The Jewish Weekly Issue 261 - December 15th

Sunak backs Israel security

BY DAVID SAFFER

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak vowed to “fight hard” for the security of the Jewish state at Conservative Friends of Israel’s annual lunch in central London this week.

To rousing applause in his keynote speech the PM confirmed the UK will vote against an impending Palestinian motion at the UN General Assembly regarding the International Court of Justice offering an opinion on Israel’s West Bank operations.

“The UK will join our closest allies in voting against this divisive action,” he said.

The UK was among 52 to abstain last month, 17 countries opposed the motion, 98 backed it.

Sunak also made it clear in a wide ranging address he will op pose actions to derail the Middle East peace process and two-state solution.

Former Prime Ministers Boris

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaking at the CFI lunch

BY ADAM MOSES

Prime Minister-elect Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to balance religious and secular interests in a coalition government.

Netanyahu is looking to extent his record tenure as Israel’s PM and has until December 21 to form a government. President Isaac Herzog agreed to a 10-day extension at the weekend.

Likud’s leader however has been heavily criticised by Prime Minister Yair Lapid, political rivals and anti-corruption groups about his coalition discussions with Charedi factions in recent days.

Netanyahu is in talks to try reach a compromise. And he has vowed to represent all Israelis. But concern surrounds his meetings aside from previously announced ministerial appointments of Itamar Ben-Gvir (Otzma Yehudit), Avi Maoz (Noam) and Bezalel Smotrich (Religious Zionist).

The Biden administration will wait to see government policies, not personalities, of Netanyahu’s coalition.

Mass media coverage this week followed Channel 12 revealing reported agreed demands from the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism Party led by Yitzhak Goldknopf.

Notable issues included stopping electricity production on a Sabbath, increasing gender-separated beaches proportionate to the ultra-Orthodox population, expanding

Bible and Talmud studies in secular schools, heads of hospitals being able to prohibit unleavened bread during Passover, shelving current government reforms to the ‘kosher phone’ market and a review of the Diaspora Affairs Ministry’s department responsible for Reform Judaism.

Netanyahu responded to reports. He reportedly said: “There is and will be electricity on Sabbath, there are and will be beaches for everyone. We will maintain the status quo, everybody will live according to their own beliefs.” He added that the state will not be governed according to Jewish law.

“There will be a state here that will take care of all the citizens of Israel without exception,” Netanyahu observed. “We were chosen to lead in our own way, the way of the national right and the way of the liberal right and we will do so.”

Notwithstanding Netanyahu’s comments, Lapid said: “The UTJ-Likud agreement is a disgraceful surrender agreement. If they think we’re going to pay taxes, go to the army, bankroll people who don’t work and then for them to tell us how to lead our lives, I have news for them, we won’t allow Israel to become a benighted country. Netanyahu is weak and is selling our freedom for his own freedom.”

Outgoing Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman told a party meeting that Netanyahu will “go down in history as the one who led Israel to the third Churban Beit Hamikdash”.

Lieberman also said Netanyahu was “sacrificing the State of Israel to extricate himself from his personal legal struggles” and was embarking on a security gamble.

Lieberman stated that he will not join Netanyahu in a coalition and hopes Gantz won’t either.

Goldknopf said in a statement UTJ and Likud were still formulating an agreement and claims that “everything” was finalised” did not refer to a publicised list of demands attributed to the Charedi parties.

Meantime, Likud MK Yariv Levin has been elected speaker of the Knesset. His candidacy received support from all 64 MKs in the right-wing bloc.

Following Levin’s election, the Knesset debated legislation to enable a new government to be sworn in. Issues discussed will benefit Ben-Gvir, Smotrich and Aryeh Deri.

Netanyahu faces proceedings for bribery, fraud and breach of trust. He denies all allegations.

In an ever-changing story the coming days are sure to bring more claims and counter reactions.

Central cantorial concert

dimension of happiness as this was the LJMC’s first public performance since the start of the pandemic in 2020.

This was also the first musical performance taking place in the synagogue’s renovated Wolfson Hall. One attendee commented: “A brilliant evening! Chazan Leas and the choir made our hearts sing!”

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

Chazan

Jewish State. That includes continuing to honour my predecessors’ principled commitment to ending the bias against Israel.”

Citing the recent double bomb blast in Jerusalem, Sunak said the UK stood beside Israel.

He explained: “Israel’s security challenges may be unenviable, but the Conservative Party will continue to stand resolutely beside the homeland of the Jewish people.”

Sunak vowed to deliver on the Party’s 2019 Manifesto commitment to legislate against the “pernicious BDS movement”. He also committed to securing an “ambitious” FTA with Israel within a year.

Regarding Iran, Sunak noted global challenges surrounding the Iranian regime.

“Iran looms larger than ever,” he warned. “The UK will not waver in our commitment to work with Israel and our allies to prevent Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon.”

Sunak said Israel was at the frontline of the threat from Iran’s IRGC enforcers.

He observed: “The National Cyber Security Centre has exposed IRGC-linked attacks on critical national infrastructure and the head of MI5 has spoken of at least 10 threats this year to kidnap or even kill UK-based individuals. The decision by my predecessors to proscribe the Hamas and Hezbollah terror groups were important actions. My Home Secretary and I are committed to utilising the full range of tools at our disposal to protect UK citizens from the threat of the IRGC and Iran.”

Communally, Sunak recognised how challenging antisemitism has been for the

UK’s Jewish community. “I am determined to ensure this scourge is eradicated,” he said.

Sunak thanked Lord Pickles for his work to combat antisemitism and stated his support for the Holocaust Memorial.

Regarding the Abraham Accords and recent Negev Summit, the PM said it showed

a “different future” was possible.

“A few short years ago this would have been considered unthinkable,” Sunak noted. “We must continue to leverage our strong ties with other Gulf states to expand the number of signatories and enhance the blossoming opportunities.”

He added: “The expansion of Arab-Israeli

peace in the region provides a valuable route to Israeli-Palestinian peace. This government will explore with our US allies joining the International Fund for Israeli-Palestinian Peace.”

Israel Ambassador Tzipi Hotovely praised CFI and said UK-Israel relations were stronger than ever.

Noting a proposed UK-Israel FTA, she said: “We continue to collaborate on security matters, sharing intelligence and working together to keep our peoples safe. “

Hotovely said there can be no place in a civilised society for the Iranian Revolution Guard who use fear, violence and terror to achieve hatred-driven aims.

She warned: “The IRGC seeks not to attack Israel because of the values that we represent but because of who we are. They are dangerous to Israel, they are dangerous to the UK and they are dangerous to the Iranian people.”

Hotovely added: “It is more important now than ever that we stand up to Iran and hold their actions, including those of the IRGC, to account,” Hotovely said. “Israel remains unwavering in that regard.”

Looking to the 75th anniversary in April, Hotovely commented: “We remain as determined as ever to stand up for our right to exist, to grow and to prosper.

“Israel is a beacon of democracy and diversity in the Middle East, and a hub for innovation, technology and skills. We have much of which to be proud.”

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, Lord Pickles, Lord Polak and CFI chair Hilda Worth gave an address. Israel President Isaac Herzog sent a video message.

Israel Ambassador Tzipi Hotovely with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak

The Jewish Weekly's David Saffer and Yossi Saunders with Boris Johnson

David Saffer and Yossi Saunders with the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine, Moshe Reuven Azman

PHOTO: SHAI DOLEV

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Lapid commends UN decision

BY ADAM MOSES

Prime Minister Yair Lapid has praised the UN Economic and Social Council’s decision to remove Iran from the Commission on the Status of Women

The US-led resolution passed 29 to eight with 16 abstentions.

In a historic vote this was the first time a country has been removed from the commission.

“Israel supported this resolution and commends ECOSOC’s decision to remove Iran from the Commission,” said Lapid. “Iran’s killing of Mahsa Amini and its blatant violations of women’s rights disqualify it from being a member of a committee that deals with women’s rights.”

He added: “Today’s vote is proof that the international community is beginning to understand more and more the dangerous nature of the Iranian regime, a regime which is endangering regional and global stability through spreading terror and is seeking to obtain a nuclear weapon, all while it oppresses its own people and denies them their basic rights.

“It’s time for the international community to send a clear message to this murderous regime.”

The US, Israel, Canada, Japan and a number of European nations backed Iran’s removal. China and Russia voted against.

India abstained.

Israel’s UN envoy Gilad Erdan spoke out against Iran’s nuclear aspirations.

“This regime’s destructive nature cannot be changed,” he said. “This is a regime that doesn’t care about its people, it only cares about its own survival.”

US envoy to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, presented the resolution at the Council’s headquarters in New York.

Noting Amini’s death and public executions, she said: “We know she (Amini) was

killed for the crime of being a woman and we know that for too long, for too often this was not such an unusual thing in Iran.

“When the people of Iran heard it, they said ‘enough was enough.’ Iranian women and men across the ethnicities and social classes stood up to protest. They have demanded their basic human rights.”

Women’s rights activists inspired the US resolution.

“The reason why is straightforward, the commission is the premiere UN body for

promoting gender equality and empowering women,” observed Thomas-Greenfield. “It cannot do its important work if it’s being undermined from within. Iran’s membership in this moment is an ugly stain on the commission’s credibility.”

UK Ambassador to the UN Barbara Woodward said the death of Amini was a “shocking reminder” of the repression facing women and girls in Iran.

She told the Council: “Since her death, the Iranian people’s message has been clear, they will no longer tolerate violence and oppression at the hands of their own government. The people of Iran demand that women and girls’ rights be respected.”

Woodward added in her statement to the UN: “In recent weeks, Iran has tightened its oppression of women and girls. Its actions are inconsistent with the objectives of the Commission and are incompatible with membership.

“The severity of Iran’s brutal and disproportionate state-sponsored use of force against protesters calling for “Woman, Life, Freedom” over the past several weeks have appalled the world. We cannot sit by and allow the violence that led to the arrest and death of Amini to continue with impunity.”

Woodward was appalled 350 people had died including over 60 children and 14,000 people had been arrested.

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All of us at Chai Cancer Care are deeply saddened to hear the news of the passing of our beloved President

We were privileged to have benefitted from his wise counsel, great experience and compassion which were pivotal to the organisation’s development.

He will always be remembered with tremendous gratitude and affection. Our thoughts and prayers are with Lita, Karen, Judith and all the family ךורב ורכיז יהי

May his memory be for a blessing The Trustees and everyone at Chai

Immanuel College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

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Yair Lapid

Barbara Woodward

PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA

PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA

BY ANNIE ABRAHAMS

A new gaming tournament in the spirit of the Abraham Accords will be held at the “Shlomo Group” Arena in Tel Aviv next year (January 26-28).

Esports ‘Peace Games’ is a digital video-gaming championship. National teams from the United States and Middle East countries including Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco will contest for leading Esports titles. Special guests and leading gamers will take part.

A prize fund of $82,000 will be distributed among the winners.

The event is expected to attract thousands of spectators from across the country who will be able to enjoy an open gaming festival alongside the tournament.

Participants visiting the tournament will take be able to enjoy site-seeing trips around Israel.

Esports is a growing global phenomenon that attracts an audience up to 400 million worldwide according to industry statistics.

An international industry value is expected to reach 1.8 billion USD by 2025.

Players will compete individually or as teams with competitions including high stake prizes and attracting mass sponsorship and global attention.

Organisers announced plans to include up to 10 countries in this inaugural event at a production cost of $1.5 million with the hope of expanding and growing the competition in future years.

Thomas R. Nides, US Ambassador to Israel is co-chair of the organising committee.

He said: “The Abraham Accords are critical to the region’s stability and prosperity. The Biden administration sees its job as taking the Accords from a start up to a real operation. And one of the most important mechanisms to accomplish that is building people-to-people connections. The more people understand one another the easier it is to resolve issues especially among young people.”

He added: “This Esports tournament is one of many joint cultural activities being

organised around the Accords connecting with the region’s youth to make sure the Accords are substantial.”

Philanthropist Sylvan Adams is also cochair games, she commented: “The Accords are a game changer for our region with our new diplomatic relations fostering business, education and scientific exchanges. But for this to endure, to weave the warm peace that we all seek in the region, we must have people to people exchanges-sporting, cultural and especially tourism with our neighbours.” Adams added: “Some of my projects like the Giro D’Italia and the Middle East Championships of IronMan have opened up these possibilities. Esports introduces a new cohort to Israel. We will welcome the gaming community and again witness the power of sports to bring people together in friendship in this new Middle East.”

Ido Brosh, Israeli Esports Association noted: “Israeli gamers have long enjoyed

playing online with all peoples, fellow gamers from all over the world including the Middle East. To be able to welcome them to Israel is a true honour and a sign of how we share so much more than divides us.”

He added: “I am so grateful to our partners for their dedication to launching this initiative, to building peace through Esports and bringing people together.”

Emmanuel Nahshon, Deputy Director General for Public Diplomacy of Foreign Affairs noted: “We have created a new regional reality of cooperation and friendship. At the Israeli Foreign Ministry, we are proud and happy to cooperate in this wonderful project, bringing together young people from our region and beyond.”

The Museum of Tolerance in Jerusalem, which promotes co-existence between Jews, Muslims and Christians within the framework of Accords countries is supporting the event.

Mossad agent capture revealed

BY DAVID SAFFER

Mossad has uncovered the truth behind the capture of Israeli spy Eli Cohen in Damascus, Syria in 1965.

His daring operations are remembered as among the most courageous in Israel’s intelligence history.

For decades it had been thought the Egyptian-born agent was careless how he went about sending intelligence messages. Mossad director David Barnea, however, has quashed this viewpoint by revealing Cohen’s last telegram during a dedication ceremony at the Eli Cohen Museum in Herzliya.

The document, dated 19 February 1965, shows details of a Syrian general staff meeting attended by Syrian President Amin Al-Hafez. He was captured soon after its transmission.

Barnea explained: “Eli was not caught because of the amount of broadcasts he did, or because of the pressure exerted on him from headquarters to broadcast with great urgency. Eli was captured because his transmissions were simply intercepted and triangulated by the enemy. This is now an intelligence fact.”

He added: "Eli was among our best agents. He continues to influence us and instil in us a fighting spirit, courage, values and devotion, even from the depths of history. He is a source of inspiration not

only to today's agents but to all Mossad employees in their various positions. We all learn from him, even today, from his Zionism, his sacrifice and his dedication.”

The original telegram will be deposited in the National Archive. A copy will be given to the museum.

Cohen was born in 1924 in Alexandria, to Syrian Jewish parents, and gained access to

the Syrian military and government officials, including al-Hafez in the early 1960s.

Using the alias Kamal Amin Thaabet, and being multi-lingual, Cohen passed classified military secrets to Israel between 196165. These included information about the Syrian defence in the Golan Heights.

Syrian counterintelligence identified a transmission resulting in his arrest and conviction in a military trial. Sentenced to death, Cohen was publicly hanged in Damascus, May 1965.

Cohen's capture has been controversial for years. The telegram though finally

proves Cohen sent the transmission as a free man, the day of his capture.

Mossad has stated its determination to reveal more intelligence about the period when Cohen served in Syria and bring his remains for burial in Israel.

Prime Minister-elect Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on national television in 2021 about efforts to find Cohen’s remains in Syria.

Reports emerged on an Arabic website of Russian troops searching a cemetery at al-Yarmouk refugee camp in Damascus. i24NEWS reported about an item thought to belong to Cohen being in Israel's possession. The item was reportedly transferred to Russia who passed it on to Israel.

Although it was believed Syria provided maps of the area to Russia, Netanyahu's office denied having belongings of Cohen but stopped short of confirming an alliance with Russia on a search.

Russian news agency RT released images of a man, thought to be Cohen, walking down Damascus streets in a documentary about Syria. The film was discovered in an antique shop in Saint Petersburg.

Producers said that Boris Lukin, a specialist in communications for the Soviets, took the footage.

Mossad are aware Lukin and Cohen were in Damascus at the same time.

The mystery surrounding Eli Cohen is set to continue.

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Eli Cohen

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PHOTOS: WIKIMEDIA

PHOTOS: WIKIMEDIA

Footballers unite against antisemitism

BY LILLY JOSEPH

Maccabi Haifa and Aris Thessaloniki footballers united against antisemitism earlier this month.

Players wore special t-shirts bearing ‘United Against Antisemitism’ ahead of a clash in Thessaloniki, Greece.

The game highlighted increased cooperation between the clubs from Israel and Greece.

The friendly match ended 2-2. Proceeds from the game, including the sale of shirts signed by the players, TV rights and ticket sales, were donated to the local Holocaust museum of Thessaloniki.

Maccabi players wore t-shirts displaying ‘Jewish Holocaust Museum: Thessaloniki’ during the match to demonstrate unity with the local Jewish community.

Before the game, players from both teams, World Jewish Congress leaders and local Jewish community members visited a Holocaust monument in the city where they laid wreaths.

Participants remembered 50,000

Thessaloniki Jews deported and murdered at Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp during the Holocaust.

WJC was represented by delegate from the United Nations in Geneva, Dr. Leon Saltiel.

A Holocaust historian, Saltiel was recently awarded Yad Vashem’s prestigious 2021 International Book Prize for Holocaust Research.

‘The Holocaust in Thessaloniki Reactions to the Anti-Jewish Persecution, 1942–1943’ was published by Routledge History in 2020.

David Saltiel, President of the Greek and Thessaloniki Jewish communities, also participated.

One of the Maccabi players, Rami Gershon, visited his grandfather’s grave at the Jewish cemetery in the city. He was one of the few Holocaust survivors from Thessaloniki.

Historians date Thessaloniki’s Jewish community to 1492. A fire in 1917 destroyed many Jewish buildings before the extermination of the Jewish community by Nazi Germany.

The Holocaust Memorial & Human Rights Educational Centre commemorates the Jewish community. It also recounts Thessaloniki’s cultural history and rejuvenation after World War II.

According to 2019 data there were 6,000 Jews in Greece mainly in Athens, Thessaloniki (or Salonika) and also Corfu among a number of cities. Few remain in Rhodes.

The Jewish community in Greece is represented by the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece affiliated to WJC.

Greece remains a popular holiday resort for Jews around the world including in Israel due to its historic connections dating back centuries.

Technion dinner raises £250K

The first Technion UK Gala Dinner in three years has rasied £250,000.

The Churchill Awards was back with a bang after a long hiatus. And over 300 people enjoyed a Tony Page catered event at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London on Sunday night.

Nobel laureate, Professor Dan Schechtman, who defied critics for his “offthe-wall theory” and the went on to claim the Nobel Prize for Chemistry, delivered the illuminating keynote speech.

Schechtman spoke about the importance of education and gave examples of his contribution to help the Technion become the powerhouse of Israel’s high-tech society having trained most of Israel’s engineers who helped build the country.

Baroness Ruth Deech, a British academic, lawyer, ethicist and politician received the prestigious Churchill Award and members of the Technion Chamber Orchestra provided entertainment, wowing the room with a violin medley of classical pieces.

Baroness Deech said: “I cannot tell you how delighted I was with the dinner and the award, more than I deserve! It is a great piece of art and I shall treasure it. The dinner was beautifully organised and conducted and it was a privilege to hear Dan Shechtman.”

CEO of Technion UK, Alan Aziz, said: “I’m delighted that after three long years we have been able to host another big gala

dinner with amazing speakers and guests.”

For the first time guests were invited to choose exactly where their donation went.

Options were the Program of Excellence for fast-tracked students, the Defence and Aerospace department, the Sustainability and Grand Technion Energy Program and research into Parkinson’s and other neo-generative diseases.

The Technion has earned a global reputation for its pioneering work in nanotechnology, life sciences, stem-cell technology, water management, sustainable energy, information technology, biotechnology, materials engineering and aerospace.

It is one of only five similar institutes worldwide that include a medical school, encouraging rapid progress in biotechnology, drug development, and stem-cell technology.

As Israel’s centre for high-tech education and research, the Technion is central to the nation’s economic progress. As the premier institute of its kind in the region, Technion breakthroughs can benefit all the nations of the Middle East. And as a world class research university, the Technion helps advance the frontiers of science and technology to benefit people around the world.

Mayors and municipal officials from around the world participated in a historical and futuristic tour of Jerusalem.

Mayor of Jerusalem, Moshe Leon, welcomed 52 mayors in the 80-strong delegation to the hi-tech initiative that included a tour of the Western Wall tunnels and insight into state-of-the-art construction projects in the city.

Delegates heard about proposed hi-tech and bio-tech developments at the Hebrew University-based HujiTech and Silicon Wadi in Wadi al-Joz.

Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Leon: “It is a special day for Jerusalem. We have shown them the massive development projects undergoing in our city. They got to see the beautiful combination of old and new, the preservation of history on the one hand and the expansion of cutting-edge technologies on the other. Our goal is to show them the construction of infrastructures now so they could come in the future for more than one day and the fruits of our efforts today.”

Mayors tour Western Wall Lithuania and CER community agreement

The Conference of European Rabbis has an agreement to provide religious services and maintain religious and historic landmarks for the Jewish community of Lithuania.

Representatives of Lithuania’s community, led by Faina Kukliansky, reached out to CER President, Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, to ensure religious sites including synagogues, mikvaot and cemeteries are protected.

Kukliansky wrote to Chief Rabbi Goldschmidt granting a key role in decision-making.

“I look forward to building this Jewish community for the future and ensuring that it can thrive,” said the Chief Rabbi.

The Lithuanian request for support was made prior to WJRO ratification of the new Goodwill Foundation established by the Lithuanian government to return stolen Holocaust property.

Faina Kukliansky

Gantz briefs Defence Attachés

BY ADAM MOSES

Israel’s Defence Minister Benny Gantz has called on military attachés from over 30 countries to act against Iran’s nuclear capability at a recent security briefing.

Gantz welcomed security cooperation from diplomats but also offered a stark warning into the Iranian nuclear threat.

“Iran is a global and regional challenge and also a threat to the State of Israel,” he said.

Noting an attack last month on a commercial ship using a Shahed 136 UAV launched from southern Iran in November, Gantz said: “This is the same area I discussed a year ago with your ambassadors, as a hotspot of terrorism. In fact, in the last five years, Iran has conducted at least 16 separate attacks on civilian international vessels in the Gulf and the Red Sea.”

He added, “Iran continues to build, expand and fortify its capabilities. Today should Iran decide to do so, it may reach SQ1 at 90% enriched Uranium in only two weeks.

“The international community must take action, strengthening alliances, increasing intelligence cooperation, projecting power and responding forcefully to Iranian attacks and aggression.”

Gantz addressed the Ukraine war and Palestinian conflict.

Speaking about ongoing hostilities in Ukraine, Gantz said: “Israel stands with Ukraine and condemns direct attacks against civilians. We are reminded that war is not a distant reality and that countries must be able to build their capabilities and defend themselves.”

He added: “Alliances must be strengthened to ensure regional and global stability. I have offered to assist Ukraine in developing a civilian early-warning system. This is an ongoing process.”

Gantz informed diplomats about Israeli interactions with regional partners since the Abraham Accords and its move to CENTCOM.

“In the last two years, around 140 defence agreements and groundbreaking MOUs have been signed between Israel and partner countries,” he observed.

Regarding the Palestinians, Gantz said: “We have promoted dozens of confidence-building measures with the Palestinian Authority over the past two years.

Despite these efforts we have seen a lack of enforcement and face terror attacks that require action. We conduct operations that target terrorism and will not hesitate to take actions to defend the citizens of Israel.”

He added: “The international community must condemn terrorism from Judea and Samaria and take concrete action by investing in constructive projects with the Palestinian Authority.”

Gantz also spoke about the challenges Israel had faced in organising the return of teenager Tiran Fero’s body for burial last month.

Terrorists reportedly snatched Fero’s body from a hospital in Jenin after he died from injuries sustained in a car accident (November 22). “We will take extensive action against terror gangs that not only target Israelis, but also harm Palestinian residents," he warned.

Gantz thanked the Palestinian Authority for help in the disturbing matter.

“This is a basic humanitarian step following a humiliating and inhumane action,” he said. “I want to thank security forces and all bodies, leaders, and representatives that worked with determination for his return.”

Director of Policy and POL-MIL Bureau Dror Shalom and IDF Strategic Division Head, Brig. Gen. Oren Setter attended the security gathering.

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Benny Gantz briefs Defence Attachés

PHOTO: MOD

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What is the answer?

OPINION PIECE

BY ROBERT FESTENSTEIN

For many years now there has been a call for there to be a two state solution – Israel and Palestine living side by side. At the moment that is clearly not going to happen. The reasons for this depend on your attitude. If you are more inclined to the left, you will point to the right-wing Government in Israel, the settlements and the continued occupation of Judea, Samaria and Gaza. Those of you on the right will refer to the declaration from Hamas that they want to kill all the Jews and the payto-slay policy of the Palestinian Authority.

The arguments have run for decades and we are still no nearer a lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

Consequently we are stuck. The left yells occupation and the right yells rockets from Gaza; over and over again. The voices get louder with each additional murder of an Israeli. So what is the answer? I don’t know, but what I do know is that us yelling at each other is achieving nothing. Well, certainly not for us, though our enemies must be chuckling as they see

these squabbles.

Perhaps the starting point is to look at other confrontations and how it was they came to an end. Generally it is because either one side has no choice by way of absolute defeat or it is in their interests to come to the table. Germany in 1945 was comprehensively vanquished whereas Egypt saw a way to recovering the Sinai Desert and restoring some of their pride following their losses in 1967 and 1973. More recently the Abraham Accords have seen Arab countries reaching peace with Israel, in part I suspect because they are concerned about the intentions of Iran and need a reliable military partner in the region.

In other words there needs to be an incentive for each side to agree terms. The incentive for Israel is palpable. The prospects of not having to run for the shelters when the rockets start falling, or being cautious of someone wearing a coat on a hot day are obvious. For the Palestinians not so much. Their leadership is corrupt and for as long as the war (since that is what it is) continues they will be able to avoid elections, steal as much money as they can and blame the Jews for everything. Until that changes there is no incentive for either Hamas or the P-A to feel the need to negotiate.

There is though one other factor to take into account, and this is where I declare

my interest as being on the right on this issue. This additional factor is the blinkered approach by so many in the West in relation to what they see as the Palestinian cause. All those causes promoted by the liberal left, such as women’s rights and freedom of religion are all sacrificed, wholesale, in favour of supporting the murderous regimes of Hamas and the P-A. It is difficult to know whether this is some nonsense guilt over colonialism, a misplaced romantic (and racist) view of the Palestinians knowing no better or just plain Jew-hate. It is probably a combination of all three, and who knows what else. The result though is that there is always an excuse for the murder of another Jew in Israel, or another rocket attack in a way which would never the be the case here in the UK. The double standard is as obvious as it is odious and that is where our efforts should be concentrated. It is simple. Staunch the flow of this stupid support – since that is what it is – and the knock on effect 2,000 miles away might make a difference. If it doesn’t, we haven’t lost anything and we can always go back to shouting at each other.

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.

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More recently the Abraham Accords have seen Arab countries reaching peace with Israel, in part I suspect because they are concerned about the intentions of Iran and need a reliable military partner in the region.

NJA slam terror groups

The National Jewish Assembly has condemned Palestinian terrorist organisations for constructing a terror tunnel under an UNRWA school in the Gaza Strip last month.

NJA has called on Gaza-based Palestinian terrorist organisations to cease activities as they pose an ongoing threat to Israel and compromise their own civilians, including children.

They also noted that a UNWRA statement did not identify terror groups responsible and referred to the tunnel as a “man-made cavity”.

Steve Winston, NJA vice chairman, said

that by building a terror tunnel under a school was “irrefutable evidence” of Gaza terrorist factions endangering lives of innocent children.

“Perhaps as disturbing is the fact that UNRWA could only refer to the terror tunnel as a ‘man-made cavity’, despite this not being the first terror tunnel found beneath UNRWA infrastructure.”

NJA noted that Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and terrorist groups’ disregard for Gazan life was typified by a willingness to place children, schools and civilian infrastructure in the firing line.

Faith and Football chat

Rabbi Jonny Hughes of Radlett United Synagogue held a Faith and Football shiur at Brentford FC.

Bees chairman Cliff Crown organised the event under the auspices of US in The City.

Rabbi Hughes discussed aspects of

Chanukah and answered questions from the sporting audience.

An active programme of events is scheduled for 2023.

Rabbi Hughes@gmail.com

Tashbar Chumash Seuda Boys singing at the opening of the seuda, at Beis Yaakov Jewish High.

PHOTO: LAWRENCE PURCELL

Tashbar Chumash Seuda at Beis Yaakov Jewish High

Details:

Rabbi Hughes and Cliff Crown (front row) at Brentford FC with the shiur attendees

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Camp Simcha toy drive

A mountain of new toys, arts, crafts and board games have been donated in Camp Simcha’s annual Toy Drive for children spending the festive season in hospital.

Over 80 schools, nurseries, cheders and synagogues in London and Manchester held collections over the past month. Individuals and businesses also donated, with an additional 800 new gifts being bought from the charity’s Amazon wishlist, which included specific requests from hospital play teams.

This year’s Toy Drive has seen more requests than ever from hospitals, says Joanne Woolich, Camp Simcha’s hospital liaison officer.

“The pressure was on this year, but as always the community has stepped up and we have had some 10,000 toys donated in total,” she said. “These toys make a big difference, not just as a boost to the children on the wards when they get a gift at their bedside, but also to the play teams as it enables them to continue their paediatric play provision.”

Camp Simcha provides direct support to UK Jewish families with seriously ill children, but also reaches some 12,000 children of all denominations and none,

Rebbe’s Shaliach in Manchester

through its hospital outreach.

For six years, Londoner Maya Levy has supported the Toy Drive in memory of her friend Daniella Moffson, who tragically died in a bus crash in 2016 while volunteering in Honduras.

American-born Ms Moffson was training to be a paediatrician and had volunteered for Camp Simcha’s sister organisation in the States.

“Daniella spent her life giving to others, through the Toy Drive and other charitable initiatives, we have been able to continue her incredible legacy,” she said.

Ms Levy’s employers, YuLife, also supported, donating gifts on behalf of the firm’s employees.

Throughout the collection period, representatives of the charity have been visiting schools and community groups taking part with Camp Simcha’s monkey mascot Simi even making an appearance at London’s Sacks Morasha Primary School to pick up collection boxes.

And volunteers from the charity’s B’nei Mitzvah programme and a group of young professionals, sorted and packed the gifts, ready to be distributed to some 140

Bridge group raise £2m over 25 years

hospital wards, hospices and community teams in London, Hertfordshire, Essex and Greater Manchester.

Ella Behar, 11, who celebrates her bat mitzvah in April 2023, was among the B’nei Mitzvah group packers.

She said: “I’m excited to be here packing the toys so that children who aren’t well get to receive them. I chose the programme because my cousin gets support from Camp Simcha. My brother and I have also done sponsored bake sales.”

On the second packing night 40 young professionals gathered for a ‘YP Miracle Mania’ evening by Camp Simcha supporter Jenni Sacks.

Jenni said: “Young professionals want to make meaningful new connections and friends, and use their time to create real, purpose-lead value. Camp Simcha was an obvious choice. My experiences have always highlighted their dedication to servicing recipients by using resources efficiently and effectively. They go above and beyond with unwavering care to help as many people as possible. This includes absolute respect to volunteers. Everyone had an awesome time and were grateful to have the opportunity.”

Immanuel College’s students were challenged to make a Chanukah display according to festival halachot for its remote Jewish Studies ‘snow day’ learning on Monday.

Over 200 people celebrated the Rosh Hashonah of Chassidus at the annual Yud Tes Kislev Seuda at Lubavitch House, Manchester.

Rabbi Yitzy Loewenthal, the Rebbe’s Shliach in Copenhagen, Denmark was guest speaker.

The evening was chaired by Rabbi Avrohom Jaffe, Rabbi Mendel Cohen concluded and started anew the Tanya. Rabbi Avrohom Kievman concluded the Hayom Yom.

Dayan Steiner, Rosh Beis Din of Manchester gave words of inspiration to the Olam.

The evening was highly inspirational and concluded with everyone dancing together in true Yom Tov spirit.

Jewish Care’s Bridge Extravaganza Committee has raised over £2 million since the event began 25 years ago.

Over 160 guests enjoyed a day of bridge at The Landmark Hotel in Marylebone for the committee’s first in-person event since 2019. The event raised over £90,000 for Jewish Care.

Winners of the Duplicate Bridge Sarah & Arnold Morris Trophy were Gill and Lynton Stock. The Winners of the Friendly Duplicate Susan & Stephen James Trophy were Marilyn Feldman and Evelyn Levene.

Speaking after the event, Joint Chairs,

Patsy Bloom and Susie James, said in a statement: “This event has been the most successful bridge extravaganza. In the midst of the cost of living crisis these funds will help Jewish Care to support older members of the community.”

Jewish Care’s Director of Fundraising and Community Engagement, Adam Overlander-Kaye, praised Patsy, Susie and the extravaganza committee. “They have worked tirelessly for over 25 years to raise vital funds for services,” he said. “Today, older people in the community are more reliant than ever on the warmth and care we provide.”

Camp Simcha toy drive 2022

Jewish Care’s Bridge Extravaganza Committee

Chabad shlichim at the Seuda

TAL Kerestir trip

TAL took its year 10 boys on an empowering trip to the Kever of Reb Yeshaya in Kerestir. The two-day trip involved praying at the Kever and various shuls in Budapest. One of the boys said: “This was my first trip to

Teens winter collection will make an ImpACT

Twenty-six schools participated in Project ImpACT’s annual Winter Warm Up event to support people who are homeless and struggling with food poverty on Sunday.

ImpACT teens collected, sorted and packed a huge collection of winter clothes desperately needed at this time of year as temperatures plummet. They also wrapped gifts and wrote positive letters to those supported by homeless shelters and food banks.

The ImpACT Youth Community Kitchen was also a hive of activity as volunteers washed and chopped vegetables to make 200 portions of nutritious soup for shelters throughout Barnet and Camden.

The event brought together charities that support the homeless and asylum seekers.

Representatives from Crisis, Centrepoint, Goods for Good and Barnet Together were impressed by the enthusiasm and dedication of Jewish volunteers as was special guest Tik Tok rapper star Formz.

Volunteers heard from Mandy, manager at CentrePoint, which aims to end youth homelessness in the UK.

a special Tsadik. A big thank you to Rabbi Tawil and Rabbi Fisher for inspiring us and enabling a better connection with G-d.”

TAL enhances the lives of Jewish youth and young professionals.

She said: “This type of support is more important now than ever because over 4,000 young people are facing homelessness in London this winter. I was really inspired to be in a room of young people who are so motivated by a sense of community and driving positive change. It’s fantastic to see them giving up their time to cook food for those who need it. They should feel proud about volunteering.”

Goods for Good also spoke to the teens about where the winter clothes will go.

Formz spoke passionately about his experiences growing up in Borehamwood and struggles with poverty.

Teens listened as Formz described how he followed his dream, despite peer pressure, to become a famous rapper. He spoke

about the importance of resilience and staying positive even when things are tough, and looking after your wellbeing.

He said: “It is unthinkable to picture people sleeping outside on the street in minus temperatures. It’s horrible. The fact you guys are doing this is second to none. I’m really proud to be a part of it.”

Project ImpACT chair, Claire Leek said: “It was great to see another successful session with teens from across a range of communities gathering together.”

Surplus food donations from the Felix Project, Tesco, Kosher Kingdom and sweets from Swizzels were appreciated.

Volunteering programmes: www.projectimpact.org.uk or 07816 268020

The Stone setting took place at the Agecroft Cemetery for the late Mr Bernard Stone z’l. Mr Stone was the President of the Cheetham Hebrew Congregation.He was a mensch and a beloved kindly person. A large turnout came to pay their respects. His brother Phillip recited Kaddish.

Chanukah celebrations

The event includes doughnut-making, dreidel-spinning, Chanukah lamp-lighting, museum tours and a series of author events for adults and children.

At 4pm the menorah bequeathed by the Betty & Leo Gruss trust will be lit with traditional songs and blessings.

Acting Director Sue Shave said: “This is a wonderful time of year for the museum and Jewish community. We are delighted that our partners have joined to share the best of Jewish culture, heritage and religion with our visitors.

Tickets and details: www.jewishmuseum. org.uk

Jewish Museum London and Jewish Book Week are presenting a Chanukah family day event on Sunday (11am to 4pm).

TAL year 10 boys with Rabbi Tawil

Rapper Formz inspiring Project ImpACT volunteers

PHOTO: JEREMY COLEMAN

Broughton Fire Fighters holding a Chanukiah with the message to “have a safe Chanukah and please take care where you place your Chanukiah – especially if near curtains where most fires are caused”.

PHOTO: LAWRENCE PURCELL

PHOTO: LAWRENCE PURCELL

Broughton fire fighters hold a Chanukiah

Mr Phillip Stone reciting Kaddish for his brother Reb Bernard Stone z”l

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Maccabean discovery in Judean dersert

BY ADAM MOSES

A wooden box containing 15 silver coins dating to the Maccabean Revolt has been discovered in the Judean Desert.

The unique lathe-turned box dating back around 2,200 years ago was found during excavations at Muraba’at Cave in the Darageh Stream Nature Reserve. Following research over recent months it will be exhibited over Chanukah in the Hasmonean Museum in Modi’in for Israel Heritage Week.

The Judean Desert Excavation was run by the Israel Antiquities Authority, Judea and Samaria Unit and Ministry for Jerusalem and Heritage.

The upper part of the box was packed with earth and small stones. Below was a large piece of purple woollen cloth covering 15 silver coins arranged with pieces of sheep’s wool. The coin hoard, cleaned in the Antiquities metal finds laboratory, comprised silver tetradrachma coins minted by Ptolemy VI, King of Egypt.

Ptolemy VI reigned over Egypt when his uncle Antiochos IV Epiphanes reigned over the Seleucid Kingdom including Judea. The three earliest coins were minted in 176/5 BCE. The oldest coin was dated to 171/0 BCE. The name ‘Shalmai’ in Aramaic script was found on one of the coins.

Dr Eitan Klein and Dr. Gabriela Bijovsky of the Antiquities Authority studied the coins.

“It is interesting to visualise the person who hid his personal property intending to return to collect it.” said Klein. “The person was probably killed in the battles. This is an absolutely unique find. It presents the first clear archaeological

evidence that the Judean De sert caves played an active role of Jewish rebels or fugitives in the early days of the Maccabean Revolt or events that led up to them.”

According to Klein, the Books of the Maccabees de scribe the dramatic events of the times that would have led people to hide possessions in the Judean Desert until the danger passed.

An explanation could be plundering of the Jerusalem Temple treasures by Antio chos IV and destruction of the Jerusalem city wall in the years that led up to the Hasmonean Revolt. Another explanation could be the religious decrees imposed on the Jews in 167 BCE.

The First Book of Maccabees (I Maccabees 2:29-37) records groups of Jews fleeing to hiding places in the desert.

The Minister of Heritage, Zeev Elkin observed: “This moving find just before the festival of Chanukah is symbolic. It emphasises the importance of our activity in the field of heritage. Over recent years the Ministry has invested in the Judean Desert survey to preserve heritage sites. I commend all participants in this important task.” He added: “During Heritage Week dozens of sites will be open to the public with special activities for families including the new discovery in the Hasmonean Museum. I invite all Israel to visit and enjoy the national heritage.”

Eli Escusido, Israel Antiquities Authority, “The coin hoard fires the imagination and connects us with those days in this season. “This is the Chanukah gelt we are

The jar and its contents

From Left to Right - Excavation team members Amir Ganor, Hagay Hamer, and Oriya Amichai, examine the wooden box for the first time

PHOTO: DAFNA GAZIT ISRAEL ANTIQUITIES AUTHORITY

PHOTO: EITAN KLEIN ISRAEL ANTIQUITIES AUTHORITY

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Rebbe’s Chanukah campaign burns bright

BY DAVID SAFFER

Jews celebrate the start of Chanukah on Sunday and giant menorahs will again be displayed in homes, community buildings and landmarks around the world.

The age-old Chanukiah has been seen against a backdrop of the Statue of Liberty, White House and Eiffel Tower to name just a few famous sites.

Whilst communities in every continent will light the first candle many Jews will be unable to join in the festival. And Chabad will swing into action to ensure as many Jews as possible enjoy the ‘Festival of Lights’.

Chabad have distributed 700,000 menorah kits along with 2.5 million Chanukah holiday guides in 17 languages to homes, schools and businesses globally. And some 5,000 menorah-topped cars will be driven around cities, towns and rural areas.

Chabad’s online presence is continually growing with a vast amount of material. Over 10 million visitors are expected to view a plethora of guides.

Festive programs stem back to the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, who was renowned for welcoming Jews of all backgrounds to Judaism.

Chanukah was a time when that philosophy shone particularly brightly. The Rebbe fervently believed that every Jewish home should be filled with the light of a menorah to illuminate the wider world.

“We should listen attentively to what the Chanukah lights are telling us,” the Rebbe wrote in 1982. “The mitzvah of the Chanukah lights symbolises, in a tangible and visible way, all the mitzvot of the Torah, all of which are defined in terms of light.”

“Living Yiddishkeit”, he noted, required a “continuous growth” to enrich one’s “spiritual life”.

For the Rebbe, it was essential menorah candles were seen outside a home to publicise the “miracle of Chanukah”. Symbolically everyone kindling candles had a duty to not forget those “unaware of Chanukah” or their “Jewish identity”.

The Rebbe’s global Chanukah campaign started in 1973 with the aim of sharing the light of Chanukah with families and friends.

Five decades on Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries are continuing this aspiration for new generations.

“There is a pre-eminence in the mitzvot connected with lighting candles, in that the effect of the action, the appearance of light, is immediately visible,” the Rebbe explained in a famous 1973 letter.

“The mitzvah of kindling the Chanukah light is unique in that it is required to be displayed to the outside. Thus,

every by-passer, including non-Jews, immediately notices the effect of the light, which illuminates the outside and the environment.”

Twelve months after his public letter, the first public menorah was seen outside Independence Hall in Philadelphia, followed by a 25-foot menorah in Union Square, San Francisco in 1975.

By the end of the decade, public menorahs were seen across the United States.

Chabad emissaries distributed tin menorah and candle kits. Initiatives catered for every climate and landscape around the world. Programs included ‘Chanukah on Ice’ and olive-oil press workshops. Creative thinking was needed so a boomerang-themed menorah was available in Queensland, Australia!

The car menorah parade was also part of the Rebbe’s Chanukah-awareness campaign. Thousands of cars of all shapes and sizes have hit the roads in the ensuing decades.

When the Rebbe’s fledgling Chanukah idea started Rabbi Shmuel Lipsker was a student in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.

A regular on 47th Street in Midtown Manhattan to attract New Yorkers he recalls building a homemade menorah and placing on top of a station wagon.

“The concept didn’t exist,” he recalled. “It was a huge attraction. We were giving out menorahs. By the time we lit our menorahs with the flares, we had a huge crowd. It was unbelievable.”

Within 12 months a new Chanukah campaign was officially born. And throughout the late ‘70s the parade gained strength and continued into the 1980s.

The mid-90s brought a new development when Nochum Goldschmidt, a yeshivah student in Sydney, Australia, felt that the parade initiative needed a boost so he designed an improved car menorah.

In 1998, he started Carmenorah.com for every type of car.

A ‘Happy Chanukah’ and ‘Chabad wishes you a Happy Chanukah’ sign will be on display!

US sports fans will this Sunday enjoy the annual sight of a giant menorah lit at sporting events.

Back in 1987, Rabbi Raphael Tennenhaus, Chabad South Broward County, Florida was in at the start of the boom when he lit a menorah at a packed Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami.

Days before Chanukah, Rabbi Pinny Andrusier, Chabad Southwest Broward, was attending a farbrengen in Brooklyn and told the Rebbe of a pending lighting at the Miami Dolphins game.

“L’chaim,” the smiling Rebbe acknowledged, knowing the significance of a vast live and TV audience.

It is now the norm for Chabad to host a ‘Jewish Heritage Night’ at games.

Almost 50 years on from the Rebbe’s Chanukah wish to light up the world his dream thrives.

The Rebbe concluded in his famed letter, “May G d grant that everyone of us be truly inspired by the teachings of Chanukah and of the Chanukah Lights, and translate this inspiration into actual deeds, in our everyday life and conduct.”

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Once again, the whole family - young & old alike - will relish this stimulating mix of real-life stories, halachic challenges and solutions, along with Yoni Gerstein’s delightful illustrations.

Based on Rabbi Yitzchak Zilberstein’s Veha’arev Na –this Young Readers edition offers everyone an exciting parsha sefer that will highlight your Shabbos table every week.

Horseradish may be bitter, but Rebbe Mendel’s stories just keep getting better. This dazzling collection is filled with excitement, surprises, intriguing locations, and a gallery of fascinating characters. These new adventures will have you laughing – and learning – from first page to last.

Bentzi are back – in time for Chanukah!

Get ready for more thrilling episodes with Batya and Bentzi. For young readers, these magical adventures are amusing insightful, unpredictable, and most of all – fun!

favorite first book!

Especially designed for toddlers, ages 1 to 3, this adorable board-book introduces your child to basic emotions; most notably, the experience of attachment and separation. Delightful illustrations with appropriate facial expressions combine with elementary text to help your child better process the world of emotions. Your children will love it –and so will you!

WINNING

of Short Stories Young Readers are sure to enjoy!

Relish in this assortment of delightful short stories where Jewish youngsters encounter daily dilemmas where not everything goes “according to plan.” Imagine that!

It’s a winning combination of fun and excitement, Torah values, home and school, family and friends, which young readers will find hard to resist.

Distributed by Lehmanns info@lehmanns.co.uk

Reflections on “The Dayan” zt”l

BY RABBI JEREMY CONWAY – DIRECTOR, KLBD

Somehow it was my great zechus to become a zanav l’aroyos – “a tail to lions” and in particular to the great lion the Ari Hagadol Dayan Ehrentreu zt”l.

It was undoubtably hashgacha pratis that Chief Rabbi Lord Jakobovits was at the last moment unable to perform my Induction as the Rav in the Beis Hamedrash Hagadol Synagogue in the city of Leeds, and Dayan Ehrentreu travelled up in his stead.

Next morning at 6am, I accompanied the Dayan to visit the local shechita to the great surprise of the local shochet and subsequently the three kosher butchers operating in town. I remember the Dayan looking pristine in the gleaming white coat, boots, and apron he had brought with him, immediately commanding respect and deference from staff and management alike. He didn’t merely check the chalaf and stand aside to watch the shochet at work but plunged his arm with alacrity into the chest cavity of the animal to do the bedikas p’nim (internal examination) of the lungs and made various recommendations how the process—and the Kashrus—could be improved.

I’m not sure the London Beth Din had formal jurisdiction over the Leeds shechita but as the Dayan often said: Responsibility is not given, it is taken!

Before returning to London, he encouraged me to keep in touch: “Call me any time,” he told me, “Preferably after 11.00.” PM he meant!

The Dayan’s hands-on approach was evident in everything he did. When kashering a factory or a hotel for Pesach, he wouldn’t just stand by to rule on any shaalos, rather he would remove his frockcoat, roll up his sleeves and join the shomrim scrubbing and blow torching, and dunking keilim into boiling water. Together with his many duties and responsibilities, the Dayan was a highly sought after mohel. Rabbi Alan Kimche recalls driving the Dayan to an appointment when the Dayan asked to stop for a moment at the house of a baby where he had carried out a bris earlier that day. The Dayan checked the baby and sensed that the mother was nervous about bathing the newly circumcised babe. The Dayan picked up the baby and marched to the bathroom. “Let me show you how to bath him,” putting the mother at ease and doing chesed in a real and practical way.

The Dayan was somewhat lemaalah min hazman, and able to pack into a day what most of us couldn’t do in a week.

I remember telling him about a difficult situation I was grappling with. “You want me to speak to him?” he asked his hand already on the receiver, “I’ll speak to him!” Within a minute he had resolved the matter and replaced the phone saying “Omer veOseh!” (Baruch She’amar prayer Shacharis)

The Dayan did everything with zerizus. I remember taking the Dayan to visit a

factory. I parked the car, walked around to remove my things, and then searched for the Dayan who had disappeared! In the short time I was getting my jacket and bag, he had already shot off into the factory! He was intensely practical; whilst I was still puzzling over a flowchart, he would grasp the factory with its tanks and reactors, myriad pipes and steam condensate return, as he would a Talmudic sugya: the Mishna then the Gemara, the questions, the answers, the shitos of the Rishonim and the questions of the Acharonim.

His practical and hands-on approach came to the fore when it came to the construction of eiruvim.

A year or so after the establishment of the North-West London eiruv, we were visited by a delegation of eiruv experts from the Eidah Chareidis. They were impressed with our mechitzos, our lechayayim, our Tsuros hapesachim, but above all they were impressed with … our Dayan! ”Your Dayan! Mamash gevultig!” they told me. “What’s so gevaldig?” I asked.

“You come from Yerushalayim, ir shekulo Kohanim, a city of Talmidei Chachomim, Dayanim and Poskim. Whats so special about our Dayan?” “We have great Talmidei Chachomim,” they said, “b’kiim in Shas uposkim, but they don’t come down ‘al hashetach’ (on-site).” We have to present the shaaleh to them. But to have a posek who climbs over fences and stands in the mud whilst being mefalpel in the p’shat in the Chazon Ish, seeing the issue with his own eyes⁠—lefi reos einei hadayan—that is something unique!

One of the Dayan’s outstanding achievements was undoubtably the establishment of the North-West London eiruv. Bemokom she’ato motsei geduloso, shom ato motsei anvesonuso! – Wherever you find His greatness, there you find His humility (Megilah 31a).

For 15 years the eiruv champions fought opposition on every front. With the local Council, with the Hampstead Garden Suburb Trust, with the Eiruv Boundary Opponents Group as well with antagonists from various ends of the Jewish community, eventually winning planning permission at a government enquiry.

Under attack from all sides, the Dayan stood his ground, resolute and fearless; the eiruv would be built to the highest halachic standard and would carry his hechsher.

I was with him in his study one day when we first heard a rumour that Rav Elyashiv—world-renowned posek and Dayan Ehrentreu’s mentor—had come out against the London eiruv. He immediately told me: “If Rav Elyashiv is against it, I will have to back down. If my chaverim want to do it without me that’s up to

them but I can’t go against Rav Elyashiv!” I was bowled over by his incredible humility. Even though he was convinced he was right and had stood firm against all opposition, he was prepared to relinquish years of effort and argument rather than oppose the view of his Rebbe.

Fortunately, the rumour turned out to be unfounded, and today there are 14 eiruvim across the country, (actually 17, if one includes Westcliff, Canvey Island and Tottenham), thousands of people whose enhanced shemiras Shabbos and oneg Shabbos is entirely due to the Dayan’s courageous leadership.

At that time, I gained insight into a striking Mishna in Pirkei Avos (6, 1) : Rebbi Meir taught, Kol haosek beToroh Lishmo… Whoever engages in Torah for its own sake, merits many things: He is called Friend, Beloved, a lover of Hashem and a lover of mankind. … People benefit from his advice and wisdom, understanding and courage. … It gives him sovereignty, dominion and discerning judgement. … He becomes modest and patient and forgives insults. It makes him great, exalting him above all things.

“Forgives insults”?! The man is surely a tzaddik, loved by Hashem and his fellow man! Who could possibly insult him?! Apparently, even tzaddikim it seems, are insulted by some. I’m reminded of the story of the revered Malbim walking with his talmidim and being subjected to the catcalls and insults of layabouts in the street. Malbim was known for his witty retorts, but he kept silent. Why don’t you respond his talmidim asked? Did we respond to the dogs who were barking at

us earlier on? he replied. When the Mishna speaks of forgiving insults, the yapping of a barking dogs is not an insult. If it comes from a person of stature, then it’s an insult.

The Dayan received many such insults both regarding the eiruv and on other matters on which he took a stand. He never responded. He never looked to the right or the left. He taught us to do what is right, and not to worry what others may say.

Kol Ha’osek baTorah Lishmah… The breadth and depth of his torah was extraordinary. I always wondered when the Dayan found time to study in depth without disturbance. At the shiva I learnt it was apparently between 3 and 6am every night!

Nikra Raya, Ahuv: The Dayan was a friend to so many and indeed ‘Lover of Mankind’. His personal acts of chesed were legendary, as was the radiant smile and friendly greeting he bestowed on everyone, man and woman, Jew and non-Jew. Even in Burton-on-Trent at the Marmite factory the Dayan’s visit some years earlier would be fondly recalled.

“How is the Dayan?” they asked me.

“I always remember his words: The question of the wise man is more important than the answer” recalled St John Skelton the Marmite Master Blender! Wherever he went he created a Kiddush Hashem.

The Dayan was the embodiment of the Talmudic phrase Ma’an malkei Rabonon! Wherever he was and whatever he did he radiated majesty and nobility.

I remember how he encouraged the KLBD mashgichim at a kashrus conference citing the verse: Im katan ata beinecha, rosh leshivtei yisrael ata! )Shmuel, 1, 15). Do not think of yourself as small, you are the Head of the Tribes of Yisrael! You are the shluchim of the Beth Din and represent the Dayanim – he told them!

At the same time, he guided with gentleness and humility, often preceding his advice or psak with “You want my opinion?” As if to say, its only my opinion, it’s up to you to decide. Occasionally, he would say to me Aseh kechochmasecha – (Do as your own wisdom dictates) thereby by empowering me to act with the knowledge that he trusted my judgement.

May we long continue to be inspired by the Dayan’s wisdom and example: - to act with zerizus for Torah and Mitzvos - to stand up fearlessly for what we believe is right - and to show warmth friendship and compassion to all around us

Mi yiten lanu temuroso. Yehi zichro Baruch.

Dayan Ehrentreu zt”l

by Rabbi A. Leib Scheinbaum

Reb Shloime Yeshaya Lipschitz Edition

A Road Map for Life Drawing upon the Wisdom of the Steipler Gaon

by Rabbi Yaakov Mordechai Greenwald

Rabbi Yaakov Mordechai Greenwald was a widely respected therapist, with strong personal relationships with many gedolei Yisrael. He was particularly close to the Steipler Gaon, Maran HaRav Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky zt”l, whose guidance strongly influenced his therapeutic approach to healing. Guiding With Wisdom offers us a powerful Torah-based perspective on healing and emotional and mental health, with many priceless insights from the Steipler.

by Rabbi Moshe Bamberger

This addition to the much-hailed “ Jewish….” series brings us powerful quotes on bitachon, with a brief explanatory com mentary, accompanied by spectacular photo graphs and images that bring these concepts to vivid life.

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

Leek & Sweet Potato Latkes

Latkes are a tasty tradition at Chanukah and leeks and potatoes

Czech Latkes

Potato latkes of all descriptions are popular over Chanukah, as fried foods symbolise the miracle of the burning oil that lasted 8 days instead of one during the re-dedication of the Temple. Unlike traditional latkes, which use grated potato, these are made with mashed potato, rather like a potato croquette. I have flavoured them with lemon and smoked paprika.

During a recent trip to Prague, a similar recipe was on the menu. It is an amazing city to visit especially the 7 synagogues and the oldest cemetery in Europe. There are also several kosher restaurants worth checking out!

I like to serve these with salt beef, pot roast or roast chicken. They are always well liked and to be honest, saving them for Chanukah is not necessary!

Preparation Time: 25 minutes

Cooking Time: 30 minutes

Makes: 25

Ingredients

3 large potatoes (about 800g) – peeled and roughly chopped 2 eggs

Zest and juice of 1 lemon

1 large tablespoon smoked paprika or to taste

2 teaspoons salt oil for frying

Method

1) Cook potatoes until soft, drain and then mash.

2) Allow to cool and add eggs, salt, smoked paprika, lemon juice and zest. Mix well

3) Using wet hands, form into patties the size of an egg.

4) Heat a shallow pan with vegetable oil and fry in batches for 3-5 minutes on each side until golden brown. Transfer onto a rack to drain off any excess oil and leave to cool.

5) Re heat in a warm oven (180 C/ 375F/ Gas mark 4) for 10 minutes or until hot and ready to serve.

4. Heat the rapeseed oil until hot.

5. Spoon about 1 1/2 tablespoons mixture in to the frying pan and spread to about 2 cm thick.

6. Allow the underside to turn golden brown (about 2-3 minutes) before flipping (carefully) and cooking the other side.

7. Once both sides are nicely browned, place the fritters on a baking rack to drain any excess oil and then pop in the oven for 5 - 10 minutes at 200C/ 400F/ Gas mark 6 to ensure they are cooked through.

8. Once cooked squeeze a generous amount of lime juice on to them and serve straight away or allow to cool and serve later.

Latkes with a Difference…

BY DENISE PHILLIPS

Chanukah and latkes go hand in hand, and I wanted to share my ideas for the traditional latke recipe with a twist. The word ‘latke’ is a Yiddish word meaning ‘a little oily thing’. Hence, the classic recipe is made by frying grated potatoes and onions in oil, combined with egg, thickened with flour or matzah meal and served with apple sauce. Instead of oil my great grandmother used to make them with schmaltz - rendered down chicken fat.

On my website (www.jewishcookery. com) I have some new latke recipes, including sweet potato and cinnamon latkes, za’atar carrot spiced baked latkes, latkes with pickled cucumbers inside the mixture and many more…see recipes. Each recipe is quite different; I have even used oats, ground almonds and breadcrumbs to thicken the mixture, as an alternative to flour or matzah meal.

Toppings for latkes can be more than apple sauce. Try adding smoked salmon, horseradish, apple puree mixed with sour cream, pickled cucumber salsa, guacamole, tomato and basil, pesto, spring onion, sour cream and chives, sweetcorn relish, goats’ cheese, olives and chopped tomatoes, or ratatouille. For a sweeter option, try Greek yoghurt, honey and figs, cranberry sauce, toffee sauce, chopped fruit, Nutella chocolate and blueberries, maple syrup, or chopped banana and

peanut butter and walnuts. The combinations are endless!

TIPS FOR THE PERFECT LATKE

• Squeeze all excess liquid and starch out of the vegetables, you will be amazed at how much water is in a potato. This will ensure that the latke will be crispy.

• Generously flavour the mixture as it cooks, as the flavour mellows during the cooking process.

• A little baking powder makes them lighter!

• Oil needs to be hot before frying – use rapeseed oil for best results.

• Don’t overfill the frying pan with oil – leave a 4 cm gap from the top to prevent oil from overflowing.

• Cook until golden on both sides.

• Safety tip: Use a splatter screen or lid to protect you and the hob.

• Drain on a rack, not absorbent paper.

• Finish off by baking in the oven to ensure they are extra crispy – 200°C / 400°F for 10

A couple of delicious recipes for Chanukah for from Denise Phillips

Gift spreading light at Chanukah

GIFT has partnered with JVN for the Light Up a Life Project from Better World Charity. The project will enable the community to volunteer over the winter holidays.

GIFT’s flagship event aims to make 500 soups for vulnerable individuals on Sunday December 25th.

Sarah David, GIFT’s Events Manager said: “We are so excited for our first ever Light Up a Life event. We have over 750 people attending, inspired to spread warmth to those who need it most.”

Some 700 electric Menorahs were crafted by Bnei Mitzva students and school pupils in London and Manchester. They have been distributed to residents of Langdon, hospital patients, Jewish prisoners and care home residents.

GIFT has been involved in numerous initiatives for the community this Chanukah.

Over 400 students from Hasmonean High School, Yavneh, Immanuel, JFS, King Solomon and King David (Manchester) students attended Chanukah-inspired giving sessions.

Participants visited Norwood care homes to help residents decorate flats and engage in creative activities such as assembling Chanukah packs.

Meantime, 400 Chanukah kits were distributed to GIFT recipient families across London and Manchester by young professionals. Jenny Sacks initiated this VP event in conjunction with GIFT.

GIFT Israel launched a Chanukah Toy Drive for children at Hadassah Hospital whilst GIFT UK partnered with the Camp Simcha Toy Drive to distribute over 500 toys to families in need.

And a group of generous and thoughtful women organised a board game collection.

Ingrid

pack 300 goody bags for young GIFT recipients.

GIFT volunteering: contactvolunteer@jgift.org

Making the most of the snow

Name of victim to remember: Rivka Angel

Place of Birth: Crisana-Maramures, Romania

Date of Birth: 1935

Place of Death: Auschwitz

Date of Death: 01/03/1944

www.yadvashem.org.uk

‘Guardian of the Memory’ Yizkor, Never Forget.

Segal spearheaded an initiative for Northwood United Synagogue to donate and

Young GIFT packathon volunteers

Norwood Chanukah party

Over 200 children and young families raised £4,300 at the annual Norwood Night ahead of the first night of Chanukah.

The inclusive event was the biggest-ever Norwood Night for young supporters. It featured a magic show and Chanukah neon disco with children’s entertainer Captain Fantastic. There was edible menorah-making and glow-make-up stations and a crafts station led by PJ Library.

Liz Jessel, Norwood, said: “Events like these demonstrate just how vital our work is in promoting inclusivity for people with learning disabilities and autism.

Community plays such an important role in spreading our message to empower people with learning disabilities and autism to live fulfilling and meaningful lives. Attendees helped to light up the lives of the people we support this Chanukah.”

Funds raised will go towards parenting sessions offering holistic and therapeutic support, advice and information for parents of children facing social, emotional and educational challenges.

The event was sponsored by the Vernon, May & Joyce Charitable Trust in loving memory of Beryl and Sidney Shisler.

Jewish Care lamplighter parade

Jnetics launch campaign

Jnetics has launched its Breakthrough Campaign 2023 at the Sheraton Park Lane Hotel in Piccadilly.

The charity informed 200 key supporters about its BRCA testing programme.

Jnetics in partnership with Chai Cancer Care were recently appointed by NHS England to support the programme scheduled for early next year for anybody with a Jewish grandparent.

“This is a lifesaving breakthrough,” said Anthony Angel, Chair of Trustees. “Around one in 40 Jews, many times more than the general population, are carriers of BRCA gene mutations that increase the risk of cancer. This programme will detect those of us at higher risk, before cancer develops, so improving outcomes and saving lives.”

Guests were addressed by Professor Ranjit Manchanda of Barts Cancer Institute, whose research helped lay the groundwork for BRCA screening, and Professor Peter

Johnson, National Clinical Director for Cancer at NHS England, who chairs the programme’s expert advisory group.

The BRCA campaign will run through 2023 including a Matched Funding campaign in March.

Nicole Gordon, Jnetics, said: “This is a wonderful opportunity. Explaining to supporters and the community the critical importance of this work is important.”

Funds raised will allow Jnetics to support education and testing for 47 life threatening recessive genetic disorders within the Jewish community whilst taking on the BRCA engagement campaign and improving BRCA education.

Guests were entertained by composer and conductor Debbie Wiseman and violinist Jack Liebeck.

The charity was established 12 years ago and has grown exponentially.

Jnetics: info@jnetics.org

Jteen launches programme

Jteen’s ‘Prevent’ programme was launched last week.

Interactive workshops on wellbeing issues have been formulated by experts in the field for teenage high school students. The programme helps ensure teens can reach out for help.

Menorah Grammar School boys in year seven and nine learned how to recognise healthy and unhealthy friendships this week.

Healthy friendships are a key priority of Jteen workshops. Bullying and peer pressure were discussed.

Jteen is increasingly aware of challenges that friendships can create for teens. A support line receives calls and texts on emotional wellbeing. Data has been collected from thousands of conversations.

Exam stress is a concern where Jteen has

seen a significant number of teens reaching out. Hasmonean and Menorah Grammar GCSE and A-level pupils have received tips to reduce stress.

Jteen founder and therapist Yaakov Barr is encouraged by the participation of students.

“Our wellbeing programme is receiving amazing feedback from students, teachers and parents. Teens are telling us they are benefiting. Armed with emotional coping strategies, they are not alone.”

Jteen supports teens with emotional challenges under the guidance of rabbonim, doctors and mental health experts.

Jteen is building an experienced team of dynamic educators and therapists.

Jteen details: admin@jteen.co.uk or www. jteen.co.uk

Residents, members and staff at Jewish Care have been getting creative designing lanterns for Jewish Care’s first ever Festival of Lights Parade!

Anyone wishing to take part in the intergenerational lantern parade can bring lanterns, torches and phones to spread light through the community this Chanukah.

The parade at Jewish Care’s Maurice and Vivienne Wohl Campus in Golders Green is on Sunday (3pm).

Having a great time at the Norwood Chanukah party

Jteen founder Yaakov Barr at Menorah Grammar

Residents at Jewish Care homes have created lanterns for the Chanukah Festival of Lights Parade

BY POPULAR SPEAKER AND COLUMNIST DEVORIE KREIMAN

The Greatest Loss. The Way Forward. A Mother's Story. We were the family who lost half our children; over a ten-year period, four of our eight children died, as infants, from a rare mitochondrial disorder. After the babies died, I was sure that nothing terrible could happen to us ever again. Not to us... ...The comfort of these truths was there for me, if I was ready to accept it, but also—as I learned—"even if I’m not”… Even If I’m Not is the story of doing the impossible.

A Novel. For decades, the only way forward for Sima Hertzberg was to push all thoughts of her estranged brother out of her mind—and she was almost successful. Yet when a series of unconnected events puncture the bubble of her carefully constructed life, she is forced to revisit—and resolve—the haunting and formidable past. The Thirteenth Gate is a deeply moving story of faith, forgiveness, and family ties. It explores some hot-button issues facing our community, with insight, authenticity, and finesse. By Ester Zirkind, author of Where Is the Daughter I Raised?

In Building a Shul, readers are taken on an exciting tour of the whole shul-building process. From designing the blueprints to rolling in the excavator and cement trucks; from erecting the elevator shaft to waterproofing the basement; from framing the walls to installing the windows and doors; and everything in between—the construction site where this shul will one day stand is buzzing with activity, and you’re invited to watch it all from up close! So put on your hard hat, step over those pipes and ducts—careful with the spray foam over there!— and come along!

A Novel. In Wall of Fire, another soul-stirring masterpiece by beloved author Meir Uri Gottesman, eightyyear-old Leibel Stretiner has a cataract operation and is given new lenses. Unbeknownst to him, though, these lenses were ground by a Jerusalem tzaddik, which makes them very atypical. To Leibel’s shock and dismay, he suddenly finds, upon entering shul after his surgery, that he can now read the aveiros that everyone has done, inscribed right on their foreheads! And this is just the beginning… For all of the many Rabbi Juravel fans who loved listening to this story on CD, now you can read and enjoy the story even more in comic-book form, while learning important hilchos Shabbos at the same time—just as with Falsely Accused and Shugashvili’s Secret!

By Simmy Horwitz

New Books...

GEMS FROM THE NESIVOS SHALOM: SHOVAVIM Nesivos Sholom. One of the most widely celebrated volumes on Jewish thought in recent history. For the first time ever, this modern-day classic is now accessible in the English language. With the release of the eighteenth volume - focusing on the messages and lessons of Shovavim - the English-speaking public can discover what it is about Nesivos Sholom that has captured the hearts and minds of Jewish seekers worldwide. By Rabbi S. Binyomin Ginsberg

This beautiful English sefer covers many topics in halachah, all with the clear psakim of Rav Yisroel Belsky zt"l. The perfect "learn-with-your-family" sefer for your Shabbos and Yom Tov table.

A must-have, for all those with a true appreciation of halachah in general and of Rav Belsky's noted psakim in particular! Compiled by Rabbi Moishe Dovid Lebovits, Rabbinical Administrator KOF-K Kosher Supervision and author of the Halchically Speaking series

Short, inspiring thoughts and stories on the weekly Parshah and Yamim Tovim. A bolt of inspiration. A fascinating way of understanding the words of a pasuk. A beautiful story about a gadol, connecting to an event from the parshah. Glittering nuggets of Torah. That’s what Flashes of Torah is comprised of.

If you’re looking for a short but dazzling vort on the parshah, look no further than this book.True to its name, Flashes of Torah will provide you, in a flash, with magnificent and compelling divrei Torah to say over at the Shabbos table each week and on every Yom Tov. The beauty of each piece is in its brevity yet clarity. By Rabbi Ephraim Nisenbaum

Understanding the Wondrous Body, Meaning, Halachah, Lessons and Stories.

Acclaimed author Rabbi Moishe Dovid Lebovits of the Halachically Speaking series has produced a treasure trove of facts, insights, practical halachos, and stories about the miraculous workings of the human body and the wondrous brachah of Asher Yatzar. This book will fill you with a newfound appreciation of the gift of health and the tremendous power of Asher Yatzar. Never again will you recite this brachah the same way.

Current events within the process of the Geulah through the lens of Chazal. "Several years ago, shortly before publishing my first sefarim, entitled Keitz Meguleh, I had the zechus to bring a copy of the manuscript to Maran Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt"l Before I even handed it to Rav Chaim, he said to me, 'Ihr vaist az mir halt shoin bei der Keitz Megulah? Do you Know that we are already at the Keitz Megulah? '" -excerpt from Chapter 28, The End Illuminated. What exactly is the Keitz Megulah (lit. Revealed or Illuminated End) and what did Rav Chaim mean when he said that we're already "at the Keitz Megulah"? By

BIRCHOS KRIAS SHEMA—ALEINU. Stories on the Siddur to Bring Your Tefillos Alive. In this second volume, the tefillos of Birchos Krias Shema through Shemoneh Esrei, as well as the tefillos after Shemoneh Esrei, are explored and beautifully explained. As with Volume 1 of this highly-in-demand series, you’ll find yourself turning to Portraits of Prayer frequently as a way to connect to your tefillos...and to your Father in Heaven. By Rabbi Eliezer L. Abish

Rabbi Yisroel Moshe Sorotzkin

BY DAVID SAFFER

Political and community tributes have been made to Lord David Young who passed away last week.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Lord Pickles and Ambassador Tzipi Hotovely paid respect to the life Peer, 90, at the Conservative Friends of Israel luncheon on Monday.

A former advisor to Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher and David Cameron, charitable positions included Jewish Care, Chai Cancer Care, British ORT, The Chichester Festival and The Coram Trust.

Louise Hager, Chai Cancer Care, said the charity was “shocked and deeply saddened” by his death.

“His wise council, great experience and compassion for the past 16 years were pivotal to the organisation’s development,” she said. “We will always remember him with tremendous gratitude and affection.

Chai president from 2006, Young said of the charity in a feature interview: “Its values are the values of Judaism, tzedakah and helping people at a time of need. What could be harder than for a young family to lose a father or mother? Chai may not be able to change what happens ultimately, but it is there to restore and put individuals and families back

together when they are in pieces. When it was established in 1990, nobody was doing that let alone understood the need for it.” He added: “I’ve seen with my own eyes how every day more and more people are supported by Chai’s knowledge and experience.”

Young was an esteemed Honorary President and respected former President of Jewish Care.

“He was a true and caring gentleman whose contribution to Jewish Care and the community cannot be overestimated,”

said Judith Flacks, Jewish Care. “His wise counsel and thoughtful advice will be greatly missed.”

Young served as Chair of Trustees at the Jewish Museum London from its re-opening in 2010 until 2020.

They noted in a statement: “During this time Lord Young firmly established the museum at its new home in Camden and led the Museum through countless major exhibitions and vibrant public events.

“Lord Young was a generous philanthropist and alongside his business and political career he gave so much to the organisations he supported, including directly to the Jewish Museum. We are so grateful for the dedicated decade of leadership he gave to the Museum.”

Young served Thatcher in Conservative governments as Chair of the Manpower Services Commission and Secretary for Trade and Industry, and Employment.

He also joined the Civil Service as an unpaid volunteer at the Department of Industry for two years.

During the Thatcher years, he was renowned for providing solutions rather than problems, reducing ‘red tape’ and initiating training schemes for technology industries.

After resigning from Cabinet to return to private life, Young took on the role of deputy chairman of the Tory Party to help

Kenneth Baker reorganise central office. He stood down after Thatcher resigned but returned aged 78 to advise Cameron on health and safety legislation for five years.

The former PM said: “Lord Young was a true champion of business and enterprise for over 40 years from Thatcher’s government to my own,” adding, “He was a thoughtful, kind and lovely man.”

Lord Young of Graffham was born in 1932 in Clapton to Jewish immigrants Betty and Joe Young. He had his barmitzvah at the ‘old’ Kinloss Shul in Finchley.

Educated at Christ’s College in Finchley and University College London, Young started out in law then ran property and construction companies. Making his name at Great Universal Stores, later he became chairman of Cable & Wireless and president of the Institute of Directors.

Young, who chose the motto ‘Soluvere Est Servire, to solve is to serve’ for his baronetcy in 1984, was passionate about technology. He was the first person in the UK to own an Apple computer.

During an extraordinary life, Young counted among his friends the late Israeli President Chaim Herzog and Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Lita, daughters Karen and Judith, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

ASK THE RABBI

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IT’S TIME TO ABOLISH CHANUKAH GIFTS

Dear Rabbi Isn’t it time we abolish the whole gift giving ritual on Chanukah? We’ve clearly copied it from “others out there.” Apart from the issue of Jewish people copying non-Jewish ritual, I think it is very materialistic and misses the whole point of Chanukah. There is no Jewish source out there that endorses this. Perhaps if you write about it and how wrong it is, enough readers will get the message and hopefully start a trend to end this nonsense. Think of the merit you would have if you could accomplish this.

Melvyn

Dear Melvyn

While I appreciate the flattery in thinking my column carries such weight and can impact in such a meaningful way, I hate to burst your bubble. You sound like the scrooge of Chanukah, trying to terminate one of the most beautiful rituals associated with the festival.

You say, with some conviction, there are no sources that endorse this. Actually, there are sources that suggest this dates all the way back to the Chanukah story itself. (And see also Emes L’Yakov 670 in the footnote that suggests that in actual fact the likelihood is that the “others out there” copied the custom from us!) To be sure, the original tradition was that of giving Chanukah “gelt” or money.

The significance of this custom relates to the fact that the real battle of Chanukah was a cultural one. The Greeks sought

to assimilate us and inculcate us with Greek culture and philosophy. They sought to enforce Hellenism at the expense of Jewish ideals and education.

Those that were most under threat were the Jewish children. It was they, more than any other, whom the Greeks wanted to influence with all sorts of alien ideas. Hence they banned all means of Jewish education. The gift or money giving as it happened then, was to entice the children back into study.

A little known fact is that in response to the Chanukah threat, following the victory of the Maccabees, Rabbi Yeshoshua Ben Gamla established a national network of Jewish studies and set into motion a Jewish educational system which we benefit from till present day.

Indeed, Chanukah contains the root word Chinuch which means education. We look to encourage our kids today to study their ancient traditions and incentivise them with Chanukah money, or, as a substitute for Chanukah money we give them gifts. Maimonides discusses the importance of using incentives and prizes until a child is old enough to understand the importance and beauty of Jewish values and rituals and that’s what we do.

Indeed, just as Chanukah is the festival of lights – each beautiful child represents a ray light in the way that they bring illumination into our homes and literally light up our lives.

A flame flickers, sometimes wanes when exposed to the elements of the outside world, but with each passing day of Chanukah we add yet another candle

demonstrating the necessity to never be complacent and our need to always seek to increase the education and knowledge of our children stimulating them with the rich spiritual splendour that Judaism has to offer.

And let us remember that the Chanukah lights are kindled by the Shamash – the central candle. We, as parents, are that Shamash. We are the central candle responsible for kindling the flames – and we do so by way of our own example, because - always remember this – however much we are watching our children to see what they are doing with their lives – make no mistake about it – they are watching us to see what we are doing with ours!

Two sisters were spending their Chanukah weekend at their Grandparents. At bedtime, they’re lying on their beds reciting their bedtime prayers. Suddenly the littler sister starts to pray at the top of her lungs: “I pray for a new Barbie Doll House,” “I pray for a new Nintendo, I pray for a new iPhone.” The older sister looks to her: “Why are you shouting like that? G-d isn’t deaf you know!” “I know,” she replies, “but Grandma’ is!”

Everyone has their own idea of what they want for their kids in life but in our perpetual search and yearning for nachas – that Jewish word with no appropriate English translation – we must not go deaf to the calling of our 21st century and that is to ensure that children receive a sound Jewish education which will fortify them to find their own inner strength such that they will be able to navigate the challenges of life and grow to be

real sources of pride and beacons of light, as productive and proud Jews out in the world.

Melvyn – if you have children or grandchildren, I don’t know how long you might have been denying them their Chanukah presents. But it’s time you put

your hand in your pocket, dig deep, and make up for all those previous missed opportunities. If nothing else, your family will say, “it’s a miracle!” and will celebrate Chanukah recalling that added miracle each year going forward.

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

Understanding Machlokes

How and why disputes developed in the times of the Mishnah and Gemara

The life, wisdom, and worldwide impact of Rav Yeruchom Levovitz The

Mashgiach of Mir

Light up this Chanukah with the astounding new biography of the gadol who lit up the Torah world. His life and teachings continue to reverberate down through the generations, to this very day.

I Can Have Savlanus

The latest addition to our Middos Train series teaches kids how to be patient

Book

Toras Avigdor — Moadim, Vol. 2

Read Rav Miller’s timeless Torah on the yamim tovim! This volume includes profound insights on Chanukah.

In Hashem’s Hands

A child’s first book about bitachon Mountain Climber A book about trying hard and accomplishing

Torah from Israel Chanukah: A Final Taste of Sovereignty

BY RABBI MOSHE TARAGIN

The celebration of Chanukah is most often associated with the dramatic miracle of the menorah oil. After vanquishing the invading Greek armies, it was crucial that the iconic menorah lighting be restarted as quickly as possible to signal the resurgent Jewish victory. Unfortunately, most of the oil in the plundered Temple had been vandalized and contaminated. The sensational discovery of one unopened and unmarred flask of oil was, itself, cause for great joy. Witnessing that miniscule amount of oil steadily burn for eight days confirmed, that, even in the tail end of the second Temple era, Hashem would still visit supernatural miracles upon His people. The “few” had defeated the “many” and a righteous band of brothers had overcome the invincible Northern Greek armies. The greatest armies of the world could not defeat the Jewish spirit. This enduring message of Jewish survival and heroism was embodied in the miracle of the oil.

Surprisingly, in his account of the Chanukah episode, the Rambam doesn’t stress the oil miracle as the primary cause for celebration. In reality, there were numerous miracles during the Mikdash era, yet none of them were enshrined into a week-long festival. What is it about the Chanukah story-beyond the oil miracle- that warrants historical celebration?

The Rambam provides the answer: As a result of the divinely-aided military triumph “Jewish sovereignty was restored for more than two hundred years.” Under Greek persecution, our autonomy had been suspended and the Chanukah victory restored Jewish self-governance. Chanukah doesn’t just celebrate a miracle which occurred in a “historical vacuum”. Chanukah reshaped Jewish history by restoring our lost sovereignty.

Ironically, the Chanukah-restored sovereignty during the final two centuries of the second Temple era was sadly disappointing. Regrettably, the leaders of the Chanukah uprising quickly fell from grace. The gemara in Kiddushin claims that if a person approaches a Jewish court claiming to be of Chashmonaim stock, he or she is assumed to be non-pedigreed and is banned from marrying pedigreed Jews. Within a few generations, the entire Chashmonai dynasty was massacred. The only surviving members of the household

to escape this grisly death were a few slave hands or maidservants. Since all the pedigreed members of this line were murdered, evidently, a person who claims Chashmonai heritage must be slave.

This cruel outcome was actually a punishment for the illegal usurpation of the throne. Ideally Judaism mandates a division between religion and politics. Political authority is delegated to the tribe of Yehuda, while supervision of religious ceremonies in the Mikdash is the province of the house of Levi. A mix of religion and politics is always toxic, and never ends well for either. As descendants of Levi, the Chashmonaim were charged with Mikdash ceremonies but enjoyed absolutely no claim for political power. Usurping the throne, and violating this seminal division within Jewish society, they were annihilated. A heroic band of warriors who had valiantly defended Yerushalayim, committed a grievous national offense and were practically erased from history. It did not end well for the house of the Chashmonaim.

Furthermore, some of the surviving members of the Chashmonai line became dishonorable. John Hyrcanus served as a Cohen Gadol, ascended the throne in the year 135, and spearheaded great military victories over hostile neighbors. He greatly expanded the borders of Israel, refortified the walls of Yerushalayim and instituted numerous worthwhile decrees. Yet, sadly, toward the end of his reign he had a falling out with the Sanhedrin and turned against them, becoming a sworn enemy of the Rabbinic establishment, and a leading member of the notorious Saducee movement. His infamous “late-in-life” desertion became a metaphor of infamy. The Talmud cautions: “don’t ever take your faith for granted -even until your last day. After all John Hyrcanus deserted our traditions even after 80 years of reigning as Cohen Gadol.”

John’s son, Alexander Jannaeus or Yannai Hamelech had a similarly checkered career. Having been personally insulted by a ruling of the Sanhedrin, he murdered 6000 innocent people and barred pilgrims from freely entering the Temple. These two leading luminaries or the house of Chasmonaim brought disrepute to the family. The leaders of the Chanukah miracle launched a dynasty which betrayed our tradition, murdered innocent people and became embroiled in civil wars.

Not only did the Chanukah leadership ultimately turn suspect, but the sovereignty we experienced during that period was severely flawed. The two-hundred intervening years between the Chanukah miracle and the destruction of the second Temple were, possibly, one of the most pathetic periods in Jewish history. We were constantly under military aggression and constantly paying tribute to foreign powers. Additionally, that dark period was scarred by endless internecine struggle, as Jewish society splintered into multiple warring factions. Our regained sovereignty was hollowed out by civil war and, eventually, the second Temple caved in on itself. Imagine the scene every erev Yom Kippur. The High priest was summoned by Sanhedrin, and forced to swear that he would not short-circuit the sacred ceremonies of Yom Kippur. More often than not the High priest was a Saducee-sympathizer and would intentionally torpedo these ceremonies. Both the High Priest and the Sanhedrin committee shed unhappy tears at the woeful situation in which such incredulous doubts had to be considered.

Finally, after two hundred years of strife and social disunity, the Romans marched into Jerusalem, burnt it to the ground, razed the land and renamed the city Aelia Capitolina. The miracle of Chanukah has absolutely no long lasting political impact. It is a blip on the radar of history. What sovereignty, exactly, are we celebrating?

Evidently, whenever, Jews achieve autonomy and enjoy self-rule we celebrate and we recite Hallel– regardless of the caliber of leadership and independent of the texture of that sovereignty. It is specifically the imperfect nature of the post-Chanukah sovereignty which makes it so relevant and so contemporary. How long have Jews endured persecution, yearning for the day

we could live under Jewish rule in a Jewish state? For how many cold Decembers did defenseless Jews endure the inevitable Christmas-time pogroms? How often did we dream of a Jewish army or police force for protection against interminable hostilities? How many centuries did we dream of Jewish government and of carving a society based upon Jewish values? It has now been restored to us and we celebrate our fate, despite our imperfect leadership and despite our incomplete sovereignty. It is the specifically the flawed nature of the post-Chanukah sovereignty which makes it so relevant! Chanukah demands that we appreciate and celebrate any form of Jewish sovereignty.

Thousands of year ago, as the Jews were about to embark upon a long and dark exile, Hashem offered us one last taste of Jewish sovereignty, so that we would recognize it when it was ultimately restored to us. He reminded us that Jews are meant to self-govern rather than subject to the laws of others. He reminded us that Jews were meant to live securely in their land rather than be precariously hosted across in foreign lands. He reminded us of that Jews were meant to defend their security rather than be vulnerable to the aggression of their many enemies.

Sovereignty has finally been restored.

Chanukah has once again been renewed. We hope for more, but we rejoice for what has been already achieved. We know what sovereignty tastes like. For centuries Chanukah `kept that taste alive.

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.

Re-Examining Our Chanukah Mission

BY RABBI SHMUEL REICHMAN

There was once a public debate between a rabbi and an astrophysicist regarding the nature of our universe. The astrophysicist, representing the atheist perspective, confidently approached the podium and began addressing the audience: “I don’t know much about Judaism, but I believe I can sum it up in a few words: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” With that, he went on to detail how physicists could now adequately explain the nature of our universe, without the need for religion. When he finished his speech, it was the rabbi’s turn to address the audience and represent the religious approach. With a sparkle in his eye, he turned to the crowd, and said: “I don’t know much about astrophysics, but I believe I can sum it up in a few words: twinkle twinkle little star how I wonder what you are.” With that, he went on to deliver the rest of his speech.

THE AGE-OLD DEBATE

Spiritual debate has been a recurring phenomenon since the beginning of time. Chanukah is when we tap into the spiritual debate between the Jews and the Greeks, as the Greeks specifically attempted to destroy our spiritual way of life. They aimed to cut off our connection with Hashem and replace it with the worship of the natural, physical world. Yavan, the Hebrew name for the Greeks, means quicksand (Tehillim 69:3)- the Greeks sought to “drown” us in their secular culture, replacing spirituality with atheism and hedonism. The Midrash says that the Greeks attempted to darken our eyes- “hichshichah eineihem” (Bereishis Rabbah 2:4). Darkness represents a lack of clarity, the inability to perceive true form. Physical darkness prevents physical clarity, spiritual darkness prevents spiritual clarity. This was the Greek attack on the Jewish People: a distortion of truth, a darkening of knowledge and perception. For this reason, the Jewish People went to war against the mighty Greek army, and to this day we carry on that fight against Greek culture, a culture that we view as damaging and antithetical to Judaism.

GREEK CULTURE

However, if we take a deeper look into Jewish literature, we find a strikingly different picture of the Greek nation and their culture. In Parshas Noach, Noach blesses his two sons, Shem and Yefes, with a seemingly peculiar bracha: “Yaft Elokim l’Yefes, v’yishkon b’ohalei Shem,” Hashem will grant beauty to Yefes, and he (Yefes) will dwell within the tents of Shem. Yefes is the precursor to the Greeks, and Shem to the Jews. This seemingly paints the Greeks in a positive light, as a beautiful nation fitting to dwell within the framework and boundaries

of Judaism. In a similar vein, the Gemara (Megillah 9b) states that despite the general prohibition of translating the Torah into different languages, it is permissible to translate the Torah into Greek due to the beauty of the language. According to both of these sources, it seems as though Greek culture does not contradict Judaism, but is meant in some way to complement it, harmonizing with Jewish ideology. How can we understand this contradiction? In order to explain it, we must first develop a deep spiritual principle.

THE SPIRITUAL-PHYSICAL RELATIONSHIP

How do we understand and perceive Hashem? Is Hashem within time and space, limited to this world alone, as Pantheists believe? Or is Hashem completely transcendent, beyond time, space, and this physical world, as many of the ancient philosophers believed?

The Jewish approach, as explained by the Rambam, Maharal, Ramchal, and others, is a beautifully nuanced blend of these two approaches. Hashem is transcendent, completely beyond our physical world of time and space, and yet, He is also immanent, within our physical world. This principle applies to all spirituality; we believe that the spiritual and transcendent is deeply connected to the limited and physical world. In other words, our physical world is a projection and emanation of a deeper, spiritual reality. This is the meaning behind the famous Midrash, “Istakel bi’oraisa, u’bara alma”, Hashem looked into the Torah and created the world (Bereishis Rabbah 1:1). This means that the physical world is an emanation and expression of the Torah, the spiritual root of existence. To give an analogy, imagine a projector: the image you see on the screen is emanating from the projector. The projector and film are the source, the image on the screen is the expression. Similarly, each and every one of us was once a zygote, half and male and half a female genetic code. From that single cell a fully developed and expressed human being ultimately manifested. The same is true regarding the physical world, it stems from a spiritual root, a transcendent dimension.

Thus, we are able to understand and experience the spiritual through the physical, as the two are intrinsically connected. If you’re wondering how to understand this concept, consider the way other human beings experience, relate to, and understand you. All they have ever seen is your physical body. They’ve never seen your thoughts, your consciousness, or your emotions. The only way they can understand you is by relating to how you express yourself and your internal world through your physical body. Through your words, actions, facial expressions, and body language, other people experience what’s going on inside of your body, inside of your head, inside of you.

The same is true regarding our experience of Hashem and the spiritual. We

can’t see spirituality, only physicality. We must therefore use the physical to connect back to the spiritual root.

THE BATTLE OF CHANUKAH

The Greeks sought to uproot this Jewish perspective, to detach the physical world from its higher root. They claimed that human beings have no connection to anything higher than the physical world itself, and that it’s therefore impossible to connect to Hashem. As the Ramban explains (Ramban Al Ha’Torah, Vayikra 16:8), the Greeks believed only that which the human intellect could grasp. Anything that requires spiritual sensitivity, that transcends rational proof alone, was dismissed as false. Even the Greeks gods were glorified humans- as anything that transcended the physical, human world was dismissed. In essence, the Greeks served themselves.

THE JEWISH PERSPECTIVE

The Jewish approach is much more nuanced. We embrace human intellect and reason but are aware of a realm that transcends it. We recognize the wisdom of science, medicine, psychology, mathematics, and other forms of worldly wisdom, but also recognize a higher form of wisdom, the Torah. As the Vilna Gaon explains, where logic and human intellect ends, Jewish wisdom begins. The reasoning behind this principle is based on the aforementioned idea: the physical world is an expression of the spiritual world. Just as the physical world stems from a higher, spiritual realm, physical wisdom is an expression of a higher form of wisdom, the Torah. While the wisdom of the physical world is true, it stems from a higher truth, the Torah. Torah is the absolute foundation and root; all physical wisdom is its expression.

THE IDEAL RELATIONSHIP

The ideal is for the physical wisdom of the Greeks and Yefes to reside within the tent of Shem, for science and the wisdom of the world to be in harmony with Torah. The problem occurred only once the Greeks denied the existence of anything beyond their independent intellectual wisdom. This was the battle of Chanukah. The Greeks tried to destroy the Torah, which contradicted their ideology, and the Jews were forced to fight for their beliefs, to defend their spiritual connection with Hashem and the transcendent wisdom of Torah.

Rav Hutner explains that Chanukah is the chag of Torah Sheba’al Peh, the Oral Torah. Chanukah is the one holiday with no source in Torah Shebiksav. Unlike Purim, it does not even have a Megillah; it is completely of Rabbinic origin. Furthermore, it doesn’t even have a Mishna; the only canonized source for Chanukah is a few Gemaras which mention Chanukah in an almost coincidental manner. Why is this so?

Chanukah represents the battle against the Greeks. The Greeks claimed that the only source of truth is the human

intellect; nothing transcends human logic. The Jews not only showed that there is a transcendent source of truth, but took it one step further. When done appropriately, with humility and proper recognition of the Torah’s transcendent root, the limited human being can actually use his human intellect to participate in the creation of Torah. This is the unbelievable nature of Torah Sheba’al Peh: human beings are given the ability to participate and even create novel Torah ideas and insights. The greatest victory over the Greeks wasn’t to simply prove that transcendent Torah exists; it was to reveal that even the human intellect can connect to Torah, even limited human beings can connect to the infinite.

OUR PLACE OF CONNECTION

The Greeks tried to spiritually destroy our Beis Ha’Mikdash, the point of connection to the transcendent, where Hashem most intimately connects to this physical world. After our victory on Chanukah, we reignited the flame of that spiritual building, and every year since, we must reignite that same flame within our own homes; we must inaugurate our own personal Beis Ha’mikdash.

Every day, we get to choose whether we’ll become further entrenched in secular and Greek culture, or if we’ll build our connection to the infinite, the transcendent, and carry the message of Chanukah deep within our hearts. Our life is like building a personal Beis Ha’Mikdash, building an ever-deeper and ever-closer relationship with Hashem. It’s the result of every brick we lay down; every day is like another brick, another opportunity to add to our eternal home, our eternal self, our eternal existence.

Rabbi Shmuel Reichman is a bestselling author, international speaker, and the CEO of Self-Mastery Academy. He has lectured internationally on topics of Torah thought, Jewish medical ethics, psychology, and leadership. His bestselling book, The Journey to Your Ultimate Self, serves as an inspiring gateway into deeper Jewish thought. He is also a business, executive, and leadership coach, with a unique approach based on Torah values. After obtaining his BA from Yeshiva University, he received Semicha from Yeshiva University’s RIETS, a master’s degree in education from Azrieli Graduate School, and a master’s degree in Jewish Thought from Bernard Revel Graduate School. He then spent a year studying at Harvard as an Ivy Plus Scholar. He currently lives in Chicago with his wife and son where he is pursuing a PhD at the University of Chicago. To enjoy more of Rabbi Reichman’s content, to contact him, or to learn more about his services, visit his website: ShmuelReichman.com

Weekly Dvar Torah

FROM ERETZ YISRAEL

Eye on the Light

BY RABBI JUDAH MISCHEL

In our sedra, a tragic drama unfolds in the house of Yaakov Avinu. No stranger to strife between brothers, Yaakov Avinu is aware of the tension between his sons, and encourages a meeting between them:

“And Yisrael said to Yosef, ‘Are your brothers not pasturing in Shechem? Come, and I will send you to them…. Lech na re’eh es sh’lom achecha, go now and seek your brothers’ welfare… and bring me back word’” (Bereishit 37:14).

The Tiferes Shlomo, Rebbe Shlomo haKohen of Radomsk zy”a, makes a beautiful diyuk in Yaakov’s language, as he begs Yosef: na, please, re’eh sh’lom achecha, proactively search out the part of your brothers that is shaleim, whole. He is saying, ‘Please go out of your previous experiences and actively see the good in your brothers!’ Though things may be difficult and your relationship tense, ‘na’, please, focus on their nekudos tovos; strive to see the positive in them by

focusing on their good points.

Yaakov wants his family to remain intact and to thrive — and to reveal the secret of happiness, as hinted in the verse, “Who is the man who desires life, who loves days? Liros tov, see goodness” (interpretive translation of Tehillim 34:13).

How careful we must be, concludes the Tiferes Shlomo, to protect ourselves from the downward pull of seeing negativity: Rak yistakeil b’maalas chaveiro v’yaalim einav m’chesrono. “One should only look at the positive qualities of his fellow, and remove his eyes from his deficiency.”

Chanukah celebrates our liberation from our oppressors and the renewal of the avoda, the holy service in the Beis HaMikdash, after decades of Greek rule,

impurity and defilement. During these eight days we relive chanukas mizbeach, the rededication of the altar, and the reestablishment of the Temple as the center of our lives.

Chanukah shares the root of the word chinuch, meaning alternately ‘inauguration’ or ‘education’. Contemplating the narrative and traditions of Chanukah provides insightful lessons and important instruction in the ways of education. For example:

• Believe in ‘a little bit’. Just as lighting a little bit of oil became the basis of a miracle, recognizing a little bit of merit or talent in a student can become the basis of wondrous growth.

• Light is stronger than darkness. Negative behavior is superficial. When inner light is revealed, the negativity will be dispelled, and the essence of the individual will continue to shine, unimpeded. • Emunah and optimism are transformative. While criticism and punishment

may seem to temporarily motivate people, such strategies will not transform them. Having faith in others, and envisioning the best they can be, allows them to change from within.

Tragically, it was not long after the miraculous Maccabean victory and miracle of the Menorah light that the leadership of Klal Yisrael unraveled, and the Greeks re-asserted control over the Beis HaMikdash. The reprieve from Greek oppression was short lived, and controversy and corruption ultimately drove us from Yerushalayim once again. However, more than two millennia later, we continue to kindle Chanukah lights, to relive and remember the sweetness of the emunah we tasted as we reconsecrated our Temple and celebrated a powerful victory of light over darkness.

Chanukah is a reminder to focus on the nekudos tovos, the good points, that which is whole; to keep our eyes on the light, and define ourselves and each other by our strengths, victories and successes.

Rabbi Judah Mischel is Executive Director of Camp HASC, and Mashpiah of OUNCSY. He is a member of Mizrachi’s Speakers

Vayeishev Sidra Summary

1ST ALIYA (KOHEN) – BEREISHIT 37:1-11

Yaakov settles in the Land of Cana’an (later Israel). Yosef brings negative reports to his father about the sons of Leah, his half-brothers (Rashi). Yaakov makes a woollen tunic for Yosef, his favourite son. Yosef’s brothers become jealous. Yosef has a dream in which all 12 brothers are binding sheaves in the field. The brothers’ sheaves gather around Yosef’s sheaf and bow to it. This increases their hatred. Yosef has another dream; the sun and moon and 11 stars bow to him. He relates this to his brothers and to Yaakov, who rebukes him.

2ND ALIYA (LEVI) – 37:12-22

Yosef’s brothers shepherd Yaakov’s flock. Yaakov sends Yosef to meet them. His brothers plot to kill him. Reuven dissuades

“Yosef said to the butler:… ‘In another three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your post, and you will place Pharaoh’s cup in his hand” (Bereishit 40:12-13)

them, advising them to throw Yosef in a pit, but not to kill him. Reuven plans to rescue Yosef and return him to his father.

3RD ALIYA (SHLISHI) – 37:23-36

Yosef’s brothers remove his tunic and throw him in the pit. They see a caravan of merchants approaching. Yehuda suggests selling Yosef to the merchants. Yosef is sold on repeatedly (Rashi), eventually arriving in Egypt. The brothers dip the tunic in the blood of a slaughtered goat and show it to Yaakov, who concludes that Yosef was killed by an animal.

4TH ALIYA (REVI’I)

out, she declares that the owner of the surety is the father. Yehuda recognises the objects and admits his role. Tamar is spared and gives birth to twins, Peretz and Zerach.

Point to Consider: Why did Yehuda not instruct Shela to marry Tamar after the death of Onan? (see Rashi to 38:11)

5TH ALIYA (CHAMISHI) – 39:1-6

Yosef is sold to Potiphar, the Chamberlain of the Butchers. Yosef is very successful and Potiphar places him in charge of his household.

– 38:1-30

Yehuda has three sons – Er, Onan and Shela. Er marries Tamar, but is killed by G-d. Yehuda instructs Onan to marry Tamar. Onan also dies. Sometime later, Yehuda’s wife dies. Tamar disguises herself and approaches Yehuda at a crossroads. Unaware of her identity, he consorts with her, for the wage of two kid goats. He leaves her his ring, coat and staff as surety. Yehuda sends a friend to take the payment to the unidentified lady but he does not find her. Yehuda is later told that Tamar is pregnant and orders her to be burned to death. As she is taken

6TH ALIYA (SHISHI) – 39:7-23

Potiphar’s wife tries to seduce Yosef, who rejects her advances. One day they are alone in the house. She tries again and catches his garment; he runs away. With Yosef’s garment in her hand, she summons her household, shows them his garment and accuses Yosef of attempting to seduce her. Potiphar imprisons Yosef, who earns the trust of the chief prison officer.

7TH ALIYA (SHEVI’I) – 40:1-23 Pharaoh’s baker and butler transgress

against Pharaoh and are sent to the same prison as Yosef. Each one has a dream, which Yosef interprets: both will be taken out of prison in three days – the baker to be hanged and the butler to be restored to his post. Yosef asks the butler to mention his plight to Pharaoh, but he forgets to do so.

HAFTARAH

The prophet Amos sends a warning message to the people to stop persecuting the poor, a sin that cannot be overlooked. He also accuses them of corrupting the prophets and the Nazarites. The rich and powerful will not be able to escape G-d’s ultimate judgement.

Bureau (www.mizrachi.org/speakers).

Chanukah celebrates our liberation from our oppressors and the renewal of the avoda, the holy service in the Beis HaMikdash

Chanukah Gifts for Every

Dream On

Gila Arnold

See You

Riva Pomerantz

See You, by bestselling author Riva Pomerantz, is a compelling, multilayered story about redemption and resilience. Join Esther as she’s forced to tear apart the fabric of her life. Will she succeed in finding real meaning and happiness?

This engaging, humorous novel, filled with unusual twists and turns, will keep you riveted as its characters struggle to reconcile their pasts and move forward — because all it takes is just one match.

The

Truth or Dare

Truth or Dare is a powerful teen novel about the games people play to avoid facing the truth and the potential to change the rules. Join Raizy as she struggles to overcome her pain and find her place to belong — but only if you dare.

Never Alone

Luis is sent to a boarding school far from his home. But somebody is plotting against him. Anti-Semitic donors come to the dor mitory. And fighter planes are flying overhead.

Join Luis on his travels, and discover how every step of the way comes together to form a magnif icent story of Hashgacha Pratis

The Lost Island Y. Bromberg

When their ship is attacked, Tuvia is separated from his family. He’s rescued by Captain Alex, who is searching for a lost island filled with treasures. What secret is Captain Alex hiding? Will they find the lost island? And will Tuvia ever see his family again?

Find out in this spellbinding adventure.

Miriam Kreitman

Chavi Singer

The Golden Gate

Join Bracha, Sara, and Cousin Shoshi as they tour San Francisco, encounter Chinese gangs, and learn some intriguing family history in this captivating adventure, the third in the Rivkah Gross Academy series, now back in print!

Sukey Gross

Freidele Galya Soban Biniashvili

Just One Match

one on

Top Titles

Four Seasons with Madame Chamberlaine Tzipie Wolner

Once again, Tzipie Wolner has crafted a collection of actionpacked escapades that will brighten your day. The fourth book in the wildly popular Madame Chamberlaine series — magnifique!

AVAILABLE AT YOUR LOCAL HEBREW BOOKSELLER DISTRIBUTE BY LEHMANNS www.lehmanns.co.uk info@lehmanns.co.uk The

B.Y.

Stuck

The Feldman twins can’t stop bickering. And it’s making life miserable for everyone around them. What will it take for the boys to declare a truce? Something no one ever expected!

Easy as Pie

Menucha Fuchs

Who Wears a Yarmulke? C.B. Lieber

The Baker’s Dozen #17 No Room for Bakers!

Miriam Zakon and Emmy Zitter When Chanukah arrives, the Bakers learn about sharing and understanding, and experience their own miracle in the Baker’s Dozen grand finale!

The B.Y. Times #17 Starting Over

Leah Klein

Two great new editions of your favorite series.

In this delightful board book, join Yudi as he searches for just the right spot to put his yarmulke.

An original and engaging story that will equip children with tools to handle unexpected challenges. Written by professional educators, with lively illustrations by talented illustrator Sarah Zee, this book offers a powerful message in an entertaining way.

There’s a Frog on My Stage! Chaya Kramer and Sarah Massry, MSED

Dishy Schiffman

Rafi Rooster

Chaya Esther Chafeitz

When the Cohens agree to foster a troubled boy, they don’t know what they’re in for. Twelve-year-old Ezra turns out to be helpful and good-natured. But why has he been stealing? A tale about trust, courage, and friendship.

BY GAV COHN

These episodes of Yosef and his brothers are difficult to understand. If we simply read the verses, without recourse to tradition, it seems a troubling tale, one of jealousy and hatred, destiny and dreams. And yet, according to our great rabbis, there is profundity found in the plainest sense of these texts too. Every time one reads Chumash, new light can be shone onto it (Rashbam). Let’s try, bearing in mind, of course, that these were figures of towering greatness. We can discern a monumental transformation in Yosef’s outlook.

In his childhood, Yosef pushed to be a leader. He acted as a steward to his siblings and delivered reports of their wrongdoings to their father. Being the most beloved son, Yosef was given an exquisite cloak, commonly worn by rulers. Yosef sought positions of leadership and dreamt of all those around him eventually recognising his authority. We are told almost nothing of his personality or talents.

Traumatically, Yosef was then stripped of his cloak and thrown into a pit. Sold as a slave, Yosef worked in the household of Egypt’s executioner. He became a stranger in a foreign land, at the lowest rung of society, and forced to labour for others – to be ruled over, and not lead. Positions and power seemed, quite literally, a distant dream.

And yet, stripped of his garments of nobility and removed from his privileged family

status, the verses almost explode in their account of Yosef’s character and abilities.

For the first time we are told of Yosef’s magnetic charisma and pleasantness. Everything he touched prospered. Yosef rose rapidly to assume responsibilities over his master’s entire estate. When Yosef was then thrown in a squalid dungeon, his aptitude and captivating personality still shone forth, and he rose yet again to become a leader and confident to those around him.

In his youth, Yosef wanted to lord over his siblings and hold positions of authority. These need not be achieved through one’s own inner character, these are external roles, achieved through one’s official rank and by recognition from those around him.

Later, alone and powerless, stripped of the cloak that masked him, Yosef began to look inwards. He realised that as a simple human being he possessed many skills and had an appealing character, and he let it beam outwards. He became driven not by dreams of others bowing down to him but by his own personality and talents.

Our Sages remark that kingship and priesthood are like “crowns,” raising a person to a higher stature. But having a good name, they say, is the crown that outranks them all. Being a monarch or a priest, are just one’s job or tribe, crowns and cloaks external to oneself. Possessing a good character and abilities, as Yosef discovered, is the highest prestige, as that is truly who we are. This perhaps is one of the plain interpretations of our sedra.

Va yeishev

Vayeishev Word Search

Brothers fighting – sadly this has been the case throughout the book of Bereishis although this week we are talking about brothers who were all tzaddikim.

Yaakov had made a nice coloured cloak for his son Yosef, and Yosef had dreams which upset his brothers. In the first dream the brothers all have a sheaf of straw and the sheaves bow down to Yosef’s sheaf. In the second dream, the sun, moons and stars all bow down to Yosef.

The brothers sell Yosef as a slave and after a long journey he ends up in Potiphar’s house. He is so successful there and very popular, but Potiphar’s wife is a troublemaker and Yosef leaves. Sadly, he is put into jail.

Hashem is running this story though, like He directs all our lives, and not long after Yosef is thrown in jail, Pharaoh finds a fly in his wine! Horror of all horrors! And then he finds a stone in his bread! Wow! Both baker and butler end up in the same prison as Yosef and, after they both have disturbing dreams, they ask Yosef to explain them to him.

He explains that Pharaoh will let the butler back on the job, but poor baker will not be allowed back.

Indeed, three days later, its Pharaoh’s birthday and in a good mood, he places the butler back into his position, and baker is sent to his death.

Tangram

Challenge! Using all the shapes on the left can you make the candle shape on the right?

Shared responsibilities Paperweight Perspective

BY DAPHNE SCHOGGER

I have been a volunteer for Paperweight for over 7 years initially as a Caseworker and after a while joining the front-line team fielding calls from new and often frightened potential clients. We have a very brief window of opportunity to gain their trust and record the key issues with which they need attentions. Thereafter, we have a key role in ensuring detailed records of the progress of the assistance are maintained. With over 450 active clients nationwide, we are kept busy !

I must say that I was attracted to volunteer for Paperweight as I wanted an ongoing commitment and Paperweight certainly does this. Before joining Paperweight, in my naivety I had no idea that so very many crises present within the Jewish community. Perhaps we lead such cosseted lives that despite regular advertisements from Jewish charities, we don’t really believe that demand is actually on our doorstep and that it is our

friends, our neighbours, our family, who are seeking help.

Paperweight as a proactive organisation, is at the forefront of social action within the Jewish community and addresses the needs of many through help with budgeting, benefits applications, general bureaucracy, advocacy, financial and legal queries, guiding people through the divorce process and ever so much more.

Many people rely on their spouse to manage the family finances, take charge of passwords, pay bills. They have been quite happy for this status quo to continue indefinitely thinking, mistakenly, but not uncommonly, that nothing will ever change and believe “that in good time we can have the conversation”. Paperweight’s experience, again and again (for many

reasons), is that events overtake intentions, and the discussion never happens

What happens when the spouse with the financial responsibilities dies or becomes unable to continue their role?

Well those left holding the fort are left in crisis and often have no idea how to pay a bill, how to access accounts, how to go online etc. All these new and seemingly imperative demands arrive at a time when they are assimilating a devastating change in their lives : chronic illness, a new and incoherent Care system or, alas, mourning.

This is where Paperweight plays a vital role. We can guide our clients through these traumatic times and help them to navigate the bureaucracy that inevitably comes with such situations.

Does the imbalance in responsibilities

in your household sound familiar? Try to find the time to redefine family and household responsibilities, currently not shared - then make a list! Who has been doing what, who can share a role, where to find the original paperwork. It needn’t be a morbid activity. Detail where everything is kept, passwords, the Will, what the bank accounts are for, which savings accounts are current. This will save your partner such a lot of grief when they really do not have the capacity for it.

In fact, Paperweight have just published a new Guide entitled “It’s Time to Have the Conversation “which does exactly what it says on the tin, and we would be happy to post it to anyone who would like a copy.

And please don’t forget to have Wills and Enduring Powers of Attorney in force, whatever your ages. And follow through with signing and submitting them.

Paperweight can help you now, and would much rather assist when you are bobbing along through life, however bumpy, before it tips over the waterfall of calamity.

For a copy of our guide, please email chaniecooper@paperweight.org.uk

financial Legal tax

Theexecutor Administration

After a bereavement, whatever your administrative, legal or financial problems, our caseworkers, based in London, Manchester and Gateshead, have the expertise to help. And it’s all free of charge.

To access our services, or to make a donation to support our work, call 0330 174 4300 or visit paperweight.org.uk instagram.com/paperweighttrustlondon facebook.com/WeArePaperweight

We can’t take away the grief, but we can help with some of the chaos that comes with it.

Perhaps we lead such cosseted lives that despite regular advertisements from Jewish charities, we don’t really believe that demand is actually on our doorstep.

LSJS Education Page

Continuing

BY HELENA MILLER

If there is one career which understands the benefit of continuing professional development, it is teaching. Teachers are continually learning, whether it is through oneoff sessions as part of their weekly staff meetings in school, or attending classes to learn new curriculum methods, or committing to longer courses to increase their skill sets in aspects of pedagogy. But what tempts a teacher to take on a Master’s degree in Education? This really is a significant investment of a teacher’s time and effort. Well, a Master’s in Education can help you become an even better teacher. A Master’s degree will build the skills teachers already have as well as introduce new topics and allow teachers to gain an in-depth knowledge and understanding of Education. As important, a Master’s degree helps a teacher with career progression.

You may be surprised to hear that in England, teachers can choose between more than 1,600 different Masters’ degrees in Education. That gives you a great deal of choice if you are a maths or science teacher for example. If you are a Jewish Studies teacher though, and you want to study Jewish Education at Master’s level, there is not so much choice!

The London School of Jewish Studies runs a Master’s degree in Jewish Education, especially for teachers and informal educators in Jewish schools, Rabbonim and community professionals. It is a twoyear, part-time distance-learning course, validated by Middlesex University. We run real time webinars every two or three

weeks so that students feel as supported as possible. The course content includes modules in traditional texts and their applications to Jewish educational settings, theories of teaching and learning, models of Jewish Education in a historical and global context. As well as all this, students can choose to focus on modules in leadership and management, adult education, informal education, or pedagogy. In the second year of the course, a dissertation gives students research skills and the opportunity to write an extended in-depth study of their choice.

With every element of a teacher’s continuing professional development, there are unintended benefits. With the LSJS

Master’s degree, that is undoubtedly the opportunity to network with educators from all over the world and from different strands of Jewish Education. You will certainly be in a class with teachers from Jewish schools in the UK, but you may also study with teachers from Hong Kong and Israel, Germany and the Netherlands. You may sit in zoom webinars with rabbis from South Africa and from North East London, with educators from the Jewish Museum in Cape Town and teachers from the cheder, part-time sector in Gerrmany. You will learn from and with your teachers, and from and with each other.

We are currently recruiting for our next cohort, due to start in January 2023. Please do email me if you are interested or look on the LSJS website. The more educated our educators are, the more inspirationally they will serve the students in our Jewish schools, synagogues and communities.

Dr Helena Miller, Director of Degrees and Teacher Training Programmes, Senior Research Fellow

EXPERT ADVICE

Question: I am 85 and I’m quite independent in my own home. I am worried about the rising cost of heating bills in this cold weather so I’m trying to only put the heating on when I really need to. I wonder if you’ve got any advice on staying warm?

Answer: The cost of living is a real concern for many of us, and as we age, the cold affects us more but there are extra things you can do to help you to stay warm to support your health and wellbeing this winter. It’s best to try to keep your home at 18°C (65°F) or higher. Wearing multiple thinner layers of clothes, or clothes made of wool and fleecy synthetic fibres, having plenty of hot meals, hot drinks and a hot water bottle, is beneficial too.

You may be able to take advantage of support from financial schemes and discounts, such as the Warm Home Discount Scheme or Cold Weather Payments. To qualify for these, you would need to be claiming Pension Credit, a qualifying benefit or on other support. Visiting warm places and connecting socially with others saves on fuel bills, whilst boosting your wellbeing. Jewish Care’s community centres offer warmth in temperature and company, with friendly staff and volunteers, as well as stimulating activities and a hot, nourishing meal. Our Supportive Communities tea party groups also meet regularly in a warm, friendly atmosphere throughout the year and our Meals on Wheels service provides hot, nutritious meals to older people at home delivered by our volunteers.

It’s important to have your yearly flu jab, free for over 65’s, order repeat prescriptions for any medications you need and keep a list of important telephone numbers by your phone for emergencies.

You can visit jewishcare.org to find out more about services we run near you, or call the Jewish Care Direct helpline on 020 8922 2222 or email helpline@jcare.org if you would like any more information.

Pegrum, Jewish Care Head of Social Work, Safeguarding and Mental Health

SHIPPING

STEPHEN MORRIS SHIPPING

With almost 40 years experience, our company has the ability to move household and personal effects and antiques and fine art with the professionalism and care that comes from that experience coupled with an attention to detail. We construct our own Tri-Wall and wooden packing cases on site and employ full-time art installers and handymen for those ‘extra’ jobs that always need doing on a move or installation. And size is no limitation – we have moved trains, boats and planes across the world and even bridges and a 5,000 seater tent!

Contact: 020 8832 2222 info@shipsms.co.uk www.shipsms.co.uk

WEALTH MANAGMENT

MARC

FINANCIAL SERVICES (FCA) COMPLIANCE

JACOB BERNSTEIN

A member of the APCC, specialising in financial services compliance for: Mortgage, Protection and General Insurance Intermediaries; Lenders, Credit Brokers, Debt Counsellors and Debt Managers; Alternative Investment Fund Managers; • E-Money, Payment Services, PISP, AISP and Grant-making Charities.

Contact: 020 7781 8019 info@www.richdale.co.uk www.richdale.co.uk

CHARITY

JEWISH CARE

Jewish Care is the largest health and social care organisation serving the Jewish community in London and the South East. Our vital services touch the lives of 10,000 people every week. We provide services and offer a wide range of support groups to older people, people with mental health needs, Holocaust survivors, people living with dementia, people with a variety of needs and carers support.

Contact: 020 8922 2222 helpline@jcare.org www.jewishcare.org

BUTCHERS

KOSHER DELI

Kosher Deli was established with the intention of making kosher meat and poultry affordable for all with the convenience of multiple locations and a comprehensive delivery service. All this without compromising on kashrus or quality.

Locations in: Golders Green, Hendon, Temple Fortune, Edgware, Borehamwood & Manchester

Contact: 020 8381 4450 info@kosherdeliuk.co.uk www.kosherdeli.co.uk

Rachel

richdale

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

MARTIN HEIMAN – SMARTINET

We’ve been providing businesses with all of their communication needs since 2010. We specialise in supplying businesses with VoIP Packages, Mobile Plans, Broadband, Card Merchant Services, Leased Lines, On-Hold Marketing, and Call Centre Services. Smartinet, your reliable and efficient business communications provider.

SOCIAL MEDIA EXPERT

SITEAWE

Social media is POWERFUL for businesses. But a community around your business with followers to do more than just follow is even MORE powerful. Our partners include The Jewish Weekly and Badatz Igud Rabbonim. Comments have included “They boosted, and are continuing to boost, our online presence to far beyond what I could have imagined.” So what are you waiting for? Get in touch today

Contact: 0333 613 0000

connect@smartinet.co.uk smartinet.co.uk

ENERGY PERFORMANCE

EPC NATIONAL

EPC NATIONAL are leading experts in providing EPC certificates for domestic & non-domestic properties nationwide.

Especially with the new regulations coming, we provide guidance to all of our clients. Call the team to discuss any requirements.

Contact: 07707 220 445 eli@siteawe.com www. siteawe.com

FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS

STEPHEN COLMAN – INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS

An independent mortgage broker directly authorised by FCA specialising – for over 25 years - in the more ‘challenging’ situations. We take care of the whole mortgage process on your behalf, handling all aspects of buying your residential or investment property. In addition over the past 5 years we have been at the forefront in arranging Equity Release mortgages for the over 55’s

Contact: 03300 881141 info@epcnational.co.uk www.epcnational.co.uk

Contact: 07956 234 524 020 8458 9137 stephencolman2@aol.com

Messi vs Mbappe in final showdown

BY DAVID SAFFER

Holders France take on Argentina in the World Cup final on Sunday.

Both countries have won the trophy twice, victory will move them up the all-time list behind five-time winners Brazil and four-time champions Italy and Germany.

The match is billed as Messi vs Mbappe but in many ways it’s greater for the Argentinian maestro who has led his country to a sixth final.

In the history of the game, for most historians, Pele and Maradona sit at the top table of football’s greatest players. The Brazilian, who is battling ill-health, has three World Cups to his name to Maradona’s sole triumph.

In the modern era Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have joined the great debate. Both have won everything in the game apart from the World Cup. Following Portugal’s demise Messi stands alone and has one last

chance to claim the global honour to elude him. His status is assured but a World Cup winners medal will end all arguments. Standing in his way is Mbappe, who has already won the ultimate trophy, but he is only at the start of his career so time will tell if he is elevated in his standing.

Argentina lost their opening game but have been superb since and eased into the final following a 3-0 win over Croatia. Messi opened the scoring before Julian Alvarez bagged a brace, his second coming after a moment of genius from Messi to end the contest after 69 minutes.

Argentina won the World Cup in 1978 on home soil before Maradona inspired their ’86 triumph after breaking English hearts with his ‘Hand of G-d’ goal then virtuoso strike at the quarter final stage.

As for France, they broke English hearts at this years’ tournament at the same stage when they edged a hard-fought encounter

2-1 last Saturday. Gareth Southgate’s side did not disappoint but skipper Harry Kane’s missed penalty could have taken the game to extra time and proved pivotal. Whether Southgate stays on is a future question though he has undoubtedly developed the side.

For England this was a missed opportunity to finally succeed the Boys of 66, so the wait sadly continues.

France are now hoping to be only the third team in history to retain the trophy. Italy triumphed in 1934 and 1938, Brazil in 1958 and

1962. Can Didier Deschamps’ side join an exclusive list?

France have an opportunity after Theo Hernandez fired home against Morocco after Mbappe’s shot was blocked on five minutes last night. The surprise team of the competition have made history by reaching the semi-finals and battled away but France set up a heavyweight clash with Argentina when Mbappe dinked through the Moroccan defence for substitute Kolo Muani to tap home his first international goal 11 minutes from time.

So, the scene is set for a battle royal. Who will come out on top?

Messi and Mbappe have both scored five goals apiece at Qatar 2022. Neither will care if they don’t grab the ‘golden boot’ so long as they pick up the famous trophy. Outside France, and probably Brazil, the world will have their fingers crossed for maestro Messi.

in association with

Lionel Messi

Kylian Mbappe

PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK

PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK

EIGHT THOUGHTS FOR EIGHT NIGHTS

For eight nights, Jewish families gather together in their homes to light up the winter evenings with their Chanukah candles. This is a special opportunity to ignite thoughts and stimulate discussion. Here are eight bite-size ideas, one for each night of the festival, for you to share with those around you as you light the Chanukah candles.

The Chanukah menorah should ideally be placed in a window facing the street in order to publicise the miracle. These tiny flames flicker proudly and proclaim our Jewish identity to our families inside the home as well as to the world outside. They proclaim “Am Yisrael Chai”, the Jewish people live. The mission of the Jewish people is to abide by a moral code that enables us to be ‘a kingdom of priests and a holy nation’ (Exodus 19:6) and a ‘light unto the nations’ (Isaiah 49:6).

Think about how we as individuals and as a community can be a shining example to those around us.

The custom is to add one more candle each night. This is because the longer the oil in the Temple burned, the greater the miracle became. The Rabbis say, ‘one who does not increase, decreases’ (Ethics of the Fathers 1:13). Our relationship with Judaism should be something organic and growing. Each new candle introduces a fresh appreciation of the Chanukah story and, by extension, the miracle of Jewish survival.

Think of a way we can enhance our relationship with our heritage.

A unique property of a flame is that one can use it to ignite many more, without diminishing the original light. The Talmud similarly says ‘A lamp for one illuminates like a lamp for a hundred’ (Shabbat 122a). This teaches us that ultimately we never lose by sharing. In fact we gain more from giving than from taking. Giving to others helps make the world a better place and in doing so everyone gains.

Think of an extra act of giving we can do with no ulterior motive.

The word Chanukah means ‘dedication’ because we commemorate the process of the rededication of the Temple. Chanukah is also related to the Hebrew word for education, chinuch. Jewish education is not just about imparting information; rather we are educating our children to play their unique role within our community and the world at large. The lights in the Temple were kindled until they were able to burn by themselves. Judaism sees fostering independence as a primary goal of education. When people are empowered to make informed choices, their decisions are much more meaningful.

What is the most important value we would like to impart to future generations?

The verse in Proverbs 20:27 likens man’s soul to God’s candle. Mankind was created in the image of God. Like animals we possess earthly bodies; however our souls are a spark of the Divine. Whilst the body is nourished by food, the soul draws its sustenance from good deeds. Like the flicker of a flame, the soul strives to reach higher and higher and is a source of light, warmth and comfort to all who draw close to it.

We nourish our bodies at least three times a day. Think of something we can do to nourish our souls daily.

The verse in Proverbs 6:23 likens a mitzvah to a candle and Torah to a light. Judaism views mitzvot as opportunities of infinite value. Each mitzvah is an act that can connect us to God and enrich our lives forever, regardless of what else we do or don’t do. Rather than being all or nothing, Judaism is a journey where every step counts.

Think of a mitzvah to learn more about during these days of Chanukah

The Maccabees who rose to the challenge through their sheer determination and faith in God were able to bring the Jewish people back from the brink of oblivion. We can never choose what happens to us in life; that is out of our control. What we can do is choose how to respond to those events. What we go through in life is not as important as who we become as a result.

Think of a challenging situation and contemplate the difference between a response and a reaction.

On this last night of Chanukah we reflect on the lessons of the past week. We have learnt how a small band of committed people were unwilling to resign themselves to defeat even when all seemed lost. They placed their faith in God and took action even though it seemed futile. This is symbolised by the miracle of the oil; they lit the candles even though they did not have enough fuel. Their bitachon, trust in God, meant that they realised although they had to try their best, ultimately all success is in the hands of Heaven.

Think about the darkest times in Jewish history and draw courage, strength and inspiration from their acts of bravery and determination.