www.jewishnews.co.uk
30 MARCH 2017
Edited by Brigit Grant
Supplement
SCHOOLS OUT FOR SEDER!
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Jewish News 30 March 2017
Passover / Schools Out For Seder
SUCCESS on a plate
CHILDREN PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THIS PESACH SUPPLEMENT Among the mix of Moses toys and kids’ cookery, rabbis, shopkeepers, designers, and even wine makers reflect on Passovers of their youth. But it is with these personalised seder plates representing their schools that children make the greatest contribution. Created by pupils at Etz Chaim, Mathilda Marks Kennedy, Rosh Pinah and Wolfson Hillel, the work speaks for itself . We thank them for their efforts and wish them a happy Passover! (See more plates at jewishnews.co.uk)
Oliver
Sophie
Elisa
Madison
Hollie Talia
Louis Rachel
ETZ CHAIM The Year 5 pupils at Etz Chaim were asked to create ‘unique’ seder plates as part of their home learning. “Why ‘unique’?” wrote their teacher Ivana Levy. “Because the seder plate represents you and YOU are unique.” Year 5 also worked in groups to make a seder plate for the school, which features on our front page.
Izzy
30 March 2017 Jewish News
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Schools Out For Seder / Passover
ROSH PINAH “You put the karpas in, the karpas out. In out, in out and shake it all about,” wrote Lin Carr on one of the many colourful plates produced by Rosh Pinah pupils. On one, plate bitter herbs were represented as illness – “which stops you from playing with your friends at school”.
Sophia
Jessica
Jamie
Avi Sam
Elijah
Gabriella
Joshua
Eden
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Jewish News 30 March 2017
Passover / Schools Out For Seder
WOLFSON HILLEL Sharing, team work and care for the community were dominant themes on the plates created by Years 5 and 6 at Wolfson Hillel, where students used a combination of photography and drawings to convey the school’s philosophy.
Katie
Elodie
Sophie
Naomi
Wishing our clients a Happy Passover
Oscar
MATHILDA MARKS-KENNEDY “The school is a happy place” seemed to be the general consensus among the pupils at Mathilda Marks-Kennedy where, according to India (plate below), “We have rules and they are wonderful and nice.” Reuben sums it up most efficiently with his five stars, claiming: “I rate this school.”
Rachel
30 March 2017 Jewish News
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Schools Out For Seder / Passover
Amy
India
Libby
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Jewish News 30 March 2017
Passover / Alternative 10 Plagues
“...And we’ll have a bottle of Nile Water, please!”
“The Pyramids? Down the frog and toad and you’ll see them on your left.”
“What do you mean you’ll check his hair for lice? Those are the lice. He’s bald!”
“Tomorrow will bring the most violent storm ever to hit Egypt with savage hail, fire and boundless, devastation. ‘We have called it Storm Tarquin’.”
“Waiter, there’s a hair in my soup”
“We’ve got twelve acres to devour. Trust me, Lionel, you don’t need a starter!”
A funny thing happened on the way TO THE SEDER… Who else would we turn to for humour over the chagim than Jewish News cartoonist Paul Solomons (pictured), who at Pesach remembers: “The ritual of dipping my finger in the wine and dabbing it on a saucer as we called out the names of the 10 plagues. It was a time before handheld devices and touchscreen games, so this was the best fun a child could have using just one finger. Happy Passover!”
“Tell me honestly, Imhotep, do my eyes look big in this?”
“Well I never! It’s Susan Boil!”
“Er...I think there’s been a misunderstanding. When I said big brother had been terminated, I didn’t mean the TV show!”
30 March 2017 Jewish News
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Jewish News 30 March 2017
Passover / Memories
PASSOVER Throwback Debra Barnes has her own recollections of the festival, as do these Judaica designers
“WHY IS THIS NIGHT DIFFERENT FROM ALL OTHER NIGHTS?”
LAWRENCE JUDAICA
Because of the moment when we hear Chad Gadya and Dayenu as adults and are instantly transported back to our childhood, probably at the home of our grandparents and in the company of beloved relatives, some of whom are perhaps no longer with us. My seder nights of the past were dominated by my older cousins. As the youngest child of the youngest child, I was still in school long after my cousins had graduated from university and were already well into their careers. The eldest, Robert, was an extremely clever chap and a very hard act to follow. He was working as a speech writer for Len Murray, the then General Secretary of the TUC. Needless to say, we were all happy to leave the afikoman negotiation to Robert; he always put up a very good argument and inevitably secured all the cousins an extremely good reward for its safe return. Of course, I’m not the only one with memories...
Shtender made and designed by Lawrence. lawrencejudaica.com/ shtender
With his retail store in Borehamwood, LAWRENCE JUDAICA, Zalmy Lawrence offers customers an insight into the future of Judaica with the emphasis on innovation and new look modern design. But when it comes to Passover, his best memories are firmly fixed in the past. “When I was young, I always loved Passover. My whole family would gather together and we would all have so much fun at the seder. “I remember getting a Ma Nishtana present and going on trips – the best trip was to Legoland. We always had really good food; everything was freshly cooked, my mum baked cakes and we used to make banana ice lollies by cutting them in half, putting a stick inside and freezing them – delicious! We still celebrate this way, nothing has changed except that I am older now.”
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Memories / Passover
LAURA COWAN LAURA COWAN is a British Judaica designer who now lives in Israel. For Laura (pictured, middle, with her brothers Robert and Ed), it is the taste of Pesach that is so special. “My favourite memories are of my grandparents. When I grew up, we had a very traditional seder night. It was the highlight of the year for my grandpa, and he read and sung every word of the Haggadah with such intensity and vibrancy, that I’ve been looking for a seder like it ever since. “Every year, my grandma used to say with a smile on her face: “David, not so loud, you’ll disturb the neighbours”. He also led a seder night in the barracks during his service in the Second World War. “My grandma’s eingemachtes (beetroot jam) was legendary, and she used to make jars and jars. One spoon of this sends me right back to my childhood. I would have thick layers of it on matzah for breakfast and eat it out of the jar when no one was looking. “If you haven’t tasted it before, I can imagine your hesitation, but it’s amazing. Cinnamon, lemon and ginger give it a fantastic sweet and spicy kick. The secret is to slow cook the beetroots until all the redness is gone and it becomes brown and sweet. You need to start the preparations a day in advance. It’s time consuming. And it stains your hands. And your clothes. It’s a labour of love.”
For your Judaica gifts, visit lauracowan.com
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Jewish News 30 March 2017
Passover / Oh Those Seder Nights
PASSOVER Past times
The time is fast approaching to dust off your trestle for Pesach is upon us, says Debbie Collins. As (certainly in preparation), it’s no wonder people many memories of growing up around the seder certain rabbis remember about Pesach when RABBI JONNY SPECTOR, EDGWARE “My first memories of Pesach are sitting round the seder table with my family and grandparents. My grandma always loved singing Dayenu, and my siblings and I would sing all of the songs we had learnt at school. To keep us all awake and following the story, my father would sing a special tune for the word sheneemar, which pops up many times in the Haggadah, at which point we would all join in. It kept us interested. To make my own family seder extra special, we use many props, including flying frogs, which all the children love. For Chad Gadya, we have specific sounds and noises that we make to go along with the tune. This is always something to look forward to and wakes everyone up towards the end. As a festival, my family and I love Pesach – it ranks near the top, just behind Chanukah. We have a food tradition of serving ‘sweet and sour tongue’ – something just a little bit different. I love how the whole family comes together and the excitement the children generate in looking forward to it.”
tables and hunt down the spare folding chairs, one of the biggest festivals of the Jewish calendar have so many heartwarming stories to tell of their table. Now lean in a little closer to hear what they were still in short trousers (or skirts).
fairly standard Anglo-traditional seder, but the most unique part were the stories my grandma would tell during the meal. When I lead the seder, I have two bags of different types of sweets, which the participants (young and old) receive for either asking great questions or answering the questions I ask. Seder night is perhaps my favourite night of the year as there is so much preparation that goes into it. I love how the kids get involved in setting things up, the ideas they learn and share and having the guests at our table participate in the whole experience. The sedarim is the highlight for me, especially the communal one, which my family and I host every year for the community. I look forward to the special chametz-free diet and ‘matzah pizza’ is one of those delicacies you don’t get every day, which makes it special.”
RABBI DOVID KATZ, CHABAD, WEST HAMPSTEAD
“As a child, we didn’t celebrate Pesach – perhaps it was no coincidence I was the fifth son, so there was no place for me! I became more religious as I grew older and Pesach has become a highly celebrated festival for my family. As a child, my siblings and I would go to sleep as early as possible on Christmas Eve, ready to wake early and enjoy the festivities. As a parallel, my own kids now make sure they get the most amount of sleep possible the night before seder so they can stay up late into the night and participate in all of the songs and activities. Pesach has very much replaced the excitement of Christmas for me, and our family often acts out the wonderful stories as little plays, each getting to play a particular character and launching props like ping pong balls and toy frogs around the table. One year, during the explanation of the ‘death of the first born’, we all keeled over, pretending to be dead. My youngest daughter was horrified and cried her eyes out! Each Pesach, I also really look forward to my wife’s ‘shepherd’s pie’.”
“I remember being five or six at my cousins’ house in Israel. It was a very traditional seder, with more than 25 people there. We would learn portions each year in different languages, including Russian, French and English. My cousins and I would play crazy challenges such as eating a ‘Shmurah matzah’ within four minutes, no water, nothing! We would then eat marror until our eyes burned and we rolled around with laughter – I can still remember the burning pain of it. I don’t think our elders were amused, but as kids we exploded with laughter. Through Chabad, we now host a communal seder both nights at the London Marriott Hotel Regents Park. It’s wonderful seeing the smiles round the table and the fun we have singing Echad Mi Yodea and watching the children search for the afikoman, for which everyone is rewarded! We split the hall so the service can be conducted both in Hebrew and in English – everyone should have the chance to understand the service. Towards the end, we come together and complete the evening. We have costumes for all of the plagues and we put together 10 boxes of ‘plagues’ that get opened along the way – it gets pretty crazy. With the changeover of Pesach, we buy new suits every year, which is so special. I really look forward to eating salmon omelettes, which are my favourite thing. That, and homemade ice cream.”
RABBI ALAN GARBER, SHENLEY
RABBI BINYAMIN BAR, WESTCLIFF-ON-SEA
RABBI JOHNNY HUGHES, RADLETT
“I remember my childhood sedarim with my family growing up in Kenton, back to when I was about five years old. I remember late nights and my mum’s yummy seder night food, especially her home-made charoset, made with lots of strong wine. My parents always had single people over who would otherwise not have had a seder to go to. We had a
“When I think of my first seder memories, I’m aged about six or seven. It was very children-focused and my father always led the seder with great humour and lots of laughter. We would bake our own matzah with other family groups, everyone sitting surrounded with pillows and my father on the house’s most comfortable couch. He would sing
Chad Gadya in other languages, such as Arabic, and there was much lengthy bargaining between my father and whoever was lucky enough to have found the afikoman regarding the reward. For my own seder, I invite Jews from all levels of observance and try to share with them the message of Pesach in a way they can all relate and feel special about being Jewish. It’s such a special festival, by far the most hard-working one, but the hard work pays off. That amazing feeling on the first night of seder, when everything looks sparkling and feels holy is indescribable.”
RABBI SHAUL ROSENBLATT, TIKUN, LONDON “I must have been about six or seven, eyes wide, as I watched my two brother-in-laws getting mightily drunk and dancing round the seder table. Growing up in Liverpool, we were a traditional family with a small but tight community. Seder night was always a huge celebration with our wider family– there were never fewer than 20 or 30 people – and the service was always led
by my father in Hebrew. As I grew up, I started to rebel, hating Shabbat dinner and the religious ideas put forward to me. However, a chance meeting with a rabbi who spoke at my school was a turning point and through a series of events, including spending seder night and the whole of Shabbat with him, I loved it again in a different way. I saw that ideas aren’t something to be afraid of. Today by contrast, I conduct the whole seder in English, so everyone should feel included. Pesach is such a big festival and has a great importance for me that I even wrote my own translation of the Haggadah, which I printed and personalised. With eight kids and three grandkids, that’s many years of fun we have had, especially with the plagues. One year even featured live locusts! This year, I’m working on live frogs.”
RABBI LAURA JANNER-KLAUSNER, EAST FINCHLEY “I think I have my first memories of being around five years old, around a very large and extremely raucous seder with my grandparents, Barnett and Elsie, who were desperately trying to keep the “children’s table” quiet. My late father Greville led the service so beautifully, with lots of singing and extended family, plus extra guests who needed a seder. Pesach is by far my favourite festival and today I come together with many others for seder, including my friend, Rabbi Shulamit Ambalu. She is from an Afghani family and we now practise her tradition of using spring onions, gently slapped on our backs during Dayenu to re-enact being whipped! I always look forward to foods such as fried eggy matzah – it may not be so healthy, but it’s very tasty!”
30 March 2017 Jewish News
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Jewish News 30 March 2017
Passover / Something Different
SHAKE UP that seder
Bored with the ‘same old, same old’ style of your Pesach service? Then why not turn over a new leaf in your Haggadah? Deborah Cicurel finds some interesting alternatives... WE ALL HAVE OUR PASSOVER QUIRKS: Some people whack each other with spring onions, others dance around the seder plate and there are a few who make animal noises and dress up as ancient Egyptians. But why let it stop there? If you really want to discover why this night is different from all other nights, there are plenty of unusual or just plain wacky ideas to emulate. Here are my favourites...
SOCIALIST SEDER
The Passover story is always a fascinating one, and socialist seders delve deep into it: the 10 plagues, the bread of affliction, the ongoing issues of hunger and poverty, the exit from Egypt and the rule of Pharaoh. The festival about liberation is the perfect starting point for modern discussions about slavery and oppression both past and present.
MUSICAL SEDER
Sure, we all have the songs we learned at mock seders in school – and attempted to recreate for years and years after, while never really hitting the right notes – but have you really ever tried to shake up the symphonies at the seder? There are original hip hop albums mixing up your favourite classic Passover songs, and if you really get stuck for remixed Pesach inspiration, there are always classic spoof songs such as The Adele/Bieber Passover Mashup or Uptown Passover on YouTube.
THE FEMINIST SEDER
Feminism in Judaism is always an interesting topic, and Passover is no different. Feminist seders have become all the rage of late, with pro-women Pesach stances including putting an orange on the seder plate (after an elderly male rabbi reportedly said: “A woman belongs on the bimah like an orange belongs on the seder plate”) and incorporating a feminist Haggadah into the proceedings (poems by feminist writers ). Or, if you don’t want to switch up your traditional seder plate or Haggadot, you could simply leave time for discussion at the table about inspirational female Jewish leaders, such as associate justice of the US Supreme Court, Ruth Bader Ginsburg (pictured), and women’s roles in the Exodus, or have an inspirational woman lead your seder.
INTERFAITH SEDER Who says seders have to be exclusively Jewish? A new Haggadah, Haggadah for Jews & Buddhists: A Passover Ritual,, appeals to families of mixed religions, and links the traditional Pesach story and rituals with age-old Buddhist concepts. Plenty of churches host interfaith seders, too, where Jews and non-Jews can learn about the Passover story and its common themes of liberty, freedom and justice.
THOUGHTFUL SEDER
As much as slavery might seem like an antiquated concept, it’s impossible to forget that the shackles of slavery still affect people in 2017. That’s why it’s worth spending time during your seder talking about it – and to help you focus, there are social justice Haggadot to educate you about the continued problems in the modern world. One of them, Invisible: The Story of Modern Day Slavery, asks on its front cover: “Can you, unshackled, set someone else free?”
EXOTIC SEDER
If the usual get-together in your dining room isn’t going to cut it this year, why not travel to an exotic holiday destination and enjoy a public group seder with other like-minded travellers? With countries such as Uganda, Nepal and Thailand hosting group seders for hundreds of visiting students, businesspeople and backpackers, public Passover gatherings are a great way to immerse yourself in the local culture and meet vibrant Jewish communities in places you might not expect them to be.
WHITE HOUSE SEDER
Since 2009, then-President Barack Obama held an annual seder in the White House, where the Haggadah was recited, and the themes of the Pesach story and their relation to modern events were recounted. Will this happen again this year with America’s new President, Donald Trump? We can only imagine so, given his daughter Ivanka’s conversion to Judaism. And when Trump shouts: “Next year in Jerusalem!”, will he be referring to the American embassy in Israel? Only time will tell.
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30 March 2017 Jewish News
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Jewish News 30 March 2017
Passover / Nourishing Recollections
MEMORIES at the market
To stop you wondering how your local kosher shop owner spent Passover as a kid, Louisa Walters asked the question RIVKAH SCHTRAKS, BKOSHER GOLDERS GREEN
DANIEL ELIMELECH, JERUSALEM MALAWACH
“My parents originally came from Constantine, Algeria, but I grew up in a little village in France called Rebais near a Sephardi yeshiva. Every Passover, after we had cleared the house of chametz, my father would grill a large shoulder of lamb on the barbecue for us to eat. At the seder table, we had a huge copper seder plate – huge! This had been passed down from generation to generation. Every time the words ‘matzah’ or ‘chametz’ or ‘pesach’ was said at the seder, we had to lift the plate high above our heads. Now I am following Chabad minhagim in my husband’s family tradition (his father was from the Ukraine) and we only eat fresh meat, vegetables and fruit at Pesach.”
“When we were kids, my father used to hide not one afikoman, but five, so all the kids would find one! Every child was convinced that the one he/she found was the ‘real’ one. Now I’m the adult hiding the afikoman, but I only hide one! I love eating chocolate spread on wet matzah at Passover – everyone should try it – and for breakfast, instead of scrambled eggs on toast with salmon, I dip matzah in eggs and make a matzah omelette.”
JOSEPH COHEN, BKOSHER EDGWARE “We used to have all our cousins over for the first seder night. There were around 70 people squashed across five tables in my parents’ living room. Ma Nishtana took well over an hour until all the kids had finished. The seder tended to end around 3am – sometimes as late as 4am! I have fond memories of a sparkling home, a beautifully set table with lots of silverware and my mother’s most delicious food. She used recipes from Aleppo, where our family originates. They included mechsi (stuffed onions and courgettes) and kibeh la metsia (mince stuffed into a crispy textured crumble). We also used to drink mate, an Argentinian green tea, after the meal was over.”
JOSHUA LENES, TAPUACH “I grew up in Jerusalem as the third youngest of 10 children. At the start of the seder, we would all sit very quietly waiting for ‘the speech’. My father would then explain to us the whole story of Passover and the service and we all sat really quietly and listened. He was so good at explaining, and this way, when the seder began, we understood everything that was going on and were able to follow the service. Now I have four children of my own so it’s my duty to explain the seder to them.”
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Wishing You All a Happy Pesach
It’s not hard to find a fish and chip restaurant in London, but if you want an award-winner, just head to Sea Pebbles in Bushey. You can also go to Hatch End, where owner Savvas Andreou has been serving fish of every kind for some 30 years, while making friends with his devoted clientele. Although the family hails from Cyprus, Savvas, his wife, Maria, and son, Chris, have dipped more haddock in matzah meal than the League of Jewish women and know the dates of all the chagim. “We have to,” says Chris, who is based in Bushey. “Our Yom Tov orders are big, so when it comes to preparing fish for breaking the fast on Yom Kippur, we usually fry between 2-3,000 pieces of fish.” If the Andreou family have a favourite word, it is “fresh”, as nothing frozen passes through the door of their restaurants, which is why they have customers schlepping from Brighton to eat their fish and chips. That’s right, not even seaside servings of cod can compete with Sea Pebbles, which runs the gamut on its menu, offering everything from haddock, sea bream and salmon fillet, to sea bass and lemon sole....it’s all there and, after tasting it, you will realise why Sea Pebbles has won so many awards and could soon pick up another at the Fish Federation Awards in May. With the Greek restaurant Mosfilo in Hatch End as part of their stable, it would seem the family has enough customers to feed, but they are expanding and, although it’s a bit hush, hush, word has it that NW7 will soon be enjoying their award-winning fish and chips, so let Brighton know. (seapebbles.co.uk)
30 March 2017 Jewish News
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Jewish News 30 March 2017
Passover / L’chayim
WINE IT UP Drinking Israeli wine is a sure way to bring the ‘Promised Land’ to your celebrations, but what to drink? asks Ken Stephens. Growing up and working at the Golan Heights Winery has made Tali Sendovski and Yael Gai experts. Here are their memories and recommendations PESACH MEMORIES Tali Sendovski, Winemaker at Golan Heights Winery “I was born and raised in Moshav Nahalal in a big family. Pesach was always a fun holiday for me because our entire family sat together and we always had good food, good wines and a lot of singing. One year, just before Pesach, I rescued our house from a fire. I was about 12 and alone at home when I smelled something strange. I went into the kitchen and saw fire coming out of the refrigerator. I turned off all the electricity and started to throw buckets of water to put out the fire. The kitchen was black and the refrigerator and the food in it was all ruined, but we still managed to have a happy Pesach.”
Yael Gai, International Sales & Marketing Manager, Golan Heights Winery “When I was around 10, we spent Pesach with my grandparents in Bnei Brak. When it came to the afikoman, my siblings and I were asked what we wanted to receive in exchange for its return. My siblings, all younger than me, asked for presents as kids do, but when it came to me, I announced I had a special gift in mind. I wanted my beloved grandfather to quit smoking. Without that promise, I would not return the afikoman (which was still hidden and only I knew where it was!). My grandfather said he could only promise to smoke less, but I stood strong, even though the table was in uproar. I kept the afikoman and went to sleep with it, only to be woken by my grandfather who wanted a compromise: to cut back on smoking and take me on a day trip. That was the longest seder we ever experienced as kids (thanks to me) and the one I remember the most vividly, thanks to the special request I made for the sake of having a healthy grandfather. We enjoyed his company for three more years before he passed away. To this day, when we reach the afikoman part of the seder, the whole family still remembers this story and I wish everyone a healthy and happy Passover!”
1ST CUP Kiddush: Hermon Indigo
2ND CUP Maggid: Galil Mountain Avivim Upper Galilee
This light red wine will bring spring to your table and put everyone in a mood for celebration. The Syrah grapes in Hermon Indigo wine create extremely harmonious fruit flavours that make this wine very ‘friendly’ and enjoyable, with a unique deep purple colour.
Full of life, with an impressive richness of flavour, you can almost taste the rolling green hills of Galil, where the grapes were grown. An exquisite blend of Chardonnay and Viognier grapes’ varieties, Galil Avivim will pleasantly surprise your palate with its flavours of peach, green apple, pear, tropical fruit and vanilla.
3RD CUP Korech: Gamla Cabernet Merlot The Cabernet SauvignonMerlot is always a crowdpleaser. It combines two of the most popular varieties of grape and is aged for a year in oak barrels to add complexity and flavour. This wine will enhance your most gastronomic Pesach dishes. A terrific wine for a bountiful seder meal, whether one is feasting on lamb or beef.
4TH CUP
Hallel: Yarden T2 A perfect wine to wrap up the long evening, Yarden T2 is produced from two varieties of Portuguese grapes – Touriga Nacional and Tinta. This Porto-style rich wine was fortified with brandy to stop its fermentation and increase its alcohol content while preserving the grapes’ natural sweetness. With the aromatic blend of ripe cherries and plums in the scent, this is a sweet and sophisticated wine that isn’t heavy on the palate.
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Playtime / Passover
TOY Story
Build this raised-eyebrow Moses and attach comandments while singing Everything Is Awesome from The Lego Movie.
One way of keeping the children (and some adults) occupied at the table is a distraction and there is none greater than the prophet himself â&#x20AC;&#x201C; albeit in plastic Comes with its own burning bush. If the picture on the box is correct, this Moses can waterski backwards.
Before Moses started wearing tabards and sandals, he was all about the Egyptian armour, as modelled by this almighty hero.
This Moses comes complete with staff and tablets, but no Wi-Fi connection. Moses was much bigger in real life, but this doll is an actual size Charlton Heston. Apparently.
For a lifestyle less ordinary We wish all of our members and guests a
happy passover! Muswell Hill The Avenue N10 2QE 020 8482 3000
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Jewish News 30 March 2017
Passover / Grandparents’ Rights
When will I see you AGAIN? Festivals are a painful time for grandparents who are estranged from their grandchildren. Alex Galbinski speaks to members of a group fighting for access
W
hen you think of a seder night, you picture the generations huddled together around the table. The grandparents are kvelling as they watch the younger grandchildren sing the Ma Nishtana, while they in turn squeal in excitement at the prospect of finding the afikoman. But this won’t be the case for Elaine, a grandmother of two. She is beside herself with anxiety; for the past three months she has been denied any contact with Hannah, her sevenyear-old granddaughter. Hannah’s mother, who is divorced from Elaine’s son, has taken umbrage that he is having a baby with his new wife. “These past months have been hell and I don’t know when it’s going to end. Worst of all I know it’s not what Hannah wants because we are so close, ” explains the 63-year-old. “It’s heartbreaking. My husband and I are not sleeping at night – we’re talking about it 24/7. I’m wondering what Hannah’s thinking – does she think we don’t care or don’t love her anymore? We’re a close-knit family and we’re all on edge.” Elaine has been prevented from seeing Hannah before, once going without contact for nine months. In better times, they spoke each week and Hannah’s father is now seeking access to her through solicitors. Unlike in other countries, grandparents in the UK do not have automatic legal rights to contact their grandchildren. In some cases, they have to apply to the family court for permission, then, if this is granted, they have to formally apply to see their grandchildren. This process could cost thousands of pounds – with no guarantee of success. Lorraine Bushell, founder of the Hendon Grandparents Support Group, a group for Jewish grand-
Lorraine Bushell speaks in the House of Commons on behalf of grandparents’ rights earlier this year
parents, is lobbying the government to make the process easier. She, along with 60 other grandparents, 12 MPs including Hendon MP Matthew Offord, Dame Esther Rantzen and divorce lawyer Vanessa Lloyd Platt went to Parliament in January to raise awareness of the plight of the estimated one million grandchildren who aren’t able to see their grandparents. This month, the group launched a petition to ask Parliament to support the rights of children to have an ongoing relationship with their grandparents. Their aim is to get 100,000 signatures to trigger a debate. Lorraine, 78, from north-west London, is reluctant to tell her story in case it worsens her situation with her son and daughter-in-law, but confirms she doesn’t have contact with her own grandchildren. “I started the group four years ago because there was nothing for Jewish grandparents,” she explains. “People think Jewish families are wonderful, and have all these get-togethers on the Yom Tovim, but it’s not always true. “It’s a very difficult topic to discuss. If you go on holiday and people ask if you have grandchildren, you don’t want to say: ‘Yes, but I don’t see them.’ We don’t say we can make it right, but we listen and try to help and put things into perspective.” Lorraine was herself terribly affected by the lack of contact with her grandchildren, which started when they were born. The oldest is now 15. “At the beginning, I thought I’d have a nervous breakdown because it was making me very ill,” she admits. “I was in floods of tears the whole time.” Lorraine compiles a scrapbook for them, should they come looking for her. “Perhaps, in the future, I can convey the message that I did want to see and get to know them. They are being brought up with only half the family and that’s not good.” Family rifts can be caused by divorce, disputes, the death of a parent or a remarriage, and sometimes the cause is small but it blows up out of proportion. Vanessa has seen many such cases in her legal practice, Lloyd Platt & Co. “Often these disputes can be caused by the most innocuous remark. A grandparent can say something they
think is helpful, but it’s seen as a parenting criticism.” Lorraine believes there is a greater role for rabbis to play in bridging the gaps between the generations. “When people get married, maybe the rabbonim could stress that family is very important and that, whatever happens, to keep that unity.” This is echoed by Jeffrey Gold, who says his daughter distanced herself from him while at university and then completely after marriage, accusing him of ‘verbally abusing’ her throughout her childhood, which he denies. “When she was pregnant, I heard about it through a friend of a friend. She never told me about the bris, never sent me any pictures.” His daughter now has four children, and Jeffrey took her to court to enable contact with them. It ruled she has to send him photographs of them every six months. “My eldest grandchild is nearly 10 and I’ve seen pictures of him, but I’ve never met him. I do cry about it. These children are missing out on the love and affection of a grandparent,” he says. “My daughter and son-in-law are purportedly frum people and I have approached their rabbi to mediate, but he refused. I believe rabbis are the ones who should bring parties together and we should agree to abide by any decision they make.” Jeffrey was diagnosed with cancer five years ago. “My biggest fear is that I’ll die without ever having met my grandchildren.” Moved by the grandparents’ suffering, Rabbi David Mason of Muswell Hill Synagogue is a supporter of the group and wants other minis-
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PEOPLE THINK JEWISH FAMILIES ARE WONDERFUL AND HAVE THESE GET-TOGETHERS BUT IT’S NOT ALWAYS TRUE
ters to be aware that grandparent estrangement is on the rise. “In the past, it was clear grandparents were part of the family structure; in the complicated nature of family life, it is now always possible that things can turn against them and they don’t have redress,” he explains. “The legal process is tricky and going to court can make the situation worse.” He agrees rabbis have a role to play in trying to bring together warring parties, but says it is more complex than just approaching the ‘other’ side. “It is hard for rabbis because the struggle is between the adult children and the grandparents and you are the rabbi of one of those sides. It might be better for rabbis to work together when there is an alienation.” Norwood chief executive Elaine Kerr describes the benefits of children having contact with grandparents as one of the most positive elements in a child’s life. “They provide consistency for children whose parents are separated,” she says and also agrees about the positive role of mediation. “Grandparents should separate out their own feelings about the children’s parents and their issues, so they do not impact on the children. Time with grandparents is often one of the things that separated couples disagree on and it takes a trained individual mediator to resolve this.”
Rachel Jaysan, a specialist family solicitor and accredited mediator who works for the Jewish Marriage Council (JMC), agrees. “Mediation is a less hostile and a more cost-effective way to resolve familial disputes [than going to court],” she explains. “We work to explore whether any lines of communication can be kept open,” says Adele Weider, a family therapist at the JMC. “While understanding the enormous worth of the grandparent/ grandchild relationship, ensuring the children do not become pawns is crucial. We create different narratives by talking about what has happened from multiple perspectives.” Vanessa and fellow campaigners want to find out what grandparents think would make a difference. “We’re not saying we want to take away any of the parents’ rights, but we want some kind of situation where grandparents can’t so easily be ousted,” she says. In the meantime, people like Elaine, Gerald and Lorraine are still suffering. “It’s a complete nightmare – it’s killing me,” Elaine says. “It’s going to be a long road this time.” Hendon Grandparents Support Group can be contacted via hendongrandparents@gmail.com The petition is at https://petition. parliament.uk/petitions/188381
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Passover / Cooking With Kids
PASSOVER RECIPES
For Little Chefs
When Pesach catering starts to take its toll, let the children do the cooking, says Denise Phillips. Here are four breakfast recipes made with minimal ingredients that are the perfect substitutes for toast and cereal. All you have to do is clear up after them
Passover Blueberry Muffins I love these blueberry muffins – breakfast on the run and a lunch box snack or treat when needed! They freeze too so make them in advance. PREPARATION 15 minutes
Ingredients
150g cake meal 100g ground almonds 2 teaspoons Passover baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 110g butter 200g caster sugar 1 teaspoons vanilla essence 2 eggs 100ml milk 225g fresh or frozen blueberries (If using frozen, defrost and drain any excess liquid before cooking)
TIME COOKING 30 minutes
METHOD 1 Preheat oven to 160ºC / Gas 3.
MAKES 16 muffins
2 Line muffin tin with paper cases. 3 Mix cake meal, grounds almonds, baking powder and salt together and set aside. 4 Cream butter, sugar and vanilla essence until light and fluffy. 5 Add eggs and beat well. Add milk and cake meal mixture. Beat until combined. Stir in blueberries. 6 Fill muffin cases so they are two-thirds full. 7 Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until just golden.
Matzah Granola Breakfasts at Pesach can be a challenge to satisfy the family; this nutritious matzah cereal certainly helps to put off hunger pangs until at least 11am. It is delicious with milk or used as a topping for crumble or fruit pies. It is also super-portable for when you’re rushing out the door to visit family or doing activities with your kids. Just bag it up and go. PREPARATION 10 minutes
Ingredients
1 large box matzah (300g) – broken up into small pieces 400g pecan pieces 200g desiccated flaked coconut 200g slivered almonds 300ml honey 150ml vegetable oil 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon salt 100g raisins
TIME COOKING 20 minutes
METHOD 1 Heat oven to 180ºC/ 350ºF/ Gas mark 4.
MAKES 15-20 servings
2 Line two baking trays with non-stick baking parchment paper. 3 Combine matzah pieces, pecans, coconut and almonds in large bowl. 4 Stir honey, oil, cinnamon and salt in a medium-sized saucepan. Heat over medium-high heat until boiling. 5 Pour over the matza mixture; toss until evenly coated. 6 Spread mixture evenly onto prepared baking trays. 7 Bake 15 to 20 minutes, tossing occasionally, so that the mixture browns evenly. 8 Toss matzah mixture with raisins; let cool completely. Store in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator. It will keep for several weeks.
This Pesach some of Israel’s most vulnerable children have more than four questions to ask. Emunah can supply the answers, but only with your support. Please donate at emunah.org.uk/donate or by calling 020 8203 6066
British Emunah Fund registered charity number 215398
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Cooking With Kids/ Passover
Mediterranean Omelette
Apple Matzah Brei
This is a tasty savoury omelette made with thinly-sliced potatoes, tomatoes, olives and red peppers. It is perfect for a substantial breakfast or packed school lunch, easy to slice and to carry in a lunch box. SERVES 6 people PREPARATION 20 minutes TIME COOKING 30 minutes
Breakfast or brunch – apple matzah brei is the perfect answer. Using Pesach store cupboard ingredients this is easy to make and hopefully will satisfy hungry ‘little mouths’ for more than 10 minutes! SERVES 2-4 people PREPARATION 15 minutes TIME COOKING 10 minutes
Ingredients
Ingredients
250g baby new potatoes –thinly sliced 1 small red onion – peeled 1 red pepper – cored and roughly chopped 12 cherry tomatoes, cut in half 12 black olives – cut in half 2 tablespoons olive oil 6 eggs Salt and freshly ground black pepper
METHOD 1 Cook the potatoes in boiling water for about five to eight minutes until just soft. Drain and set aside. Slice the onion into rings. 2 Heat two tablespoons of the olive oil into a 20cm heavy based frying pan. 3 Add the sliced potatoes and the onions and cook over a low heat for about 10 minutes until the potatoes are just golden. Remove from the heat. 4 In a large bowl, whisk the eggs together. Season well. Add the chopped red pepper, cooked potatoes, onions, tomatoes and olives. 5 Line the frying pan with baking parchment paper. 6 Heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in the frying pan. Pour in the potato mixture. Cook covered gently for 10 to 12 minutes until the mixture is set. Slide out of the pan onto a chopping board and cut into wedges.
4 large matzahs (broken into 4 cm pieces) 2 Granny smith apples – cored and finely chopped 1 tablespoon honey 1 teaspoon lemon juice 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 4 large eggs 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon Passover baking powder Garnish: 1 red apple – cored and sliced
METHOD 1 Soak matzah in cold water for five minutes. Drain in a colander. 2 Chop apple, add honey and lemon juice. 3 Whisk in one tablespoon oil, egg, and salt and mix together. Gently stir in matzahs. Mix in baking powder. 4 Cut a circle of baking parchment paper, slightly bigger than the frying pan. Insert into the frying pan (this prevents the matzah brei from sticking to the frying pan). 5 Heat one tablespoon oil in a frying pan over medium heat. 6 Spread matzah mixture evenly in the frying pan, pressing gently. 7 Cook until underside is golden, about four minutes. Transfer to plates.
PASSOVER MEMORY – DENISE PHILLIPS “When I was growing up, my mother, who was a great cook, would let me help her make the almond macaroons and cinnamon balls that she made every Pesach. Wearing a little apron tied around my waist and with my sleeves rolled up, I would have to kneel on a chair so I could reach the mixture…. The recipes were her mother’s and I still use them today, with a few variations. Because I was an identical twin, my mother would always make double the mixture, so my sister and I would have enough dough to make our share of biscuits without arguing! One important lesson I learnt from my mother was to cook them on a low oven temperature, about 150ºC, so that they did not spread too much, and also to take them out when they are just cooked as they will harden as they cool.“ Mediterranean omelette
Apple matzah brei
The difference is in the detail
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Jewish News 30 March 2017
Passover / Caring Seder
The all INCLUSIVE SEDER Passover can be a challenge for parents of children with long-term illnesses and special needs. Yael Klein and Emma Shrimsley sought expert advice on how to make it work for everyone We all know how much work goes into prepping for Pesach, because every woman tells you. But enjoy the process and all the traditions because parents of special needs children – many of whom have trouble sitting still and respecting orderly boundaries – would welcome the chance to do just that. This is also true for families with a seriouslyill child who cannot participate and for whom a seder becomes even more difficult. But there are ways to make the chagim more inclusive. “You can still make seder night as calm and relaxed as possible when a special needs child is in the family,” says Doreen Winter, a social worker at Seeach Sod, one of Israel’s leading rehabilitation and educational centres for special needs and physically challenged children and adults. “Advance preparation is key,” she suggests. “And always remind yourself to stay positive and realise you can’t meet everyone’s needs at the same time. Sometimes a special needs child has to come first, but don’t neglect yourself. ”
For families who have a child with a serious or life-threatening illness, such as those supported by Camp Simcha UK, the biggest issue is often that their child cannot join them for the seder. “As we get closer to Pesach, some of our families will have a child in hospital undergoing treatment as they try to get ready for Passover,” explains Daniel Gillis, Camp Simcha’s head of services. “They may even be facing the prospect of not being able to have seder as a family, as one parent has to be with their ill child. “We can support these families in a variety of ways. Last year, we had a child who was in hospital receiving treatment for cancer and the parents were struggling to juggle all the preparation for Pesach with being at the hospital around the clock. “So we arranged for a team to do the shopping, kosher the house and get the preparations for the seder in place. We also sent in our volunteers to be with their child in the hospital so the parents
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Caring Seder / Passover could get a few hours to be with their other children, cooking and cleaning.” At Camp Simcha, each family has their own liaison officers, bringing a very bespoke service to truly answer a family’s needs. That can range from a volunteer coming in to practice the Ma Nishtanah with the youngest child while mum and dad are in hospital, or just practical support such as hospital transports.
“On one occasion, we organised a carer to come in for seder night to be with the ill child at home so the rest of the family could have their seder together,” Daniel continues. “Some of the children we support are too ill to go to school, so they are missing out on the religious and festival-based education their peers will be having in the run-up to Pesach. This is where Camp Simcha’s arts-based therapy can come in to play – with children enjoying art, music and drama sessions which tie in to the festival. “You can never predict exactly what families will need from us over Pesach. But that is what Camp Simcha is here for – to try to take the strain from families we support so they can celebrate Pesach together.”
DOREEN WINTER’S PASSOVER ADVICE • MAKE A SPECIAL HAGGADAH. A personalised Haggadah is helpful for
a child who can’t really comprehend every detail of the seder. Make it interactive with Velcro images, so you can ask ‘where is the matzah? And they can take out a felt matzah and show it to you.
• Dramatize the exodus. With your other children, act out parts of the
Haggadah with puppets, or perform a play. This makes the story more accessible and entertaining for a special needs child. • Cook their favourite food. Make food your child loves. He or she should not have to wait like everyone else to eat dinner. • Let them sleep. When your child gets tired, worked up or upset, don’t force them to stay up and participate, even if he or she is an older adult. • Plan ahead. If your child or older adult is unable to act appropriately, which may lessen the overall experience of the seder, do a shorter one just for them on a different night before Pesach so they experience it, but there is no disruption. • Set boundaries. It’s okay to set limits. Even with older adults, it’s okay to tell them: ‘You are not behaving, so you must leave the room.’ Limits are like hugs: they teach the child that you care about them and that they have self-respect.
Seeach Sod in Jerusalem offers a multitude of services to enhance life for those with special needs as well as their parents and family members. (seso.co.il/en/) Camp Simcha UK supports families coping with serious childhood illness. It does this through a range of 20 plus practical, emotional and therapeutic support services. (campsimcha.org.uk)
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Jewish News 30 March 2017
Passover / Giving
PASSOVER Charity
“ALL WHO ARE HUNGRY, LET THEM COME AND EAT...”
North Nort t h Lond L London’s ond d on on’s s
Largest Mobility C Centre entre
...is part of the seder script, but when we say it, do we really mean it? Currently, 22 percent of Israelis live below the poverty line, and the charity Meir Panim (known as Manna in the UK) is at the forefront of ensuring they are not abandoned. This year, branches of Meir Panim are hosting seders in cities across Israel for those in need. In Tzfat, 90 guests are expected, while the Dimona branch will host 200. And in Or Akiva, Meir Panim has matched 250 needy individuals with local host families for seder night. Every effort is being made to ensure that all who are hungry can truly ‘come and eat’. For those who would rather celebrate in their own homes, Meir Panim is distributing more than 2,000 food shopping cards. Passover is particularly hard, with the high price of kosher for Passover food making it almost prohibitively expensive for those already in reduced circumstances. Meir Panim’s pre-loaded card, which looks like a regular credit card, gives recipients a dignified way to choose the foods and household goods they want, and then ‘pay’ just like regular customers at the till. For those unable to shop for themselves, such as elderly Holocaust survivors and the homebound, Meir Panim is delivering 2,000 holiday food baskets filled with premium items such as meat, fish and fresh produce in addition to matzah, wine and other Passover necessities. The goal of Meir Panim’s efforts is to provide the poor not only with food, but also the dignity and ability to celebrate the holiday of freedom. For more information visit mannauk.org/passover-donation-opportunity
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Travel Exodus / Passover
HUNGARY for attention Goulash soup and the largest shul in Europe: Budapest’s claims to fame may not make it the most sought-after city for a break. Louisa Walters discovers it has much more to offer
D
espite being divided into three separate towns – hilly, tranquil Buda and Obuda on the western side of the Danube and flat, bustling Pest on the eastern side – the city of Budapest is relatively compact and much of it can be traversed by walking (I was excited to see how my daily steps and kms notched up on my fitness app). On arrival, after dropping our bags at the centrally located Corinthia Hotel, we headed straight to the New York Café, a magnificent tearoom with red carpets, cherubs on the ceiling and gilt décor, plus a string quartet to entertain diners. Thus re-energised, we wandered the whole length of Vaci Utca (Budapest’s answer to Oxford Street) and sampled a freshly made Kürtőskalács, or chimney cake, which is like sweet flattened crusty bread rolled in sugar – delicious! We popped in to the Central Market Hall, a calmer, more ordered version of London’s Borough Market, and later dined at Babel, one of the city’s newer restaurants. The next day, we did a four-hour walking tour with a fascinating Jewish guide. She took us to Heroes’ Square for a potted history of Hungary’s leaders, who are commemorated in statues and from there walked us through the City Park, past the famous Gundel restaurant, a Budapest institution along Oslo Court lines, but much grander and much more expensive, towards the Szechenyi Spa. A special feature of Budapest is the spa society; the city has 120 thermal springs with warm therapeutic waters. Buda is home to the best, Gellert Baths, while Szechenyi is one of the largest spa complexes in Europe and the first to be built in Pest. Water temperature is 74ºC and a chilly March day saw hundreds of people luxuriating in the warm outdoor springs. Next stop was the Dohany synagogue, also known as the Great Synagogue, the largest in Europe, which can hold more than 3,000 people – the ladies’ gallery is two-tiered. Theodore Herzl was born in a house next door in 1860. The area around the shul became a ghetto in 1944 for six weeks, during which 14,000 Jews died and many thousands more were sent to Auschwitz. In total, 600,000 of Hungary’s Jews died during the war and there is a beautiful cemetery garden in the synagogue complex where 2,000 of those ghetto dwellers are buried in mass graves. Also there is the Raoul Wallenberg Memorial Park, home to the Holocaust memorial, the Emanuel Tree, which has the names of Hungarian Jews killed inscribed on its metal leaves. The memorial was sponsored by the Emanuel Foundation, which was created in
1987 by the actor Tony Curtis in honour of his Hungarianborn father, Emanuel Schwartz. There is also a Jewish museum at the shul. Today, the area around the shul is the Jewish Quarter, home to several more synagogues, Jewish shops and restaurants. We ate at Spinoza, a traditional Hungarian Jewish-style restaurant and Mazel Tov, a newly-opened trendy Israeli restaurant, which was playing live music and hosting a quiz on the night we went. The Jewish Quarter is also home to many of the city’s ruin bars, so-called because they are housed in ruined buildings. Szimpla Kert is the biggest of these, and features a huge number of little rooms, eclectic furniture, graffitied walls and, above all, a terrific atmosphere. The next day, we hopped on a bus to the Buda side for magnificent views of Pest across the Danube and then made our way back for a guided tour of the Hungarian State Opera house. Tea at the famous Gerbeaud teahouse followed – rich dark hot chocolate and a slice of Sacher Torte (we walked 18km that day – we deserved it!). Budapest’s pièce de résistance is the magnificent Parliament, modelled on our own Houses of Parliament, in front of which is the Shoes on the Danube memorial. In the winter of 1944, many Jews from the ghetto were rounded up by the ruling Arrow Cross Party, forced to strip naked on the banks of the river and shot. They fell into the river and were washed away. The memorial features 60 pairs of rusted shoes in different sizes. As we stood there on a sunny day, we reflected on our own freedom, which allowed us to visit this wonderful city. Louisa travelled with Voyage Prive – £600 for hotel and flights for two
Welcome to Jerusalem Malawach! Malawach is a puff pastry which we serve in many tasty variations. We made it a healthy, light in calorie dish! At JM you will find a cozy, warm atmosphere and freshly made food. Healthy menu options, home made bakery, unusually tasty made on the spot hummus, Saturday night karaoke and live music event and much more! All of our products are home made and are now available for purchasing frozen ready for home cooking.
Visit us at: 87 Brent Street, NW4 2DY Jerusalemmalawach.com 02082022327 KLBD certified. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram! The Shoes on the Danube memorial
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Jewish News 30 March 2017
Passover / Travel Exodus
The Sound
Brigit Grant joined her mother and sister for a musical mini-break
OF SALZBURG
I
f you grew up, as I did, on a sparkly diet of movie musicals, you will know how much it means to stand on the steps in the Mirabell Garden in Salzburg. It was on that exact spot in 1964 that the Von Trapp children stood behind Fraulein Maria (Julie Andrews) as she went into falsetto for the final bars of Do-Re-Mi and my mother, Carole, has never stopped singing it. Hence our visit to the beautiful alp-framed Austrian city that played a starring role in The Sound of Music and a chance to relive every scene of the film on the dedicated fourhour Panorama Tour. For some, this would be a signal to run for the hills (“alive with the sound of music”)
but not my family and not when the guide – Peter Nussbaumer – has the wry repartee of a veteran stand-up and mercilessly ribs the film’s Nazi postman. To enhance this experience, my sister Harriett brought along props – three nuns’ habits – and it was in those that
we posed in front of Lake Leopoldskron (where the Von Trapps fell out of a boat) and the gazebo in Hellbrunn Garden (Lisle sings “I am 16, going on 17”) before removing them out of respect at the church in Mondsee. It was in that chapel that Maria and the Captain (Christopher Plummer) wed, and the charming village makes the most of this fact with gift shops selling everything from Von Trapp tea towels to Edelweiss shower gel. The scenery on the tour is chocolate box perfect, with every bend on the road revealing yet another dazzling vista of hills and lakes as we sang along to My Favourite Things. To say my mother was reluctant to get off the Von Trapp coach is an understatement, but there is other music to hear in Salzburg, notably that by
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Travel Exodus / Passover soon be featured in Jewish News. With restaurants offering traditional dishes and international menus, eating out in Salzburg is enjoyable, but remember to save space for the apple strudel and vanilla sauce. With music governing our visit, the final evening was
spent at the Mirabell Palace listening to a quartet play Mozart, Schubert, Dvorak and Beethoven in a gilded hall. It was magical – much like our trip – and could have been the perfect setting for a Von Trapp rendition of So Long, Farewell. Maybe next time.
SALZBURG – THE WHOLE STORY Salzburg City’s Sound of Music Special package is priced from £179 per person, including two nights’ accommodation, a half-day Original Sound of Music tour with a Sound of Music CD and colouring book for kids. Price is valid to 29 December 2017 ( the same packages in four-star accommodation are from £205 and £240). For reservations: salzburg.info and for what to do: salzburgerland.com
Lake Leopoldskron by the Von Trapp family’s movie home
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who was born and entertained there. Both of the composer’s homes are museums and I urge you to visit as they have the letters he wrote to his wife, which provide a real insight into his avant-garde humour and hectic touring schedule. Many things bear Mozart’s name in Salzburg, but some are better than others. The Mozartkugel (pistachio marzipan, and nougat, covered with dark chocolate) is one and the Hotel Mozart another. Located centrally on FranzJosef-Strasse, the hotel is what you need if you are new in town, because it is very comfortable, offers a tasty breakfast served by waitresses in dirndls and employs two of the finest concierges – Bruno and Rene – who know the menus of every restaurant by heart. The hotel also has the only three-bed single room I’ve come across, so we could camp down together like the Von Trapp children. Do take a walking tour of the city, preferably with Sabine Rath, who knows the back story to every street sign and square, as well as Jewish points of interest, such as the occasional brass bricks on the pavements known as stolpersteine, or “stumbling stones”, which are inscribed with the names of Holocaust victims. Sabine has studied the Second World War and is building up to giving tours on the subject, although given Austria’s history, she is aware the uncomfortable truths make it a challenge. Remarkably, with a Jewish population of 50, there is a synagogue, but the opening times are largely the responsibility of 104-year-old Marco (Max) Feingold, whose life will
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For your nearest store, visit your.morrisons.com/news/passover The church in Mondsee, where Maria wed her Captain
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Jewish News 30 March 2017
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