years seemed long enough. The only people pleased by this decision were those who spent two years tearing those ribbons down.”
The motion further highlighted recent incidents of antisemitism, including the Yom Kippur murders in Manchester, attacks in Hendon, and threats to synagogues across London. It urged the Government to take decisive action to protect Jewish communities and clamp down on public displays of hate.
Barnet Conservatives welcomed the eventual safe return of the remaining living hostages but condemned the Council’s timing as “wholly inappropriate and insensitive.”
Cllr. Peter Zinkin, Leader of the Conservative Group, said:
“Barnet should stand shoulder to shoulder with its Jewish residents. The removal of those ribbons before a ceasefire or the hostages’ release was not an act of neutrality, it was a failure of solidarity.”
The Conservative Group has called on the Council and TfL to provide a full explanation of their decision and reaffirm Barnet’s commitment to fighting antisemitism in all its forms.
Cllr Mastin-Lee
CAA welcome Aladwan arrest
BY ADAM MOSES
Jewish organisations have welcomed news that Dr Rahmeh Aladwan has been arrested.
It is understood Aladwan was arrested for three counts of malicious communications and one of inciting racial hatred.
Aladwan’s abhorrent reputation came to light earlier this year as earlier rhetoric was revealed.
Campaign Against Antisemitism has submitted numerous complaints to the General Medical Council regarding Aladwan for being a “prolific poster of the most deranged material and claims about Jewish people”.
“She is self-evidently unfit to serve as a regulated professional,” a spokesman noted.
Inexplicably, the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service allowed Aladwan to practice as a trainee pending further investigation. CAA had threatened legal action.
“The Met Police, hardly the most proactive institution in the fight against antisemitism, believes that her conduct is so incendiary as to have potentially crossed the criminal threshold,” CAA observed. “What an absolute embarrassment to our medical regulator, and what a disgrace that it cannot see what ordinary people and even the Met Police can. Clearly, the GMC and the MPTS are unfit
for purpose.”
CAA is continuing to monitor developments to ensure relevant authorities uphold their duty.
Jonathan Metliss, Action Against Discrimination, said: “Quite rightly, Jewish community groups have consistently accused the police and the Crown Prosecution Service of allowing antisemitic hate speech to go unpunished. This arrest and the proposed NHS crackdown on the wearing of pro-Palestinian badges are, at long last, steps in the right direction The failure to act previously on Aladwan has been an embarrassment to the GMC and MPTS.
“These displays of antisemitism and antisemitic rhetoric and outbursts must stop once and for all, whether it be Aladwan, antisemitic chants and slogans at pro-Palestinian marches or the banning of Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from the forthcoming Europa Cup match with Aston Villa.
“It is incumbent on the police and appropriate authorities including the CPS and all levels of government, as well as the Mayor of London, to clamp down, address and eradicate this unacceptable behaviour. Following her arrest, let us see what formal charges are brought and how any prosecution develops. We wait with baited breath and with no expectations.”
Steve Winston, National Jewish Assembly, said Aladwan should have been
struck off long ago years ago for her “vile, antisemitic and anti-Israel rhetoric”.
“Her words go far beyond political opinion, they are the language of hate, incitement, and dehumanisation,” he said. “Aladwan has proudly kept her posts up, showing no hint of regret or remorse. Such open bigotry from a medical professional is a disgrace to her oath and a danger to all patients, especially Jewish and Israeli patients. She must never again be allowed anywhere near a position of trust or care.”
The day after CAA notified the GMC about a judicial review the case went to the MPTS.
It was condemned by Health Secretary
Wes Streeting who stated he had no confidence in the regulator.
CAA reported Aladwan has expressed support for the 10/7 atrocity carried out by Hamas, called for the eradication of “Jewish supremacy”, described the Royal Free Hospital in London as “a Jewish supremacy cesspit” and asserted over 90% of Jews are genocidal.
A spokesman said: “This orthopaedic doctor’s social media account is filled with horrifying posts... These posts would be appalling from anyone, let alone a doctor. Healthcare professionals have a duty of care to ensure that all patients are looked after and treated equally, regardless of their background.”
In June, an Iranian missile strike devastated Soroka Medical Centre in Be’er Sheva — the only major hospital for over one million people in Israel’s South. Entire wards were destroyed, operating theatres damaged, and hundreds of beds lost. Today, Soroka is operating at just 75% capacity. Patients are treated in corridors and temporary spaces without proper facilities.
JNF UK is working with Soroka to rebuild its wards, replace vital equipment, and return life-saving capacity to the people of the Negev.
ROSH HASHANAH
theSacks c nversati n
MARKING RABBI SACKS’ 5TH YAHRZEIT AND THE LAUNCH OF THE CONRAD MORRIS EDITION KOREN SACKS . HUMASH WITH TRANSLATION AND COMMENTARY BY RABBI LORD JONATHAN SACKS
Rachel Goldberg-Polin and Jon Polin in conversation with Daniel Taub
Monday 24 November 2025 at 8:00 pm North-West London Venue (Address provided upon registration) Book tickets: www.rabbisacks.org/sacksconversation
The Koren Sacks . Humash is dedicated in memory of Conrad Morris, a devoted husband, father and grandfather, a loyal friend and a fearless businessman. Conrad was a lay leader of Anglo Jewry, whose deep love for Am Yisrael inspired him to work tirelessly on behalf of his people, both in Israel and in England. Humashim and other books by Rabbi Sacks will be available to purchase on the night.
Trump warns Hamas over hostages
BY DAVID SAFFER
US President Donald Trump has warned Hamas of “repercussions” from countries behind the Gaza peace deal if they do not “quickly” transfer bodies of deceased hostages to Israel.
Writing after Shabbat on Truth Social, Trump, who gave a deadline ending Tuesday, said Hamas’s failure could jeopardise his ‘historic’ Middle East peace deal.
Two Americans, Itay Chen and Omer Neutra, are among 13 hostages to be released.
Hamas has released the remains of 15 hostages but claims not to know the location of the captives, however Israeli drone footage this week dismisses the latest propaganda messages.
According to footage from Gaza City, Hamas terrorists take a white bag from a building, place it in a pit, put sand over the bag before a tractor shortly afterwards arrives to reclaim the bag.
The remains collected by the Red Cross was reportedly Israeli hostage Ofir Tzarfati, killed during the 10/7 terror attack. Other remains of his body were returned to Israel in 2023 and 2024.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened security officials to discuss Hamas’ violation of the agreement and possible responses. Reported options are reduced humanitarian aid, seizing areas in the Strip under IDF control beyond the current line or resuming air strikes.
“We have a very strong PEACE in the Middle East, and I believe it has a good chance of being EVERLASTING,” Trump wrote. “Hamas is going to have to start returning the bodies of the deceased hostages, including two Americans, quickly, or the other Countries involved in this GREAT PEACE will take action.”
“Some of the bodies are hard to reach, but others they can return now and, for some reason, they are not,” Trump added.
Trump has vowed to treat “both sides fairly” only if Hamas fulfils its commitments.
“Perhaps it has to do with their
disarming, but when I said, ‘Both sides would be treated fairly,’ that only applies if they comply with their obligations,” he noted. “I am watching this very closely.”
According to media reports an Egyptian team, backed by Israel, has entered Gaza with heavy diggers to locate and retrieve hostage bodies.
US Secretary of State Rubio said last week that remains were “going to be released”… if it doesn’t, then the deal got broken. But it’s going to happen.”
Defence Minister Israel Katz added: “The most urgent moral mission is, of course, the return of all the hostages and the fallen to their homes, and we will do everything to fulfil this sacred and critical mission.”
Katz said 60 per cent of Hamas’s underground tunnels network remains.
“I have instructed the IDF to prioritise the destruction of the tunnels as the central task in the yellow zone currently under our control,” he observed.
Katz added that it would be coordinated with the US to “address the dismantling and destruction of all terror tunnels in the remaining territory under their responsibility, alongside disarming Hamas.”
According to Trump’ plan, Hamas should have returned all hostages, living and dead, within 72 hours, now a clear violation.
It is eight days since the remains of hostages, Arie Zalmanowicz and Tamir Adar, were returned to Israel. According to Israeli intelligence, Hamas knows the location of at least eight bodies.
Egyptian President Sisi committed at the Sharm el-Sheikh peace summit that Israeli bodies would be returned. An Israeli security team visited Cairo last weekend.
Bicom observed: ‘The general assessment in Israel is that Hamas is lying and deliberately refusing to return the bodies it has in its possession. This is partly in order to prolong the current ceasefire and hold off the next stage that includes the demand for them to disarm. In addition, they are keenly aware of Israeli society’s sensibilities on this matter.’
Herzog delivers eulogy at Sharabi funeral
BY DAVID SAFFER
President Isaac Herzog asked for forgiveness at the funeral of Yossi Sharabi as efforts continue to bring back the remains of hostages to Israel.
Hundreds of mourners gathered at Kibbutz Be’eri for a dignified service 752 days after his abduction, Herzog, who has given eulogies at a number of services, addressed the Sharabi family and Kibbutz Be’eri.
“Forgive us, Yossi, for not saving you and for not bringing you home sooner,” he said in an emotional address. “Forgive us for failing to protect you on that cursed day. Forgive us for not standing by your side, against the monsters in human form. Forgive us that it took so long to bring you back to the landscape of your homeland.
Addressing hostage families, he noted: “They reminded us that even in the deepest fracture, when there is no air and
no certainty, we can still hold on to one another, we must hold on to one another. In days when it seems that our society is returning to places of baseless hatred, when we argue endlessly, and when the pain becomes so great that it is hard to see the person beside us, the Sharabi family teaches us a great lesson, what it means to truly be together, one people. Yossi’s goodness, his courage and nobility, his warmth and sweetness will remain with us always and through their power and spirit, we will continue to repair, to rebuild, to spread light and to cling with all our strength to life.”
Herzog added: “From here we cry out for the return of all those taken, all the fallen hostages, to be laid to rest in dignity. We pray and hope for the days when peace, calm, and hope will return here, to Be’eri and to all the region around it.”
Sharabi, who is survived by his wife Nira and three daughters, Yuval, Ofir, and Oren, was abducted from his home on 10/7 with his brother Eli and Ofir Engel, Yuval’s partner. His nieces Noya and Yahal, Eli’s daughters, and sister-in-law Lian, were murdered. Eli, who recited Kaddish, was released in a hostage exchange after 491 days. Engel returned after 54 days in captivity.
The Sharabi family was informed Yossi was murdered by Hamas terrorists in captivity on the 97th day after abduction, January 10, 2024. The IDF notified the family that he was killed when a Gaza building he was held collapsed following an Israeli airstrike.
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Nira said. “You were our shield, taking on everything I couldn’t. Now I must take it on, and you’re missing so much,” she said.
Nira vowed to keep his memory alive through their daughters. Yuval and Ofir Sharabi were among other speakers.
In a statement, Kibbutz Be’eri said Sharabi was an “inseparable part of the community”.
“He was a man who loved simplicity, who could fix anything around the house, and above all, who was always there for his family,” a statement noted.
Kibbutz Be’eri lost 101 civilians including elderly residents and children.
including 18
five
Thirty-one security personnel were killed
soldiers,
members of the kibbutz emergency squad and eight
police officers.
Thirty-two people were taken hostage to Gaza, including 30 residents and two
civilians who fled the Nova music festival. Over 120 homes in the kibbutz were damaged or destroyed.
FJL Inspires the Next Generation of Jewish Leaders on UK Campuses
Over the past few weeks, the Forum for Jewish Leadership (FJL), part of the Jewish Futures family of organisations, has been on tour, bringing its unique vision of Jewish life, professional growth, and leadership development directly to university campuses across the UK. So far, the FJL team - together with local Jewish Societies - has hosted information and recruitment events in Cambridge, Bristol, and London universities, including UCL, LSE, and King’s College London. Still to come are sessions at Warwick, Edinburgh, Oxford, and Imperial College London, ensuring that Jewish students at key universities across the country have a chance to hear what makes the FJL Summer Programmes so special. Each event introduces students to the FJL Summer Programme, a unique experience combining high-level internships with Jewish learning, networking, and personal growth. FJL seeks intelligent, driven, and curious Jewish students - those eager to explore their professional ambitions alongside meaningful Jewish engagement. Participants not only gain valuable work experience in New York or Tel Aviv across a four to five week period, but also join a community
of peers and mentors who share a deep sense of Jewish identity, leadership, and responsibility.
At every campus so far, events have featured a presentation, short promotional video outlining the structure of the summer programmes and interactive sample itinerary followed by what has proven to be the most powerful part of all: the alumni testimonies. FJL alumni - students who themselves once attended these very information sessions - have been sharing first-hand how the programme transformed not just their summer, but their outlook on Jewish life and leadership.
Alumni, the best FJL advocates, have described how they arrived expecting professional development but left with so much more - a strengthened sense of community, an eye-opening view into an integrated model of Jewish life; professional success combined with commitment to Jewish values, and of course, lifelong friendships. Many now serve as informal ambassadors, generously offering to speak with any interested students and answer questions about their experience.
A key partner helping make these
opportunities possible is UJIA, which provides vital funding for the Tel Aviv Summer Programme. This partnership allows FJL to offer students a meaningful and more affordable way to experience professional life in Israel while engaging in rich Jewish learning and connection. The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to investing in the next generation of British Jewish leaders and strengthening their relationship with Israel.
The collaboration with JSocs on each campus has been instrumental in bringing these events to life. JSoc committees have worked closely with the FJL team to reach students and host engaging sessions.
In addition to the summer internships, FJL has also been introducing students to its upcoming Poland Trip, another core part of the organisation’s mission to deepen Jewish awareness and leadership through learning, history, and reflection. The Poland journey complements the summer programmes by helping students grapple with questions of identity, memory, and moral responsibility - values that underpin FJL’s educational ethos.
As the first application window
approaches its close, there’s growing excitement among students who are eager to be part of the next FJL cohort. The first deadline for applications is November 6th, and students are encouraged to apply early to secure their chance to spend an unforgettable summer in New York or Tel Aviv, exploring both their career goals and their Jewish identity in a uniquely enriching environment.
For many, the FJL Summer Programme marks the start of a journey that continues long after the summer ends - into careers, leadership roles, and lifelong engagement with Jewish life.
To learn more about the FJL Summer Programmes for UK students in New York and Tel Aviv or to apply before the first deadline: visit jewish-leadership. com
Forum for Jewish Leadership offers summer internship programmes living in New York or Tel Aviv, combining top-tier professional development, exclusive networking, inspiring Shabbat dinners & leadership sessions with dynamic speakers & educators
Rabbi Daniel Rowe Inspires at Jewish Futures Breakfast
It was a brief visit — but one that left a lasting impression. During a short trip to the UK, Rabbi Daniel Rowe, Senior Lecturer at Aish Global, Israel and former Executive Director and Senior Educator of Aish UK, made time to deliver a powerful and thought-provoking keynote at an exclusive Jewish Futures breakfast, before spending the morning in deep conversation with the Aish UK educators who are shaping the future of Anglo-Jewry.
Speaking with his characteristic blend of intellect, warmth and spiritual depth, Rabbi Rowe explored one of the most profound questions of our time: What does it mean to live — and believe — in the digital age?
He began by observing that technological change has transformed our world more radically than the Industrial Revolution ever did. The gap between life today and what it will be in thirty years’ time, he suggested, may be greater than the difference between the Stone Age and the present day. Yet, rather than seeing these rapid developments as random or purely human
achievements, he invited the audience to consider the Divine hand in the extraordinary advances that define modern life.
“We are a people oriented towards the future,” he said. “Our golden era is not in the past — it lies ahead.”
From there, Rabbi Rowe explored how each great technological shift throughout history has also changed social, moral and even spiritual possibilities. In this era of artificial intelligence, genetic engineering and limitless digital connection, the boundaries of human potential — and responsibility — are being rewritten. And for the Jewish people, that calls for deep reflection and renewed purpose.
Drawing on the timeless wisdom of the Torah, Rabbi Rowe offered a striking interpretation of Gan Eden — the Garden of Eden — as the Garden of Time. In his words, Eden is the place “where all of reality, from a higher dimension, was experienced as oneness.” The Torah, he noted, never uses the Hebrew word zman for “time”, but rather moed — a word related to Eden and the temporal world, symbolising a more sacred, creative dimension of time.
“Gardens are where we create,” he explained. “The Garden of Eden represents not a lost paradise, but the potential for humanity to rebuild, to see truth through G-d’s lens rather than through the distorted, self-centred lens of our own realities.”
That rebuilding, he suggested, is the essence of humanity’s mission — to
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repair the world and restore the vision of clarity and unity that Adam and Eve once experienced.
Rabbi Rowe’s reflections carried both hope and urgency. He reminded the audience that the times we are living in now are not random — they are part of a vast preparation for something profound, a moment in history for which the Jewish people have been preparing over millennia. Yet, he did not shy away from the pain and challenge of the current moment.
In a poignant conclusion, he turned to the resurgence of antisemitism — and the age old question of why Jews are hated. Once again, Jews find themselves held to a different standard, their collective story twisted by narratives that cast the collective Jewish people as villains. But, he argued, this phenomenon speaks less to hatred alone and more to the world’s obsession with the Jewish people — an obsession that manifests both as hostility and as admiration.
“The world doesn’t hate us,” he said. “The world is obsessed with us — and obsession breeds both hate and love.”
Reflecting on the morning, Rabbi Naftali Schiff, CEO of Jewish Futures, said:
“It was a tremendous honour to host Rabbi Rowe — one of the most brilliant and inspiring Jewish thinkers of our time — and to share his insights with our Jewish Futures
supporters and the Aish UK team. His words reminded us of the power of Torah to help us navigate the modern world with faith, integrity and vision.”
The audience — a mix of community leaders, educators and supporters — left deeply moved. As one attendee put it afterwards, “Everyone needs to hear this. It was like being given a spiritual lens to make sense of the madness around us — and to see our place in it.”
Later that morning, Rabbi Rowe met privately with Aish UK’s team of educators, sharing insights on how to engage a generation growing up in a time of unprecedented change. His message was clear: this is not a moment for fear, but for faith, creativity and courage.
Because in Rabbi Rowe’s words — and true to Aish’s spirit — the future of the Jewish people is still to be written. And it will be bold.
Rabbi Rowe speaking to Aish educators
Michael Abraham Appointed New Chair of Aish UK
In a move reflecting both continuity and fresh momentum, Aish UK has announced the appointment of Michael Abraham as its new Chair, taking over leadership from outgoing Chair Asher Steene. Mr. Abraham, who will be concluding a long and distinguished career at UBS at the end of November, brings deep community credentials and a vision for growth at a time when Aish is expanding its reach across the UK Jewish landscape.
From Finance to Jewish Leadership
Michael Abraham’s professional life has been rooted in finance: over many years
he has held Managing Director and other senior roles at UBS, building a reputation for strategic thinking, fiduciary discipline and leadership under pressure. He now brings his experience to bear in the communal sphere - a move welcomed by Aish UK’s leadership and membership alike.
In addition to his new national role, Mr. Abraham has served for five years as Chairman of St. John’s Wood Synagogue, where he is well known for his stewardship and passion for communal engagement.
In a statement reacting to his appointment, he remarked,
“It is a profound honour to serve Aish at such a pivotal moment. My years in finance taught me the importance of clarity, accountability and vision — values I hope to bring into our communal work. Aish already carries tremendous strengths; my aim is to help amplify them, and to ensure we’re ready for the opportunities ahead.”
A Time of Transition
Asher Steene, Aish UK’s outgoing Chair, has presided over a period of growth, innovation and deepening
engagement with young Jews across the country, with nearly 24,000 participations in 2024/2025, 950 trip attendees and 5, 126 shabbat meals hosted.
Rabbi Naftali Schiff, CEO of Jewish Futures and Aish UK, added: “Leadership transitions are moments of both reflection and renewal. Michael’s appointment signals not just continuity but an opportunity to raise our gaze. We are immensely grateful to Asher for his years of service and we welcome Michael with open hearts and high expectations.”
Mr. Abraham will join other Trustees Daniel Green, Simon Fine, Ben Robbins, Josh Nyman, Josh Wine and Tim Cowland.
What Lies Ahead
Mr. Abraham steps into his leadership role at the crest of momentum. Aish UK today operates multiple streams of educational and engagement work: in schools, across 23 university campuses and with young professionals, offering immersive learning journeys and meaningful connection to Jewish life.
In his new role, Abraham will chair Aish’s board, guide governance, and help
steward the organisation’s strategic direction. He will work closely with the Senior Leadership Team to ensure alignment, accountability and momentum.
A Symbol of Generational Bridge
Mr. Abraham’s appointment is symbolically rich: a leader with decades of professional experience, yet deeply committed to Jewish values and communal life. His dual priority — stewarding excellence while cultivating accessibility — positions him to bridge older and younger voices, tradition and innovation.
As he assumes the mantle, the community watches with anticipation. In a field where direction, tone and culture matter deeply, the new Chair’s impact will be judged not only by expansion in numbers, but by the depth of connection, the quality of experience, and the daily lived resonance of Judaism in the lives of participants.
For Aish UK, 2025 marks a moment of renewal. With Michael Abraham at the helm, the organisation looks forward to a chapter of strengthened foundations, bold ideas and sustained inspiration for a new era of Jewish learning and life.
Join AJEX in the 80th anniversary year of the end of World War II. The Parade is an opportunity to show our pride as Jews contributing to British society, past & present. We will honour the thousands of Jewish men & women who fought for our freedom. Never been before - this is the year to join us. All ages are welcome. Book to march by 4th November at www.ajex.org.uk
To support the Parade as a spectator from the East Whitehall Pavement no booking required.
Please allow enough time to arrive at the event as there will be a high level of security provided by CST and the Met Police. Do not bring large bags.
Michael Abraham, New Chair of AISH UK
The Changing Face of Kiruv
BY RABBI GIDEON GOLDWATER
Once upon a time, “kiruv” (Jewish outreach) was a movement. A mission. A calling. In the 1970s and 80s, trailblazing rabbis and visionaries ignited a revolution that brought Jewish learning, pride, and identity back to the centre of Jewish life. From Jerusalem to New York to London, names like Rabbi Noach Weinberg zt”l and Aish HaTorah, and many others helped shape an era where Jews rediscovered what it meant to live as Jews, not just by birth, but by choice. It was the age of “Discovery Seminars,” of packed halls in Jerusalem’s Old City, of students who came for a week and stayed for life. “Kiruv” became a household word, and “being Aished” an adjective; a label, sometimes said with admiration, and sometimes with fear and anxiety. When I entered this world a decade ago, I was aware of the history and shared concern about some of these preconceptions. But the world I found didn’t even use the word “kiruv” much. In fact, many of my colleagues flinched at it. They would explain, gently but firmly, that we don’t “bring people close,” we walk
alongside them. That resonated with me. While some veterans warned me that many possess a “fear of being Aished,” I found that most young Jews I met laughed at the phrase. Some told me they’d “been warned” about Aish by their parents, who remember the stories that made it famous. They were told that we had some kind of hidden agenda, a mould we wanted everyone to fit into, a plan for how every Jew should think, act, or dress.
The funny thing was, I was Aish. I worked for Aish. I taught for Aish. I guided students for Aish. And yet, in all my years, no one had ever told me to make someone become anything. No one had ever suggested that a student’s Jewish journey should look like someone else’s. All I saw then, and all I still see, is a group of educators and idealists trying to help young Jews make the healthiest, most meaningful Jewish decisions for them.
Now, ten years in and as Managing Director of Aish UK, I can confirm the rumours: We do have an agenda! But it’s not secret, and it’s certainly not monolithic.
Our “agenda” is to help every Jew find their place in the Jewish story. That story looks different for everyone. For some, it
Comments on the Election of Catherine Connolly
BY CHIEF RABBI YONI WIEDER
I send my congratulations to Catherine Connolly on her election as President. My hope is that President Connolly will use the office to unite rather than divide, and to promote dialogue, respect and understanding across Irish society.
There are certainly concerns within our community about the positions Connolly has taken regarding Hamas. She has described them as “part of the fabric of the Palestinian people,” yet seems entirely
untroubled by that reality. She appears not to object to their remaining in power, even as they openly beat and execute their own people. Such views do not reflect the outlook of someone committed to a secure and peaceful future.
I would hope that President Connolly will take the opportunity in due course to engage directly with Ireland’s Jewish community, to hear our concerns and to better understand how the conflict continues to affect our small community here.
It’s also telling how central Israel-Palestine has been to this election, despite polls showing that people are far more concerned with issues such as housing, immigration, and the cost of living.
begins with exploring Shabbat or learning Torah; for others, it’s a Friday night dinner, a trip to Poland or Israel, or a conversation that changes their perspective. Our mission is to meet every Jew exactly where they are, and to give them the tools, experiences, and inspiration to take their next step, whatever that may be.
There are two truths, that have become more pronounced in recent years, which guide our thinking, and give direction to our programming.
First, in a time of rising antisemitism, the only real response is not fear or retreat but understanding. The Jewish people have survived because we’ve known who we are and why we matter. If the world questions our right to exist, our answer must be to rediscover our mission: to bring morality, meaning, and the awareness of G-d’s presence into the world.
Second, all our incredible communal infrastructure; our schools, shuls, charities, care homes, and security services depend on something even more fundamental: not only a future generation that cares enough to sustain them (that’s something we are struggling with already!) but a future community for them to service in the first place. Without a passionate, knowledgeable, inspired
Jewish population, the rest will fade. Aish exists to make sure that never happens. We are not simply educators; we are builders of Jewish destiny. At Aish UK, we rarely use words like “kiruv,” “agenda,” or even “job.” What we do isn’t a job, it’s a life passion. Our team of rabbis, educators, and professionals are driven not by career but by conviction. We work seven days a week, not because we have to, but because the Jewish future depends on it.
We don’t “Aish” people. We empower them. We don’t bring people close, we bring them home.
So yes, perhaps being “Aished” still means something. But today, it means being inspired, being proud, being connected and being part of the Jewish story. The world doesn’t just need Jews. It needs Jews who know why they’re Jewish.
Rabbi Goldwater holds a BSc in Psychology and an MA in Jewish Education and spent two years living in Birmingham as the Aish Rabbi on Campus. He went on to direct Aish’s national Campus programme before taking on his current roles as Managing Director of both Aish UK and Jewish Futures. He has overseen the expansion of the teams and programming that are currently impacting over 20,000 young Jews across the UK.
Communities unite in the park
A group of volunteers from across the faith spectrum were joined by Bob Blackman MP as they filled 40 wheelbarrows of weeds and 10 bags of rubbish, tidying the walled rose garden in Canons Park.
The special project was part of the month leading up to Mitzvah Day – the UK’s largest faith-led day of social action – which this year celebrates its 20th anniversary, and was a chance for six different communities to put this year’s theme of ‘building bridges’ into action.
Those taking part included members of Stanmore & Canons Park Synagogue.
Joined by Bob Blackman MP, Cllr Zak Wagman and Mitzvah Day Founder and Chair Laura Marks CBE, the group of 40 volunteers weeded, swept, raked leaves, tidied overgrown flower beds and planted more than 100 daffodils to get everything ready for the winter months ahead.
Bob Blackman MP, who is a long-term
supporter of Mitzvah Day, both in his constituency and on the national stage, said: “This year marks 20 years of Mitzvah Day – that’s 20 years of building bridges between communities, generations and families.
“At a time when the world feels fragile and antisemitism is on the rise, the values of Mitzvah Day are more vital than ever. As the Member of Parliament for Harrow East, I am proud to have joined in year after year and thank all those involved in organising and running these important events.”
The gardening event was organised by Corinne Linskell, the Mitzvah Day Coordinator for Stanmore & Canons Park Synagogue.
• To register to take part in this year’s Mitzvah Day, please visit www. mitzvahday.org.uk
Gemara in Chullin Daf 7b
LSJS Unveils new Year- long Courses
LSJS (the London School of Jewish Studies) has unveiled its new year-long courses, further to its exciting rebrand, rebuilt website and switching to a semester Lifelong Learning [Adult Education] model; all of which have enabled the college to make Jewish learning more accessible, engaging and inspiring than ever.
Step into the world of Tanach like never before. The People of the Book: The LSJS Biblical Personalities Course allows students to Learn the entire Bible through the lens of key characters who shaped Jewish history. Each book of Tanach is explored through one central character, offering fresh insights and a powerful new perspective on biblical study. The course is led by Rabbi Dr Raphael Zarum and Debbie Meyer featuring teachers including Dr Yosefa Fogel Wruble.
Students can try before they buy, with a free taster session Flawed or Flawless? How should we view major biblical characters? which looks at the various approaches to criticising our great leaders in order to make them more real and relatable.
Launched to mark the fifth yahrzeit of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks zt”l the new Sacks & the Scholars course invites participants to study Rabbi Sacks’ thought in conversation with other great minds, philosophers and thinkers. Participants can examine the fascinating interplay between his thinking and other key scholars of the last century, as they tackle some of
the most challenging issues facing us and the world.
The course has a free opening taster; Torah & What? which examines Judaism at the crossroads of tradition and modernity and the different approaches to our engagement with the wider world today.
LSJS’ long-running Modern Jewish Literature course explores contemporary Jewish culture through a range of international Jewish fiction, non-fiction and poetry, giving book lovers a great opportunity to discuss how Judaism is portrayed in literature across the globe.
The world-class Ulpan allows students to build their Ivrit language skills, from beginners to advanced speakers, with interactive and engaging classes, which prepares them for day-to-day life in Israel. Students can learn in-person or online at their convenience, while enjoying special events as part of this friendly community of aspiring Ivrit speakers.
“We’re so excited to be expanding our offering of year-long courses and taking our students on a more immersive learning journey,” said Joanne Greenaway, Chief Executive of LSJS.
“This year’s courses are a fantastic addition to our longstanding, popular Modern Jewish Literature and Ulpan courses and our world famous Tanach b’Shana and Torah l’Am.”
For more information please email lsjsadmin@lsjs.ac.uk or call 020 8203 6427.
MOVERS AND SHAKERS!
BY RABBI JONATHAN TAWIL
A great man once said, “If you are going through hell – keep going!”
We were created to be movers; we are blessed with wonderful feet that never seem to be still. We are movers we are shakers, and we push ahead.
In G-ds first official appearance to Avraham He relates to him that he must go – Lech LechaGo to yourself.
The Sages query the need to say go to yourself. How can a person go to themselves?
The Baal Haturim states the hidden gems behind these words. He notes that the numerical value of these words is 100. Avraham was old and without children. He was desperate to continue his legacy. In the words Lech Lecha (=100) Hashem was hinting to Avraham that if he listened to His command, leaving his birthplace, then he would be blessed with a child that would be born to him at the age of 100. Furthermore, he was hinting to him that he would live for a further 100 years!
Sometimes we find ourselves stuck, we are used to our routine, but Hashem grants us times in the year to help us re-energise and move on. The higher we move, the more blessing we open ourselves up to.
£100 to a poor person, there are two aspects to his act.
First, there is the effect he had on the world: he helped a pauper obtain food with which to sustain his life. Second, there is the effect he had on himself: he built his personality and made himself into a Ba’al Chesed. Now he is a man of kindness.
R Shimshon asks which aspect is more important: That which he contributed to the world at large, or that which he contributed to his own personality?
He explains using our verse, ‘Go for yourself’. Hashem is telling us that what a person does for himself to build his own personality is the more important aspect.
The Rabbis say, ‘Who is a Chasid? He who does Chesed with his Maker’. In other words, they are asking how to do true Chesed. The answer is: by doing Chesed with Hashem. This is Chesed at its best.
It was just a few years ago on this weeks Parasha that we learnt of the sad passing of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef Zts’l.
Rabbi Ovadia Yosef was a spiritual giant and leader of the Jewish people. He earned the respect of hundreds of thousands, and his Levaya was attended by close to a million people in Jerusalem –probably the highest amount of people to ever attend a Levaya in Jerusalem’s history.
Rabbi Chatzkel Levenstein Zts’l once said that there is a lesson to be learned from the first three Parshiot of the Torah. Not only is the world, and subsequently, the Jewish people built in these Parshiot, but the worlds survival was also fabricated by only three people: Adam, Noach, and Avraham. We are around because of these individuals. We see from here, the power that each individual has within themselves to create whole worlds, and to leave an everlasting mark on this one.
Interestingly Rabbi Shimshon Pincus Zts’l gives a deeper aspect to Hashem’s command.
He explains that if a person does an act of Chesed (kindness), e.g. by giving
There is one thing that Hashem does not have, so to speak, and only man can give it to Him. It is when man perfects his own personality. When a person corrects and perfects his own self, making himself into a better person, this is something that Hashem cannot do on His own, so to speak.
If Hashem would try to make someone into a good person, the result would not be a good person. Perhaps it would be a good robot, or a good angel, but not a good person. Making a good person is the only thing that Hashem doesn’t have, and only we can give it to Him.
When we give money to a hungry pauper, we believe that Hashem has decreed for this pauper to receive money. We are just the emissary. If we do not give him money, someone else will. Therefore, whatever we give the pauper is something he would have received anyway. This is not Chesed at its best.
True Chesed is only the Chesed we do for Hashem by making ourselves into better human beings.
With the command, ‘Go for yourself’, Avraham was commanded to give Hashem something that Hashem cannot create on His own, so to speak. And THIS is the most precious thing to Him. This is the greatest kind of Chesed.
Avraham eventually excelled in himself to become our forefather and one of the most potent people in the history of the world.
Rabbi Ovadia Yosef Zts’l from a young age delved into the depths of Torah serving G-d and His people
throughout all his life. He was a man that went for himself and thus spilled over his greatness and knowledge to us and generations to come.
We all have the ability to go to ourselves – it only takes a few steps
forwards.
Don’t watch the clock, do what it does keep going!
Go! Move, Achieve and let Hashem and humanity benefit from your life.
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ASK THE RABBI
HE’S SO JEALOUS
Dear Rabbi
My husband is constantly jealous. He questions where I go, who I speak to, and even seems suspicious when I spend time with my own family. I’ve never done anything to make him doubt me, yet he’s always worried I’m being unfaithful or hiding something. It’s exhausting, painful, and making me lose respect for him. I love him, but this jealousy is destroying our marriage. How can I make him trust me, or is that even possible?
Anonymous (for obvious reasons)
Dear Anonymous
Unfortunately, this is not an uncommon problem. Jealousy is love’s evil twin. It wears the same clothes, speaks in the same tone, but poisons the very thing it pretends to protect.
Your husband’s jealousy isn’t about you. It’s about him and his fear of inadequacy and maybe even fear of being replaced. In other words, it’s not love that drives him, but insecurity. And the cruel irony is that the more he tries to control you with that jealousy, the more love he loses.
The ancient Sages tells us that jealousy
is one of the things that “drives a person from this world.” What that really means is that jealousy eats from within. It corrodes the joy one should experience in a relationship, and it makes a person imagine enemies where none exist.
Chassidic masters explain that when a husband’s jealousy is baseless, there’s something fundamentally wrong with his deeper essence.
So, what do you do?
First, understand this: you cannot fix his jealousy by being more transparent. You could hand him your phone, your passwords, your schedule - it won’t help. Because his jealousy won’t be cured by any amount of proof; it’s cured by him seeking help. He needs to work on the insecurity that drives it, quite possibly with counselling.
What you must do is hold your dignity. Set loving but firm boundaries. Let him know that you understand his fears, but that constant suspicion is not love - it’s emotional abuse. If he wants a marriage built on faith, he must first have faith in you. Jealousy says, “I love you, therefore I fear losing you.” Faith says, “I love you, therefore I trust you.” One destroys. The other redeems.
Perhaps a good lesson can be derived
from the Torah. G-d Himself sets the example as it were: When the Jewish people betrayed Him again and again, He didn’t micromanage them or stalk them. Nor did He shame them. He believed in us, even when we didn’t deserve it. That’s what real love looks like, where belief is stronger than fear.
So, don’t get angry with him. Talk him through it to see if you can get to the core of his insecurities. Failing that, encourage him to get help, but not in a condescending way. Whatever you do, do not surrender your peace of mind to his paranoia. You can’t rescue
•
•
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someone from quicksand by jumping in with them. Good luck!
WHAT3WORDS/// OWN YOUR JOURNEY
BY RABBI NAFTALI SCHIFF
The first words of the Almighty to the first Jew are simple yet seismic: “Lech Lecha”- Go to yourself- an intensely personal directive. It is not merely a geographical command, but an existential one. Lech Lecha is the Divine call to every human being: go inward, discover who you are and who you are meant to become, and then have the courage to walk your unique path in life.
Rashi famously comments that Lech Lecha means “ךתאנהלו ךתבוטלfor your benefit and for your good.” The journey of self-discovery, self-realisation, the unique journey that is yours is neither dictate, punishment nor an exile; it is rather the very purpose of being alive.
From the very beginning, Judaism insists that no two souls are identical. The Gemara in Sanhedrin (38a) teaches:
”- just as no two faces are the same, so too no two minds or dispositions are alike. The Master Designer created humanity with infinite variation and nuance. To deny or suppress that individuality to cookie-cut our children, our educational process or our communities is to flatten and deny the Divine design.
Hence וכרד
רענל
choices reveal why and how each of us lives. Each of us is born into a distinct set of circumstances- a mixture of talents, temperament, and tests. The Torah gives us the circuitry, but it is we who must decide what programme to run through it.
That is why Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi asks in Pirkei Avot (2:1): “הרשי ךרד יהוזיא םדאה ול רוביש?” — “What is the straight path that a person should choose for himself?” Sheyavor lo ha’adam — the path that he himself chooses. The question assumes agency. Life path is not something that happens to us; it is something we choose, with eyes open and conscience awake.
The Midrash tells us that Avraham was
are yours.
The very first Psalm describes the truly blessed person as one who “ותרותבו הלילו םמוי הגהי” — who meditates upon his Torah day and night. The commentators note that the verse begins with “Torah of G-d” but concludes with “his Torah.” Only once a person has internalised Torah, made it their own, wrestled with it, personally lived it, does it truly become his Torah. That is what it means to “own” your journey: to take inherited wisdom and translate it into personal conviction and action.
To chart our unique path forward, we must consider three coordinates:
1. Our individual makeup- our
G-d must push him into the ark, close the door behind him, and order him to emerge. Avraham, by contrast, is told: “
“Walk before Me and be wholesome.”
Noach obeys; Avraham initiates. Noach follows; Avraham forges. Noach survives; Avraham transforms.
Judaism was born the moment a human being took ownership of his journey, when Avraham decided not merely to believe in the Almighty, but to become His partner in shaping history.
Our generation demands we be Bnei Avraham , men and women who walk forward with faith, creativity and courage; who don’t wait to be told but ask, “What does my Creator ask of me, here and now? What is the unique contribution I have to make to the world in which I live, in this place, at this time?
“Educate the child according to his way.” (Proverbs 22:6). Good education is not mass production; it is craftsmanship. It recognises that every soul has its own wiring, rhythm and mission. Our task as educators, parents and leaders is to help each person discern their personal Lech Lecha, the voice that whispers: “Go forward! Become you! Walk your walk! Talk your talk! Live the life that only you can live.”
Mitzvot and tradition are the hard-wiring of life. They form the sacred circuitry through which our spiritual and moral energy flows. They are not meant to imprison creativity but to provide structure and coherence in order to allow the individual to forge their unique path in life. They are the scaffolding, not the sculpture; the frame, not the painting. A sobering thought- You can keep all 613 mitzvot and yet fail to fulfil your life’s unique purpose. The mitzvot build the structure of our lives but only self-knowledge and application of individual
tested ten times and we are left wondering: how are his ten tests relevant to us? The answer: because everyone is tested. The life of each one of us is a custom-made curriculum. The challenges we face are not random misfortunes; they are bespoke prescriptions for the growth of the individual. They are the divinely designed opportunities that offer the growth choices that build the unique me.
Kohelet teaches, “הפי השע לכה תא יכ ותעב” “Everything has its beauty in its time.” Each of us is placed precisely where we need to be with our unique cocktail of strengths, flaws, context and generation to bring our distinctive individual light into the world- “רשא םיקולא ךננח” the specific grace, the chein, the particular blend of gifts that the Creator has given you.
So when the Torah asks, “ךיקולא ׳ה המ ךמעמ לאוש” — “What does G-d ask of you?” (Deuteronomy 10:12) — the word me’imach is deliberate. It means: “What does G-d ask of you?” Not of anyone else. The invitation is personal. Your life’s questions and challenges, your life’s responses and answers are not mine, they
talents, inclinations, disposition and the particular moral or emotional struggles that define our inner landscape. We are called- “בוט השעו ערמ רוס - to turn from evil and to do good. Each of us must fathom our private “sur me’ra,” the character flaws or habits we must master and our “aseh tov,” the positive powers through which we can bless the world.
2. Our situation - the family, community, and geography into which we have been placed. No individual is randomly located. The people and places that surround us are part of the Divine choreography of our mission.
3. Our moment in time- the generation and zeitgeist we inhabit. Each age poses its own tests and summons each of us to live lives worthy of the challenges of our era.
When we align these three- our essence, our circumstances, and our age, we begin to glimpse the shape of our personal destiny.
The Torah contrasts two archetypes. Noach, righteous though he was, is described passively: “םיקולאה
-Noach walked with G-d.”
Our world desperately needs Jews who will own their journey: who understand that mitzvot and values are not walls nor conveyor belts but pathways and avenues, that Torah is not a museum but a living conversation, and that the call of Lech Lecha echoes still - not only to Avraham, but to each of us.
To be Jewish is not to be a clone. It is to bring your individuality to the service of eternity.
So as you step into this week, pause and ask yourself:
• What are the gifts and challenges with which I have been blessed?
• What moment in time have I been placed into?
• What does my Father ask of me? Answer those questions, and you will hear the quiet voice that has guided our people since the dawn of our story: Lech Lecha - Go to yourself. Own your journey.
Shabbat Shalom
///What3Words is a geocoding system that has divided the world into a grid of 57 trillion 3-by-3 squares, each of which is identified by a unique three-word address. In this column, Rabbi Naftali Schiff reflects upon three words each week, relating to core issues of the day. Feedback welcome! nschiff@jfutures. org
Rabbi Naftali Schiff is the Founder and Chief Executive of Jewish Futures
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Family LechFun Lecha -
Avram was the first person to realize that G‑d is a Supreme Being and that G‑d is not dust, an idol, the sea or the sun. He spreads this message all the time in the city of Charan where he lives. One day G‑d tells him to leave his city and his father’s home and to go to the land which G‑d will show him. So Avram and his wife Sarai together with his nephew Lot leave Charan and travel to the Land of Canaan where G‑d reveals Himself to him and tells him that He will give this land to Avram’s children. Avram builds an altar there. Avram and Sarai love having guests. Their tent is open from all four sides so that people could come in from any direction in which they are traveling. Avram and Sarai feed
and take care of all their guests and teach them about G‑d.
A short while later a famine comes onto the Land of Canaan so Avram and Sarai have to travel to Egypt to get food. There they say that they are brother and sister, because Sarai is so beautiful that Avram fears the palace guards will kill him to give Sarai to Pharaoh as a wife. Sarai is indeed taken prisoner to the palace, but overnight G‑d sends a plague to Pharaoh, who gets the message and frees Sarai. He also gives many gifts of animals, gold and silver to the couple and sends them on their way. Back in Canaan, Lot goes to live in the city of Sodom. He is captured during a local war and Avram runs to his rescue with a small army and
S G D C D O T P O E I C
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O B R O S L L G L Q B W
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| SARAH STARS
miraculously defeats a big army of four kings. G‑d makes a covenant – a pact or deal with Avram and tells him that his children will suffer in exile – galut – but will then be freed and brought to the Holy Land which will be theirs forever.
Sounds good? Sounds great! But…Avram and Sarai were married for a long time and do not have children, and they are getting older…so Sarai encourages Avram to marry her maid Hagar, who was a converted Egyptian princess (at the time men were allowed to marry more than one wife), to give Avram the chance to have a child. Hagar becomes pregnant and has a child Yishmael. But Hagar is disrespectful to Sarai and runs away, then returns
to Avram’s home after an angel convinces her to go back. Finally, G‑d promises Avram that his children will be as numerous as the stars in the sky and the dust of the earth. G‑d makes a covenant with Abraham and commands him to circumcise himself—do a brit milah—as a sign of the covenant. From that day on, all Jewish boys have a brit milah at 8 days old. G‑d changes Avram’s name to Abraham and Sarai’s to Sarah and tells Abraham that they will have a child who they should name “Isaac” and that from Isaac will come the nation to which G‑d promised the Holy Land. At this time, Abraham is 99 years old and Sarah is 89.
Jewish Riddle
Last week’s answer: Which three people mentioned in the Torah said “Baruch Hashem?”
The answer is:
Noach, Eliezar the servant of Avraham, and Yitro (Bereshit 9:26, 24:27, Shmot 18:10). Lavan said B’ruch Hashem (with a Shvah), meaning Blessed of Hashem (Bereshit 24:31). Avimelech and Phichol also said B’ruch Hashem in Bereshit 26:29.
Well done to Rabbi G from Hendon
This
week’s Question:
One day every year, a Halacha of Shabbat is different than the rest of the year. What day is it?
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