PRIVATE LAUNCH OF THE WEEKEND OF INSPIRATION SPEAKERS IN JEWISH AND NON-JEWISH SCHOOLS ADDRESSING OVER 3,000 STUDENTS IN 7 SCHOOLS
SHABBAT 10 MAY
32 SPEAKERS ACROSS 58 COMMUNITIES IN 3 CITIES ENGAGING OVER 10,000 PEOPLE
SUNDAY 11 MAY
DAY OF INSPIRATION IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS
BOREHAMWOOD • BUSHEY • EDGWARE • HENDON • FINCHLEY • MANCHESTER • SOUTH HAMPSTEAD
MONDAY 12 MAY
RABBINIC CONFERENCE WITH RCUS
Hendon - Ner Yisrael
18:10 Mrs. Jen Airley Rabbanit Rachelle Fraenkel
Edgware - Edgware Adath
Continued from page 1
Herzog said: “Even on our national holiday, and especially on our national holiday, we cannot celebrate independence with a whole heart when our brothers and sisters are not with us. Israel as a nation long for them, for their freedom.”
Addressing the soldiers, he said: “I read your stories. I read what brought you to this moment of distinction. Because of you, we will prevail. Because of your generation, we will prevail.”
Herzog, who has received messages of congratulations and support from leaders around the world, marking Independence Day, hosts ambassadors based in Israel this afternoon.
US President Donald Trump reiterated the US’ ironclad alliance with Israel.
Greetings from heads of state included China, Italy, Hungary, Czech Republic and Portugal.
National ceremonies, including the annual torch-lighting on Mount Herzl, were cancelled yesterday.
Te fnal dress rehearsal of the event was broadcast with Netanyahu in a pre-recorded address stating that Israel was committed to returning all hostages held in captivity.
He added: “Troughout the generations, the people of Israel have always risen from crisis. Tis is the unbreakable spirit, the true spirit, of our people.”
“Te United States was the frst country to recognise the State of Israel, minutes after Israel declared its independence,” Trump noted. “From that day forward, our support for Israel has remained resolute. Te strength and importance of the United States-Israel relationship is evident in our historic partnership and in the enduring ties of our peoples.” He added, “Te United States remains your steadfast partner, promoting Israel’s security against its many threats.”
Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana said: “At this solemn hour, we remember the price of independence by the fnest sons and daughters of this country who fought, sacrifced and gave their lives so we could continue fulflling the hope, the dream of 100 generations, to be a free people in our land, the land of Zion and Jerusalem.”
Israel held its Memorial Day ceremony on Wednesday morning at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, honouring fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism.
Netanyahu praised Israel’s fallen heroes since the October 7 attack but a number of ceremonies saw protests from bereaved families against the government’s handling of the war and hostages.
The blaze
Shin Bet head Bar resigns
BY DAVID SAFFER
Shin Bet Security Service head Ronen Bar will step down from the post on June 15.
It is now expected the Supreme Court will no longer rule on whether the government could sack him.
“It was the government’s position that Bar should resign as head of the Shin Bet, in a respectful manner,” the government said in a statement.
“Although his resignation comes late, it negates the need to fre him.”
Bar announced his decision at a memorial service for fallen fghters on Monday night.
Referring to the 10/7 terror attack in 2023, he said: “After years on multiple fronts, the sky fell on one night on the southern front. Te entire system collapsed. Te General Security Service also failed to provide a warning. As the person who stands at the head of the organisation, I took responsibility.”
Bar added: “My love for the homeland and my loyalty to the country are the basis over every decision I have made in my professional life. Tat remains true tonight.”
Addressing bereaved families, he noted: “It is important for you to know that the Shin Bet did not make light of the threat. Despite attempts to manufacture a diferent reality, the Shin Bet was never complacent. To the contrary, there was understanding of the Hamas threat, alongside constant initiative and a drive to engage. Nevertheless, we failed, must bow our heads in humility before the murdered, the dead, the wounded, the kidnapped and the families, and act accordingly.”
Bar again called for a state commission of inquiry into the 10/7 terror attack. He said: “Te truth and corrections that must be made can be done only within the framework of a state commission of inquiry. You deserve the truth. Te fallen deserve it. Taking responsibility in practice is an inseparable part of setting a personal example and the legacy of our leaders, and we have no legitimacy to lead without it.”
Bar also called for the High Court of Justice to rule that for Israel’s security and democracy Shin Bet continues to operate independently.
He follows senior IDF commanders resigning in the wake of 10/7.
Following the announcement President Isaac Herzog thanked Bar for 35 years service to Israel’s security.
“Ronen has repeatedly acknowledged his own failure, and that of the Shin Bet, part of the failure of understanding that led to the disaster of October 7,” he said.
“Tere is no doubt that the proper path to fulflling our responsibility to the bereaved families and to the State of Israel must pass through a broad and professional state commission of inquiry, which will thoroughly investigate the failures and the lessons we must learn as a society that cherishes life.”
Herzog added that the Shin Bet risk their safety and is a vital and national institution.
“Its contribution to Israel’s security is immense,” he said. “It must not be politicised, politics must not interfere with its work.”
Bar remained in ofce despite being sacked last month by a unanimous cabinet vote pending a High Court of Justice ruling.
Tousands of demonstrators protested outside the Knesset opposing the proposed dismissal.
Bar was determined to remain until all hostages are returned to Israel and called for a national commission of inquiry into government, IDF and security agency failings.
Netanyahu has refused to establish a
HELPED OVER 6,000 OLIM
commission and not taken responsibility for his own role.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid condemned the decision to sack Bar, citing his dedication to Israel’s security.
Netanyahu has accused Bar of lying to the High Court over 10/7 failures and rejected Bar’ claims his actions were political.
Bar alleges Netanyahu attempted to pressure him into acting unlawfully. He noted: “Senior security ofcials have taken responsibility for the intelligence failure (on 10/7). But the Prime Minister never took responsibility for the quiet policy of funding Hamas, which was dictated directly by the Prime Minister”. Bar’s resignation is expected to reduce tension between the government and Shin Bet.
Netanyahu reversed his decision to nominate former Navy chief Vice-Admiral (res.) Eli Sharvit as the next head of Shin Bet. Shin Bet deputy head Sharvit is acting chief until an appointment is made.
Sharvit’s appointment, that had to be ratifed, was criticised by political rivals over his participation in protests against the government before 10/7 and comments made about President Donald Trump’s climate policies.
Sharvit accepted the decision and stated he would continue to serve the State of Israel.
Shin Bet head Ronen Bar
Herzog calls for hostage release and unity on Yom Hazikaron
BY DAVID SAFFER
President Isaac Herzog called for the release of hostages held in captivity and national unity at Israel’s national Yom Hazikaron memorial day state ceremony at the Western Wall in Jerusalem on Tuesday night.
Defense Minister Israel Katz, IDF Chief of Staf Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, senior IDF leadership and bereaved families attended
Speaking after the memorial siren, Herzog noted: “Tis year, perhaps more than ever, the siren’s sound is also a true alarm, commanding us, unite and come together. Do not tear apart from within. Do not destroy our home. It rises further and further, like a terrible cry, a wail, a scream that pierces the gates of Heaven. For the fallen men and women, the murdered, for the many wounded in body and soul, for our kidnapped brothers and sisters, the beloved, the tormented, held in captivity and distress for more than a year and a half.”
Addressing the hostages, he said: “A whole nation is missing you, worrying for you, crying your cry. A nation tormented beyond measure. Here, at the place where our soldiers swear to defend the homeland and the freedom of Israel, we too swear, I swear, not to rest and not to be still. To act with all our might, by every means, to take one more step, and another, until all of you come home.”
Addressing families who have sufered repeated bereavement in Israel’s wars and waves of terror, Herzog called on Israelis for unity and to keep Israel’s democratic foundations.
“Enough division, enough polarisation, enough hatred.” he said. “We must not, by our own hands, bring about the destruction of our national home, the home of all Israelis, the home of the entire Jewish
people.”
He added: “On this sacred day, in this sacred place, we also bear a sacred duty. To recommit ourselves to the brave, shared Israeli covenant, to rise above divisions and to transform this moment of pain into a moment of shared rebuilding.”
Herzog and the First Lady went on to attend the ‘Songs in Teir Memory’ event at the Knesset.
Herzog was also present as Israel honoured its fallen soldiers and victims of terror at Mount Herzl Memorial Hall in Jerusalem.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, Supreme Court President Yitzhak Amit, Zamir and Katz, senior military and security ofcials attended.
Zamir said: “It is our duty in the IDF to serve as a compass, to guide the way and to act at all times, tirelessly and with a sense of integrity, for the sake of unity, cohesion and victory. We are fghting to build a secure, free and prosperous future for the nation. Our moral duty is to bring our hostages home, this is the essence of the Israel Defense Forces put to the test.”
Zamir added: “Te state was not simply handed to us, the struggle for our right to exist here did not begin yesterday and will not end soon. On October 7, Simchat Torah 2023, we all felt this more than ever. We were thrust into a war, which began with a barbaric massacre, carried out by a despicable and ruthless enemy. An enemy who does not distinguish between women and men, between adults and children, between soldiers and civilians.”
Police Commissioner Danny Levy noted that 71 police ofcers and fghters had fallen in the Gaza war.
Levy said: “We are committed to continuing to carry the torch of remembrance and ensuring that their sacrifce
was not in vain. Tis is our mission, this is our calling.”
According to the Defense Ministry, the past year has seen 318 soldiers fall and 79 civilians murdered in terror attacks. Since the start of the Gaza war, 934 civilians have been killed, 778 were murdered during the 10/7 massacre.
DJ Yarin Ilovich, known as Artifex, who played the last song at the Nova music festival, Inbar Ben Simon, whose husband Raz was wounded fghting at
Netzarim before returning to battle, former NBA star Omri Casspi, and AI expert Dr. Eli David participated in the traditional torch-lighting ceremony.
A Voices of Valor online ceremony took place on Monday 10/7 heroes. Te event featured tributes, panel discussions and interviews with soldiers, survivors, medical responders and global supporters.
Herzog paying his respects
PHOTO: GPO
PHOTO: GPO
Norwood’s 26 runners raise £100k
26 marathon runners braved the heat, following a busy training and fundraising schedule to raise almost £100k in aid of our support for children with neurodiversity and their families and people with neurodevelopmental disabilities.
Our runners included Jacob Steinberg. Jacob’s sister Ella lives in our adult accommodation, where she receives two-to-one support enabling her to live her best life. He fnished his frst-ever marathon in 03:49:21, raising over £7,000 in the process. Describing his motivation for running, Jacob said: “Ella receives 2:1 support 24/7- in no scenario would that work without Norwood. It wouldn’t be afordable or feasible. We all work and can only continue to do so and live our lives because of Norwood. I would do this all over again for Norwood.”
His sister Grace described him as ‘our hero’, adding “we couldn’t function without Norwood”.
Also running for a personal cause was James Goodman, who said: “I’m running for my Aunt Pippa. She’s lived most of her adult life at Norwood’s Ravenswood
Village, and Norwood has been our family’s rock. Pippa has severe disabilities and needs round-the-clock care. Without Norwood, I honestly don’t know how my grandma Marlene and my dad Julian – who are both absolute heroes –would have managed. Norwood gives us peace of mind and gave Pippa a life full of love, dignity, and community. Tis is my way of giving back.” James fnished in 03:59:09, raising almost £14,000 in the process. Of the support he received, he said: “I’ve been blown away to be honest. I have put in a lot of work training and fundraising, and I’m glad to see it’s paid of. It was an incredible day, one I’ll never forget. But it was hot! And there were moments where my body was screaming at me to stop. Moments where I could have easily paused, walked or given up. What kept me going? Te Reason I was doing it. Very sore knees, but a full heart this morning.”
Norwood’s Chief Executive Naomi Dickson said she “couldn’t be prouder of the amazing twenty-six people running the London Marathon for Norwood. Te hours of commitment and training they have put in to complete it is phenomenal. I am always so grateful when people run for Norwood, and some of our runners have people living in our homes, so they know the impact of our work, and how their funds will go to ensuring that each person is given all the support they need to live their best life. Tey’ve seen the quality of life, the activities, the love and support that their relatives receive each day in a Norwood home”. “Tank you to every runner and to everyone who has sponsored them,” she added.
Rafi Selig runs first marathon
Last sunday, 18-year-old Raf Selig completed the London Marathon in an extraordinary show of resilience, compassion, and determination. Running his frst full marathon, Raf took on the 26.2-mile challenge not just to achieve a lifelong dream, but to raise vital funds for JNF UK and to honour Tamir Adar, one of the hostages taken on 7th October 2023.
Raf’s passion for running began early, completing his frst Park Run at just six years old. By 2019, he was proudly representing Brent in the mini-marathon, fuelling his ambition to one day conquer the London Marathon. In recent months, he balanced the intense demands of A-Level preparation alongside rigorous marathon training, showing commitment beyond his years.
Raf chose to dedicate his run to Tamir Adar, a resident of Kibbutz Nir Oz, who was kidnapped and later murdered after bravely defending his community.
Kibbutz Nir Oz was one of the hardest-hit communities on 7th October, and today, JNF UK is playing a vital role in supporting its recovery and several other southern communities severely impacted by the attacks. Te charity is working closely with the residents of these communities, listening to their needs and providing support through a range of vital projects designed to help them take the frst steps toward rebuilding their lives. Te cause holds particular signifcance for JNF UK, as one of its own employees, Sagui Dekel-Chen, was also taken hostage from Nir Oz and endured 497 days of captivity before fnally being freed.
Tanks to overwhelming support from friends, family, and JNF UK donors, Raf exceeded his initial fundraising target of £3,000, raising over £5,000 for JNF UK.
His remarkable achievement will contribute directly to restoring critical facilities, strengthening community spaces, and bringing renewed hope to those who need it most.
Raf said, “I’m so grateful for all the support in my frst marathon. I’m really happy to have raised over £5,000 for JNF UK as we’ve all been left devastated by October 7th and its efects on Israel. I had a ballot place but wanted to choose JNF UK because of the amazing work it’s doing in the south of Israel. I was honoured to have run the marathon for Tamir Adar of Kibbutz Nir Oz, and I pray for the safe return of all the remaining 59 hostages. Having him in my thoughts whilst running through London was a powerful symbol of hope. Te marathon was tough in that heat, but I’m pleased with my time of 4:02.”
You can still support Raf’s campaign and contribute to rebuilding hope in Israel by donating to his fundraising page here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/ rafseligmarathon25.
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Tributes to Holocaust survivors Eve and Nechama
BY ADAM MOSES
Holocaust survivors Eve Kugler and Nechama Grossman passed away on Yom Hashoah last week.
Kugler, 94, who witnessed the horrors of Kristallnacht, was a renowned Holocaust educator in the UK. Grossman, 109, was Israel’s oldest survivor.
Te Holocaust Educational Trust in a statement said: “Eve was the epitome of strength and determination and lit up every room, she had an infectious smile and a cheeky wit. She was always interested in people and displayed a strong sense of humility, somehow not acknowledging just how special she was. She was gentle, warm and vulnerable but always showed the world her bravery, resilience and fearlessness.”
Kugler, who received the British Empire Medal for Holocaust remembrance and Holocaust education six years ago, was born in 1931 in Halle, Germany.
Te Trust recalled: “She would always remember the Nazis storming into her home, smashing the windows of their family business, and most devasting of all taking away her beloved father who was sent to Buchenwald until her mother courageously managed to secure his release.”
Kugler was an integral part of the March of the Living family.
“She has been with us from the very beginning,” MOTL said in a statement.
“Eve has spoken to thousands of participants and her testimony has inspired generations. We have been privileged to accompany Eve back to her home town in Germany, to facilitate the laying of Stolpersteines for her family and we even took her on a historic visit to Dubai where she spoke on the anniversary of Kristallnacht.”
MOTL added: “Eve was an incredible Holocaust educator, who always delivered such an incredibly powerful testimony. She had everyone captivated. Everyone that met Eve loved Eve. She left such a massive impact everywhere she went. She was a friend and family to many of us. Her zest for life was infectious and she lit up every room she was in.
since we began.”
Kugler was also a mainstay of Jewish Care’s Holocaust Survivors’ Centre.
Daniel Carmel-Brown recalled: “Eve contributed immensely to the Centre’s community and joined countless trips and activities over the years. Eve was deeply passionate about Holocaust education helping to ensure that future generations would never forget.”
Kugler arrived in the United States on a Kindertransport from France in 1941. Miraculously, her parents and sister, Lea, survived the Shoah.
Tere is an ache in our hearts that words cannot fll but our commitment to telling her story will remain at the forefront of everything we do. As we stood in Auschwitz-Birkenau on Yom HaShoah we carried her presence with us and her commitment to Holocaust Education. Just as she did
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“My mother and father survived four French concentration camps, twice miraculously spared from deportation to Auschwitz,” she recalled to the Trust. “Our family was reunited in New York in 1946. We started again with nothing except the Jewish beliefs and values that the Nazis could never take from us. I worked, earned a university degree and became a journalist. But for years I was plagued by my inability to remember what had happened to me during the frst 11 years of my life. In my forties, I fnally asked my mother to
tell me all that had taken place.”
Te story of Kugler’s family’s survival is recounted in Shattered Crystals.
Grossman’s family told Israeli media that Nechama had died peacefully but since the 10/7 terror attack dreamt that the Nazis were returning to harm her.
“She was afraid of the Nazis, that it was coming back,” granddaughter Luba reportedly said. “She always said that we need to live in peace and without wars. All the grandchildren served in the army so it wouldn’t happen again.”
Luba added that her grandmother feared that antisemitism was rising again.
Grossman’s son, Vladimir Shvetz, reportedly said: “My mother lived through the worst of humanity and survived. She raised her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren with the mission to teach that unchecked hatred cannot win. We must remember her story, remember the Holocaust, remember all the survivors; learn from it so that her past does not become our future.”
Around 120,000 Holocaust survivors live in Israel according to the Ministry of Welfare and Social Afairs. Some 13,000 survivors passed away in the past 12 months. Globally, an estimated 220,800 Holocaust survivors live in 90 countries, 1,400 are aged 100 or more. A report by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany estimates by 2040 there will be 22,000 survivors.
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The BBC’s Shameful Boost for Jew-Haters
Te National Jewish Assembly (NJA) today issued a strong condemnation of the BBC following revelations that two contributors to its Arabic service - Samer Elzaenen and Ahmed Qannan - have a long public history of violent, antisemitic rhetoric.
Elzaenen, who has reported live multiple times for BBC Arabic since the October 7 attacks, has openly praised the Holocaust, expressed a desire to “burn Jews like Hitler did,” and celebrated the murder of Jewish civilians. Meanwhile, Qannan has lauded terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians and expressed support for throat-cutting and murder.
Te BBC’s pathetic attempt to distance itself by claiming these individuals were merely “freelancers” is a cynical evasion of responsibility. Repeatedly platforming extremists with such a grotesque public record is not an accident. It is either gross negligence or, worse, a symptom of deeper rot within the BBC’s World Service.
“Tis is not a one-of mistake. It is the latest in a pattern of the BBC Arabic service acting as an uncritical amplifer for Islamist propaganda,” said Gary Mond, Chair of the NJA. “At best, this shows staggering incompetence. At worst, it suggests the BBC is knowingly enabling
the spread of antisemitic hate.”
Mond continued: “No reputable organisation would allow someone who publicly praises child murderers and glorifes genocide anywhere near a microphone - let alone repeatedly broadcast their reporting to millions. When you invite people like this to report for you, you are endorsing their credibility. Te BBC must own this.”
Te NJA demands a full, independent inquiry into the BBC Arabic service’s recruitment and editorial practices, a public audit of contributors’ backgrounds, and senior resignations where appropriate.
“Jewish communities in Britain and worldwide are sick of these mealymouthed excuses,” Mond concluded.
“Te BBC must decide whether it wants to remain a trusted public broadcasteror continue sliding into moral bankruptcy by giving a megaphone to those who preach hatred and violence.”
The GIFT of Giving | Extensive Volunteering
BY RABBI AVROHOM ZEIDMAN
My teenage child wants to volunteer extensively on Shabbat. He plans to walk miles to visit the elderly, assist children with special needs, and also wants to be a madrich. Shabbat is meant for rest, and I am concerned that his volunteering might become too strenuous. Is it possible he is overdoing it?
Your question touches upon a critical insight from both Torah and psychology: diferent stages of life require diferent challenges. Proverbs (Mishlei 22:6) instructs, “Chanoch lana’ar al pi darko—educate the child according to his way,” highlighting that each stage in life demands tailored growth opportunities. Teenagers are naturally driven to test their limits. Developmental psychologist Erik Erikson explains this as the stage of “identity vs. role confusion,” where adolescents actively seek challenges to discover their strengths and defne themselves. Unlike younger children,
who prefer tasks aligned clearly within their abilities, teenagers fnd fulfllment specifcally when tasks seem daunting or even overwhelming. At GIFT, we frequently witness teenage volunteers become excited precisely because a task appears monumental; it is the challenge itself that energises them.
Tis concept aligns perfectly with Pirkei Avot (5:21), which outlines appropriate developmental challenges: “At fve years, Scripture; at ten, Mishnah; at ffteen, Talmud.” At ffteen, teenagers delve into the complexities of Talmud, explicitly because it challenges and stretches their intellectual muscles.
Rabbi Dessler explains that personal growth comes from stepping beyond one’s comfort zone, fnding joy and fulfllment in striving rather than in efortless tasks. Indeed, the strenuous nature of your son’s volunteering - his willingness to walk miles, to engage tirelessly— is the very source of his enthusiasm.
Unless there’s a genuine concern for your child’s safety, health, or academic responsibilities, encourage him to use
Shabbat for this meaningful and active form of rest. Remember, ‘rest’ does not mean inactivity - it means spiritual and emotional rejuvenation achieved through meaningful exertion.
Allow him to fex his giving muscles, grow stronger through chesed, and continue becoming the extraordinary giver
he clearly aspires to be. You should feel very proud.
Rabbi Zeidman is an experienced educator of young people, young professionals and parents and is the Senior Educator at GIFT UK.
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WHAT3WORDS/// NEVER, NEVER, NEVER!
(Tehillim 27:14)
BY RABBI NAFTALI SCHIFF
Never, never, never give up!
“Be strong and make your heart courageous.”
Tere are some words that, when spoken with true conviction, have the power to cut through every excuse, every obstacle, every voice of despair. Tree such words- never, never, never, have echoed through history’s darkest moments and continue to inspire us today.
Winston Churchill, addressing a battered Britain during WWII, famously declared: “Never, never, never give up.” A simple phrase — yet it galvanized a nation to hold fast when surrender seemed inevitable. How many times have we as a nation felt close to despair? How often do we want to simply give up?
For me, those words, these sentiments are not merely historical. Tey are deeply personal.
I think of Yosef Levkovitch, the Holocaust Survivor whose life embodied the creed of tenacious determination. Even when paralyzed with terminal illness in his later years, Yosef insisted on exercising daily in his wheelchair, declaring: “you just gotta fght it out! Never, never, never give up!” Watching him, I understood: resilience is not merely the absence of struggle, but the relentless decision to continue despite it.
I often recall a memory from my brief but personally signifcant army days. On grueling marches and even sometimes on active duty exhaustion would set in.
“
,דקפמה!” — “Commander, I can’t!” we would gasp. Te response was immediate: “Schif! Tere’s no such thing as ‘I can’t’ only ‘I don’t want to.’ You can, and you will!” At the time, those words felt merciless. But they were a gift: a tough but necessary reminder that breaking through the wall of perceived physical or emotional exhaustion reveals reserves of strength we never imagined we had.
Today, as our brave soldiers continue march on, as our courageous hostages and their families hold strong, we see once again the stubborn fame of Jewish resilience burning brightly.
I think also of Yaakov Yosef Weiss z”l, a Holocaust survivor I interviewed extensively in Manchester. He shared with me the most astonishing story — how he was saved from inside a gas chamber on Simchat Torah 1944. When I asked him what memory he carried from home (his father had passed away when he was only nine), he told me: “On Seder night, my father told us: ‘You can be in the worst situation ever, but Hashem can still save you at the last moment.’” It was this teaching that accompanied him into the depths of human horror — and through it.
Other survivors — like Chaim Schwimmer from Montreal and Pearl Benish from New York — recalled the Talmudic passage instilled in them since childhood: “Even if a sharp sword is upon a person’s neck, never give up hope for mercy.” Tese were not theoretical teachings. Tey were lifelines — internal iron rails that kept the soul from collapsing, even when the body was under siege.
Growing up, our children could all complete the phrase “never, never, never…” almost instinctively. Perhaps it was because they lived in a home where time spent with survivors, and years alongside IDF soldiers, embedded this lesson so deeply: a Jew does not give up. Ever.
Tis month also marks the yahrzeit of Lady J, the First Lady of British Jewry, whose memory continues to inspire. Beyond her towering leadership, Lady J taught a profound truth: it doesn’t take genius to do good, to be remembered; it takes grit and resolve. Each of us, without special brilliance or fame, is capable of deciding to carry on, to push through, to fght through the walls and challenges that may seem insurmountable in the moment. Resilience is not the domain of heroes alone. It is the realm of every individual who makes the choice, again and again, not to surrender to despair.
Tis unwavering spirit is captured powerfully in the famous teaching of Rav Nachman of Breslov, who said: “רוסא שאייתהל – It is forbidden to despair.” Rav Nachman taught that even when one faces overwhelming darkness or hardship, the path forward is not through sadness or surrender, but through fghting back with joy, positivity, and trust in Hashem. With simcha (joy) and emunah (faith), even the most impossible of situations can be transformed. No darkness can extinguish the light of hope when fuelled by true connection to the Al-mighty.
And at the deepest level, how could we ever give up on ourselves, on others, or on the future, when G-d Himself never gives up on us? Hashem’s love and belief in Am Yisrael are infnite. His covenant with us is eternal and unbreakable. He believes in each of us, individually and collectively, even when we falter. If the Al-mighty in His perfection, has not given up on us, how can we possibly justify giving up on Him, on His process, or on any human being created in His image? We are called to mirror His unwavering faith in us even and especially during the challenging times, to hold fast to hope, to believe in redemption, and to see the sparks of potential even in the darkest moments. It was easy to forget, especially in the modern era, that the establishment of the State of Israel, the miracle of Jewish rebirth after the Holocaust, did not come easily or without steely resolve and indomitable drive. As Israel’s frst President, Chaim Weizmann, reminded the people in 1947: “A state will not be handed to the Jewish people on a silver platter.” Te dream of Israel’s rebirth would require sacrifce, persistence, and ferce
determination. Nothing meaningful is ever achieved without struggle. Not then, and not now.
Tere are times when the battlefeld — whether personal or national — feels like a quagmire. Politics, egos, divisions, wars, and the sheer weight of history can make it seem hopeless. But perhaps this is precisely the common thread that ties together the Jewish memory and Jewish destiny we commemorate across our “trilogy” of days — Yom HaShoah, Yom Hazikaron, and Yom HaAtzmaut. We pulsate with the commitment- never, never, never give up.
We are a People of Hatikva- of hope, of proactive optimism, of a stubborn belief that with an unbreakable will and with the help of the Al-mighty, we shall fght through. Our story has never been one of easy victories. It has been a story of endless perseverance, of fghting battle after battle, of lighting fame after fame in a world of darkness.
Not on a silver platter — but with grit, sacrifce, faith, and eternal hope.
As we move through this season of national memory and rebirth, we are reminded that just as we have survived the millennia, so too shall לע
- a new light shall shine upon Zion. And that light — born of struggle, tempered by sufering, fueled by relentless hope and fought for with joy and faith — will not only illuminate our people, but
the entire world.
For that is our mission: םע ,לארשי ץרא
,לארשי- the Jewish People, the Land of Israel, the Torah of Israel. A triad bound together not by ease, but by enduring hope and sacred purpose. So today, whatever the battles we face, may we hear our millennial cheerleaders again. Te echo of Reb Yoseph Levkovitch from his wheelchair, the Siurvivors whispering prayers of hope and encouragement, the IDF soldiers marching on despite the anguish, the voice of Lady J insisting that grit matters more than genius, the timeless call of Rav Nachman that “it is forbidden to despair,” and the quiet but infnite love of Hashem whispering into each of our souls: Never, never, never give up.
Shabbat Shalom
///What3Words is a geocoding system that has divided the world into a grid of 57 trillion 3-by-3 squares, each of which is identifed by a unique three-word address. In this column, Rabbi Naftali Schif refects upon three words each week, relating to core issues of the day. Feedback welcome! nschif@jfutures.org
Rabbi Naftali Schif is the Founder and Chief Executive of Jewish Futures
1948 calls out to a broken 2025
BY RABBI MOSHE TARAGIN
Yet another Yom Ha’atzmautt arrives, still shadowed by the events of Oct. 7, 2023 and the ongoing struggle to defend our homeland. As we mark the nes of 1948, it no longer feels like a distant historical moment; we are, once again, living through its rawness and uncertainty.
Te concept of a Jewish state, which once felt self-evident, is now openly contested. And once again, am Yisrael is paying a steep, painful price for the sacred land promised to us by Hashem.
But this year’s Independence Day challenge feels diferent from last year, when we stood in the immediate aftermath of tragedy, immersed in the ferce urgency of battle. Last year’s emotions were not celebratory, but were sharp and unmistakable: the pain granted clarity, the intense struggle bonded us to 1948 with a deep, obvious connection.
Tis year, that clarity has faded into something more difcult to defne. Te trauma remains, but has settled into a heavy, slow-moving fog. Our people and war efort seem stuck, unable to advance decisively toward victory, unable to reach resolution or closure. Te national mood is weighed down not only by grief, but by frustration and fatigue.
And beneath it all, we are watching our internal fabric fray. Political instability, scandals, and bitter rivalries have eroded public trust. Te divisions within our society, especially the painful rift surrounding haredi conscription, have deepened. Anger and suspicion have replaced unity, and the dream of shared destiny feels more distant. Heartbreak and grief have been replaced by weariness and disillusionment.
All this is eclipsed by the unbearable pain of our hostages. While we’ve been grateful to see many brought home, it feels hollow and incomplete; the sufering, sharper. Te testimonies of those who have returned have opened our eyes to horrors we can scarcely imagine, making the fate of those still captive feel even more urgent.
Simply celebrating independence with barbecues, parties, Tanach contests, and ceremonies in the midst of this heaviness feels tone-deaf. Merely paying lip service to the war feels detached and hollow. How do we respond to this year’s historical maze and the emotional haze surrounding Independence Day? What feelings and attitudes are ftting and worthy as we navigate through this bewildering and heart-wrenching chapter of the Jewish journey?
PERHAPS THE solution lies not only in celebrating 1948 but also by returning to 1948 and imagining ourselves gazing through a crystal ball at 2025. What would we see from 1948 about the world of 2025, and how would we, standing in 1948, respond to the struggles of today? Tis time machine may provide the
proper voices and emotions to honor Independence Day of 2025 with the historical depth it deserves. If we could step into a time machine and travel back to 1948, how would we view our condition in 2025?
Looking at 2025, we may not feel unrestrained joy, but we would feel pride, beaming and radiant pride, in all we have accomplished with Hashem’s help over the past 77 years, and a profound pride in the resilience and achievements we continue to forge through this ongoing struggle.
Joy suggests celebration, closure, and emotional release, but these feelings are jarring while our people are still sufering so deeply. Pride, on the other hand, is quieter and more grounded; it acknowledges pain but also afrms meaning. Without pride and perspective, we risk sinking into unhealthy despair and misplaced pessimism. We can take pride in our national strength, our moral resilience, and the miracle of Jewish sovereignty, even as our hearts remain broken. Te selves of 1948 would want us to feel pride, even amid the ongoing struggles and tragedies.
unfolding before our eyes, yet the journey feels uncertain, the process slow. We must learn to wait not just with faith but with the endurance to face the challenges of a reality that is gradually unfolding. We sense history trembling. We feel Hashem’s presence reentering the story. And that closeness awakens a diferent kind of longing – a hope for quick endings, for clean and decisive miracles. For the frst few decades of the State of Israel, we believed we were witnessing this pace. Te frst 50 years of statehood surged forward with breathtaking momentum.
But the past year and a half has reminded us: patience is harder when the process has already begun. Te “us” of 1948 would tell our current selves to have patience, just as Jews have shown
1948 would also want us to have stamina. In general, Israel was not built for drawn-out wars. Historically, our battles have been swift and decisive. We lack the logistical depth and manpower for endless fghting, and our families, communities, and economy are straining under the pressure. But history seems to be moving more slowly now. In 1967, the world shifted in just six days. Te War of Independence, though longer, lasted 10 months.
Today, though our national arc still rises with remarkable strength, this current struggle is unfolding with a diferent rhythm – more drawn out, more uncertain.
For generations, we whispered Ani Ma’amin, a quiet, unwavering song of belief in a better tomorrow, even when tomorrow felt impossibly far away. “Even if he tarries, I will wait.” We taught ourselves to wait through gallus, persecution, and silence.
Te waiting we endure now is diferent. Geulah is no longer distant; it is
patience for centuries. Quick resolutions to our internal strife may not come in our lifetimes, and our enemies will continue to threaten us. We are moving forward on all fronts – but in ways that only future generations may fully realize – with vision, patience, and stamina.
OUR SOCIETY seems too distant from achdut to merely preach it without ofering a feasible path toward it. Perhaps we should begin with a more modest goal. If we can’t all align ideologically and religiously, let us at least cultivate loyalty toward one another.
Loyalty calls a person to act with commitment to others, placing shared values above personal agendas and needs. Loyalty is more than an emotional bond or ideological agreement; it is a deep, unwavering duty that binds us to each other and to our shared destiny.
We must remain loyal to our past and the expectations it carries. We have been entrusted with the opportunity to live in Israel, a vision that previous generations
could only dream of. If we stood in 1948 next to those who fought for a state they weren’t sure would ever materialize, they would demand our loyalty to their vision, asking us to endure hardships just as they did, and to bear the burdens they never imagined we would carry.
Te 600,000 Jews of Israel in 1948 would ask us to be loyal to the nearly eight million who live in 2025 and share one common battle. No one in Israel should envision building a state solely for their own group or ideology.
Perhaps, over decades or even centuries, we will merge into a singular ideology and culture, but that will take time. Until then, Israel will remain a vibrant mosaic of difering ethnicities, religious levels, and political views. Te only true constants are our shared past and our collective future.
As fortunate custodians of both the land and Jewish history, we are called to account for our actions and, perhaps more importantly, our words. Encountering difering opinions can stir great frustration, a frustration that intensifes in times of war and tragedy. Instead of striving for an idealized unity, perhaps loyalty to one another is a more attainable goal.
We are sailing together on the same ship of history, and without shared purpose and collective efort, we will struggle to move forward.
Te writer, a rabbi at the hesder Yeshivat Har Etzion/Gush, has an MA in English literature. His books include the recent To Be Holy but Human: Refections Upon My Rebbe, HaRav Yehuda Amital (Kodesh Press).
At the end of last week’s Parshah, Shemini, we began to discuss the laws of purity. These laws, called the laws of Tumah and Taharah, are continued in this week’s portion.
The first topic discussed is a woman who has given birth. She
is impure for a set amount of days, then she immerses in a mikvah (as mentioned last week, this is a special body of water that makes a tameh [impure] person tahor [pure]) and brings a sacrifice.
All baby boys are to be
I V R I T LES SON
“I MUSTICK MY GUM IN THE BIN” (MUSTIK - קיטסמ - MEANS GUM)
“I LOVE THAT HOUSE, I MUST BAYIT” (BAYIT - תיב - MEANS HOUSE)
“COME HERE LITTLE PUPPY, SUCH A KELEVER BOY” (KELEV - בלכ - MEANS DOG)
“TUT TUT TUT, I TOLD YOU TO MAKE A BRACHA ON THE STRAWBERRY” (TUT - תות - MEANS STRAWBERRY)
circumcised at eight days old; we call this the brit milah. Next topic of discussion is a unique disease called tzaraat. It is different from other illnesses because it has a spiritual cause and makes a person impure. If a person thinks he may have this
affliction, he must go to a kohen and the kohen looks for signs to see whether it’s the impurity of tzaraat or just a regular illness. The Torah teaches the kohen which signs to look for to identify the disease as tzaraat.
Jewish Riddle
Last week’s Question:
Which verse in the Torah has all the letters of the Aleph-Bet?
Exodus 16:16. This verse, which contains all the letters of in Hebrew alphabet, describes the gathering of the miraculous manna which fell in the desert: “This is the thing that G-d commanded: Each person should gather of it as much as he needs to eat, an omermeasure per person, according to the number of people each man has in his tent.” This teaches that whoever fulflls the Torah in its entirety - “from aleph to taf” (the frst and last letters in the Aleph-Beis) - will be assured of his sustenance by G-d.
This week’s Question:
One Friday evening recently, I said the frst paragraph of shema fve times, and each time it was for a different reason. How did this occur?
ISR A EL F U N FA CT
This week’s Question:
Israel is one of only three countries whose national anthem is composed in a minor key. Can you name the other 2?
FamilyTAZRIAHFun - METZORAH Dingbats
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!
S N U A S I C M I
Jokes
Q: What is a cats favourite colour?
A: Purrrrple!
Q: Why is Cinderella bad at football?
A: Because she’s always running away from the ball!
Q: What button can’t you undo?
A: Your belly button!
Q: Why was the rabbit so upset?
A: He was having a bad hare day!
Riddles
1. Where can you fnd cities, towns, shops, and streets but no people?
2. I am an odd number. Take away a letter and I become even. What number am I?
3. What word is spelled wrong in the dictionary?
S
“I wanted my grandchildren to understand the values that have guided our
final
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