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VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY 8 July 2021

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28 Tamuz 5781

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Issue No.1218

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@JewishNewsUK

RedShield

THE START OF A BEAUTIFUL FRIENDSHIP Last month, we had the honour of welcoming a delegation of young leaders and influencers from the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Egypt, as well as their Israeli counterparts, to the MDA station in Jerusalem.

The visit focused on MDA’s lifesaving work and its technological expertise - showcasing MDA’s training, technology and innovation for the |

benefit of all people irrespective of race, religion, gender or ethnicity.

The visit to MDA Jerusalem will feature in a film entitled Finding Abraham. The film will be premiered at the UN on the anniversary of the signing of the Abraham Accords in September.

Israel’s Ministry of Strategic Affairs. This is a reciprocal visit following the Israeli delegation’s trip to Dubai earlier this year.

The delegation was in Israel as part of the ‘Leaders of Tomorrow’ programme, organised by the ‘Israel Is’ organisation in partnership with

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Jewish News 8 July 2021

STATE-OF-THE-ART OUR BLOOD CENTRE LIFESAVING STAR NEARING COMPLETION The Star of David at once conjures up two thoughts. The first is Israel and the second is Jewish people the world over.

Over the past eighteen months, the two have been separated.

Supporters of Israel have been forced to view events taking place there from a distance, without the ability to spend time in person with friends, family and, in our case, our colleagues on the ground.

So, when Israel was put on the green list of countries that we Brits could travel to and from, I breathed a huge sigh of relief.

At last we would be able to re-establish the links that are an integral part of all that we do. However, no sooner had the skies opened than they seemed to fall in.

The tragedy at Meron, which saw the death of 45 and countless more injured, was heartbreaking. This was followed quickly by ‘Operation Guardians of the Wall’ and yet more loss of lives and devastation. Throughout both these events, it was impossible not to take pride in the response of the Magen David Adom teams on the ground. As ever, when civilians are forced to run away from danger, MDA’s paramedics and volunteers run towards it, endangering their own lives to save others.

However, this is not just limited to events in Israel. Magen David Adom recently sent Uriel Goldberg, an expat paramedic, to Florida to help with the rescue effort of looking for survivors in the rubble of the collapsed building in Surfside, Miami. Uriel, together with the IDF are working around the clock hoping to defy the odds and save more lives.

Coming full circle, we are back to the Star of David.

When it is blue it connects Jewish people and Israel.

Colour it red and it becomes a beacon of hope, a provider of life and a spotlight on all that is great about Israel.

Daniel Burger Chief Executive

Over the past four years, MDA UK, together with the American Friends of MDA and the Government of Israel, have been working on the building of a new National Blood & Logistics Centre in Ramla.

The success of this project will guarantee Israel’s blood supply in the face of rapid population growth, the ongoing threat of terrorism and the increasingly complex risks of cyber-attack. The recent violence in May emphasised further the need for this new Centre, which will have a secure underground vault to store the rarest blood. Up until now, MDA teams have been manually transferring the existing supply into shelters which is sub-optimal.

The building work for the new £90m state-of-the-art Centre is set to be completed in November. Just last month, Russell Jacobs, MDA UK Chairman, made history as the first ever donor to visit the Centre.

We are also proud to share that so far we have sold 76 mezuzot to adorn the doors around the new Centre. Last year we ran a competition for students of the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design to sketch out a drawing for the mezuzot. The finalists have now been selected and will shortly present their designs to Eli Bin, Director General MDA. We were amazed at how many entries were received. It really goes to show how exciting an opportunity it is for students to have their work affixed to a landmark building in the State of Israel.

MAGEN DAVID ADOM WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK IN MIAMI MDA teams are working around the clock in Miami after a residential building collapsed.

Together with the IDF and Hatzalah Miami, MDA is providing lifesaving medical care, alongside rescue operations to those injured, as well as assisting in the search and rescue efforts.

MDA is so much more than Israel’s ambulance service. It provides humanitarian aid wherever possible, and our teams will continue to help our American friends during this crisis.

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VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY 8 July 2021

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28 Tamuz 5781

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Issue No.1218

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@JewishNewsUK

Inside story of JFS ‘special measures’ ruling:

Hard lessons

• Former headteacher faced

• Interim head launches purge

• Governors accused of failing

• Top tier staff face dramatic

gross misconduct charge

to hold senior staff to account

EXCLUSIVE by Adam Decker

The former JFS headteacher who suddenly quit her post in May had been informed she was facing a gross misconduct charge, Jewish News can reveal.

Rachel Fink (pictured, right) stepped down on 31 May after the school’s governing

Cracking the whip: Interim headteacher Sir Michael Wilshaw

body had told her of the severity of the allegations she faced – which related to alleged breaches of safeguarding legislation.

After announcing Fink’s sudden departure from Europe’s biggest Jewish comprehensive school last month, JFS declined to comment.

Chair of governors Andrew Moss said on 7 June: “Mrs Fink has decided to step down as headteacher with effect from 31 May 2021 after three years’ service.

“We acknowledge the service Mrs Fink has given to the school and the enormity of the challenges presented during the course of the Covid pandemic.

We wish her every success in the future.”

In a dramatic step, Fink was replaced by Sir Michael Wilshaw, 74, former chief inspector of schools in England and head of Ofsted from 2012 to 2016, who took over as interim head. Dame Joan McVittie, a former London headteacher, safeguarding expert and senior Ofsted inspector, was brought in to support Wilshaw.

A source confirmed to Jewish News this week that Fink’s departure was linked to the gross misconduct charge being brought against her by governors.

Meanwhile, interim headteacher, Sir

of school’s leadership team

cull ahead of September term

Michael Wilshaw, is overseeing a complete reshuffle of the senior leadership team at the school and of teachers he believes are not performing to required standards.

Dr Oliver Walton and Mrs Anna Joseph have taken on new lead supporting roles but it remains unclear who else among the school’s top tier will be retained. However, it is understood that as a result of the new interim head’s wishes there is to be significant reorganisation.

The shocking Ofsted inspection of JFS – carried out between 30 April and 5 May and published last month – spelt out government officials’ verdict on the school under Fink’s leadership. The report’s first sentence stated: “Leaders do not ensure all pupils are safe from harm” and outlined “deeprooted and widespread failings in the school’s safeguarding culture”. The report added: “Leaders do not always inform the appropriate authorities of matters that may have safeguarding implications.”

It continued: “Safeguarding arrangements are disjointed. Leaders have not recognised the link between behaviour and safeguarding. Leaders should be alert to the risk of pupils’ inappropriate behaviour escalating to harmful behaviour.”

It also offered criticism of the past performance of JFS governors, saying: “Until

recently, governors have not had sufficient oversight of the school’s work. They have not ensured safeguarding arrangements are effective. A recent restructure of the governing body has resulted in improved oversight. Governors are beginning to challenge and hold leaders to account.”

Fink joined JFS in 2018 with an excellent reputation, having been head of Hasmonean High School for Girls, where she achieved great things during her 15 years there.

Sources stressed to Jewish News that she had “worked tirelessly” to try to achieve similar success at JFS as she had at Hasmonean.

“The job at JFS was an enormous one,” said the source. “The rot, particularly around an effective leadership structure, had set in long before Rachel started. But it is fair to say she failed to turn the school around.”

Jewish News has also been told that JFS governors made a number of attempts to get Brent local authority to intervene over safeguarding issues.

Brent, however, has flatly denied this charge, telling Jewish News: “Ofsted’s report states the school’s arrangements for safeguarding are not effective, but makes no reference to the local authority.”

Continued on page 3

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Jewish News 8 July 2021

News / Boycott urged / Labour anger / Conservative councillors

Call for Olympics boycott if China blocks Uyghur probe fun & eating

Supplement

out

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and asks that any individual athletes doing so be protected from censure.

Jewish representatives say the Chinese Communist Party plans to use the games to ‘whitewash’ its oppression of the Uyghurs in much the same way Hitler’s Nazi Party used the Berlin Olympics in 1936 to portray a positive image of Germany while persecuting Jews.

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said at the time: “An Olympic Games is an opportunity for the host nation to proudly invite the world to celebrate its identity and its values together. To take part in any such celebration for Beijing 2022, without raising our voices in protest against the unspeakable atrocities being committed today against the Uyghur Muslims, would be an unacceptable act of indifference.”

Nandy and former Tory leader Ian Duncan Smith, one of the MPs sanctioned

by China, will be among faith leaders, politicians and activists discussing practical steps to support the Uyghur community at a conference spearheaded by Hendon’s Magen Avot Synagogue this Sunday.

• Opinion, page 22

How exam grades debacle shook Jewish schools Pages 4 & 5

VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY

It’s Shalom Abu Dhabi!

The story behind the deal P2, 10 & 11

Chilling echoes Don’t be silent Edited by

20 August 2020

Brigit Grant

from China’s 13 tonnes of hair taken resonance’ Uyghur Muslims has ‘Nazi

forcibly removed Cassin, said: “A trade in and obvious resohuman hair has chilling influential parterrible example A senior member of an nances. This is yet another on China this of the liamentary committee of the systematic de-humanisation echoes” for Chinese state.” week spoke of “distressing Uyghur Muslims by the suppression” of suppression Jews in China’s “brutal She said the Uyghurs’ 13 tonnes of “re-eduits Uyghur minority after already includes mass internment, on a US-bound forced sterilisation, human hair was found cation,” slave labour, abuses. ship, writes Adam Decker. other organ-farming and seizure of Party is It follows a huge US Customs “The Chinese Communist to have been attempting human hair products believed in genocide in Xinjiang, a engaged than more language and taken from Muslim Uyghurs, to wipe out an entire culture, detained in vast is time for the world million of whom have been way of life,” she said. “It in China’s western such inhumanity. indoctrination camps to take a stand against as usual’ with a Xinjiang province.

There can be no ‘business Protection its own citizens on US Customs and Border hair shipped from China government that abuses Brenda Smith said Human assistant commissioner such a scale.” and other hair of the Jewish incident to the Holocaust,” the production of the weaves Dr Edie Friedman, director rule is the ship “consti- contemporary said products found onboard said Carmichael. “My fundamental for Racial Equality (JCORE), rights violation”. to the Holo- Council alarm bells for tutes a very serious human nothing can be compared report “naturally rings the implication that that this report has the rights and The news, together with caust. I know, however, concerned with human from those removed know who for Jewish that hair is being forcibly distressing echoes for those will arouse particular emotions sold, has horri- many episode. thousands of prisoners then history of that most dreadful given the Nazi resonances”. including the Board the and Rwanda in people commufied UK Jewish groups – “Events in Srebrenica She added: “The international and the Jewish that genoinquiry of Deputies, Rene Cassin decades should teach us must call for a fully independent – with some recent that no one is safe nity Council for Racial Equality cide can still happen and episode.” this into resonances” obvious it.” against president Edwin citing its “chilling and unless everyone guards Board of Deputies’ vice Democrat and with the Holocaust.

Carmichael, a Liberal the news was “further evidence MP, vice-chair of State Shuker said Alistair Carmichael who served as Secretary persecution of the Uyghur Parliamen- senior MP government, of the systematic adding: “We ask that (human rights) of the All-Party Scotland under the coalition peace- minority in China”, states around the for tary Group on China, said uses its position at the UN supported Israeli-Palestinian Chinese Govern- has spent a day the Government world “need to hold the programmes and in 2018 matters on the international brutal suppression building to better to raise these government.” ment to account for their London’s Jewish community stage, and with the Chinese understood to be on with 14 of the Uyghurs”, which is understand the issue of antisemitism.of René  Editorial comment, page 1,200 camps. an industrial scale, comprising Mia Hasenson-Gross, director to compare any “It is never a good idea

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30 Av 5780

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Issue No.1172

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@JewishNewsUK

JN leads call for MPs to pressure China over Uighurs

BECK WEDDING

eldest child Brooklyn Victoria and David Beckham’s actress Nicola Peltz, is to marry American Jewish billion dollar fortune. heir to her father Nelson’s

A Jewish News appeal to MPs to turn up the pressure on China over the plight of its Uighur Muslims this week received the backing of senior figures across the community, writes Mathilde Frot.

The letter was organised in partnership with World Uighur Congress, human rights charity René Cassin and Conservative MP Nusrat Ghani. Around one million Muslims are believed to be detained in camps in Xinjiang, a region in the country’s northwest, according to human rights activists.

Rights groups have accused China of abuses including forced labour and sterilisation. But Chinese authorities deny any mistreatment of the Uighur and other Muslim minority groups, saying the detention camps offer vocational training.

As part of the appeal, an open letter will be sent to MPs when they return next month, carrying more than 20 signatures from Reform, Masorti and Liberal rabbis, senior community leaders and charity executives.

Signed by Jewish News editor Richard Ferrer, Board of Deputies president Marie van der Zyl

and United Synagogue president Michael Goldstein, it calls on MPs to push for an independent investigations into alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang.

It also petitions MPs to push for sanctions on “state and non-state perpetrators” and for the proscription of all companies and individuals “facilitating these atrocities.”

Signatories also include Union of Jewish Students president James Harris, Jewish Care chief executive officer Daniel Carmel-Brown, B’nai B’rith UK president Alan Miller and Mitzvah Day founder and chair Laura Marks.

Other backers are Dr Edie Friedman, executive director of the Jewish Council for Racial Equality, and Marc Cave, chief executive of the National Holocaust Centre in Nottingham.

The letter says: “After the ratification of the Genocide Convention the words ‘never again’ were a common political refrain.

“We have an urgent moral obligation to give meaning to these words.

If we fail to act now, we will have shown them to be empty.”

It describes alleged abuses as “a

Enough Is Enough in

‘out by its “Under antisemitism the Antisemitism, said: has promised. said: “As a third-party to leader- roots’, as he pivcommission’s final report, have not Jeremy Corbyn’s The EHRC’s report is a The Labour Party this week are investigation, we ship, the party became expected in 28 days. “We in this corhad sight of the draft report. received the long-awaited antisemitic. otal moment and committed to co-operating We hope it will provide the institutionally rective process.” He added: draft of the Equality It must be forever changed fully with the Commission’s considered kind of impartial and indecan “The EHRC has Human Rights Commisafter this episode so this investigation and implea great deal of evidence from pendent scrutiny required sion’s report on its investigaagain. the menting its recommenda- to force the party to comply never happen will have more to tion into antisemitism in responsible us and we final report the “Those when is pubtions the report with its duties under and say when the party, writes Richard Ferrer. remain in the party is published,” a Labour in due course.”

Equality Act.” The party said it had said. held to account if lished page 18 chief exec- must be pro- Party statement Falter, Opinion,  Gideon tear to been sent as “part of a is the Keir Starmer A spokesperson for Campaign Against Sir cess afforded to us” ahead Movement utive of the Jewish Labour of the publication of

He’s a Shai flyer!

Westminster

Shai Weiss, the Israeli boss of Virgin Atlantic, on Extraordinary Care from working Extraordinary People alongside • Residential Sir Richard • Respite • Independent Living Branson 020 8908 4151 Pages 24-25

VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY

A mask painted with the flag of East Turkestan, homeland of the Uighurs, silenced by the Chinese flag

crime of unimaginable violence and demands us all to respond, as individuals, countries and as an international community”.

“For the Jewish community, some of the reports emerging from the region bring terrifying echoes of the Holocaust,” it reads.

The Board of Deputies will reach out to Jewish groups in the coming days as its racial inclusivity commission progresses to the next stage.

The umbrella group, which has heard oral testimonies from black Jews, Jews of colour, Mizrachi, Sephardi and Yemenite Jews, is still accepting written evidence using an online form until 24 August.

Commission chair Stephen Bush, political editor of the New Statesman, is expected to now speak to communal organisations, including Jewish News,

Israeli and German fighter jets performed a historic joint flyover in Germany for the first time this week.

They flew in formation over the Dachau concentration camp and the site of the 1972 Munich Olympics, where 11 Israeli athletes were murdered

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Issue No.1178

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@JewishNewsUK

8 April 2021

A Muslim man prays during a demonstration against China’s inhumane treatment of its Uyghur population

for the embassy told Jewish News.

“The so-called genocide and forced sterilisation is nothing but a lie,” the spokesperson added, alongside a lengthy rejection of claims made about Xinjiang.

After more than 20 Jewish leaders backed our campaign, 152 senior MPs and peers from across the political spectrum added their names to the letter, which will be presented to Number 10 next week.

They include Tories Tom Tugendhat and Damian Green, Labour’s Chris Bryant and Margaret Hodge, Liberal Democrat Layla Moran, SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford and Caroline Lucas of the Greens. Sup-

STARMER: MEMORIAL IS VITAL Starmer said: “It is vital for our Sir Keir Starmer has given his “wholehearted nation that we commemorate the support” to the proposed Holocaust six million Jewish men, woman memorial next to Parliament, writes Jack and children murdered during the Mendel. The Labour leader’s backing Holocaust. It is more important than ever comes ahead of an inquiry chaired that we educate current and future genby a planning inspector, amid a legal erations of the horrors of genocide.” challenge by heritage groups protesting its He added: “The fight against intolerance proposed location.

On Wednesday Starmer met with Lord Keir Starmer and prejudice in our society, and the stain of antisemitism, goes on. So I offer my wholeEric Pickles and Ed Balls, co-chairs of the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation, to stress the hearted support to the Holocaust Memorial and significance of the memorial, and push for its Learning Centre and its placement next to the heart approval. This comes amid a legal challenge brought of our democracy. It is disappointing that, despite against the government by the London Historic almost two years passing since the planning applicaParks and Gardens Trust, protesting the location of tion was submitted, permission for the project has the proposed memorial in Victoria Tower Gardens still not been granted. I urge the planning inspector – a Grade II-listed park next to Westminster Abbey to recognise the national significance of this project.” and the Houses of Parliament.

26 Nisan 5781

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Issue No.1205

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@JewishNews UK

Nazi uniform maker Hugo denies Uyghur slave labour Boss claims

By Michael Daventry

By Lee Harpin lee@jewishnews.co.uk @lmHarpin

The iconic statue of David Ben-Gurion standing on his head cut a lonely figure this week on Tel Aviv beach as Israelis endured a second week of lockdown. The country recently recorded its highest daily Covid-19 case numbers. Full story on page 14

Wonder of wonders!

mike@jewishnews.co.uk ates use forced labour or engage in human rights abuses. @MichaelDaventry “All employees working for Hugo Boss suppliers worldwide must be free to choose the ways and means of Fashion giant Hugo the employment they pursue,” Boss, which notoriously the company said. “We used scruforced labour to make uniforms in Nazi Germany, tinise all direct suppliers worldwide and demand proof has dismissed mounting that the materials used to manufacture our goods allegations that it relies are proon duced according to a modern-day equivalent these values and supply chain using China’s persecuted Uyghur includes identifying sub-suppliers standards. This also minority. and the production Human rights groups facilities they use for our this week accused the goods.” It added that it luxury procured any had not brand’s suppliers of using goods from direct suppliers labour transfer schemes, in Xinjiang, but a did not address questions method where the Chinese government is said to forcibly about the use of labour transfer move members of the Uyghur schemes among Hugo Boss’s minority to work in factoindirect suppliers. ries outside of their home The firm referred Jewish province of Xinjiang. Many News to an undated statement relo- on its website that cations happen against their said: “Effective starting will and some people are October 2021, sent our new collections from so-called “re-education have been verified in line camps”, campaigners say. with our Amid growing international global standards once again.” scrutiny of China’s treatment of its Uyghur population, Luke de Pulford of the World Uyghur Congress there is renewed focus on western fashion brands said: “Hugo Boss has not learned that use suppliers and from history. It should sub- that cooperating know suppliers to buy and process with authoritarian regimes Xinjiang cotton. The Interdoesn’t end national Olympic Committee well. It will be forced to make a choice – human was criticised this week rights or for selecting a Chinese textiles company with links to Xinjiang the concentration camps of Xinjiang.” as a supplier to this year’s Hugo Boss apologised a Summer Olympics in Tokyo. decade ago after it emerged its When asked by Jewish News, founder Hugo Ferdinand Boss, who died in 1948, Hugo Boss did not respond was an directly to allegations that active Nazi Party member its Chinese suppliers and who oversaw a production affili- that supplied uniforms line for the party.

STARMER’S END OF YEAR

LIFE TURNED UPSIDE DOWN

Golda girl

Helen Mirren to play Israel’s only female PM in new film P24

VOICE OF TH E COMMUNI TY

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jewishchoice.org

porters in the Lords include Lord Pickles and Baroness Deech.

Communal backers include Jewish News editor Richard Ferrer, Board of Deputies president Marie van der Zyl and United Synagogue president Michael Goldstein, Union of Jewish Students president James Harris, Jewish Care chief executive officer Daniel Carmel-Brown, B’nai B’rith UK president Alan Miller and Mitzvah Day founder and chair Laura Marks.

Other supporters are Dr Edie Friedman, executive director of the Jewish Council for Racial Equality, and Marc Cave, chief executive of the National Holocaust Centre in Nottingham.

The letter petitions MPs to push for sanctions on “state and non-state perpetrators” and for the proscription of all companies and individuals “facilitating these atrocities.”

The letter — which is backed by the Board of Deputies as well as leaders of the United Synagogue and the Reform, Liberal and Masorti movements — says: “After the ratification of the Genocide Convention back in 1948, the words ‘never again’ Continued on page 2

with meetings held online in next month. Bush said he was “humbled by the trust” shown by participants in “sharing painful experiences, alongside positive experiences as well”.

He said: “I know that this took a lot of courage, and I want to thank everyone who has come forward. Next, I will be turning to communal institutions and inviting them to work with us, to help me and the Board of Deputies reach our goal of making the Jewish community an unequivocally anti-racist environment.”

Meet the continent’s Jewish communities Pages 22 & 23

150 MPs and peers sign our Uyghur petition

More than 150 parliamentarians have backed Jewish News’ call for the government to ratchet up the pressure on China over the plight of its Uyghur Muslims writes Justin Cohen.

Together with Conservative MP Nusrat Ghani, and with the support of the World Uyghur Congress and human rights charity René Cassin, this newspaper wrote to MPs and peers last month urging them to push for sanctions and an independent investigation.

Around one million Muslims are understood to be held in camps in Xinjiang, a region in the country’s northwest, according to human rights activists. Rights groups have accused China of abuses including forced labour and sterilisation.

Chinese authorities deny any mistreatment of the Uyghur and other Muslim minority groups, saying the detention camps offer vocational training.

Last month, criticising another letter from faith leaders, the Chinese Embassy said its contents were “sheer rumour and smear. We strongly deplore and oppose it”, a spokesperson

spokesperson for the embassy told Jewish News.

“The so-called genocide and forced sterilisation is nothing but a lie,” the spokesperson added, alongside a lengthy rejection of claims made about Xinjiang.  Opinion, page 18

Out of Africa

We are with you Fashion vict im s 1 October 2020

Earlier this month, the Chinese embassy criticised the contents of another letter, signed by senior faith leaders, demanding “justice” for China’s minority community population. The contents of the letter were “sheer rumour and smear. We strongly deplore and oppose it”, a

INCLUSIVITY PROBE WIDENS

ISRAELI JETS OVER DACHAU

RT C ANTISEMITISM REPO LABOUR SENT EHR

EE

Labour has urged the government to boycott the Winter Olympics in China next year if the United Nations is not given access to the country to investigate the persecution of Uyghur Muslims.

Lisa Nandy and Jo Stevens, the shadow secretaries of state for foreign affairs and culture, called for ministers and officials to stay clear of the 2022 Games while investigators are refused access to Xinjiang, where the British parliament alleges the actions of China amount to genocide.

They said Boris Johnson’s government should set a deadline of 8 August – six months before the games are due to begin.

However, Labour insists a full cancellation of the games would unfairly punish athletes and the Chinese people.

“The Winter Olympics is a critical moment when Britain must stand up for our values. Strong words from government must be matched by decisive action,” said Nandy. “The UK Parliament recently took

the unprecedented step of recognising [that] what is happening to the Uyghur is genocide... This must be the turning point.

We cannot turn a blind eye to genocide.”

Ministers have admitted there is credible evidence of forced labour and internment camps targeting Uyghurs, while campaigners also allege the use of forced sterilisation in an effort to clamp down on the minority community.

In a coordinated move with the EU and US, the foreign secretary in March announced sanctions against Chinese officials for what the government described as “gross human rights violations” – to which China responded to with sanctions of its own, including against MPs who have led the campaign in support of the Uyghurs.

Jewish human rights group René Cassin launched a campaign last month – with the support of Jewish News and the Chief Rabbi – to lobby companies sponsoring or supplying the Beijing Games.

The campaign urges firms to “drop their sponsorships and endorsements”, calls for British sporting authorities such as Team GB to “speak out against the persecution”

28 pages of inspiration to help Care from make the Extraordinary People Extraordinary most of a • Residential summer • Respite like no • Independent Living other 020 8908 4151 See inside jewishchoice.org

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LIFTING SHOFAR BAN IS MUSIC TO OUR EARS, SEE PAGE 3

Bright ideas! www.jewishnews.co.uk

Jewish Labour representatives have defended Sir Keir Starmer’s record as leader of the party amid mixed assessments of his first 12 months.

Michael Rubin, director of Labour Friends of Israel, told Jewish News that while there was “considerably more to do” to win back the trust of the community,

REPORT

Labour under Starmer had “dramati- lines in recent weeks have cast cally improved” in terms doubt of its position on Starmer’s ability to define what he on the Middle East. stands for during a year Mike Katz of the Jewish dominated Labour by the government’s Movement, said the response to the difference pandemic. between Starmer and Jeremy Corbyn Starmer became leader is “as clear as night and day”. on 4 April last year and in his first speech he refFormer Jewish Labour MPs erenced what he said was the “grief” Dame Louise Ellman and antisemitism within his party had Ruth Smeeth also hailed what brought to the Jewish community. they said was the current leadOne month later, after er’s “sincere” and “genuine” being alerted to efforts to tackle conduct, an investigation into his Professor David Miller, the antisemitism.

Bristol University academic now at the News headContinued on page 4

Fiddler On The Roof at 50 – Jewish News reunites the cast! P5

Recent Jewish News front pages campaigning on behalf of China’s Uyghur Muslim population in Xinjiang province

Labour ‘Holocaust’ remarks spark anger Labour is investigating allegations a member of the Hornsey and Wood Green party claimed, in a speech at a meeting last week, that “some Jewish people” had failed to learn the lessons of the Holocaust, writes Lee Harpin.

Last Wednesday, former Haringey councillor Lucy Craig was moving a motion – which was later passed – condemning Israel’s actions during the recent conflict with Hamas, when she is alleged to have made the reference to “Jewish people” as she spoke in defence of the Pales-

tinians. Labour sources confirmed complaints about the speech, made at the constituency Labour party meeting were being reviewed.

One source told Jewish News: “The mover of the motion began talking about Israel’s ‘power and wealth’ and went on to condemn ‘some Jewish people’ who, despite the Holocaust, were now attacking Palestinians.

“The member who seconded the motion went on to claim Israel ‘created Hamas’. Both speeches caused a lot of anger.”

TORIES DROP JEWISH TRIO

Boris set for Bennett call

Hendon Conservatives have dropped three wellknown Jewish councillors as candidates for next year’s Barnet local government election.

At a selection meeting held by the local party, it was agreed to drop distinguished former Barnet mayor Anthony Finn – who had been a Hendon ward councillor for more than three decades.

Also dropped by the Hendon Tories was Linda Freedman, a Jewish councillor in Edgware.

Zizza Fluss, another Hendon ward councillor, has also not been selected to stand in next May’s election. Freedman confirmed the decision to Jewish News but said she was “entitled to stand for another seat in the borough of Barnet”. Finn and Fluss were also approached for comment.

It is understood the eldest son of the late Barnet councillor Brian Gordon has been selected to stand in the newly-created Edgwarebury seat.

Boris Johnson and new Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett will speak for the first time on the telephone in the next few weeks, Downing Street has confirmed.

The UK prime minister had tweeted his “congratulations” to both Bennett and Yair Lapid on forming a new government in Israel on 13 June, ending more than a decade of rule

by Benjamin Netanyahu. But until now there had been no telephone conversation.

Downing Street said both the Israel and UK prime ministers had been working to make time in their busy schedules to speak to one another about shared interests. There are currently no plans for the leaders to meet in person.

United States President Joe Biden is among those to have already spoken with the Israeli prime minister on the phone.

8 July 2021 Jewish News

www.jewishnews.co.uk

3

Teacher reinstated / School transformation / News

LSJS reinstates popular teacher for developing new educational resources in the future.”

The unexpected shift comes after the school took advice from Orthodox academics about the function of a research fellow. It was decided the position was an academic – and not a religious – one, meaning it did not fall under mainstream Orthodox rules that do not allow women to hold the position of rabbi.

“Over the last two weeks, the trustees of LSJS have conducted a review into the function of research fellows at LSJS,” the school said in

a lengthy statement. “After consulting with a number of academics in leading Orthodox Jewish institutions, including Bar Ilan University and Yeshiva University, we have concluded that our academic fellows are not religious appointments – and therefore should be made on the basis of academic merit. As such, we are delighted to restore Dr Taylor-Guthartz’s academic research fellowship.”

Talks are now ongoing with the lecturer of 16 years about future classes.

The news comes after a protracted row in which Orthodox figures threw their weight behind the Chief Rabbi, while others accused him of a “glass ceiling of Torah”.

The school added: “LSJS has always championed the dual path of the Bet Midrash and the Academy in order to study and teach traditional Judaism with intellectual rigour and profound reverence.

Our trustees believe this statement presents a positive way forward for our community.”

Global Re c ove r y Camp aign 11

3 6 h o u res to ra i s £400,000

The council added: “It is worth noting only four percent of JFS pupils are Brent residents, and so the majority of any safeguarding concerns will have related to children living in other boroughs – referrals should have been made by the school to the relevant local authority.

“Brent Council has always provided consistent support to JFS, as well as additional support throughout the past year... Whenever a safeguarding referral was made regarding a child, we have dealt with these reports promptly.”

However, in his first interview after joining the school, Wilshaw told Jewish News he believed Brent “failed” to respond to safeguarding concerns outlined to it about JFS. He said: “When they knew there were issues around safeguarding and mental health issues, they should have been in here monitoring the situation – well before Ofsted. The local council has failed this school, there is no question about that in my mind.”

Meanwhile, Wilshaw has made clear his frustrations with what

Fresh start: Sir Michael Wilshaw

he feels are poor standards by at least 10 percent of staff and Jewish News understands he has even taken over teaching some lessons.

Some teachers are also set to be put on performance plans.

Wilshaw had begun his initial weeks at the school launching a dramatic clampdown on discipline and adherence to school rules – including uniform wearing.

It is understood some teachers personally thanked him, saying they “now had their classrooms back under control”.

A d o n atl l d o u b lieo n s d

y

Dr Lindsey Taylor-Guthartz

Continued from page 1

J 2 -1

ul

A teacher who controversially lost her position at the London School of Jewish Studies (LSJS) after gaining ordination as a female rabbi has been reinstated, writes Joshua Salisbury.

Dr Lindsey Taylor-Guthartz graduated last month from New York’s Yeshivat Maharat, earning herself the title of ‘rabba’ – which is not recognised by mainstream Orthodoxy.

The teacher, a popular lecturer on an adult education course at LSJS, was told she could no longer hold the title of ‘research fellow’ or take classes following ordination.

But on Tuesday the popular teacher was reinstated.

The school is run under the auspices of the Chief Rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis, who maintains women cannot become rabbis.

Taylor-Guthartz said: “I am delighted this has been resolved successfully and I thank LSJS for all their efforts to accomplish this.

“I look forward to teaching again at LSJS, alongside my research on the history of Limmud and my plans

Ex JFS head faced misconduct charge

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Jewish News 8 July 2021

News / Labour victory / Protest arrests / Westminster support

Jewish activists help Labour scrape through in acrimonious by-election

by Lee Harpin lee@jewishnews.co.uk @lmharpin

Labour triumphed in the crucial Batley and Spen by-election last week – after an exhaustive campaign backed by dozens of Jewish activists persuaded locals to vote for the party’s candidate.

Kim Leadbeater held on to the West Yorkshire seat for Sir Keir Starmer’s party by just 323 votes in an often bitter contest that was widely predicted to be won by the Tory

candidate Ryan Stephenson, who came second.

The campaign in West Yorkshire was marred by acrimony, personal abuse and allegations of dirty tricks, largely from supporters of the notorious antiZionist George Galloway, who

Kim Leadbeater

secured more than 8,000 votes.

Bookmakers had the Conservative candidate as short as 1/7 on to win the seat last Thursday morning but, like many, they underestimated the impact of an impressive on-the-ground campaign

by Labour activists in support of Leadbeater.

Jewish News can reveal that a team of more than 20 Jewish Labour Movement (JLM) members were in Batley and Spen last Sunday as part of a campaign to shore up the vote for Starmer’s party.

Activists from JLM’s Manchester and Yorkshire and Humberside branches also joined the wider Labour team in the area, along with national organiser Rebecca Filer, Miriam Mirwitch and Redbridge councillor Judith Garfield.

In the days running up to the by-election, Leeds MP Alex Sobel, former Stoke MP Ruth Smeeth and Brent Council Labour member Neil Nerva

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Ex-MP Ruth Smeeth, left, with Jewish Labour activists in Batley and Spen

were among those to continue with the “get out the vote” campaign.

JLM’s national chair Mike Katz praised what he said had been an “astounding” effort by Jewish, Muslim and Labour members of no faith to secure victory for Leadbeater, who is the sister of murdered

ex-local MP Jo Cox. Katz added he was “proud Jewish Labour were part of the tremendous Labour effort to win this seat”.

He said: “You can’t sit by when a hatemonger like Galloway sows division and exploits communities to salve his ego.”

Anti-Israel demo arrests Police have arrested three women who took part in an eight-hour rooftop demonstration in Birmingham against a company they alleged to be involved in the “facilitation of Israel’s arms production”, writes Lee Harpin.

Anti-Israel activists from the Palestine Action group stormed a building used by Vine Property Management at 6am on Monday.

They claimed Vine Property Management, which trades under the Fisher German banner, had been occupied because it is “responsible for the operations, maintenance and oversight of the factory of Elbit subsidiary UAV Engines in Shenstone, Staffordshire, used for the manufacture of the engines used in Elbit’s Hermes and Watch keeper drones”.

Palestine Action is behind a long-running campaign to target companies in the UK members claim are linked to Elbit – an Israeli defence and technology firm.

But it a statement Fisher German said: “We have supported police in resolving the

protest, which has not only damaged our building but has also caused alarm and distress to our colleagues.

“We would like to clarify that Fisher German does not work for the company the protest was in relation to.”

During Monday’s action, red paint was sprayed on the front of the building, a red flare was set off and gates to the site chained shut.

In a statement, Palestine Action said it had launched its action against the “property manager of Israel’s drone engine factory”.

The anti-Israel activists have staged a series of actions across the UK at companies they accuse of being complicit in the manufacture of Israeli weapons.

After the rooftop protest began, they released a statement saying “three women have stormed the site” and “the premises have been sprayed with blood red paint”.

Police officers later removed the women after they were seen using ropes and a ladder.

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Jewish Londoners have the full backing of Westminster City Council in the fight against the “insidious rise” of antisemitism, its leader said.

Speaking at a special meeting called by the London Jewish Forum (LJF) to discuss the spike in antisemitic incidents in recent weeks, Councillor Rachael Robathan branded as “repugnant” social media footage showing a car

convoy driving through north London while broadcasting threatening remarks.

The Westminster City Council leader told an online meeting organised by the LJF: “Jewish people have been part of Westminster’s story for centuries. Yet once again we see the insidious rise of antisemitism manifesting itself in everything from actual assaults to toxic social media...

“Westminster is made up of people from many traditions, and our Jewish friends and neighbours are an integral part of that.

“We stand by them and will not tolerate those who use politics as a cover to whip up crude antisemitism.”

LJF director Daniel Kosky said: “We are grateful to have the support of Westminster City Council.”

8 July 2021 Jewish News

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Hate attacks / News briefs / News

Victim of antisemitic bus and train attacks left ‘very shaken’

by Adam Decker editorial@jewishnews.co.uk @jewishnewsuk

A Jewish man who was the victim of two antisemtic incidents in one hour in central London on Saturday has been left “very shaken”, his brother has revealed.

Asking not to be named, the brother said Yochai, whose surname has been reported elsewhere as Liberov, was “verbally assaulted” while on a bus travelling into Oxford Street and then at the underground station itself.

In the first incident, Yochai had been seated on a 113 bus when he was targeted.

“The bus incident happened when the suspect noticed my brother. There was no prior communication before they lashed out [at him],” he told the Press Association news agency.

The Tube station incident

“It wasn’t a mere verbal assault. He was very close to being physically attacked by this vicious assailant.”

Yochai’s brother said the passenger leaned in close to his face and tried to punch him but Yochai stopped him.

“He was shouting angrily: ‘I’ll give you an uppercut, I’ll give you an uppercut’,” he said.

Yochai, who wears a kippah, then managed to “de-escalate” the situation by talking to the passenger, but was still faced

In the first incident, on a 113 bus travelling into Oxford Circus, a man shouts abuse at Yochai

with “ugly racist remarks and death threats”, his brother added.

The incident ended after the bus driver called the police.

The suspect is described as a black man wearing a red, white and navy blue T-shirt and shorts and red trainers. He shouted “free

...after men abused in Stamford Hill Two Orthodox Jewish men were targeted in Stamford Hill by a man shouting about Nazis and Hitler last Shabbat.

Neighbourhood watch group Shomrim confirmed the alleged victims were wearing striemels and talits as they travelled to synagogue on Saturday morning.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said it was “investigating an incident at around 9.10am on Saturday, 3 July, in which a man shouted antisemitic insults at two men”.

They added: “The suspect is described as a black man who was wearing dark clothing.

There has been no arrest and enquiries continue. Anyone with information or anyone who may also have been approached by this man in the Stamford Hill area is asked to call 101 ref 4616315/21.”

Minister’s kosher meat pledge for Northern Ireland

The government has pledged to help safeguard kosher meat supplies to Northern Ireland’s small Jewish community amid post-Brexit shortage fears, writes James Konn. Minister Brandon Lewis spoke to Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, Board president Marie van der Zyl and two Jewish leaders in the region this week, in a bid to urgently address their concerns. The community numbers around 100 people. Van der Zyl said: “We thank the minister for his time, and urge the UK and the EU to generate a creative solution.”

Palestine” as he got off the bus.

Yochai left the bus and was walking down an escalator at Oxford Circus Tube station when he was subjected

PRECIOUS STONES

to “antisemitic behaviour” by a white man (pictured inset left, see white arrow), who was wearing jeans, a black T-shirt and a grey jumper tied around his shoulders.

Asked how he felt about what Yochai had experienced, the brother said: “I was upset since this is an experience I’ve myself had many times as a kid. Not necessarily death threats like this, but lots of verbal assaults, things thrown from cars.

“I’m not religious like my brother, so I don’t look obviously Jewish to be a target. It’s the fact people are willing to do this when knowing there is CCTV means we’ve reached the level where they’re not concerned about repercussions.”  The Metropolitan and British Transport Police are investigating and have asked anyone with information to call 101 and quote 8333/3 July

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Jewish News 8 July 2021

News / Community gatherings / Veteran fundraiser

Synagogues prepare for post-lockdown life The United Synagogue movement this week announced it was planning for larger attendances in synagogue after the government confirmed most pandemic restrictions in England are to end.

The movement said that while it was waiting on detailed guidance, it would be issuing new rules to communities around services and events.

Among these are celebrating simchas, and planning for the Yamim Noraim (High Holy Days) in September.

“The government has said it will be moving away from mandatory guidance and will be preparing instead recommendations for people to follow to stay safe,” said Jo Grose, the movement’s director of communities.

“Mirroring this, we are preparing a new style of guidelines, which will provide options and recommended approaches for mitigating risk for communities.

“We will also include basic requirements, such as asking people who feel

Photo by Marc Morris Photography

by Josh Salisbury josh@jewishnews.co.uk @josh_salisbury

Edgware Synagogue under restrictions early in the pandemic

unwell to stay at home, and ensuring good ventilation in our buildings.”

In a joint statement, the Liberal, Reform and Masorti movements said they wanted to “encourage our synagogues to continue applying our ongoing level of thoughtful responsibility and to reopen in

a cautious way”.

“We want to prioritise our members’ feelings of safety and comfort while also understanding their spiritual needs,” they added.

Asked for further comment, Reform Judaism said decisions around masks and social distancing would be left for communities to decide for themselves.

“Every community is different in terms of its space, ventilation and needs of its members and therefore we support whatever measures our communities decide are appropriate,” a spokeswoman added.

Meanwhile, at least one United Synagogue rabbi has called for masks and social distancing restrictions at his synagogue to be lifted, saying he was “personally going to sponsor the first Kiddush!”

Yitzhak Schochet, of Mill Hill Synagogue, said he would lobby for the move, regardless of what actions are taken by United Synagogue because of fears masks would put off attendees.

“When we have a predominantly young community who won’t come so long as there’s masks, then we have to seek out the greater good,” he said.

AJEX’s match-funding campaign for veterans A charity supporting military veterans is to run a fundraising campaign this weekend, to “pass the baton” of remembrance for those who served.

The Association of Jewish ex-Servicemen and Women (AJEX) hopes to raise £150,000, with donations doubled through match-funding.

The campaign – built on the theme of “Our Duty is to Care” – includes an interview with columnist, leader writer for The Times and presenter on Times Radio, Hugo Rifkind.

AJEX (now known as the

Jewish Military Association), supports Jewish personnel in the armed forces past and present – with more than 150,000 having served since the start of the 20th century. Donations will go towards relieving the suffering of the veteran community and education.

AJEX national chairman, Mike Bluestone, said: “We have an obligation to pass down the story of the many Jewish people who served and gave their lives for us.” www.charityextra.com/ AJEX

CHELSEA-ADL PARTNERSHIP Chelsea Football Club and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) have joined in a partnership to combat bigotry.

For the next three years, Chelsea’s foundation will fund the expansion of the ADL’s Center on Extremism – which feeds information on extremist activity to law enforcement – and the ADL’s work with a British group tracking extremism, the Institute for Strategic Dialogue.

Also funded will be BINAH Europe, a resource for non-Jewish students to learn about antisemitism and Jewish identity.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has made combating antisemitism and bigotry in sports a priority. The London football club and the ADL already work together on “No Place for Hate,” an anti-bigotry curriculum for school-aged children.

FROM ANGUISH TO ACTION: JEWISH COMMUNITY CONFERENCE SUPPORTING THE UYGHURS

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8 July 2021 Jewish News

7

Brightening Brighton / Special Report

Spice up your Sussex life Marc Sugarman tells Sandy Rashty how his Brighton development, inspired by JW3, will breathe new Jewish life into the seafront city When Marc Sugarman found out that the Brighton & Hove Hebrew Congregation was in financial difficulty in 2015, he was concerned. Brightonborn, he had been barmitzvahed at that synagogue and believed that if it was under threat, so were the remnants of British-Jewish life in the seafront city.

Determined to do something to save the synagogue from selling up, he sought financial donations to turn the site into a hub that would celebrate Jewish life in area.

He succeeded. Inspired by the JW3 Jewish community centre in north-west London, he encouraged donors to invest in a multi-million-pound project that would restore the Orthodox synagogue and expand the site to include a kosher restaurant, deli, mikveh and 45 homes, ranging from onebedroom flats to houses. Some of the properties have views of Brighton beach and there will be “co-working” spaces on site, which Sugarman says will be popular because of changes to working habits since Covid-19.

The charitable initiative, at 29-31 New Church Road in Hove, will also host social events and cinema nights.

In fact, the synagogue – “which will have a very spiritual feel, with sapphire and turquoise” shades and natural light – will also be extended with two rooms that can accommodate up to 270 people.

“When I heard the shul might sell up I was shocked,” says Sugarman, now chief executive of the project known as BNJC. “I thought this was an opportunity to create something beautiful.”

Now, he hopes the site will increase the number of Jews living in Brighton. There will be an on-site nursery, as he explained: “There may be young couples and families this site would appeal to. If there is enough demand one day, we could open a Jewish school.

“We want to revive the community.”

He added: “When I was growing up, there were up to 30,000 Jews living in Brighton.

There are now only 3,000,” says former equity analyst Sugarman, who moved to London after university for work. “The average age of shulgoers in Brighton is around 75,” He added: “Before this, there were no

permission, he said: “There are challenges and we have to try to educate. We are here to celebrate Jewish culture.”

Building works on the BNJC project started in January last year and are Labour MP for expected to be complete Hove Peter Kyle at the beginning of next year. Sugarman says the cost of purchasing the accommodation units will be announced this Rosh Hashanah.

Welcoming the project, Shadow Education Minister Peter Kyle, the Labour Artist’s impression of the BNJC development on New Church Road, Hove MP for Hove, said: “In an era where lots of people are talking about the Jewish “Brighton is a city of non-conformity kosher food options available in Brighton. You community, most will only see Jewish and theoretically it should be a place had to have food delivered.” life from the outside. Not many have the for the Jewish minority community As a result, the development will include chance to see it from within. to thrive, but there is a lot of proan on-site deli for locals and visitors to pick up “What excites me is that Palestinian activism that can be kosher meat, challot and heimish food. this will be a facility for eveanti-Jewish.”

The kosher restaurant, run by Israeli chef ryone to experience Jewish Confirming that antiYanir Marzan (who trained under Gordon life, interact with Jewish Israel activists and antiRamsay), will serve Middle Eastern dishes and culture, Jewish food and semites tried to prevent the host up to 130 diners, with indoor and outdoor feel a part of it.” council granting the project seating.

BNJC CEO Marc Sugarman Passionate about the project, Sugarman envisages holidaymakers heading for the beaches of Brighton over festivals such as Passover. “It will be a great asset for the city, the UK Jewish holiday destination,” he said.

“People can stay in accommodation near the site, have kosher meals, enjoy cultural social programmes and have a beautiful Shabbes. They can use the mikveh if they want to.”

If you’re feeling alone, anxious or He added: “There are 250 years of Jewish in need of someone to talk to, history in Brighton. Many of its landmarks, like Brighton station or the Palace Pier, would we are here to support you. never have been built without Jewish people.

The Brighton festival was founded by Jews If there is something troubling you, and there is the most beautiful shul here, built by the Sassoon family.” we will listen without judgement – Working with the local tourism office, they will promote Jewish walking tours for visitors. there is no issue too big or small.

However, Sugarman recognises that antiIsrael activism in the city – which saw the You can call us in difficult times. closure of the Israeli-owned EcoStream store in 2014 after relentless attacks – would be a Our trained volunteers will be challenge. a listening ear for anyone.

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Jewish News 8 July 2021

News / Museum reopening / IHRA definition Miller given £400k fund for research

Bristol University professor David Miller – currently under investigation over comments made about Jewish students – received £400,000 of taxpayer’s money in grants between 2013-2016 to fund his research, a new report has revealed. During this time, Miller released research accusing “lobby groups” for Israel of coercing MPs and published his now infamous map that linked pro-Zionist organisations with the major political parties in the UK.

Student stem cell donors recruited

Students became potential life-savers as a Jewish stem cell donor recruitment campaign came to Immanuel College. Some 35 pupils joined the national donor register during an event last week that was organised by the Sue Harris Trust. The recruitment drive took place in aid of more than 1,000 Jewish people around the world who need an unrelated stem cell donor to save their life each year.

Jewish Museum gets ready to open again

by Josh Salisbury josh@jewishnews.co.uk @josh_salisbury

The Jewish Museum London will reopen later this month after a 15-month closure because of the pandemic.

The museum, which is based in Camden, will reopen on Sunday, with tickets now available.

The museum has received two grants from the government’s Culture Recovery Fund

totalling more than £295,000, which has gone towards “reimagining the museum”.

Visitors will be invited to help digitise the museum’s collection, handle objects and browse the library, while family groups will be offered a range of activities such as challah baking.

“We’ve taken every precaution to ensure this is a safe environment for all generations to enjoy,” said director Frances Jeens.

“Visitors will find we are open in a way that we haven’t been before, with new opportunities to see and handle items from the collections.

“The world has changed, and we have used our time of closure to reimagine what a museum can be.”

During lockdown, the museum, one of the largest of its kind, has run a virtual programme of events, reaching more than 130,000 people.

Its chair of trustees, Nick

The Camden-based museum has reimagined its offering

Viner, said: “We are delighted to be able to welcome visitors through our doors to explore

the Jewish community’s heritage and history in person.”

Warwick Uni lecturers vote to challenge IHRA The University of Warwick Assembly – the body representing the institution’s academic staff – has voted to “overwhelmingly” pass a motion challenging the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, writes Lee Harpin.

A second motion condemning the Conservative MPs Jonathan Gullis MP and Robert Halton MP, who had called for the sacking of three Warwick

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academics over criticism of Israel, also passed with 96 percent support.

More than 200 members of academic staff attended the University Assembly on 21 June to consider the motions.

The anti-IHRA motion called on the university to establish a working group to make recommendations on the handling of allegations of all forms of racism, including antisemitism, against

staff or students. But it was passed, including an amendment calling on the university to suspend the use of the IHRA definition in disciplinary processes until the working group reports by the end of the year. It also pointed to use of the controversial Jerusalem Declaration as an alternative definition.

Speaking for the motion, Dr Myka Tucker-Abramson said: “In its elision between antisemitism and anti-

Zionism, the IHRA definition of antisemitism would have us believe members of my family, who survived the Holocaust and the pogroms in Eastern Europe, are antisemitic simply because they are anti-Zionists. I’m horrified my employer was pressured and ultimately agreed to be guided by this definition...”

This motion as amended passed with 93 percent for, one percent against and seven percent abstention.

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Controversial motions / Textbook trouble / News

Methodist Church ‘deeply misguided’

by Lee Harpin lee@jewishnews.co.uk @lharpin

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis this week criticised the Methodist Church’s decision to endorse a series of anti-Israel motions at its annual conference as “deeply misguided and deplorable”.

This includes claims Israel is now an “apartheid state” and an endorsement of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israeli companies deemed to be profiting from “occupation”.

Jewish News revealed last month how the Methodists were set to endorse a document titled Cry for Hope at the conference last week.

On 1 July, the Methodist conference adopted four motions on the topic of Israel and Palestine – including the claim the Jewish state was responsible for the “deteriorating situation” for Christians in Gaza and the West Bank. A call to end all support for the British government’s military contracts with Israel was supported.

The Chief Rabbi tweeted: “That the Methodist Church are prepared to endorse Cry for Hope, a document that wilfully distorts the meaning of Zionism and seeks to legitimise the insidious BDS movement, is deeply misguided and deplorable.

“This does not bring peace between Israel and the Palestinians any closer. Rather, it only

Methodist Church’s annual conference

serves to diminish Christian-Jewish relations in this country, and damages the very cause their Church purports to champion.”

On its official website, the Methodist Church confirmed it had received more resolutions on Israel and Palestine “than there has been on any other international conflict”, adding: “This has led to the suggestion that the Methodist Church in Britain does not treat Israel by the standards applied to other nations.”

But defending itself, it claimed: “Methodist people are passionate about countering injustice in the UK and worldwide.”

‘SEND PA CLEAR MESSAGE’ Conservative MP Stephen Crabb has called on the government to issue a “clear message” to the Palestinian Authority (PA)” after the publication of a European Union report into textbooks.

The Conservative Friends of Israel parliamentary chairman told a Westminster Hall that the delayed report, compiled by the Georg Eckert Institute for International Textbook Research, was “problematic”. The report found elements of the PA curriculum promote terrorism and martyrdom, and teach Jew-hate.

But it also found the 156 textbooks and 16 teachers’ guides it examined did adhere to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) standards.

Declaring that he was not an MP who was in

Jami to offer youth mental health care

A Jewish mental health service for children and young people will be launched by Jami. The charity’s existing adult services will be expanded to deliver dedicated support to secondary school-age children. It says this will include mental health treatment, therapy, education, advocacy and carer and family support.

Trustee board chair, Adam Dawson, said: “Now is the time to deliver equivalent class-leading mental health care for children and young people in the Jewish community.”

favour of reducing the foreign aid budget, Crabb said there “needed to be a clear message… on what we intend to say and do with our friends in the Palestinian Authority”. He added “surely we should demand the highest possible standards…to work against hate and violence that risks dragging the region back into old cycles.”

Labour MP Andy Slaughter spoke of the need for the “recognition immediately of a Palestinian state” and “above all an end to an occupation”, saying all wanted a two-state solution.

Tory MP Caroline Ansell, who secured the debate, said the report was conflicting and antiIsrael and antisemitic rhetoric within school books should not be viewed as reasonable.

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• Opinion, page 22

Youth activities get grants of up to £500

Grants of up £500 are being made available to support Jewish youth activities over the summer. The initiative gives funding through Reshet, the Network for Jewish Youth Provision, in a move designed to counter the adverse effects of the pandemic. To be eligible for the microgrants, which are supported by Genesis Philanthropy Group, at least 50 young people and 10 leaders must be impacted.

Reshet held its conference in Feburary, during which the impact of the pandemic on informal Jewish youth activities came into focus.

Extremism warning after Karadzic move

A leading Holocaust educator this week sounded a warning over extreme views being normalised on the internet.

With former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic, mastermind of Bosnian genocide, set to be imprisoned on UK soil, Olivia MarksWoldman, chief executive of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, which also remembers atrocities such as the Bosnian war, said: “People can get drawn along a pathway to extreme ideology.

Bringing people into this world is much easier than before social media.”

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Jewish News 8 July 2021

News / Domestic abuse / News briefs

Jewish wives stay longer in abusive relationships Jewish women stay in abusive relationships two years longer than the national average owing to a fear of “bringing shame” on their families, a charity has warned, as figures showed a 62 percent spike in calls to its domestic violence helpline during the pandemic, writes Adam Decker.

Jewish Women’s Aid (JWA) supported 465 Jewish women and girls through domestic abuse and sexual violence support services between April 2020 and March 2021, with the time spent directly supporting clients increasing by 37 percent.

The charity said lockdown measures had been “used as an opportunity by perpetrators to abuse women”, with calls to its helpline rising to 285, an increase of 62 percent. Nationally, one in four women will be affected by domestic abuse, and there is no evidence to suggest the issue is more prevalent in Jewish communities.

Research by JWA found Jewish women take two years longer to report domestic abuse – 11.5 years, compared to the national average JAN of 9.52020:Layout years.

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JWA chief executive Naomi Dickson, and a trustee of Women’s Aid said: “Women were telling us they were more likely to be experiencing physical abuse, there was more anxiety and they were very concerned about their children witnessing trauma. They just didn’t feel there was any escape.”

Dickson said women worry about “bringing shame” on their families so it takes longer to Page reach1 out. “Some09/01/2020 16:04

times they’ll come to us and say, ‘My husband is well known in the [community]’, ‘he gives a lot of money to charity’ or ‘he got a community position, nobody’s going to believe me,’.

There is a real concern of not being believed,” she said.

JWA client services manager Karen Lewis said cultural expectations play a huge part in why women do not always reach out, with some clients in abusive

marriages for as long as 60 years.

She said: “Irrespective of their level of observance, there is an expectation, culturally, of: you get married, you have children; that’s the perceived expectation in the community.”

One woman said her husband used the pandemic to isolate her from friends and family. “Whenever my parents came for Friday night dinner, he was aggressive and made them feel uncomfortable so they stopped coming over. Then he made it difficult for me to visit them,” she explained.

“During lockdown, he wasn’t working and when he felt low he put me down and made me feel bad about myself. I had to sleep on the children’s bedroom floor because I was terrified of his temper. The lack of school structure meant the children and I never got any respite from him.”

She later called the police and he was removed from the house.

• The JWA Domestic Abuse helpline can be contacted on 0808 801 0500 or visit www.jwa.org.uk  Editorial comment, page 18

Rosh Pinah keeps its ‘good’ rating

Edgware primary Rosh Pinah has maintained its ‘good’ rating from Ofsted.

The education inspectorate said it was a “happy, safe place for pupils to learn”, praising it for high standards of teaching and a “strong and vigilant culture of safeguarding” for students.

The school of nearly 400 students was commended for having a “strong and committed group of staff” which “form a caring and cohesive team, with pupils’ best interests at heart”.

Hasmonean Primary announces new head Hasmonean Primary School has a new headteacher.

Hayley Gross will take over the role in January, having been at the helm of Sacks Morasha Jewish Primary School since 2008. This comes after incumbent head Alan Shaw’s decision to retire from this summer, having joined in 2013. The position is being held by his deputy Daniel Hastwirth on an interim basis.

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Jewish News 8 July 2021

Jewish News meets... Barnaby Adler

Barnaby gallops all the way to Ascot

by Danny Caro @DjCaro

If you like backing winners, look no further than Barnaby Adler, a 14-year-old jockey taking the world of pony racing by storm.

Born in Florida, Barnaby is one of the favourites to win the Charles Owen Racing League, which resumed recently following a 593-day break owing to the Covid pandemic. He won his first race of the season at Lingfield Park racecourse, and now he is setting his sights on his next race – on the main course at Ascot this weekend.

A member of Loughton Synagogue, Barnaby first climbed onto a pony aged two, and he has immersed himself in racing ever since. Fast forward seven years and he was selected for the Shetland Pony Grand National at Horse of the Year Show. He has also competed at Olympia and Windsor.

His mother, Helen, explained how riding has become second nature. “Barnaby was slow to walk,” she said. “He got on a horse before he was stable on his feet as a toddler and has never looked back.

“His grandmother, Susan Rose, is a distinguished Arabian horse breeder and she had two Shetland ponies, which gave him a taste of things to come.”

Barnaby now races his own horse, Bugatti Boy, a three-year-old bought from Ireland, and is under the direction of trainer Jo Quinlan at Newmarket, where he trains at least three times a week.

He maintains a tough exercise regime, including daily cardio sessions, training on a racing simulator and working out twice a day.

“Most jockeys are small in stature, but I’m still growing, so I have to do lots of cardio and avoid putting on too much muscle,” said Barnaby.

A pupil at the Anglo European school in Ingatestone, Brentwood, Barnaby has just selected his GCSE subjects. He said: “My school has been great as I’ve taken a little time off and have to catch up. I have the highest predicted grades for PE and am on the Great Britain Elite sportsman programme.”

Ahead of his outing at Ascot, Barnaby said:

she teaches me breathing techniques,” explained Barnaby. “I feel extremely lucky to be riding as not everyone gets the opportunity.”

When he turns 16, Barnaby will have the opportunity to turn professional and, having met horse racing legends Frankie Dettori and Bob Champion, he looks destined for great things.

Asked what his friends think of his passion, Barnaby said: “They come to watch regularly and find it very interesting as it’s different to football. They really enjoy the atmosphere at the races.”

Barnaby is believed to be the only Jewish jockey in the under-16 age category in the Racing League. He said: “I used to attend synagogue regularly and like the Jewish culture.”

Away from the track, he enjoyed being the first Zoom barmitzvah boy at “I’ve been riding regularly and Loughton Synagogue during lockdown feel very well prepared. I’m last May. He hopes to become one of the on a young horse in a field of rare internationally acclaimed Jewish 10, so it’s hard to predict the Barnaby trains three jockeys or horse trainers. outcome. I’m a little nervous, times a week Loughton Synagogue chairman Gary but it’s going to be fun. Bugatti Boy is a quick horse who is very new to this but Stern said: “Barnaby is a committed and dedihe did very well in his first race, coming second cated young man with a natural ability. He has already risen high as Barney the barmitzvah boy in a photo finish to the fastest horse in England.

“There’s always a chance he could get over- and now raises his bar even higher as Barney on whelmed but the important thing is we have an Bugatti Boy. He will go a long way.

“We wish him good luck in the race at Ascot, excellent connection.”

How will he deal with any potential butter- which sees him race with the top young jockeys flies on race day? “My mum is a yoga teacher, so in the country.”

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15

Diplomatic ceremonies / News

President and envoy sworn in Israel’s ambassador to the UK presented her credentials to the Queen yesterday, hours before the country’s new president was sworn into office — using a Bible from Glasgow, writes Michael Daventry.

Isaac Herzog formally began his job as the country’s ceremonial head of state, with a promise to “lower the flames, to calm things down”. The former Labour Party leader and Jewish Agency chairman told MKs he took seriously his vow to be a statesman at a time of polarisation. “I will set out to complete the task every morning to be the president for all,” Herzog said. “In normal times, this task would almost sound naïve. But these days are, unfortunately, are not normal. These are days... in which the unifying ethos and the shared values are more fragile than ever.”

Herzog took his oath of office on the same Bible used by his father, Israel’s sixth president, Chaim Herzog, when he took office in 1983. It belonged to his grandmother, Sarah Herzog, who used it when she was young girl in Glasgow.

Relinquishing the presidency after seven years in the role, Reuven Rivlin spoke of his optimism that Jews and Arabs would find a way to live together “between the sea to the Jordan River and the entire region”.

Earlier in the day, Israeli Ambassador Tzipi Hotovely presented her credentials during an official ceremony at Buckingham Palace. She arrived alongside her husband, Or Alon, to meet

Tzipi at the palace, right, and with husband, above. Top right: Isaac Herzog being sworn in

the monarch, who is remaining in residence at Windsor Castle, via video link to officially become the first woman in the role.

The former Israeli minister was appointed in August 2020 but the pandemic delayed the ceremony. Speaking after the ceremony, she said: “The Queen has given me her blessing, and this ceremony has solidified the strong ties between our two democracies.”

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Jewish News 8 July 2021

World News / Building collapse / Rabbi recovering / Citizenship law

Miami mood turns from hope to desperation as 100 still missing As the recovery work at the site of a collapsed Florida apartment block entered a third week, the mood among officials was sombre, writes Michael Daventry.

No one was prepared to rule out the possibility someone may still be found alive beneath the vast piles of concrete rubble that workers were meticulously peeling away.

But neither have any survivors been pulled out alive since the first hours after the 24 June disaster.

More than 100 people, dozens of Jews among them, remain unaccounted for.

“Unfortunately, we are not seeing anything positive,” said Alan Cominsky, the local fire chief in Surfside, the town near where disaster struck.

“The key things — void spaces, living spaces — we’re not seeing anything like that.”

Whole families caught up in the disaster include that of Frank Kleiman, 55, who had recently married Ana Ortiz and was looking forward to the birth of his first grandchild.

Frank’s body was pulled out of the rubble last Monday. His wife and her son Luis remain missing.

Also unaccounted for is Frank’s brother, Jay, 51, and their 76-year-old mother Nancy Kress Levin, who had left Cuba after the 1959 revolution and joined the Jewish community in Florida.

The family’s cousin, Deborah Berez-

were only in Surfside to attend the funeral of a family friend.

Their bodies have still not been found.

Leon Oliwkowicz, 80, and his 74-year-old wife Christina Beatriz Elvira, were the oldest confirmed Jewish victims of the disaster. The Venezuelan couple had only recently moved to Florida.

Harry Rosenberg, 52, had returned to the tower block from New York just hours before it collapsed. He had moved there after a difficult year during which he lost his wife to cancer and both of his parents to Covid-19.

He was being visited by his daughter Malky and her husband Benny Weisz, who live in Lakewood, a largely strictly-Orthodox town in New Jersey. All three remain missing.

Recovery work at the site continued this week, despite being hindered by tropical storms sweeping through the region.

A controlled explosion was conducted earlier in the week to bring down an unstable portion Clockwise from top: Leon Oliwkowicz, of the building that was still Frank Kleiman, Itty and Tzvi Ainsworth standing, allowing workers to divin, 21, appears to be one of the youngest widen their search.

Crews have removed 112 tonnes of victims of the disaster. She and her boyfriend Ilan Naibryf, also 21, were nearing debris to warehouses as possible evidence the end of their university studies and in an investigation into why it collapsed.

Rabbi stabbed ‘Racist’ citizen law voted down eight times A Chabad rabbi is recovering in hospital after being stabbed eight times outside a Jewish school in Boston.

Russian-born Rabbi Shlomo Noginski, a father of 12, was accosted by a man carrying a gun outside the Shaloh House Jewish Day School in the city last Thursday afternoon.

The suspect tried to force him into his car and Noginski, 55, was stabbed after a struggle.

Police arrested the suspect, Khaled Awad, 24, who was found to be carrying a knife and a gun.

“The attacker pointed a gun at him, and said, ‘Open your car.’ [Noginski] gave him the key and said, ‘Here’s the key’. And he said ‘No, you open the car,’” Dan Rodkin, the director of the Shaloh House, told CBS local news.

The school, which was hosting a Jewish summer camp, went into lockdown at the time of the stabbing.

In a statement published by Chabad Lubavitch, he said: “I am grateful to the Boston Police Department for their rapid response, and relieved the perpetrator is in custody.

I am looking forward to returning to my work as soon as possible.”

The suspect is set to face charges of assault and battery. Police said they were still investigating the motive behind the attack.

Israel’s fragile unity coalition suffered its first defeat after plans to extend a ban on Palestinians receiving Israeli citizenship were rejected

by MKs in the early hours of Tuesday.

The citizenship law, which prevents the Palestinian spouses of Israeli citizens from gaining permanent residency or citizenship, was dropped after it did not secure enough votes.

Critics, including left-wing and Arab politicians, have long described the law as a racist measure designed to prevent Israel’s Arab minority from growing.

But it was rejected on Tuesday because right-wing politicians in the Knesset were split, with many voting to oppose it in a bid to destabilise the coalition — even though they supported the bill in principle.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett had earlier accused his predecessor Benjamin Netanyahu, who led the opposition bloc, of playing politics with national security.

“The nation needs control over who comes in,” he said on Monday. “National security is a red line.”

The citizenship law was enacted in 2003 during the second Palestinian intifada but has been continually renewed every year since.

Benny and Malky Weisz

Ilan Naibryf and Deborah Berezdivin

Harry Rosenberg

Nicky Langesfeld and Luis Sadovnic

DONNER WAS ‘GREATEST GOONIE’ Steven Spielberg has led tributes to Hollywood director Richard Donner following his death aged 91.

Donner, who started his career in TV and whose credits included The Goonies and the original Superman film, died on Monday in Los Angeles, Warner Bros told the PA news agency.

Spielberg, a close friend, said in a statement: “Dick had such a powerful command of his movies, and was so gifted across so many genres.

Being in his circle was akin to hanging out with your favourite coach, smartest professor, fiercest motivator, most endearing friend, staunchest ally, and – of course – the greatest Goonie of all.

In a statement, Warner Bros described Donner as “a pioneer of the modern superhero, horror and action film genre”, adding: “His films were some of the most popular of their time and many have become modern classics.”

Israel’s ‘win-win’ new vaccine deal Israel will send South Korea some 700,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine that are due to expire shortly in a deal signed between the two nations on Tuesday.

The deal, which Naftali Bennett, called a “win-win” situation for both countries, comes weeks after the Palestinian Authority backed out of a similar agreement, saying the doses were too close to their expiration date despite Israel using the same batches to vaccinate its teens.

Under the deal with Seoul, Israel will supply doses for immediate use that are set to expire by the end of the month. In return, Israel will receive the same number of doses from South Korean orders later in the year.

NAZI-STOLEN PORTRAIT FOR SALE A formerly Jewish-owned portrait by Sir Anthony van Dyck of painter Cornelis de Vos, his wife Suzanna Cock and their children, which was stolen by the Nazis, was set to fetch up to £1.5 million at auction last night.

8 July 2021 Jewish News

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UNLOCKING OUR PAIN Tisha B’Av at Tisha B’Av. A day of tragedy. A day of memory. A day of pain.

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Jewish News 8 July 2021

Editorial comment and letters ISSUE NO.

1218

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

VOICE OF THE JEWISH NEWS

Betrayal of the family Send us your comments values that define us PO Box 815, Edgware, HA8 4SX | letters@jewishnews.co.uk

Shocking statistics published this week by Jewish Women’s Aid shine a sobering spotlight on the cruelty and violence suffered by Jewish women compelled to remain in abusive marriages due to stigma and shame.

Our religion places unparalleled importance on “Shalom bayit” – domestic harmony. Every Shabbat married men are expected to recite Eishet Chayil, a poignant prayer to their spouse, hailing their better half as more precious than jewels. If not for her, the refrain goes, we would still be slaves in Egypt.

Yet, according to JWA, far too many Jewish homes are stripped of shalom. Calls to the charity’s helpline soared by 62 percent as perpetrators used lockdown to abuse partners and isolate them from friends and family.

Judaism’s focus, especially among the strictly-Orthodox, on community unity and traditional gender roles is a key reason why many women, fearful of humiliating their family, suffer in hell rather than ask for help.

Community leaders and welfare charities have their role to play in combating abuse, but only JWA deals directly with the issue every day. Only JWA provides space where survivors’ cultural and religious requirements can be understood and respected with compassion and expertise.

When JWA publishes a report this stark and alarming, it is incumbent on all of us to help shatter the stigma. Victims of domestic violence are shamed by their abusers. It shames us as a community if we remain silent.

Judaism allows desecration I would like to draw to your attention a factual inaccuracy in last week’s Jewish News report headlined: ‘Hotovely writes to Board condemning attack on progressive Jews at Kotel’.

It incorrectly stated that “Judaism forbids the desecration of any text containing the name of God”.

This is patently not true. Judaism actively encourages the burning of books – including Torah scrolls – written by heretics. I imagine you will find any Orthodox rabbi is familiar with this and can expand on the topic.

It is an established law from the Talmud

(Gittin 45b), on which both Rashi and Maimonides agreed, and has been reiterated by modern-day Jewish judges such as Rabbi Moshe Feinstein and Rabbi Ovadia Yosef.

Whether or not the books in this case are considered heretical is a different question.

Many people may have read this article and been misled to think Judaism forbids the desecration of any text containing the name of God. This is a complete misrepresentation of Judaism and I hope you publish a clarification with the same prominence the original article held.

Adam Henderson, By email

Sketches & kvetches

ISRAEL IS NOT RESPECTFUL

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I hope Marie van der Zyl, president of the Board of Deputies, does not accept at face value the claims in Tzipi Hotovely’s letter last week about the shameful treatment of Progressive Jewish women at the Western Wall.

For a start, the state of Israel does not “support every Jew to practice what he believes”, as the ambassador wrote. Progressive synagogues do not get the money and support the Orthodox receive.

Hotovely also wrote that it is important to Israel “that every Jewish person, irrespective of their denomination, tradition or practice, feels safe to practice their religion. I am proud Israel is a tolerant and open country which facilitates and safeguards diversity in belief and practices”.

Would that this were the case. Progressive rabbis could be jailed for conducting Jewish life-cycle events, such as marriages and funerals. In which other “tolerant and open country” would that ever happen?

If you believe “Israel is a tolerant and open country which facilitates diversity in belief and practices”, I have a bridge I’d like to sell you…

Joe Millis, By email

8 July 2021 Jewish News

www.jewishnews.co.uk

19

Editorial comment and letters

There’s no glass ceiling Ephraim Mirvis’ record of leadership, integrity and commitment to all segments of the Jewish community are well-documented and do not need our endorsement. The Chief Rabbi’s judgement and actions regarding the ordination of women reflect the consensus of mainstream Orthodox Judaism globally.

In regard to Dr Lindsey Taylor-Guthartz (pictured) we, like Chief Rabbi Mirvis, encourage the many women who seek to serve our community. Religiously engaged

and educated women have much to offer us all – men, women, and children – and we are stronger and better as an Orthodox community when we benefit from their leadership, teaching, and inspiration.

We, like the Chief Rabbi, advocate for the creation, expansion and support of leadership, pastoral, and educational roles for them in ways that are consistent with traditional Jewish law.

Rabbi Binyamin Blau and Rabbi Mark Dratch, By email

SOVEREIGNTY OVER JERUSALEM What makes Hayley Tontovic a spokesperson for this unidentified group of British Jews who support the creation of a “Palestinian” homeland, and why should Arthur Balfour’s declaration be taken to endorse the creation of a “Palestinian” state? (Jewish News, 1 July).

Could she direct me to the text of the “compromise proposal for Jerusalem” negotiated by Bill Clinton? For

Israel to be a Jewish state, I believe it must maintain sovereignty over Jerusalem and its environs, otherwise it just becomes a bolthole for Jews who feel insecure in other countries behaving no differently than they would have acted in the place of their previous nationality.

I am unconcerned if this makes me a “bigot and fanatic”.

Alan Finley, Hendon

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Jewish News 8 July 2021

Opinion

Offenders I'd be happy not to hear from again JENNI FRAZER

I

t’s been a long old week. First Health Secretary Matt Hancock (remember him?) was obliged to resign for… well, hypocrisy. It wasn’t so much a matter of having an affair – as certainly the prime minister would be the last one with any sort of moral authority on that issue – as his being the person who devised the “hands, face, space” regulations and was then demonstrably seen to be breaking them — with impunity.

No sooner had Hancock been banished into the outer darkness than news filtered through of the latest Westminster marriage to bite the dust, that of the Cabinet minister Michael Gove, who is apparently “finalising his divorce” from his journalist wife, Sarah Vine.

Mrs Gove has an enviable platform in the Daily Mail, which she has used with unnerving frequency to attack politicians

behaving badly. Colleagues with a closer ear than mine to House of Commons shenanigans maintain that it has been an open secret for months, if not years, that all was not well in Gove Towers. Hence the somewhat cruel mockery with which Sarah Vine’s plea for privacy was greeted, on the grounds that if you dish it out, you have to be prepared to take it.

I can’t say I’m keen on the gleeful denunciation bandwagon as it relates to the Goves.

It must be awful to be in the public eye all the time, never to be able to take refuge into longed-for anonymity. The late reality “star”, Jade Goody, once said that she desperately wanted to be famous, without any regard for the consequences of fame.

Who would willingly, for example, be Monica Lewinsky, notorious the world over after her, er, brief encounters with US President Bill Clinton? Imagine paying the gas bill and having someone do a double or triple take when they read the signature.

The boring minutiae of daily life don’t accord well with global fame.

Avigdor Hirsch

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❝

GALLOWAY'S PERSONAL BRAND OF TOXICITY HAS REACHED NEAR RADIOACTIVE LEVELS

There are people, however, for whom I would make an exception on the fame/ game front. Right at the head of the queue is Jeremy Corbyn, someone I would be thrilled never to hear of ever again. Standing next to him is the repellent, frothing George Galloway, who managed to seduce a shocking 8,000 people into voting for him in the recent Batley and Spen by-election.

Galloway’s personal brand of toxicity has reached near radioactive levels. Yes, I would be deeply happy never to hear from him again; and add ex-Derby MP Chris Williamson, one-time ASLEF president Tosh McDonald, both of whom went to campaign for Galloway.

And while I’m at it, I’d like to dispense with news of MP John McDonnell and Unite

union boss Len McCluskey.

There does appear to be some light at the end of the tunnel. Rejoice, for example, at the news that the Jewish Voice for Labour’s Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi has been chucked off the executive of Chingford and Woodford Green Constituency Labour Party or that Momentum and all its Corbyn-loving friends appear to have been routed in Hendon Labour Party.

And, boy, hasn’t it gone deliciously quiet in Israel with the departure of Benjamin Netanyahu and his offensive son, Yair?

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8 July 2021 Jewish News

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21

Opinion

Hidden history of the battle of Cable Street MIRIAM MIRWITCH TRADE UNION OFFICER TO THE JEWISH LABOUR MOVEMENT

C

able Street is one of the left’s proudest moments – Jewish, black and socialist East Londoners stood together and stopped the march of Oswald Mosley’s Blackshirts.

The one moment is used to this day by union activists to promote direct action, marching or blockages – whether it is against racism, student fees or war.

Why? Because against all the odds it not only worked on the day but was a show of workers’ strength that can be seen by future generations.

It is genuinely an inspiration.

However, the left’s involvement is not so clean cut. David Cesarani’s republished book, The Left and the Jews: The Jews and the Left shines a spotlight on this period.

Without “left-wing Zionists and Jewish socialists” in membership, and branch leadership positions, in both the unions and the Community Party, the organised left would

have been in Trafalgar Square instead.

The CPGB (Communist Party of Great Britain), which was well represented at the top of the unions in 1936, had a rally planned “in solidarity with the Spanish Republic”.

At the last minute, the central London gathering was cancelled and the CPGB “told its members to rally instead in the East End”.

Had they not, Britain’s Jewish and black community would have been alone and maybe, just maybe, Mosley’s racist thugs would have made their way to Whitechapel and Stepney.

History could have been very different.

Cesarani argues: “To Jews the role of the left in the defence of Jewish people cemented bonds of loyalty. This loyalty bore fruit in 1945 when Mile End became the only British parliamentary constituency to elect a Communist member of parliament, Phil Piratin.”

While this episode is “much romanticised and manipulated” according to Cesarani, it makes the point that Jews involved in the left can change its course. And it really needs that change – you don’t have to look far to see it.

My own union, GMB, has a proud history

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of Jewish involvement and a new leadership. Gary Smith has shown real leadership and fought antisemitism in Labour and the political left, inside and outside our union.

I know he takes seriously the voice of Jewish union members and will not stand for Jews being required to defend an affinity with Israel – the people, state or government – to be involved in the union.

I am proud to be a union Mural on the former St George’s Town Hall in Tower member, proud of my Jewish Hamlets, which commemorates the Battle of Cable Street forbears who themselves marched in Cable Street and Media has allowed Cesarani’s story to be retold ensured the left had its priority straight. and the lesson of the left’s relationship with the Even more, I am pleased that No Pasaran Jews, and vice versa, can be fully understood.

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HAD CPGB MEMBERS NOT RALLIED IN THE EAST END, HISTORY COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFERENT

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Jewish News 8 July 2021

Opinion

Taxpayers still funding radicalisation in schools MICHAEL RUBIN

DIRECTOR, LABOUR FRIENDS OF ISRAEL

A

fter multiple delays, the European Union has finally published the investigation into the Palestinian Authority (PA) curriculum it commissioned two years ago.

The review confirms what Labour Friends of Israel (LFI) has been telling the British government since 2017: that the PA’s lessons in hatred promote antisemitism and incitement to violence, celebrate terrorism and jihad, and reject peacemaking and reconciliation with Israel.

These findings make all the more shocking the fact Britain has pumped £105 million into the PA over the past five years to pay the salaries of teachers and civil servants in the PA Ministry of Education – those directly responsible for devising and delivering the curriculum.

I support UK aid to the PA, but that aid must underpin the promotion of a two-state solution. This curriculum clearly doesn’t meet that criteria. But beneath these headline findings, the report by the Georg Eckert Institute (GEI) contains a number of worrying omissions and confusing conclusions which, it appears from the

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THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY’S LESSONS IN HATRED PROMOTE INCITEMENT TO VIOLENCE

debate in parliament, the government intends to seize upon to justify its continuing inaction.

First, the report concludes that the textbooks align with UNESCO standards while presenting an array of evidence that they do not.

Second, the report makes sweeping generalisations about alleged improvements in the curriculum in 2020-21 textbooks. This claim appears to be based on a review of only 15 percent of the currently taught 2020-21 textbooks. These peddle antisemitic tropes about Jews controlling the media, finance and politics.

In its small print, the review admits it drew conclusions based on some textbooks that may never have been taught to Palestinian students.

LFI chair Steve McCabe wrote to the Foreign Secretary two weeks ago, asking for an assurance that all textbooks on which the findings are based were on the PA’s Ministry of Education portal when the report was written, and that print versions were indeed in circulation.

The GEI report itself is the culmination of a prolonged and much-delayed process. LFI first raised the issue of the PA curriculum with ministers in 2017. Six months later, after negative media stories, the government pledged it would “take action” if a planned “thorough assessment” of the Palestinian curriculum found evidence of incitement to violence. Despite its flaws, the GEI study has now found that evidence.

So the question remains: what concrete action do ministers plan to take to ensure the PA finally takes action against incitement in the curriculum – action which it has committed to take each year since 2016 under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding it signed with Britain, which governs the use of UK aid.

In Friday’s Westminster Hall debate, Foreign and Development Office ministers avoided making any concrete commitments to take action and instead appeared to place their faith in private dialogue with PA ministers. But, as

they must by now be aware, these discussions have had no impact and appear to be used by the government as a façade to avoid tough choices. If the government were truly serious about forcing the PA to root out incitement and antisemitism in the curriculum, it would follow Norway’s example and immediately suspend aid to the PA that finances the implementation of the curriculum, pending a commitment to substantive and meaningful changes to it.

Palestinian youth should not pay the price for their government’s failings, so, during any suspension, UK aid should be redirected to Palestinian education non-governmental organisations with a proven track record of promoting the values of peace and coexistence.

Finally, the government should take forward former LFI chair Louise Ellman’s 2019 private member’s bill. It would prohibit UK international development assistance to PA-operated schools that do not promote values endorsed

by UNESCO, and commit the government to publish an annual report on the extent to which such development assistance for these schools support the promotion of those values.

The time for talking has passed. Now it is high time for the government to take action.

The bloody human cost of appeasing a brutal regime IAIN DUNCAN SMITH CONSERVATIVE MP FOR CHINGFORD & WOODFORD GREEN

X

i Jinping celebrated the 100th birthday of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) by promising ‘heads bashed bloody’ for anyone who dared to stand up to China. Announced in front of a 70,000 strong crowd in Tiananmen Square, this new guiding principle for Chinese foreign relations came in the same week our chancellor, Rishi Sunak, announced that the UK can pursue with confidence an economic relationship with China in a safe, mutually beneficial way without compromising on the UK’s values.

China is no longer making a secret of its hostility towards the free world and yet the UK continues to kowtow to its wishes.

The UK is Janus, the two-faced Roman deity, with each face staring in a different direction. One head speaks of holding the CCP to account for its appalling human rights record, the other head shamelessly pursues closer trade relations and drops its gaze when Hong Kong is mentioned.

The prime minister said we had tough import controls on goods from China that

have been made using forced labour and fines for businesses that are falling short of their requirements under the Modern Slavery Act. Yet the Department for International Trade denied this saying it has no import controls and none planned. Janus all over again.

Then the foreign secretary promised to bring forward export controls, six months later with no action – another promise on China has disappeared into the ether.

Despite some tougher rhetoric from the government on human rights issues, it is action not words that will help the oppressed Uyghur people of the Xinjiang region, the forced labourers in Tibet and the pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong. These empty words embarrassingly hark back to the so-called Golden Era, when China ran rampant across the human rights of its people with little outcry from the UK. Meanwhile, the reach of China grows ever

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IT IS ACTION NOT WORDS THAT WILL HELP THE OPPRESSED PEOPLE

greater. There have been recent sightings of more than 100 nuclear missile silos, likely to hold intercontinental ballistic missiles, in the desert of Gansu province. Closer to home, the £1 billion investment by Nissan into a battery plant for electric vehicles in Sunderland is with a Chinese partner, Envision AESC. The problem is not with Chinese investment per se, but that Chinese companies are required by law to hand over any data they hold on the request of the Chinese government. This arrangement means that a Chinese-based company can in reality have no independence from the state.

China’s economy must grow by more than five percent a year just to maintain its current position. China has heard enough platitudes to know it faces little threat when countries such as the UK simply urge them to consider human rights. Instead of rushing to buy goods made in China or beg it to take over our nuclear power industry, we should look to revitalise the capabilities of the free world.

Consumer pressure has influence. For example, the fashion giant H&M saw a 23 percent slump in the local currency following a consumer boycott of goods made in Xinjiang.

But we must go further. We need a co-ordinated approach from the government. Moving on from the position of a Janus, we need singular

focus and leadership from the government. We need import and export controls in place, not contradictory messages from different departments. We need it to provide a united message that we will not be entering into closer trade agreements with China, but are willing to put our moral obligations to oppressed and persecuted peoples above any trade advantage. In the case of Hong Kong, we do not just have a moral obligation, but also a legal one.

The Chinese Communist Party has torn up the Sino-British agreement on Hong Kong and are now persecuting peaceful democracy campaigners. The CCP persecutes Christians and other religions, puts Tibetans into forced Labour camps, commits genocide on the Uyghur people, threatens Taiwan with invasion, occupies the South China Sea and has killed Indian soldiers on its border. And the CCP has attacked government MPs, such as me, by sanctioning us. Yet despite this shameful litany, the UK government kowtows to this dictatorial, human rights abusing, violent state – all in the hope of some trade privilege.

The British government and too many others are bound on a policy of commercial appeasement and in so doing will fulfil Santayana’s prophecy, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

8 July 2021 Jewish News

www.jewishnews.co.uk

23

Community / Scene & Be Seen

1OLYMPIC EFFORT

Rosh Pinah Primary School was visited by Paralympian silver medalist Jonathan BroomEdwards during ‘Olympics Week’. As well as sessions with him, the children took part in a range of Olympic-related activities and a whole school socially distanced opening ceremony, the first time the whole school has been together in 15 months.

2

And be seen!

The latest news, pictures and (virtual) social events from across the community

A CUT ABOVE

Chloe Wyman cut her long hair in aid of Chai Cancer Care, raising more than £600 for the charity.

The youngster decided to cut her hair in memory of her grandma Carol and her papa, Jeff, who both passed away from cancer and who were supported by the charity. The money raised will go towards the ‘Chai in Schools’ programme, which supports children who are experiencing the impact of a cancer diagnosis.

Email us at community@jewishnews.co.uk

3GREAT BAKE

For the sixth year in a row, Mya Dahan, 12, and her brothers Michael, 11, and Matan, eight, hosted a charity bake sale. This year, their chosen charities were for the Stroke Association and Hatzola to thank them for all their amazing work during the pandemic. The siblings raised more than £500. Matan said: “I look forward to the bake sales every year with my brother and sister and I get excited when I do a sale.”

1

4SPECIAL PRAYER

Members of the South London Liberal Synagogue (SLLS) were given a chance to pray together in person last week for the first time in 16 months when the Bishop of Southwark hosted synagogue members in his garden. The Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, whose residence is five minutes away from the site, was asked by SLLS Rabbi Nathan Godleman if he would host them, to which the bishop said he would be “honoured”. After the event, the community presented the bishop and chaplain with gifts including a bottle of Iona gin, a pair of holy socks – with a verse from the Hebrew Bible – and a copy of the Liberal Judaism siddur.

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Jewish News 8 July 2021

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8 July 2021 Jewish News

25

Theatre / Weekend

There’s no lacquer talent!

Francine Wolfisz speaks to former EastEnders star Rita Simons about bringing back Hairspray to the West End

E

xcuse the pun, but we’re having a ball here, we really are,” giggles Rita Simons as she steps momentarily away from rehearsals to gush about her Hairspray co-star.

The former EastEnders actress and musical veteran Michael Ball have not long returned to the stage at the West End’s London Coliseum, having endured – like the rest of the entertainment industry – a 15-month wait over lockdown to resume singing big numbers, step into big heels and don even bigger hairpieces for the feelgood musical.

We chat just before the production temporarily closed on Tuesday after a crew member tested positive for Covid, with the show set to resume again within days – such are the unpredictable times currently faced by the entertainment industry.

Set in Baltimore in 1962, the show revolves around plus-sized teenager Tracy Turnblad (played by Lizzie Bea) who has one dream: to dance on The Corny Collins Show. When she lands a coveted spot, she transforms overnight from a nobody into a television star and decides to use her newfound fame to advocate for racial integraMichael Ball plays Edna Turnblad alongside Rita Simons, top, as Velma Von Tussle tion. But first she has to win over the phone with me. I just breathe and it’s gorgeous.” the show was cancelled and racist producer Velma Von Tussle Speaking of positive life affirmations, the actress the curtains came down (Simons), while also allaying the fears says she couldn’t think of a better show to be involved for more than 15 months. of her parents Edna (played by Ball) with now, not only for its upbeat vibe, but also its posiShe admits struggling with and Wilbur (Les Dennis). tive messages of inclusivity and integration. seeing the show curtailed The score includes such memo“It couldn’t be more relevant,” Simons explains. and her income stopped, but rable tracks as Good Morning “It looks at the story of how black and white people lockdown arrived at a fortuiBaltimore, You Can’t Stop The were completely separated in the 1960s, how it was tous moment: Simons had Beat and Big, Blonde and Beautiful. unheard of for a black person to dance on a white thrown herself into back-toFor the 44-year-old screen person show, and it’s about breaking down all those back projects, having suffered and stage actress, Boris Johnson’s barriers. The show is also about love, that it doesn’t announcement that theatres could anxiety and depression after matter what colour you are or how fat you are, love is reopen – and from 19 July without her split from Theo Silverston, the most important thing. restrictions – was nothing short her husband of 14 years and “We’ve cried through rehearsals because it’s so of “joyful”. father of her two children. moving, especially with everything that happened last She said: “[For people in the theatre She says: “I had come off year with the Black Lives Matter movement.” industry], it kind of felt that the rest of the back of eight shows in a row Simons most recently appeared as Miss Hedge the world, apart from hospitality and the with few breaks. I hadn’t seen my in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie and Paulette arts, went back to work ages ago kids. I had just got divorced.

Bonafonté in Legally Blonde: the Musical, but it was as and we’ve been biding our time.

“My life had been turned the streetwise Roxy Mitchell in BBC soap EastEnders “Now it’s like nought to a million in upside down and I was going that she is best remembered. After a 10-year stint on 60 seconds. We’ve gone from a lockdown Lizzie Bea as Tracy Turnblad into Hairspray still not having the show, her character was killed off alongside Roxy’s processed everything. I was about situation to being on the Tube every sister Ronnie in 2017. Given that death doesn’t always to start doing what I do, which is throw myself into day and in a rehearsal room with 38 cast members, stop a soap character returning, I ask her if she would work and forget all my problems. and with the crew as well there are 80 of us. It’s quite ever consider coming back to Albert Square.

“For so many people, last year was horrific, but overwhelming, because we’ve all been locked away for “EastEnders will always feel like home to me and I so long, but now we’re in full swing rehearsing and it is for me personally, it gave me a chance to process will always be grateful for the springboard it gave me. everything, get back into being a mum and spending absolutely joyful.”

But will I come back? Never say never is all I can say!” time with my kids. It was so good for my soul. Even Part of that joy can be attributed to working alongIn fact, there’s probably more chance of Roxy though I had bills to pay, I would still forgo that to side Ball. “We’ve become really good mates and Les returning from the dead than her paternal uncle, Lord have the time I did at home, because it was massively [Dennis] is just amazing,” she tells me. “I’ve known healing. I’ve not had that in years and it was priceless.” Alan Sugar, turning up to see her on stage, given his Michael for about three years since he interviewed preference for business over showbusiness.

Like many others over lockdown, Simons – me when I was doing a play and we just hit it off. Then “I would die of a heart attack if I thought my uncle who reveals she has obsessive compulsive disorder when I was in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, he wanted to watch any kind of musical,” she laughs of and experienced depression – discovered daily was doing Les Mis next door and our stage doors were The Apprentice star. “But I’m sure his daughter, my walking “was the most healing thing”. She says: next to each other, so we used to hang out.” aunt and other cousins will all be coming along.”

“I have carried it on every day I get off. The first thing The cast have had more time to bond over the  Hairspray runs until 29 September at I do is take the dog and go for a stunning walk, no past few weeks than before the pandemic began – in London Coliseum, www.londoncoliseum.org matter what the weather. When I walk, I don’t take fact Simons was just a few days into rehearsal before

A look

Inside Fight for life: Unsung hero brought to life in The Champion of Auschwitz

Love over hate: Tributes paid to Holocaust educator Leslie Kleinman

Only kidding: Comedian Ashley Blaker sees the funny side of parenting

26

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Jewish News 8 July 2021

Weekend / Entertainment

DRAMA

FILM

The Champion of Auschwitz

The Staircase Michael Stuhlbarg (pictured, left) has joined the cast of HBO’s truecrime drama, The Staircase, Deadline reported this week.

The muchanticipated eight-episode series is based on Jean-Xavier de Lestrade’s Netflix documentary series of the same name, alongside books and reports exploring the case of author Michael Peterson, who was convicted in 2003 of murdering his wife Kathleen two years earlier.

Peterson claimed his wife had died after falling down the stairs at home, but an autopsy report concluded that she had endured several blows to the back of her head with a blunt object.

Stuhlbarg, seen most recently in Sky Atlantic drama Your Honor, will play David Rudolf, Peterson’s criminal defence lawyer (pictured above with Peterson). He joins Colin Firth (Peterson) and Toni Collette (Kathleen), alongside Rosemarie DeWitt, Juliette Binoche, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Dane DeHaan, Olivia DeJonge and Sophie Turner.

Stuhlbarg will next be seen in the forthcoming film, Rothko, directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson and starring Russell Crowe.

The drama tells the true story of one woman’s legal battle to protect the legacy of her late artist father, Mark Rothko.

COMING SOON

Gossip Girl BBC iPlayer has snapped up the reboot of popular teen drama Gossip Girl.

Developed by showrunner Joshua Safran, a writer and executive producer on the original series, the revamped drama returns to the Upper East Side, where privileged teenagers are subjected to their loves, lies and scandals being exposed by anonymous blogger “Gossip Girl” (voiced by Kristen Bell).

The series is based on the bestselling novels

by Cecily von Ziegesar and the original show, developed by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage.

BBC iPlayer will also be home to every

episode of the original series, which ran from 2007 to 2012.

The series stars Tavi Gevinson, Jordan Alexander, Eli Brown, Thomas Doherty, Emily Alyn Lind, Evan Mock, Zion Moreno, Whitney Peak and Savannah Lee Smith.

Gossip Girl is set to air on BBC iPlayer later this year.

SKY CINEMA

Wonder Woman 1984 There’s spandex aplenty as Gal Gadot whisks herself round and returns as a legendary superhero in Wonder Woman 1984, which arrives on Sky Cinema next month.

Following months of delays owing to the pandemic, the Patty Jenkins-directed feature is a sequel to the 2017 box office hit and became the most-watched straightto-streaming title of 2020 when it was released last December.

Diana Prince lives quietly among mortals in the vibrant and sleek 1980s, an era of excess driven by the pursuit of having it all.

Although she’s come into her full powers, she maintains a low profile by curating ancient artefacts and only performing heroic acts incognito.

But soon, Diana will have to muster all of her strength, wisdom and courage as she finds herself squaring off against Maxwell Lord (Pedro Pascal) and the Cheetah (Kristen Wiig), a villainess who possesses superhuman strength and agility.

The rip-roaring action is complemented by a suitably dramatic soundtrack from Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer.

The unknown story of a young Polish boxer imprisoned at Auschwitz, who became a symbol of hope to fellow inmates after fighting his way to victory over his German opponents, is brought to life in a new film this autumn.

The Champion of Auschwitz delves into the life of Tadeusz ‘Teddy’ Pietrzykowski and his fight for survival after becoming prisoner number 77, one of the first inmates at the notorious Nazi death camp.

During his three-year imprisonment, Pietrzykowski fought more than 40 victorious duels, becoming a symbol of hope for victory over Nazi terror.

He also joined the Auschwitz resistance movement, Związek Organizacji Wojskowej, and took part in an assassination attempt against commandant Rudolf Höss, by helping to sabotage the saddle of his horse. The assassination attempt failed, but resulted in Höss breaking a leg.

Later, Pietrzykowski killed Höss’ dog, which had been trained to attack Jewish prisoners and had killed at least one of them. The dog

was cooked and eaten by the prisoners.

In March 1941, Pietrzykowski took part in his first unofficial boxing fight in the camp, motivated by the promise of additional food against a German kapo. While the fights were intended as amusement for camp personnel, they became popular with prisoners as well, whose morale was boosted by Pietrzykowski’s defeat of German opponents and collaborators.

Director Maciej Barczewski, who is the grandson of Holocaust survivors, said: “The Champion of Auschwitz is a story about an extraordinary man who, thanks to his skills, not only fought for his life in the place of extermination, but also gave others hope that their tormentors were not invincible.”

Lead actor Piotr Głowacki said: “Tadeusz ‘Teddy’ Pietrzykowski was a man who, thanks to a strong will to survive and a passion for boxing, has shown that even the greatest, unimaginable evil can be defeated.”

The Champion of Auschwitz is released in UK cinemas on 3 September

DOCUMENTARY

Oliver Sacks: His Own Life The life of legendary neurologist and author Oliver Sacks is laid bare in an intimate documentary released in the autumn.

Oliver Sacks: His Own Life explores intimate details of the eminent scientist’s battles with drug addiction, homophobia, and a medical establishment that accepted his work only decades later.

London-born Sacks was known for his best-selling books, Awakenings and The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, which featured case studies of people, including himself, who were grappling with neurological disorders.

He once stated that the brain was the “most incredible thing in the universe” and helped redefine society’s understanding of the mind and the diversity of human experience.

Directed by celebrated documentary filmmaker Ric Burns, the film features revealing and personal interviews with Sacks conducted

in the months prior to his death in 2015 and those closest to him including Jonathan Miller, Temple Grandin, Paul Theroux and Bill Hayes, among others. The film also draws on unique access to the extensive archives of the Oliver Sacks Foundation.

Oliver Sacks: His Own Life is released in UK cinemas in September

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8 July 2021 Jewish News

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Radio / Weekend

‘In lockdown I was a lecturer and a Play School presenter’ Francine Wolfisz speaks to comedian Ashley Blaker about his new radio show, which takes a wry look at parenting his six children

A

shley Blaker is making something of a departure. No, not the type that most people would like to make to sunnier climes without having to quarantine, but rather a move in a different direction for his latest comedy project, which launches on Radio 4 this week.

Having made a name for himself as the fresh face of Orthodox Jewish comedy, Blaker’s religious identity – which he largely embraced in his twenties – has always been front and centre of his material.

In 2017, he was commissioned by the BBC to create a show called Ashley Blaker’s Goyish Guide To Judaism, which was described as “an insider’s view of his religion”.

That was followed up by his debut stand-up show, Observant Jew, at

the 2018 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, while two years ago, he teamed up with Muslim comedian Imran Yusuf for their UK tour, Prophet Sharing.

This time, however, rabbis make more of a cameo appearance and the Jewish jokes simmer away in the background, but are not the focus.

His life as a father, with wife Gemma, of six children – including two autistic boys and an adopted girl with Down Syndrome – are at the very heart and soul of his new series, which takes a wry look at the world of parenting.

Ashley Blaker: 6.5 Children is a warts and all mix of stand-up and observational comedy that finds, even amid the madness of lockdown, missing phone chargers and the demands of raising special needs children, there are moments with more laughter than tears.

He is joined by Shelley Blond, Kieran Hodgson, Rosie Holt and Judith Jacob, as well as his children appearing as themselves: Ami, 17, Ophie, 15, Simi, 13, Soroh, 12, Sruly, 11 and Bina, seven.

The idea for Blaker’s latest radio show – and a national tour inspired by it that launches next year – came about after he heard “gasps” from audiences each time he mentioned he had half a dozen children.

“Audiences, particularly nonJewish ones for instance, just seemed so surprised and interested,” says Blaker, who went to Haberdasher’s Boys’ School in Elstree with Matt Lucas and went on to produce his series Little Britain.

Britain “It made me realise some things are more interesting than you take for granted.

People would kind of gasp, but as I would say, ‘Guys, you don’t even know the half of it.’”

At the top of the challenges with which he has to cope is looking after three children with special needs.

Comedy provided a coping mechanism for the Edgware resident to deal with, as he calls it in his typically droll way, “meetings, meetings and incessant meetings”.

He tells me: “Soroh, who has

Comedian Ashley Blaker with his brood of half a dozen children, three of whom have special needs

Down syndrome, has a gastro specialist, audiology specialist, eyesight, ENT and mobility specialists. We have it all. You know you’ve got a lot going on when Great Ormond Street gives you your own parking space.

“You could have 10 regular kids and it wouldn’t make a difference.

Your experience of school could be never having to speak to the school very often at all, but I’ve never had that. We seem to have endless meetings. You know, review meetings, assessment meetings, start of term, middle of term, end of term meetings, planning meetings, even pre-planning meetings!”

He adds: “When you go into the meeting you immediately know how it’s going to go, because if it’s more positive, they put biscuits on the table. And if it’s a more negative one, they put a box of tissues. I’ve seen the tissues before and thought I’ll just make an excuse to move the car and leave. You become quite adept at handling these things.”

The story of how he came to adopt a child with Down syndrome is deserving of its own episode – the second programme in the series. His love for Soroh is obvious – in fact he heart-warmingly admits he loves her more than his biological children.

But at the time of her adoption 10 years ago, he and Gemma had their

hands full with three young boys, prompting many to ask why they wanted to put themselves forward.

“It’s so hard to kind of explain, but you know when sometimes people commit crimes or do crazy things, they say, ‘it was like a moment of madness came over me’. Well, it was a bit like that,” he says dryly. “A weird moment of madness came over both of us, because all logic would suggest it wouldn’t be a great thing to do.

They advertised all over the world for quite a long time to find the right parents.

“People would say why and, to paraphrase Edmund Hillary, ‘because she was there’. We certainly never had an interest before to adopt a child, because we could have our own children.”

Blaker’s parenting skills have never been so tested, however, than in the past year, when he suddenly found himself home schooling six children across a range of ages and abilities, an unenviable experience he explores in the fourth episode.

He recalls: “What was incredible was how selective the children became with regards to their ability to use technology. They are so technologically proficient. I mean, they come out of the womb and can set up a Snapchat account. They can do stuff we can’t, it’s natural to them.

But when it came to home schooling,

suddenly they forgot it all and they can’t just be left to their own devices, literally or figuratively.

“Then everyone’s trying to use the internet and it’s not working because everyone’s trying to do too much, too many people on it, and we haven’t got enough devices and it’s too noisy.

“But the biggest problem was the range of lessons. I’m effectively trying to run a primary school, secondary school, sixth form college and a special school. No educator in the country is running that range of lessons. It would be like being an open university lecturer and a presenter from Play School.”

In between all the stresses, the review meetings and hospital appointments, one gets the feeling Blaker really loves being a parent and he even concludes by the end that 2020 presented him with “a kind of golden period in some regards”.

He smiles: “Maybe it brought us all together a bit closer as a family.

We got to see the children in a new light and spent a bit more time with them – and we got to have a year off from all the birthday parties.”  Ashley Blaker: 6.5 Children begins on Friday, 11.30am on BBC Radio 4 and is also available on BBC Sounds. For details of his national tour, starting in May 2022, visit socomedy.co.uk

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8 July 2021

Weekend / Tribute

Photo by Blake Ezra

Sole survivor who spread love, not hate Rabbi Naftali Schiff pays tribute to Holocaust educator Leslie Kleinman, the only one of 68 family members to survive Auschwitz, who died aged 92 this week peared and Leslie was liberated by American troops. He spent the next eight months recuperating in an American-run hospital followed by a monastery, eventually joining 700 others later known as “The Boys”.

He was flown to Britain to start a new life, a planet away from both his Orthodox upbringing and the hell of the camps.

After a few years, he had learned a trade, started a business and was beginning to stand on his own feet.

He relished his new-found freedom and embraced life to the full, often frequenting the dance halls and social clubs of London, where he met his first wife Evelyn.

Like many Holocaust survivors, Leslie drifted far away from the strict Jewish upbringing of his youth.

Evelyn was a German gentile who came to the UK as a nanny and a nurse and was opposed to the Nazis.

They had two children, Rosalyn and Steven.

Evelyn suffered from ill health, leading the two of them to opt for early retirement and move to

Leslie with Rabbi Naftali Schiff at the premiere event for #A8230, A Legacy of Love

picturesque Vancouver, Canada.

After 48 years of marriage, Evelyn passed away. Leslie would recall how, on her deathbed, she told him to return to his Jewish roots. He would half- joke she was a deeply spiritual person who was directing him to discover JRoots, the educational organisation that latterly facilitated his rediscovery of all things Jewish and his becoming a teacher and guide on many journeys back to Poland.

Having learned of the Jewish retiree population of Westcliff and Southend, Leslie’s children arranged for him to relocate there from Canada where, within a short time, he was welcomed by the Jewish community and met Miriam, whom he would later marry.

Facilitated by the Holocaust Educational Trust, Leslie began sharing his experiences in schools and colleges across the country.

Within a couple of years, he had encountered the Orthodox Rabbi Bar of Southend and Westcliff (who welcomed him back to synagogue), married Miriam, the widow of another Holocaust survivor, and been introduced to JRoots. These events served to reignite the Jewish spark that lay dormant for so many years.

Once that Jewish spirit had been stirred, Leslie was unstoppable. He enthusiastically led tens of journeys to Poland with JRoots and became the Zeide, mentor, confidante and teacher to literally thousands of young Jews.

Memories of his childhood, customs, teachings and stirring Jewish tunes all surfaced almost with a Leslie, left, with his parents and siblings

Photo by Jake Blunenow

L

eslie Kleinman was one of eight children born into a strictly-Orthodox family in May 1929 in Ambud, a small village near Satu Mare in Romania.

He was the sole survivor of 68 family members transported to Auschwitz in April 1944. In the space of a year, he endured the notorious Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp, the brutal forced death march setting out from Birkenau, eventually arriving in Sachsenhausen, followed by Flossenbürg, during which time he said he thought he walked some 300 miles in freezing winter conditions.

Leslie would attribute his unusually tough and resilient nature to his impoverished yet adequate, principled and happy family upbringing.

Seventy-five years later, his eyes would well up on mere recall of his loving “mama Rochel”, whose resourcefulness would stretch one chicken to feed 10 mouths for a week, the soft counterbalance to his austere Chasidic father, who was the devoted religious functionary for a number of small surrounding villages.

Aged 15, having been incarcerated and branded like an animal in Auschwitz-Birkenau, and having lost all family and communal connection, Kleinman would recall his feeling of loneliness and the pact he made with the God he abandoned early on his journey.

Exposed to the elements in Sachsenhausen and facing the spectre of death, he made a promise to that God that if he would “be my friend” and bring him through the ordeal, he would return to study in yeshiva for a year after the war.

A mark of Leslie’s personal integrity was that when he eventually arrived in the UK, he turned down the alluring offer to study English and a profession in order to fulfil this personal pledge.

After Sachsenhausen and Flossenbürg, Leslie and the few remaining prisoners were sent on a second death march in the direction of Dachau. During the march, suddenly all of the Nazis disap-

Leslie Kleinman during an Aish on Campus trip to Auschwitz in 2019

vengeance. Leslie’s default response to any invitation or opportunity to share his experiences and lessons learned with young people in particular was with open hearted and resounding readiness to give his all.

He was honoured by the Queen a couple of years ago for his selfless contribution to Holocaust education in the UK. He was proud of and thankful towards the country that had provided him with so much and relished the opportunity to give back. His messages were often of a universal quality and relevant to all.

Perhaps Leslie’s most enduring lesson is that which forms the title of the JRoots documentary about his remarkable story, #A-8230- a Legacy of Love.

If Leslie had only a few minutes to speak, he would briefly share his story, roll up his sleeve and point to the number tattooed on his forearm by the Nazis. He would relate how, later in life he realised the gematria (numerical value) of his tattooed number adds up to 13, which is equal to the Hebrew words ahava (love) and echad (one). His message was unequivocal: “I do not hate

anybody”; “We must all work to love one another”; “We must work to be united, to be one.”

Having travelled the longest journey himself, Leslie’s latter years were perhaps an awakening of sorts, a “coming home”. They were years in which Leslie spoke from a place deep in his heart to Jewish people young and old, near and far. He sang and he danced, he joked, he prayed, he laughed and he taught.

“We are all one big family – you and I – even though we’ve only just met. Jewish people are just one big Yiddishe family. Each of you have got such treasures in your knapsack – don’t throw them away. I nearly did.

Thank God I didn’t and I can tell you, being Jewish – it’s the best thing in the world.”

Thank you, Leslie Kleinman, #A-8230, for sharing with us your unique legacy of love.  Rabbi Naftali Schiff is chief executive of Jewish Futures, co-founder of JRoots and director and producer of #A8230, A Legacy of Love (available to view on JRoots Journeys on Facebook)

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07/07/2021 15:48

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Jewish News 8 July 2021

Business / Culinary entrepreneurs

candicekrieger@googlemail.com

With Candice Krieger

ONLINE INNOVATORS TURN PASSION INTO PROFIT The founder of a foodie platform tells Candice Krieger why it’s no longer enough for those wanting to monetise content to post on platforms like Instagram or TikTok

S

ocial media and the digital world have transformed the media landscape, giving rise to a new wave of entrepreneurs who are creating content for online global audiences. Think YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. But it’s the monetisation of this red-hot sector, in which creators earn an income from their audience, that former influencer Daniel Levine believes is the future of media.

Although not a new phenomenon, the ‘creator economy’ – whereby creators make money directly from their audience – is growing at a staggering rate.

“It’s the next big thing,” says Levine, a successful early YouTube creator. “It is the fastest-growing ecosystem to exist and will significantly disrupt the media landscape.

We’ve seen the emergence of social media influencers and bloggers, but the next step is turning it into something sustainable and empowering

an 800 percent growth in creators creators to build their own mini during lockdown and, according media business.” to reports, cooking and baking Major players include online were the top home activities platform Patreon, which helps during the pandemic. some 200,000+ illustraThe creator economy tors, authors, podcasters, sits somewhere between musicians and other the gig economy (£217 independent creators to billion) and the creative indusreceive payment directly from tries (£1.63 trillion). Around 50 their audience, and Substack, an million people worldwide consider online service that enables writers themselves independent content to write and publish their own creators – a number that is expected paid-for newsletters. And Levine, 30, Daniel Levine to double in four to five years and could, has recently launched Food Tryb for says Levine, overtake more traditional forms of ‘foodies’, where bakers, home cooks, writers or professional chefs alike, can create a profile and employment within the next decade or so.

Levine acknowledges “we are already publish paid content. hearing people say they want to be ‘a creator’ Food Tryb is one of the first platforms as a profession, in the same way people do to feature paid subscriptions, digital item purchases and crowdfunding for its tens of thou- with other professions (such a doctor, author, builder etc)”, adding: “Twenty-nine of 100 sands of food and drink creators, a cohort that children in the US say that they want to be has exploded over the past year. a YouTube star.”

The London-based company experienced But it’s the monetisation of this exploding industry that is set to really shake up the market. “It’s no longer enough for creators to simply post on the big social media platforms (Instagram, YouTube, TikTok etc). They have become disillusioned with them and are turning to other revenue streams such as Patreon and Food Tryb. Essentially, they have been creating free content for years, growing an audience and gaining likes, so Facebook and Google can generate ad revenue. Apart from sporadic brand partnerships arranged directly with brands, creators aren’t getting much in return for their content and struggle to be seen in the dreaded algorithm.

“There had to be a better way for creators to publish and earn an income, and also gain independence from platforms that ultimately hold the control.”

And Levine is not alone in seeing the potential. Patreon recently raised £112 million in a funding round, almost tripling its valuation to £2.9 billion, while Substack raised £47m and is valued at around £469m.

Food Tryb’s business model is simple: it takes a small percentage fee of all income earned through the content, in return providing the technology and infrastructure to

Monetising content is the ‘future of media’

publish and monetise content and run its business underpinned by community.

Levine, who lives in north London, uploaded his first YouTube video in 2009. His creation – impressions of football stars; Arsène Wenger, Jose Mourinho, Thierry Henry and Rafael Benítez, received 500,000 views and was picked up by Sky Sports flagship show Soccer AM after a few days. In 2015, Levine set up Calibre30, a London-based influencer media agency to help creators get discovered.

Currently focusing on the food and drink market, Levine is considering expanding into other areas. “The opportunity is huge. [For] anyone with a skill and passion, content could be relevant. It’s a sector that has become increasingly important, especially for people seeking additional revenue streams in the wake of Covid. There are a lot of people in jobs they may not enjoy, but have realised they can start earning from something they are passionate about.”

There has been a shift towards supporting independents in recent years. “Many people believe that becoming a paying supporter for an independent creator is more rewarding than pouring money into the hands of big corporations.”

Could the creator economy ever replace the need for television or film? “The big screen in the living room won’t disappear, it’s just the content on it that will evolve – and it has already. But creators sit alongside TV and film, as they offer alternative entertainment and education. I imagine it will never fully replace TV and movies… Or could it?!” https://foodtryb.com Food Tryb helps creators in the food business make money

8 July 2021 Jewish News

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Orthodox Judaism

Torah For Today

SEDRA

What does the Torah say about: ‘Do not resuscitate’ orders

Matot-Masei

BY RABBI SAM TAYLOR The tribes of Reuven and Gad approached Moses with a request to settle in the lands on the eastern side of the River Jordan. Initially, Moses objected, accusing them of betraying their fellow Israelites during their time of need as they were soon to conquer the promised land.

Reuven and Gad clarified their request, saying they would first build pens for their livestock and cities for their children, after which all their men would help the rest of the people conquer the land of Israel before returning to their land east of the River Jordan.

Moses agreed to this arrangement with one slight change. He instructed their leaders to build cities for their children and then pens for their flock.

Rashi comments on this discrepancy and criticises Reuven and Gad since they placed greater emphasis on providing for their sheep, their material possessions, rather than their children. He notes that when Moses switched the order, his intention was

BY RABBI ARIEL ABEL

to make sure their priorities were correct. Moses was teaching them the importance of making what is essential their primary concern.

Rabbi Yosef Tzvi Salant asks how it was possible for that generation which had experienced divine providence daily and connected to the Almighty to make such an elementary mistake?

The answer, quoted in the name of Rav Dessler, is that owing to their large flock, they felt it would be better for the entire Jewish nation if they would settle on the other side of the River Jordan since they would avoid disagreements with other tribes over land.

Even though their intention was pure, they made a grave error by getting their priorities confused. We see from this episode that we should always make of primary importance what is essential, even if at times we might be able to rationalise otherwise.

◆ Rabbi Sam Taylor is the community rabbi at Borehamwood and Elstree Synagogue

A recent study found that one-in-three Covid patients were given ‘do not resuscitate’ (DNR) orders during the first wave of the pandemic.

So, what does the Torah have to say about this?

The Torah places supreme, although not absolute, value on human life.

It views human life as sacred, meaning that every medically feasible opportunity to afford someone a bearable extension of life or another chance to live with the prospect of recovery should be properly and fully examined before coming to a decision not to resuscitate.

However, in the situation where the organs are shutting down their functions then at the right point, and in consultation with the most competent medical staff available, a person must be allowed to pass away.

Judaism traditionally accepts the leaving of the soul from the body as part of life’s natural course once the body is no longer viable, which according to the understanding of Jewish law would imply an independently functioning cardiopulmonary system.

Failure to allow the passage of the soul out of the body by artificially stimulating organs without any reasonable hope of the body being able to ever function again is unacceptable, according to Rabbi Haim David HaLevy, the

prominent decider of Jewish law and former Tel Aviv chief rabbi.

As Rabbi Dr Moshe Tendler, son-in-law of the famed Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, told me 20 years ago, so long as the internationally accepted “Harvard criteria” are applied in medical settings to administer the stage by stage removal of life support medicine and machinery, halacha is being fully complied with.

King Saul asked for his life to end quickly rather than suffer further unbearably from his wounds. This shows us clearly that living a little longer in terrible agony is not a halachic objective.

The above is informative, not advisory for practical purposes and competent authorities must be consulted wherever possible. ◆ Rabbi Ariel Abel is based in Liverpool

Rabbi Sacks: The Torah, given in love, must be interpreted in love not violence “Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction.” With this powerful quotation from the 17th century thinker Blaise Pascal, the late Rabbi Lord Sacks began his book Not in God’s Name: Confronting Religious Violence.

As Rabbi Sacks documents in detail, horrendous acts of religiously motivated violence, commonplace in human history, but a phenomenon from which we might have hoped the 21st century would release us, have instead occurred with alarming regularity since 9/11.

The only way to have a genuine prospect of stemming this sinister tide, argues Rabbi Sacks, is to formulate a theology that severs the link between religious motivation and acts of terror.

We must not cede the interpretation of religion to those who use it to justify radical violence.

Rabbi Sacks is clear this challenge applies to all three Abrahamic faiths, Judaism included, reminding us of the nefarious actions of Baruch Goldstein in

massacring Palestinian Arabs at prayer in 1994 and Yigal Amir in assassinating Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin in November 1995.

A key component of developing a theology of life and peace, rather than death and violence, is confronting what Rabbi Sacks calls biblical “hard texts” – passages “which, interpreted literally, can lead to hatred, cruelty and war”.

Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks

The key in dealing with such texts, Rabbi Sacks insists, is to avoid fundamentalism – a literal understanding of the biblical text that ignores the wider context of biblical values and overlooks the importance of textual interpretation.

Or, as he puts it in The Dignity of Difference: “Every great faith has within it harsh texts… The choice is ours. Will the generous texts of our tradition serve as interpretive keys to the rest, or will the abrasive passages determine our ideas of what we are and what we are called on to do?”

In Not in God’s Name, Rabbi Sacks goes further, suggesting that ultimately the choice is not ours after all: “Hard texts need interpreting; without it, they lead to violence.

God has given us both the mandate and the responsibility to do just that.”

In Not in God’s Name, as well as in some other writings, Rabbi Sacks illustrates in more detail how the work of addressing hard texts in a Jewish context is traditionally done.

He focuses on Torah passages including the Akedah, the commandments to destroy the Seven Canaanite Nations and the Amalekites, and the law of the rebellious son who is sentenced to death, a punishment which, from a surface reading of the text, appears grossly disproportionate to his offences.

Central to defusing such passages, as Rabbi Sacks makes clear, is the role of Torah Shebe’al Peh, the Oral Torah of Judaism.

The Oral Torah gives us a tradition of Jewish interpretation of the Biblical text. To read the text without such interpretation, to invariably take the word of the Bible literally, is to follow in the intellectual footsteps of the Sadducees and Karaites, which the rabbinic tradition rejected as heretical.

For example, the Talmud, the foundational document of the Oral Torah, teaches that the Assyrian monarch Sennacherib’s extensive military adventures and relocation of populations in the 8th century BCE created a situation in which the national identity of any individual can no longer be determined.

As a result, the Biblical commandment to exterminate the Seven Canaanite Nations has long been inoperative. Maimonides extends this notion to the commandment to wipe out the Amalekites.

Moreover, Rabbi Sacks emphasises that the whole tenor of rabbinic Judaism marginalises any military aspect and places spirituality centre stage. The Torah, given in love, must be interpreted in love. ◆ By Rabbi Dr Michael Harris, who serves Hampstead Synagogue. This class is part of a fortnightly online course run by the London School of Jewish Studies about the key ideas of Rabbi Sacks, taught by his up-and-coming and well-known students from around the world. It continues on Monday, 19 July. To book: www.lsjs.ac.uk

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Jewish News 8 July 2021

Progressive Judaism

The Bible Says What?

Progressively Speaking

‘God punished innocent Egyptians’

When it comes to LGBT education, the last thing we need is more division

BY RABBI DANNY RICH The 10 plagues brought upon Egypt

by God following Pharaoh’s continued refusal to free the Israelites is perhaps the most well-known story in our Jewish tradition.

The ‘rules’ are repetitive: Aaron and Moses go to see Pharaoh; they threaten a plague that occurs; Pharaoh promises release if the plague recedes; the plague abates, but Pharaoh changes his mind.

This story challenges our concept of a God operating according to the laws of nature, has universal concern for humanity and makes ethical choices. There have been numerous fascinating attempts to explain the plagues not as miraculous, but as natural phenomena. Nevertheless, it is the suffering of innocent Egyptians that is most difficult for the liberal palate.

Our discomfort is best captured by the well-known anonymous midrash, which appears twice in the Babylonian Talmud, commenting

on the Egyptian soldiers drowning in the Red Sea: “At that time the ministering angels wanted to sing a song of praise before the Holy One, but God rebuked them saying: ‘My creatures are drowning in the sea and you would sing before Me!’” It is likely for this reason that both the first (1918) Haggadah of the Liberal Jewish Synagogue, and the original Liberal Judaism Haggadah of my youth had no reference to the plagues except in the notes. The current Liberal Judaism Haggadah gives prominence to the plagues, mentions the custom of spilling wine and repeats the midrash as it tells the story of the Exodus.

The Torah reading remains for me a source of inspiration and reaffirms my commitment to the Jewish people’s early literature, which is just one of Judaism’s contributions to humanity.

◆ Rabbi Danny Rich is a vice president of Liberal Judaism

BY STUDENT RABBI LEV TAYLOR In last week’s by-election, LGBT-inclusive education was a hot button issue.

Politicians in Batley and Spen pitted religion against the supposedly radical idea that lesbian, gay, bi and trans children should know people like them exist.

The far-right Britain First party plastered “no LGBT in our schools” on their campaign literature, illustrated with a picture of a drag queen reading a children’s story.

George Galloway (pictured) muscled in with the same rhetoric.

He said schools should not teach “that there’s 99 genders”.

He accused LGBT campaigners of trying to indoctrinate children about “anal sex” and “how to masturbate”.

It was painful to watch. For almost the entire time I was in school, it was illegal for teachers to talk about homosexuality as “an acceptable alternative lifestyle”.

ASSOCIATE SPECIALIST TEACHER Norwood’s Education department are seeking a passionate, SEND Teacher to join us as an Associate from September 2021.

Some of the main responsibilities: 1. Carry out specialist, person-centred teaching programmes and interventions (in particular in the areas of literacy and numeracy). This includes 1:1 or group teaching, advisory teaching, LSA support and SENDCo support.

2. Support the learning, achievement and progression in academic and social areas of students.

3. To be familiar and highly experienced in working with a cross range of children who have SEND and those with a EHC Plan. To be capable of adapting to change and adopting innovative ways of working to benefit our students and partners.

These campaigns threatened to send us back to the dark days of secrecy and shame.

Because of this enforced ignorance, a generation of LGBT people grew up with no information about how to have safe and healthy relationships.

Even the mainstream parties indulged in the politics of division. Labour came close to defeat, clinching the seat by just over 300 votes. Their campaign source blamed

their drastically reduced majority on “conservative Muslims”.

It does no good to blame homophobia on religion. All this does is tell people that they have to choose between their religion and who they are.

Condemning religious people as bigoted will never facilitate change. If you denounce people as reactionaries, they will only dig in their heels.

LGBT-inclusive education is profoundly important. It helps young people know they are not alone, that their gender can be respected, and how to keep themselves safe and healthy.

It is perfectly possible to advocate for that while showing religious sensitivity. Voters deserve political leadership that builds bridges between LGBT and religious people.

We do not need more division. ◆ Lev Taylor is a student rabbi at Leo Baeck College

EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGIST Norwood’s Education department are seeking a motivated and inspiring Educational Psychologist to join us part-time from August 2021.

Some of the main responsibilities: 1. To work collaboratively as part of Norwood’s Children Service’s multidisciplinary team with a view to improving children and young people’s educational outcomes and life chances.

2. To deliver a holistic and effective Educational Psychology service to schools and families, with a focus on consultation and promoting inclusion.

Requirements: • Recognised UK teaching qualification (essential) • Post Graduate qualification in special education and/or Certificate in Dyslexia and Literacy (OCR level 5 equivalent) / ASD or similar (desirable)

Essential Requirements: • A degree in Psychology (or its equivalent) which confers Graduate Basis for Recognition with the British Psychological Society • Successful completion of a further degree on an accredited vocational course for the training of Educational Psychologists • HCPC registration

Benefits: • The opportunity to work for a leading UK charity • Competitive salary & benefits package • A challenging and varied role • A supportive team • 1pm Friday finish and additional leave during Jewish festivals

Benefits: • The opportunity to work for a leading UK charity • Competitive salary & benefits package • A challenging and varied role • A supportive team • 1pm Friday finish and additional leave during Jewish festivals

Send your application along with cover letter to jobs@norwood.org

Please note: We reserve the right to close the advert, once we receive sufficient applications, so recommend an early application.

This post is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) disclosure.

Norwood is a disability confident employer. This means we are committed to employing people with disabilities.

Patron: Her Majesty The Queen.

Registered Charity No: 1059050.

Please note: We reserve the right to close the advert, once we receive sufficient applications, so recommend an early application.

This post is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) disclosure.

Norwood is a disability confident employer. This means we are committed to employing people with disabilities.

Patron: Her Majesty The Queen.

Registered Charity No: 1059050.

www.jewishnews.co.uk

8 July 2021 Jewish News

Ask our

33

Professional advice from our panel / Ask Our Experts

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

This week: Mortgage broker authorisation, changing health insurer and dealing with staff returning to the office JACOB BERNSTEIN FINANCIAL SERVICES (FCA) COMPLIANCE

RICHDALE CONSULTANTS

Dear Jacob While looking for a mortgage broker, I noticed that some describe themselves as “directly authorised”, while others as “appointed representative”. Is there any real difference I should know about?

Rachel Dear Rachel Your attention to detail is impressive – most people miss this! While there is no real difference between the nature of the service provided by a broker firm that is directly authorised (DA) or an appointed representative (AR), there are key distinctions in the nature of their authorisation that can prove crucial.

TREVOR GEE PRIVATE HEALTHCARE SPECIALIST

PATIENT HEALTH Dear Trevor We would like to change our health insurer as you have explained previously huge savings could possibly be made with more cover.

What confuses us is what is meant by the ‘underwriting’.

Martin Dear Martin The underwriting of the insurer relates to the risk terms they consider the

policy should have when you take it out. So, for example, the insurer may say in simple terms that you don’t have to declare any of your previous history and if you chose that route, they will not cover previous issues for a couple of years. That may be very suitable to you, as an issue may well have healed and have been resolved and so if it reoccurs after two years, you could receive cover for it.

In other cases, you may decide to declare to the insurer what medical issues you may currently have or had previously and they could then decide to allow them to be covered, exclude the condition but review the policy or exclude it going forward.

Recently, clients of mine with serious health issues took

While a DA broker firm is authorised in its own right with what the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) terms as “permissions” to complete various types of regulated business, an AR broker firm essentially piggybacks off the permissions of a “principal” firm, which is itself DA. This means that as far as the FCA is concerned, not only is the AR broker firm itself responsible for the services it provides, but the principal also holds regulatory responsibility and accountability for the service(s) provided by the AR broker firm.

It is for this reason you can often take comfort knowing the AR broker firm (and the fairness and quality of service it provides), is subject to the additional scrutiny of its principal.

If you read the small print when working with an AR broker firm, you should notice a different business name pop up in various places, such as in the terms of business, advising you of who is its principal.

the underwriting of medical history disregarded with their company plan, meaning there were no declarations to complete and the groups were able to receive ongoing treatment for pre-existing issues.

Occasionally, by making a declaration, the same plan could be much cheaper than when choosing not to make a declaration.

There are never any charges to the advice we give to the public, so do give me a call and we can go through your own particular circumstances.

The insurers cannot advise you as what is best for you as they are not permitted to ‘advise’, so do be cautious before changing, as the type of underwriting is extremely important in the way the policy protects you.

EMMA GROSS EMPLOYMENT LAW AND DATA PROTECTION

SPENCER WEST LLP Dear Emma As the government is dropping the ‘work from home’ order as of 19 July, I sent an email informing my staff they should return to the office by 26 July. Some are refusing to come back, claiming they should be allowed to continue to work from home. Can I sack employees who don’t comply with my request?

James

Registered Charity No. 259480

Leave the legacy of independence to people like Hayley.

eNABLeD PLease remember us in your wiLL.

Visit www.jbd.org or call 020 8371 6611

Dear James Slow down! Jumping straight to firing anxious employees is a mistake. First, carry out a risk assessment of your workplace, put together a ‘return to work’ policy and communicate it to your workforce (I have a great template available for this).

Offering clarity on expectations and safety measures will give your team confidence that they will be safe to return to the office. You must be mindful of protected groups, such as those who are vulnerable or pregnant, and those who genuinely believe they are in serious or imminent danger.

Before you take steps towards disciplinary action, remember that dismissing an employee in response to their refusal to return to work could open the door to

‘Freedom day’ is on 19 July

a claim for unfair dismissal if the employee has a minimum of two years’ service. You will need both a fair reason to dismiss and to follow a fair procedure prior to dismissal.

If you are going to dismiss the employee on the basis of gross misconduct due to unauthorised absence, be sure that if they have raised legitimate concerns about returning to work you have taken the necessary steps to show you have understood and attempted to remedy these concerns.

34

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Jewish News 8 July 2021

Ask Our Experts / Professional advice from our panel

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

Email: editorial@jewishnews.co.uk PRIVATE HEALTHCARE SPECIALIST

BREAST, GROIN & HERNIA SURGEON

TELECOMS SPECIALIST BENJAMIN ALBERT Qualifications: • Co-Founder and Technical Director of ADWConnect – a specialist in business telecommunications, serving customers worldwide.

• Independent consultant and supplier of Telephone & Internet services.

• Client satisfaction is at the heart of everything my team and I do, always striving to find the most cost-effective solutions.

ADWCONNECT 0208 089 1111 www.adwconnect.com hello@adwconnect.com

EMPLOYMENT LAW AND DATA PROTECTION

TREVOR GEE Qualifications: • Managing Director, consultant specialists in affordable family health insurance.

• Advising on maximising cover, lower premiums, pre-existing conditions.

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

• LLB solicitors finals.

• Member of Chartered Insurance Institute.

SIMON MARSH Qualifications: • Consultant General Surgeon with specialist interest in dealing with both breast cancer and non-cancer breast conditions.

• Surgical Director of the Gilmore Groin and Hernia Clinic experienced in hernia surgery, including “non-mesh” hernia repair and Sportsman’s Hernia.

• Local anaesthetic surgery including lipomas, cysts and skin cancers.

EMMA GROSS Qualifications: • Specialist in claims of unfair dismissal, redundancy and discrimination.

• Negotiate out-of-court settlements and handle complex tribunal cases.

• HR services including drafting contracts and policies, advising on disciplinaries, grievances and providing staff training.

• Contributor to The Times, HR Magazine and other titles.

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

108 HARLEY STREET 0207 563 1234 www.108harleystreet.co.uk info@108harleystreet.co.uk

SPENCER WEST LLP 020 7925 8080 www.spencer-west.com emma.gross@spencer-west.com

DIRECTOR OF LEGACIES

JEWELLER

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 trade prices.

KKL EXECUTOR AND TRUSTEE COMPANY 020 8732 6101 www.kkl.org.uk enquiries@kkl.org.uk

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

•

Got a question for a member of our team?

Email: editorial@jewishnews.co.uk

Why are some premiums higher than others?

Patient Health is London’s health insurance intermediary of choice specialising in trying to find you higher cover for less money. If you do not have an intermediary like Patient Health, representing you it becomes extremely difficult to find the right policy at an affordable premium.

There are never any charges for our services Call Patient Health today for better peace of mind Call Patient Health today for expert medical Insurance advice Patient Health for a company that has the patience for every client

Call Trevor Gee for Free Expert Advice

020 3146 3444

COMMERCIAL LAWYER ADAM LOVATT Qualifications: • Lawyer with more than 11 years of experience working in the legal sector.

Specialist in corporate, commercial, media, sport and start-ups.

• Master’s degree in Intellectual Property Law from the University of London.

• Non-Executive Director of various companies advising on all governance matters.

LOVATT LEGAL LIMITED 07753 802 804 adam@lovattlegal.co.uk

CONSULTANT DERMATOLOGIST

CHARITY EXECUTIVE

DR LAURENCE LEVER Qualifications: • MBBS FRCP, private practice at 108 Harley Street The Skin Clinic.

• Consultant Dermatologist with a special interest in the management of malignant and pre-malignant conditions of the skin • Looks after all dermatological conditions, including dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, acne, moles, warts, cysts, skin tumours/cancer/oncology, dermatological surgery.

SUE CIPIN Qualifications: • 20 years+ hands-on experience, leading JDA in significant growth and development.

• Understanding of the impact of deafness on people, including children, at all stages.

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

• Technology room with expert advice on and facilities to try out the latest equipment.

Hearing aid advice, support and maintenance.

108 HARLEY STREET SKIN CLINIC 0207 563 1234 www.108harleystreet.co.uk info@108harleystreet.co.uk

JEWISH DEAF ASSOCIATION 020 8446 0502 www.jdeaf.org.uk mail@jdeaf.org.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 19 years ago.

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

DANCING WITH LOUISE 075 0621 7833 www.dancingwithlouise.co.uk Info@dancingwithlouise.com

8 July 2021 Jewish News

www.jewishnews.co.uk

35

Professional advice from our panel / Ask Our Experts

FINANCIAL SERVICES (FCA) COMPLIANCE

ACCOUNTANT

KITCHEN CONSULTANCY

JACOB BERNSTEIN Qualifications: • A member of the APCC, specialising in financial services compliance for: • Mortgage, protection and general insurance intermediaries; • Lenders, credit brokers, debt counsellors and debt managers; • Alternative Investment Fund managers; • E-Money, payment services, PISP, AISP and grant-making charities.

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.

SHANTI PANCHANI Qualifications: • Experienced designer with 25+ years’ experience in German and English kitchens.

• We provide a full-circle approach: from designing and supplying to installing your new kitchen including appliances and speciality worktops.

• Our suppliers are flexible in design, ensuring the customer remains the priority.

• We have been supplying kosher-friendly kitchens for over 15 years.

RICHDALE CONSULTANTS LTD 020 7781 8019 www.richdale.co.uk jacob@richdale.co.uk

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

THE KITCHEN CONSULTANCY 07738 067 671 www.thekitchenconsultancy.com shanti@thekitchenconsultancy.com

INTERNATIONAL PAYMENTS SPECIALIST

IT SPECIALIST

CHARITY EXECUTIVE

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.

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.

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.

CURRENCIES DIRECT 07922 131 152 / 020 7847 9447 www.currenciesdirect.com/jn naomifeltham93@hotmail.com

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

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

ISRAELI ACCOUNTANT

INSURANCE CONSULTANCY

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!

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.

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

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

ALIYAH ADVISER

If you would like to advertise your services here email: sales@ jewishnews.co.uk

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.

ERIC SALAMON Qualifications: • Provides free professional one-to-one advice at Resource to help unemployed into work.

• Offers mock interviews and workshops to maximise job prospects.

• Expert in corporate management holding director level marketing, commercial and general management roles.

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

DIRECTOR OF HOMECARE AND OPERATIONS

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, pet disputes, family disputes.

• Frequent broadcaster on national and International radio and television.

MATT MILLS Qualifications: • Started his career as a support worker, including residential and dementia care, as well as supported living for adults with learning disabilities, mental health needs and autism.

• Completed a range of care qualifications, achieving a Level 5 Diploma in leadership and management in Health and Social Care.

• He is passionate about supporting people to live independently within the community, and being involved in their lives in a positive way.

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

SWEETTREE HOME CARE SERVICES 020 7644 9522 www.sweettree.co.uk info@sweettree.co.uk

at your service Our highly professional team can: • Assist in arranging for your Will to be professionally drafted.

• Help reduce inheritance tax liability or eradicate it completely.

• Act as Executor in the administration of your estate.

• Provide caring pastoral services.

Contact us to find out more and about leaving a legacy to support JNF UK’s vital work in Israel

Call: 020 8732 6101 Email: enquiries@kkl.org.uk

KKL Executor and Trustee Company Ltd (a Company registered in England No. 453042) is a subsidiary of JNF Charitable Trust (Charity No. 225910) and a registered Trust Corporation (authorised capital £250,000).

36

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Jewish News 8 July 2021

The first deaf person I met was my beautiful baby Layla.

“ When Layla was diagnosed deaf at birth,

we were in complete shock and didn't know what to do.

JDA was there for us when we needed them most.

They've shown us we're not alone, helped us to cope and given Layla the best start in life. ”

Your donation will help Layla and all children with hearing loss get the very best out of life.

020 8446 0502 02 www.jdeaf.org.uk k Registered Charity No. 1105845 Company Limited by Guarantee 4983830

8 July 2021 Jewish News

www.jewishnews.co.uk

37

Fun, games and prizes

THE JEWISH NEWS CROSSWORD 1

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Crossword ACROSS: 1 Salt 3 Edible 8 Evasion 9 Let 10 Invalidate 13 Assimilate 17 Emu 18 Mongrel 19 Relent 20 Obey

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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.

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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 8 2 6 4 9 5 3 7 1

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RUBBISH WALK SOLAR WATER POWER WIND TRAIN POWER TRANSPORT

Last issue’s solutions

DOWN: 1 Suet 2 Learn 4 Den 5 Balsa 6 Esteem 7 Disarm 11 Inland 12 Career 14 Skull 15 Throb 16 Ally 18 Men

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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 20, 23 and 26 with their letters in the grid will help you to guess the identity of other letters.

The words associated with sustainable living 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.

L V N K M A U R T

3 6 3 8 9 4 8

CODEWORD

WORDSEARCH T Z Z

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

Long and eventful journey (7) Paid sportsperson (3) Play at the wicket in cricket (3) Pickled in brine (6) Humorous exaggerated imitation of a literary work (6) Maritime (3) Slash (3) Inconvenient (7) Challenges (5) Glaring, shocking (5)

DOWN 1 Snooty, stuck‑up (6) 2 Slippery (3) 3 Romantic flowers (5) 4 ___ flush, highest hand in poker (5) 5 Coniferous tree (7) 6 Polluted mist (4) 10 Setter of snares (7) 12 Resource used in teaching (3) 13 Forthright, outspoken (6) 15 Milky precious stones (5) 16 Country bumpkin (5) 18 Matrix (4) 21 Ventilate (3)

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SUDOKU

3 7 1 9 6 4 5 2 8

5 9 2 8 7 3 6 1 4

3 1 3 1 5 1

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

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Wordsearch 4 5 2 1 2 1

2 1 4 5 3 4

4 5 3 1 2 1

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F I B C H O M N L X O A Z

B O N E P I L O G U E K U

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V N D A G O E Y B C R B I

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L M R X U I I T Q R Z O A

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QU I C K E S T N O M O A P L OMB T A A W I S T E R I A D R R B S E P A R A J M S N L AMB S E D G L O S U P I N E N A N L E D R UG F I D

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T I U D

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Jewish News 8 July 2021

www.jewishnews.co.uk

Business Services Directory ANTIQUES 44

The Jewish News 22 September 2016

Stirling BUSINESS SERVICES DIRECTORY Antique – Reproduction – Retro Furniture Top prices paid (any condition)

WE BUY ANTIQUES VERY HIGH PRICES PAID. FREE HOME VISITS. All Antique Furniture Hille & Epstein Diamond Jewellery, Gold, Silver, Paintings, Porcelain, Glass, Bronzes, Ivories, Oriental & Judaica Antiques etc.

Full house clearances organised.

Please look at our website for more details

www.antiquesbuyers.co.uk FOR APPOINTMENTS CALL SUE ON: 0800 840 2035 or 07956268290 OPEN 8am TO 9pm 7 DAYS. PORTOBELLO RD LONDON.

Hille, G Plan, etc.

CarerEpstein, Archie Shine,Clothing

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

Carer FURS WANTED Auxiliary Nurse Cash paid for Mink House clearances Available to support

jackets, coats, you in your home. boleros, stoles, Single items to complete homes also fox coats, Days/nights. jackets etc.

MARYLEBONE rates.

ANTIQUES - 8 CHURCH STREET NW8 8ED Very reasonable Wardrobes cleared Call 0208 07866 958 2939 614 744 (ANYTIME) Call 01277 352 560 or 07495 026 168

Computer

0207 723 7415 (SHOP) closed Sunday & Monday

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

Man on a Bike will get MAKE SURE YOUfast!

CONTACT US BEFORE SELLING you working Rapid Response IT support for your PC & Mac

CHARITY & WELFARE

Networks, virus problems, broadband, wireless systems, new computers and everything else you may need.

For small businesses & home users.

of Kensal Green

Antiques

Established over 60 years.

Know who you are dealing with.

All quality furniture bought & sold.

Best prices paid for complete house clearances including china, books, WE BUY ANTIQUES clothing etc. Also rubbish clearance VERY HIGH PRICES PAID. FREE HOME VISITS. service, lofts, sheds, garages etc

Bereavement Counselling for adults and children individually. Support Groups available.

During the pandemic, we offer telephone and online counselling.

Contact Jewish Bereavement Counselling Service in confidence.

0208 951 3881 enquiries@jbcs.org.uk | www.jbcs.org.uk

Full house clearances organised.

020 8960 5401 or 07825 224144

www.antiquesbuyers.co.uk FOR APPOINTMENTS CALL SUE ON:

HOUSE CLEARANCE 0800 840 2035 or 07956268290 OPEN 8am TO 9pm 7 DAYS.

Labels are for jars.

Refer yourself or a loved one

by YOU BEREAVED? ARE Not people. calling 020 8458 2223 or visit Counselling for adults & children who are www.jamiuk.org

experiencing loss. Support groups offered.

REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 1003345 Call The Jewish Bereavement Counselling Service in confidence

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

Sheltered Accommodation

For all your heating and plumbing requirements

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www.jewishnews.co.uk

8 July 2021 Jewish News

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When Virgin Atlantic launched direct flights between Tel Aviv and London Heathrow in September 2019, it was an especially proud moment for us all, not just our Israeli CEO Shai Weiss. With its appeal to both leisure tourists and business travellers alike, as well as being our only destination we could get to in less than five hours, excitement at flying daily to Tel Aviv was high. The route was performing far beyond expectation, consistently shining in the top five in terms of our customer satisfaction polls.

While no one could have predicted the events since, and the devastating effect Covid-19 has had on the airline and travel industry as a whole, Israel’s world-leading testing vaccination programme, aided by MDA, has meant a joyful return for us and our passengers.

Now, as Israel emerges from the crisis and builds out its path for reopening the country to foreign travellers, alongside the UK dropping the need to quarantine on return from Israel having added it to its Green list, demand has never been higher. We’re now back to flying daily between London and Tel Aviv Ben Gurion, and are excited to ramp that up to a twice daily service. And we want you to fly in style.

We pride ourselves on making your journey with us a pleasure from start to finish. Whether it’s our incredible service, innovative products, our sparkling new aircraft, or the countless small, thoughtful touches, we’re always making sure that we’re putting you first.

Our Upper Class service offers the perfect retreat at 30,000 feet, with lie-flat suites, fine dining, and an exclusive onboard social space.

“

On the ground, you’ll enjoy a private security channel and our beautiful Clubhouse lounge at London Heathrow.

For little extras that make a big difference, our Premium cabin is the ideal choice. There’s priority check in and boarding, and a glass of bubbly to welcome you as you settle into your extra-large leather seat.

In Economy, we offer three different ways to fly. Sail through the airport with hand luggage only with Economy Light, or check a bag and to choose your seat in advance in Economy Classic. Economy Delight is a bit more of a treat, with priority boarding and extra legroom. In every cabin, you’ll find WiFi, inseat power, fantastic food and drink included, and the latest music and movies.

Of course, the health and safety of our customers and our people has always been our number one priority. We’ve recently been awarded the highest standard in Health and Safety by APEX and Simpliflying. We also want to make sure you can book your travel with confidence, knowing that if things change, so can your ticket.

Our flexible booking policy means you can change your dates as often as you like.

You can even choose a different destination or make one name change, with no admin fees.

We know so many of our customers are desperate to travel back to Israel for pleasure, work or just to see family and friends and we cannot wait until we see the Israeli Government formalise their plans around the safe opening of Israel to foreign travellers. The Team at MDA have played such an important part in Israel’s success story post Covid. We are delighted to be supporting them to and from the UK and Israel, and we are so excited to see more of their supporters and partners onboard a Virgin Atlantic Aircraft soon.

Nick Bettles – Country Manager – Israel

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www.jewishnews.co.uk

Jewish News 8 July 2021

MDA UK STAKEHOLDERS’ DINNER WITH AMBASSADOR HOTOVELY We were thrilled to finally be able to host our stakeholders in one room for a wonderful event at The Grove at the end of June.

This was our first in-person event in over 18 months, and to mark the occasion we were joined by Ambassador Tzipi Hotovely, who welcomed the opportunity to quote ‘get out of the ‘ghetto’ and experience life beyond the Embassy, The Residence and the local Tesco!’

Brian Kalms, MDA UK Vice Chair, welcomed the group before Daniel Burger took to the stage to discuss Magen David Adom UK’s strategic vision for the future of the organisation - in Israel, the new Middle East and beyond - and how, ultimately, together we can save more lives.

After networking with MDA UK Board Members, Committee representatives and fellow supporters, guests left feeling energised and excited about what the future holds. Here’s hoping that this is just the start of a return to normality and the end of Zoom get-togethers!

OPERATION GUARDIAN OF THE WALLS May saw a return to violence and terrorism on Israel’s borders as the simmering conflict erupted once more. For 11 days Israel came under attack, and Magen David Adom once more found itself on the frontline.

A constant barrage of rockets were fired into Israel and there were relentless violent attacks on the streets, until a ceasefire came info effect on 21st May. Magen David Adom Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics were at the scene of every medical emergency across the length and breadth of Israel. Their incredible teams risked their lives to ensure the safety and health of the population, often providing essential medical treatment to patients in the midst of red alert sirens.

Even when MDA teams and ambulances came under attack on the streets, they powered through to ensure that anyone who needed medical attention, received it.

In support of our colleagues who were on the highest level of alert throughout the troubles, MDA UK launched an emergency appeal to fund two new Mobile Intensive Care Units (MICUs) that were made available immediately to begin their lifesaving efforts. We received an outpouring of support from donors here in the UK. In just a few days we not only funded both MICUs, but were able to purchase a third. To the hundreds of you who supported this campaign, thank you.

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA: THANKS TO THE INCREDIBLE GENEROSITY OF THE UK COMMUNITY, WE WERE ABLE TO PUT THREE NEW MICUs ON THE ROAD DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE TENSIONS.

@Magen David Adom UK @mda_uk @MDAUK_

Magen David Adom UK, Winston House, 2 Dollis Park, London N3 1HF | T 020 8201 5900 | E info@mdauk.org | www.mdauk.org

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