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‘Get’ abusers warned: comply or risk prison

Landmark verdict sees husband jailed after denying divorce

by Jenni Frazer @Jennifrazer

The first man to be jailed in Britain for coercive behaviour after failing to grant his wife a get is still withholding a religious divorce, Jewish News can reveal.

Campaigners this week hailed the landmark court decision handed down to Alan Alti Moher, while lawyers for his victim told Jewish News it sent a “strong message to abusers”.

But Moher, who is now behind bars, has still not provided his former wife, Caroline Moher, with a get or religious release.

In statements after the case, leading counsel Anthony Metzer QC said: “This case demonstrates that victims do have a powerful remedy against those that commit acts of domestic violence and abuse.

“British law does not ordinarily concern itself with issues of Jewish law. One would hope that no Beth Din would knowingly sanction or encourage abusive conduct.

Justice: Caroline Moher

Jail: Alan Alti Moher

“Criminal sanctions may apply, as in this case, where a defendant deliberately manipulates Jewish custom and practice to cause harm to someone.”

His junior in the case, Adam Gersch, said: “The court has sent a strong message to abusers today.

“It is time for the community to speak with one clear voice against such abuse. Victims of domestic violence and abuse deserve the full protection of the criminal law.”

The full story of the breakdown of the Moher marriage is

revealed in a sentencing note provided to the judge at Southwark Crown Court, after Salford property millionaire Moher changed his plea to guilty of coercive and controlling behaviour.

Mrs Moher brought a private prosecution against her ex-husband, from whom she obtained a civil divorce in 2019 after a threeyear separation.

And it is clear Moher did not deny having used the potential issuing of a get as “manipulation or leverage” in financial negotiations relating to maintenance of Mrs Moher and their youngest

daughter (the couple have three children).

Moher’s own defence barrister, Jeffrey Israel, acknowledged to the court that using a get as leverage at the end of a marriage was widespread.

He said: “While outright get refusal is unusual, it is unfortunately common for the granting of a get to be on the table as a negotiating chip within the context of any agreed, negotiated settlement.”

In comments outside court after the case concluded last Friday, Mrs Moher said: “My hope is that this case sends clear messages to abusers and their victims.

“To those who have emotionally coerced and controlled, physically hurt, and dehumanised their spouses – the law will not allow you to get away with your crimes.

“To those victims out there – you are not alone, and justice and humanity are on your side.

“I urge you not to stay silent, but to fight for your freedom.”

Continued on p9

LIFE

Jewish News

Spring 2022 • ISSUE NO.7

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INSIDE

Don Black

Nicola Shindler Moses Reuven

Season Of Insta Fas hion Decades Of Lyrics

Gal Gadot Elliot Levey & Joel Grey

DAYS OF TRAVEL

Hours Of Dining Passover Time

50 years of Cabare

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MAGAZINE INSIDE!

VIRUS OF AL-QUDS DAY RETURNS AFTER TWO-YEAR COVID HIATUS

Hezbollah flag at a previous rally

Jewish groups have warned it is “disturbing” that the annual antiIsrael Al Quds Day demonstration will return to London this month, with organisers issuing a call to arms for Sunday, 24 April, writes Adam Decker.

Supporters say it aims to highlight Palestinian rights and protest against Israeli settlers but, in recent

years, participants have flown terror group flags, and one of its speakers even blamed “Zionists” for the Grenfell Tower fire.

The next protest is being planned by the Wembleybased Islamic Human Rights Commission, a non-governmental organisation with special consultative status with the Economic and

Social Council of the United Nations.

On Tuesday, the IHRC said the march – from the Home Office to Downing Street – was “back due to popular demand”. Demonstrators are calling for “an end to the Zionist apartheid regime’s atrocities and occupation of Palestine”.

It claimed that the Israel Defense Forces “continues to terrorise

Palestinian civilians, assassinating and arresting those who resist” and that “mainstream narratives relating to Israel are shifting… in particular, the term ‘apartheid’ is now widely being employed”.

The IHRC statement said the Al Quds Day parade was a “chance to counter the violent extremism of the Continued on p9

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Jewish News 7 April 2022

PUTIN’S WAR ON UKRAINE

Zelensky calls for ‘Nurem President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for “Nuremburg-style” trials for the Russian political and military leaders responsible for war crimes in Ukraine, likening their terror tactics and targeting of civilians to those of the Nazis, writes Stephen Oryszczuk.

In scenes broadcast from outside Kyiv this week, eerily reminiscent images of mass graves and the bound bodies of civilians shot in the back of the head by a retreating Russian army have shaken Jewish communities around the world.

In a graphic address to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Zelensky said Russia was committing the “most terrible war crimes” since the 1940s, creating “mass starvation”, and shooting and raping civilians,

Defendants in the dock at the Nuremberg Trials

as he showed images from Bucha and called for trials similar to those that judged captured senior Nazis.

Stephen Smith, the executive director emeritus. of USC Shoah Foundation, which was set up by Steven Spielberg to document genocides and crimes against h u m a n i t y, told Jewish News that the actions of Russian soldiers “terrorising and killing” in Ukraine was designed to make people leave, what is known as “forcible population transfer”.

He said images being broadcast this week were “reminiscent of scenes from the Second World War”, adding: “It makes uncomfortable viewing – and so it should… There is good reason for the anger, because even before we witnessed the scenes in Bucha there has been ample evidence that the Russian military has targeted civilians.”

Left: Supplies finally reach the citizens of Bucha. Above: Onlookers come to terms with the sight of mass graves

Although Smith said these crimes could take decades before they are heard in court, he added that “Russia’s invasion constitutes a one-sided attack on a sovereign nation”, saying: When this attack is extended to its defenceless citizens, it constitutes

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blocking cities, deliberately shooting civilians on the road trying to escape from the hostilities, deliberately blowing up shelters”.

Commentators have been quick to note the resonance of the invasion, during which Russian soldiers

EJC ‘shocked and appalled’ as president is sanctioned

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egregious crimes against humanity.”

Zelensky said the world had yet to see what Russian troops have done in other areas of Ukraine, and accused the invading force of “deliberately destroying Ukrainian cities with artillery and air strikes, deliberately

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Russian Jewish leader Moshe Kantor has been included in the latest list figures sanctioned by the UK government for links to Russia.

The European Jewish Congress (EJC) president, who has also served as vice president of Britain’s Jewish Leadership Council, was sanctioned for being a largest shareholder of Acron, a fertiliser company.

The firm has “vital strategic significance for the Russian government”, a UK government statement said.

Kantor is known in the Jewish community for his philanthropic work and for being deputy chairman of Yad Vashem in Jerusalem.

Measures announced by Britain on Wednesday evening also included a freeze of the assets of Sberbank, Russia’s largest bank, and Credit Bank of Moscow.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss added that the latest wave of measures would “bring an end to the UK’s imports of Russian energy and sanction yet more individuals and businesses, decimating Putin’s war machine.

“Together with our allies,

Target: Moshe Kantor is on the latest UK sanction list

we are showing the Russian elite that they cannot wash their hands of the atrocities committed on Putin’s orders.

We will not rest until Ukraine prevails.”

The EJC reacted angrily to the news. A spokesperson said: “We are deeply shocked and appalled by the decision today of the British government to sanction Dr Moshe Kantor. The decision is misguide and lacks any factual or evidence-based merit. Dr Kantor is a British citizen who has lived for over three decades in Western Europe, many

years of which has been in the UK. He is a long-standing and respected Jewish leader, who has dedicated his life to the security and wellbeing of Europe’s Jewish communities and the fight against antisemitism, racism and xenophobia.

“In recognition of this life work on behalf of Jewish communities and his efforts to instill greater tolerance and reconciliation in Europe and beyond, Dr Kantor has been granted prestigious awards from many European governments. We call for this decision to be reversed.”

7 April 2022 Jewish News

www.jewishnews.co.uk

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PUTIN’S WAR ON UKRAINE

mberg-style’ trials

Left: A Russian stages a dramatic protest against Putin in Moscow. Centre: A resident of Bucha inspects the damage of his home caused by the Russian attacks. Right: A solider stands guard in Bucha, where Russian troops withdrew just days ago

are reported to have shaved the heads of Ukrainian women, raped women in front of their children, thrown civilians down wells while still alive and Russian tanks have crushed cars carrying families. One Ukrainian woman, who had been raped and killed, had a swastika branded onto her back.

Moscow’s UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia claimed “not a single person” suffered from violence in areas under Russian control and called the images “fake”, “staged” and “a crude forgery”.

Meanwhile, the UK, US and European Union imposed further sanctions

on Russia on Tuesday. The US sanctions package targeted officials and their family members as well as Russian banks and state-owned enterprises.

The European Commission has proposed a ban on coal imports from Russia and a full transaction ban on four key Russian banks as part of its fifth sanctions package.

On Tuesday, foreign secretary Liz Truss said economic actions so far were having a “crippling impact” and “pushing the Russian economy back into the Soviet era”.

She said sanctions had frozen more than $350 billion (£266 billion) of “Putin’s

war chest”, rendering unavailable more than 60 percent of the regime’s $604bn (£459 billion) of foreign currency reserves.

She will join Nato counterparts at tomorrow’s full meeting of the alliance’s foreign ministers.

The meeting comes as British defence intelligence warned of a humanitarian catastrophe in the Ukrainian port of Mariupol, which has been besieged and bombarded by Russian forces.

“The humanitarian situation in the city is worsening,” the Ministry of Defence said. “Most of the 160,000 remaining residents have no light, communication, medicine, heat or water. Russian forces have prevented humanitarian access, likely to pressure defenders to surrender.”

Zelensky told the Irish Parliament that Russiaiwas using hunger as a weapon of war. “For them hunger is a weapon against us, ordinary people, as an instrument of domination,” he said.

“Ukraine is one of the leading foodsupplying country in the world with exports. This is not just about the deficit and the threat of hunger.”

JN video report at jewishnews.co.uk

LACK OF CRITICISM OF RUSSIA BY ISRAELI PM Israel’s prime minister and foreign minister appeared to differ this week over whether Russia was responsible for war crimes, following global outrage at pictures of bodies lying in a Ukrainian street.

Prime minister Naftali Bennett said on Tuesday that the scenes from the town of Bucha to the north-west of Kyiv, were “terrible”.

He said: “We condemn them, unequivocally,” he said during a visit to a West Bank military base. “The foreign minister already referred to it, awful scenes. The suffering of Ukrainian citizens is immense, and we’re doing everything we can to assist.”

But Israeli media noted the prime minister pointedly did not discuss who might have been responsible, despite being asked by a reporter.

The images from Bucha showed dozens of corpses lying on streets dressed in civilian clothes and apparently unarmed. Russia has rejected all allegations of atrocities and says the pictures were faked.

Hours after Bennett’s remarks, foreign minister Yair Lapid said: “Russian forces committed war crimes against a defenceless civilian population. I strongly condemn these war crimes.”

There have been growing calls in Western countries for tougher sanctions on Russia and for senior Russian leaders, including president Vladimir Putin, to be tried on war crimes charges.

Israel has sought to play a mediating role since the invasion of Ukraine and avoided joining the bulk of Western sanctions, saying it wants to keep channels open to the Russian armed forces.

Russia still has a strong military presence in Syria, where Israel often conducts air strikes.

But members of the Labor Party, a junior partner in Israel’s governing coalition, this week said it was time to join international sanctions.

JN video report at jewishnews.co.uk

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Jewish News 7 April 2022

Israel News / Coalition concern / Dubai ruling

ISRAELI WOMAN’S DEATH SENTENCE

An Israeli woman has been sentenced to death in Dubai after she was found carrying half a kilogram of cocaine.

Haifa resident Fidaa Kiwan (pictured), 43, came to work in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) just over a year ago at the invitation of a Palestinian acquaintance, and was arrested on 17 March 2021, after the stash was found in her apartment.

Kiwan, who is believed to be an Israeli Arab, denies that the cocaine was hers and her lawyer is expected to appeal.

Israeli diplomats, whose relations with UAE officials were normalised in 2020, told the Times of Israel they expect her sentence to be reduced to a long custodial term, even though the Emirates are known for their harsh antidrugs sentencing.

Ever since the Abraham Accords – signed between Israel, the UAE, and Bahrain – tens of thousands of Israeli tourists have flocked to states such as Dubai, as bilateral relations have developed in fields such as trade and science.

Coalition crumbles as MK quits over chametz Israel’s governing coalition lost its tiny majority in the Knesset on Wednesday, when a conservative MK resigned following secret talks with opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu, writes Michael Daventry.

Backbencher Idit Silman, who was a member of prime minister Naftali Bennett’s right-wing Yamina party, said on Tuesday that she was stepping down because she believed it was time to form a “national, Jewish and Zionist government”.

She added that other members of the coalition were unwilling to compromise, an apparent reference to a row involving food in Israeli hospitals during the Passover festival.

Health minister Nitzan Horowitz, a member of the leftwing Meretz party, recently lifted a ban on leavened food, known as chametz, that is banned during the festival.

It followed a High Court ruling

Backbencher Idit Silman with Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett

that hospitals did not have the authority to ban visitors from bringing in chametz foods.

Silman was among those criticising Horowitz’s move.

Her defection means the leftright coalition now holds 60 seats in the Knesset, precisely half the total, preventing it from approving a budget or passing

laws without the opposition’s support.

Israeli media reported that Silman agreed to join Netanyahu after he promised she would be a candidate for his Likud party at the next election and would take the post of health minister if he forms a government.

The opposition leader called on other MKs to follow Silman.

“You will be received with all due respect and with open arms,” he said, according to Haaretz.

He added that Silman had been guided by “a concern for the Jewish identity of the state of Israel and the land of Israel”.

Silman’s defection does not immediately topple Israel’s governing coalition because the opposition includes a group of Arab MKs who are not likely to vote with Netanyahu’s bloc.

However, it does make an early election more likely, as 61 votes are needed to dissolve the Knesset.

UKRAINE BAND LANDS IN ISRAEL Kalush Orchestra, Ukraine’s entry to the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest, arrived in Israel this week to participate in a four-day pre-Eurovision event alongside dozens of other competitors, the band’s first foreign appearance since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

JN video report at jewishnews.co.uk

Israel urges ‘Plan B’ if Iran nuke deal fails

WE PROTECT

Israel’s defence minister Benny there is no vacuum.”

Gantz called for a “plan B” to be actiAt the meeting, which was also vated if an anticipated nuclear deal attended by Foreign Minister Yair between Iran and the West fails to Lapid, Gantz described the alternamaterialise, writes Michael Daventry. tive plan as “to use force, to exert He said Iran had vastly expanded economic pressure, to exert political its nuclear work, enriching urapressure” upon Iran. nium to 60 percent purity and Iranian officials gave further increasing its stockpiles, as negotiaBenny Gantz indications that they were now comtions restarted under US President Joe plying with the requirements of the Biden were underway last year.

International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN’s He told a meeting of Israel-based diplo- nuclear watchdog. mats on Wednesday: “We are running against On Wednesday Iranian officials said they time. The international community must insist had answered a longstanding IAEA demand to on a solid agreement. And if no agreement is explain why traces of uranium were found in reached, we must activate ‘Plan B’ because 2019 at undeclared nuclear sites in the country.

7 April 2022 Jewish News

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Local elections countdown / News

‘We need fairer society,’ says Tory councillor who defected to Lib Dems A Conservative councillor in Barnet defected this week to the Liberal Democrats, claiming her former party has “given up on communities like ours”, writes Lee Harpin.

Councillor Helene Richman confirmed on Sunday she was switching political party to stand in the West Hendon ward as the Lib Dem candidate at the local elections next month.

Jewish News understands that Richman had not been selected as the Tory candidate in West Hendon for the May election, despite representing the ward since 2018.

At a press conference confirming her defection, the former vice-chair of the Hendon Conservative Association attacked the local Tory Group’s record, claiming: “I’m watching as the Conservatives are letting inequality rise and living standards drop.

They have given up on communities like ours.

“So today I am announcing that I have resigned from the Conservative Party, and joined the Liberal Democrats, so I can continue to work to bring the community of West Hendon

together. The Lib Dems believe in giving voice to communities like West Hendon.

“Like me, the Lib Dems believe in a fair and just society, where everyone, no matter their background, feels comfortable and supported.”

The leader of the Lib Dem Group on Barnet Council, Gabriel Rozenberg said: “I’m thrilled to welcome Cllr Helene Richman to the Liberal Democrats. She is a fabulous and relentless campaigner for West Hendon residents.”

Richman, a barrister, who describes herself as a passionate Jewish interfaith supporter, has sat on the committee on Barnet Council that scrutinises councillors’ conduct.

In her defection speech, Richman also stressed her belief in a “multicultural community”, saying this was what she had always worked for.

She will be the Lib Dems’ only candidate to stand in the West Hendon ward on 5 May. Richman was first elected as a West Hendon Tory councillor in Barnet in 2018 and has benefitted in

Helene Richman, wearing a Liberal Democrat rosette, at a press conference confirming her defection from the Barnet Tory group

the role from her experience at the Bar in areas such as planning, property and regeneration.

Last year, Richman delivered the Holocaust Memorial Day address from Hendon Conservatives, saying: “We so strongly encourage, indeed advocate, for continued work to rid our world of antisemitism, the oldest hatred, and for us all to live in peace with our friends and neighbours.”

Rozenberg added: “Voters in West Hendon, whoever they typically vote

for, should lend a vote to Helene, so she can carry on her outstanding work on behalf of all residents.

“Our movement is gaining strength. The Lib Dems were already the only council group in Barnet that increased in size over the past four years. Now we’ve done it again.

“Across the borough, more and more people are turning to the Liberal Democrats to stand up for their community.”

In a damning rebuke, Barnet

Tory Group leader, Cllr Dan Thomas said: “I am absolutely delighted Cllr Helene Richman has left the Conservative Party. She leaves under a cloud of two outstanding and serious complaints regarding her conduct.

“In my personal opinion, she is not suitable to be a councillor and was recently subject to proceedings regarding her candidacy, which I believe forced her to jump before she was pushed.

“In 2020, a recording of Cllr Richman making unpleasant remarks to West Hendon residents came to light. She apologised after I spoke with her and I genuinely thought she had improved her behaviour. Sadly, recent incidents have caused me to change my mind. “The Liberal Democrats welcoming Helene illustrates how desperate they are. I look forward to working with our new West Hendon candidates and continuing our positive campaign.”

Jewish News has contacted Sarah Wardle, the Barnet Conservatives election agent, for comment.  Jewish community hustings, p10

Tories ‘suspend’ Israel ‘condolences’ candidate A Conservative local election candidate who was told to “take down” a social media post in which he expressed his “deepest condolences” to the 11 Israelis killed in terrorist attacks over the past two weeks, has had his candidacy suspended, writes Lee Harpin.

Jewish News understands that Dr Shadman Zaman, who was standing as a candidate in Bury, Greater Manchester, was told last Wednesday, in a WhatsApp message, by Nick Jones, the local Conservative group’s leader: “Shadman can this be taken down.

We need to keep local.”

Zaman said he had been suspended as an election candidate by the local party.

Zaman, who was seeking election in the Besses ward, posted that a “third terrorist attack in a week” had “killed 11 innocent Israelis” and sent his “deepest condolences” to the “families and friends of the victims”.

But Jones later told Jewish News he had “categorically not told candidates they cannot post pro-Israel sentiments,” but admitted he had told them to “focus on

Bury Conservatives leader Nick Jones, left, and Dr Shadman Zaman

the election”. Referring to Zaman, Jones added: “The candidate was advised that all social media would need to be approved by the agent as per our group rules and has failed to do this.“ Zaman, who hails from Bangladesh, has previously revealed himself to be a “proud pro-Israel activist”.

He refused to comment on the matter after he was contacted, other than to confirm he would not be taking down his pro-Israel Facebook post.

But a friend said: “Dr Zaman is surprised to say the least that he was asked to take the post down. “He understands he is a candidate who

should be focusing on issues that effect the electorate. But he has made no secret of his support for Israel in the past, and wanted to express his sympathies.”

Jones told Jewish News: “As Conservative group leader, I have told candidates to focus on the local election – the Conservatives Plan for Bury. I have categorically not told candidates they cannot post pro-Israel sentiments.

“However, I have made clear that the social media must be local about the Conservatives’ plan to deliver a cleaner, greener, safer borough.”

YOUR LEGACY Protecting and securing the Jewish community in the UK against antisemitism is what we do. From the streets of London in the 1950s through to the hate-filled internet chatrooms of today, CST will leave no stone unturned in the fight against those who wish to do us harm. This is not something that we can do without your ongoing and long-term support.

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Jewish News 7 April 2022

News / Train abuse / Activists celebrated / IHRA concerns / Israel conference

Police probe ‘Nazi salute’ A Jewish woman has described the moment a man performed a Nazi salute towards her on the London Underground after spotting her Ukraine solidarity badge, writes Jordan Tyldesley.

Charlotte Salomon (pictured), 37, the deputy chair of Saffron Walden Conservatives Association, described the incident on Tuesday, as she headed to the House of Lords to attend an event celebrating women fighting antisemitism.

The incident, which has been reported to the police, took place between Paddington and Baker Street.

Salomon said the man, who looked to be in his early 30s, got on the train and proceeded to “stare” at her and her Ukrainian pin badge.

“He sat opposite me and stared at my pin,” she said, speaking to Jewish News. “Then he stood up, did a halfway-up arm salute, and

moved further down the carriage. At first, I was puzzled, then I realised what the gesture was. I made eye contact with another passenger. They look confused as well.”

After the incident, she said she shared details about the abuse on Twitter and received supportive messages from friends and the wider Jewish community, but also received some offensive ones, including one that said: “Heil Hitler”, before adding a swastika.

“I’ve become desensitised to this now, but it should be reported and acknowledged that the world is turning dark once again,” she said, adding that she was left wondering “how safe it is to walk around wearing a Ukrainian badge”.

Asked if this meant that she would stop wearing a Ukrainian pin, she was steadfast.

“No, I’m not taking it off,” she insisted.

LORDS HOSTS WOMEN FIGHTING ANTISEMITISM Jewish actress Tracy-Ann Oberman spoke movingly at an event on Tuesday to celebrate women fighting antisemitism.

Speaking at the House of Lords event co-ordinated

by Lord John Mann and the Antisemitism Policy Trust, she spoke about the role women have historically played in the fight against antisemitism – as well as her own experiences.

Figures including Dame Louise Ellman, Baroness Ruth Deech and Luciana Berger were joined by charity heads and activists at the afternoon tea, which

was attended by around 100 women.

Describing herself as an “accidental activist”, Oberman spoke about the antisemitic and misogynistic abuse she has received on social media for speaking out against Jewish-hatred.

She said attackers claimed that she was only “anti Jeremy Corbyn because I didn’t want to pay Jew tax” and accused her of working for a “foreign agency”. Still, she said was determined to fight antisemitism – as women have through the generations, including her ancestors.

‘Fight against antisemitism PATEL: WE STAND SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH ISRAEL doesn’t impact free speech’ Justice minister Lord David Wolfson has hit out at claims that the government’s adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism infringes on its commitment to free speech.

Speaking during a session at the Jerusalem Post’s London conference last Thursday, Wolfson said: “It’s calumny to say the fight against antisemitism in some way shuts down free speech; it simply doesn’t.”

In an important intervention, the parliamentary under-secretary of state for justice told the audience who had gathered at Tottenham Hotspur’s Stadium in north London that the government “believe Britain ought to be a country of free speech”. But he said no distinction should be drawn between adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition and defending free speech.

The QC added: “Antisemitism is hate speech and all democracies have drawn a line between

Home secretary Priti Patel has pledged to “stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel” in the “global fight against terrorism”.

Meeting with Israeli interior minister Ayelet Shaked last Thursday at the Home Office, Patel offered further intelligence cooperation with the Jewish state following the terror incidents over the past week.

Patel tweeted: “There are so many issues on which the UK and Israel can cooperate, not least in the global fight against terrorism, on which we stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel.”

The pair also discussed immigration

Some claim the IHRA definition of antisemitism impacts on free speech

free speech and hate speech. There are things you cannot say because they are defamatory and things you cannot say because they are racist.

“Antisemitism is Jew-hatred.

It is very important to see the fight against antisemitism as part of the fight against racism.”

Lord John Mann, the UK’s inde-

pendent advisor on antisemitism, confirmed the government had set up a new task force of senior ministers and MPs to look into the treatment of Jewish university students.

He said it would “listen” to Jewish students, at a time of heightened concerns about the leadership of the National Union of Students.

policies, a response to the Ukranian refugee crisis and a shared response to tackling antisemitism and incitement on social media.

Lieberman: ‘Interesting’ meeting Israel’s finance minister lauded Israel and Britain’s “important” trade partnership at the Jerusalem Post’s House of Lords drinks reception last week, in front of business owners, politicians and diplomats.

Avigdor Lieberman spoke of his “interesting and useful” meetings with chancellor Rishi Sunak and the gov-

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ernor of the Federal bank. Despite Israel’s three lockdowns, he highlighted Israel’s booming economy, which has reportedly grown by 8.2 percent since 2021.

Lord Ian Austin said: “Bringing our two great countries closer, by boosting prosperity and creating jobs, is the best answer to the anti-Israel obsessives.”

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IT’S ALL ABOUT THE GRAPE Product of USA

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Jewish News 7 April 2022

Special Report /Jewish identity

‘War in Ukraine emphasises importance of the diaspora’ Israel’s diaspora minister tells Michael Daventry why identity matters Israelis are marking a week majority were born in Israel.” celebrating the Jewish diasFormer Jewish Agency chief pora with events in lecture Natan Sharansky will accomhalls, bars and clubs nation- pany Shai on the bar visit. “We wide. will spend a few hours with young The country’s diaspora minister people who will come to the bar, Nachman Shai was set to mingle and should they have an interest with drinkers at a Jerusalem bar as in the Israeli-diaspora relationpart of the initiative, which he said ship, he will probably tell them his was to help remind younger gen- personal story,” Shai said. “Not that erations that most Jews live out- many remember who Sharansky side Israel. He told Jewish News: “I is and how he came to Israel after wish that every day of the year we nine years in Siberia.” remember and associate ourselves Other events included a gala with Jews living out of the country, celebration in Jerusalem, a series but since it doesn’t happen, we of educational lectures for schooldecided that at least for a week we children and IDF soldiers, and would focus on the Jewish dias- a reception hosted by President pora relationship and see how we Isaac Herzog. The ongoing war can improve it. in Ukraine had “illuminated “For young Israelis in their 20s, the importance of the diaspora” the diaspora is something they do among Israelis, the minister added. not really know. What does it mean “A series of conversations with to be aPAGE Jew out of the country?

The Jewish leaders out of Page Ukraine HALF ADVERT JAN 2020:Layout 1 09/01/2020 16:04 1 —

Chabad rabbis, other leaders — actually represented to Israelis that there is Jewish life out of Israel and Jews live in those countries and do not necessarily dream about coming to Israel — [although] many do, but under pressure, they come as refugees.”

Shai also repeated his frustration at the Israeli government’s failure to revive a project for an egalitarian prayer area in the Western Wall plaza. The plans, first floated by Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett when he was diaspora minister, were frozen by Benjamin Netanyahu’s government following objections from strictly-Orthodox groups. But Bennett has kept the project on hold, saying they could not be delivered

by Israel’s diverse coalition.

In recent years many progressive Jews, especially women, have

been physically attacked while trying to pray — on the pretext of breaking rules set by the Orthodox authorities that operate the holy site. Shai said: “I am frustrated because I had high hopes when we took over the government we would be able to finally apply the Kotel outline — which, by the way, were designated by Benjamin Netanyahu and endorsed by his government. I know it’s not only my frustration but the leaders of the Reform and Conservative movement who came to Israel and expressed disappointment.”

But the minister said that he believed the reforms would eventually happen and that it was a question of when, not if: “It will happen. There’s no way to stop the train here. The train will go on and finally it will be done, but it takes time.”

Nachman Shai with his granddaughter

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School costs / Headteacher resigns / Get abusers / Demonstration concern / News

Immanuel concern over rising ‘operating’ costs

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

Immanuel College’s interim headteacher has written to parents at the Bushey school to confirm “long-overdue structural changes” to “ensure we are on a firm financial footing”.

In his March update to parents, Mike Buchanan, who replaced former head Gary Griffin in an interim role in January, wrote of “steep energy price increases and operating costs”.

He said the “majority” of the school’s spending was “on staffing” and then revealed: “We are currently consulting with some staff about how to address the increase in costs.”

Joanna Ebner, inset, will be Immanuel College head in September

Buchanan added that by doing so, “the college will be on a firmer financial foundation”.

He said the “consultation” with staff was expected to be concluded in the coming weeks and that the changes

would not impact on the school’s “overall provision”.

But he admitted: “This is a testing and uncertain time for staff and some of their understandable anxiety may have been apparent to you

and your child”, and said he was confident staff would “continue though to act in a professional manner”.

Praising Griffin for “modernising policies, procedures and facilities whilst recruiting high quality staff and restructuring the senior team”, the college said finding a permanent replacement was “not an easy task”.

Immanuel named Joanna Ebner as its new headteacher from September.

In a statement, the school said she “has an outstanding track record of growing and developing schools”.

‘Get’ abusers put on notice Continued from p1 In the sentencing note, Mrs Moher speaks of the physical and emotional abuse she suffered during the marriage, which began in 1995. She first approached Jewish Women’s Aid in 2012 and, between 2019 and 2020, she attended 46 support sessions held by the charity.

There were repeated instances of abuse directed towards her

by Moher, including attempts to throttle her. Once, when he was pushed out of the house by the couple’s son, Mrs Moher changed the locks and Moher damaged the doors trying to re-enter.

In her victim impact statement, Mrs Moher said she felt “totally destroyed” as a result of the way her husband treated her.

She described herself as “living as a recluse and an introvert”, wearing a cap and turning her collar up “to nip into the kosher shops, hoping no one recognises me as I am incognito”.

She continued: “I then make a dash for my car, jump in and lock the doors straight away for fear that Alti is still lurking somewhere in a dark place, waiting to pounce on me and kill me. And then I am grateful to make it home to my safe place…”

She added that she had “lived with so much stress, heartache, responsibility, hurt, upset, fear, panic, depression, loneliness, abandonment, disappointment, despair and suicidal thoughts that I am not quite sure how I am able to stand up tall, with my head held high”.

It was widely reported after the case that, in August 2015, Mrs Moher, a diabetic, attempted to take her own life by overdosing with insulin. She texted Moher to tell him what she had done.

He replied: “What colour do you want on your gravestone?”

Now the question remains as to whether Moher can be induced to grant a get, either from inside prison or on his release.

He received a 10 percent reduction, to 18 months, of his 21-month

JCoSS headteacher Patrick Moriarty is stepping down after more than a decade.

Moriarty (pictured), who also serves as a Church of England priest, wrote to parents saying: “This is, as you can imagine, a huge and very difficult decision to take. I have been at JCoSS for a third of my professional career and for the whole of its life as an institution. In so many ways its life has been woven into my own, and I have a heavy heart as I contemplate stepping away from a place I love.”

The letter was attached to a statement from Mark Freedman, chair of governors, who said the board has begun its search for a successor to start in January.  Editorial comment, p22

THIS PESACH TURN A PLAGUE

Caroline Moher outside court ahead of the sentencing

sentence for changing his plea to guilty. It has been reported that the registrar of the Federation Beth Din, Rabbi Alan Lewis, told Moher last year that as criminal proceedings had begun before a potential hearing of the Beth Din, “your consent to give a get must be presumed to be given under duress, something which invalidates any get that would be given”.

Baroness Deech is one of four Jewish peers alongside Lord Mendelsohn, Lord Palmer and Baroness Altmann who is behind the forthcoming launch of an All-Party Parliamentary Group on Jewish divorce on 18 May. She told Jewish News: “Compared with English civil law, the community looks as though it is lacking in empathy if this issue can’t be resolved after so many centuries.

We are not giving up on this.”  Editorial comment, p22; Baroness Altmann, Opinion, p26

Al Quds Day is ‘a disturbing sight’ Continued from p1 Zionist ideology”, adding that Israel “often escalates its attacks” during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan.

A spokesman for the Community Security Trust, a charity that seeks to protect the Jewish community from antisemitism, said the rally had “long been one of the most extreme anti-Israel rallies

JCOSS HEAD TO STEP DOWN AFTER 10 YEARS

in the UK”, and that although the flying of Hezbollah flags was now banned, “the extremism that lies behind them has not gone away”.

He added: “Thankfully, Al Quds Day attracts little support beyond a clique of pro-Iranian activists, but it is a disturbing sight nonetheless, and we hope the police will be closely monitoring any flags,

placards, speeches and chanting that goes on.”

The IHRC called on people to fly the Palestinian flag outside their homes and boycott dates from Israel during Ramadan. Religious Muslims often end the fast by consuming the dried fruit.

Jewish News has contacted the IHRC for comment.

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News / Double fundraiser / Election hustings Patron Her Majesty The Queen Reg Charity No. 1059050

GR WI OW NO TH ING RW OO D With Norwood by your side, everyone can live a fulfilled life. We’re here to support families and children at risk and people of any age with learning disabilities or autism.

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Sarah dedicates challenge to dad

By Candice Krieger

A north London mum of three who underwent treatment for cancer at the same time as her father is taking part in a double fundraising challenge in his memory.

Sarah Rubin, 41, finished her treatment for breast cancer last year after intense chemotherapy, radiotherapy, a mastectomy and two lymph node removals. In June, she will complete a 100km trek for CoppaFeel to raise awareness of the importance of checking for early signs of the disease, just four months before she is due to run the London Marathon for pancreatic cancer on 2 October.

Sarah, who has three boys and lives in East Finchley, was diagnosed at the end of 2020, while her father Graham was having chemo for stage 4 pancreatic cancer in Liverpool. He died earlier this year aged 70.

“I am passionate about raising awareness for cancer, particularly about breast cancer and the BRCA gene,” she said. “When I was diagnosed, I assumed I had the BRCA gene as my dad was a carrier, but it turned out it was just a coincidence that we had cancer at the same time.

“Dad became my chemo twin – we both had our sessions on a Wednesday, but I knew his cancer was terminal whereas mine was hopefully coming to an end, which was really hard.

He died in January, so this trek will be even more meaningful.”

Sarah, who takes daily tablets and has monthly injections to reduce the risk of recurrence, will join I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! winner Giovanna Fletcher and Instagram star Megan Jayne Crabbe, among other celebrities, after being selected from

Sarah Rubin with her father Graham

more than a thousand applicants to participate on the gruelling five-day trek in Pembrokeshire, Wales.

“I love to train and this ticks all the boxes for me,” she said. “The marathon has been on my bucket list for a long time and now feels like the right time to do it.

“I feel passionate about the importance of research for pancreatic cancer as often it’s diagnosed too late. It’s a charity so close to my heart.”

Sarah, who works for the family retail business, Chums.co.uk, says: “I’m trying to up my training and knowing dad knew I wanted to do something to help others is always in my mind.

“I think he would have been really proud.”  You can donate here: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ sarah-rubin2; www.justgiving.com/

Party leaders quizzed over voters’ concerns

By Adam Decker

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Political parties’ records on tackling Jew-hatred formed one of the battlegrounds in this week’s Jewish community hustings in Hendon and Finchley as candidates battled for votes.

At the hustings, supported

by Jewish News, local politicians from Barnet and Camden spoke about subjects such as planning and transport, as well as tackling antisemitism and engaging Jewish communities.

The Labour leader of Camden Council, Georgia Gould, who is Jewish, faced questions from the audience on issues such as the Haverstock Hill cycle lane, the O2 Centre redevelopment, and the borough’s healthy school streets. The debate that ensued then led to a question

on council consultations, with one resident saying: “We don’t have confidence because we don’t believe that you listen to what we say.”

On antisemitism, Gould defended Camden Labour’s record, referencing engagement Gabriel Rozenberg, Adrian Cohen, with the Community Susan Pascoe, Ross Houston and Security Trust and local Peter Zinkin communities,andherpride at being a Jewish council leader. that were held at Ner Yisrael Camden Conservatives Synagogue, residents berated leader Oliver Cooper said the Barnet Conservatives repreLabour Council needed to sentative Peter Zinkin over do more and “follow-up their the proposed ‘Hendon Hub’ plan involving Middlesex words with actions”.

The Liberal Democrats’ University. Zinkin said he Tom Simon said: “Some in the accepted that there was “opposiJewish community are losing tion” to the scheme and did not confidence in the police’s ability “expect to change minds”, but said the benefits outweighed the to tackle antisemitism.”

In Hendon, at hustings drawbacks.

7 April 2022 Jewish News

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JBW views / Chesed appeal / Charity role / News

Book festival defends hosting far-left author Jewish Book Week (JBW) has defended its decision to host far-left author Michael Rosen in the face of a social media backlash, writes Adam Decker.

Rosen, who discussed his new illustrated children’s title Please Write Soon: An Unforgettable Story of Two Cousins in World War II at a Family Day event last Sunday, courted controversy across the Jewish community over his staunch backing of Jeremy Corbyn at the height of the Labour Party’s antisemitism scandal.

In a 2019 Morning Star column, Rosen wrote: “I’ve known Jeremy Corbyn for 30 years. He is no antisemite. He has put his neck on the line hundreds of times in opposing racism, antisemitism, far-right fascism and Holocaust denial.”

Labour suspended Corbyn for publicly disparaging the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s 2021 report, which found the party guilty of unlawful acts of harassment and discrimination against Jews under his leadership.

Rosen’s invite to one of the Jewish community’s biggest annual events sparked consternation across social media, with some accusing JBW of blocking them for con-

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Michael Rosen is a vocal supporter of Jeremy Corbyn (right)

demning his appearance.

Writer and comedian Lee Kern wrote: “This celebration of Jewish expression through the art of letters is blocking Jews who use words to express upset over the veneration of Michael Rosen.”

Another Twitter user wrote: “You’re blocking Jewish people who’re criticising you for hosting Corbynite, JVL supporter, and anti-Israel activist Michael Rosen?”

A third stated: “Michael Rosen, who has stood with and defended some of the UK’s most vile antisemites, is hosted by Jewish Book Week.”

JBW, however, which celebrated its 70th anniversary

this year, has stood behind its decision. Director Claudia Rubenstein said it welcomed “a diversity of views, opinions, experiences and insights”.

She told Jewish News: “Michael Rosen has been a firm Jewish Book Week favourite for many years. On Sunday he spoke to a group of young children and their parents on his new book, Please Write Soon.

“Other than a brief disruption, the event was extremely well received.”

Speaking before the event, she had said: “We regard freedom of speech as a precious right to be valued and defended.”

With Norwood by your side, no one has to feel alone. We’re here for the community – and for your family – should you ever need us.

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CHESED APPEAL Marks to lead RAISES £500+K Migdal Emunah

US Chesed volunteers pack food parcels

United Synagogue’s Chesed exceeded its £500,000 target to help thousands of struggling, vulnerable or lonely people this Pesach.

A total of 138 ‘Chesed Champions’ and 2,766 supporters have so far contributed towards the campaign by the US Chesed Welfare Department, hlelping it to raise £521,296. Families will now be provided with essential food parcels.

The department and the charity’s synagogue teams help more than 4,000 people every year.

Due to the rising cost of living crisis and individuals facing financial hardship fuelled by the pandemic, there has been a dramatic rise in the number of Jewish families in need of support.

US head of Chesed, Michelle Minsky, said: “We are so grateful to each of our donors, and those who provided the matched funding, to help us raise enough money to ensure [we] can be there for every family that needs us.”

A Jewish charity supporting victims of violence and sexual abuse has announced the appointment of its first new CEO since it was founded 10 years ago.

Erica Marks took the reins at Migdal Emunah this week.

The Former Kisharon quality assurance and special projects manager replaces Yehudis Goldsobel, who founded the organisation in 2013.

Migdal Emunah provides practical and emotional support for victims and those affected by the trauma of sexual abuse and violence.

It works across all denominations of the Jewish community, offering access to advice, advocacy and support.

Trustees paid tribute to Goldsobel, saying she had “campaigned tirelessly to amplify the voices and experiences of Jewish victims of sexual abuse locally and nationally”.

They added: “Through her enthusiastic work in pushing for safeguarding reform in our community, we have slowly seen progress in some communal and religious organisations adopting policies, having discussions and developing service provision with regards to sexual abuse.”

Migdal Emunah said Marks was looking forward to expanding on the existing foundations within Migdal Emunah and being able to develop new projects for the community.

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Special Report / Journalist’s view

The teens behind Israel’s Iron Dome Jenni Frazer joins advocacy group Elnet UK to discover the Israel not seen by tourists Lt-Col Rotem, in his early 40s, cuts a natty figure in his immaculately pressed bright blue shirt of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), joking about Yes Minister, as he briefs our group of British journalists on the intricacies of Israel’s rightly famous Iron Dome missile interceptor system.

It’s a high-level briefing – the former IDF spokesman, Jonathan Conricus, lolls watchfully nearby as we stand in hot March sunshine, in front of three Iron Dome batteries.

But then Rotem says: “Let me introduce you to my team.” And it is a jaw-dropping moment as a fresh-faced group of young male and female soldiers step forward. They are all aged 18, 19 and 20, and it is their lightning speed in deploying the Iron Dome defence batteries that determines the protection of Israel’s cities when under attack.

We can hardly believe that we are looking at such young people. This is a commando unit, and though the boys have been assigned to it, the girls have volunteered. When we catch our breath we can’t wait to ask them questions. “What’s the toughest part of this job?” I ask, and one of

the girls says: “It’s having to go from zero to 100 in such a short time.” By this she means that the decisions when to fire the Iron Dome have to be taken in a frighteningly short space of time – usually seconds – and we can’t even imagine the pressure put on these young people and the responsibility they bear.

Later, we ask one of the soldiers what her family thinks of her serving in such a dangerous unit. She smiles: “Both my parents are police officers and my brother also served as a commando. The tradition in our family is one of public service and giving back. We are all proud of each other.” These are rare, but genuine sentiments. We leave extremely impressed.

This visit, and an exciting helicopter flight to the north of Israel earlier, was part of an intensive programme on the first mission to Israel under the auspices of Elnet UK. The advocacy organisation has operated since 2007 in Paris, Berlin, Brussels and Warsaw. London became the fifth location last June, with the former Labour MP Joan Ryan named as director.

Elnet is a new name to the Jewish community

Israeli soldiers take cover as they fire an Iron Dome intercept rocket in Israel as Hamas fires rockets from Gaza. Above: Jenni, with two commandos behind her

in the UK, but is familiar in Israel, allowing this cular Israeli kibbutznik, the export manager in first mission to offer a programme full of impres- charge of three factories, tried to paint a picture sive speakers and locations. of harmonious Jewish and Palestinian worker As the country emerged from an uncomfort- co-operation that verged on patronising. able, two-year pandemic period without More productive was a visit to the West foreign visitors, there were indeed Bank’s Tura Winery, run by Vered news events to secure the and Erez Ben-Sa’adon. Vered’s attention of even the most remarkable personal story cynical of journalists, encapsulates so many from the remarkable aspects of the Israeli narNegev Summit to the rative, bringing into play tragic attacks in Be’er the Holocaust, converSheva, Hadera and sion, and an implacable B’nei Brak. belief in Jewish historAll the remarkable ical claims to the land “talking heads” lined of Israel. She is a Dutch up to brief us journalconvert to Orthodox ists shared a certain conJudaism, whose Jewish sensus: Israel’s dependence grandmother, Liesje de Vries, on Russia, to allow the Jewish survived the war in Holland by state to attack targets in hiding. Vered’s grandSyria, put it in an awkElnet director Joan Ryan (right) mother married a Holoward place vis-a-vis the caust survivor and had possibility of armed help for Ukraine; the current two sons with him. But when her first husband signatories to the Abraham Accords – the United died, Liesje remarried, this time to a Dutch nonArab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, and Morocco Jew, a widower with a daughter. One of the sons – are unlikely to be the last, and two somewhat from the fell in love with his non-Jewish stepstartling names were put forward as the next can- sister. Eventually the family came to Israel and didates, Indonesia and Qatar. The big prize, Saudi converted. Vered often tells her life story in the Arabia, is being assiduously courted by Israel, but hope she can change people’s prejudices about may be more dependent on US support. life on the other side of the Green Line.

The common enemy of most actors in the For me, the strongest moments came in an region remains Iran, and many of our briefers unexpected conversation with ‘Yoel’, a member agreed that one of the most remarkable speeches of Kibbutz Netiv Ha’Asara on the border with at the Negev Summit was given by the UAE Gaza, who wants the army to take decisive action foreign minister, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed, against Hamas and obliterate its rocket fire calling the event “historic” and one that marked against the kibbutz and the south of Israel. a change in narrative in the Middle East. There It’s when he talks about his 16-year-old son was near universal praise, too, for Mansour ducking down inside the family home every time Abbas, leader of the United Arab List in Israel’s he had to walk past a window – for fear of a rocket coalition government, lauded by political oppo- attack – that I find the most difficult to hear. Yoel nents and allies, not least for his unprompted and is desperate for a peaceful life and, although we forthright condemnation of the terror attacks for disagree, he graciously concludes our conversawhich the Isis group had claimed credit. tion with a heartfelt hug. He is the best of Israel, There were some difficult encounters during along with those soldier teens. It was a privilege, our trip, not least a visit to the Barkan Industrial thanks to Elnet, to meet them.

Area in the West Bank, where an overly avun-  Alex Brummer, page 24

7 April 2022 Jewish News

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Barmitzvah boys / Special Report

Grandfather and grandson barmitzvahed on same day A documentary crew followed Ivor Lethbridge, 83, to mark his second coming of age alongside Zak, 13. By Stephen Oryszczuk

Above: Retired market trader Ivor Lethbridge and his grandson Zak in synagogue for a rehearsal before their big day. They appear in a BBC One episode on faith. Right: Ivor and Rita

I’ve decided it’s time to have An 83-year-old Jewish man a party.” from east London has had Zak, 13, who lives with his second barmitzvah his parents in north on the same day as his London, told the pro13-year-old grandson gramme-makers he had had his first, with a been looking forward BBC TV crew filming to singing the brachot, the build-up and afterMaftir and Haftorah party for a programme prayers in the synagogue due to air next week. in front of his friends The run-up to Ivor and family. “It means a lot Lethbridge and his grandson because it means I become a Zak’s big day will feature on man in Judaism,” he said.

BBC One in a 45-minute epiThe programme features sode called Growing Old: recollections and explanaA Believer’s Guide to be aired Young Ivor in Ashfield Street, on 12 April.

East London, where he grew up tions from community figures such as Reform Rabbi Seeing your son’s barmitzvah is “one of the greatest moments of any Laura Janner-Klausner, United Synagogue [Jewish] parent’s life”, said Zak’s father, Jonny Rabbi Mordechai Wollenberg, and Jewish Care Lethbridge. “To have that enhanced by having chief executive Daniel Carmel-Brown.

Other episodes feature Christian and your father’s second barmitzvah at the same time is something I’ve never heard of. A second Muslim families on topics such as settling down barmitzvah is incredibly rare, a first barmitzvah and becoming parents, whereas Ivor and Zak’s double barmitzvah and party at Yavneh College is incredibly special.”

A retired market trader with eight grandchil- for 70 guests highlighted the centrality of simdren, Ivor grew up in an Orthodox environment chas to Jewish life.

Having a second barmitzvah is a relatively and now lives with his partner Rita in Redbridge, where he attends Woodford Forest Synagogue. recent phenomenon, due in part to increased He and Rita have been friends for 50 years and life expectancy. It is even more unusual for two became an item 12 years ago, after their respec- members of the same family but different generations to have their barmitzvah on the same tive spouses died.

“My Judaism and my faith increased after day. Ivor and Zak’s birthdays are a few days I lost my wife,” said Ivor, who admits to becoming apart, but their Hebrew dates were the same.

Addressing Ivor in front of friends and family a recluse in the aftermath of her death. “Going to the synagogue allowed me to come out of on the big day last month, Zak said: “Grandpa, we share a love of family, a love of Judaism, and myself. It helped me get over my grief.”

Describing himself as “a very sentimental dad tells me that when I am older, we will probperson,” he said his first barmitzvah was held in ably share a double chin.”

Speaking a few weeks later, Ivor told Jewish the austerity of the post-war years 70 years ago.

“It was a small family affair,” he said. News: “I’m still living on Cloud 9. It was a special “Back then, nobody had big barmitz- experience for the whole family. I feel very proud vahs, whether you had money or not. Now and emotional.”

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Jewish News 7 April 2022

Jewish News meets... Ruth Smeeth

‘Online hate can’t be tackled by telling people to be nice’ Labour MP turned free speech advocate Ruth Smeeth tells Lee Harpin she fears the Online Safety Bill makes people less safe

A

s a former Jewish MP, she continues to be subjected to the most vile and antisemitic abuse on social media. So it would hardly have been surprising had Ruth Smeeth emerged as one of the leading supporters of the government’s proposals for a new digital age, safer for users and one that holds the tech giants to account for abuse on their platforms.

But speaking to Jewish News, as the government published its latest updated draft of the Online Safety Bill, Smeeth openly expressed fears that the proposed legislation could leave those being targeted with anti-Jewish “more vulnerable than ever”.

The former Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent North, who is clearly relishing her new role as chief executive of the influential campaign group Index on Censorship, says she has no doubts the government approached the move to tackle online hate with the “best of intentions”.

But Smeeth, 42, insists: “I’ve heard ministers say this Bill will stop the abuse against someone like Laura Kuenssberg [the BBC’s political editor]. I heard it said that it’s going to stop abuse against the Jewish community, that it will deal with racism against footballers.

“It’s not. It’s either going to push this stuff onto areas of the internet that most of us don’t go to, or it won’t deal with it at all. You don’t win hearts and minds by introducing a new regulator to say everyone should be really nice to one another.”

Ministers introduced the Online Safety Bill to Parliament last May, but it has since been redrafted following recommendations from two parliamentary committees and from the Law Commission. Reintroduced to Parliament earlier this month, ministers hope the revisions will get support among MPs for it to pass into law by the end of this year.

But Smeeth believes what began as a valid attempt by government to prevent online harm towards children has become too complicated.

“It has gone from being all about children to how you stop bullying, trolling, disinformation, antisemitism, racism and how do you protect journalists – everything,” she says.

As part of the Bill, the biggest social media platforms, such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, will have to prevent people from being exposed to “legal but harmful” content, which is expected to include antisemitic content alongside the promotion of content such as self-harm, eating disorders and misogyny.

Social media giants will have to carry out “risk assessments” of what “legal but harmful” content is likely to appear on their platforms.

They will then be required to set out terms and conditions on how they will deal with it and enforce these. But Smeeth says: “I have a real

issue about ‘legal but harmful’ from a Jewish perspective” – one in which words that are legal to write in books or in letters will then be deleted from online platforms.

“If you are going to say companies have to delete, then the really big bit of this paper that is

The last person who was arrested for harassing her, she says, was caught after increasingly aggressive behaviour, “with pictures of guns put up”. She adds: “But, under the new proposals, we wouldn’t have seen the most aggressive ones because they would have deleted.”

It would be wrong, however, to suggest Smeeth has been left outwardly jaded as a result of the online abuse, which began as she spoke out against antisemitism under Jeremy Corbyn, and continues today from some of his backers.

If anything, her new role has made her fighting instincts stronger, and her determination to succeed away from Westminster is evident.

argues Smeeth. She adds that “rather than deleting stuff, if someone is threatening to kill me, I want them nicked”.

Yet, even at the height of her abuse on social media, she did not come off Facebook or Twitter.

“I never shut down those communication channels because I thought my constituents had a right to know what I was doing.”

Her interest in the cut and thrust of political life remains obvious, and it wouldn’t be a big surprise if Smeeth decided to put herself forward as a candidate again at the next general election.

“It is very easy to get caught up in the bubble [of Parliament],” she says, reflecting on her time as an MP between 2015 and 2019. “As an MP, when you are involved in doing legislation, you could deal with up to 20 issues a day.

Last week, MPs and Lords would have covered health, social care, Ukraine... No one has the mental capacity to give everything proper attention. This new role has made me think about the unintended consequences of legislation.”

She has other concerns about the Bill: Under the proposed laws, journalists would be exempt from the rules, leaving far-right activists such as Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (Tommy Robinson) the chance to claim media platforms they have set up earn them the right to be classed as journalists. For a staunch defender of the right to free speech, surely this presents a tricky dilemma?

Smeeth accepts that 30 years ago it could have been decided that anyone carrying a National Union of Journalists card could be

❝

Ruth Smeeth is still targeted by vile antisemitic abuse on social media platforms

missing is a ‘digital evidence locker’ for want of a better phrase,” she explains.

“A month ago I had to curtail my social media usage because of the amount of abuse I got. I had put up a photo of me campaigning for the Labour Party. Members of the hard left, no longer in the party, went ballistic. I got threats over it.

“I know when I’m vulnerable because it’s there. If it’s automatically deleted, or removed, a) we won’t ever be able to prosecute the people who are threatening me, and b) I won’t know when I’ve got to be even more careful than I normally am walking down the street.

“As someone who is still a target of abuse, my big nervousness is that I don’t know how vulnerable I am. I still have a police panic button wherever I go. My threat level, even though I’m not an MP anymore, is not going away,” she says.

Index on Censorship was founded in 1971 as a magazine of solidarity to publish the work of dissidents, including the playwright and future president of the Czech Republic, Václav Havel.

During the current ugly war in Ukraine, it continues to be a vital outlet for those attempting to resist the totalitarianism of Vladimir Putin. Earlier this month, it published a powerful account of life in the city of Kyiv as the Russian bombardment continued, written by former BBC journalist John Sweeney.

As head of Index, Smeeth has joined Conservative libertarians such as David Davis MP or the QC Gavin Millar on campaign platforms to push back on the government’s attempts to legislate on online harms.

“You can’t change culture unless you change education, which isn’t talked about in the Bill,”

I KNOW WHEN I’M VULNERABLE BECAUSE [THE ABUSE] IS THERE. IF IT’S AUTOMATICALLY DELETED, I WON’T KNOW WHEN I NEED TO BE EVEN MORE CAREFUL classed as being protected by laws around “democratic content”. These days, with the flourishing of citizen journalism, the definition of who is a journalist is not so easily determined.

“What about Tommy Robinson, or when the far-right have those horrible newspapers?” she asks. “Are the people writing for them journalists? Would they be protected, because they are putting out nothing but incitement?”

Smeeth’s objections to new online laws will win her plaudits and criticisms from MPs across the political spectrum. “This government is intellectually incoherent on the issue of free speech,” she opines. “But the left has its own problems with the Online Safety Bill and should be as worried as everyone else. It’s admirable to say: ‘Yes we want to stop racism online’ – we all do. But this is all about process.”

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Jewish News 7 April 2022

Special Report / Pesach food

Mrs Elswood is right on cue for Passover Tony Zendle lifts the lid on the history of a seder table staple When you think of pickled cucumbers (and who doesn’t?), your mind unerringly goes to Mrs Elswood. Ever present at simchas, seders, kiddushim, Wizo lunches, and even shivas, her products are enjoyed by all shades of Judaism. They are among the best on the supermarket shelf.

So what is the story behind the happy smiling face that gleams out at us from the supermarket shelf?

To begin, pickling has been a part of Jewish cuisine, whether Ashkenazi or Sephardi since forever. In particular in Europe, families pickled vegetables as a method of preserving them, and, having acquired a ‘rev-

erence for brine’, immigrants then bought their pickled cucumbers from barrels in delis, grocers, and street traders. I well remember the barrels in my local deli, where cucumbers floated in some unnameable liquor to be fished out on demand.

A family business called Marela Pickles began took advantage of this addiction. With a factory in the Isle of Dogs. It manufactured pickles of many varieties producing pickles of many varieties, initially selling to the local Jewish community with a horse and cart with the whole family regularly marshalled into sticking labels on to the jars of pickles, but later expanding its business to sell at Tescos and Lyons Corner House, and moving to Brick Lane.

As happens to many family businesses, it was sold off, and after going through a few owners, by 1986 the brand had disappeared, the factory

became a shell and was later demolished to make way for housing.

By 1972 the Marela brand had disappeared. Ex-employees, Sam Goldman, Joe Rubin, and Dennis Mendel, saw an opportunity and started a new company which Donna Nathan, Joe’s daughter told me they called Elswood because Joe and Dennis came from Elstree, and Sam from St Johns Wood (not Borehamwood, by the way). Joe had the bright idea of creating a person for customers to identify with. They had a photoshoot, a pretty girl came from an agency and Mrs Elswood was born.

As well as manufacturing products they imported goods such as Elite Chocolate and Telma products; indeed, Elswood was never just a pickled cucumber brand. There were herrings, horseradish and other lines.

It is also a myth that the cucumbers are prepared in East London – the

The Mrs Elswood of the 1970s

products were and are manufactured by specialists in the countries with the expertise – cucumbers in Holland and herrings in Sweden.

Incidentally, the woman on today’s jars is not the girl in the photoshoot.

Matthew Moyes of Empire Foods, the current owners, told me that it is believed that the model passed away, obviously quite young, and her family asked for a change of face. It was upsetting to see her every time they went to the supermarket. The company made the change “in line with the values of the brand”.

Mrs Elswood has gone from strength to strength. Not confined to the boundaries of Golders Green, she is found from Waitrose to Ocado, from Sainsbury’s to Asda, and not just on the kosher shelves. She is even seen in South Asian greengrocers in Surbiton.

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News / Photography project / NUS president

Book aims to challenge ‘what a Jew looks like’ A Jewish sociologist and a news photographer have jointly published a book tackling the tricky and often controversial subject of “what a Jew looks like”, writes Adam Decker.

Keith Kahn-Harris, an author who has worked with the Institute of Jewish Policy Research (JPR), said the stereotyped image of a bearded Orthodox man in a black hat and black coat was a lazy “journalistic crutch to illustrate every story about communal life”.

For the book – titled What Does A Jew Look Like? – he has worked with Robert Stothard, whose photog-

Co-author Keith Kahn-Harris

raphy has taken him to places such as Egypt, Ukraine and Ireland. The co-authors said the project “showcases some of the many different

ways men and women can be Jewish in Britain today”.

They added: “For those who don’t know what a Jew looks like – or for those who think they know – the book is designed to surprise, inform and beguile. For those who are Jewish, the book will perhaps introduce parts of the Jewish community that they may not be familiar with.”

Stothard said: “I still don’t know what a Jew looks like. I’ve learnt everything and nothing! Part of the reason behind the title is to add to people’s assumptions about what the community looks like.”

BRITISH FRIENDS OF THE HU NAMES NEW CHAIR British Friends of the Hebrew University (HU) has appointed London-based private equity investor Alan Jacobs (pictured) as its new chair to replace the outgoing Isaac Kaye, who has been made the group’s president.

Jacobs is known throughout the Jewish community for his chairmanship of The Jewish Chronicle and directorships at UJIA and the B’nai B’rith Hillel Foundation.

The current trustee of The Jacob

Foundation, owner of Jewish News, said he wanted to “build on the outstanding track record of the British Friends whose support for the HU dates back close to 100 years”.

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is a top Israeli academic and research institution, serving more than 25,000 students “Few such organisations have achieved so much and left such an indelible mark on humanity,” he said.

SOAP LEGEND JUNE MOURNED

Criticism is ‘gendered Islamophobia’

Shaima Dallali

Incoming National Union of Students president Shaima Dallali has suggested she is a victim of “gendered Islamophobia” following scrutiny of her past views, including a succession of inflammatory social posts related to the Jewish community.

Dallali told The Tab

newspaper “the pre-emptive scrutiny of Muslim women is symptomatic of the nature of gendered Islamophobia”.

Dallali issued her statement to after The Tab outlined controversial posts and articles she had written, including one in which she referred

Tributes were paid to EastEnders star June Brown, who uncovered her Jewish maternal line late in life on the BBC show Who Do You Think You Are? Brown, who died this week aged 95, played chainsmoking Dot Cotton in almost 3,000 episodes.

to Muslim cleric Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi as “the moral compass for the Muslim community”.

The Tab also noted Dallali tweeted a chant that refers to a massacre of Jews, which translates to: “Jews, remember Khaybar, the army of Muhammad is returning.”

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News / Charity appeal / News briefs

Abi fronts Camp Simcha appeal

The charity has helped Abi Jacobs and her family

A 14-year-old girl from Borehamwood who has a rare form of blood cancer is fronting this year’s Camp Simcha Pesach appeal, after a song she released last year raised £12,000 for the charity, writes Jordan Tyldesley.

Abi Jacobs, who was diagnosed in December 2020, last year won support from comedian Matt Lucas, Doctor Who star Jodie Whittaker, and presenter Emma Willis, for her charity single – a cover version of Jealous by Labrinth.

Ahead of the annual appeal, Abi described both how the charity had helped her and her family, and how her life had become different to that of other children her age.

“Being ill changed me physically and mentally,” she said. “I used to be so busy and active, out having fun with my friends. Once I started

treatment, I was too tired to go out. Chemo made me feel sick and exhausted.

“I felt scared to go out because there was a risk my blood wouldn’t clot if I hurt myself and I’d have to go back into hospital. I just wanted to be with my family where I felt safe. Camp Simcha took care of everything else so they could take care of me.”

The charity assigned dedicated help within hours, arranged for Abi to get therapeutic singing lessons and organised equine therapy for her brother, Josh.

The charity said: “Abi is one of hundreds of children we support. They have serious, lifethreatening, or life-limiting medical conditions. We bring hope and joy to their lives at the darkest of times.”

Fink named as S&P chief NEW BOSS FOR CARE HOME The board of the S&P Sephardi Community has appointed former JFS headteacher Rachel Fink as its new chief executive.

Fink (inset)’s appointment was announced on Tuesday, one day before the annual general meeting. She has been working for the organisation as a consultant since her sudden departure from the Jewish secondary school.

The S&P said Fink, who replaces Ian Stewart, had “developed a comprehensive knowledge of the community” during her consultancy role and offered “a depth of professional knowledge and expertise, firm grounding and experience in the Jewish world, diverse worldly knowledge and a full appreciation of our history and traditions”.

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Jewish residential care home specialist Nightingale Hammerson has announced the appointment of a new chief executive who will take up the role in July.

Taking over from Helen Simmons, who has been in the position for eight years, Jenny Pattinson will join from the Salvation Army, where she has been operationally responsible for the charity’s 12 care homes, managing 560 staff.

Nightingale Hammerson, a spe-

cialist in residential, nursing and dementia care over two large sites in London, will be a different challenge for Pattinson, an elected councillor and Cabinet Member at Watford Borough Council. It has a £20m turnover and around 350 staff.

Trustees said Simmons, who is to join St Christopher’s Hospice in South London as its chief executive, had led Nightingale Hammerson to become an “outstanding” organisation.

Guard ‘threatened’ his own school A security guard at a Jewish school has been arrested and charged with making terrorist threats against the students and parents. Thomas Develin, 24, worked as a security guard at Columbus Torah Academy, a Modern Orthodox Jewish day school for students from nursery through high school, until his arrest. “I am at a Jewish school and about to make it everyone’s problem,” read the caption of one picture of Develin holding a gun posted to his social media account on 11 March.

Chief Rabbi calls for Queen’s ‘thank you’ Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis has joined fellow faith leaders in promoting a “national thank you day” for the Queen’s 70 years’ service in her Jubilee year. Mirvis joined Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the Muslim Council of Britain, and City Sikhs in calling for millions to take part in a big ‘Thank You Day’ on Sunday, 5 June, in what they hope will help communal bridge-building.

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Holocaust remembrance / Shalit tributes / World News

March of the Living includes survivors for the final time This month’s March of the Living in Poland will “likely be the last to include Holocaust survivors”, say organisers, with only eight set to join the trip, writes Stephen Oryszczuk.

It comes as pictures emerged this week of Russian war crimes in Ukraine, including mass graves, the rape of women in front of their children, and the shooting of civilians whose hands had been tied behind their back, all providing eery echoes of events last seen on the continent during the Second World War. “More than ever, it is clear words like ‘never again’ are not enough,” said 91-year-old Holocaust survivor Eve Kugler. “How much worse will it be when [Shoah] survivors are no more than a distant memory?”

Scott Saunders, chair of March of the Living (MOTL) in the UK, said world events meant that “the need to educate about where hatred and antisemitism can lead has never been greater”. He added that this year would be about “passing the torch of memory so future generations can take the lessons”.

Participants at the last March of the Living to be held in 2019

This year’s March, taking place on Yom HaShoah at the end of April, will focus on “the importance of passing the responsibility of Holocaust remembrance and education to… the grandchildren” of those who lived through the war.

Eitan Neishlos is the grandson of Holocaust survivor Tamar Zisserman, who survived the death pits of Latvia thanks to a Christian family subsequently recognised as ‘Righteous Among the Nations’ by Israel’s Yad Vashem.

“We will preserve their memory

and demand of ourselves that never means never,” said Neishlos, who is from Australia and plans to attend this year’s march. “This duty is not a burden. It is a privilege.”

It follows a special event held last week at the House of Lords, where conversation turned quickly to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the humanitarian consequences. Poland has taken in more than two million Ukrainian refugees.

International MOTL chair Shmuel Rosenman said this year’s march “will not remain indifferent to the difficult

HET's Karen Pollock (second from right) with survivors Mala Tribich, Eve Kugler and Harry Olmer at Auschwitz during March of the Living

news coming from Ukraine and will find its expression in the framework of the events”.

More than 2,000 participants, both Jewish and non-Jewish, are expected to join the march this year, mainly from Europe but some from Israel, where Keren Kayemet L’Yisrael (KKL) and the Jewish Agency are both sending delegations.

Last week Neishlos joined Kugler

GILAD SHALIT MOURNS FATHER'S DEATH When Noam Shalit first learned that his son, Gilad, had disappeared, his thoughts turned to his own father. Shalit’s twin brother, Yoel, went missing in the Golan Heights in 1973 during the Yom Kippur War. Their father immediately set off for the warbattered plateau to search for Yoel, who was 19, the same age as Gilad when Hamas terrorists kidnapped him in in 2006 during a cross-border raid.

Yoel was eventually identified among the dead.

The fear that Gilad, an introverted basketball fan, might share the same fate drove Shalit to shed his natural inclination for privacy, and to become the face of a campaign to reclaim his son, culminating in a prisoner exchange in 2011.

“It was like being thrown over 30 years backwards,” Shalit told The New York Times just months after he launched the campaign to free Gilad.

Shalit died last Wednesday, aged 68, exactly 13 years after moving with his wife into a tent outside the prime minister’s residence in Jerusalem to call attention to his son’s captivity. He was suffering from leukemia, Israeli news site Ynet reported.

Benny Gantz, the defence minister, who was military chief in 2011 and helped negotiate Gilad’s release in exchange for 1,027 Palestinian security prisoners, said in his condolences Shalit “never once gave up the hope he would see his son again”.

His son’s capture forced Shalit to become the public face of a movement. His fierce paternal love throbbed through his calm demeanour, and he earned the devotion of Israeli parents.

“Gilad Shalit is a national trauma,” Sima Kadmon, a Yedioth Ahronoth columnist, wrote in 2010. “He is the symbol of our powerlessness. Of the fact that the Israel Defense Forces cannot solve everything and of the fact that not everything can be fixed by force and, perhaps, of the fact that not everything can always be resolved.”

Noam with his son Gilad on the day of his release in 2011

Previous massive exchanges of a handful of Israeli prisoners or corpses for thousands of suspected terrorists had come to be seen as a bad deal: sometimes, the terrorists went back to work almost immediately upon being freed.

But it was hard to resist Shalit’s steady campaign. Posters of Gilad in a uniform, thin, boyish and awkward, plastered the country’s public spaces. Shalit appealed directly to Palestinians. He offered Hamas to become a hostage to release his son. In 2010, Shalit led a march from his village in Israel’s north to Jerusalem. “We won’t wait any longer in our home,” he said, setting out.

“I believe that in principle negotiations should not be held with terror organisations,” Yaacov Amidror, a general in the Israeli reserves, said at the time, but Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu eventually made the trade. Victims of the

terrorists among those freed shed tears of frustration upon their release, but scenes of Gilad and his father reuniting overwhelmed the news, and polls showed Israelis supported the terms of the release.

Noam Shalit tarried for a while in the limelight, contemplating a run for Knesset in 2012 on the Labor Party ticket – his experience with his son nurtured a contempt for hard lines, and he said he would talk to Hamas to make peace.

Soon, however, the family returned to privacy.

If Shalit made a public appearance, it was to thank supporters.

In 2020, Gilad and his fiancée, Nitzan Shabbat, announced they were engaged; the photo of the robust, intensely happy couple who married one year later was their one concession to a public that wondered what happened to the bespectacled boy who had disappeared from view.

at a Jerusalem Post panel event that featured a third-generation survivor, a third-generation granddaughter of Nazi SS officers, and the son of Japanese diplomat Chiune Sugihara, who was named ‘Righteous Among the Nations’ by Yad Vashem.

The march will conclude with the traditional ceremony at the remains of the AuschwitzBirkenau crematorium.

Local Jewish leader stabbed in Ukraine

A man in western Ukraine has been arrested in connection with the stabbing of a leader of the local Jewish community. The assailant stabbed Igor Perelman, the director of the Jewish community of the city of Ivano-Frankivsk in western Ukraine, where many refugees have fled to escape Russian attacks in the eastern part of the country. Perelman’s injuries are not life-threatening. The suspect, 49, shouted antisemitic obscenities at Perelman on the street as he and other members of the local Jewish community delivered food and aid to needy residents. The suspect, who was not named, is being charged with premeditated hooliganism committed with the use of a sharp weapon, an offence carrying a prison sentence of at least three years.

Seinfeld star dies, aged 93 Estelle Harris, the Jewish actress who played George Costanza’s mother in the American sitcom Seinfeld, died last Saturday at the age of 93. Harris played the role of Estelle Costanza, who was always shrill and frequently apoplectic, on the sitcom from 1992 until the show’s finale in 1998.

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Jewish News 7 April 2022

www.jewishnews.co.uk

Editorial comment and letters ISSUE NO.

1257

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

VOICE OF THE JEWISH NEWS

Divorced from reality Send us your comments The shocking story of the disintegrating marriage of Alan Alti Moher and his wife Caroline has led to Moher’s imprisonment, but there is still no get – religious divorce – on the cards for Caroline.

The depressing conclusion is that despite numerous attempts to push Moher to release his wife, nothing worked, and the question now is whether a custodial sentence will concentrate his mind more fully.

Now the community, surely, must ask the rabbinate how much longer this sort of thing can continue. The concept of chained wives is unacceptable and it ought to be within the remit of the various batei din to devise a halachically watertight method of freeing women from continued heartbreak, unable to remarry under Orthodox auspices or have more children. The time to banish this painful anomaly is long overdue.

A beth din which addresses this courageously would be cheered by the community.

Mensch will be missed News that Patrick Moriarty is to leave JCoSS in December has been met with great sadness by pupils and staff. And with good reason. As a non-Jewish headteacher of a Jewish school – he has always been unique – but when he became a Church of England priest five years after the school appointment, he wore both hats well and has continued to do so effortlessly, merging the understanding, strength and insight that are intrinsic elements of Judaism and his own faith.

The fourth golden rule of JCoSS’ behaviour policy is ‘Be a mensch’ and no one has adhered to this more resolutely than Patrick Moriarty who has been with multi-cultural groups to visit Auschwitz and embraced every Jewish festival – even donning racing car driver fancy dress this Purim. Fitting attire for a man who is driven by spiritual conviction and deserves a lap of honour.

PO Box 815, Edgware, HA8 4SX | letters@jewishnews.co.uk

Action now Discreet help Hearing the news reports about Russia’s reported war crimes in Ukraine made the hairs on my arms stand up.

Russian president Vladimir Putin has, of course, accused the West of lying, but every day we are learning, through journalists who are risking their lives to give accurate reports, of more and more sickening acts perpetrated by the Russian Army. They report of bodies piled in mass graves, the rape of Ukrainian women and civilians being shot at close range and with their hands tied behind their backs.

Meanwhile, the world wrings its hands. While this is a different situation to the Holocaust, there are echoes of the past and civilians are being slaughtered. We must demand of our politicans that they act now, before it’s too late.

Marcus Gilbert, By email

Frieda Sholt writes that, despite Israel being in a precarious position with regards to its stance towards Putin ‘hopefully [it] can provide aid in a noncontentious way’ (Jewish News, 31 March 2022).

Israel does rely on Russia (a power broker in Syria which controls its air space), to allow Israeli planes to contain Hezbollah and Iranian forces in Syria. Nevertheless, Israel did condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine and has set up a large field hospital outside Lviv, staffed by a team of 100 Israelis, 80 of whom are doctors. Israel has sent 100 tonnes of humanitarian aid including medical supplies, generators and water purification systems and has taken in thousands of Ukrainian refugees.

If there were military aid to Ukraine, it would be discreet. It is also possible Israel can help to broker a peace deal.

Kay Bagon, Radlett

TOME IMPROVEMENT FOR BOOK WEEK It’s a disgrace Jewish Book Week gave author Michael Rosen a platform at its Family Day event last weekend.

Mr Rosen is anti-Israel and a Corbynista. I won’t be attending Jewish Book Week in future. Until now I have supported it and enjoyed the speakers it deliv-

ers. It used to have a Hebrew session that has disappeared. It also had AB Yehoshua, one of the “three tenors” of Israeli literature speak in the past.

What has happened to Jewish Book Week?

Rachelle Marks, By email

CONTACT DETAILS Publisher and Editor Richard Ferrer 020 8148 9703 richard@jewishnews.co.uk

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PRINCE PHILIP WAS NEW NUS LEADER’S A MAN IN THE KNOW QUESTIONABLE VIEW I was pleased to read that Rabbi Debbie YoungSomers, one of three children of members of my synagogue to achieve semicha, was at the memorial service for Prince Philip. She refers to his visit to the Sternberg Centre, invited by the untiring and muchmissed Sir Siggy Sternberg.

As PR officer at the time, I was deputed to show him round. When we got to our Interfaith Room, I explained we were very involved in interfaith Christian-Jewish relations. “Oh?” said HRH with a grin, “..and what about Jewish-Jewish relations?” “Sir, you have clearly been very well briefed,” I replied.

Barry Hyman, president, Radlett Reform

*

I will hazard a guess that “gendered Islamophobia”, a wonderfully woke term used by new National Union of Students president Shaima Dallali to describe the motivation of her critics, is a double prejudice against an individual on account of both their sex and religion.

Perhaps Ms Dallali is correct in her observation, or perhaps – just perhaps – the criticism aimed at her has something to do with her morality, not least her view that Muslim cleric Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi is a “moral compass for the Muslim community at large”. The same al-Qaradawi who said the Holocaust was “divine punishment”.

Emily Adams, By email

7 April 2022 Jewish News

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Editorial comment and letters

“Feh! I strike a rock and get forbidden from seeing the Promised Land, Will Smith strikes a Rock and gets a Best Actor Oscar!”

WHY IS MY LIFE different DIFFERENT FROM MOST OTHER CHILDREN? “My name is Abi; in December 2020 I was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.”

This Pesach and throughout the year, Camp Simcha will be supporting hundreds of families, coping with over 50 serious, childhood medical conditions just like Abi’s – putting some normality back into their lives.

“Being ill changed me mentally and physically.”

Please be the difference for children like Abi now.

This Pesach donate at campsimcha .org.uk/pes ach 020 8202 9297 • office@campsimcha.org.uk • campsimcha.org.uk

“Camp Simcha helped my family by taking care of everything else so they could take care of me.”

Charity Number: 1180646. A Company Limited by Guarantee Registered in England and Wales No. 11478657

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Jewish News 7 April 2022

Opinion

Remembrance is glue binding Israel together ALEX BRUMMER

CITY EDITOR, THE DAILY MAIL

T

he Ukraine war and the refugee crisis it has generated is a sharp reminder that Israel as a modern nation has been built on tribes. Long before the creation of the state in 1948, émigrés from Russian pogroms against Jews brought a fresh European perspective to first Ottoman and then mandate Palestine.

They were followed by German immigrants or Yekkes the well-educated Jews, who anticipated the rise of Hitler and Nazism. Among other things they were responsible for the Bauhaus architecture at the core of Tel Aviv.

Tribes from all corners of the earth have arrived at the state during its modern history.

The Jews of Arab lands expelled before and after the 1948 war. The brave and badly damaged survivors of the Shoah. And there have been arrivals from Africa, notably the Ethiopian minority, to this day fleeing starva-

tion and strife. To this mix we must now add the refugees fleeing Moscow’s barbarous assault on Ukraine and those Jews in Russia wanting nothing to do with Putin’s tyranny.

On the recent mission to Israel, skilfully organised by Elnet UK, a group of British journalists (myself included) were exposed to Israel’s national security vulnerabilities, unrelenting violence against Israeli citizens and the diverse nature of Israel’s tribes.

The highlight for many of the group was a visit to an Iron Dome site on the Gaza border.

Its primary task is to protect communities from Hamas. But the bigger threat are the 140,000 Hezbollah rockets, many of them with precision guidance systems, targeted on strategically sensitive infrastructure as well as civilians in Israel’s coastal communities.

In charge of operating these sites and keeping Iron Dome reloaded were a group of bright young Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) recruits, each with their own ethnic stories. The immediate message for many from this defiant platoon was the dedication to public service and responsibility. It is a sharp contrast to the

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For more information and to RSVP contact us at 07832174086 I hgsinspire@gmail.com I www.hgsinspire.org This event is under the Auspices of Rabbi Y.M. Hertz, Rabbi of Kingsley Way Synagogue and of Chabad communities NW London

❝

THREAD OF THE SHOAH BINDS TOGETHER MUCH OF JEWISHISRAELI SOCIETY

19- to 21-year-olds in Britain more interested in finding their way to the nearest university union bar or embracing ‘woke’ causes.

Among the IDF recruits was the daughter of recent Russian immigrants, the child of Moroccan-Jewish parents and products of Israel’s melting pot. A missing ingredient in this exposure to Israeli society was any attempt to put what we were witnessing in the context of the Holocaust and the deep-rooted commitment to survival that has engendered.

The first port of call for many overseas visitors to Israel is Yad Yashem. It is hard to understand Israel’s tribes and the far reach of Nazi outrages without this background.

There were some insights. At the Tura winery in the West Bank settlement of Rehelim, the Dutch born co-founder, Vered Ben-Sa’adon, sought to explain a family history of a Jewish father with a survivor history and a non-Jewish mother with a background of support for the Nazis. They decided to bring their offspring to Israel and to fully convert them to Judaism.

The thread of the Shoah is one that binds together much of Jewish-Israeli society. What caught me by surprise during the visit is how little second generation children of concentration camp victims know about family history.

Historically there was reluctance in families, like my own, to talk to children and grandchildren of the ghastliness of their experiences.

Yad Yashem is among the great repositories of stories from hell not told in polite company. A cousin, in high office in Israel, acknowledged an information gap. Another said it was necessary for them to consult the museum archive to know what happened to their parents.

Remembrance is the glue that best helps to explain the values and defiance of the diverse tribes of Jewish Israel.

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Opinion

Truth is a mighty weapon in fight against inhumanity STEPHEN SMITH

FOUNDER OF THE UK HOLOCAUST CENTRE IN ENGLAND

T

he charred and twisted metal on our screens from Bucha, near Kyiv, appear like an apocalyptic scene from Dante’s Inferno. Abandoned military hardware and soft bodies tied and shot from behind are reminiscent of scenes from the Second World War. It makes uncomfortable viewing. And so it should.

Such is the global outrage at the sight of bodies strewn on the street that cries of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes have echoed around the world. Even before we witnessed the scenes in Bucha there had been ample evidence that the Russian military had targeted civilians.

Early on in the invasion of Ukraine, an armoured personnel vehicle was filmed driving through a civilian neighbourhood. It diverted its course to run directly over a civilian car driving towards it, crushing it. The Russian

military was sanctioned to target civilians.

I learned eyewitnesses reported that Russian troops “began to shoot from tanks in a circle, at homes near the street”. The formation of military hardware in a residential neighbourhood demonstrated clear intent to kill civilians.

One observer said: “I think they had orders to shoot at houses and civilians…”

I have worked in war zones. In Kosovo, the plan was clear; to use the military to force the Kosavar Albanians to leave. In northern Syria

the Rohingya populations. This could only mean an order was given somewhere. More than 600,000 Rohingya refugees fled thereafter.

Last month, the US government designated that crime genocide. I knew that after speaking to just 10 people at the time.

Former International War Crimes prosecutor, Luis Moreno Ocampo, told me that war is often the pretext for ‘forcible population transfer’. This innocuous-sounding legal term is enshrined in the Rome Statue that defines

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IT IS TOO EARLY TO JUDGE WHETHER RUSSIA’S CRIMES IN UKRAINE CONSITUTE GENOCIDE

just two years ago, the plan of the Turkish military was also clear; to use military conquest to force the Kurdish population to leave. In Myanmar in 2017 the tactic was the same. I documented how the military came in at the same time in three large townships to terrorise

war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. Ethnic cleansing is not a crime by international law, but ‘forcible population transfer” is. It amounts to the same thing – terrorise, and kill, so people leave.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine constitutes

a one-sided attack on a sovereign nation.

When this attack is extended to its defenseless citizens, it constitutes egregious crimes against humanity. But is it genocide? It is too early to judge; it will take years before such crimes are heard in a court of law. Only recently are the first hearings taking place about the crimes committed in Darfur in 2004. And we are still awaiting justice for the Holocaust.

I have spent 30 years documenting the crime of genocide. As the director of a technology-based storytelling company, I work with technology organisations, universities and individuals to ensure evidence is recorded in real time and kept securely.

We are the eyes of the world. Truth is an important weapon in the fight against injustice.

As historians and advocates for humanity, we know there is no greater weapon than truth if justice is ever to be served.

One day, a court will determine the specific crimes committed in Ukraine this year. In the meantime, we will collect the truth, to ensure that the victims whose tangled bodies we have seen on our screens will get their day in court.

UKRAINE CRISIS APPEAL

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Scan the QR code to donate

020 8736 1250 | worldjewishrelief.org/ukrainecrisis

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Jewish News 7 April 2022

Opinion

Beth Din must not turn blind eye to such abuse BARONESS ALTMANN

A

t last, there may be progress for Jewish women being abused by their husbands. A man has been jailed after physically and emotionally abusing his wife, including refusing her a Jewish bill of divorce (a get).

The 2015 Serious Crime Act first established coercive control as a criminal offence and last year’s landmark Domestic Abuse legislation clarified beyond doubt that withholding a get can represent criminal abuse. This is the latest step in the long battle to help Jewish men recognise get refusal, or demanding more money or child access than the British courts divorce settlement, is completely unacceptable.

Jewish women elsewhere, including New York, see the trailblazing changes to our criminal justice system as offering hope that religious courts (Batei Din) will stand up against the coercive bullying of women, which has long tarnished Jewish divorce processes.

Most couples divorce smoothly, but a

minority of wives are trapped in marriages for years, held hostage by religious laws allowing husbands to refuse to set them free.

Jewish law (halacha) stipulates only husbands can initiate the get, which must be granted willingly. Forcing them can invalidate the divorce, leaving women ‘married’ in Jewish law, even if civilly divorced. These agunot (chained wives) may have to choose between accepting they cannot remarry or have children, meeting financial demands, or rejecting their Jewish religious life. Remarriage is forbidden as adulterous, with any future children considered mamzerim and excluded from mainstream religion. Men whose wives do not accept the get can still remarry, with no Jewish status impact on their future offspring.

Jewish couples must seek rabbinic guidance first and allow dayanim to facilitate the get.

I know rabbinic authorities want to find halachically acceptable ways to help these women divorce, including ostracising or shaming the recalcitrant husbands, but progress has been slow and their attempts have too often failed.

As an Orthodox woman, I respect halacha

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THE RELIGIOUS AUTHORITIES MUST FIND BETTER WAYS TO SUPPORT AGUNOT

and the authority of our religious courts, but as a British parliamentarian I believe it is right to try to protect these women in domestic legislation. This poses challenges for dayanim to navigate round the law of the land, without undermining women’s position in Jewish law.

There are now strengthened protections for domestic abuse victims and we have marvellous charities such as Jewish Women’s Aid and GettOutUK, as well as community leaders or members who want to help. Batei Din offer little practical or emotional support for women going through the Jewish divorce process.

The issue is sometimes dismissed as an unwelcome “feminist agenda”, trying to restrict

freedom of religion for Jewish men. Such thinking does not fit with the law of the land.

The religious authorities must find better ways to support agunot and make clear to Jewish husbands that blackmail or get refusal are unacceptable. Some have warned that agunot seeking protection from British courts may find dayanim rule that this constitutes illicit coercion, which permanently invalidates their get. Such suggestions leave the Batei Din in dangerous conflict with our country’s laws, perpetuating controlling behaviour.

Orthodox Judaism has made real progress in women’s rights and inclusion in communal life, but the plight of agunot is a running sore.

Surely the Torah did not intend women to be cruelly abandoned to the whims of recalcitrant, abusive husbands. Compassion, kindness and caring are core Jewish values. Judaism offers a wonderful way of life and needs to thrive for future generations.

There is a wide group of people wanting to work with the dayanim to find practical resolutions for agunot. I hope they will engage with us.

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Community / Scene & Be Seen

1 WELCOMING PACKS

Project ImpACT volunteers packed special welcome packs for Ukrainian refugee children in Poland and Moldova as well as for those arriving in the UK. The army of volunteers from 25 secondary schools organised notepads, pens, felt tips, colouring and activity books that had been collected through donations from Deloitte, Uniform4Kids, Product Network and JW3 staff.

And be seen!

2 SELL-OUT LUNCH

The Yavneh site of Borehamwood and Elstree Synagogue held its first major in-person event since the start of the pandemic. More than 240 adults and children booked in for a Shabbat lunch, which sold out in an hour.

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The latest news, pictures and social events from across the community Email us at community@jewishnews.co.uk

PROPERTY DINNER

The Young Jewish Care Property Committee held its annual industry leaders round-table dinner at CBRE. The event, which was sold out and attended by 110 guests, raised £24,000 for the charity’s services supporting older people in the community and in care homes.

4 BELMONT WOWS

Belmont Synagogue held its first in-person event of the WOW women’s group since the start of the pandemic.

Women and girls from the community and beyond enjoyed listening to Liz Tatz, who performed songs ranging from the spiritual to the popular.

5 RABBI INDUCTION

In a long-awaited ceremony delayed by the pandemic, Rabbi Mordechai Chalk was formally inducted as Watford & District Synagogue’s minister. Chalk, his wife Shira and their three children – Tzvi, Meir and Miri – joined the Watford community during the 2020 lockdown and made their mark despite the most challenging of circumstances.

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6 UKRAINE FUNDRAISER

More than £5,000 was raised for Ukraine at a fundraiser organised by St Albans Masorti Synagogue. The evening involved Ukrainian music as well as food provided by synagogue members and their guests. The money raised will be donated to the Disaster Emergency Fund.

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Scene & Be Seen / Business breakfast

Breakfast disrupted Photos by Yakir Zur

ORT UK’s Business Breakfast took place at the Treehouse London Hotel, hosted by Sir Lloyd Dorfman. Guests at ‘Business Disrupted,’ enjoyed a networking breakfast and panel discussion led by JN’s business editor Candice Krieger, with entrepreneurs Alex Stephany (Beam), Anne-Charlotte Mornington (OLIO) and Duncan Kreeger (TAB HQ). Proceeds went towards the ORT Ukraine Crisis Appeal.

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Kisharon offers education, opportunity and support for people with learning disabilities and their families throughout life’s journey.

At the heart of all our services lie Jewish values and beliefs.

Your donation this Pesach Enabling the people we support to thrive

Donate today at kisharon.org.uk/donate-now Charity Number 271519

PERFECT PESACH GIFTS Shop at EQUAL and support Kisharon Impress your friends and family at your first in-person seder since 2019 with our beautiful range of hand made seder plates, kiddush cups and matzo plates.

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JDA – we will support you like no-one else can “ My cancer has spread.

But I’m not afraid because my wonderful JDA family is keeping me feeling calm and loved. ”

Anne is Deaf and uses sign language. She has been living with cancer for many years and we have supported her every step of the way. So when the doctor gave her bad news, we were beside her, interpreting, gently explaining and holding her hand.

Anne has chosen palliative care. We are making sure she is comfortable and giving her all the love and care she needs.

We will do all we can to ensure she never feels alone or frightened.

But if she does, we’ll be there.

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7 April 2022 Jewish News

LI FE

rose

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Inside A look

Pesach recipes More JN Life in our magazine

by any other

name Things are sweet for 21-year-old former JFS student Jonas Rosenthal – now J P Rose – who is doing music his way. Naomi Nakum talks to the vocalist and producer about music for a new generation

So what’s with the name ? Was Jonas Rosenthal not cool enough?

Ha ha, I guess it just rolls off the tongue easily and fits with the whole R ‘n’ B/soul/hiphop vibe that I’m about.

What is your music story?

Well, I know it’s cliché, but I was always musical as a child. I started learning guitar in Year 2 and rapping in Year 3. My parents pushed both of my sisters to do music, but I was the one who took to it! Happy accident.

Where do you record?

I’m at music uni at the moment (BIMM in Brighton) doing a BA in music production. But Jonas Rosenthal aka JP Rose

I make my own music whenever I can from home – I’ve got the whole gig set up in my bedroom – guitars, mics etc.

So you release your music from home?

Yes, my songs Control, Can’t Lie and Let’s Get Lost were all recorded in my bedroom! An example of this is Lil Nas X – he recorded his music at home and made it big in the past few years. Amy Winehouse’s Valerie is known to have used a very cheap microphone that is often used in home studios, and Michael Jackson’s Thriller album was recorded with the same mic I use now – but a newer version of it, of course! I do go to the studios but, to be honest, the pandemic gave me a chance to put all of myself into my music. I’m usually quite social and I go to music events to form industry connections, but isolation was both a challenge and a success. I found new ways of connecting and collaborating, such as through TikTok, which really took off during lockdown.

Did you collaborate with anyone you met online?

Yes, I’ve teamed up with artists Feux and Kxmel on my song Let’s Get Lost. I got to know so many musicians during lockdown and make music with them. I am now executive producer on music for Feux.

Would you say that your roots affect your vibe?

Oh yeah, definitely. I’ve got a strong sense of self and family values and I’m comfortable expressing that through my music. I was the youth leader for Muswell Hill Shul for a while, so hopefully I can inspire the current generation and be a positive role model. I’m

JP Rose’s grandfather, pictured with his twin brother and their father, left, fled a Nazi work camp. He inspires the ex-JFS pupil to create meaningful music

also humbled by what my grandparents went through to get here. My grandfather and his twin brother were 12 when they managed to escape on the way to a Nazi work camp. We’ve got a pre-war picture of them in my house and people have always said I look like him. I still look at it and get emotional knowing what that little boy had to go through. I want to create great, meaningful music in their memory – that would make them proud.

Is that where your music comes from?

My music is soul music and the history of my people definitely inspires me to bring more to the table. I don’t just want to do songs about partying. Certain black artists I listen to reveal the pain of their history in songs. I aspire to that and, as we’re both marginalised communities, we need to stick together and have awareness of each other’s struggles. Antisemitism and racism often come from a lack of understanding.

So bringing that message of understanding is important?

Yeah, of course. It’s also motivating that some of the biggest rappers are Jewish – Drake and Mac Miller [he died in 2018] for a start. I believe that, as a Jew, you can’t be scared to go out in the world and connect with other cultures. I’m just out there and proud of who I am – Magen David bling and all! If you show you’re fearless, people will intrude on you less. The artists I admire most in the music world are those who wanted to push social change and be more than a song-maker, such as Bob Marley, John Lennon and Kendrick Lamar.

Is there a connection between your process and the message of your music?

Definitely. I write and compose all my own songs and part of that process is letting the everyday inspire me – it could be a meaningful moment, food, a person, a video. I’m always ready to catch creativity! I think, ‘How can I make this connect on more than just a surface level? How can it make someone relate?’ Every time I write a lyric and come up with a melody, I want it to give people the chills.

Are you hoping to get signed up to a big record label?

I’m an independent artist, not signed to a label – and I prefer it that way. I’ve got PR people but, this way, I can be the boss of my own career. There are massive artists who have done it on their own, like Chance and Stormzy.

I have reached over three million streams on Spotify/YouTube with my own songs and those produced for other people. My debut project, Lo-Soul, is out on 15 April and has some great tracks, including my new single, One n Only, which is out now.

Any parting tips for hopeful young musicians in the community?

The main thing is to believe in yourself – if you have a deep love for making music, just go for it.

There will be dark times but, if you stay with it, you will get somewhere. I’m not fully there yet, but with that attitude I truly believe I will get to where I want to be.  One n Only is out now on all major streaming platforms: www.streamlink. to/ONENONLY; Instagram: @j.p_rose

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Jewish News 7 April 2022

JN LIFE

PLATE UP THE Roasted Tomato & Basil Soup Prep time: 30 mins | Cooking time: 2h 10mins

While chicken soup might be traditional for a festive feast, opening with tomato soup might just spark the question: ‘Why is this night different?’ Serve with herby green ‘frog’ matzah balls.

Ingredients 1.5kg fresh tomatoes (around 12 medium-sized tomatoes)— the reddest you can find. You can also use baby tomatoes. ½ cup olive oil (plus extra for frying) 1 tsp salt and ½ tsp black pepper 4 cloves garlic, crushed

Discussion about the 10 plagues is one of the most important parts of the seder and the story of the Exodus. What better way to immerse ourselves in seder night than by eating our way through the plagues? Recipes from Immersive 10 Plagues Seder Menu by Ta’am (recipes serve six)

30g (½ cup) basil, torn 250-300g (5-6 cups) carrots, peeled and chopped 3 sticks celery, chopped 175g (3 heaped cups) onion, diced 1 vegetable, beef or chicken stock cube 2 litres boiling water 1 tin chopped tomatoes

Cauliflower Tabbouleh with Pickled Radish ‘Boils’ Prep time: 15-20 mins | Pickling time: up to 24 hours (for the radishes)

Method

1. Preheat oven to 200°C / 180°C fan (Gas Mark 6 / 400°F) 2. Chop tomatoes into halves or quarters depending on size. If using baby tomatoes leave them whole.

3. Using a blender combine olive oil, garlic, basil, salt and pepper.

4. Place tomatoes in a large baking pan and pour over the basil/garlic dressing. Mix to generously coat all the tomatoes and roast for 1 hour, stirring halfway through.

5. In a heavy-bottomed pot, heat 1 tbsp of olive oil and add onion, carrots, celery and a pinch of salt. Cook until softened, around 15-20 mins on a medium to high heat. Gently stir throughout to stop it catching.

6. Crumble in the stock cube, stir gently and cook for another few minutes until the stock cube has dissolved. Remove from heat.

7. Once tomatoes are ready, pour them into the stockpot (including all the cooking liquid) and replace it to the stove. Add one can of cooked tin tomatoes to help deepen the red colour. Bring to the boil, then turn down to a simmer for 1 hour.

8. Once ready, blitz the soup in a food processor.

For the boils: 5-10 radishes Juice of a lemon 1 tbsp sugar For the tabouleh: 1 medium cauliflower 60g (1 cup) chopped parsley 20g (⅓ cup) chopped mint ½ large cucumber, deseeded and finely chopped 100g (½ cup) pomegranate seeds (optional) Salt and pepper 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil Juice of a lemon

This refreshing tabbouleh salad is super simple to make, and with its zesty pickles on top, it is the perfect counterbalance to the rich unctuousness of Chicken Marbella.

The cauliflower represents the soot that Moses threw towards the heavens to trigger the plague of boils. You can substitute radishes with halved cherry tomatoes but skip the pickling process.

Method

1. THE DAY BEFORE YOU NEED THE SALAD: Clean radishes, slice the tips off either end, then slice in half. In a lidded container mix together juice of a lemon and 1 tbsp of sugar,until the sugar is dissolved, then toss the radishes in the mixture, cover and leave in the fridge until needed. You don’t need the whole radish to be covered but if you feel there isn’t enough pickling liquid, add a little water.

2. Quarter the cauliflower, clean and dry thoroughly, before grating on the smallholed side of a grater. It should appear like a fine grain.

3. If you have a muslin, pile the cauliflower grain in and squeeze over a sink, because it can retain a lot of moisture (optional).

4. Just before serving, in a large bowl toss together the cauliflower, the herbs, the cucumber and the pomegranate seeds (if using). Add salt and pepper to taste, a generous tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil and the juice of a lemon.

5. Top with the pickled ‘boil’ radishes and serve at room temperature.

Herby ‘Frog-tzah Balls’ (Kneidlach)

Prep: 30 mins | Chilling time: 1h 30 mins | Cooking: 5-10 mins Whenever the Egyptians tried to kill the frogs they exploded and multiplied. Serve each portion of soup with at least two matzah balls to represent this.

Ingredients 120g (1 cup) fine or medium matzah meal 1 tsp Pesach baking powder Method

Salt and pepper to taste Pinch of garlic powder 20g (⅓ cup) fresh basil, very finely chopped

1. Combine the first four (dry) ingredients in a large bowl.

2. Keeping a small amount aside for garnish, add in the chopped herbs slowly and combine­– you may find all 40g of herbs too much, but do make sure that your mixture is really green and herb laden.

3. In a separate bowl, beat eggs and add the oil.

4. Slowly pour the egg and oil mixture into the dry mixture and combine. If it feels too loose, add a little matzah meal a spoonful at a time until it can hold its

20g (⅓ cup) fresh parsley, very finely chopped 4 eggs 30ml (2 tbsp) olive oil

form. Place the mixture in the fridge covered with cling film for about 30 minutes.

5. Once chilled, form into small balls, about the size of walnuts. This recipe will make between 20 and 30.

6. Place on a cling film-lined tray and freeze (preferably overnight).

7. To cook, fill a pan with boiling water and drop the matzah balls in, cooking for 5-10 minutes – you should see them fluff up. Drain and leave to cool.

8. Add to the soup when you serve it and use any leftover herbs as garnish.

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JN LIFE

Chicken Marbella Adapted from Yotam Ottolenghi’s Simple Prep time: 20 mins | Marinating time: up to 12 hours | Cooking time: 2h 15 mins Pestilence is all about the bones, as they signify the carcasses of the Egyptians’ livestock, their cattle and the animals which they looked upon as gods. This adapted version of Ottolenghi’s Chicken Marbella is packed with Passover twists.

Ottolenghi’s substitution of the more traditional prunes for dates is perfect for Pesach – most Sephardim and Mizrahim use date syrup or chopped dates for their charoset. Dates and olives were two of the seven species named in the Torah as being special products of the Holy Land; the ‘land flowing with milk and honey’ was almost certainly referring to silan, the date honey used in this recipe; the red wine hints at the four cups we drink on seder night.

Vegan alternative: swap out the chicken for roasted aubergines. Full recipe at wearetaam.com

For the chicken: 6 chicken leg/thigh quarters 1 tbsp olive oil 1 medium onion, ribboned 2 red or orange bell peppers, sliced ½ tsp salt Method

225g (1 cup) dates (225g pitted or 210g pitted) 90g (½ cup) pitted green olives (one small jar, drained) For the marinade: 1 tsp black pepper

1. In a blender or using a hand blender, combine all the marinade ingredients.

2. Place chicken pieces in a bowl, pour over the marinade and refrigerate for a few hours if you have time.

3. Preheat your oven to 200°C / 180°C fan / Gas Mark 6 / 400°F. In a large, deep ovenproof dish pour 1 tbsp of olive oil to grease.

4. Layer in onions and peppers evenly. Add ½ tsp salt and mix.

5. Sprinkle in ⅔ of the olives and dates.

Photos by Sophy Weiss Photography

Mango & Pomegranate ‘Fire & Ice’ Hailstones

Prep time: 5 mins | Chilling time: up to 24 hours “And there was hail, and fire flaming within the hail, very heavy, the likes of which had never been throughout the entire land of Egypt since it had become a nation.” (Exodus 9:24)

Ingredients Pomegranate seeds ½ mango, chopped into cubes Water Method

1. Fill the bottom of the ice mould with 3-6 pomegranate seeds and a 2-3 small pieces of mango. You don’t want them to be overfull, just enough to show the colour of fire through the ice cube. Then fill with water according to manufacturer’s instructions and freeze overnight.

2. Serve in jugs of water or lemonade so they can really shine, or place one in each guest’s glass.

3 tbsp olive oil 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar 3 tbsp red wine 10g (3 tbsp) fresh oregano 3g (1 tbsp) fresh thyme 2 heaped tbsp silan (date syrup)

6. Place the marinade-coated chicken on top and scatter the remaining olives and dates, pushing them into crevices between the chicken pieces.

Pour over remaining marinade and seal the dish with foil.

7. Place in the oven and cook for 1.5 hours.

8. Remove foil and cook for a further 30-45 minutes to crisp up the skin.

9. Transfer to a large platter, carefully placing the chicken on top of the vegetables and dates, with the legs sticking up at sharp angles to make a feature of the bones.

FREE IMMERSIVE SEDER MENU!

The Immersive 10 Plagues Seder Menu by Ta’am is available in print for free at Jewish outlets nationwide and downloadable at wearetaam.com. All recipes are kitniyotfree and veggie and vegan options are included.

A member of the Jewish Futures family, Ta’am is all about engaging Jews with their culture and heritage through food. For Pesach Ta’am has also developed a range of free downloadable meal and menu planners, as well as shopping and equipment lists.

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JN Junior

The big question

Feast for the eyes and soul!

Congratulations to the winners of the inaugural Jewish Children’s Book Awards (JCBA), organised by specialist Jewish children’s book publisher Green Genius Jenna says: At Pesach, people all over the world will eat Bean Books and matzah, dig out the Haggadahs and have a seder night or two.

Jewish Book The festival centres around the retelling of the biblical story of the Week (JBW). The Jewish people being freed from slavery in Egypt. It’s traditional to have awards showcase a ‘seder’ – a mix of religious rituals, food, songs and storytelling.

Jewish children’s The seder is the most commonly celebrated Jewish custom stories and illustrators performed by Jews across the globe. And when it comes to from Europe. ‘traditions’ – the handing down of beliefs or customs from one Sharon Spitz (above) generation to another – Pesach has plenty. from Haifa won the For seder, it’s traditional to have a seder plate with certain illustration prize with items: a hard-boiled egg, to represent spring and the circle of life; her work, S Agnon – the a roasted shank bone representing the Pesach sacrifice, bitter herbs to biography of the Jewish author. represent the bitterness of slavery, charoset (a mix of fruit, wine and The winner of the writing prize went to nuts), and horseradish, called maror.

London-based Carol Isaacs for Samira’s One of my favourite traditions is dressing up as one of the plagues Stars, a book based on memories of the (something my grandpa started). What are your festival traditions? author’s family. Set in Baghdad, the story is told from the viewpoint of a young girl.

Sophia Navazesh, age nine, Finchley Each winner receives £1,000 and their Purim traditions mean the most to me because you get to dress up work will be considered for publication by with your family and friends and stay up all night having lots of fun. But Green Bean Books. best of all, the food is amazing and with mishloach manot, you give Judge Michael Leventhal said: “Sharon’s lots of delicious treats to each other. You also get chocolate or jam illustrations are beautiful and powerful. She hamantashen. I love seeing everyone’s costumes at shul or school. is incredibly talented and creative. Carol’s text is a spell-binding evocation of the history of Jewish life in Iraq and a compelling story for children.”

Last Sunday the winners ran an a five-year-old author! illustration workshop during A five-year-old from Dorset has become a firstJBW’s Family Day, where the l ie d d 2022-23 JCBA competition a time published author! Bella-Jay Dark’s book, B r o With Iv n he w y was launched. sa The Lost Cat, was published by Ginger Fyre r hu Art s hi What did Kinpegopl t See www.greenbeanbooks. a g in t Press and is available to purchase on Amazon e sit he t f o e it n o su com or www.jewishbook ge n a and at Waterstones for £4. Bella-Jay’s story e wore an or bl a t d n week.com for details u o r is about a kitten who goes on an adventure and soon r?

Tradition, tradition, tradition!

Photos courtesy of Jewish Book Week

JN Junior

The Jewish Children's Book Awards

Just for laughs!

Good news for...

learns an important lesson. If Bella-Jay sells 1,000 copies, she will become the official Guinness World Record’s youngest author.

of armou night Why is this k

to all different ig other kn hts?

Five things to enjoy this month

1

The 100 Story Hotel Fans of bestselling author and illustrator Rob Biddulph can expect an immersive experience featuring extraordinary characters at The 100 Story Hotel at the Discover Children’s Story Centre. www.discover.org.uk

2

Horrible Histories Terrible Thames The boat tour of Horrible Histories Terrible Thames sails back into London to provide the history of the Thames with the nasty bits left in. The tour departs from Tower Bridge Quay. www.terriblethames.com

Compiled by Candice Krieger candice@jewishnews.co.uk

3

Dino Kingdom For an epic pre-historic experience, head to Dino Kingdom at Gunnersbury Park from 1 to 18 April. There’ll be moving and roaring reptiles, an excavation site, food and drink and fairground rides. www.dinokingdom.com

4

5

Easter Family Run Burn off some matzah at the Regent’s Park’s family-friendly fun run. Children can dress up and run for Easter goodies. www.nice-work.org.uk

Easter Egg Trails Take your pick of Easter Egg hunts and fun this month – there’s the Very Hungry Caterpillar Trail, an Easter Duck Trail, and an Easter extravaganza. www.kew.org, www.wwt.org.uk, www. aldenhamcountrypark.co.uk

7 April 2022 Jewish News

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Orthodox Judaism

MAKING SENSE OF THE SEDRA In our thought-provoking new series, rabbis and rebbetzins relate the week’s parsha to the way we live today

BY RABBI JONNY ROODYN

EDUCATIONAL DIRECTOR AT JEWISH FUTURES

Actions speak louder than words Parshat Metzorah, which is also Shabbat Hagadol (the Shabbat preceding Pesach), is a rather technical one, dealing primarily with laws of ritual purity and impurity. Although many of the laws do not apply nowadays, there are ideas and aspects that teach us vital messages.

One rather unusual application of the laws of spiritual impurity regards an affliction that would strangely affect houses. If a house stricken with tzaraat (disease) was declared salvageable and did not need to be dismantled, the kohen performed a procedure to prepare it for use again.

As part of this rite, he sprinkles blood on the house.

One view in the Midrash specifies that the blood goes specifically on the lintel of the doorway. Rabbi Meir Simcha HaKohen of Dvinsk explains that this fits with the Talmud’s (Yoma 11b) understanding of why tzaraat may afflict a house, namely owing to the selfish use of one’s property.

The blood on the door’s lintel becomes a reminder to the old-new resident to open the doorway of the house to others. To Rav Meir Simcha, tzaraat imposes separation from the rest of society as punishment for estrangement from others. As his proof-text, he notes that households disintegrate as soon as a man puts an oath on his wife forbidding her from lending utensils to others.

As we approach Pesach, the idea of

blood on a lintel is highly evocative.

While the blood of the Pesach offering was only placed on the lintel on the very first Pesach in Egypt, its lesson is eternal.

The doorpost and lintel are the boundaries of the family home and are meant to create a safe space for those inside. However, at the same time, the Paschal lamb was meant to be shared with those who could not bring their own. The Pesach seder, then as now, is meant to be a warm and welcoming experience, not only for our own families, but for those beyond our own immediate circle.

This idea is so fundamental to the Pesach experience that the Maggid section of the Haggadah starts with the invitation of ha lachma anya, ‘all who are needy let them come and eat…’ The freedom that we celebrate

Romford & District (Affiliated) Synagogue Incorporating Havering Jewish Ladies 25 Eastern Road, Romford, Essex, RM1 3NH 01708 741 690

Wishing The Community a Happy and Kosher Passover

Blood was sprinkled around the door of a house stricken with disease

on Pesach is not just liberation from our oppressors; rather, it is a freedom to behave in a way that is becoming of people who can empathise with those who are less fortunate and are able to share what we have with them.

This Pesach, perhaps more than in any other time in living memory, we are celebrating freedom against the backdrop of war and oppression.

It is vital that, in the days leading up

to Yom Tov, we do our level best to open our homes and hearts and share what we have with those who are in need of support, so our declarations of freedom on seder night are not empty words.

If seder night is all about communicating messages and creating a legacy for the next generations, statements that are backed up with actions are the most powerful ones of all.

Avigdor Hirsch

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We will consider applications to work full time or part time.

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Successful candidates will be contacted directly regarding interview arrangements.

Torah Temimah is committed to safeguarding and ensuring the well-being and safety of staff and students. All our employees, volunteers and contractors share this commitment, and we will carry out Enhanced DBS checks for all appointments as well ensuring that our rigorous pre-recruitment checks are strictly adhered to.

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We foster an inclusive culture that promotes equality of opportunity and values diversity creating an environment where the rights and dignity of all members of our community are respected.

Parkside, Dollis Hill, London NW2 6RJ Tel.: 020 8450 4377 email: office@ttps.org.uk ‫מנהל‬: Rabbi E Klyne MA (Ed) ‫שליט"א‬ Headteacher: Mr M Coleman BEd (Hons), QTS, NASENCO

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Progressive Judaism

LEAP OF FAITH

A stimulating new series where our progressive rabbis consider how biblical figures might act when faced with 21st century issues

BY RABBI DANNY RICH

VICE PRESIDENT OF LIBERAL JUDAISM

What would Amos say about the cost-of-living crisis?

As a new tax year begins, Jews find themselves confronting a ‘double whammy’ of rising costs – one particular and the other universal.

With inflation set to hit a figure not seen since the late 1970s/early 1980s, bringing with it price rises in energy, fuel, food and much else, Britons face a cost-of-living challenge. The poorest and large families will suffer the heaviest impact. The Rowntree Foundation estimates that a further 600,000 people will now be pulled into poverty, of which 150,000 are children.

The coming of Pesach, with its message of freedom, also heralds the cost of kosher l’Pesach goods – a further worry for the poorest in our community.

In moments of moral dilemma, I frequently turn to the Hebrew prophets, of whom Amos often offers most clarity.

Described as a ‘sheep breeder’, implying a wealthy owner of herds and flocks rather than a jobbing shepherd, he appears to have preached in the 8th century BCE when the Jewish

people were divided into the northern kingdom of Israel under Jeroboam and that of Judah under Uzziah.

Amos – in common with the Hebrew Bible’s other prophets of the Hebrew Bible – comments upon the condition of the Jewish community from a religious perspective. He includes the usual themes of the centrality of Jerusalem/Zion, the power of repentance, and the primacy of ethical conduct over ritual acts, but Amos is most clear concerning social and economic justice. His condemnation of the neglect of the poor is unequivocal, as is his setting out of the consequences for those who fail to appreciate the impact that their conduct may have on the poorest in society.

Amos says: “Because you impose a tax on the poor and extract a levy of grain, you have built houses of hewn stone but you shall not live in them; you have planted delightful vineyards, but shall not drink their wine. For I have noted how many are your crimes, and how countless your sins.”

I have no doubt Amos would have condemned without equivocation a society whereby some will have to forgo a night at the theatre, but others will be forced to choose to feed the family or heat the home. As to the cost of kosher l’Pesach goods, the Torah itself reminds us that, although a sacrifice was something costly, there was provision for those who could not afford everything.

In last week’s Torah portion (Leviticus 12: 1-8) there is a description of what is expected of a woman after childbirth. A

The Hebrew Bible makes provision for the disadvantaged

period of ritual isolation is ended by the bringing of an (expensive) lamb and a pigeon or a dove. But Leviticus 8:1 says she can take two doves or pigeons if her means “do not suffice for a sheep”.

A salient reminder that Judaism acknowledges the difficulty of the disadvantaged, in both ritual matters and life in general.

Wishing all our clients a Happy Passover from all the staff at B&K Deli Edgware Hatch End and Tongue & Briskett In Good Street / Leather Lane & Waldor Street

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7 April 2022 Jewish News

37

Professional advice from our panel / Ask Our Experts

Ask our

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

This week: Computer chametz, dance class persuasion and recording a line manager meeting IAN GREEN IT SPECIALIST

MAN ON A BIKE

Dear Ian What is the best and safest way to clean a computer for Passover?

Sharon Dear Sharon Passover is a time when we clear out, both physically and mentally. It is the start of spring, so a spring clean for a computer would not go amiss. While I always advise to avoid eating and drinking next to a computer, it is inevitable that dust and crumbs can get into a device and screens can get smudged.

Cleaning needs to be done gently. For the screens of computers, tablets and phones, you should use only screen wipes or kitchen

LOUISE LEACH PRINCIPAL, PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL

DANCING WITH LOUISE Dear Louise My daughter started a dance class this term and although she really enjoys it when she’s there, it’s a battle getting her to it every week. When I pick her up from school, she is tired and hungry and just wants to go home. I’ve started to dread taking her because it feels like I’m dragging her there against her will.

The funny thing is that she

always leaves the class on a high and smiling, but the following week, we will encounter the same issues all over again. Should I just leave it for now?

Sonia Dear Sonia In my experience, this can happen often with young children and after-school activities but I would definitely keep persevering.

There are endless benefits to weekly dance and exercise classes and you know it’s good for her because you see her happy face at the end.

Be open and prepare for her reaction in advance.

Remind her in the morning that today is dance day and talk about how brilliantly she did last week. Give her

roll that is only slightly moist. Other cleaning products may damage the surface. Keyboards can be turned upside down and tapped lightly to remove crumbs and dust.

Again, do not spray with detergents or antibacterial liquids. If the keyboard is particularly grimy, you can use an antibacterial wipe gently on the keys, but ensure the machine is off at the time. Alternatively consider treating yourself to a new keyboard – they are only about £15.

While we are at it, I would recommend cleaning the software. This will speed things up. Removing temporary files, clearing out spyware and running a virus scan should be done regularly. Update the operating system and software to ensure security patches are installed.

Also, no Passover preparation would be complete without removing the cookies.

Chag sameach.

a reward for going and not complaining, perhaps her favourite snack or some well-deserved screen time as a rest when she finishes.

By persevering, you’re opening doors for her future.

When I was six and twirling around in my pink tutu, I had no idea that this was the beginning of my whole career.

Your daughter might not want to make dance her career, but it creates so many positive outcomes that will give her many options.

The skill sets learnt in a dance class don’t end at the barre. They promote public speaking, resilience, teamwork, self-belief, social skills and coordination and she will be releasing all-important endorphins. Good luck!

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EMMA GROSS EMPLOYMENT LAW AND DATA PROTECTION

SPENCER WEST LLP Dear Emma I am so fed up at work.

My line manager is totally unreasonable and doesn’t seem to respond to me raising my concerns.

I have tried to escalate it, but he denies saying things that we have discussed. If I record our next conversation, can I use that as evidence that he is not following the

Dear Judith While it is always upsetting to feel that you are not being listened to, neither an employee nor an employer has the right to record a meeting – unless both parties agree to the recording. It is unlikely that many employers would agree to this.

If your employer’s disciplinary procedure has a specific ban on covert audio-recordings, or if your employer declines to agree to the meeting being recorded and then you were to continue to make your recording, this

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It is also important to consider the GDPR implications if you discuss any other people during your meeting.

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Ask Our Experts / Professional advice from our panel

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

Email: editorial@jewishnews.co.uk Got a question for a member of our team?

PRIVATE HEALTHCARE SPECIALIST

Email: editorial@jewishnews.co.uk

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FINANCIAL SERVICES (FCA) COMPLIANCE

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40 Jewish News

www.jewishnews.co.uk

7 April 2022

enjoy pesach with amazing savings Rakusen's Matzos

Large 30 Eggs Tray*

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Gefen Macaroons

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283g

500g

100g

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3 For £5

Chevington Cheese Blocks

Rumplers Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Tropgo Ground Almonds

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2 For £3.69

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6 (Case) For £12

Efrat Tirosh Grape Juice

Hafner Organic Grape Juice

Kedem Kiddush Wine

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Red/White

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1.5 L

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2 For £4

KLP Cola, Diet, Zero, Sprite, Fanta

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Aluminum Containers 2 litre

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Aluminum Containers 9x9 10's

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* We reserve the right to change the offer at any time

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41

7 April 2022 Jewish News

www.jewishnews.co.uk

Fun, games and prizes

THE JEWISH NEWS CROSSWORD 1

2

3

4

5

Crossing for pedestrians (10) Resolute (10) ___ de vie, brandy (3) Noise muffler (7) Bite-sized piece of fried fish or chicken (6) 20 Merely, just (4)

6

9

10

11

14

15 16

17

18

19

20

ACROSS 1 Catholic leader (4) 3 Respiratory illness (6)

8

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.

8 Make objections (7) 9 ‘Welcome’ rug (3)

1

CODEWORD

The listed bags 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.

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 with their letters in the grid will help you to guess the identity of other letters.

I

R R A C

C A R R Y A L

I

I

O

L E K G P

I

18 25

R L G B G G E T C N A K P U E H A A O A A O N B

I

G

C H E O B C S B N T R T

L

K C

I

N L R K

I

1

20

18

S T E O E D E P T S P A D I

A G S

C S A E F N O L

L C P W T

K H C T U L C T

L U K Y O

E H A N D B A G

I

3

BACKPACK CARRIER CARRYALL CLUTCH DUFFEL BAG

GLADSTONE GRIP HANDBAG HAVERSACK HOLDALL

KIT-BAG KNAPSACK PANNIER PAPER BAG RUCKSACK

Last issue’s solutions Crossword ACROSS: 1 Such 3 Overly 8 Comfort 9 Boo 10 Supportive 13 Love affair 17 Two 18 Reshape 19 Nearby 20 Heap DOWN: 1 Sock 2 Cymru 4 Vat 5 Rabbi 6 Yeomen 7 Hoop-la 11 Refuse 12 Gluten 14 Viola 15 Image 16 Leap 18 Rob

I

1

S

7 6 8 9 1 5 2 3 4

6 4 3 7 9 2 5 8 1

18

13

16

10

1

12

9

5

19

25

8

25

2

9

18

4 26

11

18

15

15

20

8

19

7

21

1

15

8

7

15

19

7

13

24

3 19

5

19

14

1

19

5

17

G

1

6

25

19

19

1

1

13

3

18

6

25

17

17

5

14

U

25

2 5 7 8 4 1 9 6 3

1 7 6 2 3 4 8 5 9

15 5

12

13

1

12 8

7

18

3

3 2 5 3

5 4

17

6

3 2

17 25

18

1 14

U

2

3

4

18 8

See next issue for puzzle solutions.

15

16

17

G

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

Suguru 9 8 1 3 5 6 4 7 2

14

25 1

2 4 1 3 3 2 2 1

21

14

19

20

18

25

23

4

5

3

4

13

4

20

4

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 3 1 4 6 2 8 7 9 5

8

15

SADDLEBAG SATCHEL SHOULDER BAG TOTE WASHBAG

5 9 2 4 7 3 6 1 8

22

18

8

21

N O E N

L D D A S R F

8

5

S O T K N A P S A C K H E G A B E

1

21

H G E B A

A A U V F R A D A

L

17

1

3 1 6 7 4 4 1 7 8 8 1 2 8 9 2 7 7 6 1 4 3 8 6 4 2

WORDSEARCH Y W V R E

5 3

DOWN 1 Mild explosive sounds (4) 2 Picture taken with a camera (5) 4 Be sedentary (3) 5 Unpleasantly warm and damp (5) 6 Patriotic song (6) 7 Cut gnashers (6) 11 Equestrians (6) 12 Serving dish for soup (6) 14 Of tender years (5) 15 Synthetic fabric used to make tights (5) 16 Very unattractive (4) 18 Sight organ (3)

12 13

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

10 13 17 18 19

7 8

SUDOKU

4 3 9 5 8 7 1 2 6

8 2 5 1 6 9 3 4 7

3 4 1 3 1 3

1 2 5 2 5 4

4 3 4 1 3 2

L

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

Wordsearch 2 1 5 2 4 1

5 4 3 1 5 2

2 1 2 4 3 1

4 3 5 1 4 3

2 1 2 3 2 1

5 3 4 5 4 5

1 2 1 2 1 3

3 4 3 5 4 2

2 1 2 1 3 1

H H T R R S N A M L L U P

S L E E P E R I L L I E L

C E L G K D T I O M A C S

F R M N I C A R C S O D A

V A O E C R I A O M E N S

H E S S F U D T M P O T G

A E F S S E T U O I E U N

Codeword L K R A E I T T T N P N I

G C E P L E N A I K H N D

U A I E R O T G V N N E I

A R G A H S N E E O G L S

R T H S A E G A I R R A C

D D T O C O N D U C T O R

POS T B R R RABB I I C GH E RK A X N I CK E D L Q T U T U A S I J O I N T A V Y R E E F

BOX S H F D A F L I P P E S H I N OV A D W Z L UNMA S R WO R L D A E L Y AWF E L U ODDME N

O T U E R N L R D E C L Y C U L E T

T Y W A X Z J H S U Q 07/04 P D F E KCONBMR I VG L

42

Jewish News 7 April 2022

www.jewishnews.co.uk

Business Services Directory HOUSE CLEARANCE

ANTIQUES

Stirling of Kensal Green

Top prices paid Antique – Reproduction – Retro Furniture (any condition)

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Established over 60 years.

Know who you are dealing with.

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House clearances

All quality furniture bought & sold.

Single items to complete homes

Best prices paid for complete house clearances including china, books, clothing etc. Also rubbish clearance service, lofts, sheds, garages etc

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07866 614 744 (ANYTIME) 0207 723 7415 (SHOP)

Please contact Gordon Stirling

closed Sunday & Monday STUART SHUSTER - e-mail - info@maryleboneantiques.co.uk

020 8960 5401 or 07825 224144

MAKE SURE YOU CONTACT US BEFORE SELLING

Email: gordonstirling65@gmail.com

CHARITY & WELFARE

We clear houses, flats, sheds, garages etc.

No job too big or too small!

Rubbish cleared as part of a full clearance.

We have a waste licence.

We buy items including furniture bric a brac.

For a free quote please phone Dave on 07913405315 any time.

HOME & MAINTENANCE

ARE YOU BEREAVED? 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.

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Labels are for jars.

Not people.

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CHARITY & WELFARE

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For further details and application forms, please contact Westlon Housing Association on 020 8201 8484 or email: johnsilverman@btconnect.com

UTILITIES

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call Jeff on 07958 959 822

STONEMASON

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Call 0207 205 4229 Email sales@andrewsofficefurniture.com www.andrewsofficefurniture.com

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

Clayhall Showroom 14 Claybury Broadway Ilford. IG5 0LQ T: 0208 551 6866

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Email : info@garygreenmemorials.co.uk

www.garygreenmemorials.co.uk

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

18/03/2019 12:50:51

Gants Hill

12 Beehive Lane Gants Hill, IG1 3RD Telephone

Edgware

130 High Street Edgware, HA8 7EL Telephone

0207 754 4659 0207 754 4646

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

7 April 2022 Jewish News

www.jewishnews.co.uk

43

Business Services Directory LEGACY- LEAVE A GIFT IN YOUR MEMORY

JEWISH WAR VETERANS

Leave the legacy of independence to people like Joel.

YOUR LEGACY

PLease remember us in your wiLL.

& THEIR DEPENDANTS NEED

legacy@cst.org.uk ►

eNABLeD

Tel: 020 8202 2323 Web: www.ajex.org.uk Email: headoffice@ajex.org.uk

visit www.Jbd.org or caLL 020 8371 6611

Registered Charity No. 259480

Legacy Classified advert v1.qxp_Legacy 16/06/2021 10:57 Page 1

Registered Charity No: 1082148

www.cst.org.uk ► 0208 457 3700 ►

Together

we protect our children’s future Please include CST in your will

Charity no. 1042391 and SC043612

COMPUTER

HELP US CONTINUE TO BE THERE FOR OUR COMMUNITY WITH A GIFT IN YOUR WILL.

Legacy advert 84x40.indd 1

16/04/2021 10:55

Call our Legacy Team on 020 8922 2840 for more information or email legacyteam@jcare.org Chancellors House, Brampton Lane, London, NW4 4AB Tel: 020 8903 8746 | Fax: 020 8795 2240 www.bfiwd.org | email: info@bfiwd.org

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Need cash fast?

Sell your gold and coins 9 ct per gram 16.99 14 ct per gram £26.51 18 ct per gram £33.98 21 ct per gram £39.65 22 ct per gram £41.50 24 ct per gram £45.26 Platinum 950 per gram £20.95 Silver 925ag per gram £0.47 Half Sovereigns £155 Full Sovereigns £310 Krugerrands £1317 We also purchase any sterling silver candlesticks and any other sterling silver tableware

We wish to purchase any Diamond & Gold Jewellery

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44

www.jewishnews.co.uk

Jewish News 7 April 2022

FJL

orum ewishfor eadership

www.jewish-leade rship.com

t

s Locu

sedernight.orG

Everything you wanted to know about Seder but were afraid to ask!

ENTERTAINING, INSTRUCTIONAL AND INSPIRATIONAL CONTENT INCLUDING: • Fun & viral videos • Seder songs • Free downloads • Recipes • Arts & Crafts • Seder games • Shop

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100 95

BL

75

AC

100

K

25

SE

95

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SYRIA

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Companion p.60

Ur Casdim

Companion p.62

S

Bnei Brak

25

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CYPRUS

DI

Companion p.58

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Ancient Egypt

NE

AN

LEBANON

ISRAEL

Haran

Companion p.64

Padan Aram

RD

JO

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Companion p.68

Companion p.70

Companion p.72

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SAUDI ARABIA

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Pithom & Ramses

Jerusalem

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AI A SI N SU L N IN

Companion p.66

Companion p.74

75

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TURKEY

and counting, the Jewish Lasting over 4000 years many places and cultures. journey has taken in so journey from Abraham’s The Haggadah traces this Land, all the way migration to the Promised Temple Era and beyond. through to the Second to discover the story behind Use this fold-out map that journey yourself! these locations and trace

5

1

Pesach Pack

*Order online items by 11th April for pre-Pesach (UK) delivery Or purchase Haggadot at: London - Aisenthal , Chaim’s Books, Divrei Kodesh, Hendon Judaica, Jerusalem the Golden, Kosher Kingdom, Torah Treasures | Leeds - Gourmet Pesach Pop Up Shop | Manchester - Judaica World, The Jewish Book Centre, Torah World