The Jewish Weekly Issue 386 Rosh Hashanah

1 HOSPITAL 1 MILLION PEOPLE 1 URGENT MISSION

NITZAVIM

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BY DAVID SAFFER

IDF operate deep in Gaza City

The IDF has launched a ground operation in Gaza City as part of Operation Gideon’s Chariots B.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the incursion on Tuesday as a “powerful operation and decisive moment” for Israel against Hamas’ last stronghold.

Troops from a number of divisions have been mobilised.

According to the IDF, forces have struck Hamas command centers and fighting positions in high-rise buildings.

Over 350,000 civilians have left Gaza City, Israel has provided aid including tents, food and medicine. IDF officials have accused Hamas of preventing residents from evacuating.

Defense Minister Yisrael Katz stated on Tuesday that “Gaza is burning”.

“The IDF is striking terror infrastructure with an iron fist,” he said. “IDF soldiers are fighting valiantly to create the conditions for the release of the hostages and the defeat of Hamas. We will not relent until the mission is completed.”

“The incursion into the city comes with

heavy intelligence and fire support to protect our soldiers,” an IDF spokesman said. “We are determined and offensive. We have defeated Hamas militarily wherever we have fought them, we will act until Hamas rule is dismantled. The plan to encircle and seize Gaza City has been approved by the Chief of Staff, based on lessons learned from Operation Gideon’s Chariots II. The fate of our hostages is before our eyes. This is a moral and ethical mission.”

IDF Chief of Staff Eyal addressed troops in a visit to the 98th Division.

“Gaza City is a vital area for Hamas,” Zamir said: “The manoeuvre in the city is a decisive move to carry out the most moral and important mission, to bring all the hostages home and to collapse the military and governing capabilities of the terrorist organisation Hamas.” He added: “This is a critically important step for the continuation of the war.”

Continued on page 4

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ROSH HASHANAH 2025

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The IDF making their way through Gaza

PHOTO: IDF

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

w e ’ v e g o t i t c o v e r e d

L o n d o n - w i d e p r o p e r t y m a n a g e m e n t b y e x p e r i e n c e d

p r o f e s s i o n a l s w h o t r e a t y o u r i n v e s t m e n t l i k e t h e i r o w n.

T r u s t e d b y l a n d l o r d s a c r o s s t h e c a p i t a l , g e t i n t o u c h

t o d ay a n d s e e h o w w e c a n m a k e y o u r l i f e e a s i e r .

Continued from page 1

The 98th Division have been fighting across Gaza for nearly two years.

“Reserve and regular soldiers display extraordinary combat spirit and bravery, you are the example of the Israeli spirit, continue to lead and fight,” Zamir noted.

Defense Minister Israel Katz visited the 162nd Division, which is taking part in urban operations.

Katz toured with division commander Brig. Gen. Sagiv Dahan and deputy Southern Command commander Brig. Gen. Erez Elkabetz.

“We need two things from Hamas, and they will not give them voluntarily, release all the hostages and disarm,” Katz said. “Only when we decided to take control of Gaza did they return to talks about things they were previously unwilling to discuss,” he added.

Katz issued a stark warning to Hamas leaders, particularly the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.

“They should know what will happen in the end,” he said. “They will pay the price, Gaza will

be destroyed and become a graveyard for whoever commits atrocities.”

Katz added: “We want to take control of Gaza City because it is the main seat of Hamas governance. If Gaza falls, they will fall. If they fall, we can shorten the path to our objectives quickly.”

Katz concluded. “If you and the other divisions operate as you have and continue, I believe there is a breaking point we hope to reach to achieving the goal.”

In related news, Israel has rejected claims of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza by a UN Commission of Inquiry.

The COI has accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli leaders of incitement of genocide. Israel has accused the COI of a political agenda.

President Isaac Herzog condemned the report. Israel’s UN Ambassador in Geneva, Daniel Meron, labelled the report “scandalous and fake libelous rant”.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry rejected the report as “distorted and false” and accused the commission of serving Hamas proxies.

“The report relies entirely on Hamas falsehoods, laundered and repeated by others,” noted a statement.

“These fabrications have already been thoroughly debunked. In stark contrast to the lies in the report, Hamas is the party that attempted genocide in Israel, murdering 1,200 people and openly declaring its goal of killing every Jew.”

An IDF statement added: “No other country has operated in these conditions and done so much to prevent harm to civilians on the battlefield.”

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Kirk was “true friend” of Israel

BY HARRY SIMONS

Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel, HaRav Dovid Yosef, praised conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was brutally assassinated at Utah Valley University last week as a “true friend of the State of Israel.

Following a manhunt and extensive media coverage, the alleged marksman, Tyler Robinson, was arrested within 48 hours of the attack that drew global headlines.

In a letter of condolence to the family, Yosef wrote that Kirk was an “unwavering voice of truth”.

He noted: “Charlie was a true friend of the Jewish people and of the state of Israel. His great deeds and noble character made him a remarkable figure. In his modest yet firm way, he always chose to stand by truth and justice.”

Addressing his wife, Erika and children,’ he said: “It is hard for me to find words of comfort in such a difficult moment, a moment when the loss is felt at every instant. Yet the greatest consolation lies in the immense legacy Charlie left behind.

“I have heard much about his great work, and I regret that I did not merit to know him personally.

“This vile and cruel murder deserves condemnation from every single person. From here, in Jerusalem, we send you our condolences and seek to strengthen you in these painful times. You are not alone in your mourning, many among the Jewish people grieve with you, and remember Charlie as a man who devoted his full heart and soul to making the world a better and more just place.”

As investigations continue, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino reportedly told Fox News agents are looking into “multiple warning signs” and possible support.

“We’ll be dropping a lot of paper, a lot of subpoenas out there, to take a look to see if there was any extended network,” Bongino said.

FBI Director Kash Patel reportedly added that Robinson sent a text boasting he had “an opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk”.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican, reportedly said that Robinson was “deeply indoctrinated with leftist ideology,” though not registered to a political party.

Kirk meeting the fans he

Rubio calls for global nations to “reconsider” Israeli relations

BY DAVID SAFFER

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has not criticise Israel’s audacious operation in Doha, Qatar last week and called on all countries of the world to “reconsider their relations with Israel”.

Speaking at a press conference with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem this week Rubio said Washington had “strong relationships” with Gulf allies and stressed the importance of securing the release of 48 hostages held captive in Gaza for over 700 days.

Regarding Hamas, he noted: “They are agents of barbarism. The future is not possible until every hostage is released.”

Netanyahu offered a stark warning to

the terror group.

Hamas leaders, he said, will “not have immunity”. Every country, Netanyahu added, has a right “to defend itself beyond its borders”.

Regarding US involvement in the Doha strike, Netanyahu noted: “The decision to strike the terrorist leadership was entirely independent. It was made by me, managed by us, and we take full responsibility, because terrorists cannot be given safe haven. We did this ourselves.”

He added: “There is hypocrisy and cynicism in condemning Israel. The UN approved that states should not host terrorists, and of course the US acted courageously against al-Qaida sanctuaries

VISITING ISRAEL THIS SUKKOT?

Stand with the South on JNF UK’s Solidarity Day Trip

This meaningful journey will take you to key sites impacted by October 7th and the Iranian missile attacks.

KEY VISITS

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

• Ramot Neighbourhood – See the missile impact site first-hand.

in Afghanistan and against bin Laden in Pakistan.”

Rubio was in Israel for a brief stop on route to Qatar before joining President Trump in London this week.

Netanyahu told Rubio: “Your visit to the eternal capital is strong proof of the bond between our countries. Iran continues to shout ‘Death to America’ and ‘Death to Israel,’ but these threats are stopped thanks to our shared determination and President Trump’s decision to strike its nuclear facilities. That was a message to the entire world that America acts to defend its interests and its allies. Israel has no better ally than America.”

He added: “We remember the hostages,

we are committed to bringing them all back. We remember Hamas and know that we must defeat them. They should not remain there.”

Netanyahu continued: “Your visit sends a message that the US stands with Israel against medieval lies, the rise of antisemitism worldwide, and weak governments that pressure us because they themselves are collapsing under pressure.”

Rubio met President Isaac Herzog to acknowledge the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Abraham Accords with Morocco, Bahrain and United Arab Emirates. The agreements were brokered with support from Trump.

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Since 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.

Continued from page 8

Herzog called for the return of all hostages and importance of working towards a stable Middle East.

After a private meeting both addressed the media before a bilateral meeting.

“The signing of the Abraham Accords at the White House was a historic moment,” said Herzog. “They’ve brought enormous change to everybody’s lives in the Middle East, and these allies, despite all the storms of the Middle East, have kept these agreements going. It is very important to enhance and foster more partners to these agreements.”

Rubio said it was appropriate to meet on the fifth anniversary.

“Imagine, despite the difficulties

the region has confronted over the last few years, how much more difficult they would have been had the Abraham

Accords not been in place,” he said.

“We’re obviously incredibly grateful to Morocco, Bahrain and UAE. They’re also strong partners of ours on a bilateral basis. Not only does this agreement need to continue to be strengthened and built upon, but expanded. There are other countries that have expressed an interest

in being a part of this under President Trump’s second term. It’s also part of our focus.”

Rubio added that it reminded the US of the progress made and opportunities ahead.

Rubio also attended the inauguration of the Pilgrims’ Path at the City of David archaeological site in Jerusalem and met with the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.

A spokesman said: “The families stressed to him that expanding the fighting endangers the lives of the living hostages and could lead to the disappearance of the fallen. We urged the Trump administration to resume negotiations as quickly as possible, with the understanding that the hostages’ time is running out.”

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.

President Herzog in conversation with Marco Rubio

PHOTO: GPO

NSC terror warning

BY ADAM MOSES

Israel’s National Security Council has warned of potential terror threats to Israelis and Jewish communities abroad as the High Holidays approach.

The update does not include travel restrictions but notes “key trends in global terrorist activity.”

Iran and its proxies Hamas and Hezbollah remain motivated to target Jews and Israelis outside Israel’s borders.

Officials caution that Hamas wants to expand its reach beyond Gaza to strike Jewish and Israeli targets.

The NSC warns that the second anniversary of the October 7 massacres could be a point for attacks or lone-wolf strikes on Jewish communities worldwide.

The report follows unprecedented antisemitic incidents globally intensified by social media incitement and anti-Israel campaigns since the outbreak of the

Gaza war.

Security officials say seasonal Jewish gatherings and symbolic dates means extra caution is required.

The NSC has called on Israelis abroad and diaspora Jews to be aware.

Recommendations include avoiding public displays of Jewish identity such as wearing yarmulkas, tzitzis or Hebrew speech in unsecured areas, avoid large, unsecured gatherings and stop posting information about military service or travel on social media.

The council emphasised longstanding bans against travel to high-risk countries including Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen, strong advisories against Egypt, Turkey and Jordan.

Israelis encountering suspicious threats abroad are advised to contact local authorities, followed by the NSC’s 24-hour hotline in Jerusalem.

In the UK, CST are on high alert.

A CST spokesperson said: “Over the upcoming High Holy Days, security is our number one priority. CST is working closely with synagogues and police forces across the country to ensure the safety of the community. Trained CST security personnel, alongside local police, will be patrolling key areas throughout this period. As always, we urge everyone to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious or antisemitic behaviour

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immediately to CST and to the police. We also encourage everyone to follow security procedures and cooperate fully with security personnel.”

CST thanked security volunteers and professionals, who will be working throughout the holiday period to protect the community.

Met Police officers on patrol in Stamford Hill PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

Danon defends Israel and blasts Hamas

BY ADAM MOSES

Israeli’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon defended Israel’s actions in the near twoyear war with Hamas on LBC Radio on Tuesday morning.

Speaking to Nick Ferrari, Danon said there would be “no immunity for terrorists” whilst currently a two-state solution was a “non-starter”.

Regarding the IDF strike against Hamas leaders in Qatar, Danon explained: “The same way that the US attacked bin Laden in Pakistan, the UK attacked ISIS forces in Syria and Iraq, and France attacked terrorists in Africa we have the right to defend ourselves.” He added: “There will be no immunity for terrorists, no matter where they hide. Not in Beirut, not in Gaza, not in Qatar, all around the world we will find them and bring justice to them.”

how do you intend to accomplish that. They come up with empty ideas and expect Israel to do the hard work to get rid of Hamas.”

Asked what advice he would give Prime Minister Keir Starmer on recognising a Palestine state, Danon observed. “Some leaders want to do something after two years of this war. We want to end this war but can’t end it with hostages in Gaza. Adopting resolutions which are not contributing to the process is a mistake.

If you analyse the peace treaties we have signed, it never came from the UN General Assembly. To achieve peace, it has to come from the parties on the ground, the same way we signed deals with Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, UAE and Bahrain.”

Danon said Hamas had no interest in any peace treaty.

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Danon described the UN General Assembly vote for a non-binding resolution to recognise a Palestinian state without Hamas involvement last Friday as a ‘UN circus”.

He explained: “The resolution says Hamas will not be part of Gaza. I asked

“We pulled out of Gaza 20 years ago, they did not build infrastructure for Gazans, they used it as a launching pad against Israel,” he said. “The war will end when the hostages are released and Hamas disarms its weapons.”

As for a peace deal, he observed: “Today, to speak about two states, it’s a non-starter.”

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That sound you hear. It’s Israel calling you home

Michael Ben Baruch, UK Director of the Israel Ministry of Tourism explains how travel to Israel offers not just a wonderful holiday but a vital show of solidarity with our people.

In August 2023, I arrived in London with my family, brimming with optimism about my new role as UK Director of the Israel Ministry of Tourism. My mission was clear - to promote a thriving UK-to-Israel travel market and showcase everything our incredible country has to offer. Like so many in the Jewish world, that optimism was forever changed by the events of October 7th, 2023.

The trauma and disruption that followed created unprecedented challenges for those of us promoting Israel tourism. We faced flight cancellations, evolving travel advisories, and entirely understandable concerns about safety. Direct attacks on Israeli soil, ongoing regional tensions, and periods when airlines suspended services tested our resolve and that of potential travellers.

Yet something remarkable happened during this most difficult year. Travel to Israel continued. Despite the challenges, tens of thousands of travellers from the UK visited Israel during 2025, and they

were welcomed with overwhelming gratitude by the Israeli tourism industry and people who recognised their visit as a powerful act of solidarity during such trying times.

Now, as we approach Rosh Hashanah 5786, I find myself thinking about the sound of the shofar and its call to action.

When we gather in synagogue and hear the tekiah gedolah, that final, long blast we’re reminded not only of our ancient connection to the Land of Israel but of our present-day responsibility to support it. Since October 7th, that responsibility has taken on profound new meaning.

The Israeli people have demonstrated remarkable resilience throughout this period, and our tourism industry stands ready to welcome visitors with open arms. Hotels, restaurants, tour guides, and attractions are all operating, eager to share the Israel they love with those who choose to come.

This Rosh Hashanah, I’m asking you to consider making 5786 the year you return to Israel. Yes, go to show solidarity, but go for so much more than that. Go for the sheer fun and spirit, go for the unique family memories you’ll create, and go for the diverse experiences that only Israel can offer.

Picture yourself walking through Jerusalem’s ancient stones, feeling the weight of history beneath your feet. Float effortlessly in the therapeutic waters of the Dead Sea. Discover the incredible beaches and dynamic urban energy of Tel Aviv, where history meets contemporary in the most vibrant ways. Hike through the rolling hills of the Galilee, where every path tells a story. Dive into the crystal-clear waters of the Red Sea at Eilat, where underwater wonders await.

As we prepare to pray for a sweet new year, shanah tovah u’metukah, let us also

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commit to meaningful action. On Rosh Hashanah, we proclaim “Hayom harat olam” today the world is born anew. This year, let that renewal include a strengthened connection to Israel through travel. Rather than waiting for some distant future let the sound of the shofar be your call not just to reflection and renewal, but to a journey home.

L’shanah tovah – and this year in Israel!

Michael Ben Baruch is the UK Director of the Israel Ministry of Tourism

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T h i s y e a r I s r a e l i s c a l l i n g y o u h o m e S h a n a h T o v a h U ’ m e t u k a

Letters to the Editor

Please

NEW BEGINNINGS

Dear Editor,

As we approach Rosh Hashana and reflect on the past year, it is impossible not to note the historic outcome of the World Zionist Congress elections here in the UK. After a long and drawn-out process that began in October 2024 and concluded only last week, the results speak volumes.

For the first time, the Orthodox community — those committed to Torah values — have emerged with a clear majority:

Eretz HaKodesh – 5

Our Israel (Reform & Conservative coalition) – 5

Mizrachi – 3

Jewish Labour Movement – 3

Shas – 3

This means that 11 out of the 19 UK mandates are now held by those who see their support for Israel as unconditional and rooted in Torah. The lesson is clear. When Orthodox Jews bring their values and their passion to the table, the Zionist movement is strengthened. By contrast, those on the left approach Zionism with hesitation and compromise.

Their lack of commitment to Israel was seen for what it is, and they paid the price at the ballot box.

The Orthodox community has shown that there can be no half-measures in our support for Israel. We stand with her, proudly and without apology. This election was not just about numbers; it was about affirming that Torah values and unwavering love of Israel go hand in hand.

As we enter the new year, may this result inspire us all to deepen our connection to Israel, to Torah, and to the Jewish future.

Shana

tova,

A Proud Orthodox Jew

MY THOUGHTS ARE CLEAR FOR THE NEW YEAR

Dear Editor,

So, the Chagim of Chagim That’s the Yamim Noraim Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, when Many Jews, Worldwide, pray to Hashem

Are nearly here Yes – a New Year

And after that we have got The joyous festival of Succot

To celebrate, followed in mid-October By the most joyous of all - Simchat Torah

Except that ever since Simchat Torah –7th October 2023

When Hamas attacked Israel, and on one morning, brutally Killed and injured thousands of our people

To most of us – Simchat Torah never will

Be the same again – much joy mixed with such sadness

As we think of all the casualties and remaining hostages

Some of whom may never now be with their families

So, as I’m sure for many of you as well – my wish

For Am Yisrael is that before too long in 5786

All remaining hostages are returned, safely to their homeland

The World, (however unlikely), will at least start to understand Israel’s plight, and her need to fight the terrorist enemies to survive

And likewise, wishful thinking – levels of anti-Semitism will subside

As we are fast approaching Rosh Hashanah

I wish you all a L’Shanah Tovah U’metukah

J D Milaric

CST Launches 24/7 Student Helpline to support victims of Antisemitism across UK campuses

The Community Security Trust (CST) is proud to announce the launch of a new 24/7 Dedicated Student Helpline, to give

immediate, real-time support to students across the UK who are experiencing antisemitism.

This helpline reaffirms CST’s commitment to protecting Jewish students on campus, enhancing their safety and wellbeing. The helpline will be a direct point of contact for students with CST and our many partners,

offering confidential support, guidance, and access to specialist care whenever it is needed.

“No student should face antisemitism alone. With this helpline, CST is giving every student access to immediate support, day or night. This adds to our existing reporting mechanisms. It means CST and our many partners will be better able to give students the care, advice and protection they deserve.”

Key features of the helpline include:

24/7 Dedicated Student Liaison: A continuous support line staffed by trained professionals, ensuring students can reach out at any time.

Better Reporting Method: Students are encouraged to report incidents directly to

CST, enabling quicker intervention and assistance.

Collaborative Care Network: CST will work closely with partner organisations to triage cases and connect victims with specialist support services, including mental health care, campus advocacy and assistance with reporting complaints to authorities.

This initiative aims to empower students to speak out, seek help, and feel safe in their academic environments. CST’s priority is to ensure that Jewish students can go about their day-to-day lives, free from harassment and anti-Jewish hatred.

Students can access the helpline by calling 07578201999

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Why Ashkelon has become so popular

Anglos have finally discovered Ashkelon!

“If only we had bought in Netanya 30 years ago!”

Well, here’s your chance to right that mistake. Ashkelon is the new Netanya! You only have to loom at the forest of cranes to see the property boom that has seized this seaside town. Beautiful new neighbourhoods and palm-treed boulevards have turned Ashkelon into Israel’s third city – overtaking Haifa.

With beautiful beaches, a redeveloped marina and rich assortment of eateries, the city offers a desirable lifestyle that appeals to families, retirees, and young professionals. The waterfront boardwalk, lined with cafes, cinemas and excellent restaurants, enhances the Israel experience, making it a perfect place for leisure, relaxation and retirement.

Ashkelon’s modern train station offers a 65-minute commute to Tel Aviv, soon to be joined with service to Jerusalem. Meanwhile new highways to Jerusalem put the capital within an hour and ten minutes drive away along scenic routes across the beautiful Ella Valley, steeped as it is in Jewish history.

At Ashkelon Properties, David Zwebner has sold more apartments than most other agents in the area and is an expert on the city’s real estate scene. He attributes the attraction to the amazing beaches, sea views, affordability and proximity to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Compared to other coastal cities in Israel, property prices

in Ashkelon remain relatively lower, offering a more accessible entrypoint for first-time buyers and investors.

Apartments in new developments can be secured for as little as a 10 percent deposit, and the rest payable over 2 – 3 years as the property is completed. By that time you’ve already made a profit on your down-payment and are securely on Israel’s property ladder.

Ashkelon boasts a rich cultural heritage, with historical sites and a diverse population that enrich the community atmosphere. The city is also home to a university and various educational institutions as well as Barzilai Hospital and other healthcare facilities, making it an ideal choice for families.

Most people are unaware that from 1949 to1959, Ashkelon was originally designed, built and run by the South African Jewish Community at the request of the Israeli Government, as a home for new immigrants who were pouring into the new State.

Today, the rapidly expanding Anglo community has established itself as a vibrant active force integrated into local affairs. In the planning stages is an 18-hole golf course to complement the existing18 tennis courts.

In summary, Ashkelon’s beautiful coastline, bustling development, affordability, and cultural richness position it as a prime location for real estate investment, promising both lifestyle benefits and exciting financial returns.

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JVN: Keeping Volunteering at the Heart of Jewish Life

For 18 years, the Jewish Volunteering Network (JVN) has been the home of Jewish volunteering in the UK. We exist to make it easier for people to give their time, and to help charities find the volunteers they cannot do without.

Many in our community want to help but are unsure where to start. Others face barriers around confidence, time or accessibility. JVN breaks down those barriers. Each year we connect hundreds of people to opportunities that give them purpose and strengthen Jewish life.

The need is greater than ever. Since October 7, applications to volunteer have risen by almost a third, as people seek practical ways to show solidarity

professional giving time ad hoc to causes in need.

Supporting JVN means strengthening our values of chesed and tikkun olam. Together we can ensure volunteering continues to be the lifeblood of our community for the years ahead.

Support us this YomTov at www.jvn. org.uk/donate

MENORAH FOUNDATION SCHOOL ADMISSIONS ARE OPEN FOR NURSERY AND RECEPTION 2026

Our children are at the heart of everything we do. Recognising each child’s unique contribution and building on their self-esteem, we learn, grow and succeed together in a community rich in the values of Torah and Mitzvos, where every child is not only encouraged but inspired to reach their potential. By achieving together as a whole school community we encourage everyone to become life-long learners and ‘reach for their star’.

We will be holding an open morning for prospective parents on Thursday 6 November 2025. Please contact admissions@menorahfoundation.co.uk by Friday 31 October 2025 if you would like to attend.

Please visit menorahfoundation.co.uk/admissions for more information

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I AM

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

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2025

Sukkot: Davids Harp Hotel Galilee

20-29 Oct Peru, Machu Picchu & The Amazon

20-28 Oct Jewish Heritage Tour of Spain

27 Oct -9 Nov Japan and China Cruise

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4-10 Nov

Portugal Jewish Heritage Tour

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10-20 Nov Canary Islands Cruise

10-20 Nov India The Golden Triangle

1-10 Dec Adventure in Vietnam

7-11 Dec Authentic Havana Tour, Cuba 2026

6-18 Feb

Buenos Aires and Antarctica Cruise and Expedition

18-25 Feb Lapland Adventure

31 Mar -12 Apr Pesach Hotel: Elysium Resort & Spa Rhodes

31 Mar -12 Apr Pesach Hotel: Seafos Resort & Spa Nafplio Greece

4-13 May Fascinating Japan

7-21 Jun Viking Trails Cruise Iceland & Scotland

26 Jul -2 Aug

2-9 Aug Norwegian Fjords Cruise Norway Fjords Cruise

2-9 Aug Mediterranean Cruise

10-17 Aug

17-24 Aug Amazing Alaska Cruise

Sukkot: Davids Harp Hotel Galilee

Jewish Heritage Tour of Spain

Adventure in Vietnam

Luxury Cruises

Pesach: Resort & Spa

United Arab Emirates

Fascinating Japan

Lapland Adventure

India's Golden Triangle

Authentic Havana

Buenos Aires & Antarctica

Private Family African Safari

Everything planned for 5786, except your finances

Book shul seats for family

Order new outfits

Organise work leave

Kosher food shop

Sort out finances

You earn well, spend carefully, but where does it go? Whether you’re a professional, business owner or self employed; And your household income is £50,000 or £250,000.

Mesila’s expert and confidential coaching helps you take control of your finances with a tailored plan.

Book an initial free consultation to explore our coaching services.

coaching@mesilauk.org 07788 690 949 www.mesilauk.org

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.

Small acts of kindness make a big difference

As we enter Rosh Hashanah, a time to reflect on the past year and look forward to the year ahead, we are reminded of the power of acts of kindness. Across Jewish Care services, we see every day how kind gestures restore joy, strengthen resilience, and give comfort to those in the community who receive support from the charity.

Tanya Miller, Jewish Care’s Community Hub Manager at The Sam Beckman Centre for People Living with Dementia, says, “The number of people living with dementia is rising, and has risen a staggering 50% over the last 10 years, with someone diagnosed approximately every three minutes.

Music has become an avenue for expression, communication, allowing members to connect with others and reconnect with the past.

“That’s why we started our singing groups,” continues Tanya, “and as part of Edmund’s work with our choir, it’s been wonderful to see the way that one of our members, Roger, was inspired to play his guitar again, with Edmund’s gentle encouragement. There’s a huge amount of research showing that music can be so therapeutic for people living with dementia and for the brain.”

This creative personalised approach lies at the heart of Jewish Care’s support, nurturing the emotional and social wellbeing of each person, alongside physical

care.

For 97-year-old Vivienne, Colin, who drives the bus to The Ronson Family Community Centre at Jewish Care’s Sandringham care and community campus, lights up her week. Once isolated and unable to get out on her own, Vivienne loves going to the Centre three times a week, where she socialises and has fun.

As well as offering a smile and a reassuring arm, Colin offers Vivienne support and connection.

The same care, attention, and understanding is there for Sadie and the connection she has with Jewish Care social worker, Yvonne. When Sadie lost her beloved husband, Fred, she was grieving and isolated. Yvonne supported Sadie as she decided to move into our Vi & John Rubens House care home, where she has found comfort and companionship in a warm and supportive community.

Rosh Hashanah reminds us of the importance of supporting these connections. As the shofar sounds, we reconnect to Rosh Hashanah’s gone by, and we are all called to remember and renew, to treasure our memories and to strengthen our relationships. In supporting people like Roger, Vivienne and Sadie, we are further reminded that small acts of kindness can change the

world.

Ellisa Estrin, Jewish Care’s Fundraising & Marketing Director, says, “Our social work and community support services, along with our community and dementia day centres, provide vital support for many older people in the community. However, these services receive no government funding, and we rely on the generous support of the community to keep these vital services running. Thank you

for all that you do to support us. Wishing you Shanah Tovah, may the coming year bring good health for us all.”

Please donate to Jewish Care’s Rosh Hashanah appeal by visiting jewishcare. org/roshhashanah or calling 020 8922 2600.

For advice and support contact us on 020 8922 2222, email helpline@jcare.org or visit jewishcare.org/dementia

David Saffer reviews Israel, domestic & global stories in THE JEWISH WEEKLY over the past 12 months.

October 2024

Hamas leaders wanted “dead or alive”

vows US Justice department.

BBC breach guidelines on Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

IDF escalates war with Lebanon after assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Israel and world leaders commemorate a year of the 10/7 terror attack.

Knesset MKs ban UNWRA from Israel territory.

November 2024

Donald Trump wins second term at White House in US presidential election.

Anti-Israel group Palestine Action attacks Jewish charities and universities.

Kemi Badenoch wins Conservative party leadership election.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich calls for Judea and Samaria sovereignty.

Record numbers attend AJEX annual parade.

ICC ‘war crimes’ rule against Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Gallant condemned.

December 2024

Record numbers attend annual Chabad conference in New York.

IDF destroys 80% ‘strategic’ Syrian military targets after Assad regime collapses.

CAA March Against Antisemitism attracts over 30,000. Hunt for arsonists behind Adath Synagogue, Melbourne attack.

Israel shuts embassy in Dublin after Ireland recognises Palestine as a sovereign state.

January 2025

President-elect Trump threatens Hamas to release hostages by inauguration.

Holocaust denier Jean-Marie Le Pen legacy denounced by French politicians and Jewish groups.

Former US President Jimmy Carter ‘Israel legacy’ tarnished despite pivotal Camp David Accords role. Tears, joy and relief as hostages released from Gaza.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer moved by visit to Auschwitz-Bierkenau concentration camp.

King Charles attends Auschwitz-Birkenau 80th anniversary commemoration.

February 2025

President Donald Trump proposes USowned Gaza Strip ‘Riviera of the Middle East’.

Parliament bans Holocaust exhibition.

BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg condemned for comparing hostage treatment to Palestinians in Israeli prisons.

Labour Health Minister Andrew Gwynne sacked over Wattsapp messages.

Israel marks 500 days captivity of hostages in Gaza.

BBC backlash over ‘biased’ Gaza documentary.

Heartbreak across Israel for funeral of Bibas family murdered by Hamas in Gaza.

March 2025

CAA call for TV licence suspension over BBC Gaza documentary.

IDF 10/7 failings released.

Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch blasts BBC Arabic channel.

Chabad launches ‘egg free’ Purim recipe.

IAF pre-emptive strikes across Gaza Strip ends ceasefire with Hamas.

April 2025

Hostage families criticise Defense Minister Israel Katz after expansion of IDF operations.

Chabad emissaries and community safe after Myanmar earthquake.

President Isaac Herzog leads Israel’s Yom Hashoah delegation at Auschwitz-Birkenau.

Pope Francis calls for release of hostages from Gaza in last address before his death.

Israel’s fire services battle wildfires in Jerusalem hills.

May 2025

Calls for BBC to sack Match of the Day host Gary Lineker after anti-Israel video on Instagram.

J7 Task Force Against Antisemitism report surge in Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, UK and US in aftermath of 10/7 terror attack.

Israel Embassy in London is alleged terror target by Iran.

President Donald Trump calls for Syria to join Abraham Accords on Middle East trip.

June 2025

Jewish groups call on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to expel Dianne Abbott after ‘Jewish Defence Force’ post.

Outrage at ‘death to IDF’ chants at Glastonbury Festival. Thousands sign BBC boycott petition.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump hold ceasefire talks in Washington.

Israel’s Operation Rising Lion strikes to end Iran nuclear threat. President Donald Trump demands “unconditional surrender” by Iran.

Tributes to Rabbi Alan and Miriam Plancey who built Borehamwood & Elstree community.

July 2025

Wizzair UK-Israel flights to return for summer holidays.

Herzog hails Gaza hostage Eli Sharabi memoir ‘Hostage’.

Jewish organisations castigate BBC independent report into Gaza documentary.

Israel condemns 29 Foreign Ministers statement, including UK’s David Lammy, over Gaza position.

Jewish organisations call for Labour to expel Diane Abbott over further racism comments.

Government proscribe Palestine Action under Terrorism Act.

August 2025

Israel condemns Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Emmanuel Macron advocating Palestinian state at future UN General Assembly.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeks to extend Gaza operation.

Global outrage at ‘skeletal’ hostage videos of captives in Gaza.

September 2025

IDF and Shin Bet eliminate Mujahideen Brigades head Musbah Salim Musbah Dayyah responsible for murders of Bibas family in Gaza.

UK bans Israel from global military exhibition in London.

Government ministers shun CAA’s Britain March Against Antisemitism in central London.

Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu issues stark warning after bold Doha strike against Hamas leaders.

LSJS welcomes new Secondary Trainees in more schools and in a greater variety of subjects

LSJS (The London School of Jewish Studies) have welcomed this academic year’s new secondary teacher trainees, who are teaching in more schools and a greater variety of subjects.

This year’s trainees are teaching in a range of schools in the community, including Menorah High and JCoSS. They are also teaching a wider range of subjects such as Design and Technology, Food Technology and Art.

“I am teaching in a school with a couple of teachers who trained at LSJS and they had such a great experience, so I really wanted to come here,” said Gabi Davies who is commuting from Manchester to train at LSJS.

“There is such a diverse amount of

knowledge in the team; we can all see it’s such a cohesive group of staff who are exceptionally dedicated,” said Design and Technology teacher trainee Ben Cowan.

“We feel incredibly supported and know that the LSJS staff are all looking out for us as teachers”, said Gitty Chontow, Jewish Studies teacher at Hasmonean High School.

“I’m really excited to start the new academic year with such an enthusiastic group of teacher trainees who are so eager to learn and progress their careers” said Jonny Atkins, Head of Teacher Training and School Direct Secondary Programme Manager.

“We’re very proud to provide such a high level of teacher training to the community,” said Joanne Greenaway. “Our teachers go on to make a real mark on the schools they join and really value their training with us.”

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

UN Report Fails Legal Standards and Whitewashes Hamas Atrocities

The National Jewish Assembly (NJA) firmly rejects the recent UN Independent Commission of Inquiry report alleging Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. The commission claims Israel has met four of the five acts defined under the 1948 Genocide Convention. These assertions are alarming but rely on claims that have been repeatedly discredited. Under international law, including the Genocide Convention and ICJ precedent, proving genocide requires clear intent to destroy a protected group (dolus specialis), a standard this report fails to meet.

genocide,” said Steve Winston, Managing Director of the NJA.

The report’s authors, including Navi Pillay, Chris Sidoti, and Miloon Kothari, are known for long-standing anti-Israel positions. Their selective focus and reliance on unverified sources undermine credibility. The NJA notes the report ignores extensive evidence, independent studies, and context, including Hamas’s provocations and fighting from civilian areas, which casts serious doubt on any claim of genocidal intent. Most shockingly, it largely whitewashes Hamas’s October 7th massacres, the events that triggered this conflict.

“This report is deeply flawed and politically biased. It ignores context, distorts facts, and fails to meet legal standards for

These allegations have not gone unchallenged. Neither the UN nor the ICJ has upheld genocide claims against Israel, and the UK recently confirmed Israel is not committing genocide. The report relies on selective readings of Israeli military operations and statements by the Prime Minister, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, and others, which have been thoroughly rebutted by international legal experts. Misrepresenting these statements removes operational and security context, violating ICJ principles (Bosnia v. Serbia, 2007).

Rather than upholding international law, this report lowers the threshold for the world’s gravest crime while ignoring terrorism and Israel’s right to self-defence. It is a politically motivated smear that delegitimises Israel and whitewashes Hamas’s atrocities.

Happy they, who have heard the Herstiks

BY ANDREW M ROSEMARINE

Naftali Herstik’s hazzanut (liturgical singing) continues to inspire Jewish Communities far and wide. Through his sons and hundreds of students, many of them famous cantors themselves, their recordings online, and his own 14 records. Friends, fellow Jews, countrymen! Lend me your ears!

I come to praise hazzanim!

Long in the tooth, I’ve been listening to chazzonos since I was in nappies, and studied it formally at Israel’s National Academy of Cantoral Art, under the direction of Naftali Herstik. For me, he was the Colossus of our generation. All those who love hazzanut have our own favourite, and some of us are more devoted to our hazzan than anybody outside our family. When I say that Naftali was the Best, some will want to pelt me with their etrogs, or lash me with their lulav branches, because they prefer another. But for me personally, he towered over much of humanity, and made the world a happier, and more spiritual planet.

Some of us sometimes get bored in Beit Knesset, and find it difficult to focus on our recurring prayers. But I was always focused, and uplifted, when Naftali led them. I heard approaching 100 services by him, and was taught by him hundreds of hours. With every single word, indeed every note, he inspired me, and many others. When Naftali was leading prayers, i so wanted to hear them, that I regularly endangered my life, walking through the Arab district of Sheikh Jarrah, to reach the Great Synagogue of Jerusalem, where he presided from 1981 to 2008. How did

he inspire me, and many others, to this degree?

His starting point was to reflect the meaning of each word in its context. So the music of every prayer enhanced our millennia-old liturgy. Then he sought beauty in tone and phrasing. Listening to him, gave our ears a taste of the world to come, a reward for our travails, a comfort for our suffering.

More than that, he was a deeply pious and caring person, “with clean hands and a pure heart,” and a love of Torah and its interpretation. A graduate of London’s Royal College of Music, his knowledge of classical music was broad, and put to good use to beautify the traditional modes of our liturgy. When he sang the phrase “az”, meaning “then, in those Biblical times,” he would paint a picture of how he saw those times, so that we were transported to them. A different painting every time. Wow! He had hundreds of students, who hung on to his every word. He taught us, he inspired us, he encouraged us. To us, Naftali Herstik was Superchazzan. His death last year, at 77, was a body-blow to us.

He lives on in his wife Elka, (behind every great hazzan, there is a great lady) three daughters, two sons (hazzanim themselves,) and his students and devotees.

Netanel, his younger son, when a lad, accompanied his Father with solos, in Jerusalem’s Great Synagogue. Together, they appeared to us like The Kohen Gadol (The High Priest), with his Apprentice. People listened in awe at the beauty of their singing together, and the hearts of all the Congregation were lifted up, transfixed.

Netanel, now the Chief Cantor of Rabbi

Myisrael Turns Trauma Into Hope This Rosh

Hashana

Just £71 funds urgent trauma therapy that could save a life.

Two years of war and instability have left deep scars within Israeli society.

An estimated three million* Israelis are suffering from trauma, caused by witnessing atrocities, losing loved ones, displacement, and more.

Only a small number of those people have received the help they need. IDF suicides have doubled.** Children. Adults. Reservists. Thousands are struggling to hold on.

A FAMILY ON THE BRINK

Dalya’s world fell apart when her husband was killed in Gaza.

She spiralled into emotional crisis –struggling to feed her children and keep the lights on.

Dalya was ‘lucky’ to receive trauma therapy. It gave her the lifeline she desperately needed

Marc Schneier’s Hampton Shul in Long Island, New York, treated us to a feast of prayer in Jerusalem’s Yeshurun Shul and Theatre, this Pesach, accompanied by Marc Temerlies’ Neimah Israel Choir. Netanel’s prayers were consummate. If you closed your eyes and opened your ears, you could hear his Father singing through him. He sang the same repertoire his Father sang, with the same spirituality, the same sensitivity, and the same elegance. Indeed, he told me later that when he leads Prayers, he feels his Father’s presence with him.

Netanel also sang at times with a dramatic vigour and bright sheen, reminding me of the incomparable Heldenhazzan Richard Tucker. This was Pure Prayer and Bel Canto combined, and tugged at the heart. (Bel Canto is one of Italy’s great gifts to mankind, greater even than spaghetti and pizza. It is the art of singing as beautifully as possible, developed by Italian masters over centuries. Combined with hazzanut, it can take your soul by storm.)

During the Musaf Keddushah (Sanctus), there is a prayer beginning “Mimkomkhah Malkeinu tofia” (our King, you shall appear to us, from your place.) Netanel sang it to us sweetly, passionately, with the melody of “Bring him home” from Les Miserables. In this way, Netanel, a former Chovesh (paramedic) in the IDF, conveyed to us our hope that our Creator will deliver our hostages, “ki mechakim anachnu lokh” (for we are waiting for you.) In this way, our millennia-old

Psalm revealed another layer of meaning, ideal for today. I cried.

The interaction between choir and Cantor was so sensitive, so productive, so aesthetic, you would have thought that Conductor Temerlies and Cantor Hershtik were close family. (Indeed they are.) Together they produced all kinds of dynamics and subtleties, to bring the best out of our liturgy. It was worth coming all the way from Britain to hear them.

During Hallel, the Congregation was so moved that they sang lustily in unison and clapped their hands. Netanel finished the prayers with a jazz riff. With style. There was something in this service for everyone. Indeed hazzanut belongs to everyone.

We are told “Asei lekha Rav!” Take a Rabbi to be a spiritual guide for your life. We can add, “Asei lekha Hazzan!” Take a Cantor to be a guide for your soul. Even better than an apple a day.

Naftali Herstik, in his youth, served as Hazzan in Kinloss Shul, London, (Rav Isaac Bernstein’s and Margaret Thatcher’s Shul in Finchley.)

May Netanel too come to us in Britain soon.

We need our Herstiks.

Andrew M. Rosemarine, has 3 Oxford Law Degrees, and runs a law office specializing in Immigration Law and International Law.

Immigration.Law.For.You@gmail.com & International.Law.For.You@gmail.com

to cope and rebuild.

‘It helped me to hold things together when I felt like everything was falling apart,’ Dalya said.

ITAY’S WAR BEHIND THE WAR

Itay is an IDF reservist. He’s served 348 days since October 2023.

He’s trapped in a cycle of flashbacks, guilt, and despair – convinced the pain will never end.

Trauma therapy is helping him to survive.

It offers a path to heal, rebuild, and begin again with hope.

This Rosh Hashana, you have the chance to make a life-changing difference.

Just £71 will fund an urgent therapy session for someone in crisis - a mother like Dalya, or a soldier like Itay.

Together, let’s turn trauma into hope - one therapy session at a time.

DONATE NOW: Myisraelcharity.org/ hope

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ASK THE RABBI

IS ISRAEL COMMITTING GENOCIDE?

Dear Rabbi

Well, at long last, an independent commission found Israel guilty of genocide. I suppose that finally puts an end to your constant defence of Israel. What say you now?

Nasar

Dear Nasar

This “Independent Commission of Inquiry” is an investigative panel, not a judicial body. It has no legal authority to hand down verdicts. But I’ll tell you what I say now:

1) The UN Human Rights Council gave it an open-ended mandate to investigate Israel “in perpetuity,” the only country ever singled out like this. No such permanent mandate exists for Syria, North Korea, China, or Iran.

2) The chair of this committee, Navi Pillay, has a long record of anti-Israel activism, including supporting the antisemitic Durban Conference. Miloon Kothari, one of the commissioners, was condemned internationally after claiming “the Jewish lobby” controls social media.

3) The Human Rights Council membership routinely includes regimes like China, Cuba, Pakistan, Somalia, Qatar, and

Venezuela - governments with abysmal human rights records that lecture Israel while silencing their own people.

4) Israel refused to cooperate because the commission denied basic judicial safeguards: there’s no cross-examination, no standards of evidence, and no ability for Israel to defend itself properly.

5) The commission consistently downplays or ignores Hamas’s atrocities (massacres, kidnappings, sexual violence) while inflating Israeli actions into “genocide.”

Bottom line: When dictatorships sit in judgment of the Middle East’s only democracy, and when a biased panel invents verdicts without due process, the result isn’t justice - it’s a UN circus. Calling Israel’s war of survival ‘genocide’ is a grotesque distortion that insults the victims of real genocides and shields actual perpetrators of terror.

NEW YEAR – OLD STRUGGLES

Dear Rabbi

As we get ready to go into Rosh Hashanah, I consider these past 2 years. Each Rosh Hashanah I went in with hope and each year ended with despair. Israel is still at war, hostages are still being held, and antisemitism is still on the increase.

How am I supposed to enter yet another Rosh Hashanah with any real hope?

Ahuvah

Dear Ahuvah

Long before Columbus discovered America, some Europeans believed that if you sailed far enough west across the ocean, you would eventually reach land. A group of expert Portuguese sailors decided to test the theory. They sailed 25 miles out into the Atlantic and saw nothing. At 75 miles, still nothing. At 100 miles, nothing. They returned and announced their verdict: “There is nothing there!”

As Columbus would later demonstrate, however, a whole new world lay just beyond the horizon, waiting to be discovered. The tragedy was not that the sailors didn’t reach it - it’s that they stopped too soon.

That mistake is one we can easily repeat. Faced with struggle in our own lives or pain in the world around us, it’s tempting to give up and pronounce despairingly: “There is nothing there.”

The Shofar of Rosh Hashanah comes along to say: keep going. Don’t stop short and truncate your own voyage. Don’t let today’s discouragement convince you there is no tomorrow. Keep believing, keep striving, and you’ll discover a whole world of promise waiting just beyond the horizon.

That’s why the Torah reading on Rosh Hashanah tells the story of Hagar, Abraham’s concubine. Sitting in the desert, broken and weeping, she abandons her

dying child Ishmael, unable to watch him perish. It is at that moment that an angel calls out: “Get up, go to the child, and take him by the hand.” The Hebrew can also be read: “Strengthen your own hand - through him.”

When we are anxious, lost, and afraid, the Torah teaches us not to collapse into self-pity. The way forward is to reach out -to take someone else by the hand. Sometimes the best way to overcome despair is by helping another person overcome theirs.

So, this Rosh Hashanah, when the Shofar sounds, hear its call: don’t give up, don’t wallow in despair. Take a hand, give a hand, let’s strengthen our communal bonds. In so doing G-d should ensure that all the hostages are returned home; Israel should once again live in peace and tranquillity, and all the hate out there should dissipate. Together, please G-d, we will discover the world of promise that lies just beyond our horizon.

Wishing everyone a Shana Tova; Happy, Healthy, Sweet & Prosperous New Year!

WHAT3WORDS/// PASSION FOR PURPOSE

BY RABBI NAFTALI SCHIFF

Passion for Jewish life is not an accessory at Jewish Futures- it’s a core value sitting at the very heart ( excuse the pun) of our mission, shaping our vision and animating everything we do. There is something deflating about meeting someone who does the right things but lacks passion. They may be dutiful, responsible, ticking the boxes, but they seem to follow the script in a soul less way. They may technically sound, but their heart is elsewhere. They may be nonchalant, laid back, careful not to be “too intense.” or too emotional. They miss the point.

Life is not meant to be lived in a monochrome state. It is meant to be lived in colour, with freshness, eagerness, energy, and excitement. And if this is true in human pursuits, when chasing a dream, building a business, or wooing a loved one, how much more so in the realm of building a vibrant Jewish life and in performance of Torah and mitzvot, where the stakes are eternal.

From the very beginning of our history, passion has been woven into the Jewish story. When Hashem commands Avraham with the daunting test of the Akeidah- the binding of Yitzchak- the Torah tells us that Avraham got up early in the morning. Rashi asks: why early? Would not any father hesitate, delay, bargain for more time? Yet Avraham “hurried” to do the mitzvah. Because once Hashem Himself had called, once the mission was clear- there was no time or energy to waste.

This eagerness is not unique to Avraham’s supreme test. Chazal teach us a principle: zrizim makdimim lemitzvotthe zealous hurry to do mitzvot. If you have an opportunity to do something good, don’t let it lie around, don’t let it go stale. Seize it. Run at it. Do it with passion-“ mit a bren!”

The most foundational prayer of our people- the Shema- commands us: “You shall love Hashem your G-d with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.” Judaism is not a half-hearted project. It is an all-in relationship.

Maimonides, in Hilchot Teshuva (10:3) describes the mitzvah of ahavat Hashem - love of Gd by comparing it to the love of one’s spouse. He says the person should be like one who is “lovesick,” constantly thinking about their beloved. This is how we are meant to relate to Hashem- the

ultimate Source of all life, all blessing, all pleasure, all purpose, meaning and joy. The Rambam could have chosen a more offhand metaphor such as loyalty, commitment, obligation. However, he insists on passion, yearning, devotion.

In the second paragraph of the Shema we are told to love Hashem and to serve Him “with all your heart.” The Gemara in Ta’anit (2a) explains: what does it mean to serve Hashem with your heart? It means prayer. Prayer is not a dry recital. It is avodah she’balev- service of the heart. The heart is the seat of passion.

The Gemara in Sanhedrin (106b) teaches: Rachmana liba ba’i—Hashem desires the heart. More than words, more than actions, He wants our inner fire.

Let’s be honest. Often we become nonchalant and slip into approaching our Jewish lives without passion. We show up out of habit. We light candles on autopilot. We make Kiddush with the same intonation we have used since childhood. We go through the motionssometimes beautifully choreographed motions- but motions nonetheless.

The Torah, however, is described as eish dat lamo- a fiery Torah. Fire is never static. It dances, leaps upward, consumes, illuminates. A Jew without passion is a contradiction in terms. We are not meant to be dull embers, but blazing flames!

A drag. A duty.

But what if we reframed it? What if we understood that every mitzvah we perform is not a burden but a building block of connection and relationshipan expression of Torat Chaim- a lived encounter with the Infinite, a chance to plug into the Source of all meaning, blessing, and vibrancy? Wouldn’t we rush to each mitzvah, not trudge? Wouldn’t we pour ourselves into tefillah, not watch the clock?

The shofar is not meant to sound like a groan. It is a blast- it’s raw, primal, urgent. It is the call of passion.

The Baal Shem Tov taught that the main thing in avodat Hashem is chiyus- aliveness, vitality. One can learn Torah, pray, even keep mitzvot outwardly, but without chiyus it is lifeless. Especially at this time, Hashem stretches out His “hand” and invites each of us to connect and form a living relationship, a beating heart, a burning soul.

Imagine if every time we went to shul, gathered at the Shabbat table, or sat at the Seder, it was with a bren, fuelled with a burning fire. Imagine if our classrooms and schools were infused not just with information but with passion. Imagine if our homes radiated joy in mitzvot so tangibly that our children could not help but be involved and excited!

Children, after all, have finely tuned antennae. They know if we are merely going through the motions of our Yiddishkeit or if we are embracing and living it with genuine excitement. If they see us bored and indifferent or simply dutiful yet soul less they will assume it is boring and irrelevant. If they see us aflame, they will feel the warmth and want to come close. We are standing at the threshold of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot. For some, this season becomes a burden: long hours in shul, prayers we don’t fully understand, rituals we don’t always comprehend, inexplicable fasting, long meals.

Chassidic masters speak of avodah b’hislahavus service of Hashem with fiery enthusiasm. The Kotzker Rebbe was once asked where Hashem resides. He answered: “Wherever you let Him in.”

And the only way to let Him in is with a heart wide open, allowing sometimes dormant embers to become aflame with passion. Aish meaning fire, lives with passion. There is a contagious quality to passion. When one person sings with gusto, the whole shul can be lifted. When a parent does a mitzvah with joy, the whole family feels it. Passion cannot be faked, but when it is genuine, it spreads like fire.

This is why in the Sh’ma the Torah enjoins us to teach our children “veshinantam levanecha”- literally to “sharpen” the words into them. A blunt message will not penetrate. But a passionate, sharp, fiery one will.

At Jewish Futures, we have articulated ten core values that guide our work. One of them is Passion- because without passion, nothing else endures. Passion is what turns mitzvot into moments of connection, what transforms classrooms into places of inspiration, what makes Shabbat tables glow and communities come alive. Passion ensures vibrant Jewish Futures. Our mission is to ensure that the flame of Jewish life does not flicker out but burns brighter. That means transmitting not only knowledge of Torah and

tradition, but passion of Jewish connection and Jewish life. It means making sure that young Jews do not inherit only rituals and rules, but a vibrant, animated and dynamic love of our heritage.

Without passion, Judaism becomes stale. With passion, it becomes irresistible.

The Torah is fire. The Jewish soul is fire. The future of Am Yisrael depends on fire. Let’s not be afraid of passion. Let’s rather embrace the fire within.

This Rosh Hashanah, let us resolve not to be passive observers of religious rites. Let us not approach our Judaism with apathy or lethargy. Let us throw ourselves into it with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our might.

Let us love being Jewish like one who is lovesick. Let us pray with heart. Let us run to mitzvot. Let us build homes, schools, and communities where passion radiates in every corner.

Wouldn’t our Jewish world look different if every Jew threw themselves at every mitzvah with passion? Wouldn’t our children’s eyes shine brighter if they saw their parents aflame? Wouldn’t our shuls and schools come alive if the air vibrated with eagerness, joy, and devotion?

Passion is not a luxury. It is the lifeblood of Jewish living. Without it, mitzvot risk becoming mechanical. With it, they become encounters with eternity. So let’s bravely allow our hearts to be on fire. Little kids are passionate about life. Let’s not allow that natural state of being to be cynically extinguished in ourselves or in others. Let us reignite our communities with a burning love for Yiddishkeit, for Jewish living, for Jewish learning, for Jewish practice. Because a Judaism without passion is hardly Judaism at all- but a Judaism with passion can illuminate the whole world.

/// 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

Shana tova umetuka! Love Naftali

A Bag Full of Kindness: How Small Acts Transform Rosh Hashanah

There is something special about Rosh Hashanah. It is more than the sound of the shofar and more than the apples and honey. It is a time when we pause, look at our lives, and ask ourselves who we want to be in the year ahead.

In our prayers we say again and again that three things can remove a harsh decree: teshuvah, tefillah and tzedakah. Repentance, prayer and giving.

At GIFT, we see giving as not only a mitzvah but a mindset. It is like a muscle: the more you use it, the stronger it becomes. Giving trains us to notice one another, to step outside our own bubble, and to act with kindness. That is why this Rosh Hashanah we are launching something simple but designed to get people thinking of others – the GIFT bags. You will find them in Jewish shops all over the community. They are purple, free to take, and they carry one line: “This bag is made for GIFTing.”

The idea was inspired by Bloomingdale’s famous “little brown bag” that became an iconic part of New York culture. We would love for our GIFT bags to become the same in our community, a small but recognisable symbol of who we are. Every time someone picks up a challah, a honey cake, or a jar of honey, the bag will be there as a reminder: this is the season for GIFTing.

Imagine if, as you buy your own apples and honey, you picked up an extra one for a neighbour. Imagine if you filled that purple bag with biscuits and left it on someone’s doorstep “just because.”

Starting the year with GIFTing sets the tone. It helps us build habits. We all know how easy it is to get caught up in our own Yom Tov lists; the food, the guests, the cooking. But Rosh Hashanah is not only about what happens around our own table. It is also about making sure nobody else is forgotten.

And the impact can be bigger than we realise. Last year, a volunteer befriender asked me if she could give a honey cake to the elderly widow she visits each week. I told her yes. She picked up a cake from the bakery and brought it to her elderly friend.

The widow later phoned GIFT, full of emotion. She said it was the first time in years she had received a Yom Tov gift. “I felt remembered,” she said. “It changed the way I entered the new year.”

And the GIFT volunteer told me afterwards that handing over that honey cake was the best part of her own Yom Tov. Amidst all the meals and guests, it was that small act of kindness that stayed with her.

Maybe that is what we mean when we say in our prayers that teshuvah, tefillah

and tzedakah can remove the decree. Even a honey cake offered in kindness can change something; both for the one who receives, and for the one who gives. And this is not only about bags. On the 28th and 29th of September, GIFT will be holding our annual campaign, this year themed Powered by Giving. The bags are the symbol, but the campaign is the

chance for all of us to take part in fuelling the work that supports families in need and inspires the next generation of givers. When we look back on the year, it will not be the size of our brisket or how many guests we had that matters. It will be the moments when we reached out and gave. Let us begin this year as we mean to go on: powered by giving.

Southend & Westcliff Choral Selichot

The Southend community participated in a high octane unique, spiritual experience, an inspiring Choral Selichot Service to awaken them to the spirit of the Yammin Nora`im. Local Chazan Yossie Deutsch took the role of Sh`liah Tzibbur. He was in full voice, with exceptional ruach, accompanied by the harmonious voices of the Chassidim/ SWHC Choir. There was live music from professional guitarist Lazer Abeles (“I feel privileged to be part of this wonderful community”) who played evocative tunes in the traditional style, supported by Reb Barry Hoddes, Reb Yosef Freylich and ably assisted by regular visitor to Westcliff, Reb Shloime Eizenthal. Everyone joined in with the Ensemble, swaying

with passion and eagerness adding to the vibrant atmosphere. The davening conveyed a spiritual depth that hit the congregation right in their hearts and they responded lustily and felt uplifted. The main shul was rocking full of emotion with high octane electricity. Amazing seven-year-old Shimon Freylich gave some solo performances and the night was concluded with a dance procession “Am Yisroel Chai.” SWHC Board Member Aron Engel said, “Chazan Yossie did a fantastic job with an excellent mixture of tunes and songs.”

SWHC Rabbi Hyman who spoke about the first fruits, the fruit of the land, known as ‘Bikurim,’ and detailed in depth how the Israelites clothes last 40 years!

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The Halachic Status of Honey

Adapted from a shiur given by Dayan Steiner at the Manchester Rabbinical Training Programme

With the month of Tishrei rapidly approaching, honey is soon to take its place of honour on our dining tables. Honey is central to the culinary minhagim of the Yomim Noraim, used for dipping apples on Rosh Hashanah, enhancing meat and poultry dishes, and inclusion in baked goods. Consuming honey is symbolic of our heartfelt desire for a sweet new year. However, when shopping for honey, it is important to be aware of its kashrus status. In recent years, several significant kashrus concerns have been identified concerning honey, two of which will be explored in this feature.

FOREST HONEY

This product, also known as Honeydew or Pine Honey, is usually easily identifiable by its darker appearance compared to regular honey. Sometimes, companies may also supplement regular honey with honeydew.

In 2020, the Manchester Beis Din warned that consuming Forest Honey may constitute a Torah prohibition.

To understand why Forest Honey is problematic, we shall explain the difference in how it is produced compared to regular bees’ honey.

Bees’ Honey is produced in a series of remarkable feats for half-inch-long insects with a brain the size of a sesame seed.

The forage bee uses its tubelike tongue to lap up nectar (a sugary liquid) from flowering plants.

The bee stores the nectar in its “honey stomach” and returns to its honeycomb. The honeycomb is formed from beeswax produced by worker bees.

After clearing security with the guard bees, the forage bee regurgitates the nectar into the honeycomb. Once the nectar is in the honeycomb, the hive bees process it into honey.

The production of Forest Honey follows a similar process, albeit with one crucial distinction in source. Whereas regular honey is produced from nectar gleaned from various flowering plants, forest honey is derived by the forage bees from honeydew.

WHAT IS HONEYDEW?

For many years, it was widely assumed that honeydew was a form of sticky dew or secretion of trees, which the bees ingest and process. Hence, the somewhat misleading name ascribed to it, “Honeydew”, in respect of its similarity to the dew that gives leaves on a tree a sticky substance.

In recent times, however, scientists observed that honeydew is produced by aphids and other insects1. The bug lands on the leaf, sucks sugars from the leaf,

and then excretes the waste onto the leaf surface. This excretion attracts, among other creatures, bees, which then ingest the excretion and continue to produce Forest Honey from it.

Now, there is a principle, taught by a Mishnah, that “What emerges from the tamei creature is tamei”2. For example, a camel is not kosher; therefore, whatever emerges from a camel is likewise not kosher. Therefore, camels’ milk is forbidden to drink, as it “emerges from the tamei”, unlike cows’ milk.

Accordingly, the excrement of the aphid, which is a non-kosher creature, is forbidden to eat. (This excrement may not have the same Kashrus status as Shellac, which is a separate topic.)

Now, you may be wondering why bees’ honey is koshersurely this too emerges from a non-kosher insect?

Bees’ honey is kosher for one of two reasons:

(1) The nectar merely passes through the insect’s body and is not secreted by the insect (as stated above, the bee merely stores the nectar in its second stomach until offloading it at the honeycomb).

contacting the kashrus organisation was that the honey in question is processed in a factory that also produces milky products. The honey and the milky products shared the same production equipment. Therefore, in the opinion of the kashrus organisation, the honey produced at that plant was to be considered milky.

You may be wondering why honey, produced by bees, should end up in a factory. It is therefore worth explaining the difference between premium honey and cheap, typically runny honey, which is more commonly used.

Premium honey, such as Manuka honey, is generally raw and unpasteurised. (As a result, it has many more health benefits compared to cheaper honey, since boiling honey causes the loss of many of its beneficial nutrients.)

In contrast, cheaper, regular honey is produced from a mixture of honeys originating in various countries, including outside the EU. Common sources of this type of honey include China, Vietnam and India, among others.

contains butter.

Now, we must consider whether sharing production facilities with milk products actually renders the honey milky.

Where honey is processed at a high temperature on the same machinery as a milk product, it would be treated as having absorbed the flavour of the milk and therefore may be considered milky.

One factor to consider is whether combining honey and milk results in an enhanced taste or if the combination produces a less desirable one. A similar matter is debated by the poskim regarding whether the flavour of meat is enhanced by honey or not. There is also a discussion regarding wine mixed with honey.

If the honey’s flavour is enhanced by the milk flavour it absorbs, then the honey may well be considered milky.

One source for milk and honey resulting in an enhanced flavour is that the Torah itself is described as “Devash Vechalav Tachas Leshoneich” (honey and milk beneath your tongue), which would indicate that the two complement each other.

(It is possible that this would depend on the milk-honey ratio, similar to what the poskim discuss regarding honey enhancing or detracting from the flavour of meat, that this would possibly depend on how much of each is in the mixture.)

One would also need to verify if the machinery used in the honey production is a ben yomo (was used for the milk product within the past 24 hours) or not. The general principle is that where a flavour was absorbed by a container more than 24 hours prior, then that flavour will not enhance the taste of the food which is subsequently cooked in it.

(2) The Torah permits bees’ honey as per a pasuk relating to winged insects, as derived by the Sages in the Gemara.

In fact, not only is honey permitted to be consumed, but other beneficial products of the bee are permitted, such as propolis and beeswax. Thus, one may even suck honey from a honeycomb, as did Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (d. 1995) on the night of Rosh Hashanah.

However, as far as Forest Honey is concerned, since it is known to be sourced from the excrement of a non-kosher creature, this is not included in the Torah’s licence for bees’ honey.

MILKY HONEY

Several years ago, one kashrus organisation notified the community that a particular brand of honey should be treated as milky.

This notice of caution was of significant practical relevance, particularly at this time of the year, when many nashim tzidkoniyos add honey to their chicken or meat dishes.

The information I received upon

At the stage of being imported, these honeys most often contain the bees’ body parts, such as their legs, which are obviously not kosher. Therefore, if these would still be identifiable in the honey, one would need to remove them. However, once the honey is boiled, it is considered that the body parts detract from the flavour of honey rather than enhancing it, as the Shulchan Aruch (YD 81:8) explains.

To arrive at the clear honey found on the shop shelf, the imported honey undergoes a filtering process. The filtering process removes the bees’ body parts and leaves the honey with a more transparent look.

As part of that process, the honey is pasteurised. (In addition, regular honey often has added sweeteners, such as high-fructose corn syrup3 or glucose syrup, and honey is said to be one of the most adulterated foodstuffs globally.)

What types of products containing milk would be produced in the same factory as a honey factory?

Without direct access to the factory, one can only speculate. One possibility may be spreads, such as jam or lemon curd, for example, the latter of which

Therefore:

• It is praiseworthy in the first instance to buy honey with a reputable hechsher. The hechsher should also ideally confirm that the honey is parev.

• Regarding cheap runny honeys, whilst they are kosher and permitted to be used on Challah or in cake, one should avoid using them as an ingredient in meat or poultry dishes, unless one can somehow ascertain that it is raw and unadulterated.

As a final point, one must also be aware of potential issues of flavoured honey, as well as the fact that some honeys also contain Royal Jelly, which should also be avoided, as, in the opinion of many poskim, it is prohibited.

1 Small sap-sucking insects, in a family which includes greenfly and blackfly.

2 And likewise what emerges from the tahor creature is tahor.

3 This may pose a problem at Pesach time, as corn is a legume which is considered kitniyos

Not Perfection, But Honesty: The Real Work of Rosh Hashanah

BY RABBI BENNY BLAU

The Talmud in Rosh Hashanah teaches: “Say before Me verses of remembrance so that your remembrance will come before Me for good.”

On the surface, the message seems clear. During the Zichronot section of the Rosh Hashanah prayers, we recall the Akeidat Yitzchak — the Binding of Isaac. In doing so, we plead that in the merit of our forefather Yitzchak, G-d remember us for life, sealing us in the Sefer HaChaim, the Book of Life. We invoke the past to shape our future.

But Rav Shlomo Wolbe (z”l) offers a strikingly different way of understanding this teaching.

To appreciate his insight, we must first ask: what are Zichronot all about?

In the Rosh Hashanah prayers we declare: “Before You all hidden things are revealed, and all secrets from the beginning of time.” Those words are both majestic and terrifying. They remind us that we live in layers — some visible to the world, and some known only to

ourselves. And above it all, G-d sees every layer.

Rav Chaim Friedlander (z”l) explains that there are two kinds of “hidden things.”

The first are actions that are concealed from others, what our sages call bein adam l’atzmo — matters “between a person and themselves.” When we pray, only we know the sincerity of our words, when we perform a mitzvah, only we know the degree of our devotion, when we perform acts of kindness, only we know what our true motives are. To the outside world, we may look pious; but only G-d knows whether our hearts truly followed our lips, whether our minds were truly present.

The second kind of hiddenness runs even deeper. These are the secret motives that lie buried in the subconscious — the drives and impulses that shape our choices without us even noticing. At times, we act without knowing why. We speak words that surprise even ourselves. We choose paths that, in hindsight, reveal long-hidden fears or desires. These too

are part of the divine accounting, for G-d knows us better than we know ourselves. He sees not only what we do, but why we do it. He perceives the stirrings of the soul that we ourselves may have never named. And so, our task on Rosh Hashanah is not only to ask for life, but to strive for self-awareness — to become partners with G-d in uncovering who we really are. That is the work of cheshbon hanefesh, the spiritual accounting. To ask ourselves: Why did I react that way? What was I truly seeking? Which fears held me back, and which hopes lifted me higher? It is not easy work. Sometimes it is uncomfortable, even painful. But only through honesty with ourselves can we hope to grow closer to the truth of who we are meant to be.

With this in mind, Rav Wolbe reframes the Talmud’s teaching. When G-d tells us, “Say before Me Zichronot so that your remembrance will come before Me for good,” He is not only asking us to recall Yitzchak’s heroism. He is inviting us to admit that we too live in layers of hiddenness, and that He alone

sees them all. That admission itself becomes a great merit. To stand before G-d and say: “I know You see me fully, even in the places where I hide from myself” — that is already the beginning of teshuvah, of return.

We may think that G-d desires perfection. In truth, He desires honesty. He asks us to bring our whole selves — the polished and the broken, the known and the hidden — into His presence. When we do so, we take the first step toward refining not only our deeds but also our motives. We begin to purify not only our actions but the intentions that animate them. Thus, the Talmud’s promise takes on a new light: “Say before Me Zichronot so that your remembrance will come before Me for good.” By admitting that we cannot hide from G-d, that our lives are transparent before Him, we awaken His compassion. He remembers us for the good not because we are flawless, but because we are willing to be seen — and willing to change.

May that honesty, that courage to face both our light and our shadows, be our greatest merit this Rosh Hashanah. And may the G-d who remembers all things remember us for life, for blessing, and for a sweet and successful year.

Are you thirsty?

BY RABBI JONATHAN TAWIL

Cognitive dissonance is a kind of armour that we build up to ward off information that we don’t want to hear. According to cognitive dissonance theory, we seek consistency among our beliefs. When there is dissonance between belief and behaviour, we change something to eliminate the dissonance. We could change our behaviour to accord with our beliefs, but usually, we change our attitude to accommodate our behaviour. It’s much less work!

For example: You buy an expensive car and take it for a drive to Manchester. Even though the car looked great in the showroom and handled well in town, you discover that on long drives, it’s about as comfortable as a wooden bench.

Dissonance exists between your beliefs that you have a) bought a good car, and b) that a good car should be comfortable. Dissonance could be eliminated by deciding that it doesn’t matter since the car is mainly used for short trips (reducing the importance of the dissonant belief) or focusing on the cars strengths such as safety, appearance, handling (thereby adding more consonant beliefs). The dissonance could also be eliminated by getting rid of the car -- but that’s a lot harder than changing our beliefs.

Changing beliefs, working on ourselves, changing our character for the best all require a great deal of effort. The question is, are we ready to work on ourselves? Do we see this as important, or are we going to continue our robotic path in life.

The story is told of Morris, who goes to the Rabbi and says, “I committed a sin and I want to know what I can do to repent.”

“What was the sin?” the Rabbi asked.

“It happened just once,” Morris assures him. “I didn’t wash my hands and recite the blessing before eating bread.”

“Nu, if it really only happened once,” the Rabbi said, “that’s not so terrible. Nonetheless, why did you neglect to wash your hands and recite the blessing?”

“I felt awkward Rabbi,” said Morris. “You see, I was in a non-kosher restaurant.”

The Rabbi’s eyebrows arch. “And why were you eating in a non-kosher restaurant?”

“I had no choice,” Morris said. “All the kosher restaurants were closed.”

“And why were all the kosher restaurants closed?” the Rabbi asked.

Morris replied, “It was Yom Kippur.”

Sometimes we are not very truthful with ourselves, we start with one small request, perhaps a small lust to do a sin, and we convince ourselves that such a small sin won’t hurt anyone. Then slowly, slowly one thing leads to another and before we know it we find ourselves performing a major sin.

What happened?

In this weeks Parsha the Torah states that anyone who thinks that all the curses mentioned in the Torah will not apply to him, is mistaken. ““And it will be that when he hears the words of this curse, he will bless himself in his heart, saying, ‘Peace will be with me...to compound the moist with the thirsty’ “ (29:18)

Rabbi appointed Rabbi of Kehal Yedidim - a growing community at the heart of Jewish Futures

Kehal Yedidim, based at the Jewish Futures Central Hub in NW4, continues to flourish as a dynamic and welcoming kehilla. Rooted in the core values of responsibility, unity, authenticity, and aspiration, the community is dedicated to nurturing both members and visitors in a warm, inclusive environment focused on meaningful Jewish growth.

Jewish Futures CEO, Rabbi Naftali Schiff, expressed great enthusiasm about KHY’s continued development and new appointment.

“We are thrilled to announce that Rabbi Benny Blau is the new community Rabbi of Kehal Yedidim, and we look forward to both the community and the Beis Hamedrash growing under his dynamic leadership, in sync with the bold mission of JFT - to ensure vibrant Jewish futures!”

Rabbi Benny, who received semicha from Rav Yitzchak Berkovits א”טילש of the Jerusalem Kollel, brings passion and purpose to his new role.

“I am deeply honoured and humbled to have been appointed as the Rov of this wonderful and growing kehilla,” he said. “Together with the leadership of Jewish

Hashem emphatically states that no one is immune from punishment. There are no excuses. If a person knows the rules, he has learnt the Torah and nevertheless thinks that Shalom Yihyeh Li – I will be ok, this doesn’t apply to me, it applies to everyone else – then he is mistaken. We have to stop looking at the bad in others and also realise that there exists some bad in us. The way forward is to inspect ourselves. But there is a more important lesson to be learned from the above mentioned Pasuk. Let us take a deeper look. The Ramban asks what is meant by the words “in order to compound the moist (Rava) with the thirsty (Tseme’ah)”, what is it telling us?

The soul of man is pure. We are created with a content soul, but due to our body being physical our desires are physical. There is a constant battle between our soul which seeks closeness to Hashem and our body which seeks physicality’s.

A content soul is called Rava. Its desires are satiated. A lustful person however, is called Tseme’ah –thirsty – they desire more and more. The Ramban explains that in the beginning a sin can seem far away, a persons lust can be controlled, but then a person opens the door – just once. He gives in to temptation. From then on its an upward battle because once he has tasted the lust he desires more, and the urge gets greater. The Torah

teaches us that a person shouldn’t think Shalom Yihyeh li – all we be fine, its ok I will only do the sin once and then I will be good, because the Torah understand the psyche of man, and once you start the lust grows until eventually there is a massive thirst.

The smell of Rosh Hashanah is in the air, the cooking has started and the buying new cloths and preparation for the big day is in full swing. That is the physical side. How is our spiritual preparation, are we focusing on ourselves and are we building fences around those sins that we are prone too?

Wishing you all a Gemar VeChatima Tova, may we all be written in the book of Life health and happiness with the coming of Mashiach speedily in our days Amen.

Futures, I look forward to building on our foundations in Torah, Avodah, and Gemilas Chasodim. We warmly welcome anyone seeking a friendly, growth-oriented community.”

Kehal Yedidim offers a rich programme of tefillah and learning: uplifting davening for Shabbos and Yom Tov, daily Shacharis, weekly Shalosh Seudos with guest speakers, a vibrant morning Beis Hamedrash, Sunday shiurim, women’s learning opportunities, musical Selichos and Hallel with Eilecha, as well as dedicated children’s programming and a crèche.

With Rabbi Blau now at the helm, the community enters an exciting new chapter. There is a palpable sense of momentum and potential, as Kehal Yedidim looks ahead to deepening its impact, expanding its programming, and welcoming even more individuals and families into its growing circle of inspiration and connection.

From the Heart of Israel: Reflections, Resolve, and Renewal for 5786

By Israel Properties by Stamelman & Partners

As the shofar sounds and the Jewish world gathers to welcome a new year, we pause in Israel to reflect on the year that has passed and to look ahead with faith and determination. 5785 was a year that tested resilience, but also revealed extraordinary opportunities. Communities rallied, families persevered, and the bond between the Diaspora and Eretz Yisrael grew stronger than ever.

The Year That Was – Market and Moments

Despite global economic headwinds— interest-rate hikes, currency fluctuations, and policy shifts—the Israeli real estate market proved its underlying strength. Anglo buyers continued to invest in Jerusalem’s timeless streets, Ramat Beit Shemesh’s vibrant communities, Tel Aviv’s reborn southern quarters, and Netanya’s coastal gems. Infrastructure milestones like the Tel Aviv light rail and Ramat Beit Shemesh’s urban expansions have already begun reshaping daily life, commuting patterns, and long-term value.

Beyond the major centers, new growth corridors drew attention:

• Carmei Gat – A rapidly developing southern city with exceptional value for young families and investors.

• Ashdod – A coastal powerhouse with upgraded transport links and strong rental demand.

• Ashkelon – Emerging as a seaside alternative, offering attractive price points and long-term growth potential.

• Modiin – Strategically located between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, blending urban convenience with community life.

• Land Investment Opportunities – Private land parcels and development plots across the Galilee and central Israel continue to provide strategic, long-term appreciation potential for savvy investors seeking to diversify.

Families from London, Manchester, and beyond did not merely purchase properties—they planted seeds of belonging. They understood that in uncertain times, Israel remains the ultimate anchor, both spiritually and financially.

Current Affairs and a Changing Landscape

Israel’s cities are transforming. Urban renewal projects are revitalizing older neighborhoods, green spaces are being protected and expanded, and the government continues to address housing supply and affordability. While the world debates economic forecasts, Israel pushes forward with innovation, community-building, and purpose. These changes are not abstract—they shape where your children might learn Torah, where you might open your office, or where you could gather with family for Shabbat.

Words of Torah Inspiration

Rabbi Avigdor Miller zt”l reminded us on Rosh Hashanah that crowning Hashem as King means seeing His hand in every choice—even in decisions like where to live or invest. To purchase a home or apartment in Israel is to affirm that our personal story belongs within the greater destiny of Am Yisrael.

Rav Elimelech Biderman shlita encourages before the Yamim Nora’im: “Never underestimate even the smallest step toward holiness or kindness— Hashem treasures every effort.” Every inquiry, every meeting, every stone laid in Eretz Yisrael is a treasured step that echoes through generations.

The Year We Hope To Be – Your Next Chapter

Looking toward 5786, we anticipate steady, sustainable growth in the market. Developers are embracing holistic, community-focused designs, blending parks, cafés, and cultural spaces into their projects. Mortgage conditions are stabilizing, offering more flexible paths for overseas buyers. For those considering investment or aliyah, this is a moment of unique alignment: strong Anglo interest, favorable exchange rates, and an Israel that is innovating without losing its soul.

A Personal Invitation – Come Home, Invest in Your Future

In these uncertain times, let us guide you every step of the way. Whether you’re seeking:

• A family apartment in Jerusalem or Ramat Beit Shemesh

• A modern unit in Tel Aviv or Netanya

• A growth opportunity in Carmei Gat, Ashdod, Ashkelon, or Modiin

• Or strategic land investments in Israel’s most promising corridors …we’re here to navigate permits, contracts, financing, and local insights—so you can focus on what matters: coming home.

Meet us in London during our upcoming UK visit or schedule a virtual consultation. Call us today—let’s discuss your goals, your family’s needs, and how to secure your place in Israel’s story.

“When the city transforms—you become part of its story.” This Rosh Hashanah, write your chapter in the Land of Israel.

A Rosh Hashanah Blessing

From our offices in Beit Shemesh and Tel Aviv to the vibrant Jewish communities of London and beyond, we extend heartfelt wishes:

May 5786 bring peace and security to Israel and Jews worldwide. May it be a year of opportunity, wisdom in our investments, joy in our families, and

closeness to Hashem. May we continue strengthening the bridge between the Diaspora and our homeland—building not just properties, but enduring legacies.

TECHNICAL PROJECT MANAGER

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strategies within the Jewish Future’s Trust (JFT) family, striving to make a meaningful impact in the community we serve. The Technical Project Manager will act as the bridge between the Jewish Futures organisations and the development team. They will be responsible for gathering and understanding IT requirements from the organisation departments, translating them into actionable technical specifications, and ensuring successful delivery.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Engage with JF organisations to capture business and IT requirements.

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• Ensure alignment between organisational objectives and technical implementation.

• Provide regular progress updates to stakeholders.

• Business Analysis.

BACKGROUND & SKILLS

• Experience in web development, ideally with exposure and understanding of:

• React / Next.js

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Laravel (PHP framework)

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• Strong project management and communication skills.

• Ability to balance technical understanding with business needs.

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Good and Sweet - A Ta’amim recipe for Rosh Hashana

BY TA’AMIM

Each Rosh Hashanah is an opportunity to pause, take stock, and step forward with resolve and purpose into a new year. It is a season for connection: with Hashem, as we pray for a sweet and good year ahead; with loved ones, as we gather around festive tables laden with meaning; and with ourselves, as we reflect on

where we’ve been and who we hope to become. And, at this poignant threshold, our foods become vessels of intention; sweetness carries significance, taste transforms into prayer, and we begin our festive meals with symbolic foods.

These meaningful morsels are known as simanim, meaning ‘signs’, ‘omens’ or ‘symbols’, and they’ve graced Jewish tables for centuries.

Referred to in the Talmud, the Simanim invite us to speak our hopes aloud and infuse the year’s beginning with purpose. Where Rosh Hashanah once included sacrificial offerings in the Temple, today we offer words, our prayers and intentions, in their place. The Simanim give us a way to express our wishes with our whole selves: body, mouth, and mind aligned in blessing. With each bite, we utter a Yehi Ratzon (“May it be Your will”), a short blessing, asking for divine kindness in the year to come. What results is a ritual we feel with all our senses. Perhaps the best known and most widely observed Simanim custom is that of dipping (or drizzling) apple in honey or

sugar.

As the old saying goes, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” - apples are good for us, but not every apple is sweet. Conversely, what tastes sweet is rarely good for us! But as we say ‘shana tova u’metuka’, we are making a prayer for a year that is both good and sweet.

These ‘ABC Muffins’ contain Apple, Beetroot and Carrot - three Rosh Hashana Simanim full of goodness, together in one beautifully moist, sweet and delicate bite; sweetened with honey rather than refined sugar, and made with olive oil in place of butter or margarine. They’re also a sneaky way of getting kids (or fussy grown ups) to eat their fruit and veggies! A tasty dessert, snack or breakfast-on-the-go, this is a recipe you’re sure to be coming back to again and again.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 Apple, peeled, cored and diced

• 200ml Water

• 1 tbsp Caster Sugar

• 1 cup Light Olive Oil

• 1 cup Honey

• 4 eggs, lightly beaten

• 2 tsp Vanilla Extract

• 2 cups Carrot, grated (approx 2 large carrots)

• 1 cup Beetroot, grated (approx 2 beetroots)

• 360g Plain Flour

• 1 tsp Baking Powder

This Rosh Hashanah, be part of our Journey

This Rosh Hashanah, help Kisharon Langdon continue building a future for people within the Jewish learning disability and autism community, ensuring everyone can reach their potential and thrive throughout life’s journey.

We must raise £4.6 million to run our life-changing services - a cost that has risen due to increases in the National Minimum Wage and Employer National Insurance contributions.

At this time, the need for our support is growing. Your donation will make all the difference.

Please give generously this New Year

Donate online by scanning the QR code or visiting kisharonlangdon.org.uk/donate/rh-donation

Or call our team on 020 3209 1187

271519 kisharonlangdon.org.uk • info@kisharonlangdon.org.uk

• 1 tsp Bicarbonate of Soda

• 1 tsp Salt

• 2 tsp Ground Cinnamon

• 2 tsp Ground Allspice

• 1 tsp Ground Ginger

METHOD

1. Preheat your oven to 200°C / 180°C fan (Gas Mark 6 / 400°F) .

2. Line a muffin tray with 12 cases.

3. Heat 200ml water, the cubes of apple and 1 tbsp caster sugar in a pan and simmer, stirring occasionally, until water has mostly evaporated, around 10 minutes.

4. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the oil, honey, eggs and vanilla extract.

5. Add in the grated beetroot, carrot and apples and set aside.

6. In a large mixing bowl, add the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and spices and mix together.

7. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir to combine.

8. Pour the mixture into the muffin cases and bake for 18-20 minutes, until cooked through.

9. Leave to stand on a wire cooling rack and enjoy!

Photo by Yaffa Judah Photography

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Got it — you’re after playful, light-hearted Rosh Hashanah puns. Here are 10 fun ones you could drop into a d’var Torah, school setting, or around the Yom Tov table. Some of these might be too much for you to handle:

“Rosh Hashanah is the one time of year when it’s totally fine to stick your iPhone in honey… just make sure it’s an Apple.”

“May your year be applesolutely amazing!” | “Let’s hope this year goes swimmingly.”

“Wishing you a sweet year — no ifs, ands, or bundt cakes about it.” | “I carrot believe it’s Rosh Hashanah already!”

“I grape-ly appreciate this time of year.” | “Shofar, so good — here’s to a great year ahead.”

“Bee-lieve me, it’s going to be a sweet year.” | “Have a pear-fectly sweet New Year (okay, apples get all the attention… but pears deserve some too).”

“Let’s get this year off to a sound start!”

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?

Damari and Herzog speak at UJIA dinner in first official UK speaking engagements

Over 500 people came together in Central London last night as UJIA launched its 2025–2026 campaign at the “Looking to the Future” Annual Dinner. So far since last night UJIA has raised over £2m with funds still coming in.

Guests witnessed two historic firsts:

- British-Israeli hostage Emily Damari’s first public speaking appearance in the UK since her release after 470 days in Hamas captivity in Gaza.

- President Isaac Herzog’s first official visit to the UK since becoming Israel’s Head of State in 2021 together with First Lady Michal Herzog.

The dinner, chaired by UJIA Trustee Hilda Worth, brought together a distinguished audience including four tables of Young UJIA Patrons.

and remember what our roots are. We need to keep strong. We need to keep our heads up.”

President Herzog, in his keynote address, reflected on the rise in antisemitism:

Emily Damari, in conversation with hostage advocate Emily Cohen, watched on from the audience by her mum Mandy and members of her wider family, shared her personal experience of captivity. Recounting the terrifying moments of October 7th, Emily told the audience, “In that moment I understand I’m going to be kidnapped. And I say, ‘no, please shoot me’. I prefer to die and not to be kidnapped in Gaza. I said, ‘no, no, no, please just shoot me’” During her captivity, Emily explained, she was held in harsh conditions including at one point a cage, just two metres by two metres, with five other hostages, and was moved between various Hamas and Gazan homes, hospitals and schools. On January 19, 2025, Emily was part of the first group of hostages released in a negotiated deal. She spoke movingly about the support of the British Jewish community: “I also remember seeing Jewish communities and many other faiths and religions coming together, the rallies, the marches and the vigils for all of us who were being held hostage. And I knew I wasn’t alone. I knew you were all with me.” And expressed her gratitude to UJIA for “giving me the opportunity to share my story”. She concluded with a message to the Jewish Community in the UK. “The most important thing is to stay united

“UK Jewry is at the forefront of the struggle with antisemitism. I know that the men and women in this hall and all around the United Kingdom face backlash on almost a daily basis because they are Jewish, because they are Zionist, and I know that at times you have been assaulted and insulted.

Targeted due to your Jewish identity… and I know how closely you follow the developments in Israel, certainly in the wake of the horrific October 7th attack, and I know of your concerns over the harsh ramifications. I know there is great pain here as well.

And yet, despite the pain I’ve watched, as you continue to stand up for Israel and you continue to choose to actively engage in the aftermath of October 7th, you mobilised in a heartbeat. You showed up… in every relevant forum, you spoke the truth. I praise the enduring partnership between Israel and the British Jewish community.”

Reflected on the role of philanthropy in Israel’s ongoing recovery after 7th October, he talked about how he and his wife Michal “inaugurated the school year in Israel on September 1st in Kiryat Shemona. We went to the high school, 1200 pupils opened the school year. Just a year ago these students were scattered in 400 towns in villages. This time 95% were back to school, and what struck me was a huge, huge UJIA sign in the main hall. As president I thank you for your support.”

He added, “I applaud UJIA for what you have succeeded in building together.”

Funds raised at the dinner will support UJIA’s vital projects in both the UK and Israel. In August, the final participants of Israel Tour 2025 returned home, part of a cohort of more than 1000 young British

Jews who spent the summer deepening their connection with Israel.

Beyond this, UJIA continues its extensive work in Israel, particularly with border communities directly impacted by the atrocities of 7th October and ongoing conflict. These communities face severe trauma, extended displacements, disrupted education, and the immense challenges of physical and communal rebuilding. UJIA remains committed to standing alongside them for as long as it takes to rebuild.

Since last year’s UJIA Annual Dinner, plans have been finalised for the new kindergarten at Kibbutz Be’eri, and UJIA took a leading role in responding to needs on the ground as they developed during the Iran War.

Zvi Noé, UJIA Chair, declared that “Our commitment is to the people of Israel, to the children and teenagers whose education and opportunities have been hardest hit. Our commitment is to the UK Jewish community to the children, teenagers and young adults so that they will be passionate, educated and empowered to lead us into the future. UJIA’s promise is a simple one.

He continued “As we look to the future we will be there for young people in Israel as they continue to recover and rebuild from the trauma of 7th October. We will create and deliver a connection to Israel and the Jewish people that makes young Jews more confident in their identity. We can only do this with your unequivocal support of the British Jewish community.”

Your local one-stop shop

Tapuach Supermarket is your one-stop shop for fresh, quality food and unbeatable convenience. Located in the heart of the community, Tapuach has become a trusted name for families looking for a reliable, clean, and well-stocked grocery store with exceptional customer service. We pride ourselves on offering a wide range of kosher products, including a large selection of fruits and vegetables, dairy products, dry goods, freezer items, baked goods, and packaged meals — all under one roof. Our ready-made meals come beautifully packed and are perfect for those with busy schedules who still want to enjoy delicious home-style food without the hassle.

Tapuach is known not only for its high standards and top-quality brands but also for its excellent value. We offer 100s of products on special every day and consistently aim to give our customers competitive prices without compromising on quality. Whether you’re doing a big weekly shop or just popping in for a few essentials, you’ll always find great deals and fresh stock on our shelves.

Our store is easy to navigate, always clean, and staffed with friendly team members who are happy to help. We take customer satisfaction seriously and go the extra mile to make your shopping experience smooth and pleasant.

At Tapuach, we’re not just a supermarket — we’re part of your routine, your Shabbat prep, your family meals, and your holidays. We’re proud to serve the local community and look forward to continuing to do so with care, quality, and heart.

Rebuilding Lives: Beit Halochem’s Mission Since 7 October

This Rosh Hashanah, as we pause to reflect on renewal and resilience, the story of Beit Halochem stands as a powerful example of both. Since the horrors of 7 October 2023, over 14,800 new members, IDF veterans and victims of terror, have joined Beit Halochem’s four centres across Israel. The surge in demand has been unprecedented, with thousands more needing physical rehabilitation, psychological support, and social reintegration.

Beit Halochem UK, part of a global network of Friends organisations, has responded with urgency and compassion.

In the past two year alone, UK supporters have raised over £11 million, helping fund emergency expansion and longterm recovery programmes in Israel. The generosity of British donors has helped turn crisis into opportunity, ensuring that no wounded veteran is left behind.

In Israel, Beit Halochem has adapted rapidly. Existing centres in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Beer Sheva have reconfigured space, hired more therapists, and quadrupled PTSD support staff. A fifth, state-of-the-art centre in Ashdod is now nearing completion, set to serve nearly 10,000 veterans and over 17,000 family members.

New initiatives have also been launched. A National Centre for Mental Health and Trauma, in partnership with

Sheba Medical facility, now brings specialised care directly to veterans at Beit Halochem. Adaptive sports programmes, including wheelchair basketball, tennis, and swimming, have expanded, helping wounded members regain confidence, discipline, and community. Some have even gone on to compete at Paralympic level.

Beyond physical care, Beit Halochem’s centres have become spaces of healing in the deepest sense, offering hydrotherapy, creative arts studios, music therapy and peer-led support. It is a holistic vision; one made possible through the steadfast support of friends around the world including those from the Anglo Jewish community.

This Rosh Hashana, we honour the courage of those who defend Israel and the compassion of those who help them rebuild. Beit Halochem UK’s commitment ensures that our heroes receive not only care, but dignity, purpose and hope for the future.

Shanah Tovah – may the coming year bring peace to all.

For more information about Beit Halochem UK, to find out more about any forthcoming events, how to get involved or to make a donation, visit our website http://www.bhuk.org or email info@bhuk.org

Lev Tov Match: For Every Jewish Adult Who Sees and feels the World Differently

Lev Tov Match was born from a simple but urgent need: too many Jewish adults who see and feel the world differently have been left without a way to find companionship, friendship, and love.

Since launching earlier this year, Lev Tov Match has already welcomed applicants from across the UK, US, Israel, Canada, South Africa, Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands. Each person who applies brings their own story, their own strengths, and their own hopes. What unites them is the courage to say: I want connection, and I deserve it.

Lev Tov is not just for people with a diagnosis or a label. It is for any Jewish adult who struggles to find their place in standard dating or friendship spaces, whether because of disability, neurodiversity, anxiety, or simply because life has felt isolating.

How it works

Lev Tov is neither a dating app nor a matchmaking service in the old sense. It’s a mix of both: thoughtful, careful, and personal, all our applicants are verified to ensure the safety of our Lev Tov Friends.

So far, matches have led to coffee meetings, video calls, and new friendships that are already making a difference. Alongside this, the Lev Tov Club runs a weekly online workshop where members meet from around the world on Zoom to share, learn, and grow together.

The vision

Our journey has not been without challenges, building systems, navigating forms, and keeping up with demand but the heart of Lev Tov Match has never changed: to create a Jewish space where difference is celebrated, and where no adult has to feel alone.

This is just the beginning. Lev Tov Match is proving that with patience, kindness, and community, friendship and love really can be open to everyone.

To find out more or to apply to Lev Tov Match visit our website - www. levtovmatch.com

Warmest wishes,

Naomi Goldman Executive Director of

Lev Tov Match

An Exquisite Affair - Chai’s Rosh Hashanah Gift Sale Raises Over £50,000

On Tuesday, the sun shone brightly as Chai’s flagship centre in Hendon was transformed into a destination of indulgent style for the much-anticipated Chai Rosh Hashanah Gift Sale. Over 900 supporters gathered to enjoy exclusive shopping and gourmet dining. Together, they helped raise an outstanding £50,000, supporting Chai’s 70 specialised services.

This year’s Gift Sale was nothing short of exceptional, presenting over 40 carefully curated stalls - including 13 exciting debuts. Guests browsed a handpicked selection of Autumn/Winter 2025 collections, discovering luxurious fashion, jewellery, beauty, Judaica and statement home décor pieces.

The culinary experience elevated the day even further. Oh Brown Bear served their signature iced coffees, delicious cookies and new line of gelatos, whilst Ben Tenenblat delighted guests in Chai’s beautiful garden with his sumptuous brunch creations.

The Chai Society Grand Raffle added an extra layer of glamour, with prizes that captivated the crowd. For just £10, participants had the chance to win an exquisite 18ct yellow gold diamond set Hamsa necklace (RRP £600), 9ct yellow gold 1.00ct lab-grown diamond solitaire earrings (RRP £500), Apple AirPods and a host of other luxurious prizes.

Debra Zender, Gift Sale Organiser, reflected: “This year’s Gift Sale surpassed all expectations, I am truly overwhelmed once again. The combination of beautiful new collections, culinary delights and the extraordinary commitment of our community created a truly unforgettable day. Every purchase and every raffle entry will help Chai continue to provide vital support for those who need it most. It is my honour to be part of such a special day.”

Caroline Tunkel, Chai’s Head of Community Engagement, added: “The atmosphere on the day was vibrant and welcoming. Many guests were visiting Chai for the first time and experienced the special atmosphere of the centre. Huge thanks to our generous sponsors, whose invaluable contributions helped elevate this year’s event. Special appreciation goes to Roundtree Real Estates for their loyal support, to Tony Page for generously donating 300 of his signature honey cakes and to the many stallholders who contributed a portion of their sales. It is this amazing generosity that makes the Gift Sale such a resounding success year after year.”

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Israel Real Estate Market Update Autumn 2025: Falling Prices, Rising Rents, and Record Unsold Homes

After years of rapid growth and uncertainty, Israel’s housing market is showing clear signs of a shift. Prices are falling, inventory is building, and buyers are gaining leverage — but

(-0.9%), and Tel Aviv (-0.2%). By contrast, Haifa (+0.8%), the North (+0.4%), and the South (+0.4%) recorded gains. Year-onyear, the North (+9.1%) and Haifa (+5.9%) led the market, while Tel Aviv (-0.3%) and

rising rents, construction costs, and financing pressures paint a more complex picture. It’s important to emphasize that the data represent the national market. In high-demand areas popular with Anglos, trends can diverge significantly, with continued demand supporting prices even as nationwide averages decline.

Prices Edge Down for Fifth Month

Home prices in Israel fell for the fifth consecutive month, slipping 0.2% overall between June and July 2025. New apartments dropped 0.8%, though excluding subsidized government deals, the decline was 0.3%. Over the past year, prices still showed a modest increase of 1.6%, led by new apartments at 2.7%.

Regionally, declines were seen in Jerusalem (-0.1%), the Central District

the Central District (-1.1%) declined.

Sales and Transactions

In July 2025, 8,140 homes were sold across Israel — a 33.7% rise from June but 15.9% below July 2024. Of these, 2,750 were new apartments, nearly 28% of which were government-subsidized.

Ofakim led in new home sales with 535 units, while Jerusalem dominated the second-hand market with 926 transactions. Between May and July, total sales fell 6% compared to the previous quarter and nearly 20% year-on-year, reflecting the impact of the war with Iran.

Record Unsold Inventory

Unsold inventory climbed to a record 82,530 new apartments in July, equal to 31 months of supply. The Tel Aviv District

holds the largest share with 26,310 units (nearly one-third of the total), followed by the Central District with 19,480. Among cities, Tel Aviv-Yafo (10,213), Jerusalem (8,027), and Bat Yam (4,270) top the list. It should be noted that these figures may include units not yet released for marketing.

Inflation and Construction Costs

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.7% in August 2025 compared to July, bringing 12-month inflation to 2.9%. The Residential Construction Cost Index increased 0.4% in August, for a 5.5% rise over the past year. Labour costs jumped 9.7%, while materials rose 2.5%. Notable increases were seen in ready-mix concrete, plaster, and iron frameworks, though steel and rebar prices declined.

Rental Market Pressures

Rental costs continue to rise. Renewed leases climbed 2.7%, while new tenants faced average hikes of 5.5%. Demand for long-term rentals remains exceptionally strong, with developers reporting full occupancy and waiting lists, particularly for apartments with safe rooms — a priority since the war with Iran.

Mortgages

and Financing Challenges

Industry experts report growing demand for flexible mortgage solutions, including extending loan terms to 40 years — potentially passing debt to heirs. Banks note that credit exposure to real estate now exceeds 100 billion shekels. Persistently high interest rates have delayed many buyers, who remain on the sidelines waiting for relief.

Meanwhile, developers’ aggressive “pay later” schemes, where buyers paid only 10–20% upfront and deferred the rest until handover, are now showing strain. Many buyers cannot cover the balance, forcing distressed sales or reliance

on bridging loans. Analysts warn this issue may grow as more projects reach completion.

Construction Labour and Foreign Workers

To offset the labour shortage caused by the post–October 7 ban on Palestinian workers, around 47,000 foreign workers have entered Israel since the war began. Recent policy changes are intended to streamline recruitment, though inefficiencies remain, and the shortage is still cited as a factor contributing to high housing costs.

Beyond the headlines and statistics, purchasing a home in Israel is not only a financial decision but also an emotional and long-term commitment. Market cycles come and go, but the value of owning a home in Israel endures. That’s why, in the bigger picture, it’s always the right time to buy in Israel.

The contents of this article are designed to provide the reader with general information and not to serve as legal or other professional advice for a particular transaction. Readers are advised to obtain advice from qualified professionals prior to entering into any transaction. Debbie Goldfischer is the founder and CEO of Buyitinisrael and host of the Israel Real Estate Podcast: On The House. A prominent figure in Israeli real estate since 2004, Debbie has spent the past two decades helping foreign buyers successfully navigate the property market in Israel. In 2020, recognizing the lack of reliable English-language resources, she launched Buyitinisrael.com, which has quickly become the leading platform for English speakers looking to buy property in Israel.

In addition to leading the platform, Debbie personally assists buyers in finding the right property—whether new or resale—anywhere in Israel.

To get in touch, email debbie@buyitinisrael.com.

Immanuel College Celebrates 35 Years with Entertainment and Enjoyment

Immanuel College welcomed alumni, parents, staff, and friends on Tuesday evening for a spectacular celebration marking the school’s 35th anniversary with others joining from around the world via a video link.

The on-campus event featured an uplifting programme of music, reflection, and community spirit. Guests were welcomed with canapés, sushi, and cocktails before the evening opened with a powerful group performance of Found Tonight from Hamilton.

Master of Ceremonies former student Dov Forman, author and social media creator, directed the evening, introducing a series of unforgettable highlights including:

• A welcoming address from Chair

of Governors Daniel Levy, followed by reflections on all the best of what Immanuel represents from Head, Dan Endlar.

• Performances from talented alumni and students included former Head Boy and singer-songwriter Bertie Green, fresh from his appearance at the Glastonbury Festival this summer; a beautiful duet of a specially composed piece by Immanuel’s Director of Music, Mr Stephen Levey, performed by Jacob and Talia; and a West End–quality group rendition of “One Day More” from Les Misérables, this year’s major school production.

• A special moment of prayer for the hostages led by Rabbi Yoni Golker, followed by a moving medley of Jewish songs.

• A time of reflections from former

headteachers, including founding headmaster Denis Felsenstein (1990-1995), Philip Skelker (2000-2012); and, Gary Griffin (2017-2021).

• A showcase video celebrating the College’s journey since its launch in 1990.

• The entertainment was bought to a unifying close with Hatikvah and the National Anthem.

Afterwards, guests enjoyed desserts, coffee, and alumni catch-ups, with college tours bringing together past and present members of the Immanuel community.

Head, Dan Endlar said: “Thirty-five years is a remarkable milestone but what truly defines our school is the feeling you get when you walk through the gates. The sense of personal connection; where

every pupil and every family matters. It’s our environment that creates the happiest, kindest and most confident students with whom I have ever worked.”

Chair of Governors Daniel Levy added: “The 35th anniversary was a remarkable opportunity to reflect on our past, honour those who have shaped our journey, and look forward with pride and optimism.”

The evening formed the centrepiece of a series of anniversary celebrations, which began earlier this month with a birthday party for students and staff featuring performances by alumni including West End star Emma Kingston, best known for playing Vanessa in the original London cast of In the Heights, Eva Perón on the international tour of Evita and Elphaba in Wicked.

Jewish Blind & Disabled: Rising to Meet Unprecedented Demand

For more than five decades, Jewish Blind & Disabled (JBD) has been a lifeline for Jewish people living with physical disabilities or vision impairments. Established in 1969 by Cecil Rosen, the charity was born out of a vision to provide safe, accessible housing and support for those in need. Today, 55 years later, JBD faces the most significant challenge in its history - a surge in demand that far exceeds its current capacity.

The landscape has changed dramatically since JBD’s inception. What began as a relatively small pilot scheme has evolved into a vital service, transforming the lives of hundreds of people each year through independent living and tailored support. Recent years have brought a range of

pressures including the Covid pandemic which exposed the vulnerability of many individuals living alone, highlighting the urgent need for accessible housing and round-the-clock support.

At the same time, delays in local authority assistance, the rise in age-related disabilities, and the increasing number of people living in unsuitable private rented accommodation have all contributed to a waiting list larger than ever before.

JBD has seen a dramatic increase in applications from people living in homes that no longer meet their needs. Some applicants have been discharged from hospital into care homes because their previous residences were inaccessible. Others have come directly from NHS rehabilitation centres following strokes or amputations, unable to return to environments that no longer support their independence. Many live in social housing where the only exit is via stairs they can no longer manage. In some boroughs, the wait for accessible housing through local authorities stretches over a decade. For these individuals and many others for different reasons, JBD is often the only hope.

Independence starts at home

Jewish Blind & Disabled provides housing and support for adults with physical disabilities or vision impairments. Our services help individuals live independently, whether in one of our developments or in the community.

With increasing demand, your support is vital to ensure we can help everyone who needs our support. Donate

JBD has ambitious plans to expand its reach; to grow and develop to meet this increased demand. In the next few months, the charity will welcome tenants to Ephraim Court, a newly built development in Mill Hill East offering 30 state-ofthe-art accessible apartments. This marks a significant step forward, but it is only part of the solution.

Just two miles away in East Finchley stands Fairacres, JBD’s oldest development. In January 2025, planning permission was secured to redevelop the building, enlarging all flats to meet wheelchair accessibility standards, adding 11 new apartments, and transforming the site into a modern, sustainable home. This project, however, is contingent on securing the necessary funding.

Alongside its housing initiatives, JBD continues to expand its community-based services. These include the Independent Living Advisory Service, which offers guidance from occupational therapists to individuals living in their own homes, and peer-led support groups for those with sight loss. The charity also runs JEMS (in partnership with Jewish Care), a group for people affected by Multiple Sclerosis. These services are designed to empower individuals, reduce

isolation, and provide practical solutions for everyday challenges.

Despite these efforts, demand remains at an all-time high. The waiting list is currently at 130 households. JBD is committed to ensuring that every Jewish person with a physical disability or vision impairment has access to the housing and support they need in order to be able to live independently.

This commitment is only possible thanks to the generosity of the community. For over 55 years, JBD has been sustained by donations from individuals, families, trusts, and foundations. Now, more than ever, that support is needed. The charity is calling on new and existing supporters to help realise its ambitious goals and meet the growing demand.

As Chief Executive Lisa Wimborne puts it, “We are not an organisation to rest on our laurels. Our beneficiaries and the people on our housing waiting list drive us to do all we can to grow and develop.”

Jewish Blind & Disabled is determined to rise to this challenge. With continued support, it can ensure that no one is left behind. Together, we can transform lives. For more information or to donate, visit www.jbd.org or call 020 8371 6611.

Charity number: 259480

Miriam, JBD Tenant

How 2025’s Travel Trends Inspire the Future of Kosher Travel

There’s something about the Jewish New Year that makes you pause, think about the year behind you and start dreaming about what’s to come. For many of us, looking ahead means making plans—big and small—for how we want to spend our time, how we want to create memories and for those of us who love to see the world, where we might want to go next.

At the start of 2025, the BBC published an article predicting the seven new travel trends for the year ahead. The shifts described are significant—personalisation, slower and more meaningful experiences and a craving for wellness and authenticity. You can easily see the appeal, but you can also imagine kosher readers thinking: Are these experiences really achievable for me? Will there be kosher food, or will I be stuck with pot noodles? How will I manage Shabbat? For years, these questions have closed the doors to exciting travel experiences for those who keep kosher.

What makes me proud is that at Bespoke Kosher Travel, we’ve spent well over a decade unlocking those doors. We focus on the global trends shaping travel and make them possible for everyone

- without stress and with a level of care that means you can focus on what really matters: seeing the world whilst being present, enjoying yourself and creating lasting memories.

One of the strongest predicted trends was hyper-personalisation. Today’s travellers don’t want cookie-cutter packages—they want journeys that feel like they were made for them. And they should. When you take the time, energy and the investment to go abroad, it shouldn’t feel like you’re on someone else’s holiday. That’s why every trip we put together is built from scratch. Whether you want a safari where your children can see lions and have a barbecue for dinner, or a cultural tour of Kyoto’s temples and Friday night davening, we make that happen. Working at your pace, within your budget and catered to your interests— means we can create your perfect holiday. In many ways, Bespoke Kosher Travel were doing “personalisation” long before it became a buzzword.

Another trend highlighted was the rise of slow and immersive travel. People are less interested in racing from landmark to landmark and more interested in feeling connected - to a place, to its culture, to the people they’re with. That resonates deeply in the Jewish travel experience too. For many of our clients, Shabbat is a natural pause in the week. Imagine welcoming Shabbat in the rolling hills of Tuscany, or in a quiet Caribbean resort, where everything is prepared for you and you can truly switch off. That enforced moment of slowing down becomes not an obstacle, but one of the highlights

of the holiday. And because we take care of the planning, you can step into those moments without the stress of worrying about where the next kosher meal is coming from, or whether the hotel understands your needs.

Wellness, nostalgia and purpose-driven exploration were also defining travel trends for 2025. Again, these are things that fit hand-in-hand with what many people ask us. We’ve arranged milestone celebrations—bar and bat mitzvahs, anniversaries, big family reunions—in destinations people once thought impossible. We’ve created itineraries that combine adventure and luxury with meaningful moments. And always, the backbone is the same: tailored holidays, personalised for you, wherever you choose to go in the world. For many, that’s not just a dietary and religious preference but part of their mental wellness too. To know you won’t have to compromise—that wherever you go, your standards and your values are upheld—makes for a more enjoyable travel experience.

our travellers relax, because they know they’re not on their own.

Of course, all of this rests on something more practical but equally important: trust. We’ve been in the travel industry working with the Jewish community for a long time and we know that the best holidays are built not only on dream destinations but also on practical logistics. That’s why we’re fully compliant with UK travel regulations, provide financial protection through Protected Trust Services and offer 24/7 support while you’re abroad. It’s easy to talk about luxury hotels or exotic itineraries, but what really gives peace of mind is knowing that if anything goes wrong—a flight delay, a sudden change of plans—we’re there, on the other end of the phone, to fix it. That’s what lets

Looking back at these travel predictions, I see these trends moving long into 2026 too. It’s clear that travellers are looking for more than just checklists and ticking off tourist hotspots. People want travel to feel personal, meaningful and designed for a pace that suits them. They want deeper experiences. They want wellbeing and meaning woven into their time away. But for travellers wanting a kosher option, the exciting part is that these things are no longer just theoretical— they’re available, now, through Bespoke Kosher Travel.

So, as we step into the new Jewish year, my advice is: take the trip. Whether it’s to recharge, spend quality time with family, discover new corners of the world, or even make the most of a work trip, we’ll take care of all the details. That way, you can focus on the experience itself—the places you visit, the moments you share, the memories you actually take home. The world is open and yes, it’s open kosher too.

To discuss your next holiday, call us today on 020 3151 1660, visit www. bespokekoshertravel.com, or email us info@bespokekoshertravel.com

Live at home with confidence this year

At home is where many people feel most themselves and Reach by Nightingale Hammerson is designed to keep it that way.

In recent years there has been a shift, people are now moving into care facilities at a later stage in life. This means they are spending more time living at home, often with their care needs being met by relatives or carers without a healthcare background. While there is an endless amount of information online, it can be challenging to find practical advice that is easy to digest, free and available when you need it.

Realising this need in the community, Nightingale Hammerson has embarked on a new mission: to help people live better for longer at home. Drawing on the expertise of multidisciplinary teams in both our care homes, Reach by

Nightingale Hammerson shares dozens of practical advice videos and factsheets across our website, YouTube channel and social media.

Already viewed by thousands of people worldwide, Reach is helping family members care for their older relatives by offering advice on a range of topics. With guidance on how to get in and out of bed, how to use a wheelchair, supporting someone with eating and drinking difficulties, engaging and communicating with someone living with dementia, improving sleep, finding funding for care, inserting and removing hearing aids, technology adaptions and much more, Reach is tackling the real, everyday challenges of home care.

“This is super helpful! My aunt has cerebral palsy and now requires a hearing aid. I’ve watched others push it in at

times. Thanks for sharing.” - Norma

Small changes and the right knowledge can transform the caring experience for both the person receiving care and the person providing it. That’s why our resource library is continuously expanding library. In the coming months, videos on specialist topics such as end-of-life care, managing medication and oral care will be released. There are also monthly webinars, giving the community an opportunity to ask questions live, and giving carers the chance to connect directly with professionals.

The work is strengthened through partnerships with other organisations including Paperweight, Jewish Care and Jewish Deaf Association. Working together allows expertise to be shared, broadening the range of topics covered and ensuring the advice is up to date and

relevant to the community. So, if home is the right place for you or a family member, Reach by Nightingale Hammerson is here to support you. You can find us on:

• Website: www.nightingalehammerson. org/Reach/

• YouTube Channel: @NightingaleHammerson1840

• LinkedIn Page: Reach by Nightingale Hammerson

• Facebook Community: Reach by Nightingale Hammerson

If you wish to learn more about Reach by Nightingale Hammerson, you can contact us at reach@nightingalehammerson.org or by telephone 020 8673 3495.

Make 2025 the Year You Make Aliyah– Join Shivat Zion’s Group Aliyah Programme by the beginning of December

British Jews planning to make Aliyah this year now have a unique opportunity to do so with unprecedented levels of support. Shivat Zion, the UK’s only dedicated Aliyah support charity recognised by the Israeli Ministry of Integration and works in cooperation with the Jewish agency, has launched a free, fully-supported pilot programme for Olim moving by the end of 2025.

The scheme is strictly limited to twelve families who intend to complete their Aliyah by 31 December 2025. With the deadline approaching, Shivat Zion is urging interested families to act quickly to secure the final spots and make the most of the pre-move support they have to offer.

The pilot is centred in the Carmay Hanadiv community in Kiryat Malachi, a

growing Anglo-friendly neighbourhood located in the heart of Israel. Families who join will not only receive individual guidance but will also move as part of a small, pre-formed group. This combination of professional support, peer companionship in an established local community, offers a perfect soft landing for British Jews taking this life-changing step.

Starting with your preparations in the UK and continuing throughout your first year in Israel, Shivat Zion’s professional team of experienced Olim advisors will provide tailored guidance on every aspect of your Aliyah. This includes assistance with paperwork and bureaucracy, school placements, housing, employment, banking and settling into everyday Israeli life. Participants will be given basic furnished housing in Carmay Hanadiv, high-discounted at an affordable rate, language support through free ulpan and access to community programming to help you integrate socially and emotionally.

This initiative is aimed at making Aliyah less daunting and stressful. Shraga Evers, CEO of Shivat Zion said: “Making Aliyah is a major step, and one that can leave people feeling unsupported and alone. This pilot programme gives families a unique chance to move with like-minded

people, arriving with a ready-made community so you feel settled from day one. If you’ve opened an Aliyah file with the Jewish Agency or are interested in doing so, now is the perfect time to take the leap and start your new life in Israel with Shivat Zion’s full support.”

Carmay Hanadiv itself has become a popular community among Anglo Olim, combining affordable housing with easy access to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and the coast. The new arrivals will join an already thriving community of Olim and Israelis, while forming their own core group for mutual support.

With just twelve family places available and the deadline of completing Aliyah set for the end of the year, Shivat Zion is encouraging families considering Aliyah to seize this unique chance. “This programme is designed to take the stress out of Aliyah by guiding families through every step, from finding a suitable home to settling into a supportive community. Our goal for this programme is to make Aliyah as smooth and successful as possible,” added Evers.

For more information or to apply, contact Shivat Zion at www.shivat-zion. com

We are now open Motsei Shabbat

We are open Saturday evening for Simchas, Take Aways and Restaurant dining. Opening times are: 13th September - 8.40pm, 20th September - 8.20pm 27th September - 7.35pm, 4th October - 7.50pm 11th October - 7.30pm

“The best kosher restaurant in the world” Tripadvisor review

“One of North London’s more consistent and interesting culinary success stories: Hendon’s kosher Chinese restaurant “continues to operate at a very high standard”, with “tasty and authentic cooking” and “a great ambience” Hardens 2024