The Jewish Weekly Issue 293 - September 14th

Cleverly blasts Iran terrorism in Israel

BY DAVID SAFFER

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly condemned Iran for enabling terrorism in Israel during a two-day visit to the region this week.

Cleverly, who met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, committed to strengthening security ties with Israel.

Netanyahu stressed the importance of preventing the nuclearisation of Iran and continued activity to undermine regional and global stability. Discussions focused on bilateral cooperation in security, technology and artificial intelligence.

“We have excellent relations. I'm sure this visit will make them even stronger.” commented Netanyahu.

Continued on page 2

James Cleverly greeted by Benjamin Netanyahu

Tributes to singer Dedi

BY ADAM MOSES

Tributes have been made to singer Dovid “Dedi” Graucher following his death on Monday.

He overcame serious illness in 2018 but had health issues and was taken ill last month where he was being treated at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer.

Over 20 years ago, Dedi produced a number of albums and was one of Israel’s top stars around the world. Among his biggest hits were ‘Ki Heim Chayeinu’, ‘Chevron’, ’Hu Yigal’ and ‘Vekovei Hashem’.

Former Ambassador David Friedman was a cousin of Dedi, 62. He said: “Dedi was one of Israel’s most talented and successful singers and was a ‘Baal Chesed’ of enormous magnitude. Most will never know of all his acts of kindness.”

Dedi headlined a concert with 150,000 people in Yarkon Park when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made his political breakthrough at the 1996 elections. Israel’s leader commented: “Dedi was a true embodiment of the love of Israel. He made people happy with his unique talent to light up hearts, to make people laugh. Dedi accompanied our children on their growing up journey. He was with us in moments of joy and sorrow. When he

walked into the room, a big smile would spread across our faces. Who didn’t love Dedi.”

Charedi radio broadcaster Menachem Toker said: “Dedi was a singer of rare talent, an amazing person, who was always helping everyone, who, even in the most difficult moments had a joke and a smile. He had the biggest heart I’ve ever seen in my life.”

Dedi was the son of Rabbi Yeshayahu Yechiel Meir and Tzipora Graucher. A student at Givat Shmuel and Kfar HaRoeh Yeshivot, his singing journey began as a youngster at weddings and local concerts.

Dedi sang back-up vocals on Mordechai Ben David albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He collaborated with composers including Yossi Green, Rabbi Baruch Chait and Abie Rotenberg.

Throughout his life, Dedi dedicated acts of tzedakah and chesed. He was a member of Zichron Menachem, dedicated to the memory of Menachem Erental, where he recorded ‘Menachem’.

He is survived by his wife Malka and children Tzipora Miriam, Michal Hana, Shira, Shani Yaffe, Shai Meir, Avraham Elimelech, Natan Yair, Renana Zahva, Yaakov Dov, Aviel and grandchildren.

“We're two of the like-minded, smart countries. The world belongs to those who innovate. We're innovation nations. We're democracies, strong and vibrant and cooperative.”

Following the meeting with Netanyahu, a Foreign Office spokesperson said that Cleverly welcomed free trade negotiations, underlined the importance of a strategic partnership and encouraged Netanyahu to seek judicial reform through the “broadest possible consensus”.

Cleverly and Netanyahu welcomed cooperation on geopolitical challenges around the world.

The Foreign Secretary reaffirmed the UK’s support for Israel’s right to self-defence in line with international law and expressed solidarity following repeated terrorist attacks in Israel.

Cleverly spoke at an international security conference on security challenges facing Israel and importance of advancing a viable two-state solution for Israelis, Palestinians and wider region.

The Foreign Secretary visited Israel’s Iron

Dome’ missile defence system where he was briefed on the range of threats that Israel faces.

He spoke of the importance of respect for the historic ‘status quo’ at Jerusalem’s holy sites.

Following Cleverly’s meeting with Cohen, both ministers reaffirmed a commitment to building on their meeting in London in March to sign the ‘UK-Israel 2030 roadmap’.

Cleverly expressed condolences following repeated terror attacks against Israeli citizens and urged both Israelis and Palestinians to de-escalate tensions and to preserve the two-state solution.

The Foreign Secretary also highlighted the importance of Israel’s support towards Ukrainian reconstruction.

Speaking ahead of the trip, Cleverly said: “The UK and Israel work closely together to keep our people safe. I’ll be using my first visit to Israel to renew our close security partnership, in the face of unacceptable threats from the Iranian regime.”

Cleverly visited Yad Vashem before holding meetings in Judea and Samaria.

Shana Tova

Dovid “Dedi” Graucher z”l

James Cleverly visiting Yad Vashem

PHOTO: GPO

Morocco Earthquake Appeal

Thousands of people have already been affected. Please donate now to provide life-saving support.

https://www.worldjewishrelief.org/ morocco-earthquake-appeal/

T: 020 8736 1250

Reg. charity number 290767

For Leon, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree

When Leon was diagnosed with dementia, Michael went from being a full-time son to a full-time carer. He moved in with his dad and quickly turned to the Jewish Care Direct helpline.

Michael was referred to our Family Carers Team who provide him with ongoing guidance, whilst Leon attends our dementia day centre, giving his son the respite he needs.

Leon had always been a caring father and now the roles are reversed. As they say, the apple never falls far from the tree.

Jewish Care is supporting Leon, Michael and the hundreds of families in our community who are living with dementia. Please show your support this Rosh Hashanah.

To make a donation, please call 020 8922 2600 , visit jewishcare.org/roshhashanah , or scan here

Thank you.

Charity Reg No 802559.

Leon and his son, Michael, taking part in Rosh Hashanah celebrations at The Sam Beckman Centre for people living with dementia.

Shechita UK 20th anniversary dinner

Shechita UK celebrated its 20th anniversary with a private dinner at Novellino Bistro in London last week.

The event, hosted by Campaign Director Shimon Cohen, served as an expression of gratitude, to stakeholders. Guests included Rabbis and Dayanim across the Kehillah, veterinary and medical advisors, and representatives from the Conference of European Rabbis and World Jewish Congress.

Dayan Menachem Gelley of the London Beis Din, Dayan AD Dunner of the Union of Orthodox Congregations and Dayan Shraga Feivel Zimmerman of Kehilas Federation, addressed attendees.

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis wrote that Shechita UK was fearless in the media and political spheres regarding the “Jewish humane method of slaughtering animals for food” and described the organisation as undertaking “crucial work for the future of British Jewry.”

Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, CER President, noted that Shechita UK was instrumental in giving valuable advice to Jewish communities in Europe to continue living according to Halacha.

Rabbi H Royde, writing on behalf of the Manchester Beth Din and MBD Shechita Services, observed how the organisation was at the forefront for the defence of Shechita in the UK and Europe.

Dayan Abraham David of the Sephardi Beth Din expressed his backing for Shechita

UK, noting it was vital to the community.

A letter from the UOHC, thanked Shechita UK for being “a vital force in ensuring Kashrus and Shechita are viable in this country”. Yitzchok Breuer, on behalf of the Machzikei Hadass Communities, Manchester, noted that it was unimaginable to envision what Shechita in the UK and parts of Europe would look like without Shechita UK. Breuer added how Shechita UK was a “sacred organisation” and credit by all Kosher meat consumers.”

Meir Menashe Bodner, on behalf of

Gateshead Kehilla praised Shechita UK’s lobbying efforts at various government levels on their behalf.

Henry Grunwald, chairman of the working group of Shechita UK, highlighted the organisation’s ability to bring together many groups within the Jewish community to maintain Jewish life.

Cohen presented a history of the landmark achievements of the organisation. He paid a particular tribute to the late Dayan Ehrentreu tz”l. Tributes were also paid to the late Shlomo Winegarten and Michael Kester,

whose vision created the organisation.

Cohen noted: “I am proud to lead a campaign that is purely dedicated to helping the Jewish community, ‘serving the community faithfully’, as the Jewish saying goes, all without fanfare, factionalism, or distractions. I constantly marvel at the united communal efforts of our group, uniting people from across our broad community and throughout Europe and beyond and with the singular aim of helping to support Jewish life. These last twenty years deserve a celebration.”

sympathetic

Shimon Cohen

Dayan Gelley addressing the dinner

One financial planning strategy we specialise in allows you to take substantial dividends from your business every year, paying minimal income tax during the first 5 years, and then zero income tax thereafter, by using certain retail investments which we advise on Although it’s a long-term strategy, it pays dividends in the long run....no pun intended!

As a financial advisory practice licensed to give investment advice, we are well known to many local accountancy firms, and can liaise with your accountant where appropriate , to devise the right strategy for you.

Get in touch to arrange a meeting and see how much you could save.

Arnold Aa Specialist Inheritance Tax Planning & Investments 78 York Street, London W1H 1DP Tel: 020 7

arnoldaaron.co.uk

The value of investments and any income from them can go down as well as up and you may not get bac k the original amount invested. Arnold Aaron is a trade name of Arnold Joseph Aaron, which is an appointed representative of The Openwork Partnership, a trad ing style of Openwork Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Bibi storm over Uman travel concerns

BY DAVID SAFFER

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has called on thousands of ultra-orthodox Jews to “act responsibly” if they are travelling to Uman for the High Holidays.

Traditionally 30,000 pilgrims, mostly from Israel, honour Rabbi Nachman, founder of the Breslov Chasidic movement, at his resting place.

Thousands will make the pilgrimage but Israeli’s leader has had to ride a political storm from religious politicians following a statement last Sunday that “The Holy One has not always protected us”.

Netanyahu made the comment at his weekly Cabinet meeting on a proposal by Jerusalem and Heritage Minister Meir Porush regarding preparations for Israelis' travel to Uman in Ukraine ahead of Rosh Hashanah.

Netanyahu explained that Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, during a conversation last week, said that there were not enough shelters in Uman for local residents, let alone foreign tourists.

He reportedly stated: “Israeli citizens who are traveling to Ukraine need to act responsibly regarding their trips at this time. The Holy One has not always protected us, both on Ukrainian and other European soil. It must be understood that in the State of Israel, when missiles fall on us, citizens enter shelters and there is protection. There, there are no shelters and no protection.”

Netanyahu directed the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Eli Cohen,to stress an MFA travel warning over Ukraine. But however well-meaning the intention over safety concerns, Porush blasted Netanyahu’s statement.

He noted: “Even during the days of Lapid and Bennett, there were no statements of this kind, and all the more so in an official announcement from the Prime Minister’s Office. We strongly condemn the statement and hope that he will clarify his words.”

And the Shas Party stated: “Hashem always protected the Jewish people during persecution, this is the reason that the Jewish nation is the only one which has miraculously survived for thousands of years. Of course, the condition for divine providence is adherence to faith and observance.”

In a damage limitation exercise on Monday over the comments, Netanyahu allies clarified: “His entire intention was to appeal to Breslover chassidim to internalise the danger and take appropriate precautions so they can return safely.”

Recent weeks have seen Israel's Ambassador in Kiev, Michael Brodsky, hold talks with Ukraine’s Border Control over crossing arrangements for pilgrims to Uman.

Borders will be open 24 hours and guards will speed up the crossing process according

to agreements. The understanding complements border deals with Moldova, Poland and Hungary to avoid travel issues from Israel to Oman.

Porush called on those travelling to follow instructions of the plan. “With the help of G-d we will be able to arrange all matters of the trip,” he said.

Meantime, Jewish life continues in Ukraine against a backdrop of the war with Russia and new Chabad emissaries are settling into life at Chabad-Lubavitch Chernovtzy.

The community has been led by Rabbi Mendy and Pnina Glitzenstein since 2003. Prior to war with Russia in February 2022, Rabbi Glitzenstein wanted more emissaries. And amidst the hostilities more displaced Ukrainians, including many Jews, have

moved to the city.

“The need was already apparent pre-pandemic,” Rabbi Glitzenstein said. “Yet just as we were finished dealing with Covid-19, the war broke out, pushing this necessity to the background.”

Chabad has never shirked a need to engage whatever the circumstances.

To this end, Rabbi Mendy and Mushky Halperin are the first rabbi and wife to move to Ukraine since hostilities began. The couple and 4-month-old son, Ari, crossed the border from Moldova into Ukraine as there are no flights Ukraine at the end of last month.

Rabbi Halperin is from Kfar Chabad in Israel, Mushky is from Riga, Latvia, where her parents serve as Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries. Rabbi Mendy will work with Jewish

university students in Chernovtzy. Mushky is heading up Jewish programming director at the preschool.

Most of the Jews of Chernovtzy were murdered during the Holocaust. The ensuing decades saw Jewish life return only for many Jewish communities in Ukraine to be lost in the ongoing war but Chernovtzy thrives.

“Thankfully, the war has largely bypassed Chernovtzy,” Rabbi Glitzenstein explained. “Our community hasn't seen the same exodus as many of our neighbours and on the contrary, it’s flourished. As Jews from all over Ukraine sought sanctuary here, our establishments expanded. This increased the urgency for the need for more emissaries here.”

“The nature of our service at Chabad has evolved,” he added. “The pandemic shifted our in-person interactions to screens, removing the personal touch from our work. Now, that’s changed again. The influx of refugees has once again offered us the chance to reconnect, face to face. We’re doing everything in our power to tend to the physical and spiritual needs of the community.”

Rabbi Mendy, aside from his work with students, will bolster ties with Jews who left Chernovtzy due to the war and are now around the world.

The High Holidays will see Chabad Chernovtzy host over 500 Jews.

“The Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, did not send his emissaries to rest, we know our work is to always grow,” said Rabbi Mendy. “I know it sounds crazy for a young couple to move to Ukraine in the middle of a war but we’re not here for adventure. We’re here because we wanted the privilege of working for the Jews of Chernovtzy.”

Jewish pilgrims in Uman last Rosh Hashanah

A Russian rocket hit a house in Uman last year and completely destroyed it

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

Bibi meets CONMEBOL and FIFA Antisemitism at US colleges extreme

BY ADAM MOSES

A national Jewish on Campus survey conducted by Ipsos of Jewish and non-Jewish college students has revealed disturbing results of antisemitic experiences.

The poll, supported by World Jewish Congress, included interviews with 2,020 college students, 1,022 identified as Jewish.

Key findings noted almost a third of Jewish students witnessing an antisemitic incident on campus and over 44% in general public. Overall, 57% recognised an antisemitic episode when asked.

BY HARRY SIMONS

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) President and FIFA Vice President Alejandro Dominguez together with Israel Football Association President Moshe Shino Zuares and IFA CEO Niv Goldstein last week.

Netanyahu welcomed an agreement to expand cooperation between the IFA and CONMEBOL.

Dominguez backed the Argentinian national team, including Lionel Messi, and its youth team for exhibition games in Israel.

Zuares and Argentinian President Claudio Tapia will coordinate on dates.

During the meeting, Netanyahu spoke with Paraguayan President Santiago Peña

and called for further ties between Paraguay and Israel.

“I look forward to receiving you in Jerusalem, in the reconstituted embassy and at the UN,” he said.

Peña told Netanyahu: “I'm very happy that you're receiving the CONMEBOL delegation. We are very happy the President is in Israel. His responsibility as head of the South American Association is very good, he's always doing a great job as a non-official ambassador of Paraguay worldwide. I look forward to talking with you in New York.”

Israel’s National Security Council Director, National Public Diplomacy Directorate and Culture and Sports Ministry attended.

Representatives of the Latin American Jewish Congress, Ecipsa Group, ECIPSA Israel and Agriplus also took part in the meeting.

Of Jewish students on campus, 72% experienced microaggressions, half witnessed hate speech, almost half vandalism and 43% spreading of conspiracy theories.

Of note, 21% experienced wishing death and/or genocide on Jews while 84% of Jewish students consider antisemitism an extreme threat or somewhat of a threat to America compared to 64% of general public students. Also, 60% of students had never heard of institutional antisemitism in the US.

Regarding the Holocaust, 15% of college students found the historical reality or death toll of the Shoah not very believable, not at all believable or were unsure.

Julia Jassey, co-founder and CEO of Jewish on Campus, said: “Our new analysis underscores the urgency of our mission to elevate the voices and experiences of Jewish students. These findings provide key evidence of the breadth and depth of antisemitism students face. We will continue urging

Israel will strike at “heart of Tehran” says Mossad head

BY ADAM MOSES

Israel’s national security network remains on high alert over terror warnings and will strike at the “heart of Tehran” if necessary.

Mossad Director David Barnea updated delegates at the Institute for Counter-Terrorism at Reichman University on Iranian state-sponsored terrorism ahead of the High Holidays.

In a hard-hitting address Barnea said that Mossad and international partners had prevented 27 Iranian led attacks against Israel and Jewish targets around the work in the past 12 months.

Barnea had a stark warning for Israel’s enemies. “We watch with concern as global terror raises its evil head,” he observed. “We are witnessing a significant increase in attempts to attack Jews and Israelis worldwide and as we speak, we continue to track Iranian and proxy teams.

“Our message is loud and clear, and determined. Make no mistake, those of you who decided to dispatch the teams. Be assured that we will get to you, and justice will be done for all to see. This has been proven in the past, and in the future, we will ramp it up to the next level.

“Any harm done to any Israeli or Jew in any way whatsoever via proxy or Iranian alike

will elicit a response against the Iranians who dispatched the terrorists and the policy makers who authorised the terror units to carry out the plots, from the bottom all the way up to the top. I mean what I say. The price will be exacted deep inside Iran, in the heart of Tehran.”

Barnea added: “This is state-sponsored terror. We are talking about a political directive handed down by the Supreme Leader. The funding comes from the state coffers, and planning and execution are done by national security and intelligence bodies.”

Mossad’s head outlined the Iranian regime’s use of terror at home, regionally and internationally.

Barnea noted reasons for Iranian self-confidence including UAV sales to Russia and oil sales to China. And he showed a video of Iranian involvement in terrorism around the world, including confessions of terrorists sent to attack Israelis and Jews by official intelligence.

“The Iranian regime is no longer able to deny its involvement, and most importantly, it has no immunity," Barnea noted.

Regarding “hostage diplomacy”, he accused Iran of “cynically exploiting” innocent foreign citizens for political and financial extortion in negotiations with the international community. Barnea added: “History has

shown the world that appeasing aggression encourages further aggression and indeed escalation. Increased Iranian self-confidence will lead to growing aggression and terror.”

Barnea called on the international community to stand firm against Iran and not stay silent.

“We can never allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon” he said. “We must use a variety of tools and methods against its nuclear programme, its regional policies, and its terror activity.”

The International Atomic Energy Agency is due to release its latest report on Iran’s uranium enrichment this week.

National Security Council head Tzachi Hanegbi told delegates on Monday that Netanyahu had told world leaders Israel would have no alternative act if they detect uranium enrichment above 60%.

“Let's hope we don't get to that moment, but we're preparing for it,” he said.

Former defense minister and opposition party leader Benny Gantz addressed the conference, and similarly had a warning for the gathering.

He noted: “Israel is under a multi-pronged attack, involving Iran, which operates throughout the world, in Ukraine and the Middle East, which finances Hezbollah,

university administrators, campus leaders and non-Jewish students to take antisemitism seriously.”

Ambassador Ronald Lauder, WJC President, added, “This study provides concrete evidence that not enough is being done by school administrators and government officials to protect Jewish students from hate. It’s clear something is very wrong with our education system when more than fifty percent of Jewish students in America have observed an antisemitic incident. It is absolutely unacceptable that next-to-nothing has been done to address this until now.”

Lauder vowed to support Jewish students taking on bigots and threats of retribution they face daily.

He said: “Through our partnership with Jewish on Campus we will continue to elevate their voices as they fight back against the endless stream of verbal and physical attacks.”

Students were asked about the believability of examples of antisemitism, including common antisemitic tropes and the Holocaust. The findings revealed a significant disparity between Jewish and general public students, including on understanding the Holocaust.

The survey revealed 32% of Jewish students were aware of JOC.

The non-profit organisation run by Jewish college students was founded in 2020. JOC collates antisemitism stories from thousands of students around the world to help change lives on campus.

Barnea

Hamas and Islamic Jihad, which seeks to create a circle of terror that surrounds Israel. In this context, an offensive policy must be implemented. We must act kinetically and directly against Iran and its proxies in the region, and beyond, in a way that will damage the terrorist infrastructure, and strengthen deterrence. All this while understanding and being prepared for the meanings of these actions.”

Gantz added that an accord with Saudi Arabia would help deal with terrorism.

“An agreement that will strengthen the moderate elements in the West Bank will weaken the terrorist organisations in in the West Bank, Gaza and Lebanon, and will be good for Israel,” he explained.

“I hear about those who talk about 'concessions to the Palestinians' and suggest that we all wait and see the outline. We will support an agreement that will serve the broad interests of the State of Israel.”

David

Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Dominguez

PHOTO: GPO

Herzog hosts Presidential Medal of Honour Ceremony

BY DAVID SAFFER

President Isaac Herzog awarded the Presidential Medal of Honour to individuals who have made an extraordinary contribution to the State of Israel, Jewish people and humanity.

To mark the 75th year of the State of Israel, 13 people active in Israel and the Diaspora were honoured at the President's Residence in Jerusalem. Recipients were 35 to 102 years of age.

The accolade is an initiative of Israel’s ninth President, Shimon Peres. Herzog established an advisory committee chaired by Yoram Danzinger to nominate candidates. Herzog said: “Having a shared foundation is what provides stability and strength for growth and prosperity. Prosperity based on great diversity is woven into the Israeli presidency. It is a guiding light in daily activities manifested in the ‘Dialogue in the Community’ initiative we launched a few months ago.

“This idea has been with our people for thousands of years since the 12 Tribes of Israel. Even biblical commentators who describe the splitting of the Red Sea refer to 12 separate paths within the sea, each tribe in its own path. They emphasised a partnership that is a deep and ancient alliance, an alliance of fate and an alliance of destiny. This Jewish idea, of connected diversity and partnership, has become a Zionist and Israeli ideal.”

Addressing recipients, Herzog said: “You have been privileged to do good, to make a dramatic contribution. Every one of you is worthy of receiving the highest civilian decoration in Israel.”

He added, “Thank you for your contribution, for the ray of light you represent in these difficult days when polarisation and division are prevalent. Thank you for reminding us all that it is possible to live together despite diversity to establish an exemplary, shared society founded on values and generosity on the roots of the past and dreams of the future for the prosperity of the State of Israel.”

Recipients were Chava Alberstein, Adi Altschuler, Professor Meir Buzaglo, Professor Irwin Cotler, Rabbi Menachem HaCohen, Professor Mona Khoury, Maj.-Gen. (res.) Dan Tolkowsky, Carmela Menashe, Bibras Natcho, Dr. Assad Araidy and Lena Shtern.

Kemach was honoured for prompting Charedi employment, Moroccan statesman was also recognised.

Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog attended a state memorial ceremony for Peres at Mount Herzl earlier in the day.

Herzog paid tribute to Peres as a leader of

“vision and hope” who built Israel's security on what was the centenary of his birth.

He noted: “The State of Israel has been in the midst of an acute constitutional and social crisis for almost nine months, which has dangerously shaken the society, the economy, and especially the security of the State. There is no way to a solution without dialogue. We must understand that if one side wins and one side is defeated, we all lose. We must resolve the difficult and dangerous crisis between different branches of government and determine a correct balance of powers between them.

“Israeli society democracy must be preserved based on the rule of law, which

includes full compliance with the decisions of the court. These are days of soul-searching and introspection and everyone should think carefully about the consequences of our actions.”

Herzog called for elected officials to show responsibility to reach a broad consensus.

He continued: “It is time to reach out, time to respond in kind, it is time to try. The vast majority of the public wishes to see an end to this crisis, oust this controversy from the daily agenda and start working together on the things that truly matter. When polarisation and division are at a high, and it seems that some of us find it difficult to imagine a shared and hopeful future, we must adopt the outlook that Shimon always carried with him. Even at the height of anxiety, we must focus on calmly finding a way out of the crisis through dialogue.”

Herzog added: “Crisis is part and parcel of the human experience. All human beings, societies and nations have gone through crises. But human nature not only allows us to overcome the greatest crises, but also requires of us to do so.”

Herzog called on everyone to learn from Peres. “Israeli society is stronger than any crisis,” he said.

President Herzog and medal winners

PHOTO: GPO

ATTENTION HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS

If you are a Holocaust survivor who has not received any compensation payment (either from the Claims Conference or German or Austrian governments), please call us immediately. You may be entitled.

The Claims Conference has negotiated the following liberalizations of criteria to compensation funds with the German government HARDSHIP FUND – SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENT Jewish Nazi victims eligible for the Hardship Fund have been approved for annual Supplemental Payments of approximately €1,200 in 2023 through 2027. If you already received a Hardship Fund Supplemental Payment (meaning payments over the two years of €2,400), you don’t have to apply again. You will only need to provide Proof of Life. Please register with Paneem for the 2023 payment (you will need to do this every year through 2027). You will hear from us to validate via Paneem. If you have moved, or don’t hear from us, please contact us. If you have never applied, the deadline for the 2023 payment is December 31, 2023.

Holocaust survivors who were previously ineligible to receive the Supplemental Hardship Fund payments because they received one-time German government payments (for example from Länderhärtefonds) are now eligible to apply for the supplemental payment. Survivors who receive a German or Austrian pension for persecution during the Holocaust (BEG, Article 2 Fund, Regional Specific Program (RSP), Austrian Victims Pension (Opferausweis)) are not eligible to receive the Hardship Supplemental Fund Payment.

NEWLY APPROVED OPEN GHETTOS: Jewish Holocaust survivors who were persecuted in the open ghettos identified below, for at least three months, may be eligible for a monthly pension from the Article 2 or CEE Fund:

• In Romania, survivors persecuted in Bucharest, Adjud, Beiuş, Blaj, Caracal, Dumbrăveni, Făgăraş, Haţeg, Luduş, Mediaş, Nălaţ-Vad, Oraviţa, Păclişa, Piteşti, Şărmaşu, Sighişoara, Târnăveni, Tinca, Turnu Severin, Arad, Braila, Brasov, Buhusi, Călărași, Deva, Dorohoi, Fălticeni, Huși, Ilia, Lugoj, Ploeşti, Podul Iloaiei, Sibiu, Suceava, Târgu Frumos, Timisoara, Turda, Alba Iulia, BaCau. Barlad, Botosani, Buzau, Costanta, Craiova, Focasni, Galatz, Harlau, Iasi, Pascani, Piatra Neamt, Roman, Romanicu Sarat, Stefanesti, Targu Mures, Targu Neamt, Tecuci, and Vaslui, between August 1941 and August 1944;

• In Bulgaria, survivors persecuted in Dobrich, Kazanlŭk, Kŭrdzhali, Lovech, Nevrokop (a.k.a. Gotse Delchev), Nikopol, Plovdiv, Popovo, Preslav, Provadiya, Turgovishte, and Yambol (Jambol), between September 1942 and September 1944. In addition, all pension recipients who were in one of the open ghettos in Romania or Bulgaria named above and born after January 1, 1928, may be entitled to a one-time payment from the Child Survivor Fund administered by the Claims Conference.

Note: Jewish Nazi victims from these open ghettos in Romania and Bulgaria may also be entitled to a pension from the ZRBG (Ghetto Pension). This pension is not administered by the Claims Conference. Please contact a German embassy or consulate near you or https://www.germany.info/us-en/service/07-Pension/ghetto-financial-compensation/920638

CHILD SURVIVOR FUND

In addition to the other eligible applicants listed above, the Child Survivor Fund may also provide a one-time payment to those who are among the One Thousand Children amounting to €2,500 (approximately $2,500) per person. Approximately 1,400 children were forced to leave their parents behind when they were rescued from Nazi Germany and Nazi-occupied countries and taken to the United States. Please contact us to learn the details of eligibility.

PAYMENT TO SPOUSES OF DECEASED ARTICLE 2/CEE FUND BENEFICIARIES

The Claims Conference will provide payments to eligible spouses of deceased recipients of the Article 2, Central and Eastern European (CEE) Funds. A spouse of an Article 2/CEE Fund beneficiary may, upon the death of the Article 2/CEE Fund beneficiary, be entitled to receive payments for up to 9 months, paid in three quarterly installments, if the following conditions apply:

1. The spouse is alive at the date of the payment; and

2. The spouse was married to the Article 2/CEE Fund beneficiary at the time of death of the Article 2/CEE Fund beneficiary; and

3. The Article 2/CEE Fund recipient passed away at any point while he or she was receiving a payment from the program. The spouse of a Holocaust survivor must be alive at the time of each payment. Other heirs, including children, are not entitled to receive any payment. To download an application from our website, please go to: www.claimscon.org/apply

The German government established a similar program for surviving spouses of monthly Holocaust compensation pensions made under German Federal Indemnification Law, other German federal compensation laws or governmental programs, (sometimes referred to as Wiedergutmachung), for Holocaust survivors who passed away January 1st, 2020 or later. For more information, please check with the BADV or download the application from the BADV website at https://www.badv.bund.de/DE/OffeneVermoegensfragen/UebergangsleistungenEhegattenNSOpfer/antrag.html.

REGION-SPECIFIC PERSECUTION (RSP) PENSION A pension program was created for survivors, who currently do not receive pensions who were, for at least three months in: (i) the Leningrad Siege (ii) persecuted in Romania or (iii) hiding in France. Income/Asset criteria of the Article 2/CEE Funds apply. Meeting the RSP persecution criteria shall entitle a survivor to a payment from the Child Survivor Fund if the age criteria (born in or after 1928) is met.

Claims Conference

Postfach 90 05 43

60445 Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Tel: +49-69-970-7010 Fax: +49-69-9707-0140

E-mail: A2-HF-CEEF2@claimscon.org

WJR Morocco earthquake appeal

BY DAVID SAFFER

International aid organisations continue to offer assistance to Morocco following a 6.8 magnitude earthquake 70km south of Marrakesh last Friday.

Approaching 3,000 people have died and 5,530 were injured. Figures for fatalities and injured are expected to rise as rescue crews continue to search. But hopes are fading of finding survivors.

Most of the dead were in Al Haouz region in the High Atlas Mountains, near the epicenter. Many victims were buried under collapsed buildings, the government said. An estimated 300,000 people are affected by the quake after the country’s deadliest earthquake in six decades.

Friday’s quake was felt in Portugal and Algeria, according to the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere and Algeria’s Civil Defense agency.

Morocco has observed three days of national mourning.

There are about 2,100 Jewish citizens of Morocco, most living in the Casablanca area. According to Israel's Foreign Ministry, there are 468 Israeli citizens in Morocco, all accounted for.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu led offers of help from Israel and sent condolences to Moroccan King Mohammed VI. Netanyahu instructed all government bodies and forces to provide any necessary assistance to the people of Morocco, including an

aid delegation to the area.

President Isaac Herzog, said: “Israel is ready to help as needed.”

Ambassador Ronald Lauder, World Jewish Congress, released a statement: “We are in contact with the Jewish community in Morocco, they will have our full support in the weeks and months ahead.”

World Jewish Relief has launched a Morocco earthquake emergency appeal.

Hundreds of aftershocks, including one of 3.9 magnitude, have caused further damage to already fragile buildings. The extent of the destruction is still being realised.

The earthquake hit the Jewish quarter Marrakesh’s Old City, at least two historic synagogues built by Sephardic communities were reported damaged.

Food, water, tents, and medicines are the main needs reported. In the mountains it is warm during the day, but freezing at night so blankets are essential.

Jews have been a part of Moroccan history for thousands of years, many in the UK Jewish community and beyond have deep connections to the country. Through experienced partners in the region, WJR will provide life-saving supplies to those within and beyond the Jewish community.

Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, Masorti Judaism said: “Every Yom Kippur we pray that peoples’ houses should not become their

graves. We cannot stand by when just such a tragedy has overtaken central Morocco, killing thousands and destroying the homes and livelihoods of thousands more. WJR is acting as our collective conscience and leading our response.”

Paul Anticoni, WJR CEO Chief, added: “The earthquake has left a trail of devastation in its path which will be felt for many years to come. We know that food, water and shelter will be critical in the short-term. With the backing of the Jewish community, WJR will work closely with partners to support those directly affected by the earthquake.”

Marrakesh has about 200 full-time Jewish residents, thousands of Jewish tourists visit the ancient Jewish quarter every year.

Rabbi Shimon and Rachel Lahiany serve as co-directors of Chabad Marrakesh.

Chabad Casablanca director Rabbi Levi Banon travelled with rabbinical students and volunteers on Sunday morning to the devastated Old City of Marrakesh. The group took warm meals and essentials to victims now homeless. Rabbi Banon told Chabad: “It’s good to be able to help everyone in need, and we are in touch with local authorities to see what more we can do.”

Chabad has served the Moroccan Jewish community since the late 1940s, initially through the Sixth Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzhak Schneersohn, then the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson who sent Rabbi Michoel and Taibel Lipskar to Meknes, Morocco, as Chabad’s first permanent emissaries in North Africa. The Lipskars established a yeshivah and led the Jewish community for decades.

Rabbi Leibel and Rebbetzin Raizel Raskin served the country’s Jews for 44 years until his passing in 2004. Rebbetzin Raskin remains director of Chabad Morocco.

She appointed Rabbi Levi and Chana Banon to lead the next generation of Moroccan Jewry.

Earlier this year, a historic conference of rabbis from Africa, the Middle East and Europe was hosted in Fez by Moroccan-born Rabbi Banon and his wife.

WJR’s fundraising appeal: https:// www.worldjewishrelief.org/ morocco-earthquake-appeal/

Israeli companies to attend COP28

BY ADAM MOSES

Thirty technology companies will represent Israel at the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) in Dubai in November.

Israel’s ‘national pavilion’ will explore investment opportunities with international corporations, investment entities, and venture capital funds operating in the climate-tech sector.

The Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Environmental Protection, Innovation and Science and Technology will attend along with Israel Innovation Authority and the Export Institute.

Companies will showcase Israel's standing in climate innovation to tackle the global climate crisis.

The IAA led the selection process in close collaboration with the Ministry of Environmental Protection.

Over 100 heads of state, the private sector, civil society, academia and financial institutions will attend with some 100,000 delegates.

Climate-tech companies will include energy, water, agriculture, sustainable manufacturing, green construction, food technology, transportation, circular economy, waste management, environmental protection and carbon capture sectors.

The enterprises will present innovative

solutions that have begun to reduce emissions and adapt to climate change illustrating Israel's position as a global leader in the global climate crisis.

Ronen Levy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said: “The Climate Conference is the most important and significant global event where world leaders come together to discuss ways to combat the climate crisis. The delegation of technology companies will bring innovative solutions and breakthroughs to the international stage and will hold a series of high-level meetings to assist countries dealing with climate challenges such as wildfires, floods, water scarcity and heatwaves. This is an exceptional opportunity for the Israeli industry.”

Dror Bin, Israel Innovation Authority, stated, “By showcasing Israeli climate-tech innovations on the international stage we can provide excellent exposure for these pioneering companies and foster collaborations, inspire others and leverage Israel's leadership potential in the global climate arena. In recent years, climate tech has become one of the hottest sectors in Israeli high-tech, attracting a wave of entrepreneurs, investors, and corporations aiming to contribute to the fight against climate change. These trailblazing companies have shown exceptional commitment to addressing the pressing global challenges of climate

change. Their groundbreaking technologies and solutions have the potential to revolutionise entire industries and significantly contribute to a sustainable future."

Ayelet Nahmias-Verbin, The Export Institute, added, “Israel has been dealing with environmental challenges for a long time. Israeli innovation began with local problems that were unique to Israel and later became global issues. The Israeli industry has become a global leader in technology thanks to the challenges and original thinking. Participation in COP provides global exposure not only to governments but also to investors and multi-national corporations, showcasing Israeli technological capabilities. Based on our experience from COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, I am confident that we can create unique business opportunities that will advance Israeli technology exports.”

Idit Silman, Minister of Environmental Protection, stated, "We are pleased to once again lead the annual climate conference, together with our partners in Israel and internationally. There is a close connection between Israel's technological potential and the enormous challenge posed by climate change. The ministry supports innovative Israeli startups working in various environmental and climate-related fields aiming to strengthen the local ecosystem

through fruitful cooperation with the Innovation Authority and other stakeholders. The ministry will continue to assist climate tech startups in transitioning from the idea stage to proven startups in the international market.”

Ofir Akunis, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, said, “The Dubai COP is a tremendous opportunity to showcase Israeli capabilities both in general and in the climate tech field in particular. The selected companies, along with many others operating in this field, represent Israel's proud industry, which leads and will continue to lead and present its best face to the world. I am confident that the Israeli pavilion will be at the center of the entire exhibition, reinforcing Israel's international collaboration and enhancing our country's diplomatic position.”

Selected companies: HomeBiogas, UBQ Materials, Envomed, BlueGreen Water Technologies, Asterra, Clariter, GenCell, Salicrop, Liwa Bio-Technologies, TaKaDu. Startups: Slibio, CAPSULE-Minimal, Sphere, Gigablue, Criaterra, ImaginDairy, GreenEye Tech, AgroScout, Copprint, Daika Wood, ANINA, NT-Tao, Xfloat, BeeHero, SolCold, CarbonBlue, Meat.The End, BioBetter Technology Incubators: i4Valley and NET ZERO.

Surveying the devastation following the earthquake PHOTO: WJR

NJA condemns Yachad Biden appoints Lew ambassador to Israel

The National Jewish Assembly has expressed concern over Hannah Weisfeld's recent statement in Parliament regarding the proposed Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill.

Whilst representatives from the Board of Deputies, Jewish Leadership Council and Conservative Friends of Israel conveyed their respective organisations’ support of the Bill, Weisfeld, Director of Yachad, made troubling claims that mischaracterise the true intention of the Bill and misrepresent the sentiments of the British Jewish community.

A spokesman said: “Weisfeld's statement implies that the bill is solely aimed at silencing Israel's critics, which is a gross misrepresentation of its purpose. The proposed legislation seeks to prevent public bodies from using their powers to boycott or divest from countries, including Israel. This is not an attack on free speech but a measure to ensure public bodies act responsibly in international affairs by curtailing the ability of Local Authorities and other public bodies from acting in opposition to national governmental policy.

“Weisfeld's statement cited a motion passed at the UJS conference, yet glossed over the contentious nature of the motion, failing to acknowledge the significant opposition it faced.”

Young NJA Vice Chair Gavriel Solomons explained: ‘The reason why, at the last UJS convention, no attendee voted against a motion opposing the anti-BDS bill currently

being debated in parliament, is that the event was dominated by an organised contingent of left-wing activists, including many affiliated with Yachad, that those who opposed the motion saw no purpose in voting against it and abstained.’

Solomons added: ‘The usage of this motion by UJS, Yachad, individuals and organisations has been manipulative and dishonest. Had myself and others attending UJS convention known that our abstentions were to be used as a justification for individuals to claim in parliament that British Jewish students, as a collective, including approximately 95% who did not attend UJS convention out of disaffection with the organisation and event, unanimously oppose the government's bill, we would have seen fit to vote against the motion.’

An NJA spokesman added: “Opposition to this legislation is misguided but aligns with positions of antisemites and movements like BDS, which target Israel and are bent on its destruction. By opposing this Bill, Yachad and others risk inadvertently endorsing efforts to single out Israel for boycotts and divestment without facing consequences.

“We urge Jewish communal organisations who take a position on the Bill to restrain from mischaracterising and misrepresenting the intention of the Bill and sentiments of the community.”

The NJA calls on Parliament to pass the Bill, recognising its intent to promote responsible conduct by public bodies in overseas matters.

BY HARRY SIMONS

US President Joe Biden is to nominate Jacob J. Lew as Ambassador to Israel.

Lew, 68, is set to replace Tom Nides, Biden’s first ambassador to Israel, after two years in office.

He needs support from the Senate for confirmation of the post.

An Orthodox Jew, Lew has enjoyed a distinguished career in public service.

He has held a number of posts including US Treasury Secretary and chief of staff under former President Barack Obama. He was also Director of the Office of Management and Budget under Obama and former President Bill Clinton. As Special Assistant to President Clinton, he was an architect of the national service program, Americorps.

Lew is managing partner of Lindsay Goldberg LLC and a visiting professor of international and public affairs at Columbia University.

Prior to joining the Obama-Biden Administration, Lew served as managing director and chief operating officer for two Citigroup business units. Earlier he was executive vice president and chief operating officer of New York University and a professor of public administration in the Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.

He currently chairs the board of the National Committee on United States-China Relations, is co-president of the board of the National Library of Israel USA and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Lew graduated from Harvard and Georgetown University.

We can help you make your dream of celebrating ' next year in Jerusalem ' Israel, a reality!

We are experienced experts, with professional contacts, and passion to make your Aliyah journey a success. We will support you every step of the way, from finding a place to live to getting a job. We will help you navigate the red tape and make sure you have everything you need to make your Aliyah easy Don't

Jacob J. Lew

PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA

Judean ‘war’ weapons discovered

BY LEAH WAXLER

Roman ‘war’ weapons have been discovered in a cave in the ‘En Gedi Nature Reserve.

Four 1,900-year-old swords preserved in wooden and leather scabbards and a shafted pilum weapon were found. It is believed the weapons were hidden by Judean rebels. Excavations were carried out in the Judean Desert caves as part of a national project initiated by the Israel Antiquities Authority with Ministry of Heritage. Hundreds of caves have been investigated over the past six years and 24 excavations have been carried out in selected caves.

“The hiding of the swords and the pilum in deep cracks in the isolated cave north of ‘En Gedi, hints that the weapons were taken as booty from Roman soldiers or from the battlefield, and purposely hidden by the Judean rebels for reuse,” commented Dr. Eitan Klein of the Judean Desert Survey Project. “Obviously, the rebels did not want to be caught by the Roman authorities carrying these weapons. We are just beginning the research on the cave. We will try to determine whether it was at the time of the Bar Kokhba Revolt.”

Artifacts date to the Chalcolithic period (c. 6,000 years ago) and Roman period (c. 2,000 years ago). At the entrance to the cave, a Bar-Kokhba bronze coin from the time of the Revolt was found.

Amir Ganor, Antiquities Looting

Prevention Unit at the IAA, said: “In the course of the project, we unfortunately encountered tens of caves that have been plundered since 1947. We managed to save these fascinating finds for the benefit of the public and researchers around the world.”

Dr. Asaf Gayer, Ariel University, added: “The inscription and the weapons teach us a new chapter in the way in which the Jewish population exploited the Judean Desert caves in different periods.”

Rabbi Amichai Eliyahu, Minister of Heritage observed: “The discovery serves as

Bibi to address General Assembly

BY HARRY SIMONS

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will address the United Nations General Assembly next week.

Netanyahu’s office released an itinerary for his forthcoming US visit, which does not include an official meeting with US President Joe Biden in a packed schedule. The two leaders are however expected to meet at some point but not as was expected, and hoped for by Israel’s leader, at the White House.

US officials described the omission of a high profile meeting of Biden and Netanyahu in Washington as a technicality.

Biden has voiced concern over Netanyahu's government regarding the ongoing judicial reform issues.

further evidence of the enduring tradition of the people of Israel, emphasising the significance of the written word and the sword, symbolising both our spiritual and physical heritage.”

Eli Escusido, IAA added: “This is a unique time capsule, there are fragments of scrolls, coins from the Jewish Revolt, leather sandals, and now even swords in their scabbards, sharp as if they had only just been hidden away today. The Judean Desert Survey is writing new pages in history books.”

Netanyahu travels to California to meet with AI experts to explore opportunities. He has expressed ambitions to make Israel a leader in AI.

It has not been announced how long Netanyahu will stay in California but he will then travel on to New York where he will address the General Assembly on Friday.

Netanyahu is expected to hold meetings with politicians, potentially one with Biden, business leaders and community officials.

Netanyahu will leave the US in time to arrive back in Israel before Ben Gurion Airport airport closes for Yom Kippur.

Conservators Ilan Naor and Lena Kupershmidt with the swords PHOTO: ISRAEL ANTIQUITIES AUTHORITY

Papua opens Jerusalem embassy NJA hosts Elsdunne

The National Jewish Assembly hosted a successful virtual event featuring Dean Elsdunne, International Spokesperson for the Israel Police, as guest speaker.

The event, titled ‘Truth vs Perception of the Israel Police: Bridging the Gap’. drew an audience of over 30 NJA members and guests.

Elsdunne's presentation covered a wide range of topics, offering valuable insights into the contemporary challenges faced by the Israel Police. He emphasised the critical importance of seeking the truth in media reporting and narratives to counter the spread of incorrect and biased information that can distort the activities and intentions of the Israel Police.

During the event, Elsdunne addressed questions from the audience, fostering an open and informative discussion.

Among topics discussed were recent violent clashes involving members of the Eritrean community in Israel, showcasing the Israel Police's commitment to maintaining peace and order in a diverse society.

A spokesman said: “Elsdunne provided valuable insights into emerging issues such as cryptocurrency financing of crime and terrorism, shedding light on the Israel Police's efforts to stay ahead of evolving criminal tactics. He also elaborated on Israel's relationship with INTERPOL and its implications for international law enforcement cooperation.

“We are proud to have facilitated this event, which promoted constructive dialogue and greater understanding of the challenges and responsibilities faced by the Israel Police.”

The NJA thanked Elsdunne for an informative and engaging presentation and wished the Israel Police ‘kol hakavod’ in its challenging work.

The organisation is dedicated to hosting events that educate and enlighten the community on matters of significance, and details of all upcoming events can be found on the NJA website.

BY HARRY SIMONS

Papua New Guinea are the first Asian-Pacific country to open an embassy in Jerusalem.

Israeli leaders attended the official opening attended by Papua’s Prime Minister James Marape, who led the Papua delegation.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion headed Israel’s contingent. Netanyahu was moved by the Papua anthem.

“Much of the origin of this prayer was in this city, it's been our capital for the last three thousand years,” he said. “This is where so much of our heritage emerged, where our values were forged and where our prophets prophesied. This is where so many of the eternal values that we hold dear were created and disseminated to the people of Israel.

“It's fitting that a state and a people so deeply committed to these values open an embassy in Jerusalem. We're very proud and very appreciative of that fact.”

Netanyahu said it was important to cherish the past, but also to seize the future.

“Papua New Guinea is a big country with big opportunities, having an embassy here will enable us to realise all these potentials, in agriculture, water, technology, health and enterprise.”

Cohen added: “Strengthening the

international status of Jerusalem strengthens the international status of the State of Israel. I commend your government for the important decision to establish your embassy in the capital of Israel. The decision will deepen the relationship between Israel and Papua New Guinea, which has proven itself a true friend of Israel in the international arena as well.”

He added: “Opening embassy draws us another step closer to the goal we set at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of having 100 embassies in Israel and doubling the number of representations in our capital Jerusalem. The Ministry will continue to work in order to prove the value of Israel to the world and to advance cooperation with countries on the basis of our high capabilities in innovation, economic matters and science.”

Marape met with Netanyahu and with Cohen to discuss bilateral relations. The sides expressed a desire to expand cooperation in a range of areas, especially advanced agriculture.

Prime Minister Netanyahu signs documents at the ceremony

Dean Elsdunne

PHOTO: GPO

by Rabbi David Sutton Dr. David Katzenstein

The Art of Being You is an uplifting, easy-to-read book that will help you become your very best, find inner peace, and harness the power of faith and reliance on Hashem.

Using humor, charming illustrations, true stories, and practical insights from Jewish sages, as well as guidance from professionals, renowned Torah educator and bestselling author Rabbi David Sutton joins forces with noted therapist Dr. David Katzenstein, DSW, LCSW-R, to give us a book designed to help change your life for the better.

These fifty daily lessons are practical, accessible, and relatable, making The Art of Being You a guide to a more content, satisfying, and meaningful life.

People who want to “live higher.” Rabbi Binyomin Pruzansky knows all about those kinds of people, and he knows the stories they tell. He’ll tell you about the barber who brought an angry young man back to Torah observance – with a shaver. The terror victim, still suffering from his wounds, limping towards the shul’s menorah to light a candle of defiance and faith. Stories of hashgachah, emunah, and transcendence. Stories that show how people can live higher. Stories that inspire us to live higher as well.

Business as Usual

OPINION PIECE

BY ROBERT FESTENSTEIN

As Rosh Hashana approaches it is natural to consider what has happened over the last year and what might be focussed upon during the ten days of awe between the starting of Rosh Hashanha and the end of Yom Kippur.

Prior to this personal time of introspection I wondered what might be a good subject for my last piece before the New Year. Looking back, I see that many of my articles have centred on the ‘Two State Solution’; that mantra chanted by politicians and Jewish communal leaders alike. It is as I have said before, the password to allow discussion on Israel and Zionism. Unless these three words are said together early on in the conversation, it is unlikely that any sensible discussion is to be had.

I have been saying for some time that as matters stand and for some time now there can be no Two State Solution - TSS. It came as no surprise therefore when I read Stephen Pollard’s article in the JC

this week. His article was based upon Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ latest antisemitic tirade, in a speech in August this year before senior members of his Fatah party in Ramallah Abbas said:

“They say that Hitler killed the Jews because they were Jews and that Europe hated the Jews because they were Jews. Not true. It was clearly explained that the Europeans fought the Jews because of their social role, and not their religion.

“Several authors wrote about this. Even Karl Marx said this was not true. He said that the enmity was not directed at Judaism as a religion but to Judaism for its social role.

“The Europeans fought against these

people because of their role in society, which had to do with usury, money, and so on and so forth.”

There you have it. A clear and unambiguous declaration that the Jews were to blame for their own fate due to their own behaviour. Mr Pollard believes that despite these words and many more like them, no-one is going to take very much interest. I agree with him, because to do so would fundamentally undermine the groupthink both within and without UK Jewry. The idea of the TSS is essentially the only solution. Nothing else is discussed, nothing else is even considered. Its not even the TSS or nothing, It is just the TSS, end of.

BoD PRESIDENT MARIE VAN DER ZYL

nation. I wish him much success. Leading the service on that day was the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. We were delighted that he accepted our invitation to be interviewed by historian and novelist Simon Sebag Montefiore at Bevis Marks Synagogue this summer. We invited every Board of Deputies-affiliated synagogue to send representatives to this wonderful event. The Archbishop spoke with great passion of his personal commitment to fighting antisemitism, the duty of care that universities have for their Jewish students and the historic relationship between the Church and the Jewish community. His views were both heartfelt and heartwarming for all who were there.

Which is why I could see nothing on the Board of Deputies or Jewish Leadership Council’s websites about this. No real surprise since it would be the equivalent of the Jewish Vegetarian Society advertising a hog roast on Kol Nidre night. Utterly unthinkable.

The whole idea of peace between Israel and the Palestinians was and is based upon the TSS. That is not going to happen, so what now? The starting point has to be thinking the unthinkable, something different to the TSS which is plain to see will just not work. Working out an alternative is hard enough, but what will be even harder is for those attached to the TSS for so many years to accept it needs to be cut free and for the search for that alternative to begin.

Robert Festenstein is a practising solicitor and has been the principal of his Salford based firm for over 20 years. He has fought BDS motions to the Court of Appeal and is President of the Zionist Central Council in Manchester which serves to protect and defend the democratic State of Israel.

MARIE VAN DER ZYL OBE PRESIDENT, BOARD OF DEPUTIES

This Rosh Hashanah, I would like to focus on two wonderful events which demonstrate the esteem in which the Jewish community is held in this country. The first of these was the coronation of King Charles III in May. I was privileged to be invited to represent the Jewish community at the coronation. The King has said on a number of occasions that he wishes to be the ‘protector of faiths’ and he has been as good as his word. Having experienced King Charles’ warmth towards our community on several occasions, I know he will be a wonderful monarch both for the Jewish community and the wider

The Board’s key work is in two areas. Firstly, we engage with politicians, civil society, and other faith groups throughout the UK at national, regional and local level, sharing with them the Jewish community’s views about a wide range of topics including antisemitism, Israel, religious practice and social issues. Secondly, we work proactively to advance causes of great concern to our community. For example, we run Pikuach (The Jewish Ofsted) to inspect our Jewish schools, helping to ensure they provide an excellent Jewish education. We also have our Jewish Living Experience Exhibition, which is travelling around the country educating children and adults about

the Jewish way of life, and we are developing a new on-line digital programme to teach non-Jewish children around the UK about Jews, Judaism, Israel and antisemitism.

There are still threats to the safety of our community. We have previously campaigned successfully to have both Hezbollah and Hamas proscribed in their entirety as terrorist organisations. We strongly believe that the Government has a duty to ban the state-sponsored terror group the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). In July we held an event in Parliament which featured impassioned evidence from advocates of proscription.

There is still bias against Israel in the media. One particularly egregious example occurred recently when a BBC News presenter, in an interview with former

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, said that “Israeli forces are happy to kill children”. We contacted the BBC’s Director General to protest in the strongest possible terms. On this occasion the BBC apologised swiftly for the unacceptable language, but we must continue to be vigilant and proactive.

This is but a snapshot of the extensive and varied work the Board of Deputies carries out for the Jewish community. We do all this on an extremely modest budget, largely funded by your communal contribution. We are very grateful for your support; please know that whatever your interests or concerns as members of our community, the Board of Deputies is here to advocate on your behalf.

I wish everyone a Shana Tovah and a happy year ahead.

I have been saying for some time that as matters stand and for some time now there can be no Two State Solution…

Letters to the Editor

AMICHAI CHIKLI’S UK VISIT

Dear Editor,

Put yourself in the shoes of Amichai Chikli, Israel’s diaspora minister, as he returned home to Israel after a short visit to London last week. What impression will the British Jewish leadership have created on him? I would argue that three principal thoughts came to his mind.

First, the way he was treated was not befitting an Israeli government minister. He will obviously appreciate that many (but certainly not all) in the UK will object to his government’s policies in several arenas, not least judicial reform. Yet protests, the visit cancellation by JW3 and major community leaders refusing to be seen with him will, he will conclude, say much more about them than about him or the government in which he serves. He would be right.

Second, Mr Chikli has made it clear in the past that he believes that judicial reform issues – and for that matter other internal Israeli political matters – are for Israelis alone to solve and not for diaspora community organisations to opine on.

Of course, we all have our own private views, which we often give vent to at dinner on Friday evenings, but for community organisations in the UK to embark on megaphone diplomacy is entirely patronising to Israelis – they do not speak out about the UK’s internal issues so why should we speak about theirs? Chikli has already told no less a person that the President of the United States to mind his own business, and he will take a similar attitude to UK Jewish leaders. And again, he would be right to do so. Third – and this is the most important point – he will consider that it was a missed opportunity for the British Jewish community. There are many important topics to discuss where correspondence and possible collaboration with the Israeli government would help.

Examples include (i) the fight against BDS, which is centre stage in this country right now and we want to see that fight succeed, not just here,

but all over the world. What can we do to help? What can Israel do to help? (ii) the overall perennial war against the Jew-haters, a battle that will never be over but must be continually fought – how can Israel assist us and communities in other countries?; The need to support Israel’s right to exist in the diaspora – how can the organisational infrastructure of this vital campaign be improved? (iv) what is being done, and can be done in future, to help promote Jewish life more in the UK? Yes, Jewish schools are prospering, but are there other steps that can be taken, perhaps with help, advice and support from Israel? Our community leaders and other activists have mishandled the visit. I am however hoping for some much more constructive dialogue when Mr Chikli addresses the National Jewish Assembly later in the year.

Gary Mond Chairman, National Jewish Assembly

Israeli diaspora minister Amichai Chikli, NJA chairman Gary Mond and Ambassador Tzipi Hotovely

Bridge

Dealer: South Vuln: N/S

W N E S

Both pairs in a teams match reached 6♠. Both declarers received the opening lead of the queen of clubs.

At the first table, declarer called for dummy's ace of clubs. He cashed the king of trumps and was disappointed to see West discard a club. After leading the two of trumps to East's five and his ten, declarer led a heart. West rose with the ace of hearts and exited with the jack of clubs, taken by declarer with the king. Now there was no way for declarer to make a twelfth trick because he did not have the entries both to ruff a club and trump coup East.

At the second table, declarer took trick one in hand to lead a heart. West rose with the ace and exited with a club to now-bare ace. Next, declarer cashed the king of hearts and ruffed a heart. Only then did he lead a trump to king, getting the bad news of the 4-0 trump break. Declarer continued by ruffing a second heart, then cashing the king and ace of diamonds and ruffing a diamond. At trick eleven, declarer ruffed his remaining club with dummy's queen of trumps, for his tenth trick. Declarer could then claim the last two tricks, as his ace-ten of trumps was over East's jack-seven.

Declarer made 6 trumps, 1 Heart, 2 Diamonds, 2 Clubs and 1 club ruffed.

Help us to support deaf people in crisis as only we can

We are living in a hearing world that presents obstacles and barriers everywhere for deaf people. We never know where we’ll be needed next, but one thing is for certain - when nobody else can help, we will move mountains and find a way. Our services are in greater demand than ever before, so please help us to keep enabling every deaf person to live the very best life they can.

Please donate now: Scan the QR code, visit jdeaf.org.uk or call 020 8446 0502

With Harold Schogger

Central build up for Rosh Hashanah

In the lead up to Rosh Hashanah, Central Synagogue has been busy and active.

In conjunction with Western Marble Arch Synagogue, Central Synagogue co-hosted a first night Choral Selichot service at Western Marble Arch Synagogue, Wallenberg Place, last Shabbat.

The two chazanim, Steven Leas of Central and Simon Cohen, who uplifted the congregation with their wonderful singing and traditional melodies, which uplifted the congregation, were supported by members of the Central Synagogue choir.

Inspiring addresses were given by Rabbi Barry Lerer of Central and Rabbi Daniel Epstein of Western Marble Arch, to an audience of some one hundred members and visitors, including Michael Goldstein,

President of the United Synagogue.

On Monday, Central Synagogue hosted a special Pre-Rosh Hashanah Tea Party attended by some thirty members and guests. Chazan Leas entertained the audience with some traditional and favourite High Holiday tunes.

Rabbi Lerer of Central Synagogue said, “I am delighted that the Synagogue is so active with its social activities and the Selichot service was truly magnificent, with Chazan Leas in superb form.”

Mervyn Druian, Chairman of Central, added, “I am very happy to see this level of activity at the Synagogue, and that our members thoroughly enjoyed these two events in the build up to Rosh Hashanah, which we are all looking forward to.”

Chazanim Steven Leas and Simon Cohen

Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis attended two Selichos services, the first was Bury Shul, then followed by Selichos at Stenecourt Shul led by Chazan Zevi Kraushar backed by Buchy Gluck and the Sameach Choir, this year celebrating it's 13th year.

PHOTO: LAWRENCE PURCELL

Chief Rabbi at Stenecourt Shul Selichos, with Shul Rav Rabbi Benjy Simmonds

Norwood resident tells Wes Streeting MP Norwood ‘make me feel like a princess’ on home visit in his local constituency

on Friday. The Labour Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care was accompanied on the visit by Norwood Chief Executive Naomi Dickson and JLC Co-Chief Executive Claudia Mendoza, who facilitated the meeting.

Speaking following the visit, in which Naomi Dickson introduced the work of Norwood and the charity’s mission to support people with learning disabilities and autism to live fulfilling lives of their choosing, Wes Streeting referenced a conversation with Norwood resident Sharon, who told him she loved living there, because Norwood ‘make me feel like a princess’.

“This has been a great visit,” he said. “It’s obviously really relevant to me, both as a local MP – I’m always keen to hear from local residents about how they’re finding things – but it’s also very relevant because as Labour Shadow Health & Social Care Secretary, Social Care is really high on my agenda. It’s been great being here today, because if there’s one thing I’m going to take away, it was talking to one of the residents, who said how much she loved being here and that she felt she was treated like a princess. And that says it all really. That’s exactly what I want to experience in terms of our social care services. I want them to feel like they’re having a wonderful time in a place they’re proud to call home, and that’s been really evident (at Norwood)

Radlett United Synagogue announces the appointment of a new rabbinic couple

Rabbi Nick studied for the Rabbinate at Netiv Aryeh in Jerusalem. He then studied Law at the University of Manchester.

Shira is a professional wig stylist and hairdresser, a budding painter and graphic/web designer, an accomplished cook and baker, and worked in interior design. She is passionate about social and educational programming for women.

The couple served Hale & District Hebrew Congregation in Cheshire for five years, and have been the community Rabbinic couple in Bushey for the last six years.

Radlett United Synagogue is delighted to announce the appointment of a new rabbinic couple. Rabbi Nick and Shira Kett were voted in by members receiving more than 99% of votes in favour.

Rabbi Nick and Shira are currently the Community Rabbi and Rebbetzen of Bushey & District United Synagogue and are taking over from Rabbi and Rebbetzen Hughes who stepped down this year.

Rabbi Nick was educated at JFS and grew up attending Belmont United Synagogue. Shira grew up in Hendon, attended Hendon United Synagogue and was educated at Hasmonean. The couple lived in Jerusalem when they first got married while

Rabbi Nick and Shira Kett said: “We are so excited and honoured to be given this opportunity to work with the Radlett community. They have already made us feel so welcome, and we look forward to formally becoming a part of the community and making Radlett our home.”

Stephen Grossman, the Chair of Radlett United Synagogue, said: “We are all so excited to have Rabbi Nick and Shira joining us as our new Rabbinic couple. Nine months ago when Rabbi and Rebbetzen Hughes told me that they would be stepping down, we immediately identified the Ketts as possible candidates. My team and I feel very honoured to have been able to recruit the Ketts to Radlett given they are a much sought-after couple.”

The Ketts have four children and hope to take up their new role by Chanukah this year.

today,” he added.

Expressing her gratitude for the visit, Naomi Dickson added: “We were very grateful to Wes Streeting MP for taking time out of his schedule to visit with some of the people we support at their home in his constituency. Visits like this offer an unprecedented opportunity for the people we support to engage with their local MP. For people with learning difficulties, accessibility and inclusion can be really hard to come by, particularly when it comes to political representation, and it’s really important for us to be able to facilitate those conversations, with the support of JLC who organised the visit, and empower the people we support to have their voices heard and reflected in wider society.”

Claudia Mendoza, co-Chief Executive of the Jewish Leadership Council (JLC) added: “It was wonderful to see first hand the extraordinary work that Norwood do at their centre in Redbridge. We were pleased to have facilitated this visit with the Shadow Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting. We know that he was hugely impressed by the work of Norwood and we are pleased he will continue to engage.”

For more information, please contact Shari Ryness on 07512 616 417, or by emailing shari.ryness@norwood.org.uk

Residents and staff at one of Norwood’s adult supported living homes in Redbridge, Ilford were delighted to receive a visit from their local MP Wes Streeting

Norwood's Naomi Dickson with Wes Streeting MP

Rabbi Nick and Shira Kett

Dayan Y O Steiner and Rabbi A Saunders, with Rabbi Benjy Simmonds led the Annual Holocaust Remembrance Service Sunday afternoon at the Agecroft Cemetery, where the Holocaust Memorial is located.

PHOTO: LAWRENCE PURCELL

Dayan Y.O Steiner and Rabbi A.Saunders who jointly led the Annual Holocaust Remembrance service with Rabbi Benjy Simmonds

Celebrating 60 young people at Jewish Care’s youth leadership programme

“Thank you for all you have given me.” said Abigail Saltman, winner of the prestigious ‘The Saul Keene Award for Excellence in Youth Leadership’ at Jewish Care's MIKE youth leadership programme awards this week.

The awards evening recognised the dedication of almost 60 inspiring young leaders who are participants in the MIKE programme, which stands for Motivation, Inspiration, Knowledge and Education and was attended by over 130 people. This year the MIKE programme celebrates it’s 40th year since the youth leadership training programme began.

Abigail Saltman, 18, was presented with the Award by the inspiring, Danny and Nettie Keene. Nettie has dedicated herself to volunteering at Jewish Care’s Redbridge Jewish Community Centre, where she is now a member and she recently celebrated 51 years of volunteering. Nettie gave the award in memory of her son, Saul, with her son Danny who spoke about his brother, a dedicated leader

in the community who sadly passed away at the age of 41 in 2008.

Jo Selwyn, Jewish Care Volunteering Department Manager, addressed the audience, saying, “It is so inspiring seeing the potential future community leaders and volunteers at the MIKE Awards. Abigail has overcome challenges triumphantly since she began her MIKE journey.”

Abigail’s proud parents, Ben and Sarah, received the award on her behalf as Abigail has just begun her gap year in Israel, sponsored by the Sidney Gold Community Trust Fund. They said, “We are truly proud of all her achievements and the MIKE programme has given her so many of the skills that she has learned in leadership, especially working with and listening to others, young and old.”

Talking about the Skydive which she did to fundraise for Jewish Care’s brand new state-of-the-art campus to meet the needs of the community now and into the future on the site of the current Redbridge Jewish Community Centre., Abigail says, “I decided it was about time I overcame my fear of heights so I decided to jump 10,000 ft out of a plane to fundraise for the new community campus that will support the local community.”

Ian Grant, from Jewish Care’s Community Services and Volunteering Committee, presented the Jack Petchey Foundation Achievement Awards - supporting young people to have the opportunity to develop their potential and to be recognised for the positive things they achieve. Four outstanding young leaders also received the Outstanding Achievement by the Jack Petchey Foundation celebrating their accomplishments over the past year at the evening which was held at Woodford Forest United Synagogue.

Jasmine Spurling, Jewish Care’s MIKE

youth leadership coordinator, who has been through the MIKE programme as a participant, volunteer, and leader, talked through the achievements of the award winners, which included Abigail’s siblings, Joshua and Eli Saltman and MIKE participant, Ellis Mazin. She said, “Joshua and Eli together with Ellis have volunteered at Jewish Care’s Vi & John Reubens House care home helping to bring in Shabbat with a short Friday night service. This allows our residents to feel connected to their Jewish culturally and spiritually. Joshua and Ellis also recently ran a 10KM run to raise over £600 for charity.”

When describing the third winner, Aaron Gelkoff, Spurling said, “Aaron has been coming to our programme for four years, during that time we have seen a huge development from Aaron. His confidence has grown and he has participated in our trip to the Netherlands earlier this year to explore his Jewish heritage there and not long ago returned from his 10-day programme in Ghana which focusses on cultural exchange and education-based volunteering with citizens there.”

Daniel Carmel-Brown, Jewish Care’s CEO and former MIKE graduate closed the ceremony and said, “I am filled with an immense sense of pride and gratitude. Today, we celebrate a new chapter in the journey of our talented young leaders.

“I stand here with a heart brimming with admiration for the dedication and growth that our participants have exhibited throughout this year's programme. Their thirst for knowledge, their willingness to engage with challenging discussions, and their commitment to creating positive change have been hugely inspiring.”

Jewish Care Youth Leadership Coordinator Jasmine Spurling with Abigail Saltman winner of The Saul Keene Award for Excellence and Nettie Keene who presented the award

Kisharon Langdon’s new year preparation

In a heartwarming display of unity and collaboration people supported by Kisharon Langdon came together to create a unique project for Rosh Hashanah.

These achievements were made possible through a combination of enterprise sessions and the summer program.

The project included putting together confectionary packs of chocolate-covered cranberries, almonds, and nuts that were each measured using maths skills and have been sold in the leadup to Rosh Hashanah at the Home & Giftware store in Temple Fortune.

Make-your-own honey cookies sets were also created as part of the project.

Kisharon’s lead Aviva Braunold said: “We have been working on Rosh Hashanah since the summer and it was a true team effort, embodying the essence of togetherness that Rosh Hashanah represents.

Skills extended beyond crafting and people took on the role of delivery champions, ensuring that all shop orders reached their

destination promptly and efficiently. Additionally, people we support lent their expertise to packaging gifts for delivery and

postage, showcasing a wide range of valuable skills.”

Expressing their gratitude to volunteers, thank-you packs were put together. These bundles included wooden apple-patterned coasters, each one designed, painted, glazed, and labelled with care. Alongside coasters are decorated honey dippers, small packets of cranberries and heartfelt cards. Aviva added: “What is significant is that the inspiration for these coasters came from the individuals themselves, they handpicked the coasters and ordered them online, then decorated with their own designs adding them into the gift sets for their dedicated volunteer coordinator.”

Artistic talent shone through with Rosh Hashanah cards created to be sold on a screen printing machine.

Ceramics classes took place to craft unique honey pots that reflect their dedication to making the upcoming Rosh Hashanah celebration extra special.

Chai’s spectacular Rosh Hashanah Gift Sale raises over £38,000!

of beautiful clothes, jewellery, homeware, Judaica, flowers, chic millinery and a huge variety of other fabulous gifts.

And it didn’t stop there! Keeping visitors fuelled throughout the day was Ben Tenenblat, who brought his now iconic Crave pop-up restaurant with a mouth-watering menu of delicious food to be enjoyed in Chai’s beautiful garden or to take away.

Event Committee Co-Chairs, Debra Zender and Julia Abrams, said: “We have spent the last year sourcing fabulous gifts from all over the world and we are blown away by the support of the community, with more than £38,000 raised. An amazing amount of money which will go a long way in helping to support Chai’s vital work.

Heartfelt thanks to our generous and loyal sponsors Roundtree Real Estates, Tony Page for once again gifting 300 of his famous honey cakes, CST for their security on the day and all the stall holders who gave a percentage of their takings. Everyone’s fantastic support resulted in the significant success of the event and we are so grateful.”

Last Monday, Chai’s flagship centre in Hendon was buzzing with action as more than 900 dedicated supporters came from far and wide with the dual mission to shop and support Chai!. This year was bigger and better than ever, featuring 12 new stalls, many debuting for the first time in London. 39 vendors offered an eclectic mix

Chai’s chairman Louise Hager said: “The Gift Sale is always a highlight of our calendar. Not only is this an important fundraising event, but it provides an ideal opportunity for many to visit Chai for the first time and experience the special atmosphere that has such a positive effect on all those who benefit from our specialised services.”

Rosh Hashanah cards screen printed in-house

Chai Gift sale

Rabbi Moshe Feldman, Rabbi at Langdon College, Salford blowing the Shofar Monday morning. Rabbi Feldman recently retired after 37 years as Head of Jewish Studies at Broughton Jewish Cassel Fox Primary School.

PHOTO: LAWRENCE PURCELL

Rabbi Moshe Feldman at Langdon College

Giving children in emergency care hope for a brighter future

In the midst of the Negev in the city of Arad lies Neradim Village, a place of refuge for children who have been removed from their families. It is more than just a home. Neradim provides a loving family-like environment for children who have experienced unimaginable hardships and trauma.

This Rosh Hashanah, JNF UK is raising vital funds to enable Neradim to continue their life-changing work.

The children who come to Neradim Village arrive with heavy hearts and stories that would break anyone's heart. The Emergency Centre within Neradim Village serves an immediate-care unit, where children arrive at very short notice and at times even escorted by the police, having been removed from their homes due to extreme violence, neglect or abuse. But the moment they cross the threshold of

the Village, they feel a shift in their lives. What sets Neradim apart from any other care home, is that there is a trained ‘house mother’ who cares for the children as if they are her own. Yaffa is one of them. She has dedicated her life to Neradim, having worked there for 35 years, even raising her own children in

the Village. She gives the children consistency, someone who is always going to show up and be there for them. It is not easy as many of the children arrive at Neradim closed off from the world or are violent and have severe outbursts. Yaffa’s amazing emotional strength gets her through each day, and she gives everything she has. Yaffa’s job satisfaction comes in the form of witnessing the children slowly developing and learning to trust again.

Many of the children who arrive at Neradim are scarred from their upbringing and lack basic life skills. Due to the sheer neglect the children have faced, many of them have never had a home cooked meal, are unable to socialise and lack an educational framework. JNF UK is helping these vulnerable children by building new facilities at the Emergency Centre which are in

Hope for a brighter future

Each year around 600 children in Israel are in emergency care due to the harshest forms of neglect, abuse, violence, or other traumatic circumstances.

This Rosh Hashanah, JNF UK is raising vital funds to expand the Emergency Centre facilities at Neradim Village in Arad, southern Israel, which are currently old and unfit for purpose. The facilities are essential for the care and wellbeing of the children who, due to their situation, are unable to leave the campus.

Every child deserves the warmth of a loving family, the comfort of a safe welcoming environment and devoted care to ensure a bright future. Without adequate facilities, Neradim can’t give the children all they need to thrive.

desperate need of updating. The facilities are housed in a temporary old building that is not fit for purpose. There are not enough treatment rooms and the classrooms are too small. Money raised from the appeal will fund a new state of the art building which will include enough treatment rooms, classrooms, a computer room, a relaxation room and an outside play area. The facilities are essential for the care and wellbeing of the children who, due to their situation, are unable to leave the campus or mix with other children in the main village.

Every child deserves the warmth of a loving family, the comfort of a safe welcoming environment and devoted care, to ensure that they have a bright future. Without adequate facilities, Neradim are not able to give the children all they need to thrive.

Help JNF UK to achieve its mission of an Israel where no one is left behind. To donate to our Rosh Hashanah appeal, please visit https://www.jnf.co.uk/rosh-jw

Real life Image of house mother Yaffa, Neradim Village 2022

How does Chai care?

“When we hear the different notes of the shofar, we feel a myriad of emotions.

We are all individuals at Chai, but the all-encompassing care and support we receive meets each of our needs.

It is at Chai that we find peace, harmony and creativity and, above all, the reassurance that we are not alone.”

The Chai Art Workshop Group (Artist Etty Debourcieu)

The Year in Focus

DAVID SAFFER reviews Israel, domestic & global stories in THE JEWISH WEEKLY over the past 12 months.

• Large attendance at annual AJEX parade.

• Condemnation of Jerusalem terror attack.

• Jnetics-Chai BRCA testing launched.

• Glazers announce intention to sell Manchester United FC.

DECEMBER 2022

• Pope Francis calls for Middle East peace and vows to help captive Israelis.

Keir Starmer meets community leaders. Israel announces space exploration project.

• Prime Minister Rishi Sunak backs Israel.

SEPTEMBER 2022

• Zionist Congress celebrates its 125th anniversary.

• Tributes made to former USSR leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

• Liz Truss becomes UK Prime Minister.

• Munich Olympics massacre 50th anniversary commemorated.

• World mourns the Queen’s death. King Charles III is new monarch.

• Abraham Accords marks its second anniversary.

• Arnold Schwarzenegger visits Auschwitz concentration camp.

• Israel’s population nears 10 million.

OCTOBER 2022

• Israel-Lebanon agree a maritime deal.

• Rishi Sukak is the new UK Prime Minister after Liz Truss sensationally quits.

• Israel illustrates Iranian nuclear aspirations evidence to world leaders.

• Adidas axe Kanye West deal over antisemitic comments.

• AJEX WWTT launch centenary book.

NOVEMBER 2022

• Benjamin Netanyahu leads his party to general election victory.

• UK and Israel participate at COP 27.

• Global commemoration of Kristallnacht.

• Political unity calls at Yitzchak Rabin memorial.

• Kisharon-Langdon announce a merger.

• Donald Trump launches presidential bid.

• Abraham Accords ‘Peace Games’ take place.

• Tributes to Mossad’s Eli Cohen.

• Maccabean Judean coin discovery.

• Bevis Marks shul announce eruv plans.

• Stutthof concentration camp secretary Irmgard Furchner found guilty.

JANUARY 2023

• Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu begins record term in office.

• Prime Minster Rishi Sunak blasts Tory MP over Covid-Holocaust tweet.

• Tributes to Shas leader Rabbi Shimon Baadani.

• UK Governmant to proscribe IRGC.

• Tributes to Holocaust survivor Zigi Shripper.

• Global events mark International Holocaust Memorial Day.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

AJEX Parade

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

FEBRUARY 2023

• Over 1,100 organisations adopt IHRA antisemitism definition.

• Board of Deputies welcome ban of Rev. Dr Stephen Sizer after antisemitic comments.

• Bar-Ilan University honours Rabbi Lord Sacks.

• Global reaction to Turkey earthquake response.

• President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses UK Parliament.

• Keir Starmer axes Jeremy Corbyn from standing at general election.

• Western allies back Ukraine in Russia war.

MARCH 2023

• Jewish leaders attend King Charles III coronation at Westminster Abbey.

• Terror attack at Tunisia synagogue.

• IDF assassinate terrorists behind Lucy, Maia and Rina Dee terror attack.

• Radio Aryan host James Allchurch jailed.

• Professor Alan Dershowitz sues CNN over reporting of Dee family terror attack.

• Global call for United Nations to adopt IHRA definition of antisemitism.

JUNE 2023

• Former Pink Floyd co-founder rock star Roger Waters’ antisemitic views blasted.

• Tributes to Holocaust survivor Sir Ben Helfgott.

• Pittsburgh gunman Robert Bowers guilty of Tree of Life Synagogue terror attack.

• Mossad stop Cyprus terror attack.

• Former Premier League footballer Robbie Keane appointed Maccabi Tel Aviv boss.

JULY 2023

• Numerous venues cancel controversial Jeremy Corbyn film after community pressure.

IDF counterterrorism operation in Jenin.

• Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis receives knighthood from King Charles III.

• BBC apology over coverage of IDF operation after Jenin terror attack.

• President Isaac Herzog addresses joint session of US Congress.

• Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pacemaker fitted.

• Just Stop Oil blasted over ‘Holocaust’ comments.

AUGUST 2023

• Robert Bowers is sentenced to death after killing 11 worshippers at the Tree of Life Synagogue terror attack in 2018.

• IDF vow to act over terror attacks.

• Yisroel Arun Moshe Rabinowitz paragliding tragedy.

CAA blast Nazi memorabilia sale but welcome Abdullah Qureshi judgement.

• Outrage at Hitler items at auctions.

• Waterstones remove Mein Kampf from website after CAA appeal.

• Community outrage at Hitler’ beauty pageant.

• Israel ‘death penalty’ bill passes first stage of voting.

• Ex-Labour MP Luciana Berger rejoins party.

• Arnold Schwarzenegger antisemitism YouTube video hailed by campaigners.

• Gary Lineker blasted over ‘Germany in 30s’ comments.

• Tributes to Fiddler on Roof star Chaim Topol.

• King Charles meets Jewish community leaders.

• Keir Starmer ends Jeremy Corbyn election hopes.

• Athens Chabad House terror attack thwarted.

• Prime Ministers Benjamin Netanyahu and Rishi Sunak meet at Downing Street.

APRIL 2023

• British Jewry mourns deaths of Lucy Dee and daughters Maia and Rina after terror attack.

• Labour MP Diane Abbot suspended.

• UK charities benefit from London Marathon.

• Yom Hashoah & Yom Hazikaron commemorations.

• Israel’s 75th independence celebrations. Judicial reform rallies across Israel.

MAY 2023

• Barbra Streisand received $1m Genesis Prize.

• Israel finish third in U20 FIFA World Cup.

• Ambassador Tzipi Hotovely hosts ‘Israel 75’ celebrations.

• Government to ban bodies pursuing BDS movement.

• Outrage at proposed burning of Sefer Torah in Stockholm.

• AJEX remembers Jewish fallen.

• Israel aid Greece in wildfires.

• Board of Deputies join J7 antisemitism Task Force.

• Tributes paid to Liverpool couple Philip and Elaine Marco after flooding tragedy.

• Maru Teferi wins marathon silver at World Athletics Championships in Budapest.

Celebrating Israel’s 75th anniversary – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, Defence Minister Yoav Galant and Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi

PHOTO: GPO

King Charles III and Queen Camilla

The Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim and Lady Valerie Mirvis with sons (l to r) Eitan, Danny, Noam and Hillel at Windsor Castle, following the investiture by King Charles

Luciana Berger

A guaranteed way to make a difference, with Efrat

BY HADASSAH BAY

As we approach Rosh Hashanah and Aseres Yemei Teshuvah, our prayers are imbued with appeals to the One Above that we be remembered … for life.

Traditionally, Jews donate charity to the plethora of wonderful, life-saving causes that exist throughout the Jewish world, in order to tip the scales, merit a favorable judgement and be inscribed, middah k’neged middah, in the Book of Life. Yet the question remains: Can any organization promise that their efforts will indeed guarantee a life saved?

EFRAT can.

Every year in Israel, over 35,000 babies are tragically lost to the Jewish people. In an overwhelming majority of cases, these losses are linked to desperate financial struggles that leave expectant mothers feeling alone and with no viable options. And contrary to popular belief, these are not only women on the fringes – some come from within our very own

communities. It’s painful to think how many lives (and how much heartache!) could be saved, if only the expectant mothers would receive the support they need.

EFRAT’s mission is to provide that support and enable these women to "choose life," alleviating the emotional toll and lifelong regrets that may come otherwise. Every dollar donated to EFRAT directly aids a woman facing dire financial stress, giving her the confidence and resources she needs to welcome a new life into the world.

With nearly 50 years of dedicated service, EFRAT has empowered approximately 85,000 women to bring the children they longed for into the world. Throughout the decades, EFRAT has been endorsed by all Gedolei Yisrael, past and present, including Rav Elyashiv, Harav Ovadia Yosef and Harav Mordechai Eliyahu, zt”l, and, lbc”l, Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau and Harav Asher Weiss, shlita. While there are other organizations that

provide various forms of support to expectant mothers, EFRAT directly prevents the loss of life through comprehensive, wraparound services.

These include providing essential baby items such as cribs, strollers, and layettes, as well as ongoing support like monthly supplies of diapers, wipes, and formula for the first two years. Additionally, women benefit from EFRAT’s vocational programs aimed at breaking the cycle of poverty, as well as the Bayit Cham—a sanctuary where they can seek refuge and emotional healing.

The effectiveness of EFRAT’s work is underscored by its remarkable efficiency. The organization has streamlined its operations to the extent that the total cost to save one life, including all forms of support offered, is only $1,500.

Your generosity could be the lifeline that changes a woman’s story from one of despair to one of hope and joy, reinforcing the sanctity of life that is so precious to us, especially at this time of year.

Rabbi David BenSoussan, a Rosh Kollel in Lakewood, remarked, "On the threshold of the Yamim Nora’im, when we seek to increase our merit, there is no doubt that saving the lives of babies, as EFRAT does so efficiently, will help us to save our own lives — nefesh tachat nefesh. However, EFRAT doesn’t just save babies, but the entire family, helping them make the best decision and providing long-term support."

For more information about how you can save a life — guaranteed! — please contact us at info@cribefrat.org and visit www. cribefrat.org

New Beginnings…

BY RIFKA SIMON (MEYER) FOUNDER & CHAIR OF TRUSTEES OF GETTOUTUK

As I sit here, basking in the anticipation of freedom, I can’t help but share my journey with you all. Today, I find myself in the midst of waiting for my divorce, eagerly embracing the newfound sense of liberation that is on the horizon. The path has been long and challenging, but the promise of a fresh start fills me with hope and excitement.

Waiting for one’s divorce can be a complex and emotional process. It’s a time of reflection, introspection, and healing. It’s a period where we navigate the tides of uncertainty, but amidst it all, we uncover our strength and resilience. It’s a time to rediscover ourselves and reclaim our identities.

The prospect of freedom is like a breath of fresh air after being confined for far too long. It’s a chance to break free from the chains that held us back, to shed the weight of a relationship that no longer served its purpose. It’s an opportunity to rebuild, to create a life that aligns with our dreams and aspirations.

Waiting for the finalisation of a divorce or the writing of and receiving of a Get is not just about legal or Halachic proceedings; it’s a journey of personal growth. It’s

a time to evaluate our priorities, dreams, and desires. We learn to appreciate our own worth, embracing the qualities that make us unique. We gain a deeper understanding of what we truly want from life and relationships, ensuring a brighter and more fulfilling future.

During this waiting period, it’s crucial to surround ourselves with a strong support system. GETToutUK was exactly that for me. Whether it’s friends, family, or a therapist, having people who understand and empathize with our emotions can make a world of difference. They can provide comfort, guidance, and a shoulder to lean on during the challenging moments. While waiting, it’s essential to focus on self-care. Engage in activities that bring you joy, nourish your soul, and promote healing. Explore new hobbies, take

trips, or indulge in some well-deserved pampering. The path to freedom involves nurturing oneself and rediscovering the beauty of life beyond the confines of a failed marriage.

Remember, this waiting period is temporary. It’s a stepping stone to a brighter future, where you can embrace your newfound freedom and embark on a journey of self-discovery. It may be challenging, but it’s also a time of immense personal growth and transformation.

So, if you find yourself in the midst of waiting for your Get, hold onto hope and keep your vision of freedom alive. Trust that better days are ahead, and soon enough, the chains that bind you will be broken. Embrace the opportunity to create a life filled with love, happiness, and endless possibilities.

The wait may be tough, but the reward of freedom and the chance to truly live life on your terms will make it all worthwhile. Stay strong, my friends, and embrace the beautiful journey that lies ahead.

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, does not have a direct connection to the issue of Agunot but it is a time of reflection and introspection for Jewish individuals and communities.

During Rosh Hashanah, Jews engage in

prayer, self-examination, and the sounding of the shofar (ram’s horn) to mark the beginning of the High Holy Days. It’s a time when individuals seek personal and communal renewal, repentance, and the mending of relationships. While the issue of Agunot is not specifically addressed during Rosh Hashanah, it underscores the importance of justice and compassion within the Jewish community.

Efforts to address the issue of Agunot continue throughout the year, with various organisations like GETToutUK and religious authorities working to find solutions within the framework of Jewish law to ensure the freedom of these women.

As we approach the High Holy days, reach out to your neighbour, your friend, relative or acquaintance who might be sitting at their table alone. Let them know you are there for them, that they have your support. Give them the strength to get through these challenging times, these family orientated holidays and that this New Year should bring an end to all those that are waiting for their freedom. That more preventative measures can be put into place to protect our future generations and the crisis of an Agun or Aguna will be no more.

@gettoutuk Gettoutuk@gmail.com

The prospect of freedom is like a breath of fresh air after being confined for far too long. It’s a chance to break free from the chains that

us back…

New from

New from Rabbi Chaim Aryeh Zev Ginzberg

Finding Chizuk in Challenging Times

Rabbi Chaim Aryeh Zev , a beloved Cedarhurst, has a genius for weaving together personal sto hashkafah communal issues, and gentle mussar

In this collection of his writ ings on many different topics, he takes us “up close and per sonal” with memories of his — including his terrifying bout with Covid, when the doctors felt that there was no hope left for him, as well as the losses of his beloved daughter Sarala and his oldest grandson. Rabbi Ginzberg’s courageous and uplifting responses to these losses — which include his founding of the well-known Ohel Sarala global initiative — as well as other individual and communal issues give us chizuk and meaning to the challenges we all face.

PRACTICAL. INSPIRATIONAL. Perfect for Elul.

abbi Yaakov Feitman

a beloved Rav and author, weaves together stories and insights from across the spectrum of our gedolim to give us a deeper appreciation of Elul and the Yamim Tovim. Each essay is summarized in a practical takeaway that can help readers make the most of this meaningful time of year.

From Bestselling Author Rabbi Binyomin Pruzansky

OVER 80 STORIES!

People who want to “live higher.” Rabbi Binyomin Pruzansky knows all about those kinds of people, and he knows the stories they tell. He’ll tell you about the barber who brought an angry young man back to Torah observance – with a shaver. The terror victim, still suffering from his wounds, limping towards the shul’s menorah to light a candle of defiance and faith. Stories of hashgachah, emunah, and transcendence. Stories that show how people can live higher. Stories that inspire us to live higher as well.

NEWEST VOLUME IN THE WILDLY POPULAR SERIES!

he Living Emunah series has changed tens of thousands of lives – for the better – as they make emunah a central part of their

The newest in the series, Living Emunah 7 contains so many stories to engage and inspire us, as we see Hashem’s Hand, the care and compassion He has for us, and His Presence in every

Experience Reb Meilech

The Tzaddik.

Strengthen Emunah.

Bestselling author Yisroel Besser offers us a place of honor at Rav Elimelech Bidrerman’s shiurim. Here are his divrei Torah, stories, and, of course, his incomparable chizuk — for every month of the Jewish calendar. Unique descriptions of Reb Meilech, as he energizes and elevates the thousands who come to see and hear him, let us actually feel the excitement and passion that characterizes his every word.

New From Nachman

The Ribnitzer Rebbe was a tzaddik, a ba’al mofes, a miracle worker. In time, he became a living legend, the address for thousands seeking berachos, first in Russia, then in Eretz Yisrael, and finally in America.

His intense avodah included fasting, hours and hours of profound tefillah, and immersion in the holy waters of the mikveh. Despite the Nazis. Despite the KGB. Despite the desperate cold of a Russian winter: Reb Chaim Zanvil, the Ribnitzer Rebbe, would find a way to serve Hashem and to take care of His People.

Newly Designed Large Print Tehillim

HASBANI FAMILY EDITION

ALL-HEBREW

• Easy-to-read, large type

• Comfortable spacing between lines

• English instructions to every mizmor

• Tefillos to recite before and after saying Tehillim

• Special tefillos to be said for the sick, at a cemetery, and at mekomos hakedoshim

• Monthly and weekly Tehillim charts

The Ribnitzer’s yahrzeit, when tens of thousands visit his kever, is on Isru Chag Succos.

There is no greater setting for Sukkot than the tranquillity of Zichron Ya’akov. Located upon Mount Carmel, with wonderful views of the Mediterranean.

Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy the numerous wineries and museums and experience the atmosphere of this charming village.

• Relax at the luxury 5-star Elma Hotel, savour the amazing food

• Be inspired by Scholars in residence Rabbi Daniel Lapin and Rabbi Dr Aaron Adler

• Enjoy the special moments from our Chol Hamoed Kumztitz to the wine tasting evening, meaningful minyanim, and gourmet meals in a beautiful Sukkah.

This Sukkot create magical moments, eternal memories, and lasting friendships.

Bishnat concert returns

Bishnat 2021 returns with concerts in Leeds and London in November.

The charity brings together Jewish choirs and singers from around the world to entertain communities.

Bishnat returns to Leeds at UHC, home of Chazan Alby Chait and in memory of Lawrence Gorsdon, a longstanding warden of the shul and family member.

The second night will be at the New West End Synagogue in London.

Tickets are selling fast for both venues. All monies raised from the concerts will be used

to support Jewish charities.

The event spreads an appreciation of Jewish choral music and other music. There is a special emphasis on the presentation of works with Jewish associations to all the community for their benefit.

The importance of music appreciation is multi layered. It can give a sense of wellbeing, aid mental health, improve education and understanding and bring culture to an audience.

The story behind the charity revolves around Brian Nathanson, who was born in

ABOUT THE PERFORMERS

SHULEM LEMMER - Raised in Boro Park, Brooklyn, Shulem’s singular voice has gained widespread attention in the Chasidic community and beyond. Lemmer made history as the first bornand-raised Orthodox singer to ever sign a major record deal in the U.S. His recent contract with Universal Music’s Decca Gold Label positions him as an artist primed to break through to a global audience with the release of his album,The Perfect Dream.

AVROMI FREILICH - Avromi was born in Gateshead in 1971 into a family renowned for its rabbinic scholarship, musical ability and service to the community. Avromi’s singing reflects his nature. Just as he is sensitive, compassionate yet full of joie de vivre, so his tefillot (prayers) combine his commitment and devotion with a determination to involve and delight all who are privileged to hear him.

Leeds in 1938 to the son of a Kosher butcher, Harry Nathanson. His mother, Lilian came from a family of 11 siblings most of whom spent their entire lives growing up in Leeds.

When Brian was 10, he moved to Perth, Australia, where he lived happily until he passed away last year at the age of 83.

He had enormous joie de vivre and a natural love of music, particularly opera and Jewish tunes. After moving to Perth, he was president of the Perth Hebrew Congregation for many years, for which he organised concerts and special musical events. Brian was

a member of the Perth Male Jewish Choir for over 30 years, something that he loved and cherished.

Last year the family wanted to do something in Brian’s honour, and established Bishnat 2021. Its purpose is to host concerts for the community in various synagogues, bringing people together to celebrate and enjoy his lifelong love of Jewish music. The first synagogues chosen were Leeds and Woodside Park where Brian took the service in 2015 for the occasion of his grandson’s barmitzvah.

ALBY CHAIT - is the Senior Minister of the UHC synagogue. The Leedsbased Rabbi Alby Chait has been named an MBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours. After the impacts of lockdown forced Alby to close the UHC’s doors, the recently ordained rabbi continued to hold morning services online and broadcasting songs of prayer and modern pop music on social media with the help of UHC member Andrew Ullmann and pianist Jon Chamberlain.

ELIOT ALDERMAN - Musical director - is a freelance synagogue musician, choirmaster and Cantor at synagogues and Jewish communities across the UK and beyond. He currently serves as choirmaster at Mill Hill Synagogue and at Edgware United Synagogue. He also directs his own professional choral group - The Rinah Ensemble - which is frequently asked to accompany many of today’s top Cantors for concerts, events and special services. The Rinah Ensemble will be performing on both nights.

ASK THE RABBI

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

IS THERE LEADERSHIP IN THE WORLD TODAY?

Dear Rabbi

When I look at our polarised world today it makes me wonder whether there’s any real leadership in the world. Israel has one man at the helm doing his thing with no real contender to challenge him for the position. The United States is heading for an election between two clowns and determining who is the lesser of the two evils. Even in the UK we have a schoolboy who was in the right place at the right time. What is the Jewish view on leadership and do you feel anyone today meets with such criteria.

Deirdre

Dear Deirdre

You raise a good and complex point. Is a leader a person who runs things? No, that’s a boss. And although every leader may in some sense be a boss, certainly not every boss is a leader. How about someone with power? A man with a gun has power but it doesn’t make him a leader. Authority would also be a misleading definition. A store supervisor has authority, but that’s not leadership either. The irreducible minimum definition of a leader is someone with followers. Only, that prompts an important question: Why do some people attract followers while others do not?

One theory suggests that, leadership is simply something you are born with. In other words, either you have it or you don’t. Sociologist Max Weber called it ‘charisma.’ Charisma is not something taught or learnt. It is an aspect of personality that some do and others do not possess.

Another theory posits that it is more genetic than character. For example, if you are born strong, brave, wise, tall and attractive then you have what it takes to be a leader.

Yet a third theory considers the set of circumstances surrounding someone and how well they blend into a situation. So, it was the French Revolution that created Napoleon and intertribal Mongol wars that gave rise to GengisKahn. Put them in a different time and place and they wouldn’t have necessarily risen to much.

Real leaders are more than mere visionaries who talk about their dreams. They act upon them and constantly demonstrate by way of example. They have more backbone than wishbone, Leaders are what leaders do. That’s what separates leaders from managers. Leaders start things; managers keep things going. Leaders trigger and shape change. Managers keep disorder and change at bay.

It is all too often the case that politicians may indeed start out as leaders but in time they become more managers as they find themselves struggling to cope with the very chaos they themselves

sometimes create. One of the tests of leadership is the ability to recognise a problem before it becomes an emergency. To that end, the world in its current chaotic state reflects the obvious lack of leadership today.

When I trawl through Jewish history

I come closer to a definition of leadership. The Jewish patriarch Abraham was someone who left his personal comfort zone and made it his life’s mission to impact other people. He wasn’t looking for accolades, recognition or even followers. These things emerged of their own, as they inevitably do with all true leaders. Moses initially refused the mantle of leadership, but ultimately found himself lifting the waning Jewish spirit and encouraging them along the road toward their destiny.

Leaders don’t push, they pull. They don’t enforce, they inspire. Leaders lead, which implies a destination, someplace to be that isn’t here. They attract followers by flashing a light ahead. That was Abraham and that was Moses.

The essential characteristic of a leader is not about power but about influence. People always have an innate yearning for someone to carry them, to guide them, to inspire them. If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.

Jonah whom we read about on Yom Kippur, is a perfect example. Did he have power over people of Ninveh? Certainly not. But he influenced them to repent. That’s real leadership.

Just remember: When a clown moves to a palace he doesn’t become king. He turns the palace into a circus. Be careful who you invite into your home. It only takes one clown to destroy everything you’ve built.

A NEW YEAR FOCUS

Dear Rabbi

I am an avid reader for many years. Please inspire me with something to think about during this High Holiday this year. I’m struggling to get into the zone.

Paul

Dear Paul

In 1875 there was an amateur archaeologist in Spain known as Marcelino de Sautuola who owned land which had some caves in it. As a hobby, he would spend each weekend excavating. For four years he would go into those caves until one particular weekend he took his nineyear-old daughter Maria in with him. It wasn’t long when at a certain point she suddenly piped up: “Papa what are those animals on the ceiling?” As it turned out, this Altamira cave contained the first ever pre-historic paintings of bison on the ceiling of the cave.

Four years he was going in and out

each weekend and he never noticed. You know why? Because he never looked up!

We engage in all sorts of battles – internal struggles of varied sorts. If you keep your head down, if you keep looking down, if you keep feeling down, then you’ll just wander in the darkness of your life. But if you look up that’s how you come to discover richness and experience light.

On Rosh Hashanah we need to think about this. The onus is on us to look up and determine how in the coming year we can all take some moments of spiritual respite from our otherwise

tumultuous workload in life. Rosh Hashanah is the day that we recall the words of our Sages: “Man was created alone – singular, because he is obligated to say, for me was this world created.” Each of us must believe that the world was created for me and if the world was created for me then the rest of the world is waiting for me to make the differences that will positively affect all mankind.

Wishing a happy, healthy and sweet New Year to all of you.

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

FOR SALE

*** REDUCED TO SELL - GET IN TOUCH TO ARRANGE A VIEWING ***

Eli-G Estates are pleased to have been instructed to sell this four bedroom semi detached chain free property extremely well located in Hendon

On the ground floor, you will find a through dining room/lounge, a morning room and a conservatory with a Succah roof. There are four good size bedrooms, two bathrooms and a guest WC. The property also offers off-street parking for two cars and a private garden.

Torah from Israel The State of G-d in Our World - 2023

BY RABBI MOSHE TARAGIN

“All of humanity pass before You as sheep.. “. On Rosh Hashanah, G-d reviews all human behaviour, scrutinizes our inner hearts, and determines our fate for the coming year. On this solemn Day of Judgement, we also celebrate Divine sovereignty. The shofar blast recalls historical milestones: creation, the binding of Isaac, Jewish selection, Sinai, and, of course, the Messianic endpoint of history. Rosh Hashanah is both a somber day of judgement, but also a celebration of Divine majesty and religious glory.

G-d is infinite and omnipresent, but His “status” on our planet, is dependent upon human decisions and the fluctuations of history. By vesting humans with free will, G-d abdicated control of His presence in this world, delivering to humans the opportunity to bolster or undermine that presence. Our historical Jewish mission is to draw G-d into our world, speak in His name, and hoist humanity to higher ground. Rosh Hashanah is the grand day of divine authority, human free will, and Jewish destiny.

On this day of gravitas, with both trepidation and anticipation, we look toward the future and pray for prosperity and success. We dream of augmenting G-d, and moral spirit in this world. But we also look back upon the previous year: Which events over the past year have enhanced the presence of G-d in our world, and which events have diminished His presence? As the new year commences, what is the “state of G-d” in our world?

WAR AND PEACE

The ongoing Russian invasion of the Ukraine has taken hundreds of thousands of lives, while also reviving dormant Cold war-era tensions. Worried about potential future wars, many European countries have undergone rapid weaponization, while other superpowers such as China are forging dangerous new alliances in pursuit of regional influence. Often, the world doesn’t realize that it is on a path to war and doesn’t hear the drumbeats of war until it is too late. We are closer to large scale hostilities than at any point in the past thirty years. There is nothing romantic about war and it doesn’t represent the will of G-d who desires peace and accord between His creatures. We pray that the world shifts back toward amity and away from armed confrontation.

AI

We thought that the information revolution of the past 30 years, including the emergence of the internet and social media were the transformative revolutions of our generation. Little did we know that

these events were merely the warm-up show to the main event- the emergence of Artificial Intelligence. The power to create machines that can mimic human intelligence, learn from data, and make decisions will radically alter our workplace, our culture and our fundamental definition of human identity. AI has been evolving for years, but this past year’s debut of chatbots brought this revolution to the forefront.

We know that AI will influence religious thinking, we just don’t know how. The past track record of the religious impact of scientific revolutions isn’t great. Galileo’s 17th century announcement that the Earth didn’t stand at the centre of the universe shook the foundations of religious belief. Darwin’s 19th century discovery of the evolution of species turned the world turned the world away from belief in a G-d who created the world.

Though many religious people instinctively assume that technology erodes religious belief, it is inaccurate and dangerous to villainize technology as an enemy of religion. This pessimistic view can become self-fulfilling prophecy. Is it possible that AI will enhance religious practice? Is it possible that it will make religious texts more accessible, allowing us to explore faith more deeply? Is it possible that AI will liberate us from tedious labour affording us greater time and resources for religious pursuits? Of course, it is also entirely possible that AI will challenge traditional ideas of soul and human immortality throwing into question fundamentals of belief.

It is impossible to know how this technology will evolve but religious people better pay close attention. We are taking a blind leap into the great unknown. We trust that religion is durable enough and eternal enough to outlast any human innovations. We just need to find the answers.

A POLARIZED AND ANGRY WORLD

Our world is sharply polarized. Society has become radically split along politics, cultural, ethic, economic and gender lines. Echo chambers amplify pre-existing biases reaffirming our own narrow beliefs. Growing anxiety, as well as dissolving trust in public institutions encourage us to adopt “safe positions” rather than consider opposing viewpoints. Our world has become angrier, overconfident, and full of rage. This world of rage doesn’t reflect a compassionate and caring G-d. Let us pray that the world becomes more calm and more caring. That would be a more G-dlike world.

SOCIAL DISCORD IN ISRAEL

Israeli society has been fractured by

public strife surrounding the proposed judicial reforms. This controversial issue has evoked darker divisions which, in the past, were suppressed by the larger issue of national security. The year of social discontent has highlighted the numerous fault lines of Israeli society. To survive, Israel must learn to better bridge between religious and secular, between Ashkenazim and Sephardim , between the wealthy elite and the common average-income citizenry, between universal ists and nationalists and between those who adopt progressive politics and those who adhere to conservative models. We lazily refer to all these numerous divisions as “left” and “right” but these schisms do not always overlap and they are far more nuanced than simple stereotypical labels suggest. We could all gain by erasing the terms “left” and “right” from our vocabulary.

A horrific and roundly condemned statement by a pro-reform activist demonstrated how far we have fallen and how much of our common narrative we are losing. Frustrated by what he perceived as Ashkenazi-led anti-reform protests he expressed his wish that the Nazis had murdered more European Jews. Though it was later retracted I can’t get that horror out of my imagination. For the past 75 years the Holocaust and our security struggle each provided a common narrative to unify our country. Evidently, those narratives are fraying and in the absence of any common narrative we are becoming fractured by our differences.

We are the people of G-d, meant to teach the world that He is a One G-d, responsible for everything. When we behave as “one” people we better reflect His oneness. When we are badly splintered, we less reflect his Oneness. Social strife in the land of Israel isn’t merely a social problem, it is a theological defect.

Unfortunately, the social discord has alienated many secular Israelis from religion. Perhaps religious identification has increased in some sectors, but many secular Israelis have become more alienated. Regardless of who is to blame, this is painful development and religious people must take accountability for any decline of religion and faith.

My revered Rebbe, Rav Aharon Lichtenstein often cited a Talmudic passage cautioning a father against physically hitting his adolescent son, given the likelihood that the son would retaliate, strike the father and violate a sin. Though a father is instructed to discipline his child, he must also factor in the consequences of his son’s reactions. Whether religious people are right or wrong is inconsequential. We have a lot of ground to make up.

Finally, the social strife has altered international perception of our state. It has emboldened our enemies who view this instability as a moment of weakness and an opportunity to attack us G-d forbid. The social strife has also diminished the allure of the state of Israel in the international arena. Over the past 30 years Israel has experienced phenomenal success in almost every sector of national interest. This led to a surge of respect for our country and its people. This surge culminated in the Isaac accords which were not adopted primarily as a gesture of peace but out of surging interest among our neighbours to align with our country and its successes.

As we are G-d’s people, when our allure rises G-d’s presence similarly rises. Let us pray to find a way to construct bridges, and to restore our national unity. Let us hope that we continue to draw admiration from the international community, as they realize that it pays to align with the people of G-d.

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.

We are the people of G-d, meant to teach the world that He is a One G-d, responsible for everything. When we behave as “one” people we better reflect His oneness.

Weekly Dvar Torah FROM ERETZ YISRAEL

The Coronation

BY RABBI JUDAH MISCHEL

“Tomorrow will be Rosh Hashanah, ‘Karanatzia Nacht’ (‘Coronation Night’),” the melamed exclaimed, looking each boy in the eye...

Rav Yosef Dov Soleveitchik zy”a related the powerful childhood memory of “unaccustomed feeling and joy” expressed by his Lubavitcher cheder melamed in the village of Chaslavitch on Erev Rosh Hashanah: “Kinderlach, Do you know what that means? It’s time to put a crown on the ‘head’ of G-d! And do you know who places the crown?” The melamed paused with emotion, “Yankel the Tailor and Berel the Shoemaker… You and I, each and every one of us, big and small, crown the Infinite G-d as King of the Universe.”

“Over the years I have said many sermons and written many discourses on the concepts of Rosh Hashanah, but nothing ever made me feel the theme of

the holiday as the words of that teacher,” reminisced the Rav. “Every year when I pray Meloch al kol haOlam kulo – ‘Rule over the whole world in Your glory,’ I remember them.”

“Atem nitzavim haYom, kulchem lifnei Hashem Elokeichem... You are standing here today, all of you together before G-d: the heads of your tribes, your elders… your children, women, converts and those within your encampment; from your wood-choppers to your water shleppers… in order to bring you into the covenant and oath that Hashem is making with you on this day…”

The Gemara tells us that the ‘day’ described in Parashat Nitzavim is an allusion to Rosh Hashanah, when we all stand together as one before HaKadosh Baruch Hu, unified in our efforts to return to G-d and coronate Him as King.

Without the awareness that we are “before Hashem” and equal in His eyes, status is defined and people are valued

commensurate with their social standing, intellectual abilities, physical strength, talent and resources. Rosh Hashanah celebrates the creation of mankind in the image of G-d, a joyful Yom Tov where we refocus our lives around the belief and knowledge that all of us – regardless of our abilities or lack-thereof – are Hashem’s beloved children, and standing before Him, we are all on equal footing, the tailor, the shoemaker…. We all have different talents, strengths and abilities, and every member of Klal Yisrael has a unique role to fulfill in avodat Hashem. In a world where we often judge and label others based on their LinkedIn profiles and professional resumes, it is perhaps only when we “stand before Hashem” that we are aware of being counted as equals.

Rosh Hashanah is called yom zichron teruah the Day of Remembering the Shofar Blast, and also simply yom teruah (Bamidbar 29:1). The Chozeh of Lublin

zy”a suggests that the name of the Yom Tov, teruah, comes from the root of the word reut, meaning friendship or camaraderie. Therefore, zichron teruah is hinting: ‘Remember that kol Yisrael chaveirim, all of Israel are not only a family, we are also meant to be friends.’

On Rosh Hashanah let’s ‘remember our friends,’ and our neighbors and all of our extended Jewish family, for to truly coronate the King, we must recognize that before HaKadosh Baruch Hu, we are all one, equal and the same: His beloved children.

Rabbi Judah Mischel is Executive Director of Camp HASC, and Mashpiah of OU-NCSY. He is a member of Mizrachi’s Speakers Bureau (www.mizrachi.org/ speakers).

Stars and Sand Zichron Teruah

BY CHIEF RABBI EPHRAIM MIRVIS

In our Torah reading for the second day of Rosh Hashanah, Hashem promises Jewish continuity.

Immediately after the epic saga of the Akedah, Hashem gives His word to Avraham that through Yitzchak, who had survived, the Jewish people would be blessed for all time:

“I will bless you greatly and make your descendants as many as the stars of the heavens and as the sand on the seashore.” (Bereishit 22:17)

The traditional explanation of this famous pledge is that, just as both the stars in the heavens above and grains of sand by the seashore are innumerable, so too the descendants of Avraham would be innumerable. But why then was it necessary to make this promise with two different metaphors?

The Midrash proposes that when Hashem says the Jewish people will be like the stars above, that refers to a time when we are loyal to the words of our Creator. Just as the stars are untouchable – entirely safe and secure from any external interference – so shall the Jewish people prosper, without fear of harm or hinderance. However, the reference to grains of sand on the seashore below, relates to times when we rebel against Hashem’s word. Just as sand is trampled underfoot, we will endure the trauma of adversity.

I would like to suggest an additional insight. The context of this blessing is the immediate aftermath of the Akedah, which is surely the greatest statement of faith in Hashem. Hashem reassures Avraham that, thanks to the loyalty the Jewish people place in Him, He will bless us forever. From the analogy to the stars in the heavens we learn that our numbers over time will be too vast to count. The reference to grains of sand teaches us an additional crucial lesson. The comparison is not just to ‘chol’ – sand. It is to ‘chol asher al-sfat hayam’ – sand by the seashore, which is wet. It is compacted like mud. Although made up of separate grains, it appears as one single entity. This is a blessing for Jewish unity. Everyone will retain their own unique identity, but we will stand together as one great nation.

In our High Holyday prayers, we learn that unity is not to be considered as an end in itself, but rather a means towards greater spiritual achievement. We exclaim, “May everyone form one single entity to perform Your will with a full heart”.

As we enter into 5784, we look back on a year of tragic disunity both in the State of Israel and around the Jewish world. In the coming year, may Hashem bless us to prosper as the stars of the heavens and also to be unified as the sand on the seashore, so that together, we will perform the will of Hashem with full hearts.

BY RABBI YITZCHAK SCHOCHET

When Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbat, we substitute the words yom teruah, “the day of shofar” in the Amidah, with the words zichron teruah, “remembering the shofar.” This is because we do not blow the shofar on Shabbat, and thus we only reference, or remember, it. But even as we do not blow the shofar on Shabbat, this does not mean that we are being deprived of the mitzvah. Rather, the uniqueness of Shabbat achieves the same spiritual objective. How so?

Rosh Hashanah recalls the creation of the world. Creation is a divine symphony, a true living masterpiece in progress, with you and me crucial to the performance. We can hear this Divine-human symphony replicated in the notes of the shofar. The Jewish Mystics teach that the sound of the shofar is a parable of history. Each series of the shofar blasts begins and ends with tekiah - a whole note. In between are shevarim and teruah - broken notes. First, the world was created whole. Then it was broken. And in the future, it will be restored once more to wholeness.

We live in the middle, in the fractured reality of human history, in the broken state of human imperfection. Those notes are our home. Our role as human beings is, with G-d’s help, to fix the cracks within ourselves and the world around us. The sound of the shofar reminds us that the power to shape our life and world lies in our hands. It reminds us of the work we still have to do.

Shabbat is our weekly oasis in time when we turn down the volume of all the background noise and focus our minds on our soul-union with our Maker. Just as G-d created the world in six days and rested on the seventh, when we apply our creative energies to the world for six days and rest on the seventh, we become the very embodiment of G-d’s ongoing creative involvement with His creation.

We often work so hard that we forget our souls. Shabbat is the day we stop to let our souls catch up to us. It is a day when we get in touch with our inner selves and reconnect with the souls around us. It is on Shabbat that family, community, faith and prayer all come into focus, and we become more elevated, refined and spiritual beings as a result.

“Remember Shabbat,” G-d instructs in the Ten Commandments. Remember to be a part of the cosmic rhythm. When observed and experienced, Shabbat imbues the whole week with a sense of greater spiritual responsibility. It reminds us to play our pivotal role in the orchestra of life.

As the very first day of this year is Shabbat, Shabbat is the crown of the year from which all else flows. Zichron Teruah – if the shofar recalls the Divine-human symphony, Shabbat consolidates all the notes within the greater tapestry of creation. Remember the message of the shofar and integrate it into your Shabbat experience, not just on Rosh Hashanah itself but indeed on all the days of the forthcoming year.

The Three Stages of the Rosh Hashanah Tefillah

BY RABBI SHMUEL REICHMAN

Genuine teshuvah is not just about self-transformation; it’s about self-expression, returning to your true and higher self. As we have previously explained, there are three stages of genuine teshuvah:

• The first is individual teshuvah, where we return to our higher selves, our fetal selves, our true selves.

• The second stage of teshuvah goes beyond the limited self, turning the focus from individual to community.

• The third stage of teshuvah is returning to our absolute root and source, to the Source of all sources, to Hashem Himself. We will now display how these three stages parallel the three themes of the Rosh Hashanah tefillah.

THE ROSH HASHANAH TEFILLAH

The three main themes of the Rosh Hashanah davening are Shofaros, Zichronos, and Malchuyos. Shofaros relates to the blowing of the shofar; Zichronos relates to remembering seminal events from Jewish history and Hashem’s covenant with the Jewish People, and Malchuyos is the process by which we crown Hashem King. Judaism is a holistic religion, in which everything is interconnected, expressing an underlying oneness. What then is the underlying connection between these three themes?

SHOFAROS

The shofar represents one’s individual spiritual yearning. It is a haunting, wordless cry that brings us back to our higher self — our fetal self.

The berachah we recite on the shofar refers to the “kol shofar” (voice of the shofar). This is because blowing the shofar is meant to draw our attention to the unique depth of the shofar’s role in our tefillah. We blow the shofar as a part of the Rosh Hashanah prayers, but it is unique amongst the tefillos. While all the other prayers utilize words, the shofar is a wordless cry. What is the meaning behind this?

Speech is always a limited expression of one’s inner thoughts. Formulating ideas and feelings into words requires taking that which is abstract, beyond finite form, and giving it concrete form and expression. By doing so, one limits that infinite potential into just the words that are spoken. This is why words often fail to describe and convey that which is most important. Words are a limited form of expression; they cannot convey the full force of “self” contained within them. Kol, however, is the root form of verbal expression, a speech that has not yet been formed into words. The wordless cry of the voice is not limited to specific words; it is beyond words and beyond finite expression.

On Rosh Hashanah, we cry out with the resounding “kol of the shofar,” expressing our deep yearning to return to our root selves — a yearning that cannot be expressed in words. As the blast of the shofar

jars us from our stupor, we join in its cry as our souls beg to return to their root.

This is also why the concept of kol is connected to crying. When does one cry? When the clear path ahead loses its clarity and expression. When one hears the doctor’s report and finds out that instead of fifty years they have only weeks left to live, they cry. Or, on the flip side, when one receives the news that instead of having a couple of days left in this world, they have been completely cured, they cry. When the clear and expressed path breaks down, we cry. This is why the Hebrew word for tears, “dim’ah,” is also the Hebrew word for “mixture,” something that is unclear and confusing. The spiritual concept of crying is the breakdown in expression. This is also why the root of the Hebrew word for “crying” (bocheh) is the root of the Hebrew word for “confusion” (mevuchah) as well.

(When the Meraglim (spies) delivered their negative report about Eretz Yisrael (Israel), Klal Yisrael cried. Chazal (Taanis 29a) note that this was an inappropriate form of crying (bechiyah shel chinam — a baseless cry). In Klal Yisrael’s eyes, the road to Eretz Yisrael was broken, and the path toward their destiny was shattered. But in reality, this was not true. As punishment for inappropriately crying — for incorrectly viewing the clear path as broken, Hashem made that day, i.e., Tishah B’Av, a day of genuine crying (middah k’neged middah — measure for measure). Tishah B’Av became the day of all breakdown and crying, and it became the day where we actually lost our place in Eretz Yisrael; not by choice, but by exile [both in the midbar and later on in Jewish history].)

On Rosh Hashanah, we cry out with a resounding kol, expressing how deeply we yearn to return to our source, to Hashem. The concepts of both kol and crying focus on the root and source instead of the expression. Kol is the root of speech, and crying brings us back to a formless, root state where no outward expression is clear. On Rosh Hashanah, we take a step back from the expressed physical world and return back to our transcendent source.

ZICHRONOS

Zichronos refers to the concept of memory, building upon this same theme. Memory represents tracing something from the present back into the past, of sourcing something back to its root. On Rosh Hashanah, as we discuss the Akeidah and other seminal moments in Jewish history, we connect back to our collective self, the root soul of all of Klal Yisrael.

The Akeidah holds infinite layers of depth and meaning, and it has striking implications for us as we trace ourselves back to our collective self. At the Akeidah, Yitzchak was willing to give up his life. The willingness to give up one’s life for Hashem reflects the belief that one is not merely a physical being, but a spiritual consciousness that transcends their physical body. This is why Chazal note that the letters of Yitzchak’s name spell “keitz chai” — he who lives (chai) while paradoxically also existing beyond life (keitz). At the Akeidah,

Yitzchak rooted himself beyond space and time while still living within it. On Rosh Hashanah, we remember this; we tap into our unique nature as Klal Yisrael, a nation that transcends this world while paradoxically living fully within it. The root of our ability to do so stems from Yitzchak and the Akeidah.

MALCHUYOS

On Rosh Hashanah, we crown Hashem as our Melech (King). We declare Hashem to be the source of everything, our ultimate root. This is our mission in this world — to become a walking kiddush Hashem, fully connecting ourselves back to Hashem, our Creator. It is for this reason that we don’t mention vidui (prayer of confession) or any of our sins on Rosh Hashanah. Our singular goal on this day is to source ourselves back to Hashem, crown Him as our King, and root ourselves within reality, connected to Hashem. [On Yom Kippur, we focus on the details of our past year and the quality of our upcoming year. On Rosh Hashanah, however, our goal is simply to root ourselves within reality, connecting ourselves to Hashem, our Melech. Before we discuss the quality and nature of our existence (Yom Kippur), we need to ensure that we exist in the first place (Rosh Hashanah).]

OUR THREE-STAGE ASCENSION

While all three of these themes are

connected to all three forms of teshuvah, Shofaros most deeply reflects our individual teshuvah; Zichronos most deeply reflects our collective teshuvah; and Malchuyos most deeply reflects our ultimate teshuvah, sourcing ourselves back to Hashem Himself. May we be inspired to fully actualize all three forms of teshuvah this Rosh Hashanah and seal ourselves in the book of life, the book of true existence.

Rabbi Shmuel Reichman is an international speaker, bestselling author, and the founder of Self-Mastery Academy. He is also a business and leadership coach, with a unique approach based on Torah values and principles. His bestselling book, The Journey to Your Ultimate Self, serves as an inspiring gateway into deeper Jewish thought.

Rabbi Reichman’s passion is spreading Jewish wisdom worldwide. His videos, articles, and inspiring content have reached millions of people worldwide and his online courses have revolutionized the way self-development is being taught. To invite Rabbi Reichman for a speaking engagement, to learn more about his services, or to enjoy more of his content, visit his website, ShmuelReichman.com.

Another delicious recipe from Denise Phillips

For more recipes and inspiration visit my website: www.jewishcookery.com

Barley Apple salad

A substantial non-dairy salad is always useful over the forthcoming High Holidays. Serve alongside fish or meat, or keep for your vegan guests! Barley is a very healthy grain. It’s rich in vitamins, minerals and other beneficial plant compounds. It’s also high in fibre, which is responsible for a range of benefits, from better digestion to reduced hunger and maintaining a healthy weight.

Preparation Time: 20 minutes

Cooking Time: 40 minutes Servces: 6 people

Ingredients

175g pearl barley

~ Dressing:

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon white wine vinegar

1 teaspoon clear honey

For the Salad:

2 Braeburn apples – cored, skin on and cut into match sticks

150g frozen peas – defrosted

50g fresh rocket leaves

~ For the Topping:

150g mixed nuts – almonds, hazelnuts, pecans or walnuts

100g mixed seeds – e.g. pumpkin, sunflower and linseed

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoons smoked paprika

1 teaspoon chilli flakes

2 teaspoons runny honey or use agave nectar for a vegan option

Method

1. Place the barley in a saucepan of simmering water and cook for approximately 25 minutes or until soft.

2. Drain, rinse and set aside.

3. Preheat the oven to 200°C / 400°F / Gas mark 6.

4. Line a tray with baking parchment, add the nuts and seeds. Combine the oil, smoked paprika, chilli flakes and honey and drizzle over the nuts and seeds.

Roast for 5-8 minutes until slightly golden and crispy.

5. For the dressing, mix the ingredients together with some seasoning. Then add the apple, peas, rocket and cooled barley.

6. Toss well. Transfer to a serving platter.

7. Top with the roasted nuts and seeds.

Wishing you a very Happy & Healthy New Year

Family Fun Rosh

by Rabbi Raymond Apple

No moment in Jewish history was as breathtaking as the revelation at Sinai. At that moment a slave rabble became a people of prophets. No one was unmoved and untouched by the experience.

What brought them to this historic peak?

The answer may be found in G-d’s words, “And I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Me” (Ex.19:4).

A great experience bears a person aloft with a feeling of consuming exhilaration.

Read the passage in Herzl’s diary which describes the state of elation in which the founder of modem Zionism wrote his “Jewish State”. Anyone who is totally taken over by a great enterprise or task has the same feeling of being carried onwards by eagles’ wings.

In today’s Jewish world this is seen in the excitement felt by people from the periphery finding their way back to Judaism, borne away from secularism to spirituality.

The trend is seen everywhere, but, appropriately, especially in Israel, where

so many are coming back to their roots and are overtaken by a new fervour in prayer, learning, mysticism and Jewish practice.

The term for this movement is “teshuvah”, “return”. But this is not quite the traditional meaning of the word. It is more commonly taken in the sense of repentance, the turning away from sin that is the keynote of Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur.

Rabbi Shlomo Riskin has said that in every generation G-d gives the Jewish people a gift. In our generation it is “teshuvah”; the tragedy, however, is that only secular Jews seem to be taking advantage of it.

But in which sense is Rabbi Riskin using the word? If he means that secular Jews once were sinners and now are back on the straight and narrow, is he right to imply that non-secular Jews are also sinners and need to repent? If he is saying that secular Jews are away from their Jewish roots and need to come back, is he right to suggest that the religious have also strayed from the

sources of Judaism?

I believe the answer is yes, and there is a “teshuvah” for religious Jews to do, or at least they have to ask themselves at any given moment whether “teshuvah” should not be on their agenda.

Notice that I have not qualified the word “religious”. Paradoxical though it may seem, there are religious Jews who are not halachically committed, much as I regret the fact.

But every religious Jew, of whatever level of halachic observance, is dutybound as a Jew to hear the Divine call, “ko amar HaShem” – “Thus says the L-rd” – that mandates full commitment to justice, love and humanity. In this respect there is a “teshuvah” even –especially – for the religious Jew.

We need a new call for a return to justice: how can it be right that members of a people that taught the world justice sometimes cannot endure or forgive one another?

We need a new call for a return to love: if we obey the Shema and love G-d with our heart, soul and might, how can it

be right that we sometimes do not love our neighbours as ourselves – especially those we disagree with?

We need a new call for a return to humanity; if human beings are made in the image of G-d, it means all human beings, and surely no-one is entitled to appoint him- or herself as G-d’s policeman and decide that some human beings are less worthy of living than others.

And if you say to me that Jews, even religious Jews, are not the only people who sometimes fall short of high ethical standards, I say: “But were Jews not the pioneers of Divine ethics, and is it not the Jewish task to be a light to the nations?”

In an ideal world, every one of us would be constantly borne aloft, as if on eagles’ wings, by Jewish visions, values, ethics and attitudes.

It is not yet an ideal world, but the “teshuvah” that ought to carry us onwards and upwards to the ideal world is the constant effort to assess, refine and improve our adherence to the ethics of our tradition.

100 Shofar notes are blown on each day of Rosh Hashanah. But not on the first day this year, because it is Shabbat.

Pomegranates are eaten because the seeds are symbolic of the many commandments in the Torah that Jews must fulfill.

Some people use honey instead of salt for Hamotzi - to help make a sweet new year!

Using all the shapes on the left can you make the apple shape on the right?

Word Wheel

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

Last week’s words

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

bait bans bast bats bias bins bits

boat bots iamb ibis mobs nabs

Jokes Riddles

Knock knock. Who’s there?

A little old lady. A little old lady who?

I didn’t know you could yodel!

Q: What’s orange and sounds like a parrot?

A: A carrot!

Q: What side of a turkey has the most feathers?

A: The outside of course!

Q: What did one hat say to the other?

A: Stay here, I’m going on ahead

stab tabs tomb ambit

1. I’m tall when I’m young, and I’m short when I’m old. What am I?

2. Mike is the father of Sam, but Sam is not Mike’s son. How can that be?

3. What breaks and never falls and what falls and never breaks?

E S H R I A F M N Answers 1.

EXPERT ADVICE

Q. I have a lot of friends/family who have made Aliyah – why can’t I just ask them for advice on the practicalities of Aliyah?

A. Making Aliyah is amazing! At the same time, there are also a lot of components on the practical side too – so it’s natural to turn to those you know and trust for advice –especially when they have done the journey you are about to take. Of course you should speak with them to get their information experiences of moving to and living in Israel.

HOWEVER in over 97% of cases, you won’t share your FULL situation with your friends and family – this could be your financial situation, health situation, educational needs for you or your children, or other complications that you know you will have to deal with either in your country of origin or in Israel.

This is where speaking to Aliyah Advisors comes into play – having a 3rd party you can trust who will keep everything 100% CONFIDENTIAL, allows you to plan your Aliyah based on the actual reality of your situation! This is very important, as we have seen cases where advice was given from friends/ family based on how things “seemed” rather than how they were and in those cases people either had a very bad time or ended up making Yeridah and leaving Israel. Had the correct advice been taken based on the reality of the situation, most of these Yeridot could have been avoided.

This is why at Aliyah Advisors, we offer our FREE “Aloh Na’aleh” service which starts with a 30 minute meeting with 100% confidentially assured, so you can get the help you ACTUALLY NEED rather than the advice you “seem” to want – FREE!

To book your free meeting TODAY email info@aliyahadvisors.com

ESTATE AGENT

MARTIN FRYDENSON - ROUNDTREE REAL ESTATE

Roundtree Real Estate are your local experienced Estate Agent having been established on the High Street since 2009. We are both ARLA and NAEA Propertymark regulated and we are here to offer you expert advice in Property Sales, Lettings, Commercial and Full Management Services, covering Hendon, Golders Green, Finchley, Colindale and surrounding areas. We have built long standing relationships with all our clients and should you have any property related queries please do contact us.

FINANCIAL SERVICES (FCA) COMPLIANCE

JACOB BERNSTEIN

A member of the APCC, specialising in financial services compliance for: Mortgage, Protection and General Insurance Intermediaries; Lenders, Credit Brokers, Debt Counsellors and Debt Managers; Alternative Investment Fund Managers; • E-Money, Payment Services, PISP, AISP and Grant-making Charities.

Contact: 020 7781 8019 info@richdale.co.uk www.richdale.co.uk

WEALTH MANAGMENT

MARC OVITS – BA (HONS) APFS CERT PFS (DM)

Over 25 years of successful experience in financial services including 11 years of investment banking experience. Offering expert independent financial advice to individuals, businesses, charities and trusts. Individual services:- Wealth Management, Investment, Retirement, Estate/IHT, protection planning, Tax Mitigation and Cash Management Solutions Business & Charity services:- Investment Planning, Business Succession & Business Exit Planning, Business Protection, Corporate Pensions, Employee Benefits, Cash Management Solutions, Profit extraction strategies

Alpha Wealth Management

Contact: 020 8203 6920 info@alphawm.co.uk www.alphawm.co.uk

BUTCHERS

KOSHER DELI

Kosher Deli was established with the intention of making kosher meat and poultry affordable for all with the convenience of multiple locations and a comprehensive delivery service. All this without compromising on kashrus or quality.

Locations in: Golders Green, Hendon, Temple Fortune, Edgware, Borehamwood & Manchester

Contact: 020 8203 2111 mail@theroundtree.com www.theroundtree.com

PRIVATE HEALTHCARE SPECIALISTS

PATIENT HEALTH

Market specialists is affordable health cover, advising on maximising cover with lowest premiums, for individuals, families, and companies (1-200).

Excellent knowledge on health providers, pre-existing issues, and family-company scheme

• FCA Licensed

• LLB Solicitors Finals

• Member of Chartered Institute

Contact: Trevor Gee

020 3146 3444

07956 244350

trevor@patienthealth.co.uk

www.patienthealth.co.uk

CHARITY

JEWISH CARE

Contact: 020 8381 4450 info@kosherdeliuk.co.uk www.kosherdeli.co.uk

Jewish Care is the largest health and social care organisation serving the Jewish community in London and the South East. Our vital services touch the lives of 10,000 people every week. We provide services and offer a wide range of support groups to older people, people with mental health needs, Holocaust survivors, people living with dementia, people with a variety of needs and carers support.

Contact: 020 8922 2222 helpline@jcare.org www.jewishcare.org

YOUR FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPLIANCE EXPERTS

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

MARTIN HEIMAN – SMARTINET

We’ve been providing businesses with all of their communication needs since 2010. We specialise in supplying businesses with VoIP Packages, Mobile Plans, Broadband, Card Merchant Services, Leased Lines, On-Hold Marketing, and Call Centre Services. Smartinet, your reliable and efficient business communications provider.

Contact:

0333 613 0000 connect@smartinet.co.uk smartinet.co.uk

BUILDING AND PARTY WALL SURVEYING

MATRIX SURVEYORS LIMITED

Offering a range of building surveying services and specialising in party wall matters, nationwide, for both consumers and businesses, including; -

• Pre-acquisition Surveys

• Party Wall Matters

• Defect Inspections

• Schedules of Condition

• Insurance Reinstatement Costs Assessments

SHIPPING

STEPHEN MORRIS SHIPPING

• Planned Preventative Maintenance Schedules

• Construction Project Management

• Licence for Alterations

• Insurance claims

ALIYAH ADVISORS

ALIYAH ADVISORS - GARY BROWN - PRACTICAL ALIYAH ADVICE

Book a FREE meeting with UKAA’s founder Gary Brown, who will go through your particular needs and wants on a the PRACTICAL side of leaving your country of origin and/or living in/moving to Israel. This is both for pre and post- Aliyah Olim.

This FREE meeting will allow Gary to advise on who you need to speak with for each requirement and when in the year you should approach them. Confidentiality assured.

Contact:

MANAGED I.T. SERVICES PROVIDER (MSP)

SIMON MOSCOVITZ BSC (HONS) – EUROTEK UK LIMITED

We are a well-established and successful Managed I.T. Services Provider (MSP) with a clear sense of purpose. We plan, design and enable the procurement, implementation, protection and management of a wide range of modern technologies through an earned and trusted partnership with our clients across the UK. We enable our clients to be operationally efficient by successfully embracing their digital transformation journey.

With almost 40 years experience, our company has the ability to move household and personal effects and antiques and fine art with the professionalism and care that comes from that experience coupled with an attention to detail.

We construct our own Tri-Wall and wooden packing cases on site and employ full-time art installers and handymen for those ‘extra’ jobs that always need doing on a move or installation. And size is no limitation – we have moved trains, boats and planes across the world and even bridges and a 5,000 seater tent!

Contact: 020 8832 2222 info@shipsms.co.uk www.shipsms.co.uk

for a

bespoke Kosher holiday that meets

Hammers welcome City in top of table clash

BY DAVID SAFFER

The Premier League returns this weekend following the international break.

High flying West Ham have their stiffest test so far when they welcome league leaders Manchester City to the London Stadium. The match looks set to be an entertaining clash with both teams beginning the season well.

The Hammers in particular have surprised pundits, especially with the departure of captain Declan Rice to Arsenal over the summer. Should the Hammers turn over City they will top the table which would be a huge boost ahead of their Europa League campaign.

Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Arsenal have the same points as West Ham after the opening games. All will be favourites against Sheffield United, Wolves and Everton respectively at the weekend.

Manchester United’s home clash with Brighton will be a hard fought contest. The Seagulls have won three games to date and lost just once. They travel to Old Trafford in confident mood but Reds boss Erik ten Hag will have his team fired up after a heartbreaking defeat to Arsenal before the break. United will move alongside Brighton if they triumph.

Newcastle United, meantime, have made a surprisingly slow start after last season’s success and will look to bounce back from three consecutive defeats when they welcome Brentford.

Chelsea, likewise, have been inconsistent, and will expect to get back to winning ways when they travel to Bournemouth. However a win for the south coast club would see them leapfrog the Blues in the table which would put pressure on manager Mauricio Pochettino.

In other match-ups Aston Villa host Crystal Palace, Fulham welcome Luton Town and Nottingham Forest take on Burnley at home. Luton and Burnley are the only teams yet to register a point.

Next week sees the start of the Champions League with Pep Guardiola’s City looking to defend their title when they host Red Star Belgrade at the Etihad.

They are favourites to win Group G which includes Young Boys and RB Leipzig.

Newcastle United have the toughest task of the British contingent in Group F and visit AC Milan before matches against Paris Saint Germain and Borussia Dortmund.

Arsenal host PSV Eindhoven in Group B, which includes Sevilla and Lens. Manchester United face a tough task at Bayern Munch with Harry Kane leading the attack. Group A includes Galatasaray and FC Copenhagen. Celtic complete the British challenge and

start at Feyenoord in Group E, which features Lazio and Atletico Madrid.

City are the bookies favourites but will be looking to see how Real Madrid, with England’s Jude Bellingham making an instant impression, and Barcelona progress in the weeks ahead.

In the Europa League West Ham host Backa Topola in Group A which includes Olympiakas and Freiburg. Brighton welcome AEK Athens in Group B before games against Ajax and Marseille. Liverpool travel to LASK in Group E then take on Union Saint-Gilloise and Toulouse. Rangers tackle Real Betis before clashes against Sparta Prague and Arts Limassol in Group C.

In the Europa Conference League, Aston Villa travel to Legia Warsaw in Group E then face Zrinjski Mostar and AZ Alkmaar while Aberdeen visit Frankfurt in Group G then play HKJ Helsinki and PAOK Salonika.

Best wishes

Donations made to Kisharon Langdon this Rosh Hashanah are core to our future together

As one unified organisation, dedicated to offering the best possible opportunities to people within the Jewish learning disability and autism community, we need your support.

To find out more or to make a donation, please visit kisharonlangdon.org.uk or scan the QR code.