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Our community deserves better

EDITORIAL BY YOSSI SAUNDERS

This past week, the leadership of the Board of Deputies of British Jews crossed a line that can no longer be ignored.

Following a deeply problematic opinion article by its President Phil Rosenberg in The Telegraph, and a special meeting convened to discuss “the humanitarian situation in Gaza,” we must now ask serious questions about the direction and legitimacy of this institution.

The Board of Deputies, established in 1760, is the oldest and largest communal Jewish organization in the UK. Its stated purpose is to represent the interests of British Jews. Yet over the past months—and especially this week—it has demonstrated a disturbing tendency to misrepresent our community’s values and priorities, particularly when it comes to the State of Israel and the ongoing war it did not start.

In April, 36 Deputies signed an open letter in the Financial Times attacking the Israeli government. This alone caused significant division and pain within the community.

But the leadership’s response was muted.

Now, the Board’s attention turns again to Gaza—convening a special meeting solely

to discuss the plight of Palestinians. No such urgency has been shown for the 660+ days of Jewish hostages held underground by Hamas. No meetings were convened to address the trauma endured by tens of thousands of Israeli families displaced since October 7. No headlines from the BOD have focused on the more than 800 IDF soldiers killed, or the steady stream of rocket attacks from Hezbollah and Iran’s proxies.

Instead, the Board chooses to echo talking points that appear to be pulled straight from the international press and NGOs hostile to Israel. In The Telegraph, Rosenberg begins by stating: “The suffering we are witnessing in the Gaza Strip demands a response. Food

“When my sister was diagnosed

must not be used as a weapon of war, by any side in this conflict.” Is that really what the President of the UK’s Jewish representative body believes must be said first and foremost?

Yes, we are a people who care about human suffering—Jew and non-Jew alike. But let us not forget the order of priorities. In last week’s Torah portion (Matot-Masei), the tribes of Reuven and Gad request to settle across the Jordan for the sake of their livestock and families. Rashi points out that Moshe corrects their priorities: “Build for your children first.” Rosenberg’s order in the article was telling. ‘The immediate priority must be to ensure a massive expansion of aid to Gaza, the return of hostages and a lasting ceasefire.’

The way a leader speaks reflects what they value most.

So when Jewish blood is still being spilled, when Jewish hostages remain underground, and Jewish communities around the world face rising antisemitism, it is a betrayal for our own communal leadership to centre its messaging around Gaza, before even acknowledging our own suffering.

Continued on page 4

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Continued from page 1

Rosenberg continues: “Our community rejects the calls of Israeli ministers to make Gaza Jewish again and take full control of the West Bank.” Who exactly is “our community” here? Has he consulted the entirety of British Jewry? Does he speak for every Jewish denomination? Every synagogue? Every school? Every Holocaust survivor? Or even a majority? The arrogance in assuming he speaks for all of us is staggering.

Even when mentioning the atrocities of October 7, Rosenberg refers to “the Israeli people.” Not “our fellow Jews.” Not “our brothers and sisters.” Just a distant, generic term—devoid of the deep familial connection that we as Jews feel toward one another, especially in times of crisis.

This is not leadership. This is appeasement dressed in communal clothing.

We are now approaching 22 months since the horrific massacre of October 7. Hamas still holds over 50 hostages. In recent days, Golani soldiers uncovered yet another massive Hamas tunnel packed with explosives, RPGs, and weapons intended to kill more Jews. Has the Board called a meeting about that? Will Rosenberg write an op-ed condemning those daily discoveries? Will they speak up about the hundreds of attacks from Hezbollah, or the missiles launched at us from Yemen?

Instead, it seems the Board’s voice is reserved primarily for expressing empathy with those under Hamas rule—often echoing narratives that demonize Israel

and embolden its enemies.

Let’s be honest: the Board of Deputies no longer represents the views of the Orthodox and traditional Jewish community in Britain. In fact, it increasingly aligns with the progressive fringe, including organisations like Yachad, that are openly critical of Israel.

This cannot continue.

It is time for real leadership to step forward. The United Synagogue and other mainstream religious institutions must seriously reconsider their association with the Board. President Saul Taylor has already rightly spoken out about the media’s relentless onslaught against Israel and its toxic effect on our community. The next step is to back up those words with action—by withdrawing representation, funding, and legitimacy from the BOD.

At the same time, Orthodox Jewry must begin building an alternative—a new body that actually defends Jewish lives, Jewish values, and Jewish continuity. We need representation that does not pander to hostile narratives, but instead speaks truth to power and defends Israel without shame.

To Phil Rosenberg and the Board of Deputies: if you can no longer speak clearly, proudly and unapologetically as Jews—on behalf of Jews—then you must step aside.

Our community deserves better.

retirement

Shame on you Starmer!

BY DAVID SAFFER

Israel’s Foreign Ministry has rejected Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s announcement to recognise a Palestinian State in September.

Starmer’s warned his government would act unless the Israeli government takes “substantive steps” to end the “appalling situation” in Gaza and meets other conditions.

“Israel rejects the UK Prime Minister’s announcement,” noted the ministry. “The timing of Britain’s policy shift, following France’s move and internal political pressures, amounts to a reward for Hamas.”

Former hostage

the humanitarian crisis in Gaza isn’t just bad diplomacy it’s a distortion of international law. Statehood demands defined borders, unified governance, and a commitment to peace, none of which

conditions in Hamas dungeons in Gaza. Were they released, there would be a ceasefire immediately, as Israel and the United States have repeatedly said.”

Emily Damari, who met Starmer on a visit to the UK, slated the prime minister in a stinging rebuke.

“Starmer is not standing on the right side of history,” Damari, who survived 471 days in captivity, posted. “Had he been in power during World War II whould he have advocated recognition for Nazi control of occupied countries like Holland, France or Poland? This is not diplomacy, it’s a moral failure. Shame on you Prime Minister!!!”

Damari added: “This move does not advance peace, it risks rewarding terror. It sends a dangerous message that violence earns legitimacy. By legitimising a state entity while Hamas still controls Gaza and continues its campaign of terror, Starmer is not promoting a solution, he is prolonging the conflict. Recognition under these conditions emboldens extremists and undermines any hope for genuine peace. Shame on him!”

In the UK, there was a swift reaction to Starmer’s stance.

Steve Winston, National Jewish Assembly, noted: “Starmer’s threat to recognise a Palestinian state unless Israel ends

exist under Hamas or the PA. To place sole responsibility for Gaza’s suffering on Israel whitewashes the proven culpability of Hamas, a terrorist organisation that embeds itself among civilians, diverts aid, and openly rejects peace. Worse still, demanding that Israel ends the humanitarian crisis and commits to a ceasefire and long-term peace, while ignoring that Hamas and the PA have repeatedly shunned every credible peace offer, is not just unbalanced, it’s politically absurd. Palestine is not yet a state and premature recognition risks enshrining a failed one before it even exists.”

Jonathan Metliss, Action Against Discrimination, said: “Starmer has surrendered to the left wing of his party, to Hamas and the Palestinians. He conveniently ignores the fact that Hamas have rejected every call for a ceasefire. It would be most unwise of him to follow President Macron and succumb to the terrorism of Hamas who instigated the current crisis in Gaza.” He added: “Starmer nor Lammy understand the situation in Gaza and are no friends of the State of Israel. The concept of a Palestinian state is a dangerous proposition and reward for the atrocities of October 7. Until there is a proper partner for peace, all the hostages returned and Hamas extinguished there will be no Palestinian state. Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher would not negotiate with terrorists. Starmer fails to recognise this is what he has done.”

A Campaign Against Antisemitism spokesman said: “Our Prime Minister’s declaration is morally indefensible. There are still hostages held in torturous

CAA added that Starmer should take Palestinian statehood off the table if the hostages are not returned by September or sooner and hostage-taking are legitimate paths to diplomatic gain.

“This is not a step toward peace, it is a dangerous precedent,” CAA continued. “This is not about justice, peace or a negotiated two-state solution. This is about appeasement, and it will only embolden extremists, including Hamas, who now know that they need only hang on until September, holding the hostages and looting aid, to receive their reward. Recognition of a Palestinian state should never be wielded as a political weapon. Doing so in the aftermath of an antisemitic pogrom is not

only reckless, it is shameful.”

According to reports, Starmer informed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of his intentions in a phone call before making a public announcement.

Starmer in his statement said: “The UK will recognise the state of Palestine by the United Nations General Assembly in September unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, agree to a ceasefire and commit to a long-term, sustainable peace, reviving the prospect of a Two State Solution. And this includes allowing the UN to restart the supply of aid, and making clear there will be no annexations in the West Bank.

“Meanwhile, our message to the terrorists of Hamas is unchanged and unequivocal. They must immediately release all the hostages, sign up to a ceasefire, disarm and accept that they will play no part in the government of Gaza. We will make an assessment in September on how far the parties have met these steps. But no one should have a veto on our decision. So this is the way forward. We will keep working with all our international partners to end the suffering, get aid flooding into Gaza and deliver a more stable future for the Middle East. Because I know that is what the British people desperately want to see.”

Bibi slams Macron Palestine recognition

BY DAVID SAFFER

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has led condemnation of French President Emmanuel Marion announcing he will recognise a Palestinian state.

Macron will ratify his decision to “prove that peace is possible” at the United Nations General Assembly in September,. His stance in a formal statement was dismissed by Israeli leaders.

“We vehemently condemn the decision to recognise a Palestinian State neighbouring Tel Aviv after the October 7 massacre,” Netanyahu said. “This is a gift to Hamas and runs the risk of creating a new Iranian proxy, just as the Gaza Strip had become.”

He added: “A Palestinian State under such terms would be the staging ground for the destruction of Israel and not peaceful coexistence. Let us be clear. the Palestinians do not seek a state alongside Israel; they want a state instead of Israel.”

Defense Minister Israel Katz described Macron’s move a “disgrace” and “wind at the back of Hamas murderers”.

“There will be no Palestinian state,” added Education Minister Yoav Kisch.

“The out-of-touch Macron has announced he is giving a prize to terror and to Hamas,” he noted.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin said Macron’s decision to recognise a “fictitious” Palestinian state was “shameful” and a “black mark in France’s history” and

direct support for terror.

“The Land of Israel belongs to the people of Israel, President Macron’s declaration won’t change that,” he noted. “Now is the time to apply Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria.”

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich thanked Macron for providing a “new reason” for Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria and end a terrorist Palestinian state in the heart of Israel.

“This will be our legitimate Zionist response to the unilateral pressures and coercive manoevers of Macron and his allies,” he said.

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett noted recognition was not diplomacy but a “moral collapse”.

“It’s a reward for mass murder and a message to Islamic terror groups, kill Jews and you’ll get a state,” he raged. “This disgraceful decision will be dumped into the trash heap of history.”

President Isaac Herzog added: “The French President’s declaration will not advance peace in the Middle East. It will not help defeat the threat of terror. And most importantly, it will certainly not help bring our hostages them home any sooner.”

Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman labelled recognition “a prize for terror”, Transportation Minister Miri Regev ridiculed Macron, claiming Paris was now “more like Kabul”, adding, “recognise a state of France before you start

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fantasising about Palestine.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Trump administration “strongly rejects” the move.

“This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace,” Rubio posted. “It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7.”

Ronald S. Lauder, World Jewish Congress president, said: “With his unilateral action, President Macron has risked making peace between Israeli and Palestinians even further out of reach while rewarding the vile terrorism of Hamas.”

Lauder added that Macron’s “dangerous decision” risks inviting the next October 7 and incentivising decades of Palestinian rejectionism of Israel’s right to exist.

In the UK, over 200 MPs from nine political parties called on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to recognise Palestinian statehood in a written statement.

Starmer said recognition would be part of a “wider plan” in a two-state solution” to ensure “lasting security for Palestinians and Israelis”.

In the Jewish community, Steve Winston, National Jewish Assembly, said: “Macron’s announcement is a masterclass in empty virtue-signalling, rewarding terror with recognition while doing nothing to bring peace closer or free a single hostage. France may recognise a Palestinian state in September, but Hamas recognised war on civilisation and

manipulation of Western governments, long ago. MPs calling on Starmer to recognise a Palestinian state are ignoring reality. Recognition without responsibility is not peace building, it’s posturing and dangerous.”

Jonathan Metliss, Action Against Discrimination, observed: “A state of Palestine is unworkable. Where would it be and who would govern it? Where would its capital be and what education system would it have? A Palestinian state alongside Israel is a clear, unambiguous threat to its security. It is a masterclass in futile diplomacy. The reality is Israel does not have a genuine and credible Palestinian partner for peace.

Until the remaining hostages are returned and Hamas extinguished there will be no Palestinian state.”

He added: “Starmer so far has sensibly rejected a call to back Palestinian statehood by MPs. Neither Lammy nor Starmer understand the situation in Gaza and are no friends of the State of Israel.”

Macron, in his statement said his decision reflected the will of the French people.

Macron called for the release of all hostages, humanitarian aid and disarmament of Hamas, adding: “Ultimately, it is essential to establish a Palestinian state, ensure its existence, and enable it, through its disarmament and full recognition of Israel, to contribute to security in the Middle East,” he noted.

Antisemitism ‘serious problem’ says ADL

BY DAVID SAFFER

A new Anti-Defamation League report illustrates 60 percent of Americans across age, political standing and Israeli viewpoint cite antisemitism as a ‘serious problem’.

Disturbing stats show a quarter of respondents accept attacks on Jews are understandable, 22 percent note incidents are ‘not antisemitic’ whilst 14 percent view violence as justified and not a hate crime.

The findings by ADL’s Center for Antisemitism Research follow an arson attack on Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s home at Pesach, the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy workers in Washington in May and firebombing of a hostage solidarity rally in Boulder, Colorado last month.

All incidents were in the name of ‘Palestine’.

On the political front, Democrats (67%) and Republicans (58%) agreed antisemitism is a serious problem. Democrats (25%) and Republicans (23%) expressed antisemitism concerns in its ranks.

Other worrying stats showed a third of those polled don’t know the meaning of anti-Zionism, view anti-Israel protesters favourably and state that Jews influence both politics and media.

While 59 percent of Gen Z hold

favourable views, this does not hold with Millennials (29%), Baby Boomers (16%) and the Silent Generation (27%).

Just under 60 percent of pollsters believe protesters using ‘Zionist’ terms mean ‘Jews’, 70 percent said slogans such as ‘From the River to the Sea’ increase the risk of violence against Jews.

In terms of fighting anti-Jewish prejudice, 82 percent support removing online hate speech ‘celebrating violence’, 77 percent want more government action to combat antisemitism.

“As the Jewish community is still reeling from recent antisemitic attacks that killed three people, it’s unacceptable that one-quarter of Americans find this unspeakable violence understandable

or justified, an alarming sign of how antisemitic narratives are accepted by the mainstream,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO and National Director.

“The torrent of antisemitic hate has continuously increased since October 7, 2023, with Jews being harassed and targeted, blamed and attacked, wounded and killed.

The bipartisan majority of the American public must act.”

Regarding antisemitic tropes, Greenblatt raged: “This isn’t just a fringe issue, these beliefs aren’t coming from the shadows anymore they’re seeping into everyday conversations, political spaces, and public discourse.”

“A majority of Americans support a range of federal, state and local

interventions, we have a window of opportunity to take action and seriously address the scourge of antisemitism before it normalises,” added Matt Williams, Vice President, ADL Center for Antisemitism Research.

“While it is clear in our research that millions of Americans still hold extreme and conspiratorial beliefs, we see that most Americans reject antisemitism, violence against Jews and hateful rhetoric, and want to take meaningful steps to stop it.”

The ADL report, in its conclusion noted: ‘Most Americans reject antisemitism and want to take meaningful steps to stop it, but millions still hold extreme or conspiratorial beliefs, including some who justify violence against Jews.

“These findings clearly underline strong bipartisan support for a range of federal, state and local interventions, even for one’s own political party. They also reveal a no longer latent and indeed troubling normalisation of anti-Jewish attitudes. Together, these findings reveal a window of opportunity – where support is currently strong even if the trajectories are cause for concern.”

The survey took place on June 10, 2025 through the Ipsos Observer Omnibus.

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CAA Slams GMC Ruling and Margolyes Comments

BY HARRY SIMONS

Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) has launched a double intervention this week, submitting a formal complaint to the General Medical Council (GMC) over the reinstatement of Dr Rehiana Ali, and separately calling for comic Miriam Margolyes to be stripped of her OBE and BAFTA for spreading what it described as “anti-Jewish venom.”

Dr Ali, a consultant neurologist, was suspended in December following complaints about inflammatory and unprofessional social media posts. These included questioning how many Jews perished in the Holocaust, describing a “Holocaust” in Gaza, and claiming that Hamas are not terrorists.

Her posts also praised Hezbollah’s Hassan Nasrallah and Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar as “legends”, alleged that ISIS was a Mossad operation, denied that Anne Frank wrote her diary, and disputed that Hitler ordered the murder of Jews.

While Ali’s 18-month interim suspension was imposed pending a full GMC investigation, the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service recently revoked the suspension. CAA responded by submitting a fresh complaint to the GMC, highlighting that Ali had reportedly continued to post conspiracies online during her suspension, including references to the “Jewish lobby”, “Jewish privilege”,

and claims that 9/11 was a “Mossad operation”.

Stephen Silverman, CAA Director of Investigations and Enforcement, said:

“Clearly, these maniacal posts from a registered, practising doctor bring the medical profession into disrepute. Dr Ali declared that she does not treat Israelis, and any Jewish person would quite reasonably feel unsafe if put in her care. Even beyond the Jewish community, who wants to be treated by practitioners with such hateful conspiratorial obsessions? The GMC is right to have opposed the lifting of her suspension, but it must also carry out its investigations more swiftly, which it is

currently failing to do.”

Separately, CAA has called for actress Miriam Margolyes to be stripped of her OBE and BAFTA after she compared Israel’s actions in Gaza to Nazi Germany in an interview with The Big Issue. “I cannot bear to think that my people are doing exactly the same thing to another nation,”

Margolyes said. “The nation they are doing it to is the Palestinian nation.”

She added: “The terrible thing I face is that Hitler won, he changed us, made us like him.”

CAA said Margolyes should be “shunned by the showbiz world” that has “fawned and bowed” to her, adding: “The fact that she was born Jewish does not give her licence

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to use her immense platform to spread anti-Jewish venom.”

The group confirmed it would write to the Honours Forfeiture Committee requesting her OBE be removed, noting that “stripping her of her BAFTA” should also be considered.

This is not the first time CAA has spoken out about Margolyes’ remarks. The organisation is also examining legal options after Jewish comedians Rachel Creeger and Philip Simon had shows cancelled at the upcoming Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Extra police supervision is reportedly required at the venue due to safety concerns, while Simon reportedly faced further cancellations at another venue citing a “significant conflict” with its “stance against the current Israeli Government’s policy and actions.”

CAA said the cancellations highlight a growing “pattern across the arts of discrimination and silent boycott of Jewish people.”

“It is astounding and unspeakably shameful that twenty-first-century Britain would revive this dark practice,” a spokesperson added. “For all that we look back on history, tutting and shaking our heads about what happened then, now it’s happening again right before our eyes.”

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Letters to the Editor

Please note: The views of the letters do not necessarily reflect the views of this newspaper. Letters may be edited and publication is at the discretion of the editor.

JEWISH LIVES COME FIRST

Dear Askan,

This letter is not about Zionism or about politics. Your beliefs and outlook as a religious, even Hasidic Jew have been built by towering Rabbinic leaders of previous generations. Certainly, “one Beis Din cannot overrule another Beis Din unless they are greater in size and sagacity” and your outlook regarding the modern State of Israel, for example, has already shaped by those founding generations of Rabbinic and Hasidic giants, and is stable and fixed, not to be uprooted by any argument, sources, or opposing views, G-d forbid.

Impressively, you have come to occupy a position of influence, through years of hard work and your discerning, thoughtful judgement and diplomacy. Your priority is to protect and strengthen your community. Zionism and the State of Israel remains, understandably, at a distance from those aims, due to a host

of historical, theological, ideological, communal, and Halachic reasons.

However, I have a desperate request. One that in no way, I believe, undermines your values. The next time an MP, Cabinet Minister, or Foreign Ambassador asks you what you think of the State of Israel, do not brush the question away with mention of the stark religious-secular divide, or dismiss the subject as overly political or irrelevant to Jewish life in the UK. Rather reply simply and say, “The Jewish population of Israel are our family, and when Governments fail to support Israel, the lives of millions of members of my family are under threat.” That is all. We are now engulfed in a “time of suffering.” By that I do not mean an increase in antisemitic verbal or physical attacks, graffiti in our neighbourhood, or hostility on the Tube, all of which are certainly terrible. But rather, I mean that the Jewish population in the Land of Israel is threatened with death, from the military attacks from terror nations intent on killing Jews. How short a memory do we have?

Have we forgotten the murderous, blood-curdling pogroms of October 7th, the butchery of our fellow Jews? Why is all of our attention focused on bus routes, roundtable discussions, or social media tweets? How can we proudly claim to represent religious Jews when our religion, G-d’s own impassioned command in these situations, contains only one clear message: “Our brother’s blood cries out to us;” Do not stand by [the shedding of] your fellow’s blood.” As the saying goes, “The most important thing is to keep the most important thing the most important thing.” We cannot lose sight that Jewish lives are at risk of being shed like water. As Jewish law codifies, to be a member of the Jewish community, means to share in its suffering, fast days, and trauma.

If the Netherlands would stop exporting parts used in the Iron Dome; if France sanctions Israel; or if the UK distances itself from Israel diplomatically, it would put millions of Jewish lives at risk. If political parties believe that they can secure the Islamist votes whilst still keeping their Jewish constituency strongholds, we would be putting Jewish lives at risk. We cannot dismiss or diminish just how important it is that Western nations stop demonising Israel.

We cannot make politicians, officials, and leaders assume that they can safely make a distinction between religious Jews in the Diaspora and the millions of Jews living in Israel. If they believe that they can, and simultaneously speak about “supporting the Jewish community in the UK” and “tackling antisemitism in Britain” whilst deploring Israel’s actions to defend the further slaughter of Jews there, then, again, millions of Jewish lives

would be in mortal danger.

Please understand, this is not a call for Zionism, false Messianism, nationalism or misplaced activism, but rather that you do not outrightly abandon millions of Jewish lives for local political gain. If you exercise human activism in the sphere of public affairs regarding the Jewish suburbs and communities of the Diaspora, and in the name of additional protections or comforts for the Jews of your city, you should surely also exercise this influence at least in brief support of saving millions of Jewish lives or at least not endangering them. Please, please do not overtly distance yourself from Israel when asked about its relevance to you, and simply say: “They are my brothers and sisters and do not allow for their murder.” “If I am not for me, who will be for me? When I am [only] for myself, what am I? If not now, when?” A central teaching of Hasidism, from the founder of the movement himself, the Baal Shem Tov, is that there is individual Divine Providence, that every meeting and conversation one has, has been orchestrated from On High, and that whatever position of influence one finds oneself in, G-d must have put that person there for a reason. That reason may be for these brief responses, to protect millions of Jewish lives, through a positive remark or at least by stating that Jewish lives in Israel matter to us too. Regardless of our world views, we cannot remain silent at this time. “Who knows, maybe it was because of this [demanding] time, you attained power” that impressive position of influence?

Yours sincerely, A desperate petitioner

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The Gaza Statement Signed by UK is a Gift to Terror, Not Peace

BY STEVE WINSTON

On 21st July 2025, the UK government published a joint statement, signed by the UK and 30 international partners, on the situation in the so-called “Occupied Palestinian Territories” - a document so steeped in moral confusion and strategic short-sightedness that it may as well have been drafted in Doha, not Whitehall.

Alongside 16 other Western governments, Britain has joined a diplomatic chorus that condemns the only democracy in the region trying to defeat a genocidal enemy, while letting that enemy, Hamas, off the hook. This is not diplomacy. It is appeasement dressed up in the language of humanitarian concern. Israel is fighting for its very survival against a terrorist group that butchered 1,200 civilians on October 7th, kidnapped the elderly and infants, and has promised to do it again. And yet, this joint statement threatens “further action” - not against Hamas, but against Israel, the nation trying to stop it? The moral inversion

is staggering.

What’s worse, this statement ignores Israel’s extraordinary humanitarian effort. Despite facing rockets and tunnel warfare, Israel has coordinated daily aid convoys, opened crossings under fire, and worked with international actors to deliver food and medicine. Israel and the United States even established the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) to bypass Hamas and corrupt UN agencies. It’s working, when Hamas doesn’t get in the way.

And make no mistake: Hamas is the problem. The terror group has looted aid, shelled convoys, hoarded supplies, and sold essentials on the black market. UN warehouses remain full while Gazans starve. But rather than calling this what it is - a weaponisation of suffering - the statement blames Israel. That’s not diplomacy. It’s propaganda.

Yes, there is a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. No one should deny that. But this crisis is not Israel’s doing. It is Hamas’s strategy. Western media, including the BBC, have played directly into their hands by publishing photos of malnourished children that are either unrelated to Gaza or depict congenital medical

conditions. Some of these images have been lifted from past conflicts in Yemen or Syria. Such deceptions may stir sympathy, but they distort truth, and they feed a global narrative that falsely paints Israel as the aggressor, not the defender.

Meanwhile, the joint statement calls for an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire,” as if Hamas, which violated every previous ceasefire, including by launching October 7th, is a good-faith actor. Every truce to date has allowed Hamas to regroup and rearm. A ceasefire without the dismantling of Hamas is not peace. It’s postponement.

The claim that Israel’s relocation of civilians to safe zones constitutes “forced displacement” is equally absurd. Israel has built humanitarian corridors, designated safe areas, and made daily Arabic-language announcements to keep civilians away from combat zones. That’s not ethnic cleansing, that’s battlefield ethics. The war crimes are being committed by Hamas, which hides behind its own civilians and uses hospitals as command centres.

Then there’s the section on “settler violence.” Where is the outrage over the wave of Palestinian terrorist attacks

against Israeli civilians in Judea and Samaria? Where is the mention of EU-funded illegal building in Area C, in blatant violation of the Oslo Accords? This is not a balanced critique, it is a selective, one-sided rebuke.

The consequences are already playing out. The UK has suspended arms exports to Israel, stepped back from opposing ICC jurisdiction, and publicly chastised Israel multiple times - all while Hamas continues to fire rockets and hold hostages. If “further action” means capitulating to terror, we should call it what it is. And let us not forget Qatar - the country hosting Hamas’s leadership in luxury hotels. To commend Doha’s “constructive role” while its capital remains a safe haven for genocidal leaders is not just naïve; it’s disgraceful.

Israel will protect its people, with or without Western approval. The Jewish state rose from the ashes of genocide. It will not return to powerlessness. That era is over.

By Steve Winston, Managing Director, National Jewish Assembly

Give Your Wellbeing a Hug This August!

Project Lily is inviting the Jewish community to give their wellbeing a daily hug this August through a new initiative: The Awesome August Hug Project — 31 days of simple, accessible self-care ideas designed to boost mental and physical health.

Launching on 1st August 2025, the campaign encourages people to take small daily steps to support their wellbeing, from mindful moments and movement to gratitude and connection.

At the heart of the project is a powerful message: self-care isn’t a luxury - it’s a necessity. Without it, people become more vulnerable to burnout, anxiety, and poor mental health. But with regular, intentional self-care, individuals build resilience, reduce the impact of stress, and are better equipped to stay mentally healthy.

“You don’t just deserve a self-care hug every day - you need one,” says Jonathan Dove, the charity’s Clinical Director. “This

campaign is about reaching people before they reach crisis. It’s about equipping our community with tools that can make a real difference, early on.”

Project Lily is well known for offering free, practical mental health training within the Jewish community - focusing not just on response, but on prevention. One key pillar of that prevention is helping people understand how small, everyday actions like good self-care can protect wellbeing. Self-care can also play

a big part in preventing some mental health problems from developing or getting worse.

Free Awesome August Hug booklets and posters can be found in local shops, in the Jewish press, with downloadable versions available by emailing info@ projectlily.org.uk. The materials include a daily self-care activity and supporting people through the month.

To find out more about Project Lily’s work visit: www.projectlily.org.uk

Al Eleh Ani Bochiah – for these things I weep (Eicha 1:16)

BY RABBI ANDREW SHAW

On Motzei Shabbat we will recite the above verse, at the start of Tisha B Av while sitting on the floor, recalling the destruction of Yerushalayim.

The days from Rosh Chodesh Av through to Tisha B Av are known as difficult days for the Jewish people – this year, that is certainly true! Throughout these days I have been reflecting on what is happening around the world and how so much is making us weep.

Ani Bochiah for the United Nations, an organisation founded with such grand ambitions, an organisation that was the driving force behind the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, yet an organization that today is no more than a mouthpiece for anti semitism and whose staff in UNWRA actively participated in October 7th and today in Gaza are unfortunately just a mouthpiece for Hamas.

Ani Bochiah for the New York Times, once a newspaper that was admired the world over, now printing blood libels against the Jewish people and Israel. They printed a photo of a child in Gaza and claimed it was due to malnutrition rather than a tragic genetic disease. When you see the full photo, which they cropped, you can see another child, who is not malnourished. Surely this would have been clear to the New York Times, still they went ahead and printed the photo seen by millions around the world.

Ani Bochiah for the BBC, once an organization that we could admire, now beset with a hatred for Israel and the values we hold so dear. Emails instructing bias against Israel, reporters whose hatred for the State are clear to see and programmes that are actual Hamas propaganda – not to mention the Glastonbury disgrace. It continuously demonises and delegitimises Israel by presenting it erroneously as an aggressor rather than correctly the target of genocidal violence.

Ani Bochiah for the young people

whose minds have been poisoned by a stream of anti semitism and anti Zionism through Instagram and Tik Tok. It is so hard to maintain a grip on the truth when you are bombarded with videos and information that Hamas would be proud of. This is an almost impossible battle to win.

Ani Bochiah for the United Kingdom, whose Prime Minister rewarded terrorism with a promise of statehood. Never have I been more embarrassed to be British. Hamas have already thanked him! Statements such as these bring us no closer to peace in the Middle East and in fact are further fuelling the raging Jew-hatred which is spreading throughout the country he leads.

Ani Bochiah for many Jews who have swallowed the Hamas propaganda and believe that information rather than from the IDF or Israel. That is not to say Israel, the IDF or the Israeli Government are blameless – no one is. These Jews, similar to years ago with ‘Kaddish for Gaza’ are horrendously misguided and have been poisoned against Israel by an incessant campaign of hate against Israel from the Left.

risking their lives to eliminate terrorists and minimize civilian casualties – they are not always successful, sometimes tragically they are killed, sometimes tragically civilians are, sometimes tragically children are.

Ani Bochiah for the families, whose children go out to war, who pray for their safe return. For those who have lost loved ones, for the hundreds and hundreds of kedoshim that have been killed or murdered al kiddush Hashem.

Ani Bochiah for the hostages, who still remain in the hellhole of Gaza somewhere in the 500 miles of the tunnel network. Even for those who, Baruch Hashem, were freed, the nightmares, the despair for those they left behind. We are inspired by their bravery and courage and we hope and pray that all hostages will be returned soon – the living and the dead.

world say anything – sickening.

Ani Bochiah for the growth of radical Islam which threatens our way of life across the West. However, I also weep for the West who seem blind to the ever-growing threat. The ideology of the IRGC, Hamas, Hezbollah can and has easily spread all across the globe. Israel’s war – is the West’s war, but so many of them just don’t see it.

Yet there is something remarkable about the twelve statements above.

All of them links to one country, one nation, one people.

Israel, whose capital is Yerushalayim.

On Sunday afternoon we will read Nachem

‘O Hashem, our G-d, console the mourners of Zion and the mourners of Jerusalem, the city that is mournful, ruined, scorned and desolate, mournful without her children, ruined without her abode, scorned without her glory, and desolate without inhabitant’

Yet today – that is no longer true. Yerushalayim is alive, full of children, growing day by day and the centre of Torah in the world.

I may weep about what is happening in the world regarding Israel and the Jewish people, but Baruch Hashem we have Israel!

Ani Bochiah for the soldiers of Israel who for two years now have had to serve and protect their nation in almost impossible circumstances. Trying to eliminate the terrorists of Hamas in the complex networks of terror tunnels, booby trapped buildings and crowded streets while

Ani Bochiah for the people of Gaza, who wish to be freed from Hamas, and who are suffering in a war that many never asked for. It is sickening to see Hamas show no concern to the fate of their people, they are happy to watch them suffer and die, if it will score propaganda points. Similarly for the people of Iran who live under the tyrannical rule of the IRGC, who also dream of being free – please G-d, eventually peace will reign.

Ani Bochiah for 1500 Druze who were massacred, raped and butchered by Syrian Islamists. The world didn’t care –Israel was not involved. Only when the IDF came to the aid of the Druze, did the

What would we prefer, fighting enemies of Israel who are sworn to our destruction, or no Israel? We live in miraculous times, difficult times, but in many ways one of the most glorious times of Jewish history.

So yes, we cry, but we must also inside be proud, be resilient and be grateful to Hashem.

We are the Jewish people, and We have come home!

By Rabbi Andrew Shaw, CEO, Mizrachi UK

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GIFT Empowers Young People with a Summer of Giving

This week, over 170 children and teens across London, Manchester, Israel and Brighton have been part of a powerful movement. Through GIFT’s dynamic summer programming, young people have not only learned about kindness but have lived it, creating real impact in their communities.

In Hendon, GIFT ran a buzzing summer day camp for over 65 children, supported by 15 dedicated staff. Far more than a typical camp, each day was rooted in exploring the value of giving through hands-on activities and volunteering experiences.

Campers visited care homes to brighten

the day of elderly residents, packed food parcels for families in need, and took to local parks for a community litter-picking initiative. One particularly moving moment came when the group prepared homemade cookies and hand-drawn thank-you cards for local firefighters. Because the group was so large, the fire truck came to the GIFT hub, allowing the girls to personally deliver their treats and gratitude to the crew.

As Ella, who joined GIFT camp for the third year in a row, shared, “This camp isn’t just fun. It makes you want to be a kinder person every day.”

In Manchester, over 30 girls took part in a parallel GIFT camp packed with meaningful action and moments of reflection. Highlights included baking and distributing babka to those in need, visiting care homes, and taking on giving challenges that encouraged teamwork.

Meanwhile, in Brighton and Hove, a group of Year 10

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students joined GIFT for a residential experience based at the BJNC. The trip combined volunteering with fun and friendship. Participants spent time supporting local charities, helping the homeless, and contributing to social action projects. They also enjoyed classic seaside fun, including visiting the beach and a trip to the fairground on the pier.

GIFT also ran a similar summer camp in Israel, where participants were given volunteering opportunities across the country. From supporting food distribution to helping build wheelchairs for the elderly, the Israeli camp captured the same spirit of meaningful fun and purpose.

Across all these programmes, GIFT continues to deliver on its mission to inspire and enable lifelong giving. By making volunteering accessible and engaging, and by weaving the values of chessed and community into every activity, GIFT is helping to shape the next generation of givers.

And it’s not over yet. There are still plenty of ways to get involved this summer. From the GIFT Brent Cross Scavenger Hunt, to the Tisha B’Av Giving Box, summer volunteering days, and the “Grow Your Giving” challenge, there’s something for everyone.

To find out more and get involved, visit www.jgift.org

1100 gather for JNF UK Screening of Home: Omer Shem Tov Speaks, to hear powerful testimony from the released hostage

On Thursday 24th July, JNF UK welcomed 1,100 guests for a deeply moving and unforgettable evening at the exclusive screening of Home: Omer Shem Tov Speaks - a powerful new documentary that captures Omer’s extraordinary jour-

ney from captivity to freedom. This marks Omer’s first speaking engagement in the UK, sharing his personal story of survival after being held hostage by Hamas.

Produced and directed by acclaimed Israeli filmmaker Yoram Zak, the film portrays Omer’s harrowing 505-day ordeal following the Nova Festival massacre. It has gripped and touched the hearts of all those who have seen it. Omer’s story featured in Uvda (Fact), a powerful Israeli current affairs programme on Keshet 12, which is run by veteran journalist Ilana Dayan.

The event, sponsored by Mizrahi-Tefahot Bank, began with a heartfelt message from President Isaac Herzog, who thanked JNF UK for organising the evening and shared how meaningful it has been to get to know the remarkable Omer and his family. He said, “Omer was not kidnapped as Omer but as an Israeli and a Jew, his pain is all of our pain and his resilience is all of our resilience…I would like to thank each

and every one of you for lending your ears and hearts to Omer and his incredible family. I also want to thank JNF UK, especially my dear friend Chairman Samuel Hayek, President Alan Mendoza, and CEO Elan Gorji, for this wonderful evening”.

A prayer for the hostages was then led by Dayan Binstock, Senior Rabbi of St John’s Wood Synagogue. The evening also featured a live Q&A session with both Omer and Yoram, hosted by JNF UK’s Dana Zohar. This offered a rare and emotional insight into the making of the film. The evening’s most powerful moments came from Omer himself, who bravely shared his reflections on life after captivity. “I’m still the same Omer, but my faith has become a lot stronger, my optimism has become a lot stronger, happiness is everything for me,”. His quiet strength and honesty moved many in the audience to tears. He added, “I’m really trying to do everything for the hostages now, I feel like I have a purpose and a mission”.

The event not only raised awareness, but also critical funds for JNF UK projects supporting survivors of the Nova Festival massacre. All donations from the screening will provide essential psychological

therapy and practical support to Nova festival survivors coping with severe trauma. This is just one of the ways JNF UK is supporting those affected by the atrocities of October 7th.

JNF UK CEO Elan Gorji said, “It was a profound honour for JNF UK to host this extraordinary event and welcome Omer Shem Tov to the UK for the very first time. His courage, resilience, and unwavering spirit moved us all deeply. We are privileged to help share his story with our community and to play a role in supporting those still suffering in the aftermath of October 7th. Our thoughts remain with the families of those still in captivity, and we continue to hope and pray for their safe return.”

The evening served as both a call to action and a tribute to the resilience of the human spirit. Through this event, as well as JNF UK’s Voices from Israel free online programme, JNF UK is committed to amplifying the voices of the survivors of October 7th - standing firmly by their side and ensuring their stories are heard. In a powerful recent episode, Yoram Zak was interviewed alongside a special feature from Omer. You can watch the full episode here: www.jnf.co.uk/voices-yoram

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Omer Shem Tov and Yoram Zak

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TISHA B'AV SCHEDULE

MOTZEI SHABBAT 2 AUG

SUNDAY 3 AUG

08:30 SHACHARIT & EXPLANATORY KINNOT 13:06 CHATZOT

18:00 NEW AWARD-WINNING EDITION SCREENING OF THE SURVIVOR'S REVENGE THE REMARKABLE HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR AND NAZI-HUNTER, JOSEF LEWKOWICZ Z”L WHO CAPTURED THE BUTCHER OF PLASZOW 19:30 MINCHA

20:00 SCREENING ‘MANFRED’ MBE MANFRED GOLDBERG MBE’S INCREDIBLE STORY OF SURVIVAL, RESILIENCE AND QUIET HEROISM

21:00 OUT OF THE ASHES WITH RABBI NAFTALI SCHIFF 21:25 MAARIV 21:36 HAVDALAH & FAST ENDS

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Looking for answers? Send your question to Rabbi@RabbiSchochet.com

PALESTINIAN STATE: PEACE OR APPEASEMENT?

Dear Rabbi

Sir Keir Starmer has suggested that Britain may unilaterally recognise a Palestinian state. Isn’t that a positive step toward peace and the long-awaited twostate solution? Why would there be any opposition from the Jewish community?

Olivia

Dear Olivia

The suggestion that the UK might unilaterally recognise a Palestinian state is not a step toward peace. It is an act of staggering moral blindness and political cowardice.

To reward a leadership that has neither renounced terror nor recognised Israel’s right to exist is not diplomacy. It is appeasement of the most dangerous kind.

Let us be clear: The Palestinian Authority continues to glorify terrorists, fund their families, and indoctrinate its youth with a steady stream of antisemitic hatred. Hamas remains proudly genocidal, boasting of its crimes and vowing to repeat them. On October 7th, we witnessed atrocities so barbaric they defy comprehension and still, not a single Palestinian leader has condemned them without qualification.

And yet, astonishingly, Britain’s Prime Minister appears willing to offer those very leaders the prize of sovereignty, without preconditions, without reform, and without even the basic decency of acknowledging the ongoing trauma of so many hostages still held in Gaza.

Worse still, this policy is being floated by a man who - let us be honest - is not widely regarded on the global stage as a serious strategic player. The world is not looking to Keir Starmer for moral leadership, nor does it view his gestures as consequential. And yet, even if the act itself changes nothing on the ground, it speaks volumes about his moral compass.

This is not a peace process. This is the erasure of accountability. It sends a message to the Palestinian leadership: You can reject every peace deal, incite murder, educate your children to hate, and still be rewarded.

It sends a message to Israel: Your security is negotiable.

And most chillingly, it sends a message to Jews - both in Israel and the diaspora: Your lives are politically expendable.

For a man who promised to uproot antisemitism from his party’s ranks, this is a profoundly troubling step. You do not honour Jewish safety by recognising those who deny Jewish statehood. You do not fight hate by legitimising those who teach it. And you do not build peace by empowering those committed to your ally’s destruction.

There is no renunciation of violence, no democratic reform, no genuine commitment to peaceful coexistence. Unilaterally declaring a Palestinian State is a betrayal of history, a perversion of justice, and an invitation to further bloodshed.

Let us not forget: Peace is built on mutual recognition, not on one-sided declarations imposed by foreign powers seeking political gain. If Sir Keir is more concerned with appeasing radical

elements and burnishing his credentials abroad than with defending truth and moral clarity at home, then he has not only lost the trust of the Jewish community, he has lost his moral compass. But perhaps, in the cynical calculus of modern politics, the cost of Jewish lives is outweighed by the currency of votes.

History will not forget this moment. Neither will we.

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WHAT3WORDS/// AUTHENTICITY OVER APPLAUSE

BY RABBI NAFTALI SCHIFF

There are certain traits that etch themselves into the very essence of a person’s being. They are not acted. They are not performed. They are lived.

When I stood to speak at the levaya of my father, Charles Schiff ל״ז over 20 years ago, the word that rose above all others to capture the essence of the man I had loved and learned from was one powerful, unwavering principle: authenticity. No pretence. No spin. No carefully constructed persona to win over crowds or curry favour. My father was never in the market for other people’s approval. He did not need a PR consultant. He did not traffic in self-image. What you saw was what you got. His inside matched his outside. He was, in the words of our Rabbis-“ tocho kebaro Mensch” his interior matched his exterior. There was no discrepancy between the man he was and the man he showed to the world. And that, I believe is the mark of a truly great person and a worthy Jew.

As we reflect this week on another core value held at the heart of the ethos of Jewish Futures, the value of authenticity, I want to suggest that this principle is not simply a personal virtue but a societal imperative for a healthy and vibrant community . It is the glue of living as a Mensch and should be identified as the bedrock of a life well lived. In a world of filters, performances and artificial realities, it may be the most endangered and most urgently needed value of all.

It is no coincidence that in our early morning prayers, before we have said a word about our needs or offered a single personal request, we declare a timeless truth:

Let a person always be G-d-fearing in private and in public, acknowledge the truth and speak the truth in their heart. Private comes first. Not because what you do in public does not matter, but because what you do in private is who you really are.

You can impress the world. But G-d does not need your performance. He sees through the act. And so does your spouse, your children, your friends. The people who matter most in your life do not need you to be perfect. They need you to be

real.

When we enter the synagogue each morning, it is striking that the very first words we utter upon stepping into that space include the word ינא I - not once, but three times:

The words culminate with- I am my prayer. I do not deliver my prayer. I do not perform it. I am it.

This is the spiritual core of authenticity. To come before G-d not with a curated version of ourselves, but with who we actually are. Unpolished. Unfiltered. Whole. Genuine. Sincere. Honest.

relationship with G-d, with others, and with our truest selves. But they only function that way when practiced with consciousness, intention, anutheticity and genuineness. Not when mouthed or performed instead of meant.

Authenticity in this light is not a lifestyle preference. It is the essential foundation of a life of true connection.

In a world of virtual personalities, airbrushed avatars, AI-generated speeches and auto-tuned selves, we must reclaim the courage to be real.

Look at social media where too often are posted only the polished, cropped, filtered fragments of lives that portray

It is all too easy to fall into the trap of robotic religiosity. The Navi Yeshayahu warned us long ago:

With their mouths and lips they honour Me, but their heart is far from Me.

G-d does not seek lip service. He does not want habit without heart. He demands something deeper. Something more courageous. יעב אביל

— the Merciful One desires the heart- the authentic you.

This same warning echoes in Yeshayahu’s scathing critique of performative piety:

Why do I need your many sacrifices, says G-d… Who asked you to trample My courtyards?

And again, in the indictment of hollow observance

הדמולמ

Mitzvot performed by rote, lacking heart, sincerity, intentionality.

Ritual without meaning. Devotion without depth. Practice without presence. That is not what G-d wants. It never was.

Mitzvot are not checklists. They are connectors. Intentional pathways for building

who they want others to think they are. A highlight reel replacing the behindthe-scenes. Performed opinions. Well rehearsed emotions. Outsourced originality to algorithms in the vain hope that the true person will not be noticed under the pile of likes.

And it is not just social media. Even in real life we too often perform rather than live. In conversations. In boardrooms. In classrooms. In friendships and marriages. How are you? Fine. Of course. Always fine. We smile on the outside while bleeding inside. We lose the habit of sharing the stark raw truth, however it may show up.

But authenticity, radical, grounded truthfulness, is what human beings are truly yearning for. Yearning for in themselves. Yearning for in their partners. Yearning for in their Rabbis, in their teachers, in their leaders. And yearning for in their own, personal, unique relationship with G-d.

Because G-d is not a concept. He is not a contract. He is not a calendar slot. He is the One Who made you. Who sees you. Who calls you. Who “wants” your genuine, sincere, unpretentious and wholly chosen connection. He doesn’t invite your act nor your piety or your polish.

He invites but one thing- you! Love cannot flourish without authenticity. Neither can trust. Neither can prayer. Neither can a real, genuine Jewish life of connection.

A child does not need a perfect parent. They need one who shows up with presence, with humility, with honesty. A spouse does not need someone who always gets it right, or tries to fool you when wrong. They need someone who admits human frailty, vulnerability and mistakes.

Authenticity does not mean oversharing or living without boundaries. It means congruence. Inner and outer alignment. Truth in the eyes. Sincerity of the soul. Truth in your handshake and warmth in your embrace.

And it matters not only for our relationships with others but deeply for our relationship with G-d.

We are not here to bluff our way through Judaism. We are here to build a relationship with the Divine. That does not happen through mumbling words we do not comprehend nor reciting texts we never stop to think about. It does not happen when mitzvot are turned into robotic reflexes.

It happens when we say: יתלפת ינא I am my prayer- This is the real me. This is who I am here and now. I bring it all to You.

So yes, we must raise our children to be ambitious. To achieve. To shine. But above all, we must raise them to be real. Real with themselves. Real with others. Real with their Creator.

Because there is no enduring relationship without sincerity. No religious greatness without integrity. No human dignity without authenticity.

And when we stand at the end of our days, the question will not be: How many followers did you have? How many accolades did you win? It will be: Did you live the truth of who you were? Did you connect with self, G-d and other in a real, genuine and authentic manner?

My father did. He lived without artifice. Without veneer. Without pretence. He was, as we all should strive to be: Tocho keboro- a thoroughly genuine human being and Jew.

And true to the very end.

Please remind me if I veer from the path of authenticity.

Shabbat shalom

Rabbi Naftali Schiff is the Founder and Chief Executive of Jewish Futures

Tisha B’Av: Mourning what we never knew, remembering what we can feel

BY REBBETZEN ELISHEVA NEWMAN

Tisha B’Av is the most solemn day on the Jewish calendar; a day of national mourning, fasting, and grief. We grieve the destruction of the First and Second Beit Hamikdash (holy temple) in Yerushalayim, the exile of the Jewish people, and a long chain of tragedies throughout Jewish history that unfolded on this very day. For millennia, Jews have sat on the floor in dimly lit rooms, reading Eicha, shedding tears over a past filled with glory, loss, and yearning. But how can we, generations removed from the Beit Hamikdash, truly mourn what we never had?

This is a powerful and honest question. True grief is often rooted in personal experience; the deep ache of losing something once ours. For those who have suffered loss, mourning is raw and tangible. But what about mourning the loss of something we never experienced? How can we genuinely grieve the absence

of the Beit Hamikdash, when we’ve never lived in its light, never brought an offering, never stood in awe at the tangible presence of Hashem in our midst?

The answer, perhaps, lies not in historical memory alone, but in emotional memory; those rare moments in our lives when Hashem’s presence feels undeniably close. Though we have not seen the Beit Hamikdash, many of us have tasted spiritual clarity. Sometimes, paradoxically, this clarity arises in moments of tragedy: the loss of a loved one, a national crisis, or a moment of deep personal struggle. In those times, we may suddenly feel Hashem’s guiding hand, His nearness in our pain, and a profound awareness that there is more to the world than what meets the eye.

Other times, this clarity emerges during moments of joy: the birth of a child, a miraculous recovery, a moving prayer, or the unity of Am Yisrael during a national celebration. In these glimpses of Divine light, we often think, “I never want to lose this feeling. I never want to go back to pettiness, frustration, or speaking ill of others. I want to live with patience, love,

and purpose.” In these moments, the path forward seems obvious. The presence of Hashem is so clear that the choice to live according to His Torah feels not only possible but natural.

These are our modern-day windows into life with the Beit Hamikdash - a life lived with constant clarity of Hashem’s presence, a world where spirituality isn’t distant or abstract but real, tangible, and central. The Beit Hamikdash wasn’t just a building; it was the heart of our national connection to Hashem. Imagine living in a world where that clarity, that sense of Divine purpose, was not fleeting but permanent.

On Tisha B’Av, we are asked to mourn what we’ve lost. And while we never experienced the Beit Hamikdash firsthand, we have experienced its echo in our lives. We have felt what it’s like to be close to Hashem. By remembering those moments - those times when we knew He was with us - we begin to understand the magnitude of what was lost. And through that understanding, we can begin to mourn.

Tisha B’Av is difficult, not only because

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of the pain it commemorates but because of the emotional leap it demands. But if we take time to reflect on our own experiences of Divine closeness, whether in sorrow or in joy, we can touch, even briefly, the depth of what our ancestors knew. And in doing so, we don’t only mourn the past, we begin to yearn for a future where that closeness is restored, permanently.

Elisheva holds a BSc in Mathematics and has a QTS teaching qualification. She was an inspiring and much-loved teacher at Mathilda Marks Kennedy Primary School for nine years. Passionate about people and Judaism, Elisheva has held various educational and social director roles including spending two years in Bristol with Aish on Campus opening her home to Jewish students. Elisheva, together with her husband, are the UK FJL Educators. Her role includes learning with and maintaining strong connections with Alumni – the leaders of tomorrow! For interest in the FJL summer programme contact info@jewish-leadership.com

JOURNEYS TO MOROCCO resumed, reconnecting participants with Sephardi heritage

535 PARTICIPANTS across June, July and into August joining journeys across Europe

Klal Chazon

38 GIRLS ON ISRAEL TOUR & 96 BOYS AT FRENCH ALPS CAMP –strengthening identity, friendships, and Jewish pride

to Nation's Pride

Kehal Yedidim Sefer Torah Dedication WITH 1,000 ATTENDEES Uniting the community in celebration of Torah and heritage

Tammuz Workshops & Films

CHAZON & RECONNECT

33 BRITISH STUDENTS INTERNING IN NY AND DC – developing leadership skills and global professional networks VOLUNTEER AND INTERNSHIP PROGRAMMES in Israel, Australia, Canada, US

170 CHILDREN AT SUMMER CAMPS – learning the joy of giving from a young age

100 YOUNG VOLUNTEERS CELEBRATED – boosting confidence and motivation to keep giving back

Aish UK

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Where’s My Reward?

BY RABBI JONATHAN TAWIL

The Midrash Tehillim says that the Giants Og and Sichon were more formidable adversaries than Pharaoh and his army. Moshe had battled Sichon and won. Now he faced a war against the mighty Og. Yet before this war, Moshe seems to be worried. Hashem has to reassure him – Al Tirah Otoh (3:2) – do not fear him, for I (Hashem) will place him and his people in your hand.

What was bothering Moshe? Surely a man of the spiritual status of Moshe should not fear Og? Og was not a normal adversary. He was a Giant with a formidable history. Og was called “Hapalit”, the escapee. He escaped from the Mabul (Targum Yonatan), from the war of the four kings against the five kings (Rashi), and from the war waged by the Ammoni nation against his people (Rashbam). What was the secret of his longevity?

Rashi cites the Midrash, which explains that Moshe was concerned because Og had a special merit for doing a kindness to Avraham hundreds of years earlier. At that time, Avrahams nephew Lot was taken captive. Og ran to Avraham to relate to him the news. Og had intended that Avraham should go to battle against the Four mightiest Kings, where he would be killed, opening the way for Og to

take Sarah (Avraham’s wife) for himself. Nevertheless this relating of news caused Avraham to save Lot’s life and bring about a Kidush Hashem in the world.

Hashem rewarded Og with an additional 500 years because of this merit!

Now Moshe faced this formidable foe, and was worried, perhaps this merits reward was still standing in Og’s favour. Let us focus a moment on what is happening here. Og the despicable giant, has a bad intention, yet nevertheless is rewarded for his good actions? Has he not been rewarded enough? The Pesikta DeRabi Elazar brings down that he was rewarded by becoming the King of Bashan. How much reward does a man like this really deserve for a seemingly small and unintentional good deed? And surely Moshe the greatest prophet that ever lived, the True Servant of Hashem should not fear such a giant?

Before we answer let us turn for a moment to our current exile.

Chazal tell us that we find ourselves in the Galut Edom – the exile of Eisav. This exile has lasted for two thousand years. It is the longest exile of our people. But when will this exile end? The prophet Zechariya tells us exactly when! (2:12) Achar Kavod Shelachani. Rashi explains that the time will come only once the merit of Eisav has been removed. Which merit are we talking about? Eisav was

well known to honour his father Yitzchak. He would be exemplary when it came to Kibud av Va Em. The Zohar (1:146b) states that it is that Kavod showed to his father, that gave him the merit to rule over us for thousands of years! Hence Zecharia states only after the Kavod has ended; only after that merit has ended will Hashem defeat the wicked.

We see that the ramifications of a good deed are long lasting.

Have you ever heard of Nebuchadnezzar? He was the mightiest Leader Babylon ever saw. The Gemara relates that in his early days Nebuchadnezzar served as a secretary and scribe for a previous Babylonian monarch. Once, when Nebuchadnezzar was absent from work, other royal secretaries of the king drafted a letter to be sent to the Jewish king of Judah, Chizkiah. The letter began: “Greetings to King Chizkiah! Greetings to the city of Jerusalem! Greetings to the great G-d!”

This world is a physical world. Our sages note that Behay Alma – in this world there is no reward – no payment for good deeds done. The real payment is infinite and in the next world. Yet Hashem chooses to “reward” the wicked in this world in order to finish from them in the next.

When Nebuchadnezzar returned to work and discovered how the letter was written, he was furious. “You call Him ‘the Great G-d,’ Nebuchadnezzar protested, “and you mention Him last?!”

In an isolated moment of moral conduct, Nebuchadnezzar insisted that the letter be redone, and written as follows: “Greetings to the Great G-d! Greetings to the city of Jerusalem! Greetings to king Chizkiah!”

The problem was that the messenger had already been dispatched to Jerusalem with the first version of the letter in his hand. So Nebuchadnezzar ran out to call the messenger back and redo the letter. How far did he need to run? Merely three steps before he caught the messenger to give him a second version of the letter.

Our sages see this episode as the ultimate cause for Nebuchadnezzar’s royal success. In the merit of his taking three steps to honour G-d, Nebuchadnezzar received the crown of royalty for three generations!

Moshe understood that there is an eternal payment for acts of good; he was worried that Og’s merit still warranted him being alive. Therefore Hashem had to tell him, do not worry, his time has come, he has enjoyed enough reward for his actions.

The reward granted to these wicked people for their good actions in this world seems massive. Og the giant gets long life, lives as a mighty ruler; Nebuchadnezzar receives the monarchy for generations. Wow all that for such a small action. Yes! Even small actions count. Yet we must note that the real reward for our deeds is in the next world. We must realise that Hashem guards each and every mitzvah we do, every Amen we say, every Shabbat we keep, every act of kindness, it is all there in front of Hashem.

From the reward these wicked people received for their seemingly small acts of good, we can fathom the reward that we will receive for every Mitzvah – Ah how lucky we are!

J E R U S A L E M

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Asking

Family FunDEVARIM

Last week we finished the fourth book of the Torah; Bamidbar. This means…. Drumroll please, it’s time to start the fantastic and final book – Devarim. The first parsha, Devarim herself is Moshe’s speech to Klal Yisrael. Remember how Hashem said that Moshe would die after the battle with Midyan? Now’s the time, so Moshe gives one last speech to inspire us to keep the mitzvois and stay loyal to Hashem. He spoke for over 30 days! Moshe goes through everything that happened to us in the Midbar. We go all the way back to when Hashem gave us the Torah!!! Hashem Himself, opened up the heavens and made us His people and gave us the most precious gift of all. That’s not all He

did, just in the midbar; He sent the pillar of fire and the column of cloud to guide us, gave us the clouds of glory which made the ground soft for us to walk on and protected us from dangerous animals, snakes, scorpions and our enemies, made all our clothes stay clean and grow with us, dropped down the marvellous mann that tasted of whatever you wanted without having to go to the bathroom, we had the well of Miriam and if the list isn’t long enough yet, every time our enemies attacked, Hashem saved us. and we were on the way to the promised land.

How did we thank Hashem? By complaining! Moaning and groaning, we didn’t appreciate all the amazing

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things we had. Hashem interrupts Moshe before he can carry on with the telling off. Hashem doesn’t want the speech to be too strict so Moshe gives us a brachah that we should have many children and become a great people.

It wasn’t just Hashem we weren’t grateful to. Moshe worked his socks off for us and look at all the trouble he had! Rebellions, Korach, the eruv rav… we even caused him to die before he got into eretz Yisrael.

Moshe recaps the story of the meraglim, the spies which is the reason it has taken 40 years to reach Israel.

Next Moshe gives us a message from Hashem, three nations we must

not touch. Edom because they are Yakov’s brother’s children, Moav and Edom. The last two are because Rus, King David’s grandmother and Na’amah, King Shlomo’s wife will be converts from those nations.

Moshe finishes off this parsha by telling the story of how Sichon tried to attack us but Hashem moved the mountains together to squash them. Then Sichon came with an army and we beat him! Then we had to fight their neighbours Og and Reuvain, Gad and half of Menashe decided to live in their part instead.

That’s all for now!

Facts about Parashat Devarim

Number of Verses - 105

Number of Words - 1,548

Number of Letters - 5,972

Jewish Riddle

Last week’s Question:

If a tree falls in a forest and there’s nobody around to hear it, does it make a noise?

Yes, it makes a noise. The verse says, “There is no speaker, and no words, without their voice being heard.” (Psalms 19:4) Even if no creature hears the noise, Hashem hears it.

This week’s Question: Which four berachot are said exactly once every year?

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!

Use the area below to write the words you have found. A L V N T I A O S

Jokes

Q: What did the nose say to the finger?

A: Stop picking on me!

Q: How can you tell a vampire has a cold?

A: They start coffin!

Q: Where do burgers go to dance?

A: The Meat-ball!

Q: Why do space rocks taste better than earth rocks?

A: Because they are

Riddles

1. I am an odd number. Take away a letter and I become even. What number am I?

2. At night they come without being fetched. By day they are lost without being stolen. What are they?

3. Lighter then what I am made of, more of me is hidden than is seen. What am I?

SPONSORED BY JONATHAN METLISS