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Kingmaker and I The new Netanyahu looks to former aide Bennett to cling on Pages 2-5

Ibiza?

Luton chief predicts Israel boom Page 9

HAPPY PESACH TO ALL OUR READERS 25 March 2021

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12 Nisan 5781

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Issue No.1203

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@JewishNewsUK

E F LI Apr il 202 1

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Kingmaker and I The new Netanyahu looks to former aide Bennett to cling on Pages 2-5

Ibiza?

Luton chief predicts Israel boom Page 9

PESACH SAMEACH TO ALL OUR READERS 25 March 2021

•

12 Nisan 5781

•

Issue No.1203

•

@JewishNewsUK

Building a colourful Pesach!

We reveal the shortlisted candidates of our festivethemed contest page 38

Were Nazi suspects hired as spies by MI6?

Calls for inquiry after claims Britain may have protected alleged war criminals

Jewish leaders have called for a public inquiry into claims British intelligence may have recruited suspected Nazi war criminals and shielded them from justice, writes Josh Salisbury.

The shocking allegations were aired in a BBC investigation into the case of suspected Nazi murderer Stanislaw Chrzanowski, who is believed to have possibly been recruited for intelligence work in the aftermath of the war.

The exposé, entitled The Nazi Next Door, revealed allegations that others such as Chrzanowski – dubbed the ‘butcher’ for war-time crimes in the Belarusian town of Slonim – may have escaped justice because the intelligence services deleted documents relating to them in the late 1980s.

illegal – behaviour”.

The Shropshire penShe called for the launch of sioner was linked by wita public inquiry. nesses to at least 50 murders The broadcaster’s investiand possibly more. He was gation uncovered the extraorinvestigated by the authoridinary tale of how Chrzanowties, but no charges were ski’s own stepson pursued his brought. He died in 2017 aged only father figure for years 96 and had always denied in an effort to bring him the allegations. to justice.

The president of the John Kingston secretly Board of Deputies, Marie van recorded his stepfather’s proder Zyl, called the revelation testations, and even went to a “very dark day for Britain and for British Jews”.

Stanislaw Chrzanowski and, right, younger in uniform the town of Slonim himself with a BBC film crew to find justice – is absolutely staggering,” “The idea that many witnesses to his stepfather’s alleged Nazi suspects were able to find sanc- she said.

She labelled the allegation that crimes. tuary in the UK after the war – and There, he found residents who not only that, but that British intelligence services removed docuintelligence stands accused of ments relating to Nazi collaborators claimed to have seen the murders, having actively facilitated this and who may have worked for them as including one who said Chrzanowski protected such people from facing “monstrous – and one must assume had shot her husband.

Despite that, the authorities decided not to pursue Chrzanowski, citing lack of evidence.

After Kingston’s death from leukaemia, journalist Nick Southall was handed over the tapes and began investigating the case.

He uncovered newsreel footage from the 1950s, which appeared to show the alleged war criminal in a camp in west Berlin that housed refugees fleeing from the east. It was said to be a “hive” of spies.

The film contradicted Chrzanowski’s claim that he had not left UK shores since first arriving in 1946.

One of those who took part in gathering evidence, Holocaust researcher Dr Stephen Ankier, told Jewish News that Chrzanowski’s appearance on the Continued on page 5

One year on, community reflects on Covid’s horrific impact – pages 5, 12, 13, 14 and 28

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Jewish News 25 March 2021

News / Israeli election

Two states... but still

by Michael Daventry mike@jewishnews.co.uk @MichaelDaventry

Israel’s sharp political divide widened into a chasm this week after yet another Knesset election failed to clear an obvious path to a stable government.

Neither of the two main political blocs won enough seats for a parliamentary majority, setting the scene for a dizzying few weeks of political horse-trading between parties that support Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and those that oppose him.

The scale of the task was clear on election night, with no politician declaring an outright victory – not even Netanyahu, who spoke only of Likud’s “great achievement” of being the top party.

His main rival, Yair Lapid, was similarly careful in his remarks and gave no sign that he sought the prime

ministerial job for himself.

“I think we can have a good reason to be proud of the way we handled ourselves and even a bigger reason about the result we brought,” Lapid said. “At the moment, Netanyahu doesn’t have 61 seats, but the change bloc does.”

It was a clear sign that he considers the position to be a bargaining chip.

Yet the picture was complicated even further by the appearance of new faces that promised to upset Israel’s political conventions.

One change came in Gilad Kariv, a new Labour MK, who is the first non-Orthodox rabbi to win a Knesset seat. His arrival, coming weeks after the High Court recognised Reform and Conservative conversions within the country, was another sign that progressive streams of Judaism are pushing for a greater voice in Israeli affairs.

Another change came in a strong electoral showing for the far-right,

Gilad Kariv, the first progressive rabbi to win a Knesset seat, left, and Religous Zionist Itamar Ben-Gvir

previously a fringe movement.

The Religious Zionist alliance was expected to win up to six seats.

Among the new arrivals are lawyer Itamar Ben-Gvir, whose party

PRO-NETANYAHU BLOC

ARAB PARTIES

YAMINA

includes many who believe in Jewish racial supremacy, and Avi Maoz, the anti-LGBT campaigner who says he wants to restore “naturalness” to Israeli society.

They pose one of many problems facing Netanyahu as he grapples with the arithmetic of forming a government; Religious Zionism is an enthusiastic

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When I first profiled Naftali Bennett, 11 years ago, a prominent settler told me she considered him an “outsider”. Today, as he holds the balance of power in his hands, nobody could say this, writes Nathan Jeffay.

Bennett, who had chatted to me in 2010 about his high-tech success and political hopes, had just become CEO of the Yesha Council, the umbrella organisation of settlements. “He’s like a UN spectator – he’s an outsider,” grumbled settler leader Daniella Weiss when asked about the choice.

But Bennett used his Yesha Council post to jump into politics just as the main pro-settler party, Jewish Home, was in dire straits. He then started blurring the lines of right-wing Israeli politics. For the 2013 election, he placed a secular woman, Ayelet Shaked, high on the list of this party that had always been dominated by kippah-wearing men.

He was starting to carve out a niche for Likud 2.0 – a political force that could attract right-wing voters, religious and secular, which is not under the control of Benjamin Netanyahu. He has positioned it slightly to the right of Likud, but there is no major ideological gulf.

Indeed, Bennett was Netanyahu’s chief of staff from 2006 to 2008, and the parting of ways is said to have been about personalities not about principles.

He ended up creating a Bibi alterNaftali Bennett

native and has continued this path: toning down his religious image and reducing the influence of rabbis on his political life, championing mainstream causes such as efficient pandemic management and assiduously avoiding having his party, Yamina, pegged as a religious faction.

He wants to be the man who can rival Bibi’s smooth talking English and leadership skills, and beat him in the altruism stakes.

Bennett catapulted himself into politics at a time when right-wing voters felt the only alternatives to Likud were Jewish Home and Yisrael Beytenu, which were seen as sectarian parties for the religious and Russian-speakers respectively. He changed all that, and inspired copycat attempts, including that of Gideon Sa’ar, who left Likud, establishing the Likud-esque New Hope.

Will Bennett translate his current strength into real political power in the next Knesset?

That remains to be seen.

But look at his rise over the last decade, and it’s clear he is playing the long game.

In a sense, the current situation – that the “outsider” from Ranaana holds the fate of the Israeli right and the country in general in his hands – represents the recognition and prominence he has long wanted.

He would like a senior ministerial post in the next government. But all indications are that however Bennett plays things in the coming days and months, he considers it a stepping stone to the prime ministership.

25 March 2021 Jewish News

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Israeli election / News

l no solution supporter of Likud, but few other mainstream parties want to sit with them.

At least 61 Knesset seats, the smallest possible majority, are needed to form a coalition in Israel, but this election placed the conventional Netanyahu alliance of Likud, Religious Zionism and the two strictly-Orthodox parties well short of that.

Even Naftali Bennett, who has not ruled out taking his right-wing Yamina party into a Likud-led government, would fail to get Netanyahu over the line – and the involvement of Ben-Gvir is likely a deal-breaker.

A similar problem afflicts the opposition parties, which appear to agree on little else beyond their opposition to Netanyahu as prime minister.

Yisrael Beiteinu, for instance, is unlikely to sit in a government alongside either of Israel’s two Arab factions.

Yet they could still fundamentally transform Israeli politics without forming a government. One of the first things the new Knesset must do is elect a speaker: if elected by the opposition, she or he could oversee a new law that prevents anyone facing corruption allegations from becoming prime minister. That would rule out Netanyahu in a stroke.

Yet the machinations remain hypothetical until the official results are declared, and counting the votes was expected to take longer than usual. There was a high turnout among military voters, whose ballots take longer to collect, and nearly half a million “double-envelope” votes cast by people in hospital, prison or Covid-19 quarantine.

Turnout across the country, however, fell to its lowest level since 2013 – a sign of growing voter weariness.

Despite a lack of clarity, commentators have already begun assessing the potential impact for israel’s relations abroad.

“Whoever forms the next government in Jerusalem will be welcome in London – when it is safe to travel,” said Richard Pater, chief executive of the UKIsrael think tank Bicom.

Yair Lapid of Yesh Atid

THIS IS A BATTLE FOR ISRAEL’S SOUL

“Both countries remain heavily invested in the mutually beneficial bilateral relationship, be it trade, a vibrant scientific and academic cooperation and excellent security ties.”

In the US the Biden administration remained silent – unlike Donald Trump, whose tweets supporting Netanyahu were a feature of the three previous elections.

One gamechanger could yet emerge in the form of Mansour Abbas, leader of the conservative United Arab List faction, which appeared to confound pollsters by winning five Knesset seats.

He has not ruled out the idea of supporting a Netanyahu government, merely telling a local radio station: “We’re not in anyone’s pocket.”

As Passover begins this weekend, many Israelis will be reflecting on Netanyahu’s brief remarks early yesterday morning.

“We must not under any circumstances drag the state of Israel to new elections, to a fifth election,” he said. “We must form a stable government now.”

Could that mean the first Arab party in an Israeli government?

RABBI LEA MÜHLSTEIN CHAIR OF ARZENU OLAMI

Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism party is not just another right-wing party. Its list includes Itamar Ben-Gvir, a Jewish supremacist who is the ideological heir of Meir Kahane, as well as Avi Maoz, a follower of Rabbi Tzvi Tau, whose worldview is fuelled by homophobia.

The values Ben-Gvir and Maoz espouse, including giving Arab citizens sub-equal status in an expanded Jewish state extending throughout the West Bank, stand in direct conflict to the values of Israel’s founders.

The fact Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may well try to include the Religious Zionism party in a coalition will present diaspora Jews with a serious moral conundrum.

Many left-wing Jews in the diaspora will seriously consider whether they can continue to support the state of Israel under these circum-

stances. And even those on the right will wonder whether they can remain indifferent to Jewish fascists being invited into the heart of the government of the Jewish state.

But, as is almost always the case when it comes to Israeli politics, the picture is more complicated. As well as witnessing the success of the far-right, Tuesday also saw the re-birth of Israel’s Labour party under the leadership of outspoken feminist Merav Michaeli. Rabbi Gilad Kariv has also made history as the first Reform rabbi in the Knesset.

Michaeli’s success and Kariv’s election are important reminders Israel’s political landscape is growing broader, giving diaspora Jews plenty of options to politically identify with Israelis sharing their values and to join them in the ever-more urgent fight to save the soul of the state of Israel.

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Jewish News 25 March 2021

News / Israeli election

Almost as many opinions as

By Nathan Jeffay in Israel

Registered Charity No. 1113409

“They’ve tried to sew him up,” said Asher Kallon, explaining why the ongoing corruption case didn’t stop him from voting for Benjamin Netanyahu. He thinks proceedings are politically motivated and the PM is clean.

Whatever happens now, the fact is that Netanyahu has weathered four elections since the police began to investigate the allegations against him, each time emerging strong. It’s still unclear whether he will stay on as prime minister, but as of press time he certainly has a good chance.

Who would have predicted this in 2016, when allegations surfaced? And who would have thought this possible if he had to contend with a pandemic and months of protests against him?

But voters like Kallon, 62, keep him popular. “He’s the strongest leader Israel has, for the issues we face at home and abroad,” he said, voicing

a common refrain of the pro-Bibi camp, namely that no one else has the skills and gravitas to lead Israel.

Some Netanyahu faithful are less cynical about the corruption case.

Gadi Mavgauker, 45, said: “If he’s proved guilty he’ll get what’s coming to him, but if not he should be prime minister. For the last 12 years, since he was elected, things have been good here.”

But the nation is divided, as shown by the results. For each person you meet who loves Netanyahu, you meet another who is disillusioned with him. Adi Biton, 52, said she is “really a Likudnik” but can’t vote for him.

She opted for Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid instead even though — like many Israelis — she felt it was far from her ideal. “I voted for Yair Lapid, though I’m not sure I have faith in him,” she said. “However, it’s time to freshen things up. I weighed up the other options and really couldn’t vote for any of them.”

One mask, two ballot papers: Benjamin and Sara Netanyahu cast their votes

Amram Neeman felt the same.

“We’ve had all these elections and nothing has changed,” he complained.

His family, sitting with him on a bench in a mall, nodded in agree-

ment. He voted for Yesh Atid; his wife and son also voted centrist. Neeman said he admires what he considers the “real” and principled Israeli right. “I voted for Menachem Begin, who was

what I consider a real example of what right-wing should be,” he argued.

Religious–secular dynamics played a big role on election day. The strictly-Orthodox Shas party played a trump card strategy when it came to many religious voters. “Vote Shas, and the Holy One Blessed Be He will save us,” says the slogan on a jolly Passover-themed video.

It was the motif of much of the campaigning, and it seems that no party had as many cars bedecked with posters as Shas. Vehicles had images of the late spiritual icon of the party Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, and loudspeakers blared campaign jingles.

Meanwhile, the Yisrael Beiteinu party picked a fight with the Charedim. Secularist Avigdor Lieberman, who leads the faction, seemed to be intentionally mimicking Netanyahu’s controversial 2015 comment that Israeli Arabs were heading to polling stations “in droves” when he said on

IT’S NOT JUST OUR

AMBULANCES

THAT GO THE EXTRA MILE

@mdauk_

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Magen David Adom UK

FOREIGN POLICY SHIFT LOOKS UNLIKELY anyahu at one stage was proposing to annex the Jordan Valley: part of the arrangement that led to diplomatic relations was that that idea EX-FOREIGN SECRETARY was going to be dropped.

The reasons why these counTraditionally it has taken quite a tries have decided to recognise long time to put together a coali- Israel have got nothing to do tion so we’re not going to know with the personality of the curfor at least a few weeks whether rent Israeli prime minister. It is Netanyahu is capable of getting because of the way in which Middle a majority. But the question of a Eastern politics as a whole has change in Israeli foreign policy changed fundamentally because if he vacates the office, and any of the anxiety of Arab states as to change in relation to the Palestin- the policy of Iran. When you have ians has, if anything, become less Israel and Arab countries sharing likely. This is because of the estab- the same views as to the nature of lishment of Israeli diplomatic the Iranian threat, then it is not relations with the UAE, Bahrain necessarily that surprising.

There was a similar, much more and Morocco.

Remember that Benjamin Net- important development during

SIR MALCOLM RIFKIND

the Second World War when Hitler invaded the Soviet Union and Stalin became an accepted ally of Roosevelt and Churchill, not because they had any illusions about Stalin but because there was an overriding imperative which all free countries shared.

I don’t want to take the comparison far, but there is some parallel here: it’s not that the Arab states have suddenly decided they love Israel, or Israel loves the Arab states, but they do have a deep strategic interest.

Although Netanyahu is entitled to claim a significant amount of credit for that diplomatic breakthrough having been achieved, I don’t think its future depends on Netanyahu.

The signing of the historic Abraham Accords with Israel in September 2020

25 March 2021 Jewish News

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5

Israeli election / News

political parties Brits at the polls election day that strictly-Orthodox Israelis are “rising” to stations.

Many of his supporters want to challenge the strictly-Orthodox influence on politics. Eli Hakiti, a 20-year-old delivery driver, is keen to see civil marriage in Israel as only religious marriage is available.

“I like this ideal of Lieberman, and his other ideas,” he said.

Arab society was divided, just like the rest of Israel. Previous elections saw the many Arab parties run together as the Joint List; this time, it was fragmented, with a conservative faction running separately.

But there is also a feeling among many Arab voters, especially the young, that the existing parties aren’t serving their interests.

Interviewed at midday, Emad Masri, 27, was considering not voting at all. “It feels like a waste of time,” he said. “I’m Arab and I’m expected to vote for the Arab party

LISA OREN

Former Glaswegian in Jerusalem

“I voted for Yesh Atid because it’s time for change and I believe Yair Lapid is the man who can bring it about.”

OSHY ELLMAN

Former Londoner in Raanana

“In my opinion the Likud, led by Prime Minister Netanyahu, has propelled Israel forwards in leaps and bounds, both domestically and internationally”

ANGELA GODFREY-GOLDSTEIN Activist in Jerusalem

The long arm of the voter in action on Tuesday’s Covid-safe election

[Joint List], but I feel that the politicians just want to get their seats.”

Some Arab voters took a different view, enthusing about the election – and embracing Netanyahu. Hamudi

Amash, 26, from Jisr az-Zarqa, said he was liked in his town, which is near Caesarea where Netanyahu has his private home. “He’s our neighbour, we like him.”

“I voted Labour. Merav Michaeli is finally a politician whom I trust, who has truth at the centre of her political philosophy, and who is not cynical or corrupt, a liar, a fraud and on trial.”

DANIEL TARLOW

Lives in settlement of Elazar

“I think Bibi has been around for too long. Gideon Saar’s New Hope is much more authentic.”

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Jewish deaths rise to 900

MI6 ‘jobs for Nazis’

Jewish Care’s headquarters in having contracted Covid-19.

Golders Green was lit up to mark President Marie van der Zyl a year since lockdown, as the reflected on the figures, saying communal death toll passed the Pesach “will be a bittersweet grim milestone of 900. experience for many.

The charity illuminated its “For the many Jewish famiMaurice and Vivienne Wohl lies who have lost loved ones in campus on Tuesday evening the last year, the hope that we to mark the anniversary, hours can ‘all get back together again’ after communal organisations will never be entirely fulfilled.” took part in a national moment She continued: “As hard of reflection as it is, we must continue to Chief executive Daniel observe all government guidCarmel-Brown said they decided The Maurice and Vivienne Wohl Campus was illuminated ance scrupulously. With a on the gesture “to share our possible third wave in Europe reflections on the last year with the comMeanwhile, the Board of Depu- building, we must not allow Covid-19 munity. We wanted to show that without ties released its weekly mortality fig- to take life unnece ssarily. If we all act communal support, we could not have ures, compiled with seven denomina- responsibly now, then we will be able got through this pandemic, and we are tional burial boards, which showed four to, once again, celebrate Shabbat, fesincredibly grateful for the way our sup- funerals took place during the week tivals and our Jewish life in the way we porters rallied together with us.” ending 19 March, with the deceased want, as soon as possible.”

Continued from page 1 film raised concerns about his relationship with state authorities because at the time he did not have a passport.

Archive footage appeared to show him in a Berlin refugee camp despite not having a passport to leave the UK at the time “We have evidence that Chrzanowski was in Berlin in 195354, and the intriguing mystery is how could he have got there without a passport?” he said. “The only way that we could rationalise that was if he got there as a person supported by a government agency on agency business. He must have gone there with the full knowledge of some kind of state organisation.”

Dr Ankier added: “If there has been a cover-up, the reasons and circumstances needs to be revealed. And I wouldn’t be surprised if there had been an official cover-up.”

A Home Office spokesperson did not answer questions from Jewish News on whether documents were destroyed because of the War Crimes Act. “This case was reviewed by the CPS in the 1990s, but was not proceeded as it did not meet the evidential test. The CPS and its decisions are entirely independent from the Home Office,” said a spokeswoman.

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Jewish News 25 March 2021

News / JLGB event / Labour antisemitism / Football discrimination

Walliams: Focus on mental health Comedian David Walliams called for greater it’s because we’re British and we’re all action on children’s mental health as he buttoned-up.”

Children from across the community took addressed an audience of young Jewish turns to ask questions relating to the work people, writes Joshua Salisbury.

Speaking at a virtual event hosted by youth and life of the popular author, who revealed charity JLGB, Walliams urged youngsters his latest book should be out in the summer.

Walliams said: “I always feel like I wished struggling with their mental health not to I was Jewish, because some of my favourite suffer in silence.

The actor also spoke of his admiration for comedians are Jewish, including Matt Lucas.

“I’ve always had a very strong connection Jewish people and the community – pointing out that his favourite comedians were Jewish. with the Jewish community. I’m obsessed with Mel Brooks as well, who I think of as “It’s a difficult subject for people to talk a God of comedy. I’ve always loved about; it’s still quite taboo,” he said, Jewish humour and Jewish people and when asked if there was enough the culture.” focus on children’s mental health Among those asking questions throughout the pandemic. was Isabella, “who stayed up extra “If you are feeling down, you late” to speak to Walliams, asking have got to tell people about him whether he would ever make a that, because there’s always sketch show for children – as she is people who love and care about not allowed to watch Little Britain. you who’ll want to make [it] right “There’s a few bits and pieces you and want to help you. And somemight be able to watch! times you just need someone Some of it is rude,” he to listen. said. “A sketch show “But I don’t think for kids is a good there’s enough idea. I’ll go think focus on it. I don’t about that.” know whether David Walliams on JLGB Virtual

‘I ENGAGED WITH PEOPLE’ Instead they make things difficult by The singer and political activist Billy coming out with accusations that are Bragg has sought to put into context out of all proportion.” his position on Jewish community Speaking at JW3 this week, he relations with Labour under Corbyn. said he had been trying to suggest the In a JW3 discussion on freedom Jewish community and the Labour with the dean of the London School Party worked together. of Jewish Studies, Rabbi Raphael “Some people believed it implied Zarum, Bragg acknowledged that, I was saying the Jewish community during the Corbyn era, he had drawn Billy Bragg had to tone down their criticism. fire from the Jewish community.

He caused anger in July 2018, after saying That wasn’t my intention. I apologised then, and British Jews had “work to do” to rebuild trust, I apologise now.”

He continued: “I tried to engage with those after a joint front page editorial run by Jewish News, The Jewish Chronicle and the Jewish Tel- elements of the Labour Party who, in their egraph, suggesting Jeremy Corbyn would pre- defence of Corbyn, were clearly stirring up division with the Jewish community. sent an existential threat to British Jewry.

“They thought they couldn’t be antisemitic Bragg wrote on Twitter that it did “not help to achieve” trust between Labour and the com- because they were left-wing, that morally they munity, and that “it’s pouring petrol on the fire”. were in a situation where they could comment When asked if British Jews had “work to do”, on the issue, but without taking on board the he added: “‘If they want to build trust, I do yeah. sensitivities of the Jewish community.”

Abramovich’s racism vow Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has vowed to do all he can to stamp out the “evil” of racism in football after speaking of his shock at the abuse received by club players.

The Russian-Jewish tycoon spoke out amid concern over online attacks on footballers, which included Blues full-back

Reece James being targeted on Instagram earlier this year. He has funded the club’s “No To Hate” and a ‘Say No to Antisemitism Campaign’.

In a rare interview, he told Forbes magazine: “Racism, antisemitism, this is all the same type of evil and should have no place in our world at

this day and age. It’s disgraceful this is the reality for not just our players, but for anyone targeted by this sort of abuse.

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JEWISH COMMUNITY HUSTINGS:

MAYOR OF LONDON ELECTIONS 2021 7:30PM 19TH APRIL

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Jewish News 25 March 2021

News / National Census / Woman attacked

How census aided past 10 years of Jewish life Jewish leaders this week reflected on the “immeasurable value” of the 2011 census on planning communal life over the past decade as they urged those who have not yet filled out this year’s to do so.

Last Sunday was National Census day, when many households answered questions about health, religion, employment and living conditions.

Communal leaders said information in the questionnaire helped to lay the groundwork for social care provision, education, and tailoring to the needs of demographic change.

Dr Jonathan Boyd, of the Institute for Jewish Policy Research (JPR), told Jewish News “the main way to identify as Jewish is in the religion question”, not the ethnicity section.

This comes amid a fierce debate as to whether Jews

should be classed as an ‘ethnic minority’. Boyd said: “Ticking that box helps to create the largest dataset that exists on Jews in the UK, which is of immeasurable value in terms of community planning.”

Boyd added: “The anonymous, aggregated data are immeasurably valuable, so if you care about being able to get your child into a Jewish school, or your elderly parents into a Jewish care home, or having access to Jewish support services for your sick or disabled family member, you need to self-identify as Jewish by religion.”

Since 2011 “the biggest change we will see is in the growth of the Charedi community”, Boyd said, which could have many implications, including how Jews interact with government.

Geographical shifts “affect where services are needed” and whether “organisational

STAMFORD HILL SUSPECT HELD

A man in his 50s who was arrested after a pregnant woman in Stamford Hill allegedly had a pillowcase put over her head and was repeatedly punched has been taken to a mental health facility.

The man, admitted under section 2 of the Mental Health Act, was detained on suspicion of grievous bodily harm at an address in Haringey, Scotland Yard said.

A 20-year-old woman, who is about 28 weeks pregnant, was treated in hospital for minor injuries following the incident at around 6.30pm last Thursday on Manor Road. The Metropolitan Police said inquiries are ongoing to establish a motive and that the incident is not believed to be linked with any other offences.

Rabbi Herschel Gluck, president of the local Shomrim neighbourhood watch group, said the woman had been left “traumatised”. He said “all parties” must ensure that the safety of women and girls in the area “is put on the front burner and is assured”.

The Met said police have been conducting patrols in the Stamford Hill area. Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101, quoting reference Cad 6517/18Mar.

The National Census asks about both religion and ethnicity

mergers should be pursued”, he added.

The Jewish Leadership Council’s director of development & strategy, David Davidi-Brown, said the “community had the highest proportion of those aged 85 or over compared with others as identified by religion in the 2011 census”.

Kisharon, Langdon and

Norwood also benefited from 2011 data when considering current and future demand for learning disability services.

President of the Board of Deputies Marie van der Zyl, said: “In 2011 the national survey gathered data for 271,000 Jews, an estimated 90 per cent of the Jewish population living in this country at the time.”

The alleged attack in Stamford HIll last Thursday

www.jewishnews.co.uk

25 March 2021 Jewish News

UK-Israel travel / News

Getting through this together

Sunseekers ‘to swap Europe for Israel’ The head of London Luton Airport (LLA) has predicted a surge in travel to Israel from both Jewish and non-Jewish travellers this summer and well into 2022, as sunseekers look for alternatives to European destinations, writes Candice Krieger.

Speaking exclusively to Jewish News, Alberto Martin, chief executive of LLA since 2018, said: “Although in 2021 we do not see capacity to Israel returning to its 2019 peak, the recovery on the Tel Aviv route will be faster and stronger than other routes due to significant pent-up demand and the respective successful vaccine roll-outs in both the UK and Israel.”

Martin said there was likely to be a substantial demand from the mix of leisure, visiting friends and family and business travel on the London Luton-Tel Aviv route, on which 500,000 passengers travelled in 2019.

“Over 60 percent of the traffic in 2019 was people visiting friends and relatives. This section of the market is likely to rebound fast with people booking trips to visit loved ones, whom they may not have seen for a long time.

“Leisure travel accounted for the majority of the rest of the traffic, which again is likely to be strong helped by the vaccine situation. As a year-round destination, Tel Aviv could become a destination of choice for the frequent traveller looking for something different.”

There are fears in the UK that holidays to Europe this summer could be impossible amid a third wave hitting the continent. Fines of £5,000 for anyone taking a non-essential journey will become law next week.

Last month, Israeli health minister Yuli Edelstein told ITV’s Peston that the country hoped to open up its borders to UK tourists this summer, so long as they have been vaccinated. Currently Greece is the only country with which Israel has a travel agreement.

The UK government has urged people to wait to book foreign travel until the global task force reports on 12 April, though Boris Johnson now hopes to offer further information on 5 April on when and how to resume safe international travel after 17 May.  Full interview with Alberto Martin in next week’s Business pages

HELPING YOU WHEN YOU NEED IT MOST EMPLOYMENT SERVICES BUSINESS SUPPORT WISHING YOU ALL A HAPPY AND HEALTHY PESACH TO FIND OUT HOW WE CAN HELP YOU, PLEASE CALL OR VISIT 020 8371 3280 WWW THEWOR AVENUE ORG U Registered Charity 1164762

Will services, estate planning and friendship, all at no charge KKL, JNF UK’s legacy department, wishes the community a healthy, happy and kosher Pesach.

Our highly qualified team combines first-rate professional services with personalised pastoral care, including taking care of any Jewish needs in accordance with your wishes.

For a no-obligation and confidential consultation, and to find out more about supporting JNF UK’s vital work in Israel, please get in touch.

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Jewish News 25 March 2021

News / Mayoral hustings / Research award

Community to quiz mayoral candidates City Hall hopefuls will line up to be quizzed by Jewish Londoners at an exclusive virtual hustings supported by Jewish News next month.

Labour’s Sadiq Khan, who has held the office for the past five years, will go head to head with the Conservatives’ Shaun Bailey, the Lib Dems’ Luisa Porritt and the Green’s Sian Berry at the online event, three weeks before the election that was postponed last year amid the pandemic.

They will answer questions on issues of specific interest to the community as well as of

Sadiq Khan

general relevance to the capital – from Covid recovery to antisemitism and public transport to the economy.

The 19 April event and a series of other local hustings are being organised by the London Jewish Forum (LJF), the Board of Deputies (BOD) and the Jewish Leadership Council (JLC), with Jewish News as media partner. It will be streamed on Facebook from 7.30pm.

In a joint statement, LJF cochairs Adrian Cohen and Andrew Gilbert, BOD president Marie van der Zyl and the JLC’s Jonathan Goldstein said: “We are delighted

Luisa Porritt

Sian Berry

to be continuing our tradition of hosting Jewish community hustings for the mayoral election in London.

“We encourage members of the community to submit their questions to the candidates by scanning the QR code [see page 7], and very much hope you can join us for what will be an insightful evening.”

A series of hustings for the London Assembly and Hertfordshire County Council elections are also being organised.  For more details on hustings, visit www.london jewishforum.org.uk

Shaun Bailey

ILIA AWARD LAUNCHED An award recognising projects poised to impact positively on Jewish communities around the world has launched in memory of the former CEO of Genesis Philanthropy Group (GPG).

The Ilia Salita Excellence in Research Award – funded by GPG – is inspired by his passion for data-driven philanthropy and promotion of innovative applied research techniques.

Nominated projects must be related to concrete issues affecting Jewish communities, be accessible to lay leaders, professionals and clergy who are not researchers, and display creativity.

The award was announced nine months after Salita’s sudden death by GPG CEO Marina Yudborovsky, Jewish Funders Network (JFN) president and CEO Andrés Spokoiny and Josh Salita,

Ilia’s eldest son.

Yudborovsky said: “Ilia would be proud to have a hand in continuing to help the Jewish community make decisions armed with more information and to help reward, as well as incentivise, the work of researchers.”

Joshua said Ilia wanted “to drive impact and to do so in a way that would most positively benefit the greatest number of people”.

Reshet hosts ‘high calibre’ talks The annual conference of Reshet, the network of Jewish youth provision, included 100 participants from across the world.

Sessions focused on the need to innovate to ensure young people are able to engage with the Jewish community and identity in a meaningful way in the years following the pandemic.

Attendees at the conference heard

from Jewish Leadership Council chairman Jonathan Goldstein, Board of Deputies president Marie van der Zyl and the headteachers of JFS and JCoSS. Reshet executive director Shelley Marsh said: “The high calibre conversations enhance the development of the professionals involved, enabling them to bring the best of themselves to the Jewish young people they serve.”

We wish all of our community a happy and safe Pesach

CHAG SAMEACH

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London 020 8457 9999 Manchester 0161 792 6666 Registered charity in England and Wales (1042391) and Scotland (SC043612)

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25 March 2021 Jewish News

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“Who will help our toddler to learn and grow whilst fulfilling their unique potential?”

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Jewish News 25 March 2021

News Covid-19 / Holocaust pandemic Memorial / One year Day on

‘My wife was told I might not wake up’

Eli and Zichron Menachem London adventure camp participants in 2019

An Orthodox businessman who spent more than two months in intensive care battling coronavirus has spoken for the first time of his ordeal – and urged the community to respect government restrictions, writes Sandy Rashy.

Eli Seliger, 54, from Golders Green, opened up to Jewish News, a year after he was admitted, about his children’s heartache and the moment doctors called his wife to come to the hospital to say “goodbye”.

But after being treated for the coronavirus for 22 weeks – including nine in intensive care and more than three in rehabilitation – the father of seven and grandfather of three was celebrating this week after

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Through our specialist educational support, therapeutic sessions, counselling service, support groups and more, we ensure that every member of the family receives the right support at the right time, giving everyone the best possible chance of a better, brighter future.

having his first dose of the Astra-Zeneca vaccination on Sunday.

Seliger, the UK chairman of Israeli cancer charity Zichron Menachem, told Jewish News that ahead of contracting the virus, he was “very much a ‘non-Covid believer’. I thought it was something that would pass in time. I did not believe in any way that it would take over or change my life”.

But in March last year, he started to feel “very sick. I felt shivery and feverish”. He left an outdoor minyan and stayed at home to avoid making anyone else ill. Flippantly, he told his son to “daven” for him.

But his son shared the call to prayer under his father’s Hebrew name. The call reached a volunteer at the Hatzola community ambulance service, who ended up visiting Seliger’s brother, Danny, 69, who was also unwell. That evening, 26 March, both Eli and Danny, were taken to hospital by Hatzola, with Covid-19 symptoms. At one stage, the brothers were unknowingly being treated besides one another – only separated by a curtain.

A day after being taken to hospital, Seliger was put in an induced coma. Over the next three months, he was transferred from the Royal Free Hospital to University College London Hospital, suffering complications including seizures, respiratory failure, pneumonia, blood clots and sepsis. He was diagnosed with a brain inflammation called ADEM, a rare condition in adults.

“They are now writing papers about what happened to me.

It was all triggered by Covid,” he said. “My message is for people to adhere to the government guidelines; people going to shul or a shop should respect the rules and wear a mask. Refusing vaccinations is unacceptable.”

Throughout the period, rabbis gave his wife, Lea, dispensation to use technology to contact him every day, including on Shabbat, and the family would call and sing to him over video calls as he lay in a coma. “The family liaison officer told me she still remembers the cries of my children waiting for me to respond, telling me they needed me home. She says she will never forget it.”

On 29 April, with his condition continuing to deteriorate, Lea was called to UCLH. “The doctors called my wife to say ‘goodbye’.

She said she would only come to say ‘hello’. She told people she was coming to see me and all over the world, they were saying tehillim [prayers]. Her survival quote was: ‘When there is life, there is hope. But she was told that if I woke up, I might be a vegetable, I might be paralysed, or I might not wake up at all. They had no hope for me whatsoever.”

A month later, he opened his eyes. “I remember wondering where I was,” he recalled. “I knew how serious it was when I real-

COMPANY TRIALS VACCINE TABLET

For more information or to make a donation, please call 020 8420 6970 or visit norwood.org.uk

Inoculating against Covid-19 could soon be as easy as drinking a glass of water, after an Israeli-American firm announced plans to trial a tablet vaccine.

Oravax said a successful oral delivery method would

vastly reduce distribution costs and possibly allow people to take the vaccine themselves at home. A clinical study will begin before the end of June this year.

“An oral Covid-19 vaccine would eliminate several barriers to rapid, widescale distribution, potentially enabling people to take the vaccine themselves at home,” said Nadav Kidron, chief executive of Oravax’s Jerusalem-based parent company Oramed.

“An oral vaccine could become even more valuable in the case that a Covid-19 vaccine may be recommended annually like the flu shot.”

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25 March 2021 Jewish News

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One year on / Covid-19 pandemic

Holocaust Memorial Day / News

‘Pop-up is a game changer’ group, together with carers. The Sadiq Khan has described a pop-up mayor said the aim was “to take the vaccine centre in the heart of the vaccine to where people are. This Orthodox Jewish community used by kind of clinic gives people confiHatzola as “a game changer and a lifedence, because they are getting the saver”, writes Jenni Frazer. vaccines from people they trust.”

Speaking to Jewish News on Sunday Hatzola, Khan said, would conafter visiting the John Scott Health tinue to run the pop-up clinics Centre in Hackney’s Green Lanes, the “for as long as they are needed”, politician, who has served as London although he believed it might be Mayor for the past five years, said: necessary to have different ways “I have been very concerned about of attracting younger people to get the fact the infection rates [of coronaSadiq Khan praised a Hatzola-run vaccine centre vaccinated. virus] in the Orthodox Jewish commuHe was also encouraged, he clinic focused on Orthodox Jewish Lonnity were incredibly high. said, by the fact it wasn’t just Orthodox “What’s fantastic about today is Hat- doners and it’s brilliant news.”

Khan said about 300 people had arrived Jews who were benefiting from the vaczola – who are so well respected in the local community – have been working with the at the centre to receive the Astra-Zeneca cine drive. “At least one Muslim resident NHS and Hackney Council, encouraging vaccine, administered by a combination of turned up to be vaccinated by a greenNHS staff and trained Hatzola volunteers. T-shirted Hatzola volunteer – more proof vaccine take-up.

“This is the third week of a specific Those eligible were people in the 50+ age we are all in this together.”

A frail-looking Eli Seliger with his wife Lea

ised I could not walk any more, I could not lift my left foot. It was very frightening. I could not even remember my wife’s name.”

While Seliger had no pre-existing conditions ahead of contracting the virus, life is now very different for him. Over the period, he lost more than 30 kilos. Now, he takes 21 pills a day and has undergone an extensive course of rehabilitation to walk again. He still struggles to concentrate for long periods but is focusing on the positives.

He took his first steps in July 2020, slowly moving from a wheelchair to a frame and then a walking stick. Eventually, he stopped using that too, walking outside his home for the first time in December. “I am a fighter; I am focusing on the positivity of wanting to walk, to do my exercises,” he said.

Johannesburg-born Seliger works in property development but is now focusing on his family. Ahead of his hospitalisation, he would wake up at 5am to learn, ending the day at 11pm. “My life is a blessing. I was not spending as much time with my family, now I have decided it is time to change.”

He describes his recovery as a “miracle”. Over the course of his treatment, the community committed good deeds in his name.

Around £50,000 was raised for a Sefer Torah to be written in aid of his recovery; tehillim groups were hosted online and rabbis gave him the Hebrew name Raphael (‘healing’) and Danny the name Chaim (‘life’). “Prayers saved my life,” he said.

The Chief Rabbi has compared from two households to meet Jews missing out on holding outside are only due to come in full family seders again this across England on 29 March.

Mirvis told the PA news year – the second of which falls the day before lockdown agency: “It’s very painful for us. restrictions are lifted – to It is very difficult. The closest the country not properly cel- comparison I could make ebrating Christmas until is, let’s say if within society it would be allowable to Boxing Day. Ephraim Mirvis said it will congregate with up to six be “very painful” and “very dif- people or two households together from 26 December ficult” for the community to onwards. endure the festival under “So, literally, within lockdown for a second hours of Christmas year running.

Day, it would be posPesach begins on the sible to do what you evening of 27 March, would have loved to but rules allowing have done the day a group of six Chief Rabbi Mirvis before.” or more people

With Norwood by your side, everyone can live a full and active life.

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Jewish News 25 March 2021

Covid-19 pandemic / One year on

‘Cash fears could worsen’ FAITH GROUPS UNITE person who feels they have no other A charity that supports people option when life’s hardships get so struggling with their finances is bad. But I did it for my family.” reporting unprecedented numbers Another, who stressed their of referrals – with fears that the gratitude to volunteers delivering demand could rise further, writes food parcels, added: “Corona hit Joshua Salisbury. us like an unexpected tornado and Paperweight, which offers guidliterally knocked every part of our ance to individuals facing a money lives … I don’t think life will ever be crisis, told Jewish News that it is normal or that we can forget the seeing on average five new referpast few months, but we can only rals a day, a figure driven by people look forward.” who had been ‘just about managing’ For others, pandemic money worbefore the pandemic. ries have seen them ask their synaA large part of the surge is more gogues for fees relief, as it is an addipeople than ever requiring help tional expense at a time when every applying for benefits, it said. “One penny counts. of the many things we’re seeing is a Younger people are struggling in the pandemic While only a small minority of new demographic,” said CEO Bayla Perrin. “People for whom it’s a whole unhelpful. “It’s a Catch 22. Because of the members at Finchley Reform Synagogue have done so, volunteers have been new experience, who don’t know how to pandemic, I can’t get a job,” she said.

“But without a job, they take the money helping those affected, said Principal navigate the benefits system.”

Service users swept up into the many away. I’m desperate for a job – I’ve got kids Rabbi Miriam Berger. “It’s the people related and complex issues surrounding to look after on my own. It’s an embar- who are just keeping their heads above poverty are younger than before, she rassing thing for someone who didn’t want water, but they’re not living to the same standard as before.” added. “The numbers we’re seeing, it’s to [ask for help].”

The numbers in the community The sentiment has been echoed by off the scale,” she said. “And it’s not one client coming in with one issue, they others who have turned to their syna- affected by pandemic-related money worgogues for help with obtaining food for ries could yet worsen before it improves, have several issues.” fears Paperweight’s director of services, One of those who had used Paper- their families.

“The hardest part of struggling is Caroline Kahan. weight’s services, a single mother in her In September, the furlough scheme is forties who asked to remain anonymous, asking for help,” said one family who told Jewish News that she sought help sought help from volunteers at Bore- set to end, as is the £20-a-week tempoafter struggling for work to feed her hamwood and Elstree Synagogue. “It’s rary uplift in Universal Credit. “It could be embarrassing for the catastrophic,” Kahan warned. children andADVERT finding JAN Universal Credit HALF PAGE 2020:Layout 1 09/01/2020 16:04 and Pagehumiliating 1

The pandemic has caused unprecedented collaboration between faith groups, according to faith leaders.

Near Neighbours, a project that aims to bring together people from different backgrounds for the good of their community, runs the Community Champions ‘Surge’ programme.

The programme is giving out £450,000 in grants to community groups to support their work during the pandemic.

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis (pictured), said: “These initiatives have created some unique moments demonstrating the tangible, life-saving contribution that faith communities are able to make when working together in common cause.”

Among the projects are craft workshops for disabled Jewish women and a project aimed at dispelling some of the myths around the coronavirus vaccine by making videos in languages of hardto-reach groups.

Chabad links with Deliveroo Chabad and Deliveroo have teamed up for a second year to ensure community members have all they need for lockdown seders.

After more than 4,000 items were distributed across the country last Passover in the early stages of the pandemic, the two organisations have once again teamed up to deliver supplies to peoples’ doorsteps. Each kit will contain everything required for the seder, including matzah, with recipients including students away from home, people shielding or self-isolating and the elderly.

Meanwhile, Jewish Futures has released a family game in time for Pesach – OUR STORY cubes. Rabbi Naftali Schiff said: “They are a fun way for people of all ages to use their imagination in telling stories from the past, engaging in the challenges of the present and building the narrative that shall form our future.”

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Every foggy lens is making a difference By covering our mouth and nose we’re helping stop the spread of Covid-19, because anyone can catch it, and anyone can spread it.

Let’s keep going

25 March 2021 Jewish News

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Jewish News 25 March 2021

Hello you, They tell us that absence makes the heart grow fonder. And although you’ve been busy engaging with us online over the past twelve months (we see you in the Zoom chat – virtual high five), we still miss seeing your smile as you walk across our bridge; watching you laugh in our theatre; making your coffee; reminiscing about our time at the cinema, strolls on the beach and drinks at the bar.

In short, it’s just not the same without you. We’re better together.

The coconut to your macaroons. The charoset to your marror.

The cinnamon to your balls. The smoked salmon to your matzah.

We can’t wait to have you back experiencing the buzz in our building; a packed hall with the best entertainment; the thrill of new and exciting conversations with high-profile guests; getting your fix of Jewish Arts and Culture, outstanding educational classes and family-friendly activities, face to face, just like the good old days.

So as our long-distance relationship inches its way closer, we’re looking fondly ahead at when we can see you again in person. Our kids and family activities kick start in the building after Pesach, and to make sure you’re the first to know about new events in the building, why not sign up to our mailing list for your weekly dose of everything that’s happening in our lives? Just head to jw3.org.uk/signup.

And let’s face it – if we can survive wandering in the desert for 40 years, then waiting another three months should be a piece of (Kosher for Pesach) cake.

Chag Pesach Sameach, From all of us at JW3.

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25 March 2021 Jewish News

17

Anti-racism report / Suspected abuse / Tribunal case / News

Neo-Nazis ‘recruit onThe prevalence of ‘vast’ conspiracy theories about the pandemic on social media is leading people to Holocaust denial, a report has warned.

Around one in five Brits believe the QAnon theory that ‘elites’ in the media and politics are involved in child abuse and this, along with other theories, can lend themselves into antisemitism and Shoah denial, said the annual State of Hate report by anti-racism charity Hope not Hate (HNH).

“Once one has internalised the existence of vast conspiracies, any historical fact is open to question and, over the past year, we have witnessed dozens of individuals encountering Holocaust denial, often via (ostensibly) unrelated conspiracy theory Facebook groups, and appearing to accept it with little pushback,” it states.

Researchers found Instagram had become a recruiting ground of choice for neo-Nazis, with young people especially at risk. HNH chief executive Nick Lowles said: “Though we continue to warn about niche platforms like Telegram, a fertile recruitment ground for young neo-Nazis has been Instagram – its inadequate moderation and worrying algorithm recommendations are child protection issues that demand urgent action from the platform.”

He added: “The British far-right is digitally led and reflective of online culture.”

FOUNDER OF SUMMER CAMP FACES INQUIRY A summer camp founder spared jail after indecent images of children were found on his phone is facing a fresh investigation into accusations of child sex offences in Spain, according to reports.

Ben Lewis, 31, who cofounded the now defunct LL Camps in Bushey, was handed a suspended two-year sentence in 2016 after naked images of three and four-yearold girls were discovered on his iPhone.

Images obtained by Hope not Hate of the National Partisan Movement

The group has identified two far-right groups active in the UK – The British Hand and the National Partisan Movement – which have used Instagram to recruit members. Three alleged members of the former, who are all teenage boys, are facing trial on terrorism charges.

A spokesperson for Facebook, which owns Instagram, responded: “We do not want hate on our platform and we removed a number of accounts belonging to The British Hand and National Partisan Movement before this report was published.”

The Community Security Trust, a charity that monitors antisemitism, said the research highlighted the “conspiracy

theories that have proliferated in recent years and that now fuel so much extremism.”

It added: “As we saw with the riot at the US Capitol in January, with the growing number of young people in this country drawn into violent neo-Nazism, online extremism regularly accompanies hateful behaviour offline.”

The poll found 20 percent of people believe there is some truth that coronavirus is a bio-weapon spread by the Chinese state, while a fifth accepted there was some truth it had been released as part of a ‘depopulation’ plan by the New World Order.

Tribunal case lost A Jewish man who had alleged his managers at Paddington station were antisemitic has lost his racial discrimination claim.

Emil Androne-Alexandru, who has Romanian-Jewish ethnicity and is a Great Western Railway gateline assistant, had taken his bosses to tribunal alleging racial discrimination, race-related harassment and victiminsation.

Androne-Alexandru had

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Now Lewis is reportedly under investigation in Spain, where he moved following his sentence in Britain, reports Mail Online. It reports he is being investigated on suspicion of making and distributing child abuse material, although there has not yet been a formal indictment.

Lewis is said to have changed his name to Ben David following his sentencing in 2016 and gained employment at a Madrid school.

complained he was subjected to a “pattern of hostile and racist treatment” compared to colleagues after being challenged on taking breaks. But a ruling published last week found his managers did not know he was Jewish.

A panel ruled: “The claimant was repeatedly absent without authority from the gateline for extended periods during peak times.”

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Jewish News 25 March 2021

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19

Uyghur Muslims / Food distribution / News

Board welcomes China sanctions

by Jack mendel jack@jewishnews.co.uk @Mendelpol

Communal leaders have welcomed the foreign secretary’s decision to place sanctions on Chinese officials over the treatment of Uyghur Muslims.

The UK, US, Canada and the European Union announced penalties against those deemed to be linked to appalling human rights abuses.

China has been accused of a genocide against Uyghur Muslims, with reports of forced sterilisation and labour and a million interned in ‘re-education’ camps.

Dominic Raab’s travel bans and asset freezes are against four senior officials and the state-run Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps Public Security Bureau.

The foreign secretary said the abuse of the Uyghur Muslims was “one of the worst human rights crises of our time” and the international community “cannot simply look the other way”.

Board of Deputies president Marie van der Zyl said: “Whatever setbacks there may be, the Board will remain steadfast in its support for the Uyghur people and will continue to do what it can to help them in their plight.”

The decision was announced as the

cide Stop Uyghure togeMPno s ahead Tuesday 19 January

H NEWS VOICE OF THE JEWIS

Our MPs have an opporthe UK must go must further. to time Jewish News has through an amendment tunity to do so on Tuesday This is only the second in page in addition to the courts determine genocide trade bill that would let published a special front senior issues could warrant only if – Britain’s most foreign lands. If – and weekly newspaper. Few wiped out, limits on trade than the obscene atrocijudges say a people are being it or be more urgent imposed. To Jewish News, the world’s nose against with the perpetrator are ties taking place under to forefront of the campaign which has been at the Uyghur Muslims in China.

Nus like incarceraMPs mass and of Uyghurs, mounts Reports and testimony highlight the plight of the Iain Duncan people, of forced labour Ghani, Tom Tugendhat, tions of more than one million Moran, Layla and on Nandy Smith, Lisa and sterilisation, of assaults reasonable. nothing could sound more an entire religious culture. amendment, If MPs do not back the Stephen Smith, who heads and their job to Shoah it will be their legacy Steven Spielberg’s they why generations as future explain to Foundation and serves stand up did not make the Government UNESCO chair on genocide to China when we are with adequate strength education, is no doubt to those not Article these atrocities are taught witnessing genocide. will be. yet born, which it surely II of the Genocide Convenhow you Make no mistake: we care tion includes “deliberately should concern condivote. This is an issue that inflicting on the group but it has parto bring all right-thinking people tions of life calculated if this is not a galvaFor Jews. for destruction ticularly resonance about its physical measures intended to our history of facing persecunising issue for us, with in whole or in part... imposing from group... forcibly transferever will be. Comments tion or prejudice, nothing prevent births within the that crystal clear. to another group”. of Deputies this week make ring children of the group to be world the Board we will utter next pretend which – don’t again’ so ‘never For the words We are journalists Day – to mean anything, of genocide, but you don’t week on Holocaust Memorial authorities on definitions at treatment meted out against or genocide must be quashed need to be to recognise the for- any hint of oppression at our disposal.

Xianxiang is horrific. Our the first sign with every means a minority community in path by backing this it. essential knows that on certainly start MPs can eign secretary for week of substantial fines His announcement last crucial amendment. is, of course, welcome but firms linked to slave labour

❝

THE PLIGHT OF CHINA’S MUSLIM MINORITY IS A GALVANISING ISSUE FOR US

Dominic Raab has imposed travel bans and asset freezes against officials

government came under severe pressure to pass an amendment, put forward by Conservative rebels, to limit ministers signing trade agreements with countries deemed by judges to have been involved in genocide.

On Monday evening, the House of Commons voted 319 to 297 to disagree with a Lords’ Genocide Amendment to the Trade Bill.

This would have established a parliamentary panel of judicial experts to determine whether any proposed signatory to a trade agreement with the UK had committed genocide. Instead, a further government amendment to the Bill was approved.

Trade Minister Greg Hands said the bill will require the government to formally put in writing its position should any select committee publication raise “credible reports of genocide” in a country with which the UK is proposing a bilateral free trade agreement.

The division list showed 29 Conservative MPs rebelled over two votes in a bid to stop the removal of the Lords genocide amendment. They included former Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

This comes amid a campaign by Jewish community groups, including this newspaper, to raise awareness

A JN front page earlier this year

about the plight of Uyghur Muslims.

Backbench politician Nus Ghani MP delivered a campaign to Number 10, with Jewish News, signed by 150 parliamentarians.

Speaking to Jewish News, Nus Ghani MP said: “The Ghani/Genocide Alton Amendment was defeated by a narrow 18 votes but we didn’t fail.

“We have cemented the principle that Trade and Genocide are linked and the plight of the Uygur is heard loud and clear. I will continue to expose atrocities against the Uygurs in Parliament.”

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JCC GIVES OUT FOOD PACKAGES Members of London’s Orthodox Jewish community spent three days distributing hundreds of food packages to families ahead of Passover.

The Jewish Community Council of North London (JCC) prepared parcels for more than 600 families to ensure they have the correct food to eat throughout the holiday, which starts on Saturday.

Levi Schapiro, a founding director of the JCC, told the PA news agency the festival is “costly.” He added: “We want people to know they shouldn’t be embarrassed about asking for help; there are good times ahead of us, but we are here to help and carry you through this difficult time.”

Food items are handed out

20

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Jewish News 25 March 2021

Special Report / Friends reunited

Best friends reunite, 82 years after fleeing Berlin The women, based in Chile and the US, spent years trying to find each other When they parted ways in 1939, two Jewish girls from Berlin promised to keep in touch.

One family fled to Chile, while the other made her way to the United States via Shanghai.

Eighty-two years after the nineyear-olds said goodbye in a German schoolyard, Ana María Wahrenberg and Betty Grebenschikoff connected with each other again on Zoom. The unexpected reunion was facilitated

by Holocaust testimony indexer Ita Gordon, whose sharp memory linked the women.

“In her [USC Shoah Foundation] testimony, Betty said she had been actively searching for her long-lost friend for her entire life; she even specifically mentions Ana María’s name in the hope this will help her find her best childhood friend,” said Rachael Cerrotti, who works as a creative producer for the foundation.

Founded by Steven Spielberg, the USC Shoah Foundation’s archive has more than 55,000 video testimonies from survivors and witnesses of genocide. After hearing Wahrenberg speak at a virtual Kristallnacht event, Gordon made the connection between Grebenschikoff’s testimony – given to the foundation 24 years ago – and Wahrenberg.

“What followed was a series of phone calls between USC Shoah Foundation and the Museo Interactivo Judio de Chile, where Ana María has long been involved in a range of activities,” said Cerrotti.

“We needed to be absolutely certain that we were correct in believing that these two woman were childhood friends,” said Cerrotti. “Ita Gordon’s research proved to be done impeccably well and, soon enough, we connected with Betty and looped in the Florida Holocaust Museum, where Betty is a regular speaker,” explained Cerrotti.

After more than 80 years of believing the other had perished in the Holocaust, the women connected virtually in November. The Zoom gathering concluded with members of both families lifting glasses for a champagne toast l’chaim.

“It was so natural for them,” said Lucas Kirschman, one of Grebenschikoff’s seven grandchildren. “They picked back up and they were talking about random stuff, like no big deal…

And it’s almost like language could have been a barrier, but it absolutely

choose my friends, etc. We don´t get anything – in my personal opinion – from feeding people with so much historical data. The important thing is to convey what it feels like to lose your rights and freedom.

Betty Grebenschikoff and Ana María Wahrenberg speak on Zoom after 82 years. Photo: USC Shoah Foundation

wasn’t at all. I’ve never heard my grandmother speak German before,” said Kirschman after the reunion.

In separate interviews with The Times of Israel, Ana María Wahrenberg and Betty Grebenschikoff spoke about their lifelong search for each other, as well as their efforts to ensure Holocaust memory endures in a world without eyewitnesses.

What has it been like to be reunited with your long-lost best friend after eight decades?

Ana María Wahrenberg: If it was fate or the USC Shoah Foundation that has given me back my childhood friend, I don´t know, but this has been a great gift, which, at this point in my life, I am boundlessly grateful for.

Betty and I have had several encounters by WhatsApp and Zoom. We talk every Sunday for about an hour… we will never catch up! Our conversations are great, we still have common interests and of course many, many memories that we still share. As soon as we get out of this horrible pandemic, we will try to get together in some corner of the world.

Betty Grebenschikoff: My childhood friendship with Anne Marie Wahrenberg ended in our Berlin schoolyard in May of 1939, where we said a tearful goodbye to each other.

My family left for one of the very few open ports of Shanghai, China, while hers was still looking for safety. Over the years, I looked for her, but to no avail. I never forgot her and always

spoke about her in my speeches, testimonies and documentaries.

It is a miracle and a mitzvah for us both. She is now called Ana María.

She remembers me by my previous name of Ilse Kohn. We are hoping for a proper reunion in person in the fall of 2021.

Each of you wrote a book for your family members about your experiences. Can you describe your memories of Kristallnacht and fleeing Nazi Germany?

AMW: The book I wrote several years ago was meant for my family.

I never thought it would attract any interest in other circles! On “the Night of Broken Glass”, 9 November 1938, the doorbell rang and I found myself face to face with soldiers in black jackets, who, with a commanding voice, came to arrest my father. He spent 29 days in the Sachsenhausen concentration camp.

With many difficulties, only after presenting a visa to emigrate, he was released and we were able to travel to Chile. All of my relatives, on my father’s and mother’s sides, perished in the extermination camps. I grew up with my mother and father only, without any other relatives.

BG: I remember a very sheltered, happy and carefree early childhood in Berlin. All that changed in November 1938 during Kristallnacht, when my family and I sat on the floor of our apartment with lights turned off. My sister and I were told by my parents

to be very quiet so our neighbours would think we were not at home.

While the glass shattered in the streets and our synagogues burned, I finally realised what rampant antisemitism meant.

That night, I understood why my Aryan friends had turned against me, threw stones at me and called me a dirty Jew. My parents, who had tried to shield us from the reality of what was happening to the Jewish people, could not do so any longer. Even in later years, it was too painful for them to talk about it. The memory of walking on the shattered glass of familiar Berlin streets a few days after is forever burned in my brain.

Following the riot at the US Capitol on 6 January, former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger compared that day to Kristallnacht. Do you agree with this comparison?

BG: I totally agree with Arnold Schwarzenegger’s comparison. While watching the attempted destruction of our democracy, I could hear echoes of Nazi boots on Berlin streets, shouting mobs threatening and killing Jewish people. It definitely brought back long-buried memories, even though I was just a girl then.

AMW: I believe it is the small things of daily life, those little details that touch people most. For example, I tell them that when I was child in Germany, I did not have access to a swing, nor to a park, nor could I

Can you tell us your assessment of Holocaust education in Chile and the US, respectively? How do you feel about the evolution of your own role in perpetuating Holocaust memory?

AMW: In general, I think the level of education in Chile leaves much to be desired. It is still a country where many children don’t have access to a good education. There are remote villages in the country, which cannot be reached and where not everyone has a computer, which is especially important during the pandemic.

The museum has tried hard and we have been successful in many places.

I have travelled to several places, where the children and other people hugged me and thanked me at the end of my talk. I will continue as long as God gives me strength, because as you say: There are few of us left, but I am convinced my words will remain.

For me this is not a job; it is a great satisfaction to be able to reach out to young people and to see they show empathy with me. I will leave a “grain of sand” in them convincing them to strive for the good. Perhaps due to my advanced age – 91 – and maturity, I have realised, looking back, that the most important thing in life is to “plant” love in our children so “Never Again” this kind of hatred and persecution will occur.

BG: Holocaust education and awareness has definitely improved gradually in this country [the US].

This might be due to the efforts of documenting the experiences of survivors and liberators, especially since there are not many of us left. It is now up to the second and third generation to take over what we have started.

Holocaust education has been mandated by law in many American schools. It is so important that young people are aware of this part of history and also the danger of repetition.

We never thought it could happen in Germany. And then it did.

My father and my two grandfathers fought for Germany in the First World War. I still have my father’s medals. But none of that mattered as the Hitler regime came to power.

25 March 2021 Jewish News

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Historic seder / News

White House has first virtual seder Doug Emhoff, America’s Second Gentleman, will host a virtual seder tonight in a first for the White House, Jewish News has learnt, writes Erica Terry.

The event, likely to be attended by community leaders and journalists, comes as the administration gears up to welcome members of vice-president Kamala Harris and president Joe Biden’s mishpacha to an in-person seder in Washington this weekend. Biden has several Jewish grandchildren, and the second couple have two adult Jewish children.

Emhoff, a Californian lawyer and Harris’s husband, also this week warmed up for the first big Jewish festival in his new role by attending a virtual gathering on Sunday known as the Rainbow Seder, for members of the LGBTQ community.

Emhoff told attendees that Jewish history is “an entirely contemporary story about the ongoing struggle for freedom and justice in an all too often

External Affairs Officer

Celebrating: Doug Emhoff with vice-president Kamala Harris

broken world. The seder is where I learned from an early age that Passover holds such power,” he added.

Matt Nosanchuk, a former Jewish liaison for Barack Obama, said that in his experience Emhoff was “interested in using the position he holds to lift up his Jewish American identity”.

While seder plans for the first Passover under Biden have not been made public yet, Nosanchuk said much could be taken from the president’s interest in Jewish ritual in

years past. He recalled: “One year, the reception [for a Jewish event] fell during Sukkot, and I was alerted to the fact that none of the attendees that were observant would be able to eat unless there was a Sukkah.”

And so Nosanchuk spoke to Biden, who was hosting the event at his home, and asked “can we build a Sukkah by the pool? And we did it!”

President Obama was the first US president to host an official seder at the White House.

The OCR is looking to recruit a talented and engaging External Affairs Officer, who will provide integral support in the areas of Education, Interfaith and Social Responsibility, as well as wider stakeholder engagement and issues management. The role is suited to someone with a real passion for the multiple issues the OCR works on, who has sound judgement and is committed to helping the Chief Rabbi achieve his vision of a Judaism of responsibility.

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This is a full-time permanent role.

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Jewish News 25 March 2021

Diaspora News / Art restoration / Argentinian Jews / Author honoured

Klimt painting returned to Jewish woman’s heirs France is to return a masterpiece by the Austrian artist Gustav Klimt to the heirs of a Jewish woman forced to sell it at a knockdown price by the Nazis in 1938.

The 1905 oil painting, in the art nouveau style, is called Rosiers sous les Arbes (Rose Bushes Under the Trees), and has been hanging in the Musee d’Orsay in Paris as part of the national collection for decades.

It was owned by Eleanore (Nora) Stiasny, an Austrian Jewish woman and Holocaust victim who sold it under duress to a Nazisympathising art dealer for a fraction of its worth in order to survive financially after the Nazis annexed Austria in 1938.

Sadly, it did not save her. In April 1942, aged 50, she was deported to occupied Poland and died later that same year at Izbica Ghetto, which was created as a transit camp for deporting Jews to Belzec or Sobibor.

The art dealer who bought it held onto it until his death in the 1960s. France, unaware of its history, bought it at auction in 1980.

It was the only Klimt painting owned by the French state.

French Culture Minister Roselyne Bachelot said Stiasny inherited the painting from her uncle, the Austrian industrialist and art collector Viktor Zuckerkandl, who bought the work in 1911. “It is in recent years that the true origin of the painting has been established,” she said. “Rosiers sous les Arbes is a testament to the lives a criminal will has stubbornly sought to eliminate.”

The landscape painting was painted two years before Klimt completed a portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer.

Your weekly digest of stories from the international press LUXEMBOURG

ICELAND

AUSTRIA

ITALY

Now is the time to move beyond apologies and start paying into compensation funds, Luxembourg’s prime minister has said, addressing the tiny state’s responsibility for persecuting Jews during the Holocaust. Xavier Bettel said: ‘We must acknowledge the suffering of the Jews, for which they were never compensated.”

A government-commissioned survey of attitudes in Austria has shown that 31 percent of 2,000 respondents agreed with statements showing an antisemitic bias. Despite the high figure, this was actually a significant drop since 2018, when 46 percent did likewise. Eight percent of Brits felt the same.

Judaism has been added to a list of official staterecognised religions by the Icelandic government, after a Chabad rabbi’s lobbying.

Iceland’s 200 Jews can now register themselves and their children as Jewish, while Jewish organisations may now benefit from Iceland’s church tax, which the government collects.

A 400-year-old wooden Torah scroll ark has been fully restored in a northern Italian town and will be installed in a prominent place in the city’s grand synagogue in two to three months’ time. The Moorish-style synagogue, built in 1878, was the latest Jewish heritage project coordinated by the Vercelli Jewish community.

Gustav Klimt’s Rosiers sous les Arbres will be returned

Argentine aliyah amid inflation

Argentinian Jews left the country in record numbers

WORLD NEWS IN BRIEF

Record numbers of Argentinian Jews moved to Israel last year, despite the global pandemic and unprecedented border closures – up 26 percent on previous years.

The South American country has one of the world’s largest Jewish populations, estimated at around 300,000, and classes managed by Israel’s Department of Aliyah Promotion saw a 50 percent increase in popularity in 2020.

Although the number of Jews making permanent moves to Israel fell by 40 percent last year, Argentina bucked the trend, with hun-

dreds more making their way to Tel Aviv, having learnt Hebrew beforehand.

Alejandro Mellincovsky, head of Aliyah Promotion in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, told JTA “the performance of [Israel’s] vaccination process and the beginning of the [economic] recovery” helped explain the moves during lockdown.

Analysts suggest other reasons: the increasing nature of Argentina’s economic problems, including high inflation and a 1,200 rise in the number of Jewish families in need of financial assistance in 2020.

KRAUSS WINS PRIZE FOR LITERATURE American author Nicole Krauss has won the Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature, just months after publishing her first collection of short stories.

Krauss, 46, is best known for her novels Man Walks Into a Room (2002), The History of Love (2005), Great House (2010) and Forest Dark (2017), which have been translated into 37 languages.

She was told by judges that her work inspired others.

Born in Long Island, Krauss lives in Brooklyn, New York, and was praised

for her “valuable contribution to Jewish literature”, in particular for reflecting on Jewish identity in relation to Jewish history within her novels.

The award, now in its 15th year, recognises the role of writers in examining the Jewish experience. The prize is $100,000 (£72,000).

Last year’s winner of the prize money – one of the richest award pots in the literary world – was Jerusalembased author Benjamin Balint for his book exploring the legacy of Franz Kafka.

Hungary ‘leads way’ on J’lem Richter donates Holocaust art

Hungary’s justice minister has said her country is “leading the way to change the attitude” in the EU’s stance on Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, while denying that her government used antisemitic tropes to target critic George Soros.

Judit Vargas (pictured) said Hungary made “every effort to guarantee the life of the Jewish community” while lambasting the decisions elsewhere in Europe to ban non-stun slaughter of animals.

A member of the ruling right-wing cabinet, which has attacked Jewish philanthropist and critic Soros

using themes of money and shadowy power, Vargas said antisemitism was “always a card played against Hungary”.

Blasting Europe’s “double standards” on Israel, she said Hungary was the only continental nation with diplomats in Jerusalem.

“It shows Hungary is now leading the way to change the attitude in Europe towards Jerusalem,” she said.

On Soros, she said: “The accusation that the campaign was antisemitic was unfounded.

We always said that if Soros was attacked because of his religion or origin, we would be the first to protect him.”

Germany’s greatest living painter has donated 100 works of art to Berlin’s planned new Museum der Moderne, including his Birkenau series addressing the Holocaust.

Gerhard Richter, 89, promised the works this week in a grand gesture that caught the eye of the art world, given a typical Richter piece sells for millions of pounds.

Of perhaps greatest significance is the longterm loan of the paintings he worked on for decades, in which he tries to capture the essence of the Shoah based on photographs secretly taken inside Auschwitz-Birkenau then smuggled out.

Born in 1932 in Dresden, Richter spent much of his life working in Dusseldorf, and by offering his art on a long-term loan to Berlin’s newest museum, he has stopped the works leaving Germany.

Gerhard Richter has donated 100 works

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Jewish News 25 March 2021

Editorial comment and letters ISSUE NO.

1203

VOICE OF THE JEWISH NEWS

Keep up the pressure

Many will have been left angry by the parliamentary ping-pong that took place between the Commons and Lords over the genocide amendment, which campaigners hoped would limit trade with countries deemed by judges to be guilty of genocide. They may feel deflated and disappointed by its third – and final – to win the support of a majority of MPs this week.

But look closer and there can surely be little doubt about the impact of the campaign for that amendment, which united all faiths, human rights advocates and survivors of the Holocaust and other genocides. Despite the government’s large majority, it narrowly won the first vote thanks to a handful of MPs. Would we have got to the stage where Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, along with international partners, announced sanctions against officials on the same day as the vote on the amendment without this remarkable campaign? Many think not. The government should be applauded for this crucial step, even if there is still much work to be done.

Jewish News has been proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with a fellow minority community facing oppression, alongside the Board of Deputies, René Cassin and others. For Jews, the unending tragedy of China’s Uyghurs carries echoes of the past, including of the story of Passover, which begins this weekend.

We know all too well what it means to be in bondage; after all, we recount the story of the times in Egypt every year and make a point of ensuring our children hear it too, so that it is never forgotten across the generations.

There are so many people who deserve a shout-out for their tireless campaigning. The efforts of MPs Nus Ghani, Sir Iain Duncan Smith, Lisa Nandy and Alistair Carmichael will always be remembered together with Lord Alton of Liverpool and campaign convener Luke de Pulford.

But this battle is far from over and we will continue to shine a light on the issue. It is our responsibility to ensure the world does not forget.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Send us your comments PO Box 815, Edgware, HA8 4SX | letters@jewishnews.co.uk

LAND LAW Respect is priority COMES FIRST In response to Howard Youngerwood’s letter, pursuing a legal career – whether or not that includes belonging to the Board of Deputies –does not give someone a knowledge of science. Going to a yeshiva should, on the other hand, give someone the knowledge to have respect for a gadol hador so one has to wonder.

Howard (and Vivian Wineman) do not begin to understand how Torah Jews view life, namely that God runs every aspect of the world, and that those who have spent close to 100 years studying His instruction manual (Torah) are best qualified to advise on everything, yes everything.

Had they and their Modern Jewish Orthodox friends been at the splitting of the sea, they would no doubt have not listened to Moshe when he told them to cross because what does an old man who hasn’t been enlightened in Cambridge know about science.

Howard suggests a regular column. A first topic should be to learn respect for people who don’t think the way they do.

Their willingness to trash a holy man and millions of Jews is plain disgusting.

Ann Cohen Golders Green

Sketches & kvetches

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THIS WEEKEND'S SHABBAT AND PESACH TIMES...

Yom Tov begins Saturday night 7.13pm

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Sedra: Tzav

SOMETIMES LESS IS MORE With great joy, two of my grandchildren are due to get married soon – one in Israel and one here in Hendon.

Numbers of guests have been limited, but I have told them – “You’re so lucky, as I will always remember my wedding and the flow of aunts,

uncles, cousins and people completely unknown to me and my husband.

They were all sitting at the wrong tables and many a broiges developed afterwards. Nevermind the Sussexes and the Royal Family.”

Norma Neville Hendon

THE SILENCE IS DEAFENING

Operations Manager Alon Pelta 020 8148 9693

Shabbat begins Friday night 6.09pm

I write regarding parts of the Charedi community’s attitude to Covid laws.

They would claim obeying Torah min Hashamayim is paramount to lead a good Jewish life. The prime halachic instruction is: ‘Dina de’Malchuta Dina’ (‘The law of the land is the law) which in certain cases may take precedence over Jewish law. We are seen as a mainly boringly law abiding group. Let’s not ruin that.

Barry Hyman Bushey Heath

“Well, the rule of six no longer applies, Elijah, but I’m afraid you still can’t come in. How about we go for a sociallydistanced walk in the park?”

I have been following the rows over forced marriage in some parts of the strictly-Orthodox community.

Like many, I am disgusted this practice still exists and outraged at the attempts by some to brush it under the carpet or claim it’s not true. One thing that is shocking is the silence

from mainstream Jewish organisations.

Why is the president of the Board of Deputies silent on this? Her silence on forced marriages is deafening – or is it political expediency in her attempt to appease the Charedim?

Noam Ben-Yosef N17

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Pesach according to... Jackie Mason

Jackie Mason’s Pesach sermon The iconic American comedian says we owe Trump a vote of thanks Republicans, still have time to worry about it.

The truth is the Jewish people have a lot to be grateful to him, and owe him at the least, a little bit of respect. Trump reinitiated regional unity in the Middle East. The region really rallied around his long-reaching vision. Whether it’s the move of the embassy to Jerusalem, a campaign promise to which every president for decades has given lip service, and which Trump followed through with, to his leadership in getting many of the Gulf States to the side of peace with his Abraham Accords.

Let’s hope Biden doesn’t muck it up, and not even remember he mucked it up. The fact he wants to get back in the Iran nuclear deal is enough to make anyone scream Dayenu!

Well, I guess we’ll just see how this all plays out. Meanwhile, we’re on the second year with the plague. We’re still basically on lockdown, and going to have a second seder on Zoom.

We can say we’re two-thirds of the way through. Who decided on that timeline, I don’t know, but it sounds about right, almost scientific. We probably have a couple more plagues before we’re through this latest round. Now they want to call it endemic. Whatever, they want to call it,

it appears to be hanging around for a while.

We do have to be grateful for the vaccines and, back to our favourite topic, even though

Paul Solomons

S

o it’s been a year already since we began this series of articles for Jewish News. We’ve got through the whole cycle of Jewish holidays, and we even threw Thanksgiving in there.

Why is this night so different? Well, first thing, we don’t have Donald Trump to kick around. Trump is as much in the past as Passover (for now). You know, they say, time heals all wounds. Well, this country has got a pretty open wound. We will not talk about what happened on 6 January because, well, it makes me nauseous.

What I will tell you is: if the Jews could get through the desert, anything could happen, even Trump getting elected a second time.

There is good news and there is bad news, after Trump’s public reappearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference convention. The good news is that he was able to make a succinct, rational speech. Yes, an hour and a half is succinct in my book. The bad news for the rest of the world is it seems like he can actually win again. It’s like right before Passover, the plague of the first born, and the Democrats are putting goat’s blood on their doors. Because Trump the second time will be like the new Pharaoh, bigger and better if you could believe it. The Democrats, and many

Jackie Mason

a lot of the country hates him, Trump, with his warts and all, deserves credit for pushing these vaccines through. Nobody, and I mean nobody, could have gotten through the Food and Drug Administration like he did. You have to be a bit of a bully to deal with these people, and he was, and is, a bully. Sometimes it’s a good thing. Moses didn’t seem like such a bully, but then again he had God on his side.

Well, that’s enough for now.It’s hard to keep talking without expecting a pay cheque, but in the holiday spirit I hope everyone has a pleasant time and doesn’t eat too much matzah. Hopefully the vaccines work like they did in Israel, and I pray we don’t have to go to the doctor every three months for a booster shot. If we do, my age has one perk, I’ll be heading right to the front of the line. I already have my sleeve rolled up. I can see you admiring my biceps.

It’s funny, I’m still in shape, and the heaviest thing I pick up is a coffee cup. It must be my good genes going all the way back to lifting up those heavy stones in Egypt. All that back-breaking work has done wonders for my back.

Happy Passover!

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Jewish News 25 March 2021

Opinion

I'll always remember how Lionel went the extra mile ALEX BRUMMER

CITY EDITOR, THE DAILY MAIL

F

uture chief rabbis have come and gone at Western Marble Arch. And pre-pandemic, it was the go-to morning minyan for international visitors. There were Israelis by the score, American tourists and bankers, Brazilian families and always a smattering of visitors from Paris and Rome.

Amid this glorious array of Judaism, mourners, egos, judges, peers of the realm and the occasional knight and dame there has, for several decades, been one unifying and inspirational figure in the shape of Rabbi Lionel Rosenfeld. His partnership, friendship and intellectual link with the late, great, former Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks is legendary.

They were the David and Jonathan of contemporary Anglo-Jewry. This sacred partnership, together with the Shabbaton Choir, were Britain’s box office hit at midnight Selichot services. Sacks is no longer with us, but lives on through his insightful commentaries to our

daily prayer. And, this Pesach, Rabbi Lionel and Rebbetzin Natalie will in a new home in their beloved Jerusalem surrounded by children and grandchildren.

For much of Anglo-Jewry, Rabbi Rosenfeld is known as the go-to chazan/rabbi for that special occasion, whether it was singing in the snow for an episode of the TV series Call the Midwife, a wedding, a commemorative occasion or more balefully, a funeral or shiva.

There may be cantors with bigger voices, rabbis who are greater orators and yeshiva educators even more steeped in the Talmud.

But those of us who witnessed his last, spiritual Shabbat at Western Marble Arch could not but recognise that here is a member of the rabbinate who had that something extra.

Lionel brought to his chazanaut, a knowl-

edge of prayer, a joyousness and a precision of Ivrit second to none. He made it his mission that mourners, who wished to lead weekday Shacharit services, were properly coached so the Ivrit was acceptable, the timing in keeping with the needs of other members of the minyan and the experience meaningful. His own davening was pitch perfect and his leyning fast, accurate and infused with the meaning of the words.

During services at Western Marble Arch, every person called to the law is made to feel special. Memorial prayers are recited with meaning, not gabbled like a chore, and the blessing, after being called to the law, accompanied by a brief pen picture of the honouree.

An emotional ‘last’ Drash was technically about Vayikra. At first glance it is among the least satisfying of this year’s cycle because of

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DURING SERVICES, EVERY PERSON CALLED TO THE LAW IS MADE TO FEEL SPECIAL

CERTIFICATE OF RELIGIOUS PRACTICE (CRP)

its focus on the sacrifices that were halted with the destruction of the Second Temple. But, as Lionel observed, sacrifice also concerns the all-out effort that turns innate skills into something much greater. It is the antithesis of self-pampering, pomposity and ego.

I shall never forget the sacrifice Lionel made when, on a damp, windswept day in May 2019 he made the journey from the West End to Brighton to be with my brother Daniel and I when we buried my father Michael. It was not his responsibility, there was no great reward; it was just respect, doing that little extra.

Pesach is the festival of freedom and Rabbi Rosenfeld has earnt his, after decades of devotion to his music, his studies of Talmud and Ivrit and his devotion to community. As most of us pray to be in Jerusalem next year, he will be there. He moves onto the next stage of his life in the knowledge an indelible impression has been left not just on the communities where he has served, sung and preached, but to the good name and reputation of British Jewry.

Chag Sameach and a kosher and a healthy Pesach.

Celebrating 150 Yea r s

The CRP process has Changed If you are applying to a Jewish school for admission in September 2022 you are required to earn a CRP certificate. Make sure to look at the admissions pages of the schools you are applying for.

Please be aware that the CRP form has been updated.

Full details can be found at

www.theus.org.uk/crp Or watch our info film at

www.TheUS.tv/crp2021

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Opinion

Absence of protest doesn't mean a marriage isn't forced EVE SACKS

BOARD MEMBER, NAHAMU

A

ll young people must have the right to choose whom to marry, when to marry or if they marry at all.

The Haggadah refers to four sons and explains how each of them differently experience the telling of the Pesach story, and how we should answer their questions.

This year, I will recite the traditional version together with my family, but I will be thinking of four daughters – their different experiences of forced marriage and how to answer their questions about this harmful cultural practice.

As part of Nahamu, I co-authored a paper, and have been speaking out about forced marriage. Our paper describes markers of coercion, including a limited ability to opt out of the arranged marriage process, and a rushed engagement so that the couple do not get to know each other before the engagement is agreed.

Further, there is limited opportunity for the couple to meet, speak to or freely communicate with each other between the initial meeting

and the wedding.

Other markers include a binding engagement agreement (tenayim), which serves as an extra layer of psychological entrapment. Finally, there is a burden of expectation on the young person to marry the person to whom they are introduced, along with the social stigma relating to romance and the lack of awareness of other ways of meeting someone to marry.

It is easy to understand and condemn forced marriage when the young person vocally objects at the time. However, the absence of protest does not mean the marriage is not forced. A broad range of factors, including social conditioning on the value of motherhood and wifedom throughout childhood and adolescence, may undermine a young woman’s capacity to provide full and free consent to an arranged marriage.

When we were conducting our research, it became clear to us that not everyone responds to these markers in the same way, with some young people only realising later that they had been the victim of a forced marriage. Therefore, it may be useful to think about the different ways a socially conditioned forced marriage can

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AS WE REFLECT ON FREEDOM, I'LL REFLECT ON THE DAUGHTERS WHO DIDN'T CHOOSE WHOM TO MARRY

manifest itself, using the four children from the Pesach Haggadah.

The wise daughter, what does she say? “I am fully aware I am being coerced into a forced marriage.” This is blatant forced marriage. And you should tell her the law. That the UK government has made forced marriage a criminal offence and the legislation includes “threats or any other form of coercion for the purpose of causing another person to enter into a marriage”.

The daughter with the wicked parents, what do they say? “We can see our daughter is upset in the run up to her wedding. But we ignore her pain, because we know this is what is best for her in the long run. Once she is married, we know she will be happy. We ignore her doubts at the time, and if she gathers the strength to later leave the marriage, we divest ourselves of all responsibility, saying; 'This is the marriage you agreed to,

you and not us.'”. This is subtle forced marriage.

The naive daughter, what does she think?

“I can see my older sisters were coerced to marry someone they did not know. They spoke up. But it did not help. I do not want to marry him, but it is futile for me to say anything at all.” This is subconscious forced marriage.

As for the daughter who does not know she should have the freedom to choose whom to marry. She willingly and happily marries the groom chosen by parents. She is still being forced. Her parents have organised for her to marry a stranger, but her upbringing has left her without the confidence to challenge that choice.

This is indoctrinated forced marriage.

This Pesach, as we contemplate the meaning of freedom, I will be thinking of those who have not had the freedom to choose whom to marry.

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Jewish News 25 March 2021

Opinion

Children’s services and Kiddush are in the offing STEVEN WILSON CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE UNITED SYNAGOGUE

This week marks a year since the first coronavirus lockdown was announced. Our community – like our country – has suffered greatly.

More than 126,000 people have died in the UK, nearly 1,000 of whom were Jewish.

It has been the most challenging of my life too, both personally and professionally. It is possible that the past year has been the most challenging 12 months the United Synagogue has faced since the Second World War. Together with the Chief Rabbi and trustees, I took the hardest decision of my career to close all our shuls. While our buildings may have been shut at times, our communities have remained open and thriving.

I have been proud of how we have responded to the crisis. Together with our communities we have supported our most vulnerable members with food parcels, collecting medicines and outstanding pastoral care from our rabbinic

couples and volunteers. We have streamed hundreds of entertaining and educational programmes online. We have re-imagined religious services and brought thousands of people together virtually to celebrate our festivals.

We have learned together, laughed together, cried and mourned together and prayed together.

Now we look forward to spending time together because after an extremely challenging winter, from 29 March our members will be able to see their loved ones safely over Pesach outdoors, albeit in limited numbers. We know that many of our members have not seen their children and grandchildren, their parents and grandparents for many months and rejoice in how special these reunions are going to be.

We also know that many people are still shielding or will be separated from their friends and family. The United Synagogue has distributed 400 Seder in a Box kits this year with wonderful materials and delicious food. Thanks to funds from our recent charity appeal, we’re also supporting hundreds of United Synagogue families in need this Pesach.

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BY PESACH, 40 SHULS WILL HAVE RE-OPENED FOR RELIGIOUS SERVICES

We’re supporting the wider community too: KLBD has again this year compiled a list of Covid-19 guidelines allowing the use of some regular products. These guidelines are intended only for circumstances when regular supervised products are not available, or if people are in isolation and unable to go shopping or have supervised products delivered to their home.

By Pesach, thanks to the dedication of our rabbinic, synagogue and lay teams, some 40 communities will have re-opened for religious services. We know how important our shuls are to our members, providing a Covid-secure place for communal prayer, enabling mourners to say kaddish and marking bar and batmitzvahs in a cautious but joyful way. We will also continue to

MIDDLESEX UNIVERSITY

GIFT - make a difference

Wishes our staff, students and whole community a happy, healthy Passover. www.mdx.ac.uk

fully support our communities who feel it best to remain closed for the time being.

I am so excited that thanks to the outstanding vaccination programme, in-person communal life is reawakening. In line with the government’s roadmap we are charting our safe return to our cherished communal life.

As lockdown eases, we will be announcing a gradual easing of restrictions too: bringing back much-missed children and youth services, re-introducing kiddush and ultimately permitting programmes and events as before. We’ll continue to assess and be led by the data as we have done for the past 12 months.

But it is now time to prepare for, please God, a bright, engaged, healthy communal future! It has been too long. We have had too many tragedies.

Hundreds of our members have lost loved ones.

Many more are suffering financial hardships.

But we also have so much gratitude to our doctors, nurses, scientists, key workers, Rabbis and Rebbetzens, volunteers, friends and colleagues who have done so much to keep us safe and motivated. I wish you and your families a chag kasher v'sameach.

In partnership with Sabeny.

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Jewish News 25 March 2021

Opinion

Young must follow parents to get vaccine to help us all

C

ovid-19 has hit young people hard.

Despite being the least likely of any group to suffer serious illness from Covid-19, we have seen our exams cancelled and our university experience taken away from us. Recent graduates have found it almost impossible to find a job, and many young professionals have spent months on furlough or sadly lost their jobs.

Jami, the Jewish community’s vital mental health service, has expressed concern that the number of young people seeking help has more than doubled since the start of the Covid-19 outbreak, a reality to which we cannot turn a blind eye.

But as we’ve heard from the politicians and the experts, we have a light at the end of the tunnel with the arrival of the long-awaited vaccines. Like many other young people, we were both relieved to see our parents and

misinformation. Young people crave convenience and incentives, which the Tel Aviv Municipality tapped into very effectively.

Having the opportunity to get your vaccine shot in a bar along with a free drink doesn’t seem like such a bad idea. Although we are still some weeks away from opening pubs for drinks, let alone vaccinations, it can certainly motivate us to get creative about how we can pave our way back to normality as quickly as possible.

Both on a national level and within our community, we need to start thinking about vaccine hesitancy among young people and how we can tackle it. In the age of fake news and social media, it is the responsibility of us all to challenge misinformation, present the facts and ensure our community is in the best possible position to recover.

We will be kicking off this conversation in our community on 31 March at 6pm with a Facebook Live panel of medical experts, who will answer questions from young adults about the vaccine. The London Jewish Forum is running this event with communal organisa-

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GROW YOUR LOCKS DOWN IN LOCKDOWN

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IT IS RESPONSIBILITY OF US ALL TO CHALLENGE MISINFORMATION AND PRESENT THE FACTS tions, including youth movements and campus organisations, supported by the Greater London Authority and Public Health England.

We encourage any young people who have concerns about the vaccine to tune in.

We know for a fact vaccines don’t just protect ourselves, but everyone around us.

If there is one thing we have learned from living through a pandemic, it is that we need each other to overcome difficult times such as these and that we need to be conscious of the responsibility we hold for our immediate and greater surroundings.

ER

DIRECTOR, LONDON JEWISH FORUM

grandparents getting their vaccine shots over the past few weeks.

However, the reality is most young people will not be offered the vaccine until at least the summer. This opens up questions. Will we be barred from summer sporting events or concerts that require proof of vaccination?

What about international travel? The UK is currently only looking to vaccinate adults, whereas Israel is vaccinating anyone over 16.

What does that mean for our 16 and 17-yearolds and future trips to Israel?

As we have seen in Israel, just convincing healthy young adults to take the Covid-19 vaccine has not been an easy task and we are yet to test the waters over here in the UK. It is not uncommon to see social media posts from young people along the lines of “I will probably get vaccinated, but Covid is unlikely to harm me so I may as well wait a few months to see if the vaccine causes any long-term side effects” or “it’s enough for my parents to have it”.

Increasing vaccine uptake among younger generations won’t just be about tackling

LE

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Daniel Kosky

CA NG R THS FO

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25 March 2021 Jewish News

INDEPENDENCE. DIGNITY. CHOICE.

“My diagnosis of MS was like a hammer blow but I am happier now living here than I’ve ever been.

Especially in current times, there is nowhere else I would want to be.”

Neil, Jewish Blind & Disabled tenant

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Community / Scene & Be Seen

1 MATZAH BAKE

Around 140 families took part in the Great Tribe Matzah Bake on Sunday on Zoom, run by the United Synagogue’s youth department. Rabbi Cobi Ebrahimoff taught the children how to make matzah from flour and water and bake it at home. Tribe’s head of operations, Tamara Jacobson, said: “Watch out Rakusen’s, there are some new matzah bakers in town!” Pictured are two Pinner United Synagogue youngsters making matzah.

And be seen!

2 PESACH PREP

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

Pupils at Kisharon’s Tuffkid Nursery have been preparing for Pesach. They practised for bedikat chametz by painting with feathers, cleaning out chametz with dusters and mops and practising counting with the four cups of wine. Each child also made their own Haggadah.

Email us at community@jewishnews.co.uk

3 CARE PROJECT

Children took part in an intergenerational Pesach project run by Jewish Care and others.

Alongside GIFT, Yoni Jesner Foundation and PJ Library, children coloured seder plates and wrote messages for residents at Jewish Care homes and tenants at the charity’s retirement living apartments. Pictured is Leo, whose mum Gabs Abrahams said: “Leo was so proud of his efforts, knowing he was going to make someone who can’t be with their family smile.”

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3

4 RECOVERY DUET

David Sakol, 83, of Childs Hill, who recently stayed in Candlewood House care home for a month following hip replacement surgery, sang a duet of Autumn Leaves to celebrate his recuperation before returning home. “David worked hard on his rehabilitation – it’s wonderful to see him walking now,” said Candlewood House well-being lead Sophie Hammond.

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ampus compass

YOUR MONTHLY ROUND-UP OF JEWISH UNIVERSITY LIFE

Edward Isaacs from Bristol JSoc, interviewed the British Ambassador to Israel, Neil Wigan.

An online Purim party was hosted

by Queen Mary JSoc with support from Union of Jewish Students and University Jewish Chaplaincy.

This month marks the end of a complete year (52 weeks) of crossdenominational Divrei Torah learning

by Jewish students across the UK.

Bristol JSoc and UJS held a virtual rally to call on Bristol University to get hate off campus, alongside local MP Thangam Debbonaire, government adviser on antisemitism Lord John Mann, TV presenter Rachel Riley and Board of Deputies president Marie van der Zyl.

Have you had a recent simcha?

Send your picture to picturedesk@jewishnews.co.uk

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Photographic Service L’Osservatore Romano

Interview / Weekend

‘I’m Jewish and gay… but still found the Pope inspiring’ Oscar-nominated film-maker Evgeny Afineevsky greets Pope Francis. ‘I have not changed my faith because of him, but I have changed my way of living’

Francine Wolfisz speaks to film director Evgeny Afineevsky about his intimate portrait of the head of the Roman Catholic Church in the forthcoming documentary, Francesco

W

hen it comes to different walks of life, film-maker Evgeny Afineevsky is more than just a few miles away from His Holiness Pope Francis.

One is a Russian-born Jewish, openly gay director; the other, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, is the head of the Roman Catholic Church, which has for centuries viewed homosexuality as ‘deviant behaviour’.

And yet the two men have reportedly become firm friends through the three-year process of Afineevsky’s latest project, Francesco, an intimate portrait of the 266th papal leader featuring unprecedented access to the Pope himself.

In the documentary, which is available to stream from Sunday on Discovery+, the pontiff offers his views on everything from climate change, empowering women and the global migrant crisis to far more controversial topics, such as the Catholic Church’s handling of recent sexual abuse allegations – a matter that resulted in the Pope acknowledging “grave errors” and apologising publicly to the victims.

More contentious yet are comments made by the Pope that same-sex couples should be accepted and permitted to have “civil unions”.

As he says in the film: “Homosexuals have a right to be a part of the family. They’re children of God and have a right to a family. Nobody should be thrown out or be made miserable because of it. What we have to create is a civil union law.”

Given the Pope’s more progressive stance and ability to reach out to people of all creeds and identities, Afineevsky felt that perhaps he was not so very distant from the sovereign of the Vatican City State, a feeling that spurred him on to realise his ambitious project.

The 48-year-old, who was Oscar and Emmynominated for his documentary Winter On Fire, about the 2013 Euromaidan protests in Ukraine, says of the pope: “He’s a very open person. On the television, he seems like someone who is unreachable and superior to other human beings, but when you meet this person, you see your brother,

your father, someone who is willing to listen, accommodate and even share a joke with you.

“There is no distance between you and him, which is remarkable. You can share anything with him.”

Still, I ask, was there any sense of conflict between his own identity and the ideological views of the Pope and the Catholic Church?

For Afineevsky, who was born in Kazan, western Russia, before moving to Israel and then, as an adult, relocating to the United States, there were no issues about remaining objective, he says, much as he has been with his previous projects.

“With Winter on Fire, it was about Ukraine and I am a child of Russia, but I did it despite Russia and Ukraine being in a kind of conflict, because of the importance of the story.

“When working on my film Cries From Syria, about the Syrian Civil War, I am a former Israeli who served in the Israel Defense Forces, but I told this story for the innocent affected by this conflict.

“As a film-maker, it’s important to be objective and bring attention to these disasters. I also need to be true to myself, but I’ve never had a problem in my identity coming from the other side of the issue.”

So it is for his latest film subject. “I found enormous inspiration in Pope Francis,” he continues. “I’m not changing my faith because of him, but I have changed my way of living, still being Jewish and gay.”

That sense of inspiration features strongly in the documentary. Since 2013, the pope has traversed the globe, including

‘Remarkable’: Pope Francis

making a poignant trip to Israel just a year into his papacy. At the Western Wall in Jerusalem, he was pictured in a moment of interfaith union, as he embraced Rabbi Abraham Skorka and Muslim leader Imam Omar Abboud – both contemporaries of his from his native Buenos Aires.

Then, at Auschwitz in 2016, the pontiff eschewed making a speech, instead spending time in silent prayer before meeting several Holocaust survivors.

“He tried to give silence to this place that brought silence to so many human lives,” reflects Afineevsky.

“At the same time, the action of staying silent spoke far louder than words.”

For the film-maker, perhaps Pope Francis’ most “remarkable” action to date is that of his handling of recent sex abuse allegations.

In 2015, he was chided for supporting Chilean bishop Juan Barros, who was accused of covering up sex crimes committed by fellow bishop Fernando Karadima against minors.

What impresses Afineevsky is that, within the next three years, the Pope’s views on this matter had evolved dramatically. Several high-ranking church leaders who were accused of sexual abuse were removed from office, the Vatican launched an investigation and, most significantly for the victims, including Juan Carlos Cruz, who is now an advocate and also features in the documentary, Pope Francis issued an apology.

“He said sorry, on behalf of the entire institution, and then took action – which is remarkable,” says Afineevsky.

“For the first time, we see a Pope fighting corruption, who is trying to bring more transparency to the church and bring faith back into the institution.

For the first time, we see a man of action, not a man of words.”  Francesco is available to stream on Discovery+ from Sunday, 28 March

A look

Inside Competition: Win an escape room at home, worth £99!

Master builders!

Meet the finalists of our festive lego competition

Food: Journey through the dessert with Passover Pear Cake

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Jewish News 25 March 2021

Weekend / Entertainment

TELEVISION

REAL LIFE

All Star Musicals

Being...

Jewish

Robert Rinder was named winner of ITV special All Star Musicals after dazzling judges with his rendition of Be Our Guest from Beauty And The Beast.

The one-off programme, hosted by John Barrowman, saw celebrities perform songs from musical theatre.

The TV personality and barrister competed against ITV political editor Robert Peston, actor Barney Walsh, television doctor Ranj Singh and actresses Luisa Bradshaw-White and Jessica Hynes.

Rinder opened the show dressed as candlestick Lumiere and impressed the expert panel of Elaine Paige, Trevor Dion Nicholas and Samantha Barks with his showmanship.

Nicholas told Rinder he was “dripping with showbiz glitz and glamour” while Paige praised his “pristine” vocals and said he was “guilty of an excellent performance”.

The judges gave him 30 stars out of a possible 30.

He was named winner of the show after the scores of the expert panel were combined with the votes of the virtual studio audience.

Rinder said: “I was watching backstage and the talent, the beauty, the enthusiasm and the joy of everybody, I’ve had the best time ever

and have done it in front of people I admire so much. Open the theatres and bring us more joy.”

During the show, former BBC business editor Peston performed Luck Be A Lady from Guys And Dolls.

Meanwhile Walsh performed Flash Bang Wallop from Half A Sixpence, Hynes performed When You’re Good To Mama from Chicago and Singh sang Come What May from Moulin Rouge. Bradshaw-White performed This Is Me from The Greatest Showman.

A BBC One series starting this week will explore how British Jews of all shades mark life’s big milestones, from birth and coming of age to marriage and the end of life.

Being… Jewish, the first in the five-part series which has stories from Sikhs, Hindus, Christians and Muslims, shows 12-year-old Ethan preparing for his barmitzvah and Rabbi Yanky and his wife Rochel marking the birth of their child with a brit milah.

Meanwhile Jolanda has converted to Reform Judaism after meeting Jack and they are tying the knot in Spain, in a ceremony that they have adapted according to their beliefs.

Win an Escape Room In A Box from Epic Escapes worth £99!

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Shtisel

freedom, and the strictly observant Orthodox young man to whom she is powerfully drawn – so powerfully that she is willing to uproot her entire life to be with him.”

CBS Studios will produce the remake, while a distribution platform has yet to be named.

THEATRE

Back To The Future The Musical Great Scott! Back To The Future The Musical, based on the popular film trilogy created by Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale is set to return to the West End this summer.

Produced by Colin Ingram and with a book by Gale and new music and lyrics by Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard, the show is expected to open at the Adelphi Theatre from 20 August.

The story revolves around Marty McFly (played by Olly Dobson), a rock ‘n’ roll teenager who is accidentally transported back to 1955 in a time-travelling DeLorean invented by his friend, Dr Emmett Brown (played by Roger Bart).

Being...Jewish airs Tuesday, 10.45pm on BBC 1

COMPETITION

IN THE PIPELINE Global hit Israeli drama Shtisel is being adapted into an American version.

The show, which besides the name will share few thematic elements with the original Netflix series (pictured), is being written by Lauren Gussis and directed by Kenneth Lonergan, who is best known for his Oscarwinning drama Manchester By the Sea. Deadline described the remake as “a modern-day Romeo and Juliet story about an ultra-progressive, over-achieving secular 18-year-old woman on the verge of personal

At Bushey cemetery in Hertfordshire, Hilary describes her role as a volunteer who carries out tahara, the ritual washing of a body before burial, and David reflects on his late father’s life as he prepares to permanently mark his grave.

But before he can return to 1985, Marty must make sure his high school-aged parents fall in love in order to save his own existence.

Back to the Future the movie was released in 1985, starring Michael J Fox as McFly and Christopher Lloyd as Brown. The film grossed $360.6 million (£279 million) at the box office worldwide, while the trilogy grossed $936.6 million (equivalent to more than $1.8 billion in today’s money).

The show, directed by John Rando, also includes songs familiar from the original film soundtrack, including The Power of Love and Johnny B. Goode.

Jewish News and Epic Escapes have teamed up to offer two lucky readers the chance to win an Escape Room In A Box (3 in 1) worth £99!

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Two lucky readers will win an Escape Room In A Box (3 in 1) worth £99. The prize is as stated, not transferable, not refundable and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or exchanged in whole or in part for cash. By supplying your email address, you agree to receive marketing information from the JN Media Group or any of its affiliates and carefully selected third parties. The promotion excludes employees of Jewish News and the promoter, their immediate families, their agents or anyone professionally connected to the relevant promotion. Proof of eligibility must be provided on request. For full Ts and Cs, see www.jewishnews.co.uk.

25 March 2021 Jewish News

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37

Book / Weekend

‘Israelis don’t just bounce back… they bounce forward’

Nathan Jeffay speaks to the co-author of a new book exploring how one small nation has prevailed in the face of adversity

M

ichael Dickson is a man on a mission: to export Israeli resilience.

When he moved from London to Israel 15 years ago, this particular trait of his newly-adopted country began to fascinate him, and he has now published a book exploring it.

He coined a new portmanteau and called the book Isresilience: What Israelis Can Teach the World. It is getting attention far beyond the Jewish community, with a translation into Norwegian and Spanish in the pipeline.

“This is my love letter to the Israeli people, but it’s more than that, it’s sharing their life lesson,” says Dickson. “We’re inspired by their ability to move on despite facing tragedy, and the point of the book is to allow others – including people who may have no connection at all to Israel – to learn from this.”

The book has a particular resonance as societies cope with the impact of the coronavirus crisis and hopefully enter a post-pandemic reality, he adds.

Co-written with psychologist Dr Naomi L Baum, the 172-page publication features interviews – “based on long discussions that made us laugh and cry” – that explore the idea of Israeli resilience: how it is manifested and what makes it so strong.

“Often, Israelis take their resilience for granted,” notes Dickson, 43, a long-time executive director of advocacy organisation StandWithUs Israel.

“We’d often find that interviewees would say something very matter-of-factly as if it isn’t interesting, and we would be left saying: ‘What you just said was incredible; let’s talk about that more.’”

The interviewees range from well-known figures such as Natan Sharansky, tapped

Noam Gershony, Natan Sharansky and Rabbi Israel Meir Lau pictured as a child

because of his famous resolve when in Soviet prison, and Israel Meir Lau, child Holocaust survivor and former Chief Rabbi, to lesserknown Israelis.

There is climber Nadav Ben-Yehuda, who abandoned an Everest mission to rescue a stranded Turkish climber, and Shula Molla, an Ethiopian Jewish woman, who walked through the desert to get to Israel and become a citizen.

“There are so many stories of inspiration in Israel – in a sense we could’ve interviewed almost anyone – and the bottom line is that the nation is good at thinking on its feet,” Dickson reflects. “We are great at reviewing options and changing mid-course, as seen in recent months by the success of businesses and individuals in ‘pivoting’ for the pandemic, as well as Israel’s strong embrace of vaccines, which led to its impressive performance in this area.

“We were inspired in our interviews with people like Noam Gershony, a pilot who fell from a helicopter and was left with such severe injuries that he couldn’t return to work and taught himself wheelchair tennis. He competed in the London 2012 Paralympics and won

Israel’s first gold medal.

“Obviously his pivot is much larger than anything most of us would ever need, but it illustrates the trait and the spirit that is found across Israel.”

Dickson believes Israeli resilience is due, in large part, to the fact that on a national level, citizens are accustomed to facing difficulties.

“My children, aged nine to 16, have a very different childhood to the one I had in England,” he reflects. “They have seen the stabbing intifada, rocket attacks and war.

They have run to bomb shelters when needed and remember the kidnapping of young Israelis. You can’t shield children from all of this, even if you wanted to.

“These things are terrifying, but the upshot is that living with this builds a resilience that I see in my own kids and in society in general.”

In the book, he highlights three aspects of Israelis’ response to adversity that he suggests builds resilience.

“One is empathy, meaning the ability to be aware of your situation and

the situation of others,” he said. “When you can do this in the middle of a crisis, it allows you to identify your own feelings and not to avoid them, and to understand those of others.

“This is good because if people are afraid of their emotions they shut down and become numb.”

The national calendar shows this ability to empathise with how everyone feels, Dickson observes. The joy of Passover is quickly followed by the more sombre Yom Hazikaron or memorial day, which then morphs into the celebration of Yom Ha’atzmaut, Independence Day. Another quality is flexibility, and the third secret to Israeli resilience, Dickson asserts, is a flair for “finding meaning” after tragedy or hardship.

“We spoke to Sherri Mandel, whose son was murdered in a 2001 terror attack. Such a thing never leaves a parent. At the same time, Sherri spoke about what she had been able to do in memory of Koby, personally, in their family, and in terms of the many projects they set up in his memory, like summer camps for families of terror victims, and all that these projects have done.

“We don’t talk about ‘bouncing back’, as you never bounce back to where you were.

We borrow the idea of family therapist Froma Walsh that we actually ‘bounce forwards’, that if you make meaning, it takes you to a different place.” � Isresilience: What Israelis Can Teach The World by Michael Dickson and Dr Naomi L Baum is published by Gefen Publishing priced £17.99 (hardback). Available now

38 Jewish News

www.jewishnews.co.uk

25 March 2021

Weekend / Pesach competition

Can they build a Passover model?

Yes they Can-aan!

Meet the shortlisted finalists of our festive-themed competition in partnership with Tribe…

Jake Dorling, six, from Wohl Ilford Jewish Primary School

Wishing all our clients a Chag Samaech from all the staff at

Seven budding builders have now been shortlisted after designing and building Pesach-themed models for the Jewish News-Tribe competition launched earlier this month.

More than 80 youngsters retold the dramatic story of the splitting of the Red Sea and the advent of the Ten Plagues with building blocks, construction sets and Lego kits.

Now they have been whittled down to the finalists, with one winning entry from the primary and secondary categories set to receive a 500-piece Lego set.

Tomor Belovski, fieldworker for Tribe, the United Synagogue’s youth division, said: “We have some extremely talented builders and architects in our community and are thrilled to reveal the finalists today.

“With more than 80 entries, the judges had an exceptionally difficult time whittling them down as the standard was so high. Thank you to everyone who entered.”

The winners – who will be revealed next week – will be picked by Lyla and Eli, the children of Jewish News editor Richard Ferrer, and Motti and Sara, nephew and niece of news editor Justin Cohen, along with a representative from Tribe.

Immanuel Schneider, seven, attends Menorah Foundatio n

Ariel, 10, Gabriel, five, and Joey Nevies, eight, from Independent Jewish Day School

Danny Glausiusz, nine, attends Independent Jewish Day School

Hannah Cohen, eight, from Sacks Morasha Jewish Pri mary School

B&K Deli Edgware Hatch End and Tongue & Briskett In Good Street / Leather Lane & Waldor Street Yoni Segal, 16, from Hasmonean High School for Boys

Immanuel College pupil, Nathan Samuel, 12

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25 March 2021 Jewish News

If not us, then who?

You’re blind. You’re in hospital, where you catch Covid and are moved to a Covid ward. You don’t know where you are or why, as no-one in the hospital can communicate with you - because you’re not only blind, you are also deaf.

For David, this was a very real and terrifying experience. The doctors were considering ventilating him and needed to explain that his chance of survival was just 50/50.

It was time for JDA to move mountains!

We fought hard for permission and found one brave sign language interpreter to go into the covid ward and sign on David’s hands, enabling the doctors to tell David what was happening to him.

Then we set up braille equipment at the hospital so that the doctors could send David messages from their phone and he could read them in braille and reply. Now David could communicate for himself, understand what was happening and express his wishes.

We’re pleased to say David has made a full recovery and is at home being helped by regular visits from JDA’s dedicated carers.

020 8446 0502 www.jdeaf.org.uk

Clutched in his hand was a piece of paper with JDA’s phone written on it. Thankfully an observant nurse called us.

A message to you our supporters JDA’s life-saving work - keeping the most vulnerable members of our community safe, strong and stable - is intensive and very costly.

But if we’re not there to step in and fight, then no-one else will be.

Please keep helping us to do what only we can at this most critical time. We’ve never needed your support more than now.

Thank you and Happy Pesach from all of us in the JDA family!

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Jewish News 25 March 2021

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Weekend / Food & Drink

O

ne of the best Passover cakes we’ve tasted. Ever.

One of those ‘I can’t believe it’s a Pesach cake’ cakes. We’ve tried it with plums and almonds, and figs and hazelnuts and it is just so great! You can replace the matzo meal with plain flour for a cake any time of the year. In her book Modern Jewish Cooking, Leah Koenig explains that she isn’t a fan of baking with matzo meal, but in this cake it’s very well hidden.

SERVES: ABOUT 10

INGREDIENTS 60g (½ cup/2 oz) pecans, chopped 110g (½ cup, firmly packed/3¾ oz) brown sugar 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg 4 eggs 230g (1 cup/8 oz) caster sugar 125ml (½ cup/ 4 ¼ fl oz) oil 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 140g (1 cup/5 oz) superfine matzo meal (cake meal) 4 medium pears, unpeeled, sliced Recipe by Leah Koenig from Modern Jewish Cooking, Chronicle Books, 2015. Extracted from Monday Morning Cooking Club: Now For Something Sweet published by HarperCollins, priced £25 (hardback)

PASSOVER

PEAR CAKE

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F/Gas 4). Line a 20cm (8 inch) square baking tin.

2. Mix together the pecans, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg in a small bowl.

3. Using an electric mixer, whisk the eggs until creamy and light. Add the caster sugar, two spoons at a time, whisking until the mixture is thick and billowy. Add the oil in a steady stream, followed by the vanilla and whisk until just combined. Add the matzo meal and mix on low speed until just combined.

4. Pour half the batter into the prepared tin.

5. Sprinkle with half the pecan mixture and arrange half the sliced pears on top.

6. Pour over the remaining batter, smoothing the top with a spatula.

Top with the remaining pears, followed by the remaining pecan mixture.

7. Bake for 60 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.

8. Transfer to a wire rack and allow to cool completely before removing from the tin.

Wishing our customers a Happy Passover • Fresh daily fruit and veg with the best price in the area • Open 24 hours • All product from A to Z • Groceries, alcohol, meat, household goods and much more 26 Golders Green Rd, Golders Green, NW11 8LL

25 March 2021 Jewish News

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41

Orthodox Judaism

SEDRA Tsav

What does the Torah say about: Sarah Everard

BY REBBETZIN ABI KURZER Rosh Hashanah is to sourdough as Pesach is to matzah. Both are made of the same two ingredients, flour and water, and yet the outcome is vastly different.

If it hadn’t been for the sourdough hobby craze sweeping the locked-down nation, I wouldn’t have had this epiphany. Hearing reports of people staying home in order to ‘feed’ their starter and achieve the perfect rise finally clarified to me why the Jewish people didn’t have time to make bread without yeast before they left Egypt: sourdough takes forever; matzah is made in 18 minutes.

In parashat Tzav, the minchah offering requires bringing matzah.

It is the humblest of all offerings, and the quickest to put together.

Matzah is linked to chipazon, the haste in which we left Egypt.

With no time to allow the ingredients to ferment, we took what we had and made matzah. The

Torah For Today

mitzvah to eat matzah on seder night transports us back to a feeling of rushing from one reality to another.

Rav Tzadok HaKohen of Lublin explains that sometimes in our religious lives change happens slowly and carefully. This is more like sourdough and the deep and slow change that takes place at the time of Rosh Hashanah.

Sometimes change requires an element of haste: we need to ‘just do it’ and not overthink or analyse.

Instead, we need to capitalise on our enthusiasm and inspiration and move ahead with our plan.

To achieve something as momentous as becoming a nation, we need to act with chipazon, haste, to propel us out of Egypt and into a new place.

Matzah is the food of that moment, the food of Pesach. ◆ Abi Kurzer is the Rebbetzin of Pinner United Synagogue

RABBI ZVI SOLOMONS The Torah speaks about protecting those who have no protector, notably the widow and the orphan.

Indeed, the whole Book of Ruth speaks of widowhood and vulnerability.

Boaz is praiseworthy for taking on the responsibility to protect his kinswoman Ruth despite there being others and spreads his cloak over her at the threshing floor to symbolise this.

Such Biblical gallantry is however not to modern tastes.

Women are independent people, with no need for male approval or protection. Respecting women’s independence is part of being a decent human being.

Walking home on a dark night we must be aware of how vulnerable women feel to violence and show by our actions – for example crossing to the other side of a road – that we are aware of their vulnerability and have good intentions.

We should also remember that at no time outside self-defence should violence be a commonplace.

One might argue that the Hebrew word for an attack, hamas (no refererence to terror organisations) carries the same import as grievous bodily harm.

The first reference to this in the Torah is the corrupt generation

before the Flood.

In Sanhedrin 58b, there is a list of sayings against violence. Resh Lakish says that even lifting up your hand against your fellow is wicked.

Some of our rabbis even say that a violent person’s hand should be cut off but certainly authorities today do not agree with such drastic action.

The many stories of domination and abuse springing from Sarah Everard’s tragic death, and the #MeToo attachment, both remind us that however far men have come we could go further and do better. ◆ Rabbi Zvi Solomons serves JCoB, the Jewish Community of Berkshire in Reading

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Jewish News 25 March 2021

Progressive Judaism

Progressively Speaking

The Bible Says What?

Approaching God is dangerous

The real chametz we need to clear is inside ourselves

BY RABBI SYLVIA ROTHSCHILD At the foot of Sinai, the people tell Moses: “You talk to us and we’ll listen, but don’t let God speak to us, lest we die.”

It’s a repeating trope: After Jacob fought the “being” at Jabok, he named the place Peniel because “I have seen God face to face and my life has been preserved”.

We are reminded that approaching the sanctuary without permission is to court death. Possibly most famously, Moses is hidden in the cleft of a rock as God passes by, for God tells him: “You cannot see My face, for none can see Me and live!”

Yet just a few verses earlier we read: “God spoke to Moses face to face, as one speaks to their friend.”

We can infer that God and the first humans in Genesis have a close relationship, because once they understand their nakedness they hide.

They hear God’s voice calling to them – the Hebrew is ambiguous; one can read the verse as them

hearing God’s voice walking in the garden, a distancing of God’s presence from before.

Much of our searching for closeness with God resonates from this time. Moses’ greatness stems from the fact he achieves it; at his death, the Torah tells us: “There has never arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the Eternal knew face to face.”

Chronicles tells us to “seek the Eternal… seek God’s face continually”. While we yearn to have the face of God shine on us, turned towards us and not hidden from us, at the same time the deep fear evinced by the people at Sinai is built into our tradition.

So which is it? Dangerous or sustaining? Our tradition contains both ideas – to seek God’s presence but never to take God for granted.

◆ Sylvia Rothschild has been a community rabbi in south London for 30 years

BY RABBI CHARLEY BAGINSKY “No leaven shall be found in your houses for seven days.” (Exodus 12:19) Like Jews all over the world, on the evening before Pesach, I will be gathering my kids and searching for chametz.

It’s not something that comes from our Torah – there’s no Biblical commandment or story of such a search – but it has become a firm and fun part of our Passover tradition.

However, it is also much more than a way to prepare for Pesach and spring clean our physical homes – it’s also a time to clear out the internal chametz that has built within us over the last year.

As Liberal Jews, we believe rituals must play a role beyond their literal enactment and we often emphasise the ways in which they take us from one place to another.

After a year of loss and lockdowns, we finally have a roadmap to the way ahead. If all goes well, by the summer, life will have returned to something

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like what we knew before, even if we have been changed forever.

Just like the Israelites in the Pesach story, right now we are moving from the wilderness back into the world.

The Torah tells us just how long it took the Israelites to figure out how to be free and it needed a new generation to emerge before they could leave slavery behind.

Lockdown has not been slavery and, while it may take a generation to deal with some of the impact, for most of us transformation will be faster.

Nevertheless, there are things we will all have to relearn, including how to have interactions with other people, how to re-engage with our work, social life and faith physically rather than only through screens.

While lockdown has undoubtedly been very difficult, there will also be things people will find hard to let go. With every new beginning, there is also a sadness at what we are leaving behind, whether that is getting to spend more time with the children – even though we are all thankful they are back at school – or being spared the daily commute.

Getting rid of our physical chametz is the symbol of how we can use this time to move from one type of being into another this Pesach – going from the separation of being locked down to the togetherness of us all emerging. ◆ Rabbi Charley Baginsky is the chief executive officer of Liberal Judaism

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25 March 2021 Jewish News

Ask our

43

Professional advice from our panel / Ask Our Experts

Sending money to or from Israel?

Save time and money on your currency transfers with:

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

This week: Job hunting in the pandemic, changes to the IR35 off-payroll rules and help when visiting those with hearing loss LESLEY TRENNER CAREER ADVISER

RESOURCE

Dear Lesley I’ve been on furlough for ages. I’m worried that I won’t get my job back but I have no idea how I’d find a new one.

Eve Dear Eve The unemployment rate at the moment is high, with areas such as hospitality, retail and entertainment hit especially hard. Once furlough finishes at the end of September, it is expected to increase. But there is growth, too, in sectors such as online retail, IT, health and social care, cleaning and driving.

Unfortunately, there is a possibility your job may come to an end, so it’s best to be prepared.

ADAM SHELLEY ACCOUNTANT

SOBELL RHODES LLP Dear Adam Changes to the off-payroll rules (IR35) will take effect in the private sector next month. Can you advise how this may impact my ownermanaged limited company?

Nicola Dear Nicola The IR35 rules affect taxpayers providing their services through personal service companies or other intermediaries, such as

partnerships or limited liability partnerships, which would otherwise be seen as employees under the current employment status tests, and do not affect the selfemployed. There are some key employment indicators that should be considered in determining status.

While prior to 6 April 2021, responsibility for determining whether the IR35 rules apply lay with the intermediary, from this date, responsibility may move to the engaging company, which will need to assess whether the rules apply to both existing and new contracts they enter into.

Where the IR35 rules do apply, the private sector organisation paying the intermediary needs to inform the intermediary of its decision

If you break the problem down into small steps, it will seem more manageable, as follows: 1. Make a list of all your transferable skills – those that would be useful in any job, such as providing great customer service, being a problem-solver; 2. Ask yourself what kind of job you’d like and in what sort of organisation; 3. Identify any gaps between your current and desired role. Can you use the time on furlough to learn new skills, such as improving your computer literacy?

4. Work on your ‘30-second sales pitch’, summing up who you are, what you have achieved and how you could add value to an organisation; 5. Revamp your CV. Start with a short, punchy profile. Highlight your skills and achievements. Focus on how you made a difference.

Start looking around now and try to keep a positive outlook. Job hunting in the current climate can feel overwhelming, so get in touch with Resource for practical and moral support.

and to deduct income tax and National Insurance contributions (NICs) at source before making the payment and pay employers’ NICs. The changes will only affect medium and large organisations, third parties or intermediaries and contractors operating in the private sector. Small organisations are exempt. A company is considered ‘small’ if it satisfies two of the following criteria: annual turnover of under £10.2 million, a balance sheet of under £5.1m or fewer than 50 staff.

Since announcing the one-year delay in March 2020, HMRC has directly written to more than 40,000 mediumsized organisations and offered one-to-one support for larger businesses.

SUE CIPIN CHIEF EXECUTIVE

JEWISH DEAF ASSOCIATION Dear Sue My mum is in a care home.

They have set up a visitors’ cabin in a downstairs room, so I can book a meeting time, see mum from the other side of the glass and supposedly communicate. It’s so frustrating, though, because she can’t hear a word I’m saying, even with her hearing aids in, and we both end up

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getting upset.

It’s difficult for me to hear her, too, as her voice is very soft now.

It’s so sad to see my mum but not be able to have a nice chat with her. Is there anything that can help?

Marilyn Dear Marilyn Yes! There is a simple way for you to chat with your mum through the cabin.

Think about when you’re in the bank or the post office, and you can hear what the clerk is saying to you through the glass.

This is called a ‘speech transfer system’ – a microphone and a speaker are put

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on each side of the window, and there’s even an integrated hearing loop to help your mum hear better if she has a loop setting in her hearing aids.

We can send you a short video to show you and your mum’s care home how this works. It’s very easy. Please give Gabrielle a ring on 020 8446 0214, or email gabrielle@jdeaf. org.uk, and we’ll get the ball rolling!

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Jewish News 25 March 2021

Ask Our Experts / Professional advice from our panel

Our Experts Do you have a question for a member of our team? Email: editorial@jewishnews.co.uk PRIVATE HEALTHCARE SPECIALIST

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

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

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

DIRECTOR OF LEGACIES

JEWELLER

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

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

Member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.

• •

JONATHAN WILLIAMS Qualifications: • Jewellery manufacturer since 1980s.

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

• Specialist in supply of diamonds to the public at trade prices.

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

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

•

Got a question for a member of our team?

Email: editorial@jewishnews.co.uk

TRAVEL AGENT

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

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

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

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

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

CHARITY EXECUTIVE

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

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

• Specialist in Israel travel, cruises and kosher holidays.

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

• Frequent travel broadcaster on radio and TV.

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

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

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

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

Hearing aid advice, support and maintenance.

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

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

REMOVALS MANAGING DIRECTOR

PRINCIPAL, PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL

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

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

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

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

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

• Set up Dancing with Louise 19 years ago.

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

DANCING WITH LOUISE 020 3740 7900 www.dancingwithlouise.co.uk Info@dancingwithlouise.com

25 March 2021 Jewish News

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45

Professional advice from our panel / Ask Our Experts

ACCOUNTANT

ADR CONSULTANT

DENTIST

ADAM SHELLEY Qualifications: • FCCA chartered certified accountant.

• Accounting, taxation and business advisory services.

• Entrepreneurial business specialist including start-up businesses.

• Specialises in charities; Personal tax returns.

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

DONIEL GRUNEWALD Qualifications: • Accredited mediator to International Standards offering civil/commercial and workplace mediation; in a facilitative or evaluative format, or by med-arb.

• Experienced in all Beth Din matters; including arbitration, advocacy, matrimonial settlements and written submissions.

• Providing bespoke alternative dispute resolution (ADR) to the Jewish community.

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

• Regional clinical lead for Bupa Dental Care UK. • Providing NHS and private dentistry, whitening, implants and cosmetic treatment.

• Bachelor of Dental Surgery and member of the Royal College of Physician and Surgeons Glasgow; GDC registered 212542.

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

JEWISH DISPUTE SOLUTIONS 020 3637 9638 www.jewishdisputesolutions.co.uk director@jewishdisputesolutions.co.uk

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

INTERNATIONAL PAYMENTS SPECIALIST

IT SPECIALIST

CHARITY EXECUTIVE

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

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

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

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

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

• More than 18 years’ experience.

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

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

• Understanding of the impact of a disability diagnosis.

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

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

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

ISRAELI ACCOUNTANT

INSURANCE CONSULTANCY

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

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

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

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

• Ensuring clients do not pay more than required.

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

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

ALIYAH ADVISER

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

CAREER ADVISER

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

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

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

• Offers mock interviews and workshops to maximise job prospects.

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

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

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

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

• Help reduce inheritance tax liability or eradicate it completely.

• Act as Executor in the administration of your estate.

• Provide caring pastoral services.

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

DIVORCE & FAMILY SOLICITOR

PALLIATIVE CARE MANAGER

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

• Frequent broadcaster on national and International radio and television.

POLLY LANDSBERG Qualifications: • Polly has worked in health and social care for more than 35 years.

• Has a degree in nursing and a diploma in health visiting.

• Polly is responsible for the day-to-day management of the palliative and end of life care service.

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

SWEETTREE HOME CARE SERVICES 020 7644 9500 www.sweettree.co.uk polly.landsberg@sweettree.co.uk

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

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

Jewish News (Ask the Expert) 10x2 - 2021.indd 1

11/02/2021 15:17:31

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Jewish News 25 March 2021

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25 March 2021 Jewish News

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Fun, games and prizes

THE JEWISH NEWS CROSSWORD 1

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ACROSS 1 Baton race run in stages (5) 4 Slightly wet (5)

7 Stephen ___, director of the 2003 film Bright Young Things (3)

K T H L M O U S E M S Z V

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A L G H E R

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CAGE CHINCHILLA CLAWS FURRY

L Q V U

GERBIL GUINEA PIGS HAMSTER LEMMING

MOUSE PESTS PETS RAT

Last issue’s solutions Crossword ACROSS: 1 Bistro 4 Wear 8 Lie 9 Pursuer 10 Extol 11 Novel 13 Donna 15 Kebab 17 Tableau 19 Ant 20 Rite 21 Gentle DOWN: 1 Bulge 2 Sweeten 3 Repel 5 Emu 6 Rural 7 Wren 12 Vibrant 13 Deter 14 Amen 15 Klute 16 Bathe 18 But

I

RODENT SMALL SQUIRREL VOLE

7 6 5 8 1 4 9 3 2

8 2 1 3 5 9 4 6 7

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1 8 9 5 7 2 6 4 3

5 3 7 4 9 6 2 8 1

2 7 6 9 4 1 3 5 8

7

6 2 8 1 8 9 5 3 9 1 6 7 5 6 7 3 7 5 4 5 6 1 8 2

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.

20

7

20 16

20

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Suguru 6 4 2 1 8 3 5 7 9

9

See next issue for puzzle solutions.

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

Sudoku 4 9 3 2 6 7 8 1 5

20

14

L

E L O V A G L

I W P T

19 20

18

L X F D U S E S

E

18

9

X E R A H

E Z P N T

5

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 3, 18 and 21 with their letters in the grid will help you to guess the identity of other letters.

The words associated with rodents can all be found in the grid.

Words may run either forwards or backwards, in a horizontal, vertical or diagonal direction, but always in a straight, unbroken line.

I

Signal (7) Film ___, famous actor (4) Encourage to commit a crime (4) Hot afternoon beverage (3) Sign of future events (4) A Room with a ___, EM Forster novel (4) Glimpsed (7) Water in a solid state (3) Involving dirt and disorder (5) Harvest (5)

CODEWORD

WORDSEARCH

X U F C E V

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

DOWN 1 Marital split (4) 2 Baby’s complete wardrobe (7) 3 Fruity dairy product in a pot (6) 4 Be deep in thought (4) 5 Creditor’s note (inits)(3) 6 Half of forty (6) 11 Honey‑makers’ home and a high hairstyle (7) 12 Arboreal marsupial (6) 14 Greedily, eagerly (6) 17 Reside (4) 18 Globule (4) 20 American word for ‘petrol’ (3)

18

20

SUDOKU

9 5 4 7 3 8 1 2 6

3 1 8 6 2 5 7 9 4

3 4 2 1 5 2

2 1 3 4 3 1

3 4 2 1 2 4

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

Wordsearch 2 1 3 4 5 1

3 4 5 2 3 2

1 2 3 1 4 1

1 2 1 2 5 3

3 4 5 3 1 4

2 1 2 4 5 2

3 4 5 1 3 1

1 2 3 2 5 2

3 4 1 4 1 3

F C E X Y H G N I W S Y Y

S L V O A A E P L B U E R

X P O Z W N F K A Q L N O

U G A G R D J L I L N S U

F R A K I I L K O R C B N

D D I P A C T R S O T C D

B U L C F A T B R Y I S E

Codeword E I W R L P Y E H E W M G

S A R A L B A T R O S S D

A A G D H S H O T H L Z E

N T O L I R E K N U B E W

D O G R E E N R D M E Z T

W G Q S V J Q G O T L V W

M I D N I G I O T NOO S E U R M S EWN K A L H E Y D A Y O M WO O D B I E C I V A C A N C E U G R A R E R

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

P G X QCWZ E T S Y L U F A B K I R D O N H V M J25/03

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www.jewishnews.co.uk

Jewish News 25 March 2021

Business Services Directory ANTIQUES 44

The Jewish News 22 September 2016

www.jewishnews.co.uk

BUSINESS SERVICES DIRECTORY

Top prices paid

Antique – Reproduction – Retro Furniture (any condition)

Carer

Clothing

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

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

Antiques

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

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

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

Glass,Days/nights.

Bronzes, Ivories, Oriental & Judaica Antiques jackets etc.

Very reasonable rates.

Full house clearances organised.

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

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

WE BUY ANTIQUES

07866 614 744 (ANYTIME)

www.antiquesbuyers.co.uk

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

Computer FOR APPOINTMENTS CALL SUE ON:

0800 840 2035 or 07956268290

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

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

Full house clearances organised.

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

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

CHARITY & WELFARE For small businesses & home users.

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

Call Ian Green, Man on a Bike on

PORTOBELLO RD LONDON.

020 8731 6171 • www.manonabike.co.uk

ARE YOU BEREAVED?

Stirling of Kensal Green Established over 60 years.

Know who you are dealing with.

Top prices paid

All quality furniture bought & sold.

Antique – Reproduction – Retro Furniture (any condition)

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

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

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

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

MAKE SURE YOU CONTACT US BEFORE SELLING

WESTLON HOUSING ASSOCIATION Sheltered Accommodation

Charity & Welfare Bereavement Counselling for adults and children individually. Support Groups available.

During the pandemic, we offer telephone and online counselling.

ARE YOU BEREAVED? Contact Jewish Bereavement Counselling Service in adults confidence.

Counselling for & children who are 0208Support 951 3881groups offered. experiencing loss. enquiries@jbcs.org.uk | www.jbcs.org.uk Call The Jewish Bereavement

Labels are forTURN, jars.

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

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

REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 1003345

020 8922 2222

Counselling Service in confidence

jcdirect@jcare.org

020 & 8951 3881 • 07765 693 160 CHARITY WELFARE

jewishcare.org/helpline

HOUSE CLEARANCE

E: enquiries@jbcs.org.uk

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

Sheltered Accommodation For further details and forms, We have an open waiting list for ourapplication friendly and comfortable pleasesheltered contact Westlon Housing Association onpeople warden assisted housing schemes for Jewish in Ealing, East Finchley andjohnsilverman@btconnect.com Hendon. We provide 24-hour 020 8201 8484 or email: warden support, seven days a week; a residents’ lounge and kitchen, laundry, a sunny patio and garden.

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

Charity Reg No. 802559

PLUMBSAFE (UK) LTD “Better Safe Than Sorry”

Jami supports and represents people with mental illness across Fast & Efficient House the Jewish community.

For all your heating and plumbing requirements | boiler repairs and installation | complete central heating | | power flushing | complete bathroom installation service | | landlords certificates | project management | home purchase reports |

SAFE AND DISCREET PROFESSIONAL PEST CONTROL

Clearance

#jamithinkahead We are reliable, cover all neighbourhoods & suit all budgets.

Give support • Get support • Get involved

We also buy good quality furniture, old books & Judaica.

All NW-London postcodes covered

07860 881505 or 0800 610 12 12

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

Call: 078 060 79299 Reg Charity No. 1003345

Not shabbat

PLUMBSAFEUK.COM

We cover all aspects of pest control for residential and commercial properties.

Are you a Jewish woman experiencing domestic violence?

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

Including mice treatment and mouse proofing with We are here to help1 year guarantee. with free support, advice and information and confidential counselling.

Kosher Refuge available for women and0203 children 405 in need.5000 Email: info@inoculand.co.uk Free Confidential National Helpline 0808 801 0500 Web www.inoculand.co.uk advice@jwa.org.uk • www.jwa.org.uk

HOME & MAINTENANCE

Home & Maintenance

L

K

PLUMBSAFE (UK) LTD

No further, your

LOCAL PLUMBERS

“Better Safe Than Sorry”

Hall & Randall Plumbers

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

For all your heating and plumbing requirements | boiler repairs and installation | complete central heating | | power flushing | complete bathroom installation service | | landlords certificates | project management | home purchase reports |

All NW-London postcodes covered

07860 881505 or 0800 610 12 12

020 8953 2094 office

Not shabbat

020 8207 3286 home 020 8386 8798 hallandrandallplumbers.com

PLUMBSAFEUK.COM

office@hallandrandall.com

Home & Maintenance

STONEMASON

PROFESSIONAL A. ELFES LTD PAINTING, DECORATING memorials & New PAPER HANGING Additional inscriptions Over & 20renovations years experience Friendly, reliable & Gants Hill service.

Edgware personal

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

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

Email : info@garygreenmemorials.co.uk

STEPHEN: 07973 342 422 0207 754 4659 0207 754 4646

www.garygreenmemorials.co.uk

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

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

18/03/2019 12:50:51

srindsmc@hotmail.com

www.memorialgroup.co.uk

HI

LINE ROOFING

LONDON

& UPVC Fitters

58a Bowrons Avenue, Wembley HA0 4QP

+ " ) "# ,! " Head Office: 145 New Chelmsford CM2 0QT

Rochester House,

"London Road,

Tel: !

# 07773

/

01245 211 022 ● Fax: 01245 211 001 ● Direct: 102 386 07428 264 454 ! ) *" " - *'

www.hilineroofing.site123.me

Family run business

London 020 8485 8176

DRIVEWAYS PATIOS AUTOMOTIVE LANDSCAPING FENCING City and Guilds Electrician MOTOR VEHICLES All types of electrical work undertaken BRICKWORK PURCHASED JET WASHING Rewiring, extra sockets, BT points, Economy 7 CLASSIC OR CARS storage heaters, Shabbat time switches, security lighting, NEW ROOFS for vehicles overfinding, 10 CCTVportable appliance LED spotlights, fault tests, years old landlord testspreferably and house buyer’s surveys. ROOF REPAIRS withan low mileage For efficient reliable and friendly service.

UPVC FASCIAS Call Harvey Solomons on UPVC SOFFITS 020 8958 6495 / 07836 648 554 Contact: Anthony – 07850 590415

LOFT CONVERSIONS

!

! # ! " " #

GUTTERING REPOINTING IN THE ADVERTISE PAINTING UK’S BIGGEST PLASTERING NEWSPAPER JEWISH PEBBLE DASHING LESS THAN FOR ELECTRICS A WEEK £24.00 PLUMBING Call Marc today ALL BUILDING WORK on 020 7692 6943 WINDOWS & DOORS

Jewish

FREE ESTIMATES & ADVICE / ALL WORK FULLY GUARANTEED

25 March 2021 Jewish News

www.jewishnews.co.uk

49

Business Services Directory AUTOMOTIVE

SILVER

ADVERTISE IN THE UK’S BIGGEST JEWISH NEWSPAPER FOR LESS THAN £24 A WEEK

CARS WANTED (Also vans) CASH TODAY

½ HOUR ANYWHERE GOOD CLEAN/DAMAGED HIGH/LOW MILAGE MOT OR NOT £500 MINIMUM £20,000 MAX SMALL FAMILY RUN BUSINESS

Email Sales today at sales@thejngroup.com

CLEANING Professional standard with elegant finishing.

End of tenancy, deep cleaning, post renovation cleaning services. We create a clean environment with our clean projects.

07760 752 834 Honest and Reliable

Call us on 07907 017869 or email us via our website, www.cleanthecity.co.uk, to discuss your specific requirements – we are happy to provide a free quote.

OFFICE FURNITURE

LEGACY- LEAVE A GIFT IN YOUR MEMORY

JEWISH WAR VETERANS

Leave the legacy of independence to people like Joel.

& THEIR DEPENDANTS NEED

YOUR LEGACY

Need to furnish your home or office?

PLease remember us in your wiLL.

eNABLeD

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

visit www.Jbd.org

Registered Charity

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

Registered Charity No: 1082148

London’s leading supplier of new and reconditioned furniture.

Free assembly and delivery next working day on most items – call now!

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

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