BY DAVID SAFFER
US Vice President
JD Vance is optimistic the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal will hold despite challenges.
Fragile ceasefire holding
Vance, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Israel this week to help shore up the agreement after the IDF and Hamas exchanged fire which threatened to end the truce last Sunday.
Talks focused on stabilising the ceasefire and laying the groundwork for next stage of the agreement.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio will arrive in Israel in the coming days to oversee matters.
Israeli forces struck Gaza sites after they declared a “blatant” breach of the ceasefire by Hamas who killed two soldiers, Maj. Yaniv Kula, 26, and Staff Sgt. Itay Yavetz, 21, both from Nahal Brigade in an anti-tank missile
attack.
The IDF responded with deadly air strikes before calm was restored.
Backing US President Donald Trump’s warning of a “fast, furious and brutal’ response if Hamas did not follow the ceasefire terms of the ceasefire, Vance, speaking in Kiryat Gat on Tuesday, noted: “If Hamas doesn’t cooperate, then as the president has said, Hamas is going to be obliterated.”
He added: “This is exactly how this is going to have to happen when you have people who hate each other, who have been fighting against each other for a very long time.”
Speaking optimistically, Vance said the US-brokered 20-point plan was exceeding expectations.
“We are one week into President Trump’s historic peace plan in the Middle East, and things are going, frankly, better than I expected,” Vance said. Witkoff added: “We are exceeding where we thought we would be at this time.”
Vance said Israelis and Americans were working “hand-in-hand” to implement a long-term peace although he accepted disarming Hamas, a key condition of the peace plan, will “take a little bit of time.”
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Continued on page 4
US Vice President JD Vance, second right, listens as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem PHOTO: AP
ROSH HASHANAH 2025
SOROKA
Southbourne
Continued from page 1
Hamas has released the remains of 15 of 28 hostages held in captivity in Gaza, a major priority. The bodies of Arie Zalmanowicz, Master Sergeant Tamir Adar and IDF Major Tal Haimi, 41, were returned this week.
“Some of these hostages are buried under thousands of pounds of rubble,” said Vance. “Some, nobody even knows where they are.”
Kushner welcomed coordination of Israel and the United Nations on humanitarian aid delivery, but stressed aid must reach civilians and not Hamas. As for regional partners, Vance noted: “The Israeli government has been remarkably helpful. People really want to be a part of this, and it’s just happening very, very quickly.”
Witkoff and Kushner held talks with Netanyahu after arriving in Israel on Monday.
Netanyahu told the Knesset he would discuss security challenges and political opportunities with Vance.
“One of our hands holds a weapon, the other hand is stretched out for peace,” he said. “You make peace with the strong, not the weak. Today Israel is stronger than ever before.”
The Knesset, meantime, convened Monday for the opening ceremony of the winter session with speeches including from President Isaac Herzog, Netanyahu and Opposition leader Yair Lapid. Herzog said: “There is a difference
between a principled debate, which is legitimate, and lack of courtesy, harm to human dignity, harm to other authorities and to Israeli judges.”
Netanyahu cited achievements across numerous fronts and warned about the Iranian threat. As for ultra-Orthodox military service legislation, he said,: “We will submit for Knesset approval a draft law that will result in the draft of 10,000 yeshiva students within two years. This is a real revolution, something that has not happened since the establishment of the state.” Lapid reminded Netanyahu he had warned of an “impending disaster” shortly before 10/7.
In related news, it was reported yesterday that the Knesset approved by a 25–24 vote a preliminary bill to extend Israeli sovereignty over Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria. The proposal, introduced by MK Avi Maoz, wold apply Israel’s full civil, judicial and administrative law to the region. The bill moves to the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee for review.
Ultra-Orthodox military service, meantime, is the most contentious domestic political issue. The government hopes to pass legislation during this Knesset session but there is growing speculation Netanyahu will call early elections to capitalise on the return of the living hostages and backing from Trump. He js determined to enhance the Abraham Accords this term although reports suggest he will not last the winter Knesset season.
AS COMFORTING AS A BOWL OF CHICKEN SOUP
legacy department, has been serving the Jewish community for trustee services with personalised pastoral care. We can support you in the way that close family would, keeping in regular contact with you and taking care of any Jewish needs (such as saying kaddish for you) in accordance with your wishes.
vital work in Israel, please get in touch.
Call 020 8732 6101 or email enquiries@kkl.org.uk
KKL, JNF UK’s
King visits Heaton Park shul
BY ADAM MOSES
King Charles met survivors of the Yom Kippur terror attack at Heaton Park Synagogue, Manchester on Monday.
Wearing a kippah, the King was greeted by Rabbi Daniel Walker, praised for his calmness in the terrifying ordeal earlier this month, synagogue leaders and community members.
“I can’t tell you how sad I am,” the King told the group.
King Charles expressed his “great sadness” and shared heartfelt condolences.
Adrian Daulby, 53, and father of three Melvin Kravitz, 66, died in the attack shortly after dozens of worshippers had arrived at shul.
Police neutralised Jihad al-Shami within seven minutes of being called out.
The King asked if shul members were getting sufficient support from police and praised the Community Security Trust for protecting British Jews.
Promoted by applause when he exited the shul, the King looked at tributes to victims at a memorial site.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said the visit was part of the King’s “longstanding mission to bring communities together, particularly in times of challenge”.
The King went on to meet emergency services who responded at Greater Manchester Police’s headquarters, including ambulance workers.
Yoni Finlay, mistakenly shot by police, has been released from hospital and was in attendance.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed two men injured in the attack, a security guard and volunteer remain in stable conditions.
The synagogue reopened for Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah.
Following the terror attack, Israeli leaders accused Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his government of failing to halt rampant antisemitic and anti-Israeli incitement in Britain.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “As I warned at the UN, weakness in the face of terrorism only brings more terrorism.”
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said “rampant antisemitic and anti-Israeli incitement” had become a “widespread phenomenon” across Britain and authorities needed to curb a “toxic wave” of antisemitism.
Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli said “hollow proclamations” by the government for a Palestinian terror state had directly enabled the atrocity.
Starmer vowed to do everything in his power to “guarantee” security.
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis blamed an “unrelenting wave of Jew hatred” across Britain.
Gideon Falter, Campaign Against Antisemitism, said that the “blood of
British Jews is on the hands of virtue-signalling politicians” who had “poured fuel on the fire of extremism” with appeasement.
Falter added that without action “more innocents will be murdered on our streets”.
Gary Mond, National Jewish Assembly, blamed Labour and Conservative governments for not taking Jew-hatred seriously.
Mond said hate marches under the
“farcical slogan” of ‘Free Palestine’ had “nothing to do with Palestine” but “killing Jews”. Mond called for a ban of marches, de-recognition of a Palestinian state and making antisemitic behaviour a criminal offence.
Jonathan Metliss, Action Against Discrimination, commented: “Starmer, the Labour Party and its cohorts created the environment for this horrendous act of antisemitic terrorism.”
- 10th, 11th & 12th
Rabbi Daniel Walker of Heaton Park welcomes King Charles
Launching Weekly Women's Learning
VERDURA RESORT A
BBC ‘serious breach’ in Gaza documentary
BY ADAM MOSES
Ofcom has ruled that the BBC committed a “serious breach” of broadcasting rules when it failed to disclose the narrator of its Gaza documentary was the son of a Hamas official.
The broadcast was “materially misleading”, the regulator ruled in a damning report and potentially damaged “significantly high levels of trust” that audiences placed in a BBC factual programme about the Israel-Gaza war.
The BBC has been ordered to broadcast a statement regarding Ofcom’s finding in a prime-time slot.
Campaign Against Antisemitism welcomed the ruling.
“This was not a minor oversight,” a spokesman said. “It was a grave lapse in editorial standards from our national broadcaster, just one of repeated antisemitism scandals that have recently engulfed the BBC, from paying licence fee funds to the family of a Hamas official to having to part ways with Gary Lineker after he posted an antisemitic meme and from refusing to call Hamas terrorists to broadcasting incendiary rhetoric about ‘Zionists’ and calls for death and destruction at Glastonbury.
“We are long past talk of merely restoring trust. The BBC needs fundamental reform. That must begin with an independent investigation into its coverage of
Israel and matters of Jewish interest, and pending the outcome of that investigation the licence fee must be suspended.”
Steve Winston, National Jewish Assembly, said the ruling was a “damning indictment” of a broadcaster that for years had “abandoned impartiality” in its reporting on Israel.
“The BBC’s entrenched bias and selective storytelling have consistently misrepresented both Israel and Jewish communities, fuelling hostility and legitimising antisemitism here in the UK and across the world,” he observed. “This ruling lays bare a deep-seated institutional prejudice that has no place in a publicly funded broadcaster and has done grave damage to public trust.”
This is the first time the BBC has received a sanction from Ofcom and required to apologise on-air since 2009.
“As this represents a serious breach of our rules, we are directing the BBC to broadcast a statement of our findings against it on BBC2 at 21:00, with a date to be confirmed,” it said.
The documentary used the 13-yearold son of Hamas’s deputy minister of agriculture and was axed from iPlayer last February.
A BBC spokesperson said: “The Ofcom ruling is in line with the findings of Peter Johnston’s review, that there was a significant failing in the documentary in relation to the BBC’s Editorial Guidelines
on accuracy, which reflects Rule 2.2 of Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code. We have apologised for this and we accept Ofcom’s decision in full. We will comply with the sanction as soon as the date and wording are finalised.”
The BBC told the Ofcom investigation it “publicly acknowledged” a serious breach in its own editorial standards and would implement measures to ensure future compliance with its standards and Ofcom Code.
Ofcom’s report noted: “Given the highly contested context of the Israel-Gaza war and the narrator’s central role as the editorial voice of the programme and trusted guide to the viewer, we considered the omission of important information about his familial connection to the Hamas administration to be very problematic… Had viewers been made aware of this information, they may have evaluated the commentary provided by the narrator in a substantially different manner.”
The programme was made for the BBC by independent production company, Hoyo Films.
In July, the BBC’s review concluded Hoyo Films bore most of the responsibility over the family links.
But, Ofcom’s report said
the BBC “held editorial responsibility for the programme as broadcast”. It explained: “We considered the BBC’s failure to carry out rigorous compliance checks and provide adequate editorial oversight of a documentary detailing the experiences of Palestinian people living through a highly contentious conflict resulted in a serious omission, which had the clear potential to mislead viewers.”
The BBC’s internal review found three members of the production company knew the father’s position in the Hamas-run government in Gaza, the BBC were unaware prior to broadcast.
The BBC’s report acknowledged the corporation’s team were not sufficiently proactive with editorial checks.
Hoyo Films said it takes Ofcom’s findings extremely seriously and apologised.
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.
Maccabi fans will not attend Villa euro clash
BY DAVID SAFFER
Maccabi Tel Aviv will not accept tickets for their Europa League tie against Aston Villa at Villa Park over ‘safety grounds’ on November 6.
‘Toxic’ media coverage followed West Midlands Police classifying the game “high risk” based on intelligence and the Safety Advisory Group’ advice to the club on away tickets.
UEFA rules bans fans displaying political symbols, messages or flags during a game. Supporters breaking UEFA regulations will be ejected and issued with a stadium ban.
Maccabi Tel Aviv fan base, most of whom have no truck with racism or hooliganism of any kind, and are exploiting isolated incidents for their own social and political ends… As a result of the hatefilled falsehoods, a toxic atmosphere has been created which makes the safety of our fans wishing to attend very much in doubt. Inflammatory rhetoric, trafficking in half-truths is never healthy, but in this particular case the remarks being generated are of the most concerning variety.
Not for Maccabi Tel Aviv or football, but for the sake of society and its underlying values, maybe the agendas involved here should be looked at more closely. The wellbeing and safety of our fans is paramount and from hard lessons learned, we have taken the decision to decline any allocation offered on behalf of away fans and our decision should be understood in that context.”
The government, who condemned the original decision, respected Villa’ decision and had been looking at overturning the advice.
A spokesperson said it was “completely unacceptable” the match had been “weaponised to stoke violence and fear”. They noted: “The government has been working around the clock to defend a basic principle, that football fans should be able to enjoy a game without fear of intimidation or violence.”
Maccabi acknowledged the efforts of the UK government and police were grateful for messages of support from across the footballing community.
After days of speculation the club issued a statement Monday night.
“No one should feel unsafe for simply wanting to come and support their team nor feel any hesitation about being accompanied by family and friends,” they said. “We have been instrumental in bringing forward footballing talent from around the world irrespective of race or creed. Our first team squad consists of Muslims, Christian and Jewish players and our fan base also crosses the ethnic and religious divide. We have also been working tirelessly to stamp out racism within the more extreme elements of our fan base. Unfortunately, those issues are not restricted to Israeli football, and they are problems the sport has been grappling worldwide including in the UK.” The club added: “It is clear, that various entrenched groups seek to malign the
reconsider… I do wonder what exactly has become of UK society. This is like putting a big sign on the outside of a stadium saying ‘No Jews allowed’. What has become of the UK where blatant antisemitism has become the norm? What a sad world we are living in.”
On the communal front, CAA’s Director of Investigations and Enforcement, Stephen Silverman, told media outlets: “If we are saying that our police force cannot protect people going about their lawful business in this country, then we have a very, very serious problem here… There is no good reason to prevent Israeli Jewish citizens from attending this match, any attempt to do so needs to be overturned. A major sporting event must not be rendered “Jew-free”.
Steve Winston, National Jewish Assembly, said it was a “disgrace and moral failure” to bar Maccabi supporters, many being Israeli and British Jews.
Jewish organisations had reacted with shock and anger at the potential ban of Maccabi fans.
Campaign Against Antisemitism sought a judicial review, notifying Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Police.
SAG’ decision came before a Tel Aviv derby between Hapoel and Maccabi last Sunday was cancelled before kick off after what police described as ‘public disorder and violent riots’.
Maccabi say the decision was not down to their supporters.
In spite of the derby scenes, Prime Minister Keri Starmer said the “wrong decision” and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson noted it was “very difficult to justify” football fans being unable to attend.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch described the initial decision as a “national disgrace” and called on West Midlands Police to overturn the decision.
“What starts with Jews doesn’t end with Jews,” she said. “We cannot have mob rule in this country, where other people can intimidate certain groups in the community and the police say it’s all too difficult.”
In Israel, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar labelled the decision “shameful” and urged officials to reverse it.
Jack Angelides, Maccabi Tel Aviv CEO, told BBC Radio 4: “This is an extremely important moment because of what it signifies. I don’t use this term lightly but people ask, ‘What does antisemitism look like?’ It’s often manifested as part of a process, in other words, small events leading up to something that’s more.”
British-Israeli former hostage Emily Damari, who supports Maccabi, said she was “shocked” over an “outrageous decision” to ban her, family and friends.
“Football is a way of bringing people together irrespective of their faith, colour or religion and this disgusting decision does the exact opposite,” she said. “Shame on you. I hope you come to your senses and
He noted: “Instead of confronting Islamist intimidation, the authorities have shamefully capitulated to it. Even worse, this cowardice has been cheered on by so-called ‘independent’ MPs such as Ayoub Khan and Jeremy Corbyn, who have lent legitimacy to those who seek to bully Jews off the streets and out of public life. This is not about security, it is about surrender, and Britain should be ashamed.”
Jonathan Metliss, Action Against
Discrimination, said the decision was “outrageous”, observing: “This is another example of demonisation of Israel, in this case, in the football world, and of antisemitic behaviour and attitudes of the police and certain Muslim MPs, as well as two-tier policing. This is antisemitism at its worst. The Premier League and Football Association have been silent. We support all efforts to allow Maccabi supporters to attend this game and call on local Jewish community leaders and organisations to do likewise. We must address anti-Jewish behaviour in this country.”
KASHRUT NEWS 21/10/2025
Due to a change in production arrangements the following Rowntree's sweets previously listed as approved Parev are now Not Kosher
Vegan Fruit Gums
Vegan Fruit Pastilles
Vegan Fruit Pastilles Strawberry & Blackcurrant
Vegan Tropical Tots
The issue affects the entire Rowntree's Vegan sweet range which are all Not Kosher Products already purchased should be discarded. Rowntree's Ice Lollies are not affected by this change
Some jars of Nutural World Dark Chocolate Nuts have been mislabelled with a KLBD Parev logo instead of a KLBD Dairy logo
They have Parev ingredients but are made on Dairy Equipment For more details and to check the kosher status of other Nutural World products see www.isitkosher.uk
Maccabi Tel Aviv fans Gali and Ziv Berman just released from Hamas captivity
Released hostage Emily Damari
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From Rosh Hashanah to Simchas Torah, Seed Brings Jewish Learning and Celebration to Homes and Communities Across the UK
This past month, Seed impacted hundreds of families across the UK with an inspiring and activity-filled Yomim Noraim. From Rosh Hashanah through to Simchas Torah, Jewish learning and celebration were felt in homes, schools, and communities nationwide.
Rosh Hashanah began with a pre-Yom Tov family learning event in partnership with Shrubberies shul in Manchester, alongside the distribution of 3,000 Rosh Hashanah learning packs to pupils across the UK. Over 40 communities also received the Rosh Hashanah edition of the Seed magazine, featuring inspiring articles and stories to help readers connect with the themes of the day. On Rosh Hashanah itself, explanatory services were held at Mill Hill, Norris Lea, Seed Borehamwood, and Chigwell, welcoming families in a relaxed and engaging way to help them gain a deeper understanding of the tefillos.
Over Yom Kippur, Seed Manchester ran women’s learning sessions providing spiritual reflection, while explanatory services in multiple locations in London and Hertfordshire once again helped families
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Succos was full of joy and activity, as Seed educators brought the simchah of the Chag into shuls and schools across London and Manchester with ‘Pizza in the Succah’ and creative Succah crafts. Seed youth directors led a lively Succah Crawl in Edgware, while the Seedlings ‘Partytime in the Succah’ gathered 23 mums and children for sushi, music, and crafts. Learning continued with a men’s Hoshana Rabbah session in Manchester, and the celebrations culminated with Simchas Torah at Seed Edgware, where over 250 people joined for dancing and 150 stayed for a community lunch, rounding off the Chagim with warmth and achdus.
Seed’s programming over the Yomim Noraim once again demonstrated its dedication to inspiring Jewish families through education and community.
Seed is a charity that provides ‘Life tools for Jewish Families’ and has bases in London, Manchester and Borehamwood. For more information, and to see what’s coming up next, visit their website: www.seed.uk.net
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Former Israeli hostage Ada Sagi meets Holocaust survivors at Jewish Care’s Holocaust Survivors’ Centre in London
On monday, Ada Sagi, who was kidnapped from her home in Kibbutz Nir Oz on 7th October 2023 and held hostage in Gaza for 53 days, visited Jewish Care’s Holocaust Survivors’ Centre at the Maurice and Vivienne Wohl Campus in Golders Green. She came on the day of her 77th birthday, with her son and daughter in law, Noam and Michal, together with the Hostages and Missing Families Forum and Cards for Care, to be with members, staff and volunteers of the Holocaust Survivors’ Centre.
During her moving visit, Ada spoke about her experience and the ongoing process of rebuilding her life. She reflected on the resilience she has found since her release, saying:
“I am hopeful again. When I came back, I was almost broken. But every day I look in the mirror, and I say, I am here, I survived, and nothing will break me again. There are still some very tough days. I lost everything – I lost my home - I lost my community – Kibbutz Nir Oz is destroyed...all we built is gone - but I hold
YOUR LEGACY
onto a thread of hope that everybody can be rehabilitated.
“I sat in the darkness on my birthday because there was no electricity. I was in Khan Younis on the fifth floor and cried what am I doing here. The owner of the apartment put a candle on the floor and started to sing me happy birthday in Arabic with the guards. What am I doing here? I thought. They gave me a present to listen to Israeli radio from 8-9.”
At this point she didn’t know the number of those kidnapped, and it was only then she found out what happened in the kibbutzim and at Nova from the radio.
“Then I saw the demonstrations on Al Jazeera on television. I took this thread of hope. I thought I’ll come back. I can’t believe it’s two years, but it is. Some days it feels like it was just a few days before. Now my second birthday is 28 November, the day when I was released. It was a tough day to come back and to see that all my family - six grandchildren and my children - were ok, I didn’t know what happened until I came back.”
The members, staff and volunteers gave Ada a cake and sang happy birthday together to Ada in English and Hebrew. The meeting offered emotional connection between Ada and the Holocaust survivors, through shared experience of loss, trauma, and survival. Ada, who had been a peace activist, and headteacher of a school, taught Arabic and Hebrew. She is also the daughter of a Holocaust survivor herself.
Isa Brysch, a member of the Holocaust Survivors’ Centre who survived Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, shared, “We are honoured that you have come to visit us this morning. Every Jewish person is connected. We pray for peace, we hope this season will bring us some kind of comfort, rebuilding and renewal for us all. This centre is a wonderful, wonderful family for all of us, and you included.”
Rachel Levy BEM, who was liberated from Auschwitz and is another regular member of the Centre, said, “We were not so lucky - but look how lucky we are
now. We survived. We are all strong, we have families. I couldn’t talk about my experiences for 50 years; we didn’t want to talk about it. But as a nation you are strong, a different kind of people - and yet we’re all the same. Thank G-d you have
the whole world to support you, and we are with you.”
Explaining how it feels now, and looking to the future, Noam shared, “Sitting here and holding hands together, being able to breathe together, this is the hope.
“We want to thank you for opening your hearts to us and we take this love for as long as we need it and share ours with you.”
Welcoming Ada, Sarah-Jane Burstein and Melanie Gotleib, Holocaust Survivors’ Centre and Outreach Coordinators, say, “Thank you Ada for coming to the centre. Your courage and determination embody the same strength we see in our members every day.”
Jewish Care’s Holocaust Survivors’ Centre provides a safe place for members to connect with one another, receive therapeutic support and enjoy a rich programme of events, social gatherings and vital support for Holocaust survivors. It is the only centre of its kind in the UK to support Holocaust survivors including camp survivors, hidden children, refugees and Kindertransport.
Since October 7, Cards for Care have sent thousands of cards filled with love from the UK Jewish community, including powerful messages from the Holocaust survivors, to hostages’ families, hostages, fallen soldiers, missing families and many more.
Gemara in Chullin Daf 7b
In the face of adversity: A home from home for Jewish university students
BY RAPHAEL JOSEPH
Now the new academic year has begun, thousands of Jewish students have returned to university campuses across the country. For many, this marks going back to study and routine; for others, it is their very first taste of university life. For our Aish educators and campus couples, these weeks are always especially significant, offering the chance to welcome students into a network of friendship, warmth and connection to Jewish life. The start of term is always filled with energy. Freshers’ Fairs, launch events and Friday night dinners, many of which are hosted by Aish UK, provide a home away from home for Jewish students across campuses nationwide. They create opportunities for Jewish students to meet each other and feel part of something larger than themselves. This year’s Aish campus launch events in Manchester, London, Birmingham, Nottingham, and Leeds drew in hundreds of students - a remarkable testament to the appetite for Jewish community life. Again and again, we see that the simple act of gathering around a Shabbat table, whether thirty
students squeezed into a flat or a hall filled with hundreds, has a connective and transformative power. The joy of good food, song, and community speaks loudly. This year, however, there is an added layer of responsibility. In the aftermath of October 7th, following the tragic events of this past Yom Kippur in Manchester when Jews were murdered simply for being Jews and the series of recent ‘resistance’ rallies on campuses up and down the country, Jewish students are returning to universities that have, at times, felt challenging and even hostile.
lecture halls, student unions, and online spaces. For young Jews entering new academic environments, this can be daunting. The instinct might be to hide visible expressions of Jewishness in order to feel safe. Yet the true response must be the opposite. Now more than ever, students need to feel proud of their identity, proud to wear it openly, to celebrate it joyfully,
connect socially and spiritually, but are also acts of resilience. When students gather, laugh, learn, and sing together, they strengthen themselves and affirm the continuity of our people. This is not about denying the challenges of our time, but about meeting them with light, confidence, and belonging.
As the term unfolds, the priority is clear: no Jewish student should feel alone on campus. The task is to weave a web of connection that binds students to one another, to Jewish life, and to the wider Jewish community. And in homes, lounges, and campus spaces across the country, Aish continues to play its part, redoubling efforts and creating moments that bring students together and giving them the confidence to stand tall as Jews in the world.
Antisemitism has found expression in
TECHNICAL PROJECT MANAGER
Jewish Futures is a large, Jewish educational charity that serves as an umbrella body for a variety of charities and organisations. We are committed to delivering focused 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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BACKGROUND & SKILLS
• Experience in web development, ideally with exposure and understanding of:
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• AWS & Azure
• Laravel (PHP framework)
• Familiarity with enterprise systems, particularly Microsoft Power Platform and Dynamics 365.
• Strong project management and communication skills.
• Ability to balance technical understanding with business needs.
and to stand as part of a wider community that refuses to be diminished. Jewish life on campus, in all its forms, from chag and shabbat meals, informal learning and events hosted by Aish, to cultural gatherings and student-led initiatives, offer not only a chance to
We cannot predict what this year will bring. But we can ensure that every Jewish student who steps onto campus knows there is a seat waiting for them at a table, a community ready to welcome them, and a shared heritage that continues to inspire and sustain us all.
By Rafael Joseph, Head of London Campus Department, Aish UK
A Slice Of Heaven Pesach 2026
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The Lazy Son!
BY RABBI JONATHAN TAWIL
How are you feeling this week? Exhausted!?!
Why?
Well, where do I start? After a month of waking up early for Selichot, two deep days in prayer at Rosh Hashanah, ten days of repenting followed by a beautiful fast on Yom Kippur, a further few days building a Succah and searching for that perfect Lulav and Etrog, followed by seven days spent outdoors living in a Succah, and two final days dancing with all our energy for Simchat Torah!
Wow! What a manic two months! So, what’s next??
Shall we shut our eyes? Where are we heading to now?
It’s interesting to note that the next month Cheshvan is void of any festivals. After such commotion, we seem to be left with a void. How are we to proceed after such a successful run?
In life, we are faced with many challenges. Sometimes, these challenges start small. We garner the courage and outweigh these. We can do it!
Yet at other times, we are faced by a barrage of challenges one after the other, slowly hitting us and eroding away at our faith.
It is at times like these that we need to dig deep into our heap of faith, be strong and face these challenges with a strong hand.
Our Parasha relates how the whole world was flooded; only Noach, his immediate family and the animals in the Ark survived.
It must have been tough, but Noach exits from the Ark and aims to rebuild.
The Midrash Tanchuma explains that Noach began and planted a grapevine. On a single day it grew, he harvested it, crushed the grapes, drank from it, got drunk and his embarrassment was publicized.
The Torah relates that whilst his son Cham took advantage of his father’s situation, his other brothers Shem and Yefet came to his father’s aid and covered his nakedness.
Eventually, when Noach sobered up, Cham was cursed whilst Shem and Yefet were blessed.
Interestingly, Shem received a bigger blessing than Yefet.
Rashi, commenting on this narrative (9:23), notes that the Torah describes Shem and Yefet’s response with the singular form “Vayikach (not Vayikchu) Shem VaYefet Et Hasimla”, indicating that one of the two brothers played the primary role in this Mitsva.
Citing the Midrash (Tanchuma 15, Bereishit Rabba 36:6), Rashi explains that “Shem exerted himself in the Mitsva more than Yefet.” Shem’s greater role in this incident, Rashi adds, is reflected in the eternal reward granted to his descendants, Am Yisrael. We are given the Mitsva of tzitzit – corresponding to the garment used by Shem to cover his father. The reward for Yefet, by contrast,
was the burial that the nation of Magog – who descend from Yefet (10:2) – will receive in the future (Yechezkel 39:11). Shem’s descendants received a greater reward because Shem played a greater role in dressing Noach.
Although Shem and Yefet seemed to act similarly, yet at the end due to their exertion of the action they both received different rewards.
Sometimes, we perform Mitzvot with lacklustre. We don’t understand that the extra effort that we put in could be the jackpot – it could end up making all the difference.
There is a fascinating story of a lazy young man who grew up at home with everything being prepared for him. He never worked, always rising from his bed at 2pm. His mother prepared him brunch daily, catered and pampered him. Yet as he grew older, his father was starting to worry. “What is going to be with you? How are you going to settle down, get married? You need to go out into the real world and work!”
The son, of course, took no notice until one day, the father put his foot down.
“Son, if by tomorrow night you don’t go out to work and come back with at least £20, I am throwing you out of this house. No roof over your head and no food!”
The son knew that the father was serious and that night went to sleep worried.
He arose the next day at 2pm as usual. Time was against him. He waded down to the kitchen and begged his mother to give him £20!
“Please mum! If you don’t, dad will kick me out. Give me £20! You don’t have to tell him, and I will pretend I worked”.
The mum had mercy on her child and handed over £20.
That night, when the dad came back from work, his son happily rushed to him with £20.
The father looked at the money and tore it up.
The son was startled, but didn’t say anything.
The father looked to his son and said, “Tomorrow I want at least £20 or you are out!”
The next day, the son found himself in the same situation. He arose at 2pm, ran to the kitchen, begged his mother and received £20. That night, he handed it to this father who again tore it up.
The third day, the son arose and ran to the kitchen. “Mum! Did you tell dad that you paid me £20?” asked the son.
The mother answered with an emphatic “No”.
So why does he keep tearing it up, he thought. Nevertheless he continued to ask his mother for £20.
This time, however, the mother said that she had run out of cash, and wouldn’t be able to help till next week. He was in hysterics. Not knowing what to do, he ran to his local food store and begged for the chance to
perform some cheap deliveries for them. They agreed and that night he returned tired with £20.
He then handed it over to his father, who proceeded to tear it up.
“DAD, DON’T DO THAT!” screamed the son.
The father now turned to his child and said,” AHAH! Finally, NOW I know you worked!”
On the first two occasions, the son never worked for the money and didn’t really react when the father tore up the £20. Only on the third occasion did he really react, because it was only on that time that he actually worked hard to gain the money.
Shem went out of his way, put in that extra effort and was eternally rewarded.
We don’t realise the reward for every small action; were we to realise, our efforts would change for ever.
This is the lesson that we can take as a bridge from the busy Chagim we have experienced to the seemingly empty
month of Cheshvan.
Over the past months, we have experienced real energy. Now it’s up to us to take that energy and input it into our daily lives.
Calling all Prospective Nursery & Reception families
Places available for September 2026
Limited places across the school available for 2025
Open morning, 10am Tuesday
21st & 28th October and Sunday 2nd November, 10am to 12noon. Children welcome, registration essential.
There will be guided tours of our wonderful school where you will get to meet our Head Teacher and see the school in action! Please let us know if these days are inconvenient to organise an individual appointment. Looking forward to welcoming you.
To register please call the office on: 020 8202 7704 or email: admin@hasmonean-pri.barnet.sch.uk
Seeing Beyond the Label: An Interview with Adina Rosenstein
At just eighteen, Adina Rosenstein turned an idea born in a Hasmonean Girls’ classroom into one of the Jewish community’s most talkedabout events. Beyond the Label, now in its fourth year, is an empowering and inclusive fashion show run by GIFT, celebrating real women, real stories and real confidence. We sat down with Adina to hear how it all began and what’s next for this inspiring project.
What inspired you to come up with the idea for Beyond the Label when you were just 18?
I’ve always been passionate about fashion as a form of expression, but also aware of how it can sometimes be used to define or limit people. When I joined the Hasmonean Girls GIFT Charity Incubator class, I was encouraged by Shira Joseph to create something that combined creativity with meaning and something that challenged stereotypes and celebrated individuality.
That’s where Beyond the Label came from: a fashion show that focuses on real people, their stories, and how clothes can empower and reflect who we are rather than how we “should” look. With GIFT’s help, this idea was turned into a reality and exceeded all expectations.
Are you proud to see how far it’s come since then?
It’s honestly surreal. When I started Beyond the Label, I never imagined it would grow into one of GIFT’s flagship events. Seeing how many people get involved each year, from the models to the volunteers to the audience, is so rewarding. Beyond the Label has completely changed my life. It’s become more than just a one-night show; it’s a mindset that brings Jewish women together and sparks conversations around self-love, inclusivity and confidence.
Describe a moment from one of the previous fashion shows that really stands out to you.
The moment that always stays with me is right at the end of the show, once all the models have walked the runway and the
thank-yous are done. The music starts, and suddenly everyone just begins dancing: the models, the team, the audience. It becomes one big celebration. There’s so much love, acceptance and joy in that room. You can see friendships forming, strangers hugging, laughing and crying together in pure empowerment. That energy, that sense of unity and womanhood, is what Beyond the Label is all about. It’s a shared moment of pride and connection that reminds me why we do it every year.
You’re now studying Costume Construction in University. Do you feel the fashion world is becoming more inclusive?
Studying costume construction has given me a deeper understanding of how clothing shapes identity and storytelling. The industry is becoming more inclusive, but there’s still a long way to go. The Beyond the Label mindset pushes me to think beyond size, shape or proportion and to celebrate real people and real bodies. I love what I do and feel so lucky to bring that approach into my everyday work.
What impact do you think Beyond the Label has had on the community?
I think it’s reminded people that every woman has something beautiful and meaningful to share. Each show connects the audience with stories of strength, empowerment and individuality. My hope is that it’s created a sense of community where people feel encouraged to embrace who they are, rather than trying to fit into a label or expectation. The essence of a Jewish woman is complex and wonderful, and it should never be overlooked because of her age, background or dress size.
What can people expect from this year’s show?
We’ve been working on some really exciting new elements! Without giving too much away, as this year the show takes place on Fireworks Night, the theme ties into this element. Beyond The Label 2025 will be an unmissable night of glitz, glamour and heart; new fashion, new models, and the same warm, inspiring atmosphere that people have come to love.
What do you hope the models and audience take away from the night?
I hope everyone leaves feeling uplifted. For the models, I want them to feel proud of what they’ve achieved by stepping out of their comfort zone. For the audience, I hope they walk away with our message of compassion and authenticity. Beauty truly comes from confidence, kindness and individuality, and from remembering to always see Beyond the Label.
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ASK THE RABBI
WHAT’S YOUR PRONOUN?
Dear Rabbi
My daughter’s school is doing “Pronoun Awareness Week,” and they’re asking all students to introduce themselves with their preferred pronouns. She doesn’t feel comfortable, but she’s scared of being called intolerant. What should she do?
Patricia
Dear Patricia
Welcome to 2025. Tell her to smile, raise her hand, and say: “My pronouns are ‘was raised to think for myself.’” Honestly, this entire thing has gotten so out of hand. Schools used to teach reading, writing, and arithmetic. Now it’s reprogramming, rebranding, and reassigning. It’s like Orwell meets kindergarten. If your daughter doesn’t go along, they’ll say she’s being “exclusionary.” But here’s a question: when did basic biology become an extremist position? When did sanity become something you have to whisper in the hallway?
Your daughter doesn’t owe anyone an ideological performance. Judaism teaches, as we just read in the Torah, that every human being is created ‘b’tzelem Elokim’
- in the image of G-d - which means her identity isn’t something invented by social media or updated by a hashtag. It’s something sacred, eternal, and not up for redefinition every six minutes. You can be respectful without surrendering to absurdity. Respecting someone’s humanity is not the same as pretending two plus two equals five.
By the way, it’s ironic that the same crowd preaching “authenticity” demands absolute uniformity. They shout, “Be yourself!” while handing out scripts. Let’s call it what it is: a performative ritual of ideological obedience. They don’t want tolerance; they want applause. And if you don’t clap, you’re the villain.
So, what should your daughter do? Be polite. Be firm. But she should also remember that real respect doesn’t require surrendering your integrity. Sometimes, the most radical act in a world obsessed with labels, is refusing to need one. And above all - be sane. Because in 2025, that alone already makes her a revolutionary.
FORWARD YOUR FEELINGS TO HAMAS
Dear Rabbi I’m exhausted. Every time I post something supportive of Israel, I get
mobbed by people accusing me of “genocide,” “colonialism,” and “oppression.” Some of them are my university friends who think quoting a meme on Instagram makes them Middle East experts. How do I respond without losing my mind, or my friends?
Ashley
Dear Ashley
Simple: tell them “Thanks for your concern, I’ll be sure to forward your feelings to Hamas.”
Let’s be honest: most of these “activists” couldn’t find Israel on a map if you replaced the Mediterranean with a Starbucks. They’re not fighting for justice; they’re auditioning for moral superiority points on social media.
Half of them think Gaza is still “occupied,” and the other half think “from the river to the sea” is a tourism slogan. Their geopolitical expertise begins and ends with whatever their favourite influencer said between skincare tutorials.
Meanwhile, Israel - the only democracy in the Middle East, the only country that protects women and all minorities, gets called “apartheid” by people who’ve never read a history book but once watched Fauda and think they’re analysts for the UN.
Judaism teaches, “Those who are kind to the cruel will end up cruel to the kind.”
That’s exactly what’s happened. The
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moral compass of the woke world is so broken, it points south even in the desert. So don’t argue. Don’t explain. Just smile, post a picture of a falafel, and say, “This is the only occupation I’m worried about - my lunch.” Then block, bless, and move on. Because standing with Israel doesn’t make you controversial. It makes you aware and intellectually honest, and the woke brigade can’t handle that.
An Open Letter to the Prime Minister from the National Jewish Assembly
Dear Prime Minister,
Week after week, Britain’s streets are overtaken by marches that claim to stand for peace yet resound with hatred. Under the banner of “solidarity,” they have become parades of menace — where chants for Israel’s destruction echo through our cities and where British Jews, once again, must conceal their identity to feel safe in public.
The consequences of allowing such hatred to fester are now impossible to ignore.
The recent decision to bar Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from attending their team’s match at Aston Villa is nothing short of a national disgrace. It sends the message that the police and local authorities cannot guarantee the safety of Jewish fans — not because of anything they have done, but because antisemitism on Britain’s streets has been allowed to reach a point where Jewish presence itself is deemed “too dangerous.” When our institutions respond to threats by
excluding Jews rather than confronting those who threaten them, something has gone profoundly wrong.
Equally alarming was the recent incident in which a Jewish man, recording a pro-Palestinian rally organised by a Jewish anti-Zionist group, was arrested with officers suggesting that his visible Star of David might “antagonise” the crowd. The fact that a Jewish symbol could be considered provocative even at an event led by Jews exposes a harsh truth: this hostility is not really about Israeli policy or geopolitics — it is about the Jewish people and the existence of the Jewish state itself. If even self-declared anti-Zionist Jews cannot tolerate the sight of a fellow Jew’s Star of David, what we are witnessing is not political disagreement but raw, unfiltered antisemitism.
You, Prime Minister, said only last week that the chant “from the river to the sea” is antisemitic. You are right. It calls for the eradication of the world’s only Jewish state and, by extension, its people. Yet the Mayor of London insists the slogan is not inherently antisemitic — a position
that epitomises the dangerous moral confusion now permeating our public life. When those in authority cannot even agree that a genocidal chant is hateful, extremists take it as permission to continue.
Antisemitism is never an isolated prejudice. It is the first symptom of a broader moral decay — one that corrodes truth, civility, and the very fabric of democracy. By tolerating open hostility toward Jews, Britain invites the spread of every other form of extremism.
Your government’s approach so far has been reactive and piecemeal. Condemnations, however well-intentioned, are no substitute for decisive policy. What is required now is a national strategy that treats antisemitic incitement as a threat to the country’s stability and cohesion. That means:
• Updating legislation to ban chants, slogans, and symbols that glorify terrorism or call for genocide.
• Holding organisers accountable when marches descend into intimidation or incitement.
The Quiet Month of Cheshvan
BY ALIZA SINCLAIR
After weeks of prayer, celebration, and endless cooking, the Jewish calendar suddenly goes quiet. The machzorim are back on the shelf, the kittels at the cleaners, and the dishwasher finally at rest. And then comes Cheshvan - four long weeks of ordinary weekdays, without a single holiday, or even a fast day, to break them up.
It feels almost anticlimactic. We’ve just experienced the intensity of Ellul, the awe of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the joy of Sukkot, and the dancing of Simchat Torah. And now? Just Mondays. Why would G-d give us the only month with no special days - not even a fast or a minor festival, right after the busiest time of the Jewish year?
The clue might be in the last special prayer of the season: the prayer for rain, said on Shemini Atzeret (which is the
final day of Sukkot in Israel). We ask not just for rain, but for the right kind of rain. We don’t want destructive storms followed by drought. What we ask for is steady, nourishing rain that helps newly planted seeds take root and grow.
Yes, the prayer is about physical rain. But perhaps it also speaks to our spiritual lives. Over the last two months we’ve been planting seeds - resolutions, reflections, and commitments to change. We’ve thought about our relationships with G-d, with other people, and with ourselves. We’ve imagined who we could become in the year ahead.
But planting is the easy part. The hard part is what comes next.
Any farmer will tell you: growth takes time, consistency, and patience. The excitement of planting quickly wears off. Watering a field, or waiting for the rain, isn’t glamorous. At first, our new commitments feel fresh and inspiring: an extra hour of Torah study, a weekly visit to an elderly neighbor, a healthier lifestyle.
But soon it gets harder. The weather turns cold, work piles up, and the initial enthusiasm fades.
That’s exactly what Cheshvan is for. It’s the month of quiet work. A time not for planting new seeds, but for nurturing the ones we’ve already sown. No distractions, no special days, just the steady rhythm of daily life.
It’s tempting to think that spiritual growth only happens in dramatic bursts of inspiration, during the big moments of the calendar. But Cheshvan teaches us something else. Real change happens when the inspiration is gone and we keep going anyway. That’s when the seeds take root.
So, as we pray for physical rain, we pray for G-d’s help to sustain us, to give us the strength to keep watering our commitments even when it feels routine. The combination of Divine assistance and human persistence is what turns potential into reality.
Cheshvan, therefore, while it may feel
• Enforcing the law consistently, so that protest never becomes a pretext for hate.
• Protecting Jewish citizens and institutions through firm, visible policing — not by avoidance or exclusion.
Prime Minister, if Britain cannot ensure the safety of a Jewish man wearing a Star of David in London, or of Jewish football supporters in Birmingham, how can it credibly claim to be confronting extremism on a national scale?
Leadership demands moral clarity and the courage to act upon it. You have correctly identified antisemitic hate for what it is. The time has now come to prove that Britain will no longer yield to intimidation — not on the terraces, not on the high streets, and not in the heart of its democracy.
The Jewish community — and every Briton who values decency and freedom — deserves nothing less.
Yours sincerely, National Jewish Assembly
quiet and anticlimactic, isn’t empty at all - in its quiet lies its true power. It is the bridge between inspiration and growth, between vision and results. It reminds us that greatness doesn’t come from bursts of excitement, but from steady, faithful commitment. If Tishrei was about planting, Cheshvan is about cultivating. If we do the work now, when spring arrives we’ll see blossoms in our lives, the real fruits of the spiritual seeds we planted during the holidays.
After spending some years in Israel, teaching in both high school and various seminaries, Aliza has recently relocated to London with her husband and joined Jewish Futures as an educator. She holds a B.Ed. in English and Tanach, as well as an M.A. in History.
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Family FunNOACH - ַחַנ
Ten long generations after Adam and Eve, we meet Noah who is the hero of this week’s parshah. The people who lived at the time of Noah were not honest — they stole, robbed, told lies — you name it, they did it. They were wicked and did not follow in G‑d’s ways. The only righteous person in the whole generation was Noah. G‑d tells Noah that He is planning on destroying the entire world by bringing a great flood.
G‑d tells Noah to build an ark — a teivah — where he and his family as well as any people who will repent could escape from the flood. It takes Noah 120 years to build the ark — do you know why? G‑d wanted to give a chance to the people to repent, so Noah builds the ark very, very slowly, and whenever people pass
by his yard and ask him what he is doing, he says: “I am building an ark, because G‑d will destroy the world if you do not repent. Repent, there is still a chance! Start behaving honestly and become good people!” But the people laugh at Noah and don’t take him seriously.
Sadly, the day comes when G‑d tells Noah to go into the ark with his three sons and their wives, as well as to take a male and female of every single type of animal and, of course, food and water for everyone. When Noah seals the ark, drops of rain start to fall, which slowly became bigger and bigger. G‑d still wants to give a last minute chance to the people to repent, to show that them that this is real, but they do not change their minds. The rain becomes a flood which lasts 40 days
and 40 nights. The entire world is covered in water, and everything is destroyed.
When the flood is over, the earth is still covered with water and the teivah floats around for a long time. After another 150 days, it finally settles on Mount Ararat and Noah sends a raven out of the ark and then a few doves to see if there is dry land yet. Finally after a few weeks a dove comes back with an olive branch in its beak. Noah understands that the earth has dried, and finally G‑d commands him to exit the ark. When he leaves, Noah builds an altar and offers sacrifices to G‑d to thank Him for sparing his life. G‑d swears that He will never again destroy the entire world and uses the rainbow as a sign.
For the next ten generations, everyone speaks the same language and has the same customs. At one point, though, a large group of people get together and decide to build a tower with which they could “reach into the sky” to show that they are as powerful as G‑d. At this point, G‑d makes all the people speak a different language, so no one can understand one another and there is a great mess. Their project comes to a halt, and the people separate into different nations.
Finally we meet Abram or Abraham, the hero of the next few parshahs, and great great great great great great great great great grandson of Noah.
Facts about Parashat Noach Number of Verses - 153
Number of Lines - 230
Number of Words - 1,861
Number of Letters - 6,907
Jewish Riddle
Last week’s answer: Which weekly Parasha is never read (outside of Israel) on Shabbat Afternoon?
The answer is:
Parashat Bereshit. Outside Israel, Simchat Torah always falls on a weekday. So the only Shabbat when Parashat Bereshit is read is the following Shabbat in the morning. In Israel, however, when Simchat Torah falls on Shabbat, we read Parashat Bereshit that very same afternoon.
Well done to Alf from Edgware
Asking ChatGPT...
The animals go marching two by two, hurrah! Hurrah!
The animals go marching two by two, hurrah! Hurrah!
The animals go marching two by two, They all have jobs and things to do, And they all go marching on...
To the ark... to stay dry... in the rain!
The elephants go marching two by two, To find some snacks at the local zoo!
The tigers go marching two by two, With stripes of orange, black, and blue!
The monkeys go marching two by two, They swing on vines like at the zoo!
The lions go marching two by two, With golden manes and a mighty “ROOAR!”
The frogs go marching two by two, They leap so high and shout “Ribbit!” too!
The giraffes go
marching two by two, Their heads so high, they touch the blue!
The penguins go marching two by two, They waddle proud in tuxes too!
The zebras go marching two by two, With black and white in every hue!
The camels go marching two by two, With humps that hold a drink or two!
The pandas go marching two by two, They chew on bamboo — that’s what they do!
The bears go marching two by two, They march through forests, yes they do!
The wolves go marching two by two, They howl at night — it’s nothing new!
The owls go marching two by two, They hoot “Who-who?” from the trees at you!
The ducks go marching two by two, They flap and quack and paddle too!
The kangaroos go marching two by two, They bounce along with baby too!
Jokes
Q: What do you call a sleeping bull?
A: A bull-dozer!
Q: How do you fit more pigs in your farm?
A: Build a sty-scraper!
Q: What do you call the cow that had no milk?
A: An udder failure!
Q:What do you call a pampered cow
Riddles
A: Spoiled milk 1.
The hippos go marching two by two, They splash and swim in water blue!
The rhinos go marching two by two, With horns like armor charging through!
The foxes go marching two by two, They sneak through forests, quick and true!
The deer go marching two by two, With gentle steps and eyes so true!
The sheep go marching two by two, They bleat and baa — and follow you!
I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have no body.
You measure my life in hours and I serve you by expiring. I’m quick when I’m thin and slow when I’m fat. The wind is my enemy.
TRUSTED FINANCIAL ADVICE. PROVEN EXPERTISE.
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