The Jewish Weekly Issue 288 - July 20th

BY DAVID SAFFER

President Isaac Herzog addressed a joint session of US Congress to mark Israel’s 75th Independence as a state yesterday.

Following in the footsteps of his late father, Chaim Herzog, Israel’s first president to address Congress for Israel’s 40th Independence Day, Herzog’s accolade, he said, was “an honour of a lifetime”.

Herzog told Congress that Israel had faced relentless war, terror and delegitimisation since its birth but it was a vibrant democracy that protected minorities, human rights and civil

liberties laid down by the Knesset and safeguarded by a strong Supreme Court and independent judiciary.

Herzog addressed a ‘dark shadow’ on Israel, the region and world… Iran’s nuclear programme.

He noted: “Iran does not strive to attain nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Iran is building nuclear capabilities that poses a threat to the stability of the Middle East and beyond.”

Herzog added: “Iran is the only nation on the planet publicly

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President Herzog meeting with President Biden in the Oval Office PHOTO: HAIM ZACH (GPO)

calling, plotting and developing means to annihilate another nation, a member of the family of nations, the State of Israel.

“Israel has no border with Iran, Israel has no resources contested by Iran, Israel has no conflict with the Iranian people. And yet, the Iranian regime, together with its proxies throughout the Middle East, is working towards destroying the State of Israel, killing the Jews, and challenging the entire free world.”

He continued: “Allowing Iran to become a nuclear threshold state, whether by omission or by diplomatic commission, is unacceptable. The world cannot remain indifferent to the Iranian regime’s call to wipe Israel off the map. Tolerating this call and Iran’s measures to realise it, is an inexcusable moral collapse. Backed by the free world, Israel and the US must act forcefully together to prevent Iran’s fundamental threat to international security. I am here to reiterate what every Israeli leader has declared for decades… the State of Israel is determined to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapon capabilities.”

Herzog noted US support for Israel to keep its qualitative military edge and in brokering peace between Israel and its Middle East neighbours.

Since the signing of US brokered Abraham Accords deals with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco, over one million Israelis had visited Abrahamic Nations, Herzog noted.

“This is a peace anchored in trust, hope and prosperity,” he observed. “A true game changer. Israel’s hand is extended to any

partner in peace, near or far.”

Herzog thanked the US for working towards establishing peaceful relations with Saudi Arabia, which would be a “sea change” in the Middle East and world at large.

As for the Palestinians, Herzog said Israel had taken “bold steps towards peace” but “true peace cannot be anchored in violence”.

He explained: “Palestinian terror against

Israel or Israelis undermines any possibility for a future of peace between our peoples. Successful terror attacks are celebrated, terrorists are glorified and their families are financially rewarded for every Israeli they attack. This is inconceivable. Terror is not a ‘bump in the road’. Terror is hatred and bloodshed. It contradicts humanity’s most basic principles of peace. Israel cannot and will not tolerate terror, and we know that in this we are joined by the US.”

In wide ranging topics, Herzog was aware a new generation of Israelis and Americans were assuming leadership roles. However, a shift in generations did not reflect changing values. “When the US is strong, Israel is stronger,” he said. “And when Israel is strong, the US is more secure.”

Herzog said many challenges that Israel and the US faced were similar including geopolitical unrest, the Ukraine war, pandemics, climate crisis, Artificial Intelligence, energy shortages, food insecurity, scarcity of water, global terror, social polarisation and attempts to destabilise democracy.

Each, he said, presented an opportunity for solutions to benefit the global community.

“Israel and the US are world leaders in aiding countries whose people have suffered,” he noted. “It is time to design the next stage of our evolving friendship and our growing partnership together.”

Returning to Israel’s right to exist, Herzog said: “Questioning the Jewish people’s right to self-determination is not legitimate

diplomacy, it is antisemitism. Vilifying and attacking Jews, whether in Israel, in the US or anywhere in the world is antisemitism. Antisemitism is a disgrace in every form.”

Herzog commended President Joe Biden for the US’ first National Strategy to Combat Antisemitism.

As for ongoing protests in Israel over judicial reform, he noted: “Israel’s democracy has always been based on free and fair elections, on honouring the people’s choice, on safeguarding minority rights, on protection of human and civil liberties, and on a strong and independent judiciary. Our democracy is also 120 Members of Knesset, comprised of Jews, Muslims, Christians or Druze, representing every opinion under the Israeli sun, working and debating side by side.

“I am well aware of the imperfections of Israeli democracy, and I am conscious of the questions posed by our greatest of friends. The momentous debate in Israel is painful, and deeply unnerving, because it highlights the cracks within the whole. But I am here to tell the American people that I have great confidence in Israeli democracy. Although we are working through sore issues, just like you, I know our democracy is strong and resilient. Israel has democracy in its DNA.”

Herzog met Biden in the Oval Office at the White House on Tuesday.

Biden told Herzog his relationship with Israel was “simply unbreakable”. He said: “America’s commitment to Israel is ironclad. We are committed as well to ensuring Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon.” Herzog responded: “You have always stood by the State of Israel and the people of Israel.”

Herzog, meantime, welcomed Biden’s conversation with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday.

Noting the judicial review protests, Herzog told Biden he was trying to find an exit to the crisis. The two leaders discussed political, security and economic issues.

Herzog also held meetings with Vice President Kamala Harris, senior White House officials including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.

In New York, Herzog will meet UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres at the United Nations.

He will also hold meetings with the Governor of New York Kathy Hochul, Mayor of New York City Eric Adams and members of the Jewish community.

Biden spoke with Netanyahu for the first time in four months on Monday evening. During the conversation, Biden invited Netanyahu to meet in the US.

President Herzog speaking to Congress

PHOTO: HAIM ZACH (GPO)

Outrage at proposed burning of Sefer Torah in Stockholm

BY ADAM MOSES

Israeli leaders, Jewish organisations and rabbis have condemned Swedish authorities for allowing the burning of a Sefer Troah at the Israeli Embassy in Stockholm last Shabbat.

Ahmed Alloush, 32, a Swedish national, ultimately backed down from his controversial plan, but not before he was slated in the media.

According to reports, Alloush was claiming ‘freedom of expression’ after a Quran was burnt outside a Stockholm mosque last month. The incident drew global condemnation.

The right to public demonstrations in Sweden is protected. Police grant permission to congregate if it is not a threat to public security. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson called for calm after authorities refused to cancel the disturbing incident.

“There is a constitutional right to freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and freedom to demonstrate,” he stated. “Decisions to allow for demonstrations are taken independently by the Policy

Authority.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the decision as “shameful” and a “grave offense” against the Jewish people.

“It is important to respect the sanctity of holy books across all religions,” he said.

President Isaac Herzog added: “Permitting the defacement of sacred texts is not an exercise in freedom of expression, it is blatant incitement and an act of pure hate. The whole world must join together in clearly condemning this repulsive act.”

Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, Western Wall Rabbi: “In the face of these heinous acts, the Swedish authorities stand weakly, murmuring empty words about freedom that are diminished in the face of such terrible actions both those committed and those yet to come. This is not what freedom looks like; this is what the loss of a moral compass looks like.”

Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Minister Amichai Chikli wrote to Kristersson, calling for the Swedish Government to prevent an outrageous hatefilled initiative.

“Such bigotry has no place amongst the liberal democracies of the world, especially in Sweden which prides itself on its dedication to protecting its minorities’ rights,” he observed.

Sweden's Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom assured Chikli the government strongly rejects all acts of antisemitism and is committed to combating antisemitism.

Billstrom, however, added that ‘freedom of expression’ was a constitutional right and decisions regarding such acts are deferred to local law enforcement authorities.

He noted: “The Swedish Government deeply regrets when extremists and provocateurs try to sow division in our society, even when they are exercising constitutionally protected acts. The Government fully understands that people of various faiths are deeply offended by burning of Holy Books.”

The European Jewish Congress Dr Ariel Muzicant condemned Swedish authorities.

“Provocative, racist, antisemitic and sickening acts such as these have no place in any civilised society,” he said. “Stamping on the deepest religious and cultural sensibilities of people is the clearest expression possible to send a message that minorities are unwelcome and unrespected.”

Muzicant added: “These actions, based on contorted and specious free speech arguments, are a disgrace to Sweden and any democratic government worthy of the name should prevent it. All religions and all peoples of good faith and basic decency

should come together to condemn these horrific acts. What starts with words and books, always ends with trampling upon the basic rights of people. So it was in the darkest days of Europe, so it is now.”

Israel’s Ambassador to Sweden, Ziv Nevo Kulman, blasted Swedish police. “This is clearly an act of hatred that must be stopped,” he said.

Israel’s Foreign Minister Eli Cohen called on Kulman and Swedish authorities to prevent a “shameful” event. “Burning a Torah scroll is a hate crime, a provocation and a severe affront to the Jewish people and the Jewish tradition,” he said.

Yaakov Hagoel, World Zionist Organisation chairman, said giving permission was not freedom of expression but antisemitism. “This is not the way of the Jewish people, I call upon the Swedish government to reverse the decision of the police,” he said.

Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef expressed “deep distress” to Sweden's King Carl Gustaf XV that the incident could “undermine the values of tolerance, respect and religious freedom”.

“It is imperative that we uphold the principles of mutual respect and dignity, even in the face of disagreements or tensions between communities,” he wrote.

World Zionist Organisation Chairman Yaakov Hagoel called on the Swedish government to revoke an antisemitic decision.

Robert Singer, Center for Jewish Impact, added: “This is not an example of freedom of expression but an act of legitimising pure incitement and racism. Swedish authorities must act immediately.”

AJEX remembers Jewish fallen CAA back Labour IRGC stance

Campaign Against Antisemitism has welcomed Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announcing a Labour Government will ban the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps terrorist group.

However, any ban to proscribe the IRGC cannot wait until a general election, observed the organisation. CAA continue to urge the government to proscribe the IRGC.

Cooper’s speech at the Royal United Services Institute this week came after the Government applied enhanced sanctions on Iran but failed to ban the state sponsored militant group. Cooper confirmed Labour will amend terror legislation to “ban hostile state-sponsored organisations” undermining national security.

“The UK faces continued challenges from Islamist and far right extremists, radicalised online, in prison or in the community,” she reportedly said. “At the moment the government is left having to use terrorism legislation to proscribe organisations,” Cooper noted. “The terrorism legislation doesn’t quite fit. We think there should be parallel legislation around state threats.”

CAA called on MPs earlier this year to back the government’s proposal to proscribe the IRGC under the Terrorism Act 2000.

CAA provided Home Secretary Suella Braverman and Security Minister Tom Tugendhat, and all MPs, a dossier on the IRGC, detailing antisemitism incidents and violence acts against Jewish people.

BY DAVID SAFFER

AJEX conducted a special service of remembrance at The Jewish War Memorial at Willesden Jewish Cemetery last Sunday.

The commemorative event paid tribute to the Jewish fallen of HM forces in both World Wars and honoured those who have no known graves.

Over 100 attendees remembered over 120,000 Jewish servicemen and women who served. The ceremony marked the 80th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, Holocaust victims and those persecuted by the Nazis.

AJEX National Chair, Dan Fox, and Rabbi Major Reuben Livingstone led the ceremony.

Mike Bluestone, AJEX Vice President, led the Exhortation and Melvyn Hartog the Kohima Epitaph.

His Majesty's Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, Robert Voss, delivered a poignant speech and was among wreath layers. Wreaths were also laid by Cllr Orleen Hylton, Mayor of Brent, Clive Boxer, Paul McCue of The Secret WW2 Learning Network, and Col Morrison.

Thirty cadets from the 205 Wembley Detachment paraded with AJEX standards. Richard Brett from JLGB joined the event as bugler.

After the ceremony participants moved to the Commonwealth War Graves Plot

where Brian Bloom, AJEX JMA Vice President, led the laying of Magen David poppy markers. Markers were laid by young people present and cadets continuing the baton of remembrance.

The congregation were moved by recitals of poems delivered by Mei Sim Lai, London Borough of Brent, AJEX CEO Fiona Palmer, Jonathan Arkush, Krupesh Hirani, Barry Gardiner MP and veteran Mervyn Kersh. Willesden Cemetery was consecrated in 1873. At the turn of the 20th century it was home to memorial boards for Jews who died in the Boer Wars and later the fallen of the Great War.

In 1960, its front lawns became the site of the country’s first national Jewish War Memorial, alongside Commonwealth War Graves. Fox said: “Much has changed around us in 150 years but Jewish service to crown and country has remained steadfast and constant. The cenotaph is the perfect place to remember and thank those whose memory we honour.”

Colonel Morrison from the Australian Embassy unveiled new tokens dedicated to two men who fought in the First World War. The Willesden Cenotaph is the oldest war memorial for the Jewish community in the UK.

AJEX Service of Remembrance

PHOTO: GERRY TEMPLE

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Gallant addresses Iran threat in Azerbaijan

nuclear weapons.”

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BY ADAM MOSES

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant addressed the threat of Iran on a diplomatic trip to Azerbaijan.

Gallant held discussions with President Ilham Aliyev and Defense Minister Colonel General Zakir Hasanov to strengthen strategic ties and security challenges between the countries.

The dialogue with Aliyev followed a meeting this year at the Munich Security Conference. The narrative included increased security, economic and technological exchanges, and regional peace.

He said: “We have a shared commitment to take our ties to the next level. This is only the beginning of an enduring partnership. The potential for defense, industrial and military exchanges is growing. Azerbaijan is not only a strategic partner but also an asset with great regional influence in the economic, energy security and additional fields.”

Gallant spoke about Iran’s nuclear ambitions and noted Israel foiled 50 Iranian attacks in recent years.

“Some of the attacks were almost ready to be executed and were thwarted at the last moment due to close cooperation with many countries,” he reportedly said. “Iran stands at the centre of the security agenda and the ministry allocated billions from the multi-year budget to prepare for any scenario in which Iran obtains military

Gallant added: “The struggle is ongoing, as it carries Israel to something much more significant, preventing dangerous nuclear weapons from being in the hands of irresponsible Iran.”

Israel’s defense minister also spoke about the counterterrorism operation in Jenin.

He reportedly said: “We identified an increase in the quality and amount of weaponry, helped by Iran's funding, dissemination of knowledge, and training in combat methods. In our recent operation, we proved that we operate aggressively and proactively wherever there is terrorism. In our operation in Jenin, we changed the mindset and concentrated our efforts on dealing with the terrorist infrastructure and available weaponry in the area. Now, the Palestinian Authority has an opportunity to do what is expected of it. However, wherever action is needed, we will not hesitate.”

Gallant attended a wreath-laying ceremony at a monument in memory of Azerbaijan’s fallen soldiers.

He went on to meet Chief of State Border Service Colonel General Elchin Guliyev in Baku.

Gallant and Guliyev outlined regional threats, terrorism and strategic cooperation.

Gallant said: “We have many shared challenges, in particular the fight against

terrorism, which not only threatens national security, but also aims to destabilise the region. While facing challenges, we also have many new opportunities. We may further deepen the ties between our countries and strengthen the cooperation between our defense establishments and our forces.”

Israel’s Chief of Staff Shachar Katz and POL-MIL Bureau Dror Shalom joined Gallant in Baku.

Benjamin Netanyahu takes part in Israel-UK bilateral talks

Israel and United Kingdom delegations have held the first bilateral strategic dialogue at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joined part of the meeting to welcome the British delegation. He commended the establishment of the strategic dialogue, which reflects the deep friendship and strategic partnership between Israel and the UK.

The meeting, included in-depth talks on Iran, the Russia-Ukraine war and the Palestinian arena.

At the conclusion of the dialogue, the two national security advisers agreed to hold regular strategic dialogue meetings. National Security Adviser and National Security Council director Tzachi Hanegbi and British National Security Adviser Sir Tim Barrow led the inter-organisational delegation discussion.

Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and President Ilham Aliyev

PHOTO: IMOD.IL

Herzog meets Golda star Dame Helen

BY DAVID SAFFER

Dame Helen Mirren, who portrays former Prime Minister of Israel Golda Meir in a newly released film, met with President Isaac Herzog and First Lady Michal last week.

The Academy Award winning actress was visiting Israel for the opening of the Jerusalem Film Festival where Golda was screened.

The film, directed by Guy Nattiv, who attended the meeting with Herzog, concentrates on Meir’s actions during and after the 1973 Yom Kippur War when Israel miraculously overcame a surprise attack by the combined forces of Egypt, Syria, and Jordan on the Sinai Peninsula and Golan Heights.

Herzog said, “Golda was an important figure who bravely led the government. She was a historical figure and had a significant influence on our social structure.”

Dame Helen thanked the President and First Lady for the welcome.

She said: “Golda is one of the greatest roles to play. I was a young woman when she was elected, and to see a woman leading a complex country like Israel was a seminal moment. I am often asked if I see a connection between the great female leaders I have portrayed. The closest connection I see to Golda is Queen Elizabeth I in terms of her absolute dedication to her country. She had great charm.”

Dame Helen added that Golda is one of the most “extraordinary characters” she has played, noting: “Her commitment to her country was over everything, over family, over personal contentment, over personal ambition.”

In the film, Liev Schreiber plays US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Lior Ashkenazi is IDF Chief of Staff David Elazar, Rami Heuberger is Moshe Dayan and Ohad Knoller IDF Maj. Gen. Ariel Sharon.

Israel's fourth Prime Minister was born Golda Mabovitch in Kiev (Ukraine) in 1898.

When Golda was eight years old, her family fled to the United States to escape persecution along with thousands of Russian Jews. Raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, she joined a Zionist youth movement, married Morris Myerson, and, in 1921, immigrated to Palestine, joining Kibbutz Merhavia.

Three years later the Meyersons moved to Jerusalem where Meir held positions in Histadrut and became a member of its inner circle. She replaced Moshe Sharett in 1946 as acting head of the political department of the Jewish Agency until the

establishment of the State of Israel in 1948.

In June 1948, Meir was appointed Israel's first ambassador to the Soviet Union. Elected a Member of Knesset in 1949, she served as Minister of Labour and National Insurance to 1956.

Meir was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs then as Secretary-General first of Mapai and then the newly formed ‘Alignment’, made up of three Labour factions.

Meir succeed Prime Minister Levi Eshkol following his death in 1969. In the October ‘69 elections, she led her party to victory.

Shortly after taking office, there were military actions along the Suez Canal ending in

a cease-fire agreement with Egypt eventually broken by the Yom Kippur War.

As Prime Minister, Meir was respected and had an iron will. She demonstrated her leadership on many occasions, most notably after the Munich Olympics, when she ordered Mossad to hunt down the Black September leaders behind the murder of Israeli athletes.

Cleared by the Agranat Commission of Inquiry from direct responsibility for Israel's unpreparedness for the ’73 war, she led her party to victory in that years’ elections before resigning in mid-1974.

She withdrew from public life and wrote her memoirs, My Life, but was in the Knesset to greet Egyptian President Anwar Sadat on a historic visit to Jerusalem in November 1977.

Meir died in December 1978, aged 80. Her childhood home in Colorado was rededicated as a centre of Jewish learning last year.

The Golda Meir House Museum in Denver is the only residence in the United States that celebrates Meir’s life. Jewish artefacts include a mezuzah and tzedakah box used by the former Prime Minister.

High-tech is Israel’s fastest growing sector

BY ADAM MOSES

Israel’s high-tech industry is the fastest-growing sector in the economy according to a new report submitted to the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology.

The Israel Innovation Authority Report ‘State of the High-Tech Industry in Israel 2023’ notes that around 14% of Israeli citizens work in the arena. The industry has the highest productivity levels and greatest contribution to the economy. Technology sector salaries are about three times higher than other industries and job satisfaction is rated as twice other professions.

High-tech is critical for the growth of the Israeli economy especially in times of economic slowdown and increased international competition.

Politicians and business leaders are aware of the successes and challenges ahead.

Ofir Akunis, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology stated: “The Government will continue to support the Israeli high-tech sector. Our role as a government is to ensure that Israel's main growth engine of the past two decades continues to move forward, strengthen, lead and inspire on the global stage.”

The Finance Committee of the Knesset is nearing the end of a process to pass legislation to encourage capital investments.

“We will announce further decisions that

will support Israeli innovation in the coming weeks,” said Akunis. “I call on investors from around the world to continue investing in Israeli high-tech.”

Dror Bin, IAA CEO: “The Israeli economy's dependence on the high-tech sector has significantly grown in the past decade. We must do everything necessary to preserve the industry and continue nurturing its competitiveness in the global market.”

The private sector funds 91% of high-tech investments in Israel.

“There is no parallel to this anywhere else in the world,” said Bin. “Around 80% of venture capital investments in high-tech are based on foreign funds. The Israeli high-tech industry is unique, such a model does not exist in other markets worldwide.

Our economy relies on high-tech products, exports and high-tech taxes. However, the sector is dependent on the private sector and foreign, non-local investors. This is an exceptional situation in the global economy. The entire Israeli economy is highly reliant on the behaviour of this sector and the preservation and cultivation of trust from foreign investors in it.”

Bin noted there has been a decline in investments and employment in the hightech sector in recent quarters.

He observed: “The past teaches us that

usually, two quarters after the recovery begins in the stock market, as reflected in the rise of the NASDAQ index, there is an increase in capital raising and employment in the Israeli high-tech industry. Given the rise in the NASDAQ since the beginning of the year, under normal circumstances, one could expect an increase in fund raising and employment in Israel during the summer months. I hope that will be the case.”

Dr. Ami Appelbaum, IAA Chairman, said: “Concerns about the corporate structure in Israel and warnings from global rating agencies have joined a complex global economic period that began in 2022 with the halt of the extensive capital inflows that governments worldwide provided to stimulate markets during the COVID-19 pandemic. This period continued with the Russia-Ukraine conflict, challenges in global supply chains, and a rise in global

inflation and interest rates. All these factors have caused significant difficulties for the Israeli high-tech industry, resulting in a 70% decrease in capital raised in Israel. Concurrently, innovation is intensifying exponentially and will determine which countries lead in national and economic resilience.

Applebaum observed that generative AI, quantum computing and communication, and innovation in climate-related fields “transform the world”.

“The need to preserve Israel's national resilience does not allow the country to slow down innovation in any of these areas and lag behind,” he said. “It is a period of deep economic and social crisis, but also a period that presents opportunities if we can navigate wisely.”

IAA, meantime, has launched a NIS 200,000 grant for entrepreneurs developing innovative ideas in the Bio-Convergence sector.

Akunis and Bin welcomed the ‘Tnufa’ (Ideation) programme.

“The development of innovative entrepreneurs at the beginning of their journey requires government support,” noted Akunis. “Our aim is to cement Israel’s position as a technological superpower in the next decade as well as in the present.”

Dame Helen Mirren with President Isaac Herzog and First Lady Michal PHOTO: HAIM ZACH (GPO)

Zamir meets Zimmer in Berlin Bibi meets Weah

Ministry of Defence Director General Eyal

Zamir met German Federal Ministry of Defense State Secretary Benedikt Zimmer in Berlin earlier this month.

During the meeting, Zamir updated Zimmer on the IDF operation in Jenin.

The leaders discussed the strengthening of relations between the two countries' defense ministries and advanced an agreement regarding the sale of the Arrow 3 air and missile defense system to Germany.

Zamir stated that according to the directive of the Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, the Israel Ministry was working to finalise the process soon. Once the sale receives approval from the American government, production will commence.

Zamir expressed the defense establishment's appreciation for Zimmer’s commitment and dedication to the security of the Israel and stability of the region.

The National Jewish Assembly hosted a highly anticipated event in partnership with Finchley United Synagogue featuring British Ambassador Designate to Israel, Simon Walters, in conversation with Natasha Hausdorff, Director of UK Lawyers for Israel. The event marked Ambassador Walters’ first address to the British Jewish community before departing for his posting in Israel. During the event, Ambassador Designate Walters shared insights into his personal background and deep connection to the Jewish community. Drawing from his extensive experience in diplomatic and security matters in the Middle East and North Africa, he discussed the exciting developments outlined in the “2030 roadmap for UK-Israel bilateral relations” and highlighted the numerous areas of existing and potential bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

NJA Chairman Gary Mond said, “It was a great honour for the NJA to be the first communal organisation to host Britain’s new Ambassador to Israel. I thought that

his comments demonstrated that he has an excellent grasp of the tricky political situation, and that he was also able to demonstrate that there is a great future for British co-operation with Israel in many different ways.”

The event provided an opportunity for members of the NJA and Kinloss community to raise concerns with the Ambassador.

Several dozen participants posed questions, touching upon topics including the UK government’s policy regarding the relocation of its embassy to Jerusalem, the imminent threat posed by Iran and its proxies, the ongoing issue of the BBC’s biased coverage of Israel, the flourishing UK-Israel trade and investment in the face of the BDS movement.

The NJA commends the Ambassador Designate for his insightful remarks.

The organisation remains dedicated to promoting understanding, advocating for the interests of the Jewish community, and fostering meaningful connections between the community and figures like Ambassador Walters.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Liberian President George Weah last week. The leaders discussed bilateral ties in innovation, agriculture and making Israeli knowledge more accessible to Liberia. Netanyahu thanked Weah for Liberia's diplomatic support and expressed hope that relations will strengthen.

Weah was accompanied by Liberian ministers. The Israeli side included Slomit Sufa, Ambassador to Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

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Prime Minister Netanyahu met Liberian President Weah

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PHOTO: GPO

NJA Event With Ambassador Designate Simon Walters

New JPR report NJA’s disappointment in FCDO

A new Jewish Policy Research report looks into Jewish migration from 15 European countries.

The publication, ‘Jewish migration today: What it may mean for Europe’, by Dr Daniel Staetsky, Director of JPR’s European Demography Unit, represents 94% of Jews living in Europe and compares data from recent years to previous periods over the last century.

The report focuses on the signal that the current levels of Jewish migration from Europe send about the political realities perceived and experienced by European Jews.

Dr Jonathan Boyd, JPR’s Executive Director said: “Understanding migration patterns from Europe is a key part of European Jewish demography. Without accurate assessments of the numbers of Jews migrating into and out of Europe, serious community planning is impossible. The figures generated in this report will feed into community planning across the continent whilst also providing important insights into the economic and security situation of Europe’s Jews, and determining more accurately how Jews in Ukraine and Russia are faring in the context of the current war.”

Peak Jewish migration from Germany (1930s), North Africa (1960s) and the former Soviet Union (1990s) saw 50%-75% of national Jewish populations migrate in no more than a decade.

No European Jewish population has shown signs of migration near that level for several decades.

Last year was a watershed year for Russian and Ukrainian Jews. If migration stays at 2022-23 levels until 2030 around 80%-90% of Ukrainian Jews and 50%-60% of Russian Jews (2021 figures) will have emigrated.

France, Belgium, Italy and Spain saw strong surges in Jewish emigration in the first half of the 2010s, which declined but not as far as pre-surge levels. Higher levels of migration measured in these counties during the last decade have not reached critical values indicating serious Jewish ‘exodus’.

Jewish emigration from the UK, Germany, Sweden, Netherlands, Austria and Denmark has been stable or declining since the mid-1980s. In Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands there has been some decline in Jewish migration over the period, with migration settling at a new or lower levels.

The National Jewish Assembly is deeply disappointed by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s refusal to disclose and publish documents pertaining to the auditing of British aid provided to the Palestinian Authority.

The request for transparency was made by We Believe in Israel and B’nai B’rith UK to ensure British taxpayer funds do not support Palestinian terrorism.

Specifically, the request aimed to examine the notorious “Pay for Slay” scheme, in which the Palestinian Authority incentivises terrorism by providing salaries to convicted terrorists or their families, which only serves to encourage and perpetuate the cycle of violence.

An NJA spokesman said: “Regrettably, the FCDO has justified its refusal by claiming that the disclosure of audit reports could potentially harm the bilateral relationship between the UK and Palestine. While recognising the importance of maintaining diplomatic ties, we believe that transparency and accountability are equally essential, and such a relationship should not come at the expense of UK

taxpayer funding of Palestinian terrorism. The refusal to disclose this information raises concerns about the integrity of foreign aid distribution, especially concerning the Palestinian Authority.”

They added: “The FCDO’s suggestion that the presence of third-party personal data prevented publication is highly questionable as such content can easily be redacted to protect privacy, and could therefore be provided.”

The NJA supports We Believe in Israel and B’nai B’rith UK in their pursuit of transparency and accountability.

A spokesman observed: “It is disappointing to see the FCDO deviate from the precedent set by the Information Commissioner’s Office in 2019 when similar documents were released upon request by UK Lawyers for Israel. Transparency in the distribution of foreign aid is crucial to ensure that British taxpayers’ money is not inadvertently supporting terrorism.”

The NJA has called on the FCDO to reconsider its decision, fulfil its obligation to provide requested documents, and demonstrate its commitment to transparency and accountability.

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Rabbi Garber’s decade at Shenley

Kinloss Art Fair in aid of Chai raised £4,000

Over 100 members of Shenley United Jewish Community attended a farewell event for Rabbi Alan Garber on Sunday.

Jo Grose, United Synagogue CEO, Phil Diamond, SUJC life president, Darren Spevick, SUJC vice chair and Rev Sarah Marshall, vicar of Shenley’s St Martins Church offered words of reflection.

Rabbi Garber, whose family is moving to Edgware, said that the event was about reflecting and celebrating the journey that SUJC had made over the past 10 years.

The community has grown to over 210 families and the building of a permanent shul premises took place in 2019. The growth of services includes a regular Sunday morning minyan. There has also been growth in community engagement including the wider Shenley community with a series of interfaith programs,

Rabbi Garber and Rebbitzen Tanya Garber had seen celebrations of 100s of life cycle events.

Rabbi Garber, after 16 years in the Rabbinate, reflected how the Shenley community supported each other through the pandemic. He is handing over a community in a stage of growth, peace and harmony to the next rabbinical family. His highlights included an engaging Q&A on Yom Kippur and annual Chanukah program going to a different family in the community each night.

Speakers praised the work of Rebbitzen Garber organising festival events, Shabbat hospitality and ladies shiurim.

Rabbi Garber is focusing on his therapeutic work as a CBT therapist at the Priory Southgate, Rebbitzen Tanya will contine her radiography work at the Royal Free NHS Trust.

Earlier this month, the Kinloss Banqueting Suite was buzzing with vibrant art as more than 500 people attended the first Kinloss Art Fair since before Covid.

The event, hosted by Art Committee members, Yvette Kamlish, Cordia Ezekiel, May Sinclair, Susana Ross Cohen, Fortunee Maltz, Lisa Harrison, Nicole Greenwold and Keith Graham and Jonny

Deal, raised more than £4,000 for Chai’s vital services.

Following the event, the Art Committee said: “Every year we select a different charity and we chose to support Chai this year as so many of us have had close family and friends affected by cancer. We are very proud of all the support and services that Chai provides to the community.”

Children at Bnos Beis Yakov school visited tenants at Jewish Care’s Wohl Court Retirement Living fourth birthday party.

Kisharon play appreciates NHS

Students of Kisharon Noé School expressed deep gratitude to the NHS for the support they have received during their end-ofterm play.

'The Sky's the Limit' showcased potential career paths. Each class portrayed different professions such as baking, hospitality, construction, transportation and the NHS.

Every student participated on stage, embodying the ethos of inclusivity. A poignant moment saw one of the children convey their appreciation of care provided by the healthcare system. The scene was a

powerful testament to the impact the NHS has had on children's lives.

Deputy Head Teacher, Adina Collins said: “The school show was an amazing opportunity for every pupil in the school to showcase their skills in a unique way. From our most able pupils writing and producing the play, to pupils with profound and multiple needs communicating using Makaton and engaging with sensory exploration on stage, to pupils contributing artistic skills to the set and props. Every pupil and class had a chance to shine. We are so proud of them.”

Kinloss Art Fair

Rabbi Alan and Tanya Garber and children

Norwood raises £35K at Golf Day Chief attends LSJS graduation

Norwood supporters returned to Dyrham Park for the return of the charity’s annual golf day.

The charity raised £35,000 towards the cost of providing services for people with learning disabilities and autism and children and their families facing challenges, from a combination of team entry prices and raffle ticket sales.

The event, supported by sponsors Galliard for over 30 years, was renamed this year in memory of Roy Conway, founding Golf Day Committee Chair and a former Captain at Dyrham, who passed away last October.

Roy was a Board Member of lead sponsors Galliard Homes, who have supported the annual event for over thirty years.

Paying tribute to his late uncle, Executive Director of Galliard Homes, Richard Conway, spoke of his dedication to making the event a success in aid of Norwood.

He recalled: “If you did business with Galliard, then you’d be asked to participate in this event”. Reflecting on the enduring popularity of the event, he added: “The baton has passed on, I’m sure it would have given Roy great pleasure to know that this event is still part of the calendar.”

Referencing his uncle’s motto that ‘you make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give’, he added: “Norwood needs support and I ask you, as my uncle did, to give what you can to make sure it able to continue the great work it’s carried

Aish Manchester Football Tournament

Aish Manchester hosted an exciting community football tournament at the Manchester Maccabi Community and Sports Club. The event brought together over 20 enthusiastic teams comprising players aged between 15 and 50 years old. The tournament was a resounding success, providing a fantastic day for participants and spectators alike.

Over 250 players and spectators joined Aish Manchester for the day. Each team donned personalised t-shirts and water bottles, gifted by Aish. The afternoon featured a fun range of activities for all attendees. A delicious BBQ kept everyone energised, while children enjoyed a bouncy castle. Additionally, the event showcased a GIFT stand, where visitors were encouraged to participate in creating Summer packages for individuals in the community who require extra assistance.

The tournament reached its climax with an enthralling final between the formidable teams “Real Mayid” and “Reich For the Stars.” After a fiercely contested match, Real Mayid emerged victorious, earning well-deserved recognition for their outstanding performance.

Rabbi Zvi Gefen of Aish Manchester said: “I want to thank Saul Bishop, Aish Madrich and educator, for organising an incredible Aish football tournament. It was a fantastic day and a great way of uniting a wide range of people from across our community together in a fun and inclusive environment.”

for so many years.”

Returning to co-sponsor the event, which included a raffle and breakfast reception was the O’Shea Group.

Announcing the raffle winners, where prizes included a signed picture of Europe’s last Ryder Cup win in 2018, 55” TV and champagne afternoon tea at the Ritz London, Norwood Trustee Rachael Davis Stollar thanked generous prize donors.

Rachel expressed gratitude for support of committee members, including outgoing Committee Chair David Galman, who is retiring after this event.

London School of Jewish Studies president

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis awarded 70 students graduation certificates at a packed Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue last Thursday.

Students graduated in a range of programmes. They shared the occasion with family, friends and teachers. Guest speaker Leo Noé gave an inspirational speech explaining how by embracing education we become investors in our faith.

Dr Helena Miller, Director of Degrees and Teacher Training Programmes, commented: “We are so proud of the achievements of every one of our graduates. They will each be an enormous asset to Jewish education in the UK and beyond.”

Joanne Greenaway, LSJS chief executive, added: “The graduation is a real highlight in the communal year. It was such a joy to see the culmination of all the students’ learning and hear from them about its impact on their lives.

Aish UK Hosts Shabbat experience in Budapest

We are blessed in the community to have so many people looking to make a difference and shape the future of Jewish education. “

MA Jewish Education graduate Esther Cohen said: “LSJS gives wings to our dreams, opening doors we did not know existed. Our dedicated tutors genuinely care for each student as if we are their one and only.”

LSJS offers routes to teacher training qualification through School Direct (Primary and Secondary), School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) and Assessment Only leading to qualified teacher status (QTS).

As well as teacher training, LSJS provides BA (Hons) and MA in Jewish Education, validated by Middlesex University, accessible to students around the world.

Applications are being accepted for students to start a BA (Hons) Jewish Education in September.

For details on teacher training or degrees at LSJS visit ww.lsjs.ac.uk or call 020 82036427

Project Lily partners with GIFT

Mental health charity, Project Lily, has added GIFT to their list of Jewish Communal Partner Organisations.

A two-stage approach will shape the organisations’ relationship over the coming year.

Work will initially focus on GIFT’s staff team with training and support. Project Lily will then explore ways they can grow support given to GIFT’s service users.

In Budapest, Aish UK made history in hosting over 130 Jewish students at the first ever Interrailing Shabbaton, in the heart of Budapest. Set in the magnificent Kazinczy Street Synagogue.

his year, a significant number of Jewish students found themselves coincidentally in Budapest for Shabbat. Recognising this unique opportunity, Aish UK stepped in to provide a meaningful Shabbat experience.

What was initially planned for forty participants quickly gained popularity, with the event selling out within a day of going online. Thanks to the support of Gábor Keszler, the head of the community, additional space was secured at the Hanna Garden

Restaurant to accommodate the growing numbers.

The focal point of the event was a moving Kabbalat Shabbat Service held within the Kazinczy Street Synagogue. The synagogue’s grandeur and historical significance created an inspiring backdrop for the students.

The following day, a group of forty students joined Aish UK on a tour of Budapest’s key Jewish sites, gaining deeper insights into the city’s rich Jewish heritage. The journey culminated in a memorable Havdalah ceremony at the Danube River, near a Holocaust memorial honoring the memory of those tragically lost during the dark period of Hungarian Fascism.

Lisa Radford, Project Lily’s Director of Operations & Development explained: “We’re committed to giving people the tools they need to make invaluable early and rapid interventions. Partnering with GIFT is a wonderful way to reach out and help a wider audience.”

GIFT Managing Director, Rabbi Sands Milun, said: “The importance of supporting mental wellbeing can’t be overstated, it’s something that features in so much of our work. This is a valuable partnership that we hope will help many people in their day to day lives.”

“We have to ensure any growth is sustainable,” added Radford: “We’ll be working closely with GIFT to ensure we are set up to properly manage the demand that we have to meet. It’s an exciting step forward and we’ll be pushing hard to raise the funds needed to help as many people as we can.”

Aish UK Interrailling group in Budapest

Norwood Golf Day

LSJS Graduates 2023

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ASK THE RABBI

Dear Rabbi

I know there is a custom not to say the tachanun (penitence prayer) on the ninth of Av. This, I am told, is because the soul of Moshiach was created on this very day as well. I don’t really know what that means or how we know that. It occurs to me, as it is the saddest day on the Jewish calendar, it’s an opportune time to atone for sins. Why leave out that special daily prayer?

Charlie

Dear Charlie

You are right that the ninth of Av, which we mark next Thursday, is indeed the saddest day on the Jewish calendar. This, because it is the day in which our Temples were destroyed. The tachanun prayer which is recited most days of the year, is never recited on a Jewish festival. Of course, your point as to the ninth of Av being anything but a festival is a valid one. However, let me put to you the deeper significance of what we mean when we say the soul of Moshiach was created on this day.

Have you ever noticed a construction site? It’s usually boarded up with a peep hole for the curious onlooker. When peering through one can see a huge mess. Machinery, dirt, holes, scaffolding, bricks and metal everywhere. It’s one big hodgepodge. In that moment, one cannot see beyond the chunks of debris or imagine that somehow this will yet emerge into one elegant structure. But the contractor can reassure you that all the dismantling of the old structure is intended to give way to something far superior. The present chaos is a prelude to

a new order.

We experience something similar in our lives. Sometimes life is messy and chaotic. There is the debris of failed relationships, the dust of missed opportunities, the empty holes of loss. We wonder, what elegance can be constructed from our disorderly lives? And in our lives there is no contractor to explain to us the underlying purpose as to all that transpires. So it’s not so easy to look into our own troubled life and pick out the silver lining. We have to resort to faith on our own, believing and knowing that this too is part of a bigger picture.

This then leads into the ninth of Av. It is the day in which our Temples were destroyed. There is a simple yet enigmatic question asked by the Jewish philosophers: Our Sages taught, that which G-d instructs us to do, He adheres to Himself. One of the laws in the Torah is not to waste and destroy. How then did G-d allow for the wastage and destruction of the Temples?

The obvious answer lies in the fact that waste and destruction are allowed if they’re paving the way for a new build; when the mess at the construction site is really a forerun to a greater edifice that will emerge.

The Temple was a magnificent edifice which stood at the epicentre of Jewish life. It was also the most sacred abode in which the Divine presence was manifest. Even if, for whatever the reason, we lost the privilege of having the Temple, G-d didn’t just wantonly destroy. It remains eminently in His blueprint, that when the time is right, there will yet be something more

magnificent that will replace what once was. In other words, we see the destruction as a construction site. At the moment it looks messy and we can’t make sense of it. But we are assured that it is only a temporary measure as a new Temple will be built with the coming of Moshiach.

King Solomon put it in perspective in Ecclesiastes when he wrote: “Everything has an appointed season, and there is a time for every matter under the heavens. A time to give birth and a time to die…a time to break and a time to build…a time of wailing and a time of dancing.”

King Solomon’s words not only describe the divergent twists and turns of life, but the contorted nature of even single events. Within the pain and even as we reflect on the hurt, we also look out for the new birth, the healing, the building and the dancing.

Even as we recite many prayers of lamentation on the ninth of Av, we also omit the tachanun because we take heart knowing that beyond the present destruction lies a whole new world. And we can help to bring that about.

Think about your personal Temple as well - that is, your life. Think about the messes that sometimes emerge, but like every construction site, it paves the way for a new build. Even the negative experiences we endure pave the way for new growth.

Think about the brazen power of faith that you have which enables you to claim that growth can come from the most unexpected places. Look through that little peephole and know that

beyond the present destruction, the best is yet to come.

May we merit the building of magnificent edifices in our

personal lives and the rebuilding of the Temple in our collective lives with the coming of Moshiach, speedily.

Follow Rabbi Schochet at: RabbiSchochet.com Twitter: @RabbiYYS Facebook: facebook.com/Rabbiyys.

Torah from Israel Tisha B’av: A Revolution of Consciousness

BY RABBI MOSHE TARAGIN

With every passing year, our mourning for the lost Temple becomes more difficult. The disastrous fall of Yerushalayim and the derailment of Jewish history, occurred thousands of years ago. As the people of memory, we excel in commemorating past national milestones. Recalling past events through ritual is a foundational aspect of our national identity. Unlike commemorating a day, authentic mourning requires actual sadness, and it is hard to suffer genuine woe about events so far in the rear-view mirror.

Additionally, not only have thousands of years passed, but our society has dramatically advanced, bearing little resemblance to the ancient world. We are governed by enlightened democracies, thrive in progressive free-market economies, are privileged to widespread education, and enjoy advanced medical care. The world of Judea and Jerusalem, and of Romans and Persians appears yellowed and dated. It sometimes feels as if these catastrophic events occurred, not only in a different era, but on a different planet.

This gap between modernity and antiquity tests religious life in general. We delicately balance between our embrace of a modern world far superior to the ancient one, and our deference to the authority and traditions of past generations. While this gap between modernity and antiquity challenges religion, it severely muffles grief over a lost world which, to some, feels inferior and obsolete.

Furthermore, not only do we inhabit a changed world, but we also live with stark cultural dissonances. Central features of the classic Jewish world, whose loss we lament and whose restoration we pray for, feel foreign and even repulsive to modern sensibilities.

There are differing traditions about our Messianic future. Some versions anticipate an apocalyptic overhaul, replacing our current condition with an entirely different state of affairs. Other Moshiach narratives are more evolutionary, envisioning the preservation of the current condition while wars and strife abate. The gemara often cites the position, endorsed by the Rambam, that the Messianic era will not exhibit radical change, but will be a continuation of our current reality, without human suffering.

Despite important differences, both Messianic versions foresee the rebuilding of the Mikdash and the renewal of korbanot. Modern culture is appalled by the thought of blood rituals and of animal sacrifices. To the modern imagination,

these grisly images feel grotesque, not glorious. Likewise, all Messianic versions predict the restoration of Jewish monarchy. It took humanity thousands of years to escape the tyranny of abusive monarchs who repressed human liberty and bled their countries dry to gratify their own base desires. In the past century we beheld the horrors of totalitarianism, as dictators wreaked havoc upon innocent populations and butchered their own countrymen. Modernity views the institution of monarchy, which we fervently pray for, horrifying. These cultural dissonances create attitudinal barriers which impede heartfelt mourning for the Mikdash, and confuse us as we pray for its restoration.

As if all this weren’t challenging enough, our return to Jewish statehood and sovereignty further confounds our ability to grieve over past tragedies. Thankfully, we no longer face the rabid and violent antisemitism which plagued us throughout our exile. During exile, the brutal violence which terrorized us also served as constant reminder of our lost status and our lost national fortune. Happily, this dark suffering is a relic of the past. No longer facing this aggression, it is harder for us to feel the pain of Jewish suffering and more difficult to grieve over lost destiny.

On top of all this, many religious Jews view our return to Israel as the inception of a broader redemptive process. Facing a future of optimism and opportunity, we feel gratified to live in an era of historical reawakening. Despite the fact that many hopes have yet to materialize, our collective giddiness over this historical awakening dulls our grief and dries our tears.

So, we face another round of Tisha B’av struggling to evoke authentic mourning. We face another round of Tisha B’av longing for Temple rituals and political systems which, to some, seem alien. How can we reclaim authentic mourning and how can we inspirit genuine longing?

TRACING IT BACK

Despite our triumphs, we continue to wrestle with many frustrating obstacles. By tracing these hurdles back to Jewish exile, we better incorporate these challenges into the tragic legacy of Tisha B’av. Though ruthless antisemitism has been curbed, we still face seething hostility and international opposition to our settlement of Israel. Repeatedly, our license and historical rights to our own homeland are being questioned. We have returned to a region in which we haven’t inhabited for close to two thousand years. While we were absent other empires and

other races occupied this land. Though none were successful in establishing permanent empires, we were still not present to uphold our natural rights. Though the current struggle appears to be a geo-political clash over occupied lands, it is, in truth a historical struggle to reclaim an ancient homeland which we ourselves abandoned. We caused our own eviction from Yerushalayim, and our current conflict traces back to that dark day in history.

Likewise, the widespread civil strife which has afflicted our country can be traced back to Tisha B’av. During our extended exile we lived apart, scattered across time and space. We are now returning, but as different ethnicities, with varying religious levels, and with diverse political inclinations. We have no track record in living together as one cooperative family.

For the first 75 years of our state, the acute dangers we faced united us and muted these differences. Now that, thankfully, these dangers have receded, the genie has been let out of the bottle and our social fabric is fraying. Had we not left Israel and had we continued to live side-by -side, our unity would be more native. The upsetting social conflicts of the past few months should also be traced back to the day we left Yerushalayim. We are gradually repairing the fallout of that tragic day.

REVOLUTION OF CONSCIOUSNESS

Alternatively, we can also long for national institutions we don’t yet fully identify with. The Messianic era will bring great revolutions. Wars will abate, prosperity will abound, and suffering will vanish. Not only will the world change, but attitudes will shift. The world will turn back to religion and will improve its moral standards of behaviour. Divine events and human history will conspire to create a revolution of consciousness. Humanity will search for Hashem, acknowledge the Jewish people as divine ambassadors, and look to Yerushalayim for divine input and moral instruction.

To the average bystander this vision seems preposterous. Our deeply secularized world isn’t veering toward religious resurgence nor are moral standards steadily improving. Classic value systems are crumbling all around us and human identity is in full-blown crisis. There is no logic suggesting a return to Hashem or a moral renaissance. However, people of faith do not calculate the future with logic but imagine it with bold faith. We expect, not only political and economic revolutions, but a revolution of consciousness.

Just as we expect a revolution of consciousness in others, can we also imagine the same adjustment within ourselves? Can we believe that, despite our current antipathy to animal sacrifices, one day, our attitudes will shift? Are we too overconfident in contemporary cultural attitudes that we are utterly incapable of even imagining a different mindset. Though we conduct our lives with current cultural norms, are we honest and humble enough to concede that our attitudes will be adjusted.

We believe in a revolution of consciousness in the broader non-religious world around us. Can we also believe in a similar revolution in the religious attitudes within us? Can we pray for something we don’t currently desire but hope to, one day, better appreciate?

The writer is a rabbi at Yeshivat Har Etzion/Gush, a hesder yeshiva. He has smicha and a BA in computer science from Yeshiva University as well as a masters degree in English literature from the City University of New York.

The upsetting social conflicts of the past few months should also be traced back to the day we left Yerushalayim. We are gradually repairing the fallout of that tragic day.

Weekly Dvar Torah FROM ERETZ YISRAEL

Triangles and Tisha B’Av

BY RABBI STEWART WEISS

As the Three Weeks come to a conclusion this week with the Fast of Tisha B’Av, let us analyze the stages of personal aveilut (mourning) compared to that of the Three Weeks. Aveilut begins with the intense pain and emotional trauma of losing someone close to us – these are the periods of pre-burial aninut and the seven days of shiva – which then give way to the less restrictive 30-day period of the shloshim. The 12 months of mourning follow, which are even less restrictive than the shloshim.

The Three Weeks follow the same pattern, but in reverse order: The opening twelve days, beginning with the Fast of 17 Tammuz, introduce a general mood of sadness and the lessening of festivities. Then, on Rosh Chodesh Av, that sadness intensifies, culminating finally in the saddest day of the entire year, Tisha B’Av.

Why are these two similar events – personal aveilut and the collective churban

Beit HaMikdash – not done in the same exact order? Why are they “mirror-images” of one another?

Picture inverted triangles. The top one represents aveilut. It begins with a very small point; the intense moment when a loved one dies. We are constricted, left all alone with our pain and our deepest, personal feelings. We are the “ani”– the “I” – of aninut, for no one can fully empathize with the grief we are feeling. We even separate somewhat from G-d in this initial stage, and don’t perform positive mitzvot or even recite berachot. During shiva, we “open up” a bit more, as friends and family console us with love, and praise the deceased. As more time goes by, we slowly begin our return to wider society. Our activities expand and the triangle becomes wide again, opening up to the fullness of the world in which we live.

But in the Three Weeks, it’s quite the opposite dynamic. We had a vibrant, expansive community in ancient Israel, with unlimited spiritual opportunities. We were

Devarim Sidra Summary

3RD ALIYA (SHLISHI) – 1:22-38

the envy of the world, with our magnificent Temple and majestic royalty. But we did not appreciate the blessing Hashem had bestowed upon us. And so, on 10 Tevet, a siege was put upon Yerushalayim, shrinking our contact with the outside world and confining our space. It was a Heaven-sent “wake-up” call to us to clean up our act, to decrease internecine fighting and increase derech eretz. But, sadly, we did not get the message, and so, six months later, on 17 Tammuz, the walls were breached and our fortunes shrank even further. Yet we still had the chance to do teshuva and reverse the coming tragedy but, as Yirmiyahu reports, we dismissed the danger and ignored the call to repent and so our fate was sealed. Jerusalem was sacked, the Beit HaMikdash burnt, and a great people became very small.

Indeed, we almost disappeared completely, like that tiniest point of the bottom triangle.

But there is good news, too. For when the

triangle reaches its smallest stage, it begins to regenerate, to grow and expand. While the expansion has been long and slow, we have once again become a great nation. We have reclaimed Eretz Yisrael and enlarged its borders; made the desert bloom and gathered in our people from far and wide. In just three generations, our Jewish population has grown more than 1,000%! Tziyon again brims with Jews and Torah study and vibrant life, perhaps greater than ever before.

None of this has happened by chance; it is the result of a determined partnership between Hashem and His people. It is the “chazon haTikvah,” the vision of hope that we could do what no nation has ever done before – return, rebuild, renew and rejoice. Our mission is not yet complete, to be sure, but we are almost, almost there. The moment is close, so close your eyes and visualize geulah.

Rabbi Stewart Weiss is the director of the Ra’anana Jewish Outreach Center and a member of Mizrachi’s Speakers Bureau (mizrachi.org/speakers).

1ST ALIYA (KOHEN) – DEVARIM 1:1-10

In the 40th year after leaving Egypt, towards the end of his life, Moshe gathers the nation together and rebukes them, alluding to the many places where they made mistakes since leaving Egypt (Rashi). Moshe recalls the time spent at Mount Sinai after receiving the Torah, and that the nation could have gone from Sinai straight into the Land of Cana’an. At that stage, Moshe realised that he needed assistance to lead such a big nation.

2ND ALIYA (LEVI) – 1:11-21

Moshe therefore told the people to appoint judges over sub-groups of 1000, 100, 50 and 10 men. He told those judges to be fair and brave in their work, and that any dispute too difficult to resolve should be brought to Moshe himself.

Moshe recalls the sin of the spies. The people had approached Moshe 38 years earlier, wanting to send a mission to inspect the Land. Moshe agreed and selected 12 leading men, one from each tribe. Upon their return, Yehoshua and Calev spoke positively, but the other spies persuaded the people that going into the Land was impossible, due to the giants and the strongly fortified cities. Moshe’s attempts to reassure the people of G-d’s protection when they would enter the Land were rejected. G-d then decreed that the generation who had accepted the negative report of the ten spies would die in the wilderness and not enter the Land.

Point to Consider: Why did Moshe agree to sending spies, if he would later rebuke them for the mission? (see Rashi to 1:23)

4TH ALIYA (REVI’I) – 1:39-2:1

Those aged under 20 at the time of the sin of the spies would be allowed to enter the Land. Despite Moshe’s discouragement, some of the people then attempted to enter the Land, despite Moshe’s warning that G-d would not now allow them to enter. They refused to listen and were brutally crushed by the Emorites. The nation wept and then turned back towards the Sea of Reeds.

5TH ALIYA (CHAMISHI) – 2:2-30

Moshe then recalls that 38 years later, the Israelites turned northwards and passed

by the descendants of Esav in Seir, making sure not to start a war with them, nor to take any provisions without payment. The nation then headed towards the Moabite desert. G-d instructed Moshe not to start a conflict with Moab. Conversely, on their march towards the Land, G-d instructed them to pass through the land of Sichon, the king of Cheshbon, albeit this might lead to a war.

6TH ALIYA (SHISHI) – 2:31-3:14

Sichon came out to wage war. The Israelites destroyed him and his nation, taking his entire land, with the exception of Ammon. The nation then successfully defeated the other Emorite king, the mighty Og, king of Bashan, conquering his territory.

7TH ALIYA (SHEVI’I) – 3:15-3:22

Moshe apportioned the land taken from Sichon and Og to the tribes of Gad and Reuven and some of the tribe of Menashe

(as detailed in parashat Matot – see Bemidbar 32). However, the men of these tribes were still required to enter the Land of Cana’an to fight with the rest of the nation. Moshe told his successor Yehoshua that just as G-d had helped them to defeat Sichon and Og, so too He would help them in their conquest of the Land.

HAFTARAH CHAZON

This haftarah, taken from the beginning of Yeshaya (Isaiah), is the third of the three ‘haftarot of tribulation’ and is always read on the Shabbat before Tisha B’Av. The prophet relates G-d’s rebuke of the nation for rebelling against Him and bringing animal offerings without actually addressing their sinful ways. The verses of rebuke are traditionally read to the tune of Megillat Eicha (Lamentations), which is recited on Tisha B’Av. Yet the haftarah ends with the hopeful message that Zion “will be redeemed with justice”.

"Alas, she sits in solitude! The city that was great with people has become like a widow"

REJUVENATION NOW

U n i q u e s p a & w e l l n e s s e x p e r i e n c e ( K o s h e r ) - C y p r u s

R o o m s , s u i t e s & t r a d i t i o n a l v i l l a s • K o s h e r h e a l t h y & r i c h P e s c a t a r i a n m e a l s

• D a i l y w e l l n e s s p r o g r a m s • T h e l a r g e s t S P A i n C y p r u s • E n e r g i z i n g w a l k s i n t h e f o r e s t • T e a & C o f f e e i n f u s i o n s 2 4 / 0 7 • W i n e t a s t i n g i n t h e c a v a w i t h k o s h e r w i n e s • M i n d f u l n e s s w o r k s h o p s • M u s i c , c o n v e r s a t i o n • S y n a g o g u e

w w w . S e c r e t F o . r e s t + 3 5 7 - 2 6 8 1 4 - 0 0 0

The Deepening Layers of Happiness

BY RABBI SHMUEL REICHMAN

In our previous article, we began exploring the Torah’s powerful approach to happiness. To review, growth is the underlying root of deep existential happiness. This is because the deepest human desire is to express our unique purpose in this world. We therefore experience incredible happiness when we are growing and maximizing our potential, fulfilling our purpose. However, while an important layer of happiness results from the expansion of self as we actualize our potential, there are a few keys that are necessary to fully experience the happiness we generate when fulfilling our mission.

GRATITUDE: MINDSET

One of those keys is mindset. The same letters that make up the word b’simchah (with happiness - ב ) form the word machshavah (thought - ). This is because your thoughts, mindset, and attitude have a tremendous impact on your internal state of being. No matter how much you are growing and achieving, without the right attitude and mindset, you will not be happy. As simple as it sounds, making the decision to be

happy is one of the greatest strategies for achieving happiness. We all know people who wait around for something great to “happen” to them, claiming that only when “such and such” happens will they be happy. Proactively deciding to be happy can fundamentally change the way you perceive happiness. Don’t wait for an external reason, just decide — independently — to be happy.

Beyond making the decision to live in a state of happiness, there are more concrete steps we can take to ensure that our mindset is conducive to a happy life. Living with an outlook of gratitude (hakaras ha’tov) — proactively looking for, recognizing, and appreciating the multitude of gifts in our lives — fundamentally changes our perspective on life. In truth, we don’t deserve to be alive in the first place. We never earned the right to exist. There was no guarantee that we would wake up today, and there is no guarantee that we will wake up tomorrow. There are many people who were here yesterday and yet are not here today. Our life is a gift, a constant gift from Hashem. While we may know intellectually that our life is a gift from Hashem, it can be hard to fully internalize this idea. One way to do so is to think about our reaction when someone donates a kidney to someone else. We look at a kidney donor as a hero, and

are we so moved, so touched by their heroic deed. This is because we are able to imagine what the recipient felt like. He didn’t have a kidney; he was lost, hopeless, and destined to die. Only because a generous, loving person decided to donate their kidney is he still alive. We poignantly feel the beauty of this gift, the gift of life, the fact that this boy now has the rest of his life in front of him. We thank this man for giving this recipient hope, a reason to believe, and another chance at life.

However, what if each and every one of us could have this feeling of complete and absolute love toward someone who gave us a life-saving organ? What if each and every one of us was in dire need of an organ transplant? What if we thought that we were on death’s door and then miraculously received a donation from a loving hero? Wouldn’t we live differently and experience life in a whole new way?

Well, what if I told you that we do. We each think of our lives as our own, our bodies our own, our existence our own. But they’re not; we have no right to live, to exist. We never earned it; it is a constant gift from Hashem! Each day, each moment, each second in this world is a gift. Every morning, we are in dire need of an organ transplant. Which organ? All of them! And every single morning, Hashem gives each one of us a complete life donation, which includes all your organs, your emotional health, a working mind, a sense of identity, and the ability to choose greatness and grow. Each and every morning, when we say Modeh ani, we should feel as if we are meeting our hero — the One who saved our life. If we could genuinely feel the joy, gratitude, and bliss that comes from this realization, our lives would never be the same.

GIVING: BECOMING PART OF SOMETHING GREATER THAN YOURSELF

The last key to happiness is recognizing that the goal of life is not only self-perfection but becoming part of something bigger than yourself, contributing your greatness to Klal Yisrael. When you are able to move outside of your own limited self and focus on becoming part of the klal, part of the collective community, you automatically feel an inner sense of happiness. (Focusing on self-awareness and personal growth is essential. The problem is only when this becomes one’s sole focus in life, becoming completely self-focused.) This is because the act of giving allows us to expand our sense of self. (This is also why the Hebrew word for love is “ahavah.” The root of this word is “hav,” which means to give. Only when you give can you experience true love and true oneness.)

This is why the Torah connects “happiness” to the chagim (holidays) in which the Jewish People were oleh la’regel — when they joined together as a collective whole in Yerushalayim. When we expand beyond our own personal struggles and problems and devote ourselves to others, our worries fade away and a rich sense of inner peace is

left in its place. When we devote our lives to Klal Yisrael, our sense of self expands exponentially, and we feel an existential sense of happiness. Similarly, when we devote our lives to Hashem, we expand our sense of self infinitely, and our sense of happiness knows no bounds.

SERVING HASHEM WITH HAPPINESS

We now understand what it means to serve Hashem with happiness. This is accomplished when we realize that being a true eved Hashem — devoting our life to Hashem — is our purpose in life and should be the focus of all our self-development. We can only be miserable while serving Hashem if we view it as a burden — when we do it robotically, out of habit, just going through the motions. When this happens, Hashem sends us challenges through the form of the curses, as a wake-up call. It is only when we realize that the sole way to fulfill our purpose and actualize our potential is by completely devoting ourselves to Hashem — to our Root, to our Source — that we can truly be happy. Happiness is neither a means nor an end; it is what manifests when you are becoming the person you are destined to become. In essence, happiness is a revelation that you are on the right track.

We don’t get to control our circumstances; we choose only how to respond. Happiness is not the goal of life; living a life of truth is. But happiness is still important; it is the gift Hashem gives you when you are heading on the right path toward your higher goals in life. It is there to help you continue down the right path. Happiness comes from growth, from enjoying the process, from the right mindset, and from devoting our life toward something greater than ourselves. May we be inspired to serve Hashem with genuine happiness and enjoy the process of becoming the very best that we can be.

Rabbi Shmuel Reichman is a bestselling author, international speaker, and the CEO of Self-Mastery Academy. He has lectured internationally on topics of Torah thought, Jewish medical ethics, psychology, and leadership. His bestselling book, The Journey to Your Ultimate Self, serves as an inspiring gateway into deeper Jewish thought. He is also a business, executive, and leadership coach, with a unique approach based on Torah values. After obtaining his BA from Yeshiva University, he received Semicha from Yeshiva University’s RIETS, a master’s degree in education from Azrieli Graduate School, and a master’s degree in Jewish Thought from Bernard Revel Graduate School. He then spent a year studying at Harvard as an Ivy Plus Scholar. He currently lives in Chicago with his wife and son where he is pursuing a PhD at the University of Chicago. To enjoy more of Rabbi Reichman’s content, to contact him, or to learn more about his services, visit his website: ShmuelReichman.com

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Black Bean Burgers

These black bean burgers have all the flavours of Tex Mex and I like to include them as part of a themed Mexican meal. Enjoy with rice, tomato salsa and nachos. When shaping the burgers, make sure they are bigger than the ‘bun’.

Preparation Time: 20 minutes

Cooking Time: 15 minutes. Makes: 4 large burgers

Ingredients

2 x 400g/14oz tin black beans – rinsed and drained

100g breadcrumbs

2 teaspoons mild chilli powder

1 teaspoon ground cumin

small bunch coriander, stalks and leaves chopped

1 egg

2 tablespoons BBQ sauce

Guacamole

2 large ripe avocados

Zest and juice of 1 lime

2 ripe tomatoes, skinned and deseeded

1 red chilli- deseeded and finely chopped

2 cloves of garlic – peeled and finely chopped

1 spring onion- finely chopped

2 tablespoons fresh coriander – roughly chopped

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

4 wholemeal burger buns, sliced avocado and salad leaves & Guacamole to serve

Method

1. Add the breadcrumbs, chilli powder, coriander stalks and ½ the leaves, egg and BBQ sauce to the food processor and whizz to combine.

2. Add the black beans and pulse together so that you have chunky pieces. Remove to a bowl and season to taste.

3. Divide the mixture into 4, then wet your hands and shape into burgers. The burgers can now be frozen.

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4. Heat the grill to its highest setting or if you prefer to bake them, preheat the oven to 200C/ 400F/ Gas mark 6.

5. Place on a non-stick baking tray, then grill for 4-5 mins on each side until golden and crisp or bake for 15 minutes on 200C.

6. Split the buns in half and spread the bases with guacamole. Top each with leaves, avocado, onion, a burger, another spoon guacamole and then serve.

LSJS Education Page

Improving young people’s wellbeing through Jewish Education

BY ESTHER COHEN

There has never been a time when the need for developing resilience and good mental health skills has been so prevalent. One may ask the proverbial ‘chicken and egg’ question: Should individuals only learn mental health skills once they face challenges, or should wellbeing skills be taught as a preventative measure to the trial and tribulations life throws at us?

In conversation with a fellow therapist, I shared my belief that just as children learn knowledge and behaviour skills at school that prepare them for life, so should they learn the tools to develop emotional intelligence and resilience. Through years of working with students on campus, it has become clear to me that whilst university students

are well-equipped for the academic challenges that face them, they are less prepared for the emotional turmoil of leaving home, and standing on their own two feet, especially during times of adversity.

The deterioration of children and young people’s mental health has brought on the need to strategically look for avenues of prevention and support for young people’s wellbeing. Schools may well play a vital role in educating children towards wellness, building resilience, and a growth mindset, especially through faith education, particularly through Jewish Education. An initial enquiry showed the need for academic research to discover evidence-based ways to make a difference to the lives of our youth in preparation for their future. This was a worthy topic for my Masters’ research, and I wholeheartedly embraced the challenge to find out what can be done, how much is already being done and what the

of the week

Rafi Cohen JFS Teacher of JS and Science

Where did you train?

Direct with Teach to Lead) at JFS What is the best part of your job? Seeing the moment of joy in a student when they master a difficult concept with which they have been grappling.

barriers are for teaching self-regulation through Jewish Studies.

A key finding shows that most teachers interviewed believe in the importance of delivering Jewish Studies lessons in a way that stimulates pupils, bringing them to a greater understanding of Judaism and of themselves. While some teachers articulate high levels of emotional cognition, motivating them to deliver Jewish lessons with emotional content, others express concerns that emotional barriers and lack of support or supervision cause teachers to use tenuous or inappropriate links to the learning. This highlights the need for training to include guidance and a user-friendly framework that allows autonomy and flexibility. It is key to developing staff competency in order to enable them to safely and appropriately include basic self-regulation skills in lessons to improve wellbeing. While tokenistic teaching of self-regulation will not engage or benefit pupils, going beyond set boundaries and

competency would compromise health and safety.

Teachers are amongst the most hardworking people I know. We are the loco parentis of our pupils, and genuinely want to see them thrive mentally and academically. Alongside their parents, our pupils rely on us to understand and guide them through the turmoil of their generation and to help them make sense of their world.

I will never forget the feedback from a parent, years after I taught their child. “You believed in my child when I had given up. Their success and wellbeing grew from the seeds you planted, nurturing those with kindness and trust that built their self-esteem and the knowledge that no matter what, Hashem will be always there cheering them on.”

Rebbetzen Esther M. Cohen has just graduated with an MA in Jewish Education from LSJS

Places are still available for 2023

•

• Access to campus facilities including our specialist library

• Distance learning version available for out of London students

For more information on how you can be featured as the Teacher of the Week please contact helena.miller@lsjs.ac.uk

Family Fun Devarim

A very warm welcome indeed to the fifth and final book of the Torah. The book of Devarim is a wonderful source of all the fundamentals of the Jewish faith – the existence of G-d, how He appeared on Mount Sinai and gave us the Torah and the reward and punishment for doing Mitzvot. It is also a provides a synopsis of the Jewish people’s travels and travails through the wilderness. It teaches us how to love and fear Hashem and to walk in His ways.

The sidra opens by describing where the Jewish people were up to when Moshe began his 30+ day lecture of love. It was Rosh Chodesh Shevat, and he began by hinting to them some of the places where they and/or the previous generation had unfortunately stumbled.

Life was not easy for Moshe in the wilderness; he was not given an easy time by the Jews. He was sometimes made fun of; his leadership and integrity challenged, and it was in some ways due to their rebellion that he ended up hitting the rock and was thus banned from entering the holy land. Nevertheless, he did not reprimand them in order to “get even” with them; he brought home the lessons that they vitally needed to carry with them when he was to leave this world. He describes to them how they required judges to relieve some of the burden off him and how he had instructed them to listen to the litigants and bring any complicated issue to him. Moshe reminds the Jewish people how they clamoured around him, demanding the sending of

spies to check the land – although G-d had assured them it would be good. When the spies return how the Jewish people grumbled in their tents, “Hashem hates us!”. How ridiculous – Hashem actually loves His nation. We felt hatred towards Him and therefore we imagined that this feeling was reflected. This is important for life – if you feel hatred towards someone this does NOT mean that they have ANYTHING against you!

When it was time to travel in the vicinity of Esav, we were warned not to attack Esav or try to take away his inheritance which G-d had designated for him. We were likewise warned not to attack Moav. Moshe reminds the Jewish people how they sent messengers to Sichon King of Cheshbon requesting

access through his land, to no avail. Sichon instead tried to attack the Jewish nation, to no avail! Then they were confronted with Og, the giant, and his nation, but, once again, Hashem saved His nation.

Finally, Moshe reminds them how the east of the river Jordan has been given to the tribes of Reuven, Gad and half of Menashe.

Moshe recollects how he inspired Yehoshua – “Look and see how Hashem enabled us to overcome the two mighty kings Sichon and Og; so too will he do for you in relation to other kings who occupy the land of Cana’an”. Words of encouragement and hope designed to instil faith of G-d in the soon-to-be leader of the Jewish nation.

It contains 105 verses, 1,548 words and 5,972 letters.

Beginning of Moshe’s final speeches

Devarim is the first Sidra in the book of Devarim.

Tangram Challenge!

Using

shapes

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 week’s words

Here are some words you may have found from last week – you may have found more!

sin sit tic tie tin uni cine

Jokes

cite coin ices icon inns into ions

nice nine nits sine site suit ties

on the right? ice inn ins ion its nit sic

tine tins unit cites coins ennui icons

ictus inset nines noise scion since sonic

stein stoic suite tines tonic tunic union

Use the area below to write the words you have found.

unite units untie coitus conies cosine cousin

ennuis incest insect intone nicest notice nuncio

Riddles

Q: Why did the math book look so sad?

A: Because it had so many problems!

Q: What do you call an alligator in a vest?

A: An investigator!

Knock, knock. Who’s there?

Cows go. Cows go who? No, cows go MOO!

Q: Why do seagulls fly over the sea?

A: Because if they flew over the bay, they would be bagels!

tennis tocsin tonics tunics unions unison unites

unties intones nonsuit notices nuncios section suction

tension tunnies unction continue counties continues

1. You can hold me in your hand and yet I can fill the entire room. What am I?

2. Spelled forwards I’m what you do everyday, spelled backwards I’m something horrible. What am I?

3. I sound like one letter but I’m written with three. I show you things when you look through me. What am I?

all the

on the left can you make the stork shape

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