Rosh Hash 2019

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www.jewishnews.co.uk

19 SEPTEMBER 2019

Rosh Supplement

Edited by Brigit Grant


RH2 Jewish News

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19 September 2019

Rosh Hashanah / Humour

PAUL’S YEAR IN CARTOONS H

Whether he’s turning Boris into Moses or giving us the Jewish perspective on climate change, Paul Solomons has made us laugh during another annus horribilis

e is Jewish News’ answer to Matt Groening but, unlike The Simpsons’ creator, he has no script writers helping with the jokes. Yet week after week, Solomons ploughs a solitary satire furrow turning the best and worst news into cartoon comedy gold. Refusing to hide behind a cushion as Westminster implodes, Paul just keeps looking. “How do I?” he says. “Well, what is mental to everyone else is bread and

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butter to a cartoonist. But it is certainly bizarre. A lot of work I do outside of Jewish News is for companies in Europe and the US, but thankfully it has been business as usual, which is very encouraging. So as a British cartoonist – Brexit or no Brexit – I don’t anticipate major problems. And at least I’ll always have Trump and Kim Jong-un.” Paul’s favourite cartoon inspiring moment of 5779? “Theresa May leaving. Just prior

I was starting to flag. There are only so many ways you can say ‘goodbye’ in a cartoon.”


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19 September 2019 Jewish News

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Humour / Rosh Hashanah

“Dude, I think we can do better than that!”


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Jewish News 19 September 2019

Rosh Hashanah / The Pictures

YEAR IN PICTURES BLAKE EZRA HAS PHOTOGRAPHED THE British Royal Family, the last six British prime ministers, private events around the globe for Hollywood A-listers and state banquets in royal palaces. With a degree in Middle Eastern Studies, Blake is a published writer who has been invited to address politics students at Cambridge University. Before photography,

Blake had a distinguished career in youth work and was personally presented to the Queen at St James’ Palace in recognition of his contribution to community causes. Blake’s photography career began in current affairs and editorial features, working on the front line of breaking news and seeing his images published on front pages of newspapers

and magazines worldwide. Nowadays, he finds himself shooting for corporate clients such as Amazon and BBC, organisations in the charity sector, and private clients around the world. Over the past 10 years, nobody has documented the UK Jewish community as widely as Blake Ezra, capturing seminal moments and landmark occasions.

Chief Rabbi hosts the Archbishop of Canterbury in his home, 6 September 2018. I am honoured to be in the presence of Chief Rabbi Mirvis on a regular basis. This was a very special morning as he hosted the Archbishop of Canterbury in his home, not at a public event. It was a fascinating morning and the Chief Rabbi welcomed me so warmly, with no airs or graces. I even had a fascinating one-on-one chat with the Archbishop about Brexit, the Labour Party, and the similarities between the Jewish and Christian faiths.

Bridesmaids see Melissa in her wedding dress for the first time. The Savoy, 26 May 2019. I find it difficult to look at this photograph without smiling from ear to ear. This is a classic wedding moment, which is approached differently by every photographer. I decided to focus on the surprise and the emotions of the bridesmaids.

Dermot O’Leary with survivor Lily Ebert, during his visit to the Holocaust Survivors’ Centre, 13 May 2019. Dermot brought genuine warmth, energy and joy to the HSC, which is such a special place. This moment was full of fun.

Official Opening of Yavneh Primary School, 11 July 2019. Guests including the Education Secretary and the Chief Rabbi were given a tour of this outstanding school. I love the expression of the boy, who happens to be my eldest son.

Joseph Winton celebrates his 100th Birthday, Jewish Care’s Lady Sarah Cohen House, 11 March 2019. Half an hour with Joseph and I felt I’d been spending time with somebody younger than myself, such is his infectious energy.


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The Pictures / Rosh Hashanah

Sir Trevor Chinn, Jacob Rothschild and Tony Blair at the Herzog Centenary Celebrations, Spencer House, 18 October 2018. A lovely moment between three incredibly influential figures.

Two glasses are smashed at the wedding of Renate Fromson and Ben Winton, Luton Hoo, 14 July 2019. Aesthetically, I love this photograph. The flowers, the sunshine, the symmetry, the moment. The way Renate and Ben decided to begin their married life by both smashing a glass was very symbolic indeed.

The coffin of Unknown Holocaust Victims is taken to be buried, accompanied by many Holocaust survivors, Bushey New Cemetery, 20 January 2019. I was honoured to be asked by the Chief Rabbi’s Office to photograph this historic event, which was so unprecedented and incredibly moving. The interest in this story and my images went around the globe.

Brides Nikki and Einav celebrate their wedding, The Crazy Bear, 2 June 2019. This was my first same-sex wedding, which are becoming more commonplace in the Jewish community as well as wider society. Londoner Nikki married Israeli Einav. It was a very special day.

Scenes from Jewish Care’s Kun Mor and George Kiss Home, 22 April 2019. Photographing life at Jewish Care for the past eight years, I hope my images reflect the incredible and genuine bonds carers form with residents.

Andrew kisses his son Toby during his barmitzvah celebrations. 5 January 2019. It was such a great feeling to make this fleeting moment, in the middle of the chaos of the dancefloor, live forever.


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Jewish News 19 September 2019

Rosh Hashanah / New year greetings

NEW YEAR

WISHES MARK REGEV Israel’s Ambassador to the UK As we welcome in the Jewish New Year, there is a great deal Jewish News readers can celebrate. Israel has just held its election for its 22nd Knesset and, 71 years after its founding, continues to stand out from the region as a beacon of democracy, the rule of law, and liberty. It seems the rambunctiousness of our parliament has created a trend emulated even here in Westminster, by the Mother of all Parliaments! Despite adversity, we really are building the Jewish future in the Jewish homeland. Our economy is booming, our universities are thriving, and we are amid a great global renaissance of Hebrew culture. Israel remains a land to which any one of our brothers and sisters may return, and live in freedom and prosperity. The Israel-UK partnership is going from strength to strength. Our security cooperation is saving British and Israeli lives, and the ties between our governments have never been closer. Israeli ingenuity and British industriousness have proven to be a winning combination, with our £8.6 billion trading relationship set to grow following our trade deal. For these reasons and many more, we really can rejoice. I wish the entire British Jewish community a happy 5780. From my family to yours, Shana Tova!

Communal and political leaders share their hopes and aspirations for a sweet and prosperous 5780 RABBI NICKY LISS Chair, Rabbinical Council of the United Synagogue & Rabbi, Highgate United Synagogue During the recent parliamentary debates over a no-deal Brexit and a potential early election, one of our children asked me at the family dinner table to explain what was going on. For the first time, I had to admit that I was completely bewildered (although we did all quickly learn when the first day of Succot fell, given the potential election clash). Until that point, I was always happy to try to clarify what was going on, but do not have the temerity to predict what might happen next! We live in extraordinarily uncertain times and I look to the words of King David in Psalms to find comfort. “I lift my eyes up to the hills; from where (me’ayin) will my help come? My help will come from the Lord” (121:1). The word me’ayin is usually translated ‘from where’. However, it can also mean ‘from nowhere’. In other words, when we lift our eyes up to the hills and realise that there is nothing else that can help us, then at that point Hashem will come to the rescue. Despite living in such uncertain times, our community has still been blessed with exceptional and heartening events such as the one we witnessed earlier this year with the levaya (funeral) for the six kedoshim (Holocaust victims). We felt Hashem looking over us, in a moment that brought the entire breadth of the community together, led remarkably as always by the Chief Rabbi. As we head into the unknown of 5780, may Hashem help bring respect and calm back to the public area, while continuing to provide us with special moments. And may He bless the entire Jewish community with a year filled with only good health, success and optimism for the future. Shana Tova.

RABBI LAURA JANNER-KLAUSNER Senior Rabbi, Movement of Reform Judaism

Thanking our supporters and wishing everyone a happy, healthy and peaceful New Year 5780 Best wishes Yad Vashem UK Foundation Simon, Esther, Evelynne, Goldie, Helen, Sandra, and Sophie www.yadvashem.org.uk | office@yadvashem.org.uk | www.guardianofthememory.org The picture is from the Yad Vashem campus

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It feels as though we are living through some of the most rapid developments in human history. This year, we’ve seen change owing to the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and the increasing influence of global technology companies. We may feel controlled by what our phones and computers indicate that we should be doing at any given moment. The task for this coming year is to reaffirm the mitzvot, values and actions that are important to us when there is so much to draw our attention away from them. We’ve experienced enormous changes before and we have kept Judaism vibrant and relevant. This is not a coincidence – Judaism is built to adapt to changing situations. There’s no question in my mind as to our capacity to use our Judaism to challenge and adapt ourselves in response to opportunities evoking a vast mixture of emotions. The High Holiday period offers us the moment in time to step away from the pressures of this rapidly moving world and refocus on questions of what really matters to us. We must account for ourselves and plan ahead for a year during which we remain true to the values we reflect on at this moment. It’s our annual reboot, which refreshes our identity. May the coming year be one of intention and thoughtfulness, where we write the story of our lives with deliberation. May we all bring to life the values we all hold dear.


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New Year Greetings / Rosh Hashanah RABBI JONATHAN WITTENBERG Senior Rabbi, Masorti Judaism UK

RABBI JOSEPH DWECK Senior Rabbi, The S&P Sephardi Community In the throes of life, it is easy to reduce our thoughts and simply respond reflexively to what is happening. There is much upheaval and uncertainty that we face in the world at the moment. Both within the UK and in Israel. How will the issues of Brexit develop, and how will they affect our everyday lives? How will the elections in Israel impact the world stage and the standing of the Jewish people everywhere? Will the disheartening rise of antisemitism both in Europe and the United States be curtailed, or will it continue at higher volumes? These are all questions that acutely trigger our primal fear psychology. Our fight-or-flight brains are on high alert and it impacts us. Our people have in our national diary a day in which, with the blast of a shofar, we pause and look at our lives from the place of purpose and meaning. That day is Rosh Hashanah. In doing so, we have an opportunity to realign with our deepest self and stand with integrity against the waves. We draw from the depths of the steadfast soul of our ancient people and we know in our hearts that come what may, Am Yisrael Chai – the nation of Israel lives. Shana tova and tizku leshanim rabot.

JONATHAN GOLDSTEIN Chairman, Jewish Leadership Council (JLC) In my last pre-Rosh Hashanah message, I wrote that we will not allow our wonderful vibrant community to be defined by those who do not have our interests at heart. That is as true today as it was then. Despite the immense challenges facing British Jewry – be it in relation to the Labour Party and its ongoing failure to tackle Jew-hatred, or the fallout from divisive issues such as Brexit, our community is still thriving. Our schools remain top class. Our community organisations, many of which are members of the JLC are going from strength to strength. Our children are connecting to Israel and their Jewish identity in continually greater numbers. When I look at our community today, I see a community glowing in pride. I see Jews in the public arena come out and talk about their Jewish identity in a way I couldn’t have imagined just a few years ago. And I see a community that has taken the challenges faced by the depressing national conversations and used the opportunity to explain who we are, with that pride, to the outside world. If there is anything to take into this coming year, it is to remain proud of who we are and to continue to stand strong in the face of adversity. Shana tova and gmar chatima tova.

MARIE VAN DER ZYL President, Board of Deputies Last year, my Rosh Hashanah message told of the way the Jewish community came together to proclaim in a loud and firm voice, ‘Enough is Enough’ on antisemitism in the Labour Party. Since then, the antisemitism crisis has not gone away. However, our campaign has had great successes, notably the suspension of serial offenders, including Chris Williamson and Peter Willsman and the expulsion of Jackie Walker. There is understandable anxiety in our community about the way racists within Labour have been emboldened to express their disgraceful views. However, as I have been saying since I assumed the presidency of this great organisation in 2018, there is another story to be told. It is the story of a long-standing community that has lived peacefully in the UK for centuries; a community which, since we were allowed back into this country by Oliver Cromwell, has had the freedom to practise our religion and live a truly Jewish life within a respectful society. In return, our community has contributed great things: in the arts, in society, in business and in politics and science. We have produced major figures from Abba Eban to Amy Winehouse, from Isaiah Berlin to Mark Ronson. With the prevailing conditions of freedom and respect, our community has flourished over the past centuries and, despite worries over the revival of mainstream antisemitism, most of us lead happy Jewish lives. May Rosh Hashanah bring you, your families and all of Am Yisrael health, strength and peace.

‘Truth and peace have fallen in love’: how far our world feels today from these words in the leader’s meditation that precedes the deepest moments of prayer on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Yet, in a time of fake truths, political frustration, growing populism and resurgent racism and antisemitism, it is essential to keep faith with them. Truth, peace and love are the heart of our values. What we must do to make this Shana Tova a genuinely good year for the world is to speak truth in our own hearts, before God, and to each other. In this period of crisis for societies worldwide and nature itself, our duties are loyalty to our own community; support for those of us struggling with poverty, homelessness, illness and mental illness; solidarity with the victims of bigotry and hate; and urgent action to protect and preserve our shared beautiful planet. If we each contribute in our own way, yet work together in integrity and compassion, we can help make truth and peace meet once again in a better and safer world. L’Shana Tova.

RABBI DANNY RICH Chief Executive, Liberal Judaism Liberal religion – and Liberal Judaism is no exception – attempts to strike a balance between challenge and comfort, between the new and the known and, as we approach the Days of Awe, this sentiment seems more relevant than in past years. The UK finds itself in a state of parliamentary stalemate and political rupture as it seeks to fulfil the result of the EU referendum. Private tensions are high; public discourse is intolerant; and many feel insecure about what the future holds. Religious faith often has the task of leading change, of challenging a prevailing sense of complacency, but today it has a contrary duty – to offer comfort in the face of the unknown, to proffer a sense of familiarity to those who feel adrift. Festivals are an opportunity to us that, if the outside world is one of chaos, the Jewish liturgy and community offers a sense of ‘at one ment’. May each one of us, our community, and our country find a sense of quietness and self-confidence to face the coming year.

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Rosh Hashanah / Laughing all the way

Want to see the world? Then scht ck with me! The past two years have been non-stop travel for Ashley Blaker, who has performed across five continents with his popular tours of the UK, USA, Canada, Israel, South Africa and Australia. There was also a sold-out run at the

Edinburgh Festival. Jewish News asked him to keep a diary and after carefully removing all the incriminating passages about people he doesn’t like and long romantic odes to Jürgen Klopp, here are the remaining highlights from 5779

FRIDAY, 26 OCTOBER 2018

I was so upset that Chief Rabbi Mirvis moved Shabbat UK from this weekend to March, I decided to head off to the US to spend The Shabbos Project – what the rest of the world calls Shabbat UK – with Project Inspire in New Jersey. Unfortunately I took an Uber to the wrong hotel in Parsippany, New Jersey, and walked in to discover they had a wrestling convention going on. I looked around at all these well-built guys and thought Project Inspire may be an outreach group but all the rabbis in the world aren’t turning these guys around. Sadly, I had to leave before meeting Bushwhacker Luke.

SUNDAY, 28 OCTOBER 2018

Moved into my new apartment in New York. When people find out about my life, some people ask where they can see me perform, but all any men seem to want to know is how on earth I’ve got away with this and can they buy my secret! Maybe I’ll write a book if this comedy thing doesn’t work out.

WEDNESDAY, 25TH DECEMBER 2018

It’s Christmas Day and I’m at JFK Airport. No gifts from Santa exactly but I have taken receipt of my two eldest sons, who have come to New York for the week. Oh dear, I must have been a really bad boy this year to have ended up with these two!

SATURDAY, 5 JANUARY 2019

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MONDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2019

It was great fun to do a live interview on CBS morning show Great Day Washington. I was on to talk about my upcoming shows in New York and Australia, but they seemed most interested in my Paul Smith shoes. Here’s hoping the plug might to lead to some free swag.

Interesting to be in New York for Halloween where they take it really seriously. Brits don’t need to bother as we have the prospect of Jeremy Corbyn becoming Prime Minister, which is scary enough. With the political chaos going on in the UK at the moment, I’m so thankful that I currently live in the US where at least they have a sensible and wellqualified leader in charge. Oh, hang on… Another fun show tonight in Brooklyn. My American audiences don’t know this, but every time I say the words ‘organise’ or ‘apologise’ in a show, I’m spelling them in my head with an ’s’ instead of a ‘z’.

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desire for a number 73. Devotees of Marcus’ will know which dish this was.

WEDNESDAY, 31 OCTOBER 2018

WEDNESDAY, 21ST NOVEMBER 2018

BRITISH EMUNAH:

Plugging the show – and my shoes

It was great fun to make my West Coast debut in San Diego tonight and enjoy the Californian sun. At one point I even took off my jacket – I hope my rabbi doesn’t ever hear about this!

WEDNESDAY, 7 FEBRUARY 2019

If ever you wanted an example of the strange life of a touring comedian, this is it. Yesterday I was suffering in -34°C cold in Edmonton, Alberta. Today I am sitting by the pool enjoying 25°C heat in Miami. I just hope my wife doesn’t find out. She thinks I’m in Bournemouth. I told her I’m doing a long residency at the Normandie Hotel so she actually feels sorry for me.

THURSDAY, 8 FEBRUARY 2019

Tonight I performed a show in Boca Raton attended by someone who was a big part of my teens and twenties: Marcus, the eponymous owner of the finest kosher restaurant to ever open on the Hallswelle Parade in Temple Fortune (possibly). I can’t see Marcus without imagining him sitting in a deckchair on the Finchley Road and I now have a Pavlovian

Davening Down Under

MONDAY, 9 MARCH 2019

Very exciting to be flying from Seattle to Sydney, Australia, to go to perform on my fifth continent! Here’s hoping some Jews in Antarctica are interested in organising a show at some point. If nothing else, the penguins might enjoy me. We both only wear black and white.

THURSDAY, 12 MARCH 2019

It’s Purim, the upside down holiday, so what better way to celebrate than down under in Australia. I have loved performing for the Aussies so far. Even the frummers are like Crocodile Dundee. They don’t have cork hanging from their widebrimmed hats but go to a circumcision in Australia and the baby is looking up going ‘Call that a knife?!’

SUN, 15 MARCH 2019

Worth the long flight

Love thy neighbour to Australia for this

moment. I am standing on Ramsay Street, right where Jim and Paul Robinson played cricket in the street before smashing the ball through a window. Sadly, I couldn’t find Toadfish, Mrs Mangel or Bouncer. Here’s hoping they have a kosher option at Harold’s Cafe.

THURSDAY, 19 MARCH 2019

Well this is odd. I have just left Sydney at 9am and arrive back in the US at 7am the same morning. I’ve realised this is probably the closest I will ever get to time travel. I am wondering, if I do this flight enough times, maybe my hair will have grown back, Brexit


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Laughing all the way / Rosh Hashanah I saw all evening was the Statue of Liberty. Oh, and they were all Lubavitchers. If Lady Liberty had been a man, I can guarantee you the audience would have stopped listening to me and started climbing the statue to get it to put on tefillin.

won’t have happened and no one will heard of Jeremy Corbyn?

TUES, 23 APRIL 2019

After two seder nights in London, I am back in the US performing at five extravagant Pesach vacations. The downside is performing to hundreds of Americans who are only killing time until they get more food. The plus Where’s Mickey? side is today I enjoyed one of the real perks of the job. Disney without children – the only way to do it! My own children are, of course, not happy and are demanding I bring back expensive gifts. That’s sorted already: I got everyone a box of hand-baked shmura matzos. You can’t get much more expensive than that! Funnily enough, the last time I was in Disney World at Pesach was 2005 and the following month Liverpool won the Champions League. I hope that’s a good omen for the rest of this season! (Spoiler alert: it was)

WEDNESDAY, 22 MAY 2019

Such a fun night performing alongside my Muslim double act partner, Imran Yusuf. And the best thing ever, I just heard that the local synagogue had to cancel a talk from the most senior rabbi in London because everyone was here. Basically people in Radlett wanted to see

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 Ashley Blaker’s Goyish Guide To Judaism returns to BBC Radio 4 on Sunday, 6 October. He is also on tour with his Muslim double act partner, Imran Yusuf, in Prophet Sharing. visit: www.ashley blaker.com Ashley Blaker and his double act comedic partner, Imran Yusuf

a Muslim comedian more than a rabbi. Hilarious.

WED, 12 JUNE 2019

You don’t see many Orthodox Jews in Gaza. Well, it’s not that Gaza, but a butcher in Bradford, where Imran and I had a show tonight. And it was a great night, performing for a very different crowd to normal. These Butcher boys

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weren’t the wealthy overfed American Jews from the Pesach tea rooms, but they laughed non-stop and made me feel as welcome as much as my Jewish fans have welcomed Imran. Nobel Peace Prize here we come!

TUESDAY, 13 AUGUST 2019

Well that was one of the strangest gigs I will ever do. For a start, it was on a boat going around Manhattan – which sounds nice, but it meant every single person had to be given seasick pills when coming into the venue! Not only that, the audience was entirely men. The only woman

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Question of faith / Rosh Hashanah

No more CHAGS For some, we are entering the holiest time of year. For Hilary Freeman, that’s all in the past

T

his Rosh Hashanah, like every other, will be an ordinary day for me. I won’t be going to synagogue and I won’t be taking the day off work. I’m what you would call an entirely secular Jew – not a ‘three-times-ayear’ Jew but a ‘no-times-a-year’ Jew. So it might come as a surprise to hear that, as a child, I was totally immersed in Judaism. It was my life. Brought up by observant parents in a kosher home, I went to a Jewish primary school (based at my local United Synagogue in Wembley) and spent my Shabbat mornings at the children’s service and the afternoons at Bnei Akiva, with my exclusively Jewish friends. By 13, I had become far more frum than my parents, to the extent that I would not turn on lights or even tear toilet paper on Shabbat. For me, it was all or nothing: if Judaism meant something, if it was my ‘true path’, I had to do it properly.

No compromises. In my recently rediscovered teenage diary, I wrote, aged 15, of my indignation that anybody could marry out. I was very self-righteous and, I’m ashamed to say, I looked down on ‘three times a year’ Jews. And then something changed. It wasn’t a sudden epiphany, but a gradual dawning, which began in my late teens, that this way of life wasn’t right for me. I had been brought up by intellectual parents to question everything, and I realised that, for me, the answers no longer lay in Judaism. I started to observe that I was practising it out of habit, not faith or even desire. Going to university to study philosophy – where I wrote essays debating God’s existence – was the final nail in the coffin. One Friday night, in my first year, I lit my Shabbat candles and then went out to the union bar to get drunk and dance. The next morning, I battled with the cognitive dissonance of

doing such conflicting things. That was the last time I blessed the Sabbath. I stopped going to synagogue or fasting on Yom Kippur. I had become ‘secular’. Since then – it’s now 30 years later – I haven’t looked back, even though I know it makes my parents unhappy. And to what would be the consternation of my 15-year-old self, I married out (we’re now divorced). My current partner, Mickael, is not Jewish either. We’re bringing up our four-yearold daughter, Sidonie, without any religion, but with an awareness of her Jewish identity. We sometimes visit my parents for Shabbat or Yom Tov dinners, and when Sidonie stays with them they take her to shul. But some habits are hard to break. For example, I won’t let Sidonie eat pork or seafood (it’s never been an issue for me because I’m a vegetarian). I’m only too aware that this is not a rational choice, it’s more the result of being conditioned. They just seem as wrong, as alien, to me as eating dog or cat. Similarly, I feel guilty when I eat lunch on Yom Kippur and half expect something bad to happen, even though

I know the fear of being struck by a lighting bolt – real or metaphorical – is superstitious nonsense. Being Jewish is still a huge part of my identity. In some ways, I’m more consciously Jewish since I stopped being religious because I’m not surrounded by Jews. I am a Zionist and do what I can to educate and campaign against antisemitism. But the religious observance side is not for

me. I don’t believe in God and am not someone who likes to live by a set of rules. It’s probably why I’ve been selfemployed for more than 20 years. If you want an analogy, my relationship with Judaism is like my relationship with my family. While it’s a huge part of me, and I love it, sometimes it really annoys me, and I don’t want to be held in its embrace all the time.


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Jewish News 19 September 2019

Rosh Hashanah / Israeli TV

THE BARUCH HASHEM BINGE S What Miranda Levy learned about Israel watching the box

Left: Ayelet Zurer; Below: Aviv Alush

o, I have been watching a lot of Israeli TV in the past year. This is because a) I’m a freelance writer with time on her hands, b) outrage at Jeremy Corbyn has given me a renewed interest in things Jewish, and c) there is much to see on Netflix, Amazon Prime and Sky Atlantic peppered by faith content. The main excitement on my entertainment Jewdar currently is the distant promise of a new series of Shtisel,, the sleeper Charedi hit. Shtisel aside, I think I’ve learned a lot about Israel in general from the programmes available On Demand. This is what I have discovered:

ISRAELI MEN ARE HOT

Before my year of Israeli TV, my Hebrew actor crush started and ended with the film star Lior Ashkenazi. And Lior would still win an ideal Potential Second Husband award. However, in no particular order, there are some other handsome Hebrews out there. They include: Michael Aloni (Akiva in Shtisel). I know, I know, the obvious choice. But it’s interesting how Michael-as-Akiva grows on you. At first I was like: ‘nothing to see here’, with his pale skin, payot and black clothing, but the more time I spent in Mea Shearim with his family, the more I noticed his amazing

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green eyes and shy smile. Although he was cast as the terminally ill Dotan ‘Himmler’ Friedman in When Heroes Fly, Michael could at last be seen in all his modern glory. And when I discovered he dubbed Paddington into Hebrew, all bets were off. Yehuda Levi (Yonna ‘Kinder’ Harari in Mossad 101), meanwhile, manages to be handsome, snippy and sarky in a patchy programme. The first series was great – a kind of secret agent reality TV show – but the second cut no dice, at least not in my humble opinion. Sometimes Israeli TV shows – much like our own – run out of steam in the second series (Hostages #2 was awful), but Fauda (Chaos) and Hatufim (Prisoners of War) have been great in their subsequent outings. But let’s move on to Ishai Golan (Ben Rephael in False Flag) who is cute in a nebbishy sort of way. He usually plays diffident, twitchy guys – his pièce de résistance was as Uri Zach, the returned POW in Hatufim and the inspiration for Homeland. For a very different view of Ishai, see the film Hanotenet (The Slut). There’s also Street Food Around The World on the National Geographic Channel, in which he speaks English in a strange, excitable, Mockney accent. Aviv Alush (Amos Dahari in Beauty and the Baker). WHO IS THIS BEAUTIFUL MAN AND WHERE IS HE HIDING?! The show is on Channel 4’s All 4 website and really funny. A hidden gem that few can find. Why can’t we get the second series over here? A frantic Google revealed that Aviv also appears in a film called The Shack, in which he plays Jesus (!) But frankly, I couldn’t get past the first 10 minutes of this terrible film.

Above: Ishai Golan in Hatufim; Left: Dov Glickman as Shulem in Shtisel

MODERN ISRAELIS SPEAK IN A MASH-UP OF HEBREW, ARABIC AND ENGLISH:

In Shtisel, we had Akiva’s sweet crushes on the mysterious Elisheva (Ayelet Zurer) and his cousin Libbi (Hadas Yaron), punctuated by bored assignations with arranged ‘dates’ As in: ‘Yofi, toda raba, habibi’, which means in the same hotel lobby with girls who started ‘great, thanks a lot, honey’. And: ‘Yalla (‘let’s talking about marriage before they could even go’ in Arabic) – bye’, at the end of phone calls crack open the fizzy orange. (Fauda, When Heroes Fly etc). Israelis also say Then, of course, there was the ‘beseder’ (‘ok’) in every other sentence, racy love life of Aki-va’s which has a multitude of nuances father, Shulem, masterdepending on context and mood. fully played by Dov Glickman, who, FRUMMERS MAKE despite a romance GREAT TV with the evil matchAll that bottled up desire. So, maker Menukha in Srugim, there was Kenigsberg (Hana the totally winning Laszlo) had only one will-they-won’t-they real love in his life. romance between Scrap that: two. Eating dati – meaning Smoking and smoking – preferably religious – Hodaya in Fauda both at the same time. Which (Tali Sharon) led me to the fact that: and short but cute Mark Ivanir secular archaeologist Avri (Zohar Strauss), who EVERYONE SMOKES ON ISRAELI TV should really also appear in the hot men section At least, the cool ones. I’m thinking of Fauda, above. The love life of Dr ‘Nati’ Brenner (Ohad and Mossad 101. Correction. Everyone Knoller) and the tribulations of Amir and smokes on Israeli TV. Or, perhaps, everyone Yifat (Amos Tamam) and Yael Sharoni were smokes in Israel. Especially when there are no diverting, if less sexy. Baruch Hashem! smoking signs.


19 September 2019 Jewish News

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RH15

Israeli TV / Rosh Hashanah THE BOYS MAY BE HOT BUT THE GIRLS ARE DOING BETTER IN HOLLYWOOD

Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman), Mili Avital (Law and Order, Damages) Ayelet Zurer (Munich, Transparent) and, of course, Natalie Portman, formerly Neta-Lee Hershlag who was born in Jerusalem in 1981. An exception may be a Ukrainian/Israeli guy called Mark Ivanir. He may not have name recognition over here, but he was hilarious as the bitchy, gay agent in Beauty and the Baker. Baker Mark pops up all over American TV, for example in Homeland, Barry and the recent film Red Sea Diving Resort, Resort in which he played the head of Mossad .

Above: Srugim ; Far left: Gal Gadot; Left: M ichael Aloni

TO FILL A SHTISEL SHTISEL-SHAPED HOLE: COMING YOUR WAY SEASON THREE OF FAUDA FAUDA: ‘This is going to be darker, more emotional,’ says co-creator Lior Raz, who also plays the tortured hero, Doron Kavillio. TEHRAN: Eight-parter on Israelis hacking into Iranian IT systems, overseen by a Fauda producer. TEHRAN FIFTY: A comedy drama by Yael Hedaya, the writer of therapy drama Betipul (In Treatment) the original – and one of the best – series to be noticed in the States. OUR BOYS: A joint HBO-Keshet (Israeli channel) production that centres on the leadup to the 2014 Gaza war. Michael Aloni and Lior Ashkenazi are among the stars of this series, which depicts the kidnap and murder of three Israeli teenagers at the hands of Hamas, which prompted a retaliation that led to the kidnap and murder of a Palestinian boy. It started in the States on 12 August and runs for 10 weeks. BEAUTY AND THE BAKER: This has been green-lit for an American remake. Please, someone, make season two of the original Israeli version available over here.


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Jewish News 19 September 2019

Rosh Hashanah / A rabbi’s role

The 85-year-old start-up and the NEW person in charge This year Rabbi Mark Goldsmith joined a new synagogue – EHRS. It has given him a lot to think about. Here, he reveals his new year plans There are two ways I could talk about Edgware and Hendon Reform Synagogue (EHRS), of which I became Senior Rabbi in June. One is as the caring, innovative and ambitious start-up campus synagogue that was founded in January 2017 with 3,800 members, making it the largest Progressive synagogue in Europe. The other is as the child of two synagogues that merged their rich and valued traditions of Jewish life stretching back, in the case of Edgware and District Reform Synagogue, to its foundation in 1935 and, in the case of Hendon Reform Synagogue, to 1949. The new EHRS is both a local and a ‘destination’ synagogue. More than half of our members live within a couple of miles of the synagogue, but our community also reaches members throughout South Hertfordshire and north-west London. I’d say that makes the synagogue demographically balanced. There is not an age decade with fewer than 200 members at EHRS, except for one – we

Magic Moments with children

have only seven cherished members aged over 100! This means that our Nagila Kindergarten is full, with 35 children and Jewish Care Edg-

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therefore, needs to find new ways to build relationships with their families and make multigenerational community life meaningful. We have already had our first Tots and Tea, which brought a group of under fours to the shul for a lovely Sunday afternoon together; upgraded our weekly family services and found a new way for parents and children to learn about Jewish life together on Sunday mornings called Magic Moments with Your Child. EHRS aims to be as open as it can to interfaith couples and plans to run a seminar based on the Movement for Reform Judaism’s ‘I’m Jewish my Partner Isn’t’ initiative. We want to be open to our neighbours. Our cub scout group, for example, is about to enjoy a joint meeting with the young people of our local Stanmore Islamic Centre. One of my major tasks is getting to know ware and Harrow Day the community, but Care Centre, which is also, as a start-up community we want memlocated on our campus, bers to enrich friendis full of life and friendships with each other. ship for the very elderly. We have been holding The challenge that weekly meetings in I am set as Senior Rabbi members’ homes, a day is to work with a great trips for adult Jewish team of rabbis, synalearning and even led gogue staff and voluna community dog walk teers to build and susfor the Jewish New tain a community that Membership starts young at EHRS Year for animals. constantly enhances the Jewish lives of its members, creates lifelong friendships, and makes a positive difference to our wider community. I joined EHRS from my post as Principal Rabbi at Alyth Synagogue in Temple Fortune, where transformation to 21st century Jewish life helped it to grow and thrive. My years of experience have led to two lessons that mark my style of rabbinate. First, a synagogue that intends to grow Jewish life cannot stand still. It must continuously build on its traditions and not only venerate them. Second, never do anything as a rabbi that lessens community participation. A synagogue is not a business dedicated to efficiency. It is a place of personal and community growth, of fulfilling relationships and the mutual care that derives from them. We have a strong and dedicated team in so many areas with education for all ages, informal youth work, welfare and support of all the shul’s work. Above all, there is a remarkable spirit of volunteering in the EHRS community, whether it be the generous individuals who ran our homeless shelter this year, the many Shlichei Community dog walk Tzibbur (leaders of prayer) who enhance our Granted, it is a challenge, but it is also an services, or the volunteers who greet and proopportunity and an honour to be Senior Rabbi vide security on a Shabbat morning. Our major work for the coming years is to of EHRS. Hillel said: “Never separate yourself transform how we work with young people and from your community.” (Mishnah Avot 2:5) their families. In common with most local syna- The corollary to his statement is “always find gogues a change has taken place over the past opportunities to bring your community closer 10 years, with a majority of our children now together”. I look forward to this new Jewish attending Jewish day schools. The synagogue, year of 5780 and this holy task.


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19 September 2019 Jewish News

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Jewish News 19 September 2019

Rosh Hashanah / Extending services

CAMP SIMCHA REACHES OUT

R

eaching as many families as possible has been high on the agenda for Camp Simcha this year, with plans to extend its help to those who have a child with a serious mental health condition – as well as the launch of a new TouchPoints awareness programme. Announcing the service extension at the charity’s biennial fundraising dinner in March, Camp Simcha’s president, Jonathan Goldstein, outlined plans for the charity to start to work, in close cooperation with colleagues at Jami, Norwood and other agencies, to deliver “what Camp Simcha does best – whole family pastoral care; practical and emotional support services – to families who have a child with a serious mental health condition”. This will roll out slowly this year, beginning with a pilot group of families who have a child who has been hospitalised or on extended school absence as a result of their mental health condition. Camp Simcha’s services for families with premature and sick babies has seen the biggest increase this year, along with its respite care provision, in part owing to fundraising driven by two families tied to the charity. Supporting Camp Simcha’s Special Care Baby services, Avidan’s Mission was launched in April by former Camp Simcha volunteer Eitan Freilich and his wife Gabriella in

Children have the best day out during a Camp Simcha retreat

memory of one of their twin sons, who died five weeks after his birth. In its first week, it raised £15,000 to fund services, including hospital transport and parking; expert therapeutic help; crisis food or cleaning support; emergency hospital bags with items specific to premature babies and many other practical and emotional services.

Limmud FestivaL disCOveR sOmetHiNG NeW 22–26 deCembeR 2019 bOOk NOW Limmud.ORG JN speCiaL disCOuNt COde: HLaLCX

Fundraising for Camp Simcha to provide regular respite services, The Evie’s Night Owls project, which was established by Samantha and Lee Bladon in 2017 in memory of their daughter, Evie, has also had a busy year. In December, it launched the ‘Evie’s Night In’ initiative, encouraging children and adults to have a ‘night in’ with friends where guests give a donation instead of a gift to the host. In March, a sold-out comedy night, with doctor turned stand-up Adam Kay topping the bill, raised £16,000. On the awareness-raising side, Camp Simcha has launched the TouchPoints Ambassador scheme, supported by the Wohl charitable foundation. While Camp Simcha already has longestablished contacts with people holding formal positions in the Jewish community: headteachers, school and synagogue administrators, rabbis, welfare officers etc, the new TouchPoints scheme aims to build a network or ‘safety net’ of informal social connections to make sure the charity reaches every family that needs them.

Naomi Cohen, Camp Simcha’s community liaison co-ordinator explains: “The kinds of people we would love to hear from might be a parent who is a class rep, in touch with a lot of the other parents in her child’s school class or year, as well as having children at a dance class, Brownie/Cubs pack, or even an antenatal mums or toddler group. Or perhaps someone on the cheder security rota or a parent who has children in a Jewish football team. “The time commitment is very minimal. After an initial induction to learn about Camp Simcha, all we ask is that they use their network to simply keep in touch with any groups that their child or children attend. If they hear about a sick child or their sibling, they liaise with the school or group about contacting Camp Simcha in the appropriate way. It’s a very easy way to volunteer and make a difference.” Camp Simcha’s strength with volunteers was recognised earlier in the year with a JVN Heart of the Community award for best practice in volunteer management. Other highlights, alongside the biennial dinner, included the Ladies’ Brunch, where guests heard from LBC presenter and Camp Simcha patron Nick Ferrari, as well as from Camp Simcha grandparent Gloria Levene, who talked about the healing effect of the charity ‘wrapping you in a duvet of love’. In addition to all the service events – three family retreats and one for seriously ill children, Purim and Chanukah parties, outings, parent and sibling support groups and the summer day scheme – Camp Simcha’s day-to-day vital work supporting all seriously ill children and their families continues as usual. Next year, the charity celebrates its 25th anniversary and it is looking forward to marking it with a couple of very special events for service users and supporters.  For more information on the TouchPoints project, or if you or someone you know needs Camp Simcha’s support, call 020 8202 9297 or email office@campsimcha.org.uk

TOY

DRIVE

Camp Simcha’s annual Toy Drive launches next month and Jewish News is asking children in the community to put their stamp – or actually their sticker – on it. Schools, nurseries, cheders, synagogues and youth organisations throughout London, Essex and Manchester will be collecting gifts for children of all denominations who are spending the festive season in hospital. Last year, more than 8,000 toys were collected and distributed. Each gift is labelled with a sticker, which this year could be designed by your child. All they need to do is draw a lovely, cheerful picture on a piece of A4 paper. Scan or take a photo of this and send it to toydrive@campsimcha.org.uk by 30 October. The winning design will receive a £50 voucher for art materials and will be featured in Jewish News.


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Shtisel / Rosh Hashanah

THE SHTISEL

Connection “What is it that makes Israeli penned shows so popular around the globe?” asked one of the few men in the crowd. “The lack of money forces them to think outside the box and use their imagination,” replied Michael, who hosts The Voice and is now one of the Israeli performers considered for roles stateside. Rumours of a labour dispute with the network over renumeration for Shtisel’s overseas sales weren’t mentioned when Michael assured the crowd a season three would happen, but did not say when. “Had he considered doing anything here?” asked an optimistic female. He said he would love to perform in the UK, and expressed so in May’s issue of Jewish News’ Life magazine when he mentioned the desire to do Richard III. To applause and shouts of that favourite Shtiselism –shkoach – he brought the evening to a close, but not before offering support to JNF UK’s Project: Connected, which supports Holocaust survivors by giving them computers and then teaming them with teenagers who help them to use it and navigate the web. As an avid instagrammer with a huge social media following, Aloni knows the importance of being connected. His presence on Sunday night for JNF UK will ensure many survivors will share that experience. What a way to start a new year.

Need to talk? We’re here to listen. If you’re feeling alone, anxious or in need of someone to talk to, we are here to support you. If there is something troubling you, we will listen without judgement – there is no issue too big or small. You can call us in difficult times. Our trained volunteers will be a listening ear for anyone.

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AS THE TV SERIES that got the biggest bite of the apple this year, who else but Shtisel star Michael Aloni could draw it to a close. Thanks to JNF UK, an excited gang of women with a smattering of supportive men arrived at Mill Hill Synagogue to hang on the words of the honey-haired hero who plays payotwearing Akiva in the Israeli drama. Back in April, JNF UK raised more than £60,000 for the charity from talks by the actor, who returned on Sunday to share more moments of playing the Chasidic artist and blending with the Orthodox community in Jerusalem’s Mea Shearim. Steering the appreciative crowd through behind-the-scenes film segments and personal takes on wardrobe – “I loved that long black coat” and beards – ‘Shave, so they can see that Polish face I gave you’, my mother kept saying.” Knowing that Akiva was open to a shidduch, the actor received numerous messages from the mothers of singletons confused by fact and fiction, but he was most surprised by the global reach of the frum show. “A non-Jewish valet at a hotel in Sao Paulo, Brazil, shouted ’Akiva’ and asked for a selfie,” laughed Michael, who was happy to pose for more with the Shtisel addicts on Sunday, one of whom had flown in from America.

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RH20 Jewish News

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19 September 2019

SINAI SCHOOL BIG SCHOOL BIG HEART BIG OPPORTUNITIES Early * Exceptional Years department

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Sinai School has a wonderful reputation across the community and is the largest and best equipped Jewish primary school in Europe. We embed a lifelong love of learning and offer specialist teaching facilities for French, Art, PE and Music. Our team of dedicated and driven staff believe every child has the right to the best education. We offer amazing opportunities both inside and outside the classroom. We nurture and care for the wellbeing of every child.

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RH21

Education / Rosh Hashanah

Hitting THE HEIGHTS As her first year as headteacher at JFS draws to a close and a new term begins, Rachel Fink reflects on the school’s future and her role within it

S

tarting a new role is a bit like learning to drive a car. Anyone with a vehicle licence will tell you that you only develop real expertise once you have passed your test. Recently I was driving behind a car whose number plate was TII EAM. I thought to myself, did nobody ever tell you there is no ‘I’ in TEAM? Walking in to any organisation ‘at the top’ is markedly different to taking over the helm in a place where you have already worked for many years. While the fundamentals are the same from school to school, each has its own personality, characteristics, and context. The first few months of leading JFS was dedicated to getting to know staff, students and families in order to prioritise how to take this magnificent school forward. In any organisation, the greatest assets are the people. JFS has incredibly dedicated staff, highly talented students and passionate parents who care deeply about their children’s educational experience. The challenge was to encourage everyone to work together and, like every good company, knowing and understanding the vision and values is key to achieving that. If you ask a current member of the JFS community what is the school motto and how does it reflect the goals we have for our students, I am confident they would be able to tell you. Orah Viykar represents the ideal that JFS students should be bringing ‘Light and Honour’ to themselves and the world around them through their actions and behaviour. I am not convinced that, a year ago, this question could have been answered by everyone. Coming together under a clear banner that highlights a Jewish idea we recall weekly at Havdalah and in the Purim Megillah has helped us redefine who we are as a school and create that all-important team mindset. School rules tend to create a groan among young people and frustrate those who need to ensure their implementation. My approach has been to focus on the concept of ‘behaviour for learning’ and every rule reflects this. School is about providing all types of education, and anything that detracts from that, including behaviour, needs addressing. Learning how to respect the environment and being considerate of others around you are the founding principles of any productive society. In schools, these expectations aid learning and decision-making, and in the wider world they enable us to become responsible

Above: JFS Year 11 leavers’ party. Inset: Rachel Fink

and engaged citizens. Schools must also ensure that every student and family feels supported when life becomes more challenging. I am very proud of the systems and structures we now have in place to assist our students. With thanks to support from the WOHL foundation, we have established a range of services and educational programmes led by our multidisciplinary team that focuses on well-being and mental health. Being part of the Jewish Leadership Council pilot project on this important topic is also a huge bonus. The secret to success is finding the balance between creating that disciplined structure while helping those who need it. Most young people will agree that they don’t mind boundaries if they know there is also help and understanding when the need arises. This is what makes them feel safe and supported. This first year has enabled me to experience each school event as the calendar cycle turns and using a well-known teaching phrase understand ‘what works well’ and ‘even better if’ to implement new initiatives or develop some wonderful longstanding traditions. JFS is an exciting place to study and the children of our community are supremely privileged to have the wide range of opportunities we offer above and beyond the regular curriculum. All they need do is engage with the ones that spark their interest. This year, aside from excellent public examination results, JFS students have topped the leader boards of all sorts of competitions in sport, music, Jewish knowledge, science, charity and art, to name but a few. The positive energy that is being generated is palpable both in the classrooms and corridors. It is fueling an exciting future, which I am certain will take the school to even greater heights. As Rosh Hashanah approaches and I reflect on the past few months, I know that this is an exciting time to be part of the JFS family. With continued supportive partnership between home and school, my hope for the coming year is that every JFS student finds

and team effort across the school. The exceptional commitment of so many people ensures that JFS continues to be the beating heart of our community. Perhaps the driver of that car I was following knew better than me, and the II in the registration T11 EAM registration is really the number 11 – to paraphrase a well-known quote: ‘This school goes to 11’.

their own personal success and that the school can provide them with the setting to work out how they can better themselves, how they connect to our community and how they can live a balanced and meaningful life. It has been several months since I confidently removed my JFS L-plates, and while I may now be firmly in the driving seat, nothing would happen without the collective leadership

KW E z dƵĞƐ ϮϰƚŚ ^ĞƉƚĞŵďĞƌ ϵ͘ϬϬĂŵ ǁĂƌŵ ĂŶĚ ŶƵƌƚƵƌŝŶŐ͕ ŚŝŐŚ ĂĐŚŝĞǀŝŶŐ ƐĐŚŽŽů͘

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Jewish News 19 September 2019

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Rosh Hashanah / Life learning

NEW CAMPUS

FOR KISHARON Louisa Walters on exciting developments at a much-loved school Choosing a school for a child with special needs is one of the most difficult decisions faced by parents. Increasingly recognised as a leading light in the development of special education, Kisharon School has a support system and infrastructure exemplifies the best of educational and Jewish values. Its unique approach is that one size doesn’t fit all.

Plans for the Kisharon site

A groundbreaking project costing £13.6 million means that from September 2020, Kisharon will be housed on a new Hendon campus with cutting-edge facilities. The school will be able to double its intake to 72 pupils and recruit an additional 15 specialist members of staff. A partnership between the community, the local authority and the Department of Education’s Free School Building Fund has raised all but £300,000 of the £13.6m needed. The project is running on budget and on time for completion ahead of the start of next year’s autumn term. “Kisharon originally opened for young people with moderate learning disabilities,” explains headteacher Sora Kopfstein. “Nowadays, our cohort of pupils includes children with complex learning disabilities as well as physical disabilities and autism. “The building we are currently in has limited space and facilities, which impacts on the number of classes we can have and therapists we can offer. As our pupils are aged between four and 19 and spread across just six classes, it’s challenging forming classes based on both age and needs. “It was always my dream to have a facility to match the abili-

ties of our staff so we can deliver the very best for young people with learning disabilities. The new building has been designed to meet the diversity of needs of our pupils as well as cultural and religious needs.” The new facilities will include interactive learning suites, 5D immersive technology, a hydrotherapy pool and dedicated areas for rebound therapies to promote and improve motor skills, communication, body awareness, balance and coordination to improve attentiveness and concentration levels. Following guidelines from the National Autistic Society, the building has been designed from the perspective of a young person with autism, with a deep understanding of the world in which they will learn. Everything from the colour scheme and wayfinding signage to the lighting and the acoustics has been carefully conceived, and there are even specific breakout areas to enable pupils to regain focus. Accessibility, space, light and inspiration are the new building’s defining features. “All parts of our new school are accessible for pupils with com-

Come and be part of our welcoming community

Feeding curiosity and building confidence

We invite you to come and experience first-hand our warm, vibrant and nurturing school in action. Contact us to organise a tour on 0203 115 1900, email us at office.manager@morashajps.org.uk, or visit our website www.sacksmorasha.org.uk for more information. We look forward to welcoming you.

Providing high academic excellence

Promoting happiness and well-being

Modern Orthodox

Recognising each child as an individual


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Life learning / Rosh Hashanah plex needs,” says Sora. “There is a bespoke lift and all classrooms will have interactive boards. There will be a wide range of equipment reflecting individual needs such as iPads, Eyegaze equipment and adapted computer accessories. “The outdoor areas will have bespoke climbing frames and walls, plus sensory gardens that include a dedicated early years outdoor classroom. There is also a horticulture zone to encourage pupils to grow their own fruit and vegetables.” Upholding Kisharon’s excellent standards of education for all children, the new campus will further allow the development of unique and personalised teaching methods to a larger cohort

of children of varying abilities. Kisharon also aims to foster a strong and inclusive Jewish ethos that guides teaching and learning throughout the school and welcomes students from all backgrounds. With an emphasis on the learning, growth and development of children and young people to fulfil their unique and individual potential, confidencebuilding skills are integral in preparing students for life after school. Teaching reaches beyond the classroom through connections with high-quality vocational and employment services, preparing students to An emphasis on learning take an active role in their community.

An architect’s impression of the hydrotherapy pool that will be at Kisharon’s new building

“Kisharon’s campus will be the most visible statement yet of how our Jewish community believes in word and in deed that everyone has a right to the very best education without fear or favour of their unique abilities,” says Sora. “I am so proud and delighted to have been part of this milestone project, which will have such a profound impact on young people with learning disabilities, both now and in future generations.”

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See if you qualify!

Contact: secretary@jchf.org or write to JCHF, PO Box 1206 Enfield EN1 9SH All applications treated in confidence


RH24

Jewish News 19 September 2019

Ofsted Outstanding Nurseries

L'SHANA TOVA FROM THE TEAM AT KEREN'S NURSERY

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19 September 2019 Jewish News

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RH25

Go to an amazing overnight Jewish summer camp with JCUSA www.JewishCampsUSA.com/Campers Take part in amazing activities Enjoy a once in a lifetime American Jewish summer camp experience Go to a camp suited to your Jewish needs For campers aged 8+

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RH26

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Jewish News 19 September 2019

Rosh Hashanah / Secondary impressions

How to be at

YEAR

The move from primary to secondary is seismic for a young person. Here, Year 8 pupils share their experiences of Year 7 Lana at Channing

When I started, I was really nervous about all the homework. I was also worried that if I took off the Jewish holidays, I would miss a lot of work and have to catch up. However, the school was very supportive, and sent out an email to the parents at the start of the academic year asking for dates of the religious holidays that the students would like to take off. At Passover, they even give us a room next to the dining hall where they laid out matzah for a snack at lunch, and they allow you to bring in a packed lunch. About a week before I started school, I was very worried about making friends. However, in the first few weeks, I made two friends and,

a year and a bit later, I am still very close with them, and I’ve become friends with a few more girls in my class. My sister (who also goes to Channing) told me when I started Year 7 that all the friendship groups from the first year would change throughout the entirety of secondary school. She also said to become friends with everyone in my form in case I get closer with them in later years. In conclusion, my transition from primary to secondary school was thankfully smooth and I’m happy here.

Dana at JCoSS

Almost feeling my hair stand on end, I silently awaited the school coach – it was my first day of secondary school. The school was only

open for the new Year 7s, definitely calming my nerves – I couldn’t face any older children yet. I had already visited the school on multiple occasions, however my anxiety completely blanked my memory, leaving no chance of learning my way around. The building itself was also about five times larger than my old school – another thing I could easily worry about. My stomach squirmed inside me as panicked questions began to crawl into my mind: What if I got lost? What if no one likes me? What if I lose my old friends? What if I don’t like my teachers? What if I fail my exams? It was torture! But, just when it got too much, the bell rang for the start of the day. Turns out, school isn’t all that bad. My teachers were a huge help, but so were my new friends. I could talk about my new experiences with my old friends and did all my homework, helping with exams. It really wasn’t as terrible as I’d imagined. After all, it is only school!

Jonah at JCoSS

I was so excited to be starting secondary school; however when I got there, I was surprised how different and intense it was. The most important thing that helped me settle in was knowing so many people who were going to my new school. Makes you feel less nervous about the unknown. I arrived from a one-form entry primary school so starting at JCoSS felt like going from playing at Aston Villa to a striker at Barcelona FC! In other words, it was difficult and a pretty cool experience at the same time. I survived!

JONAH’S TOP TIPS:

Be yourself. You’ll be judged either way (sorry, but it’s true!), so it’s better when you are being true to yourself

➠ Don’t panic if you can’t get into your locker or forget where to go for maths – loads of people are around to help

Queue for morning snack is long, so get your mum to buy you something filling to keep you going before lunch!

Tahlia at JCoSS

When I thought about secondary school, I thought I wouldn’t be able to find my way around school and I wouldn’t have any

friends as none from my primary school were going to my secondary. My family told me that it was fine once you settled in, but I was not so sure. My parents dropped me off, when suddenly another pupil who I had met on the induction day came running up to me, and we walked in together to school. When we got to school, we knew where our forms were as we were told beforehand, and we agreed that we would meet somewhere for break. We walked off to our form rooms and there was our form tutor at the front of the room who greeted me when I entered. Once we were placed in our seats, the bell rang and our day started. Our teacher grouped us up according to which lesson we were going to next. We had a timetable showing us which block and room we were to go to and I found my way easily. The lessons were really fun and social and I made new friends easily as everyone is so friendly!

Annabelle at Dame Alice Owen’s

My experience at secondary school so far has been a mixture of excitement, nerves and many incredible memories. I came from a small, one-form entry primary school to a large eight-form entry secondary school and I was really worried about getting lost. However, after a few days I adjusted, and by about the third day, I had found my way around. I have enjoyed having different lessons and doing subjects such as drama and food technology that I had never done before. There are many clubs on offer and I find the sports clubs fun as they have good equipment and run every week. My school takes people from a wide area and I have enjoyed making friends with people from different backgrounds and religions. Over the year, I have become more independent, grown in confidence and formed a group of close friends.

ANNABELLE’S TOP TIPS:

➠ Screenshot your timetable and set it as your phone wallpaper

➠ Pack your bag the night before ➠ Try out different clubs – it’s a good way to make friends and find out what your interests are


19 September 2019 Jewish News

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RH27

Same but different / Rosh Hashanah

Separate LIVES Louisa Walters speaks to an observant family who are sending their twin boys to two very different schools

E

than and Oliver Green are non-identical twin boys aged 12. Together with their parents, Lorna and Jerry, and sister, Natalie, they attend shul every Shabbat and chag. Lorna sits on the shul board and the kids have grown up within a tight-knit community. It is very important to Lorna and Jerry that they are all engaged with their Judaism. Yet when it came to their secondary schooling, Lorna and Jerry chose very different establishments for their twin boys. Ethan goes to Immanuel College and Oliver attends Portland Place, a small, nurturing school in central London that caters for a wide range of abilities and learning styles. They are fraternal twins rather than identical and even when they were born, Lorna and Jerry tried hard to see them as two individuals – less as twins and more as brothers of the same age. “We made sure not to dress them the same. It was hard enough for the world to see them as separate children, so if you dress them the same, you encourage people to see them as one unit,” explains Lorna. The boys are very different. Ethan is a team player – friendly, funny, loves to play football and cricket, Fortnite and Fifa. His favourite food is pizza or steak. Oliver is more of an individualist – he loves magic, making films, doing karate and water sports. His favourite food is sushi or fish fingers. Yet they’ve grown up with the same values, in the same home, with the same parents and sister, so that shapes them in similar ways. The boys attended the synagogue nursery for 18 months, and all three children spent most of their primary school years at North West London Jewish Day School, an Orthodox Jewish school. The boys’ first year at school was spent together in their one-form nursery but, once there were two classes, their parents chose to separate them. “From their earliest infancy, the differences in the way they interacted with the world could be seen,” says Lorna. “Inevitably when there are two children of the same age, one learns to crawl first, one to hold a toy first, one to draw first, one to walk first. That was the crude blueprint for their educational development, and also flagged up that when there are two children together in a ‘twin-ship’, people inevitably compare them. “How would it feel to be the kid who is less good/clever/vocal/confident/skilled?” says

Lorna. “We feel that this slow, gradual separation worked well for them both.” For the last two years of primary school, they went to Heathside, a very small, secular school, so that they would both benefit from a more individual-focused academic education, albeit in separate classes. The boys had different experiences of school life, with Oliver finding academic life more of a struggle, especially in a large class. “It was always on the cards to send them to different secondary schools,” says Lorna. “One reason was academic suitability, but more than that, Ethan was desperate to strike out on his own and not be known as his brother’s twin or to have any sense of responsibility for him. “They both got in to Immanuel College and although we felt it was right for Ethan, we weren’t so sure about Oliver. We listened to both the boys’ opinions on which kind of school they felt comfortable with, and what they thought about each other’s choices too. They didn’t ask to be at the same school, but we certainly would have considered this if they had.” They decided to keep Oliver at Heathside High for Year 7, as he was very happy there and was excelling. But then the school went through a transition, and they wanted to maintain his obvious progress in a school that offers small class sizes and individual attention. “We moved him to Portland Place, which has great teaching while capitalising on the skills and interests of each child,” says Lorna. So one twin is at an Orthodox Jewish secondary school, and the other is not. Their sister also attends a non-Jewish school. “The crucial aspect of our commitment to Judaism is a combination of practice and knowledge,” says Jerry. “The former comes from the home, not a school and, as an observant family, the practical application of Judaism is something we live with on a daily basis and our children therefore experience rather than just learn about. “Knowledge is formed by practice, but also by learning, which we supplement with lessons at home for our two children who attend secular schools. Our daughter has continued learning at a high level in a group with friends all through her teens post-batmitzvah and intends to continue to do so. Lorna and I continue learning in a range of ways, so a lifelong combination of practice and learning is something that is a lived Jewish experience for our children, beyond the

Immanuel College

Portland Place School

boundaries of the school gates and curriculum. “What is crucial for us is not just that our children have a strong Jewish education, but also what kind of Jews they will be – proud, knowledgeable, connected, committed both to the practice of, and learning about, their heritage, and also engaged in the outside world, with a strong compatibility between their secular and religious selves. We have made a judgement that that goal can be achieved while also attending secular schools.”

Since attending different schools, the boys have become more independent. “It’s challenging for each of them not to have the other around if they’re having a hard day, but that’s something they need to learn in life,” says Lorna. “They look for each other when they get back from school and will tell the other about their day if it’s been a bit tricky, or particularly fun.” The boys are now approaching their b’nei mitzvah, which presents twin challenges of its own!


RH28

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Jewish News 19 September 2019

Rosh Hashanah / Gesher

THE ROUTE TO HOPE When her child was excluded from school – through no fault of his own – one mother refused to accept the verdict

“C

an you imagine how it feels to be the mother of an ‘unwanted’ child? To be the tormented parent of an eight-yearold boy who has been cast aside by an education system that refuses to help or even acknowledge him? That was how life was for my son, Oliver. As the eldest of three, he was the one who required the most attention because of his ADHD and ASC [autism spectrum condition]. By the time he was eight, Oliver had been out of full-time primary education for more than a year and formally excluded – a terrifying term for any parent to consider. He was ‘unwanted’, and having no school to attend meant he also had no friends, which was heartbreaking. His previous school had failed to care about him. They just saw him as a problem they didn’t

need. None of the teachers understood him, and the school rang me daily asking me to pick him up. And in the playground, the other children didn’t just ostracise him; they bullied him constantly purely because he was different. The school didn’t need Oliver, so they got rid of him. It was soul-destroying to see him unravel. As a parent, there is nothing worse than not being able to support your child or ‘fix them’. It affected our entire family, and I had to give up my job to look after him. In short, Oliver was lost, his life was miserable, and at the time I felt I was the only one who believed in him. I knew that my eight-year-old son deserved more. I read about Gesher, a Jewish special needs school, when it opened and I attended the open morning. The thing that struck me the most was how happy the children were. I had never

Kerem School Open Evening 2019 Tuesday 24th September For further information and registering attendance email: admissions@keremschool.co.uk

Pupils who finally found their happy place and a real future at Gesher

realised somewhere like that existed. The resources available were amazing, and they answered all my questions. I knew at once Gesher was where Oliver belonged, and that I would do anything I could to get him into it, even if it meant fighting the local authority for my place, or putting myself into debt for the right legal support. When Oliver was offered a place at Gesher, I did have to go to court. But I was no longer alone as the school’s headteacher came with me and helped secure the future he deserved. Since Oliver has been at Gesher, his whole life has changed, as it has for our whole family. Attending the school has improved his quality

of life. He is happy. Everything is positive, more manageable. His attitude towards reading and writing has improved; before, he used to tear up his homework in front of me and refuse to do it. Now he can read. “The school has a schedule and he always asks what is happening the next day, because he is interested. Classes are small, so the teachers understand each child’s needs and can pay more attention to them. My family functions much better as a result. The school has a programme for parents to support children at home and we work as a team. My son has friends, he is happy and learning and full of hope and I am now starting full-time work again.”

❝ MY SCHOOL

❝ IS DIFFERENT, IF I HAVE DONE MY SCHOOL IS GOOD Oliver, aged nine

ANYTHING GOOD IN MY LIFE, IT IS TO GET HIM INTO GESHER Sarah, Oliver’s mum

Kerem School

CoͲeducational Jewish Modern Orthodox Independent School from Nursery —Year 6 02084550909

www.keremschool.co.uk

GESHER is a unique Jewish primary school for children aged five to 11; it provides a specialist learning environment for children with special educational needs. These include language, communication and social pragmatic difficulties; we specialise in autistic spectrum challenges. At Gesher, we believe that every child deserves to be happy and that every child has the right to an education that is meaningful. The children who attend Gesher have very often been isolated in mainstream education, left in corridors or bullied in the playground, just like Oliver. A school such as Gesher is critical for them, as it gives them the targeted support and specialist teaching, as well as the skills they need

to thrive and lead independent lives. Intensive intervention at primary age is critical for this group of children; Gesher’s curriculum is child-centred and there is a collaborative learning team around each child to support their learning needs and maximise meaningful learning opportunities. In addition to the specialist education at Gesher, therapists work together to support the children’s developmental, communication and social issues. To find out more about our very special school, visit www.gesherschool.com, or call 020 7884 5102


19 September 2019 Jewish News

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RH29

Yavneh Primary / Rosh Hashanah

‘I want to be SORRY’ Year 3 (Kitta Gimmel) pupils at Yavneh Primary reveal their regrets and resolutions IT HAS BEEN THREE YEARS since Yavneh Primary opened to its first cohort of students. Now, following a triumphant end to the last academic year, during which Yavneh was rated ‘Outstanding’ in all areas by Ofsted and Pikuach, teachers and pupils were excited to grow the school further with the first Key Stage 2 classes. Moving into a permanent building this February, headteacher Caroline Field says the focus for Kitta Gimmel will be to

“develop resilient learners, using a growth mindset, embedding a love of learning and a sense of pride and commitment to the Jewish and wider community”. With ‘The Yavneh Way’ of politeness, kindness, courtesy and respect deeply rooted within the school, pupils in Zayit and Te’ena classes agreed to reveal their sins ahead of the Day of Atonement and write down how they plan to improve. Here are some of their responses. Atonement notes from Poppy, Mia, Mason, Noa, Joey, Kayla and Tami

Kitta Gimmel teachers Ivana Levy and Karen Fait with pupils

We take this opportunity to wish all our members and their families a Happy and Sweet New Year and Well Over the Fast ‫שנה טובה ומתוקה‬ ‫גמר חטימה טובה‬ Peter Lurie & Steven Lux Co-Chairs Elstree & Borehamwood Masorti

L’Shanah Tovah, uM’tukah!

Rabbi Lisa Barrett, Honorary Officers, Council and staff of SWESRS would like to wish the entire Jewish community a very Happy and Healthy New Year for 5780 We invite you to join SWESRS members for the High Holydays Services at Oaks Lane, Newbury Park Young Adult High Holy Day Scheme – FREE tickets for 18 - 27 year olds Check out http://bit.ly/HHDtickets2019 for further details Please call the Synagogue office for tickets and further information: 020 8599 0936 Throughout the year our doors are always open, ready to welcome you to our wonderful choral, family and children’s Shabbat morning services, along with our weekly Tuesday Lunch Club and regular Neshamah meditation services too We would be delighted to see you at any time of the year…. Why not take a look at our website for further details? www.swesrs.org.uk


RH30

Jewish News 19 September 2019

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Glatt

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ZESTatJW3 341-351 Finchley Road, London, NW3 6ET


19 September 2019 Jewish News

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RH31

Foodie / Rosh Hashanah

INSIDE OUT Louisa Walters weighs up restaurant interiors, tries a new pop up and looks ahead to an exciting food festival

C

an we talk about restaurant interiors? Here in ‘Ivy’-clad London (see what I did there?) we are spoilt, almost to the point of being blasé, with stunning restaurants. We saunter into Soutine, wander into the Wolseley, march into Milos and, even at the cheaper end of the scale, bounce into Bob’s Cafe and take for granted the beautiful interiors. Yet when we go abroad, it’s all ‘looks like nothing from the outside/tiny rustic place with no enhancements/table in a car park but OMG the food...’ And so it was that when I lumbered into Little Kolkata in Covent Garden on the hottest day of the decade (lumbered on account of it still being 37 degrees at 8pm) and saw an extremely old-fashioned chipped blackand-white tiled floor, ‘seen better days’ wooden tables and chairs and a sad fan circulating the hot air (there is aircon, but it couldn’t cope on the hottest UK day on record) my heart sank to my Little Kolkata interior sandals. But I was hungry and the welcome was as warm as the weather, so I soldiered on. Things certainly started to look up when I looked down the menu. This restaurant is a homage to the owners’ hometown of Kolkata, and what followed is like a love letter to the destination. Gentle spices, fine sauces, influences of Chinese, Portuguese, French and even British cooking (Kolkata is India’s oldest port) all combine to create a very special dining experience. And then I learned that the floor is, in fact, antique, and the rustic dishes are handmade and, slowly but surely, I was transported to that country I so dearly love. Conversation turned to our next trip and Kolkata will definitely feature, if only because I want to go somewhere that produces dishes such as Doi Papri Chat – crispy wafers topped with spicy potatoes Little Kolkata and yogurt, beautiful

Parrillan exterior

purple beetroot croquettes, Mustard Begun Basanti aubergine with Indian mustard sauce, Allor Dam baby new potatoes in herb and tomato sauce and mango Aam sea bass with green mango and mustard sauce. For those who do eat nonkosher, the standout dish was sizzling lamb chops with an apple masala chutney. And who knew that Peas Puri – a puffed flaky bread filled with a pea purée – could be quite so moreish? Or that whitebait could figure on an Indian menu, frazzled to a supremely satisfying crunch with masala and kaffir lime? Or, indeed, that a beer laced with elderflower could appeal even to me, a staunch wine/cocktail drinker (mine was a Feludar Martini with vodka, lychee, rose, lime and cranberry, his was a non-alcoholic – after the beer! – mixed berry mojito). On the subject of interiors, the new Parrillan in Coal Drops Yard doesn’t have one. Opened as a pop-up on 10 May, it’s all outdoor seating, although it does have a roof and patio heaters for cooler days. It’s part of the Barrafina group, so naturally there are a few Spanish tapas dishes, and then they bring a little stove to your table for a cook-your-own meat, fish and veggie experience. There’s a sublime looking cheesecake for dessert (which I didn’t have, but the people on the next table did and I was drooling) and some quirky gins (I did have one of those!). It’s great fun with a terrific vibe and perfect while the weather is still warm (although they told me they are building glass walls and keeping it open all year). Deep in the heart of Soho, there’s a great new Japanese Izakaya/Korean restaurant dishing up fabulous food and unusual cocktails with superb service. Robata (meaning fireside) specialises in Japanese charcoal cooking and is only

Robata

a few months old. Tootoomoo fans may remember Alberto, the effusive and extremely friendly manager... he has turned up here to run this place and he does so brilliantly. The chefs have earned their stripes at Roka and Zuma, so we knew we were in for a treat. I had an Umu Natsu – a sake-based cocktail with pineapple, peach and a thick, sweet tea foam while my daughter tried an elderflower and mint vodka cocktail. We shared a bowl of veg crackers with a tangy guacamole-type dip while we whittled down what not to order from a menu that honestly offers every dish we’ve ever wanted. We agreed on a platter of sushi rolls, a tuna tartare with caviar and truffle mayo, sea bass ceviche (Roka eat your heart out), fried karaage (Korean fried chicken – one of my faves), miso duck breast with corn salsa and corn on the cob with a crushed wasabi coating. There are amazing-sounding Bao buns, but we’ll go back for those. Dessert was a palate-cleansing matcha ice cream with crushed meringue and vanilla mascarpone cream with chocolate crumb. Alberto insisted we try the peach sparkling sake – who knew sparkling sake was a thing? This is soft on the tongue with gentle bubbles.... we loved it! There’s a great value lunch and pretheatre menu starting at £20 per head. Highly recommend.

LONDON RESTAURANT FESTIVAL Israeli cuisine is at the forefront of London’s restaurant scene with high-profile openings such as The Palomar, Nopi, Coal Office, Rovi and Scully all following hot on the heels of Ottolenghi. This October, the annual London Restaurant Festival will pay tribute to Jerusalem, showcasing a host of dedicated events and tasting menus from top Israeli chefs, including tasting menu events at restaurants including The Palomar and Scully. London Restaurant Festival is partnering with OpenRestaurants™ Jerusalem, which takes place in November, as a ‘sister festival’. This annual event celebrates Jerusalem’s

Israel’s Mona restaurant

Scully

Moshiko Gamlieli

Palomar

Mortimer House Lello Favuzzi

fusion of traditional Middle Eastern, North African, South American and exotic Asian flavours, with opportunities to try everything from street food to fine dining. With events, talks and tastings with top Israeli chefs. Jerusalem’s cuisine will be championed through a high-profile ‘chef swap’ on 22 October. Moshiko Gamlieli, from Jerusalem’s celebrated restaurants Mona and Anna, will travel to London to cook at Mortimer House Mediterranean restaurant. Then, in November, Mortimer House’s head chef, Lello Favuzzi, will travel to Jerusalem to take part in OpenRestaurants ™ Jerusalem.


RH32

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Jewish News 19 September 2019

Rosh Hashanah / New year nosh

BIBLICAL BITES Denise Phillips tucks into the Torah for ingredients Shofar blowing can give you an appetite – even if you’re only listening. High Holy Days bring on the hunger pangs – not just on Yom Kippur. Biblical is the term used for food mentioned in the Torah, in which we discover how our ancient ancestors ate a balanced, healthy and varied diet. They grew and harvested wheat, barley, corn, rice, oats and rye, which they cooked and spiced with cinnamon, coriander, cumin, marjoram, poppy seeds, chervil, anise and saffron. Lentils, beans, peas and soya beans were enjoyed alongside nuts, including almonds, brazils, cashews, pecans and walnuts. A vast range of herbs, fruits and vegetables was consumed with cheese and

milk from goats and sheep. The Seven Species were particularly important agricultural products. Wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives (oil), and dates ( honey) were all religious offerings. The first fruits of the season were taken to Jerusalem to honour the priests in the Great Temple. These five fruits and two grains are still celebrated in many festival recipes and as key ingredients in Israeli cuisine.

J. A. Corney Wishing our customers a happy and healthy new year and well over the fast!

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INGREDIENTS 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 onion – peeled and sliced 2 stalks celery – roughly chopped 3 cloves garlic – thinly sliced 1 red pepper – deseeded and chopped 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 inch ginger root – peeled and very finely chopped ½ teaspoon turmeric 1.4 litres vegetable stock 250g red lentils 2 tins chickpeas – rinsed 400g tin chopped tomatoes Juice of 2 lemons 50g coriander – finely chopped Sea salt and ground black pepper Garnish: Sprigs of flat-leaf parsley

For more recipes with Denise Phillips visit: www.jewishcookery.com denises_kitchen

Biblical Lentil Vegetable Soup PREPARATION COOKING SERVES

10 mins 35 mins 6

Red lentils feature strongly in the Book of Genesis, where we are told about the red lentil stew in both the scene where Jacob acquires his brother’s birthright and in the final scene where he steals Esau’s blessing. Also on the day that Abraham died, Jacob was boiling lentils to provide the customary first meal for the immediate mourners. It is thought that this tradition developed because lentils are round like a wheel and mourning (sorrow) is a wheel that touches every spot in turn. Another reason is that just as lentils have no serrated edge, mourners have no mouth because it is forbidden for a mourner to greet anyone. This is a delicious tasty soup the whole family will enjoy!

METHOD 1 Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan. Sauté the onion, celery, garlic and red pepper until soft. 2 Add the cinnamon, ginger and turmeric, stirring thoroughly. 3 Add the stock and lentils. 4 Bring to the boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes. 5 Add the chickpeas and tomatoes. 6 Cook for another 15 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice and coriander. 7 Taste and season according to taste. To serve: Garnish with sprigs of flat-leaf parsley


19 September 2019 Jewish News

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RH33

New year nosh / Rosh Hashanah

Grape & Pistachio Honey Cake

HEAVENLY ROAST CHICKEN WITH FIGS This is a roast chicken recipe with a tasty difference. I love the addition of dried and fresh figs. Straightforward to make, this can be prepared in advance so definitely an excellent choice for the forthcoming gatherings over Yom Tov.

PREPARATION COOKING SERVES

15 mins 45 mins 4-6

This is a family-friendly cake suitable for either tea or as a dessert. It is harvest time for grapes and so naturally I wanted to create a recipe that would reflect this bounty at its best.

PREPARATION COOKING SERVES

25 MINS 1 HOUR 8-10

INGREDIENTS 350g black seedless grapes 225g butter or non-dairy margarine 100g caster sugar 3 large eggs 75g date honey or clear honey 225g self-raising flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 100g pistachio nuts – finely ground, plus 2 tablespoons for garnish Garnish: 50g seedless black grapes – leave whole

honey, then gradually whisk into the butter mixture. Using a metal spoon fold in the flour, baking powder and ground pistachio nuts.

METHOD 1 Preheat the oven to 180°C/ 160°C fan. 2 Grease and line a 23cm loose-based cake tin with baking parchment. 3 Halve the grapes. 4 Beat the butter and sugar using a mixer until pale and fluffy.

INGREDIENTS 4 tablespoons red wine vinegar 100ml water 100ml honey Large pinch chilli pepper flakes 2 teaspoons cornflour 8 portions bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon black pepper 2 tablespoons dried paprika – smoked or regular 2 tablespoons olive oil

1 large white onion - peeled and thinly sliced 2 large shallots - peeled and thinly sliced 8 cloves garlic whole with skin on 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves – chopped 8 dried figs – stalk end removed and soaked in boiling water for 10 minutes, drained before use. Garnish: 8 fresh figs – trim stalks off, cut in half, sprigs of fresh thyme leaves, 2 tablespoons toasted split almonds

METHOD 1 Preheat oven to 200°C. 2 In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, water, honey, chilli pepper flakes and cornflour. Set aside. 3 Sprinkle chicken on both sides with salt, black pepper and paprika. 4 Heat oil in a large ovenproof frying pan over medium-high heat until hot. Place chicken skin side down. Brown until skin is deep golden and crisp, eight to 10 minutes. Turn over and brown the other side, two to four minutes more. Transfer chicken to an ovenware dish and set aside. 5 Add onions and shallots to the frying pan and sautÊ until translucent, five minutes. Add whole garlic and cook one minute more. Add cornflour mixture and chopped thyme. Cook until the mixture thickens, one to two minutes. 6 Add dried figs and sauce to the ovenware dish and roast in the oven until figs soften and caramelise slightly and meat is no longer pink at bone (about 20 minutes). 7 Stir the fresh figs into the cooked chicken dish. 8 Garnish with sprigs of fresh thyme and toasted almonds. 9 Serve immediately.

7 Bake for one hour or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. 8 Cool in the tin for 30 minutes, then remove the cake from the tin. Transfer to a large round serving plate.

aRistorante maretto aRistorante maretto e Pizzeria

5 In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs and

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6 Fold in the halved grapes, then spoon into the prepared cake tin and level the top.

9 Top with small clusters of grapes, chopped pistachio nuts and a drizzle of honey.

e Pizzeria

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Jewish News 19 September 2019

Rosh Hashanah / Gifts

Pretty

offerings Alex Galbinski selects some apple and honey, bee and pomegranate-themed gifts to take to your host or hostess

Personalised honey jars are available to be pre-ordered in London from Kisharon until 24 September 2019 Available in large (£7.50) and small (£2), www.kisharonorg.uk/honey

Busy Busy Busy gift box from £75, www.happyboxlondon.com

Bee brooch by Annie Sherburne, £75, www.vam.ac.uk

Vintage apple cushion £14.95, www.rexlondon.com

Honey bee lampshade, £55, www.lottieday.com

Honeycomb solitary bee hotel by Wuddl, £24.70, www.etsy.com/uk

Pomegranate noir candle, £12, and diffuser, £29, www.parkscandles.com


19 September 2019 Jewish News

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RH35

Gifts / Rosh Hashanah

Honey bee wall decoration by Studio Roof

Handpainted laser cut bowl by Yair Emanuel, £45, www.contemporaryjudaica.co.uk Vintage apple scented candle £9.95, www.rexlondon.com

Kosher certified apple and honey gin, £35.99, www.artisandrinks.co.uk

Gold honeycomb and bee necklace by Lily Charmed, £55, www.notonthehighstreet.com

Pomegranate all-vegan chocolate gift box, £16.99, www.chocolateandlove.com

Pomegranate box with fruiting tree and molasses bottle, £38, www.glut.co.uk

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Jewish News 19 September 2019

Rosh Hashanah / Eating nu!

NEW YEAR,

NEW FOOD Debbie Collins looks at how you can zhuzh up your cooking for Yom Tov

R

osh Hashanah has a habit of creeping up on us. It’s the sudden realisation that we don’t know what we’re wearing to shul, let alone what we’re making or who we’re inviting over for lunch. Perhaps a more appropriate name would be ‘Rush’ Hashanah? Having said that, the head of the year fills us with fresh hope, reflection and wishes for a sweet new year; a means to start again and at the same time keep traditions going. Or simply to celebrate as Jews do best, over delicious festive food. Many of us will turn to well-thumbed recipe books, lovingly handed down from generation to generation: bubba’s kichel, Yenta’s apple-glazed chicken, ima’s tzimmes. However, while no one has necessarily complained about your food – except, perhaps, a pernickety mother-in-law – has anyone really raved about it? Traditional dishes still have their place, but we are living in modern times and a contemporary menu should at least try to reflect, and indeed respect, those who may no longer be sated by a humble slab of gefilte fish.

Add the following guests to your extended trestle table, and some of your trusty recipes of ‘yester Yom Tov’ are possibly redundant: the vegetarian uncle, the dairy intolerant toddler, the newly-diagnosed gluten-free friend, and the vegan son, back for Rosh Hashanah from a two-week initiation into university life. “No food with a face,” he requests. (This must be to impress a girl…) Perhaps it’s your first time hosting as a newly-married couple, or the family rota has come around and it’s your turn. First impressions count. Rosh Hashanah weather is never guaranteed, so while your starter of chicken soup is fail-safe in the popularity stakes, the jury is out on whether to serve it to guests on a stiflingly hot day. Grazing platters are a popular alternative – a simple concept involving a pick ‘n’ mix of different textures, colours and flavours. Alongside her incredible dishes, such as whole roasted cauliflower with tahini dressing, Gingr Kitchen is the expert at creating beautiful grazing platters of colourful crudités, crackers, dips and olives (she can even deliver them to you if you already have too much on your ‘plate’). On the topic of having things delivered, if a simple selection of platters is what you’re after, the deli dons at Yummies can sort you out with all the essentials – salmon rissoles, mini bagels and even a low-carb option served on baby gem lettuce. Caterer and private chef Alex Nitka takes it up a notch; she can help create the most incredible menu of inspirational-looking and divine-tasting food that will leave your guests wanting more. The trend for colourful and spice-laden dishes shows no signs of abating, especially if you head to Instagram page Meliz Cooks for


19 September 2019 Jewish News

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RH37

Eating nu!/ Rosh Hashanah inspiration. Delicious Middle Eastern dishes such as summak salata (sumac salad) would look fantastic on your table, so perhaps it’s time to make room in your spice cupboard for previously intimidating ingredients such as sumac and herby za’atar, all now widely available in your local supermarket. Incorporating simanim (symbolic foods) on Rosh Hashanah is a beautiful tradition. Instagram foodie queen Peas Love n Carrots gives us recipe after recipe. Highlighted for simplicity on her home page

and drawing you in with funny step-by-step cooking on her Insta Stories, Danielle’s food is child and adult approved. Across the pond, Busy in Brooklyn constantly updates her Instagram page, giving you dishes such as the delectablesounding Kale Crunch Salad (opposite page) featuring holiday-relevant pomegranate seeds. As new and exciting as all of these recipes are, Rosh Hashanah wouldn’t be the same without a traditional slice of honey cake to end the meal, so what about making an extra one, gluten-free, under the expert guidance of Lisa Roukin? The sublime recipes in her cookbook and Instagram page of the same name, My Relationship with Food, are easily adaptable for the Yom Tov table. The thought will certainly be appreciated by guests who avoid gluten, and sometimes that version ends up being the preferred recipe for all. So, good luck if you’re hosting and just a thought if you’re attending a contemporary-style lunch – perhaps your dried fruit basket for the host might not cut the mustard. Check out our gift suggestions on page 34, or take along some delicious protein/ vegan balls created by Natra Snack, tailored to suit all palates – dark chocolate, peanut butter, banana, carrot cake and, by popular demand at this time of year, apple and honey. Wishing you a happy, healthy, and delicious New Year.

For more inspiration, follow: @alexnitka_chef @busyinbrooklyn @gingrkitchen @melizcooks @myrelationshipwithfood @natra_snack @peaslovencarrots @yummiesdeli

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VADI RESTAURANT PARTIES

WEDDINGS

BIRTHDAYS

Wishing all our clients a Happy New Year from all the staff at B&K Deli Edgware Hatch End and Tongue & Briskett

Our function room is capable of accommodating up to 150 people. Vadi Restaurant at Palmers Green

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Jewish News 19 September 2019

Ges her o l u K Tz m a r L o Lif a c h a l ed r ’o ika a

d e’o M lal k’

Ko lH a Ve h

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“The whole world is a very narrow bridge and the main thing is to have no fear at all” Rabbi Nachman of Breslev

Gesher School would like to wish all of its fantastic pupils and their families together with all of our wonderful supporters and volunteers

a very happy and healthy New Year. www.gesherschool.com

Gesher School ENGAGE EMPOWER EDUCATE


19 September 2019 Jewish News

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Table matters / Rosh Hashanah

TOP TABLE Louisa Walters takes tips from designer Julia Alexander

Below: A minimal Rosh Hashanah mood board with some of Julia’s favourite high street finds; gold cutlery, MADE.com; double layer table runner, Zara Home; preserved flowers via Shida Florist, black bowl and gold oval tray, H&M

T

he recipe books are out, you’re planning what to cook, you’re writing your shopping list, or maybe you’re taking an easier option and ordering it all in. Whatever you’re serving on your Rosh Hashanah table, you’ll want it to look lovely. I have my best cloth and my wedding china and cutlery, but nowadays there’s so much more to it than that. Scroll through Instagram and you will see tons of great ideas. I asked designer Julia Alexander for some tips on how to create a stunning table setting for Rosh Hashanah – or even any time of year. WHERE DO I START? First, consider what is in the room and what existing colours are there in the space. Then think about what else you want to incorporate – maybe a favourite piece, or something of sentimental value such as a vase or a bowl. Alternatively, pick colours from your table linen or tableware, maybe even some fruit (such as apples or Sephardi style pomegranates) to help set the colour scheme. Stick to no more than three colours as a rule. Or graduate different shades of one colour for a simple, elegant look.

start so you can centre each plate to the chairs and work out how much space you have for additional décor, centrepieces and accessories. HOW CAN I MAKE IT LOOK INTERESTING? Once you’ve put down the tablecloth, table runner or table mats depending on the vibe you’re going for, then add in more layers with a bit of height. Some ideas… Cake stands with a collection of fruit, little pots of herbs, glass jars with plant cuttings or flowers and trays are fabulous way to make a collection of objects look curated. Preserved flowers are beautiful and can be reused. For a really different dramatic look, if you can suspend décor from your ceiling, you can even create a beautiful hanging display. DO YOU HAVE ANY FUN SUGGESTIONS FOR THE CHILDREN? If you have a separate children’s table or extended table, use some brown paper to create a tablecloth that you can draw or even write their names on. They can draw on it, too!

HOW DO I DECIDE ON A STYLE? Do you want to go formal or informal? Are you incorporating young children? Are you a lover of vintage or more modern sleek lines?

An experienced designer, Julia is regularly asked to speak at Grand Designs Live, Ideal Home Show and other design events. Her services start from a two-hour consultation covering all aspects of design and sourcing (colour advice, layout, lighting, furniture, accessories) to looking at architects’ plans at the start of a build to advise on design decisions, and staging properties for sale and rental. Julia is passionate about sharing interiors tips and training. She runs interiors workshops and shares her knowledge with daily tips and inspiration via her Facebook and Instagram pages.

DO YOU HAVE A BEST ORDER OF DOING THINGS WHEN LAYING THE TABLE? Put your chairs in place for the number of guests. It may sound obvious, but do this at the

Instagram: @juliaalexanderinteriors Facebook: Julia Alexander Interiors www.juliaalexander.co.uk


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Jewish News 19 September 2019

Man on a Bike

Wishes all its customers a happy and prosperous new year

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Your local kosher food one stop shop.


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“FRIED FISH AT ITS BEST” WISHING EVERYONE A HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR NOW OFFERING: FISH IN MATZAH MEAL Both offers apply to food only. Excludes drinks.

We have a comprehensive menu with dishes to suit all tastes including many vegetarian options. We are fully licensed. We have a gluten free Monday. Our fish is renowned for freshness, flavour and value for money.

OPENING HOURS Monday to Thursday: 11.30 – 2.30, 5.00 - 10.00 Friday to Sunday: OPEN ALL DAY

The Wingate & Finchley Football Club Would like to wish all of their members old and new

a very Happy Rosh Hashana and well over the fast

Wishing all our customers a happy and healthy new year

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RH42

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Jewish News 19 September 2019

We need your good quality donations Wishing you a Happy and Healthy New Year

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Arrange a collection today call 020 8381 1717 or email us collections@allaboardshops.com

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RH43

Dress code / Rosh Hashanah

SHUL CHIC Emma Samuels loves the way the High Holy Days turn every suburban street (in the right part of town) into a fashion runway. “Rosh Hashanah marks the start of new beginnings and conveniently falls at the same time as the unveiling of the autumn/winter collections. What better reason to celebrate the new year than with a shehecheyanu on a new purchase bringing you up to date. Gone are the bright summer clothes in exchange for autumnal, warm tones – regardless of what the weather has in mind for September! This year that walk to shul – if following trends – will make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time to the 80s. OK, so we’ve been there before, but what’s not to like about big shoulders, statement belts and ankle-skimming dresses and skirts. Game changer leather belt £38 www.joebrowns.co.uk

Whistley bag £159 www.hobbs.co.uk

Above in picture Blue Elena coat £389 www.hobbs.co.uk

Black hat £18 www.forever21.com/uk

Black Hem coat £100 www.joebrowns.co.uk

Aurora cape £329 www.hobbs.co.uk

Blue Elena jacket £199 and Elena trousers £119 www.hobbs.co.uk

Gold Rosa midi dress £229 www.hobbs.co.uk

Floral Dress £430 from Cream 020 8954 7200

Sensational wool trilby £30 www.joebrowns.co.uk

Big shoulders black tweed jacket with poplin £79.99 www.zara.com Black heeled boots £100 www.aldoshoes.com/uk


RH44

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Jewish News 19 September 2019

Rosh Hashanah / Dress code

WOOLLY

WORDS

Edgware Flyer:Layout 1 3/4/19 13:49 Page 1 Edgware Flyer:Layout 1 3/4/19 13:49 Page 1

As Brits, we were born to wear jumpers. It’s a climate requirement and, while it’s acceptable for trousers to be neutral, we like our jumpers to make a statement – be it with colour or design. As the new kid on the knitwear block, Cara Melzack has nailed both exceptionally well. Cara, who hails from Edgware, and describes herself as enthusiastic, optimistic and overexcitable, is the founder and CEO of Cara & The Sky. It’s a fitting name for a label that is being launched at a time when British high street fashion is floundering. Looking up and into the future is the only thing for a young entrepreneur to do. “I’m just trying to make my way in the world and follow my dream,” says Cara, who has worked in the fashion industry for more than 10 years and decided it was time to venture out on her own. “I’m obsessed with fun, colourful knitwear, and wanted to give people an opportunity to buy the unique boutique style kind that was different from the high street, but doesn’t cost an alarming amount.” Armed with the knowledge she acquired as a buyer for Ted Baker and Lost Ink and the desire to promote positivity and self-belief, Cara, who got married this month, believes there are no limits. “Reach for the sky,” she says. But be sure to do it in a jumper.

NOW NOW OPEN OPEN

The AW19 collection starts from £45 – £65 and will be available online at www.caraandthesky.com and five boutiques across southern England and the East Midlands from October 2019

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Dress code / Rosh Hashanah

Feeling

GUILTY?

You may not have opted for plimsolls and a white coat, but the Day of Atonement brings out the guilty in all of us. Thumping your chest while reflecting on past transgressions is what 9ct white gold, 0.22ct diamond evil eye and hamsa necklace £349 shopaholics should do as they reflect on their www.clarojewels.com purchasing sins – those little guilty pleasures we hide in the car. As one who helps others to shop, stylist Emma Samuels believes that a splurge or two never really hurt anyone – especially when it’s in the name of fashion. Santal 33 Le Labo £127 “There’s the belt that’s a seasonal must, trainers www.lelabofragrances.com you will wear with everything or a bottle of the pricey but desired fragrance Le Labo Santal 33. None are essential, but you really have nothing Earrings Soru £145 at Fenwick to feel guilty about. Just enjoy them!” Trainers £115 www.net-a-porter.com

Dolce & Gabbana leopard-print pouch £245 www.matchesfashion.com

BEST FRIEND Cashmere sweater £340 Cream

A second Gucci belt £150

Gucci belt £315 www.net-a-porter.com

Guilty pleasures can also be philanthropic, and North London Hospice is offering the chance to win a real radiant cut ½ carat diamond worth £2,500 plus an additional £200 towards the setting. The draw takes place at the charity’s Gala Diamond Dinner on Thursday, 26 September. Tickets cost £25 per ticket. Visit www.northlondonhospice.org. For more information, call fundraising on 020 8446 2288 or email galadinner@ northlondonhospice.co.uk

Wishing you a Happy and Healthy New Year

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RH46

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Jewish News 19 September 2019

Rosh Hashanah / Beautiful

BEAUTY BEGI As tried and tested by Brigit Grant

Gorgias London has a honey and rosehip oil moisturiser (£29.95) for rejuvenating dry, sensitive problematic skin. Its biggest selling point is the Vitamin A, which hydrates through the night and the honey gives the cream anti-bacterial properties to help prevent spots. www.gorgiaslondon.com

APPLES AND HONEY AND POMEGRANATES We break out the beauty with a selection of fruit-infused products and dash of honey Nature’s Kitchen has a soothing face wash (£10.99) to shift impurities and toxins with the help of kiwi, apple and cucumber. It’s also got vitamins A, B3, C and E, guava, fennel, spinach and kale for smoother, softer and youthful looking skin. Your face will look and taste like a smoothie. www.natureskitchenskincare.uk

Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Hydration Masque (£12.99) is from Boots and is an intense conditioning deep treatment laced with organic shea butter, HONEY Mafura and Baobab Oils. Great to sort out frizzy Jewfros.

And so to the pomegranate, which is so hard to peel. Tropic Skincare has managed it with its Elixir Age-Defying Omega Oil (£24) This is a truly fantastic product and only three to six drops of it seems to work miracles on your face, neck and décolletage. My skin has never looked and felt better and I’ve been using it for six weeks. This is the one to start the new year. www.tropicskincare.com


19 September 2019 Jewish News

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RH47

Beautiful / Rosh Hashanah

INNINGS STRICTLY SUNNY

If you see me running towards the horizon, I’m chasing the sun. If bottling it were possible I would do so, but until such time, I resort to tan maintenance with helpful products. My personal fav is Tropic Sun Drops Gradual Tanning Facial Serum (£22). A few drops mixed in with your regular moisturiser can create the illusion of a sunny afternoon spent in the back garden. It’s brilliant at making you look naturally healthy as it contains the plant allo-melanin, which mimics the colour of your own skin. As one who has tried and tested them all, I can’t survive winter without it. www.tropicskincare.com My daughter has taken possession of Green People’s Gradual Tan Moisturiser (£17.50) because it is organic, super gentle on sensitive and acne-prone skin and builds up a light colour and smells of mandarin.

As a nice Jewish girl, it makes sense that Gwyneth Paltrow would be up with the fruit essentials, and among the many alternative overpriced essentials you will find at her pop-up Goop store in Notting Hill is the Innersense Organic Beauty haircare line that is completely organic and toxin free, utilising the best ingredients from nature, notably honey and apple. This is organic honey sustainably sourced so the bees are protected. Would you expect less from the Goop gal? And look at those locks... For the same bounce and glisten you wil need the Sweet Spirit Leave In Conditioner (£24), the Hydrating Hair Masque (£28) and Hydrating Cream (£26), both of which use apple fruit extract. If you can’t get to Goop, fret not as the products are also available at innersenseorganicbeauty.co.uk

Last but by no means least on the bronzing issue, I defer to the experts and give you the brand that fuels Strictly Come Dancing. Among the hopefuls in this year’s line is Michelle Visage, the Jewish hopeful who will be doused in Norvell to cha cha with Giovanni. Norvell is 100% vegan, sulphate and gluten-free and is easy to apply at home as a mousse, shimmering mist or the Strictly Come Dancing Perfect 10 Airbrush Spray (£19.99). www.norvelltanning.co.uk

A V E R Y H A P PY

Rosh Hashanah TO A L L O U R M E M B E R S A N D F R I E N D S !

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Jewish News 19 September 2019

Rosh Hashanah / Beautiful NEW SKIN New Year, new you is a tired old cliché, but not when it comes to your skin, so don’t settle and keep sampling. Your skin will appreciate it. Green People’s Beauty Boost Skin Restore (£21) keeps summer skin glowing as it goes into repair mode. Designed to plump and recharge the complexion, this is a twice-weekly leave-on mask to restore brightness and boost collagen production. www.greenpeople.co.uk

White Mulberry Light & Bright Vanishing Cream (£12.90) brightens and, over time, reduces the appearance of dark spots. It also helps fade age spots, sun damage and fade freckles (why would you?). Sunflower oil, jojoba and grapeseed oil do the nourishing, aloe vera soothes and moisturises. The lightening is done by the white mulberry, which inhibits tyrosinase, the enzyme that triggers the production of melanin. This light moisturiser doesn’t sit on the skin or overload it and vanishes completely, leaving beautifully-soft skin with youthful luminosity. www.beautynaturals.com

IT’S IN THE BAG Hit Superdrug for GOSH COPENHAGEN’S AW19 range and you will be able to: • Create perfect brows that last all day with the new Brow Hair Stroke – semi-tattoo ink pen. • Find the new I’m Blushing Shade ‘Crush’ a beautiful and warm golden terracotta brown that can be used as a blusher or as a contour colour. • Enhance the length of your lashes with the new Rebel Eyes Mascara,, which has a breakthrough lightweight formula Skinny B Mascara and lasts up to 24 hours. • And improve those shadows with Chameleon Under Eye Primer,, which is cooling and anti-wrinkle and enhances any skin tone with a healthy, even-toned glow with its amazing chameleon effect. • Finally for the shadow revolution, try eyeMajic (£5.99) which is the world’s first instant eyeshadow. It uses heat-sensitive applicators to transfer highly pigmented eyeshadow in a variety of shades straight to the eyelid in seconds.

You can’t celebrate without a Perricone mention, as the doctor www.majicbeauty.com comes up with such greats as Cold Plasma Plus Neck & Chest Broad Spectrum SPF 25 (£75) a multitasking whipped formula that halts the signs of ageing by smoothing and toning in those annoying bits (neck skin) that give the game away. Vitamin B3 and Vitamin Ester C sort uneven skin tone, minimise the appearance of dark spots and discolouration, while broad spectrum SPF25 helps to prevent future sun damage. www.spacenk.com and Radlett Premier Bathrooms Ad_Layout 1 06/07/2015 10:31 Page 1 www.perriconemd.co.uk

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19 September 2019 Jewish News

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RH49

ADVERTORIAL

GIVE YOURSELF A HuGG Discover the benefits of CBD from a company with the answers

A

mong the many things the year has brought us, Medical Cannabis is the one that has dominated the headlines. Triggered by the government’s decision to relax the laws that determine when cannabis medicine can be prescribed, a myriad of CBD (cannabidiol) products have been launched - CBD oil being the most popular. There’s a huge difference between Medical Cannabis and CBD (Cannabidiol) though and this is where it gets confusing and is rarely explained well by the headlines. CBD sold in the UK is derived from Hemp. Medicinal Cannabis is derived from Marijuana. These are different varieties from the Cannabis Sativa species. Technically, they are both derived from the Cannabis plant, but the composition is different. The Marijuana Cannabis plant has very low levels of CBD (the good stuff) and illegal levels of the psychoactive cannabinoid THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol), so according to UK regulations cannot be used for CBD supplements. Hemp, a sister plant to Marijuana, has a high CBD composition and almost no THC. This is where CBD oil comes from and it is what CiiTECH, a UK/Israeli biotech company use for their brands and carefully formulated products.

The HuGG Co, a brand powered by CiiTECH, has introduced a range of CBD oil supplements that are ideal for supporting wellbeing and maintaining a calm and glowing persona. The HuGG oil comes in 350mg and 1400mg strengths, formulated to be taken orally twice a day for optimal results. The oils can also be used alongside The HuGG CBD infused beauty range. Not only is CBD oil a good food supplement to take for all manner of wellness reasons but it also helps maintain healthy skin when ingested and when applied topically. Beauty from the inside out. The HuGG products focus on shifting the modern mindset consumed by technology and daily demands, by promoting self-care through the use of CBD, clean living, fitness, and clarity. Infusing daily life with CBD to help the busy women of today stay strong, well balanced and glowing with radiance. Not so easy to do when there feels like there’s a never-ending list of tasks to take care of that focus on everyone else, and rarely yourself. Olivia Wayne, TV presenter and HuGG brand ambassador says: “We have to take away the association of guilt with self-care. Taking that time for yourself each day enables you to be the best and happiest, healthiest version of yourself. Whether it’s a workout, having a cup of coffee in silence, or taking

some time out for a beauty treatment. Infusing CBD into your daily life is an effective and natural way to support your quest for self-care”. Sara Flack, from The HuGG Co. explains a little more: “For us CBD is a way of life. We wanted to create products that support the use of CBD oil, without adding extra tasks to an already overloaded diary. Infusing CBD into products that we already know and love using means CBD is infused effortlessly into your lifestyle. On a personal level it is one of the reasons why CBD infused Coffee was first on the list of product launches. I can’t start my day without a morning coffee, I’m busy trying to get 4 lovely naughty boys out the house so time is sparse. My morning dose of CBD doesn’t need to be remembered; it’s infused into my coffee. This same reason is why we have introduced a CBD infused beauty care range”. Daily-Care and Self-Care are the 2 lines geared towards helping women feel that it is O.K. to think about themselves. Within just a few weeks of softlaunching, The HuGG Co. CBD Oils, CBD Infused Coffee, CBD Bath Salts, CBD Clay Face Mask and CBD Cuticle Oil have caught the eyes of UK’s top Beauty journalists and have become instant Instahits and must-haves among some of the top UK Beauty Influencers. The biotech company harnessing that science is CiiTECH which develops the best

CBD products in the UK in collaboration with industry experts in Israel and local UK/EU Hemp cultivators. CBD was first discovered and isolated in 1963 by Professor Mechoulam at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University and Israel is known worldwide for leading Medical Cannabis Research. While CiiiTECH is not a medical company, it supports leading scientific research of the Hemp and Cannabis with the intention of developing trustworthy consumer CBD products. When it comes to your health, you need to choose a CBD oil you can trust — in terms of quality, safety, and purity, CiiTECH products are unmatched. See the full range at www.thehuggshop.co.uk. If you have any questions about CBD we’re happy to help, contact info@ciitech.co.uk Disclaimer: Each and every HuGG CBD supplement is grown, manufactured, and produced under strict EU agricultural and food processing guidelines and complies with the quality standards set forth by the UK Cannabis Trades Association. The UK laws require CBD oil to have composition of less than 0.2% THC. HuGG products are not intended to treat any specific medical condition.


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Jewish News 19 September 2019

Rosh Hashanah / Beautiful

New Problems 4 Older Kids With each passing year young people see a change in their skin. Madison Grant-Gold was introduced to a new regime TYPICAL. Just as we get to an age when we

are being invited to a bar or batmitzvah every weekend, our baby faced complexions disappear and are replaced by a variety of pimples and red bumps. Boys suffer the most through puberty and can’t even rely on concealers like girls can, but the aim is to shift those spots as quickly as possible. That isn’t easy and you have to be patient. Even though you and your friends are going through puberty together, chances are your skin looks and feels different to your BFF’s. So a product that works for her might not work for you as some contain unnecessary irritants that lead to an oilier skin and cause even more spots. You also have to learn what to do to improve the situation such as not sharing makeup, keeping hands clean and using spray hair products as shampoo residue on the hairline can create more spots.

At Ceteum in Southgate they know how to treat and improve teenage skin and I was given a lesson in what to do.

STEP 1 With an exfoliating brush spread their PH cleanser (from £19) around your face.

STEP 2 Put PH lotion (from £19) on a sponge

with water to help remove the cleanser and any extra dirt.

STEP 5 Apply a tiny bit of the Vitamin E elixir to the affected (spotty) area. £19.50-£69.95

STEP 6 The pot of Anti blemish balm (£15)

STEP 3 Apply the purifying mask (you don’t

is to take around whenever spots get itchy or irritated.

STEP 4 Apply blemish control to the spotty areas which you can leave on for 10-20 minutes or sleep in it.

Cetuem do full treatments for kids with bad skin and I could see a real change in my skin after my first visit. It has improved even more as I’ve followed the routine, so I could say goodbye to my insecurities. And my concealer.

need to do this every day.). Leave it on for 10 to 20 minutes then rinse of with water. (masks from £19.50-£49.00)

Don’t forget to call your mother to wish her...

Wishing you a happy, healthy and sweet new year, from all of us at JW3. jw3.org.uk +44 (0)20 7433 8988    JW3London 341-351 Finchley Road, London NW3 6ET

www.cetuem.com/ call 020 8368 0008 for appointments


19 September 2019 Jewish News

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RH51

ALWAYS THERE. ALWAYS READY. Israel, 1989: ZAKA was founded to provide emergency rescue and recovery operations at the scene of terrorist attacks. ZAKA’s mission is to retrieve, identify, and bury human remains while providing the utmost respect to the deceased in accordance with Torah law. Today: ZAKA is an internationally recognized humanitarian organization providing emergency and mass casualty response across the globe.

3,500 Volunteers

22

Countries

24/7 On call

Help us protect the millions of people in Israel who rely on us! To donate online please visit: zakauk.org British Friends of ZAKA • 233a Golders Green Road • London, NW11 9ES • Tel: 020-8458-5391 • london@zaka.org.uk Registered Charity 1099639


RH52 Jewish News

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19 September 2019

Help JBCS

Rabbi Steven & Rebbetzen Siobhan Dansky, Reverend Gary & Gillian Newman, ϮϮ ĞĞŚŝǀĞ >ĂŶĞ͕ /ůĨŽƌĚ͕ ƐƐĞdž͕ /'ϭ ϯZd the Executive Board and Synagogue Advisory Council look forward to seeing you and wish the whole Community ZĂďďŝ ^ƚĞǀĞŶ Θ ZĞďďĞƚnjĞŶ ^ŝŽďŚĂŶ ĂŶƐŬLJ͕ ZĞǀĞƌĞŶĚ

'ĂƌLJ Θ 'ŝůůŝĂŶ EĞǁŵĂŶ͕ ƚŚĞ džĞĐƵƚŝǀĞ ŽĂƌĚ ĂŶĚ Shana Tova ^LJŶĂŐŽŐƵĞ ĚǀŝƐŽƌLJ ŽƵŶĐŝů ůŽŽŬ ĨŽƌǁĂƌĚ ƚŽ ƐĞĞŝŶŐ LJŽƵ V’Gmar Chatima Tova and wish the whole Community Shana Tova V’Gmar Rabbi Dansky with Jeffrey Leader ŚĂƚŝŵĂ dŽǀĂ will be accompanied by the Cranbrook United Synagogue Choir.

ZĂďďŝ ĂŶƐŬLJ ǁŝƚŚ :ĞĨĨƌĞLJ >ĞĂĚĞƌ ǁŝůů ďĞ ĂĐĐŽŵƉĂŶŝĞĚ ďLJ ƚŚĞ ƌĂŶďƌŽŽŬ hŶŝƚĞĚ ^LJŶĂŐŽŐƵĞ ŚŽŝƌ͘ 22 Beehive Lane, Ilford, Essex, IG1 3RT

ANNIE & SAMUEL LEVY HALL

Shana Tova

from Mill Hill Call Gerry on 020 8959 1137 www.nerorre.co.uk Email: Gerry@millhillsynagogue.co.uk

Call Gerry on 020 8959 1137 #3 or email gerry@millhillsynagogue.co.uk

in Bereavement We offer confidential counselling to individuals, couples and families in the Jewish community Support groups available As an independent charity we rely on donations and bequests For more information, contact us on 020 8951 3881, email us at enquiries@jbcs.org.uk or visit www.jbcs.org.uk Registered Charity No. 1047473


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19 September 2019 Jewish News

RH53


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Jewish News 19 September 2019

Hendon Hospital

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Algarve / Rosh Hashanah

PRAYERS in Portugal ...for those who are desperate to cling to the last shreds of summer and need chags in the sun UNLIKE THE COUNTRIES that promise autumnal sun, Portugal almost always delivers. Go there in December and you can still catch the rays that last winter provided. Even Israel struggles to grow oranges in January, but in Portugal they are still on the trees. All of this weather hype is for those who fancy a warm Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur in a T-shirt and shorts. With pics of your summer hols popping up daily on the phone, the idea of escaping to welcome in the new year grows more appealing – so go for it. Accommodation is available at all prices, but for affordable spent in Jewish surroundings, go to Casa De Mondo in Boliqueime in the Algarve. As the House of the World, this rustic property in the hillside prides itself on welcoming travellers with a taste for the eclectic as that is how the house and three cottages are decorated – each with its own bathroom and kitchen so you can cater for yourself. Or ask host Armondo Pena, who is happy to serve chicken soup on the terrace, which is fittingly full of pomegranate trees. A short drive to the beach with its own pool, Rosh Hashanah at House of the World has a nice

ring to it. For a stay that requires more of a spend, consider the Pine Cliffs in the Algarve, which is a five-star hotel on a cliff-top pine forest. The gardens are huge and full of exotic plants and there is plenty of space as well as a kids’ club for the little ones to run around. There is also the Annabel Croft Tennis Academy, an 18-hole golf course and lots

of swimming pools. By arrangement, Pine Cliffs is also able to do kosher catering for group bookings.

Wishing all our customers Shana Tova Umetuka. May you have a Happy and Sweet New Year.

Portugal’s HIGH HOLY DAYS If you do go to Portugal’s Algarve for the High Holy Days, then you will receive a warm welcome from the Jewish community who are getting together to host the chagim. Intiated by Israeli restaurant owner Ido Itshayek from Albufeira, the small community of multiple nationalities are holding Rosh Hashanah in its entirety from 7pm on Sunday, 29 September with candle-lighting ahead of the evening services followed by a Kiddush and a three-course meal professionally prepared. Monday, 1 October: Morning services (Shachrit) are at 9.30am, then Yizkor and Shofar blowing at 11:30am. More Kiddush and a festive then afternoon services (Minchah and Tashlich) at 6pm. Tuesday, 2 October: Morning services (Sachrit) 9.30am, Shofar blowing 11am,followed by a Kiddush and a festive meal.

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www.casademondo.com, 07903525941. For Pine Cliffs, call 01625 865071 or visit www.justresorts.co.uk

12/09/2019 13:37

“It’s going to be wonderful,” says Ido. “Vistors will experience an exciting, friendly, easygoing, spiritual, delicious, joyful and serene time in a stunning mansion in Albufeira.” There is even a children’s playground and Ido is so keen for people to join the services at any time as there is an ongoing minyan or skip the services and just turn up for the food. Services are also taking place on Yom Kippur. The Sefer Torah used for the services has a remarkable history as it belonged to Ido’s great-grandfather who was Chief Rabbi of Iraq. “My father Yadin brought it here from Israel and it is kept in a special room in our house,” says Ido, who has also announced that the Jewish Community of the Algarve has confirmed a location to serve as the first Sinagoga and Community Centre in the Algarve since the 1930s. The inauguration will be during Succot, with a proper succah and the famous Sefer Torah. For more information, visit: Jewish Community of the Algarve on Facebook, or email JCA.Algarve@yahoo.com


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Jewish News 19 September 2019

Rosh Hashanah / Cruising

SAILING WITH MY BABY Beverley Sanford hit the high seas with her daughter on a Royal Caribbean cruise

T

here is nothing more exciting than when the morning of a holiday finally arrives, and this time I was doubly excited as I was spending a week away with my daughter. We had originally booked a week in Barcelona but when I discovered there was a Mediterranean cruise leaving the day after we arrived in Spain, my worries about cramping the style of a 23-yearold were solved. As a seasoned cruiser, I knew we would be in for a treat with nightly after-dinner entertainment, ranging Leanne on Segway (above) and in Montserrat

BRITISH NATIONALITY

from West End theatre performances to jazz bands and even a silent disco. On arrival in Barcelona we checked in to the Hilton Alexandra, a beautiful boutique hotel in a great location near Las Ramblas filled with street entertainers. We made the classic girly trip mistake of hitting the shops first, so that by the time we returned to Las Ramblas all the performers had packed up and gone home. A nine course ‘taster’ dinner at the hotel’s Solomillo steak restaurant was a treat as was the Segway tour of the city next morning. Then it was time to board The Oasis of the Seas which is the Royal Caribbean’s five-star star floating hotel. We had a big room with a floor-to-ceiling window and having not slept in a single bed for 20-plus years, I was surprised by how comfortable and spacious it was.

GERMAN CITIZENSHIP

UK IMMIGRATION

PASSPORTIA WISHES YOU A HAPPY NEW YEAR

The ship that keeps you busy

One never ceases to be amazed by how much there is to do on a ship from zip-lining, ice skating and relaxing in one of the bars or shopping (lots) going to the spa or the gym and swimming, in one of the pools... And then there is the choice of eating at the main dining area or going to one of the speciality restaurants . The exemplary thing about cruising is that there is entertainment day and night. I’m talking diving shows, theatre shows, ice extravaganzas – it’s like the floating version of Broadway without the overpriced tickets. It is possible to spend all day doing different activities from 7am until gone midnight, but be sure to find time for those glorious meals or you can just totally chill spending another day at another pool being served cocktails. This,

Suspense of the diving show

We would be glad to hear from you if you require assistance or advice regarding citizenship or immigration in the coming year. OUR SERVICES INCLUDE: UK Nationality and Immigration Citizenship by Ancestry Naturalisation Registration

Zip-lining on board

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for me, is the total enjoyment of being on board with Royal Caribbean. We booked a tour of the ‘bridge’, which is where the captain steers the ship - it was fascinating to see how that all happens and tempting to burst into a round of “My Heart Will Go On”. We also did a tour of the kitchens and saw where the thousands of meals are prepared. The in-house bakery makes more than 20,000 rolls every day. Excursions are brilliantly organised. We visited many beautiful places, stopping in Palma, Florence, Rome and Marseille. Even on the last day we left the ship at eight in the morning for a tour of the beautiful Montserrat mountains high above Barcelona. We were then taken to the airport by coach and I didn’t even have to worry about carrying suitcases and bags as they were all looked after for us. I cannot think of another way to cram so

much into seven days, and still feel totally relaxed by the time you arrive back in London. Even with a 23-year-old in tow. And I didn’t cramp her style at all. www.royalcaribbean.co.uk or by telephone on 0344 493 4005

Chillin in the jacuzzi


19 September 2019 Jewish News

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RH57

Travel / Rosh Hashanah NAOMI’S FACT FILE ‘Alternative tours of Barcelona with Iosaf’ can be booked directly by calling Iosaf on 0034 692 650 348 or via: iosaf.guide@gmail.com Restaurant Maccabi: http://www.restaurantmaccabi.com/en/ Naomi stayed in Apartamentos Royal Marina Gardens, Castedefells for three nights, priced £239.

A BUZZ THROUGH

BARCELONA Naomi Frankel found an unlikely guide in Barcelona to help her discover the Catalan capital’s Jewish heritage

O

ne wouldn’t expect to uncover Barcelona’s Jewish history via a born and bred Irish Catholic guide, but a fortunate encounter led me to a fascinating Sephardi heritage on a bespoke tour of Barcelona’s old Jewish Quarter. My adventure began with a search the previous day for the Medieval Synagogue, (one of the oldest in Europe). Google Maps leads me through Las Ramblas, a touristy thoroughfare where painted performers compete with multiple stalls selling trinkets. The Gothic quarter, located in the heart of Barcelona’s old city reminded me of Jerusalem’s Old City, with its distinct ancient feel and the endless narrow, quaint twisting streets one could get lost in! I did in fact get a bit lost, and my frustration reached a peak when I eventually stumbled upon the synagogue to discover (the extraordinary small) door firmly closed upon arrival. Heading opposite to ‘Fat Tire Bike Tours’ to ask for more details, a friendly American worker recommended Iosaf, an Irish guide who was apparently very knowledgeable about Barcelona’s Jewish history! So I called Iosaf and arranged to meet the next day in Gracia, a busy shopping district. Our tour began in the Gothic Quarter, and I soon discovered Iosaf was a truly fascinating guide. Relating everything in a distinct Irish lilt he told me how the Jewish presence in Barcelona dates back to the 9th century, although it was two centuries later when El Call, the Jewish Quarter was created. I discovered that Jews were hugely influential during the medieval period, enjoying the King’s protection as Barcelona emerged as a major trading port. Until 1391, that is, when the Jewish Quarter was attacked and their privileges taken away. With the Spanish expulsion of the Jews in 1492, the rest as they say is history. Iosaf took me to view some buildings and pointed out some distinct Hebrew lettering inscribed on the ancient walls. Enraptured, I listened as he told me about Montjuïc (Jewish Mountain in Catalan), a scenic wooded hill in the south west of Barcelona. It was once the home of the city’s

medieval Jewish community. Sadly, after the Spanish expulsion, bricks from Jewish graves in Montjuïc were carried down and used in the building of tenements in Barcelona. I voiced my outrage at this clear disrespect for the dead, but Iosaf put a spin on things by relating how it is believed those workers were Marranos (Jews forcibly converted to Christianity but who practiced in secret). So, the actions of placing bricks with Hebrew lettering among the stones was probably an act of defiance. We continue to El Born, bordering the Gothic Quarter, where Iosaf pointed out a street called Carrer dels Canvis Vells (Old Money Changers Street). Unsurprisingly, it hads a large population of Jewish moneychangers in the 1200s. The street bordering it is called Carrer dels Canvis Nous, meaning New Money Changers Street, and Iosaf told me how this signalled the new period after the 1200s, when Christians began moving into money changing. Our final stop was the medieval synagogue, which thankfully was now open. Although no congregation prays regularly there, it is still used for festive occasions. Built on a low underground level, I had to stoop to enter, feeling like Alice in Wonderland! Inside, a staff member gives a short but interesting talk about its history. I marvelled at the beautiful stained glass windows and grand menorah standing proudly in the corner. I was only in Barcelona for a few days, and I was told that it would be a crime to miss the incredible work of Gaudi’s architecture, though his creations are dotted all around the city. With time constraints I chose to visit Barcelona’s Park Güell, one of his major works, which was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1984. My last evening in Barcelona was spent dining at its only kosher restaurant, Maccabi, located in the heart of Las Ramblas. The queue is long but the steak is great, making it worth the wait. However, the cherry on the cake was over dessert (pardon the pun) where a clan of travelling musicians serenaded me with traditional Spanish music. I didn’t know the song, but I won’t forget it.

Romford & District (Affiliated) Synagogue Incorporating Havering Jewish Ladies

25 Eastern Road, Romford, Essex, RM1 3NH 01708 741 690

Wishing the community a happy and healthy new year

For enquiries please call: 01708 741 690 Charity No. 1121253


RH58 Jewish News

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19 September 2019

Rosh Hashanah / Travel

Monkeying about on THE THAMES

Louisa Shulman has a relaxing time not far from home

The barge which doubles up as a spa

If I tell you about a beautiful island to escape to for a luxury break, you’ll assume it’s in the Caribbean and needs a 10-hour flight. Wrong! It’s only 40 miles away and you can be there in one hour. Monkey Island is by the Thames in Bray (in fact it’s in the Thames!). Originally the haunt of angling monks in the 12th century (this is where the monkey name comes from), it was used as a fishing retreat by the third Duke of Marlborough (Winston Churchill’s greatgreat-great-great-grandfather) in the 1720s. The Duke’s white, stuccoed fishing temple and pavilion now form part of a beautiful, luxury hotel. Staying here means being on historic ground, as the island was reclaimed from flooding in 1666 when barges dumped rubble from the Great Fire of London. A multi-million pound refurbishment by YTL hotels has resulted in a magnificent property with small but beautifully appointed art deco style bedrooms in the white-bricked pavilion and six cottages, three of which are in the village. Botanical wallapers make a striking statement in the communal areas and reflect the beautiful English country gardens. Food, drink and banqueting take place in the pavilion, with its panoramic terrace overlooking the river. It felt appropriate to choose the ‘View over the Thames’ cocktail at The Monkey Bar with gin, lavender and G&T foam, before

hearty flavour punch. Smoked haddock with colcannon mash was a gentle lead into a truly stunning lamb with dauphin potatoes (my favourite) and purple cauliflower. Making sure we enjoyed the very best of British, the chef

The exquisite dining area

then served the best (and I really do mean that) sticky toffee pudding I have ever had, with date puree and clotted cream ice-cream. Whisky lovers will be tempted by the snug, a hidden gem of a room located at the top of a tower up a narrow winding staircase, devoted to Scotch. After a few wee drams, we wandered through the grounds to a handcrafted bespoke Shepherd’s Hut, where we sat by the Fire Pit and snuggled up with warm throws and a boozy hot chocolate while toasting marshmallows. Breakfast the next morning was a treat. By now it was warm enough for the doors to the terrace to be opened while we enjoyed a small but beautifully presented buffet and eggs royale with eggs laid by the hotel’s own chickens just an hour earlier, and smoked salmon smoked in the hotel’s own smokehouse. The buildings on the island are listed, meaning no extensions are allowed. This presented a quandary when it came to deciding where to house a spa. The Floating Spa – a bespoke barge moored on the banks of the Thames – is the ingenious solution. I was tempted by the Floating Massage, but opted for a Four Gems Graceful Ageing Facial. This was 90 minutes of pure pleasure,

The View over the Thames cocktail

heading into the restaurant for the tasting menu. The simplicity of the dishes, the beauty and freshness of the ingredients (many of them foraged on the island) means that this dining experience is a strong contender for best-in-town; when you consider that Bray has three Michelin-starred restaurants, this is a fine accolade indeed. Head chef William Hemming has been The bedrooms offer stunning views poached from Simpsons in the Strand and has where crystal massage stones together with installed kitchen gardens and a smokehouse, herbal and gemstone-infused oils left my skin from which we enjoyed beautiful smoked cleansed and glowing. salmon with goats’ cheese curd and delicately In the 19th century boys from nearby Eton pickled cucumbers for a first course. Heritage drank at the pavilion on Monkey Island; today, tomatoes with feta and Bloody Mary sauce you can’t help but look at each one and wonder were bursting with sweetness and juice, while if he’s a prime minister in the making. smoked pepper risotto with salsify packed a


19 September 2019 Jewish News

www.jewishnews.co.uk

RH59

Mini-break / Rosh Hashanah

CHEDDAR GORGEOUS

Ut ut que nos es que ea porem et fugiasimet ommos reperendae prestibus Saped quia exerum

Jack Mendel and friends head southwest to Somerset

WAKING UP TO THE SOUND of roosters at 5am might not be everybody’s cup of tea, but it’s the perfect tonic to the hustle and bustle of London. And with the leaves starting to fall, grab a few days in rural Somerset while you can. Or think about it for spring. My uni friends and I stayed in an Airbnb converted barn near Highbridge in north Somerset. Just 25 minutes from several beaches and natural sites, it gave the best of both worlds; being secluded but also close to local attractions, with five bedrooms and three bathrooms. It was warm then – upwards of 25 degrees – and the highlight of our trip was our two-hour walk around the stunning Cheddar Gorge, which emerges from the rolling farms that cover the county. It’s likely this major tourist site is gorgeous most of the year as there are always people admiring its natural beauty. While it is free to enter, as most of it is under the National Trust, there is a small charge to park, in addition to many of the activities, such as abseiling, rock climbing and touring caves. The rocks tower over the roads and wind through the gorge, and visitors are warned that parking is at one’s own peril – as stones have been known to fall. The steep climb on the ‘medium to hard’ excursion was a challenge and, after 10 minutes, there was some regret about having not worn hiking shoes. After an incline that lasted for about half an hour, we reached a vantage point

for a spot of lunch, where we gazed over the gorge. Hiking may not be for everyone, so luckily for us, we were just a short drive to Brean Beach, which is not far from the touristy Weston-super-Mare. It’s not a tropical beach, with hard sand and a high tide – to the point where it was a good five to 10-minute walk to get to the sea – but it was still popular with visitors. Our cottage was fitted with a fantastic kitchen and barbecue, but we also ventured into the local town for a bite to eat. We visited The Packhorse Inn, which used to be a stable, but it’s now a restaurant. Staff were chatty and accommodating, telling us about mythical tunnels underneath the building dating back hundreds of years, which were used to escape during the civil war. They didn’t have anything kosher, funnily enough, but the kitchen said they’d cook up some vegetarian food just for us, which was delicious and made us feel very welcome. Traffic permitting, it’s a four-hour drive for anyone who struggles to get further than St John’s Wood, but there are plenty of places to stop off on the way depending on the route, including Stonehenge, Bristol and Bath. You can also take the train from Paddington and just enjoy the view.

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RH60

www.jewishnews.co.uk

Jewish News 19 September 2019

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