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Songs of defiance

BRITAIN’S BIGGEST JEWISH NEWSPAPER 23 April 2020

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29 Nisan 5780

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Issue No.1155

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Les Miserables composer Claude-Michel Schönberg on his musical masterpiece and family’s tragic past Pages 22 & 23

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Virtual remembrance 60,000 tune into streamed Yom HaShoah ceremony

Virtual memorial participants: Top: Prince Charles, Sadiq Khan and Marie van der Zyl. Middle: Reuven Rivlin, Rachel Riley and Luciana Berger. Bottom: Mark Regev, Sir Keir Starmer and Robert Jenrick

Prince Charles hailed Holocaust survivors as “living heroes” this week, during an emotional livestreamed memorial watched by an audience of 60,000 people, writes Mathilde Frot.

The heir to the throne, a patron of Holocaust Memorial Day and World Jewish Relief, was among a host of public figures, faith leaders and politicians to pay their respects in video messages broadcast on Monday during the event, media partnered

by Jewish News.

The prince paid tribute to survivors and refugees, who went on to become “the leaders and builders of your community, active citizens and dedicated contributors to wider British society.”

“They have been and continue to be shining examples to the world of how it is possible to triumph over adversity. Whilst they may consider themselves the lucky ones, when so many did not survive, to us they are simply nothing short of living heroes, who were determined not just to survive but to thrive as they built new lives, new homes and new families here in the United Kingdom,” he said.

More than 60,000 people worldwide tuned in to watch the ceremony on YouTube and Facebook Live, which organisers say is expected to reach 200,000 in the coming days.

The annual day for Holocaust

remembrance in the community coincided this year with the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Bergen Belsen by the British Army.

The ceremony featured videos of six Holocaust survivors and refugees lighting a yellow candle, each in memory of those who were murdered in the Shoah.

They were Kindertransport refugee Sir Eric Reich, Theresienstadt survivor Joanna Millan, child refugee Isca Wittenberg, Auschwitz and Lieberstadt slave labour camp survivor Mindu Hornick, Auschwitz survivor Sam Laskier and Eva Clarke, who was born in Mauthausen concentration camp.

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said the “world needs to heed the call of our Holocaust survivors to ensure that the Shoah will never in any shape or form happen again.”

Rabbi Mirvis discussed rising antisemitism in the past year but struck a positive note as he told the commemoration that “within the dark clouds Continued on page 2

WE’RE BACK, MORE ENERGISED THAN EVER

BY RICHARD FERRER EDITOR

If like me, your sense of time is all over the place at the moment (is it April or May?), you’ll be forgiven for thinking you‘re reading LAST week’s Jewish News.

After all, just seven days ago, in this very spot, I wrote 600 mistyeyed words about it being our final issue. Well, let’s just say a week is a very long time in Jewish media.

Long story short, seven days ago we were set to shut shop and launch a merged newspaper in partnership with the Jewish Chronicle. Six days ago a bigger

anonymous rival bid (which is poised to purchase the Jewish Chronicle this week) forced a sudden change of plan on the part of our owner Leo Noe, who generously took Jewish News out of liquidation to save jobs and stop it falling into unknown hands.

So the good news, at the end of a dramatic week of twists and

turns that would make Shakespeare blush, is that we are back.

The warmth and kindness from across the community in reaction to our closure was overwhelming.

As American poet Ted Berrigan sort of wrote: “It’s only when a newspaper dies that it gets flowers.”

Well, I’m keeping those flowers in a vase on my desk forever.

It might say issue 1,155 at the top of this front page but to me it feels like the first – announcing an ambitious new chapter in the newspaper’s history.

So today I restate our commitment to our readers, pledge to campaign on issues and champion causes that affect their daily lives Continued on page 11

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Jewish News 23 April 2020

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News / Yom HaShoah

Day of digital memorial Continued from page 1 of the coronavirus, we can see a silver lining… A sense of unity, unity in our communities, on our streets, in our towns, in our cities, national unity and global unity, as all of humankind faces Covid-19 like one person with one heart.”

Among the speakers were Marie van der Zyl, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Israeli ambassador Mark Regev.

Henry Grunwald, vice-president of Yom HaShoah UK, said Kaddish after a performance of El Malei Rachamim by Chazan Jonny Turgel, grandson of the late Gena Turgel, who met her husband on liberation from Bergen-Belsen and became The children’s choir sing Never Again as part of the ceremony known as the “bride of Belsen”.

“We don’t normally say vors and refugees were isolating some hope and togetherness to Kaddish without a minyan, but at home and might have believed our community (and beyond) the Kaddish which we say on that the community would not during this difficult time.”

Yom HaShoah is of enormous be able to commemorate the day, Communities secretary importance to survivors and it was vital that we remembered. Robert Jenrick extended his to the families of survivors,” He added: “We were truly “good wishes to the Jewish comGrunwald told the livestream. honoured that the Prince of munity on this solemn occasion” Neil Martin, who chairs Yom Wales agreed to lead the trib- and said it had “never been more HaShoah UK and produced the utes... I’m proud we were able important to fight against the event, said that because survi- to use Yom HaShoah to bring world’s oldest form of hatred”.

President Rivlin said that “while the coronavirus may have prevented us from marching from Auschwitz Birkenau, nothing can prevent us from passing on the memory of the Shoah to the next generation”, in an apparent reference to the postponed March of the Living.

He added: “We must never forget the survivors among us.

Not only must we make sure that all the needs are met, but we must also continue to listen to their story if not in person, then through technology, as we are doing just now.”

Keir Starmer said: “In the Shoah we see the worst of humanity but we also see the best in the hope and resilience of those that survived and rebuilt their lives, allowing the Jewish culture to make a significant contribution, not just here in Britain but across the world.”

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said remembrance, “feels more important than ever before as we confront the depressing reality of hatred, antisemitism and nativist populism on the rise, once again around the world”.

‘IT’S A METAPHOR FOR THE FUTURE’ During the ceremony, Sir Ben Helfgott’s son Maurice read out a personal message to his father, to his aunt, Mala Tribich and to all ‘The Boys’, survivors and refugees who joined in from their homes.

Yom HaShoah was established by you and led by you.

Tonight we demonstrate that no matter how great the challenge, our commitment to remember will endure.

Our technology and forms of remembrance will adapt but the most important lessons we learned from you will continue to be taught.

The universal lesson that within and between societies we must cherish tolerance to one another.

And our particular lesson, that we Jews also need to be able to properly defend ourselves and our nation state.

We shall never forget.

Nor shall we let the world ever forget because we understand the truth that those who cannot remember the past are indeed condemned to repeat it.

You taught us that we must be rigorous about the historical record. That we must resist blurring fact and fiction in pursuit of an engaging story, and we must take care not to abuse the memory of the Holocaust to make our own political or ideological arguments.

We owe you an extraordinary debt of gratitude.

Today’s virtual ceremony is perhaps a metaphor for the future: We stand together with you to remember, even though we are not side by side in body.

You can see today that we will continue your mission even without you by our side.

You will always be with us, as we continue to always remember…

Sacks videos look at Shoah’s ‘unanswerable questions’ YOM HAZIKARON Rabbi Lord Sacks recording a video

Monday 27th April | 8pm Live on YouTube & Facebook

Join UJIA to remember Israel’s fallen in what will be a moving ceremony with our special guest speakers live from Israel, Moshe & Zohara Haiman, and Chazzan Zvi Weiss, from the Great Synagogue in Jerusalem Join us live on Facebook (@ujiacharity) or on YouTube via ujia.org/tekes

A series of videos by Rabbi Lord Sacks examining the Holocaust’s most ethical and spiritual questions was launched on Monday to coincide with Yom HaShoah.

Working in partnership with the Holocaust Educational Trust (HET) and launched on the day for Holocaust remembrance in the Jewish calendar, the former chief rabbi discusses 10

SCROLL KEEPER Dr Abed Zahalka, an Arab doctor in the intensive care unit at a hospital in Bnei Brak, Israel, brings a Torah scroll wrapped in a tallit (prayer shawl) into the coronavirus ward for use by Orthodox Jewish patients.

issues such as humanity, punishment, hope and forgiveness.

Organisers said the videos were an educational resource, with content offering Sacks’ perspective on the subjects, additional historical background and information, and a set of discussion questions. The Shoah “will always be one of humanity’s darkest periods”, said Sacks. “Faith, particularly after the Holocaust, is not certainty. It is the courage to live with uncertainty – not knowing all the answers but finding the strength to ask the questions.”

HET chief executive Karen Pollock said: “Learning about the Holocaust raises what seems like unanswerable questions… about faith, God, humanity and how seemingly normal people can do extraordinarily evil things are asked over and over again. This series of videos confronts these dilemmas and helps us grapple with these complex issues.”

23 April 2020 Jewish News

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Yom HaShoah / Virus pandemic / News

10,000 plaques projected onto gates of Auschwitz

Remembrance plaques were projected onto the entrance of Auschwitz-Birkenau

More than 10,000 remembrance plaques were projected onto the entrance of Auschwitz-Birkenau this week to mark Yom HaShoah, writes Jack Mendel.

The virtual initiative was launched

following the cancellation of the March of the Living owing to the pandemic.

The project, which has been run online over the past week, tries to simulate the experience of the march, during

which participants place remembrance notes in the train tracks that brought so many to their deaths.

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin laid the first virtual message, with high profile figures from the UK participating, including former Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, Countdown presenter Rachel Riley, and Little Britain star Matt Lucas.

On Tuesday, a virtual March of the Living is taking place online, featuring Rivlin, testimonies from Holocaust survivors and Jewish leaders. This year’s event had been due to include 10,000 people from 60 different countries.

March of the Living World chair, Dr Shmuel Rosenman, said it was the first time in 32 years that it had not taken place, adding: “But we must never let the flame of memory be extinguished.”

He continued: “We moved our activities to the virtual space and, in this way, we have ensured Auschwitz-Birkenau is not abandoned on this important day.

“Thousands of virtual plaques have been uploaded during the past week and many will be screened at Birkenau, sending a strong and clear message – Never Again.” Editorial comment, page 15

Community virus deaths now 312 The number of coronavirus-related fatalities among UK Jews rose to 312 on Wednesday, up 16 from the previous day.

The latest figure covers fatalities both in hospital and beyond, using data gathered from six of the largest Orthodox and denominational burial boards, according to data collated by the Board of Deputies.

They are the Adath Yisroel Burial Society, the

Federation of Synagogues Burial Society, the Joint Jewish Burial Board, Liberal Judaism, the Spanish and Portuguese Sephardi Community and the United Synagogue Burial Society.

The Board monitors the number of funerals carried out by burial societies, where Covid-19 appeared on the deceased’s death certificate.

The total number of UK hospital deaths this week surpassed 18,000.

YOM HASHOAH ONLINE Yom HaShoah in Israel was spent under lockdown, with survivors unable to leave their homes to mark the day – but ceremonies took place within social distancing rules.

Among them were memorial ceremonies held in the city of Ashdod by the city’s young in front of nursing homes where Holocaust survivors live.

In various cities, schoolchildren went door-to-door giving flowers and certificates to the survivors, while keeping a safe

Memorial in Ashdod

distance and in a Zoom speech, Ashdod Mayor Dr Yechiel Lasry said: “We stand unbowed, proud of our country... We say with tremendous strength ...

Am Yisrael Chai (The Israel Nation is alive).”

YOM HA’ATZMAUT

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Jewish News 23 April 2020

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News Virus/pandemic Holocaust Memorial Day

Jewish care homes are praised for swift action Jewish care homes have been praised for acting “quickly and decisively” to counter the threat posed by the coronavirus pandemic to elderly residents and tenants, writes Mathilde Frot.

Former pensions minister Baroness Altmann hailed providers for being “quick to recognise the need to order significant supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) and some have even sourced supplies of oxygen.”

She told Jewish News on Monday: “Our community is also fortunate that the infrastructure of our care sector has allowed staff to be transferred from the usually open day-care centres, which have now been closed, into the care home settings, which can cover staff who may be absent due to illness and also provide extra resources at this challenging time.

“Other care homes may not have this kind of spare staff resource to redeploy.”

The Office for National Statistics reported on Tuesday 1,662 coronavirus-related deaths in England and Wales registered up to 10 April out-

side hospitals. Of these, 1,043 were in care homes.

Baroness Altmann said: “Of course there are wonderful examples of care homes around the country who have coped well, but there are too many instances of elderly residents being put at risk, or homes without protection and testing, and if the care company operating the home is financially insecure then the spare funding to buy in PPE, especially after dramatic increases in costs, may not exist.”

She said the community had responded “enormously generously” to a joint appeal for emergency funding by three of the largest providers in the community – Jewish Care, Nightingale Hammerson and the Fed in Manchester, which are part of the National Association of Jewish Homes (NAJH).

In addition to the emergency appeal, NAJH members are updating each other on WhatsApp and Zoom “to stay well equipped and resourced given the challenges they are facing”, according to Helen Simmons, chief executive of Nightingale Hammerson.

Senior management across care home providers are sharing ideas and even “providing each other with support and advice as we stand on what feels like an emotional knife edge”, said Mark Cunningham, chief executive of the Fed and chair of NAJH. An email sent on Tuesday to Jewish Care volunteers and staff by the charity’s CEO, Daniel CarmelBrown, revealed that a total of 23 care home residents and independent living tenants have died after contacting the virus.

Ten of the deaths were at Anita Dorfman House, four were at Vi and John Rubens House, and three were at Lady Sarah Cohen House. Three deaths were recorded at Otto Schiff Dementia Care Home, two at Sidney Corob House and one at the Kun Mor and George Kiss Home.

Another 14 people based in the community died after testing positive.

The number of dead accounts for less than four percent of all 630 residents and tenants, Carmel-Brown wrote. “I say this to give some context as no doubt you will have read

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A total of 23 care home residents and independent living tenants have died

about some care providers across the UK, where the percentage of those passing away have been as high as 30 percent,” he said in the letter, seen by Jewish News.

He added: “I continue to personally speak to families who have lost a loved one where they tested positive for the virus and I can tell you that in every call I make, I am moved by the feedback relatives have about how our staff and volunteers cared for residents and clients, sometimes for years, sometimes for weeks.”

On the subject of PPE, CarmelBrown struck a positive note as he revealed Jewish Care has spent

£300,000 in purchasing equipment to complement items already provided by the government.

“Like everyone else we have faced the same challenge. However, I am pleased to report we have stock of everything and that we continue to purchase as much as we can, not just for now but, of course, because we must be prepared for a further outbreak later in the year too,” he wrote.  To donate to the fundraising emergency appeal, visit www.jewishcare.org/ jewishhomesemergency appeal/donate

Tributes to Kenton rabbi

He went to Israel for his rabbinic Tributes have been paid to Zalman studies before emigrating to the Kossowsky, a former rabbi at United States, where at one point Kenton United Synagogue, who he served as a chaplain in the US has died aged 80.

Marines and working on his docThe Iranian-born former chief torate in sociology. rabbi of Zurich was head of congreHe served as a congregational gations on three continents during rabbi of Kenton, before accepting a career that spanned many decades. the role of chief rabbi of the ICZ, a Kossowsky’s synagogue in communal umbrella organisation Florida said he died on Sunday of in Switzerland’s largest city, which natural causes unconnected to the coronavirus pandemic.

Zalman Kossowsky he led from 1991 to 2007.

Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, He led the north London community from 1986 to 1991, with the shul president of the Conference of European saying: “Both he and his wife Danna were very Rabbis, said: “His biggest accomplishment was caring and popular during their time with the he kept the community together.”

Kossowsky was a scholar who toiled to find Kenton community and were involved with solutions for agunot, women trapped in marall aspects of community life. ” The United Synagogue added: “We wish riages because their husbands refused a get.

Rabbi Noam Hertig, current chief rabbi the family a long life, and that they will be of Zurich, recalled Kossowsky as “very kind spared further suffering.”

Born in Tehran to Lithuanian refugees and always smiling”, adding: “He was my Rav. fleeing the Soviet takeover of their country, He was the one who encouraged me to become Kossowsky was raised in South Africa. a rabbi.”

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Virus pandemic

Masks-for-all rulewould be ‘disaster’ for deaf people

by Hilary Freeman @HFreemanauthor

Since the lockdown, there’s been much discussion about whether we should all be wearing face masks, with no consensus among either doctors or politicians. But one voice has been noticeably absent from the debate is that of the deaf and hard of hearing, for whom mandatory maskwearing would, many say, be “disastrous”.

Opaque face masks prevent deaf people from being able to communicate. Jacqueline Press, 43, from Barnet, who was born profoundly deaf and is an expert witness lipreader, is passionately against them becoming mandatory: “Not being able to see the movement of lips will be extremely detrimental to a deaf person’s access to communication and will affect their mental health,” she says. “They will have no understanding of what is being ‘said’ to them, and will feel totally excluded from conversation.”

More than five percent of the world’s population, or 12 million people in the UK, have a hearing loss of some degree. “Probably half use

lipreading as an aid – that’s about one-in-six people in the UK,” says Jeremy Freeman, 46, from Borehamwood, a business manager at SmartGiving and an expert witness lipreader.

“I rely on reading lips 95 percent of the time,” he adds.

“If everyone wears masks it will be extremely isolating and depressing for me.”

Lipreading – the ability to recognise lip shapes and patterns and to use context to fill in gaps in conversation – is an essential part of communication for many of those with hearing loss. “People who are deaf or have hearing loss rely heavily on visual cues,” says Francesca Oliver, an audiology specialist at charity Action on Hearing Loss. “These include body language, gestures, facial expressions and lipreading. Being able to see lip patterns and facial expressions is also vital for those who communicate through British Sign Language.

‘Window’ masks enable people to lipread

“If you can’t see someone’s lips, words which sound similar but have different meanings become very difficult to distinguish, leading to a breakdown in communication. And during this scary crisis, communication is key.

We have already heard from frontline workers in the NHS who are struggling to communicate with their colleagues when they are wearing masks. Day-to-day life may also become significantly more difficult if masks are mandatory.”

Retired lipreading teacher Ingrid Sellman, from the Jewish Deaf Association, says deaf people might even be at physical risk because of the use of masks. “Those who are dependent upon lipreading are likely to avoid conversation with mask wearers, and might be severely disadvantaged if admitted to hospital.”

There is an apparently simple solution to this problem: transparent masks, or those with a see-through area that doesn’t conceal the mouth. Unfortunately, to date, in the UK there are no known suppliers of transparent masks.

In the US, Ashley Lawrence, a 21-yearold studying education for the deaf and hard of hearing, has designed a face mask with a clear window, first using a set of spare bedsheets which she sewed with her mother. She launched a GoFundMe campaign and offered masks free to those who needed them.

Ashley has been so overwhelmed by the response that she’s no longer accepting requests, but has created a tutorial so people can make their own masks. She’s also working with a company to produce medical-grade clear masks.

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Virus pandemic NEWS IN BRIEF

MIKVEH BATHERS FINED BY POLICE Members of a group of mikveh bathers in Stamford Hill were fined during Pesach, the Metropolitan Police confirmed. A force spokesperson said “a small number of people” were issued fixed penalty notices at an address in Craven Walk on Friday, 10 April. “They were then dispersed. No arrests were made.”

In some communities, men immerse in the ritual pools before Jewish holidays or Shabbat, as do women before resuming relations after menstruation or childbirth, or brides prior to their wedding day.

LIMMUD ANNOUNCES FESTIVAL LINE-UP The line-up for next month's lockdown Limmud has been announced, and organisers say the festival has been “adapted for our socially distanced times”. Speakers at the online event, held on Sunday, 3 May, will include bioethicist Baroness Ruth Deech, JSwipe founder David Yarus, columnist Jonathan Freedland, former IDF spokeswoman Miri Eisin, lawyer and author Philippe Sands, and Senior Reform Rabbi Laura JannerKlausner. The event is accessible to all, with concessions available.

Rabbi attacks Hancock over hospital guidance A prominent London rabbi has taken aim at Health Secretary Matt Hancock for letting grieving family members of people dying from Covid-19 come to hospitals and funerals, writes Adam Decker.

Rabbi Miriam Berger of Finchley Reform Synagogue said his decision to allow families to choose whether to enter – and therefore potentially infect others – “could have had even more fatal consequences”.

Hancock relaxed the rules, saying he wept after hearing that 13-year-old Ismail Mohamed Abdulwahab from Brixton died without his family by his bed, but Berger said that although the circumstances were tragic, allowing choice could kill others.

“Mr Hancock doesn’t want to be the person who said Ismail’s parents couldn’t be by his bedside,” the rabbi said, adding that by allowing choice “he’s potentially spread more infection around the hospital and brought it right back into the Abdulwahab’s home, subjecting Ismail’s grandparents to the same fate”.

She added: “Compassion is not always the best leadership. Not giving people impossible choices is sometimes much fairer… Don’t

make people choose whether to be honest about if they think they may pose a risk in the hospital or the crematorium. Too many of us we will choose wrongly; we will go and say goodbye.”

By encouraging anxious family into hospitals, it “makes us a threat to our NHS workforce or [makes] our final goodbye to our loved one the moment that infects us too”, said Berger, adding that “many hospitals are ignoring Hancock and maintaining a no-visitor policy”.

She urged Jewish community members who find themselves in that situation to “prioritise yourselves and all those living… a lifetime of kisses, handholding and kind wise words will always be more powerful than any final ones can be”.

Rabbi Berger and Matt Hancock

Virus a nasty opponent, says football chairman Brighton and Hove Albion’s chairman Tony Bloom admitted leading the football club through the coronavirus pandemic has been the most difficult challenge encountered during his career.

The sports bettor and property investor, Brighton defender Adam Webster 50, has been the chairman of the club, which rything we can,” Bloom told entered the Premier League reporters during a press conafter the 2016/2017 season, ference call last Thursday. “[Covid-19] is all the time, since 2009.

Brighton and Hove Albion and it’s hugely difficult in has not played a game since many areas of business and last month, when players life. And obviously … the footfaced Wolverhampton Wan- ball club is there to play games, and there are no games being derers Football Club.

“This is a complete outlier, played,” he said.

“There’s a huge amount of very very difficult if not impossible to plan for. We don’t uncertainty. There’s a huge know what the extent of the amount of financial uncertainty and it’s really difficult losses will be.

“It depends on when foot- for everyon,e and that’s just ball comes back, but it’s very from a business, financial very difficult for us to plan and and football point of view,” deal with, but we’re doing eve- he added.

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Jewish News 23 April 2020

Virus pandemic

Friends feed 1,200 NHS heroes As the pandemic sweeps the UK, a group of four friends – mostly from north London – are feeding more than 1,200 NHS workers every day through a network of 70 volunteer delivery drivers and 10 chefs, writes Mathilde Frot.

They are Katie Icklow, 45, from Borehamwood, Sarah Laster, 39, from Radlett, Jackie Commissar, 69 originally from Casares in Spain, all of Edgware and Hendon Reform Synagogue, and David Benveniste, 49, of Bushey and of Stanmore United shul.

The foursome, whose initiative was promoted on Twitter on Wednesday

Katie, Sarah, Jackie and David run a network of food deliveries

by TV judge Robert Rinder, have recruited hundreds of volunteers

across London and Hertfordshire, and their Facebook group “You Donate…..

we deliver” has garnered close to 2,000 followers. The say the weekly cost of the initiative totals £17,000 and have raised £47,947 of their £200,000 target since launching a campaign on the crowdfunding platform Go Fund Me last month.

The group are now collecting more funds to purchase ingredients, food containers and other items needed by hospitals, such as pillows.“We are desperately in need of some very large cash donations to keep this operation going,” Laster, a secretary, told Jewish News on Wednesday.

She was inspired to set up the initi-

ative after her sister, a senior registrar in A&E, described how she struggled to find the time to prepare food or buy readymade meals during shifts.”Katie and Jackie have a friend at Northwick Park Hospital, and we heard they were finding it difficult to get off the ward.

That’s how it started,” she added.

The group have received outpourings of support and donations from volunteers and businesses, including from costume hire shop Angels Fancy Dress, which donated 150 sets of scrubs last week. “It’s been very humbling for us to see the generosity,” Laster said.

PANDEMIC REVIVES ANCIENT VIRUS An antisemitism study centre at Tel Aviv University this week reported a “sharp rise” in violent antisemitic attacks in 2019 compared to 2018 and warned the pandemic is only making matters worse, writes Stephen Oryszczuk.

It comes as the Kantor Centre reported an 18 percent increase in the number of major violent cases, rising to 456 cases compared to 387 the year before, marking an unwelcome reversal after three years of declining numbers from 2015-17. At least 169 people were physically attacked last

year, mostly in public spaces such as on the streets, at schools, near Jewish sites, and some close to or even in their homes – “a relatively new phenomenon”.

At least 53 synagogues and 28 community centres and schools were attacked, along with 77 cemeteries and memorial sites and 129 private properties. Unprotected sites bore the brunt of the damage.

Authors of the Antisemitism Worldwide 2019 report said a variety of means were used to attack targets, including firearms, with 15

shooting incidents reported around the world. They also said more minor violent incidents, such as threats and harassment, face-to-face abuse, insults, accusations, shaming or graffiti were “underreported in some countries and cannot be counted” towards the total.

Moshe Kantor, president of the European Jewish Congress (EJC), said since the pandemic erupted there had been a rise in the number of antisemitic conspiracies relating to the spread of the disease and the economic recession.

Findings from the Kantor Centre’s report

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11

Musical prize / Limmud festival / Communal history / News

Song Ha’atzmaut hits the right notes Videos of people singing in English or Hebrew could win the singers a trip to Israel in 2021 as a prize for this year’s UK celebrations on Israel’s Independence Day, writes Adam Decker.

The contest, which will be judged by celebrities, is being organised by JNF UK to mark this year’s Yom Ha’atzmaut, and submissions can include Israeli pop songs, traditional Jewish songs, original compositions or songs about Israel.

TV’s Robert Rinder, actress Maureen Lipman, Jewish News editor Richard Ferrer and Rosalyn Miller, winner of the 2020 ‘Jews Got Talent’ contest. Prizes include free flights and hotel nights in Israel in 2021.

Organisers of the digital song contest, to be hosted by comedian Ashley Blaker, said it was designed to help “bring the community together despite the social restrictions” imposed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The best submissions for the contest, for which Jewish News is media sponsor, will be shown during an online event next Wednesday (29 April), with entries submitted before Monday evening through JNF UK’s website.

“At a time when social distancing is having

such an impact on our community, we hope our event will help bring us closer together,” said JNF UK chief executive Yonatan Galon.

“With ‘Song Ha’atzmaut’, we want to provide the soundtrack that Israel’s birthday celebrations deserve.”

Rinder said: “I’m very excited to take a break from my normal judging duties to join Song Ha’atzmaut. As far as I’m concerned, anyone who takes part and helps share some joy at this time is a winner in my eyes.”

Israelis typically celebrate Independence Day with public gatherings and politicians herald the state’s accomplishments in fields such as security, technology, science and culture.

However, the virus pandemic means this year’s celebrations will be different, despite this week’s announcement that some restrictions are starting to be lifted.

MUCH TO WRITE AND PUT RIGHT Continued from page 1 and commit to celebrate British Jewish life louder, prouder and rowdier than ever before.

Consider some of the big issues facing us and the need for a confident and secure Jewish News becomes clear. The shifting demographics from secular to strictlyOrthodox; communal intolerance between the left and the right; mental health and domestic abuse awareness; online extremism and campus antisemitism; the legacy of our Holocaust survivors and future of the Westminster Holocaust memorial; falls in shul membership; eradicating the hate slur ‘Yid’ from sport; strengthening Jewish– Muslim ties; the plight of chained women;

❝

safeguarding faith schools, shechita and brit milah; youth disengagement with Israel and the Diaspora’s relationship with the Jewish state. And, perhaps most pressingly, helping the Labour Party to emerge from the shadows of Corbynite antisemitism.

There is much to write and put right. We will do it together, story by story, issue by issue, in OUR Jewish News.

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X Factor’s Jack and Joel (above) and judge Robert Rinder

Heritage project wins funding A relatively new charity connecting some of the UK’s smallest Jewish communities has won £100,000 in National Lottery funding for a 12-month project.

Jewish Small Communities Network (JSCN), established in Manchester in 2016, secured the grant this week from the JSCN will receive £100,000 National Lottery Heritage Fund, working in conjunction these areas to the wider hiswith historians at the Univer- tory of Britain with pop-up sity of Wales, Swansea. workshops collecting research The Connecting Small His- and interviews, “working with tories project will “record and volunteers from community capture the proud heritage of members, local schools and Jewish social and economic heritage groups”. contributions” to towns such The charity said its website as Bradford, Sunderland, East- would host a special “heritage bourne and St Annes, and in hub to hold and collate inforcounties such as Cumbria and mation and resources about Somerset. our own work and an even JSCN said it would con- wider range of Jewish heritage nect the Jewish heritage of and history projects”.

The project is due to culminate with an online book festival encouraging communities to connect their histories, an online commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day in 2021, and a history festival in Manchester to present the findings.

“This is the biggest project we have launched todate,” said JSCN director Ed Horwich. “Gaining Swansea University as partners is a significant endorsement. We are delighted to have received this funding support.”

He said the charity wanted to “highlight the legacy of the Jewish community’s involvement in UK life,” while Swansea University said it “extends our public history and heritage work into a new and exciting area”.

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www.jewishnews.co.uk

Jewish News 23 April 2020

News / Labour inquiry / Chief ’s welcome / Legal bill / Nominate heroes

Formby slams door shut Labour’s general secretary has warned constituency parties not to share a leaked internal probe into antisemitism, writes Adam Decker.

Jennie Formby, who was a close ally of Jeremy Corbyn when he was leader, sent the letter to constituency Labour parties (CLPs) this week as Labour was rocked by another row over the handling of antisemitism in its ranks.

New Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said he is “shocked” by the contents of the 860-page leaked dossier that detailed splits in the party’s headquarters. An internal inquiry has been launched into the leak and the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) informed. Sir Keir said an independent probe would also be held.

Formby wrote: “Any CLP in receipt of a copy of the report or its contents MUST NOT share or distribute that material in any way, including on social media. Any individual who shares or distributes the report or its contents on an unauthorised basis will be immediately exposing themselves to potential significant civil and criminal liability.”

The letter, which a Labour source said was intended to ensure data law was upheld, added: “We know many of you have been in touch with party staff expressing concerns with both the leaked document and its contents, and that many members will also have contacted you.

Please be aware the party have condemned the leaking of the report, as with all leaks this damages our party and is unfair on staff who do not have the right to reply.

“As soon as the party was made aware of this

Jennie Formby with Jeremy Corbyn

leak, an internal investigation was immediately instigated and the ICO has been informed. In addition, the leader and deputy leader have announced that... they will be commissioning an independent investigation.”

A Labour spokesperson said: “The party takes its responsibilities for data protection and the security and integrity of its data and systems extremely seriously.”

The document found “no evidence” of complaints of antisemitism being handled differently from others, or of staff being “motivated by antisemitic intent”.

But it found that “factional opposition” in the upper echelons of the party to Corbyn contributed to “a litany of mistakes”, which hindered effective handling of the issue.

Some Corbyn allies claimed that the document showed elements in the party hierarchy undermined efforts to win the 2017 election.

MIRVIS ‘HEARTENED’ BY STARMER The Chief Rabbi has welcomed the commitment of new Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to root out antisemitism in the party.

Ephraim Mirvis, who sharply criticised Jeremy Corbyn over what he said was his failure to tackle the issue, said it was “heartening” that the task of rebuilding trust

with the Jewish community had begun.

Sir Keir offered his solidarity in a personal call to Mirvis to mark Yom Hashoah, on Monday.

Mirvis said: “I welcomed hearing directly of his commitment to take the necessary action to root out antisemitism from the Labour Party as

a top priority. It is heartening that the task of rebuilding the Jewish community’s trust in the Labour Party has begun.”

In an explosive article published in the Times in November, the Chief Rabbi had written: “A new poison – sanctioned from the very top – has taken root in the Labour Party.”

Labour ‘faces bankruptcy’ The Labour Party could face an £8 million legal bill over multiple lawsuits arising from a leaked internal inquiry into antisemitism, a report claims.

The Mail on Sunday reported on speculation from “sources close to those identi-

fied by the leak” that compensation and legal costs could be “enormous” and range from £3 million to £8 million.

An unnamed MP told the newspaper that the bill could “just bankrupt the party”, adding: “It partly depends

how Sir Keir, who has to clean up his mess, reacts.’

Mark Lewis, of law firm Patron Law, who is representing 20 of the people affected, said: “Actions have consequences. ‘There are lots and lots of claims.”

‘SWASTIKA’ TORY IS SUSPENDED

A former lord mayor has been suspended from his Conservative Party association for allegedly baking a hot cross bun with a swastika on it.

The action was taken against Lee Mason, a Portsmouth councillor, after a pho-

tograph emerged of the buns, which also featured the word “sex” and an expletive.

He told Portsmouth News he made the buns with the words and one with a Scottish National Party logo, but denied creating one with a swastika

and suggested the photo had been digitally manipulated.

“You can see from the picture that is not a Nazi symbol,” he added. One supporter claimed that the image looked “more like a Hindu symbol” than a swastika”.

NOM I NAT E A

HERO Crisis busters to the rescue!

Jewish News asked readers to nominate local heroes selflessly helping others during the virus lockdown. Jonathan Shamir profiles a few of them does not know. He is the definition of Melanie Laban nominates her a mensch.” husband Eli, 61, who works for Josh has been volunteering the United Synagogue Burial for Woodside Park Synagogue, Society as Chevra Kadisha (a Corona Care Challenge and Jewish volunteer who preUniversity College Hospital as pares the dead for burial) and well as isolated individuals. has been exposed to the virus.

Dan Heller nomi“One of his many jobs is to nates Josh Dubell, 32, collect bodies from hospitals and Eli Laban a business development homes and prepare them for burial,” manager at Masa Israel Melanie said. “He comes into contact daily with people who have died from Covid-19 who has been co-ordinating efforts across Barnet for Mutual Aid voland never moans despite the risks he faces.”

Staff at Saatchi Synagogue said Eli had been unteers.

“They signed up more than working 12-hour days for two weeks, and worked on the second and eighth day of Pesach for the 1,000 volunteers in just a few days very first time. “He has had the hardest fortnight and posted flyers to more than 20,000 households in Finchley alone. of his life, carrying those who are no longer able He’s pulled together a digital/ to carry themselves,” they said. virtual team, most of whom Rosanna Rafel-Rix nominates her he didn’t know before. It’s former co-worker Joshua Kleinman, an astonishing effort.”

27, as a volunteer hero.

Elizabeth Harris-Saw“Josh has been offering to help czenko nominates her anyone he can by collecting and delivfriends’ son, Ariel Sint, ering urgent prescriptions, or col28, who works in computer lecting shopping, advertising his help Joshua technology for Sky TV by day on several Facebook groups and pages Kleinman and, throughout the night, uses and helping those in need, even those he

a 3D printer to make free safety visors for NHS frontline workers nationwide.

“My husband is a senior hospital consultant and was saying how they desperately needed visors, when my friends mentioned Ariel was making them.”

Ariel works with seven others across north-west London pumping out 200 at night.

“He grabs a few hours’ sleep, usually on the couch. He has given his heart, soul and money to make them, and so far they have distributed about 50,000 visors, which has no doubt saved lives and prevented the spread of infection.”

Dana Cukier nominates Louisa Walters, 51, from Mill Hill. Louisa is founder of The Restaurant Club, which has thousands of members who enjoy eating out.

Josh “Louisa came up with a brilDubell liant initiative to support frontline NHS workers by feeding them free of charge on a regular basis, while simultaneously creating muchneeded work and revenue for struggling restaurants.

From one Facebook appeal she raised an incredible £50,000 in less than two Louisa weeks and this has fed hungry Walters and tired NHS workers in

hospitals all over London.”

Louisa’s effort is set to double the meals offered to 2,000 a day, after funding increased. She is also starting to give workers treats such as pastries and chocolates.

“This much-needed Ariel Sint GoFundMe appeal is ongoing and I would urge people to consider donating.”

Ekaterina Barkho nominates her musician friend Daniel Benisty, who created a Facebook group to help NHS staff in London that has become a onestop shop for those sharing news, inforDaniel mation and initiatives Benisty regarding food, fundraising campaigns and personal protective equipment (PPE) availability.

“He uses his van to bring them food and other useful items. He became jobless during and due to the crisis, but he spends his time helping those who are saving lives.”

The group connects those making PPE with doctors and nurses who can request items, matches volunteers to hospitals, and advertises free or subsidised services for NHS staff.

23 April 2020 Jewish News

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13

EMERGENCY COMMUNITY FUND

The JLC in partnership with Work Avenue, has established a fund to support those across the community whose earnings have been directly affected by COVID 19. The fund specifically assists those who are ineligible for Government support or who face delays accessing Government funds.

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Jewish News 23 April 2020

#inittogether

14

VOLUNTEERING HEROES

GILA DAVIS -

FAMILY MENASHE & FRIENDS - CARDS

VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

OF CARE

(Over 1000 volunteers have signed up with GIFT to help those in need in the community)

“Many of us made a conscious effort to come together in our respective communities with a singular mission to help anyone who would find themselves in need, particularly the elderly who were the highest risk category for this virus; but what I really wanted was for our teenagers to show some compassion and care for others and that did not seem to be happening as all they cared about was their Xbox games with their friends, or their mobiles!

“In response to the Coronavirus there are a group of us coordinating and quickly responding to the needs of the community through daily calls and WhatsApp groups.

Everyday we provide shopping, medical prescriptions and phone calls to those in need. This would not be possible without the hundreds of wonderful volunteers that we work with on a daily basis.

My favourite quotes from grateful recipients are: “Please can you tell the angel that I thank him from the bottom of my heart!”

“You at GIFT are all angels, heaven-sent!”

For me it feels humbling to be just a small part of a small organisation playing a huge part in providing urgent help at times of such need. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to help and give back to a community that I’ve grown up in and gained so much from.”

My prayers were answered in the form of Sandor Milun’s message to me, telling me that his incredible GIFT team were mobilising volunteers in our community to tackle the looming pandemic crisis ahead of us.

On that day, GIFT COVID-19 WhatsApp groups were set up and I immediately joined.

Shira Joseph from GIFT posted a request for someone to write letters to a sweet elderly lady and I immediately volunteered to help.

I felt that this was definitely going to get bigger and would need a caring team, so I messaged some of my friends. On that day ‘Cards of Care’ was born. Since then, this special team have written every single card personally for a different resident.

We have all written to more than 400 residents and counting and have made all these people feel a bit better during this crisis.

The best thing about it, is that our teenagers have written the most loving and heartwarming cards.

RAFI & TAMMY YELLON -

PACKING & DELIVERING ESSENTIAL FOOD & PRESCRIPTIONS TO THE ELDERLY & VULNERABLE. “My brother Rafi and I have been shopping, doing errands for the isolated and vulnerable and packing food parcels most days for the past month. Our busiest day started at 8 and literally didn’t stop for 10 hours. We were shopping, running errands, collecting prescriptions the whole day.

The day before Pesach we delivered a car-load full of just some of the 2,700 freshly cooked meals and soups that GIFT were distributing to hundreds of isolated people in need across London. Some days we do shopping for 5 or 6 families at a time. During Chol Hamoed, our whole family came to the warehouse and spent 5 hours packing Pesach food bags for hundreds of families.

My most memorable moments have been delivering meals to a Holocaust survivor who hadn’t eaten all day. I felt very sad - we need to look after our elderly better - especially Holocaust survivors who can’t be neglected.

We also delivered food to a homeless Jewish lady who was so grateful and also hadn’t eaten for a while.

I understand that GIFT have now helped her with permanent accommodation. I’m so glad we could help her in this way. It must be a really frightening time to be on the streets.

URI & YONI SHINE -

ENTERTAINING CARE HOME RESIDENTS & BEFRIENDING THE ELDERLY “Just before lockdown struck we were approached by GIFT to perform in the gardens of local care homes as the residents were not allowed any visitors inside.

As we approached, I felt quite nervous, but this soon abaited when I saw the look of joy on the residents’ faces. A highlight was when one elderly lady requested we sing and rap to Stormzy and Ed Sheeran! Tears actually welled up in my eyes when two of the residents started to dance to our songs. Giving our time took less than an hour but it made a huge impact on both us and on the residents.

I’ve also been phoning elderly people who have been isolated for weeks, unable to see their family & friends.

The joy one phone call makes is really incredible. I would strongly urge all teenagers to put down their phones or game consuls and phone someone who you know would really appreciate it. I have really connected with so many people I’m phoning during this time and I look forward continuing the calls after Corona.”

It feels really good volunteering every day and making such a difference!”

Without love, we will not get through this so thank you to GIFT and Families Menashe, Kornecka, Abadi, Kark, Ross, Kahn, Bornstein, Kurland, Kohn, Feldman, Lyons, Cuby, Zeitland, Kienwald, Better, Westbrook & Fine for helping to spread love across London quicker than the spread of Coronavirus!”

CLARE PATER -

TALIA GOLDSTEIN -

ANSWERING GIFT’S PHONE LINES (GIFT has responded to 1,800+ requests for help with shopping or picking up prescriptions for the elderly and vulnerable, or those in need of longer-term support.)

“For the past 4 weeks I have been answering GIFT’s phones. I get an average of 30-50 calls a day, listening to people’s needs and ensuring that we can work to the best of our ability to help them. Prior to Pesach, the phone literally did not stop and we were receiving 20 - 30 calls an hour. The requests are passed on to a WhatsApp group of volunteers who will very quickly jump to help. It is amazing to see how quickly people respond and how much the community is looking out for one another. The phone calls are not only people who need help, but also people who want to help or people who just simply want to say thank you, which is always nice to hear. Though it has been hard work answering the phone calls and sometimes emotionally difficult to speak to those who are really struggling.

One call stood out - an elderly lady who was alone and just so happy to hear someone’s voice on the other end of the line. She was so grateful just to be able to have someone to speak to. We make sure that we now have a number of volunteers calling her regularly. This has been literally life-changing for her.

I have really enjoyed helping and can see the amazing work GIFT does, not only in light of a pandemic, but throughout the whole year.”

MATTHEW GOLD & AMALYA GREENWOOD -

RUNNING GIFT’S ONLINE TUTORING INITIATIVE

REBECCA LYONS -

COORDINATING GIFT’S BEFRIENDING PHONE CALLS FOR THE ELDERLY “I’ve set-up a student based call service, intended to offer company and support to vulnerable people in our community. Through being regularly in contact with vulnerable individuals, we can ensure that GIFT is able to arrange food and care packages with increased efficiency.

The response and participation has been deeply humbling, particularly during a time of considerable hardship for many.”

www.jgift.org/covid19

“Shira Joseph, Amalya and I (Matthew) realised that many children and teenagers would be stuck at home without anything to keep them occupied. Parents would be worried about their children’s education and many young students would be fearful of forgetting the material that they need to know for their exams. We therefore set up a scheme to pair students with experienced tutors throughout the community.

The tutors, many of whom have been teaching in schools for years, cover a wide range of topics from the core subjects to humanities and languages, as well as Hebrew reading and Kodesh. We cater for year 3 up to A-level, and can provide a wide array of resources to supplement the learning experience.

We have been inundated with requests, and are overjoyed to see how grateful the families are knowing that their children’s educational needs are being taken care of.

Within the first week, we have made over 75 pairs and hope to make many more!”

MAKING ‘CARE FOR THE CARERS’ PACKS (GIFT has distributed over 3,000 ‘Care for the Carers’ gratitude packs filled with donated items, for NHS staff and care home workers. An additional 3,000 will be distributed within the next month).

“As soon as I became aware of the terrible implications that the Corona virus pandemic would have for the community I signed up to support GIFT’s efforts alongside my children in a variety of ways. I cannot believe how quickly the organisation has mobilized and how many different initiatives we have been able to contribute to.

We assembled care packs as a token of gratitude to NHS workers. We decorated mugs and filled them with lots of special treats that were donated to GIFT and my children wrote messages of thanks and coloured in gratitude cards. It has been such a welcome distraction from the horrible events elsewhere and I am so glad that my kids have been able to have an outlet in which they are able to support the local community and the NHS.”

To find out more about how you can get involved contact

volunteer@jgift.org

020 8457 4429 Registered charity 1153393

www.jewishnews.co.uk

23 April 2020 Jewish News

15

Deadlock broken / Palestine help / Lockdown eased / Israel News

Bibi and Gantz finally agree US to aid Palestinians to form a unity government Israeli politicians finally ended a year-long squabble this week by agreeing to form a government with Benjamin Netanyahu at its head for the first 18 months, writes Stephen Oryszczuk.

Opposition leader Benny Gantz agreed to enter into “an emergency unity government” with the current prime minister, a man he had repeatedly pledged to oust, letting Netanyahu remain in the role until next autumn, assuming that he is not convicted of corruption first.

In recent weeks, former army chief Gantz has split his Blue and White Party, claimed the title of speaker in Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, and moved forward on plans to limit Israeli prime ministers to two terms.

Such a law, which has strong support, would require Netanyahu to step down.

In recent days, Gantz told Israeli President Reuven Rivlin that he was unable to form a government, but amid scenes of protest across the country and threats of forcing a fourth consecutive election on the Israeli public, the two sides finally agreed terms.

They said there would be 32 ministers, split 50:50 between Gantz and his faction and Likud and its rightwing and strictly-Orthodox allies, with both sides holding a veto over important issues.

The coalition will also include the remnant of the Labor party and command a 12-seat majority in the 120seat Knesset, with a large Arab bloc sitting in opposition.

Under the terms, Gantz and his deputy, Gabi Ashkenazi, will become defence and foreign minister respectively, with Gantz taking over as prime minister in

The Trump administration has released £3.9 million to the Palestinians.

The money is believed to come from international disaster relief and not from the £59m ($75m) in assistance allocated last year by Congress. Donald Trump’s administration, which has suspended virtually all help to the West Bank, has yet to release that aid.

“I’m very pleased the USA is providing £3.9m [$5m] for Palestinian hospitals and households to meet immediate, life-saving needs in combating Covid19,” US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman tweeted.

Benjamin Netanyahu (left) and Benny Gantz

18 months or earlier if Netanyahu is convicted of bribery.

Crucially, Blue and White won control of the justice ministry, ahead of Netanyahu’s trial.

At the top of Netanyahu’s agenda is the plan to annex large parts of the West Bank, scheduled for July this year.

Gantz has not stood in the way of US-inspired proposals to exert Israeli sovereignty over land many say is Palestinian. Mohammad Shtayyeh, prime minister of the Palestinian National Authority, called the coalition “an Israeli annexation government”.

Pressure to strike a deal had been growing after protests against the government’s perceived inaction in the face of a severe economic downturn. Critics accuse Gantz of backing down, however, but he argued that a refusal to compromise would mean “dragging Israel to elections at a time of emergency”.

World has fewer Jews than in 1939 The worldwide population of Jews is 14.7 million, still short of the pre-Second World War numbers, according to Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics.

The figures, which are similar to the population of world Jewry in 1925, were released in a report ahead of Yom HaShoah. The numbers relate to the end of 2018.

World Jewry reached 16.6 million in number before the outbreak of war in 1939.

Israel’s 6.7 million Jews make up 45 percent of the world total. Some 5.2 million were born in the country, while about one million are natives of either Europe or the Americas.

About 293,000 are natives of Africa and 164,000 of Asia.

The United States has the second-largest Jewish population with 5.7 million, fol-

World Jewry reached 16.6 million before the Holocaust

lowed by France (450,000) and Canada (392,000). Next is the UK (292,000), Argentina (180,000), Russia (165,000), Germany (118,000) and Australia (116,000). In 1948, on the eve of the creation of the State of Israel, the number of Jews in the world was 5.11 mil-

lion, including 650,000 in prestate Palestine, the report says.

Israel’s finance ministry reported that there are 189,500 Holocaust survivors living in Israel, with 31,000 over the age of 90 and more than 800 over 100 years old. In the past year, 15,170 survivors have died.

Israeli Supreme Court goes live Israelis got to see their Supreme Court in action live this week, complete with face masks for justices and attorneys amid the virus pandemic.

In a pilot programme making some proceedings public, the court heard petitions against the digital tracking of those infected with the coronavirus or ordered to self-quarantine owing to its exposure, the Times of Israel reported.

The programme has been in the planning for months, although the broadcast comes as court sessions have been limited owing to the coronavirus. Justice Minister Amir Ohana

said live broadcasts of court procedures should be “standard,” Israel Channel 12 reported.

“This is the only way that a true reflection of what happens in the courtroom can be achieved, and we get better supervision of the judicial system,” he said.

Two Supreme Court cases were broadcast in a similar pilot programme in 2014. The only other two court cases ever broadcast live in Israel were the trials of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann in 1961 and concentration camp guard John Demjanjuk in 1986.

“The USA, as the world’s top humanitarian aid donor, is committed to assisting the Palestinian people, and others worldwide, in this crisis.”

Congress’ approval last year of the £59m was seen as a signal of bipartisan dissatisfaction with the Trump administration’s total squeeze on funding for the Palestinians.

It is not clear how the money will reach the Palestinians.

Any United States humanitarian aid must breach a network of bans instituted by recent laws passed by Congress and by Trump’s orders.

ISRAEL EASES RESTRICTIONS Lockdown restrictions in Israel began to ease this week, with some shops, synagogues and workplaces reopening as protests flared across the country.

Cabinet ministers said that people could go outside and play sports in couples, and that many shops outside of malls could reopen, in a set of phase one announcements affecting roughly

30 percent of the workforce.

Children with special educational needs can return to school while groups of up to three families are being allowed to share childcare services, in a phased return to normal life that may yet prove to be a template for the UK. Pressure to lift restrictions had risen in recent days, with pro-

tests on Sunday led by hundreds of small business owners who have been particularly hard hit by the lockdown.

Health ministry guidelines still prohibit outdoor markets and the reopening of stores selling clothing, shoes and toys, with beaches, parks, playgrounds and municipal sports areas and most schools also remaining closed.

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Jewish News 23 April 2020

www.jewishnews.co.uk

Editorial comment and letters ISSUE NO.

1155

VOICE OF THE JEWISH NEWS

Virtual memorial shows us the future Having to live-stream this year’s Yom HaShoah event no doubt at first felt like a disappointment, not least to the organisers and survivors themselves, yet what took place on Monday evening proved to be quite the opposite of a disappointment.

Over the 90 minutes of the service, there was so much to prompt, move, reflect on and enjoy that this year’s Yom HaShoah UK will be looked back on as one of the best and most widely admired, with more than 30,000 glued to their screens.

It was meant to be 5,000 souls crammed into a stadium, but circumstances meant that far more tuned in than could ever have turned up. In a series of segments, both live and pre-recorded, host Henry Grunwald reminded us why we will never forget.

Among the most hard-hitting moments on a night that Jewish News was proud to media sponsor was Sir Ben Helfgott’s son, Maurice, saying that the fast-falling numbers of survivors did not mean our efforts to educate the wider world would fall by the wayside. On the contrary, it means we will redouble our efforts to do so.

Virtual remembrance and digital commemoration over such a sensitive subject could so easily have gone awry, an awkward 75-year anniversary for survivors who may see few others. Mazeltov to Neil Martin and his team for avoiding that hazard in spectacular fashion.

CONTACT DETAILS Publisher and Editor Richard Ferrer 020 7692 6929 richardf@thejngroup.com Publisher and News Editor Justin Cohen 020 7692 6952 justinc@thejngroup.com Features Editor Francine Wolfisz 020 7692 6935 francinew@thejngroup.com Community Editor Mathilde Frot 020 7692 6949

Design Manager Diane Spender 020 7692 6953 dianes@thejngroup.com

Sales Marc Jacobs 020 7692 6934 marcj@thejngroup.com

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Send us your comments PO Box 815, Edgware, HA8 4SX | letters@thejngroup.com

One Haggadah, 10 plagues I take issue with Martin Goldsmith’s two assertions in his letter headlined Rewrite the Haggadah (Jewish News, 8 April). Pesach was not “postponed”, and we don’t now have 11 plagues – there have only ever been 10.

We celebrated seder nights, and observed the rest of the chag, sadly either alone, or with those members of the family living at our home. Different – yes, difficult – undoubtedly, but postponed certainly not.

The coronavirus can be considered as a modern-day plague. It cannot, however, be deemed to be the “11th plague” since the

Sketches & kvetches

SOUND OF THE SHOFAR COULD BE JEWISH SHOW OF SUPPORT

“You couldn’t have decided to carry on before I schlepped this fershtinker crate all that way?!”

Stuck as we are during this lockdown in West Sussex, we participated last Thursday in the clapping practice in support of our National Health Service.

As this country, and indeed much of the world, is at present literally dealing with a Biblical-style pestilence, it occurred to me that a Biblical-style gesture might be appropriate.

Therefore, I took my shofar down from its accustomed place and took it out to blow it.

I was totally surprised at our gentile villagers’ response. Several exclaimed: “Ah, this is a shofar”, and one man added, “which brought down the walls of Jericho”.

I wondered, therefore, whether this practice of blowing the shofar could be replicated more widely.

Perhaps blowing this ancient instrument, with all its many reverberations and connotations, could be seen as the “Jewish contribution” and support to the incredibly perilous endeavours undertaken on a daily basis by our NHS personnel.

Dr R J Vecht West Sussex

THIS WEEKEND'S SHABBAT TIMES...

Shabbat comes in Friday night 7.58pm

Shabbat goes out Saturday night 9.06pm

Sedra: T azria-Metzora

Printed in England: West Ferry Printers Limited Published by: The Jewish News & Media Group. www.thejngroup. com. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any form of advertising without prior permission in writing from the editor. Registered as a newspaper by Royal Mail. The Jewish News reserves the right to make any alterations necessary to conform to the style and standards of The Jewish News and does not guarantee the insertion of any particular advertisement on a specified date or at all – although every effort will be made to meet the wishes of the advertisers. Further it does not accept liability for any loss or damage caused by an error or inaccuracy Member of in the publication of an advertisement. Signatures of both parties involved are sometimes required in the case of Audit Bureau some announcements. An order for an advertisement shall amount to an acceptance of the above conditions. Hotels, products and restaurants which are not supervised are marked with an [N]. The Jewish News reserves the right to edit of Circulations letters for size and content without prior consent. Submission of letters is no guarantee of publication.

10 plagues that we read about over Pesach happened only in Egypt, not worldwide.

Significantly, Hashem has, in 2020/5780, not seen fit to exempt the Jewish people in Israel or the diaspora, from becoming victims of the coronavirus.

I will stick with my timehonoured, wine-stained issue of the Haggadah, replete with years of accumulated matzah crumbs. Next year, instead of being at a distance, may we all spend Pesach with “close family and friends”.

J D Milaric By email

Dignity. Dialogue.

Dedication.

Call 020 8908 4151 • Email info@jewishchoice.org • jewishchoice.org RESIDENTIAL

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23 April 2020 Jewish News

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17

Editorial comment and letters A holistic and fun approach to fitness

STILL READ ALL ABOUT IT! Just last week I wrote to you to say goodbye as I read that Jewish News was being liquidated. Now I read you are back.

This is among the most welcome pieces of news I could read in Jewish News, and the community will be all the more grateful for it at a time when far too many of our fellow Jews have been tragically taken far too soon by the coronavirus that has infected the whole world, and when many are worried about their jobs, their fami-

lies and their future.

It could be months, years, or dare I say decades before we fully understand the effect this

pandemic has had on our families, our mental health and our finances.

This is a time more than any other when we can be grateful for the communal institutions that allow us to connect with and support each other.

Community newspapers, printed or online, are a central part of this network.

I look forward to continuing to read your news, comment and lively features.

Frayda Asserson By email

THREE CHEERS FOR OUR MORE LIVE-STREAMED MENSCH JUDGE RINDER SYNAGOGUE SERVICES At the Reform Judaism Yom Hashoah service, it was good to see Robert Rinder playing a part, interviewing Mala Tribich, the child Holocaust survivor. And Judge Rinder was taking part in another community event later that day. Kol hakavod.

Joel Freedman Harrow

What a blessing that the progressive movements have provided shul services and events online during this virus lockdown. Will they consider live-streaming some of their services after lockdown is lifted? They are much easier to attend.

Marilyn Tooth By email

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Jewish News 23 April 2020

Opinion

Rabbi’s decision enabled virus to infect thousands JENNI FRAZER

L

ike most Jewish News readers, I suspect, there is almost no limit to my admiration for Israeli ingenuity and “can-do-ism”. Apart from the many Israeli scientists currently engaged in a global race to find a vaccine against coronavirus, there is the ingenious development reported last week of new “contactless” pavement testing booths.

They appear to consist of two very long rubber gloves and a sealed booth in which a medic stands, before taking a swab from the patient. They reminded me forcibly of a primitive TV gameshow long ago, in which an object was placed inside a black bag and the blindfolded contestant had to identify it by touch. Same principle, really.

But, hey, far be it from me to diss this creative project, whose design the Israelis have generously offered to share with other countries battling the pandemic.

Others in Israel, however… sigh. They have

their own methods for dealing with Covid-19, and suffice it to say such methods seem to me to be aimed at the credulous and those whom education has passed entirely by.

This is the news – reported by Israel’s Channel 12 TV station last week – that a strictly Orthodox charity, which operates under the aegis of the 92-year-old Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky – has been soliciting funds from donors in exchange for a “promise” of immunity from the virus, for themselves and their families.

The charity, Kupat Ha’ir, has been asking for a minimum donation of around £650.

The money is supposedly going to families affected by the virus in the strictly-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak, a mission that would be fine if that were all that was involved.

But reports say that once funds are transferred, the donor will receive an amulet and an assurance from Rabbi Kanievsky that “he will not get sick and that there will not be anyone sick in his home”.

To date, Kupat Ha’ir has raised around £61,554 from this campaign alone.

Amulets and almost certainly meaningless

❝

AN ORTHODOX CHARITY IN ISRAEL HAS BEEN SOLICITING FUNDS IN EXCHANGE FOR A ‘PROMISE’ OF IMMUNITY FROM THE VIRUS

blessings would not matter if Rabbi Kanievsky were not so influential in his own community, but he is. He has thousands of followers and, last month, he made headlines in Israel when he insisted that yeshivas and schools should remain open, because, he said, “cancelling Torah study is more dangerous than the coronavirus”.

The immediate result of Rabbi Kanievsky’s ruling is that his disciples flouted

government strictures for a whole terrible two weeks, during which time the virus, not unexpectedly, was able to infect thousands of people in the strictly-Orthodox community before he finally rescinded his decision.

Now, we may say, the rabbi is 92, he might not have realised the implications of what he was saying, but he has a whole court of advisers surrounding him who must, surely to goodness, have understood what was destined to happen. That is not just ignorance, that is wilful blindness.

And, sad to report, it’s not just Rabbi Kanievsky’s entourage that has bought in to this amulets and keepsakes nonsense.

During the latest round of Israeli elections (no, me neither), members of the Shas Party were handing out anti-virus charms at polling stations and were duly fined £1,690 for their pains by Israel’s Central Elections Committee.

Me, I’d have fined them a great deal more.

Prayer can’t hurt, but telling people to place their trust in lucky charms is tantamount to wicked duplicitousness.

How this paper went from Shevarim to Tekiah Gedolah STEPHEN ORYSZCZUK FOREIGN EDITOR, JEWISH NEWS

L

ast summer, I read about a Canadian economist who resigned from the World Bank to devote herself to a movement revitalising Jewish spiritual life in America.

Jennie Litvack was just 55 when she died in June last year, by when she had established herself as a shofar-sounder extraordinaire, producing a perfect baritone of deep throaty resonance.

In learning about Jennie, I learned about the power of the shofar to cast listeners back to one of the most significant moments in Judaism, when God stopped Abraham from sacrificing his own son and ordered him to kill a ram instead.

It was in the course of my learning about Jennie, and about the shofar, that I learned what the shofar blasts sound like, what times in the year they are sounded, and what the four main blasts mean.

The first is Tekiah, a single note and an awakening summons to Jews to focus on the year gone and to think about the kind of people they would like to be.

❝

TO THE MANY FELLOW NON-JEWS WHO ASK ME ‘WHAT’S IT LIKE WORKING FOR A JEWISH NEWSPAPER?’ I OFTEN REPLY: ‘NEVER DULL!’ The second is Shevarim, three notes crying from the heart, recalling a sense of brokenness. The third is Teruah, a series of staccato notes, summoning the listener to wake up and act.

Finally there is Tekiah Gedolah, denoting oneness and unity in its fading length.

For the past few weeks, we at Jewish News have been through all four blasts.

The Tekiah summons came when our owner, Leo Noé, outlined the financial problems both at home and at the Jewish Chronicle (JC), and told us that there were merger plans. This was our time to focus on the financial year gone, and the kind of product and service we wanted to be going forward.

Then came our Shevarim – our cry from the heart, our sense of brokenness, as we were told of office closures and redundancies, and warned that Jewish News would likely

not exist by the end of the summer. The paper we had poured our hearts into, to keep it the heart of the community, was to be combined with the JC. If ever there was Teruah – a summons to wake up and act – it was the coronavirus pandemic, which dumped the merger talks off a cliff and with it our advertising revenue and events. Liquidation was an obvious next step.

The two papers had been making heavy losses at the best of times. We thanked our owner for writing the cheques and sticking with us for far longer than anyone ever ought to have.

We’d never wanted to be a loss-making business, and there was nothing but goodwill towards the man now calling it a day.

The shofar sounded its fourth and final call, the Tekiah Gedolah, of oneness and

total unity coming together, when a bid was put together by the Kessler Foundation, supported by Leo, for a single, strong, united communal paper, presuming it was able to purchase the assets of the JN and JC from the liquidators. The community was squarely behind it, as – we were told – was the JC’s editor, but it later transpired that after having dinner with us he was sleeping elsewhere.

I’ve seen a lot in my eight years covering the UK’s small, boisterous and sometimes bizarre Jewish world, but last week’s shenanigans are hard to beat.

To the many fellow non-Jews who ask me “what’s it like?” I often reply: “Never dull.”

Those words sprung to mind as the WhatsApp messages flew.

Resigned to tarting up our CVs and bidding each other farewell, news came in shortly before Shabbat that Leo had removed the JN from the liquidation process. It’s for him to say why. It’s for us to give him some huge two-metre e-hugs and vow not to let him down.

So back into battle we go, to the primal call of the shofar, the same sound as in Exodus 19, when the horn’s blast emanating from the thunderous black skies over Mount Sinai left the mountain shaken and the Israelites trembling in awe.

www.jewishnews.co.uk

23 April 2020 Jewish News

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Jewish News 23 April 2020

Opinion

Importance of unity in times of apprehension SCOTT SAUNDERS

CHAIR, MARCH OF THE LIVING UK

E

ach year for the past decade, the day after Passover, I have caught an early flight to Warsaw. Each year for the past decade on Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day in the Jewish calendar, I have had the privilege of leading the UK delegation of March of the Living. This unique event takes 10,000 Jewish and non-Jewish participants from across the world through the infamous gates at Auschwitz to walk the two-and-a-half miles to Birkenau, in tribute to the darkest days not only of the Jewish people but all of humanity.

This year, however, I didn't have the honour of walking at the head of the 350 participants who were to make up the largest ever UK delegation.

Owing to the coronavirus crisis, for the first time since its inception in 1988, March of the Living took the correct decision to cancel this powerful journey. Yet at the same time,

its message has perhaps never been more relevant.

The world is facing an unprecedented challenge, which will test us in so many ways. Sadly, history has taught us that a global crisis invariably brings intensified fear of the ‘other’, and with it an increase in hate crimes.

We have seen that even in this tragic time of coronavirus, precisely when the world needs to stand together, antisemitism is alive and thriving.

Online meetings aimed at bringing together Jewish communities have become targets where vile anti-Jewish posts and imagery have been disseminated and we have seen crude age-old antisemitic tropes used to blame Jews for coronavirus itself.

It seems that amid the destruction caused

by Covid-19, the recent rise in global antisemitism has not been stemmed.

However, the Holocaust provides a stark universal message. It is the most horrific reminder of what can happen when hatred towards any community goes unchecked.

Since the coronavirus outbreak began,

there have been attacks on other minority groups, most recently on our Chinese communities. Coronavirus does not discriminate between nationality, ethnicity, religious belief or background, yet it is being used as an excuse to sow division, encourage discrimination and foster racism.

It is our collective responsibility to stand firm against any form of hatred and, especially now, educate younger generations.

For inspiration, we need look no further than the Holocaust survivors ,who each year accompany the March of the Living.

They are the most dignified examples of how to respect one another as human beings.

Above all, perhaps, they embody the ability to overcome extreme adversity, to build a future from the depths of despair. It is a timeless message, but one that resonates particularly powerfully today.

Since 1945, there have been countless genocides; millions of people across the world have been murdered, tortured and persecuted simply for who they were or what they believed in.

The phrase “never again” has been used

time and again – and yet, since the Holocaust, massacres in Cambodia, Rwanda, Darfur, Srebrenica and beyond have become stains on humanity.

We still see hate crimes across the world today. Churches, mosques and synagogues have been the target of attacks and, despite condemnation from political leaders, hatred continues to grow.

In this time of fear and anxiety, we must unite as a society, indeed as an international community.

We must appreciate we have more in common and we must reject those who seek to divide us.

We must respect our differences not belittle them. In this, the Holocaust remains the ultimate lesson.

For this year's Yom Hashoah, with the world embroiled in this terrible pandemic, it fell to each and every one of us to stand up and state loudly – never means never.

No more antisemitism, no more Islamophobia, no more homophobia, no more racism, no more hatred.

Now, more than ever.

Unorthodox ignored warmth of my old Satmar community IZZY POSEN

FORMER YESHIVA STUDENT

T

he Netflix show Unorthodox has brought my former Satmar community into the limelight.

It is about a young woman feeling trapped in the ultra-Orthodox Chasidic community and making her way out. It is not about the community but one woman’s journey, and the series shows the community through the eyes of someone who finds it intolerable and needs to escape.

This column is not about Unorthodox.

Instead, I want to give insight into the community of my upbringing from the perspective of someone who lived it and breathed for most of his life, rather than from the perspective of someone who left.

Given that this is a community that rarely interacts with the media and with outsiders, it is natural that most of our information about it comes from people who have left and from their perspective. How might we try to understand the community from the inside? What does it feel like to be Satmar?

To do this we will have to let go for a moment

❝

WE GOT SHOWN A CARICATURE OF A BITTER, ONE-DIMENSIONAL COMMUNITY. THAT IS NOT THE DAILY REALITY OF CHASIDIC JEWS

of our Western values of individualism and liberalism. We cannot understand a community which functions by a different set of norms, using our values. Let us understand Satmar on its own terms. .

In Satmar, there is no “I”. It is not about you and what you want. It is not about “being who you are”, “self-actualisation”, or “following your dreams”.

You are not an independent individual, but part of a greater living organism. That organism is your family and community.

You as an individual do your part in bringing honour to your family and ensuring the continuity of the community and its ways.

If you are a Satmar woman, you have been raised all your life to be the loyal and supportive wife of your husband and the mother of the next generation of Chasidic kids. It is not about whether or not you find this fulfilling or

you have aspirations. This is the part you play in the community's future: you learn to find it fulfilling. Or you don’t.

If you are a Satmar man, you know your place too. You will be in the synagogue three times a day, you’ll dedicate time for daily study, you’ll give to charity, support the rebbe’s institutions and, some way or another, put bread on the table.

Daily life revolves around fulfilling religious commandments and obligations, but that doesn’t mean that your average Satmar person thinks about religion or God consciously throughout his or her day. These just form the framework and vocabulary of life, but underneath it life in Satmar follows the same patterns as life elsewhere.

There are meals to be cooked, children to be entertained, friends to be visited. You need to make ends meet, look after your elderly

mother, avoid that shul member with whom you don’t get along. There’s worry for a loved one who is ill, grief over a death, love for a child who has hit a milestone in his or her life.

The whole spectrum of human emotion is on display from love to hate; joy to pain; anxiety and compassion.

I'm the last one to make excuses when the community breaks the law or treats badly those who do not toe the line. I myself have suffered, and continue to suffer, tremendous pain from the way in which the community has shunned me and treated me for questioning and carving out my own path.

But underneath all of it is a very imperfect, but very human community. A community that is very different in its values, but just as human as the rest of us.

This humanity is what I found missing in Unorthodox. We got shown a caricature of a community that is eternally bitter, austere and one-dimensional. That is not the daily reality of Chasidic Jews. What we saw was a community through the eyes of someone about to leave. But Satmar looks very different to those on the inside. This story is yet to be told and would require much more than a 600 word column.

23 April 2020 Jewish News

www.jewishnews.co.uk

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Community / Scene & Be Seen

1 WELCOME NOTE

Teaching staff at Sinai Jewish Primary School welcomed back all 638 pupils for a term of e-learning by holding up signs marked: ‘Welcome to summer term at Sinai’. The school wrote on social media: “Welcome back to the summer term children – your teachers miss you but are so excited to carry on teaching you through our Google Classroom #bigschool #bigheart #bigopportunities.”

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And be seen!

SPECIAL SERVICE

Residents across Jewish Care homes marked Yom HaShoah and 75 years since the liberation of BergenBelsen by lighting candles and holding commemorative services. Many residents followed Cantor Tamara Wolfson, who led prayers with El Malei Rachamim and Kaddish online. Many members had lived through other types of isolation or restrictions on movement and Moshe Teller, a therapist at Shalvata, the therapeutic service at Jewish Care’s Holocaust Survivors’ Centre, said: “Being in lockdown and isolated brings up, for many, the memory of what they have gone through.” Pictured is the Yom HaShoah commemoration at Lady Sarah Cohen House.

The latest news, pictures and events from across the community Email us at community@thejngroup.com

3 REMOTE BINGO

Kisharon hosted a Bingo Zoom party during Pesach for people from the charity’s supported living sites and services users. The game was a chance for users to see each other and recount their Pesach experiences and knowledge. Aviva Braunold, Kisharon’s vocational college manager, said: “It was wonderful that so many people used this interactive experience to connect and share their knowledge of Pesach. The activity enabled participants across all the Kisharon sites to help each other with clues for the game, creating a teambuilding experience.”

4 SWEET GIFTS

Lance Forman, owner of salmon smokehouse H Forman & Son, donated 120 boxes of macaroons to members of staff at the Princess Grace Hospital, including medical practitioners, nursing, administration, catering and housekeeping.

Forman, who has been facilitating donations for meals for NHS staff, told Jewish News: “We thought it would be nice to put a smile on the face of each and every member of staff, so sent in 1,000 of our delicious macaroons.” The company has also launched its ‘ultimate care package’ for people to send on to those who cannot leave home.

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Jewish News 23 April 2020

Weekend / Yom HaShoah

‘When I write a show, there’s always a part that’s Jewish’ Lauded composer Claude-Michel Schönberg opens up to Brigit Grant about his family’s Holocaust experience

In association with

A look

Inside Art: Israeli cartoonist takes a wry look at lockdown

I

t’s impossible to meet Claude-Michel Schönberg and not shower him with compliments.

Short of declaring undying love and admiration, I am part of that devoted Les Misérables following that has been growing since the show opened in 1985.

That a Jewish duo – French composer Schönberg and Tunisian lyricist Alain Boublil – are the geniuses behind this enduring musical is a bonus and seeing it again recently confirms its emotional hold. This has also proved the case in lockdown with Les Mis songs being turned into Covid anthems.

Schönberg never imagined his music would be used in such a way but, at 75, he modestly attrib-

utes the magnificence of ‘Les Mis’ to the people now in charge: “We have a wonderful team maintaining it and I’m not looking after it any more.”

Schönberg, who with Boublil also created Miss Saigon and Martin Guerre, is so self-effacing he credits the cast and not himself for the show’s abiding appeal, stating: “It was never a struggle for me to write music.

I was born with this. It is easier for me than talking.”

Sadly, the show, like every other production in the West End and across the country, is currently just a title on a marquee hoarding. With all theatres closed and large group gatherings on indefinite hold, fans can only ‘dream a dream’ of seeing a live performance.

Schönberg was due to give a talk at JW3 days before the prime minister gave the isolation orders and those with tickets lost the chance to hear about his past as a pop singer in Paris in the 1970s, an EMI producer and then teaming up with Boublil to adapt Victor Hugo’s French Revolution tome.

“JW3 will happen,” a quietly optimistic Schönberg told me as he prepared to virtually teach his students at the Royal Academy of Music.

But for now, with the musical melodrama on hold, he has a story for Yom Hashoah that is steeped in the tragedy of the Holocaust. It is the story of the people in the group photo that hangs on the wall in his office.

Taken in Hungary in the 1930s, it is an image

Tribute: Remembering Rabbi Pinter

Torah For Today: Coronavirus and the Omer Claude-Michel Schönberg and, right, with lyricist Alain Boublil

of family unity and contentment. “But divide the photo in half and everyone you see on the left died in Auschwitz,” says Schönberg. He delivers this fact like the beat of a drum, and it reverberates with sorrow.

Schönberg knew from a young age that his relatives were among the 437,000 Hungarian Jews who were gassed at the camp and that his smiling grandmother in the photo died in the Budapest ghetto at the end of the war. It is the family he will never know, but still thinks about.

“My parents left Hungary before, thank God, as my father was unhappy with the politics and was struck by a sword during a cavalry charge at a mass labour protest. He had the mark on his shoulder all his life, but he felt living in a country where the army attacks its own people was not a good place to live.”

Hungary was also antisemitic, so Doli Schönberg and his wife Juci accepted an invitation from a cousin to move to Paris, eventually settling in Vannes, the capital of the Morbihan department in Brittany.

Leaving the prejudice in one country only to face the German invasion of their adopted homeland posed a horrific threat for the couple. Fortunately, the local community stepped up to protect them.

“Vannes’ administration became part of the resistance and my parents were given fake birth certificates confirming them as Catholic. Even the priest helped.”

Laced with more drama than any story he could score, Schönberg knows the personal risks the citizens took, but Doli took risks of his own.

An accountant by profession, he was unable to understand the French system and became a piano tuner with authority from the Germans to tune keyboards in harbour homes by the sea.

Access to this heavily controlled zone resulted in Doli being approached by the resistance to deliver papers and information and, on one occasion, two guns that were in the attaché case for his tools.

“Leaving an officer’s home, he was arrested by two soldiers who wanted to know why he was there and what was in his bag. Luckily, the German officer explained that my father had tuned his piano and they let him go, but it was frightening.”

Schönberg says his father never spoke about those years under occupation or of his Judaism.

23 April 2020 Jewish News

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23

Yom HaShoah / Weekend

Claude-Michel Schönberg’s family, above, and posing with Les Mis’ Alfie Boe as Jean Valjean

“We were the only Jews in Vannes and the key words were always integration and low profile. They couldn’t be outwardly Jewish, there was no synagogue and, after I was born, a month after D-Day, they were always worried.

They knew who had won, but didn’t know if it would happen again.”

The only clue to the family’s faith was the arrival in 1946 of a cousin who had survived Auschwitz. “She came to live with us for two years and then went back to Hungary, because she was homesick. She didn’t speak a lot, but I still remember the number on her arm.”

Schönberg’s recollections of his childhood are as visually emotive as his music, and he describes the kindly neighbours and friends who

loved the atmosphere in his family home.

“There was always a Hungarian lunch and cake and they loved it. When my mother died in 1978, many of them I had not seen for ages came to tell me what it meant to come to my house, because it was so different to their own.”

The warmth of his Jewish parents left an indelible impression on those children, in much the same way as their love of opera and folk music influenced their son.

“I would stand in front of the record player and conduct,” says Schönberg, who was surrounded by the pianos his father sold and taught by a “charming old lady” who insisted he learnt Mozart and Chopin before “playing my own stuff ”.

That “stuff ’ is now adored by millions and his followers have the promise of the revival of one musical and something new in the next two years. “I hope I will still be alive,” says the sage-like Schönberg, who has three children, a ballet dancer wife and undiminished energy for his work. “If you can spend one hour a day not thinking about music, you are not a composer.”

There is still no score for his personal history, even though it played on his mind as he sought to find his relatives’ names on a Shoah monument in Budapest’s Jewish cemetery and when he stood by the Kotel in Jerusalem, knowing it was where his father would want to be.

“Maybe because I’m too involved or because I find other ways to speak about it, but I never wanted to write a Jewish symphony. When Alain and I wrote Miss Saigon it was a statement against war, all wars, which was another way of showing who we are and what we think.

“We both feel special about Jewish people, and when I’m writing a show, there is always a part that is typically Jewish. Just listen to

the introduction of Master of the House. It is completely Jewish.”

Schönberg recently saw Leopoldstadt, Tom Stoppard’s play about Austrian Jewry and loved it. “It’s the story of my family and I feel so connected to Stoppard, though he learned about his history later and I knew mine from the start.”

Asked if he celebrates Passover, Schönberg admits only when invited by Jewish friends, but then hesitates. “I don’t dare to tell you what I really feel. But at 75, after losing half your family when you were young, I have been thinking and regretting a lot that I was not brought up in a real Jewish community. But it was not possible and I totally understand my parents.”

A digital version of the all-star Les Misérables Staged Concert recording has been released starring Alfie Boe, Michael Ball, Carrie Hope Fletcher and Matt Lucas. For every download (£9.99), the Mackintosh Foundation will donate £5 to be shared among charities supporting the NHS and the theatre industry.  www.lesmis.com/concert

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Jewish News 23 April 2020

Weekend / Entertainment

Drawing inspiration from lockdown Award-winning Israeli cartoonist Michel Kichka and his students at Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem have wryly captured people going about their everyday lives during the coronavirus pandemic with these eye-catching images.

In one, a singing gondolier has taken to his balcony, rather than the famous waterways of Venice, while in another, a ballet dancer attempts to practise her moves at home and not the studio. Kichka also imagines the new, virtual reality of a Passover seder and the disappointment of a sportsman waiting to compete at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Belgium-born Kichka, who is a senior lecturer at Bezalel Academy, immigrated to Israel in 1974 and is considered one of the country’s leading comic book artists and political cartoonists.

Clockwise from top left: Passover during quarantine by Michel Kichka, Venice’s gondoliers singing from their balconies by Nicole Raskin, Exercise before and during quarantine by Rotem Weinstein, Tokyo 2021 Olympics by Michel Kichka and Corona beer and coronavirus by Lior Ben Zaken

FILM Jojo Rabbit (12A)

TELEVISION Little Britain on The Big Night In Matt Lucas is pairing up with David Walliams to bring back Little Britain for a special BBC charity show tonight (Thursday).

Since reuniting with writer and comedian Ashley Blaker for a radio special last October, rumours have been swirling that a new series for television is in the works, but fans will at least get a glimpse of the pair on BBC One’s The Big Night In. The three-hour show will raise money for Children In Need and Comic Relief and is to feature Catherine Tate, Peter Kay and Gary Barlow, alongside hosts Matt Baker, Zoe Ball, Lenny Henry, Davina McCall and Paddy McGuinness.

Lucas has been in the headlines recently, after releasing a new version of his Baked Potato Song to help raise £1.1m to provide hot meals for NHS workers.

He is also set to replace Sandi Toksvig as co-host of The Great British Bake-Off and fronts a new Channel 4 comedy show, from Harry Hill, Reasons To Be Cheerful with Matt Lucas, which begins on Sunday.

Director and actor Taika Waititi brings his signature style of humour and pathos to this Second World War satire that earned him his first Oscar for best adapted screenplay at this year’s ceremony.

Jojo is a lonely German boy whose only friend in the world is his imaginary incarnation of Adolf Hitler (Taika Waititi).

While his world view is shaped by the surrounding of Nazi Germany, he fails to ingratiate himself with his peers in the Hitler Youth. His entire world is the turned upside down when he discovers his single mother (Scarlett Johansson) is hiding a young Jewish girl (Thomasin McKenzie) in their attic.

Aided by his rather idiotic, imaginary friend, Jojo is forced by this unexpected revelation to confront his blind nationalism.

Available on Sky Store from Monday, 27 April

THEATRE Mamma Mia! THE WEST END CAST OF MAMMA MIA! aren’t letting lockdown get in the way of belting out chart-topping hits by Abba, which feature in the show.

Having recently celebrated its 21st birthday, the Novello Theatre musical is

currently on hold, but that didn’t stop the cast performing from their garages, sofas and even rooftops to help raise the nation’s spirits.

Lead actress Mazz Murray, who plays Donna, says on the video posted to Mamma Mia’s YouTube channel: “While these are all

very scary times, the company - who are currently all in isolation obviously – thought we would do something for you that could help lift your spirits. So enjoy!”

The video is available to watch at tinyurl. com/y9gffej5

23 April 2020 Jewish News

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Rabbi Avrohom Pinter / Obituary

Rabbi radiated responsibility and compassion Joel Friedman, public affairs director of Interlink Foundation, mourns the influential Rabbi Avrohom Pinter In his wisdom, vibrancy, strength and activism, Rabbi Avrohom Pinter was a man of so many parts.

He was both humble and proud. He thought little of himself, yet he was immensely proud of his people and confident in his cause.

Unique, he was widely loved among his people and well beyond. The question continues to reverberate: how will things be without him?

The breadth and scope of his activities was unbelievable. He started out 40 years ago as an elected local politician, acting for his constituents. As his prominence grew, he became a leading member of the executive of

London’s Charedi Kehilla and its umbrella body, the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations. He led his beloved Yesodey Hatorah Schools, and was a leading voice for Jewish education through Chinuch UK. He also worked with coalitions of Jews, Christians and Muslims through various partnerships.

He was the go-to person for all ‘matters Charedi’ and had the wisdom, accumulated knowledge and instincts to deal with whatever was thrown his way. He knew about housing and rent, about planning regulations and processes, about crime and policing, about political parties and elections, about social care for the elderly and disabled, about charities, welfare benefits, public relations and so much more. But the cause that burned strongest in his chest was Torah education.

Rabbi Pinter was keenly sensitive to the importance of nurturing good relations and living amicably with different groups in society. He took personal responsibility for this. He built so many bridges in his time and through his simple outreach served his

community so powerfully. He believed that coalitions are stronger than individual interest groups and harder to dismiss.

He used his good standing and the friendships he had developed to build a broader base of support for the issues that mattered to Jews.

He was full of compassion for the weak and for the underdog. He served in leadership positions with organisations including Chizuk for the mentally ill as well as Stamford Hill’s special needs school Side-by-Side, and Ezer Leyoldos, working with some of the most vulnerable in the community.

To each organisation he was indispensable. He advocated valiantly for people who found themselves in desperate circumstances, and would not tolerate harms perpetrated within the community itself.

He was an expert on child protection requirements and worked with rabbonim and authorities to put a stop to abuse.

When questioned about the secret of his popularity, Rabbi Pinter answered that it must be because he genuinely cared. He loved people, and they reciprocated. His genuineness and integrity were powerful and caused people to respond to him very positively.

He had huge compassion and was exceptionally clear-eyed in understanding perspectives different from his own. He extended this understanding to people whose interests and views were diametrically opposed to his.

People appreciated this and he used it to build bridges. He was also full of an endearing humility and treated everyone with respect.

Rabbi Pinter’s hallmark was his sense of responsibility and leadership. He never shied away or said no. He took up whatever it was that needed doing and spoke up with what needed to be said.

The general’s last battle was with the illness that felled him. He worked tirelessly to protect the community from Covid-19 to the greatest extent possible, urging people to follow social distancing rules. He worked with rabbonim, activists and public authorities to get messages to the community and to help those who had fallen ill.

On the day he was taken to hospital he was in video conference with doctors and public health leaders. Within a week, he was no longer with us. He has left his troops stunned with grief and shock, wondering where to find the strength to soldier on.

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Jewish News 23 April 2020

Orthodox Judaism

SEDRA Tazria-Metzora

BY RABBI ALEX CHAPPER Shielding, self-isolation and social distancing are all terms synonymous with the coronavirus crisis and yet they also all relate to the Torah’s laws on the metzorah – the person afflicted with a spiritual disease.

A person who suspects they have symptoms is initially examined by a Cohen and then quarantined for seven days.

If there is no subsequent change in their “condition”, then an additional seven-day period of separation is required.

Once they are confirmed as being contaminated, they have to live in isolation outside of the camp until they recover.

But there is a major difference between what the Torah describes and Covid-19: a metzorah was not infectious and his or her affliction was a physical manifestation of a spiritual illness.

So what was the purpose of socially excluding that person?

The Sefer HaChinuch explains that the laws established the con-

cept of hashgacha pratit - Divine providence.

God did not just create the world and leave it to its own devices, but He watches over everything that we do.

There are no hiding places from this reality and we should not deceive ourselves to the contrary.

Rather, we must appreciate that God is positively interested in our lives.

This in turn explains why the metzorah must be confined for a period of time, if deemed necessary.

This imposed time-out provides the person with an opportunity to reflect on these truths, free from the distractions that have blurred their focus on the way the world operates.

Perhaps we should also utilise the current situation to re-evaluate our own world view.

◆ Rabbi Alex Chapper serves Borehamwood and Elstree United Synagogue

Torah For Today What does the Torah say about: Coronavirus and the Omer?

BY RABBI SHAULY STROM The Coronavirus outbreak has been deemed unprecedented, but how unprecedented is it?

It’s hard to ignore the parallel between Covid-19 and the times in which the Jewish calendar finds itself now.

The 49 days between Passover and Shavuot is the period that was set aside to commemorate the 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva, who died owing to a deadly plague.

The Talmud is clear in attributing the cause of the outbreak to the sin of lack of mutual respect between Rabbi Akiva’s students.

The disease, Ascora, affected the lungs until they inevitably died from difficulty breathing, resulting in a daily death toll of 300 to 400.

Consequently, for two millennia, the Jewish people have observed a mourning period, refraining from celebrating weddings, listening to

music that may lead to dancing and from having haircuts.

While prophecy has long been abandoned in the Jewish religion and speculation insensitive, the inevitable parallels between the situation in which we each find ourselves and our shared history are hard to ignore. However, let

us remember that the story, although tragic, has an optimistic ending, with Rabbi Akiva and his remaining students emblazoned with their mantra, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18), rebuilding the Jewish people and introducing the doctrines of Jewish works, like Zohar and much of the Talmud.

It also gave the Jewish people a unique day, Lag Be’Omer, to celebrate both the culmination of the epidemic and the birth of a new society.

Let us utilise the period of mourning, confinement and lack of open rejoicing to strengthen each other, build mutual respect within all areas of humanity and let us see the end of the pandemic speedily. ◆ Rabbi Shauly Strom is director of northern campuses at Aish UK

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27

Progressive Judaism

The Bible Says What?

‘Handshaking isn’t allowed between men and women’

BY RABBI RACHEL BENJAMIN In traditional Judaism, the concept of shomer n’giah (observant of touch), means not everyone will shake the hand of someone of the opposite sex.

A congregant once told me how hurt and humiliated she felt at her father’s (Orthodox Jewish) funeral, when the rabbi shook hands with only the men of her family.

Jewish tradition offers clear rulings with regard to physical contact between men and women. Leviticus 18:19 prohibits a man from “coming near” a menstruating woman. The Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh De’ah 195:2) states “he shall not touch her even with his little finger”.

Much debate concludes that contact of a sexual nature is forbidden according to Torah law, but nonsexual contact is forbidden only according to later rabbinic law.

There is another issue here, implicit in the rabbinic texts, and that is the inability of men to control their sexual impulse in the presence of women.

Why was Joseph not taken as a model of chastity and self-restraint, in refusing the advances of Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39:7-10)?

Surely we must challenge the assumption that the most mundane and socially-accepted physical contact between a man and a woman might result in uncontrollable passion.

The model to emulate is Rav Eliahu Lopian (teacher of Torah and Mussar in London and Israel) who, when faced with a woman’s hand extended to him in greeting, took her hand and shook it.

When asked later why he did it, he said he believed it more important not to embarrass the woman than to refrain from shaking her hand.

When we are again back to ‘normal’, I would hope that this will be a model followed by all – especially when offering condolences during Shiva prayers.

◆ Rabbi Rachel Benjamin serves South Bucks Jewish community

Progressively Speaking Did this year’s Yom HaShoah have special significance?

BY RABBI LAURA JANNER-KLAUSNER This week we marked Yom Ha’Shoah, the international Jewish world’s day to mark the atrocities committed against us and a range of other communities by the Nazis.

Normally it would be a day of grand ceremonies and commemorations. As we all know though, this is not an ordinary year. So, does Yom HaShoah have any special significance for us at this time?

It is first vital to dispel any notion that our current situation may give us more understanding of the experience of Jews at that time.

There have been many memes passed around comparing our current lockdown to that of Jews in hiding, such as Anne Frank.

However bad our current situation may be - and for so many of us there have been such tragedies in recent weeks - we do a disservice to the memory of the Shoah to make these comparisons.

The current threat is real, but we will – God willing – never be able

to truly comprehend the scale of suffering faced then.

What can we learn? We can see the many examples of strength in the face of horrors beyond imagination as inspiration to draw from.

We can recall the great acts of self-sacrifice and heroism carried out by Jews and non-Jews to save others and ask what we can do today to honour that memory.

We can also remember the small acts of compassion and love which many showed despite all the forces against them and keep that memory

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alive too – by looking around us and seeing who needs our love and support right now.

As the older generation has been deemed the most vulnerable now, the urgency to keep the memory of our survivors alive grows.

More than any of these, I think there is something special about how we marked this day, this year.

Gone were the pomp and ceremony; replaced by reflections in our homes, perhaps a candle lit, perhaps a commemoration streamed on our computer.

Yom HaShoah is not about gathering the great and good, it is about connecting with those who went before us personally.

With the space to reflect, I found a new depth in my connection to this day. We can make use of our enforced distance and find a personal closeness which may sometimes have been obscured. ◆ Laura Janner-Klausner is the senior rabbi of Reform Judaism

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Business / Air filter

candicekrieger@googlemail.com

With Candice Krieger

‘WE’RE MORE AWARE OF WHAT WE BREATHE IN’ Israeli entrepreneur Yosi Romano tells Candice Krieger about his company, Brizi, which creates pollution protection for babies and infants, and how he triumphed on the BBC’s Dragons’ Den

A

aficionados of Dragons’ Den might recognise the scene. It was just before Israeli entrepreneurs Yosi Romano and Ziv Leinwand received a six-figure sum of investment from multimillionaire retail entrepreneur Touker Suleyman following a gripping encounter on the hit BBC show in 2018.

In possibly one of the biggest turnarounds in the history of the programme, the Israelis secured offers from all five dragons for a stake in their startup, Brizi – established to protect babies and young children from air pollution – despite an earlier tense exchange between Leinwand and longstanding dragon Peter Jones (more on this later).

Suleyman, who owns UK shirt maker Hawes & Curtis, invested £125,000 for a 30 percent stake in the company. He has since upped his investment and money available for the company to £1 million and now owns 50 percent of the firm.

The Brizi Baby device is a portable cushionshaped air filter made to fit any pushchair, cutting pollution by up to 80 percent around a baby’s

Above: Yosi Romano with Ziv Leinwand on Dragons’ Den and, right, with Touker Suleyman

head. It creates a protective air shield around the baby’s breathing perimeter by circulating a continuous flow of clean air, simultaneously preventing polluted air from entering the breathing zone.

Fast forward two years, and the company was just about to start manufacturing with John Lewis lined up among the stockists, until Covid-19 halted

business for many across the globe. But Romano, 46, says that as soon as the factories in China open their doors again, the company is “ready and plans to start manufacturing”. Never has the need been greater, and the coronavirus, he says, has made people more aware of what they are breathing in, both in terms of pollution and viral germs and particles.

“Now, when we go out for our walk [during lockdown], it feels like the air is cleaner as there are fewer cars and traffic around. When things go back to ‘normal’, and even once the virus is hopefully under control, people will continue to be cautious about what they are breathing in.”

According to reports, the nationwide shutdown has led to big drops in air pollution across the UK, with levels of toxic pollutants due to fall even further. But the downswing might not last once the global economy ramps back up after the crisis.

Romano says: “Protecting as many kids as we can is the dream. Research has proven that exposure to pollution in the early years can limit lung and even brain development and cause allergies.

We all want to make a successful business, but imagine if Brizi could help protect kids for a lifetime, and prevent asthma or respiratory diseases.”

A former TV cameraman for Associated Press, Romano came up with the idea for Brizi while pushing his then two-year-old daughter in her buggy along Finchley Road, north London, close to where they live.

“I realised all the bus fumes were blowing straight in her face.” Pollution and the health implications of what we breathe in wasn’t discussed as much in the public domain as it is now, so he talked it over with his brother, who has a degree in biochemistry. “He helped me to understand what’s in the air we breathe. The most dangerous pollution particles lie low next to the ground, so kids are

more exposed than adults.” According to a recent study by the University of Surrey, babies in pushchairs could be exposed to close to 45 percent more air pollutants than the adult pushing them.

Romano teamed up with the Map Project Office, a design company based in Old Street, which is now an equity partner in the company, and developed the Brizi filter system.

Tel Aviv based Leinwand then joined “to help turn the product into a business”. Leinwand had held marketing and management roles at Haier, Saatchi & Saatchi and Israeli food giant Strauss, where he was based in China working on an air purification project.

So how did they end up on the BBC show?

“Four years ago, a gentleman who wanted to work as a producer on Dragons’ Den asked if he could do a mock-up application using Brizi,” recalls Romano, who moved to the UK in 2002 after finishing a geography and history degree from Tel Aviv University.

“I was very busy, but wanted to help as he was a young guy starting out. He got the job and a year later called to ask if we wanted to apply for real.”

During the pitch, there was an uncomfortable exchange between Peter Jones and Leinwand, when the Israeli refused to disclose some information, stating it was confidential. Jones also criticised Leinwand for standing with his hands in his pockets.

“They need a bit of drama because it’s TV after all,” notes Romano. “Something that didn’t make the final edit was when I told Peter Jones that if he knew Ziv, he wouldn’t think him rude but a very kind man and that there was no reason to be harsh. In the end Peter Jones apologised.”

Romano says they went on the show knowing they “wanted Touker” because of his route to market and distribution expertise. What is he like to work with? “Wonderful. He’s surrounded by a dynamic team of very talented people. His office is always open and he is hands-on with everything we do.”

What advice would he give to other start-ups when pitching for investment? “Believe in yourself and the project 100 percent; show you are ready for a long-term commitment.” www.brizi.com

The Brizi air cushion attaches to the bugy and creates a shield of clean air around the baby

www.jewishnews.co.uk

23 April 2020 Jewish News

29

Professional advice from our panel / Ask Our Experts

Ask our

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UNLOCK CAPITAL BY SELLING YOUR ROOFTOP.

Our trusty team of advisers answers your questions about everything from law and finance to dating and dentistry.

This week: Writing a will while social distancing, health insurance during the epidemic and data storage...

CAROLYN ADDLEMAN DIRECTOR OF LEGACIES

KKL EXECUTOR AND TRUSTEE COMPANY

Dear Carolyn The coronavirus pandemic has made me particularly anxious about writing a will.

I realise it has become difficult to meet with solicitors and to arrange for witnesses because of social distancing. Can you advise what the procedure is during the lockdown?

Hannah Dear Hannah The current pandemic has seen a surge in demand for advice on will writing and lasting powers of attorney. Restrictions around social distancing and self-isolation have made it more challenging for practitioners, particularly those

TREVOR GEE PRIVATE HEALTHCARE SPECIALIST

PATIENT HEALTH Dear Trevor I’m confused about the current epidemic and my health insurance policy. The insurer told my husband that, should we need to go into an NHS hospital as an inpatient, we would be entitled to a daily ‘cash back’. However, they were not prepared to help with the premiums.

Are the private hospitals currently open?

Jessica

Dear Jessica The epidemic is designated as an accident and emergency situation that only the NHS is properly equipped to help.

Even if the current situation did not qualify as a pandemic, the NHS would be our default emergency provider.

The cash back facility is a provision in most plans that provides a cash sum should the patient be hospitalised under the NHS as opposed to a private hospital.

Not all the insurers are singing from the same hymn sheet regarding assisting clients with financial help.

Some have been superb in allowing some free cover, and we have successfully helped clients with those insurers. Other insurers are permitting a reduction in premiums,

dealing with elderly clients. Regulatory issues around mental capacity and the witnessing of documents are now presenting significant difficulties for those involved in drafting wills.

Many practitioners are sending out will questionnaires and then arranging to meet via videoconferencing to discuss client instructions based on the questionnaire. This may be followed up with correspondence containing a draft will and an explanation of what was discussed.

A will must by witnessed by two witnesses present at the same time. Currently, this must be done while maintaining a two-metre separation, which may be difficult for many people.

Some have overcome this by the signing and witnessing being done in the street, but it could be done by standing at a distance in a hallway.

The important point in this is to find a way to put in place an up to date and valid will.

with a corresponding reduction in cover.

Where it is suitable, we have been arranging much cheaper health premiums by starting new policies.

I contacted five private hospitals to enquire about their current policy. The good news is that they are all providing private telephone consultations although inpatient care is generally unavailable. It is advisable to contact hospitals directly as they begin to remove the restrictions going forward.

My number one tip now is to choose a policy providing free access to GP digital and telephone services, especially helpful where GP surgeries are closed.

They can provide prescriptions, advice and arrange for follow-up consultations.

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I still cannot find where all my space is being used up.

Please help.

Philip Dear Philip It sounds like you have got IT SPECIALIST a good set-up to enable you and your family to have all of your MAN ON A BIKE files no matter where you are.

It also gives you the security of a Dear Ian back-up copy in the cloud.

I use an online drive to store What you are experiencing documents and files. My is not all that uncommon. family and I use several machines to access these files Online drives have the benefit since we need them wherever of keeping previous versions or snapshots of your data so we are. I have now started you can go back to a copy from to get warnings that I am up to 30 days ago. getting close to my 100GB It will also have a recycle bin storage limit, but the problem function for when you delete is there only seems to be files. One downside is that when about 40GB of documents you are working on files within and files in there. I have even the online drive, temporary totalled up the size of all of copies are made and deleted as the individual folders and

IAN GREEN

you work. The online drive sees this as a deleted file and puts it into the recycle bin.

This is probably where your storage space is taken up.

You should log in to the online storage and look at the Trash folder as I am sure this has filled up with these files.

You can also remove any old snapshots that are no longer required.

30

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Jewish News 23 April 2020

Ask Our Experts / Professional advice from our panel

Our Experts Got a question for a member of our team?

Email: editorial@thejngroup.com PRIVATE HEALTHCARE SPECIALIST TREVOR GEE Qualifications: • Managing director, consultants in affordable family and corporate health insurance.

• Specialise in maximising cover, lowering premiums and pre-existing conditions.

• Excellent knowledge of health insurers, cover levels and hospital lists.

• Board member UK International Health Management Ass • LLB, solicitor finals, FCA Regulated 773729.

PATIENT HEALTH 020 3146 3444/5/6 www.patienthealth.co.uk trevor.gee@patienthealth.co.uk

DIRECTOR OF LEGACIES

DYSLEXIA PRACTITIONER SARAH BENARROCH Qualifications: • Director of Literacy Specialist Ltd, educational services for children with literacy difficulties and dyslexia.

• MA in Specific Learning Difficulties (dyslexia), APC, British Dyslexia Association, PATOSS, 20 years’ experience in child education and development.

• Full diagnostic assessments and reports for dyslexia.

• Primary-age tuition in reading, writing and spelling.

LITERACY SPECIALIST LTD 07940 576 286 sarah@literacyspecialist.co.uk

JEWELLER

ISRAELI LAWYER ELI ROSENBERG Qualifications: • All aspects of Israeli law. Specialising in property law, property tax, inheritance law and dispute management.

• Third generation lawyer from Israeli firm established in Israel in 1975.

• Authorised and regulated by the Israeli Bar Association and Ministry of Justice of the State of Israel, with teams in Tel Aviv and London.

ROSENBERG & ASSOCIATES 0203 994 2278 www.israeli-lawyer.co.uk eli@israeli-lawyer.co.uk

CHARITY EXECUTIVE

CAROLYN ADDLEMAN Qualifications: Lawyer with over 20 years’ experience in will drafting and trust and estate administration. Last 14 years at KKL Executor and Trustee Company.

In close contact with clients to ensure all legal and pastoral needs are cared for.

Member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.

JONATHAN WILLIAMS Qualifications: • Jewellery manufacturer since 1980s.

• Expert in the manufacture and supply of diamond jewellery, wedding rings and general jewellery.

• Specialist in supply of diamonds to the public at

SUE CIPIN Qualifications: • 18 years’ hands-on experience, leading JDA in significant growth and development.

• Deep understanding of the impact of deafness on people at all stages of life, and their families.

• Practical and emotional support for families of deaf children.

• Extensive services for people affected by hearing loss/tinnitus.

KKL EXECUTOR AND TRUSTEE COMPANY 0800 358 3587 www.kkl.org.uk enquiries@kkl.org.uk

JEWELLERY CAVE LTD 020 8446 8538 www.jewellerycave.co.uk jonathan@jewellerycave.co.uk

JEWISH DEAF ASSOCIATION 020 8446 0502 www.jdeaf.org.uk mail@jdeaf.org.uk

• • •

Got a question for a member of our team?

Email: editorial@thejngroup.com

Thinking about ALIYAH? Contact the Jewish Agency for Israel certified by the Israeli government to facilitate Aliyah!

0-800-051-8227 | 020-8371-5250 | gci-en@jafi.org

TRAVEL AGENT

CRIMINAL DEFENCE SOLICITOR

DAVID SEGEL Qualifications: • Managing director of West End Travel, established in 1972.

• Leading UK El Al agent with branches in Swiss Cottage and Edgware.

• Specialist in Israel travel, cruises and kosher holidays.

• Leading business travel company, ranked in top 50 UK agents.

• Frequent travel broadcaster on radio and TV.

CARL WOOLF Qualifications: • 20+ years experience as a criminal defence solicitor and higher court advocate.

• Specialising in all aspects of criminal law including murder, drug offences, fraud and money laundering, offences of violence, sexual offences and all aspects of road traffic law.

• Visiting associate professor at Brunel University.

WEST END TRAVEL 020 7644 1500 www.westendtravel.co.uk David.Segel@westendtravel.co.uk

NOBLE SOLICITORS 01582 544 370 carl.woolf@noblesolicitors.co.uk

REMOVALS MANAGING DIRECTOR

PRINCIPAL, PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL

STEPHEN MORRIS Qualifications: • Managing Director of Stephen Morris Shipping Ltd. • 45 years’ experience in shipping household and personal effects.

• Chosen mover for four royal families and three UK prime ministers.

• Offering proven quality specialist advice for moving anyone across the world or round the corner.

LOUISE LEACH Qualifications: • Professional choreographer qualified in dance, drama and Zumba (ZIN, ISTD & LAMDA), gaining an honours degree at Birmingham University.

• Former contestant on ITV’s Popstars, reaching bootcamp with Myleene Klass, Suzanne Shaw and Kym Marsh.

• Set up Dancing with Louise 10 years ago.

STEPHEN MORRIS SHIPPING LTD 020 8832 2222 www.shipsms.co.uk stephen@shipsms.co.uk

DANCING WITH LOUISE 020 8203 5242 www.dancingwithlouise.co.uk louise@dancingwithlouise.co.uk

23 April 2020 Jewish News

www.jewishnews.co.uk

31

Professional advice from our panel / Ask Our Experts

ACCOUNTANT

PROPERTY DEVELOPER

DENTIST

ADAM SHELLEY Qualifications: • FCCA chartered certified accountant.

• Accounting, taxation and business advisory services.

• Entrepreneurial business specialist including start-up businesses.

• Specialises in charities; Personal tax returns.

• Maurice Wohl Charitable Foundation Volunteer of the Year JVN award.

JOE GRIFFIN Qualifications: • More than 13 years’ experience in the construction and property industry, with a specialism in high-end residential and commercial property • Negotiation of site acquisitions and property deals; design and planning strategies • Focus on niche market purchasing airspace above commercial and residential blocks to create additional stories of accommodation and penthouse apartments.

DR ADAM NEWMAN Qualifications: • Dentist at the Gingerbread House, a Bupa Platinum practice in Shenley, Radlett.

• Regional Clinical Services Advisor for Bupa Dental Care UK. • Providing NHS and private dentistry, whitening, implants and cosmetic treatment.

• Bachelor of Dental Surgery and Member of the Faculty of General Dental Practitioners RCS England. GDC registered 212542.

SOBELL RHODES LLP 020 8429 8800 www.sobellrhodes.co.uk a.shelley@sobellrhodes.co.uk

LONDON PENTHOUSE 020 7665 9604 www.londonpenthouse.com info@lphvgroup.com

GINGERBREAD HOUSE 01923 852 852 www.gingerbreadhealth.co.uk Adam.newman@gingerbreadhealth.co.uk

INTERNATIONAL PAYMENTS SPECIALIST

INSURANCE CONSULTANCY

IT SPECIALIST

NAOMI FELTHAM Qualifications: • Leading currency transfer provider since 1996 with over 500 expert employees.

• Excellent exchange rates on your transfers to/from Israel.

• Offices worldwide, with local support in Israel, the UK, mainland Europe and the USA. • Free expert guidance from your dedicated Account Manager.

ASHLEY PRAGER Qualifications: • Professional insurance and reinsurance broker. Offering PI/D&O cover, marine and aviation, property owners, ATE insurance, home and contents, fine art, HNW. • Specialist in insurance and reinsurance disputes, utilising Insurance backed products. (Including non insurance business disputes).

• Ensuring clients do not pay more than required.

IAN GREEN Qualifications: • Launched Man on a Bike IT consultancy 15 years ago to provide computer support for the home and small businesses.

• Clients range from legal firms in the City to families, small business owners and synagogues.

• More than 18 years’ experience.

CURRENCIES DIRECT 07922 131 152 / 020 7847 9447 www.currenciesdirect.com/jn Naomi.feltham@currenciesdirect.com

RISK RESOLUTIONS 020 3411 4050 www.risk-resolutions.com ashley.prager@risk-resolutions.com

MAN ON A BIKE 020 8731 6171 www.manonabike.co.uk mail@manonabike.co.uk

ISRAELI ACCOUNTANT LEON HARRIS Qualifications: • Leon is an Israeli and UK accountant based in Ramat Gan, Israel.

• He is a Partner at Harris Horoviz Consulting & Tax Ltd. • The firm specializes in Israeli and international tax advice, accounting and tax reporting for investors, Olim and businesses.

• Leon’s motto is: Our numbers speak your language!

HARRIS HOROVIZ CONSULTING & TAX LTD +972-3-6123153 / + 972-54-6449398 leon@h2cat.com

ALIYAH ADVISER

PHOTOGRAPHER HARRISON GALGUT Qualifications: • Experienced wedding and event photographer.

• Specialism in portraits and light management.

• BSc(Hons), BTEC music tech, specialising in film, and member of Royal Photographic Society.

LISA WIMBORNE Qualifications: Able to draw on the charity’s 50 years of experience in enabling people with physical disabilities or impaired vision to live independently, including: • The provision of specialist accommodation with 24/7 on site support.

• Knowledge of the innovations that empower people and the benefits available.

• Understanding of the impact of a disability diagnosis.

EDIT6 07962599154 www.edit6.co.uk harrison@edit6.co.uk

JEWISH BLIND & DISABLED 020 8371 6611 www.jbd.org Lisa@jbd.org

CAREER ADVISER

DOV NEWMARK Qualifications: • Director of UK Aliyah for Nefesh B’Nefesh, an organisation that helps facilitate aliyah from the UK. • Conducts monthly seminars and personal aliyah meetings in London.

• An expert in working together with clients to help plan a successful aliyah.

CLAIRE STRAUS Qualifications: • Free professional one-to-one advice at Resource to help unemployed into work.

• Practical support, workshops and networking opportunities to maximise prospects.

• Career coach with MSc in career management and coaching with a background in human resources and general management and experience of private, public and voluntary sectors.

NEFESH B’NEFESH 0800 075 7200 www.nbn.org.il dov@nbn.org.il

RESOURCE 020 8346 4000 www.resource-centre.org office@resource-centre.org

DIVORCE & FAMILY SOLICITOR

CHARITY EXECUTIVE

Got a question for a member of our team?

Email: editorial@thejngroup.com

The Directors and staff at West End Travel hope that all our clients are staying well and coping during this very difficult time for all of us.

DEMENTIA SERVICE MANAGER

VANESSA LLOYD PLATT Qualifications: • Qualification: 40 years experience as a matrimonial and divorce solicitor and mediator, specialising in all aspects of family matrimonial law, including: • Divorce, pre/post-nuptial agreements, cohabitation agreements, domestic violence, children’s cases, grandparents’ rights to see grandchildren, adoption, family disputes.

• Frequent broadcaster on national and International radio and television.

ALEXIS CIBRANO Qualifications: • HCPC registered social worker and SweetTree Dementia Service Manager.

• Graduate of Fordham University, New York, receiving a BS degree in psychology, BSW degree in social work and MSW in social work, specialising in client-centred management.

• Completing her Executive MBA at London Business School.

LLOYD PLATT & COMPANY SOLICITORS 020 8343 2998 www.divorcesolicitors.com lloydplatt@divorcesolicitors.com

SWEETTREE HOME CARE SERVICES 020 7644 9500 www.sweettree.co.uk alexis.cibrano@sweettree.co.uk

We look forward to taking care of all your travel needs as soon as life gets back to normal, hopefully in the very near future.

Stay well, healthy and safe.

Head Office: 4-6 Canfield Place, London NW6 3BT 020 7644 1500 Email: admin@westendtravel.co.uk Edgware Office: 70 Edgware Way, Edgware, Middlesex, HA8 8JS 020 8958 3188 Email: info@westendtravel.co.uk. www.westendtravel.co.uk

32

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Jewish News 23 April 2020

SECONDARY PROGRAMME MANAGER

*HYGEXMSR )IKVIIW XYH] SRPMRI SV SR SYV 3; 1SRHSR (EQTYW

for the Jewish Teacher Training Partnership This is an exciting and challenging role that would suit an individual who is flexible in their approach, highly motivated and passionate about Jewish school education and about curricula and learning. You will develop and deliver inspiring courses for trainee teachers at secondary level. You and the wider team will seek to maintain the Ofsted status of Outstanding in every category for the Jewish Teacher Training Partnership (JTTP) at LSJS (Nov 2018). Expected time allocation 0.5/0.6 FTE Please see our website for a job description and more information or call us on 020 8203 6427. Applications deadline Tuesday 28 April 2020.

At LSJS we train and develop inspirational teachers and educational leaders, enabling them to have a transformative impact on our schools and communities.

LSJS, Schaller House, Wohl Campus for Jewish Education, 44a Albert Road, London, NW4 2SJ Registered charity no: 1131850 Registered company no: 06997994

London School of Jewish Studies

'& -SRW /I[MWL *HYGEXMSR 9

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Only 3 hours of lectures per week over 4 years

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Ideal for school teachers or for those completing yeshiva/sem study

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Specialise in one of four subject areas

4RPMRI XYHIRXW The virtual learning website enables students to interact with lecturers, submit assignments, converse with other students and make presentations.

Start Dates: January and September 2SVI MRJSVQEXMSR ÚüÄ?ųüüŸÄďŸģŸţ¹Ă?ţƚĊ 8S ETTP] www.lsjs.ac.uk/degrees

www.lsjs.ac.uk

The BA (Hons) and MA degrees are quality assured and awarded by Middlesex University.

Train to Teach with the Jewish Teacher Training Partnership (JTTP) at LSJS * Gain Qualified Teacher

Status (QTS) and PGCE

* 1 year Primary and Secondary

training available in both Jewish Studies and secular subjects.

* Rated ‘outstanding’ by

Ofsted, November 2018Â

www.teachtolead.uk

Applications now open for September

2020

London School of Jewish Studies

Email the Teacher Training Team today on teach@lsjs.ac.uk or call us on 020 8203 6427 More information at www.lsjs.ac.uk/teach

23 April 2020 Jewish News

www.jewishnews.co.uk

33

Fun, games and prizes

THE JEWISH NEWS CROSSWORD 1

2

3

7

4

5

6

8

9

10

12

13

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14

15

19

18

20

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23

ACROSS 1 Coarse, vulgar (5) 4 Low woody plant (5)

7 Be indebted (3) 8 Eight‑sided shape (7) 9 Item of footwear (4)

L

I

26

L E T W E W E N K S

10

A E E

14

S M B Z A H E E M

I

A A L U T P E C L U S N M

5

E

L G L S

17

P Z E C C K M W U R N E O

15

D E L O T E W P D J U N L

18

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Y A C T S O

V E R

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1

J N B A N A R B L A E L

L

3

G Z T R Q X T P H T S E

A F

L A F

F C Z

L

ALFALFA BARLEY BEANS BRAN BUCKWHEAT

17

I

25 15

17

15

5

1

22

23

22

OATMEAL SEMOLINA PEAS SWEETCORN PULSES TAPIOCA RICE RYE

Crossword ACROSS: 1 Abject 4 Scab 8 Etc 9 Cleaner 10 Dizzy 11 Decay 13 Slide 15 Unlit 17 Leopard 19 Nib 20 Eddy 21 Peeler DOWN: 1 Ahead 2 Jacuzzi 3 Cocky 5 Con 6 Burly 7 Read 12 Colonel 13 Solve 14 Exam 15 Undue 16 Tuber 18 Old

9 2 6 1 8 3 5 7 4

24

22

16

14

23

17

15

14

14

6

N

10

25

24

1

3

24 25

D

20

24

25

1 7 8 6 3 2 9 4 5

6 3 9 4 7 5 1 2 8

5 1 7 3 6 4 8 9 2

8 6 9 7 6 1 4 9 5 1 8 2 9

SUGURU Each cell in an outlined block must contain a digit: a two‑cell block contains the digits 1 and 2, a three‑cell block contains the digits 1, 2 and 3; and so on. The same digit must not appear in neighbouring cells, not even diagonally.

3 2

20

23

24

8

5 3 5

1 6

12

24

1

22

4

1

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22

4

17

22

15

24

4

18

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4

20

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2

22

1

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24

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4

20

1

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24

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13

22

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22

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14

2

3

4

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6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

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26

O N

Suguru 2 4 5 9 1 8 6 3 7

7 1 6 5 5 1 3 3 4 1 9 2 4 2

See next issue for puzzle solutions.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Sudoku 7 5 1 2 4 6 3 8 9

19

1

V O C O Q R X A

3 8 4 7 5 9 2 6 1

12

23

12

9

24

Last issue’s solutions

14

14

L A D B W G Y S

LEGUMES LENTILS MAIZE MALT MILLET

3

11

I

I

10

S U V H M P M T Y

J N A P O A T M E A L

2

In this finished crossword, every letter of the alphabet appears as a code number. All you have to do is crack the code and fill in the grid.

Replacing the decoded numbers 14, 15 and 25 with their letters in the grid will help you to guess the identity of other letters.

The words related to cereals and pulses can all be found in the grid. Words may run either forwards or backwards, in a horizontal, vertical or diagonal direction, but always in a straight, unbroken line.

I

Brutal ruffian (4) Almond, for example (3) Owned by you and me (4) Female red deer (4) Made up of units (7) Floor cover (3) Hooded snake (5) Suggestion, hint (5)

CODEWORD

WORDSEARCH

R F U G B S S X B S K A

Fill the grid with the numbers 1 to 9 so that each row, column and 3x3 block contains the numbers 1 to 9.

DOWN 1 Hilltop (4) 2 If (7) 3 Old royal attendants (6) 4 Badger’s earth (4) 5 Scrap of cloth (3) 6 Friendly or harmless (6) 11 Public executioner (7) 12 Of the universe (6) 14 Desire (6) 17 Supplication (4) 18 Eye complaint (4) 20 Marine flatfish (3)

16 17

M

10 13 15 16 19 21 22 23

SUDOKU

4 6 2 8 9 1 7 5 3

8 9 3 5 2 7 4 1 6

5 2 1 4 1 4

1 3 5 3 2 3

2 4 2 1 5 1

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All puzzles © Puzzler Media Ltd ‑ www.puzzler.com

Wordsearch 3 1 3 4 2 3

2 4 5 1 5 1

1 3 2 3 2 4

1 5 1 5 2 3

2 4 2 4 1 4

3 1 3 5 2 5

5 2 4 1 3 1

1 3 5 2 4 2

2 4 1 3 1 3

O D Z M P H Y E S A V J C

C R A G U O C B O P Y O F

E H C O Y P U A Z G B T V

L E E K A N S L A R O C M

A L Z E R X E L A C C A F

R I N N T M E I N H H Y Q

C D W E A A J H I U I M H

Codeword N O D C K P H C F R P A U

Q C Y K T C M N C A M N V

X O C O C J I I L K U S B

P R W A T K G H H U N Y W

I C T L I E O C C C K O G

C H A M E L E O N E C X J

P G H DO V E A T N L GA Z E BO T Y COR R E S Y U N H E A L I I S C R UMS K R U F E R N M L S P

B P E N D I N P ON I T H I L C L O OW S

J R O X E N G T S C U S R D I NG I N E S S A I QU E R C K N E E S R

M J P H Z B T F N A L G I Y S Q W X V R O C K E U D23/04

34

www.jewishnews.co.uk

Jewish News 23 April 2020

Business Services Directory ANTIQUES 44

The Jewish News 22 September 2016

www.jewishnews.co.uk

BUSINESS SERVICES DIRECTORY

Top prices paid

Antique – Reproduction – Retro Furniture (any condition)

Carer

Clothing

WE BUY ANTIQUES Carer FURS WANTED Auxiliary Nurse VERY HIGH PRICES PAID. FREE HOME VISITS.

Epstein, Archie Shine, Hille, G Plan, etc.

Antiques

Dining Suites, Lounges Suites, Bookcases, Desks, Cabinets, Mirrors, Lights, etc.

Cash paid for Mink Available support Allto Antique Furniture Hille & Epstein jackets, coats, you in your home.

Diamond Jewellery, Gold, Silver,boleros, Paintings, stoles, Porcelain, also fox coats, etc.

Glass,Days/nights.

Bronzes, Ivories, Oriental & Judaica Antiques jackets etc.

Very reasonable rates.

Full house clearances organised.

Wardrobes cleared Call Please 0208 look 958 at 2939 our website for more details Call 01277 352 560 or 07495 026 168

House clearances Single items to complete homes MARYLEBONE ANTIQUES - 8 CHURCH STREET NW8 8ED

WE BUY ANTIQUES

07866 614 744 (ANYTIME)

www.antiquesbuyers.co.uk

VERY HIGH PRICES PAID. FREE HOME VISITS. All Antique Hille & Epstein 0207Furniture 723 7415 (SHOP) Diamond Jewellery, Gold, Silver, Paintings, Porcelain, closed Sunday & Monday Glass, Bronzes, Ivories, Oriental & Judaica Antiques etc.

Computer FOR APPOINTMENTS CALL SUE ON:

0800 840 2035 or 07956268290

STUART SHUSTER - e-mail - info@maryleboneantiques.co.uk

Man on aOPEN Bike8am will TOget 9pm 7 DAYS. you working fast! RD LONDON. PORTOBELLO

Full house clearances organised.

MAKE SURE CONTACT BEFORE SELLING Please look YOU at our websiteUS for more details www.antiquesbuyers.co.uk

Rapid Response IT support for your PC & Mac Networks, virus problems, broadband, wireless systems, new computers and everything else you may need.

CHARITY & WELFARE For small businesses & home users.

FOR APPOINTMENTS CALL SUE ON: 0800 840 2035 or 07956268290 OPEN 8am TO 9pm 7 DAYS.

Call Ian Green, Man on a Bike on

PORTOBELLO RD LONDON.

020 8731 6171 • www.manonabike.co.uk

ARE YOU BEREAVED?

Stirling of Kensal Green Established over 60 years.

Know who you are dealing with.

Top prices paid

All quality furniture bought & sold.

Antique – Reproduction – Retro Furniture (any condition)

Best prices paid for complete house clearEpstein, Archie Shine, Hille, G Plan, etc. ances Lounges includingSuites, china, Bookcases, books, Dining Suites, clothing etc. Also rubbish clearance Desks, Cabinets, Mirrors, Lights, etc. service, lofts, sheds, garages etc House clearances Single items to complete Please contact Gordonhomes Stirling

020 8960 5401 or 07825 224144 CHURCH STREET ANTIQUES � 8 CHURCH STREET NW8 8ED

͔͚͚͛͜ ͚͕͘ ͛͘͘ (ANYTIME) Email: gordonstirling65@gmail.com 0207 723 7415 (SHOP) closed Sunday & Monday

STUART SHUSTER � e�mail � stuart@churchstreetantiques.net

MAKE SURE YOU CONTACT US BEFORE SELLING

WESTLON HOUSING ASSOCIATION Sheltered Accommodation

Charity & Welfare Counselling for adults & children who are experiencing loss, and support groups.

Contact The Jewish Bereavement ARE YOU BEREAVED? Counselling Service in confidence

Labels are forTURN, jars.

Refer yourself or aKNOW loved one by IF YOU DON’T WHICH WAY TO Not people. calling 020 8458 2223 orOUR visit HELPLINE. REMEMBER

Counselling for adults & children who are 020 8951 3881 experiencing loss. Support groups offered. enquiries@jbcs.org.uk | www.jbcs.org.uk Call The Jewish Bereavement Counselling Service in confidence

www.jamiuk.org

For confidential advice, information and support don’t forget Jewish Care Direct.

REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 1003345

020 8922 2222

jcdirect@jcare.org

jewishcare.org/helpline

020 & 8951 3881 • 07765 693 160 CHARITY WELFARE E: enquiries@jbcs.org.uk

Sheltered Accommodation

For further details andlist application forms, contact We have an open waiting for our friendly andplease comfortable on 020 8201 8484 wardenWestlon assisted Housing sheltered Association housing schemes for Jewish people in Ealing, East Finchley and Hendon. We provide 24-hour warden support, seven days a week; a residents’ lounge and kitchen, laundry, a sunny patio and garden.

For further details and application forms, please contact Westlon Housing Association on 020 8201 8484

Charity Reg No. 802559

PLUMBSAFE (UK) LTD

We have an open waiting list for our friendly and comfortable warden assisted sheltered housing schemes in Ealing, East Finchley and Hendon. We provide 24-hour warden support, WESTLON HOUSING seven days a week; a residents’ loungeASSOCIATION and kitchen, laundry, a sunny patio and garden.

ADVERTISE IN THE UK’S BIGGEST JEWISH NEWSPAPER Jami supports and represents people with mental illness across FOR LESS THAN £24 A WEEK the Jewish community.

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Are you a Jewish woman experiencing domestic violence?

With abuse in your home, do you worry about your children?

We are here to help Email Sales today at sales@thejngroup.com

Give support • Get support • Get involved

All NW-London postcodes covered

07860 881505 or 0800 610 12 12

020 8458 2223 | info@jamiuk.org www.jamiuk.org

Not shabbat

PLUMBSAFEUK.COM

with free support, advice and information and confidential counselling.

Kosher Refuge available for women and children in need.

Reg Charity No. 1003345

Free Confidential National Helpline 0808 801 0500 advice@jwa.org.uk • www.jwa.org.uk

HOME & MAINTENANCE

Home & Maintenance

L

K

PLUMBSAFE (UK) LTD

No further, your

LOCAL PLUMBERS

“Better Safe Than Sorry�

Hall & Randall Plumbers

CENTRAL HEATING, PLUMBING REPAIRS & ADVISORY SERVICE EMERGENCY REPAIRS, BLOCKED PIPES DRAINAGE GUTTERING, ROOFING, CENTRAL HEATING AND BOILERS 12 MONTHS GUARANTEE, 40 YEARS EXPERIENCE

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hallandrandallplumbers.com

) *" " - *'

STONEMASON

PROFESSIONAL A. ELFES LTD PAINTING, DECORATING memorials & New PAPER HANGING Additional inscriptions Over & 20renovations years experience Friendly, reliable & Clayhall Showroom 14 Claybury Broadway Ilford. IG5 0LQ T: 0208 551 6866

Edgware Showroom 41 Manor Park Crescent Edgware. HA8 7LY T: 0208 381 1525

Email : info@garygreenmemorials.co.uk

Gants Hill service.

Edgware personal

Gary Green ad 84 x 40mm JM Group v2.indd 1

12Very Beehive Lane 130rates High Street competitive Gants Hill, IG1 3RD Edgware, HA8 7EL Telephone Telephone

STEPHEN: 07973 342 422 0207 754 4659 0207 754 4646

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18/03/2019 12:50:51

LOFT CONVERSIONS & UPVC Fitter

Not shabbat

Home & Maintenance

The specialist masons in creating bespoke Granite and Marble Memorials for all Cemeteries.

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•DRIVEWAYS •PAINTING London 020 8485 8176 •PATIOS •PLASTERING •BRICKWORK •PLUMBING ADVERTISE IN THE •ROOF REPAIRS •ALL BUILDING UK’S BIGGEST ADVERTISE IN THE •GUTTERING WORKNEWSPAPER JEWISH City and Guilds Electrician UK’S BIGGEST JEWISH All types of electrical work undertaken FOR LESS THAN NEWSPAPER FOR LESS A WEEK £24.00 FREE ESTIMATES & ADVICE Rewiring, extra sockets, BT points, Economy 7 storage heaters, Shabbat time switches, security lighting, THAN £24 A WEEK ALL WORK FULLYCall GUARANTEED LED spotlights, fault finding, CCTVportable appliance tests, Marc today landlord tests and house buyer’s surveys. on 020 7692 6943 Email Sales 581 Bowrons Ave, Wembley HA0 4QP For an efficient reliable and friendly service. today at Call Harvey Solomons on 01245 211 002 / 07773 102 386 Jewish sales@thejngroup.com 020 8958 6495 / 07836 648 554 hilineroofing.site123.me

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www.memorialgroup.co.uk

23 April 2020 Jewish News

www.jewishnews.co.uk

35

Business Services Directory COMPUTER

SILVER

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Man on a Bike will get you working fast!

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ADVERTISE IN THE UK’S BIGGEST JEWISH NEWSPAPER FOR LESS THAN £24 A WEEK Email Sales today at sales@thejngroup.com

DOMICILIARY CARE FREE CARE if you book before 31st October 2019, for every 4 hours of care booked the 5th hour will be 50% Free.

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Professional Care at Home Day & Night Care available North and Central London T: 020 8088 2789 info@kells-care.com kells-care.com

PROPERTY

LEGACY- LEAVE A GIFT IN YOUR MEMORY

JEWISH WAR VETERANS

Leave the legacy of independence to people like Joel.

& THEIR DEPENDANTS NEED

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PLease remember us in your wiLL.

eNABLeD

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visit www.Jbd.org

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or caLL 020 8371 6611 No. 259480 18-361-JM Small legacy advert v1.qxp_Legacy 09/10/2018 10:27 Page 1

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HELP US CONTINUE TO BE THERE FOR OUR COMMUNITY WITH A GIFT IN YOUR WILL. Call Alison on 020 8922 2833 for more information or email legacyteam@jcare.org Chancellors House, Brampton Lane, London, NW4 4AB Tel: 020 8903 8746 | Fax: 020 8795 2240 www.bfiwd.org | email: info@bfiwd.org

We modernise property, rent and manage it. We finance it all. No upfront fees. No ownership changes. We’re a family team.

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WASTE REMOVAL

Secure our

children’s future

Please include

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Legacy advert 84x40.indd 1

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07/04/2017 14:47

Rannana New Project from ₪2590,000

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36

Jewish News 23 April 2020

This Yom Hazikaron Remember Their Sacrifice Honour Their Memory And Be There for Their Families, Forever.

Every year, the IDF Widows and Orphans Organisation provides essential support to ensure the emotional and financial well-being of the widows and orphans of Israel’s fallen.

Even during these tough times, as we face a global pandemic, we stand with IDF widows and orphans to ensure they get the support they need.

Support us knowing that 100% of your donation will go to the organisation’s programming

www.jewishnews.co.uk