Trump calls for Syria to join Abraham Accords
BY DAVID SAFFER
US President Donald Trump has called on Syrian Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa to join the Abraham Accords with Israel.
Trump held a 30-minute discussion in Riyadh yesterday on route to Qatar and United Arab Emirates following a successful address in Saudi Arabia hosted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salm.
The first meeting between a US and Syrian president since 2000 followed Trump’s surprise announcement lifting sanctions on Syria.
Israel’s stance on normalising relations and lifting sanctions has not officially been released. But according to reports they have voiced caution.
concluded with his hope that Syria would serve as a critical link in facilitating trade between east and west, and invited American companies to invest in Syrian oil and gas. The Russia-Ukraine war and the war in Gaza was also discussed.”
During the flight on Air Force One to Doha, where discussions for the release of 58 hostages are set to continue, it is thought 23 are still alive, Trump told reporters that without US diplomacy the hostages held by
A meeting bringing together his Royal Highness the Crown Prince, the US President, and the Syrian President PHOTO: X
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Trump said: “If it weren’t for us, he wouldn’t be living right now. Probably none of the hostages will be living right now. Probably we have 20 who are living.” Regarding, his Middle East venture, Trump claimed it was positive for Israel.
He noted: “Having a relationship like I have with these countries, I think it’s very good for Israel.”
There were reports Alexander, who spoke with Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after being freed, would travel to Doha to meet Trump but he will remain at Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv undergoing tests.
Netanyahu has threatened to expand Israel military campaign in Gaza this week if Hamas refuse to release the remaining hostages.
US envoys Steve Witkoff and Adam Boehler reaffirmed their commitment to securing the release of all captives when they met families of hostages before flying to Doha.
Witkoff, who visited Alexander in hospital, told the group: “Edan’s return is a light of hope. We will not stop until everyone is home.” Boehler added: “We’re not backing down from this mission.”
Alexander was on duty at the Gaza border when he was abducted by Hamas terrorist during the October 7, 2023 massacre. According to reports, he was held with other hostages in a dark tunnel, shackled in a metal cage, tortured during interrogations and starved during captivity. He received more food towards his release. Hamas was given no prisoners in exchange for Alexander.
There were emotional scenes as Alexander was reunited with his family at an IDF base in Gaza.
Netanyahu hailed the release, citing a combination of military and political pressure from Trump and Witkoff. “That is a winning combination,” he said.
The Alexander family thanked Trump and US administration for their support in the release.
President Isaac Herzog said: “Every home in Israel is emotional right now. You were in the hearts of half the world. What matters most is that we want everyone home.”
Golani Brigade Commander Col. Shai Klapper said: “The Golani family embraces you. We are bound by the brotherhood unique to our brown-beret brigade. The road ahead is long, the fighting is tough, and the cost is painful, but the Golani Brigade will not stop until victory.”
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir added: “We are moved and grateful for the return of Edan. At the same time, we remain committed to bringing back the 58 hostages still held by Hamas. They remain at the forefront of our mission.”
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum welcomed Alexander’s return as a “hopeful milestone”.
BREAKING NEWS
As The Jewish Weekly went to press, a Jewish expectant couple have been rushed to hospital following a terror attack on their car as they were en route to deliver their baby near Bruchin and the Pedu’el Junction in Samaria.
“She’s one of our own”
BY ADAM MOSES
Former British-Israeli hostage Emily Damari has been in the UK for the first time since her release from captivity in January.
During the trip she met family, members of the Jewish community and watched her football team Tottenham Hotspur play Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Sadly, her team went down to a 2-0 defeat but it did not diminish her joy at being at the game.
Cheered by fans as she arrived at the ground to a rendition of “She’s one of our own”, Damari addressed supporters.
“I am very happy to be here,” Damari said. “Thank you to everyone for praying for me and shouting my name without
knowing me. I don’t really have the words to say how thankful I am for that. All of you are amazing. I hope Spurs are going to win today! May the other 59 hostages be home soon.”
Damari released 59 balloons, each carrying an image of a hostage still held in the Gaza Strip.
As she did, campaigners chanted, “She’s one of our own, she’s one of our own, Emily Damari is finally home.”
Damari met former and current Spurs and England players.
The welcoming ceremony was organised by the Stop the Hate activism group.
Founder Itai Galmudy reportedly said: “For too long we have been waiting, dreaming that she would be released. We campaigned for her here in the rain, sun, in the good times, the bad times. To have her coming to the Spurs stadium today is the crescendo of this entire campaign.”
Damari met Israel’s Ambassador to the UK Tzipi Hotovely last Friday.
“Emily is not only a symbol of strength and resilience, but she’s also a true hero,” said Hotovely. “Since Emily’s release from captivity, she has continued to fight for the release of her friends who still remain in Gaza at the hands of Hamas. Her journey is one of incredible courage, and I have no doubt she’ll continue to inspire as she continues to advocate for the remaining hostages still in captivity.”
A National Appeal Delivered to the House of Lords
This week, 835 individually addressed letters were hand-delivered to members of the House of Lords in a landmark civic initiative led by Rabbi Asher Gratt, President of the British Rabbinical Union. The letters raised urgent constitutional concerns about the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, warning of unprecedented state intrusion into family life and religious education.
Leading legal experts including Mark Hill KC, David Wolfe KC, and Aidan O’Neill KC, have described the Bill as:
• A breach of human rights
• A gross invasion of parental authority
• And “state surveillance of family life on an unprecedented scale”
Over two dozen peers, including senior Conservatives, bishops, and crossbenchers, have already raised serious objections. Lord Baker called the Bill “a major change of power in this country.”
As this campaign gains momentum, your support is urgently needed.
Please send your ideas or offers of assistance to:
yigefilhaus@gmail.com Sign the declaration via the QR code below and make your voice heard:
Lords Revolt Against Controversial Schools Bill
Britain on the Brink
Sack Lineker says CAA
BY HARRY SIMONS
Campaign Against Antisemitism is calling for the BBC to sack Match of the Day host Gary Lineker.
The controversial former footballer shared an anti-Israel video on his Instagram account that misrepresented Zionism and featured a rat emoji.
Lineker has deleted his post following widespread criticism.
A CAA spokesperson said: “Lineker is playing the public for fools by pretending to be one. He claims to want to spread awareness about events in the Middle East but also claims to be so ignorant as to be unaware of the dehumanising connotations of a rat symbol. He acts like an accessible man of the people, but when caught out issues feeble excuses through a spokesperson like a shady politician.
“Such aloofness and reckless indifference would be appalling from any public figure, but Mr Lineker is the BBC’s number one star, and has built himself a media empire that gives him immense influence. That comes with a responsibility that Mr Lineker has repeatedly refused to bear. The BBC has turned a blind eye for too long. It is long past time for him to go, and he must go now.
“Frankly, the fact that he is still there this morning is a sign of a much deeper
rot and culture of impunity at the BBC, which has only emboldened people like Mr Lineker, allowed bigots to become journalists and influencers, and even led to the BBC’s humiliating admission that it sent money to the family of a Hamas official. That rot will only end when firm action is taken and an example made of those who are turning our national broadcaster into a national embarrassment.”
A Board of Deputies spokesperson criticised the BBC for allowing issues with Lineker to continue.
“He has caused great offence with this video,” noted a BoD spokesperson. “The BBC should ask him to leave now rather than allowing him to dictate his own terms.”
Action Against Discrimination chairman Jonathan Metliss said Lineker’s anti-Israel jibes are an “incitement to racial hatred” and a matter for the police and the Crown Prosecution Service.
Earlier this year Lineker was a signatory to a letter criticising the BBC for
pulling controversial documentary ‘Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone’.
CAA noted Lineker was becoming the “emblem of all that is wrong at the BBC”.
The Board brought up Lineker’s social media output when they met BBC to discuss concerns relating to coverage and
culture of the broadcaster. And AAD has criticised Lineker posts regarding Israel’s actions in Gaza, for backing a pro-Palestinian demonstration on Armistice Day and criticising Suella Braverman calling demonstrations a ‘hate march’.
Antisemitism
In Sport & Society
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Jonathan Metliss –Chairman, Action Against Discrimination and Jewish Weekly
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Claudia Mendoza –High Profile Spokesman & CEO, Jewish Leadership Council
Alex Fynn –“Spiritual Godfather” of the Premier League –Sunday Times & Sports Club Advisor Joe Jacobson –Welsh professional footballer, former captain of Wales U21 team & Cardiff City
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Israel and Germany mark 60 years diplomacy
BY DAVID SAFFER
President Isaac Herzog and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier
number were held hostage in Gaza for over 500 days.
marked 60 years of diplomatic relations at events in Germany and Israel this week.
A packed agenda, which began on Monday in Berlin and concluded in Jerusalem the following day, took place against the backdrop of the Gaza war.
Herzog presented Steinmeier with the Israel Presidential Medal of Honour at his official residence in Jerusalem on Tuesday night.
Herzog initially addressed a “deeply moving exchange” with hostage Edan Alexander following his release from captivity by Hamas.
“Edan is a true hero,” he said. “We eagerly await the return of all of our sisters and brothers. We need them home and we will not rest until they are here.”
Among guests were members of the Haran-Shoham-Kipnis-Avigdori family.
Ten members of the extended family were murdered or abducted during the October 7 massacre at Kibbutz Be’eri. A
Dr. Shoshan Haran, her daughter Adi Shoham, and Adi’s husband Tal Shoham, who were released from captivity, were also guests.
Speaking about the significance of the award, Herzog said Steinmeier was one of Israel’s greatest friends and had demonstrated the “personification of leadership”.
Steinmeier said that following Israel’s rise from the ashes of the Shoah they were a “fearless democracy” and “beacon of humanity”. He also spoke about the plight of the hostages.
“I will never forget our walk through Kibbutz Be’eri, just a few weeks after the attack, the blood, the ashes, the unspeakable pain,” he recalled. “The trauma of the seventh of October still lies heavily on this country.”
Steinmeier said Germany will work with Israel’s neighbours towards peace.
“The suffering cannot last forever,” he observed. “Sixty years of German Israeli relations can tell us today, peace is possible. Reconciliation is possible, even from
the deepest abyss whose time is courage and with engagement of the many, may Israel thrive in peace with its neighbours, in peace with itself, Germany is on your side.”
Earlier in the day at the National Library in Jerusalem they visited a memorial for victims of the October 7 terror attack as part a national commemoration project led by the Library.
Both were presented with the 1585 Cloverleaf Map, a symbolic world map printed in Hanover depicting Jerusalem at the center of the world.
Herzog was shown a 1942 letter from Esther Goldberg Herzog, his grandfather’s sister appealing to the Chief Rabbi of Nazi-occupied Paris to help secure the release of her daughter held by the Nazis.
Steinmeier viewed the ‘Worms Mahzor’, one of the earliest Ashkenazi prayer books hidden during the Holocaust, and photographs of a 1960 visit of West Germany’s first President, Theodor Heuss, to the Library.
A day earlier, at the Bellevue Presidential Palace in Berlin, Herzog and Steinmeier discussed the hostages, strengthening bilateral cooperation and developing future joint initiatives.
Herzog welcomed news that Alexander would be released from captivity and the return of the body of Tzvi Feldman, missing since the Lebanon War of 1982, from Syria.
Herzog praised Alexander’s parents and family.
“Their noble and brave steadfastness touched all our hearts,” he said. “The State of Israel makes no distinction between one citizen and another, and certainly not between those who hold a
foreign passport and those who do not. All the hostages are equal. The duty to return all the hostages is a sacred and holy Israeli moral obligation.”
Herzog addressed the Iranian regime in joint statements to the press.
“Israel is a mighty wall for the free world, for democracy, for humanity and humaneness,” he noted.
Noting Hamas was a tentacle of the Iranian octopus, Herzog observed: “Hamas still holds dozens of Israeli hostages in disgraceful conditions, in the most difficult circumstances, in a horrific crime against humanity. Together with you, I cry out to all humanity, to act by every means and with all strength to bring about the urgent release of all the hostages, back home to Israel.”
Regarding the Houthis in Yemen who continue to attack dozens of ships in the Red Sea, he commented: “Iran provides these organisations with massive military and financial support, and without it, they could not commit these atrocities. Iran must be prevented from acquiring nuclear weapons. We must confront Iran with resolve, with strength, and through international partnership. This is not just an Israeli interest. It is a human and global interest.”
Herzog noted that antisemitism was surging in Europe and across the world.
“Ancient murderous hatreds are rearing their heads again and joining with dark forces seeking to destroy the Jewish state,” he said. “We must not assume that the horror of the Holocaust will be known to future generations. We must act with all our might to pass on memory and to wage a determined battle against hatred, antisemitism and racism.”
Presidents Herzog and Steinmeier at the National Library
PHOTO: GPO
JNF UK Sets Vision for Israel’s Future with Akko Centre Launch
JNF UK’s landmark 2048 Conference concluded last week with a powerful message of hope, unity, and determination for Israel’s future. The conference which took place in Israel, brought together lay leaders, external delegates and visionaries from across the Jewish world and included the highly anticipated opening of a new state-of-the-art educational facility in Akko.
Samuel Hayek, Chairman of JNF UK, opened the conference by unveiling the inspiration behind the name “2048” — a forward-looking vision toward Israel’s 100th year of independence. In a stirring address, Hayek called for renewed commitment to strengthening the ties between Diaspora Jewish communities and Israel, emphasising this bond as essential to building a secure and thriving future for the Jewish people.
A key highlight of the conference was the inauguration of the JNF UK Akko House of Excellence, a new education centre for youth in northern Israel which spans over an area of 8,500 sq. ft. Named in honour of Peter Benjamin—a generous legacy donor whose contribution helped make this project possible - the centre was established in partnership with KKL-JNF. It will offer enhanced learning opportunities to students in need of extra support, empowering them to reach their full potential and advancing JNF UK’s mission to uplift underserved communities.
At the unveiling, several speeches were given by distinguished guests, including Amichai Ben Shlush, Mayor of Akko, who said, “This is one of the most impressive Excellence Centres I’ve ever seen. This project is innovative and inspiring. It looks boldly to a brighter future for our youth. We don’t just construct buildings - we launch initiatives, we build, we sustain - all for our young generation.”
He thanked all those involved for the steadfast support, partnership, and for the profound connection to the Jewish people in the Diaspora. On behalf of all the students who will grow and thrive here, he promised: “We will keep investing in them.”
Tim Kendall, JNF UK Trustee, said, “This building is beautiful, welcoming - the kind of place students will want to run toward. There are young people whose families could never afford such facilities or services. They are thirsty for knowledge, and that is our vision. Peter Benjamin, who donated to this building, was a true partner in this journey.”
it’s crucial we give those young people a chance.”
Throughout the conference, delegates participated in strategic discussions and visits to JNF UK projects — seeing firsthand the impact of their collective support. Notable among the speakers was Prof. David Passig, acclaimed futurist and academic, who delivered a compelling keynote on the long-term trends shaping Israel’s next chapter. Anthony Julius, Deputy Chairman of Mishcon de Reya, also led an insightful discussion on the current challenges facing the UK’s Jewish community.
Emotions ran high when Sagui Dekel-Chen, a beloved JNF UK employee and former hostage, was reunited with trustees and colleagues. After spending nearly 500 days in Hamas captivity, Sagui’s unwavering strength and resilience left an indelible mark on everyone attending.
they navigated the war and now as they rebuild and recover.
The group also travelled south to Kibbutz Kfar Aza, witnessing the devastation left in the wake of the October 7 attacks. They met with Varda Goldstein, whose son and granddaughter were brutally murdered on October 7th and saw her home destroyed. Despite unimaginable loss, Varda spoke of hope, healing, and the importance of community resilience. JNF UK is actively answering that call through its latest campaign to support the Gaza Envelope communities — creating welcoming communal spaces and updating existing facilities for communities affected by the October 7 attacks, helping them rebuild their lives. Delegates also held an important discussion with Aviad Freedman, Head of the Tekuma Authority, the administration tasked with rehabilitating the Gaza border communities. Tekuma aims to build back better and stronger communities, improve education, and innovative infrastructure for lasting growth.
Samuel Hayek, Chairman of JNF UK, further added, “We are here to enrich knowledge through education, to reduce inequality in Israeli society. There is immense talent in the periphery - and
Delegates visited Shlomi, a northern town near the Lebanese border, where they met with local resident Reli Tibi, who shared her family’s harrowing experience of evacuation and returning to a damaged home. JNF UK has been a steadfast presence in northern Israel since October 7th, supporting families as
VOICES FROM ISRAEL SERIES FILM DIRECTOR YORAM ZAK
The conference concluded with a special audience at The President’s House with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who
Unveiling of House of Excellence PHOTO: RABIA BASHA
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Pope to strengthen global Jewish dialogue
BY DAVID SAFFER
Pope Leo XIV is committed to strengthening dialogue with global Jewish communities.
The pontiff confirmed his stance in a letter to Rabbi Noam Marans, Director of Interreligious Affairs of the American Jewish Committee. The AJC posted the letter on X on Monday.
“We are deeply moved that Pope Leo XIV, so early in his papacy, has reaffirmed his commitment to Catholic-Jewish relations,” noted the AJC. “He pledged to continue to strengthen dialogue with the Jewish people in the spirit of Nostra Aetate. As we approach the 60th anniversary of this landmark declaration, we look forward to working together to deepen understanding and cooperation.”
The Pope called for all the hostages to be released from Gaza in his first Sunday address from the Vatican.
The newly selected pontiff in a wide ranging “no more war” address appealed for a ceasefire in Gaza, peace in the Russia-Ukraine war and an end to hostilities between India and Pakistan.
Regarding the Gaza war, he told huge crowds: “May a ceasefire immediately come into effect. May humanitarian aid be allowed into the civilian population and may all hostages be freed.
Jewish leaders around the world welcomed news of the first American Pope,
Cardinal Robert Prevost, on his appointment to the Papacy.
President Isaac Herzog said he looked forward to enhancing the relationship between Israel and the Holy See, and strengthening friendships between Jews and Christians in the Holy Land and around the world
He added: “May your papacy be one of building bridges and understanding between all faiths and peoples. May we see the immediate and safe return of the hostages still held in Gaza, and a new era of peace in our region and around the world.”
Ambassador Ronald S. Lauder, World Jewish Congress president said: “The WJC’s relationship with the Holy See spans decades and is grounded in a deep, ongoing commitment to interfaith dialogue. This partnership has centered on shared concerns such as the welfare
of Jewish and Catholic communities, the fight against antisemitism and hatred, and the defense of religious freedom around the world. The WJC looks forward to deepening this essential dialogue. At a time of global crisis, the importance of this relationship is only heightened.”
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The European Jewish Congress added: “We extend our heartfelt wishes for strength, wisdom and compassion as he begins his mission as Supreme Pontiff. In an era that calls for moral leadership and unity across communities, we look forward to continuing and deepening the Catholic-Jewish dialogue, based on the Nostra Aetate declaration of 1965, rooted in mutual respect and shared values. The EJC remains committed to working closely with the Holy See and the wider Catholic community to foster understanding, combat religious-based discrimination, and promote peace
and human dignity across Europe and beyond.”
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis extended “warm congratulations”.
“His leadership begins as we celebrate 60 years since Nostra Aetate, which heralded a transformational new era in Catholic-Jewish relations,” noted the Chief Rabbi.
“May this new period bring even greater understanding and positive collaboration between our faith traditions as we address together the challenges of our time.”
Phil Rosenberg, British Board of Deputies president wrote: “Habemus Papam! Mazal Tov. May his papacy be one that sees the world come to peace, joining peoples, nations and faiths in dialogue, respect and friendship.”
The Pope after white smoke was seen from the Sistine Chapel, told crowds: “Peace by with you. Build bridges through dialogue, through encounter, to come together as one people, always in peace.”
Born in Chicago, the Pope, 69, worked as a missionary in Peru before being made an archbishop. He was granted Peruvian nationality.
The Vatican described the Pope as the second from the Americas after Pope Francis, from Argentina.
Pope Leo XIV PHOTO: GETTYIMAGES.COM
Antwerp Police raid mohalim homes
BY ISAAC SOLOMONS
Following the police raids around circumcision yesterday in Antwerp, swift and stern condemnations were issued by many. Among them, Deputy Speaker of the Knesset, MK Rabbi Moshe Roth, issued an urgent appeal to the Belgian Ambassador to Israel, Mr. Stéphane Taymans, and to Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, urging immediate intervention in the matter. According to reports, during the raids, Brit Milah knives and instruments were confiscated, and the mohalim were asked to provide detailed information regarding the boys that they had circumcised over the past year.
In his letter to the Belgian Ambassador, MK Roth emphasized the gravity of the incident, describing it as “a profoundly disturbing violation of religious freedom and individual rights,” and called on Belgium to act swiftly to correct this injustice. “The circumcision ceremony is one of the most foundational and sanctified commandments in Jewish tradition for thousands of years,” Roth wrote. “Any attempt to interfere is perceived as a direct attack on the very core of Jewish identity.”
In his appeal, MK Roth noted that just this past weekend marked Victory Day over Nazi Germany, and remarked that “such events evoke painful memories
of the persecution endured by Jews in Europe merely 80 years ago.” The Deputy Knesset Speaker demanded an immediate review of the incident, the return of the confiscated circumcision instruments to their rightful owners, and a firm assurance that religious freedom for Jews will be fully upheld in Belgium.
Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, President of the Conference of Europe Rabbis (CER), stated:
“Freedom of religion, in the Jewish case, must include freedom of religious practice. Circumcision stands as the critical commandment at the core of Jewish identity. For Jewish communities to continue to exist and survive on the continent, they must be allowed to practice this act, an act which certainly adheres to modern medical standards.
That the principles of democracy, child rights, law, or modern medicine are sadly being weaponised to assault this ancient Jewish practice is no surprise. Values within our Western society can also be wrapped for hostility.
The heavy-handed approach of Antwerp’s police force instead of an informed engagement with community leaders and experts, is an expression of this damaging weaponisation in a physical way. Freedom of religion must apply to Jews too.”
NJA Hosts Groundbreaking Antisemitism Commission
Last Sunday, the National Jewish Assembly (NJA) convened a landmark event titled “The Real Commission on the Legal System and Antisemitism in the UK” in North West London. Marking the NJA’s three-year anniversary, the full-day summit brought together political leaders, legal experts, journalists, and community advocates to confront the rising tide of antisemitism in Britain - and propose solutions.
Chaired by NJA Chairman Gary Mond, the event was styled as a “commission” rather than a conference, with the aim of drawing conclusions and recommendations rather than merely convening discussion. The commission examined four key areas: policing, education, public institutions, and the growing trend of collective responsibility targeting British Jews.
The first session, on Policing and Public Order, featured Telegraph columnist Allison Pearson and Mark Birbeck of grassroots group Our Fight. Pearson described the emergence of a dangerous two-tier policing system where Jewish concerns are routinely deprioritised, while Birbeck warned that failure to apply the law equally risks normalising antisemitism in the public square.
In Education, TikTok influencer “Jewish Jess,” journalist Nicole Lampert, and
ERIC LEFT A LEGACY TO SECURE ISRAEL’S FUTURE WILL
For over 120 years JNF UK has worked tirelessly to develop the Land of Israel.
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UK Lawyers for Israel’s Caroline Turner highlighted the deepening antisemitic climate in schools and universities - from pro-Palestinian activism to widespread misinformation and intimidation of Jewish teachers and students. Lampert revealed disturbing ties between senior National Education Union figures and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.
Reform UK Deputy Leader Richard Tice and TalkTV’s Andre Walker delivered powerful addresses on political cowardice, rising sectarianism, and institutional rot. Tice emphasised zero-tolerance policies, while Walker called for a bolder, unapologetic stance in defending British Jews.
Sessions on Collective Responsibility and Public Institutions explored the role of Christian allies, the weaponisation of anti-Zionism, and media failuresparticularly by the BBC and its Arabic service. Legal expert Trevor Asserson presented evidence of systemic BBC bias against Israel.
The NJA will publish a formal report with recommendations. Chairman Gary Mond closed the day by reaffirming the NJA’s mission: “We are not here to plead. We are here to act.”
To join the NJA and participate in its upcoming events, please visit: www.nja. org.uk
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Thousands inspired at Mizrachi UK’s Weekend of Inspiration
Mizrachi UK’s Weekend of Inspiration, held from 8-12 May 2025, successfully engaged thousands of people across London and Manchester. The event featured 30 prominent speakers from Israel, who spent Shabbat in 48 different communities, followed by a series of seven inspiring conferences on Sunday.
The Weekend of Inspiration was launched with a special event featuring Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis and other leading communal figures. The launch event set the tone for the weekend, emphasizing the importance of connecting with Torah and Israel, and inspiring attendees to deepen their Jewish identity.
On Sunday, May 11th, the Weekend of
Inspiration culminated in seven conferences in various locations including Bushey United Synagogue, Borehamwood & Elstree United Synagogue, Ner Yisrael Community in Hendon, Edgware Adath Yisrael Congregation in Edgware, Kinloss United Synagogue, and South Hampstead United Synagogue. These conferences provided a platform for the speakers to share their insights and perspectives on a range of topics related to Torah, Israel, and contemporary Jewish life.
The Weekend of Inspiration featured a diverse and distinguished group of speakers, including; Rav Hershel Schachter, Rav Yosef Zvi Rimon, Rav Doron Perez,
Chai Responds to Record Rise in Prostate Cancer
Chai Cancer Care, the UK’s leading Jewish cancer support organisation, has seen a 120% surge in demand for prostate cancer support over the past four years. As cases continue to rise nationwide, more men than ever are turning to Chai for all-round emotional and practical care.
New figures, released this week, show that Chai has seen a dramatic surge in clients diagnosed with prostate cancer. Between March 2020 and February 2021 , the charity facilitated 427 support sessions for individuals diagnosed with prostate cancer. By 2023-24, this number had more than doubled to 916 sessions, a 114% increase, and in the most recent year, March 2024 to February 2025, it rose further to 938 sessions, marking a 120% overall rise since 2020-21 . Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in England, with one in eight men diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime. The risks and symptoms has been highlighted by public figures such columnist Giles Coren and broadcaster Stephen Fry, who have spoken out about their own experiences and encouraged men to seek support. Recent calls for a UK national screening programme, supported by advances in diagnostics and fewer false positives, are helping to drive awareness and encourage earlier detection.
The surge in cases underscores the
rising prevalence of prostate cancer and the growing demand for Chai’s vital support services, including: counselling, reflexology and pelvic floor
physiotherapy - which leads to the strengthening of muscles and has been hailed as life-changing by clients.
Chai is also responding to the growing need for BRCA-related support. The BRCA gene mutation, more common in the Jewish community, increases the risk of a prostate cancer diagnosis by 25%. Chai provides counselling, genetic guidance, and emotional support for those affected.
Graham*, in his 50s, tested positive for the faulty gene after his father was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2021 . Married with three children in their 20s, Graham joined the Chai support group for BRCA-positive carriers.
He says: “My dad’s prostate cancer diagnosis prompted the oncologist to suggest it was time I got tested – and I did, without hesitation. The letter confirming I was BRCA1-positive arrived six weeks later, on my birthday. It was devastating news, but 98% of my worry is about my children.” He adds: “I joined the support group to talk through my anxieties and hear others’ perspectives.
Family dynamics change when you’re BRCA-positive … I put myself in my son’s shoes – at what point would he tell a girlfriend if he was BRCA-positive? Do you tell your friends? In the group, we shared information and encouraged each other.”
Victoria Portnoi, Chief Executive of Chai Cancer Care, said: “The rising demand for prostate cancer support highlights the urgent need for all-encompassing care. Prostate cancer affects not just individuals but entire families, and at Chai, we provide a range of services to support them through every stage. With growing national calls for a screening programme and improvements in diagnostics offering fewer false positives, awareness is increasing – and so too is the need for tailored, compassionate support. These figures reflect the trust our community places in us and our unwavering commitment to ensuring that no one faces cancer alone.”
*The names of Chai clients are always changed to protect their identity.
Rabbanit Rachelle Fraenkel, Orit Mark Ettinger, Dr Yael Ziegler.
In addition to the community events and conferences, the speakers also dedicated time on Friday morning to inspire hundreds of young people at several Jewish high schools, including Hasmonean Boys, Hasmonean Girls, JFS, Yavneh College, and Immanuel.
“The Mizrachi UK Weekend of Inspiration was a tremendous success, bringing together communities and inspiring individuals of all ages,” said Rabbi Andrew Shaw, CEO of Mizrachi UK. “We are
grateful to the speakers for sharing their wisdom and to the host communities for their warm hospitality. The impact of this weekend will be felt for a long time to come.”
The Mizrachi UK Weekend of Inspiration is an annual event that provides opportunities for learning and growth from some of Israel’s best Religious Zionist educators and scholars.
Bevis Marks Hosts VE Day 80th Anniversary Service
On Sunday, the historic Bevis Marks Synagogue was the setting for a moving VE Day 80th Anniversary Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving, honouring the Jewish men and women who served in His Majesty’s Armed Forces during the Second World War.
The event was a joint initiative between the S&P Sephardi Community, AJEX The Jewish Military Association and The Royal Army Chaplains’ Department Jewish Chaplaincy. Over 400 attendees took part in the service, including a strong AJEX contingent, veterans, their families, and members of the wider community.
The service featured tributes and reflections from distinguished military and religious leaders including, Rabbi Joseph Dweck, Senior Rabbi of the S&P Sephardi Community, Rabbi Nir Nadav CF, Regimental Chaplain to 156 Regiment Royal Logistics Corps, Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, Rabbi Shalom Morris, Rabbi of Bevis Marks Synagogue and Dan Fox, AJEX National Chair, who introduced tributes to Lt Cdr Alan Tyler and Sq Offr Vera Atkins read by JFS and JCOSS Cadets.
Dan Fox, National Chair of AJEX, which continues to preserve and share the legacy of Jewish service in the British Armed
Forces said:
“With the mass of story-telling, both fictional and documentary, that has arisen out of World War Two, it is easy to think of the eventual allied victory as somehow inevitable, as the happy ending that we expect our heroes to get, whatever obstacles are thrown up against them. But there was nothing inevitable about it. Hitler’s Reich may not have lasted a thousand years, but a decades-long one was foreseeable as allied troops sought to dominate the lands of, seas around and skies above Europe between 1939 and 1945. That, in hindsight, there need never have been any doubt, is why they have our gratitude and admiration, then today and always and is why AJEX continues to tell their stories and ensure their service is never forgotten”.
The service, held in the UK’s oldest synagogue, served as a poignant and powerful reminder of the legacy of Jewish service in WWII and the enduring gratitude owed to those who fought for freedom.
One of the day’s most moving moments came with the attendance of Ruth Brook Klauber, aged 101, a WWII veteran who recently received long-overdue service medals with the assistance of AJEX, D Day and Bergen Belsen Liberator, Veteran Mervyn Kersh, 100, and Holocaust Survivor and Jewish Care Holocaust Survivor Centre member Henny Franks 101, all who have had busy schedules this week for the 80th anniversary.
Standard Bearers stood proudly, Cadets from JFS and JCOSS attended and a bugler from JLGB played The Last Post and Reveille.
Chief Executive Fiona Palmer and National Chair Dan Fox
Chai Chief Executive, Victoria Portnoi
The visiting Rabbanim speakers
PHOTO: LEIVI SALTMAN
Tories who turned on Israel also turned on Voters
BY STEVE WINSTON
There are many ways a once-proud political party can show it has lost its nerve, its judgment, and its moral compass. Backing the unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state - at a time when Hamas is still holding hostages, and Israel is still burying its dead - is one of them. This week, a group of Conservative MPs and peers - led by Kit Malthouse - decided that what Britain really needs right now is a dramatic diplomatic gesture in favour of a Palestinian Authority that hasn’t held an election since Coldplay were topping the charts, and whose most popular rival is a genocidal terrorist group. What a curious calculation. As if the road back to electoral relevance lies through Gaza City.
Unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state is not just bad foreign policy. It is a betrayal of Conservative values, an abandonment of moral clarity, and an insult to the Jewish community - at home and abroad. It rewards terrorism, penalises our democratic ally Israel, and emboldens those who chant for intifada on our streets.
To be clear: Palestine is not a functioning state. It lacks a single, unified leadership. Half its territory is controlled by Hamas, an Iranian proxy that openly declares its intent to repeat the atrocities of October 7 again and again. The other half is ruled by Mahmoud Abbas, a Holocaust revisionist now entering the 20th year of a four-year presidential term. Between them, they have fostered a political culture not of peace-building, but of pay-for-slay pensions, hate-filled schoolbooks, and diplomatic intransigence. Recognising such an entity now is not just premature - it is perverse. Some Tories, desperate for a new identity after electoral decimation, seem to think they can buy virtue on the cheap by parroting the language of the campus left. But they should think again. Mainstream Conservative voters do not yearn for performative gestures to embolden Hamas. They don’t want their MPs validating the same talking points as Jeremy Corbyn and George Galloway.
And they certainly don’t want their own government to give legitimacy to a state that does not yet exist, and under its current leadership, should not exist.
For years, Conservative governments have prided themselves on strong UK-Israel ties, on standing against extremism, on defending Jewish communities from the rising tide of antisemitism. Now, a cabal within the party seems intent on torching that record to virtue-signal to the very voters who will never, ever reward them.
And what of the message this sends to British Jews? We have just emerged from the worst spike in antisemitic hate crimes since records began. Jewish schoolchildren have been told to hide their uniforms. Jewish businesses have been boycotted. Rallies in our capital call for “global intifada,” and the police shrug. The streets have not felt safe.
And now, Conservative politicians - the supposed grown-ups in the room - have chosen this moment to side with the
cause most aggressively associated with those chants, with those mobs, and with that intimidation. Jewish voters may rightly ask: where is your moral clarity now?
Kit Malthouse, the ringleader of this political suicide note, is not known for his subtlety, but even by his standards, this was a grotesque misjudgment. He and his fellow signatories have just told British Jews that their fears are negotiable, their safety secondary, and their loyalty unreciprocated.
There must be consequences. Jewish voters are not a monolith. But they are not fools either. Many have been loyal Conservative supporters for decades. They remember Thatcher’s moral clarity, Cameron’s leadership on antisemitism, and May’s tough stance on Iran. They expect better than this.
The Tories must decide: are they a party of principle, or a party of pandering? If they choose the latter, they will lose not just Jewish voters - but their soul.
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The Antisocial Century: Reclaiming Real Connection in a Digital World
BY KAREN HARRIS
In the past decade, I’ve built and sold businesses, worked across education, tech and community – but nothing has lit a fire in me like solving this: how do we help people form real, meaningful friendships in a world that feels more disconnected than ever?
We are living in what social scientists now call the “antisocial century.” Despite being more connected than at any point in history – with endless WhatsApps, likes, follows and notifications – loneliness is soaring. In the UK, over 7 million adults say they often or always feel lonely. In the US, the Surgeon General has declared loneliness a public health epidemic, as dangerous to our health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
And it’s not just older people. The loneliest demographic today? 18–24-yearolds. Gen Z has been raised online but left yearning for the offline.
It’s a crisis of connection. And it’s hurting all of us.
Judaism, at its heart, is a relational
religion. We pray in a minyan, celebrate in community, and hold the sanctity of kehilla as central. But even in our vibrant Jewish spaces, I see the same trends creeping in: disconnection, fragmentation, and too many people unsure where they belong.
When Jewish Futures asked me to be part of their ecosystem as a Trustee, it clicked instantly. Their work champions a Jewish future rooted in purpose, people and progress. I can’t think of anything more urgent than building spaces that prioritise human connection - not as a ‘nice-to-have’ but as essential infrastructure for our collective wellbeing.
I see it across the hundreds of programmes, initiatives and events Jewish Futures organisations run each yearfrom Aish on Campus, bringing hundreds of university students together to socialise, learn and connect. To GIFT, who inspire and enable people to come together to give through their volunteering and food banks and buddying, to JRoots, who take groups on incredible immersive and educational journeys to places of Jewish heritage. Each organisation seeking to provide a different pathway which
Young GIFT Welcomes New Chair Abkin
GIFT is thrilled to announce Danielle Abkin as the new Chair of the Young GIFT committee, marking an exciting chapter for youth-led giving in the Jewish community.
Danielle, a Cyber Defence Incident Manager at Vodafone, brings leadership and passion to the role. Since joining the committee in March 2022, she’s been
committed to inspiring young professionals to give their time and resources. She succeeds Eli Clinton-Davis, who led the group for two impactful years, organising events like the Queen’s Jubilee volunteering initiative and a successful Soho House gathering.
Joining Danielle are new committee members Hannah Mendall, Shira Abkin, Sophie Engler, Tali Blitz, Tamara Shasha, and Samuel Gottlieb - a fresh team ready to energise the next wave of young givers.
“I’m excited to create events that inspire giving — not just financially, but through volunteering and meaningful community involvement,” says Danielle.
The committee is gearing up for exciting events, including a talk with Kitt Medical (as seen on Dragons’ Den) and a Babka Bake at St John’s Wood Synagogue. GIFT will also launch an innovative app to help young professionals give monthly to charities of their choice.
Head of Young Professional Initiatives Ileana Feigin shares: “We’re so excited to welcome Danielle as our new committee lead and to see some fresh faces join the team. With their energy and ideas, we’re ready to engage even more young professionals in giving back.”
enables meaningfully engagement and experience.
That’s what I’ve set out to do with StoriBoard – a platform designed to help adults meet in real life through shared experiences. It’s not dating, networking or a meet-up app. It’s friendship, thoughtfully designed. We use personality matching and small group formats to make connection easier, less awkward and more natural – because research shows people connect best in groups of 4–6. We’ve hosted thousands across our Dinner Clubs, and more recently added activities like darts at Flight Club and bowling, because not everyone bonds over pasta.
The idea came from my own life. I’d meet incredible people at Jewish women’s events or school gates or charity fundraisers, but we rarely moved beyond polite small talk. The opportunity for real friendship was there – but it needed structure, a spark, a follow-up. StoriBoard offers that spark.
I’ve seen it work in the most beautiful ways: strangers who now go on holidays together, mums who met at a dinner and are now in a WhatsApp book club, people who had just moved to London
and found not just friends, but a new sense of belonging. We joke that it’s like social alchemy – but it’s really just design meeting human need.
Connection doesn’t happen by accident. It needs intention.
As Jewish leaders, educators, parents, and community members, we need to take this seriously. Jewish Futures is doing that — by creating and empowering ventures that foster genuine community in modern, innovative ways. Whether through digital tools or face-to-face gatherings, we must champion real world connection as our most powerful antidote to the isolation epidemic.
Because in the end, what makes a future Jewish isn’t just continuity — it’s connection.
Karen Harris is a Trustee of Jewish Futures. She is a three-time founder and the creator of StoriBoard, a social impact venture helping adults build real-world friendships through curated, small group experiences. She is passionate about tackling the loneliness crisis and reimagining community for the modern age.
Jewish Women’s Aid Calls For Urgent Recognition of Mental Health Struggles Faced by Abuse Survivors
One in five women supported by Jewish Women’s Aid (JWA) enter the service with a diagnosed mental health condition, the charity has revealed today to mark Mental Health Awareness Week (12–18 May).
At least 20% of clients come to JWA with a diagnosed condition, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. In addition to this, 30% of JWA clients report symptoms of poor mental health, such as anxiety and depression, which are often directly linked to the abuse they have experienced.
Recent national reports show that suicide has overtaken homicide as the leading cause of death for women who have experienced domestic abuse. Meanwhile, a report from Woman’s Trust found that domestic abuse is a key cause of self-harm and suicide.
Responding to this need, over the past year JWA has delivered more than 2, 100 counselling sessions for around 150 women, alongside support in legal advocacy, welfare, and crisis intervention. The charity, which supports more than 800 women a year, has also strengthened its internal training in areas such as suicide prevention, self-harm, and addiction to better support survivors. Still, it recognises that with additional funding, more
women and girls could be helped.
Karen Lewis, JWA’s Director of Client Services, says: “Mental health struggles are not a side effect of domestic abuse, they are part of the abuse itself. For some women, the trauma of abuse triggers serious mental health conditions. For others who are already living with mental illness, abuse can worsen symptoms and make recovery far more difficult.
“As we mark Mental Health Awareness Week, we’re urging policy-makers, health professionals and community leaders to recognise this reality. With funding for additional trauma-informed counsellors, we could reach more women more quickly and ease the pressure on those already in crisis. We could increase the number of sessions we offer and bring down our waiting lists.”
She adds: “We are incredibly proud of our cross-communal partnerships, which are vital in preventing further harm and promoting recovery. JWA is here to support Jewish women and girls facing any form of abuse, whether physical, emotional, sexual, financial or spiritual. No one should have to face abuse alone.”
Marking Mental Health Awareness Week, three JWA clients shared their stories. Lauren* says: “When the sexual
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assault first happened, I felt really unsupported by the authorities. I don’t like talking to people too much, so my JWA support worker stepped in and spoke to everyone for me. She handled everything, which meant so much.” She adds: “My support worker took me to visit the court beforehand, which really helped calm my nerves. She also arranged for me to take my medication and a fidget toy into court, which helped with my PTSD stressors. Without this support, it would have been incredibly stressful and overwhelming. I don’t know if I would’ve gone through with the court process.”
Esther*, a mother, shares her story: “ JWA stood up for my rights and that changed everything, it took away so much stress. The biggest impact has been on my parenting. Because I had their support, I was able to look after my children in a calmer, more relaxed way. I could meet their needs so much better. My support worker helped me and my children. She lifted a huge burden from me.”
She adds: “Without JWA’s support, my mental health would
have deteriorated which would have negatively affected my children.”
“Without JWA’s support, my mental health would’ve been far worse and maybe even my physical health too,” says Sarah*, adding: “I never thought I’d need this service, but I now realise there are women in all kinds of situations that JWA can help.”
*The names of JWA clients have been changed to protect their identity.
42 Formidable Women Make Every Step Count for Chana
Bright and early on 12th May, with strong community support behind them, more than 40 phenomenal women embarked on a 27km hike along the breath-taking Seven Sisters in the South Downs. This marked the second successful walk in Chana’s Every Step Counts campaign.
The walk raised vital funds for fertility treatment for three specific Chana couples who will now be able to access the medical interventions and emotional support they need.
by Novellino Brighton and warmly hosted by the Brighton and Hove Jewish Community Centre. Attendees enjoyed the opportunity to relax, network and hear more about Chana’s important work. Chana would not have been able to put on this incredible event without the generous sponsorship of BNJC, Stride, First Forte, Odelia’s Kitchen, B7active, School Hire, PGPT, Travelink and SYNQ.
Special thanks also go to the dedicated organising committee: Livia Sugarman, Marilyn Rosenberg, Suzanne Weiniger, Lissie Morris and led by Rina Stimler, whose ensured the event’s success and are already planning for next year’s walk is already underway. To register your interest, contact Laura at laura@chana. org.uk
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The initiative is rapidly growing in popularity, with participant numbers doubling since last year. Beyond raising funds, it also increases awareness around fertility struggles within the Jewish community. Chana, the UK’s leading Jewish fertility organisation, offers comprehensive medical, emotional, financial and Halachic support to individuals and couples facing fertility and reproductive challenges.
The day concluded with a delicious dinner, catered
Karen Lewis, JWA’s Director of Client Services
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“Hineini”: Lag BaOmer and the Secret of Authenticity
BY RABBI YAAKOV KLEIN
In the ideal world, Adam and Chava lived without a sense of self – and therefore without shame, and no need for garments.
It is only after their primordial tumble into a fragmented consciousness of ego embodied in their eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil that the eyes of the first humans “opened” to a realm in which they exist as independent beings, and thus, newly self-conscious, become ashamed of their nakedness.
Throughout history, and especially in the modern era, the celebration of the Self led to a culture that obsessed over social status, careers, accolades, diplomas, portfolios, successes, various titles etc.
In a world where “G-d is dead” and the locus of self-worth is instead buried deep within the heart of the individual, there is the urgent necessity for “garments”, for various masks that project a carefully curated appearance of value so that no one will see our essential nakedness. But as the world prepares for
Redemption, and humanity begins to revert to its natural state, things are beginning to change. Our generation is tired of the depressing “pursuit of happiness” built on the premise that a sense of meaning and worthiness is to be found in the validation of others. We are tired of the deep loneliness that grows like mould in the petri dish of artifice. Our obsession with the ego – our own pleasure, our own comfort, our own ambition – has availed us nothing. We have followed this road of darkness to its inevitable dead end, journeyed with great pride in our arrogant delusion of evolutionary progress, only to come face-to-face with the rough surface of rock bottom in the end.
Today’s currency is authenticity. Slowly but surely, society is beginning to return to the Garden of Eden, to close our eyes to the realm of flashing neon lights, and open them up elsewhere – in a simple, natural world where there is nothing more precious than vulnerability, nothing more freeing than transparency, nothing more beautiful than the sometimes-ugly-truth of who we really are and what’s really going on. By and by, the Snake’s
seduction has lost its allure, and we are returning to the Tree of Life, to the Tree of Truth, to the Infinite One of Whose endless Light we are all but individual rays. In therapy sessions, workshops, heartto-heart conversations, rabbi’s offices, personal prayer, and group meetings, humans all around the world are no longer answering the Cry of “Ayeka? Who told you that you were naked?” with excuses and protective subversions, but instead with a single word. A word acquired by a sense of revulsion, thousands of years in the making, toward obsession with self and the accompanying shame and frantic search for garments in which to hide. Standing tall – as we are, the full spectrum of our humanity exposed – we are looking into His adoring eyes, and whispering: “Hineini”
When we talk about the Torah of Rebbe Shimon Bar Yochai, the light of the holy Zohar, we are not only speaking about Kabbalistic concepts and metaphysical systems. The Chassidic masters made it clear that the reason Kabbalists are referred to as “Chachmei HaEmes”,
Scholars of Truth, is because they are immersing themselves in a Torah of authenticity, a Torah that flows forth from the deepest, most tender, most vulnerable layer of Hashem’s Message to His beloved nation. It is this facet of the Torah that is associated with redemption, because it enables us to see beyond the surface of external appearances and show up not as bodies desperately seeking to protect our illusory sense of self but as sparks of G-dliness on a mission to transform the world for Him. This Lag BaOmer, may we merit to embrace Rashbi’s teachings, returning to a state of Gan Eden with a “Hineini” of our own.
Rabbi Yaakov Klein is an author, lecturer, and founding director of Eilecha, an organisation part of the Jewish Futures’ family, fostering spiritual growth and experiential education. Through classes, content, events, and trips, Eilecha cultivates a deep, passionate, sincere, and joyous Jewish experience, guiding individuals “Eilecha”—toward a vibrant life in the warmth of Hashem’s embrace.
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ASK THE RABBI
Dear Rabbi
The
Sandra
Dear Sandra
My social media has been inundated with calls from progressive and liberal movements urging people to vote in the name of “equality.” But slogans can be deceiving, and not all that wears the label of equality is truly just. Too often, these campaigns are less about creating space for everyone and more about pushing a singular ideological agenda—one that is frequently at odds with the values of traditional Judaism.
Take, for instance, the issue of kosher phones in Israel—devices designed to shield young people from the deluge of inappropriate content online. Certain left-wing groups launched legal action to ban these phones, claiming they restrict access to LGBTQ hotlines. Think about that: rather than respect the religious community’s efforts to protect its youth, they attempted to dismantle the very tools that uphold those values.
Or consider the IDF’s newly formed Chashmonaim unit—a battalion created specifically to accommodate Charedi recruits with strict adherence to kashrut,
male-only frameworks, and religious observance. Once again, these same movements objected, claiming that such accommodations violate principles of gender equality.
In both cases, it’s not about “live and let live.” It’s about “live like us—or we’ll fight you in court.” That’s not equality. That’s ideological coercion wrapped in the language of inclusion.
It is not necessarily my place to tell you who to vote for. But I will certainly tell you who not to vote for.
Let us be clear: this is not merely a political matter. It’s a spiritual one. The World Zionist Congress allocates funding, influences education policy, and helps shape the Jewish character of the State of Israel itself. A vote here is not just a ballot—it is a voice in the soul of our nation. If we allow that voice to be drowned out by those who reject the sanctity of traditional Jewish values, we risk eroding the moral foundation upon which the Jewish State was built.
Our forebears fought for a homeland that would be a safe haven—not just from physical persecution, but from spiritual erasure. Let us honour them not with silence, nor with slogans, but with the strength of conviction.
Vote with pride. Vote with clarity. Vote not just with your heart, but with your history. Here’s hoping commonsense is upheld and people vote with their Jewish souls, where tradition is not just protected—but proudly upheld.
SECOND CHANCES
Dear Rabbi I saw an interview with the family of a hostage who was recently released from Gaza. She tearfully said, “It’s Pesach Sheini for us.” I’m not very familiar with that term. What is Pesach Sheini, and what did she mean by that?
Deborah
Dear Deborah Pesach Sheini—literally “Second Passover”—is one of the most moving concepts in the Jewish calendar, precisely because it speaks directly to people like this mother.
In the Torah, a group of individuals who were ritually impure and unable to bring the Passover offering came to Moses with a heartfelt plea: “Why should we be left out?”
And G-d responded with compassion. He gave them a second chance—one month later—to bring the offering. Thus was born Pesach Sheini, a day that symbolizes the spiritual truth that it is never too late. That lost opportunities can be reclaimed. That no one should ever be permanently left behind.
another chance. A Pesach Sheini. A moment to begin again, to celebrate freedom belatedly—but no less joyfully.
So, when the mother of Edan Alexander said “It’s Pesach Sheini for us,” she wasn’t speaking about the calendar. She was speaking about the soul. About hope after despair. About redemption delayed—but not denied.
She was saying: We missed Pesach. Our child was in captivity. Our family was incomplete. But now, G-d has given us
In a world so often quick to shut the door on people’s past mistake or missed chances, Pesach Sheini reminds us that the gates never truly close. There is always a way back. As the Lubavitcher Rebbe, “There are no lost souls—only souls that have not yet found their way home.”
May all those still being held in captivity finally find their way back home.
Wednesday 28th May 2025
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WHAT3WORDS/// EDUCATION OVER POLITICS
BY RABBI NAFTALI SCHIFF
We are marching towards Shavuot, that one solitary moment in history when the Jewish people stood “as one person with one heart,” and Mount Sinai itself responded to our unity and spontaneously burst forth with vibrant bloom. It was at that moment, when we transcended our divisions and stood together, that the Torah was given. Divine wisdom descended not to outstanding individuals, nor to competing factions, but to a People that had become one. That stark reality feels more urgent now than ever.
I’d like to share something personal. I don’t do this to sound self-righteous, but to offer an insight into a decision I made many years ago and continue to affirm today, despite the enticing allurement of power and funds. I may be wrong and am open to discussion that may serve to inform communal debate around this issue. As such, I welcome your feedback. Being intensely aware of the challenges facing both the Jewish People and Israel, in particular regarding the fresh awareness of the negative impact of rampant assimilation, I chose a path of education and togetherness over politics. I’ve been asked, nudged, even pressured at times to personally and organisationally affiliate publicly with particular political groups, movements, or parties. Especially when it might yield increased influence, visibility, or funding, the invitation is always tempting. However, I have chosen to decline.
Why? Because I believe the greatest threats we face as a Jewish people today are not from without, but from within. And the two most urgent responses to those threats are unity and education. Let me start with the second.
I didn’t stumble into the world of informal Jewish education. My opinion wasn’t shaped in the abstract. It emerged over time through a combination of rigorous Torah learning in Yeshiva and the lived experience of facilitating informal Jewish encounters for others—as a youth leader, a soldier, a teacher, and an informal educator. It wasn’t just that I observed the impact of informal education; I experienced it myself. We experimented with it, adapted it, and watched its transformative power unfold in real time. Whether it was around a Shabbat table, on a summer camp, during a late-night conversation in Israel, or a reflective moment in Poland, I saw how informal frameworks, when delivered with sincerity, understanding and depth, connect, inspire, and impact lives in ways the lecture hall and classroom seem to struggle with the world over in our generation.
I had studied International Relations at the London School of Economics. I was fascinated by diplomacy, policy, and both the morality and machinery of politics and government. There was a time I considered a political path, believing it
to be the arena where real and enduring change is made. But I found myself disappointed and disillusioned by the unbridled egos, sectarian interests and dishonesty that seemed to accompany political activity. I observed over many years that truest impact came not through lofty geopolitical theory, but through shared and authentic Jewish experience, through facilitating journeys that inspired people in a meaningful and genuine way. I repeatedly witnessed that age old ideas and ideals of Judaism came alive not in Torah texts alone but in authentic lived encounters- through shared journeys and experiences; through debate and laughter; through challenge, story, song, memory, family and community.
On almost every occasion that I met personally with Rabbi Sacks he would advocate for that which he called Transformative Education. He would remind me that there exist two forms of education- transactional and transformative and that our work at Jewish Futures was transformative and that needs to be the communal priority.
That conviction became the foundation of my work. Over the past three decades, I’ve been privileged to help build educational pathways that reflect the diversity of the Jewish people. Gift, JRoots, Aish, Chazon, Chazak and others, each born of a recognition that different people will choose different routes to the same destination. Some are stirred by chessed, others by history. Some connect through Torah study, others through song, food, leadership or activism. Our task as parents, educatorsJews all, is not to funnel every Jew into one structure, nor even to advocate one monolithic path, but to provide for and open multiple doorways, each one leading to a meaningful, passionate, and authentic Jewish life.
Politics, by its very nature, divides. It operates on difference, on delineation, on winning at the expense of the other side. It demands loyalty to party over people, and often power over principle. And while politics is essential for civic life, it can be profoundly corrosive to Jewish collective life when it becomes a primary identity.
Over the years, I’ve often been asked which “camp” I belong to. Each of our kids would inevitably ask the question- what type of Jew are we Aba? Charedi or Dati Leumi , Ashkenazi or Sephardi (not that often!) Religious Zionist or Chareidi Leumi, this yeshiva or that one. My answer has remained consistent: I aspire to be a Klal Yisrael Jew. I am proudly Orthodox, but my allegiance is first and foremost to the Torah and the totality of the Jewish People, not one sector thereof. These, by definition imply diversity, even within the rubric of halacha. This does not compromise our values or the way we behave. We aspire to learn from, work with, and be inspired by all Jews.
Unity does not mean uniformity. In Halacha, in legal rulings, there must be decisiveness and clarity of action. But in hashkafa, in custom, in personality, style and emphasis, diversity has always been a strength and a virtue. Jewish history is replete with it in practice and perspective—Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai, Rashi and Rambam, Chassid and Mitnaged, Lithuanian and Moroccan. Our enemies never cared about these differences. To them, a Jew is a Jew. And perhaps they understand our identity better than we sometimes do. Today, we ignore this reality to our immediate peril.
To be clear: I am not suggesting a dichotomy between formal and informal education. I revere Torah learning. The beit midrash is the heartbeat of Jewish continuity. But we mustn’t underestimate the transformative capacity of informal education, education that meets people where they are, and invites them in rather than waiting for them to apply. Education that speaks not only to the mind, but to the heart, to the soul, to the whole self.
The aim of such education, “chinuch”, isn’t only information, it’s inspiration. It’s not just about transmission, but transformation. It’s about helping people not just to know the truth, the reality of our faith, our heritage, our history and our destiny as Jews, but to live it and to personify it in the everyday lives they choose to lead.
And here is where this intersects with the other critical value yet perennially elusive principle I have come to cherish, at least in aspiration- unity.
We are approaching a period in the Jewish calendar drenched in the theme of unity and its absence. The counting of the Omer reminds us of the death of Rabbi Akiva’s students, and the searing price of internal division. The mourning period of the Three Weeks culminating in the fast of Tisha B’Av marks not just destruction, but self-destruction, our inability to stand together. If we do not learn these lessons, are we not doomed to relive them- G-d forbid?
Which is why I have consistently refused to allow our educational platforms to be used as political leverage. Not because I am apolitical, but because I think we all together need urgently to commit to something bigger and broaderthe sharing and deepening of core Jewish values. Alignment with a particular party, risks alienating Jews who might otherwise walk through our doors. If we alienate even one young Jew from tasting a potentially transformative authentic Jewish experience, because of our political opinions, we are squandering our greater mission.
I would suggest that the most pressing battle we face today is not that of the seven fronts, foreboding as that is. It is between fragmentation and wholeness, apathy and purpose, despair and aspiration. It is between the politics of exclusion and the values of inclusion.
Politics looks to the next election. Education looks to the next generation. Politics pursues influence. Education fosters inspiration.
Politics often divides. Education can unify.
I am not naïve. I know that funding follows politics. Influence is often distributed along party lines. And taking a stand can actually open doors. But I believe the greater good lies in holding those doors open, for everyone.
October 7th was a wake-up call. We all remember the unspeakable horrors of that day, but we must also reckon with the context. Sinwar knew the State of the Jewish Union. He saw a nation bitterly divided, fighting in the streets, casting ideological venom across our own airwaves. And while the physical border was breached that morning, the spiritual breach had begun long before. It healed for a brief and resonant moment, but can we afford for it to seeth and smoulder under our watch waiting for the final conflagration any longer?
Does it really take an American diplomat publicly chastising us to make us aware that Israel’s internal rifts may be its greatest vulnerability. Surely, after 2000 years of bitter exile, the reality of the dire results of our disunity must be part of the waking consciousness of the Jew? We know that the Second Temple was destroyed not because of military defeat, but because of baseless hatred, sinat chinam. Even the great students of Rabbi Akiva, over whom we mourn during Sefirat Ha’omer period, perished in isolation, rather than were united in purpose.
Because the true power lies not in commanding headlines, but in touching hearts and minds with sincerity, integrity and deep connection.
This Shavuot, we will once again relive the moment we stood together, unified, to receive the eternal truth of Torah . May we merit to stand so again. Not only in our memory, but in our reality. Not just in prayer, but in practice.
And may we commit, not just with our words, but with our choices, by choosing unity over division, education over politics, and the Jewish future over the fleeting battles of the present.
///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
The Choice is Ours
BY RABBI SHAUL YONATAN TAWIL
The story is told about a man that didn’t believe in free will. After 120 years he went up to heaven and was met with two paths in front of him. The first had a sign saying “Believers in predestination” and the second said “Believers in free will”.
Needless to say, he chooses the first and goes down a long path. Finally, he arrives at a large brick wall up to the Shamayim and a small door. He knocks on the door and an angel appears asking him, ‘What brings you to my door, mortal?’ And the man says, ‘Well, there were these two signs, and I chose the one that said predestination.’ The angel says, “You chose it? You can’t come in here” and slams the door. The man is heartbroken.
Finally, he trudges back to the crossroads and goes down the other road. Eventually he comes to another giant wall and a door that says ‘FREE WILL.’ He knocks and another angel opens the door and says, “Why did you come this way, mortal?” And the man says, “I had no choice!’”
We believe that free will lies at the essence of our existence. Hashem has placed us here with the ability to decide our actions. He has created a world of reward and punishment that is governed by our free will.
In this week’s Parasha, we learn a great lesson in how much we are supposed to appreciate this free will. When a person came to the Bet Hamikdash to offer up a Korban, his (together with the Kohen’s) intentions had to be clear and focused on the special mitzvah. All Korbanot were the same. Nevertheless the Torah seems to go out of its way and single out the Korban Todah (thanksgiving offering) to mention the importance of good intention when being offered up. (22:29) – it should be offered up willingly.
Every Korban had to be offered up to Hashem with good intent. Why does the Pasuk single out the Korban Todah? The Korban Todah was brought as a thanksgiving to Hashem for saving the person from one of four things. (Release from jail, getting better from serious illness, safely travelling across the sea and wilderness).
The Oneg Yom Tov explains that the word Toda –thanks comes from the word Modeh – to admit.
One can only admit something that is able to deny. Let us take a thought for a moment.
Hashem’s power is infinite and the whole world is full of His presence. How is it possible for man to sin with Hashem there at the same time? How is it possible for Hashem to be present and allow man to sin?
This is one of the greatest kindness of Hashem that in order for us to have free will, He enables us to go against His will. When something bad happens and someone survives, they have two paths in front of them. They can use their extra life to enjoy the physicalities of this world or they can focus that extra life on serving Hashem. The person that brings the Todah admits and shows his love of Hashem.
This is the meaning to our Pasuk; Lirtsonechem Tizbechuhu - we are acknowledging the gift of free will. We thank (Toda) Hashem for the free will that he has given us even whilst He is present.
So how should we guide our free will?
The Torah teaches that 3 types of domesticated animals were offered as Korbanot (sacrifices) in the temple – the cattle, the sheep and the goats. These 3 are mentioned in our Parasha. (22:27)
The Midrash (Yalkut Shimoni, Emor) has a fascinating insight as to why these three animals were given the merit to be offered up and stand as a merit for Am Yisrael.
The ox – Shor, was in the merit of Avraham. When the 3 angels arrived at his house as guests, he ran to the flock and chose a calf (young ox). The sheep - Kesev was in the merit of Yitschak. At the Akeida (binding of Isaac) Avraham was eventually told not to offer his son up. Instead, he looked up and found the ram.
The Ez – goat was in merit of Yakov. Rivka commanded Yakov to get two goats so that she would cook for Yitschak tasty food and he would bless Yakov (thinking he was Eisav).
Rabbi Yehuda Leb Eidel (Iyeh Hayam) asks we can understand why Avraham and Yitschak actions are a merit for their children, but why are Yakov’s actions- which essentially were deceiving- a merit for his children? Yakov wore the goats skin as a means to deceive his father – is that a merit?
R Yehudah Leb gives a fascinating answer. When Rivka approached Yakov with the idea, he was frightened. He stated that Eisav is an Ish Sair – literally hairy, VeAnochi Ish Chalak – and I am smooth.
On a deeper level, Yakov was saying that Eisav always attributes everything to Seir – demons and idols, whereas I attribute everything to Hashem. Surely, he said to Rivka, Yitschak will realise. Rivka responded and calmed his fears and Yakov dressed in the goat’s skin. When we delve deeper, we see that Yakov had a much better option to ‘deceive’ his father.
When Yakov came in to his father, he was asked how come he managed to prepare the food so quick. He answered it was because Hashem had caused things to be quick. This triggered some doubt in Yitzchak’s mind. If Eisav was before him, how come he mentioned G-d’s Name – something he didn’t usually do?
It was only then that Yitschak asked him to draw near so that he could feel him to check it was really Eisav. Surely Yakov could have initially responded by attributing his swiftness to the idols (seirim). If that would have been the case, perhaps Yitschak would have never had any doubt and wouldn’t have needed to feel him. Why didn’t Yakov chose this path? R Yehudah Leb explains that Yakov was a man of truth. Lying was not his nature. He had to attribute all to Hashem. He would rather dress in goat’s skin and be put in a predicament than to miss out mentioning Hashem’s Divine providence. This, explains R Yehudah, is the reason that goats were offered up and stood as a merit and reminder to Yakov’s testimony of Hashem’s Divine providence in all. When we guide our free will in the right direction, the effect is eternal.
New Rabbinic leadership for the United Synagogue
The Rabbinic Council of the United Synagogue (RCUS) and the Rebbetzens Representatives of the United Synagogue (RRUS) have new leadership teams following recent elections.
Rabbi Elchonon Feldman, the Senior Rabbi of Bushey United Synagogue, has been elected the new Chair of the Rabbinic Council of the United Synagogue. He replaces Woodside Park’s Senior Rabbi, Rabbi Pinchas Hackenbroch, who is stepping down after serving four years as Chair of RCUS.
Also elected as vice chairs of RCUS are Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue’s Rabbi Marc Levene, Central Synagogue’s Rabbi Barry Lerer, Woodford Forest United Synagogue’s Rabbi Mordechai Wollenberg and Borehamwood and Elstree United Synagogue’s Rabbi Alex Chapper.
Rabbi Elchonon Feldman said: “I am humbled by this opportunity to serve the Rabbinate which has been so good to me and my family. I am blessed to be part of a great team and I look forward to working closely with professional
colleagues to uphold the gold standard of Rabbinic dedication of which the United Synagogue is rightfully proud. I thank Rabbi Hackenbroch for his dedication and leadership over the last four years.”
Rabbi Pinchas Hackenbroch, the outgoing Chair of RCUS, said: “It has been an absolute privilege to lead RCUS over the past four years, working closely with the United Synagogue’s Trustees, Directors and Centre for Rabbinic Excellence. Together we have forged our shared vision for the United Synagogue community led by our outstanding Rabbonim and Rebbetzens. I am delighted to leave RCUS in the more-than-capable hands of my successor, Rabbi Feldman, who I am confident will continue to build on our collective achievements.”
RCUS is the professional association of the United Synagogue Rabbinate. Its key objective is to support and promote the well-being and success of Rabbis and their families within their local communities and across the United Synagogue as a whole.
Bushey United Synagogue’s Senior Rebbetzen, Rebbetzen Jacqueline Feldman, and Borehamwood and Elstree’s Senior Rebbetzen, Rebbetzen Eva Chapper, are the new co-Chairs of RRUS. Rebbetzen Feldman was elected Chair of RRUS in 2022 when RRUS was formed and is continuing now as co-Chair.
Making up the RRUS Committee are St John’s Wood’s Rebbetzen Chai Cohen, Radlett’s Rebbetzen Shira Kett, Golders Green’s Rebbetzen Dr Haddasah Fromson, Highgate’s Rebbetzen Shuli Liss, Woodford Forest’s Rebbetzen Blima Wollenberg and Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield’s Rebbetzen Racheli Herszaft. Rebbetzen Feldman and Rebbetzen Chapper said: “We are honoured to now be serving as coChairs of RRUS and we are excited to continue building on the strong foundations that have already been laid. We extend our deepest thanks and appreciation to those stepping
down from their roles.”
RRUS was formed to build a community of Rebbetzens with the vision of creating a network of connection and support for Rebbetzens across the United Synagogue.
Rabbi Elchonon Feldman
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Family FunEMOR
We start with a warning to the Kohanim to stay away from dead bodies.
A kohein can only become impure for his 7 close relatives; Father, Mother, Wife, Child, Brother, unmarried Sister. Kohanim also can’t marry divorcees.
Korbonois have to be perfect too, no mumim – cuts, bruises etc. You’re getting close and serving the Creator and Master of the Universe and your life, show a little respect.
Show some mercy too, don’t kill a mother and child on the same day. (Animal!)
As Jews we represent our people, the Torah and Hashem. People look at us to see the way Hashem wants people to act. If, chas v’sholom, we do an avairah (sin) or act silly or mean or rude then people gthink that this is what happens when a person follows in the ways of Hashem. This looks bad on Hashem, it’s like we’re embarrassing Him and putting people off Hashem and Torah!
Last week we learnt you can do anything to save anothers life and if it comes to saving your own life, you MUST do the avairah. But there are three
G J E R O S L W H D C R
K I H S O D E K O O T K
L O U O T E K O O X V I
J K T U P N N I E U E B
E L Y E A D E S Y I O B
R T Y F L T O R A H B U
U S H A T N E A A V T T
S C D E A D S E A P Z Z
A C E Y O Z B L K D F Q
L A G T H A T M G Q A T
E I E R A V K O O K T E
M W L B E N G U R I O N
ISRAEL • DEGEL • KIBBUTZ • TORAH • DEAD SEA • KOTEL • TZFAT • JERUSALEM • BEN GURION • RAV KOOK
Dingbats
mitzvot you must die for: avoda zara (idol worship), murder, and forbidden marriage
The reason is that it is a great disgrace to Hashem - a Chilul Hashem - for a Jew to do these avairot. When a Jew gives up his life for these three mitzvot he makes a great Kiddush Hashem - he brings honor to Hashem’s name - and he is greatly rewarded in the World to come.
Now let’s get festive! We actually read these next verses every festival because they talk about cheese. No, wrong verses, they talk about the festivals. Oh that’s
why surprise… I geddit. A Festival is like Shabbos except we can cook and carry. There are 5 of them. Pesach, Shavuot, Sukkot, Rosh Hashana andYom Kippur. The first three, Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot are called the “Shalosh Regalim.”
That’s because when these Yomim Tovimcame around, people headed up to Yerushalayim to the Bait Hamikdash to offer korbanot. Regalim means feet.
See you next week!
Parasha Stats Jewish Riddle
Facts about Parashat Emor
Number of Lines - 215
Number of Verses - 124
Number of Words - 1,614
Number of Letters - 6,106
This week’s Question:
Triplets and their cousin are born within a 2 hour period, yet the brit milah for each of the four takes place on four consecutive days.
They are all healthyi.e., no jaundice or other health problems. How can this be?
Last week’s Answer: “Which Tractate of the Talmud fits the following description: “The Aramaic translation of the name of this Tractate is the name of a different Tractate?”
Tractate Kelayim - which teaches forbidden mixtures of plants. The verse says: “Don’t plant kelayim in your field...”. Targum Onkelos translates the word ‘kelayim’ into Aramaic as ‘eruvin’ (mixtures). Eruvin is the name of a different Tractate that teaches the laws of carrying items on Shabbat from one halachic domain to another. An Eruv ‘mixes’ two domains into one, thereby permitting ‘carrying’ inside the Eruv.
Tangram Challenge!
Using all the shapes, can you make the shape on the right?
Word Wheel
The goal of a word wheel puzzle is to create as many words possible with the letters in the word wheel. Each word must contain at least three letters. You can only use each letter once and every word must have the letter in the centre of the wheel.
Last edition’s words
Here are some words you may have found from last week – you may have found more!
V P E N I E G R A
Use the area below to write the words you have found.
Jokes
Q: What do you call an old snowman?
A: Water!
Q: Why do ducks make great detectives?
A: Because they always quack the code!
Q: Why didn’t the orange win the race?
A: It ran out of juice!
Riddles
1. I can be long, or I can be short. I can be grown, and I can be bought. I can be painted, or left bare. I can be round, or square. What am I?
2. It cannot be seen, it weighs nothing, but when put into a barrel, it makes it lighter. What is it?
3. You saw me where I never was and where I could not be. And yet within that very place, my face you often see. What am I?
J E R U S A L E M
O l d C i t y
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I n c r e d i b l e H a r H a b a y i t
a n d K o t e l v i e w s
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C
L
3
2
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J E R U S A L E M
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e n H i l l s
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N e w p r o j e c t !
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