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JEWISH FAMILIES ON ‘RED ALERT’ AFTER ABDUCTION

UK ON ISRAEL’S ‘RED’ LIST

BY DAVID SAFFER

CST has warned youngsters in Jewish communities to be aware of their surroundings after a gang abducted a Jewish boy on his way home from school in Stamford Hill last week Families have expressed their anger and concern after the 10-year-old was released shortly after the incident last Thursday.

The youngster suffered no physical injuries but was shaken.

The abduction is the latest in a spate of hate crimes against the Jewish community in recent months.

“This was a shocking incident which could have ended up far worse than it actually did,” Mark Gardner, CST CEO, told The Jewish Weekly. “Members of our community especially our young boys and girls need to be very aware of their surroundings and know what might have happened.”

Stamford Hill Police have

SEE PAGE 2

GIFT RAISES OVER £1.1 MILLION The screen grab shows the boy being carried away.

identified four of the suspects and passed details to Hackney Police.

The suspects have reportedly been issued with Anti-Social Behaviour and Community Protection warnings. Their parents have been warned they face eviction by the council if their children commit further attacks.

PHOTO: SHOMRIM

A local mum of five, who did not wish to be named, told The Jewish Weekly she was scared when her children went out. “It’s terrible, police have to do more,” she said.

“Our children are finding it hard CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

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Disturbing CCTV footage shows the gang approach the boy, one of the gang picks him up and carries him off across the road.

The gang is believed to be associated with the nearby Webb Estate and accused of harassing Jewish residents for years.

The incident was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim to police, they have called for the constabulary to “hold this gang to account for hundreds of racist attacks”.

Metropolitan Police said in a statement

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“It was reported that one of the group picked up the boy and carried him to a nearby front garden where they let him go”, a spokesman said, adding, “Officers attended and spoke to the victim’s mother. She did not wish to take any further action, the incident is not being treated as a hate crime.”

16 DECEMBER 2021

Johnson announces record Covid cases

Information should be passed to the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123 (Ref: CAD 6066 9/12/21.

UK on Israel’s ‘red’ list

BY SIMCHA ABIR The United Kingdom will officially join Israel’s ‘red list’ at midnight on Thursday.

UK citiznes cannot visit Israel while Israelis are banned from travelling the UK due to the speed the Omicron variant is spreading.

Travel restrictions also relate to Belgium and Denmark, Sharon Alroy-Preis, Israel’s director of Public Health, told a news conference last Sunday.

Fifty countries, mainly in Africa, are on Israel’s ‘red’ list.

Dr. Sharon Alroy-Preis, of the Health Ministry, said the spread of Omicron was “very significant” at a press briefing.

The ministry’s Nitzan Horowitz added that additional countries would be added to the ‘red’ list this week. Horovitz called on Israelis

not to travel overseas unless it was essential.

“Whoever is planning to travel abroad at this time needs to know that, upon their return, they are likely to go into full quarantine because the country will be declared a red country,” Nachman Ash, Health Ministry director-general noted.

And Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who is in quarantine, after being in contact with someone on his historic flight back from the UAE who tested positive, said that his aim was to keep the Israeli economy as open as possible without a lockdown and without reaching hospital limits.

Bennett added that Israel was preparing for fourth vaccinations in the new year. And he was convinced that latest measures would overcome the Omicron variant as it had done the Delta variant.

Boris Johnson

PHOTO: SCREEN GRAB

BY DAVID SAFFER Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the UK’s highest number of daily Covid-19 cases since the beginning of the pandemic at a Downing Street briefing last night.

With people again working from home and hospitality events being cancelled due to the Omicron variant, news of 78,610 cases eclipsing the previous record of 68,053 last January was sobering for TV audiences.

Commentators are talking of further measures being inevitable and even talk of a lockdown in the New Year.

England’s chief medical officer Prof Chris Whitty warned during the briefing that records “will be broken” in the coming weeks and that people should “prioritise what matters” in terms of social mixing.

Johnson commented, “I’m afraid we’re also seeing the inevitable increase in hospitalisations up by 10% nationally, week-onweek, and up by almost a third in London.”

Whitty noted, “I’m afraid we have to be realistic that records will be broken a lot over the next few weeks as the rates continue to go up.” He added, “Don’t mix with people you don’t have to. “(You) don’t need a medical degree to realise that is a sensible thing to do with an incredibly infectious virus.”

Witty advised taking a Covid-19 test before visiting vulnerable people and to meet in areas of good ventilation or preferably outdoors.

Johnson cautioned people to think carefully about what socialising they did.

The past days has been awash with stories regarding the new variant. Over half a million people booked booster jabs on Monday and long queues formed at vaccination centres.

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The surge in cases globally is clear though there are reports that South Africa has experienced “mild disease” amongst patients.

However, concern has grown across the world.

The Board of Deputies called on members of the Jewish community earlier this week to book a booster jab if they can.

President Marie van der Zyl said, “It is now clear that the Omicron variant is highly transmissible and all those who can book a jab must do so. To protect lives and to protect our way of life, we all need to get the vaccinations for which we are eligible.”

The Jewish UK community has now lost 955 people to Covid-19.

The Board works with burial boards, regional Jewish communities and the Jewish Small Communities Network for accurate figures regarding COVID-19 deaths.

The Board liaises with seven of the largest denominational burial boards to collate an indicator of deaths where Covid-19 was a factor. Burial boards include The Adath Yisroel Burial Society, Federation of Synagogues Burial Society, Joint Jewish Burial Board, Spanish and Portuguese Sephardi Community together with the United Synagogue Burial Society.

The Board receives reports about large and small Jewish communities across the UK. Data on how many funerals were carried out by burial societies and communities where COVID-19 appeared on the death certificate of the deceased is from hospitals and the wider community.

When comparing figures, data separate to this indicator may not have similar parameters.

Successive figures are not indicative of a trend.

WHAT’S INSIDE THIS WEEK 04 News 15 Opinion 16 Games 17 Community 21 Feature

24 Cookery 26 Judaism 34 Kids 35 Youth 38 Sport

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16 DECEMBER 2021

Bennett makes historic visit to UAE

BY DAVID SAFFER History was made in Abu Dhabi this week when Prime Minister Naftali Bennett became the first Israeli leader to visit the United Arab Emirates.

Bennett arrived at the royal airport where he was received by UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed. Bennett said he expected to strengthen the network of relations between the two countries.

Bilateral relations between Israel and the UAE are set to improve after what was seen as a successful first trip by an Israeli Prime Minister.

Bennett travelled to the UAE at the invitation of Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed.

“I am finishing a good visit here,” he told reporters. “Throughout the day we had meaningful, in-depth and straightforward talks about our two nations, about the region and about our economy and technology and what we can do together. I am flying back to Israel very optimistic that this relationship can set an example of how we can make peace here in the Middle East.”

Bennett also met with Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber and the Minister of Culture Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi during a whistle stop visit.

Bennett and Al Jaber discussed cooperation between the two countries in technology, trade and energy, especially renewable energy projects. He discussed with Al Kaabi bilateral cooperation in culture and sports, including film and joint television productions.

In a joint statement with the Crown Prince, Bennett noted that the visit was a milestone in the development of relations and partnership forged between the two countries.

The leaders discussed economic and civic issues that had brought significant progress in the past year, including in the private and public sector.

During the visit, both sides confirmed a shared desire to advance areas of cooperation to strengthen trade and economic relations by establishing a joint research and development fund.

The joint fund, and a joint business council, will utilise leading economic and technological minds in the UAE and Israel, and task them with commercialising solutions to challenges ranging from climate change to clean energy and future agriculture.

The leaders want to advance bilateral trade and innovation, but also bring technologies and business opportunities to the Middle East, CIS, East Asia and Africa.

The meeting addressed efforts to reach a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, strengthen climate cooperation and promote regional connectivity through economic and infrastructure cooperation.

They also discussed joint efforts to combat COVID-19. Both commended the high rate of vaccination in both countries, noting the UAE and Israel are among the top countries worldwide in this regard.

The two leaders also noted a commitment

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett meets Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed

PHOTO: HAIM ZACH (GPO)

The leaders want to advance bilateral trade and innovation, but also bring technologies and business opportunities to the Middle East, CIS, East Asia and Africa. to working together to pursue an equitable economic recovery from the pandemic. And they will continue to encourage tourism and promote values of interfaith, tolerance and the development of ties between peoples.

Bennett, in an interview with Emirati state media, WAM, said that the “diplomatic, economic and cultural relations” in the region were based on cooperation.

“In my opinion, this is what the peace and the new reality this region is witnessing, and we are working together to ensure a better future for our children,” he explained. “The relations between the two countries have strengthened in all fields, and I am very satisfied with that, as many cooperation agreements were concluded in the fields of trade, research and development, and cyber security, health, education, aviation and more. I look forward to the continued development and consolidation of relations. Our cooperation provides unprecedented economic opportunities not only for us, but for more countries, which is another element for enhancing stability and prosperity in this region.”

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is the first Israeli leader in the UAE

He added that the values of “tolerance, peace and dialogue” had enabled the friendship to develop at a “high speed”.

Regarding mutual trade, Bennett noted there were “limitless future opportunities” in the future.

He concluded, “The message that I wish to deliver to the UAE leaders and Emirati citizens is that mutual partnership and friendship are natural. We are neighbours and cousins. The period since the signing of the Abraham Peace Accords is the best evidence.”

Prior to boarding the plane from Israel to Abu Dhabi, Bennett told reporters, “In just one year since normalising our relationship, we’ve already seen the extraordinary potential of the Israel-UAE partnership.

This is just the beginning.” He added,

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PHOTO: HAIM ZACH (GPO)

“The visit is designed to deepen cooperation between the countries in all spheres.

The relations are excellent and extensive, and we need to continue to nurture and strengthen them, and to build the warm peace between the two peoples.”

The invitation was extended to Bennett by the UAE Ambassador to Israel Mohamed Al Khaja last October.

Bennett then spoke of bolstering bilateral ties, increasing regional cooperation and strengthening the Abraham Accords. “The stronger the ties between Israel and the UAE will be, the better for regional security and stability,” he said.

Bennett’s visit followed Foreign Minister Yair Lapid last June when he inaugurated Israel’s embassy and signed an economic cooperation agreement.

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Labour ‘Action Plan’ sign off passes

BY SIMCHA ABIR

who sits as an independent MP, remains a member of the Labour Party The Labour Party’s Action Plan sign after he was readmitted following a off date with the Equality and Human brief suspension.

Rights Commission has passed.

In November 2020, CAA submitted The plan was a result of the EHRC’s a further complaint against Corbyn finding that Labour had unlawfully over his personal responsibility for discriminated against Jewish people the Party being found guilty of unlawfollowing an investigation in which ful acts of antisemitism.

Campaign Against Antisemitism was “We asked that our complaints not a complainant. be investigated until an independUnder the Action Plan, an “indeent process is introduced,” CAA expendent process” was meant to be up plained. “At Party conference in Sepand running to “determine 100% of tember of this year, Labour endorsed applicable antisemitism complaints” a proposed semi-independent disciaside from cases already at the adplinary process, and today the Party judication stage under the existing is required to have it up and running.

PHOTO: CAA system by December 10.

“In the year since they were subCAA’s Joe Glasman Joe Glasman, CAA Head of Political mitted, none of our complaints have and Government Investigations comment- ago, let alone investigated them. As of been acknowledged, let alone investigated, “Addressing antisemitism in the Labour today, the Party is required to have intro- ed, therefore we resubmit them today with Party and making it safe for Jews depends duced a semi-independent disciplinary the expectation that a timeframe for their on delivering justice for the years of dis- process to handle antisemitism com- investigation be provided and that an efcrimination and pain that the Party con- plaints. We have therefore resubmitted our ficient, fair and transparent investigation tinues to cause for the Jewish community complaints against fifteen sitting MPs and be conducted.” in Britain. That must include investigating expect them to be investigated efficiently, Labour was found by the EHRC to have engaged in unlawful discrimination and those MPs who have been culpable in pro- fairly and transparently.” moting or excusing racism towards Jews CAA submitted complaints against 15 harassment of Jews. The report followed or belittling allegations of antisemitism as sitting MPs including former leader Jeremy the EHRC’s investigation of the Party where ‘smears’, which the EHRC recognised was Corbyn and current deputy leader Angela CAA submitted hundreds of pieces of evicentral to the unlawful victimisation of Jews Rayner along with Diane Abbot and Rich- dence and legal argument. by the Party.”

Labour leader Keir Starmer called the ard Burgon, officeholders and candidates He added, “The Party has not even ac- on the day the EHRC published its report. publication of the report a “day of shame” knowledged our complaints of one year CAA noted that it is absurd that Corbyn, for the Party.

ONE LAST PUSH TO SAVE MORE LIVES

NEWS 5

Morocco’s King restores Jewish sites King Mohammed VI of Morocco has introduced an initiative to restore hundreds of historical Jewish sites in the kingdom, according to media reports. The move follows a resumption of diplomatic relations this year as part of the Abraham Accords.

It has been reported there will be the renovation of synagogues, cemeteries and Jewish heritage sites in several cities, among them the Jewish cemetery of Fes, which includes 13,000 graves. The monarch has reportedly decided to reinstate the original names of some of the country’s Jewish neighbourhoods.

A number of Jewish museums have been opened in Morocco, alongside other initiatives to develop a growing interest in preserving Moroccan Jewish heritage.

Israel welcomed the move, which comes as the two countries mark the first anniversary of their alliance. Last month, Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz visited the kingdom where he signed historic bilateral agreement to cooperate on security, intelligence and arms sales in Rabat with Moroccan Defence Minister Abdellatif Loudiyi. Gantz said in a statement the agreement was “very significant” as it would allow Israel to exchange ideas, enter joint projects and allow Israeli military exports.

Gantz also met Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, visited the tomb of Mohamed V, grandfather of the reigning monarch, ahead of the signing ceremony.

The trip followed Foreign Minister Yair Lapid inaugurating Israel’s diplomatic representation in Raba.

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16 DECEMBER 2021

Glowing tributes to Lady Winston

BY DAVID SAFFER One of the “brightest lights” of Anglo Jewry has passed away following the sudden death of Lady Lira Winston last Thursday.

LSJS led tributes to the renowned Jewish educator. Lady Winston, 72, had worked at PaJeS since 2012 as assistant director on the strategy and management of the organisation.

LSJS announced news of her death with “profound shock”.

“She was responsible for leadership programmes for Heads and Governors and ran the annual residential seminar for Heads as well as other training days and networking opportunities,” they noted in a statement.

“Lira facilitated work discussion groups where Heads have regular opportunities to develop thinking and understanding about a range of leadership issues in a confidential forum. She was also involved with the Senior Leadership Fellowship which aims to help inspire schools’ leaders and equip them for the challenges in becoming future Heads.”

LSJS presented Lady Winston, who married Lord Robert Winston in 1973, with a life time achievement award last year.

A history researcher, she moved to work in the Jewish community in 1991 as Director of the Sinclair Charitable Trust and for Jewish Continuity. From 2000, Lady

Winston ran the UJIA Ashdown Fellowship, a leadership programme for education professionals.

In January 2008, she became Project Manager of the JLC Report, ‘The Future of Jewish Schools’.

Rabbi David Meyer, Executive Director of PaJeS commented, “It is hard to describe the role she played in our lives driven by her love for Jewish education and determination to ensure the best for us all. She was a caring and trusted friend and through her wisdom and vision she has been the driving force behind PaJeS since its inception.”

Rabbi Meyer added that Lady Lira was an “absolute inspiration” and it was fitting that she was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award in February 2020, as she dedicated her life to Jewish education and had been a mentor and guide for school leaders over so many years.

“It is so poignant that the award was presented by Rabbi Sacks,” he noted. “In such a short time we have lost two of the brightest lights of Anglo-Jewry. She will be greatly missed by us all.”

Henry Grunwald, Chair of the Rabbi Sacks Legacy Trust, said that Lady Winston was a woman of immense intellect, compassion and talent.

“Her role in furthering Jewish education in Britain and beyond shouldn’t be underestimated,” he said, adding that Rabbi

JPR report shows flattening ‘mainstream’ pupil numbers

BY SIMCHA ABIR The number of Jewish pupils in ‘mainstream’ sectors is flattening out according to the latest JPR schools’ bulletins released.

The number of Jewish pupils enrolled in Jewish schools has consistently risen for several decades and increased significantly since the mid-1990s.

JPR reports have shown a rise in ‘mainstream’ and ‘strictly Orthodox’ sectors. However, the latest report shows the number of registered pupils in 2020/21 has increased by 1,612 pupils on the previous three years, but the growth rate has nearly flattened in the ‘mainstream’ sector.

“These new findings are already playing an important role in helping community leaders to plan the future of Jewish education in this country”, said Dr Jonathan Boyd, Executive Director of JPR. “The clear slowdown in growth in the mainstream sector, particularly at primary level, urgently needs to be understood to ensure that all Jewish children who wish to be educated within the Jewish school system can continue to be offered that opportunity.”

Amongst key findings 35,825 Jewish pupils were studying in 133 Jewish schools in the academic year 2020/21, representing an increase of 1,612 pupils, or 4.7%, since 2017/18.

Some 60% of Jewish pupils in Jewish schools are in strictly orthodox schools, 40% are in non-strictly orthodox or ‘mainstream’ Jewish schools, a slight shift from 58% to 42% three years previously.

Almost three-quarters of all Jewish pupils in Jewish schools are in schools in Greater London or South Hertfordshire (73.3%), a drop from 74.6% in the 2017/18 academic year that is influenced by a shift towards Manchester (27% to 29%) and away from London (67% to 65%) in the strictly Orthodox sector.

The geographical distinction between London and elsewhere is most pronounced in the mainstream Jewish sector, where 86% attend schools in London or the surrounding area.

Overall, there has been growth in primary and secondary school pupils since 2017/18, but there is a fall in primary pupil numbers for the mainstream Jewish sector over the last two academic years.

Lady Lira Winston O”H

PHOTO: PAJES

Sacks deeply respected her as a professional and hugely admired her as a person.

Board of Deputies Chief Executive Michael Wegier said, “Lira was a special combination of emotional intelligence, profound commitment to personal and professional development and deep wisdom about the Jewish community and education. Her

wonderful legacy is the large number of professionals in our community’s educational ecosystem who have greatly benefitted from her dedication to their wellbeing.” He added, “My favourite memories of Lira are our conversations about Jewish books which we would recommend to each other. I was privileged to see her just two weeks ago and we discussed the books we had just given each other. I will miss her and treasure our friendship.”

Jonny Lipczer, World Mizrachi, said that Lady Winston was “a champion of Jewish education”.

“She was a colleague when I worked at UJIA and a mentor when I was at Laniado UK,” he recalled. “I cherished her support and advice, and will always remember her kindness and humility.”

Jonathan Goldstein, Chair of the Jewish Leadership Council and former Chair of PaJeS, commented, “Lady Lira was a genuine, kind, and inspirational leader. Her drive and determination to support education across our community was something that impacted so many lives and for which we are very grateful. She was always interested in everyone else’s well-being and has been a huge source of support and wisdom to me during my tenure at PaJeS and also at the JLC.” She is survived by Lord Winston, children Tanya, Joel and Ben, and grandchildren.

Herzog welcomes new ambassadors

BY ADAM MOSES President Isaac Herzog has received the credentials of the Ambassadors of the European Union, Switzerland, Rwanda and Italy.

Incoming ambassadors as they assumed duties were welcomed by the Police Band playing respective national anthems and an IDF guard of honour before presentation of letters of credence in the Great Hall at Herzog’s Residence in Jerusalem.

Each ambassador signed the guest book and held a working meeting with Herzog.

Herzog and the Swiss Ambassador Urs Bucher discussed ways to promote collaboration in science and innovation.

“The relationship with Switzerland is on a very positive path,” noted Herzog who praised Switzerland’s global role as a mediator and requested its support in bringing Israeli MIAs and civilian hostages back from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip.

The Ambassador of the European Union, Dimiter Tzantchev, was returning for his third diplomatic post in Israel.

Herzog and Tzantchev spoke of the importance of advancing Israel-EU cooperation. He also stressed the importance of convening the EU-Israel Association Council to realise the full potential of Israeli-European ties.

“I am a true believer in the partnership with the European Union, I think it’s the natural partnership for Israel,” noted Herzog.

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President Herzog and Swiss Ambassador Urs Bucher

PHOTO: KOBI GIDEON/GPO

Ambassador Tzantchev underlined EU support for normalisation agreements between Israel and Arab neighbours.

Herzog also called for a tough stance in negotiations with Iran regarding nuclear capability.

Israel’s President thanked Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda, James Gatera for Rwanda’s support for Israel’s accession to the African Union as an observer state.

Gatera invited Israeli investment in Rwanda. Noting the African Continental Free Trade Area, Israeli companies trading from Rwanda would be able to enjoy tariff-free access across the continent.

Regarding Italian Ambassador Sergio Barbanti, Herzog welcomed relations between the nations and discussed ways to promote matters of importance to both nations.

Herzog called on Italy to discover economic opportunities in relation to accords between Israel and Arab neighbours.

16 DECEMBER 2021

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NEWS 7

Dutch Auschwitz survivor dies Auschwitz survivor Ernst Verduin, 94, has passed away.

One of the last Dutch survivors, Verduin was born in Amsterdam and grew up in Bussum.

In 1943, Verduin was sent to Camp Vught with his mother, father and sister, then to Auschwitz with his sister and other Jewish prisoners.

At the death camp, Verduin was separated from his sister and never saw her again. He escaped the gas chambers by hiding with labourers and despite falling ill several times.

When Russian forces took over Auschwitz

in January 1945, Verduin survived a 60 km death march to Gleiwitz before a train journey to Buchenwald. Verduin survived by insisting he was not Jewish.

Verduin’s father and sister died in concentration camps. He was reunited with his mother in August 1945. Verduin told his life story in his book “Over Leven.”

Verduin throughout his life held lectures and spoke with young people about his experiences.

Verduin was among survivors to read names of victims at the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz in 2020.

Stern warning about Syria Israel’s Intelligence Minister Elazar Stern has warned that Syria must not obtain chemical weapons.

Stern’s comments came after reports emerged of Israel targeting Syria’s chemical weapons facilities.

Speaking to Israeli Army Radio, Stern was adamant that Israel would not allow its enemy to have such destructive weapons.

“We have a neighbour who has already proved that it doesn’t hesitate to use chemical weapons even against its own people,” he said. “(Syrian President Bashar) Assad must not have chemical weapons.”

Israeli media has noted the timing of

reports during current talks regarding Iran in Vienna to reignite the 2015 nuclear deal. Israel is against a deal and has called for tighter safeguards on Iran’s nuclear program. Israel backs a “credible” military threat against Iran.

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, monitors the war in Syria and reported Israeli planes targeted military targets in Homs and Damascus.

Targets included a scientific research center in Khirbet al-Tineh, north of Homs and a probably Hezbollah ammunition depot near Homs.

The strikes reportedly killed 11 soldiers, including a colonel.

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16 DECEMBER 2021

Bennett in quarantine as Omicron concerns grow

BY DAVID SAFFER Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is in quarantine after someone on his historic flight to the United Arab Emirates on Monday tested positive for Covid-19.

Bennett started a three-day quarantine on Tuesday under Health Ministry regulations.

All returning travellers, even those vaccinated, must self-isolate. He was due to take a coronavirus test yesterday then end his quarantine if results are negative, the prime minister’s office confirmed.

Bennett’s office has not released who is positive or whether it was for the new Omicron coronavirus strain.

Israeli and foreign journalists were due to be on board the trip but did not travel due to Omicron concerns. The delegation was smaller than initially planned.

Israel has sealed its borders to foreign travellers and put limits on Israelis flying abroad since the highly infectious Omicron strain emerged. There is also a ban on travel to all countries in sub-Saharan Africa and imposed strict self-quarantine measures for returning travellers.

It is ironic that prior to the UAE trip, Bennett spoke about the latest variant at his weekly Cabinet meeting on Sunday. His comments illustrate the challenges.

“Two weeks ago, when we started tightening border controls regarding entry to Israel following what was then a new coronavirus mutation, there were those who said we were exaggerating, now everyone understands that we were not exaggerating,” he explained. “We simply took early and determined action just as was needed.

Other countries hesitated and they are already swamped with the Omicron variant even as we speak.

“The variant is very worrying. In Europe they are going into the holiday season under very significant restrictions. In some countries there are lockdowns and morbidity is out of control. Omicron is in Israel, but at the moment, following our steps, (it is) in relatively small numbers. It is not difficult to understand that if Ben Gurion International Airport is breached, the numbers will jump rapidly. But to safeguard the borders is insufficient. At the same time, we must utilise every day and simply vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate.”

Israel’s strategy is to tighten border controls and increase vaccinations of all citizens.

“The truth is that, at the moment, we are not sufficiently protected,” Bennett acknowledged.

Israel’s leader has called on parents to protect their children by vaccinating them.

“Children in Israel are mostly unvaccinated,” Bennett said. “Go and utilise these

Naftali Bennett

PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK

precious days, or we will not succeed in defeating and delaying Omicron.”

Bennett added that a third dose provides more protection against the variant.

The Ministry of Health has begun an emergency programme to increase immunisation in a race against the Omicron variant. A vaccination campaign has been conducted in

The Ministry of Health has begun an emergency programme to increase immunisation in a race against the Omicron variant. A vaccination campaign has been conducted in schools across the country. schools across the country.

“I understand that there is what is called ‘COVID fatigue’,” noted Bennett. “People are tired of hearing and talking about it.

But the truth is that the situation in Israel is significantly better than almost anywhere in the world, significantly. When Europe, the United States and other places are hit with restrictions, the State of Israel is open.

The country is open, the economy is open, schools are open, culture is open. We want to leave it that way.”

He added, “We arrived ready for this battle, and if we join in the effort, we will overcome the Omicron variant just as we did the Delta variant safely.”

In related news, Israelis are unable to travel to over 50 ‘red’ countries. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the list will be updated on a daily basis.

Meantime, Bennett has instructed officials to prepare implementation of the Green Pass system in shopping stores.

Unvaccinated people will only be permitted to enter essential shops such as pharmacies.

“We’re in better shape than other countries because we took quick and decisive steps, but we can’t let our guard down now,” noted Bennett. “The more we protect Israel from the entry of the Omicron, the more we can keep the economy open

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and allow the continuation of day-to-day life.”

Elsewhere, Israel Police on Sunday morning started enforcement of coronavirus restrictions, especially Green Pass regulations.

Meanwhile, a Hebrew University report states that Israel has entered its fifth wave.

Researchers warned the government last week about the wave and that the spread of the Omicron must be delayed as long as possible.

The increase in cases is across all sectors and age groups of society. Researchers are uncertain of the main outbreak cause, noting a decrease in the population’s immunity level, an increase in infections in young families and an increase in school cases. Researchers have also recommended continuing a current policy of restricted access to Israel by foreign nationals.

“The time we will gain will enable us to collect data on the need for a fourth vaccine dose or an Omicron-adapted vaccine,” they noted.

Researchers have called on the government to act to halt the infection rate so hospitals can cope with an Omicron surge.

Bennett has spoken with the CEO’s of Maccabi Healthcare Services, Leumit Health Care Services, Clalit Health Services and Meuhedet Health Services about increasing vaccinations for the public.

Bennett was briefed on the vaccination status and stressed a national effort was required to meet vaccination targets.

“The pace of the spread is very high, we see the global data,” he said. “I am disturbed by this and am obligated to do everything to slow down the penetration of the strain to Israel in a broad manner.

“The rule in managing the pandemic is to respond immediately at the outset, when the situation makes it possible to take effective action. The more we protect Israel at the borders from the introduction of Omicron, the more we will be able to keep the economy open and allow the continuation of normal life. By correct management, we overcame the fourth wave without lockdowns. We are determined to succeed now as well.”

Bennett and Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz agreed last week to extend current restrictions at Ben-Gurion International Airport by 10 days starting last Sunday.

Israel has suffered 8,210 fatalities since the start of the pandemic. There are 5,778 coronavirus hospitalised patients, 100 classed as seriously ill including 50 ventilated.

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NEWS 9

Record antisemitic incidents in Berlin

BY SIMCHA ABIR Antisemitic incidents in Berlin peaked at over 500 in the first six months of this year compared to previous years according to a new report by RIAS. The spate of hate crimes has been put down to mainly Israel-related hatred and protests against coronavirus measures.

Some 522 antisemitic related crimes were registered in Germany’s capital between January to June, showing an increase of 17 percent year-on-year, according to the report by the Berlin-based monitoring institute. The number was the highest since 2018.

On average, there were some antisemitic incidents a day during the period, with almost half of the incidents (211) during May 2021 when hostilities took place between Israel and Hamas.

The RIAS report collected data on damage to property, episodes antisemitic verbal abuse and harassment documented at antisemitic gatherings and demonstrations.

The report also recorded 26 cases of antisemitic letters distributed.

With RIAS including incidents under more than one classification, 48% of the incidents were connected to Israel-related antisemitism and 43% to cases of “post-Shoah” antisemitism.

There was 20% of incidents classified

Brandenburg gate in Berlin

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

under “modern” antisemitism, typical cases being conspiracies about Jews wielding outsize political or economic power.

The report also found that over half of the antisemitic incidents during the six-month period showed no immediately recognisable connection to the Gaza conflict in May or the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This, too, shows how widespread antisemitic attitudes are across all political spectra and how much antisemitism as a kind of background noise accompanies the everyday life of Berlin’s Jews,” the report stated.

IDF is prepared to attack Iran, Gantz tells Blinken

BY ADAM MOSES The IDF is prepared to attack Iran if diplomatic negotiations regarding nuclear ambitions of the Iranian regime fail.

Defence Minister Benny Gantz’ message to White House officials is not the first time Israel has stated this viewpoint on Iran. But it was significant during an official visit to the White House at the end of last week.

Gantz met with Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Foreign Secretary Lloyd Austin in high-profile Washington meetings following renewed discussions in Vienna over the 2015 JCPOA nuclear deal.

Gantz has called on the US to put pressure on Iran before.

The Ministers discussed a historic bond between the nations and strategic ties. They also spoke about emerging challenges and opportunities in the region.

Israel’s defence minister welcomed ongoing cooperation between the respective defence establishments.

“Iran seeks to destroy all traces of freedom, human dignity and peace in the Middle East and beyond. The nuclear programme is a means to its hegemonic goals” Gantz and Austin reportedly noted maintaining Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge in the region and air defence systems.

“Israel’s QME will not only guarantee the safety of our citizens, but will also enable us to leverage the positive trends in the region,” commented Gantz. “Only a strong, secure Israel can extend its hand in peace to its neighbours. Israel can work with its

new partners to expand normalisation and create alliances against emerging threats.”

Regarding Iran, Gantz commented, “Iran is not just a threat to our physical security.

Iran poses a concrete threat to our way of life and our shared values. In its aspirations to become a hegemon, Iran seeks to destroy all traces of freedom, human dignity and peace in the Middle East and beyond.

The nuclear programme is a means to its hegemonic goals.” He added: “I look forward to deepening our dialogue and cooperation with Iran, including on topics of military readiness.”

“Iran is the biggest threat to global and regional peace and stability and is building an existential threat to Israel,” Gantz concluded.

According to reports, the State Department noted topics discussed included the importance of the US-Israel bilateral relationship, Israeli-Palestinian issues and regional developments.

Discussions were reportedly said to have been “productive and open”, according to Israel’s Foreign Ministry.

Gantz addressed the Israel American Council summit in Miami last Friday. And the threat of Iran was central to his address.

“The international community, with US leadership, must stand together and act forcefully against Iran’s hegemonic aspirations and nuclear programme and restore stability for the sake of global peace,” he reportedly said.

Regarding the Washington meetings, he was philosophical. “I think that in the coming weeks we will know where we stand,” Gantz said.

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Israel is against the 2015 JCPOA nuclear deal revisited by Iran and the UK, France, China, Russia and Germany.

State Department spokesperson Ned Price commented last Thursday that “alternatives” to counter the Iranian nuclear threat if negotiations in Vienna ended with no agreement were discussed.

He noted, “We have already had good discussions with the Israelis about the path forward, and how we can work together to ensure that Iran is never able to acquire a nuclear weapon.”

Mossad chief David Barnea led the Israeli delegation to the US in advance of Gantz’ arrival in Washington.

“Our strength is in our unity,” he said. “A bad deal with the Iranians will have implications for our national security. Therefore, there is a time for everything. A time to keep silent and a time to speak. Now is the time to speak.”

Barnea stressed Israel’s position with Iran and vowed they would not possess nuclear weapons.

“We will do with our partners in the security establishment everything that is necessary to alleviate the threat against Israel and thwart it by any means,” he said.

Gantz noted last week, “We must prepare for any scenario in the defence of Israel.”

Israel’s Foreign Minister Yair Lapid has called for sanctions not to be lifted from Iran but tightened. And President Isaac Herzog has warned that Israel would defend itself if negotiations fail.

Israel is concerned about Iran having sufficient enriched uranium to be a nuclear threshold state.

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16 DECEMBER 2021

Hundreds attend CAA rally at BBC

BY DAVID SAFFER Hundreds of protestors attended Campaign Against Antisemitism’s ‘BBC News: Stop Blaming Jews!’ rally outside Broadcasting House in London on Monday night.

The rally was prompted by the BBC’s coverage of an antisemitic incident on Oxford Street during Chanukah when a group of Jewish teenagers celebrating the festival were accosted by racist thugs.

The teens were forced back onto their bus when a group of men can be seen on footage striking the vehicle with their hands, spitting at them, performing Nazi salutes and shouting antisemitic insults.

Lord Grade and Dame Maureen Lipman backed the event.

The former BBC chairman described the BBC’s rapportage as “shoddy journalism” and called for answers in a video supporting the protest while Dame Maureen encouraged people to attend.

“You will be demonstrating against my often-times employer asking for parity with other victims of racism, prejudice and abuse,” she said.

The crowd chanted, “BBC News where’s the proof! BBC News tell the truth!”

Gideon Falter, CAA chief executive said to the crowd, “We don’t want to be here, but we have to be here, because we have to say, ‘BBC News, stop blaming Jews’.” He added, “We see no evidence for the BBC’s claim, which is a distraction from the real story, which is that Jewish teenagers were prevented by racist thugs from celebrating Chanukah.”

Muslims Against Antisemitism founder, Fiyaz Mughal, commented, “It’s sad we have to come out here again, when Jews are blamed by institutions that we think we should have trust in.”

The rally came after the BBC failed to respond to CAA and other Jewish organisations about its recent coverage.

This is not out of the ordinary for the public broadcaster, noted CAA. Polling conducted last year by CAA revealed two thirds of British Jews are deeply concerned by the BBC’s coverage of matters of Jewish concern and 55% by its handling of antisemitism complaints.

“These figures reflect years of eroding confidence in the BBC on the part of the Jewish community,” CAA noted.

CAA have submitted a complaint to the BBC and written to the chairman and director-general of the BBC to voice its concerns.

“In our letter, we called on the BBC to reveal their evidence that an anti-Muslim slur can be heard on the bus and explain why the claim that an anti-Muslim slur can be heard is asserted as fact while the evident antisemitism is caveated as mere allegation,” CAA said.

CAA has reiterated its call for the BBC to adopt the International Definition of Antisemitism and again offered to provide the Corporation training in how to identify and deal with antisemitism.

“This would go some way to restoring what little remains of the confidence of the Jewish community in our nation’s public service broadcaster,” they added.

CAA noted that the BBC reported on its website that the explicit expressions of antisemitism evident in the video were merely “allegations” and simultaneously claimed, alone among all media outlets, that “some racial slurs about Muslims can also be heard from inside the bus,” an assertion made with no evidence to support it and which was even contradicted in the article by a witness from the bus who said that she heard no such slurs.

On its BBC London Evening News, the BBC suggested that “it’s not clear what role (the supposed slurs) may have had in the incident.”

CAA added that after a public fury, the BBC amended an article to refer to an

CAA Rally outside Broadcasting House

“anti-Muslim slur” in the singular, but failed to show any evidence why a supposed slur that nobody could hear with certainty was described as “clearly heard” and reported as fact, and even implied to have been a cause of the antisemitic harassment, while the harassment itself remained mere “allegation”.

A CAA spokesperson commented, “Tonight’s rally sends a message to the BBC that the Jewish community has had enough of years of the BBC victim-blaming Jewish people for antisemitism, downplaying racism towards Jews, platforming antisemites and fuelling antisemitism in Britain. We demand explanations over the BBC’s outrageous coverage of the recent antisemitic incident on Oxford Street, when the BBC’s reports victim-blamed Jewish teenagers for being attacked. We also call on the BBC to finally adopt the International Definition of Antisemitism and accept antisemitism training from us for its staff and reporters.”

The Metropolitan Police Service have called for witnesses following the

PHOTO: CAA

antisemitic attack. The Board of Deputies and CAA blasted the BBC over its coverage.

CAA appealed to members of the public to help the police identify suspects and persons of interest behind a “heinous” antisemitic attack.

The Board slated the BBC over “deeply irresponsible journalism” and called on the organistation to discipline those responsible, correct its report, apologise to victims and undergo training to improve the BBC’s ability to cover the Jewish community with “accuracy, understanding and respect”.

CAA labelled the incident “outrageous”.

Like the Board, they called for action.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson condemned footage as “disturbing” at the time.

BoD President Marie van der Zyl slammed the BBC News website and London television broadcast.

“Jewish children and their minders were targeted because they were Jews,” she said.

CAA’s Stephen Silverman said there was a “swell of outrage” in the Jewish community over the antisemitic incident.

Putin returns Jewish war archives SIMCHA ABIR The Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece has welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to return pre-war archives of Greek Jewish communities.

The archives were transferred to Moscow in the aftermath of the capture of Berlin by the Red Army, in May 1945.

Amongst documents were files from the Jewish community of Thessaloniki plundered by the Nazis in July 1942 detailing books and religious artefacts from 30 synagogues, libraries and communal institutions in Thessaloniki “A long-term challenging struggle conducted by Greek diplomacy and Greek

Jewry seems to come to an end thanks to the targeted actions of the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis,” said KIS in a statement. “It is an achievement of vital significance to our country’s history. We express our thankfulness to the Greek Prime Minister and all those who have worked and continue working for the realization of the return of the pre-War Jewish archives to our country.”

He added, “While celebrating the 200th anniversary of Greece’s war of independence, our history returns home at last! For the Greek Jewry these archives bring light to its historic course, sacred heirlooms of the light of life and the darkness of the looting and the Holocaust.

“Their restitution would mean justice and transmit knowledge about a part of the Greek people that contributed to the progress of the country and no longer exists, that of the 60.000 Greek Jews who were deported to and exterminated in the Nazi death camps.

“The Holocaust Museum of Greece, which will be erected in Thessaloniki, will be the ideal home for their safekeeping and for their use by researchers, given that the archives will be accessible through state-of-the-Art methods of research and browsing.”

In other Euro news, French President Emmanuel Macron visited the Kozma Street Jewish cemetery with András

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Heisler, President of the Mazsihisz, Chief Rabbi Peter Kardos and members of Agnes Heller’s family, including her daughter and a granddaughter.

Macron spoke with Heisler and at Heller’s grave laid a bouquet of flowers.

Macron said that he first read the texts of Agnes Heller, which struck him because they were a “meaningful analysis of Europe”.

“I read her long before we met in person,” he added.

Heisler and Chief Rabbi Kardos accompanied the President to the memorial where they laid stones of remembrance.

Heisler gave Macron a book by Heller in French.

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NEWS 11

Sullivan to discuss Iran with Israeli leaders

BY DAVID SAFFER

From Inside

S t r a i g h t

T r u t h

W W W . T E H R A N T I M E S . C O M

• UN chief calls on U.S. to lift sanctions on Iran based on JCPOA P2 • Army chief says Zionist regime’s ‘empty threats’ against Iran are out of fear P2

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan is set to visit Israel next week to hold crucial talks on the escalating tensions with Iran.

He is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Bennett, Defence Minister Benny Gantz and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid for high level talks on Iran’s nuclear programme.

The meetings come after a worrying story in the Tehran Times headlined “Just one wrong move!” with a map of Israel with locations for rocket attacks across the country.

The article, Bicom notes, cites Israeli military threats against Iran and warns that the “Zionist regime” has forgotten Iran is capable of “hitting them from anywhere”.

Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of General Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, is quoted.

“Despite our confidence in the deterrence situation of the country, our forces have never underestimated the threat of the enemy and are prepared for the smallest of threats in the strategic field,” he reportedly said.

The article also quotes Ayatollah Khamenei in 2013, stating, “Sometimes the leaders of the Zionist regime even threaten us, they are threatening to strike militarily, but I think they know it, and if they do not know it, they must know that if they make

• It’s ‘open lie’ that Iran enriching uranium to 90%: nuclear chief P2

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• Iran, Russia FMs discuss Vienna talks P3 • Iran, P4+1 continue talks in Vienna P3 • IPL: Esteghlal beat Sepahan to move provisionally top of table P3 • Tax incomes highlighted in next year’s budget bill P4 • PMO to facilitate providing maritime, port services P4 • Iranian heavy crude oil price rises over 42% in 2021: OPEC P4 • Russia urges talks to avoid military escalation P5 • More than 90% of foreign vacationers satisfied with Iran travel, minister says P6 • Restoration laboratory launched in Persepolis P6 • Iran-made expo opens to showcase achievements P7 • Iran short of rain by 33% P7 • “A Hero” nominated for Golden Globes 2022 P8 • Bradwell’s antiwar play “There Is No Return” on stage at Tehran theater P8 • Meg Elison’s novel “Find Layla” appears in Persian P8

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Vienna talks can be successful, but does U.S. want so?

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TEHRAN — An intensification of the Israeli military threats against Iran seems to suggest that the Zionist regime has forgotten that Iran is more than capable of hitting them from anywhere.

has also accepted to increase the number of troops in the air force and the intelligence branch of the Israeli army to prepare for an attack on Iran, according to the Israeli media outlets.

The Yedioth Ahronot newspaper said on Tuesday that Israel’s strike on Syria is “a direct message” to Iran. The chief of staff of the Israeli army

Yedioth Ahronot also revealed that one of the main demands of Israel from the United States, which war minister Benny Gantz Page 2

The statement came after coordination between the E3 and the U.S. negotiating team led

by Iran envoy Rob Malley and exposed a clear division of labor between the Western negotiators. When the talks resumed last week, Malley had put off his trip to Vienna until Sunday on the condition that the talks make progress. He arrived in Vienna and met with the Europeans.

The E3 issued the cynical statement after-

Report

Trump’s legacy was to impose harsh and brutal sanctions outside the JCPOA under false categorizations. It is more than obvious that Trump sought to cripple Iran, but the story does not end here. Trump had a different approach in mind. He wanted to make a possible return to the JCPOA all the more difficult and complicated for his successor, a move that is widely shunned by American experts.

Jake Sullivan

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“As of this moment, we still have not been able to get down to real negotiations,” the E3 said. “We are losing precious time dealing with new Iranian positions inconsistent with the JCPOA or that go beyond it.”

In a report in November 2020, the New York Times said sanctions instituted under the category of counterterrorism and human rights, like those against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, “would be harder to void, especially since many Democrats also support them.”

It is no wonder that Trump would follow the advice of a troubled person such as Dubowitz, but the Biden administration needs to sort out its priorities first. If you want diplomacy to prevail, you must first mend your predecessor’s failed legacy. An executive order to lift all the Trump-era sanctions would be the first sign of “good will”.

DECEMBER

The European trio in Vienna – France, Germany, and the UK (E3)- put out a downbeat statement late on Monday blaming Iran for lack of progress in the talks.

Biden said in his election campaign over and over that once he becomes the president, he will return to the internationally agreed 2015 nuclear deal, otherwise known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Actions (JCPOA). However, Donald Trump’s legacy has made the task almost impossible.

‘FDD, [its executive director] Mark Dubowitz, wanted to make sure neither this president nor his successor will be able to normalize relations with Iran,’ Zarif said.”

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TEHRAN – Until Sunday, there was a sense of optimism about possible progress in the Vienna talks. But optimism soon turned into pessimism by virtue of a Western harder-line stance that featured threats and bluster against Iran.

The U.S. president and his team constantly say that they hope diplomacy prevails, but they seem to be forgetting something. Their predecessor left them a broken house that is difficult to repair.

In another article in the Washington Post titled “Iran’s foreign minister says diplomacy with U.S. is over” published in September 2019, Josh Rogin wrote, “The Trump administration increased sanctions on Iran’s central bank in response to the attack on Saudi Arabia, designating the central bank as a supporter of terrorism, which eliminates any exceptions, even for humanitarian aid. Zarif blamed the sanctions on a Washington think tank, the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), which the Iranian government has sanctioned as a supporter of terrorism:

Wednesday

Threat and pressure do not work on Iran

TEHRAN — As a fresh round of talks in Vienna are moving forward, there is big question here: Does the U.S. want talks to reach a successful conclusion?

In his article for the New York Times, Thomas Friedman said, “President Donald Trump’s decision to tear up the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 — a decision urged on by his secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, and Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu — was one of the dumbest, most poorly thought out and counterproductive U.S. national security decisions of the post-Cold War era.”

Just One Wrong Move! |

U.S. will not punish troops for killing Afghan civilians Interview

Ex-coach Sadeghi hails Italian women volleyball coach

By Farrokh Hesabi TEHRAN - Former head coach of Iran’s women’s volleyball national team, Fariba Sadeghi, says that the presence of good foreign coaches will help Iranian volleyball both for women and men. Iran volleyball federation has reached an agreement with Italian women volleyball coach Alessandra Campedelli. Before, the federation had negotiated with other international coaches as well.

“I believe that the Iranian volleyball needs to bring experienced foreign coaches. There is no doubt about it,” Sadeghi told Tehran Times. “Even in the men’s volleyball, even though the men’s team are strong, there is still a need for a foreign coach.”

Sadeghi was named the head coach of the national team last May to prepare the Iranian women for the 2021 Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship. Originally scheduled for Aug. 29 to Sept. 5, 2021, the tournament was postponed to Aug. 30 to Sept. 6, 2022, due to rising COVID-19 cases amidst a pandemic. Page 3

Report

Optimal cultivation key to preserve water resources

By Faranak Bakhtiari TEHRAN – Iran has been grappling with water stress since 2006 and the situation is forecast to be exacerbated by the next 15 years, while reforming the irrigation method from traditional to modern will reduce water consumption and waste at least by half.

TEHRAN - In a new announcement that is expected to trigger global outcry and push calls for an independent international investigation, the Pentagon says no U.S. military personnel will be held accountable for an August drone strike in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul that killed 10 civilians from the same family, among them seven children.

In two decades of America’s alleged “war on terror”, the United States military has killed tens of thousands of civilians, if not more in war zones like Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and Somalia among others. The State Department every now and again accepts responsibility for the massacres, normally when the killings are picked up by the media but never does the Pentagon Page 5

Expert studies show that between 70 to 90 percent of the country’s water resources is used in the agricultural sector annually, according to the National Agricultural Research Centre.

Canada apologizes to its own military amid sexual misconduct

Part of this huge amount of water consumption is related to the improper cultivation pattern that has been going on for years, regardless of the country’s capacities and priorities.

But the other part is concerned with the traditional method of irrigation, which is centuries old and still runs in many parts of the country, a method that wastes a lot of water and also cause floods and landslides. Page 7

TEHRAN - The Canadian government has issued an apology for widespread sexual misconduct in the country’s military, saying Ottawa has failed to protect its own soldiers.

The apology was part of the settlement of a lawsuit filed against the government on behalf of almost 19,000 both serving and retired members of the army, as well as civilian defense workers. Page 5

Last week, President Ebrahim Raisi referred the issue of water scarcity across the country, calling all sectors to find a wise and long-term solution to the issue.

ward. If the talks had not made any progress, then why he would have gone to Vienna?

In reality, the talks have made progress and they continue to make progress. The Europeans are well aware of the progress being made in the talks but they are pressing ahead with their policy of playing a blame game against Iran in order to extract more concessions at the negotiating table.

In the meantime, Israel also plays its part in close coordination with the E3 and Washington. Tel Aviv is now issuing military threats against Iran almost on a daily basis. The Americans and British also seem willing to insinuate that they are unwilling to rein in the Israeli bluster.

In some ways, the British also sought to signal that they are siding with Israel against Iran.

This was clear right from the start of the new round of the Vienna talks. The foreign ministers of Israel and Britain published a joint article vowing to work hand in glove to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear development. Page 3

Govt. to build nuclear power plants for generating 10 GW of electricity TEHRAN – Based on the national budget bill for the next Iranian calendar year (begins on March 21, 2022), the government is allowed to construct nuclear power plants for the generation of 10,000 megawatts (10 GW) of electricity in collaboration with foreign or local investors and under the supervision of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI).

According to the AEOI Head Mohammad Eslami, the construction of the mentioned power plants requires $40 billion of investment and is expected to begin in the next Iranian calendar year, Mehr News Agency reported.

As reported, the financing of the mentioned power plant projects is going to be done using foreign investment, domestic financing, public resources, and acquisition of capital assets.

The executive financing plan will be prepared and announced by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran in collaboration with the Planning and Budget Organization (PBO) and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs.

In the past decade, constant temperature rising and the significant decrease of rainfalls across Iran have put the country in a hard situation regarding electricity supply during peak consumption periods.

Over the past two years, however, new deteriorating factors including the pandemic and a new wave of illegal cryptocurrency mining across the country have also worsened the situation. Page 4

PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA

a mistake, the Islamic Republic will destroy Tel Aviv and Haifa.”

Bicom noted reports that Iran had transferred air defence systems where ballistic missile launch sites are located.

Iranian National Security Council are reportedly on “high alert, dealing with Israel’s threats”.

Bicom added the high alert related to an Iranian perception of an Israeli attack on nuclear facilities if nuclear talks in Vienna

don’t work out.

Meantime, this week, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) head, Rafael Grossi reportedly warned, “If the international community through us, through the IAEA, is not seeing clearly how many centrifuges or what is the capacity that they may have, what you have is a very blurred image, it will give you the illusion of the real image. But not the real image. This is why this is so important.”

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Grossi added, “There’s no other country other than those making nuclear weapons reaching those high levels. I’ve said many times that this doesn’t mean that Iran has a nuclear weapon. But it does mean that this level of enrichment is one that requires an intense verification effort.”

Grossi commented on the new government under President Raisi, noting the change was palpable and cooperation was slower than expected.

According to Israeli media, the IDF had also reassessed its ‘red line’” regarding Iran’s nuclear capability and aligned itself with the US. Israel had defined it Iran had sufficient “military-grade enriched uranium” for a single bomb. Now the ‘red line’ is Iranian progress in the development of “other components” required to build a bomb.

In related news, The UN nuclear watchdog and Iran reportedly reached a deal this week to reinstall cameras damaged at an Iranian site in Karaj manufacturing centrifuge parts but inspectors are limited on footage to be accessed.

Grossi tweeted a statement on the news.

“This is important for verification under the Iran nuclear deal, and work will continue to address other outstanding safeguards issues,” he noted.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian reportedly said Iran had “reached a good agreement” with the IAEA.

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16 DECEMBER 2021

Jewish life in Germany festival extended

Tory MP Fysh blasted for ‘Nazi’ comment

The ‘1,700 Years of Jewish Life in Germany’ festival has been extended by six months.

News of the change was announced by former Prime Minister of the North Rhine-Westphalia state, Jurgen Ruttgers, who is chairman of the board of trustees for the ‘321-2021’ Association.

Initiatives cancelled or postponed this year because of the pandemic will be implemented in the first half of 2022.

Ruttgers explained, “With support of the Federal Ministry of the Interior, the Federal Commissioner for Culture and the Media, several German states, the city of Cologne and numerous private sponsors, the festival year will continue until July 31, 2022.”

Ruttgers added that over 2,000 events had been registered for 2021 under the umbrella of the anniversary year in terms of activities, discussions and cultural events.

Everywhere in Germany, he said, society appreciated Jewish life.

“Civil society organisations and groups, however, have commemorated the Holocaust together with our democratic institutions,” Ruttgers added.

The Roman Emperor Constantine and Senate of Rome put into effect a decree on December 11, 321 where Jewish citizens could be participate in the city council. The decree is the first evidence that Jews lived north of the Alps some 1,700 years ago. The area is now Cologne.

Jewish organisations and politicians have condemned Conservative MP Marcus Fysh likening the NHS COVID-19 pass to Nazi Germany during a startling BBC Radio 5 interview this week.

Secretary of State for Justice Dominic Raab and Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting both slated the comments that came in the radio feature on vaccine passports.

Fysh told interviewer Rachel Burden that if people don’t feel safe and secure going to a pub or a restaurant without restrictions they should not go.

The Yeovil MP said the concept would be “segregating society based on an unacceptable thing”.

He added, “We live in a free society in this country where people have the freedom to do what they want with their own bodies and freedom of association.”

During the exchange, Burden reportedly said the point she was making was that you’re not telling someone what to do with their body other than to say they’ve taken a test.

Fysh responded, “We are not a ‘papers please’ society. This is not Nazi Germany, okay?”

“No, I don’t think it is,” Burden replied, adding, “And I think there’s a long, long way between what people are being asked to do and Nazi Germany.”

BY ADAM MOSES

Marcus Fysh MP

PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA

Radio 5 listeners blasted Fysh’s viewpoint as ‘inexcusable’.

Raab criticised his Tory colleague’s “crass” comments. He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, “I don’t like that kind of language and I don’t think it’s appropriate.

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Actually, I don’t think comparing what we are trying to achieve to an authoritarian or Nazi regime is quite right. I think a lot of people find that crass.”

Streeting also criticised the comparison.

“We are not living in the 1930s and the secretary of state and his team are not Nazis,” he noted in the Commons.

A Campaign Against Antisemitism spokesperson said, “Trivial comparisons to the Nazi regime or the Holocaust, the systematic murder of six million Jewish men, women and children, are never acceptable.”

CAA welcomed an apology from Fysh but found remarkable that he and others too often feel it appropriate to make such thoughtless comments in the first place.

“Mr Fysh would do well to consider undertaking Holocaust education and using his platform to encourage others to do so to better understand the impact of his words,” they noted.

Board of Deputies President Marie van der Zyl was astounded by Fysh’s comments.

“It is completely unacceptable to compare the proposed vaccine passports with Nazi Germany,” she fumed. “We urge people, particularly those in positions of authority, to avoid these highly inappropriate comparisons.”

Historian Simon Schama tweeted that every Jew would despise and detest Fysh for comparing vaccine requirements and masks to the Third Reich.

16 DECEMBER 2021

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Afghan Appeal Re-Launch World Jewish Relief has re-launched their Afghanistan Crisis Appeal to assist Afghans who have been unable to flee the Taliban and are now stuck in Afghanistan.

Drought, conflict, the Covid pandemic and massive displacement mean the situation in the country has become increasingly desperate.

Reports indicate that more than 18.4 million people are facing extreme hunger and over 3 million children under five are likely to suffer from acute malnutrition without urgent intervention. 600,000 Afghans are internally displaced and living in makeshift tents where they will face sub-zero temperatures this winter.

Judaism teaches us not to stand idly in the face of injustice. As the UK Jewish community’s humanitarian agency, World Jewish Relief will lead our community’s response to this humanitarian crisis.

World Jewish Relief will be responding in Afghanistan with their trusted regional partner the International Blue Crescent (IBC). IBC is now operating on the ground in Kabul, Herat and Kunduz, targeting women, children and families who have been displaced. They are able to operate independently of the Taliban and have access to the communities who most need assistance.

Together with IBC, World Jewish Relief will provide families with emergency food

packages and winter survival kits containing the items that people need to get through the cold winter ahead, stay warm and avoid starvation.

Thanks to the generosity of the Jewish community, who showed incredible support when World Jewish Relief first launched their appeal for Afghan refugees over the summer, the organisation will continue their existing projects in the UK and Turkey supporting those who have fled the Taliban. They are providing food, healthcare, and legal and psychological support to Afghans who have made it to Turkey, as well as English language classes and activities for women and children who have reached the UK and now reside in bridging hotels. However, our community’s attention must also turn to Afghanistan itself and to assisting civilians desperate to survive.

World Jewish Relief are proud to launch this appeal with the full support of the UK’s leading communal bodies.

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said: “Since August, World Jewish Relief has provided invaluable, life-saving assistance to Afghans who have been affected by a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian crisis. As they seek to expand their support, especially with the onset of winter, I encourage all who are able to generously support World Jewish Relief’s Afghanistan Crisis Appeal.”

And Marie van der Zyl, President of the

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

Board of Deputies, said: “I commend World Jewish Relief for rising to the challenge of providing vital support for Afghans who are stuck in a desperate humanitarian situation in their country. With millions facing catastrophe, this is the moment for British Jews – if they are able to – to give generously to this vital cause.”

You can be there for Afghans in crisis by donating today at www.worldjewishrelief. org/afghan.

Shahar is DirectorGeneral at Ministry of Tourism Brigadier General (Res.) Dani Shahar is the new Director-General of the Israel Ministry of Tourism.

Shahar replaces Amir Halevi, who served in the position for nine years. He takes up his post on January 4. The appointment of Shahar has been approved by the government.

“I come with a clear purpose to lead the Israel tourism industry to significant achievements, in line with the policy of the minister,” he said.

Tourism Minister Yoel Razvozov congratulated Shahar on his appointment.

“Dani is an excellent manager, a man of deeds with a broad vision who knows how to spearhead necessary changes in an organization that he heads, with excellent interpersonal skills who serves as a role model for all those around him,” he said.

Shahar has extensive experience in managing public and military frameworks.

Past posts were at the Israel Authority for Prevention of Violence, Alcohol and Drug Abuse, and Ministry of Public Security. He was also Acting Director-General and Deputy Director-General of Operations at the Municipality of Netanya.

In the army, Shahar served in senior command positions including as commander of the naval commando unit and Shimshon undercover unit.

He has a BA in political science and MA in public administration.

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16 DECEMBER 2021

Report reveals extreme right use of social media platforms

BY ADAM MOSES New research by the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation (ICSR) and Community Security Trust reveals how extreme-right teenagers are utilising mainstream social media platforms to radicalise and recruit teens and young people into far-right, racist ideologies.

The report evaluates the ideologies and behaviour of the young extreme right through analysis of 10 new extreme-right youth groups across Western Europe. The report offers significant findings about activities of a new generation of young extreme-right activists.

“We are Generation Terror! Youth-onyouth radicalisation in extreme right youth groups”, published this week challenges existing assumptions that young people are passive victims of online “grooming” by older far right activists.

The report shows that young people are increasingly groomers, propagandists, recruiters, plotters and convicted perpetrators of extreme-right terrorism. And they do it independent of older digital users and far-right activists.

Research reveals how extreme-right youth use Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and

Telegram try to radicalise peers. In particular, Instagram is a tool for young racial nationalists, providing them with a powerful opportunity to recruit, reach young audiences and present striking visual content.

The authors reveal numerous findings about ways young extremists use social media.

Extremists have succeeded in bypassing companies’ content moderation algorithms, posting explicitly neo-Nazi content and using mainstream social media sites as a tool for recruitment and spreading racist ideologies.

Young extremists guide followers towards radical material, using mainstream social media to funnel users to extreme sites where they host radical and violent content.

They also create second accounts in advance of a primary account being removed, and make a new account shortly

after, to bypass bans by social media platforms.

The authors analyse groups with little previous coverage, using social media data of now-deplatformed groups including British Hand, Sonnenkrieg Division and Feuerkrieg Division.

They also reveal a group behind the terrorism conviction of a 16-year-old boy in Newcastle, Blutkrieg Division, and present data on Spanish neo-Nazi group Bastión Frontal.

Co-author Hannah Rose said, “We have been struck by the unique ways in which young extremists are recruiting from mainstream social media, often using youth-centric messaging. Security services must not underestimate the agency and threat which the young extreme-right pose.”

The ICSR is an internationally acclaimed academic research centre based in the Department of War Studies at King’s College London.

Toddler death to be investigated Police are investigating the tragic death of two-year-old Adel Asseulin who reportedly choked on a drawstring of her sweatshirt jacket at a kindergarten in Kiryat Gat last Friday.

The toddler passed away after being treated at Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon on Monday.

It has been reported Adel was playing on the playground slide when the tragedy occurred. A teacher supervising the playground did not notice the incident until it was too late.

The supervisor has been questioned on suspicion of causing death by negligence.

Day centre lawyers expressed their heartache following the tragedy but said the incident was not negligence.

“It’s important to note that the day care staff works according to the regulations and that the incident was not a result of negligence but a combination of tragic coincidences as is expected to be clarified by the police,” lawyers reportedly stated.

Adel’s father, HaRav Shimon Asseulin reportedly told Channel 12 News, “I arrived that day at the gan (kindergarten) and my world collapsed. I saw her being resuscitated. I took my daughter to gan and from there she was taken to the ICU and from there she’s not returning at all.”

Paramedics were able to resuscitate Adel before rushing her to hospital.

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16 DECEMBER 2021

OPINION

Stay focussed OPINION PIECE

BY ROBERT FESTENSTEIN Over the last 2 weeks there has been considerable coverage of the attack in London’s Oxford Street on a bus carrying Jewish children on their way to a Chanukah celebration. As was referred to last week, the BBC has decided to make much of an allegation that there was an anti-Muslim comment made by someone on the bus. The result has been an outpouring of anger against the BBC in relation to their biased reporting.

This anger, justified though it is, has meant that the focus has concentrated on defending the allegation of anti-Muslim comments rather than the attack itself. This column 2 weeks ago made reference to issues concerning Muslim anti-Semitism and only a few days later this attack took place which involved at least one Muslim man. This though has been pushed to one side in favour of the argument with the BBC. There is now an opportunity available to the Jewish community. Instead of just grumbling to and about the BBC, it is

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time to grasp the nettle and confront the uncomfortable reality that faces UK Jewry. The current approach by the communal leadership is not promising. Against a background of increased polarisation, both the left and right are determined to maintain their position and criticise their opponents. The left will have it that no-one from an ethnic minority could possibly be anti-Semitic and the right treat anyone from some minority groups with considerable suspicion.

Any group in the middle has to have an eye on both these groups in order to maintain their support, and therein lies the problem. In any attempt to keep everyone happy and demonstrate to the outside world that the Jewish community is not biased in one direction or another, references to antisemitism are whitewashed out. The Board of Deputies

The opinions on this page do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

in their press release immediately after the attack made reference only to a Nazi salute. There was no reference to the

There is now an opportunity available to the Jewish community. Instead of just grumbling to and about the BBC, it is time to grasp the nettle and confront the uncomfortable reality that faces UK Jewry.

HGS hold winter football tournament

HGS BARCA win the U8s Winter Cup

HGS Napoli celebrate winning the U8s silver plate trophy

HGS held their 2021 winter football tournament last Sunday.

Across two primary school age categories, 14 teams took part in the fun, competitive and entertaining competition.

Many players had been coached by HGS since they the age of three.

HGS Barca were crowned champions of the U8’s tournament performing well in their group matches.

The final against rivals HGS PSG ended in a 1-1 draw before Barca prevailed. Goalkeeper Raffy Schwartz was the hero making two saves in the shoot out.

In the U8’s play-off final, where a silver plate trophy was up for grabs, HGS Napoli

played HGS Dortmund in a thrilling match that also went to penalties following a 1-1 draw. Napoli were victorious.

The U7’s group had two close finals with HGS Dortmund winning on penalties, HGS Barca were plate winners.

Co-owner of HGS football academy Daryl Phillips said, “Well done to all the teams that took part. All games were played with great spirit with some attractive football and great goals. We were proud to see the progress the children have made over the years in our educational league system.

For information on HGS league or holiday camps visit: www.hgssoccerschool.com

identity of the individual nor the person hammering the side of the bus with a shoe which in Arab cultures, has long been used as the object of insults due to its association with dirt and with being put on the foot, the lowest part of the body.

Other commentators have taken the same approach, concentrating on the allegations concerning the children and largely ignoring the perpetrators. It is time for Jewish communal leaders to be brave and accept the physical risks faced

by UK Jews from individuals other than white neo-fascists. This was a bus load of visibly Jewish children which was seen by and then physically attacked by at least one Muslim man. The exclusion of Jews from left wing society might be abhorrent but it is not violent, or at least generally not. The longer silence reigns on this issue the worse it will get.

Robert Festenstein is a practising solicitor and has been the principal of his Salford based firm for over 20 years. He has fought BDS motions to the Court of Appeal and is President of the Zionist Central Council in Manchester which serves to protect and defend the democratic State of Israel.

Kisharon Tuffkid wins Gold in Barnet!

Kisharon’s Tuffkid Nursery is the first in Barnet to win a gold HEYL (Healthy Early Years London) award.

Head of nursery, Janice Marriott and her team won the award for encouraging children to be more active.

“Our main focus for the award was physical development and how to optimise children’s health and well-being through play and movement,” she said. “We saw a huge improvement in our children’s physical awareness and independence, particularly in self-care. When the children started nursery many of them would stand and wait for help with dressing or putting on their coats and shoes. By the end of the year, many of them were able to dress themselves, which is an impressive accomplishment for all concerned.”

Research after the project showed a vast improvement in parents’ understanding of what children needed to be doing at home and in the nursery to help them in their physical development.

Latest research says children under five should be active for 180 minutes every day.

The nursery invited parents to hear authoritative talks on the benefits of keeping children on the go, and the weekly nursery newsletter carried information about

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physical activities to help prepare children for primary school.

Nurseries and childminders are eligible to enter the HEYL awards, which are funded by the Mayor of London. Entrants are required to run a health project.

Tuffkid has adopted several healthy living programmes previously and achieved bronze and silver awards in the HEYL scheme.

Janice said, “I am thrilled that we have received the gold award. It is a huge achievement for Tuffkid, all our staff and our parents.”

Tania Barney, Coordinator for Barnet’s Healthy Early Years Programmes, added, “I’m so proud of Tuffkid, and the award they have achieved.”

Whether mainstream or with special needs, children at Tuffkid play and learn together without barriers. All achieve unique milestones at a key developmental age.

Tuffkid offers a variety of personalised support including speech, physio and occupational therapy.

Tuffkid Nursery details: www.kisharon. org.uk/education/tuffkid-nursery or call: 020 8201 8488

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At the first table, declarer took the trick with the ace of hearts and played a trump.

After East discarded an encouraging club, declarer rose with the ace of trumps and continued with the queen of that suit. West took this with the king of trumps and shifted to the queen of clubs. Declarer called for dummy’s king of clubs but East won with the ace of clubs, then cashed the Jack of clubs. A third round of clubs gave declarer no winning option: West would make his ten of trumps for the setting trick.

(By playing this third round of clubs East had set up a trump promotion for partner) At the other table, the declarer took the first trick with the ace of hearts and continued with the three of hearts at trick two, discarding a club from hand. West won and shifted to clubs but this time declarer was able to ruff the second round of the suit. Declarer cashed the ace of trumps at trick five and continued with the queen of trumps. West took his king of trumps and exited with a diamond. Declarer won the trick in hand with his queen of diamonds and then played the jack of trumps to draw West’s remaining last trump. Declarer claimed ten tricks: six spades, one heart and three diamonds.

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16 DECEMBER 2021

COMMUNITY 17

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Camp Simcha sends in festive fun for children in hospitals

Camp Simcha Toy Drive

PHOTO: YAFFA JUDAH PHOTOGRAPHY.

The first cohort of Camp Simcha’s new B’nei Mitzvah programme helped sort and pack over 10,000 toys collected by the charity for children spending the festive season in hospital.

A team of 20 bar and bat mitzvah youngsters, along with their parents and other volunteers, sorted the new toys over the course of last week. All the gifts had been collected by schools, cheders, businesses, synagogues and community groups – or donated by individuals - for Camp Simcha’s annual Toy Drive.

The charity launched its B’nei Mitzvah programme this year to offer children a meaningful way to mark their simcha, by giving their time and being part of a group fundraising activity.

Among them, Ariella Keene, 11, who is due to have her bat mitzvah in March, said: “It was such an honour to help pack toys with Camp Simcha to mark my bat mitzvah. I feel very sad that there are

children who have to stay in hospital over the holidays and it’s so nice that I get to do something help them.”

This past week, the sorted toys have been distributed by Camp Simcha volunteers to 120 hospital wards and hospices and through community nursing teams around London, Essex and Hertfordshire, including the Royal Free NHS Trust, Northwick Park, Great Ormond Street, UCLH, St Mary’s, Evelina, Chelsea and Westminster and North Middlesex.

Gail Manning from the play team at Northwick Park Hospital’s paediatric ward, Jack’s Place, said the toy deliveries had been more important than ever this year.

“This year has been challenging for everyone. Here on Jack’s Place, we have had to adapt the way we play. Single use toys and activities have become essential.

We have required many more resources in order to support our patients and families.

“The donation we received today will enable us to ensure all our patients have

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a treat over the festive period and I’m sure we’ll receive lots of smiles in return. We can’t thank Camp Simcha and the community enough for your kindness.”

Great Ormond Street Hospital also received their annual bags of toys – as well as a sweet treat for staff with a doughnut delivery from Camp Simcha - and some Chanukah activities and online entertainment for children on the wards.

GOSH asked for the charity’s help in this area to support the hospital chaplaincy’s cultural awareness activities.

Camp Simcha Head of Services Daniel Gillis said: “Chanukah is all about light – and we hope the doughnuts brightened up the day for the amazing staff team, and the crafts and entertainment brought some joy to children on the wards.

“Chanukah is a really special festival for Jewish children and for families as a whole.

Raising awareness of this aspect of Jewish culture among staff and ensuring there are Chanukah activities for children on the wards, plays a big role towards bringing some joy to Jewish patients who might feel sad that they are missing their usual family festivities.”

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GIFT raises over £1.1 million in its big online campaign

16 DECEMBER 2021

Lammy attends Tottenham Chanukah party

Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy joined Chanukah celebrations in Tottenham

Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy celebrated Chanukah with the Jewish community of Tottenham last week.

Youth Chaverim attended the Chanukah party and two members addressed over 100 people at the home of community activist Rabbi Shmuel Davidsohn.

“Every year we hold an event, and it was great that it took place, said Shmuel, who aids community engagement in the area. “We were proud to host the event. Engagement between the Jewish GIFT team celebrating their fundraising efforts

GIFT was thrilled to raise an amazing £1104,355 during its 36-hour matched campaign, which closed at 10pm on Monday evening.

The campaign raised funds from 3,500 donors across the world: people from the UK to Israel, South Africa to the USA, came together to support GIFT’s Fast Forward campaign. Having reached the £750,000 target after just 12 hours, a new £1,000,000 bonus round took place over a high-octane 22 hours – followed by an amazing and successful push to raise an additional £100,000.

Volunteers of all ages gave their time to phone and message possible supporters.

Over 150 teams inspired and motivated their friends and family to give, with warm comments from supporters including: ‘Delighted to help this wonderful charity’, ‘Keep doing the amazing work you do!’ and ‘Kol hakavod to your endless efforts for the community!’

Funds raised will be put towards GIFT’s work in 2022, when the charity plans to engage even more people in practical, accessible and impactful volunteering opportunities, and to create inspiring and meaningful educational programmes, so that our community can keep supporting those who need our help most.

Rabbi Sandor Milun, Managing Director of GIFT, says: ‘We are thrilled to know that GIFT’s programme for 2022 is secure, thanks to the amazing donations of so many in our community. We are immensely grateful to the hundreds of volunteers,

team leaders and supporters who made our campaign such an unprecedented success.

Thank you to everyone involved, who will help us to continue to inspire and enable lifelong giving.’

Desi Ormonde and Karine Morris, team leaders on the campaign and weekly volunteers for GIFT, say: ‘Being volunteers for GIFT is rewarding in ways we could never have imagined, and seeing firsthand how we are helping people is truly a humbling experience. Being team leaders was a no-brainer, knowing that the more money we raise means helping even more people than ever before, and the response has been truly incredible!’

Dan Elek, an 18-year-old volunteer who called possible donors to ask for their support, says: ‘I really enjoyed speaking to so many people, and was proud to be an ambassador for GIFT. I was bowled over by how many people said yes!’

One of the campaign’s matching donors, who has asked to be anonymous, says: ‘My family are proud to have been matchers on the Fast Forward campaign; we know that people give more if they know their gift will be doubled, so we feel delighted that we have helped GIFT to raise such an extraordinary amount, so it can continue to do extraordinary things next year.’

For more information about GIFT please email us at info@jgift.org or follow us on Instagram @giftcharity. To give to the campaign, please visit www.charityextra/ gift]

community and various authorities is really important.”

Amongst dignitaries in attendance were the Mayor of Haringay, Councillor Adam Jogee, and Mayor of Hackney, Philip Glanville, Leader of Haringey Council, Peray Ahmet, councillors and the local police commander for the area.

A presentation was made to Chief Inspector, Imran Asghar.

The event has not taken place for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sparks of Inspiration During the week of Chanukah, PaL – Phone and Learn, the UK’s leading 1-2-1 outreach organisation, had a wonderful campaign showcasing some of their inspiring learning partnerships.

Each night of Chanukah, PaL released a new profile of one of their learning partnerships.

The first night, featured Jenty Young a lady in her 60’s who recently found out she is Jewish and now is learning with her PaL tutor. Jenty is so eager to learn and is excited by her journey of discovery. The second night, PaL tutor Jeremy Rose and his PaL partner David Davis featured for being the longest learning partnership – almost 16 years. The third night, PaL tutor Danny Sanger was featured. Danny has been a tutor for over 8 years and learns with two PaL partners every week. The fourth night featured PaL’s furthest learning partnership, PaL tutor Arielle Croock lives in Johannesburg and her PaL partner Angela Ene lives in London – over 5,635 miles apart. The next night PaL featured a young

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couple in Edgware, Eisha and Maya Dytch who are both fantastic PaL tutors.

After Shabbos the campaign continued featuring Paul Davis. Paul signed up to learn with PaL over a year ago. His learning sessions with his tutor have inspired him to now put on Tefillin daily and increase the learning sessions to twice weekly.

The last night of Chanukah featured a local PaL partnership, Benzion Perlman and Erez Nounou who learn together four times a week.

These examples show the amazing impact that 1-2-1 learning has on both the tutors and the partners. The tremendous achievements, milestones and friendships that develop are truly inspiring.

Throughout the campaign, many new partners and tutors signed up to learn with PaL. For more information on how you can get involved visit www.phoneandlearn.org or email info@phoneandlearn.org or call 020 8455 3118.

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COMMUNITY 19

Joanna Ebner announced as new Graduates complete women’s Head for Immanuel College educator programme The Governors of Immanuel College are delighted to announce the appointment of their new Head, Joanna Ebner, who will join in September 2022.

Miss Ebner is currently headmistress of Thomas’s Kensington, a highly regarded co-educational preparatory school based in Kensington which is part of the Thomas’s London Day Schools’ Group. Prior to that she was headmistress of The Royal School, a girls’ day and boarding school in Hampstead.

Miss Ebner grew up in a strong Jewish home, attending Bnei Akiva and teaching at Hebrew Classes. She was educated at North London Collegiate School and Homerton College, Cambridge University, where she was co-President of the Jewish Society.

When she was studying, she also ran the Cambridge Traditional Jewish congregation’s cheder. Her MA was at the Institute of Education, University of London, and she trained as a School Counsellor at the Tavistock Clinic, Institute of Family Therapy and City University, working in a range of settings, including at Immanuel College, in the 1990s. Miss Ebner was also one of the founding governors of Rimon (a maintained community Jewish faith school) and instrumental in appointing the first head.

She has a keen interest in Holocaust Education and attended the annual teacher training course at Yad Vashem Jerusalem

Joanna Ebner

in summer 2019. She has recently become a trustee of J-Roots.

Miss Ebner is a successful and experienced leader. She has been a headteacher for the past 16 years and has worked in a range of educational environments, all in London.

In summer 2020, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Miss Ebner founded School Unlocked (www.schoolunlocked. org), summer schools for the most disadvantaged premium pupils to help them catch up on missed schooling. Robert Halfon, chair of the Commons Education Select Committee, held this up as an exemplar of current good practice.

Lilmod ul’Lamed graduates with Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis

Seven women on the first Lilmod Ul’Lamed Women’s Educator Programme graduated on Sunday.

A graduation ceremony for the joint programme between the United Synagogue, Mizrachi UK and Bnei Akiva UK took place at the Wohl Suite in central Synagogue.

The 18-month programme gives university-age women high-level training in teaching and education from experts

in their fields. Topics included public speaking, preparing shiurim and Jewish pedagogy. Participants gained practical experience giving shiurim, writing articles and representing partner organisations at educational events.

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said, “The graduates demonstrated an impressive level of knowledge and understanding.”

The next cohort commences in January.

Resource becomes a family matter It’s not often Resource get to help a family back into employment. The Grodner-Benjamins were our first.

Wife and mum Debby came to us first.

She had stopped work to have a family, but as the children grew older, she felt the need to return to the workplace. However, she wasn’t sure what kind of work to go for.

“My luck changed when I turned to Resource. Their voluntary advisors are professional employment experts and thanks to Resource’s supporters and donors, everything is provided free.

“My advisor helped me build my confidence and I went to many of Resource’s workshops, including how to make best use of networking – in other words, getting to hear of employment opportunities among friends, acquaintances and former colleagues - preparing job applications and CVs, and interview skills.

“Together, my advisor’s support and sharing the experiences of others at the workshops helped rebuild my confidence.

They got me thinking constructively about the kind of job I’d enjoy, the employers to approach, and how to do so. I began to feel empowered. I decided to look into voluntary work and with my advisor’s encouragement, I took on a role as a volunteer at the Holocaust Survivors’ Centre.”

Later Debby found new work but felt that she needed guidance on what to do

Grodner family

next. Unsurprisingly, she sought the help of Resource.

“My new advisor was incredibly supportive and immediately got me thinking positively. I again went to a number of Resource’s workshops. I became truly motivated and felt my self-confidence return. My advisor recognised my strengths as a people-person and I found work at a school where I specialised in working with students needing learning support. I’m delighted to say I’ve been there ever since.”

The Jewish Weekly wishes Deborah and David Saffer of Shenley, together with Susan and Colin Goldenberg of Liverpool, a hearty mazel tov on the engagement of their children Hannah and Jake

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16 DECEMBER 2021

Mr Bernard Stone zt”l

BY RABBI MORDECHAI ULLMANN In the introduction to the monumental sefer, “Nefesh Hachaim”, authored by Harav Chaim of Volozhin, his son HaRav Yitzchok of Volozhin writes, “and so were the words of my father to me constantly, ‘This is the entire person; not for himself was he created, rather to benefit others with all the strength that he finds’.”

Writing in the previous century, the Mesillas Yesharim provides some further context for our existence: “A person was not created for his situation in the world, rather [to prepare] for his situation in the World-to-Come”.

In our fast-paced, high-pressure society, there is much cause to reflect on these principles - that the purpose of our existence in this world is to prepare for the Next and that a primary way to do so is not by being self-centred, but by focusing on how to benefit others.

Our generation was blessed with an example of someone who personified these lofty ideals.

Mr Bernard Stone, (Binyomin Mordechai ben Yitzchok zt”l) whose Shloshim falls this coming Sunday, 15 Teves, was a Yid who many would testify lived leshem Shamayim and who constantly placed the welfare - spiritual and material - of others on the forefront of his mind and activities.

Born 76 years ago in what was then the “Hightown” district of Cheetham Hill, Bernard had an early example of a shul Shamash in the form of his grandfather, Mr Avraham Weinstein z”l. Mr Weinstein served as the Shamash of the “New Shul” (whose building still fronts Cheetham Hill Road and which once had the privilege of hosting the legendary Harav Meir Shapiro zt”l). When in 1963, the New Shul closed, Bernard began his communal activism at the Beth Jacob.

In 1969, Hightown was redeveloped and many of its residents relocated to Hulme.

While others were busy finding their bearings in this spiritually-desolate district immediately south of Manchester’s City Centre, Bernard, then a young man in his twenties, approached Dayan Golditch zt”l with his quandary of how to establish a minyan for the area. Receiving the Dayan’s full support, sound advice and blessing, Bernard proceeded to set up the minyan in rented accommodation. In order to furnish the fledgling community, he visited numerous existing shuls in Manchester to request spare artifacts suitable for the shul and even constructed a Bima by hand.

He would also make the rounds soliciting donations whether from distinguished personalities such as Rebbetzin Levene (who had been married b’zivug sheni to Harav Zvi Hirsh Levene zt”l, Rav of the Rydal Mount) or from ordinary businessmen. When the Hulme community gradually dwindled by the end of the 1970’s, Bernard joined the next Kehillah to which he would devote the rest of his life - Beis Haknesses Shaarei Tefillah - Cheetham Hebrew Congregation.

Bernard Stone zt”l

Across Manchester’s Jewish community and beyond, Bernard’s caring and happy demeanour earned the inspiration of Jew and non-Jew alike.

The shul was formed in 1958 as an amalgamation of four Kehillos and Bernard threw his entire being into ensuring its continuity.

In 1982 he took on the “temporary role” of president of the congregation, a position he would go on to hold for close to forty years. When, in 2001, owing to changing demographics, the shul in Cheetham Hill was forced to relocate to the Jewish Cultural Centre on Bury Old Road, many would have wondered how long it could sustain itself nearer the heart of the Orthodox Kehilla, where shuls abound.

Nonetheless, Bernard’s resilience helped the shul not only survive, but, in its own modest way, thrive. It drew further locals - in particular seniors - who were seeking a like-minded Ashkenaz minyan. Bernard derived particular pleasure when, 13 years ago, a new Sefer Torah was commissioned by admirers and friends of the shul. At the celebratory meal held in its honour, a well-known Marbitz Torah commented that “Bernard” would serve

as one of the “Stone”s in the third Beis Hamikdash. Far from being a mere Rabbonishe quip, it brings to mind the words of Shlomo Hamelech in Shir Hashirim describing the Beis Hamikdash, “Tocho Rotzuf Ahahva” - its essence was saturated with love. Indeed it was a building constructed with the love of Klal Yisroel, as the Gemara poetically describes it as, “a “Yedid built by a Yedid in the portion of the Yedid [Hashem i.e. Shevet Binyomin]”.

Binyomin (Bernard) similarly displayed the love of a “Temimus’dike” Jew for a Mikdash Me’at and in fact was once overheard commenting (when questioned as to why he stayed in shul the entire Yom Kippur night), “What could be better than spending the night with the Eibishter?”

His personal commitment to Tefillah was itself an inspiration. Each Shabbos and Yom Tov he would make the oneand-a-half mile trek from his home deep in Crumpsall to the shul in the Cultural Centre, notwithstanding ailing health and

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sometimes oppressive weather conditions.

On two-day Yomim Tovim this would involve a repeat three mile round trip. In earlier years, he would make the rounds each weekday with his old car, bringing whoever he could, to join in the Minyan.

One can only imagine the challenges this must have involved, in particular on cold and dark winter mornings, but it was the greatest favour imaginable for many of the beneficiaries of this kindness.

His other great joy was providing meals for people. Whether it was the famed Shabbos lunch he ran in the shul in which he provided food he personally schlepped from local shops - in addition to dishes he prepared at home, or the mesibos he ran in honour of the Yomim Tovim, Cheetham Hebrew became for many individuals a second home, a “Beis Chayeinu” where warmth, friendship and true care could be found. This was besides the meals he would deliver to lonely people, his visits to hospitals and his quiet but determined actions that enabled many Yidden to be brought to Kevurah in a timely manner. Much of his kindnesses were performed for people who are sadly no longer with us, but nothing is forgotten by Hashem, who “recalls all the forgotten”.

Across Manchester’s Jewish community and beyond, Bernard’s caring and happy demeanour earned the inspiration of Jew and non-Jew alike.

It would be appropriate to conclude with an idea the author once heard from the renowned mashpia Rabbi YY Jacobson shlita. We daven at candle-lighting that we should merit to raise children who “light up the world with Torah, good deeds and all the work of serving the Creator”. The Rav explained that whereas our hope is that our efforts in Chinuch will bear fruit in the form of children who light up the world in Torah, we should also be proud of those who succeed in “good deeds and in all the service of the Creator”. Such people “light up the world” with their activism and selflessness, helping others, such as the incredible volunteers we are all familiar with from various organisations. In a similar vein, Bernard may not have had the opportunity to excel in Torah study that much of present-day children in Manchester are granted, but he truly “lit up the world”, beaming a bright light of Chesed and Maasim Tovim, deep into the corners of Cheetham Hill, as well as an awe-inspiring Mesiras Nefesh for Tefillah, which will remain indelibly impressed on all who knew him.

Bernard returned his pure soul to his Creator on Thursday night Parshas Vayishlach and, quite remarkably, was brought to Kevurah on Erev Shabbos after Chatzos. A crowd comprised of Rabbonim and laypeople came to accompany Mr Stone on his final earthly journey, each person mulling over their own precious memories of an unassuming giant, whose greatest joy was bringing pleasure to his Creator and bringing Yidden together. Yehi Zichro Baruch.

16 DECEMBER 2021

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From the front line…

Cancer is once again set to be the runner-up to Covid.

BY JACQUELINE CURZON J K Rowling has spoken, nay shouted out, at the trolls and trans activists who continue to put her down over her views on 'women.'

She apparently said by way of response, 'I could paper my walls with the amount of vitriol and numbers of death threats I have received' and - of course - she is neither going to retract nor alter her views. Quite right! On the back of the departure of Professor Kathleen Stock, it is time we reigned in these verbal minorities who want to rewrite the world according to their blinkered, woke-ish vision.

We pride ourselves in the UK as a democracy with our immutable right to free speech, but it seems that only the minority are truly permitted this luxury. Recent protests at Durham - one of the most elite university populations - have seen a backlash over a decision Jacqueline Curzon to invite columnist Rod Liddle to PHOTO: LARA MINSKY PHOTOGRAPHY speak at a formal dinner. As South intention of having her ex-husband College principal, Professor Tim liquidated, and I don’t mean financially.

Luckhurst who upholds the right to free She filled in a form on the spoof website speech, and cried foul at the resultant rent-a-hitman.com, and officers posing as student heckling, has now been barred assassins were offered a $5,000 fee and a from public roles, with students threatening to transfer away from the University, $200 downpayment to murder her former unless he is removed from his post. Across husband. The police were amazed by her the country many similar minded stunaivety in thinking a transparent website dents seem more fixated with their new for assassins -for-hire could be legitimate. found political causes, focusing more on The joke has totally backfired as Ms Wein discrimination and societal wrongs, rather now faces up to nine years in prison for than on going to university to acquire solicitation for murder and use of a computer to commit a crime. knowledge from those more educated Another story concerning money caught and knowledgeable than they. They seem my attention. A NatWest bank in Bradhappy to wake up to woke- suddenly in ford has got itself in trouble by accepting this perverse society, Joe Know-it-all is the a huge amount of cash brought in in expert, and the professorial staff are there black bags. Fowler Oldfield, a jewellery only with the tacit blessing or approval business ostensibly specialising in gold of a bunch of activist students. Is this not bullion, deposited £700k in one day alone. an example of the lunatics running the The business had an estimated annual asylum? turnover of £15 million, but managed to In Kentucky, a swarm of tornadoes deposit £365 million over a 3 year period, hit the region of Mayfield, creating utter with £264 million of that paid in cash into devastation and leaving around 70 dead.

NatWest. At Southwark Crown Court Mrs Governor Andy Beshear confirmed that Justice Cockerill said, ‘although in no way around 30,000 homes will be left without complicit, without the bank’s failings the heat, water and electricity at a particularly inclement time of year. The tornadoes took money could not have been laundered.’

She ordered the bank to pay £4.3 million a path of around 250 miles, destroying in costs, fined them £264 million, and homes, factories and places of worship, made a £460,000 confiscation order. It’s pulling down power lines and throwing the first time a bank has faced criminal vehicles around in the streets. Amongst the buildings totally flattened was a candle prosecution by the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority). factory, where employees claim they continued to work through the night. Of the Omnipresent in the UK is the continuing fear of covid. The rising numbers of 110 working that night, 90 have since been omicron cases, and the government’s knee rescued with eight currently confirmed jerk response to it, only serves to underpin dead. that modelling trumps evidence, every A woman in Michigan is facing a jail time. Not content with encouraging us to term for contacting a website with the

have jab 1, jab 2 and booster, we could be looking at boosters from now until the covid cow comes home. Except I don’t think it ever will. As I suggested months ago this coronavirus is unfortunately here for keeps and I think we will have to learn to live with it. There will be unvaccinated people out there with naturally high levels of immunity who may dodge the bullet every time, but many others are playing Russian Roulette: as the barrel spins, which of the 4 or 5 known variants might they get?

The unluckiest may find they get a particularly deadly variant, perhaps one not even on the shores yet, but it’s a gamble either way. As to the cost to society - the £2 billion monthly cost to the economy?

Michael Gove has indicated he will take whatever steps are necessary to quash the omicron, but read very carefully, and you’ll see he is not averse to imposing another Lockdown. What say the hundreds of thousands whose cancer will be missed [AGAIN] whilst we encourage GPs to deliver booster vaccines?

I think the human cost - actual versus projected - is too great to allow the NHS to slide like it did during the two lockdowns.

My own treatment was left in abeyance whilst all seemed to look left, right and backwards, ignoring the obvious in front of their eyes. Back on the oncology floor, I’ve had several roomies with completely different backgrounds. Vicky* (36), arrives with recently discovered lung cancer and secondaries to her spine and brain. It’s heartbreaking just to even think about the journey ahead for her. Next to me lies Penny* (44), diagnosed a year ago with advanced bowel cancer. Her story is sobering; she opted for surgery, by which point her cancer had returned and spread with a vengeance. Clearly she has not got much time left, and I’m totally humbled by her quiet resignation and inner strength. Of course I sit on my bed feeling a total fraud; compared to these people I’m in perfect health. So where am I up to? Being off treatment for many months, whilst being assured I was in good shape and stable condition (plainly untrue), I discovered the tumour has been growing round my stent, now also blocked with food debris and bacteria, and it’s migrated from its original position. So this unhappily causes sepsis, an urgent matter, and I spend over a week in hospital on heavy-duty antibiotics. {*……. names have been changed.} I am still hoping to be out, if not actually ‘up and running,’ by the time my Siberian trip is scheduled to begin.

Now with the festive season approaching, police in London have accused

retailers of exploiting customers by selling e-scooters, as the retailers know these are not road legal; they can only be used on private land, a detail still seemingly oblivious to most riders. The Metropolitan Police has seized more than 3,600 scooters this year, a number set to rise in 2022. Researchers revealed that in crash tests a rider falling off a scooter at 15 mph would sustain a moderate injury, whilst there was a 90% chance of fatality for head injuries in knocked down pedestrians.

Almost 30% of riders admitted to driving faster than the permitted 15 mph, with some scooters being capable of being modified to reach speeds of nearly 70mph.

Half of respondents in the survey knew it was illegal to ride these scooters, but three quarters who broke the law never thought they would be punished. Meanwhile TfL have forthwith banned electric scooters on tubes, buses and trains over fire risks from defective batteries. This will apply, even to fold down models. The London Fire Brigade has already been called out to more than 50 cases involving e-scooters and bikes. Scooter owners could now be refused entry to public transport or receive a fine of £1,000. I’m sure I read similar scare tactics over mask compliance, but I bet nothing much happened over those defaulters.

Moving onto travel of a different type: A woman has crossed Australia with the help of her five camels. Sophie Matterson (33) set off from Shark Bay just before the pandemic hit in 2020, walking more than 3,000 miles arriving in Byron Bay, NSW. The photographer left her life in Brisbane, because she fancied having an adventure.

She said the now Famous Five - Charlie, Clayton, Delilah, Jude and Mac, had become her ‘five best mates.’ Presumably the Five were her ‘desert sherpas,’ carrying her supplies and probably scaring off any troublemakers.

And finally, Juan Carritos (2) has been deported to a remote area of the Apennines in Italy. The two-year-old had been running amok, drinking from fountains, causing havoc, breaking into shops and bakeries and literally taking the biscuit!

The bear had beaten all of Paddingtons antics and ransacked Dolci Momenti {Sweet Moments} bakery, breaking the window, taking metal trays with freshly made biscuits from the oven before leaving trays and biscuits all over the floor.

Wildlife officials decided to act as the ski season was about to start and the bear was becoming too habituated to humans. He was tranquilised, airlifted back to the wilderness where it’s hoped he will hibernate and wake up with less of a sugar craving.

Love Jacqueline x

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FEATURE 21

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In 1934, following the passing of Rav Shapiro, his successor as Rosh Yeshivah, the Kozoglover Gaon, Rav Aryeh Tzvi Frommer, proposed an additional daily learning program, the study of Mishnayos Seder Zeraim and Taharos, on which there is no Gemara, so that the next Siyum Hashas, would be on all six sedarim of Shas.

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24 COOKERY

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Udon Noodle Tofu Ramen Soup Ramen is an oriental noodle recipe that can be made into a hot soup or used as the base of a salad. Instead of a ‘takeaway’ by creating this at home you will make a ‘fakeaway’!

Another delicious recipe from Denise Phillips

Preparation Time: 15 minutes Cooking Time: 10 minutes Makes: 10

For more recipes and inspiration visit my website: www.jewishcookery.com

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Ingredients 25g dried shiitake mushrooms 1 litre vegetable/ chicken stock ( use your leftover chicken soup broth) 1 tablespoon mirin 1 tablespoon soya sauce 1 garlic clove 2cm fresh ginger – peeled and finely chopped 1 red chilli – deseeded and finely chopped ~ 300g Udon noodles 50g Kale – washed and chopped 160g marinated tofu – sliced 2 spring onions – trimmed and sliced

Transforming Your Chicken Soup

BY DENISE PHILLIPS There is something very special about chicken soup, the soul satisfying and winter-warming broth. The wonderful element of traditional recipe is that it has numerous variations, but I like to use the chicken carcass or chicken wings with a saucepan jammed packed with vegetables. This includes, leeks, carrots, swede, turnip, onions with the skin on which gives extra flavour and colour to the soup, parsnip, bay leaves, one tomato, celery and a large bunch of fresh parsley.

But this delicious broth can easily be transformed into a different type of soup entirely. Make it Mexican style with the addition of tin ‘creamed’ sweet corn, garlic, cumin, chilli, strips of chicken and garnished with strips of baked tortilla bread strips, sprigs of fresh coriander and chopped avocado.

Add an Asian influence with a tin of coconut milk, spring onions, chopped ginger, lemongrass sticks, chopped red chilli, bok choy and some soya sauce. Garnish with sprigs of coriander and a slice of lime.

Experiment and change the flavours to an Indian style with curry powder, chopped carrots, celery, rice, chickpeas, apples, coconut milk and fresh coriander, better known as Mulligatawny. This soup is richly flavoured and thickened with the rice.

Let the chicken soup take an Italian twist and add pasta, cannellini beans, stale crusty bread, chopped tomatoes, kale and some crushed chilli flakes.

This is a Tuscan speciality called Ribollita, a wholesome bowl of goodness.

Comforting, vibrant and delicious use your chicken soup to make a Japanese style chicken ramen. Add soya sauce, shiitake mushrooms, mirin (Japanese rice wine), garlic, ginger, udon noodles, caramelised soya glazed chicken pieces, tofu or hard-boiled eggs or fried egg and top with sesame oil, sesame seeds and spring onions.

What is your favourite way to make chicken soup? Email me on denise@jewishcookery.com I will add the most popular recipe to the next cookery column.

Denise www.jewishcookery.com

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Method 1) Pour the stock into a large saucepan.

2) Add the dried mushrooms, mirin, soya sauce, garlic, ginger, chilli.

3) Bring to the boil and simmer for 5 minutes for the flavours to all diffuse.

4) Cook the noodles according to the packet instructions, drain and transfer to large individual soup bowls.

5) Pour in the hot soup and top with kale, spring onions and tofu.

ASK THE RABBI

26 JUDAISM

16 DECEMBER 2021

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Looking for answers? Send your question to Rabbi@RabbiSchochet.com VACCINE ALERT Dear Rabbi I very much appreciate your work in informing the community and in emphasising how important it is for people to receive the recommended vaccinations against Covid within your popular ‘Ask the Rabbi’ column.

Please might I clarify an important point. You discussed a reader who did not reveal at a Chanukah party that he was unvaccinated. You said that someone unvaccinated was no more likely to transmit infection.

This is not the case. Being triple vaccinated, including having received the booster vaccine gives about 95% protection against the Delta variant and close to 75% protection against becoming infected with the Omicron variant of Covid-19. What you have not caught you cannot pass on. So if you compare someone who is unvaccinated with someone who is fully vaccinated and they have both been recently exposed to Covid, the unvaccinated person is far more likely to have caught Covid and to then be infectious and a risk to other people around them.

Yours Sincerely, Dr Jackie Lewis (co-chair of Salford Healthy Communities) Dear Jackie Thank you for writing and I hope you don’t mind me including your actual full title for impact purposes. Indeed yours was one of several letters received).

Needless to say you are absolutely correct. I was coming at it from the perspective of fully vaccinated individuals with breakthrough infections have peak viral load

similar to unvaccinated cases and can efficiently transmit infection in household settings, including to fully vaccinated contacts. But as you rightly point out, if vaccinated you are less likely to endure breakthrough infections which is key. Either way, if you are reading this and you are able to, make sure you get vaccinated.

End of.

WHY WAIT TILL MARRIAGE?

WHO CLIMBED THE MOUNTAIN?

Dear Sabine Judaism teaches that our life purpose is to makes this world a better place. That doesn’t simply mean a kinder place, rather drawing spiritual ambience and energy into our physical reality.

That can be achieved through every act we commit, however trivial we might presume it to be.

When you work and earn money then give some of that money to charity, you are not merely doing the mitzvah of charity. You are essentially elevating your whole work experience.

Similarly, when you take the hide of an animal and make phylacteries out of them, you’ve now elevated the animal for a higher spiritual purpose. And when you take wax, turn it into a candle which you light on the Friday night, once again you’ve elevated the material into something spiritual.

Obviously this means that all our actions should be committed within a suitable context.

So, stealing a pound coin for example, and giving it to charity, doesn’t achieve the same thing.

Indeed, rather than bringing more holiness into the world, one engenders negative energy.

The union between man and woman can be the most powerful manifestation of the fusion of

Dear Rabbi You most probably know that Islam teaches Muslims worldwide that it was Ishmael that Abraham was willing to sacrifice and not Isaac. What is your take on this? Which is the true story?

Why haven’t our leaders challenged what Islam teaches? Are you going to do anything it?

Melvyn Dear Melvyn The Quran tells the story of Abraham sacrificing his son, which Muslims believe to be Ishmael. But to be sure, there is no actual name of the son mentioned therein. Also, on the basis that the Torah significantly predates the Quran, I’ll stick with the original story which includes specific reference to Isaac and not the later version.

Why do you feel there is a need to challenge Islamic teachings about this story, any more than Christian teachings or other teachings which run counter to fundamental Jewish beliefs. I do me and you do you. It is only when others may tread on our toes and look to ensnare Jews into their beliefs that a debunking exercise is needed.

Pirkei Avot

‫ ָּכל ֶׁשּיִ ְר ַאת‬,‫אֹומר‬ ֵ ‫ּדֹוסא‬ ָ ‫ַר ִּבי ֲחנִ ינָ א ֶבן‬ ‫ ָח ְכ ָמתֹו‬,‫קֹוד ֶמת ְל ָח ְכ ָמתֹו‬ ֶ ‫ֶח ְטאֹו‬ ‫קֹוד ֶמת ְליִ ְר ַאת‬ ֶ ‫ ְו ָכל ֶׁש ָח ְכ ָמתֹו‬.‫ִמ ְת ַקּיֶ ֶמת‬ ‫ הּוא ָהיָ ה‬.‫ ֵאין ָח ְכ ָמתֹו ִמ ְת ַקּיֶ ֶמת‬,‫ֶח ְטאֹו‬ ,‫ ָּכל ֶׁש ַּמ ֲע ָׂשיו ְמ ֻר ִּבין ֵמ ָח ְכ ָמתֹו‬,‫אֹומר‬ ֵ ‫ ְו ָכל ֶׁש ָח ְכ ָמתֹו ְמ ֻר ָּבה‬.‫ָח ְכ ָמתֹו ִמ ְת ַקּיֶ ֶמת‬ …‫ִמ ַּמ ֲע ָׂשיו‬

Rabbi Hanina ben Dosa said: anyone whose fear of sin precedes his wisdom, his wisdom is enduring, but anyone whose wisdom precedes his fear of sin,

Dear Rabbi As a young Jewish girl of a non-religious background and with a lovely boyfriend I’d like to know what is wrong with having a more intimate relationship with my boyfriend if we are both of legal age.

Sabine

body and spirit such that it is the only act where we are in effect almost G-d like, in that we have the very real ability to procreate. So when partners make a lifelong commitment to grow together, experience the depths of each other’s personalities, and perhaps even bring children into the world, their physical union is more than a fleeting passion. In essence, they are uniting spiritual worlds, utilising one of the most powerful tools that G-d has given humankind.

It follows therefore that the cavalier use of this power is a gross maltreatment of this awesome medium. Only after acknowledging the potential of a life-long bond (i.e. marriage), can a couple have the clarity it takes to truly grow together in a physical relationship. More often than not, premarital relations

Follow Rabbi Schochet at: RabbiSchochet.com Twitter: @RabbiYYS Facebook: facebook.com/Rabbiyys.

For Refuah Shalema for Mordechai Ben Chaya Sara his wisdom is not enduring. He [also] used to say: anyone whose deeds exceed his wisdom, his wisdom is enduring, but anyone whose wisdom exceeds his deeds, his wisdom is not enduring.

According to the Bartenura, when the Mishnah talks about the importance of ‘fear of sin preceding wisdom,’ it is a means to an end. By studying the Torah properly, I will learn to fear sin. The two go hand in hand.

Sadly, there are far too many people out there who are brilliant when it comes to wisdom and have very clever minds, yet their good deeds are not on the same

level. There are many Rabbis and leading figures, much admired and respected in the community who in fact are not such righteous people themselves. If you do not have a basic fear of sin, then no matter how much Torah you may learn, it will not sink in properly to enable you to have a decent array of weapons against the Yetzer Harah. Rather, it is like building on quicksand; ultimately doomed to fail.

Make sure to have a solid foundation and you will never go wrong. Ultimately, Hashem will be the final judge. May we all merit to live a truly righteous lifestyle, Amen.

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desensitise both partners, making it more difficult to access the heights offered by a deeper, more profound relationship.

Studies have categorically proven that couples who engage in premarital physical intimacy are frequently plagued with uncertainties as to the essence of their real connection, making longterm commitments much more difficult.

Presently you are pursuing more physical gratification. If you looked honestly into your own soul you’ll come to realise that in essence you are looking for much more than just fleeting pleasure.

You are seeking a deeper connection, or a love that transcends mere transient physical desires.

Understanding this will, in the longer term, enable you to experience a more meaningful relationship and wait till marriage.

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JUDAISM 27

Vayechi: Gracious But Honest

BY RABBI MOSHE TARAGIN One of the most important and underrated traits of leadership is graciousness.

Gracious people have been humbled by life and grasp the vulnerability of the human spirit. As life has exposed their own weaknesses, gracious people are more kind and considerate to others. They aren’t judgmental but accepting. They share their spirit freely with those in need.

This generosity of spirit allows them to easily forgive. The strongest indicator of graciousness is forgiveness toward others.

We would expect graciousness from Yosef. He has been consistently humbled by life and at this stage he appreciates how fragile human experience can be.

Expecting this graciousness, we assume that Yosef would amiably accept his brother’s apologies. After Ya’akov’s death, Yosef’s brothers hesitantly approach him, nervous that he will avenge their grievous crimes. No longer restrained by an aging father, Yosef is now free to retaliate for their past felony. The brothers are so terrified of possible reprisal that they even lie about their deceased father’s wishes.

Putting words into Ya’akov’s mouth, they claim that their father had instructed Yosef against any possible revenge. Presumably, Yosef easily detects this transparent lie; had Ya’akov actually interfered in this messy situation he would have spoken directly with Yosef. This weak attempt at a lie merely demonstrates how desperate the anxious brothers are.

Here is Yosef’s grand opportunity to rise above pettiness and vengeance and graciously forgive his brothers and embrace them. Yosef has everything to gain and nothing to lose. The entire world beckons to his whim. His position in Egypt is secure. He is clearly the new patriarch of the family. This should be an easy decision.

Strangely, Yosef doesn’t warmly embrace his brothers nor does he courteously accept their apology. Initially, he responds in a manner which is part reassuring and part threatening: “Am I in place of G-d ?”. One the one hand this phrase implies that he will not “take matters into his own hands” and he will not play the role of G-d. This certainly comforts his brothers. However, this phrase also implies that Yosef does possess the authority to mete out justice and punish their misdeeds. A more polite acceptance of their apology should not include off-handed references to his own authority – even the type of authority he doesn’t plan on wielding. The acceptance of an apology should not even allude to the potential of retribution.

Yosef’s next comments are even more

perplexing: he reminds them of their malicious intentions: “Hashem has converted your cruelty into a favorable outcome, allowing me to support the entire world”.

This second “line” accentuates their crime while highlighting Yosef’s phenomenal success. This is not the “textbook way” to graciously accept an apology. We would more sooner expect humility, welcoming language, and attempts to “play down” the insult. We would expect Yosef to minimize the crime rather than emphasize the pain. Given how desperate the brothers are, Yosef’s disguised comments seem insensitive. Ultimately, Yosef does assure them that he will continue to care for them and the scene ends with Yosef consoling his fearful brothers. However, Yosef’s initial response to their heartfelt apology doesn’t feel gracious.

Evidently, as important as graciousness may be, it isn’t the only value and isn’t the sole consideration when accepting an apology. Evidently, frank and candid communication is also valuable, and Yosef doesn’t withhold his true feelings, merely to be tactful and sensitive. A full embrace of his brother’s apology is definitely more sensitive in the short term, but may be disadvantageous in the long term. Whitewashing the crime may not be the best approach.

Apologies aren’t just an opportunity to express regret, they should also enable catharsis. People of moral conscience are weighted down by guilt and remorse.

Without facing our guilt and rinsing our conscience, we can become emotionally overwhelmed. Apologies help us confront our misdeeds and move on from otherwise unbearable guilt.

Earlier in the story, as they stood accused by Yosef masquerading as an Egyptian king, the brothers already begun to trace their predicament to their horrific crime of kidnapping. This vital process of facing their guilt and “moving on”, can only be completed if they fully appreciate the suffering they inflicted upon Yosef. Lost in all the excitement of discovering Yosef and relocating to Egypt is the incredible suffering they caused.

Thorough catharsis demands confronting the full impact of their conspiracy. Yosef is happy to accept their apology, but his candor also affords them an opportunity to process their sin. If their guilt remains unaddressed it will fester and create continued anxiety and emotional unrest. As much as they seek Yosef’s graciousness, they also deeply need his honesty.

In addition to aiding their catharsis, Yosef’s honesty is an initial step toward rebuilding their deeply fractured relationship. The trauma of his kidnapping

People of moral conscience are weighted down by guilt and remorse. Without facing our guilt and rinsing our conscience, we can become emotionally overwhelmed. as well as their living apart for twenty years, has ruptured communication between the brothers. Communication builds trust and trusts is the foundation of healthy relationships. It is heartbreaking but not surprising to see how distrustful the brothers have become. The midrash narrates a sorrowful story: after burying Ya’akov, Yosef returned to Shechem to revisit “the pit” and the scene of his abduction. Perhaps he wanted closure for his own trauma. To no one’s surprise, this innocent personal trip alarmed the brothers. Perhaps, they worried, Yosef was still angry and had returned to the scene of the crime to plot his revenge. Direct communication could easily have alleviated any suspicions, but sadly it doesn’t exist. Innocent personal decisions stoke treacherous conspiracy theories. Where there is no trust there is no relationship.

The first step toward rebuilding this relationship is honest and hard communication. It is imperative for Yosef to relay his insult. As we would say he must “get everything off of his chest “. Until he does, the anxious brothers will always wonder what deeper feelings he is harboring and trust will never develop. A gracious

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acceptance of their apology without articulating the deep hurt will leave many unanswered questions and will not build bridges of communication. For the wound to heal, Yosef must rip off the band-aid.

It may be painful, but this is the only way the wounds can begin to heal. The scene ends with Yosef “speaking to their hearts” (Vayidaber al libam) as the lines of communication have been restored. Trust can now be rebuilt and the relationship rehabilitated.

Life is complex and places us into complicated interpersonal situations.

Graciousness demands that we exhibit mercy, humility and generosity of spirit toward those who insult or harm us. However, sometimes, along with our graciousness, we do better by also sharing our honesty and our authentic feelings, rather than concealing our hurt with cordiality and geniality.

The writer is a rabbi at Yeshivat Har Etzion/Gush, a hesder yeshiva. He has smicha and a BA in computer science from Yeshiva University as well as a masters degree in English literature from the City University of New York.

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Weekly Dvar Torah F R O M E R E TZ Y I S R A E L

Bones and Brotherhood

BY RABBANIT SHANI TARAGIN Throughout Sefer Bereishit, the recurring phrase of “[Ve’]Eleh Toldot” has appeared eleven times, depicting the development from universal to particular selection of those that will call out in the name of G-d and merit divine covenant. In every generation since Noach, the “toldot” introduce the child(ren) rejected, followed by those selected to perpetuate the promises of Land and nation. Even the stories of Yaakov began with “These are the toldot (generations) of Ya’akov, Yosef,” implying selection of one child as primary progeny, which led to resentment, jealousy, and suggested fratricide.

After twenty-two years of separation, Yosef and his brothers are reunited, and Ya’akov descends to Egypt with his entire family.

He is assured by G-d that his children will become a great nation and the motif and cycle of “toldot” selection finally ends with the words “Ve’Eleh Shemot” – “And these are the names of the children of Israel, who came

into Egypt, Ya’akov and his sons” (Bereishit 46:8) as they are all selected to continue the legacy of their patriarchs. This is underscored at the beginning of Sefer “Shemot” wherein we learn once more of the selection of all the children of Ya’akov/Yisrael as the forebearers of the nation of Israel.

It is therefore surprising that Sefer Bereishit does not end after the genealogical list of Ya’akov’s descendants in chapter 46 – a perfect segue to the beginning of Sefer Shemot! The four ensuing chapters seem somewhat superfluous after the series of selections has finally closed. Yet, upon further examination of these chapters, we notice that there is still a schism between Yosef and his brothers. Yosef is the viceroy in charge of Egypt’s economy and the survival of his brothers. Parashat Vayechi opens with Ya’akov requesting an oath from Yosef to supervise his burial in Me’arat Hamachpelah, albeit it will be commanded to all his sons one chapter later! Similarly, Ya’akov blesses Yosef through his children and grants him

Vayechi

double tribes and territory as his firstborn to Rachel, followed by including him again in the blessings accorded to each of his sons.

Lastly, the Torah records a double burial ceremony for Ya’akov Avinu – one conducted by Yosef and the Egyptian court, followed by the personal burial performed by the brothers.

This schism between Yosef and his brothers is most evident in one of the final scenes of the sefer. After Yaakov dies the brothers approach Yosef with fear that he will now seek revenge for their cruel behavior towards him years earlier. Although the pattern of selection may have ended from a Divine perspective, the sefer cannot conclude while there is still a rift between the children of Ya’akov.

Yosef will bring an end to this family feud.

He assures his brothers that there is no need to fear because his position of power has been divinely supervised to insure the survival of his brothers and their families during the years of famine and thereafter. He may be in charge now, but he turns to them

with a request for the future – “I will die, but G-d will surely remember you, and bring you up out of this land unto the land which He swore to Avraham, to Yitzchak, and to Ya’akov” (50:24). Yosef knows that his brothers are more connected to the land as he was exiled at a young age. He therefore requests an oath from them to assure burial of his bones in the land of his forefathers. The mutual dependency of Yosef and his brothers one on the other for the present and the future creates the brotherhood and unity necessary for the true birth of the nation of Israel.

Today as well we sense the symbiotic relationship expressed in last week’s haftara by the prophet of exile, Yechezkel (ch.37).

Tribes are dispersed, and our nation may be divided between Tzion and the Diaspora, but the dependency of one community on the other assures ultimate return to the Land as a united nation – wherein Yosef and Yehudah, “Yosef and his brothers” may finally become forged as one “Bnei Yisrael”.

Rabbanit Shani Taragin is educational director of World Mizrachi and teaches at Matan and other educational institutions in Israel. She is a member of Mizrachi’s Speakers Bureau (www.mizrachi.org/speakers).

“Gather yourselves and listen, O sons of Yaakov, and listen to Israel your father” (Bereishit 49:2)

Sidra Summary left hand on Menashe’s head. He blesses them with his hands in this position.

3RD ALIYA (SHLISHI) – 48:17-22

Yosef tries to switch Yaakov’s hands back but Yaakov resists. He tells Yosef that Menashe will be great, but Ephraim will be greater still. Yaakov tells Yosef that G-d will eventually bring the people back to Cana’an.

1ST ALIYA (KOHEN) – BEREISHIT 47:28-48:9

Yaakov has been in Egypt for 17 years and is 147 years old. Knowing that he will soon die, he asks Yosef to take an oath to bury him in Cana’an (later Israel) in Me’arat Hamachpela (the Cave of the Patriarchs) where his forefathers are buried. Yosef promises. Yaakov becomes ill and Yosef visits him, together with sons Ephraim and Menashe. Yaakov tells Yosef that these two grandsons will be like the other tribes and will receive their own portion of the Land.

2ND ALIYA (LEVI) – 48:10-16

Yaakov’s sight is failing. Yosef places his younger son Ephraim to Yaakov’s left and his older son Menashe to Yaakov’s right.

However, Yaakov crosses his arms, putting his right hand on Ephraim’s head and his

4TH ALIYA (REVI’I) – 49:1-18

Yaakov gathers together his sons to deliver a final message to them. Following Rashi’s commentary: Reuven is criticised for behaving impulsively; Shimon and Levi are criticised for aggression; Yehuda is given a leadership role; Zevulun will be successful as a sea merchant; Yissachar will bear the ‘yoke’ of Torah learning and Dan will be as great as Yehuda.

Point to Consider: Why did Yaakov pray for G-d’s help whilst blessing Dan? (see Rashi to 49:18)

5TH ALIYA (CHAMISHI) – 49:19-27

The tribe of Gad’s battalions will fight wars successfully. Asher will receive a fertile portion of land and prosper, as will Naftali. Yaakov praises Yosef for overcoming his many challenges.

6TH ALIYA (SHISHI) – 49:28-50:20

Yaakov hints that King Shaul (Saul), Mordechai and Esther will descend from Binyamin. Yaakov reiterates his burial instructions to his children and then dies. Yosef falls on his dead father in tears. Yosef instructs doctors to embalm Yaakov. This process takes 40 days, followed by 30 days of the Egyptians mourning Yaakov’s death (Rashi).

Yosef asks for permission from Pharaoh to bury his father in Cana’an. Pharaoh grants permission and sends a large entourage to accompany Yosef and his relatives. The brothers observe seven days of mourning (shiva). Yaakov’s sons bury him in Me’arat Hamachpela. Yosef reassures his anxious brothers that he is still at peace with them.

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7TH ALIYA (SHEVI’I) – 50:21-26

Yosef commits to providing food for his brothers and their families. He makes them take an oath to take his bones out of Egypt when the nation eventually leaves.

Yosef dies, aged 110.

Yosef is embalmed and placed in a coffin. This concludes the Book of Bereishit.

HAFTARAH

King David, about to die, entreats his son and successor Shlomo (Solomon) to stay faithful to the ways of the Torah.

David’s final request is for Shlomo to make sure to punish Yoav and Shimi Ben Gera for their rebellious behaviour.

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Vayechi: Why sing Hamalach?

BY GAVRIEL COHN Why do parents sing “Hamalach” to their children? What is this prayer about an angel anyway?

The beginning of this week’s sedra is famous yet also puzzling. Yaakov is old, an aging grandfather.

He has a whole clan of children and a divine mission for them to fulfil, to settle the Land of Israel. He should be focusing on their future, the future of his progeny. Yet instead he summons Yosef and makes him swear that he, Yaakov, “will be laid to rest with his forefathers.” Then only afterwards, “it came to pass that someone said to Yosef, ‘Behold, your father is ill.’ So, Yosef took his two sons with him, Menashe and Ephraim” and went to see Yaakov, who blessed them with the now famous refrain: “G-d, before Whom my fathers, Avraham and Yitzchak, walked, G-d Who sustained me as long as I am alive, until this day, may the angel who redeemed me from all harm bless the youths, and may they be called by my name and the name of my fathers, Avraham and Yitzchak, and may they multiply abundantly like fish, in the midst of the Land.”

Why does Yaakov first arrange that he be buried with his forefathers, and only later think to bless his grandchildren for their future? Surely, Yaakov should want to bless his grandchildren first, and only

Vayechi RABBI DR RAYMOND APPLE

TO LIFE! LECHAYYIM!

The sidra is called Vayyechi, “And he lived”. It describes the final stage of Jacob’s life when he lived in Egypt.

One could say that only now, as an old man with his struggles behind him, did Jacob really live. But there is more to it than that.

Some Hebrew words never come in the singular. One of them is Chayyim – “Life”, which ends with the plural im. Life is a plurality of moments, experiences, failures and successes.

No two people live precisely the same life. No two people live as carbon copies of one another. There are many lives, as many as there are human beings. My life is a plurality; every life is.

So when the Torah says “And Jacob lived”, it is not just referring to one moment but to many.

DID JACOB CHANGE HIS MIND?

Jacob told his family to gather around his death bed and he would reveal to them “the end of days” (Gen. 49:1). But the Divine Presence prevented him from carrying out his plan.

We are curious to know why Jacob became unable to say what he had intended.

The rabbis say that the gift of prophecy

then take care of his burial plans? Yaakov should be focused on the future of the Jewish People. Even more troublingly, what’s all this about angels? Who is this “angel who redeemed” Yaakov “from all harm?” Why does Yaakov invoke an angel at all? Whilst, obviously, Yaakov was praying to G-d, isn’t it best to leave any mention of angels out of one’s prayer (admittedly though, this is a disputed issue in Jewish Thought)?

In truth, Yaakov was entirely focused on the future of his People, educating and encouraging his descendants, but he did so in a most Jewish way, through being immersed in his past.

Yosef’s sons, Ephraim and Menashe, had been raised in the royal courts of Egypt, surrounded by wealth and Egyptian culture, living in the present. Yaakov knew that if he wanted his grandchildren to care about their peculiar past and heritage and their land, then he had too as well.

Only by making his son promise that he be laid to rest with his grandfather and great-grandfather in Canaan, would he impress upon his son and his grandchildren to do the same: to look back to him, Yaakov, their zeide, and care about their Jewish roots and land; to ‘carry the names of their righteous ancestors’ and to fulfil G-d’s plan of settling Canaan, populating it “like fish.”

Yet what’s all this about angels?

Yaakov could only pass on what was a part of him, his own personal religious

experiences. Since his chaotic, hectic youth, Yaakov had encountered angels (for now, let’s leave aside exactly what angels are, be they prophetic insights and visions or physical, heavenly messengers,

was removed from him (Talmud Pesachim 56a). Does this mean that what departed from him was not so much the ability to prophesy as the knowledge of the future?

This is one of the ideas considered by the Lubavitcher Rebbe in his commentaries. Maybe there was some defect in Jacob that had disqualified him from clear thinking and futuristic knowledge.

A possibility is that it would not have been good for either the family or mankind – or even Jacob himself – to know precisely what the future would bring.

If “the end of days” would take a particular shape and form and arrive at a specified moment, we might think we no longer needed to work for it.

Rashi does not give an explanation.

Ibn Ezra seems to think that the idea of the firstborn underlies all the leadership roles which Jacob refers to. In Biblical culture and elsewhere in history, being the firstborn imports a special status in family and public life. It is not easy for the firstborn or for parents who are not yet experienced enough to know how to handle their first child.

REUBEN – BIRTHRIGHT, ROYALTY & PRIESTHOOD

The end of Sefer B’reshit sees Jacob pondering on and depicting each of his children.

In the Torah text, Reuben is called “my firstborn (bechori), my strength (kochi), the first of my power (s’eit)”.

The Targum Onkelos says that Jacob expected that Reuben would have been endowed with the birthright, the priesthood and royalty, but these privileges were lost because Reuben had not behaved properly.

Rashi thinks the priesthood is suggested by the word s’eit (literally “raising”) which alludes to raising one’s hands in the priestly blessing, and “strength” denotes royalty. What about the birthright?

Yaakov knew that if he wanted his grandchildren to care about their peculiar past and heritage and their land, then he had too as well. embodied and cast upon Earth). Angels were almost Yaakov’s interface with the Divine, so to speak, constituting a great part of his religious world and rescuing him from crisis: “And Yaakov dreamed, and behold, a ladder set up on the ground and its top reached to heaven; angels of G-d were ascending and descending upon it. G-d was standing over him, and He said, ‘I am the Lord, the G-d of Avraham your father, and

JUDAISM 31

the G-d of Yitzchak; the land upon which you are lying to you I will give it and to your seed… I am with you, and I will guard you wherever you go, and I will restore you to this land, for I will not forsake you until I have done what I have spoken concerning you.”

“Yaakov went on his way, and angels of G-d met him. Yaakov said when he saw them, ‘This is the camp of G-d,’ and he named the place Machanayim.”

“And Yaakov was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until the break of dawn… And Yaakov named the place Peniel, for he said, ‘I saw an angel face to face, and my soul was saved.’”

So, to make his young, far more Egyptian grandsons appreciate the heritage of their ancestors and the land they were to populate, Yaakov had to show interest in it, focusing on the past too and request to be buried there, with his forefathers.

Furthermore, Yaakov had to wish them something genuine, something that he himself had experienced. Thus, after kissing and hugging his grandchildren, he implored that they too be blessed by “the angel that saved him from harm” back when he was young. That is perhaps why Yaakov’s prayer, so personal and caught up in the past, full of action and example, is sung to one’s children at night. Chazak Chazak ve’Nitchazek!

Gav is an informal educator at Immanuel College, teaching Kodesh to Sixth Formers.

KINDLY & TRULY

Jacob asks his family to act with kindness and truth (chessed ve’emet) towards him and not bury him in Egypt. (Gen. 47:29).

The sages found the phrase chessed ve’emet very stimulating. The two words appear together so often that they must have an inbuilt link.

Chessed does not always go with emet; if you act with chessed you sometimes contradict emet – and vice versa.

Since chessed comes first we have to presume it is the primary word and the secondary word qualifies it. Hence the Torah puts into Jacob’s mouth the request that the family act towards him with true kindness. True kindness is completely unselfish.

Often one does a kindly deed because – as the Pir’kei Avot tell us (4:2) – mitzvah goreret mitzvah, one good deed brings another in its train. If I do you a favour, you are likely to reciprocate and do me a favour in return.

True kindness is where I do the good deed with no chance of reward.

The best example is acting kindly

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towards the dead, since they cannot return the favour.

Jacob is asking for that kind of chessed since he is on his death-bed and will soon be unable to do anything for anyone else.

A Jewish burial society is sometimes called Chevra Chessed Shel Emet, “A society dedicated to true kindness”.

Rabbi Raymond Apple was for many years Australia’s highest profile rabbi and the leading spokesman on Judaism. After serving congregations in London, Rabbi Apple was chief minister of the Great Synagogue, Sydney, for 32 years. He also held many public roles, particularly in the fields of chaplaincy, interfaith dialogue and Freemasonry, and is the recipient of several national and civic honours.

Now retired, he lives in Jerusalem and blogs at http://www.oztorah.com

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Positive surroundings and Faith in Hashem

BY RABBI SHMUEL REICHMAN Fear immobilizes us, paralyzes us, and stops of us from achieving our greatness.

Yet, on the other side of every fear is the person we want to become. For the past few weeks, I’ve been forced to overcome many of the fears that come with being a new parent, such as endless diaper changes, sleepless nights and worry if I’m taking proper care of our little angel.

The ideas in this article came to life and helped me turn the challenges of parenthood into beautiful moments of growth, so I’m really looking forward to sharing them with you.

In our previous Self-Mastery article, we continued developing strategies for overcoming our inner fears so that we can fully unlock our potential and achieve the extraordinary. In this article, we will finish this topic and explore two of the most important strategies for overcoming fear.

Our inner voice, the voice inside our head, is a powerful part of our inner identity and self. It is also one of the most malleable aspects of ourselves. When we look in the mirror, what do we see? Do we see greatness? When we’re alone, how do we talk to ourselves? Do we have a positive, inspiring, and motivating self-talk, or do we criticize and put ourselves down?

So much of our identity and inner world is influenced by our surroundings. While we each have the ability to determine our inner world, mold and craft our identity, and shape our inner experience, we are also susceptible to the impact of the people in our lives. Our friends, colleagues, and family can shape the way we relate and speak to ourselves.

Just as negativity from the people surrounding us can lead us to believe we are incapable, causing us to give up on our dreams, so too, positivity from the people around us can inspire us to strive for our greatness. Surrounding ourselves with friends, family members, and teachers who help feed us positivity, encouragement, and optimism can help us overcome our fears, doubts, and negative self-perceptions. We need to find

like-minded people, those who share or at least understand our passion, our values, and our goals.

Of course, the people who understand and support us may sometimes point out where we are falling short and where we can improve, but constructive feedback is critical to our growth and this type of help should be embraced as well. Having supportive people around you does not mean that they always tell you you’re perfect, but that they want to raise you to your highest level and inspire you to be your best.

This is also the power and importance of reading and listening to positive, inspiring, and empowering messages every single day. Just like your body needs healthy food for nutrition, your inner self needs healthy and positive messaging for nutrition, to keep it fueled. This is also one of the most important roles of a life-coach.

When I work one-on-one with clients as a high-performance coach or life coach, in addition to helping them create concrete plans for achieving their goals and holding

creating a mental cage that holds us back from our greatness. A young boy once went to the circus and was astonished when he saw a giant elephant tethered to the ground by a thin rope. Curious, he walked over to the elephant trainer and asked: “How are you holding down such a huge elephant with such a tiny rope? The rope doesn’t look very strong. This elephant could break down a brick wall, why doesn’t he break free of this tiny rope?” The trainer smiled and explained: “When this elephant was a baby, weighing just 250 pounds, we tied it up with this same rope. Every day he tried to break free, but he couldn’t manage to do it. He tried and tried, but to no avail. After a few months, he finally gave up, convinced that it was impossible to escape. Now, he weighs two thousand pounds, and is strong enough to easily break free of these ropes.

However, in his mind, he is still chained by an unbreakable rope, so he doesn’t even try to escape.”

What happens when the elephant discovers that the rope isn’t strong enough

them accountable, I make sure to motivate and inspire them. The key is to ensure that they stay passionate and excited about their growth and have the confidence and positive attitude to strive after achieving their goals.

to hold him down? A fire once broke out in the circus, and during the ensuing chaos, the circus tent collapsed. When the dust settled, the trainers began searching for the elephant. To their amazement, they couldn’t find the elephant anywhere.

Finally, a few hours later, they found him wandering in the nearby forest. During the fire, the elephant had been overcome with fear and adrenaline; in his panic, he easily broke free of his ropes. When they tied him down again, the elephant escaped just moments later. They tried again, but the elephant broke loose once more. It was clear that once the elephant realized that the ropes couldn’t hold him, he wouldn’t be held back by these “chains” any longer.

While at one point he thought these ropes controlled him, he now realized that the only one holding him back was himself!

The trainers had no choice; they had to get a new elephant for the circus.

Does this idea ring true for you? How often do we create mental cages of our own? How often do we allow other people’s opinions of us to become our reality, to define what we can or cannot do? Sometimes it’s a friend’s or loved one’s voice that rings in our head. But worst of all, it’s usually our own inner voice that is the cause of our self-doubt. We convince ourselves that “we can’t”; we’re not smart enough, good-looking enough, or funny enough. We’re too

How often do we allow other people’s opinions of us to become our reality, to define what we can or cannot do?

7- FAITH IN HASHEM

The greatest source of confidence for confronting our fears is the understanding that we are connected to something infinitely beyond ourselves, the Source of everything: Hashem. The underlying nature of conquering fear is the journey of walking into the unknown, the willingness to live by faith, not only by certainty. While we can develop a level of certainty through mastery, at the end of the day, true greatness requires relying on Hashem as we embark on the vulnerable journey outside of our comfort zone, into the unknown. When we don’t have faith in Hashem, we remain shackled by fear, unwilling to step outside of our comfort zone, into the unknown. When we understand that the challenges we face in life are sent to us by Hashem in order to help us actualize our potential, and that Hashem never gives us a challenge that we can’t overcome, we will have the confidence to confront our fears and journey towards our greatness.

Often, we impose limits on ourselves,

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16 DECEMBER 2021

old or too young, too short or too tall. But here’s the secret: we are the only ones who hold the key to our mental cages, because we created the lock. Opening the lock is simple, it requires only that we make a new decision; that we change our identity; that we believe it is possible. History is being read, but it’s also being written by people with courage and imagination. We need to imagine a greater future, a greater version of ourselves. We need to close our eyes and picture an ideal future, then open our eyes and make that our reality. There truly are no limits; when we are in touch with our best and highest selves, and connected to Hashem, the Source of all self, anything is possible. When we live on a higher plane, believing that Hashem is guiding us at every stage of our journey, we’ll be able to find the confidence, drive, and passion to strive for greatness.

CONCLUSION

It’s time to stand up, gather our inner strength, and put an end to the reign of fear. First, spend some time writing down all of your fears; acknowledge everything that is holding you back. Once you’ve finished making this list, write down exactly how you are going to overcome each of these fears. Go through the various approaches we developed, and choose at least one approach for each of your fears.

And remember, most fears are not real; they exist only in your mind. Just as the power of fear resides within you, so does the power to overcome it. And with the help of Hashem, we can not only overcome our fears, but also recognize that in the process of overcoming our fears, we find our true greatness.

If you enjoyed this article and want more, then visit my website (ShmuelReichman.com) and learn more about Self-Mastery Academy, my online course.

Join our vibrant community of 100’s of people striving to become their greatest selves.

Rabbi Shmuel Reichman is an author, educator, speaker, and coach who has lectured internationally on topics of Torah thought, Jewish medical ethics, psychology, and leadership. He is the founder and CEO of Self-Mastery Academy, the transformative online self-development course based on the principles of high-performance psychology and Torah.

After obtaining his Bachelors degree from Yeshiva University, he received Semikha from RIETS, a Masters degree in Jewish Education from Azrieli, and a Masters degree in Jewish Thought from Revel. He then spent a year studying at Harvard as an Ivy Plus Exchange Scholar. He is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Chicago.

To find more inspirational content from Rabbi Reichman, to contact him, or to learn more about Self-Mastery Academy, visit his website: ShmuelReichman.com

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A father’s blessing - Vayechi

BY RABBI YITZCHOK KATZ

It is customary to bless our sons every Friday night with the blessing that they should grow up to be like Efraim and Menashe. This is a tradition set by our none other than our forefather Yaakov, as related in this week’s sedra.

What is perplexing about this, is why would Yaakov Avinu fix the blessing with Efraim and Menashe who were his grandchildren, surly a blessing to be like one of his own children is more fitting?

There is a well-known story about a prominent Rabbi who was being accompanied by his grandson on a plane ride.

The grandson spent the entire flight fussing over his beloved grandfather, asking if he needed anything or if there is anything he could do to enhance his comfort.

Observing all this was a non-Jewish individual who was simply dumbfounded at this sight, to him something extraordinary. After a while, the gentile plucked up the courage and asked the Rabbi, “How is it that your grandson is caring for you with the greatest of honour, my grandchildren are barley interested in me?”

To this the Rabbi answered wisely, “You see my friend, in our religion we believe that the Torah was given to our ancestors at mount Sinai, which means I am closer to this auspicious time in our history than my grandson is, hence his respect for those his senior. You however, believe that man evolved from apes that make you closer to them than your grandson is!”

It is inevitable that as the generations go on they fall to lower levels than that of previous generations. Efraim and Menashe however were an exception. Although they were in fact grandsons of Yaakov Avinu, they retained the level of the older generation despite being raised in the immoral land of Mitzraim. Yaakov Avinu himself declares this by saying that to him they are just like Reuven and Shimon his own sons.

This explains beautify why we bless our sons to become like Efraim and Menashe.

Every father wants the best for his children, and what better blessing is there than that one’s children retain the level of the generation of their parents – just like Efraim and Menashe.

It is inevitable that as the generations go on they fall to lower levels than that of previous generations. Efraim and Menashe however were an exception.

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Another fascinating aspect the episode of these blessings is that Yaakov Avinu crossed his arms, thereby placing his stronger right arm on Efraim who was younger, and his weaker left on Menashe the firstborn. When their father Yosef tries to intervene and correct his father, Yaakov responds that he intentionally made the switch. He explains that although Menashe will prosper, the younger Efraim will become greater.

This reveals a truly amazing concept.

Blessings help to bring out the potential of a person, not to recreate them anew. If Efraim has the potential to become greater than his brother, not even a blessing from Yaakov Avinu can change that.

Incredibly, Menashe hears all this and remains quiet and contempt with the fact that greatness is being described of his younger brother; he understands that the best a person can be is the best version of oneself – no one else.

This too is the intent of our blessing; that our children grow up to be the best version of their personal potential – just like Efraim and Menashe.

Rabbi Yitzchok Katz was raised in London, now lives in Leeds and is a member of The Leeds Kollel. He is involved in many projects that are having a positive impact on the Jewish community.

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Vayechi Vayechi Word Search Two great Brachos are given by Yaakov as he nears his time to leave this world.

These are so special that they accompany us to this day. The first is Yesimcha Elokim, where Yaakov tells his dear grandsons that every parent will wish their child to be like Ephraim and Menashe.

The second is Hamalach HaGoel, where he blesses them to carry the name of his and his father and grandfather, to remember the special people they come from and to in turn have children who multiply like fish.

Yaakov then gathers his children round and wants to reveal to them the date for Moshiach’s arrival, but that knowledge is suddenly taken away from him.

He then tell each one of them which areas they need to improve on. One is too hasty, two of the others too quick to anger. He compares the might of Yehuda to a lion, the swiftness of Naftali to a

deer. Yissocher, who represents those who work hard in acquiring Torah, is compared to an animal carrying a great load – but by choice. And so on and so forth.

Yaakov then passes away at 147.

Everyone in Egypt – his family and the general people alike are saddened.

Yosef brothers then beg his forgiveness for how they treated him. He tells them they need not worry as Hashem has been behind the whole story and look what goodness came from it.

Yosef dies at 110, but only after asking that he should eventually be buried in Eretz Yisrael, which will happen when the Jews arrive there after forty years in the desert.

This week is extra special as it is the week we all say “Chazak Chazak Venischazek” on finishing the first book of the Torah Bereishis, YAY!

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BLESSING • BONES • CANAAN • EGYPT • EPHRAIM • MENASHE • YAAKOV • YOSEF

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haim was sitting at lunch with his friends.

“You are going to beat them, no problem!” exclaimed Chezky, who was sitting opposite Chaim, slurping his orange juice. “You have Tzvi, and you know what a whizz he is at memorising Mishnayos.”

“That’s very true,” nodded Ari. “Without him though, I doubt we would be able to.”

Chaim got up, slinging his bag over his shoulder. “Well then let’s hope he gets better before Monday. My Ima told me that his Ima said he has the flu.”

It was Friday, school finished early and Shabbos arrived soon after.

That night in shul Chaim met his friend Elazar.

“I heard,” said Elazar, “that Tzvi is really not well. There is no way he is going to be able to do the inter-school quiz on Monday.”

“Oh no,” said Chaim. “We can’t do it without him!”

That night Chaim tossed and turned.

How were they going to win without Tzvi’s help?

Shabbos morning arrived and Abba and Chaim went to shul. It was Vayechi, the end of Sefer Bereishis and Shabbos Chazak. At the end of the leining everyone cried out “Chazak, Chazak V’Nischazeik”. Chaim felt like Hashem was giving him a message, not to give up and to be strong. Maybe he and his friends could learn the mishnayos they had been

Chazak Chazak

relying on Tzvi to learn for them.

Motzei shabbos, Chaim got on the phone and called all his quiz teammates to ask them to come over straight after Cheder on Sunday morning.

Ima served Chaim and his friends a delicious lunch of homemade pizza and chips, and then the boys went off to Chaim’s bedroom to discuss the quiz.

“We are never going to do it.” said Elazar mournfully. “Tzvi was the one who knew all the mishnayos.”

Chaim looked around at his friends.

“We each have our own strengths, like Yaakov’s sons each had their own strengths. Elazar, you are good at Chumash, I am good at Nach and Ari is good

at Halacha.

Yes, ideally Tzvi would be answering the mishnayos questions in the quiz, but he is ill.

That doesn’t mean we should give up!

In fact, this is an opportunity to improve our mishnayos knowledge.”

“You’re right!” exclaimed Ari. “We can do this!”

The boys studied hard for the rest of the day. They all went to bed that night feeling nervous for the quiz, but proud of all the learning they had done.

Monday morning flew by for Chaim and suddenly it was 2:00pm. The guest team from Kol Yaakov had arrived at Beis Moshe and it was time for the quiz to start.

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Elazar, Ari and Chaim nervously took their places. Questions came at both teams thick and fast. Sometimes Kol Yaakov’s team were ahead and sometimes Beis Moshe’s team were. It was going to be a close finish.

“Last question” said Rabbi Epstein, organiser of the quiz. “The points are currently tied at 25 for both teams, so whoever answers this correctly is the winner.”

The boys on both teams quivered nervously.

“In mishnayos Succos, the mishna talks about whether a succah is valid if it is on top of a camel or on the deck of a ship. Are these two types of succah valid and are there any issues with using them on Succos?”

Chaim, Ari and Elazar looked at each other.

“I think they are both valid,” whispered Elazar.

“But there must be something about using them on Succos that the Rav is referring to.” replied Chaim worriedly.

Ari perked up and raised his hand.

“They are both valid types of Succah, but you can use the boat on Yom Tov and Chol Hamoed, but the camel succah only on Chol Hamoed.”

“Well done!” said Rabbi Epstein. “The winners are team Beis Moshe!”

Everyone in the audience started cheering and clapping. Chaim’s team had strengthened themselves in learning and had won the quiz.

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Vayechi

In a nutshell Our beloved grandfather Yaakov is finally able to enjoy a certain level of tranquillity as he spends his final years surrounded by his children and their families. Summoning his son, the secondin-command in Egypt, Yosef, as Yaakov nears his end, he gives his two boys, Ephraim and Menashe the classic Bracha that is given to this day by father to child – May you be like Ephraim and Menashe. Although Menashe is the elder of the two brothers, he places his right hand on Ephraim as his descendants were to be greater (among other reasons). The blessing we receive is to remind us to be like these two great boys who – although raised far from the spiritual enclave of their grandfather and surrounded by Egyptian culture and influence - remained insulated and pure and there is a lot we can do to copy this in today’s society, which often clashes with Torah

values. He then exclaims, “Hamalach...” - “May the angel who protected me from all evil bless the children so that my name and that of Avraham and Yitzchok (and influence) shall be called upon them and they may be multiply like fish.” These beautiful and highly emotive words accompany us to sleep each night.

Yaakov then gathers his children and guides them how to and how not to use their tendencies.

He also prophesises what will be the destiny of the descendants of each tribe, for example, the great leader Shimshon who would descend from Dan and the kings who would descend from Yehuda. He compares some of the tribes to brave animals, be it Binyomin to a wolf, Naftali to a swift deer.

After Yaakov dies, he is buried amidst great honour due to him. He is mourned for seventy

Word Wheel The goal of a word wheel puzzle is to create as many words possible with the letters in the word wheel.

Each word must contain at least three letters. You can only use each letter once and every word must have the letter in the centre of the wheel.

days. The brothers beg Yosef for forgiveness for how they treated him. (It is not actually clear if he did forgive them; most commentaries maintain that he did), but he did tell them, ”YOU did not send me here – Hashem did in order to sustain people through the famine.” A great lesson at reframing and acknowledging that although people choose how to behave, Hashem has a Hand in history and guides our destiny.

Finally, Yosef dies at age 110 and requests his brothers to ensure that his body be removed from Egypt when Hashem redeems them. Indeed, later in Parshat Beshalach we are taught the Moshe Rabbeinu exhumes Yosef’s body and eventually he is buried in Shechem, to where people flock today still.

And, in concluding Sefer Bereishis, the entire shul rise and say “Chazak Chazak Venischazek”!

Use this area to write the words you have found.

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Last week’s words: Here are some words you may have found from last week - you may have found more! arm dam elm lam mad

mar ram rem dame dram

lama lame made male mama

mare marl mead meal meld

ream alarm armed drama dream

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lamed lamer lemma madam medal

realm armada dermal lammed marled

rammed alarmed marmalade

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Wagner hits six in thumping Sixteen-goal Lions HMH win over Maccabi rout Scrabble in Cup

BY DAVID SAFFER

HMH reduced the gap at the top of the Premier Division with a devasting display of attacking football against Maccabi London FC DAVID at Rowley Lane.

BY SAFFER Sharpshooter Oscar Wager netted six goals Mogilner in a 9-2 win.

Manager AviasGoldberg Reiss scored six goals Maccabi describedLions the win as a “consummate London thumped Scrabble A infootthe balling performance” . second round of the Cyril Anekstein Cup. Adam Abadi,League who opened the scoring inTh e Premier side racked up a 16-0 side with threeDaniel minutes fromand a Rob BensonKenley cross, win Green Michael struckbagging two goals and George both a hat-trick.

Ed Goldberg Brafman,also Dahit the target.

And if it was not for completMaccabi vid Dinkin, and Adam Hassanali keeper Daniel who ed the rout in aLipman, mismatch of made a tie. a host of saves, including three-point blank stops in Lions could have scored in the opening the first half as his team trailed then the minute of the clash but soon3-2. opened the final tally could havebybeen scoring and led 9-0 half higher. time.

HMH trail league Th e Division Oneleaders team,Hendon thoughUnitouted Sports, who were classed, battled awayintocup the action, end. by eight points defending Lionswith boss was lost champions for words atOakwood full time a point back. such was the display from his team who Theevery O’s eased to ato 5-1the home victory against gave respect opposition. mid table Club de Chigwell with goals from “I’m not really sure there’s anything to Louie Johnto Levy, Maxim Greentoand say, weFisher, are happy make it through the two own goals. next round of the cup,” he commented.

David Garbacz’ Hendon are still faHendon United Sports ran out 3-1firm victors vouritesLeague with an eight out oft nine win against One outfi Northgame London record but should they slip up HMH and Raiders.

Oakwood have proved can a title The Premier side ledthey early inmake the second race only of this half forseason.

Raiders to equalise but struck In late Division Mill Hill Dons two goalsOne, to book a place inrouted round struggling Hat Pirates 8-1 to challenge three of theStraw competition. forHendon third spot. now turn their attentions to the Temple A jumped into sixth league as Fortune they travel to Oakwood Aplace for a by defeating bottom club Scrabble crucial top of the table clash on 3-0.

Sunday Meantime, there was a shock in Division (10am).

Two withKristall’s mid-table Hapoel Hampstead Daniel team stunned the league stunninglast runaway Geez2-0, Parka leaders monthleague whenleaders they won Rangerswould with amove 6-2 victory. victory them to within a point pounced on the win of London Hendon Athletico with a match in hand. with a hard in fought 2-1 triumph lowly Elsewhere the latest round ofat fixtures, Redbridge Jewish Care White.

Athletico 10-man North London Galaxy made are it a now only four Rangers having three-way titlepoints race inbehind the only Division One playedofathe game RealOakwood Madreidel, clash daymore, after whilst defeating B. who edged a tough game CamJamie Murray sawaway red early on1-0 butatGalaxy den City, aregoals six points having and played rallied with from back Josh Cohen Jathe same as the cob Leigh number to recordofangames important 2-1previaway ously unbeaten Rangers who had won all win. nine league matches until Jewish comingCare unstuck Galaxy head Redbridge A in against the tableHampstead. by just one point after 10 matches, Rangers’ has ave fresh twistbeto third placedefeat Fairlop FCgiven are fi points the title race. hind with two games in hand.

In other games, Chillers won an Rafi Bloom scoredBoca for Oakwood. eight-goal 5-3 against Temple in For-a “It was thriller a fantastic performance tune B.

16-goal Maccabi London Lions

PHOTO: DAVID SAFFER

must-win game,” commented Galaxy playHMH open theLuke scoring against Maccabi er-manager Lewis.

“We sat back and allowed Oakwood the ball, given the one-man advantage and looked to hit them on the counter attack with pace.

“Both goals came down the right-hand side. Leigh crossed the first one into Cohen to finish, before slotting home himself. Up to first we go.”

The Division Two title race also took a twist with league leaders Herstwood Vale going down to a 2-1 defeat at Temple Fortune.

Faithfold B have played a game more Oscar Vale Wagner the score to HMH than butmake moved level3-1 with a 5-3 win at North London Raiders Masters.

MikeyKalms Elia, James Justin MulJacob struckBelchak twice for2,Fortune who lem andthrough Jack Davis scored for the victors. scored leading scorer James MilGreg Ilsen, Bengoal Binder and Simon Cohen letwith his 17th of the season. hitTh the Fortune goals. e result was all the more remarkable Park Calcio Qarabagel asMillbrook Temple were down defeated to 11 players with 5-2 andBen Oakwood comfortably beat ‘keeper RebuckTown dislocating a shoulder Brady FC 4-1.up. in the warm Away action, win Cyril Anekstein “Th is from was league a fantastic given the Cup holders Hendon ran out 4-0 winners

PHOTO: DAVID SAFFER

“It was a proper old school performance, we battled and defended for the 90 minutes and took our chances. Experience proved to be the winner.” circumstances,” said delighted Fortune boss Simon Linden.

“We had a number of players out, Rebuck got injured, so I couldn’t have asked DAVID SAFFER any more from the players. WePHOTO: wish Ben a speedy recovery. against Farmold Rovers in the round one “It wasBrook a proper school performance, of the competition. we battled and defended for the 90 minutes Simon Chaim Korman, Dovi and took Peterman, our chances.

Experience proved Fehler and Shneur scored the to be the winner.

It’sLevine a big win, one for we will victors. enjoy and we hope to build on it in 2019.”

“Weadded, created“Th lots chances Rovers He is of win marksbut 50 on years as a defended well and wasn’t easy Kyte to break football club and willitbe one Nigel and them down, ” said Hendon’s everyone associated with theDavid club Garbacz. from day “We’re glad to be safely through, we have no

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one will enjoy.”

Vale boss Jacob Emanuel was quick to wish Rebuck well following his injury.

“First and most importantly, everyone at PHOTO: DAVID SAFFER Maccabi clearlike an HMH attack Vale would to wish the Fortune ‘keeper a quick recovery, we hope to see him back intention of handing Cupasback anytime on the football pitch asthe soon possible, ” he soon.” said.

Faithfold edged a seven-goal fiesta As for theWhite defeat, Emanuel commented, 4-3doesn’t against Hampstead “It matter howDucks. big a squad you Stoke and account London for Bears both have, youSalmon can never unavailadvanced into the second the ability or injury.

Only five ofround today’softeam competition London anda played in our with recentFCwin over FCBees Team, Redbridge Jewish Care lack of togetherness andPurple poor defaulting individual the cup fixture.

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