1359 - 21st March 2024

John

Shoah education boosts Muslim attitude to Jews

65% of pupils ‘more positive’ after learning about Holocaust horrors, timely report finds

More than 65 percent of young Muslims feel more positively about Jewish people after taking part in Anne Frank Trust programmes, according to new research published this week, writes Michelle Rosenberg.

The ‘Educating Against Prejudice’ report by social psychologists at the University of Kent presents data on nearly 3,000 school pupils – before starting the Anne Frank Trust (AFT) programme, after completing it, and again one year later.

The organisation, founded in 1991, empowers nine-to-15-year-olds to challenge all forms of prejudice through the diary of Anne Frank. Its schools programme o ers educational outreach in primaries and secondaries across the country.

The new research, covering pupils from schools across areas including London, Leeds, Manchester, Cumbria, Birmingham, Newcastle, York, Reading and Dundee, found that the greatest progress against prejudice is towards Jewish people, with 59.8 percent of the young people becoming more positive.

Among Muslim young people, the proportion making pro-Jewish progress is even higher – at 65.7 percent.

In July 2022, The Anne Frank Trust (AFT) faced criticism for hiring an activist to lead a youth workshop who had called for the death of “Zionist scum”. The anti-prejudice charity said it got it wrong when appointing poet Nasima Begum to facilitate an hourlong storytelling workshop for young AFT ambassadors and launched an investigation. The charity

issued a formal acknowledgement of its mistake, introduced a due diligence process for vetting anyone they would work with in the future, formally adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism and launched a Restoring Trust plan approved by its Board.

The report highlights that 83.8 percent of the young people benefit in their knowledge of prejudice, leading to a “significant improvement” in their social attitudes. In addition, 87.6 percent of programme participants become more positive towards people from at least one of 12 social groups – Black, Christian, disabled, female, Gypsy Roma Traveller, Jewish, LGBTQ, male, Muslim, old, refugee and white.

Continued on page 9

BADGE OF DISHONOUR

Members of Britain’s strictly-Orthodox community wore yellow stars at a protest in Westminster against plans to regulate yeshivas. They were criticised for adopting the symbol Jews in occupied Europe were forced to wear by the Nazis. Full story, page 4

JN NOW LEADING JEWISH DIASPORA SOCIAL MEDIA BRAND

Jewish News has more social media followers than any other Jewish news outlet in the Diaspora.

More than 302,000 people now follow or subscribe to our channels on Instagram, Tik Tok, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube to get the latest news, videos and opinion from across the UK Jewish community and beyond. While America is home to more than seven million Jews compared to 270,000

in the UK, leading outlets like Tablet magazine (with 276,000 followers, The Forward (202,000) and New York Jewish Week are trailing behind. While here the UK, the Jewish Chronicle has a combined following of 175,000. The biggest di erence is on Instagram where Jewish News has grown fourfold over the last six months to 42,000 followers and Tik Tok, where we now have 130,000 followers. This is higher than

any other Jewish media outlet – way ahead of Israel’s YNet in English with its 98,000 followers. It is also higher than Israel-based media giants Times of Israel and Jerusalem Post.

Jewish News co-publishers Richard Ferrer and Justin Cohen said: “We’re delighted to be working with the brilliant team at social media agency 8original as our exclusive partners as we continue to build this platform for

future success. The growth of our social media has coincided with a growing awareness about the centrality of social media in reaching young audiences.”

Josh Gaventa, content manager at 8original, said: “We are proud to be working with Jewish News to share our community with the world. We have big future plans, including more partnerships to broaden our content and our influence globally. Stay tuned!”

Pupils at Bradford Girls’ School study Anne Frank

ISRAEL AT WAR

Biden presses Netanyahu to back o from Rafah invasion

by Jotam Confino in Israel jotam@jewishnews.co.uk

@mrconfino

The United States and Israel continued to disagree vehemently in public this week about a ground invasion of Rafah in southern Gaza.

President Joe Biden told Prime Minister Netanyahu that he opposes an Israeli ground operation.

The US president said it would be a “mistake” and would lead to more “innocent civilian deaths, worsen the already dire humanitarian crisis, deepen the anarchy in Gaza and further isolate Israel internationally”.

Biden added: “I continue to a rm that Israel has a right to go after Hamas, a group of terrorists responsible for the worst massacre of the Jewish people since the Holocaust. And I reiterated the need for an immediate ceasefire as part of a deal to free hostages, lasting several weeks, so we can get hostages home and surge aid to civilians in Gaza.”

Biden also asked Netanyahu to send a team to Washington to look at other options against Hamas in Rafah.

Israeli media reported that national security adviser Tsachi Hanegbi and strategic a airs minister Ron Dermer would go to Washington to discuss Rafah with the Biden administration.

Netanyahu pushed back, however, saying Israel has a “debate with the Americans over the need to enter Rafah, not over the need to eliminate Hamas, but the need to enter Rafah. We see no way to eliminate Hamas militarily without destroying these remaining battalions. We are determined to do this.

“ We fully share this desire to facilitate an orderly exit of the population and the

providing of humanitarian aid to the civilian population. However, I made it as clear as possible to the president that we are determined to complete the elimination of these battalions in Rafah, and there is no way to do this without a ground incursion.”

Washington has long opposed a ground operation in Rafah unless Israel could prevent a viable plan to evacuate civilians.

Meanwhile, an Israeli delegation led by Mossad chief David Barnea left for Qatar on Monday to continue ceasefire and hostage talks with

MINISTER TELL MP OF DEEP GAZA FAMINE CONCERNS

Foreign O ce minister

Andrew Mitchell has told MPs he is “deeply concerned” about the risk of famine in Gaza and the psychosocial impacts of the conflict, and has called for Israel to “do more” to provide land routes for aid, writes Lee Harpin.

During an urgent question on the situation in Gaza, he said: “We are deeply concerned about the growing risk of famine, exacerbated by the spread of disease and of course the terrible psychosocial impacts of the conflict that will be felt for years to come.

or other charities. We and our partners are pushing to get aid in through all feasible means by land, sea and air.”

“We are totally committed to getting humanitarian aid to all the people in Gaza who desperately need it. Either ourselves, or through UN agencies and British

Responding, Labour shadow foreign secretary David Lammy told the Commons: “Famine in Gaza is imminent, half the population is expected to face catastrophic levels of hunger, the highest number of people ever

recorded under this system. Only twice in 20 years have famine conditions been reached. But what distinguishes the horror in Gaza from what has come before is this is not driven by drought or natural disaster – it is manmade. It is the consequences of war, it is the consequence of aid that is available not reaching those who need it. Food is piled up in trucks just a few kilometres away, while children in Gaza are starving. It’s unbearable, and it must not go on.

“International law is clear, Israel has an obligation to ensure the provision of aid, the binding measures ordered by the ICJ (International Court of Justice) require this.”

• John Ware, page 27

Hamas. Israel is pessimistic about a deal, however, and expects the negotiations to take up to two weeks due to communication challenges between Hamas’ leadership in Gaza and abroad, according to Channel 12.

Hamas has also refused so far to give up its demands for a permanent ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The terror group did, however, seem to soften its stance on the insistence of a permanent ceasefire, with Hebrew media reporting that the issue could be postponed.

Barnea returned to Israel on Tuesday, where he briefed the war cabinet. The Israeli government is divided over the ceasefire: hardliners

including national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and finance minister Betzalel Smotrich are against making any concessions to Hamas.

Others, led by war cabinet minister Benny Gantz, are more inclined to reach a deal to get the hostages released. Gantz has been under pressure by demonstrators to leave the government but has insisted that it is better for him and his party to stay as they are part of decision-making.

Mass protests against the government continued this week, blocking highways outside Tel Aviv. Thousands rallied in Hostage Square and called for new elections and a return of hostages immediately.

Canadian recognition of Palestine dropped

Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz has convinced Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to amend the wording of a vote in parliament by dropping recognition of Palestinian statehood, a source has told Jewish News, writes Jotam Confino.

The source said Gantz spoke to Trudeau as Canada’s House of Commons debated a non-binding motion which initially called for immediate recognition of Palestinian statehood, an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, increasing aid into Gaza and an embargo on arms trade with Israel.

Gantz’s phone call with Trudeau caused his party to amend the proposal on the table by replacing “o cially recognise the State of Palestine” with a call to “work with international partners to actively pursue the goal of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, including

towards the establishment of the State of Palestine as part of a negotiated two-state solution”.

Israel’s ambassador to Canada Iddo Moed criticised the initial motion, saying it “rewards Hamas — a listed terrorist organisation by the Government of Canada — for its sadistic attack. Empowering terrorists will only evoke more bloodshed and jeopardise any peaceful resolution to the conflict.”

A number of countries have debated whether to recognise Palestinian statehood in recent months, including Spain, Norway and Ireland.

Outgoing Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has previously said his government supports the recognition of a Palestinian state but that such a decision should be made collectively in the EU as “more significant statement”.

Effects of conflict ‘will be felt for years’

IDF troops operate at Shifa Hospital in the Gaza Strip. Photo: IDF

Reserve officer Sebastian Haion, 51, was killed in Gaza on 19 March

President Biden meets Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem following the 7 October attack

Justin Trudeau

Fresh calls to ban PFLP

The government faced renewed calls this week to designate the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) organisation as a terror group after leading members celebrated the 7 October Hamas terror attack and flyers linked to the organisation were distributed on a UK campus, writes Lee Harpin.

The PFLP is currently proscribed by the European Union, the United States, Canada and Japan, but as a result of a Brexit loophole is no longer banned in the UK.

Earlier this month communal organisations including the Jewish Leadership Council expressed outrage after Leila Khaled, who hijacked two planes as a member of the group, and claimed that Hamas militants who carried out the 7 October attacks were “freedom fighters”, was scheduled to address an event in Birmingham via video link.

The grassroots campaign group We Believe In Israel also obtained information through a freedom of information request showing the PFLP was promoted on the campus at Essex University at the same time as the antisemitism crisis in the Labour Party in February 2019.

Luke Akehurst, director of We

Believe in Israel, said: “It’s absurd that a terrorist group like PFLP, which has celebrated the 7 October massacres, is not banned in the UK, and has been able to distribute flyers on a university campus.

“The government needs to get its act together and ban this and other terror groups.”

Andrew Percy, a Conservative MP, also recently called for the gov-

ernment to move to ban the PFLP, saying: “If we’re going to follow through with what we’re saying in terms of getting tough on radicalisation, this is exactly the sort of group that should be proscribed.”

The PFLP was established in 1967 in an amalgamation of three di erent guerrilla groups by the militant Palestinian leader George Habash.

Gove urged to extend Mann’s adviser role

Michael Gove has been urged to extend Lord Mann’s term as the government’s independent adviser on antisemitism for a year amid continued rumours that he plans to sack him, writes Lee Harpin.

Jewish News understands that communal leaders have asked the communities secretary to delay any decision over Mann’s future, with his five-year term coming to an end in July, because of the unprecedented situation with rising antisemitism across the country.

A Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities spokesperson told Jewish News yesterday that “no decisions on the appointment have been made” and that the “independent adviser on antisemitism is a critical role that makes a significant contribution”.

But one Westminster source told Jewish News: “With a general election only months away, and with the Jewish community in this country experiencing unprecedented levels of hate, it makes little sense replacing a government adviser who is widely respected for the work he has done in the role.

“It is not Michael Gove’s fault that Lord Mann’s five-year tenure ends in July. But we are asking him to put o any decision on replacing him until next year.”

A Levelling Up department spokesperson did not respond to claims that there had been discussions held about replacing Mann, with at least one individual actively sounded out about taking on the role. But they insisted the

former Labour MP, who was made a peer in 2019 by former prime minister Theresa May, had provided “invaluable advice” in the role with “landmark reports” on anti-Jewish hatred and on Jewish experience in higher education.

The move to replace Mann has been met with anger in the community, with the Board of Deputies president Marie van der Zyl and former Jewish Leadership Council chair Jonathan Goldstein openly expressing concern.

Senior Conservative voices from the community have also been among those to question the wisdom of replacing Mann at a critical time for the community, in the aftermath of the 7 October Hamas terror attack in Israel.

Jewish News has learned that a member of Mann’s team is due to go on maternity leave this month, raising fears around the payments of salaries after July, with no clarity on whether or not he would still be in the job.

But the Levelling Up spokesperson confirmed that Mann has now been informed that funding for the secretariat for the independent adviser role will continue into the next financial year. The spokesperson also said the department is committed to providing secretariat support to the role.

There are claims that the peer is seen by some as “too independent” of the current government. But replacing him with a person seen as being more partisan towards the Tories could backfire if Labour wins the next election.

The PFLP has routinely employed terror methods against civilians, including suicide bombings, shootings, and assassinations. It was the first Palestinian organisation to hijack aeroplanes in the 1960s and 1970s and have long been linked to the 1972 Lod Airport Massacre in which 26 people were killed.

In 2014 the PFLP claimed responsibility for the Jerusalem synagogue massacre in which four Jewish worshippers and a policeman were killed with axes, knives and a gun.

The PFLP also claimed responsibility for an attack in 2015 in which Palestinians in a car opened fire on a passing Israeli vehicle. Four people were injured; one was severely injured and died the next day in hospital.

Israeli police also suspect PFLP involvement in the 2019 murder of 17-year-old Jewish teenager Rina Shnerb.

The Home O ce told Jewish News that while the government keeps the list of proscribed organisations under review, it does not comment on whether a specific organisation is or is not being considered for proscription.

EYLON LEVY ‘SUSPENDED’

Israel’s English-language government spokesman Eylon Levy has been suspended from his post after complaints from the UK government.

According to Channel 12, concerns were raised with Israel’s Foreign Ministry after Levy responded to an 8 March tweet by UK foreign secretary David Cameron that said, “We continue to urge Israel to allow more trucks into Gaza as the fastest way to get aid to those who need it.”

Levy reportedly responded to the post that there was no problem with the capacity of aid trucks entering Gaza.

The British Foreign O ce asked if the tweet, seen as attacking Cameron, was Israel’s o cial position. Levy was then suspended, the report says, noting that he was unlikely to return.

Levy entered the role after the 7 October Hamas massacre following a stint as a journalist as well as an adviser to President Isaac Herzog.

DUO THREATEN NETANYAHU

Former prime minister Naftali Bennett and former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen could change Israel’s political map if they decide to run in the next election.

According to a poll by Channel 13, a party led by Bennett would receive 18 seats, while Cohen’s party would win 11 seats.

This means Benny Gantz’s National Unity party would only get 21 seats, compared with 34 if Cohen and Bennett

aren’t running. Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Likud party would also su er if Bennett and Cohen run, receiving just 15 seats while Yesh Atid would drop to 10 seats.

In this scenario, neither the anti-Netanyahu nor the Netanyahu bloc would be able to form a government without Cohen and Bennett.

Cohen has hinted in an interview with Channel 12 that he could enter politics but has not announced any-

thing o cial. Bennett is also widely believed to be preparing for a comeback, after his short-lived term as prime minister from 2021 to 2022.

A di erent poll by KAN Public broadcaster on the current parties revealed that Gantz’s National Unity would receive 30 seats and Netanyahu’s Likud would drop to 14.

Religious Zionism and Labour would fail to cross the electoral threshold, according to KAN’s poll.

Brexit loophole: the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine

Michael Gove

Israeli police officers scuffle with strictly-Orthodox Jews in Jerusalem during a protest against a potential new draft law that could end their exemptions from military service

Yellow stars worn again at latest Charedi protest

Members of the strictly-Orthodox community have again worn yellow stars to reference the Holocaust at a protest in Westminster to oppose what they see as a threat to yeshiva education in the UK, writes Lee Harpin.

Charedim fear school registration for children educated in outof-school settings — proposed in a private member’s bill by Conservative MP Flick Drummond, which is receiving its second reading — will bring yeshivot under state control.

The latest demonstration against the proposed Register Bill took place in Parliament Square and at the headquarters of the Department for Education.

Rabbi Elyakim Schlesinger, a highly-respected figure within the Orthodox community, aged 102, personally appealed to members to attend the protest.

Previous demonstrations have sparked widespread anger outside the Charedi community, with the wearing of yellow stars associated with the murderous persecution of Jews during the Holocaust.

The Register Bill Motion, which was presented to parliament last Friday, is described by community

leaders as repressive and a form of religious persecution, which seeks to fundamentally alter the strictlyOrthodox community’s way of life.

The demonstrators urged MPs to protect the rights of all British parents by opposing the Bill, along with any future legislation proposed by the Department of Education, that they claim threatens to place the state between children and their parents. The registration idea was originally contained in the government’s Schools Bill, which was scrapped in 2022.

A spokesman for the protests said: “This is not really about establishing a register for the welfare of children in the UK. It’s a direct extension of the decadelong onslaught against the strictlyOrthodox Jewish community.

“Disguised as an attempt to promote tolerance and educational reform, the Department of Education has been engaged in relentless e orts to undermine our precious educational traditions, handed down over generations.

“Our Torah education is not only known for its safety and e ectiveness but has a proven reputation of delivering a model of excellence.

“We cannot and will not give way to those who aim to reshape our identity, these e orts only instil fear and apprehension within our community, hinting at an ominous slide towards cultural eradication. Our Torah education is here to stay.”

Eve Sacks, a board member of anti-extremist organisation Nahamu, said: “Why does no one

seem willing to tell these rabbis: the need for literacy, numeracy and the ability for boys in their community to access a wide range of careers is a basic human right.”

MP criticised for staffers’ ‘racist’ tropes

A Conservative MP has been accused of making “critical errors of judgment” after a second member of his private o ce sta faced claims that had shared messages containing antisemitic tropes, writes Lee Harpin.

Paul Bristow (pictured) had previously claimed he wanted to “tackle” antisemitism in his Peterborough constituency after it emerged that he had chosen to as a member of sta someone expelled from Labour over the issue.

Ansar Ali, who once shared an article about a medal bearing a swastika on one face and a Star of David on the reverse while in Labour, continues to work for the MP.

Jewish News can reveal that Bristow, who served as parliamentary private secretary to the science, innovation and technology secretary Michelle Donelan until last November, is also employing Muhammad Ikram as a caseworker in his o ce. A leaked WhatsApp message sent by Ikram to a Conservative Muslims group chat shows him branding as “disgraceful” a female Muslim Labour councillor who wrote an article for Jewish News expressing her outrage at the scourge of antisemitism.

Ikram brands Dr Shabina Qayyum’s article, which expressed her shame at antisemitism in Labour, as “disgraceful”, adding she was “trying

to win Jewish support for her own political greed”.

Bristow had been alerted to Ikram’s conduct by Jewish News in 2021 after we revealed he was one of 14 candidates across Peterborough’s political parties who had been accused of antisemitism. In an interview with the Peterborough Telegraph he called antisemitism “a stain on our city”.

Ikram had shared an article accusing Israel of promoting a “final solution” for Gaza. He wrote: “Can you really support Zionism after this?”

More recently, Ikram engaged in tropes about “blood money” in a vicious attack on Andrew Pakes, Bristow’s Labour challenger in Peterborough at the election. In a TikTok video on his ikramo cialpb3 account, he shares a discredited report suggesting Tony Blair has been advising Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on how to expel Palestinians from Gaza. Ikram can be heard saying: “The same Tony Blair who has provided thousands of pounds of campaigning to a certain Milton Keynes candidate. This man Andrew Peakes [sic] wants to be your MP for Peterborough.”

A report in the Milton Keynes Citizen newspaper in 2015 is displayed in Ikram’s TikTok video, in which an anti-Israel activist had accused Pakes of “taking Blair’s blood money”

when he accepted a £1,000 donation from the former prime minister for his unsuccessful campaign to win the seat there.

But referencing Pakes’ attempt to take Bristow’s seat at the next election, Ikram says: “How much more blood money do you think he will take this time to lie to the faces of the people in Peterborough?”

In a post on X/Twitter in May 2023, Bristow described Ikram as a “grafter” and added: “No one works harder than Muhammad Ikram.”

The MP said he would make “a brilliant councillor” for the local Dogsthorpe ward.

A Westminster source told Jewish News: “Paul Bristow needs to come clean about why he has failed not once, but twice, to put his deeds before words regarding antisemitism and his sta .

“For an MP to make such critical errors in judgment and hire two individuals both accused of antisemitism is more than a failure of due diligence – it is either rank hypocrisy or gross negligence on the part of Paul Bristow.”

A Jewish Labour Movement source added: ”Sadly Paul Bristow has form here. You’d think following revelations about one his sta ers last year he’d been more careful.”

Bristow and Ikram have been approached for comment.

The demonstrators in central London on Friday. They say the Register Bill threatens ‘cultural eradication’

“I had never thought about living in a later living community, however, I was drawn in by the ready-made community and the assurance that everything is taken care of. Living here is completely different, you welcome a lot of things that you wouldn’t normally have, such as remarkable facilities, attentive staff available every step of the way and having everything you need on your doorstep” Miriam

1,000 rally for hostages

by Michelle Rosenberg michelle@jewishnews.co.uk

More than 1,000 people gathered in Hertfordshire on Sunday in support of Israel and to call for the return of 134 hostages still in captivity.

The rally featured prominent speakers including Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, Reverend Hayley Ace, co-founder Christian Action Against Antisemitism, Michael Wegier, chief executive of the Board of Deputies, Rabbi Gershon Silins from the Liberal Synagogue Elstree, university student Hannah Curtis who spoke of her experience of antisemitism at university and leader of Hertsmere Borough Council, Jeremy Newmark.

The cross-communal event was partnered with Campaign Against Anti-Semitism, (CAAA), the Union of Jewish Students (UJS) and Hertfordshire Jewish Forum.

Sharon Lipchitz described how her parents were kidnapped on 7 October. Her father Oded was taken with his wife Yocheved, aged 85. On 23 October Yocheved was released. The couple, who were among the founders of Kibbutz Nir Oz, are peace activists and regularly transported patients from Gaza to receive medical treatment in Israel.

Oded is a passionate advocate for

human rights. Sharon called for a hostage deal and said her father was elderly and frail and “didn’t have time”. She moved the crowd to tears as she read the names of the hostages from her parents’ kibbutz including the Bibas family. Baby Kifir marked his first birthday in captivity alongside his four-year-old brother, Ariel.

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis said: “The hostages remain at the forefront of our minds until the last one comes home. We will cry out to the world’s leaders, ‘Bring them home’. They are our brothers and sis-

ters, part of the global Jewish family. We are so heartened and encouraged that it’s not just us… we are joined globally by so many good friends of the Jewish people who are showing solidarity with us, some of whom are here today, and to you I say thank you so very very much.”

Josh Moont, one of the event organisers, said: “It was so important to bring together people from across the many Jewish communities as well as our Christian friends and those of all faiths and no faith, so show our unwavering support for

Israel and to not let the world forget about the plight of the hostages who remain in captivity.

“Our rally was one of solidarity where we sang songs of peace and concluded with the Israeli national anthem – which means ‘The Hope’ followed by God Save the King, demonstrating our proud Britishness underpinned by core Jewish values.

We hope and pray for a speedy end to the war, peace for all peoples and the immediate return of the hostages to their families.”

Alex Chapper, senior rabbi of Borehamwood & Elstree United Synagogue, told the crowd: “You should feel very proud when over a thousand people gather in your local park to show solidarity with Israel and call for the release of all the hostages”

Rabbi Gershon Silins, representing Progressive Judaism, said: “We gathered together as a group from all parts of the Jewish community, and beyond, to let the world know that the Israeli hostages are ours as well – and to let Israel know that they are not dancing alone in the dark… we are with them.”

The event was also supported by the United Synagogue, Liberal Judaism and the Movement for Reform Judaism, The Israeli Embassy, Board of Deputies and StandWithUs.

Organisers have been holding events since 13 October and gather each week in Borehamwood to hold a vigil for the hostages.

‘Deep animosity’ in schools JEWS ‘HAVING A HELL OF A TIME’

A report on the Iraqi school curriculum has revealed deep animosity towards Jews and Judaism and exposes violent jihad and martyrdom as “key values”.

The report, conducted by London based Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education (IMPACT-se), evaluated 71 textbooks taught in national school curriculum, dated 2015-2022, for grades one to 12.

It found “deep hostility” towards Jewish people and the embracing of antisemitic tropes in humanities subjects such as history, Arabic language, Islamic

education and social studies.

Textbooks employ antisemitic tropes, connecting “Jews with excessive wealth and power” while negative traits such as treachery, cowardice and immorality are portrayed as “intrinsic characteristics” of Jews. The report gives an example from an eighth grade textbook where Jews are described as “greedy, corrupt, tyrannical, and deviant” and includes a story about a Jew selling water to Muslims at inflated prices.

“Iraq’s millennia-old Jewish community is not mentioned. The Holocaust and

the contemporaneous Farhoud massacre of Jews in Iraq are not acknowledged, but Iraq’s allegiance to Nazi Germany in the war is defended as serving the Palestinian cause.

“Nationalist violence against Jews and Israel is glorified, historical peace treaties between Israel and Arab states are ignored, and peace is not entertained as an option for Iraq,” the report said.

Israel is not recognised on maps and Zionism is deemed as racist. Death in battle is glorified, presenting violent jihad and martyrdom as key values.

Deane to vie for Freer’s seat

Finchley and Golders Green Conservatives have selected business and public affairs consultant Alex Deane as their candidate to fight the seat at the next election, following current MP Mike Freer’s decision to leave politics, writes Lee Harpin.

Deane, a regular broadcast commentator for Sky News, said it was an “honour” to have been picked to fight the seat for the Tories following Monday’s selection contest.

The 44-year-old works as head of UK public affairs at FTI Consulting, a US-based firm, but has been an active member of the Tory Party since 1995,

having previously served as chief of staff to David Cameron and for Tim Collins while they were both shadow secretary of state for education in opposition.

A Cambridge graduate, Alex practised as a barrister for several years, which is also the profession of Sarah Sackman, Labour’s candidate in the north London seat at the election.

In a social media post Finchley and Golders Green Conservatives said: “Proud to have selected Alex Deane with

overwhelming support from party members at the general meeting.”

Freer, the current justice minister, has held the seat since 2010, but in January he announced it was time to “say enough” as he could no longer put his family through the anxiety for his safety.

The MP said “by the skin of my teeth I avoided being murdered” by Ali Harbi Ali, who went on to kill Southend West MP Sir David Amess in 2021. Freer and his staff now wear stab vests when attending public events in his constituency after learning that Ali had watched his office before going on to murder Amess.

Big Issue founder Lord John Bird has claimed in the House of Lords that “Jewish people throughout the world” are going through “hell” because of Israel’s military action in Gaza.

Speaking this week during a debate on hunger alleviation in Gaza, the crossbench peer added: “The amount of antisemitism you see around the world is because Israel is thinking not about the next five or 10 years but only immediately.”

In a controversial intervention he told peers on Monday: “Most of the people I meet and talk to, people from all walks of life, are appalled at what Israel is doing. Is somebody going to tell Israel about the damage it is doing not only to its own people but to people throughout the world?”

“However, Israel, which has never denied Gaza humanitarian aid, now has the capacity to pass 44 trucks per hour into Gaza. On 10 March, 150 lorries passed through, supplying 3,750 tonnes of food, equivalent to four pounds per person.

“If we are to seek peace, reconciliation and a ceasefire, does the minister not agree with me that it is very important not to have disinformation, particularly about Israel?”

During the same debate Conservative peer Lord Leigh suggested Israel “has never denied Gaza humanitarian aid” and that allegations to the contrary are “disinformation.” He added: “I visited Kerem Shalom, as disclosed in my register of interests. All the operatives we met have either been killed or abducted and the equipment destroyed.

United: Crowds gathered in a moving display of support for the hostages and heard from speakers including the Chief Rabbi

Lord John Bird

Alex Deane

News / Director rebuffed / Medics’ concerns

Glazer film producer’s

The executive producer of The Zone of Interest, who stood on stage at the Oscars as the film’s director Jonathan Glazer accused Israel of “hijacking” his “Jewishness and the Holocaust” has told Jewish News his support of Israel is “unwavering”, writes Michelle Rosenberg.

Accepting the award for Best International Film at the ceremony, Glazer said: “Right now we stand here as men who refute their Jewishness and the Holocaust being hijacked by an occupation which has led to conflict for so many innocent people.”

In response, Blavatnik’s team said he is “extremely proud of The Zone of Interest and the acclaim it has received” and that his “long-standing support of Israel is unwavering”. The words come after Hollywood Reporter magazine claimed Blavatnik did not sign off on Glazer’s Oscars statement.

Harvard over its handling of antisemitism on campus in the wake of 7/10. The foundation has given at least £212million to the university over the years, including about £150million to Harvard’s medical school. Born in Odessa, Ukraine, Blavatnik was knighted in 2017 by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to philanthropy.

As reported by Jewish News in December, Blavatnik and his family foundation suspended donations to

More than 1,100 Hollywood actors, producers, writers and directors this week signed an open letter

decrying Glazer’s comments.

Meanwhile, in a statement on Twitter/X, the director of the Auschwitz Memorial Museum has insisted The Zone of Interest is “not a film about the Shoah”. Dr Piotr M. A. Cywiński wrote that rather the film is “primarily a profound warning about humanity and its nature”.

Responses to the Tweet, read by nearly half a million viewers, include an astonished Simon Schama, the noted historian who said: “Er that’s not all (or at all) what he said.”

The British Medical Association (BMA) has called for an urgent independent investigation into what it claims are “reports of mistreatment of medical staff in Gaza by the Israel Defense Forces”.

Dr Latifa Patel, chair of the representative body at the union, wrote: “It is deeply worrying to hear reports of mistreatment and assaults on doctors and other healthcare staff in Gaza by the IDF.

“Healthcare workers are protected by the Geneva Conventions, and attacks against them are completely unacceptable.

“The BMA condemns any mistreatment of medical professionals – a clear violation of the principle of medical neutrality – and calls for an urgent independent investigation.”

The UK Doctors Anti-Racism group expressed grave concern over “expressions by the BMA of polarising political views not directly related to UK healthcare”.

It noted the “detrimental impact these statements are having on healthcare staff and patients’ wellbeing, particularly the most vulnerable” as well as “the heightened risk of extremism in this increasingly tense and divided environment”.

The group has called on the BMA to set out clear guidance on what constitutes racist, including antisemitic, conduct in healthcare and related settings; devise an up-to-date toolkit on racism, including antisemitism, awareness and launch a high-profile BMA campaign for zero tolerance to racism, including antisemitism, in healthcare and related settings.

A consultant paediatrician and safeguarding professional based in London told Jewish News: “Regarding medical neutrality in healthcare, this principle cannot be upheld in all circumstances.

“In cases where hospitals are doubling up as terror cells, and terrorists purporting to be hospital staff may pose a risk to the lives of civilians, the necessary military actions must be taken to protect innocent lives.”

Blavatnik, left, at the Oscars; inset, a scene from the film

Gaza’s special surgery building

Our parents’ St Louis journey

Two sisters whose parents arrived in Britain after escaping from Nazi Germany on the ill-fated ship the St Louis appear on BBC’s Antiques Roadshow on Sunday to tell their family story, writes Jenni Frazer.

Diana Barzilay, who lives in Poole, and Evie Hill, from London, are second generation members of the Association of Jewish Refugees. Their parents, Elsa and Selmar Biener, were living in Magdeburg, in Germany, and had been married for just three years when it became obvious to them that they had to leave the country in the face of Nazi oppression.

In conversation with Siobhan Tyrrell, head of valuations for the auction house Dawsons, the sisters presented several objects relating to their parents. Barzilay said: “We were asked to bring any items we had from Germany. So we brought a silver candelabrum that my mother used to use to light the Shabbes candles, a little silver dish that was always in the china cabinet at home when I was growing up, and my mother’s Art Deco engagement ring.”

But taking pride of place — and what interested Tyrrell the most — was an album of photos taken on the St Louis. “Our parents bought  tickets

for the ship because they wanted to go to America.” Sadly, however, the ship sailed from Hamburg in May 1939 with Havana, Cuba, as its first port of call. The 937 passengers were almost all Jewish refugees, but Cuba’s government refused to allow the ship to land.

There was a stalemate. Neither the United States nor Canada was willing to admit the passengers. They were finally permitted to land in western European countries rather than return to Germany, though more than 200 died in occupied Europe. In June 1939, a small number, including the Bieners, were admitted to Britain.

Elsa, then 24, and Selmar, aged 33, each had three siblings. The grandparents on both sides died in Nazi camps. Elsa’s two sisters and brother all made it to the UK. One of Selmar’s brothers died in Dachau; the other two made it to Mandate Palestine.

The Biener sisters were born in the UK but knew little of their parents’ story as they were growing up.

Normally Antiques Roadshow objects are valued but Barzilay said they did not want their items to be given a monetary worth. “That’s not what this was about,” she said. Filming took place in Swanage last summer.

ANNE FRANK PROGRAMME ‘SHIFTS THE

Continued from page 1

The pupils retain their improved attitudes 12 to 18 months after completing the Anne Frank Trust programme. The long-term progress in attitudes towards Jews is 55 percent higher in locations where reports of antisemitism are above average.

Trust chair Nicola Cobbold said events in Israel and Gaza had led to unprecedented levels

of antisemitism in the UK and a big rise in Islamophobia. “At such a critical time, there is an urgent need to identify and implement evidence-based solutions that have a lasting impact in reducing hateful attitudes and behaviour.

“This is exactly our aim at the Anne Frank Trust and it is hugely encouraging to have world-class researchers confirm so emphatically the effectiveness of our work. But prejudice, in all forms,

Why choose me?

With

remains pervasive and profound.

I hope this remarkable new evidence will bring more support to enable the trust to further scale its work to reduce all prejudice, and particularly anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim hatred at this time.”

Prof Dominic Abrams, lead researcher, said the “consistent impact” of the AFT programme is “incredibly impressive and vitally important”. He added that “while the programme starts

from a focus on antisemitism, the trust is exceptional in addressing the elements common to every kind of prejudice. By revealing the core elements of how prejudice operates, the trust shifts the dial on the way young people think about all groups of people different from themselves.”

In January three schools postponed their partnership with the Anne Frank Trust, citing “local tensions” after 7 October.

Ruth Barzilay with sister Evie Hill at the Antiques Roadshow event

Pages from Anne Frank’s diary

‘It’s upseting to see my Jewish friends targeted’

Launching his campaign to become London’s mayor for a third time, Sadiq Khan tells Lee Harpin he won’t hesitate to continue calling out antisemitism

Sadiq Khan admitted receiving police protection over threats from political extremists “from a number of sides” as he launched his campaign to become mayor of London for a third time.

Speaking to Jewish News at Monday’s campaign launch event for the election in May, the mayor said it should “worry us all” that politics in this country is “more polarised than ever”.

Asked specifically how he coped with being labelled an Islamist or even a Hamas supporter by extremists on the right, and as a Zionist or worse by those on the opposite extreme, Khan said: “I am not someone who believes we should be cowered. But I am concerned and, you know, I do get it both ways.

“My police protection isn’t just from one side, it’s from a number of sides. But I think the key thing for me is just to carry on doing what I believe

is right and that means is being a friend to all communities in London. By calling out wrong when it’s wrong. So if somebody says something antisemitic, call them out.”

Speaking to television and radio broadcasters at the launch in a health centre in Harrow Road, west London, Khan was asked repeatedly for his view on the investigation into comments on antisemitism made by MP Diane Abbott.

Since reports of openly racist remarks made by Tory donor Frank Hester about Abbott, there have been calls for the Labour whip to be returned to the Hackney South and Stoke Newington MP as an investigation into her conduct has still not been resolved after 11 months.

But Khan told Jewish News it was clear the reported comments by Hester are a “separate issue” to the ongoing investigation into Abbott’s comments about Jews, travellers and the Irish, which she made in a letter

in The Observer. The mayor also said, like Labour leader Keir Starmer, he should not get involved with the independent investigation into Abbott, because he is someone who would be viewed as being “partial”.

He added: “What she (Abbott) said in The Observer letter was clearly wrong. And that’s why there is this process taking place. It is possible on the one hand to be the worst possible recipient of racism and misogyny and on the other a complaint has been undertaken in relation to the letter she wrote.”

Khan added: “Previously in the Labour Party, under a different leadership, there was an independent complaints process. People like me, people like Keir Starmer, should not be giving a running commentary on what happens to Diane Abbott. That is for the independent complaints process to determine.”

Asked if 11 months was too long for the investigation to run, the mayor said: “Given the choice between an expeditious conclusion to the investigation or the right result, I’d choose the latter option.”

Khan continues to describe London as the world’s greatest city and appearing at the campaign launch alongside Starmer spoke enthusiastically about the prospect that come the general election later this year, he could be serving a third term as mayor alongside a prime minister from the same party.

But he also admitted there were clear problems at the moment around community cohesion, as a result of the impact on this country of the Hamas terror attack of 7 October against Israel.

“Yes, it upsets me when I see Jewish friends, neighbours and colleagues on the receiving end of antisemitism,” he said, before pointing to the regular pro-Palestine demos that have taken place in the city in response to the Hamas massacre, and Israel’s response.

“It upsets me when I see the vast majority of protesters acting lawfully, safely, peacefully, but a small minority do something stupid.

“I respect fully the right for freedom of expression and free speech, but be cognisant and conscious that some of the things you are saying may be lawful, but

it’s causing real anguish, hurt and fear to our friends, neighbours and colleagues for no other reason than that they are Jewish.

“Protest is intrinsic to living in a democracy, but it should be lawful, peaceful and safe.

“So we shouldn’t be saying things that cause upset. Of course you have a right to protest. Nobody should be saying you shouldn’t protest, that’s wrong.”

Khan, who refuses to play down the prospect of the controversial Conservative candidate beating him in May, admitted it was only after he became faith and communities minister under the last Labour government in 2008 that he fully understood the link events in the Middle East had on events in the UK.

“I’m afraid what we are seeing since 7 October is another example of an increase in antisemitism, and in Islamophobia and other hate crimes,” he notes.

His vision as mayor, he says, will always be as someone who “sought to bring communities together” and “not just being tolerated but being respected, celebrated and embraced”.

Khan added: “I am someone who is passionate about the power of politics to do good, and the power of politicians to bring communities together.”

When first elected mayor in May 2016, Khan’s first engagement was at the Yom HaShoah Commemoration in Barnet, where he met Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis and listened intently to survivors.

It is something he has mentioned in the past, but he brings it up again now as he speaks of the importance of learning the traumatic experi-

ences of other communities. “It is traumatising listening to Holocaust survivors,” he says, “but I think for those of us who are not Jewish, that is how we learn.”

Khan, a lawyer, who has a 25-year long friendship with Starmer, says it should “worry us all” just how fractured and polarised politics has currently become.

He said he fears the threats and intimidation from extremists “is scaring people away” from entering politics, especially women and people from minority communities.

Khan praises “friends” such as Luciana Berger, Louise Ellman and Ruth Smooth for the way they spoke out bravely against antisemitism in the Labour Party.

He also had kind words to say for Sajid Javid for speaking out over antiMuslim rhetoric in the Tory Party, but suggests more Tories should now be calling the problem, in the wake of the remarks from Lee Anderson, who had the whip removed and later joined Reform UK, after suggesting Khan was controlled by “Islamists”.

Khan described Tory mayoral hopeful Hall as his “opponent” and as someone whose comments on Black and Muslim people at times have left him “appalled”.

On his own campaign, Khan promised the “greatest council homebuilding drive in a generation” and defended his controversial ultralow emission zone for London.

He promised to complete 40,000 new homes by 2030, while his commitment to green issues was also given a boost when Starmer said that in the same way he wouldn’t serve his own children dirty water, he didn’t want them breathing dirty air.

Khan with the Chief Rabbi and Archbishop Justin Welby

Khan: ‘It upsets me to see people experiencing antisemitism’

News /

£7m antisemitism training is ‘paused’

A government scheme to deliver antisemitism in schools is being challenged in the High Court over its use of the International Holocaust Remembrance Association (IHRA) definition of anti-Jewish racism, writes Lee Harpin.

The Diaspora Alliance has filed for a judicial review claiming the definition “fails to protect Jews and free speech” because of its “divisive reputation in the community”.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt had announced £7million funding for the project in last year’s budget, with groups including the Holocaust Educational Trust and Community Secu-

rity Trust among those tendering bids for the three-year programme.

But the Department for Education has now confirmed its Tackling Antisemitism in Education procurement process has been “paused” while the department “consider and respond to points raised by some of the interested organisations”.

Jewish News understands the Diaspora Alliance filed for a judicial review with reference made to the academic and attorney Kenneth S. Stern, who was the lead author of the IHRA working definition, and has repeatedly voiced serious concerns about institutions.

Emily Hilton, UK director of the alliance, the claimant in the case, said: “Tackling antisemitic behaviour and ideology isn’t just vital for Jewish people, it’s also crucially important for the protection of free speech in our multi-racial democracy.

“Robust training on antisemitism, racism and all forms of discrimination is a vital part of this.

“This is why we have launched proceedings – because this government is failing to protect Jews and risks making the problem of antisemitism worse.”

The DfE confirmed:”We have paused the Tackling Antisemitism

in Education procurement process while we consider and respond to points raised by some of the interested organisations. The Department

will inform all bidders of the next steps in this procurement process, including any updated timelines, in due course.”

JFS students show their class to shadow minister

JFS sixthform politics students proved themselves a match for any BBC Question Time audience as they were given the chance to put their questions to Labour’s shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson, writes Lee Harpin.

The highly-rated politician, one of leader Keir Starmer’s key frontbench appointments, visited Europe’s largest Jewish secondary school on Wednesday, addressing around 60 students before answering a hugely impressive mix of questions.

The north-west London school’s thriving politics department encourages visits from politicians from all the main parties, and it was clear that the prospect of a general election later this year, allowing those who were turning 18 to vote for the first time, had served to heighten interest in political devel-

opments in this country even further.

The variety of questions asked by the students was truly impressive. From the recent announcement of defence spending cuts, the influence of AI, to trust in politics, private education, the NHS, mental health issues and the proscription of the IRGC, Phillipson’s ability to o er opinion on the broadest range of issues was properly tested in what she later described as a “wonderful” question and answer session. And despite the current uncertain and dangerous climate in the aftermath of 7 October, it was clear that issues around antisemitism had not damaged the teenagers’ hopes and aspirations for the future.

When told that the grandparents of one student had no intention of voting Conservative at the next election, but

that they were still concerned about voting Labour, despite the improvements made by Starmer in relation to antisemitism, Phillipson was clear in her response. “I would say that I completely understand that given everything the Labour Party went through in recent years, I understand that concern. The levels of antisemitism we experienced, the lack of swift action was totally unacceptable.”

But the MP added: “I would hope they would see Keir Starmer’s personal commitment and the action he has taken to root out antisemitism in the party. But I am conscious that we do have to be ever vigilant. We have to, as a party, remain ever vigilant as I do as a society in tackling antisemitism.”

Phillipson later met with JFS headmaster Dr David Moody.

JW3 welcomed special guests on Tuesday for an evening devoted to the Einstein House project at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Daniel Libeskind, architect for the twisted-cube design Einstein House, together with Professor Hanoch Gutfreund, director of the Einstein Archive and former president of the university, delved into the life of the famed scientist and shared anecdotes on the planning of the project in a conversation moderated by Vivienne Stern, UUK (Universities UK International) chief executive.

Professor Albert Einstein along with other luminaries including Freud, Buber and Weizmann were founders of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel’s foremost centre of advanced learning and research.

JW3 TOASTS HEBREW UNIVERSITY BUILDING

Einstein remained a committed supporter and when he died in 1955 bequeathed his entire collection of 80,000 personal and academic papers to the Hebrew University. The university is now the guardian of this treasure which includes among many other unique documents, the original 46 pages of the General Theory of Relativity. The new building, generously supported by philanthropist and art collector Jose Mugrabi, along with funding from the Israeli government, will exhibit examples of Einstein’s legacy, work and research.

Libeskind said: “It’s been more than a thrill, it’s been really an adventure to be involved with this project, which will be a fantastic building. It will have something for everyone.”

Anti-IHRA posters at one of the London demonstrations

PALESTINIAN WINS BID TO STAY IN UK

A barrister acting for a Palestinian man facing deportation to Israel has told the BBC “this is a case about Zionism, apartheid and colonialism”, writes Jenni Frazer.

Franck Magennis, whose Twitter/X account shows Hamas attackers breaking into Israel on 7 October last year, was jubilant that his 24-year-old client, known only as Hasan, had won his bid to stay in Britain after the Home O ce changed its mind at the last minute.

On his crowdfunding page, on which he has been raising money to pay his lawyers, Hasan, who has Israeli citizenship, says he has lived in Britain since he was a year old and has returned to Israel only once, aged 14. He has

been fighting to stay in the UK since last April.

Describing himself as an artist, he has written: “I have been attending demonstrations against the genocide here in the UK. I have also participated in peaceful protest aimed at closing down the factory of UAV Tactical Systems (a subsidiary of Elbit) in Leicester that manufactures and supplies lethal weapons to Israel.

“I refuse to be silenced while my people are being obliterated. If I were to be sent to Israel, I would carry on my activities, even though the Israeli government is seeking to clamp down on any dissent, particularly from Palestinians. I would no doubt expose myself to further persecution if I did that”.

Magennis told presenter Sarah Montague on BBC Radio 4’s World At One that Hasan would, if returned to Israel, “be persecuted by his own government”, on the basis he was anti-Zionist and Muslim. The barrister repeated several times Israel was an “apartheid regime”.

Montague said: “You can be sure that Israel would say it is not an apartheid state”, but did not challenge Magennis’ other assertions, one of which was that the UK, as a “staunch ally of the Zionist regime”, had accepted, in changing its mind about Hasan’s deportation, that “there was a real risk that Israel will persecute its own citizens”.

The Israeli foreign ministry said: “The state of Israel is a dem-

ocratic country that abides by international law, in which every citizen, regardless of one’s identity, enjoys full human rights and can freely practice their beliefs and way of life.”

The BBC said: “The interview focused on the last-minute change in the Home O ce’s decision to grant asylum to a Palestinian citizen of Israel, and what that might mean more broadly for policy in future. “It added: “Sarah Montague did challenge the interviewee and would have included responses and information from the Home O ce and Israeli government, had they provided this.”

Labour at bay over donor EUROVISION SNUB OVER ISRAEL

Labour has been put under pressure by the Conservatives over donations to the party from Dale Vince, after it emerged the green campaigner recently said it was his view, when asked about Hamas, that “one man’s freedom fighter is another man’s terrorist”.

The Forest Green football club chairman was quizzed late last year by Times Radio on his opinion of the proscribed terror group and whether a terrorist attack from Hamas was “Palestine defending itself.”

along with fossil fuel and climate protester organisations.

His views on Hamas emerged on the same day Rishi Sunak was put under further pressure over the racist remarks made about the MP Diane Abbott by Frank Hester, who has given the party £10million.

Labour has called for the Tories to refuse the money after Sunak’s spokesperson referenced Vince’s claims in an attempt to defend Sunak.

London’s largest Eurovision Song Contest screening party has been scrapped in protest at the inclusion of Israel in the competition.

The independent Rio cinema in Dalston, Hackney, founded in 1909 by Jewish businesswoman Clara Ludski, said it had “collectively decided not to screen the grand final of Eurovision Party London while Israel remains in the competition”.

Vince replied: “I think one man’s freedom fighter is another man’s terrorist, right? That’s how it works.”

It was then stressed to Vince that this was “not the Labour position, they are not saying that. They are saying the opposite of that.”

Vince responded: “Yeah, I understand. This is my view.”

A donor to the controversial Just Stop Oil group, Vince has given over £2million to Labour

Hester, a businessman from West Yorkshire, is said to have told a meeting in 2019 Abbott made him “just want to hate all black women”.

Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, said at PMQs: “The man bankrolling the prime minister also said that the member for Hackney North and Stoke Newington [Abbott] should be shot”, while Sunak respnded: “The alleged comments were wrong, they were racist, he has rightly apologised for them and that remorse should be accepted.”

Its statement on X (formerly Twitter) added that when its “core values of inclusivity, equality and universality are upheld”, the Eurovision Song Contest “can be a genuine force for good” and it would continue to organise fundraising events for the charities it supports including Medical Aid for Palestine.

The Rio’s annual Eurovision party is described by Londonist listings website as the “go-to event for die-hard Eurovision fans, and London’s biggest Eurovision party”.

London Eurovision Party has amended its website to state that “it is not related to the cancelled Eurovision Final screening event at Rio Cinema, Eurovision Party London”.

Israel’s entry, Hurricane, will be performed

by singer Eden Golan during the international song competition in Malmo, Sweden, in May.

The original entry, October Rain, was rejected as controversial as the lyrics were thought to reference the Hamas attacks of 7 October.

Last year, Israel was represented by Israeli singer Noa Kirel, who performed her song Unicorn, which placed third.

The Eurovision final will be broadcast on BBC One on Saturday 11 May, with semi-finals on Tuesday 7 and Thursday 9 May.

Jewish News has contacted Rio Cinema for comment.

Franck Magennis and his X account

New tower fears for Bevis Marks £240K GRANT TO DIGITISE UK’S HOLOCAUST ARCHIVE

A new threat to Britain’s oldest synagogue has emerged with a planning application for a 45-storey tower.

Just two years after the City of London refused an application for a 47-storey tower block which would have overshadowed Bevis Marks Synagogue, the same developers have submitted a proposal for a tower marginally smaller.

Bevis Marks Rabbi Shalom Morris called the new application “vandalism” and said the synagogue and its supporters remained “completely opposed to the new scheme”.

Bevis Marks is a Grade-1 listed building, and the nearby World Heritage site, the Tower of London, could also be a ected.

In a statement a synagogue spokesman said that, as previously, “if built, the tower will cause great damage to the synagogue’s protected

setting, internal light levels and the community’s ability to worship by blotting out its southern exposure sky view.”

The statement added: “The City of London once again holds the synagogue’s future in its hands and should clearly refuse this audacious application. Bevis Marks Synagogue calls on the public to formally object to the proposal.”

Interested parties had until last week to make rep-

resentations to the City of London’s case o cer, Anna Tastsoglou.

Rabbi Morris said: “This regurgitated application is a grotesque attempt by developers to mislead the British public – they imply that they have satisfied us (which is completely untrue), and they claim a long list of planning benefits (most of which are spurious). It is an a ront to both the Jewish community and to UK heritage and we are not fooled.

“Incredibly, the City of London is facilitating this hostile proposal by refusing to include policies in their new local plan draft that would protect the synagogue from such vandalism.”

Tilla Crowne, a Bevis Marks trustee, said of the tower: “The harmful impact of this proposal is clear to anyone who doesn’t have a vested interest in it.”

MOTESICZKY EMIGRE ART GOES ON SALE

The Wiener Holocaust Library has received a £240,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for a groundbreaking project.

Digital Transformation: Connecting Collections and Communities aims to connect diverse communities with newly-catalogued and digitised collections from the UK’s Holocaust archive of record over the next three years.

The funding has been awarded to help the library develop an extensive programme of engagement and education activities.

These activities will improve access to educational resources, engage diverse audiences with global histories of the Holocaust and equip educators, community groups and activists with resources highlighting historical opposition to fascism and antisemitism.

During the three years, expert sta at the library will catalogue, digitise and deploy collections of relevance to these pressing current con-

cerns, including in relation to fascism and anti-fascism in Germany, Austria, and Britain; refugee histories; postwar humanitarian e orts, and the history of more recent genocides such as that in Sudan.

Responding to the successful grant award, library director Dr Toby Simpson said: “The library has just marked its 90th anniversary as war and conflict

have returned to Europe, and Israel and Palestine, amidst rising antisemitism in Britain, and crises around the globe leading to abuses of human rights and the suffering of displaced populations.

“These di cult developments underline the continuing contemporary relevance of the library’s archival holdings and mission.

“Faced with deep fakes and online radicalisation, capacity to combat disinformation with documentary evidence is fundamental.”

He added: “Thanks to National Lottery players, the library’s archival collections will now play a more crucial role than ever before: by engaging teachers, educators, students and the wider public with authoritative digital resources.”

The Wiener Holocaust Library is the world’s oldest and Britain’s largest collection of original archival material on pre-war Jewish life, the Nazis and the Holocaust.

Artwork by Austrian-British painter Marie-Louise von Motesiczky went on display at Olympia in London this week ahead of an auction at Olympia Auctions. Motesiczky, who painted the above ‘Portrait of a Smiling Lady’ oil on canvas in 1944, fled Vienna as a young woman before starting a new life in Britain. The Archive Gallery at Tate Britain is named after her.

Inside the Wiener Library

Fauda star’s tribute to Jewish Child’s Day

Fauda star Yaakov Zada

Daniel has paid tribute to Jewish Child’s Day for supporting the Israeli youth village where he grew up and helping him “become who I am today”, writes Francine Wolfisz.

Zada Daniel, who plays Eli in the Netflix hit show, was in London for the first time to support a fundraising dinner for the leading UK grant -iving charity on Tuesday night, which raised £275,000.

All proceeds will go towards “rebuilding young lives” in Israel.

The money will be used to buy medical equipment for disabled children who have had to move away from their homes, educational equipment for children with special needs, and providing workshops with social workers, psychologists and therapists, among other activities.

The actor related to hundreds of guests at the London Marriott Hotel in Regent’s Park that his mother died when he was aged two, and that his father subsequently struggled to look after him and his sisters.

The children were accepted into the desert vil-

lage of Neradim, which looks after vulnerable children across Israel.

Just before his barmitzvah, Zada Daniel’s father died, leaving him orphaned.

He said: “I think because of Neradim I became who I am today. All the values I have, all the confidence. Children need experience of success, otherwise he cannot develop himself. The village gave this to me in many ways.”

The actor spoke about how he “never takes anything for granted” and has devoted his time to supporting the young people at Neradim today.

He also paid tribute to

at the youth village.

Other speakers on the night included Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, who spoke about how young people in the UK are “going through a particularly hard time, particularly on campuses”.

The Chief Rabbi said: “Life is tough right now for Jews in the UK, as it is for many Jewish communities right around the world. But we are resilient and strong and we are getting through it, as difficult as it may be.

“The finest reflection of our values at this time

Volunteers celebrate 22,000th ImpACT meal

A volunteering charity organisation that runs community youth kitchens in north-west London celebrated its milestone 22,000th meal with a visit from Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, writes Michelle Rosenberg.

The meals prepared at Project ImpACT’s new Youth Kitchen in NW11, the charity’s flagship programme for local food banks and homeless shelters, supports people of all faiths and hundreds of teens come together each week to volunteer.

The Chief Rabbi joined a packed room of enthusiastic students from 28 schools to prepare nutritious food including the 22,000th meal using surplus produce from Barnet Food Hub and The Felix Project.

He said: “I would like to thank all of you for the inspiration that you give to me and to our entire Jewish community. Project ImpACT is one of the most wonderful opportunities that exists for young Jewish people in Britain today. Congratulations to everybody here for making sure it’s such an enormous success and to all of you volunteering your time and your commitment

to this amazing project. When you give selflessly to others, you make a positive impact on their lives and also on your own.”

Marcin Nocek, of Together in Barnet, said: “The food provided by Project ImpACT tonight is going to be delivered to our winter night shelter for people experiencing homelessness.

“This season the food has a double meaning because it’s going to be served as lunch boxes for those homeless people who work and for our Muslim guests who observe Ramadan as a meal to break their fast.”

is through our charitable giving.”

The Chief Rabbi praised JCD for providing “empathy and support”, especially to children a ected by the events of 7 October, “who already have enormous challenges and trauma, but for whom the current trauma is a huge ordeal.”

In a special pre-recorded message, former Israeli government spokesman Eylon Levy described recent months as “one long living nightmare, and that’s especially true for children”.

He paid tribute to young people who had been injured, who had been kidnapped – including remaining hostages Kfir and Ariel Bibas –and whose fathers have been called up to keep their people and their families safe from the monsters who perpetrated the October 7 attacks.”

NEW PEER HONOURS LORD SACKS’ IMPACT

Technology entrepreneur

Stuart Marks, who has served as a senior treasurer for the Conservatives, was introduced into the House of Lords last week.

The Lord Marks of Hale CBE, was conferred with a life peerage in February.

in you more than you believe in yourself.”

The founder and chairman of LMarks, he has made significant contributions to the country, business and philanthropy. He has long been a champion of entrepreneurship and supporting innovation throughout the UK.

During the ceremony last week, Lord Marks shared his gratitude to all his family and friends who have been his support over the years. In his he quoted the late Chief Rabbi Lord (Jonathan Sacks), referencing the Lubavitcher Rebbe: “The most transformative moments in your life happen when somebody else believes

Lord Marks, who lives in Hale, Manchester, told Jewish News: “Often it is hard to believe in yourself and to find myself in the Lords on such an amazing day, with all the family there.. maybe someone else believed in me more than I believed in myself.”

He recalled that news he been appointed a Lord was announced just as Shabbat was coming in on Rosh Chodesh Adar. “When I switched my phone on after Shabbat I had about 85 Whatsapp messages and texts. I stayed up until after midnight replying to everyone – it was also my son’s 21st that day so there was a lot happening. It was really nice. ”

In a charming coincidence, the day he was introduced to the Lords on 11 March was also Rosh Chodesh Adar.

Nova Festival victim Sigal Itah, 27, who was raised

The Chief Rabbi with young volunteers

Yaakov Zada Daniel in conversation at the JCD event

Stuart Marks

Kindertransport refugee Henry Wuga dies at 100

Tributes have been paid to a muchloved Holocaust survivor who died less than one month after his 100th birthday, writes Michelle Rosenberg.

Henry Wuga, who fled to Scotland from Germany in 1938 on the Kindertransport, recently reached his milestone birthday, in the same year as the Kindertransport’s 85th anniversary.

Tributes: Henry Wuga

Born in Nuremberg in 1924, Henry was forced to leave school in Germany aged 14, after which he began an apprenticeship as a cook at the kosher kitchen of the Tannhäuser Hotel in Baden-Baden.

In May 1938, he was able to escape the country via the Kindertransport to Scotland, where he was interned as an “enemy alien” after the war began.

After 10 months on the Isle of Man, Henry Wuga was released in spring 1941. Back in Glasgow, he attended the Refugee Club, where at the age of 18, he met his future wife and fellow Kindertransport refugee Ingrid Wol .

Together, they ran a catering business together for 30 years and Ingrid was awarded a BEM for services to Holocaust education in 2019. She died in 2020 at the age of 96.

Michael Newman, chief executive of the Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR) said: “We are deeply saddened to hear about the passing

of AJR stalwart Henry Wuga and send our heartfelt condolences to his family. Henry was a much-loved member who came to the UK via the Kindertransport and went on to have an eminent career in catering and became a beacon of his local community in Glasgow.

“We are grateful to have had the opportunity to capture Henry’s testimony as part of our Refugee Voices archive. Capturing experiences like Henry’s helps preserve the record of the Holocaust and enables us all learn about his remarkable life and the contribution he made to his adopted home. We will miss him greatly and are honoured to continue to tell his story as part of our work.”

Kirsten Oswald, MP for East Renfrewshire, said: “I am deeply saddened to learn of Henry’s passing. He was a truly remarkable man and his loss will be felt by all those fortunate enough to have encountered him. With his beloved wife Ingrid, Henry ensured that generations of young people in Scotland, the UK, and the

wider world, were aware of the horrors of the Holocaust and the dangers of hatred. His work on Holocaust Education has been remarkable and hugely influential.

“My thoughts are with Henry’s family and friends. May his memory be a blessing.”

Karen Pollock, chief executive, the Holocaust Educational Trust said: “I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of my dear friend. Henry came to the UK from Germany on the Kindertransport in 1939 escaping the horrors of Kristallnacht and rising antisemitism. Together with his beloved wife, Ingrid – who had also come to the UK on the Kindertransport – they dedicated themselves to sharing their testimonies with students across Scotland and the UK. Henry was a warm and gentle man

with an inspiring and important message to share. He was so kind and I was so proud and happy to celebrate his 100th birthday just last month. My thoughts go out to his two incredible daughters, his grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. We will miss him greatly and are grateful for his decades of friendship and support.”

Henry was awarded an MBE in 1999 for services to The Limbless British Ex-Servicemen’s Association.

CHAPLAINCY RAISES £800K

The national organisation of chaplains who support Jewish students at university has exceeded the fundraising target for its 36-hour “Crisis on Campus” online crowdfunding campaign.

University Jewish Chaplaincy (UJC) amassed in excess of £800,000 thanks to the generosity of more than 3,055 donors.

Aimed at bolstering Chaplaincy services and programmes amid growing challenges on campuses, the campaign saw contributions pouring in from all corners of the United Kingdom, including student hubs in Nottingham and Scotland as well as abroad.

The initiative, championed by 142 dedicated “Champions” across the UK, was launched in response to the increasing need for support services for students combating antisemitism and anti-Zionism on a daily basis across campuses which has grown significantly post 7 October.

The success of the campaign ensures that Chaplaincy can continue its critical work, o ering guidance, support, and community engagement to Jewish students navigating the complexities of campus life.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY PROJECT

An initiative to collect autobiographies of young Jews living in Europe launched this week with the publication of seven stories online. Kaleidoscope is a pan-European project that invites young European Jews, aged between 17 and-24-years-old, to reflect on their lives and write their personal story.

Their story can cover any aspect of their lives, including life as a young Jew, personal relationships and how they feel about being part of the Jewish community. All the stories submitted will be published on the Kaleidoscope website.

The first seven stories to be featured on Kaleidoscope, a project of the Rothschild Foundation, have been submitted by young people from Czech Republic, France, Ger-

many, Hungary, Turkey and the UK and showcase the rich variety and complexity of the lives of young European Jews today.

Kaleidoscope is inspired by a collection of stories submitted by young Polish Jews in the 1930s. The YIVO institute in Vilnius launched a competition in 1934 to collect autobiographies from young Jewish people.

It gathered 627 entries in Yiddish, Polish and Hebrew and the winners were due to be announced on 1 September 1939 when war broke out. The entries were anonymous, so the fates of the young writers are unknown, but it is likely most of them died in the Holocaust. Fortuitously, many of the stories survived the war and were eventually digitised and made available online.

Karl Wuga, Lore Wuga and young Henry in 1932

Halfon fears ‘ghettoisation’ of Jewish students at uni

A minister is concerned that “ghettoisation” is occurring on university campuses which is preventing Jewish students from enjoying themselves.

Robert Halfon, minister for skills, apprenticeships and higher education, said antisemitism was a “major problem” across universities in the UK and incidents have surged since Hamas’s attack.

Halfon told MPs that there had been “horrific” incidents of antisemitism at universities across the country. Addressing the education select committee on Tuesday, the higher education minister said: “I think it is a major problem across our universities.

“I fear that there is ghettoisation going on across universities, with Jewish students unable to do what they should be doing –having the best time of their life at university.”

When asked about antisemitism on campus, Halfon, who is Jewish, told MPs: “It has been pretty horrific. Antisemitism was going up across our universities well before October 7. This isn’t

just a result about the tragedy in the Middle East and the massacre of Jews and internationals on 7 October. But since 7 October, it’s gone up well over 200 percent.”

Halfon said the government was developing a “quality seal” in higher education, which will allow Jewish students to see how well a university tackles antisemitism, and it is considering an “expert advisor” on the issue.

I fear that there is ghettoisation going on across universities, with

I hope very much that Jewish students will not feel that they can’t go to our universities.”

He added that the government will do “everything possible” to stamp out antisemitism.

University leaders also gave evidence to MPs on the committee on Tuesday as part of its inquiry into the impact of last year’s marking and assessment boycott on university students.

Jewish students unable to do what they should be doing – having the best time of their life at university Robin Walker, chair of the education select committee, said he had heard “concerning” anecdotal evidence of some people choosing to study in Israel because they would not be comfortable studying in the UK.

Addressing these reports, Halfon said: “I still believe that our universities are great places to go across the United Kingdom.

When asked about a reported decline in applications from overseas students, Professor Adam Fagan, vice president (education and student success) at King’s College London (KCL), set out factors which may deter some applicants – including security concerns about large demonstrations.

He told MPs: “I was in India two weeks ago and the question that came up from applicants and their families interestingly was about whether the UK is a hospitable place for international students They’re cognisant of the huge demonstrations in London.”

The Israel society at a leading London university has been forced to cancel a panel event over security concerns, writes Michelle Rosenberg.

Ely Lassman, who was due to speak yesterday at King’s College London, appears to have been targeted because he served in the Israeli army.

A graduate of Bristol University, Lassman is chairman of the non-profit, non-partisan organisation Prometheus on Campus.

In a statement to campus newspaper Roar, King’s College London Israel Society organisers said: “Due to intimidatory activity surrounding the event, as well as dozens of death threats directed towards our speaker Ely Lassman, we have chosen to prioritise the safety of our guests, attendees, and members.

“We are very saddened to see the unfathomable levels of hostility within the King’s community regarding anything remotely Israeli.”

The other intended speaker was Kiyah Willis, who describes herself as an ‘advocate for the secular liberal right’ and works for the Objective Standard Institute. On a recent Instagram post, she wrote, “Gaza should never have started the war and now must be prevented from ever attacking again.”

Lassman said: “Prometheus... was founded to promote rational and accessible philosophy. We by no means have any focus on Israel. It is not part of what we usually do.”

A protest at Birmingham University. Inset: Robert Halfon

World News / Trump outburst / Porto memorial / Terror chief

killed

Jews who vote Democrat reject their faith – Trump MARWAN ISSA, HAMAS’ NUMBER THREE, KILLED

Donald Trump this week claimed any Jew who votes for the Democrat at the upcoming election “hates their religion”, writes Joy Falk.

The typically outlanish remark is an escalation of his anger at a community that continues to vote overwhelmingly for his opponents and shows little sign of changing course in November.

“Any Jewish person that votes for Democrats hates their religion, they hate everything about Israel and they should be ashamed of themselves because Israel will be destroyed,” the former president said on Monday in an interview with Sebastian Gorka, a far-right commentator who worked as an adviser in the Trump White House.

Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee who is facing off again against Joe Biden in this year’s presidential election, has long been baffled by how American Jewish voters continue to favour Democrats in overwhelming numbers, despite the series of pro-Israel policies he advanced as president, including

moving the US embassy to Jerusalem and pulling out of the Iran deal. In 2019, as president, he said, “I think any Jewish people that vote for a Democrat, I think it shows either a total lack of knowledge or great disloyalty.”

In 2022, he posted to social media, “Jews have to get their act together and appreciate what they have in Israel – before it is too late!”

His Rosh Hashanah message last year was directed at “liberal Jews who voted to destroy America and

Israel because you believed false narratives!” This appeared to be the first time Trump directly mentioned Jews’ religion as part of his message.

Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt condemned Trump’s remarks. “Accusing Jews of hating their religion because they might vote for a particular party is defamatory and patently false,” he said. “Serious leaders should focus on strengthening rather than unraveling, bipartisan support for the State of Israel.”

Israel has killed Hamas’ third-incommand in the Gaza Strip, the United States confirmed on Monday.

The killing earlier this month of Marwan Issa, alleged to be a mastermind of Hamas’ invasion of Israel, is a significant achievement for Israel in its war on the terror group in Gaza, which is approaching the six-month mark. Issa served under Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif and Yahya Sinwar, the terror group’s chief in Gaza.

Israeli officials had said for more

than a week that they were working to confirm that Issa had been killed when it targeted an underground facility in Nuseirat, a refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.

Now, the confirmation of his death comes as Israel is making the case that it must invade the city of Rafah in southern Gaza to complete its defeat of Hamas. President Joe Biden has urged Israel not to invade until it has a plan to evacuate the more than one million civilians who have taken refuge in the city.

PORTO COMMUNITY OPENS 7/10 MEMORIAL

More than 150 rabbis took part in a memorial ceremony on Tuesday in memory of those murdered on 7 October, in the new cemetery of the Jewish community in Porto in northern Portugal.

The names of those who perished were commemorated by the Porto Jewish community, the European Jewish Association and the Rabbinical Centre of Europe.

The prayer was led by Rabbi Simcha Steinberg of Eindhoven, Holland, and among the speakers

were Rabbi Binyomin Jacobs, chief rabbi of the inter-provincial Chief Rabbinate of the Netherlands, and Rabbi Netanel Lev, a member of the rabbinical council of Lubavitch, Paris and father of the late Binyamin Lev who fell in battle against the terrorists on 7 October.

He said: “My son Binyamin fell in battle on 7 October. One thing comforts me is knowing he gave his life to protect and save other Jews. May the memory of my son and the other soldiers who were killed be blessed.”

Former US president Donald Trump during a 2017 visit to Jerusalem

Shul strikes a pose at fashion kiddush

Congregants at Western Marble Arch synagogue were joined by an especially fashionable crowd for its Shabbat service last Saturday, writes Sandy Rashty.

Sitting among regular shul-goers was a group of more than 100 figures working in the fashion and beauty industry who had come together for a special ‘Fashion kiddush’.

Top journalists, designers, stylists and influencers attended the gathering, which was coordinated by the Fashion Against Antisemitism & Beauty group, set up in response to the outpouring of hate after the 7 October atrocities.

Leading authority Suzy Menkes, the former editor of Vogue International, businessman Harold Tillman, former chair of the British Fashion Council, Browns Bride founder Caroline Burnstein and fashion photographer Richard Young, were joined by notable designers including Dame Zandra Rhodes and David Sassoon.

Joining the service was socialite Philip Sallon – famed for being at the

forefront of the punk and clubbing movement in London – who wore a tallit over his archive Vivienne Westwood red suit and matching kippah, while hair stylist to the stars Colin Gold also wore a tallit over his crystal embellished black jacket.

After the service, guests gathered to hear actress Tracy Ann Oberman speak about her family’s history in the fashion industry, before going on to call out the rise of antisemitism across the country since the Hamasterror attack against Israel.

Attendees then enjoyed a traditional heimishe kiddush, complete with chopped herring, liver, egg and onion rolls, as well servings of hot cholent and latkes.

The event – attended by British Fashion Council chief executive Caroline Rush – was co-ordinated by brand consultant Mandi Lennard and designer Deborah Lyons, who set up the Fashion & Beauty Against Antisemitism group after the 7 October atrocities in Israel. Lyons, who set up the group, has openly called for more to be done to educate and combat

Jew-hate in the sector.

Speaking after the event, Lyons, who owns sustainability brand Maison Lyons, said: “It has been an incredibly tough few months, contrasted by a tremendous sense of togetherness. We hope this Kiddush will be an opportunity to amplify that sense of solidarity and bring some much-needed light to all of us.”

Lennard, who has coordinated projects for fashion houses Burberry, Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood, added: “This was undoubtedly a lifeline to many and very emotional, the past five months having taken its toll. This inclusive gathering offered nothing but love. It was actually a buzzy frenzy of a Kiddush, everyone asking when the next will take place.”

Fashion commentator and influencer Benji Park said: “Coming together as a proud community is a radical act when we know so many outside these walls would hate this.”

ART AND ART BOOK SALE

Until 29 March

To support the Ben Uri Research Unit recording the Jewish, Refugee, and Immigrant contribution to British visual arts since 1900

Following the generosity of many supporters in response to our request for art works to sell, instead of cash, which is desperately needed elsewhere, Ben Uri is proud to present our first Art and Art Book Sale Adler, Auerbach, Blow, Bomberg, Brisson, Aboriginal artist Faith Butler, Chagall, Crofton, Denvers, Dodo, Freedman, Gertler, Grunberg, Herman, Klinghoffer, Levy, Mendoza, Moore, Piperger, Rose, Rubin, Sandler, Stern, Tumarkin, Winner, Wolmark, Woodrow, Wright

All on display at the gallery at 108 Boundary Road, St. John’s Wood.

Please visit and support our work. Everything is priced to sell – from inexpensive decorative works to serious collector’s wish lists. 100% of sums generated goes to fund and fulfil the charity’s everincreasing academic, public engagement and digital programming.

Visit the Gallery in Boundary Road, off Abbey Road, St. Johns Wood, NW8 0RH

LAST WEEK don’t miss it!

Open weekends 12-5pm, Tuesday to Friday 10am – 5.30pm

Deborah Lyons, Tracy Ann Oberman and Benji Park

Brand consultant Mandi Lennard

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Send us your comments

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

PALESTINIAN SUFFERING

It is disappointing that nearly every time the Gaza situation is mentioned in Jewish News there is rarely a mention of either the huge number of Palestinians killed in the conflict (more than 30,000, according to Hamas figures, including many non-combatants) or the enormous damage to the infrastructure, let alone the displacements and barriers to relief efforts. Your correspondents seem impervious to Palestinian suffering yet that is the reason for current criticisms of Israel and the calls for a ceasefire. I write as a Zionist who passionately believes in a Jewish homeland.

Mr D Lister, By email

FEARS FOR ROYAL FREE

I’m concerned at NHS plans to close the maternity services at the Royal Free Hospital and the impact this will have on local communities, including the many Jewish families who value this service. Everyone in our part of north London has either had a child or grandchild born at the Royal Free or knows someone who has.

Speaking to Jewish residents, I am aware of how the Royal Free maternity service provides particular support to the community with its Kosher Shabbat room, experienced staff who understand our community’s needs and the benefit of being in walking distance so families can visit loved ones on Shabbat.

I have spoken to consultants and midwives who agree shutting the Royal Free maternity unit would put women’s health at risk. We should be investing in and upgrading this maternity service, not closing it down.

Sarah Sackman, Labour candidate for Finchley & Golders Green

TIME FOR TRANSPARENCY

As a Londoner, I trust our leaders to uphold principles of fairness and justice. It is imperative the Labour Party demonstrates transparency and diligence in addressing internal matters to maintain public trust and confidence. In your online interview with Sadiq Khan this week, the mayor speaks about the now 11-month investigation into Diane Abbott’s comments about Jews not facing genuine racism. While Mr Khan rightly prioritises the importance of reaching the right conclusion over hastening the process, there must be a balance to ensure swift resolution without compromising thoroughness. This sorry episode has gone on far too long.

Adele England, By email

Unpacking Jonathan Glazer’s Gaza outburst

In the words of the late American sociologist Alvin Ward Gouldner (with whose political views I usually disagree): “Context is everything.” So film director Jonathan Glazer saying at the Oscars, “We refute our Jewishness and the Holocaust being hijacked” and calling for an end to Gaza attacks was not simply criticising the current politics of the Israeli government. He did much more.

Mr Glazer uttered his comment after the tragedy of 7 October. That context makes his words inexcusable and deeply offensive. Whether, as some believe, he distanced himself from his Jewishness is much less important to me. He did, however, distance himself from a democratic country that we should all support and its brave army, which is now defending Israeli Jews, Muslim

Arabs, Palestinian Christians, atheists, Samaritans, and all other residents of the state of Israel.

The philosopher Karl Popper once said if everyone is tolerant of every idea, then intolerant ideas will emerge, tolerant people will tolerate this intolerance and the intolerant people will not tolerate the tolerant people. Eventually, the intolerant will take over and create a society of intolerance.

It would be very wise for a talented film director like Mr Glazer to refresh his memory and analyse those very words of Mr Popper, rather than blindly follow the fashionable ‘Jewish anti-Zionism’ which, in my opinion, is simply his intolerance towards (imperfect, yes!) the democratic Zionism of the state of Israel.

David Frencel, Hackney

CONFRONTING BULLYING AT ANTI-ISRAEL RALLIES

I have had my own no-go zones (“No-go zones for Jews ‘utter fiction’,” 14 March). I was bullied at school, often by antisemites. I changed my routes home to avoid the bullies, sometimes using a different tube station. While I could deal with one bully, they were much more intimidating in a group.

I regard the anti-Israel marches and rallies, with their chants, flags and offensive placards, as large-scale bullying. They cannot be called pro-Palestine, because Israel is at war with Hamas and Palestine Jihad, not with the Palestinians, and I support solutions that are both pro-Israel and pro-Palestine.

Mark Drukker, Reading

X-RATED FREE SPEECH

The creature formerly known as Twitter is certainly living up to expectations under its new guise of X – that would be as in X-the-unknown or X-rated films. The frequency with which Jewish News is obliged to quote the vileness of many of its contributors as proof of the depths to which society has sunk speaks for itself. To misquote Henry II: “Can no one rid us of this troublesome pest?” Let’s try. Free speech needs to be earned.

Ezra McDonald, Harpenden

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HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL

I’m thinking about the planned UK National Holcaust Memorial, on which I read that building work is due to begin later this year. I certainly hope it will be properly protected – not least during ‘pro-Palestinian’ demonstrations – during construction work and after it is completed.

Andrew Shaw, By email

STAY UNITED

Your comment writer Josh Glancy, in last week’s issue, declared that we are being judged not just for what we do in life but for who we are. Yes, that is the reality as we see now with this terrible war that we didn’t expect and for which we are continually blamed. Our strength is unity and that’s what we need now.

Norma Neville, Hendon

‘So... a school named after the greatest mediator in history brings in ACAS and still fails to settle its disagreement?’

Emily

In war civilian deaths are inevitable. Starvation is not

JOHN WARE JOURNALIST AND BROADCASTER

Iam not a Jew, but I understand how isolated and bewildered many Jews now feel at the ebbing away from nonJewish friends of empathy about how it feels to be Jewish in Britain today.

Jews have always known that antisemitism is a light sleeper but perhaps not how easily it can be roused from its slumber. And 7 October has been a huge wake up call.

Those in whom prejudice has always simmered have been emboldened with a brazen new confidence that Zionists – any sort of Zionist, for Zionism comes in many forms – is fair game.

We are not yet in Brownshirt territory but there have been glimpses. And the worst is almost certainly yet to come.

Witness the thuggish elements within some pro-Palestinian protests that have ignored the barbarism of Hamas’s genocidal attack. Some have even celebrated it.

We’ve been aghast at the self-righteous entitlement that’s licensed protesters to barge into the lives of ordinary citizens on the streets, on campus, in shops and stores and cafes – people who’ve had nothing at all to do with the war in Gaza.

We’ve shuddered at the pious, preposterous insistence by pro-Hamas activists that Koranic-educated members of the Qassam Brigades would never contemplate sexually abusing a woman or hunt down defenceless civilians with grenades and automatic weapons – despite frenzied e orts to demonstrate the opposite.

Especially demoralising for Jewish people are the insistent e orts by some activist journalists to undermine and minimise that evidence. Even the odd NHS doctor has bought into this nonsense.

There’s something very troubling about this wilful determination to never give the benefit of the doubt to the Jewish side of this conflict, even when the evidence stares them in the face.

We’ve wearily resigned ourselves to the fact that in some mosques and Islamic centres in di erent parts of Britain poison still seeps from pulpits. I recently reviewed 80 post 7 October sermons, mostly after Friday prayers. I showed them to a senior KC specialising in anti-terrorism legislation. Most urged a Palestinian victory, many in lurid terms, albeit no crime was committed.

But some were assessed as “stirring up racial hatred” and a handful “expressed support for Hamas in a way that encourages other people to support Hamas” – Hamas, of course, being designated terrorist organisation.

We also note that yet again there’s been a failure to condemn these odious manifestations of the swelling pro-Palestinian protest movement from vocal leaders who aver to represent the broadest spectrum of Britain’s

diverse Muslim community.

So far so predictable.

There is no equivalence that I can recall on the Jewish side. Rabbis across the religious spectrum are not stirring up hatred against Muslims. The limited Jewish protest marches have been entirely orderly. The mainstream organisations that represent the broadest sweep of British Jews are not putting out poisonous press releases.

In fact, on reflection, there are some

to control how some of the aid is distributed once it gets into Gaza. And Egypt has voluntarily aligned itself with the IDF inspection requirements, for the selfinterested reason of protecting itself from an exodus of Palestinians.

But, ultimately, it is now Israel’s responsibility to ensure Gaza’s Palestinians do not die of hunger. And it is within their gift to do so.

Israel denies it is obstructing aid into

IT MIGHT BE BENEFITING FOR MAINSTREAM JEWISH LEADERS, INCLUDING THE CHIEF RABBI, TO ADDRESS THE APOCALYPTIC PROSPECT OF GAZANS STARVING TO DEATH

things it might be benefiting for mainstream Jewish leaders – including the Chief Rabbi – to say. For example, pointing at the apocalyptic prospect of Gazans starving to death.

It goes without saying that British Jews should never be held responsible for the decisions by the Israeli war cabinet, or any Israeli government policy for that matter, as sometimes they are, if only by implication.

But since the Board of Deputies, the Jewish Leadership Council, the Chief Rabbi, the Jewish Chronicle (and this newspaper) have all understandably expressed support for Israel’s right to defend itself, is it not also time they had something to say publicly about Israel’s responsibility to ensure that 1.1m Gazans confronted by the imminent prospect of “catastrophic food insecurity” do not start starving to death?

Yes, Hamas and armed gangs continue

Gaza. The Americans appear to disagree. What is not in doubt is that Israel controls access to Gaza and the inspection of trucks waiting to deliver food and other aid.

COGAT (Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories) says it has recently introduced “significant new initiatives” that have :improved the humanitarian situation, particularly in northern Gaza”. Except that the amount of aid that’s getting in is not regarded by the Americans, the UN, the EU or any aid agency as anything like su cient. And what is waiting to get in, isn’t being inspected fast enough.

The warning that half of Gaza’s population is at risk of starvation comes from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Initiative (IPC), who are said to be respected practitioners in the field of global food security.

It has rated the famine in Gaza proportionately more serious than Afghanistan, Sudan and Somalia.

According to the Washington Post, Gaza now has the IPC’s most severe rating since it began reporting in 2004. COGAT says the IPT report is out of date.

Some in Jewish leadership positions may be sceptical that the humanitarian situation is not as dire as reported. But I also know some are privately distressed by the enveloping humanitarian crisis.

Others may be reluctant to voice these publicly because of a need to rally round the flag while Israel is so isolated. Still others may be loath to voice anything negative about Israel’s actions that more hawkish members of the community might interpret as betrayal.

But surely none of those reasons justifies a collective silence on the overriding principle: that nothing can justify allowing innocent men women and children to starve to death.

Israel’s critics might respond: nothing can justify bombing civilians either. But there’s a di erence: civilian deaths are inevitable in war. Starvation is not. And addressing full-on the humanitarian crisis is not inconsistent with Israel’s war aims to prevent Hamas from repeating 7 October and, of course, the return of the hostages.

Might I suggest it is time for the Diaspora to speak out and to urge Israel to do whatever it takes to reverse this looming catastrophe.

“Dawn... and as the sun breaks through the piercing chill of night, it lights up a biblical famine in the 20th century”, reported the BBC’s Michael Buerk from Ethiopia in 1987.

When this war is over, the last thing Israel needs is a biblical famine lighting up TV screens around the world. It’s also the last thing the noncombatant citizens of Gaza should have to endure, given all they’ve endured so far.

Children search for water in Rafah

UK taking leading role on return of looted art

GIDEON TAYLOR PRESIDENT, WORLD JEWISH RESTITUTION ORGANISATION

An international gathering in Washington on 5 March, in which the UK played a leading role, saw a huge advance in the e ort to address the massive looting of Holocaust-era art and cultural property.

Together with the US State Department, the World Jewish Restitution Organisation convened a special event to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Washington Conference Principles, which marked the original launch of the e ort.

It was a time to take stock, and also to plan the next steps forward.

Twenty-three countries, including the UK, came together to endorse a new set of best practices which advance the implementation of the Washington Conference Principles.

Lord Pickles, the United Kingdom special envoy for post-Holocaust Issues, stressed the significance of the best practices docu-

ment, noting in his address that during the quarter of a century since the principles were introduced “we worked out what works and what doesn’t work… Claimants, as well as the public in general, have a right to know about the existence of the warehouse [of looted art and cultural property]”.

The UK is one of just five countries that have established restitution commissions to facilitate claims and passed the necessary laws allowing de-accession and, notably, it has formed a Spoliation Advisory Panel to address claims regarding items held by British national institutions.

With a prominent role in advancing the restitution of looted art in Europe, the UK has been proactive in this realm. The Commission for Looted Art in Europe, based in London, plays an important role in assisting and advocating for claimants.

The UK also is tremendously significant in this e ort in view of its important role in the international private art market.

US secretary of state Antony Blinken delivered the keynote address via video, welcoming the historic endorsement of the document,

which he said marked the first governmental document on Holocaust restitution to be endorsed in nearly 15 years. It is a powerful message that countries care and that there is an international consensus.

The Holocaust was not only a massive genocide, it was also the greatest theft in history.

More than 80 years ago, the Nazis, their allies and collaborators plundered artwork, religious items, books, musical instruments and more. More than 100,000 paintings and many of the millions of other cultural items stolen during the Holocaust have never been returned.

Among them are paintings of worldrenown significance, including Rue SaintHonoré, après midi, e et de pluie, painted in 1897 by Camille Pissaro, which shows the view of a street after a shower of rain.

Lily Cassirer, the owner, was forced by the Nazis to give it up for nominal value in order to escape Germany in 1939. Today it hangs in a Spanish museum, which has fought against the family for 20 years in their e orts to recover it.

Also among that massive theft was a simple shofar that had been carefully hidden by the grandfather of Sharon (Glattstein)

Singer in the attic of his Hungarian home before their deportation to concentration and labour camps during the Holocaust.

Today it sits in the town library in Hungary, despite e orts by the family to gain its return.

What do they have in common? They both represent a connection to the history of a family. They came from a Jewish home until they were wrenched away by the Holocaust.

At the event in Washington, WJRO and the Claims Conference also released Holocaust-Era Looted Cultural Property: A Current Worldwide Overview. The report makes clear that over the past 25 years, while there has been significant progress on art and cultural property restitution, much remains to be done.

As we chart next steps in tackling the unresolved systematic looting of Holocaust-era art and cultural property, provenance research is a top priority. While many countries have conducted provenance research, many others do not, or do so only in a limited way. Claims processes, while established in numerous countries, often yield limited restitutions, with the absence of dedicated restitution commissions exacerbating the issue.

Silver

Come and watch Board’s vital democracy in action

DANIEL SUGARMAN DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, BOARD OF DEPUTIES

On 12 May, the election of the next president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews will take place. Readers may well shrug their shoulders. So what? An organisation in the community will have new leadership – mazeltov, but what does it really matter?

We think it matters a great deal. In fact, it is an exercise in democracy that we believe should be widely celebrated.

Jews, on the whole, do not take national or local democracy for granted. Centuries of mistreatment by religious and secular autocrats have led us to see a system where we all have a vote and a voice as extremely important. In our own community, the Board is a living example of that dedication to democracy.

No other major cross-denominational organisation in any community, as far as we are aware, operates in such a fashion. When

faced with the question ‘What entitles you to speak on behalf of British Jews?’, our president and honorary o cers can answer, without hesitation, “the votes of more than 300 Deputies, themselves elected from more than 200 synagogues and Jewish organisations across di erent denominations, around the country”. That sense of democratic legitimacy is a powerful one and is widely recognised by key stakeholders in British society.

Along with elections, we have term limits. Every six years at the most, the Board has new leadership. We believe this renewal is important: it prevents ossification and allows exciting and original ideas to come through.

As part of the election process, candidates will be putting forward their manifestos, which gives them an opportunity to present their visions for our community and to set out, as they see it, the challenges we face and the opportunities we may encounter.

Nominations for the Board elections opened on 12 February and closed on 7 March. The campaign period, along with national hustings events, will run from 15 March until election day itself, followed by a

Outgoing president Marie van der Zyl

three-week handover period. Those hustings events will be open to the wider community, which makes perfect sense – anyone hoping to hold a significant leadership position within our community should have the chance to express to a wider audience why they believe they are the best-placed person

for the job. In particular, anyone who seeks to become president of the Board will have to gain the support and confidence of a crosssection of Deputies of di erent ages, religious denominations and political viewpoints. By the act of winning, they will have demonstrated their suitability to be a key leader of the British Jewish community.

So come along, attend a hustings and see for yourself. This is an opportunity to observe the process of voting for a leader who will help shape the direction of our community in the years ahead. Come and experience Jewish democracy in action. And if you are frustrated that your synagogue is not one of the many with Board membership, encourage it to join. Who knows, maybe in a few years’ time it could be you who is standing to lead.

READERS MAY SHRUG THEIR SHOULDERS AND SAY, ‘AN ORGANISATION WILL HAVE NEW LEADERSHIP, BUT WHAT DOES IT MATTER?’ ❝

How to prioritise safety across our community

CLAUDIA MENDOZA CHIEF EXECUTIVE, JEWISH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL

Just about everybody in the Jewish community has been affected by the huge increase in antisemitism since Hamas attacked Israel. Between 7 October and 31 December, CST recorded 2,699 antisemitic incidents across the UK.

This is a 589 percent increase from the 389 incidents reported during the same period in 2022. As a community, we continue to thank and support CST for everything they do to keep us safe.

We want to ensure all community organisations have the resources and support they need to safeguard all their people.

The JLC has worked with Faithguard to create a unique resource for Jewish organisations, providing a single webpage for key safeguarding information and advice. You can visit this now at www.thejlc.org/safeguarding.

A key part of the messaging is that every organisation has safeguarding responsibilities – not solely those organisations that work with children or adults at risk.

For charities, the Charity Commission is clear that trustees must take reasonable steps to protect from harm anybody who comes into contact with the charity. This includes adult staff, volunteers, beneficiaries and anybody else, even if they would not normally be considered as ‘vulnerable’.

Antisemitism shows why this broader approach to safeguarding is right. Students on campuses are now at constant risk of verbal or physical abuse, especially those who show visible signs of being Jewish.

Jewish buildings are graffitied. Jewish workplaces, or Jews in non-Jewish workplaces, may be on the receiving end of hate mail – or hate speech – via both physical and electronic means. In some cases, this hatred can even originate from within their own organisation.

The impact may not always be immediate, but the gradual erosion of selfconfidence and mental health is part of

ALL OF US NEED TO THINK ABOUT HOW OUR ORGANISATIONS KEEP EVERYONE WHO COMES INTO CONTACT WITH US SAFE ❝

the dehumanisation process. It also makes us less likely to ‘stand upright and call out venomous slurs and abuse wherever we encounter them’, as Stephen Fry implored everyone to do, whether Jewish, Jew-ish, or non-Jewish, in his excellent Alternative Christmas Message on Channel 4.

All of us need to think about how our organisations keep everyone who comes into contact with us safe. This means not only implementing proper policies and procedures, but also reviewing them in light of

our changing circumstances – including the current increase in antisemitism.

For those who already think carefully about safeguarding, the additional steps required may not be significant: it might be something as simple as ensuring staff have somebody that they will feel comfortable with to talk about their psychological wellbeing.

Many people talk about the amazing unity of the Jewish community during this very challenging time. Part of this unity stems from our genuine care and concern for one another.

This care and concern should motivate us to get safeguarding right – including taking the right steps to protect all those who are at risk– whether they have traditionally been considered as vulnerable or not.

 Visit the JLC’s webpage on safeguarding in Jewish charities for more information: thejlc.org/safeguarding.

If you have any feedback or suggestions for the webpage, please email them to info@thejlc.org

After 7 October we have to fight harder for others

JUDITH FLACKS-LEIGH CHAIR OF TRUSTEES, HIAS+JCORE

Life is hard for our community right now. Since 7 October, we have struggled in our relationships with other communities and our perceived place in society.

Antisemitism has risen, anti-Israel sentiments at demonstrations are rife, and it is only natural to feel like all we can and should do is turn inwards.

In fact, we are taking lead from the famous Jewish wisdom: “If I am not for myself, who will be for me?”

HIAS+JCORE’s mission is to work to mobilise the British Jewish community in order to support and advocate for refugees and asylum seekers, as well as to fight racism across society.

One may wonder if there is a place for such work at the moment, when our own community is feeling far from safe and comfortable itself. How do we have time or capacity to fight for others when our energy is taken up by fighting for ourselves?

The answer, to me, is simple. We have

to fight harder for others, alongside ourselves, now more than ever, because the Jewish wisdom continues: “If I am only for myself, who am I?”

I believe that we must be decisive now and continue to call out true injustice and inequality where we see it.

We can’t afford to stop reaching out to others, in part, because we know how painful it is when people don’t reach out to us. We know that feeling of injustice, so how can stay silent and let others feel the same way?

The mainstream Jewish community has always worked to be open, visible and to outstretch arms of solidarity when we see it is needed, even when it is not always reciprocated. If we stop this, we risk our identity being defined by tragedy and victimhood, and that is not a basis for building the vibrant future we have worked so hard for.

HIAS+JCORE o ers great hope for our future. I am excited to be taking up the role of chair alongside our executive director, David Mason, and the team, who are ably building up the organisation and its reputation.

We are already seeing the impact of their work on the lives of asylum seekers and we will continue to develop as a respected voice

WE CAN’T AFFORD TO STOP REACHING OUT TO OTHERS –WE KNOW HOW PAINFUL IT IS WHEN PEOPLE DON’T REACH OUT TO US ❝

in the wider world of refugee advocacy.

To do this, we must also look at upcoming opportunities. There will be a general election this year or next. Within the community, the Board of Deputies will soon elect a new president. These are significant opportunities to tell those who seek to represent us at the highest levels, what matters most to our community.

It is our opportunity to tell them that our values continue to be inclusive, to prioritise equality and to support people who find themselves displaced. It is also an opportunity to hold those who made or broke promises, accountable for their

choices and their words.

In the past few weeks, we have seen MPs using racist rhetoric and in the past few months, the language used during debates around the Rwanda Bill have done nothing to quell unfounded fears of refugees. As our executive director recently wrote in this newspaper, we must be careful as a community not to link our opinions and reactions to political extremes.

Closer to home, we must also look at opportunities to make our own community more inclusive.

For example, the Board of Deputies commission into racial inclusivity conducted in 2020 looks as if it has done nothing but gather dust, and what a shame it would be for that work to be ignored.

HIAS+JCORE will continue to look for, create and seize opportunities to overcome divisions in UK communities to create a more equal multi-ethnic society.

We cannot a ord to stop this work, because if we do, we lose our identity to those who have no idea who we really are and what we truly value.

We must continue to look outwards and build a fairer society for all, because, “If not now, when?”

BY GREG ORR

AS PESACH draws near, there's a sentiment familiar to many whisky enthusiasts—a longing for the amber nectar that, traditionally, takes a brief hiatus during the holiday. But fear not, for a solution has emerged: the world's inaugural Kosher for Passover Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

DS Tayman, a brand synonymous with excellence, has been at the forefront of crafting award winning spirits. Distilled at the AuchentAshan distillery, and working closely with Rav Mordy Chai from the KLBD, DS Tayman presents this ground-breaking Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

At the core of this revolutionary dram lies the classified P-Rim technology; a fusion of mystery and innovation in the spirit industry.

While the exact details of their distillation process remain a closely guarded secret, we can share that their master distiller, Dr B. San has employed the latest in food technology and molecular science to fashion a whisky that not only respects kashrut but also pushes the boundaries of what is achievable in the world of spirits.

Discover an unparalleled maturation process, a classified secret that imparts layers of complexity to their whisky.

Prepare for a culinary revelation that initially perplexes but ultimately enchants your palate. Savour the malty, oaky notes of the whisky as they dance alongside the familiar

flavours of matzah ball soup and charoset. A combination that will leave an indelible mark on a novel Pesach experience.

Their commitment to tradition extends beyond taste. Under the vigilant gaze of expert rabbinical authorities; the KLBD, every drop of their whisky adheres strictly to Kashrut laws.

Given the complexities surrounding production, only 127 bottles will be available this year. The whisky will be offered first to DS Tayman subscribers, and then to the general public (subscription is highly recommended).

BREAKING BOUNDARIES: Unveiling the World's First Kosher for Passover Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Reclaim your love for whisky this Pesach as this ground-breaking creation awaits—an experience transcending tradition, designed to be enjoyed with the people you love, value and appreciate the most.

1 RAINBOW DAY

Finchley primary school

Sacks Morasha this week celebrated Neurodiversity Day, an initiative created by student council rep Anoushka, in Year Six. Each year group had a lesson on what neurodiversity means and celebrated what makes each person unique. The symbol for neurodiversity is a rainbow infinity symbol and each year group was designated a colour to wear. Zak in Year 3 said: “I understand that even though we all look the same on the outside our minds are very different on the inside.”

2 ARK GRADUATES

Ten young members of Northwood’s Ark Synagogue marked the completion of their 18-month Kabbalat Torah programme, which has engaged them in exploring and building a positive Jewish identity as they mature and grow. A Torah Shabbat gave the young people a chance to bring all their experiences together, which included a visit to the Czech town of Kolin, where they read from The Ark’s Kolin Scroll that arrived from the Memorial Scrolls Trust in 1965.

3 PROUDLY JEW–AISH

Educational organisation

Aish UK raised £2.4m in its latest fundraising campaign. The money will help expand Aish UK’s reach and resources, especially in campus deployment, where Jewish connection is more vital than ever.

Aish UK’s chief executive Rabbi Naftali Schiff said: “The generosity of the community will enable Aish to continue its vital work responding to crisis with connection.”

4MARATHON EFFORT

Flora Frank completed her 47th marathon by running in the Winner Marathon in Jerusalem to raise funds for Emunah and Norwood. The route goes from the Knesset, through the Old City and finishes at Sacher Par. Flora, whose shirt read ‘Bring home the hostages’, said: “It is always a privilege and very moving to participate in Jerusalem, but this year it was much more so. The atmosphere was full of hope.”

5JEWISH BEATLES

The Hadley Wood community held an event to raise funds for Beit Halochem while presenting a musical extravaganza served up by Jonny Turgel, Asaf Flumendorf, Israeli violinist Bar Markovich and Rabbi Akiva Rosenblatt.

6BRIGHTON BEACH

United Synagogue rebbetzens spent a day in Brighton for the first RRUS (Rebbetzens’ Representatives of the United Synagogue) away day at the BNJC, Brighton & Hove’s Jewish hub. Chief executive of US Jo Grose spoke about the progress that has been achieved in recognising the challenges of the rebbetzen’s role.

Jews and goats

Purim whisky Climate tech

LOVE and tragedy on Kfar Aza

Filmmakers Shaylee Atary and Yahav Winner fell in love performing Romeo and Juliet. He was murdered by Hamas on the kibbutz where he was born, writes Brigit Grant

Shaya is six months old and has just cut her first tooth. “She’s had an injection and is not sleeping at all, so I’m sorry for resting my head on the pillow,” says her mother. Framed by a fan of dark curls, using a protective arm to shield her child, Shaylee Atary is the picture-perfect image of motherhood. But it’s a facade masking the grief and despair that has enveloped her since 7 October. That was the day Shaylee’s life changed irrevocably when Hamas terrorists murdered her husband Yahav Winner on Kibbutz Kfar Aza, the place of his birth.

Both filmmakers, Yahav and Shaylee from Rishon LeTsiyon were together for 13 years, supporting each other by switching creative roles on numerous productions, two of which –Single Light and The Boy – were seen in London at Night at the Movies, a showcase of films by award-winning students from the Tel Aviv University Steve Tisch Film School.

Agreeing to come to the capital is a big step for Shaylee, who hasn’t ventured far from the supportive hub she shares with other evacuated survivors at Kibbutz Shefayim since her home was burned to the ground by a detonated grenade. “They host us until we get a temporary village as we cannot go back to Kfar Aza,” she says. “It’s not a place that you can stay in - you can still smell the gunfire. It has become a place for other people to see what happened.”

What happened to the couple on 7 October is on a reel in Shaylee’s mind that can never

be edited, from the moment she heard the footsteps of the terrorists on the grass, their laughter and then shouts of “hello”.

“Yahav and I had an arrangement,” she says, recounting their sudden survival plan. “We couldn’t talk, but because we’re so close through gestures we knew that he would hold the door and I would be with the baby. But they didn’t come in through the door. They came in the window, and Yahav held it, so I could run away with Shaya through the door. He did his part of the arrangement.”

Yahav was murdered by the savage intruders as Shaylee fled between bushes as bullets were fired by those who wanted to take her life. Any life. Unable to shout for help, her fearful neighbours ignored her knocks on their doors, so she hid in a shed with Shaya still sleeping. The moment the baby woke and cried, Shaylee knew to move and ran across a lawn that had been the

site for so many parties, and was now strewn with the dead bodies of those she knew.

“It was very frightening. What helped me was to think that I was making a film. That it’s not me this is happening to. I am the camera and the director of a Shoah film. But it was me. Finally a family opened their door. I told them I didn’t know where to go and what had happened. The woman in the house already knew that her sister and husband were dead and her three-year-old daughter was gone. Kidnapped. Together we were besieged for 27 hours with no food and water for Shaya.”

The horror of 7 October sits beside a love story for Shaylee. The one she had with Yahav, whom she met at the Nissan Nativ Acting Studio.

“It wasn’t love at first sight and we had no formal date. We were just in the same class and I really appreciated his thoughts and opinions. But something changed when we did Romeo and Juliet and I really looked into his eyes. It felt like home. I think this is when I fell in love.”

That was also the turning point for Yahav, who lived in Jaffa with Shaylee before he suggested moving back to Kfar Aza in 2021 as he wanted to bring the arts to the south. Once back at the kibbutz the couple began making films, which incorporated many of the real residents who lived alongside them along with their dog, Buckley, two cats Grace and Cocus, and then baby Shaya.

Just before his death the couple had argued about who fell in love with whom first, and recalling the innocent spat brings a smile to Shaylee’s face as she knows what they had and what she has lost. “The hardest part for me is that my partner, the one who will hold my hand

and give me the power to go after our dreams, has gone. We went from acting together to being behind the camera together, and we felt comfortable there.”

For Yahav, comfort was harder to attain. The grandson of a Holocaust survivor who escaped the Bochnia Ghetto, Yahav was 21 when he witnessed the death of his best friend’s father, who was killed by a rocket. From thereon he lived with PTSD and it is that trauma that provides the theme for his deeply personal short film The Boy, which captures the dissonance of life along the Israel-Gaza border from the eyes of a teenager dealing with PTSD. The film was awarded best cinematography prize at the Tel Aviv International Students Film Festival 2023, but the tragic irony of the subject matter is not lost on Shaylee, who knew the content of her husband’s darkest thoughts, which also fuelled his film about a widow who is visited by her deceased husband, who tells her she must live.

There are many days for Shaylee when the only way to live with loss is to sit with other survivors in the widow circle at Shefayim.

“We’re 11 in the circle and one of the questions we have asked is whether it is better for the children to be like mine – too young to remember – or to be older and able to understand? Shaya is just a baby learning the world and the sorrow is only mine, so I try to do everything I can to find the strength to be the mother she deserves. But when a happy thing happens like the first smile or the first tooth it’s painful because Yahav will never see it. I also think about how Romeo and Juliet died for each other. Yahav died for us.”

Shaylee and Yahav with Nimrod Peled, who starred in their film The Boy

Shaylee and Yahav with baby Shaya. ’Yahav died for us,’ she says

Gillian Freedman and her husband le north London to run a farm in rural Bedfordshire –and they still live an observant Jewish life

Ten years ago my husband Jeremy (a divorce lawyer) and I moved to the countryside and took on a house and five acres of land with a 350-year-old barn and stables. We renovated the place, tamed the garden and acquired livestock. This is not a totally unusual experience, except that we are well into middle age and combine smallholding with an observant Jewish life. We hold services for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Shavuot and Chanukah, Masorti rabbis hold an annual retreat here, the Jewish Learning Exchange has used the facilities for Shabbat weekends and various Jewish youth groups have come to spend Shabbat surrounded by fields, animals, peace and quiet – just 50 miles from London

We are fully integrated in the village and have made many close friends, while being totally open about our Judaism. We have opened our home to anyone who wishes to visit. Recently we took in an Israeli family from Tel Aviv who were looking for some respite during the war.

for company. As we approached the gate I prodded my passenger. “Come on, wake up. I need you to go inside and put the kettle on and I’ll run upstairs and take these clothes o . The bottles are in the fridge.”

I changed out of my party frock and into milk-spattered trousers and a hoodie. Jeremy was wide awake now and in the kitchen, warming the bottles by standing them in large cups of hot water. As I opened the back door he grabbed the torch and lit up a path as we strode into a field full of ewes and lambs to feed PJ and Ponyo.

The twins’ mother growled at us and stamped her foot. Poor old Mother Domino didn’t understand that her scarred udder couldn’t produce enough milk for her twoweek-old boy and girl. It had been this way for the past three years since

the world to celebrate their deliverance from genocide back in the year 650BCE. To mark our survival we put on fancy dress, send each other gifts of chocolates, sweets, wine and cakes, give money to charity and drink until we can’t tell the di erence between the names of the hero and the villain of the story. What’s not to like? We listen to the story on the night of the festival of Purim and then a second time the following morning. The theme of the narrative runs throughout our history: ‘They tried to kill us, they failed, let’s eat!’

We were very involved in communal Jewish life in London for 30 years as members of Muswell Hill Synagogue and then Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue. My book, Jews Milk Goats, tells the story of our experiences. Here is an excerpt.

BOTTLE FEEDING AND PURIM

I threw my wig on to the back seat and put my foot down to cover the 50 miles home. I was anxious to get there before midnight and on a quiet road the journey would take less than an hour. Next to me Jeremy had closed his eyes and was in a deep, whisky sleep so I turned on the radio

Under the light of a watery moon and the beam from the torch, two hungry lambs bleated as they ran towards us, opened their mouths and glugged at their bottles of milk. In less than two minutes they were finished and had disappeared to find their mother and their friends. We had time for less than five hours’ sleep before the alarm woke us and at 5.30am Jeremy drove the 50 miles back to Borehamwood to attend synagogue for the early morning reading of the Megillah.

and the towards us, opened their mouths and

Domino developed mastitis and each season we had to help raise her lambs, much to her disgust.

It was Purim night and we had dressed up for the reading of the Megillah – The Book of Esther – in the synagogue in Borehamwood. The story of the beautiful virgin Esther, the Persian King Ahasuerus –Xerxes – and his antisemitic adviser Haman is an excuse for Jews around

morning reading of the Megillah. of the rabbi for those of the commu-

I had arranged to join him three hours later for a recital at the house of the rabbi for those of the community who wanted a more leisurely start to the day. That worked well for us. I would feed the lambs, open up the chicken houses and let the goats out into the paddock.

The best-laid plans at The Gables don’t always work out. It was 7.30am and I was giving PJ and Ponyo their breakfast bottles when I heard a groaning noise coming from the other side of the barn. When the bottles were empty I went to investigate. Sitting on the straw, looking up

to the roof and frothing at the mouth was Surprise, an 18-monthold ewe who had never lambed before. Poking out of her backside was a head and it was stuck. Surprise was in pain and I was in a panic.

old ewe who had never out of her backside was and I was in a panic.

I threw o my coat, rolled up the sleeves of my jumper and quite literally took matters into my own hands, grabbing Surprise’s horns and shouting at her, “Stand up girl. We have to work on this together.” As I wrapped my palms around the lamb’s head and began to pull, the head and front legs started to emerge. “Push, Surprise, we need one big push.” I don’t know if Surprise understood me but a few seconds later the lamb slithered out covered in blood and mucus, floppy and lifeless. Poor little creature. She lay still on the straw as I cleared the veil of mucus from her nose and mouth. She gave a flutter. Alive? I rubbed her sides and belly and she twitched again. Lifting her gently, I placed the lamb in front of her mother’s nose. Surprise sni ed and put her muzzle near to the lamb which amazingly let out a tiny bleat.

As I dipped my bloody hands into a bucket of water, I suddenly felt cold and began to shake. I grabbed my coat, put it on and zipped it up to my chin and then I stood watching Surprise begin to lick the lamb clean. “Good girl, Surprise, you have your first lamb and it’s a girl.” I stroked her side and gave her a kiss on the top of her head. Surprise made mothering noises. Sheep really do speak if you listen. There are di erent sounds for

di erent situations. A ewe and her lamb will call to each other across a field of noisy sheep, picking out their unique cries and finding one another, even in the dark. I didn’t want to leave the barn, I just wanted to watch and savour the moment, but I had to finish the morning chores, opening up the goat house, feeding chickens, ducks and geese and filling feeders and water containers. Just fifteen minutes later when I returned to check on Surprise the lamb was trying to stand and calling out loudly. She was beautiful and perfect. I reluctantly left mother and baby, went into the house, washed and changed into clean clothes and took a last peek in the barn before I drove back to London. Little Esther was on her feet and searching for her mother’s teat. What a Purim miracle.

One hour later as I sat in the rabbi’s house in London listening to the story of the deliverance of the Jews from wicked Haman’s plans, I couldn’t help smiling. I wondered how many of the nearly 300,000 British Jews were leading this sort of double existence. I didn’t know of any other Jews who were living on farms or smallholdings. Certainly not religiously observant Jews. “They should try it,” is what I thought. “It’s a great life. It can be done.”

 Jews Milk Goats interweaves the Jewish calendar and the rhythm of the farming year as well as exploring the chequered experience and treatment of Jews throughout English history. Published by the Gables Press at £3.99

Gillian bottle-feeds one of her lambs on their smallholding

‘It’s a girl’: Lambing can be hard work

A spirited connection

Purim means community, celebration and a touch of holy, whisky-infused inebriation, says Tal Sunderland-Cohen

Purim is the one day in the Jewish calendar where it’s practically a mitzvah to party hard enough to mistake your rabbi for Queen Esther. Enter whisky, the liquid courage that has been warming hearts and confusing Purim revellers for ages.

Whisky is what happens when grains decide to have a midlife crisis, get fermented and end up ageing in barrels.

There’s Scotch, which is like the wise old man of whisky: peaty and profound, often found brooding in an oak barrel.

Irish whiskey is the friendly chap, triple-distilled to avoid any rough mornings after.

Bourbon is the sweet, corn-fed American, bold and unapologetic, while rye is its spicy cousin, always ready to kick up a Purim party a notch. Japanese whisky behaves in a similar manner to Scotch but has a deeper bow.

Israeli whisky, meanwhile, produced in Tel Aviv, was a year ago given the accolade of being the best malt whisky in the world.

During a Purim spiel, a rabbi joked: ‘In every generation, one must see themselves as if they had personally been liberated from Haman’s decree. This whisky is just my way of getting into character’

Each type brings its own vibe to the Purim table, proving that diversity is not just a societal virtue but a key ingredient in our drinks cabinets.

Most whisky is as kosher as your bubbe’s matzah ball soup, but the plot thickens with sherry casks.

Ageing whisky in sherry casks is like sending it on a Spanish vacation, but some worry about importing a non-kosher souvenir. The debate hinges on whether the wine’s influence makes the whisky trayf. Some say it’s fine, invoking the ‘I can’t even taste the sherry’ defence, while others look for a kosher certification as eagerly as a child searches for the afikoman. It’s a topic that can fuel a spirited Purim debate, ideally over a glass of the contentious drink itself.

Fruitful Spirits excels in the art of whisky maturation, sourcing the finest casks of whisky in the market at the most competitive prices. It can help you build your own portfolio of whisky casks, for investment, enjoyment or a bit of both.

Purim isn’t just an excuse to drink; it’s an art form. The key is to nose your whisky as if you’re trying to discern Haman’s secrets, then sip it as slowly as Esther deliberated her approach to the king. Adding water is acceptable; it’s like letting Moses part the Red Sea right there in your glass. Remember, Purim is a marathon, not a sprint. Drinking with appreciation for the craftsmanship and tradition of whisky ensures that you fulfil the mitzvah without ending up like King Ahasuerus after Vashti said “No.”

Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch:

DS Tayman Blair Athol

double wood maturation, this exquisite Scotch

pondering the kosher implications sherry

In the end, the bond between whisky and Purim is a testament to Judaism’s ability to sanctify joy, community, and even a bit of mischief. Whisky, with its diverse expressions and rich heritage, mirrors the complexity and vibrancy of Jewish life itself. Whether you’re pondering the kosher implications of sherry casks or simply looking for the perfect spirit to lift your spirits, remember: Purim is the time to celebrate our survival with laughter, a good dram, and perhaps a slightly irreverent joke or two. So raise your glass high; just make sure you can still tell Haman from Mordechai by the end of the night.

spirits, remember: Purim is good dram, and perhaps or two. So raise your

Haman from Mordechai L’chaim!

Peat’s sake! Presented at a robust 51.31 percent ABV, with a full spectrum of flavour from its double wood maturation, this exquisite Scotch entices with indulgent notes of white chocolate chunks, spicy red wine, and a hint of aniseed, balanced by the influence of Bordeaux wine barriques. Don’t let its high ABV intimidate you – it surprises with a smooth yet complex character, wrapping into a full-bodied and lingering finish. From £59.99

Blended Scotch: Johnnie Walker Blue Label

acter, wrapping into a full-bodied and lingering

Scotch whisky, o ering a velvety combination of sweet, that exceptional depth and complexity of its rare and aged

Japanese: Yamazaki 12-Year-Old

As harmonious as a karaoke night in Kyoto. Smooth, with a chance of enlightenment. A pioneering single malt from Japan, o ering a harmonious blend of fruity and spicy flavours, with a woody finish. From £130

Canadian: Crown Royal XR

For when you want to impress your in-laws, or make them jealous. A premium and luxurious blended Scotch whisky, o ering a velvety combination of sweet, fruity flavors with a hint of peat smoke, delivering a remarkably smooth and rich taste that showcases the exceptional depth and complexity of its rare and aged whiskies. From £146

So smooth, it’s almost apologetic. Classic Canadian. An extra-rare blend of Canadian whisky, known for its smoothness and richness with notes of vanilla, spice and dried fruit.

From £105

American: Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15-Year-Old

Rarer than a quiet day on the internet. A bourbon treasure. A highly sought-after bourbon known for its complex flavours of caramel, spice and fruit with a smooth, long finish. From £972

Israeli: Milk & Honey Apex Dead Sea

So smooth, it’s almost apologetic. Classic Cana-

Aged in the Dead Sea, so it’s basically a spa treatment in the unique climate of the Dead Sea, o ering

ADDITIONAL SELECTIONS

Aged in the Dead Sea, so it’s basically a spa treatment for your liver. An innovative whisky aged in the unique climate of the Dead Sea, o ering a rich and complex profile with notes of fruit, chocolate and sea breeze. From £122

Ardbeg Uigeadail Like a bonfire party in your mouth. Smoky, peaty and unapologetically Scottish. A deep, rich whisky combining smoke, sea salt and sweet caramel flavours. From £57

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The whisky cask market is unregulated in the UK and like any asset, the value may fluctuate. Rarely, casks can lose spirit due to leakage, which will impact potential returns. When considering purchasing casks of whisky, it is important to be aware of the associated risks, which will be discussed in detail as part of the consultation.

Business / Climate tech

By Candice Krieger candicekrieger@googlemail.com

UK AND ISRAEL TEAM UP TO TACKLE CLIMATE CRISIS

Ten Israeli companies visited London last week as part of a delegation jointly organised by UK Israel Business (UKIB) and Climate First, where they met investors and industry figures

Acompany that uses sunlight to cool things down and another that helps plants to endure extreme weather were among the Israeli startups who showcased their solutions in London last week.

The 10 companies were part of UK-Israel Climate First delegation, jointly organised by UK Israel Business (UKIB) and Climate First, Israel’s leading climate tech accelerator, to facilitate and drive ties between the countries.

A reception at the House of Lords was hosted by Lord Austin and Simon Walters, British ambassador to Israel. Among those speaking were UK Israel Business’ chairman Danny Kessler and executive director Dor Bershadsky, Climate First co-founders Guy Cherni and Nadav Steinmetz, and later in the day Centrica’s Lord Rosenfield. The companies then took part in meetings with more than 200 venture capitalists, investors and industry figures. This event followed last year’s successful debut.

Bershadsky said: “I’ve had the privilege to witness first-hand the growth of the Israeli climate tech ecosystem, a sector where innovation, sciences and deep-tech meets our road towards net zero. Our aim is to nurture this growth through the UK world-leading climate tech ecosystem. It’s a shared vision for our future, and we’re proud to continue our partnership with Climate First in this endeavour.”

Steinmetz said: “These have been challenging times back home in Israel, but despite that, our climate tech ecosystem continues to grow, by attracting outstanding talent. There are now over 750 climate tech companies in Israel; 50 per cent of them have launched in the past five years.

tage is strong and, four, the solutions are very sticky, and once implemented and disrupting the exciting industry, they will be very hard to change. This is the perfect storm!”

SOLCOLD

Initiated in 2016 at the Hebrew University by Yaron Shenhav, Professor Guy Ron and Gadi Grottas, SolCold has developed an innovative, patented, nano-technological coating that cools without any power consumption. The material uses the sunlight and the skyline for cooling and is most effective when it is very hot and the sun is strongest. The material can be used as a coating for cooling buildings, containers, apparels, aeroplanes and more.

In 2022 alone, $2.3bn was invested in climate tech ventures in Israel. That’s 14 cents of every venture dollar and signals more than just a trend – it’s a fundamental shift. Every sixth startup launched in Israel now is in climate tech. Israel will steadily evolve into a leading hub of climate innovation. We are excited to continue backing exceptional teams that are solving some of the greatest challenges of humanity.

Cherni cited climate change as “humanity’s biggest challenge and climate technology is our generation’s biggest financial opportunity” adding that “now is the perfect time to invest in climate tech for several reasons: one, there is a great demand from incumbents to embed new technology; two, the startups are in early stages, so the valuations are attractive; three, the companies are based on science and academic research, so the competitive advan-

Rationale: The founders saw the increasingly pressing need for more efficient means of cooling solutions, fuelling them to come up with a zero-energy consumption solution. It is a need that the founders say will grow.

Investment to date: $14m (£11m)

Location: Solcold is based in Ness Ziona, Israel and operates in Brazil, Japan, Singapore and Israel.

Where are the big opportunities for link-ups between the UK and Israel in the ClimateTech space?

Shenhav said: “We can offer excellent solutions to the oil and gas industry, the food and beverages sector and to large real estate owners, and as London serves as the headquarter to many of these global companies, it is the perfect place to showcase our technology and solution.

“As London is the base of many investment firms, many of them with increased focus on climate change – it is the perfect location to find our next investors.”

Why is Israel still so well-placed to innovate in this area?

Shenhav: “The same reasons that came to the rise of the startup nation (and Jewish success

wherever they are) – resilience, optimism, willingness to fail, and community support. This hasn’t and will not change.”

How difficult have things been amidst the conflict for the company, and how important is ongoing UK support going forward?

“We had three team members (out of 24) recruited to military service. They are returning at the end of March. We also had our share of alarms (we are located south of Tel Aviv). In the first two months we visited once-twice a week in the local shelter for 15 minutes. But we managed to mitigate these hurdles practically without delays. Resilience… The UK, USA, Germany and all the western support is of crucial importance! I cannot stress enough how we feel these days, and how important for our moral and the day-to-day activity, please don’t stop.”

CLIMATECROP

Founded in 2021 by Yehuda Borenstein, Dr Vivekanand Tiwari and Dr Erez Eliyaho, ClimateCrop specialises in developing climate-adapted plants that can endure extreme weather while maximizing yields and safeguarding global food production amidst climate uncertainty. This is done by leveraging biological techniques to amplify daily starch production and enhance photosynthetic efficiency – the ‘holy grail’ of plant enhancement programmes. This technology, which applies to any crop used for food, fibre, or energy production, was licensed from the Weizmann Institute based on research by the late Professor Avichai Danon, and where Vivek and Erez did their postdoctorates.

Rationale: The risk of losses and low yields rises with the increasing frequency of climate fluctuations throughout each crop’s growing season.

ClimateCrop aims to mitigate these risks by adapting plants to handle these changes better,

ensuring more successful seasons. ClimateCrop prides itself on being able to enhance the biology of the plant without requiring any changes to harvesting methods, investments in capital equipment, or increased inputs. All that is needed is the utilisation of the company’s improved climate-adapted crop varieties, which are more efficient and resilient.

Investment to date: $1.95m and a grant of $500,000 from Breakthrough Energy

Location: HQ & R&D – Rehovot, Israel, with Project and Asia Markets in Bangalore, India.

Where are the big opportunities for link ups between the UK and Israel in the ClimateTech space?

Borenstein said: “The UK serves as an exceptional hub for climate-focused companies and investors. We’ve identified the UK as a focal point for climate knowledge and investment within our sector. Its proximity to Israel and the robust investment ecosystem in the UK make it an ideal location to connect with professional investors who can appreciate the innovative solutions emerging from Israel.”

Why is Israel still so well-placed to innovate in this area?

Borenstein: “In Israel, we embrace challenges; they’re a part of our daily lives. Climate change is one of humanity’s greatest challenges, second only to our shortcomings. It’s a marathon challenge, demanding patience and resilience. As a people with an enduring spirit, unafraid of long journeys, the climate challenge resonates deeply with the Israeli and Jewish spirit.”

How difficult have things been amidst the conflict for the company, and how important is ongoing UK support going forward?

Borenstein: “It has been and continues to be difficult. As a startup, securing funds and finding customers demands peak performance fuelled by passion and energy. Yet, amidst tragedies – where friends and family endure unspeakable horrors – pursuing a climate startup can feel incongruous.

“In these times, we seek friends and allies who confront truth head-on, unaffected by self-interest or propaganda. The UK could play a pivotal role in this area, facing its challenges internally and externally.”

The start-ups at the delegation CarbonBlue Chiral Energies Clearly

Dor Bershadsky

Nadav Steinmetz

Guy Cherni

Yaron Shenhav

MAKING SENSE OF THE SEDRA

In our thought-provoking series, rabbis and educators relate the week’s parsha to the way we live today

BY RABBI JONATHAN TAWIL FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR TAL

Recognising the sacred in the ordinary

In the opening verses of parshat Vayikra, we encounter a seemingly mundane topic: sacrifices. Yet, beneath the surface of these ancient rituals lies a profound message about our relationship with the Divine and our fellow human beings.

The word Vayikra holds significance, as it implies a call: an invitation to draw close.

The act of sacrifice, though physical, symbolises a deeper commitment, which is a willingness to give of ourselves for the

sake of something greater. In short, it teaches us the value of selflessness and dedication.

In our modern world, the notion of sacrifice may seem foreign or outdated. However, the essence of sacrifice remains relevant.

We are called on to not only give material o erings but also to sacrifice our egos, our comforts and our time, for the betterment of society and the fulfilment of our spiritual obligations.

Moreover, the detailed instructions for each sacrifice in parshat Vayikra emphasise the importance of intentionality and mindfulness in our actions.

Every aspect, from the selection of the o ering to its preparation and presentation, is imbued with significance.

This meticulousness reminds us to approach our religious observance and interpersonal relationships with care and thoughtfulness.

Furthermore, the concept of atonement plays a central role in the sacrificial system. Through the act of o ering, individuals sought forgiveness and reconciliation with God.

This underscores the transformative power of repentance and the opportunity for renewal that it provides. In our lives, too, we are encouraged to acknowledge our mistakes, seek forgiveness and strive for spiritual growth.

It is for this reason that it is customary for children to begin learning Torah with Vayikra rather than Bereishit

This foundational text teaches us not only about the rituals of our faith

An act of kindness is an opportunity to draw closer to the Divine

but about the values and principles that guide our lives. Ultimately, Vayikra challenges us to recognise the sacred in the ordinary, to elevate our everyday actions into acts of devotion. Whether through prayer, acts of kindness, or ethical living, we have the opportunity to draw closer to the Divine and to one another.

As Rabbi Jonathan Sacks z”l

beautifully articulated: “In Judaism, the ordinary becomes sacred when we invest it with meaning, when we see in it a way of coming close to the God who created us in love and forgives us when we stray.”

May we heed this call to elevate the ordinary moments of our lives, infusing them with purpose, connection and holiness.

WE’RE HIRING

EXTERNAL AFFAIRS AND EDUCATION OFFICER

The Office of the Chief Rabbi is looking for an External Affairs and Education Officer to work in the areas of interfaith, political engagement, social responsibility and education. The role is suited to someone who understands our community, has strong communication skills and is proactive and well-organised.

Deadline for applications – 1st April. http://chiefrabbi.org/vacancies for full job description and for application information.

Progressive Judaism

LEAP OF FAITH

BY RABBIS JOSH LEVY & CHARLEY BAGINSKY CO-LEADS OF PROGRESSIVE JUDAISM

We must talk, even when we don’t agree

One of Judaism’s greatest gifts to the world is the concept of a machloket l’shem shamayim, a disagreement for the sake of heaven. It is a Jewish idea that sometimes it is in our disagreements that we can find God, so the goal is not always to agree but to argue with respect and care.

A disagreement for the sake of heaven is one that is not about our own egos but about grappling together to find the truth. It is about the struggle, rather than seeking to claim victory over those with whom we disagree.

We believe that central to the task of Progressive Judaism is that

we disagree well. That we commit to talking and to listening. We must stand in places of complexity. We must not speak in slogans and, equally important, we must not hear the voices of others as slogans, either.

There were two examples in the news this week showing the importance of our task.

The first was the speech by the director Jonathan Glazer when picking up an Oscar for his film The Zone of Interest

“Right now,” he said, “we stand here as men who refute their Jewishness and the Holocaust being hijacked by an occupation which has led to conflict for so many innocent people.”

There is much in this sentence to discuss. Many have said the wording was clumsy, and for many it was deeply hurtful. This week, 1,100 Jewish Hollywood professionals wrote a letter denouncing the speech.

It is what happens next that is crucial.

If we believe in disagreement for the sake of heaven, then it is not enough to denounce and dismiss what was said, even if we disagree. We must not seek to silence, but to engage; to continue the conversation.

So, too, with others in our community who are expressing views with which we might disagree at this difficult time.

The second example goes beyond our community, and centres on the UK government’s new definition of extremism. The government is right to deal with this issue, which is real and needs to be tackled.

Yet we share the concerns of many, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, that the response must not disproportionately target Muslim communities, pit communities against each other or make it harder to have conversations

A stimulating series where progressive rabbis consider how to navigate Judaism in the face of 21st-century issues

between faiths and di erent parts of society.

Progressive Judaism is clear that the response to our concerns is not to shut down our connections. It is rather to invest more in relationships between our communities and those organisations that can facilitate and support these. Sometimes people say things that we find painful, hurtful or

wrong, and the way to tackle those is by being in conversation.

Only by being around the table with each other, even – and especially – where we disagree, and talking and working together, can we all be part of building not just a short-term solution but long-lasting cohesion in our communities and in the wider world.

Jonathan Glazer with his Oscar for his Holcaust film The Zone of Interest

Ask our

Our trusty team of advisers answers your questions about everything from law and finance to dating and dentistry. This week: Stress-free communication, investing in bitcoin and validating a will...

SUE CIPIN CHIEF EXECUTIVE JEWISH DEAF ASSOCIATION

Dear Sue

I really hope you can help me! My mum lives alone and is housebound. She often doesn’t hear the phone ring and I panic when I can’t get hold of her.

When she does answer, she can barely hear me and it’s so hard to have a proper conversation.

Linda

Dear Linda

Yes, we can help. Our home visiting service is for people just like your mum.

We’ll send someone to visit her at home to demonstrate amplified phones with loud

JACOB BERNSTEIN

FINANCIAL SERVICES RICHDALE CONSULTANTS

Dear Jacob

The recent rocketing value of bitcoin has left me astounded and keen to invest before this rises any higher. What should I know about cryptocurrency and what protections do I have if I invest and something goes wrong?

Jason

Dear Jason

While cryptocurrency is of regulatory interest, I am not

in a position to advise whether one should invest in it. It is important to note that the Financial Conduct Authority warns against investing unless you are prepared to lose all of your invested capital. Nonetheless, you should be mindful of a few very important factors:

• No consumer protection. Although recent legislation gave the FCA authority to supervise the promotion of cryptocurrencies, to date there is no protection for those investing or holding crypto assets. They are not protected by the FSCS should anything go wrong and are outside the jurisdiction of the Financial Ombudsman Service.

• Highly volatile and unpredictable value. Cryptocurrency value fluctuates unexpectedly, with much greater volatility

ringers – she’ll be able to try them out and see which one she hears best with. They’re much louder and clearer than ordinary phones so she’s likely to notice a big di erence between them and the phones she currently has at home.

If she decides to buy a phone, we’ll then help her to order one for delivery to her home address. Once it’s installed, we’ll visit again and make sure she knows how to use it.

Do let us know if your mum is struggling with anything else, such as hearing the television or simply having a conversation. We’ll take along whatever she needs to try, and we’ll patiently explain how to use it.

If social services can provide any of the equipment she would benefit from, we can also make a referral to them to make sure she gets everything required to help with her hearing loss.

when compared to traditional assets like stocks and bonds.

• Unregulated exchanges. Cryptocurrencies’ popularity has led to in an increase in the number of exchanges, but lack of regulatory oversight has aided the growth of scam exchanges that may employ predatory practices. Others may have weak security, enabling scammers to steal your money without recourse.

• Digital theft. Cryptocurrencies are stored in crypto wallets, either online through a crypto exchange or wallet provider, or o ine in devices like hard drives. Online wallets are targets for cybercriminals (more than £1.72bn was stolen in 2023), and o ine wallets are accessed with digital keys, which if lost can render their contents inaccessible.

CAROLYN ADDLEMAN DIRECTOR OF LEGACIES KKL

Dear Carolyn I’ve recently found a Will written by my uncle which is signed by him and witnessed by one person. I have now been told that it isn’t a valid Will. Can you shed some light on why?

David

Dear David

I am grateful to you for

raising this fundamental point. You don’t say whether it was a professionally prepared Will or was an ‘o the shelf Will’ available in stationers or online. It is easy to forget that even the most precise legal work and thorough drafting can be rendered useless by a mistake when the Will is signed.

Two independent adult witnesses of sound mind are required when you sign your Will and both should

be present when you sign. A beneficiary of a Will cannot be a witness otherwise any gift to them in the Will becomes void. I would define ‘independent’ as not being a beneficiary or the spouse or partner of a beneficiary and as a ‘belt and braces’ measure, I would extend this to exclude any close relatives of such a beneficiary. A lot of people think that a person named as an executor of a Will cannot witness it but they can act as a witness as long as they are deriving no benefit from the Will.

If you need to make any handwritten alterations to the Will before signing them, make sure you and your two witnesses initial them in the adjacent margin.

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

HUMAN RESOURCES / EMPLOYMENT LAW

DONNA OBSTFELD

Qualifications:

• FCIPD Chartered HR Professional

• 25 years in HR and business management.

• Mediator, business coach, trainer, author and speaker

• Supporting businesses and charities with the hiring, managing, inspiring and firing of their staff

DOHR LTD 020 8088 8958 www.dohr.co.uk donna@dohr.co.uk

ACCOUNTANT

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

SOBELL RHODES LLP 020 8429 8800

www.sobellrhodes.co.uk

a.shelley@sobellrhodes.co.uk

CHARITY EXECUTIVE

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

JEWISH BLIND & DISABLED 020 8371 6611

www.jbd.org

Lisa@jbd.org

CAREER ADVISER

LESLEY TRENNER

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

RESOURCE

020 8346 4000

www.resource-centre.org

office@resource-centre.org

PRIVATE HEALTHCARE SPECIALIST

TREVOR GEE

Qualifications:

• Managing director, consultant specialists in affordable family health insurance

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

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

• LLB solicitors finals

• Member of Chartered Insurance Institute

PATIENT HEALTH

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

ISRAEL PROPERTY

ILAN RUBINSTEIN

Qualifications:

& MORTGAGE BROKER

• UK born, licenced Israel estate agent in Israel since 2001

• Ilan assists in buying, financing & re-sale of new & existing property in Israel.

• Helps level the playing field opposite vendors, developers & even the bank

• Attentive to your needs, saving you time, hassle & money

I.L.A.N. ESTATES & INVESTMENTS “Bringing Jews Home” UK: 0203-807-0878 ISRAEL: +972-504-910-604 www.ilanrealestate.com nadlan@hotmail.com

JEWELLER

JONATHAN WILLIAMS

Qualifications:

• Jewellery manufacturer since 1980s

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

FINANCIAL SERVICES (FCA) COMPLIANCE

JACOB BERNSTEIN

Qualifications:

• A member of the APCC, specialising in financial services compliance for:

• Mortgage, protection and general insurance intermediaries;

• Lenders, credit brokers, debt counsellors and debt managers;

• Alternative Investment Fund managers;

• E-Money, payment services, PISP, AISP and grant-making charities.

RICHDALE CONSULTANTS LTD

020 7781 8019

www.richdale.co.uk

jacob@richdale.co.uk

FINANCIAL SERVICES

JOE OZER

Qualifications:

• Executive director for the United Kingdom at DCI (Intl) Ltd

• Worked in finance for more than 20 years

• Specialists in distribution and promotion of Israel Bonds

DEVELOPMENT COMPANY FOR ISRAEL

020 3936 2712

www.israelbondsintl.com

joe.ozer@israelbondsintl.com

GOAL ATTAINMENT SPECIALIST

DR BEN LEVY

Qualifications:

• Doctor of psychology with 15 years’ experience in education and corporate sectors

• Uses robust, evidence-based methods to help you achieve your goals, whatever they may be

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

CAROLYN ADDLEMAN

Qualifications:

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

DIRECTOR OF LEGACIES

• 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

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

REMOVALS MANAGING DIRECTOR

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

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

• Works with clients individually to maximise success

MAKE IT HAPPEN

07779 619 597

www.makeit-happen.co.uk ben@makeit-happen.co.uk

SUE CIPIN OBE

Qualifications:

CHARITY EXECUTIVE

• 24 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

JEWISH DEAF ASSOCIATION

020 8446 0502

www.jdeaf.org.uk mail@jdeaf.org.uk

PRINCIPAL, PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL

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

DANCING WITH LOUISE

075 0621 7833

www.dancingwithlouise.co.uk

Info@dancingwithlouise.com

Fun, games and prizes

THE JEWISH NEWS CROSSWORD

11 Female rabbit (3)

12 Morally proper (7)

13 Blue Shoes, Presley song (5)

14 Culinary pulveriser (6)

16 Plus (2,4)

19 Farmland units (5)

21 Make more secure (7)

23 Try to win the affection of (3)

24 Sudden thrust (5)

25 Take away (7)

26 Tending flocks (11)

DOWN

2 Dog’s restraining chain (5)

3 Appendix to a will (7)

4 Wax light with a wick (6)

4 Grow wider (6)

5 ___ basket, wickerwork carrycot (5)

6 Bishop’s area (7)

7 Signal to take action (4-2,4)

ACROSS

1 Faint, indistinct (7)

8 Dried stalks of corn (5)

WORDSEARCH CROSSWORD CODEWORD

SUDOKU

SUDOKU

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

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

5 Now broadcasting (2,3)

6 Noise of artillery (7)

7 Touch lightly with the elbow (5)

10 Of clothes, reaching the middle of the leg (4-6)

15 Squash (7)

17 With vision (7)

18 Heavy uninteresting food (6)

5 Church keyboard instrument (5)

20 Lottery (5)

13 Commensurate (3,4)

15 Government trade ban (7)

16 Worship, ritual (7)

SUGURU

SUGURU

17 Soul, mind (6)

18 Deceiver (5)

19 Pet rabbit’s home (5)

22 Practise for a feat of endurance (5)

21 Game similar to bingo (5)

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.

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.

CODEWORD

The listed words to do with Trooping the Colour can all be found in the grid. Words may run either forwards or backwards, in a horizontal, vertical or diagonal direction, but always in a straight, unbroken line.

In this finished crossword, every letter of the alphabet appears as a code number. All you have to do is crack the code and fill in the grid. Replacing the decoded numbers with their letters in the grid will help you to guess the identity of other letters. with

In this finished crossword, every letter of the alphabet appears as a code number. All you have to do is crack the code and fill in the grid. Replacing the decoded numbers with their letters in the grid will help you to guess the identity of other letters.

LL IE RY G

KLA N TST D

IOI AR UM

BB POE RB U

MA DHR SI

EAEAA CI N

GM S ELS O

ATS DN AB H

SH IR EAP

OM P ETE U

ATE PM UR TE

See next issue for puzzle solutions.

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

See next issue for puzzle solutions.

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

Last issue’s solutions

Sudoku Suguru Wordsearch Codeword

Happy holidays from Carmel Winery

The leading kosher winery in Eretz Israel