The Jewish Weekly Issue 385 - Sep 11 2025

SHATTERED BUILDINGS: UNBREAKABLE SPIRIT

Ballistic Missile Caused Catastrophic

Damage to Southern Israel’s Only

Major Hospital

As Rosh Hashanah approaches — a time of renewal, reflection, and hope — we are reminded that for many in Israel, this new year begins under the shadow of hardship.

The brutal attacks from Iran in June brought fresh devastation to communities already struggling to recover.

Among the worst affected is Be’er Sheva, home to The Soroka Medical Centre — the only major hospital in Israel’s Negev region, serving over one million people.

In the early hours of 19 June 2025, an Iranian ballistic missile struck Soroka’s six-story Northern Surgical Building containing multiple wards, laboratories, and clinical services. The top floor was destroyed, while other buildings also sustained extensive damage.

The blast forced the suspension of many medical services and, three months on, the hospital is still only operating at 75% capacity.

In total, almost half of Soroka’s 1,192 hospital beds were lost — a devastating blow to its ability to care for the people of the Negev.

Soroka is more than a hospital - it is a cornerstone of life and resilience for the whole region.

“This is a profound crisis for over a million residents of the Negev who rely on Soroka’s facilities.”

The Damage:

• One major hospital building destroyed and other critical facilities left unusable.

• Eight operating theatres knocked out, disrupting vital surgeries and treatments.

• Critical infrastructure damaged — shattered windows, broken lifts, heating, air con and water supply. All impacting patient care.

• Life-saving equipment ruined — from imaging systems and laboratory instruments to surgical tools.

“The missile that struck Soroka hit the heart of Israel’s southern healthcare system. The damage is significant, but our spirit is unbreakable. We will rise, rebuild, and continue to be a life-saving anchor in the South.”

Professor Shlomi Codish, Director General, Soroka

ROSH HASHANAH

URGENT RESTORATION NEEDED BEFORE WINTER

The Internal Medicine Building (IM) - the largest and most critical facility at the Soroka Medical Centre - was among the hardest hit. Home to 270 beds and eight clinical wards, it treats patients with severe respiratory illnesses, complex infections, cardiac emergencies, and neurological crisesthose who need treatment without delay.

The loss of nearly 100 beds in the department has led to severe overcrowding. Patients are treated in hallways, examinations are conducted under suboptimal conditions, and staff are stretched beyond capacity, doing everything possible to maintain care quality.

Without urgent restoration, Soroka will not withstand the winter surge of flu, Covid-19, and other seasonal illnesses. Other anticipated sources of funding will not arrive soon enough or be sufficient to rebuild to the standard the hospital desperately needs for reconstruction, replacement of vital equipment and refurbishment of the Internal Medicine wards.

This Rosh Hashanah, JNF UK is working with Soroka so the hospital can deliver critical care right now. Your generosity can restore and improve its facilities — bringing back dignity, safety and life-saving care to over one million people in the Negev.

ON THE GROUND AT SOROKA

I see my patients lying in crowded corridors and in the windowless basement of the emergency unit, under harsh conditions. Our teams are doing everything they can to preserve the patients’ dignity, ensure their safety and promote recovery. Seeing patients in such conditions is deeply frustrating for the caring staff and the experience stays with us long after our shifts end’.

Vadim Head Nurse, Internal Medicine

This Rosh Hashanah, your donation is not just a gift — it is an urgent lifeline.

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ROSH HASHANAH 2025

Bibi’s stark warning after Doha strike

BY DAVID SAFFER

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a stark warning to countries harbouring terrorists following Israel’s precision strike in Doha, Qatar, targeting senior Hamas officials on Tuesday.

Whilst it is unclear if Israel achieved its major goal to wipe out Hamas leaders in a single audacious strike, Netanyahu is unrepentant.

The bold operation had been planned for some time and was actioned following a terror attack in Jerusalem, which killed six Jews, and deaths of four IDF tank soldiers from the 401st Armored Brigade’s 52nd Battalion in the Kafr Jabalia area this week.

Dismissing international criticism, Netanyahu said: “I say to Qatar and all nations who harbour terrorists, you either expel them or you bring them to justice. If you don’t, we will.”

Whilst there are huge diplomatic challenges, President Isaac Herzog took a similar position when he held a “tough” and “frank” meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Downing Street yesterday.

“It was a meeting between allies, but it was a tough meeting,” he told an international affairs think tank event hosted by Chatham House.

Defending the IDF strikes targeting Hamas’ negotiating team in Qatar, Herzog said Israel is determined to end the war but it was a necessary operation.

“If you want to move on, you have to remove some of the people if they are not willing to get that deal,” he noted.

In his meeting with Starmer, which was criticised by many MPs, Herzog expressed Israel’s objection to the Government’s position on a Palestinian state as a “reward for

terror”. It would also harm efforts to release 48 hostages held in Gaza for over 700 days.

Herzog also warned Starmer against Hamas’s propaganda campaign of starvation in Gaza.

Iran, sanctions against Israel and rising antisemitism in the UK were discussed.

When news of the operation, which sent shock waves across the Middle East, emerged Netanyahu said the days are over when terror leaders enjoy immunity. “Israel bears full responsibility”, he noted.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel would continue pursuing the terror group’s highest officials.

“Israel’s security doctrine is clear, its long hand will act against its enemies everywhere,” he said.

“There’s nowhere they can hide. Everyone who was involved in the October 7 massacre will be brought to justice in full. Everyone who carries out terror against Israel will be harmed.”

“When

Prime Minister Starmer with President Herzog

This year, make Israel the centre of your world

Wishing you and your family, and all of Am Yisrael a year of peace, health, and blessing

Six killed in Jerusalem terror attack

BY DAVID SAFFER

Israeli security forces are continuing their investigation into the Jerusalem terror attack at a bus stop at Ramot junction that killed six people on Monday morning.

The victims were Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Pash, Yaakov Pinto, Rabbi Yisrael Metzner, Rabbi Yosef David, Rabbi Mordechai Steintzeg and Sarah Mendelson.

Shaare Zedek and Hadassah hospitals treated the injured, two women remain in critical condition.

The IDF have mapped, and will destroy, the homes of terrorists Muthana Amro and Mohammed Taha in Palestinian villages Qatanna and Al-Qubeiba near

Ramallah.

Amro and Taha were neutralised by an IDF soldier and an armed civilian. A lockdown of their villages remains.

According to reports, both breached the West Bank border fence and entered Israel illegally.

There was no warning, neither held a security record. Police launched a manhunt to rule out further terrorists.

Witnesses told reporters Amro and Taha boarded a 62 bus at the Ramot Junction and began to fire at passengers, cars and a 320 bus stuck in traffic before being eliminated.

The bus station has returned to normal operations, a memorial remains at the site.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and National Security Minister Itamar visited the scene of the atrocity.

Netanyahu told reporters that Israel is “waging a tough multi-front war against terrorism.”

Ben Gvir praised the soldier and civilian who acted to save lives. “Weapons save lives, this must be remembered,” he said. “I call on the citizens of Israel, go and arm yourselves.”

President Isaac Herzog visited Shaare Zedek Hospital where he spoke to medical staff treating patients.

“Innocent civilians were brutally murdered and wounded in cold blood on a bus in Jerusalem by vile and evil terrorists,” he said. “In the face of this barbarity, we saw extraordinary acts of heroism which prevented even further loss of innocent lives. This shocking attack reminds us once again that we are fighting absolute evil. The world must understand what we are up against, and that terror will never defeat us.”

After meeting victims and their families, he said: “People were going about their daily lives, on their way to work, to teach. They were murdered in cold blood, others were critically and seriously wounded by vile terrorists. What we are seeing is absolute evil. In the face of absolute evil, we must continue to fight with all our strength.”

Herzog added: “I saw families praying and hoping. The people of Israel must be

strong and understand that we are going through a difficult period. We will emerge from it, just as we have emerged from other difficult times. This is a very painful day, but we know how to move forward. Our victory is in continuing our lives, our routines, despite everything and against all odds.”

Yigal, a taxi driver stuck behind once of the buses, has been praised for risking his life to rescue an elderly passenger.

“I heard gunfire and realised something was happening,” he told reporters. “The shooting was from all directions. I’m no hero. I did what needed to be done.”

Herzog called Yigal after seeing footage of his bravery.

“You’re a true example of civilian heroism,” he said. “You bring immense pride to Israel.”

Yigal played down his heroism, responding: “Any taxi driver in that situation should act this way. There was an elderly passenger, I had to get her out of there.”

There was global outrage from Israeli allies.

US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, stated: “We stand with Israel against this savagery.”

The last shooting attack in Jerusalem came in November 2023 at Givat Shaul junction when terrorists killed Rabbi Elimelech Wasserman, Chana Ifergan and Livia Dickman.

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President Herzog at Shaare Tzedek hospital visiting the doctors and patients

PHOTO: GPO

Government absence from CAA rally “scandalous”

BY DAVID SAFFER

No Government representative attended Britain’s March Against Antisemitism rally in central London last Sunday.

Campaign Against Antisemitism described the decision by Labour’s hierarchy to shun the rally as “scandalous”.

CAA invited the Government, Opposition and Reform UK to send representatives before the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Andrea Rayner and reshuffle.

Labour offered a backbench peer that did not match CAA’s requirement so was not accommodated.

At past CAA rallies the Conservative Government sent Ministers, Labour in

Opposition sent Shadow Secretaries of State.

“The Government’s scandalous decision not to send someone to address the Jewish community at a time of the worst antisemitism in the UK in living memory will do nothing to reassure British Jews that this Government has their back or even understands the scale of the crisis,” said a CAA spokesman.

“There were a number of MPs, including from Labour and other parties, marching with us, for which we are grateful.”

Community leaders, Jewish and non-Jewish activists and actors joined 70,000 people on the rally from the BBC

to Parliament Square where Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, Deputy Leader of Reform UK Richard Tice and Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis gave stirring speeches.

Tice told the rally that “way higher” than 20% of Parliamentarians are antisemitic.

A Reform government would proscribe the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and Muslim Brotherhood.

“The hardest thing to do is to see and hear that antisemitism comes from all parts of the House of Commons,” he said. Regarding antisemitism and continual pro-Palestine marches, Tice observed: “This nation will be safe and it will be

free. I don’t want a single Jewish person to feel like they have to leave.

“The sad truth is, we shouldn’t need to be here at all. There is no doubt in my mind whatsoever that if those marches had been banned as they had in other countries we would not have seen the increase of antisemitism in this country. We need to stand United. United as proud Britons.”

He added: “It’s so humbling to see the flag of Israel alongside the Union flag, it’s a great sight.” Continued

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A minute’s silence and blowing of a shofar was held in memory of the murdered 1,200 of 7 October 2023 and to those still held captive in Gaza for more than 700 days.

“It is a clarion call to wake up, and no message is more important right now for Britain,” CAA said.

“You are not alone, I stand with you,” said Philp. “We stand with you. We will end this evil.”

Chief Rabbi Sir Efraim Mirvis told the crowd: “These are awful times. We have seen an explosion of hatred right across the UK. Antisemitism is rife right across the UK.”

“The Jewish people will thrive, but the only question now is not whether we will thrive, but will British Jews thrive here,”

said CAA’s Gideon Falter.

CAA commissioned YouGov before the rally to survey British adults’ attitudes towards Jews which shows antisemitism rising to record levels.

Over 20% of British adults hold antisemitic views according to the disturbing survey. This figure rises to 40% among 18-24-yearolds. And worryingly 45% believe Israel treat the Palestinians like the Nazis treated Jews, a record figure. This includes 60% of young people and 48% of Londoners.

Other statistics showed 49% of 18-24-year-olds are uncomfortable spending time with people who openly support Israel and 58% believe Israel and its supporters are a bad influence on UK democracy. Also, 26% think Israel gets away with anything because supporters control the media. Among young people, this figure rises to 42%.

Alarmingly, 54% of the British public do not know what Zionism means and 19% of those surveyed justified the Hamas attack on Israel.

CAA noted: “Our country is clearly at a tipping point. These are the highest

antisemitism figures that we have ever recorded, having doubled in less than five years. The findings in relation to young people are nothing short of terrifying. Our young people are being radicalised into adopting hateful ideologies before our eyes. Britain will lose its soul to extremists unless the silent majority wakes up. The public recognises that racism against Jewish people has skyrocketed, but the authorities have abysmally failed to rise to the occasion. Politicians, police and prosecutors, regulators, media organisations, cultural institutions, universities, trade unions, they are all complicit in the creation of a climate of hatred in Britain. Jews may feel it most sharply now, but for all of us, this is not the country that we used to know. Soon it will be too late for our country to change course.”

NJA & ADD blast Swinney over Israel

BY ADAM MOSES

Jewish pro-Israel organisations have condemned First Minister John Swinney over his call on the UK Government to withdraw from its Israel trade agreement. Swinney backs a ban on the import of goods from Israeli settlements, arrest warrants against Israeli security cabinet members and a halt in military cooperation with the IDF.

Swinney has sanctioned the Scottish Government providing £1m humanitarian aid funding, including £400,000 to the Gaza HOPES Field Readiness Hub in Scotland and £600,000 for the UNOCHA led Humanitarian Fund for Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Scotland Against Antisemitism has warned Swinney in an open letter that his Government’s announcement on Israel risks inflaming antisemitism and endangering Scotland’s Jewish community.

There are over 3000 signatories including lawyers, politicians, educators, clergy, students and citizens across Scotland to the letter. The numbers are rising.

Scotland’s near 5000-strong Jewish community numbers, equating to 0.093% of the population, have been victims of 17% of religiously motivated hate crimes last year.

The letter calls on the government to retract inflammatory language, particularly around “genocide”, engage with the

Jewish community and commit to concrete measures to protect Jewish safety.

Leah Benoz, SAA founder and director, said: “The Scottish Government has no power over foreign policy, and the proposed funding cuts are tiny and will have no effect on events in the Middle East. Not one Palestinian life will be saved by these measures, but Jewish life in Scotland will be put further at risk. Our question to Mr Swinney is simple; is our safety really a price worth paying for this kind of gesture politics?”

Steve Winston, National Jewish Assembly, lambasted Swinney’s “reckless call” for sanctions against Israel. “Only last week, former Foreign Secretary David Lammy confirmed that the UK Government has found no evidence of genocide in Gaza, yet Mr Swinney continues to parrot this false accusation, fuelling antisemitic hostility,” he observed. “With more than one in five Britons already holding entrenched antisemitic views, his rhetoric further endangers Scotland’s Jewish community. At a time of rising extremism, the UK should be strengthening ties with Israel, not rewarding those who seek its destruction.”

Winston added: “We are deeply concerned that the Scottish Government’s £1 million pledge, including significant funding through bodies operating in Gaza, could inadvertently sustain Hamas or other terror-linked organisations.

“These concerns are not hypothetical. Recent precedent has shown time and again that Hamas diverts aid, resources and funds away from civilians and into its terror infrastructure. Aid must be tightly monitored to ensure it reaches those in need, not those who exploit suffering to fuel further violence. True humanitarianism requires alleviating civilian hardship while denying resources to those committed to Israel’s destruction.”

Jonathan Metliss, Action Against Discrimination, said: “This anti-Israel policy is consistent with the anti-Israel antics of the Scottish Government, towns, cities and local authorities over many years. Its long standing support for Palestinians is well known, as is its support for the BDS movement calling for boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel. Palestinian flags are routinely flown on Government and local authority buildings such as St Andrews House, Edinburgh and Glasgow City Chambers.”

He added: “What Scotland and its Government

conveniently ignore is this vehement anti-Israel stance is reducing its already dwindling Jewish community. Israel is hardly likely to feel threatened by this activity but it is a worrying trend.”

The open letter concluded: ‘We believe, with sorrow and outrage, that this decision was made to appease a small, extremist, and increasingly aggressive fringe of the activist class, a group whose support is being courted for political reasons. It appears the government has calculated that the cost of alienating Scotland’s Jews will be outweighed by electoral rewards… in the very week that yet more members of our community are leaving Scotland for Israel out of fear, we ask you plainly, is our safety really a price worth paying?’

Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney

Summer at Stanmore

Stanmore & Canons Park Synagogue ran it’s first summer camp last week‘Summer at Stanmore’. Over 50 children attending the two day camp.

On Thursday they hit the ground running with 2 hours at Ninja Warrior – followed by a picnic lunch, coach ride back, ’50/50’ competitive tochnit run by their amazing madrichim, a professional graffiti t-shirt workshop with Ben Farleigh, outdoor games, pizza and chips for supper and more.

Friday began with some rain, but the children had a great attitude. Whilst the older group tackled outdoor adventure golf and the younger group experienced

a treasure hunt all around the shul, the sun came out to shine. They ate a lunch of filled bagels together at shul before setting out again, with the older group experiencing the infamous ‘supermarket sweep’ challenge run at Sainsburys by GIFT and the younger group splitting off to play mini golf.

It was an amazing chance for children both within the Stanmore community and from nearby communities to meet each other and to experience a taster of the events and opportunities our shul provides.

Look out for more events and updates coming your way via our website and social media accounts including a pre-Pesach camp (dates to be released soon) and, of course – Summer at Stanmore 2026.

With special thanks to the madrichim: Nicholas, Chloe, Issy and Luca, youth directors Chani and Ari Davila, Rabbi Eli Birnbaum and to Rabbi Zeidman for their hard work.

for September 2026 Limited places across the school available for 2025

Open morning , 10:00am Tuesday 21 & 28 October st th

NJA Meets with Israeli Minister to Address Rising Antisemitism in the UK and Europe

On last monday, National Jewish Assembly’s (NJA) fourth Solidarity Mission to Israel since the October 7 atrocities met with Israel’s Minister for Diaspora Affairs, Amichai Chikli, to discuss the escalating challenges facing Jewish communities in the UK and across Europe. During the meeting, NJA representatives presented a troubling picture of rising antisemitism in Britain. Jewish students continue to face harassment on university campuses, while weekly protests in London increasingly feature hostile rhetoric that leaves Jewish residents feeling unsafe. Delegates also expressed concern about biased media narratives, particularly within the BBC, that frequently echo propaganda and misrepresent the conflict in Israel and Gaza.

Minister Chikli outlined several initiatives being undertaken by the Diaspora Affairs Ministry to support Jewish communities worldwide. These include strengthening Jewish education, expanding identity-building programmes such as Momentum, a US-based initiative that takes Jewish mothers to Israel in the belief that strengthening their connection to Jewish identity will, in turn, influence their families and communities, and boosting digital monitoring capabilities to counter online hate and incitement. Minister Chikli also stated that he felt that Jewish leadership in Europe was

failing and needed to either change or be replaced by those who understand and stand up to the challenges.

A key point of discussion was the role of online surveillance in preventing real-world harm. Minister Chikli cited the 2024 Amsterdam attacks as a case in point: early detection of threatening online activity allowed for timely intervention and enhanced security, significantly reducing the potential impact on Israeli nationals and Jewish institutions in the city. The case underscores the need for tech-driven, intelligence-led approaches to protecting Jewish communities.

“The threats we face today are increasingly global and sophisticated,” said Laurence Julius, Vice Chair of the NJA. “We need coordinated international strategies that blend education, advocacy, and technology to ensure Jewish communities remain secure and resilient.”

The NJA remains committed to voicing these concerns and building international partnerships to confront antisemitism head-on.

Woodfood Forest Synagogue mark 10th anniversary of merger and the Wollenberg’s arrival

This weekend Woodford Forest Synagogue marked ten years since Wanstead and Woodford Synagogue and Waltham Forest Synagogue merged to create Woodford Forest United Synagogue. It also marks a decade of inspirational rabbinic leadership from Rabbi Mordechai & Blima Wollenberg, Rabbi Wollenberg’s impending 50th birthday and the launch of their new function room!

The weekend began on Friday night with a special Shabbat service led by Rafi Sanford, an up-and-coming singer and chazan, and Head Boy of Hasmonean High School. It was his first time leading

with 150 members of the community and special guest, Jo Grose, Chief Executive of the United Synagogue.

The weekend culminated on Sunday with a major event that welcomed nearly 300 guests, including the Chief Rabbi, local mayors and councillors, leaders from other faiths, and members from across the Jewish and broader local community.

Entertainment included Noah Marcovich, pianist who won his school’s Musician of the Year award and Rafi Sanford. There was a strong focus on children, with special programmes dedicated to them. Additionally, the synagogue’s newly re-

a service. Rafi and his family have a long association with the community, and his grandparents still attend Woodford Forest. This was followed by dinner for 90 guests, bringing together family members and community figures to celebrate Rabbi Wollenberg’s special birthday. On Shabbat morning, enhanced services were followed by a celebratory Kiddush

furbished function suites were unveiled. This marks a milestone in the ongoing development of the site as a community hub.

The Rabbi and Rebbetzen began their leadership just months after the two communities united. They are also the first rabbinic couple in Woodford Forest’s history.

Reflecting on the past ten years, the Wollenbergs shared that their early hopes were to “Lift people’s spirits, encourage optimism about the future, and build a welcoming space open to all. Their vision was to support both individual and communal spiritual growth, and to create a centre that was deeply embedded in the wider community, working in partnership with other shuls, schools, and local organisations. Ten years later, those hopes have not only been realised, but they have also flourished. Many new people have joined. The merger has truly matured into a single, cohesive community, drawing people from further afield and establishing itself as a trusted, welcoming place for Judaism in the area.”

There have been many memorable moments over the years. From celebrating personal family simchas with their nine children with the congregation, to the physical transformation of the building into a brighter, more modern space.

The Rabbi and Rebbetzin’s influence extends beyond the synagogue, through their involvement with schools, Jewish Care, JAMI, JBD, hospital chap-

laincy, and their work with the Rabbinical and Rebbetzen Councils. They are experienced leaders and mentors. Both are involved in the Rabbinical Council of the United Synagogue and the Rebbetzens’ Representatives of the Untied Synagogue, supporting colleagues and contributing to the development of the wider rabbinic profession. The Rabbi has taken on

responsibilities with EcoJudaism and the Inter-Faith Network and has also represented the Chief Rabbi in various capacities.

When asked what they are most proud of, the Rabbi explains it is the community’s warmth. “Everyone who walks through the door of our shul says how friendly and welcoming it is. Our members reach out to those in need – whether it’s saying kaddish or putting on tefillin, everybody is important. Children are at the heart of everything we do. And we don’t wait for people to come to us; we reach out pastorally, ensuring people feel seen and supported wherever they are.”

Some of the initiatives developed over the years have had long-lasting impact. The full-day alternative Yom Kippur educational programme has become a fixture and continues to grow in popularity. Recent Israel-related events have brought the community together in profound ways, offering strength and solidarity in times of need. While many of the community’s achievements may not make headlines, their quiet influence is significant. The Rabbi recalls one individual who shared that a Yom Kippur sermon inspired them to make gradual but meaningful changes to their Jewish life, from lighting Shabbat candles to giving up non-kosher meat, despite not being a regular synagogue attendee. “It reminded me that our words and actions can resonate far beyond what we ever see.”

Looking ahead, there are ambitious plans for growth. The community hopes to expand its offerings across all areas to include religious, social, and cultural. There is also a vision to launch a new cheder, rejuvenate programming for young families, and even build a mikvah.

On a more personal level, the Rabbi dreams of hosting every single member for a Shabbat dinner one day. As they reach this milestone, both the Rabbi and Rebbetzen express deep gratitude. “We are incredibly blessed to have found a community that has allowed us to grow into the stable, long-term rabbinic role we now see for ourselves. We’ve had exceptional lay leaders and a shared vision. We feel appreciated and trusted, treated as strategic partners, and that sense of respect gives us the freedom and energy to give our all. We love our roles. We love this community. And we’re excited for what’s still to come.”

Strategic Solutions, Personal Service: Inside Plan Funding Solutions Limited with Director Meir Plancey

In an era where finance often feels faceless, Plan Funding Solutions Limited stands out with a rare blend of bespoke service and strategic expertise. At its helm, Director Meir Plancey is redefining what it means to broker with precision and purpose.

In today’s fast-paced financial landscape, access to funding can make or break opportunity. But for many individuals and businesses, the path to the right financial solution is anything but clear. Enter Plan Funding Solutions Limited, a boutique finance brokerage with a distinctive approach: tailored strategies, transparent guidance, and a commitment to placing clients’ long-term goals above all.

Founded on the principle that finance should be both personal and professional, the firm specialises in structuring bespoke funding arrangements across a wide range of sectors—from property finance for Buy to Lets, HMOs, large portfolio refinancing to exceptionally fast

bridging loans. But what truly sets the firm apart is the vision and leadership of Director Meir Plancey, a respected figure in the finance industry known for his thoughtful, client-first ethos.

“We’re not a volume business. We’re a value business,” says Plancey. “Every client has a story, and every funding need deserves a solution that is as unique as their circumstances.”

Boutique by Design

Unlike high-volume brokerages that rely on templated solutions, Plan Funding Solutions embraces a boutique model—intentionally selective, deliberately agile, and deeply consultative. The firm’s size is its strength: clients work directly with senior advisers, benefitting from nuanced insights and industry connections that only years of experience can bring.

Whether it’s structuring complex bridging loans or navigating development finance with tight timelines, Plancey and his team are known for their ability to unlock doors that others can’t. Their

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As the financial brokerage continues to expand its footprint, its mission remains unchanged: to be a trusted partner, a strategic thinker, and an unwavering advocate for its clients’ success.

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A New Leash on Life: How PTSD Service Dogs Are Giving Israeli Veterans a Way Forward

For more than 30 years, the Israel Guide Dog Centre has been known for its life changing work pairing expertly trained guide dogs with people living with blindness and visual impairment. But today, its mission goes even further. In response to growing need, the Centre now also trains service dogs to provide comfort and reassurance for IDF veterans and Israeli civilians living with PTSD, as well as emotional support dogs for children and families with additional needs. All dogs are provided free of charge, and the Centre continues to care for them from birth to retirement.

This work has never been more essential. During the war with Iran in June, life across Israel was marked by fear, disruption and deep emotional strain. Amid sirens, shelters, evacuations and reserve call ups, the Centre’s team kept going. Training continued, adapted for safety. Dogs were exercised, enriched and comforted. And in the middle of it all, a dog named Ricksie gave birth to eight healthy puppies. It was a quiet sign of hope in uncertain times.

The Centre’s PTSD programme became a lifeline for many. One of them was Or. Or was not even 20 when a series of traumatic incidents during his military service in the West Bank left him with post-traumatic stress. “PTSD is very complex,” he says. “It’s like bleeding from the inside. You’re reliving the moment, all

the time. I felt constant guilt, anger, panic attacks, nightmares. I knew I needed someone beside me.”

That someone turned out to be Lily, a gentle yellow Labrador trained through the Israel Guide Dog Centre’s specialist PTSD programme. Together, Or and Lily completed intensive training. They practised techniques like the crowd barrier, ‘nudge’ alerts, and grounding exercises to manage flashbacks and nightmares.

“Looking back, I can say it’s getting better,” Or reflects. “Lily is like an anchor. She gave me the chance to live again, not to be stuck in the past. She just makes my life happy.”

For Or, and many others like him, the bond with a PTSD service dog is not just supportive. It is transformative. These dogs give people their lives back — helping them reconnect with the world, regain independence, and rediscover joy. That is the power of partnership, and the heart of the Centre’s mission.

To support this work or learn more, visit: www.israelguidedog.org.uk

How Emotional Support Dogs Are Offering Healing and Hope After 7 October

In the wake of the devastating events of 7 October, the role of Emotional Support Dogs in Israel has become more vital than ever. These remarkable animals,

chosen for their exceptional temperament and gentle nature, are bringing comfort to families traumatised by war and displacement.

Unlike assistance dogs trained for specific tasks, Emotional Support Dogs offer something less tangible but no less essential: companionship, emotional grounding and unconditional love. Their presence alone can ease anxiety, soothe distress, and provide much-needed mental stability.

For more than 30 years, the Israel Guide Dog Centre has been known for its life-changing work pairing expertly trained guide dogs with people living with blindness and visual impairment. But today, its mission goes even further. In response to growing need, the Centre now also trains service dogs to provide comfort and reassurance for IDF veterans and Israeli civilians living with PTSD, as well as Emotional Support Dogs for children and families with additional needs. All dogs are provided free of charge, and the Centre continues to care for them from birth to retirement.

The Centre has long provided Emotional Support Dogs to children with autism. But since the attacks, the programme has rapidly expanded to reach evacuees, survivors and those suffering from acute trauma. In 2024 alone, 38 Emotional Support Dogs were placed with families in need, helping to restore calm and

resilience in the face of unimaginable hardship.

One particularly moving case is that of an IDF commander from Sderot. His family endured the trauma of war and the heartbreak of losing friends and colleagues who were killed or kidnapped. One of their children, who is autistic, was deeply affected - becoming completely withdrawn and silent outside the home. On the recommendation of a psychiatrist, the family received an Emotional Support Dog from the Centre.

The results were extraordinary. The child formed a strong bond with the dog, and for the first time since the attacks, began speaking again. What was once a home filled with silence and sorrow now has a new source of hope and healing, thanks to this devoted companion.

Ami Toren, Head of the Department of Special Needs at the Israel Guide Dog Centre, says the goal is to continue growing the programme: “We are committed to ensuring that more families receive the comfort and support they so urgently need.”

As the psychological impact of 7 October continues to unfold, Emotional Support Dogs are proving to be a vital part of the healing process - for children, for families, and for communities across Israel.

To support this work or learn more, visit: www.israelguidedog.org.uk

WHEN MICAH WAS BORN DEAF, JDA’S SUPPORT WAS INVALUABLE.

Micah’s diagnosis was incredibly difficult for us, but thanks to JDA, we could cope and give our son the best start in life.”

By donating to JDA this Rosh Hashanah, you’ll be helping Micah — and people experiencing hearing loss at all stages of life — live the best life possible.

From supporting children in schools, to people losing their hearing at any age, to older people in care homes, we’re now helping all Jewish community organisations to become more inclusive, ensuring everyone with hearing loss can access the services they need – including urgent medical rescue, cancer therapies and mental health support.

JDA is the Jewish community’s specialist in hearing loss – and, with no government funding, we rely entirely on donations and legacies from generous supporters like you.

Please show you care by making a donation.

Scan the QR code, visit jdeaf.org.uk or call 020 8446 0502. Thank you.

UKRAINE’S LOST GENERATION

The ongoing war in Ukraine has meant a catastrophic learning crisis for children. They are falling far behind and are traumatised. Thousands of children are waiting to be supported; thousands of children need your help.

By donating this Rosh Hashanah, you are giving them psychological support, educational support and the chance of a better future.

This Rosh Hashanah will you give a child a future?

SCAN TO DONATE

Please Donate worldjewishrelief.org/roshhashanah T: 0208 7361250

I am fun and I love swimming but I don’t like crowds or loud noises. I love going to Norwood’s Unity schemes at weekends and in the summer, where I can be me and the team help me do the things I love. It gives mum and dad a break, too!

Your support this Rosh Hashanah will help more families like mine to thrive.

Please donate today at norwood.org.uk/rh25

The Community Unites: Businesses Rally Behind The Boys Clubhouse

In a heartening display of community spirit, local businesses and restaurants in Golders Green and Hendon have come together to support The Boys Clubhouse,

A Community

a charity dedicated to providing a safe haven for vulnerable young Jewish boys. Amidst rising cost-of-living pressures and growing concerns over mental health, the community has rallied behind the charity’s powerful message: “No one should have nowhere.”

The Boys Clubhouse is set to launch its biennial crowdfunding campaign on 14th September to raise crucial funds for its programmes. To kick off the initiative, a unique and impactful awareness campaign will see welcome mats placed outside 25 prominent venues across Golders Green and Hendon. The mats, featuring the campaign’s core message, “No One Should

That Cares: Nearly 300 Women Join Fun Run in Support of Ezra Care

This past Sunday, almost 300 women laced up their trainers for a Fun Run supporting Ezra Care, the Manchester-based charity providing vital practical and emotional help to families facing medical challenges.

The atmosphere in Trafford’s hired track was alive with energy and community spirit as women of all ages ran, jogged, and walked side by side - displaying the power of unity and purpose. Together, participants raised an incredible £150,000, funds that will go directly towards Ezra Care’s services, including hospital Shabbos rooms, medical transport, equipment, hospital visits, and accommodation. With demand rising, this support could not be more timely.

“One of the most moving parts of the day was seeing women

from every age and background come together as one,” said an event organiser. “Each person’s contribution, no matter the size, made them a true partner in this amazing achievement.”

Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and Ezra Care looks forward to building on this success at next year’s event. The charity extends heartfelt thanks to volunteers, sponsors, and participants who made the day possible.

For more information or to get involved, visit www.ezracare.co.uk or email office@ezracare.co.uk

Have Nowhere,” serve as a symbol of the community’s collective efforts to support its teens.

“The mats reflect our belief that every young person deserves a place to feel safe, to belong, to thrive,” says Ari Leaman MBE, Chief Executive of the charity.

“The overwhelming support from local businesses to display these mats has been truly inspiring and shows the deep-seated compassion within our community.”

Increasingly, teenagers find themselves isolated, without support systems strong enough to guide them. Over a third of the boys at the Clubhouse are in active jeopardy, facing homelessness, struggling with self-harm, and suffering extreme mental health crises. The numbers continue to rise.

The Boys Clubhouse steps into this gap. For over two decades, it has provided a lifeline to countless boys who have nowhere else to turn. From recreational activities to one-to-one mentorship, therapeutic support, and vocational training, the Clubhouse offers a holistic model of care. Each boy who walks through its doors finds more than just a building; he finds role models, stability,

and the tools to face life’s challenges with resilience. The funds raised in September will expand these services, allowing the Clubhouse to reach more boys in need and strengthen its position as a beacon of hope for the community.

For Ari and his team, The Boys Clubhouse is more than a brief refuge from the nowhere. “We believe that there is hope for every boy we help. We live and breathe this philosophy and through believing in them, we instil in them a reason to believe in themselves and their future.”

In the past year, the charity has supported over 185 young people. 6 of the boys had attempted to end their own lives, and are with us today, stronger than ever. 20 of the boys were homeless or living in unstable conditions, and today, have a roof over their heads and 3 meals a day. A further 24 have been placed in full time employment, and 32 have successfully moved on.

Facing a daunting biennial spend of over £1,200,000, we ask Ari how he keeps the doors open. “As long as there’s a boy stuck in the nowhere, our community will be here to provide the somewhere. And for that we are grateful.”

The ‘A’ Word - Anxiety

The ‘A’ Word – Anxiety: An ‘INrich’ evening of stories, strength & support On Monday night over 100 women gathered at Jewish Care for a unique evening organised by the charity INrich. Chaired by Gila Pfeffer, author and women’s health advocate, the event featured guest speaker Avigail Klein Bistritzky who shared her inspiring story of embracing inner strength. Her keynote address was followed by a panel discussion with representatives from three key mental health charities in the community - Menucha, The Warehouse and Noa Girls.

Introducing the keynote speaker, Gila shared some of her own story grappling with cancer and living with anxiety. In her address, Avigail focused on her personal story of taking power and identity back. She told the audience of coping when her first husband passed away from cancer – and the support she received from the London community. She followed this with talking about moving to New York and suffering from anxiety and not feeling seen. She shared some of the ways she found to tackle this especially the importance of reaching out and allowing yourself to be supported.

She said: “Feel the wind, feel the sun, the earth below your feet. These things are always consistant and in that consistency we can find our calm.” She finished sharing that she felt ‘hard doesn’t equal bad’ .

The keynote talk was followed by a

Solomon from The Warehouse and Elisheva Fisher from Menucha. The variety of questions included how to recognise and address anxiety.

Speaking after the panel, Dina Tangi the founder of INrich said: “We were honoured to have Avigail with us tonight as well as our wonderful panel speakers. INrich’s mission is to empower every Jewish woman to realise her full potential and embrace her identiy with confidence. Through education and empowerment initiatives we strive to give women the tools to navigate and triumph over daily challenges.”

The Panel discussion tackled questions about managing our anxiety and that of our children. There was practical and thought-provoking thoughts including modelling for our kids, reaching out and making yourself vulnerable. It was also discussed about how we set unrealistic expectations for our families ‘we need to say no to say yes’ and also about allowing ourselves to sit with difficult situations rather than always looking for a quick fix.

As the evening drew to a close Naomi from The Warehouse urged every person there to take the time to find out what the four organisations do and use them to their maximum.

For more information contact: info@ inrich.life

panel discussion with Naomi Lerer from Noa Girls, Naomi and Dr Shani

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Rebbe’s ‘shofar campaign’ ignites Jewish spirit

BY DAVID SAFFER

The sound of the shofar on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is an annual highlight of the Jewish calendar.

Synagogues will be packed to the rafters in anticipation although all communities will have in mind the plight of 48 hostages still held in captivity in Gaza for over two years. It is unimaginable what they have endured so the shofar notes ‘tekiah, shevarim and teruah’ will be more poignant than ever in 5786.

In preparation for the big day youngsters at Jewish schools and cheders around the globe are making their own shofar, having a go at blowing one and learning songs.

The time-honoured tradition always makes me smile as it takes me back to my childhood in Leeds. Everything stopped as the Rabbi, Chazan or shofar-blowing ‘expert’ took centre stage at Beth Hamidrash Hagadol Synagogue. You could hear a pin drop. Often it was melodic, but on occasion the key figure would buckle under the pressure before a packed shul! There was often shuffling, mumbles and whispers across the seats. My own children would come to enjoy the wonderment of the shofar as they grew up and my grandchildren will no doubt be as transfixed at shuls in Tel Mond, Israel, and closer to home in London and Manchester in the coming weeks.

Sadly, not everyone can be in a shul on these most auspicious of days but kind-hearted individuals ensure this is addressed, including Chabad-Lubavitch

emissaries, who have a comprehensive program to ensure the shofar is accessible to everyone.

The late Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, believed that every person matters and should hear the shofar blasts. His revolutionary ‘shofar blowing’ campaign for High Holidays began over seventy years ago.

Back in the day, you either heard the shofar in shul or at someone’s home, so when the Rebbe, instigated a pilot initiative in 1953, it was bold and exciting as Chabad students took to the streets of Brooklyn, New York.

What New Yorkers made of the experience is now folklore and recollected at this time of year.

In 1954, Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky joined the Rebbe’s staff, serving in various posts, including personal secretary to the Rebbe. Krinsky participated in the ground-breaking shofar blowing initiative on the streets of Brooklyn. “This was clearly an innovation of the Rebbe,” he recalled.

Rabbi Moshe Pesach Goldman was a Lubavitcher yeshivah student at Crown Heights. “This was something totally new,” he recalled. “Shofar in the street? It was unheard of, Jewish stores were open, we’d walk in and blow shofar for the shopkeepers.”

The informal initiative soon became a fixture after the founding of the Lubavitch Youth Organisation of New York in 1955 alongside a street ‘lulav ‘n’ etrog’ program.

Chassidim travelled to more locations

annually. Detailed reports would be delivered to the Rebbe. The campaign escalated to kibbutzim in Israel.

In response to a 1958 letter from a Jewish hospital chaplain in Brooklyn, regarding blowing the shofar at Rosh Hashanah, the Rebbe explained that an aspect of the shofar was to coronate G-d A-lmighty as king of the universe. All Jews should have the opportunity to hear the call of the shofar. Listening to the shofar is spiritually uplifting. Nothing has changed in the ensuing decades.

The swinging 1960s saw visitors around the world, many from Israel, travel to New York to take in the Jewish holidays and hope to meet the Rebbe. Blowing the Shofar before prayers or in the afternoon became part of Rosh Hashanah in Brooklyn. The media took note.

The National Jewish Post & Opinion in October 1960 reported: “Farmers in the Lubavitcher cooperative ‘Kfar Chabad,’ are rich in … zeal. Starting on the Rosh Hashanah holidays, they, along with local Chassidim, trek to all hospital within walking distance of their synagogue and blow the shofar for bedridden patients.”

Chabad proved a hit throughout California during the ‘60s. A decade on and emissaries took the shofar campaign to hospitals in Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Long Beach and Berkeley.

A message of positivity was growing. The Rebbe expanded the campaign to include the month of Elul, when by custom the shofar is blown daily except on Rosh Hashanah eve. He stressed the healing it brought to patients in hospitals. And in

1978, the Rebbe noted that blowing the shofar for patients “literally revives souls”.

“Strolling along a street in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn, I saw a young man with a shy, fish-out-of-water look about him,” wrote Ellie Spielberg in The New York Times’s Metropolitan Diary in 1994. “He stopped and asked if I’d heard the Shofar being blown that day. I answered no. So, he opened his jacket, whisked out a small ram’s horn and gave me a private concert. With joyful abandon, he played and played, conjuring trills, stops and drones of a tune as old as the Bible. I closed my eyes. Then he stopped, tucked away the Shofar, said ‘Shona Tovah’, Happy New Year, and was gone. It was the best Rosh Hashanah I’ve had.”

The Rebbe highlighted the importance of taking the shofar to isolated soldiers in the Israeli military.

And he developed the campaign to include Jews in prison and even more hospitals.

In 1991, visitors arriving in New York for the festival hoping meet the Rebbe increased exponentially. Eyewitnesses recall the Rebbe observing huge crowds and stressing an expectation that those gathered participate.

The Rebbe’s campaigns continue to inspire. Nothing, arguably, reminds a Jew of who they are like a shofar being blown. Chabad emissaries will be out in force, along with many individuals, determined to make ensure that as many people as possible hear ‘tekiah, shevarim and teruah’ blasted from a shofar with gusto.

LSJS Unveils New Era for Jewish Learning!

This Autumn, LSJS is entering a bold new chapter. With a vibrant rebrand, a completely rebuilt website and a two-semester Lifelong Learning [Adult Education] model, the institution is making Jewish learning more accessible, more engaging, and more inspiring than ever.

Visitors to the new site will discover a fresh look, a smoother experience and a simpler way to explore everything LSJS has to offer: from degrees and Teacher Training to Lifelong Learning courses, Immersive Learning [tours] and Ulpan. A new booking portal makes signing up effortless, while on-demand options and a forthcoming LSJS app will put Jewish wisdom at your fingertips wherever you are in the world.

These changes go far beyond design. They reflect the College’s role as a global leader in Jewish education, making it easier for people in the UK and beyond to connect with world-class educators and transformative, dynamic programming. The move to a two-semester model creates greater flexibility, fresher topics, and more opportunities to learn throughout the year.

“Our new website and semester model give LSJS a

modern, dynamic feel and make it easier for people to access the extraordinary learning we offer,” said Josh Gershuny, LSJS Marketing Director. “We hope it will inspire more people to join us, in line with our mission: to strengthen communities and schools with a vision of Judaism that is deeply grounded in traditional roots while fully engaging with contemporary society.”

“This rebrand better reflects LSJS as a modern institution and the UK’s leading home for Jewish learning that is engaged with the world, inspiring future generations of students and teachers alike,” said Joanne Greenaway, Chief Executive of LSJS.

For more information please email lsjsadmin@lsjs.ac.uk or call 020 8203 6427.

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Switching Off Autopilot This Yom Tov

BY RABBI YONASAN ROODYN

Have you ever arrived at your destination and realised you don’t remember the drive? Your hands turned the wheel, your foot pressed the pedals, you even stopped at the traffic lights—but your mind was elsewhere. That’s autopilot. It gets us from A to B, but it bypasses awareness, choice, and depth.

Too often, that’s how we experience the High Holidays. We know the route. We know when to stand and sit, bow and kneel and certainly when it’s time to break the fast! We follow the same road map as last year and the year before. And if we’re not careful, we can land at Ne’ilah and wonder: did I actually travel anywhere inside?

Autopilot isn’t all bad. In fact, it’s what allows us to function. Imagine if every time you tied your shoes you had to relearn how to make a bow. Routine saves energy. But there are moments in life when routine is the enemy, when habit dulls meaning, when comfort makes us numb. The Yamim Noraim are precisely those moments.

These days are not about surviving long services or enduring hunger. They are

about waking up. The cry of the shofar is, at its essence, a spiritual seatbelt sign switching off autopilot: “Pay attention! This matters! Don’t miss the turn-off that leads back to your truest self.”

drifting? What direction do I want to take?

Hand-fly at least part of the journey. Pilots know that even with autopilot engaged, they must take the controls at key

So how do we stop ourselves from cruising through Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur?

Check your dashboard. Just like a pilot scans their instruments, take a moment before davening to scan inward. What’s my mood? Where am I spiritually

moments. Do the same in shul. Choose one section of the Machzor to really engage with. Don’t let the service fly itself. Course-correct gently. Planes rarely fly in a perfectly straight line, they make constant small adjustments. That’s teshuvah. Not grand gestures, but steady

realignment, step by step, word by word. Stay awake for the landing. Imagine missing the final descent because you dozed off. Ne’ilah is that final descent, the climax of Yom Kippur. Arrive there alert, open-hearted, aware of what these days have built within you.

I often think of these days like a flight across the year’s sky. We board at Rosh Hashanah, buckle in during the Aseres Yemei Teshuvah, reach altitude on Yom Kippur, and land in the joy of Sukkos. The journey is designed to change us, but only if we’re awake enough to notice the view outside the window.

Left on autopilot, the whole season can pass in a blur: honey cake, fast day, sukkah walls, and back to business as usual. But if we switch off autopilot and hand-fly with kavannah, we discover something richer: clarity, renewal, and a sense that we have truly returned to who we are meant to be.

As the Yamim Noraim approach, let’s resist the drift. Let’s not arrive at the end of Yom Kippur wondering whether we were really present. Instead, let’s choose to be awake in each moment, to hear the shofar as a call to attention, to notice the words on our lips, and to steer our lives with intention.

Because these days are too precious to leave on cruise control. This year, let’s turn off autopilot and really fly.

Aish UK Launches the Year with Its Largest Ever Educator Team and a Bold New Vision

As the new academic year begins, Aish UK is doing more than just marking the calendar, it’s making history. In a significant step forward, the organisation has assembled its largest ever team of educators, part of a wider push under the Jewish Futures’ banner of Bold Innovation to rethink how young Jews connect to their identity in 2025 and beyond.

The expanded team includes five new educators joining the London branch:

• Rabbi Chanan Unterslak – Educator, Young Professionals

• Rebbetzin Michal Unterslak –Educator, Young Professionals

• Rabbi Benj Bamberger – Educator, Schools & Campuses

• Rebbetzin Rikki Bamberger –Educator, Schools & Campuses

• Mrs Aliza Sinclair – Educator, Young Professionals and Advanced Women’s Education

Together, they join an already seasoned cohort of rabbis, rebbetzins, and teachers, forming what Aish UK says is now the largest Jewish outreach team employed by any single organisation in Europe. For an organisation recognised for its deeply relational approach to education and community-centred style, this isn’t just a numbers game. It’s about reach,

relevance, and reinvention. Aish is aiming to meet Jewish students and professionals where they are, both physically on campuses, in city hubs, and schools as well as emotionally, in the search for meaning, identity, and belonging in an increasingly fragmented world.

“As we embrace another new academic year, it is invigorating to know we are doing so with our largest team ever, with greater cumulative experience on our side to make our biggest impact yet,” said Rabbi Gideon Goldwater, Director of Aish UK.

A Closer Look: Aliza Sinclair Brings Women’s Learning to the Forefront

Among the new arrivals is Mrs Aliza Sinclair, who joins Aish UK with over a decade of experience teaching in Israel’s seminary world. Originally from Zurich,

Aliza’s connection to Aish traces back to her own days as a student, when she was introduced to the organisation’s unique style of education by an Aish madricha.

Now based in London with her family, she’ll be teaching both at the Jewish Futures Hub in Hendon and on campuses across the city. Her focus: deepening women’s engagement with Jewish learning and empowering the next generation of female Jewish role models.

“This is an exciting new role for me, I can’t wait to get going,” she says.

From Childhood Neighbours to Jewish Educators on a Mission

Also joining the team are Rabbi Benj and Rebbetzin Rikki Bamberger, a couple whose journey into Jewish education has been anything but conventional.

Both grew up in Manchester, just three doors apart but their paths into Jewish education couldn’t have been more different. Rikki’s background spans everything from special needs support to aerobics instruction, before she found her calling in Jewish women’s education. Benj, meanwhile, took an unconventional path into learning, eventually finding deep inspiration and direction at Aish’s Old City

campus in Jerusalem, where the spark was lit.

Their shared passion for authentic, accessible Torah learning eventually took them to Florida, where they served as the Aish campus couple at the University of Florida, leading Shabbat meals, classes, and student events.

Now back in the UK, they’re ready to pour that experience into British campuses and schools.

“It’s a privilege to inspire others while growing ourselves,” they say. “Aish’s mission is real – and we’re all in.”

This isn’t just an expansion, it’s a bold statement. As Jewish Futures doubles down on innovation, Aish UK’s growing team is on the front lines, aiming not only to teach, but to transform how the next generation engages with Jewish life.

Mrs. Aliza Sinclair

Rabbi Benj and Rebbetzen Rikki Bamberger

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Letters to the Editor

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.

AJEX AT WESTMINSTER ABBEY FIELD OF REMEMBRANCE

Dear Editor,

AJEX will be at The Royal British Legion 97th Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey this November. AJEX will lay 225 Magen David markers that will represent the thousands of Jewish men and women who gave their lives to secure our future.

If you had a member of your family who served in the British or Commonwealth armed forces and was killed in action, please inform us no later than the 27th October. AJEX will lay a Magen David marker in their name. Please contact us at headoffice@ajex.org.uk. With their rank, name, age, date of death and the unit that they served in. Ajex are also interested in learning the story of your family member that they can share ahead of the Ajex annual Parade.

The Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey will be open on Thursday 6th November to the public from 1pm to 4pm. From Friday 7th until Sunday 16th November the Field is open from 9am to 4pm.

In this age of renewed antisemitism, it is extremely important that we show the wider community that we as Jews since 1745 have served and continue to serve in HM Armed Forces and that we remember their service and sacrifice.

AJEX invites you all to join us to Stand Tall and Marching Together at the AJEX Remembrance Parade & Ceremony Sunday 16th November at the Cenotaph, London, SW1. To secure your place to march please book by Friday 7th November at www.ajex.org.uk.

Each year AJEX pays for the plot and the markers at Westminster and for the cost of the AJEX Parade at the Cenotaph. To enable AJEX to continue doing this a donation would be greatly appreciated.

Yours sincerely,

Brian Bloom, AJEX Vice President

GENOCIDE SCHOLARS OR PAID 30 DOLLARS?

Dear Editor,

If you’re a journalist, you tend to love any form of story. But the stories you love the most are those stories which - just when you think the dust has settled - offer up twist and turn after twist and turn.

Take our former Deputy Prime Minister’s tax affairs, for example. Journalists had several field days bringing you every meander in that particular saga over the past fortnight. That is the job of our media, after all - to provide important updates to stories on matters of intense public interest.

Which brings us to Israel and Gaza. After a relatively quiet summer period, the onset of September brought a brand new and exciting story for many of the world’s media outlets, especially those interested in stories casting Israel in a particular light.

Monday before last, we learned that IAGS, the International Association of Genocide Scholars - a group purporting to be an international association of genocide scholars - had concluded by a majority vote (86%) that Israel was committing genocide in Gaza.

Damning in the extreme, you might think. A development which appears to give divine vindication to allegations which, according to academics, have now reached a scholarly consensus worldwide.

Perhaps as predictably as night follows day, the world’s media swooped. The story was picked up by the BBC, Sky News, ABC, the New York Times, the Guardian, the Washington Post, the Associated Press, Reuters, and TIME Magazine.

Virtually every headline cited IAGS as if it was exactly what its name said on the tin: the “world’s biggest genocide scholars association”, a “leading scholars’ association”, the “world’s top scholars on the crime”, and so on. The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, assuredly labelled IAGS as a “very prominent and serious organization”.

As is common with other Gaza-related stories, we began to see strong substantive objections emerge rather quickly, including from a rival group of scholars who drew attention to all of the major flaws of substance in the IAGS resolution, such as its choice of legal framings, citations and omissions.

I won’t draw attention to those more substantive points on this occasion, given these came not before some absolute jaw-droppers that emerged about IAGS itself, and the passage of this particular resolution.

Shortly after the resolution passed, it was revealed that an IAGS member, a genocide scholar called Sarah Brown, had accused it of “an embarrassing absence of professionalism” by seeking

to push through the resolution without the usual debate and transparency. She accused IAGS leadership of “having an agenda”, and said the public would see “Genocide experts agree” – as the headlines I revealed above indeed went on to show. But Brown states resolutely: “No, we don’t [agree], and we were deliberately silenced”.

It should be noted that IAGS has put out a strong rebuttal of Brown’s allegations. But whatever the truth is in that particular area, it doesn’t even touch the sides of the main problem: that only 129 out of roughly 500 IAGS members voted. An 86% majority of that vote means that, roughly, only a fifth of IAGS as a whole had actually voted that Israel was committing genocide in Gaza. Many members reportedly ducked the vote as they did not feel sufficiently qualified to address the issue.

It’s no wonder they didn’t feel qualified – for we then learned that IAGS’s membership does not, solely, consist of genocide scholars. While IAGS’s website clearly states its membership is open to non-scholars and those “interested” in genocide – meaning our media outlets and UN Secretary-Generals really must take more care before citing a vote of “genocide scholars” – it doesn’t end there.

Only two days after the resolution, several Jewish and Israeli experts and activists, having learned of IAGS’s opendoor membership policy, decided to join; paying only a modest $30 fee in doing so. With no other formal requirements or

background checks, some successfully joined IAGS under their own names. But others managed to pass through under prank titles, such as “Adolf Hitler” (creating the vomit-inducing prospect of IAGS accepting a vote from that member on genocide motions), Emperor Palpatine, and their pet dogs. Unsurprisingly, IAGS then hid its once readily-accessible membership list, and suspended its acceptance of new members.

There are several outcomes in this highly serious, albeit intermittently hilarious, saga. Arguably the least serious, somehow, is that we don’t even know how many who voted in the IAGS resolution were actual, bona fide *genocide scholars*.

But the main outcome is an all too frequent problem, to which I have regularly drawn attention. That is of our media continuing to publish stories on this subject with barely any journalistic standards… only to then fail to correct them, or to do so inadequately, with shoulders shrugged in apathy, when those stories later fall apart under basic scrutiny. This story is one of those - with only Jewish/Israeli outlets caring to pick up the flaws in reporting that came not even from their own keyboards.

It seems I may now need to qualify my opening paragraph: that if you are a journalist, you love stories that give you twists and turns. Unless they twist and turn in the Jewish state’s favour.

Yours sincerely, Naji Tilley, London NW4

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WHAT3WORDS/// ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

BY RABBI NAFTALI SCHIFF

We are living through a time where Jewish headlines are dominated by antisemitism. Demonstrations on the streets, slogans on our campuses, attacks in the media, and sometimes the overwhelming sense that Jews are once again being backed into a vilified corner of history. Our children, our students, our young people hear a constant refrain: Pharaoh wanted us drowned, Nebuchadnezzar burned our Temple, Ferdinand and Isabella expelled us, the Cossacks pillaged us, Hitler gassed us, Hamas would destroy us. It sounds like an unceasing drumbeat of hatred but survival, repeated across generations.

Yes, these are chapters of our story. Of course they must not be forgotten, lessons learned and current challenges faced head on. But for goodness sake, must they really be the core of how we live, share and message Jewish identity? Is it really a surprise that research continues to report decline and disinterest amongst young people? Those same surveys point clearly to vibrant Jewish home life and extended Jewish study experiences in Israel as the stand out formulae for ensuring enduring Jewish engagement. Well of course they do! Does anyone want a Judaism that is merely about surviving other people’s hatred? Is “never again” enough to nourish the soul of a young Jew in 2025?

I believe the time has come to say it clearly: enough is enough.

Our Jewish identity cannot be defined by our enemies. It must be defined by our essence. By what we give to the world, not by what others try to take from us. By why it is wholesome, joyful, and uplifting to be Jewish, not by why it is dangerous. By the radiance of our heritage, the power of Shabbat, the vitality of our people, the eternity of our story, the beauty of our values.

Antisemitism may wake people up, but its message does not stimulate their desire to belong and engage. Fear is a poor glue for enduring identity. Survival may galvanize us in a moment of crisis, but it is not a sustainable reason for living. To build an identity worth carrying proudly, our children need more than fear of enemies. They need a love of Jewish life. They need pride. They need authentic

inspiration.

The Torah itself tells us this. תרחבו םייחב - “choose life.” Not “choose survival,” not “choose not to be hated,” but choose life in all its richness. Judaism is not just about avoiding Pharaoh’s whip; it is about embracing Gods presence. It is about singing at the Sea, not only trembling before it.

The Torah is called םייח תרות - a way of living life.

םענ יכרד היכרד - Her ways are pathways of pleasantness

A Judaism that is lived with joy, with

as Torat Chayim a living Torah that speaks to their daily struggles, their questions, their aspirations. It means letting them feel the pride of being part of a people that brought ethics, justice, and monotheism to the world. It means connecting them to Israel not only as a refuge from hatred, but as the flowering of Jewish creativity, vitality, and hope.

This is what Jewish Futures strives to embody. Across our organizations, we are committed not just to fighting antisemitism, but to inspiring Jewish identity with positive, vibrant, joyous meaning.

• When GIFT involves thousands of

creativity, with music, with warmth, is a Torah that attracts, that inspires, that uplifts. A Torah reduced to fear of persecution is a Torah hollowed out of its soul.

When we sit at the Seder table and fulfil the mitzvah of ךנבל תדגהו to tell our children the story, we do not only speak of slavery. We speak of redemption, of God’s mighty hand, of the joy of freedom, of becoming a people with a mission. If the Haggadah were just a catalogue of Jewish suffering, no child would ask the Four Questions with excitement. It is the celebration of redemption that gives the night its electricity.

The same must be true of Jewish life today. Enough with defining ourselves through the eyes of others. It is time to show our children why being Jewish is the greatest gift imaginable.

That means creating experiences of Shabbat tables and gatherings filled with song, warmth, laughter. It means showing them Torah not as a dusty rulebook, but

young people in volunteering, they don’t just learn that Jews survive, they learn that Jews care. That giving is the heartbeat of Jewish life and community.

• When Chazon fills halls with buzzing learning, they don’t just learn that Jews endured persecution, they taste the sweetness of Torah, the thrill of a challenging question, the joy of wisdom.

• When Elecha brings Jews together with the vibrancy and passion of musical Selichot that stir the heart, they don’t just remember past and present tragedy , they feel the living pulse of deeply connected Jewish prayer and song.

• When Kahal Yedidim leads meaningful and resonant services and dynamic learning, they don’t just shelter from hostility, they open doors of belonging, connection, meaning and purpose.

• When AISH runs trips for sixth form students in Poland or Budapest , they don’t just wallow in the painful legacy of Jew hatred in history, they feel the magic

of Shabbat in community, the spark of Jewish pride, camaraderie and friendship before embarking on campus life.

• When the Jewish Futures Hub welcomes young people to Shabbat experiences, they don’t just pass a security guard- they find joy, fun, vibrancy, affinity, friendship, and shared purpose.

These are not defensive acts. They are celebrations. They are affirmations. They are the essence of Jewish life.

Our people have indeed suffered more than enough. But our calling is not only to survive. Our calling is to thrive. To enjoy and to share blessing. To live with faith, joy, responsibility, aspiration, humility, and care.

We must teach our children to say proudly: I am Jewish not because others tried to kill us, but because this is the greatest, richest, most beautiful inheritance a person can live. I am Jewish not because I fear antisemitism, but because I cherish my birthright. I am Jewish not because I hate my enemies, but because I love my people, my God, my mission. Enough of being defined by our enemies. Enough of building our identity on their hatred. Enough of trying to inspire the next generation by recounting the cruelty of others.

Enough is enough.

Let us build Jewish identity on positivity and purpose, pride, and creativity. Let us make sure that when our children say “I am Jewish,” it is not with fear, but with sparkle. Not with heaviness, but with light. Not as a reaction to hatred, but as an expression of life.

That is the only way Jewish identity will not just survive, but will flourish.

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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ASK THE RABBI

KEEPING SECRETS FROM MY SPOUSE

Dear Rabbi

Something happened to me recently that I will share with you here, but I

would ask you not to publish. I am sure after reading it you might have raised eyebrows. My dilemma is this: I shared it with my closest friend, and he says I should just keep it to myself. But to my mind, I shouldn’t be keeping secrets from my wife. Isn’t that what a relationship is all about –openness and transparency?

I know I will feel better if I tell her.

Cliff

Dear Cliff

There is a misconception that absolute transparency is the same as love. But love is not simply the exchange of information - it is the willingness to carry another’s wellbeing as your highest priority. The question you must ask yourself is not, “Am I being honest?” but rather, “Am I being kind?”

Judaism has long recognised this delicate balance. Our sages taught that one may be “economical with the truth”

for the sake of peace and harmony in the home. Honesty may be a virtue, but peace is a higher one. If sharing something would serve no purpose except to cause anguish, then it is not honesty - it is cruelty disguised as virtue.

Of course, this doesn’t mean sweeping serious matters under the rug. If something affects the integrity of your marriage, or requires your spouse’s guidance and support, then silence is avoidance, not thoughtfulness. But if it is your own private hardship and sharing it would do nothing but place a heavy burden on your spouse’s heart, then holding back can sometimes be the greater act of love. We live in an age that prizes radical

openness. But a marriage is not built on radical openness - it is built on radical care. Honestly may be the best policy in the workplace; in the home, thoughtfulness is the best policy.

So, my advice is this: before you speak, pause. Don’t ask, “How will this make me feel to get it off my chest?” Ask instead, “How will this make my wife feel if I lay it on hers?” If your answer is that it will give her strength, clarity, or trust, then share it. If your answer is that it will only drain her joy, then hold it, and hold her heart instead.

Sometimes silence is not secrecy. Sometimes silence is love.

Stand with Israel

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Family Fun KI

Moses instructs the people of Israel: When you enter the land that G‑d is giving to you as your eternal heritage, and you settle it and cultivate it, bring the first ripened fruits (bikkurim) of your orchard to the Holy Temple, and declare your gratitude for all that G‑d has done for you.

Our Parshah also includes the laws of the tithes given to the Levites and to the poor, and detailed instructions on how to proclaim the blessings and the curses on Mount Gerizim and Mount Eival—as discussed in the beginning of the Parshah of Re’eh. Moses reminds the people that

Dingbats

they are G‑d’s chosen people, and that they, in turn, have chosen G‑d.

The latter part of Ki Tavo consists of the Tochachah (“Rebuke”). After listing the blessings with which G‑d will reward the people when they follow the laws of the Torah, Moses gives a long, harsh account of the bad things—illness, famine,

poverty and exile—that shall befall them if they abandon G‑d’s commandments.

Moses concludes by telling the people that only today, forty years after their birth as a people, have they attained “a heart to know, eyes to see and ears to hear.”

2 CuriousCustoms

Jokes Riddles

Q: Why couldn’t the congregants hear the baal tokeah?

A: He was standing shofar away!

Q: What do you call it when toilet paper says, “I’m sorry”?

A: Tissue-va!

Q: Did you ever hear the joke about the kippah?

A: Never mind, it’ll go over your head!

2. The more there is, the less you will see.

3. I know a word of letters three, add two and less there will be.

UNWAVERING COMMITMENT AND RESILIENCE

For more than two decades, JNF UK has strengthened Israel’s peripheries by funding initiatives in education, employment, health and culture — ensuring that communities in these regions enjoy the same standard of services as those in the centre.

These long-standing efforts have enabled JNF UK’s team in Israel to build close relationships and develop a strong understanding of the areas’ needs - allowing them to deliver swift, strategic support when required.

As a result, when the atrocities of October 7th shook Israel, JNF UK acted without hesitation — standing shoulder to shoulder with the communities we know so well, providing urgent help while staying true to our commitment to Israel’s long-term growth and future.

During the war with Iran, Be’er Sheva was one of the hardest hit cities, suffering several direct hits including the significant damage to the Soroka Medical Centre, as well as business areas and residential neighbourhoods.

“With our team on the ground and close relationships throughout the Negev, we are ready to step in during Israel’s most desperate times. We focus on filling the gaps where others cannot — and this Rosh Hashanah, our priority is restoring Soroka. Thanks to the constant generosity of our donors, we can stand by the people of Israel. JNF UK remains unwavering in its commitment to Israel’s recovery and longterm resilience.”

Elan Gorji, JNF UK CEO

Damage to wards at Soroka Medical Centre

6 OPERATING THEATRES DAMAGED

1 MILLION LIVES AFFECTED MILLIONS OF SHEKELS WORTH OF DAMAGE TO INFRASTRUCTURE

PATIENTS AND STAFF INJURED

This Rosh Hashanah, your support can help restore Soroka Medical Centre in Be’er Sheva — creating a functional and dignified healing environment for patients and the dedicated teams who care for them.

562 HOSPITAL BEDS DESTROYED

• Soroka Medical Centre, Be’er Sheva – Visit the hospital that was struck during the Iranian missile attacks.

• Ramot Neighbourhood – See the missile impact site

• Burned Car and Nova Festival Sites – Pay tribute to the victims and hear about the survivors efforts to heal after the brutal massacre that took place.

October 7th, Dr. Yoav Bichovsky, a senior physician at Soroka Medical Centre, volunteered for reserve duty as a combat doctor in Gaza. During service, his armored vehicle was struck by an anti-tank missile. Severely injured, Dr. Bichovsky was treated in his own Intensive Care Unit, where he arrived unconscious and unrecognisable by his colleagues. Join us for a powerful episode of Voices from Israel, featuring Dr. Bichovsky’s extraordinary story of survival, recovery and return to the ICU.