The Jewish Weekly Issue 298 - October 26th

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BRING THEM HOME

BY DAVID SAFFER

PARASHAT LECH-LECHA SHABBAT: London Manchester Leeds Liverpool Birmingham Antwerp Bournemouth Gateshead Jerusalem

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ENDS 18:33 18:36 18:36 18:42 18:39 19:15 18:41 18:35 18:31

World leaders and Jewish communities are keeping up pressure for over 200 hostages held captive in the Gaza Strip to be released following Hamas’ barbaric attack in Israel on October 7.

Two Israelis and two US citizens are safe as Israel continues to strike Hamas terror targets.

American mother and daughter Judith and Natalie Raanan were freed by Hamas on Friday, Yocheved Lifshitz, The message is being seen 85, and Nurit Cooper, 80, followed on Mon- to free hostages. day night.

The diplomatic war of words continued Amiram, 85-year-old husband of Cooper, with former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Oded, 83-year-old husband of Lifshitz, stating Qatar was not an ‘essential partner are still being held with women, children, for humanitarian operations and diplomatic operations’. elderly and IDF soldiers.

Calls for all hostages to be freed has been “Israel’s declared goal is to destroy Haongoing including family members giving mas,” he said. “Qatar’s goal is the exact heartbreaking appeals. Speculation sur- opposite, saving Hamas.” faced yesterday of a possible breakthrough Lifshitz, who spoke to reporters at Ichilov at a press conference in Qatar.

Hospital in Tel Aviv on Tuesday afternoon, The head of Israel’s National Security and Cooper, were kidnapped during the Council, Tzachi Hanegbi, welcomed a massacre in Kibbutz Nir Oz. Transported statement by Prime Minister Sheikh Mo- to Egypt through the Rafah crossing, they hammed bin Jassim Al-Thani and an Israeli were taken by helicopter to hospital to be official was quoted regarding “advanced reunited with families. talks” with the Qataris.

“Our heart is with my dad and all the A Qatar foreign ministry spokesman re- captives that are still there,” said daughter portedly said the top priority was for hos- Sharone Luton. tages to return home safely but an Israeli Lifshitz knew of 25 hostages as she was ground incursion would complicate efforts held in Gaza. She told the world media, “I

went through hell... They went on a rampage in our kibbutz, they kidnapped me, they laid me on my side on a motorcycle and flew with me through the plowed fields toward Gaza. Crowds stormed our houses, beat people, and some were kidnapped, like me. There was no difference, they kidnapped old and young people.”

Lifshitz recalled being led through underground terror tunnels in the Strip.

She recalled: “They looked like spider webs. We started walking in the tunnels, where the ground was damp, there was moisture all the time and we arrived at a large hall. After two or three hours they separated five from my kibbutz and put us five in a separate room.”

Lifshitz told reporters she had access to a doctor and criticised Israel’s security system, noting: “Hamas planned everything for a long time. The lack of knowledge in the IDF and Shin Bet hurt us a lot.”

Professor Roni Gamzu said Lipshitz and Cooper were being monitored and hoped they would soon be released home.

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“No scenario” where Hamas controls Gaza Sunak met relatives of the hostages, including British citizens and said they were Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told the suffering unbearable torment. “Their pain House of Commons on Monday that Brit- will stay with me for the rest of my days,” he ain stands by Israel in its ‘darkest hour’ noted. “I am doing everything in my power during the war with Hamas in Gaza. and working with all of our partners to get Sunak was updating parliamentarians on their loved ones home.” meetings with leaders from Israel, Saudi Sunak added that the Palestinians killed in the conflict were victims of Hamas.

In Riyadh then Cairo, Sunak met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman from Saudi Arabia, the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, President Sisi in Egypt and President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority.

Discussions centred on humanitarian support into Gaza, diplomacy recognising the “hard realities on the ground” and the PM Sunak giving reassurance of his support to Benjamin Netanyahu threat of attacks by Hezbollah on Arabia, Qatar, Egypt and Palestinian Au- Israel’s northern border. thority during a two-day trip to the region.

Sunak also spoke with the leaders of the He initially met with Prime Minister Benja- US, Germany, France, Italy and Canada. min Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog “We are all determined to prevent escalaand backed Israel defending its citizens tion,” he said. against terror.

Regarding support for a two-state solu“Hamas care more about their paymas- tion, he observed: “It can’t just be a clichéd ters in Iran than the children they hide be- talking point to roll out at times like this. In hind”, he said. “There is no scenario where recent years energy has moved into other Hamas can be allowed to control Gaza avenues like the Abraham Accords and or any part of the Palestinian Territories. normalisation talks with Saudi Arabia. We Hamas is not only a threat to Israel but to support those steps absolutely, and believe they can bolster wider efforts. But we must many others in the region.”

BY ADAM MOSES

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never lose sight of how essential the twostate solution is. So, we’ll work together with our international partners to bring renewed energy and creativity to this effort.

It will rely on establishing more effective governance for Palestinian territories in Gaza and the West Bank. It will also mean challenging actions that undercut legitimate aspirations for Palestinian statehood.”

Sunak spoke about the explosion at the al-Ahli Arab hospital last week.

“On the basis of the deep knowledge and analysis of our intelligence and weapons experts, the British government judges that the explosion was likely caused by a missile, or part of one, that was launched from within Gaza towards Israel,” he noted.

“The misreporting of this incident had a negative effect in the region, including on

PM Sunak shaking hands with the President of Israel

a vital US diplomatic effort, and on tensions here at home.

“We need to learn the lessons and ensure that in future there is no rush to judgment.”

Members of the House shared concerns about the Jewish community with footage of calls for jihad, displays of antisemitic tropes and flags of proscribed organisations on the streets of Britain.

Cases of antisemitism have risen by over 580%, whilst Jewish students on campuses very unsafe.

Sunak said: “We will never tolerate antisemitism in our country. Calls for Jihad on our streets are not only a threat to the Jewish community, but to our democratic values. We expect the police to take all necessary action to tackle extremism head on.”

Netanyahu welcomed Sunak’s diplomatic efforts.

“Hamas are the new Nazis, they’re the new ISIS,” he told Sunak. “This is not merely our battle. It’s the battle of the entire civilised world. It’s the battle of Israel, it’s the

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battle of the moderate Arab countries, it’s the battle of Western civilisation, the battle of the free world, the battle for the future.”

Netanyahu stressed the importance of releasing all the hostages and cooperation on various fronts. He also recalled that the civilised are standing by Israel in its ‘darkest hour’.

“This is our darkest hour, it’s the world’s darkest hour,” Netanyahu said. “We need to stand together and we win. It’s going to be a long war and we’ll need your continuous support. There will be difficulties, but I’ve never seen the people of Israel more united. We need that unity as we prosecute and win this just war against modern barbarians, the worst monsters on the planet.”

Sunak said that Israel had gone through something no country, no people, should have to endure.

He added: “We mourn the loss of every innocent life, civilians of every faith, every nationality, who have been killed.

I welcome your decision to ensure routes into Gaza will be open for humanitarian aid.

I am proud to stand here with you in Israel’s darkest hour.

We stand with you in solidarity, we stand with your people and we also want you to win.”

“We are at the frontier of a certain clash of civilisations,” Herzog said. “We are seeing an ISIS on our border, entering into our country. It’s a coalition of evil led from Tehran, which has its forks in Lebanon, which has left havoc in Syria, Yemen, and Iraq.

Herzog blasted the BBC for not labelling Hamas as ‘terrorists’ in its broadcasting of the war.

He said. “What else do they need to see to understand that this is an atrocious terror organisation?”

Sunak told Herzog: “You have suffered a barbaric act of terrorism perpetrated by an evil terrorist organisation, Hamas. And that’s what we will continue to say we will stand with Israel, we stand with you in solidarity and your right to defend yourself, to bring security back to your country, to your people and to ensure the safe return of the hostages.”

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Israel denies UN visa after Guterres outburst

BY DAVID SAFFER

Israel has denied a visa to UN official Martin Griffiths following shocking comments by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres during a UN Security Council

General Antonio Guterres

session on Tuesday.

Guterres’ stated that Hamas attacks on Israel did not happen “in a vacuum” and there had been “56 years of suffocating occupation”. They were roundly blasted by Israeli and supportive politicians.

UN’s chief yesterday expressed shock at his words being misrepresented in a short address.

“The grievances of the Palestinian people cannot justify the appalling attacks by

Hamas’,” he told reporters, adding: “As if it was justifying acts of terror by Hamas. This is false. It was the opposite.”

Guterress said his statement was “out of respect for the victims and their families”.

The furore saw Israel Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan inform Israeli media about a decision over UN officials.

“We need to shock the UN,” he said.

“I, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, informed them (the UN) of the refusal. He will not be able to come here to the region. Their agencies constantly need to bring in new people, certainly at a time like now. They will be refused.”

Yad Vashem Chairman Dani Dayan said the slaughter of 1,400 Jews by Hamas on October 7th was genocidal and immeasurably brutal.

“Part of why it differs from the Holocaust is because Jews have today a state and an army,” he noted. “However, it puts to test the sincerity of world leaders, intellectuals and influencers that come to Yad Vashem and pledge ‘Never Again’.

Those who seek to ‘understand’, look for a justifying context, do not categorically condemn the perpetrators, and do not call for the unconditional and immediate release of the abducted, fail the test. UN Secretary General Guterres failed the test.”

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak flatly rejected Guterres’s comments.

“Obviously we don’t agree with that

characterisation put forward,” a spokesperson for Sunak said. “We are clear that there is and can be no justification for Hamas’s barbaric terrorist attack which was driven by hatred and ideology.”

Erdan earlier described Guterres’s speech as “shocking” on X while rockets were being fired at all of Israel He noted: “The Secretary-General is completely disconnected from the reality in our region and that he views the massacre committed by Nazi Hamas terrorists in a distorted and immoral manner. His statement that, ‘the attacks by Hamas did not happen in a vacuum,’ expressed an understanding for terrorism and murder.

It’s really unfathomable. It’s truly sad that the head of an organization that arose after the Holocaust holds such horrible views. A tragedy!”

Erdan labelled Guterres “unfit” to head the UN and called on him to resign.

He observed: “I call for his immediate resignation from his position.

Every day the UN Secretary-General remains in office proves that this institution no longer has any right to exist.”

Israel’s Foreign Benny Gantz

Minister Eli Cohen addressed Guterres during a presentation to Security Council that included a recording of Hamas terrorists stating they were proud of “the blood of 10” Jewish victims murdered. Cohen cancelled a meeting with Guterres.

Benny Gantz, who is in Israel’s emergency war cabinet, said: “Dark are the days when the United Nations Secretary General condones terror.”

The diplomatic row followed Guterres’ comments on the Israel-Hamas war.

“It is important to also recognise the attacks by Hamas did not happen in a vacuum,” he said. “The Palestinian people have been subjected to 56 years of suffocating occupation. They have seen their land steadily devoured by settlements and plagued by violence; their economy stifled; their people displaced and their homes demolished. Their hopes for a political solution to their plight have been vanishing.”

In an apparent reference to the IDF response, Guterres added: “The grievances of the Palestinian people cannot justify the appalling attacks by Hamas. And those appalling attacks cannot justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.”

The UN Security Council were due to vote on US proposals and on the Gaza war yesterday.

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Bring them home - A message of unity

BY DAVID SAFFER

‘Bring Them Home’ was the message from an estimated 10,000 people at a Jewish community vigil in Trafalgar Square calling for the release of hostages held by Hamas on Sunday afternoon.

The huge gathering held Israeli flags and photos of hostages as they stood in silence to hear harrowing testimonies from family members of the kidnapped and murdered.

Ayelet Svatizky, David Julian Bar and Ofri Bibas Levi gave emotional accounts of family members killed and abducted in crimes against humanity.

Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, described the 7 October attack as an act of “unparalleled evil and barbarism”.

Clearly shocked, Gove said: “There are no words to describe the suffering of families who have seen their relatives butchered in front of them and relatives who live in hope that those who were living peacefully in their homes and are now in a Hamas dungeon should be freed. No words can sum up the evil for those responsible for these acts. But words matter and promises matter. The world made a promise 75 years ago… never again. But we have seen the biggest, horrific slaughter of Jewish people since the Holocaust carried out by terrorists, an act of evil, unapparelled evil and barbarism. We must stand together against it, we must stand for life, we must bring the hostages home.”

Gove said Israel lived up to the hope of

being a light to the world since its independence. “I feel pride in Israel’s tradition of inclusivity, humanity and democracy,” he said.

Gove didn’t hold back on the differences between the IDF and Hamas, exclaiming: “The IDF are there to protect civilians, Ha-

Crowd in Trafalgar Sq.

mas exist to slaughter civilians. The IDF embodies the Jewish spirit, Hamas want to kill every Jewish citizen of Israel. They must not win, they will not win, we stand with Israel now and forever.”

He added: “There is sympathy for the Jewish people when they are suffering, but when Jewish people need to be strong, we hear critics and cynics attack.” Speaking for

cross parties, he noted: “Israel must stand strong and Britain stands with Israel.”

Gove expressed concern that children at Jewish schools felt anxious about displaying school uniforms and university students were hiding Magen David symbols and kippot. He noted: “We have a responsibility. Every Jewish life is sacred and must be protected.”

He concluded: “Let us all be clear in this vigil here. We want those families to come home.

We want those families to be safe in their Jewish home.

We want Israel to prosper and to be secure in the future. And we in Britain, PHOTO: STAN KAYE stand with Israel. ‘Bring Them Home’”.

Introducing the rally, Board of Deputies President Marie van der Zyl said: “We come together to call on all those who have influence to stay strong in their support of Israel and to do all they can to find the hostages, bring justice to those who have taken them and bring so many loved ones safely home.

“We stand here united, with one voice to

Terrible Events in Israel and Rising Antisemitism:

26 OCTOBER 2023

say… ‘Bring Them Home.”

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis thanked King Charles, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Opposition leader Keir Starmer, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey and people across the UK for supporting Jewish communities.

He added: “It’s at a time such as this that words do matter. To all our friends from whom so far we haven’t heard a single word, your silence is deafening. Words do matter.

“We know there are two sides, one is good the other evil. Israel uses its forces to protect her citizens, Hamas uses its citizens to protect its forces. Words do matter. Those who fail to condemn condone, those who refuse to call Hamas terrorists (referring to the BBC) allow for the legitimising of their brutal deeds. We stand together with people around the world and declare to the State of Israel and her citizens, we feel your pain and stand with you.”

Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Jonathan Reynolds said: “Anyone who glorifies violence or calls for more violence on the streets of British cities is activity not acceptable.” He added: “Let us stand united against terror, let us stand united against division and let us say, ‘Bring Them Home’”.

The Jewish Leadership Council and UJIA organised the event with the Board.

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Home Office to enforce Chabad war campaigns innocent people must know that they will experience the full force of the law.”

The Home Office has instructed police Since the October 7 atrocity, police they will revoke visas to individuals gloriforces have undertaken arrests during fying Hamas and promoting antisemitism ‘pockets of disorder, violence and hate’ to and terror in the UK. ensure protests continue safely, commuThe Jewish community has experienced nities are protected and UK law is upheld. a huge spike in antisemitic incidents.

However, Jenrick and Philp noted it was Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has led the ‘completely unacceptable’ individuals in government’s response to Hamas masthe UK supported terrorism and intimisacring 1,400 people earlier this month. date vulnerable communities.

Following a solidarity visit to Israel A number have been identified with last week, Sunak updated the House of temporary leave on student, work or visit Commons on the government’s stance on visas.

Monday and at PMQ’s yesterday.

Both ministers made clear the governMinister of State for Immigration, Robment stance, stating: “The opportunities ert Jenrick has regularly that a UK visa affords spoken about revoking vian individual is a spesas and expelling foreign cial privilege, not an nationals spreading “hate automatic entitlement. and division” in media Those that abuse that interviews and also in the privilege by causing Commons on Tuesday. harm to the UK, our Jenrick and the Minister citizens or values for Crime, Policing and forfeit the benefits Fire, Chris Philp, have conferred to them. In written to Chief Constathese instances, the Minister for Immigration Robert Jenrick bles across England and Home Office will not Wales noting forces had a critical role to hesitate to enforce the law and revoke play at public events in the UK. the visas of such individuals where their “The guarantee that individuals are presence in the UK is not conducive to able to exercise their rights to freedom the public good. of expression must be coupled with the “We encourage your forces to use the certainty that there will be zero-tolerance existing referral mechanisms when they for antisemitism and the glorification of encounter such cases involving visas and proscribed terrorist groups,” they stated. immigration issues. This will enable the “Those who promote genocide, glorify Home Office to take appropriate action terrorism and revel in the murder of swiftly wherever necessary.”

BY ADAM MOSES

BY ADAM MOSES

Chabad-Lubavitch are spearheading various campaigns during Israel’s conflict in Gaza.

A global #LightForIsrael campaign encourages women and girls to light Shabbat candles. Everyone who participates is encouraged to post a picture and request friends do so. Among thousands of women taking part are celebrity actress Gal Gadot in Israel.

Nicole Schottenstein, a mum of four girls, is helping coordinate the campaign.

She told Chabad: “This is a way to bring light to the dark world. Lighting Shabbat candles can bring miracles.”

For anyone worried what to think about and pray for during candle-lighting, Schottenstein said: “There’s no wrong thing to ask, just pray.”

Rabbi Avromy Super is director of Chabad of S. Lucia and recalled the 1967 Six-Day War tefillin campaign launched by the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson.

Super posted on X to get a pair of tefillin to the first person committed to honour his brothers and sisters in Israel by laying tefillin.

Before he could react, 1,000 men had signed up. “It’s gone way beyond me and my initial tweet,” he said.

Ryan Adams of Long Island, N.Y. was first to take up the campaign. Since putting on tefillin each day, he is “more spiritually conscious.”

Online site Dan’s Deals is run by

brothers Dan and JJ Eleff. They sponsored 30 sets of tefillin which were quickly dispatched. They are now looking for 1,400 sponsors to honour the number of Jews murdered by Hamas. Over 2,600 men have requested a set of tefillin. Each pair costs around $400. Over $439,000 has been raised to date.

Super is thrilled at the campaign instigated by the Rebbe nearly six decades go.

“It is now a global phenomenon,” he said. “People online who aren’t Chabad are encouraging their friends to put on tefillin. They want to do something and know this can spiritually affect the war.”

Meantime, with thousands of displaced families from Israel’s south needing food assistance, Colel Chabad, a leading food security NGO in Israel, has responded.

Within days of the Hamas attack they were delivering 18,000 meals a day to residents of Ofakim, Sderot, Netivot, Ashkelon and Beersheva.

Founded by the first Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, known as the Alter Rebbe, in 1788, Colel’s modern-day activities are inspired by the Rebbe and is one of the Jewish world’s most recognised charities. They are providing aid packages directly to people’s homes.

Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries and volunteers all over Israel are working around the clock to source and deliver supplies from centres near IDF bases in Eilat, Hebron and Metula.

Spiritual needs include sweat-resistant tzitzit and tefillin.

CAA Hostage Campaign Thunberg Post Blasted

BY ADAM MOSES

Campaign Against Antisemitism held a rally outside New Scotland Yard as it continues to raise awareness of hostages held

by Hamas through billboards and digital vans in London.

The organisation expected pockets of opposition to its vans from terrorist-sympathisers but not from Metropolitan Police as volunteers experienced last Wednesday at Parliament Square as officers did not appear to act against protesters.

When CAA chief executive, Gideon Falter, returned to the location he was restrained by police, preventing him from speaking with van drivers for ‘his own safety’.

Since the incident, CAA have engaged with the Police in addition to work with the Government.

Falter said: “Our volunteers were left shaken by protesters who were harassing and intimidating them, and the police did nothing. Instead, the officers told our drivers to turn off their billboards and stop showing the faces of children kidnapped by a proscribed terrorist organisation, apparently because their sympathisers on British streets might attack us for showing them.

“Before we set out, we had worried that these billboards might attract attention from Hamas sympathisers. We never imagined that it would be the police who would stop us from showing the faces of

children kidnapped by a terrorist group banned by the UK Government. Who are the police protecting here? Those standing up to terrorists, or those who sympathise with them? We are examining all of our legal options in relation to the police for this abysmal failure to uphold our rights and protect British Jews.”

Volunteers continue to gather evidence from demonstrations around the country.

Regarding the surge of antisemitic incidents in all areas of British life since the massacre of 1,400 Israelis by Hamas terrorists, CAA confirmed there has been vile messages sent to Jewish students, vandalism at Jewish schools including some closing on some days or changing pupils’ uniform, doctors expressing abhorrent views, Jewish people being intimidated on streets, children bullied in parks, posters of abducted Israeli children torn down and defaced, and glorification of terrorism online.

A spokesman said: “If the Jewish community is to be reassured that the authorities are taking this frightening trend seriously, it is time for arrests.”

Jewish organisations also continue to pressure the BBC to report accurately and impartially the war including calling Hamas ‘terrorists’.

Israel’s Education Ministry is removing climate activist Greta Thunberg from its education curriculum.

A previously respected figure in the country, Thunberg called to ‘Free Palestine’ in a post on X last Friday but ignored the massacre of 1,400 Israelis.

The activist is pictured with three women, one holding a Palestinian flag. Her post stated: “The world needs to speak up and call for an immediate cease-fire, justice and freedom for Palestinians, and all civilians affected.”

Thunberg also shared on her Instagram account a post by a German-based pro-Palestinian account stating a “genocide” is happening in Gaza.

Influencer Greta Thunberg making her opinions clear

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“Hamas is a terror organisation that has butchered and murdered 1,400 innocent Israelis, including children, women and the elderly, kidnapping over 200 of them inside Gaza. This position disqualifies her from being a worthy inspiration, and thus she is no longer eligible to serve as a role model for Israeli students,” the ministry reportedly noted in a statement.

Thunberg’s actions have been criticised on social media.

Thunberg later reportedly issued an updated statement, noting: “We are of course against any type of discrimination, and condemn antisemitism in all forms and shapes. This is non-negotiable.”

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12 LETTERS

Letters to the Editor

souls due to the heinous acts of the Nazis.

Fast forward 78 years since the end of World War 2, and we have witnessed a chillingly similar scenario. Once again, being a religious Jew, an irreligious Jew, Sephardi, or Ashkenazi, or having rightwing or left-wing beliefs seemed to make no difference – if you were a Jew at the festival, you were at risk of persecution.

This is a message directed to Rivkah

Please note: The views of the letters do not necessarily reflect the views of this newspaper. Letters may be edited and publication is at the discretion of the editor.

THE ARGUMENT OF AN INFANT Dear Editor The problem with the BBC’s decision not to label Hamas as “terrorists” is not so much to do with the legitimate (even if disputable) reasons the BBC has put forward to explain its general policy not to use that word. The problem is that those reasons ceased to apply at the moment the BBC started using that label expressly to describe ISIS, the Manchester Arena attacks, the murder of Jo Cox - in articles which remain online to this day - and, last week, in describing the appalling terrorist attack in Brussels.

In that regard, the condescending explainers offered up by the BBC, by veteran BBC journalist John Simpson and his colleagues on social media, must be taking us for a pack of fools. The explainers have failed to address the BBC’s past usage of the word “terrorist” when explaining why it deliberately chooses not to use that word. If not a poorly-veiled attempt to swerve the obvious counter-argument, it is suggestive of an equally disturbing problem, in that the BBC and its veteran journalists have failed to discharge the basic duty of any journalist, of checking one’s facts ahead of publication.

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during the night of September 11 2001 to describe the perpetrators of the 9/11 attacks, was because they were merely ‘members’ of Al Qaeda, and not Al Qaeda themselves, who were obviously much larger. This distinction wouldn’t even explain the BBC’s coverage if it were correct, let alone that it misses the glaringly obvious point that the 7 October attacks were identically carried out by ‘members‘ of Hamas, obviously much smaller in size than the entire group.

This, ostensibly from the BBC’s best journalists, is the argumentation of the desperate infant, clamouring to preserve their position against an ever-growing tide of reason and truth.

With the kind of intellectual aerobic gymnastics we have seen the BBC offer up as a fig leaf for glaring journalistic errors like these, and their latest blunders of this week, it is no wonder our national broadcaster’s reporting on the wider Israel-Palestine conflict is consistently called into question.

Brown, a Jewish journalist. They don’t care. You may label the start of this conflict as a “day of celebration for supporters of democracy,” but the truth is, they don’t care. If you were there, you’d be facing unimaginable peril. Your apology on ‘X’ counts for nothing when you go on to later offer to support Jewish people to “unlearn the Zionism they’ve been taught”. You have lost your way.

It’s high time for those on the far-left, who recited kaddish for Hamas, and seemingly support terrorism, to reconsider their views. Without intending to sound patronizing, it’s time to grow up.

We already have enough enemies around the world – let’s not make our fellow Jews our adversaries.

Anonymous FROM JOYOUS SIMCHAT TORAH TO ABSOLUT HORROR

This was made yet worse last week when an ex-BBC executive took to the radio waves straight after the Brussels attack. He told LBC that the reason the BBC used the word “terrorists” on air

In Nazi Germany, it didn’t matter whether one was a religious Jew, an irreligious Jew, Sephardi, or Ashkenazi, right-wing or left-wing – if you were a Jew, you faced extermination. The Holocaust claimed the lives of 6 million innocent

Dear Editor This Friday morning, there’s only one thing on our minds, for sure Our Jewish Homeland, Israel, is sadly, savagely, once again at war With an enemy that is truly vicious Baruch Hashem, may she be victorious We hope and pray, and try to believe that all of the hostages Will be returned, safely, unharmed to their friends and families Baruch Hashem, may there soon be an end to these hostilities With as far as possible a minimum of

StandWithUs UK were honoured to host Rabbi Leo Dee with other communal and student leaders in a gathering of solidarity and unity. Rabbi Dee’s visit comes at a crucial time for the Jewish community; as we mourn the loss of life and the horrific acts of violence which occurred on the 7th of October, the importance of fostering a strong unified response in the wake of such tragedies is vital.

Represented at the gathering were leaders from the BOD, UJIA, S&P, Israel Bonds and other key communal groups.

Edwin Shuker, Vice President of the Board of Deputies, commented that, ‘Rabbi Leo Dee combines a unique blend of spirituality with pragmatism. He has

managed to turn a personal tragedy into inspiration and grief into hope’.

Guests were engaged and asked tough questions relating to Israel’s security concerns, the state of affairs for the British Jewish community, and what we can all do to help advocate for Israel. The roundtable will hopefully be a series of engagements with key communal players in bringing them together to encourage cohesiveness and unity.

In his address, Rabbi Dee encouraged leaders in the community to go out and educate their communities and supporters on Israel, as well as to support as much as we can the ability for our young people to create and share educational

content with their circles. He emphasised how important it was for each organisations to frame the war as one of ‘good versus evil’.

Most poignantly was Rabbi Dee’s commentary on optimism; it was heartwarming to hear him remind us all that we grow as a people through suffering, and we will again grow from this and overcome.

Isaac Zarfati, Executive Director for StandWithUs UK, said, ‘Rabbi Leo Dee is an inspirational figure. His personal story encapsulates the struggle of the Jewish people in their homeland. The optimism and wisdom that emanate from him strengthen all of us in the righteous

Naji Tilley, London NW4 SAY SORRY! Dear Editor

any further casualties For Israel, and also any innocent Palestinian civilians We hope that our brothers and sisters have resilience To see this through As they have to do May Israel vanquish Hamas For the sake of all of us Whose raisen d’etre is to bring about Israel’s destruction Being solely an Islamist, extremist, terrorist organisation Who seek to injure or kill as many as possible Of Israeli, and the World’s Jewish people I want to wish the worldwide Jewish community a Shabbat Shalom Especially in Israel may it be, Baruch Hashem, peaceful for everyone J D Milaric BEREAVED PEOPLE’S SOCIAL GROUP Dear Editor I am a Bereavement Counsellor and feel that there’s a Jewish Community need, which does not seem to be met, currently.

There isn’t an organisation that specifically facilitates individuals, who’ve lost a wife/husband/partner who are seeking to meet people either for companionship and / or to enter into a relationship with.

Perhaps there could be one for an older age group (say, 65 plus), who’ve generally had their families and live alone now.

However, these people are still young enough to want to live life to the max.

There may well be social media sites and apps for them to communicate with people on, but some in this age group are not tech savvy. Telephone contact and face-to-face engagement would be more suitable here.

Possibly one or more Shuls could help to set one up in a particular area – South Hertfordshire, North-West London etc.

H Smith, Watford

StandWithUs UK hosts Rabbi Dee with UK Leadership

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struggle we are currently engaged in.’

This event was part of StandWithUs UK’s efforts to engage with the community, providing them with the necessary support during these critical times.

StandWithUs UK is a non-partisan educational charity that inspires and educates people of all ages and backgrounds, challenges misinformation and fights antisemitism. We empower and energise students and communities with leadership training and educational programmes on both school and university campuses.

HELP ISRAEL UNDER ATTACK JNF UK has been devoted to supporting Israel’s southern communities for decades.

Our team on the ground is working with our partners 24/7 to provide direct support to those who need it most, when they need it most.

Now our help is needed more than ever.

SUPPORTING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES JNF UK is: • Distributing emergency funds to families who escaped with nothing.

• Funding temporary accommodation for displaced families.

• Relocating families who have children with disabilities to adapted accommodation.

• Providing hundreds of rescued children with respite activities including music shows and arts and crafts sessions.

• Sending activity packs to thousands of children still spending their days in shelters.

• Covering funeral and shiva costs.

PROVIDING SAFE SHELTER FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS Together with Osim Shchuna, JNF UK initiated Operation Ir Miklat (City of Refuge) to clear, clean and fix thousands of shelters in Israel’s towns. The North is already under attack, but thousands of vulnerable citizens have no safe rooms, and communal shelters are unusable after years of neglect.

Shelters and safe rooms are critical to protect families from missiles and terrorists.

SUPPORTING VULNERABLE HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS Together with The Foundation for the Benefit of Holocaust Victims in Israel, we are ensuring that thousands of Holocaust survivors do not feel alone at this terrible time.

Volunteers are travelling all over Israel, distributing food baskets to holocaust survivors, who are unable to safely venture out to buy groceries. They are also distributing emergency kits to survivors in the event that the situation escalates. Each kit includes a torch with batteries, a transistor radio, a first aid kit and a warm blanket.

We have already renovated 1000 shelters and with your support we aim to restore another 3000 unusable shelters with the help of tens of thousands of volunteers.

©Dennis Zinn

To carry out these projects we urgently need your support PLEASE DONATE WHATEVER YOU CAN TODAY:

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DONATE NOW

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Supporting the Invisible Cost of War OPINION PIECE

BY SHARON DEWINTER

As the third week of the conflict unfolds in Israel, the nation faces not only the physical battles but also the often-overlooked emotional and psychological toll of war.

In a country accustomed to living under the constant shadow of conflict, the events of October 7th sent shockwaves through the entire nation. The devastating atrocities and ongoing concern for hostages and soldiers have left many in urgent need of psychological and emotional support.

Israel is currently experiencing a national trauma and Emunah’s therapists are at the forefront of emotional recovery.

Therapy is a vital tool to restore emotional and psychological resilience in the long run. It is important to note that not every traumatic situation needs to result in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Proper therapy can help prevent it and assist individuals in learning to cope with trauma.

In times of crisis, organisations like Emunah are on the frontlines, fighting for the emotional well-being of those affected. Emunah’s 13 Counselling Centres, scattered across the nation, play a crucial role in providing emergency relief and psychological support to those struggling

with trauma.

The people of Israel are known for their strength and resilience, having lived with the ever-present awareness of imminent danger for 75 years. But the recent events have shaken even the toughest hearts.

Families and individuals are grappling with extreme trauma, making it difficult for them to function normally. Emunah’s highly qualified staff is on the ground, ready to provide the therapeutic support needed.

However, in the chaos, nothing is straightforward. The conflict has forced some of Emunah’s therapists to be displaced from their usual centres, while others are operating in areas that are not safe enough for in-person sessions.

Tragically, one therapist in Netivot lost her life to the violence, but her colleagues have valiantly put aside their own grief to provide support to their clients.

In this challenging environment, Emunah’s counsellors have adapted. Where physical centres are closed due to safety concerns, they have turned to phone and video conferencing to stay in touch with their vulnerable clients. The Sderot telephone hotline is a lifeline for anyone seeking immediate support.

Emunah’s Counselling Centres are in various states of operation. Jerusalem, Bet Shemesh, and Petach Tikvah are open for frontal therapy and offer online

sessions when necessary. Ashkelon and Rishon Lezion are conducting therapy online. Netivot and Sderot are closed but the therapists are working remotely.

In the north of the country, in Nahariya, Maalot, and Acco, the situation mirrors that of Netivot.

The entire nation is on edge, with tensions rising not only in the south but also in the north, where rockets from Lebanon have displaced people, increasing stress and tension. Emunah’s therapists, no matter where they are, are the emotional first responders, offering support to those affected.

In this ongoing and developing emergency, the Emunah counsellors are helping people cope with their immediate emotional needs. Parents are learning to speak to their children, who have been out of a normal school routine for months, being overexposed to screens and news coverage. The emotional toll is especially heavy on those parents who are called up for reserve duty, leaving one parent at home with their frightened children.

Emunah in Israel is launching a 24hour hotline, available to the general public, to provide immediate support during this trying time. While these efforts are heroic, they come at a significant cost. Even before the war, Emunah’s counselling centres had waiting lists,

and their services are partially funded by clients and donations. Currently, they receive no government funding, and their resources are stretched thin. In fact, the government will approach Emunah to provide these services.

The international Emunah network, including British Emunah, plays a vital role in supporting these efforts. As we face these challenges, it’s essential to rally around and support their mission to heal the invisible cost of war.

In these times of darkness, let us remember that emotional support is as crucial as physical defence. We can all play a part in helping those affected by the trauma of war. It’s a testament to the resilience of the human spirit that, with the right support and care, individuals and communities can emerge stronger in the face of adversity. Emunah’s work stands as a beacon of hope, reminding us all that, even in the darkest times, healing is possible.

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SHARING STORIES & REMEMBERING

SIDE BY SIDE AT THE AJEX PARADE Book now to Parade and join AJEX at the Cenotaph in honouring and Remembering the thousands of Jewish Servicemen and Women who fought and served for our freedom.

March, walk, or watch ‘Side by Side’ in solidarity, honouring their legacy.

Veterans, families, and community groups of all ages are welcome to this unique, historic event. Whether a Parade regular or a first-timer please join us. If you have them, proudly wear your own or your family members’ medals.

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OPINION

Horror Show

OPINION PIECE

BY DAPHNA SCHWARZ-SMALL

I am the daughter of two Holocaust survivors and the mother of four children, one, a special-ops fighter in the IDF. I have been a traditional rather than religious Jew all my life. I am a liberal. I was born in Austria and lived half my life in England and the USA but have always considered myself an Israeli first and consequently have often argued with G-d about the existence of evil. Living in Israel during the past couple of weeks I have witnessed events that I had refused to imagine were possible. Those of you who known me, know that I have never been afraid to face horror. I served in the IDF and in 1982 participated in the first Lebanon war. In film school I focused on the Horror Film genre, and after both my parents passed, I embarked on a two decade long deep dive into the Holocaust.

I was never actually interested in the so called: Banality of Evil, but rather was fascinated by the cruel, brutal, perverse and weird aspects of the Nazis’ ideology and actions. The lamp shades, the soap, the tattoos and the Einsatzgruppen or slaughter brigades, were more up my ally.

In Dr Mengele’s twin experiments and the musical dwarfs of Auschwitz, I discovered a veritable Disneyland of atrocities. I was therefore not surprised when the special forces in the Ukraine War were called the Wagner Brigade.

When I woke up at six thirty on October 7th, Shabbat morning of Simchat Torah, my son came upstairs to get his handgun

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from the safe, saying only there was trouble in Gaza. My teenage daughter was initially upset as she had tickets for the Bruno Mars concert that evening in Tel Aviv, but quickly got the absurdity of her disappointment, when her brother was called up to serve a couple of hours later.

She is a twelfth grader and has resumed school on Zoom this past week.

We are being told to lock the doors and stay alert. We are very alert. When the news about the Nova party emerged, my older daughter told me that she had been invited to the party and that her friend who had invited her was missing. A few days later this girl was found murdered. I felt lucky and she said ‘Birkat Hagomel’, a prayer you say when you have escaped disaster. She did not go to the funeral as that night we went into our bomb-shelter and she was too shaken to go. She did go to the Shiva and described her friends’ mother. I cried myself to sleep that night.

I thought of myself as someone who understood the ideology that took a cultured and civilized nation like Germany into the realms of the greatest ‘horror show’ the world had ever seen. I do not call it a ‘horror show’ lightly but as this is precisely what it is. The use of Snuff -Film of actual death by Hamas is psychological warfare. The entire world is being exposed to this footage via the global media and its aim is to traumatize the audience. I sense that weaponizing empathy is Hamas’s main goal in this war. It is clear that Israel has a great disadvantage in this realm and always has because unlike Al Jazeera and most of the global media, Israel waits to verify their stories, rather than report whatever furthers their immediate agenda. The misinformation on the Gaza

hospital bombing, guaranteed that the next day no one would be interested that it was not Israel but a misfire by the Islamic Jihad. A Goebbels’ wet dream. This use of psychological warfare aims to demoralize us and break our spirit and unity. It will not. The current media blitz could have come directly from Goebbels’ propaganda ministry which provided Adolf Hitler and the Nazi elite with a proven method for brainwashing or mind control. It was a very simple directive. “If you repeat the lie often enough, it will be believed.”

This method gave the Nazis the power to implement and achieve their loathsome goals. This method has been adopted and is being deployed by our present-day enemies, Islamic-Nazis. During the battle of Stalingrad, Himmler had to give the German army a direct order to stop photographing the atrocities of war and sending the film canisters back to Germany to be developed by their families. He must have realized that these images would be proof of war crimes in the future and have a disturbing effect on the civilian German population. I have decided not to expose my eyes to the horrific material that is currently being produced and uploaded

by Hamas.

On the twelfth day of the war, my son visited us for a short furlough. I felt some relief mixed with a surge of repulsion at the hellish scenarios he described. I am still trying to process the tales he shared of spending surreal nights sleeping in a kibbutz kindergarten surrounded by toys and happy kids’ drawings. I saw it all in his eyes while he spoke of the Pogrom that had been perpetrated, by special forces and highly trained monsters who viciously attacked unarmed civilians. It appears that

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the ideology of hate currently adopted by Hamas has been passed from one mentor to another through the generations all the way to the present day. I understand that the terrorists who participated in the massacre spoke various languages, including Farsi and various Arabic dialects. Hamas by any other name would smell of terror but they are not the only enemies we face.

I thought I would be more prepared but I never allowed myself to believe that a massacre of Jews could happen again, thanks to our strong army. I was sure that we Israelis would never go like lambs to the slaughter again.

My oldest son is married to a doctor, she was called up for reserve duty. They have had to go to the basement often during the airstrikes over the Tel Aviv area, their dog Vince is totally terrified by the sirens and booms. One air-raid siren caught them outside during a walk in the park. Vince has always been an anxious type, now I’m sure he’ll have PTSD. And not only him, our whole nation is being held as emotional captives, every mother and father imagines the families of the children and adults being held in Gaza.

I pray for the Hostages every minute of the day. I sense that every day that passed endangers their lives and chances of being released. I want to believe that this is all a part the divine plan. I pray to G-d not only for my sons’ and daughters’ safety but for G-d to redeem all my people wherever they are in the world, and if possible, with all of humanity , at least those that are humane.

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The Gaza Conflict, a Rabbinic Self-Reflection OPINION PIECE

BY RABBI DANIEL FINE

I write this article partly as an exercise in selfreflection and partly as an educational piece to learn from together.

As a Jew living in England my emotional experience of the current Gaza (Hamas) conflict should not be atypical. Like many of us, I’ve experienced this conflict on so many levels. Like many of us, I have lots of family in Israel. However, I did live in Israel for twelve years and as a Rabbi, teacher and the Director of Education for Seed there was a national ‘what should we do to help and support’ element. I also teach teenagers at Hasmonean and post-yeshiva students, so there was a whole range of trying to help others – often before having the opportunity to collect my own thoughts. I hope analysing and perhaps identifying these feelings will resonate and provide discussion and reflection.

On Shabbos 7th October I was in Shul as the news trickled in. The shock was incrementally cumulative as more details filtered through – Shul caretakers, less religious neighbours and Jewish ‘Chinese whispers’ providing a steady and harrowing update. Details were still hazy. My wife’s grandma had moved to Israel from Manchester a few weeks ago – to live with one of her sons in a lovely picturesque place called Naveh… which happens to be 2km from Gaza. Two days of Yom Tov were part of a bittersweet yet still celebratory atmosphere in Shul (‘do it for the people in Israel’ was the call) and at the same time worrying about Grandma Lillian (who happened to have decided to travel to Jerusalem for Chag). Plus a walk from Hendon to Edgware and back to celebrate my brother being honoured by his Shul, whilst processing the bits of information – a day that will linger long in the memory.

And as news in its written, spoken and social media form took over, we realised that this was a very different experience, Naveh, 2km from Gaza personally, communally and nationally.

First was a feeling of worry – interrupted nights worrying and sometimes picturing ‘what is life like for the prisoners?’ What about all those families? What will the country’s reaction be?

Almost simultaneous was the feeling of being bereft. I have never lost an immediate family member beyond my grandparents & one great grandfather, so other than a lot of comforting others, I have not experienced grief first-hand. The

closest frame of reference was returning I’ve seen in my lifetime – and many of from my one and only trip to Poland and my friends’ lifetimes it seems too. The feeling in a constant daze where my entire number of accounts of previously nonday was overshadowed with flashbacks descript never-affiliated Jews who stood of glimpses of visiting Auschwitz. The up to volunteer, attend Jewish Networks feelings and emotions on and after at work, attended prayer gatherings, even October 7th were not dissimilar. started putting tefilin on for the first time As others have pointed out, the in decades matched (or more accurately lack of frame of reference is critical echoed) the calls from our soldiers for to the difficulty in processing those feelings. Thankfully, most people will not have been witness to atrocities of this scale before. For some of my friends it shook their perception of ‘undefeatable’ Zionism – the ‘never again’ mantra was continuously shaken PHOTO:YOUTUBE Arky Staiman calls on community to enhance Friday Night tefilla with every picture shared and viewed and every updating of tzitzit, to make Friday night special and the victim count. It wasn’t just the Covidto come together. We are a nation who esque feeling of being bombarded with can somehow create bits of light from the messages, calls and social media. We were deepest darkness. also overwhelmed by the size, scale of Nationally we realised that the Jewish the tragedy, it feeling unprecedented and People flourish when we have a common simultaneously not knowing where the cause – even one born from tragedy. narrative was going.

In echoes of what we are told about And personally as a Rabbi and teacher messianic-esque rapidity, it is remarkable I felt caught between so many focuses; how quickly our national narrative can between self-processing and assisting, change. between ‘inspiring others’ whilst realising A month ago in London, Naftali that for some the sentence ‘just seeing Bennet opined in an off-mic moment how are you doing in the circumstances?’ that Jewish sovereignty seldom lasts was the most poignant.. more than 80 years before schisms create Then as the grief became very fatal factionalism. There are moments communal, things began to move. in history that are major turning points World leaders condemned Hamas in the that change attitudes, perspectives strongest terms, some even visited Israel. and national feelings. The swerve from As quick as factionalism to unity was rapid. the scrambled And yet, we were also reminded of hundreds of Bilam’s prophetic description that the buses taking Jewish Nation stands alone. We have conscripted friends, we have allies, but that deep soldiers to the feeling of national unity has always come front lines, with a ‘thank everyone, but don’t overthe ‘deep’ rely’ caution. And so we found out that our national rifts ‘beloved’ BBC is ‘impartial’ enough not of the weeks to call Hamas ‘terrorists,’ that all it takes and months is one hospital blast for people to turn, prior suddenly amid so much stunning silence. I must healed as admit that two people came up to me in everyone got the street asking ‘are your people in Israel together to ok?’ but I can’t tell you how many people volunteer, to have come to me privately with absolute pack, to pray. disdain and feelings of abandonment PHOTO:WIKIPEDIA Synagogues that their work filled, organisations were in full-flow (as colleagues haven’t one of so many examples, on Tuesday said anything, afternoon my team came up with the ‘blue haven’t checked in candles’ idea. By Friday 50,000 had been on how they are. given out, due to demand), rallies, unity And the workplaces on a scale I haven’t seen in my lifetime. ‘straddling the All the above emotions I listed turned on fence’ attitude of not their heads and found positive expression: wanting to offend bereft became belong, shock became any present or future solidarity, process became pray, worry business by issuing became work together. The sheer scale strong statements of unity was unprecedented in anything resembled the FA’s Wembley arch

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incoherent stance with regards to ‘the (Wembley) arches’ soap opera.

With the notable lack of public statements from normally Twitter-triggerhappy public figures, I realised that the world has a good number of ‘good guys,’ a sad number of ‘bad guys’ and a lot in the middle who are governed by one of ambivalence, self-interest and are swayed by the tides of change, mood and media. I looked at my children, shed a tear (a tear which has been constantly in imminent freefall) and both resolved and prayed that their foundations will be strong, when so many around them lack that moral conviction.

Lastly, we realised that the oscillation between shock, grief, checking in on others and doing what we can for the effort – alongside the over-scrolling – meant that taking care of ourselves was not selfish, it was necessary. When Rabbi Leo Dee remarked to Prime Minister Netanyahu at his shiva six months ago ‘I was in fighting mode, now I am accepting’ it spoke to me – just months later around October 14th. Avoiding shocking images on social media (I asked ‘my’ teenagers in school to anonymously tell me if they had viewed any images and then asked if they had regretted doing so. It was a learning curve that is sadly hard to undo), making sure daily routines are both consistent and meaningful – as we conserve and direct energy.

I write this as I reflect on a Friday night with a local Jewish school; accompanying them to a packed Mill Hill Shul, there singing ‘am yisrael chai’ in both prayer and lived experience. We do live on. More importantly, we live for – we live with purpose.

So here we are. National shock. Personal emotions. Helping others. Shaken and stirred into action. Dealing with bias.

Looking after oneself. And an ongoing narrative. It’s the story of the Jewish People. It’s a story of which only G-d knows the ending and is privy to the full picture. But we play our part – we unite, we pray, we are His people. We create light from darkness.

Rabbi Fine is the Director of Education and Director of Schools Programme for Seed, London. He also teaches at Hasmonean, the Evening Beis and has written four books.

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JTeen responds to the war in Israel In response to the ongoing war in Israel, JTeen, a prominent organization dedicated to enhancing the mental health and well-being of Jewish teenagers, has taken swift action to address the urgent needs of young people and their families. Recent events in Israel have led to a significant increase in demand for JTeen’s services, highlighting the vital role the organization plays in the lives of Jewish youth.

Within a single week, over 150 children reached out to JTeen through their phone and text line, nearly double the usual volume. This surge emphasizes the urgency of the situation and the critical need for support. To meet the growing demand, JTeen has extended its operating hours, making it accessible for those who require assistance outside of its regular hours.

JTeen has been approached by several schools, requesting therapeutic support and resources for both students and staff.

Additionally, JTeen has expanded its outreach by collaborating with Streetwise, an organization dedicated to promoting physical safety. Together, they have organized collaborative workshops to equip young people with the tools to navigate

the current challenges, focusing on both physical and emotional well-being.

A recent parent event, featuring therapists who offered valuable advice and guidance, attracted over 1,000 viewers.

This event provided parents with insights and resources to support their children during these challenging times, underlining the organization’s commitment to the well-being of the entire family.

Recognizing the need for support from teens across the UK and beyond, JTeen is hosting a regular webinar for over a hundred teenagers who can participate anonymously and seek advice from expert therapists. Teens from the UK, Belgium, and Israel have already benefited significantly from this service.

Importantly, JTeen has recently observed a substantial increase in teenagers struggling with early onset mental health problems. With a strong emphasis on preventing emotional health crises, JTeen has ensured that more qualified therapists are available on their helpline to assist those in need, reinforcing their dedication to providing essential mental health support.

Yaakov Barr, JTeen’s CEO, commented,

“JTeen remains steadfast in its commitment to stand with Jewish youth and their families during these unbelievably challenging times. The demand on our resources has never been greater, and we anticipate that our involvement will continue to expand due to the gravity of the ongoing crisis in Israel.”

For more information about JTeen and

their services, please visit www.jteen.co.uk Yaakov Barr is a psychotherapist and clinical director of JTeen. For further information about JTeen, go to www.jteen.co.uk The JTeen text helpline is open for teens (11-20) every night from 6-midnight. The number to text is 07860 058 823

The BBC’s Flawed Coverage Of the War Means Blood Is On Its Hands OPINION PIECE

BY STEVEN WINSTON

The National Jewish Assembly (NJA) has been at the forefront of the British Jewish community’s campaign to change the BBC’s coverage of the Hamas-Israel conflict and its refusal to accurately label Hamas a “terrorist organisation,” which by both law and overwhelming evidence, they are. The NJA notes that on October 20 2023, the BBC revised its editorial policy so that it will no longer refer to Hamas as “militants” but rather as a proscribed terrorist organisation or simply as “Hamas.” This change is a token move in the right direction but affords little change. The NJA continues to call on the BBC, and all broadcast media, to have the courage and conviction their profession demands, and not equivocate in calling Hamas the terrorists that they are.

This is far from an isolated issue, but rather reflects a deep-rooted institutional bias against Israel. On October 16 2023, the NJA held a protest at Broadcasting House which saw 1,500 Jews of all backgrounds, along with non-Jewish friends and allies, come together to demand that the BBC rectify its policy of not referring to Hamas as terrorists.

The BBC claims that they don’t attribute the label of terrorism and yet, and on the very same night as our protest, the BBC published an article calling an attack in Brussels

which left two Swedish nationals dead, an act of “terrorism.”

Worse than this was the coverage which occurred in the aftermath of a blast on Tuesday at Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza. The BBC immediately repeated the Hamas claim that an Israeli air strike had killed 500 civilians.

This was despite immediately available footage and geospatial intelligence showing a Gaza-derived rocket misfiring. Even after Israel published additional evidence and observers discerned that the casualties were less than 50, not 500, and the rocket had hit the hospital car park, not the hospital itself, only marginal clarifications have been made and reporting by the BBC and others have continued to muddy the waters.

When the BBC parroted Hamas’ claim that Israel had destroyed Al-Ahli hospital,

The destruction of Al-Ahli hospital

it was not just spreading fake news but a contemporary blood libel. It arguably bears responsibility for the violence which subsequently erupted across the Arab world - including an historic Tunisian synagogue being set on fire and rioters attempting to storm the Israeli embassy in Amman - as well as the threats which British Jews are facing within our own country. There are numerous cases of broadcasters providing a platform to extremist or extremist-affiliated individuals while portraying them as independent and objective, and providing no pushback against false claims made on air.

The repeated defence raised by broadcasters when criticised is that they need to maintain balance and not show bias towards a side. We therefore ask: who would object to the BBC calling Hamas terrorists?

Those who believe that the word doesn’t apply to an organisation, founded on the principle of genocide, which massacred, raped, burned and beheaded over 1400 Israeli men, women and children, and still holds over 200 abducted in Gaza. And what bias would it show by the BBC recognising that the Al-Ahli hospital explosion was a misfired Palestinian Islamic Jihad rocket?

In both cases, the stances which the BBC has taken show a bias PHOTO:NATIONAL WORLD against Israel and a disregard for

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the truth.

British Jews feel that an environment is being created in the UK which legitimises or turns a blind eye to antisemitism, and that much of the media bears significant responsibility for this. There is fear for the future of our community in this country.

British media bear a responsibility to report with accuracy and integrity, and not be tools for anti-Israel disinformation and antisemitism.

The NJA continues to demand that British media refer to Hamas as the terrorists that they are. The NJA demands that British media who have made false claims about the explosion at Al-Ahli hospital unequivocally retract those claims, clarify the factsm and apologise. The NJA notes that the BBC has after almost 2 decades still not released the Balen Report, and demands that it is published. These are just a few of the crucial steps the BBC and all British media must take in order to salvage their soiled reputations.

Steve Winston is the Managing Director of the National Jewish Assembly.

26 OCTOBER 2023

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The UK’s only independent mainstream Jewish 4-to-18 school has created a special fund to help with school fees and an accelerated admissions process for families rushing from Israel to the UK. This week, Immanuel College Prep School already welcomed new British-Israeli pupils -- ensuring the children have both practical aid, such as uniforms, as well as the pastoral and educational support they need during the crisis.

As part of the College’s Am Echad B’Lev Echad (One People with One Heart) programme – launched last week in support and solidarity with Israel – the school community has tirelessly devoted itself to study, prayer and acts of loving kindness.

Immanuel College’s Deputy Head (Jewish Life and Learning) Rabbi Yoni Golker comments: ‘I am deeply proud Immanuel College is spearheading the Emergency Bursary Fund and offering places to Israeli-British families who need schooling during this time of conflict. This project reflects our Jewish values of Unity, and of course, Torah, Jewish Education, Avodah, prayer and action, and Loving Kindness. We stand in solidarity with Israel: “Am Echad B’Lev Echad – One People With One Heart”!’

Mrs Alexis Gaffin, Head of Immanuel College Prep School,

notes: ‘We just couldn’t delay when these families are coming out of such shock and pain. By getting the children into school swiftly, we are bringing much needed normalcy to their lives. Straight away the new British-Israeli pupils are playing happily with their new friends here at ICPS.’ The Head Master of Immanuel College, Dr Millan Sachania explains: ‘We stand in solidarity with our extended “family” in Israel, and we are honoured, albeit in such distressing times, to make available our resources to those British-Israeli families in need.’

Any British-Israeli families returning to the UK who need school places should contact the College’s Head of Admissions, Mrs Sarah Greenfield (sgreenfield@immanuelcollege.co.uk<mailto:sgreenfield@ immanuelcollege.co.uk>) to discuss their options and the process.

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22 COMMUNITY

Breast Cancer and BRCA Support at Chai

Rabbi Naftali Schiff Meets withHolocaust Survivors at Jewish Care’s Holocaust Survivors’ Centre Rabbi Naftali Schiff, Executive Director of Jewish Futures, was invited to meet with Holocaust survivors at Jewish Care’s Holocaust Survivor’s Centre in Golders Green. With deep reverence for the survivors, Rabbi Schiff spent an afternoon with the survivors and raised a “l’chaim” with these living testaments to resilience and hope. The survivors, true heroes of our time, embody the enduring spirit of the Jewish people, standing as symbols of unwavering persistence, drive to survive, and the promise of a positive Jewish future.

At the gathering, Rabbi Schiff emphasised the profound impact these survivors have had on the Jewish community, serving as a beacon of strength and reminding the world of the shared commitment to ensuring “Never Again.”

Aish, too, has faced adversity, notably during its anti-Semitic arson attack in 2006 on its building, where a Sefer Torah was burnt, a painful reminder of the challenges the Jewish community continues to confront.

Rabbi Schiff’s visit was not only to provide a welcome distraction to the current situation for the survivors but also to reassure them in Jewish Futures commitment and particularly JRoots to ensuring their legacy lives on. He spoke passionately about passing on the survivors’ resilience to the younger generation, who now find themselves standing up against anti-Semitism on various fronts — be it on campuses, online, in schools, or in the workplace.

With unwavering determination, Rabbi Schiff pledged to empower future generations with the torch of Jewish pride, illuminating the path towards unity, understanding, and acceptance.

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“In the face of rising anti-Semitism, the Jewish heart and soul beat as one,” Rabbi Schiff remarked. “We are witnessing an incredible surge of young Jews seeking their identity, embracing the forces of good, and championing messages of love, light, and enlightenment in our world.”

Holocaust Survivor Ivor Perl gave his own message to the Jewish community: “From someone who went through an awful lot as a Jew, I know we’re going through some hard times. Eventually we’ll come through much stronger than we have been. We came through a lot stronger after the Holocaust, we’ll come through this as well.”

One enduring lesson of the Holocaust is the unity it has forged among Jews, regardless of religious beliefs or backgrounds. Rabbi Schiff stressed the importance of unity, emphasising that all Jews, irrespective of their differences, stand together. This sentiment is at the core of Jewish Futures, a movement that unites diverse individuals through various different pathways under the banner of shared heritage and shared future.

The visit to the Holocaust Survivors Centre was made possible through the collaborative efforts of JRoots, an organisation dedicated to connecting Jews with their roots and heritage through educational Jewish journeys to places of enormous Jews significance, particularly Poland. Rabbi Schiff’s meeting with the survivors was a testament to the ongoing work of JRoots and the profound impact of its outreach initiatives.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, an annual campaign which raises awareness about the importance of the prevention and early detection of the most commonly occurring cancer worldwide.

Each year, 55,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK. Often mistakenly viewed as a women-only disease, many men are unaware that they can also develop breast cancer. However, encouraging news is that with early diagnosis and better treatments, almost 9 in 10 (85%) of women survive breast cancer for 5 years or more.

A lifeline to so many in the Jewish community at a time when they are at their most vulnerable, Chai provides both individual support and groups for anyone affected by a breast cancer diagnosis or receiving a BRCA-positive result. As well as Breast Buddies for those who have breast cancer, Chai has responded to the increasing number of people who know they are carriers of the BRCA 1 or 2 gene by running two BRCA Support Groups. One for those who are carriers and have cancer and another for carriers without cancer. Mutations in the BRCA 1 and 2 genes are strongly linked to an increased chance of breast, ovarian, pancreatic and prostate cancer.

Chai client and BRCA carrier, Danielle Kutner, said: “Chai has had a massive positive impact on my life. When I was in pieces on the floor they sorted me out and changed everything for me. The BRCA group was both comforting and empowering, especially being with other people who are going through a similar situation as I was.”

Recognised as a leader and innovator in the field of cancer support, Chai, together with Jnetics, are spearheading the

awareness raising campaign for The Jewish Community’s NHS BRCA Screening Programme, a free BRCA testing service available to anyone aged 18 or over with one or more Jewish grandparent (launching in early 2024). To find out more about BRCA and the testing programme, please visit jewishbrca.org

A team of members of Barnet Shul have shown solidarity with the hostages held in Gaza by tying blue and white ribbons on to the Shul Mehitza - one each ribbon for each of the hostages. The ribbons will

be removed as the hostages are safely removed which we all hope and pray will be soon.

How Chai can help breast cancer patients during and post treatment: • Specialised counselling support including one-to-one and couples • Complementary Therapies to help with the side effects of surgery and treatment • Chai Medical Clinic – Run in collaboration with The Royal Free Foundation NHS Trust and Marie Curie Cancer Care.

This service provides support to help clients cope with the unmanageable side effects and symptoms of surgery and treatment • Dietary advice, personalised to client’s needs • Practical advice about employment law, the benefits system and easing the financial burden and implications of cancer • Exercise and gym For more information on Chai’s specialised support services, please call Charlotte Hildebrand on 020 8457 3238 or visit chaicancercare.org

Separation Unites in Barnet

Barnet Shul Mechitza with blue and white ribbons

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26 OCTOBER 2023

JLE Step Up

JLE has organised a series of events to support Israel and spread the message of Am Yisrael Chai.

A heartwarming initiative to source and pack 6,000 pairs of pyjamas for displaced children in Israel took place. Packages contained donated kippot for boys, hair accessories for girls and a chocolate treat, all accompanied by a Shema prayer card.

The Packages of Hope event, which brought together over 200 volunteers, was filled with enthusiasm, words of hope and uplifting music that left participants inspired and motivated.

The JLE reinforced their commitment to Israel by hosting a Q&A session with Daniel Burger, CEO of Magen David Adom UK. The event featured a live update from MDA first responder Aryeh Myers, providing insights into the vital work carried out by MDA to save lives.

JLE On Campus continued its mission of supporting Jewish students at universities, hosting events of support and a safe place so students could speak in prominent institutions including Cambridge, Birmingham, Imperial College and Leeds.

These activities underline the JLE’s unwavering commitment to strengthening bonds of the Jewish community, educating and inspiring and being there for one another.

The JLE has partnered with

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I-gnite and UJS, which is providing a weekly webinar for secondary school and university students and last week 500 joined. This week’s theme focused on the history of the war in Israel. An event on November 6th include guest speaker Jake Wallis Simons.

JLE CEO, Rabbi Morgan said: “We are immensely proud of the collective efforts and support from our dedicated volunteers and partners within the community.

Our commitment to Israel and the Jewish community as a whole remains resolute.”

A resource for the community is the JLE History for the Curious podcast by Historian Rabbi Aubrey Hersh. The latest episode was themed on hasbara and has had over 12,000 downloads.

For the podcast or future events: www. jle.org.uk

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26 OCTOBER 2023

The Meis Mitzva Spy - Misaskim Manchester Stops Cremation of Ex Mossad Agent and Brings her to Kevuras Yisroel In a heartwarming story that unfolded just days before Yom Kippur, the Misaskim Manchester organization received an urgent email from Rabbi and Rebbetzin Cheruff of Chabad Birmingham. Their message detailed a compelling request for assistance from a Jewish doctor residing in the Birmingham area, who had been contacted by the Medical Examiner at The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. The hospital’s Non-Jewish Chaplain had encountered a woman on one of the wards during his rounds, who identified herself as Jewish. This woman, who had lost touch with her faith over the years, spent her final three weeks in the company of the chaplain, expressing her desire to be buried in accordance with her Jewish faith upon her passing. Tragically, this woman had died alone with no known friends or family to take her of her burial wishes.

Moved by this poignant plea, Misaskim swiftly appointed a dedicated case coordinator to launch a thorough investigation. The coordinator promptly established contact with the medical examiner to gather any available information that could help determine the woman’s Jewish heritage and expedite her burial according to Jewish customs. Regrettably, the Medical Examiner possessed only two crucial details: the deceased’s name and her date of birth.

Before classifying the woman as a “Meis Mitzva,” which would necessitate their intervention, Misaskim needed

unequivocal proof of her Jewish lineage.

Armed with limited information, the task at hand was undeniably challenging.

Time, however, was of the essence, as the hospital had informed Misaskim that, in the absence of any discovered family, they would be forced to conduct a private cremation ceremony. The organization remained resolute in their commitment to prevent such an outcome unless they could definitively establish the woman’s non-Jewish status.

To tackle this demanding quest, a meeting was convened that same evening between the case coordinator and Misaskim’s in-house genealogy researcher. The available information was shared, and the researcher promptly embarked on a quest for answers.

By the following morning, a significant breakthrough had occurred. They had uncovered the remarkable life story of the deceased, who was born in Manchester but had later relocated to Israel in her early twenties, subsequently serving in the IDF. Her life took an intriguing turn when she was recruited by David Kimche, the British-born Deputy Director of the Mossad, to undertake espionage missions. Her undercover work included spying within a PLO training camp for female assassins in Lebanon, ultimately leading to her assignment as a spy within the Munich Terror cell, which played a crucial role in bringing the infamous Neo-Nazi Karl Heinz Hoffman to justice.

Despite these astonishing revelations,

the confirmation of the woman’s Jewish heritage remained elusive. Exhaustive searches were conducted across the UK, yet no concrete evidence was found. Just as they were on the brink of despair, the researcher managed to establish contact with a high-ranking official in Israeli Intelligence. Two days after Yom Kippur, the long-awaited message arrived, confirming her Jewish status according to Halacha: “I can confirm she is Jewish in line with Halacha; her mother was Jewish, but her father was not.”

Further hours were devoted to scrutinizing the provided information until the organization was convinced of her Jewish lineage. A meeting with Rabbi Sofer, the rabbinical head of Misaskim, was convened, and all the information was presented to him. He concurred with their conclusion and supported the decision to halt the cremation, ensuring the deceased would receive the Jewish burial she had ardently desired.

The organization’s coordinator promptly relayed this information to the Medical Examiner, who was immensely relieved that someone would take care of the deceased and provide her with the Jewish burial she had longed for on her deathbed.

Following the necessary bureaucratic procedures, the hospital had to follow, ensuring no family members would step forward, Misaskim dispatched a team to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital three weeks after the initial message was

received. They collected the deceased and transported her to their Tahara House in North Manchester.

Given the closest city to her passing was Birmingham, Misaskim reached out to Rabbi Yossi Jacobs, the Rabbi of Birmingham Singers Hill Synagogue and chairman of the Birmingham Chevra Kadisha. They sought his assistance in securing a burial plot in the Jewish Cemetery in Birmingham. Rabbi Jacobs and his congregation were more than willing to help and donated a “Meis Mitzva” plot, costing them more than ten thousand pounds, for this very important cause.

The following day, the dedicated Misaskim Ladies Chevra Kadish Team conducted a complete Tahara, and two Misaskim volunteers transported the deceased to Birmingham, where she was finally laid to rest in a moving Levaya, in the presence of a full Minyan, led by Rabbi Yossi Jacobs, at Witton Jewish Cemetery, in a true testament to the power of unity and faith.

Misaskim Manchester is a volunteer run organisation that relies on donations in-order to continue providing its vital services across the UK. One can donate through their website by visiting www. misaskim.co.uk/donate

Ben’s Vegan Kitchen, GIFT and Ta’amim welcomed over 100 guests to ‘Tastes of the Shuk’ on Monday night, a fundraising event in support of Israeli causes, instigated by volunteers Elior Doani and Jeli Gottleib and sponsored by the Tel Aviv Institute.

Attendees entered an immersive shuk environment designed by the Ta’amim team at Jewish Futures in Hendon, experiencing the tastes, sounds, smells and atmosphere of Machane Yehuda Market at night, replete with market stalls, a falafel stand (catered by Mr Falafel), a cocktail bar and seated dining experience under a canopy of festoon lights. Bespoke retro-style posters created by designer Emily Theodore (@emmtheo) completed the decor.

Food influencer Ben Rebuck who recently appeared on BBC’s Celebration Kitchen, created a bespoke plant based menu inspired by some of his favourite israeli dishes. With assistance from chefs Rob Gazdar and Talia Trup, Giving Kitchen head chef Sarah Isaac and a team of GIFT volunteers, guests including influencer @romykosher and Love Island’s Eyal Booker were delighted with innovative twists on borekas, shakshuka and malabi, served in Shuk-style takeaway

containers.

Rebuck said “I’m born in North London, but Israel is home.” He quoted from a recent essay he had penned entitled The Ramp. “There’s something special about the ramp. Anyone who has stepped off the plane at Ben Gurion knows it as the signifier that you have arrived. It is the most instagrammed place in the whole of Israel, the proof needed to show the world that you have arrived. But it doesn’t just affirm your physial presence, but the profound sense of coming home that permeates the air.”

After a starter trio of borekas served in paper bags, GIFT’s Shira Joseph spoke about the phenomenal response of the community to their GIFT4Israel appeal, sending over 3 tonnes of items sorted and packed by an army of over 900 volunteers, to support those affected by the current conflict. “All of this is based on everyone’s acts of kindness. I’ve seen the community come together in the most unbelieveable way ... we are all in so much pain, we all feel the pain of our brothers and sisters in Israel, and to turn that pain into something beautiful by doing acts of kindness ... I’m just blown away by it.”

Shira also presented a project conceived by a 15 year old student volunteer,

who had designed small cards, sponsored the printing from her own babysitting money, handwritten the names of a fallen soldier on each one, and asked that the recipients in the room take on an act of giving in their memory.

Special guest speaker, renowned Israel advocate Hen Mazzig, spoke about self-belief, harnessing inner strength and the rights of the Jewish people to speak up and demand justice. Drawing parallels with the Jewish leaders and war heroes of the past, Mazzig said “All of us are the heroes of today.” Encouraging the audience to speak out on social media and advocate for Israel in coversation with others, he said “all of this will not just impact what happens today. It will impact future generations. It will impact our great grandchildren.”

Mazzig concluded with a powerful message to Jews everywhere.

“Remember that we are on the right Happy punters eating their Israeli food

side of history. We have nothing to be ashamed of, we have everything to be proud of. Am Yisrael Chai!”

The evening‘s procedings continued with an auction and raffle coordinated Elior and Jeli, along with Young GIFT’s Ileana Ereira, followed by a short and moving musical set by function band Totem’s JJ Hodari and Moni Tivoni, and concluded with a rousing and emotional chorus of the Hatikva.

The event raised almost £16,000. All funds raised will be used to provide emergency medical supplies for hospitals in Israel, provide food and clothing vouchers to displaced families and provide meals for vegan soldiers in the IDF. Follow @bensvegankitchen @giftcharity @wearetaamim

Tastes of the Shuk

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ASK THE RABBI Looking for answers? Send your question to Rabbi@RabbiSchochet.com SHOULD I BE SCARED

but enough with the “stay safe!”

Dear Rabbi I am a frum Jew from New York. I am due to fly to the UK in a few weeks’ time but from everything I am reading and seeing online I am concerned and fearful. This may not be part of your remit as a Rabbi and a columnist, but I read you often (my brother-in-law always sends me your column) and I hope it’s OK to ask whether as a Jew I have what to be worried about coming to the UK?

Might I add that people ought to stop watching an endless loop of reports on social media. There’s no purpose or value to that other than overwhelming you. Haters are always going to hate and sometimes they just wait for an opportunity to vent their hatred. They’re like sleeping dogs albeit with one eye open.

So now they have their pathetic excuse.

But don’t you go feeding into that with your own misplaced fear.

Jacob

Now, more than ever we need to accept certain objective truths about ourselves and our universe. At the heart of that lies the need for a firm belief in G-d. Because it is only this bedrock of belief which provides the immutable foundation upon which we can carry on; in the midst of all the rhetoric, resolutely and with determination as loud and proud Jews.

Dear Jacob You describe yourself as frum and yet you express fear. Whatever happened to the hallmark of the Jew – “believers the descendants of believers”? Daily in your prayers you say, “Have no fear of sudden terror…”

All too often at the moment I hear people wishing one another, “stay safe!”

Seriously! We said that during covid and that was for different reasons. We are safe!

We are Jewish! We have faith! Wish one another “stay positive!” Or “stay happy”

TIME TO ABOLISH RELIGION? Dear Rabbi Isn’t the world better off without religion?

Anti Semitism, racism, terrorism, these are generally all acts committed in the name of one religion against another.

Doesn’t that then suggest that religion itself is the root cause of all this malice?

Religion has a corruptive and destructive streak, giving a license to the most heinous crimes. If we dispelled with religion altogether, then arguably there would be nothing to hate?

Cynthia Dear Cynthia The worst crimes in history have been perpetrated in the name of religion, in the west no less than in the east. We Jews are perhaps more aware of this than most others: the crusaders, the inquisition, Martin Luther, pogroms in honour of Easter and Christmas. Aboriginal people throughout the world recall the missionaries coming to them with the cross in one hand and the sword or Koran in the other and proclaiming: “either you kiss the one or the other will kiss you!” How many wars have been fought and how many atrocities committed in the name of one faith or another, and all, of course, “for the glory of G-d” or with the battle-cry “Allah al-akhbar!”

Is religion really at fault? Were these criminals truly G-d’s warriors? The easy answer of “no,” and to dismiss them as crazies, ignorant fanatics or fundamentalists etc., is too simplistic a response. I suggest to you the following: In the gun-control debate there is a famous saying: “Guns don’t kill; people do.” This is certainly true, though in that context we should ponder the question as to how much we should facilitate and whether we should make it easier for people to act improperly. The basic premise, however, remains correct. Nearly everything in life is a two-edged sword, with a positive and a negative side.

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The truth is just as many people have been killed by the following of various secular social philosophies as by the propagation of certain theological beliefs.

No less destruction has been wrought by scientific research and discoveries or colonialist pursuit of wealth at the expense of native populations. It is not this or that premise that is responsible for the consequences as much as what the human mind and so-called rationalism does with it. Would you now suggest stop thinking and cease scientific pursuits or to develop social theories and philosophies? Obviously, that is absurd.

Man’s greatest gift is the power of free choice. In order for free choice to

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operate, a world that can enable man to love must also enable a man to hate.

Free choice means that a world in which man can make himself into a Moses must also allow for the possibility for man to make himself into a Hitler or a Hamas terrorist. Human reason and the pursuit of religion need not be changed. Humans must change by realizing their positive potential and utilizing it for its intended purpose to make this world into a better place. So, it is not religion per se that is the problem. It is people’s subjective interpretation, their own rationale, the applied human reasoning that pacifies the conscience and justifies the actions.

That needs to change.

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

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26 OCTOBER 2023

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

The Promise of the Impossible

BY RABBI YEHOSHUA FASS

The narrative of Parashat Lech Lecha follows Avraham’s journey as he follows G-d’s directive, travels from his home in Haran and establishes a new life in Eretz Yisrael. The story reaches its climax when Avraham receives the promise that he will have children who will inherit the Land.

With wonderful imagery, the pasuk describes Hashem’s words to Avraham: “And He [Hashem] took him out and He said: ‘Look at the heavens and count the stars, if you are able to count them;’ and He said to him, ‘Your children will be like this.’”

(Bereishit 15:5) This pasuk poses two difficulties.

Firstly, Hashem promises Avraham that his family will grow to become a large nation, but we have yet to see this

promise fulfilled. The Jewish nation, having been persecuted throughout the generations, remains small (and very countable). Is it possible that this promise – unlike the other patriarchal promises in Bereishit – was never fulfilled?

Secondly, there seems to be syntactical repetition in the verse. “And He took him outside and He said… count the stars; and He said…” Why did Hashem start ‘speaking’ two distinct times? It seems as if Hashem needed to re-engage Avraham after making His initial request to “count the stars.” Looking closely, it is the precisely the grammatically anomaly of the second difficulty that explains and properly interprets the first one.

Rav Meir Shapira of Lublin addresses the question of syntax and explains that the reason why Hashem needed to re-engage Avraham was because

Avraham actually stood up, looked skyward, and started to count, star by star.

Hashem needed to interrupt Avraham’s counting in order to continue their dialogue.

Continuing this spectacular explanation, Rav Shapira explains that the word “this”, refers not to a quantitative blessing (regarding the Israelites being as numerous as the stars), but rather to Avraham’s act of counting. Counting the stars – the ability to achieve an impossible task – will be the qualitative blessing given to Avraham’s descendents. The prophecy is that of a nation that strives to achieve the impossible and implausible.

In a similar vein, Rashi comments: “And He [Hashem] took him out – He took Avraham out from his astrological definitions.” We all have natural powers and capabilities; but what Hashem

demanded here of Avraham was that he move beyond his natural abilities, to exceed his own expectations and perceived limitations. It is this very capability that Hashem promised and interwove within our spiritual genetic code.

Looking at the accomplishments of Jewish history and the challenges that have been overcome, this is certainly a promise that is – and continues to be – fulfilled.

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Yehoshua Fass is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Nefesh B’Nefesh.

He is a member of the Mizrachi Speakers Bureau (www.mizrachi.org/speakers).

Lech Lecha Sidra Summary “Go forth from your land and from your birthplace and from your father’s house, to the land that I will show you”

Avraham refuses the King of Sedom’s offer to keep the spoils of the war. Avraham relays his pain to G-d at being childless.

G-d tells him that his offspring will be countless, like the stars.

6th Aliya (Shishi) – 15:7-17:6

Wary of future sins, Avraham asks for a hint as to how his offspring will merit to inherit and to keep the Land (see the Ramban’s commentary). G-d instructs Avraham to cut up several animals, indicating that the future Temple offerings will protect the nation. Birds of prey descend on the carcasses. Avraham falls into a deep sleep. G-d tells him that his offspring will be enslaved in a foreign land for 400 years. Sarah, still childless, tells Avraham to take her maidservant, Hagar, as a second wife. Hagar becomes pregnant and is disrespectful to Sarah, who sends her away. An angel appears to Hagar in the desert, telling her to subjugate herself to Sarah. Hagar gives birth to Yishmael.

1ST ALIYA (KOHEN) – BERESHIT 12:1-13

G-d appears to Avraham (at this stage still called Avram), telling him to leave his homeland, Charan (Babylonia), and travel to a land “that G-d would show him”, where he would flourish and father a great nation. Avraham takes his wife Sarah (at this stage still called Sarai), his nephew Lot and his entire household.

They arrive in Cana’an. Avraham travels throughout the Land. Famine strikes and they are forced to go down to Egypt in order to survive. Afraid of being killed if the Egyptians discover that Sarah is his wife, Avraham asks her to say she is his sister.

2nd Aliya (Levi) – 12:14-13:4

Pharaoh’s officers take Sarah away to their master’s house. They give Avraham copious gifts as ‘payment’. G-d strikes Pharaoh with a plague. Suspecting that Sarah may in fact be Avraham’s wife, Pharaoh confronts Avraham and then orders him and Sarah to leave. They travel

back to Cana’an with Lot.

3rd Aliya (Shlishi) – 13:5-13:18

Arguments break out between the shepherds of Avraham and Lot. Avraham suggests that they part ways. Lot chooses to live in the immoral city of Sedom. G-d appears to Avraham and promises that his offspring, who will be countless, shall inherit the Land.

4th Aliya (Revi’i) – 14:1-14:20

A war breaks out among nine kings. The king of Sedom is defeated and Lot is taken captive. This prompts Avraham to mobilise his small force, which miraculously defeats the victorious kings and rescues Lot. Point to Consider: Who came to tell Avraham that Lot had been taken captive? (see Rashi to 14:13)

5th Aliya (Chamishi) – 14:21-15:6

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7th Aliya (Shevi’i) – 17:7-17:27

G-d instructs Avraham in the mitzvah of brit milah. G-d says that Sarah will have a child, Yitzchak. Avraham circumcises both himself and Yishmael.

Haftarah

The Biblical prophet Yeshaya (Isaiah) reassures Israel that even when they are downtrodden, G-d does not tire of them and does not forget them; He remains in charge of Creation and we remain His chosen people.

No-one can hear them now...

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THE BIG QUESTIONS

28 JUDAISM

IPHONES When I was younger I took great care of my car. One day my grandfather saw me kneeling next to my car waxing it and told me that what I was doing was akin to idol worship. Today’s youth think nothing of spending the night in front of an Apple store to pick up the latest iPhone. Is this akin to idolatry?

Any material obsession has its dangers.

Our sages say, “Who is rich? He who rejoices in his lot.” (Avot 4:1). New and better items, be they cars, clothes, games, iPhones, etc., may offer momentary satisfaction, but they cannot provide sustained meaning and fulfillment in life.

However, having said this, material things can – in many circumstances – be harnessed for positive self-growth.

Judaism is not a religion that believes in eschewing physicality, living like a hermit or joining a monastery. Nor does it believe spiritual thoughts and religious expression should be confined to the synagogue. To the contrary, the world is

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there for us to engage with, for us to bring G-dliness into all aspects of our lives.

A story is told of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, who was the great defender of his people, able to see the good in every Jew and in every situation.

He once saw a man greasing the wheels of his cart whilst wearing tallit and tefillin.

“Master of the World!,” he said, “What a wonderful people we are! Even when greasing his wheels, a Jew still thinks of G-d!”

The verse in Proverbs says, “In all your ways know Him” (Prov. 3:6), and even material things like cars and technological gadgets can be part of your religious journey.

Next time you take your car for a drive, think to yourself: What mitzvot opportunities does my car present me with? Can I use it to offer a ride to someone else? Can I use it to take me to a shiur?

Similarly, when next using your iPhone, think about the applications on offer. Is there a Torah text I can download to read on my train journey home? Is there a call I can make to a friend who is in need?

And how about listening to Jewish music

and singing along?

So the issue is not one of idolatry. It is how the material item fits in to your entire world-view.

THE CHOSEN PEOPLE Why did G-d give the Torah to the Jews and not some other people?

There are well-known stories about G-d hawking the Torah around the ancient peoples and only Israel making no difficulties but saying, “We will accept it! We will obey it!”

The Talmud states in Betzah 25b that the Jewish people were chosen for the Torah because they are “azzim”, strong and determined. One view is that Jews are passionate and need the Torah to control them.

Another view says that it was always going to be hard to live by and teach the Torah, and G-d needed a people who would be stubborn in their loyalty.

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26 OCTOBER 2023

Rabbi Raymond Apple was for many years Australia’s highest profile rabbi and the leading spokesman on Judaism. After serving congregations in London, Rabbi Apple was chief minister of the Great Synagogue, Sydney, for 32 years. He also held many public roles, particularly in the fields of chaplaincy, interfaith dialogue and Freemasonry, and is the recipient of several national and civic honours. Now retired, he lives in Jerusalem and blogs at http://www.oztorah.com

CAMP SIMCHA CHIEF EXECUTIVE ANNOUNCES ALIYAH PLAN Camp Simcha chief executive Neville Goldschneider has announced his plans to retire next Spring to make Aliyah.

Mr Goldschneider, 61, has been at the helm of the charity, which supports families with seriously ill children, for over 18 years.

Making the announcement, Mr Goldschneider said: “Our son, his wife and our grandsons live in Jerusalem and all of my wife’s family live in Israel. It is times like this, more than ever, that we feel the need to be together with our loved ones, especially when things are so very hard in Israel.

“In the best possible way, Camp Simcha has been at the forefront of mine and my family’s lives now for so long. I am very proud of all we achieved over the years, most notably for me – taking the charity beyond supporting only cancer way back in 2005; our more recent extension to help families who have a child with a serious mental health condition and our collaborations across the wider community - particularly our work with Noah’s Ark Hospice to create a hospice provision accessible for all Jewish children.

“Whilst it will be a very difficult thing for me to leave the team, I will always be part of the Camp Simcha family. I believe passionately in the impact of the work we do and will always be a big ambassador for the charity.”

When he first took on the role of chief executive, Camp Simcha was supporting eight families in North London who had a child with cancer. It now provides 23 different practical, therapeutic and emotional support services to over 1,500 family members annually throughout the UK, coping with more than 50 serious, life-changing and life-threatening childhood medical conditions.

Camp Simcha Chair of Trustees, Simon Johnson, said: “I applaud Neville’s decision to make Aliyah and be with his family, but it is most definitely the end of an era for Camp Simcha. He has embodied Camp Simcha, its values and ethos for so long that it will be odd not to have him at the helm. He has built on the goals and mission of Rachely and Meir Plancey and has kept Camp Simcha as a family which ensures that no seriously ill child should have to cope without our support.

“The Trustees will now form a small committee that will determine the process towards recruiting a new chief executive and ensuring the very smoothest transition: we will make further announcements in due course.”

Camp Simcha co-founder Meir Plancey added: “Neville will be moving on, knowing that he has changed and helped the lives of thousands of families over the years. Rachely and I are truly indebted to Neville for keeping true to our vision for the past 18-plus years.”

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We thought it would be different. We thought wrong

BY RABBI MOSHE TARAGIN

We incorrectly assumed that a barbaric massacre, rape, torture, and kidnapping of innocents would provoke worldwide sympathy and awaken moral clarity.

Some situations are so binary and so black and white that they leave absolutely no room for moral maneuvering or for multiple narratives. We thought the brutal massacre of our people was such a situation. We thought wrong.

Over the past two weeks, even before the bodies were buried and before many of them were even identified, antisemites came pouring out of the woodwork to accuse us of moral crimes, and, evidently, though it is shocking to imagine, support the murder of Jews. It didn’t take long for the oldest of all hatreds to rear its ugly head. This monster is still alive in 2023. It just dresses in different clothing.

WEAPONS AND TONGUES Facing a 12th century Islamic movement determined to murder or convert to Islam, the crestfallen Yemenite community turned to Maimonides for support and guidance. In his response, known as the “Letter to Yemen”, Maimonides cited a verse in Isaiah chapter 54 which assures us that “any weapon fashioned against you will fail and any tongue raised against you will be thwarted’. Our enemies attempt to destroy us both through physical and verbal weaponry. In addition to actual violence, they spin false narratives to vilify us. Those diabolical and filthy tongues are, currently, working overtime.

Rabbi Sacks compared antisemitism to a virus which cannot survive independently but needs to parasite its resources from a host organism. Similarly, antisemitism must adopt or distort a contemporary cultural narrative to justify the hateful venom it spews. The cover story for antisemitism changes in each generation, but the hatred doesn’t change.

Medieval Christian antisemitism employed the false accusation of blood libels to foment the murder of Jews. By the 19th century, as organized religion had collapsed, a religious narrative for antisemitism would no longer be effective. Instead, antisemitism adopted a more contemporary narrative: that Jews were a sub-Aryan race which needed to be purged from the broader society.

In the wake of Darwinism and a world characterized by selection and survival of the fittest, social Darwinism envisioned the same selection process for human society. Eliminating weaker races was necessary for the survival of humanity at large. Antisemitism’s new clothing was 20th century racial theory.

The horrors of WWII debunked social Darwinism, forcing antisemites back into the laboratory to fabricate a new false narrative to support their endless loathing. They invented a powerful geo-political narrative that the Jews are foreign colonialists who invaded indigenous Arab populations and illegally established a state. In truth, we inhabited this land thousands of years before colonialism and returned home with full international backing. Every generation casts a new false narrative to support their antisemitism, but the underlying hatred remains the same. In every generation.

PROJECTION Ironically and tragically, many of these accusations falsely denounce us for violating the very values we hold dear.

Ancient antisemitism was based, largely, upon our challenging the world to monotheism. Paganism, with its multiple gods involved in an endless moral carnival doesn’t demand moral accountability.

Monotheism, based upon moral regulation and the structure of commandments is a more difficult, but more ennobling way of life. We were hated because we demanded a break from the riotous revelry of a pagan lifestyle.

After the destruction of the first Temple, our pagan enemies ravaged the ornamental golden cherubs, paraded them through the streets of Jerusalem, and taunted us that we were, in fact, paganists. The easiest way to deflect our religious challenge was to accuse the Jewish people, the messengers of monotheism, of the crime of paganism.

Similarly, medieval blood libels were also a ridiculous but painful projection of Christian crimes upon our own people.

The Torah repeatedly forbids consuming animal blood, let alone human blood.

Consuming blood is anathema to us and to our strict dietary regulations.

Similarly, we are repeatedly cautioned against any murder. For centuries we showcased a higher standard of hygiene, education, family, community, morality, and general dignity than the general European population. Unable to face this challenge, medieval Europe accused us of drinking blood and of murder. The easiest way to deflect our moral message was to accuse us of their own crimes. If we drank human blood we were, obviously hypocrites, whose moral message could be ignored.

We are now facing the most warped version of this antisemitic “deflection strategy”. We were placed on Earth to live a higher moral standard, to model a life of covenant and commandment, and to showcase how a religious lifestyle enhances the human condition. During

periods when we didn’t live up to moral expectations, we were evicted from our land. We had grossly failed in our mission.

We have now returned home and hope to continue this historical mission. We aim to create a model state of ethics, compassion, community, patriotism, historical legacy, and spirituality. One day we hope these values will morph into religious expression. Hopefully, we will live up to these ambitious expectations and serve as a moral example to any who are willing to be inspired.

Those who refuse to be inspired are now projecting their own worst crimes upon us. Supporters of Hamas bestiality are busily deflecting their own moral decay upon us. They deceitfully associate us with unjust policies such as Apartheid and with horrific monsters such as Nazis.

The easiest way to avoid the message is to deflect your own crimes upon the messenger. Nothing has changed.

ACADEMIC ROT Witnessing higher universities across the United States serving as hotbeds for vitriolic antisemitism has been especially galling. By not explicitly opposing these despicable riots, university administrations have lent silent accreditation for murder. These criminal assemblies of hate and violence occurred in institutions which were previously referred to as “prestigious”. Evidently, we must rethink who and what we view as “prestigious”.

Ideally, the pursuit of higher knowledge should incite the development of higher moral awareness. Ideally, the more knowledge studied the greater the moral conscience. Unfortunately, this is not always true, as, tragically, the acquisition of higher knowledge sometimes erodes moral spirit. Over-intellectualization can blur the boundaries between good and evil and, all too often, intellectuals are unable to preserve basic moral clarity which even common and uneducated people instinctively recognize.

Additionally, students of higher knowledge can become cocky and condescending, arrogantly assuming they are in possession of a higher moral code which ordinary people are incapable of understanding. Finally, the tolerance for hate on university campuses is being misrepresented as a defense of free speech and free thought. Democracy offers every citizen equal footing in the ballot box and equal legal rights. It doesn’t offer moral equivalence to any and every moral position, especially those which threaten the lives of others. But democracy has intoxicated modernity with freedom: freedom from family, freedom from gender, freedom from values, and now

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“Monotheism, based upon moral regulation and the structure of commandments is a more difficult, but more ennobling way of life” freedom from morality. Democracy is slowly murdering moral clarity.

This cultural debacle should provide a cautionary tale. Don’t revere intellect for its own sake. Don’t admire people simply because of their intelligence or their ability to convey it to others. Instead, gauge whether intellectual achievement has galvanized moral clarity and behavior. These institutions should never be referred to as prestigious. They have forfeited any moral high ground and any claim to public respect.

Kafka put it best “the destiny of the Jews is to absorb the potentialities of Mankind, purify them, and give them higher development…[but] the world opposes him with the cry of antisemitism…They beat the Jews and murder humanity.”

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

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26 OCTOBER 2023

Lech-Lecha

many children. And Avram just goes!

However when he gets to Israel, which was called Canaan, there is a terrible famine. So Avram has to run down to Egypt – but Pharoah kidnaps Sarah to marry her! Not to worry, Hashem protects her by making all the people in the palace ill. Pharoah has to beg Avram to daven for him.

Pharoh then showers them with lots of expensive gifts and kicks them out of Egypt. One of these gifts is Pharoah’s own daughter, Hagar. Pharoah says “Better a servant with Sarai than a Princess in Egypt.”

Next issue on the list. Avram is now very rich. So is his nephew. Avram always insists upon muzzling all his animals when they go through other people’s fields since eating their grass is stealing. Lot’s shepherds figure that since Hashem has promised Avram

Meet your grandfather. And my grandfather. It’s Abraham, father of all Jews and this is the start of his story.

After the flood and the tower, noone remembers Hashem anymore.

At the age of three, Avram realizes that Hashem is the One true G-d, the Creator. Left in charge of his father’s idol shop, Avram smashes his father Terach’s, idols. For this mad destruction, King Nimrod sentences him to die in a blazing furnace in Ur Kasdim. But never fear, Hashem saves Avram from the fire!

Avram and his wife Sarai open their tent to everyone and host lots and lots of guests. When people come, they teach them about Hashem. After many years, Hashem tells Avram to move.

Where? Just to wander and Hashem will tell him when to stop, and He will make him rich and famous and have

Word Search □ CANAAN □ CHARAN □ HAGAR □ LOT □ PHAROAH □ SARAI □ SEDOM □ YISHMAEL

isn’t going to be the mother of his child, so she gives Hagar to Avram as a wife.

Hagar gets pregnant but runs away.

Hashem sends an angel to Hagar with a message that her son who will be a wild man and the founder of a major nation. Hagar is commanded to call him Yishmael, return to Sarai and obey her. Hagar does go back to the tent of Avram and gives birth to Yishmael. He is the father of all the Arab nations.

When Avram is 99, Hashem changes his name to Avraham and Sarai to Sarah. New names, new mazal – luck, Hashem promises they will have a child together. Oh – and… Avraham must do bris milah at 99 years old and once again he obeys without question!!

the land of Canaan and Avram has no sons, Lot will eventually inherit the land. The grass will be their’s sooner or later anyway! So Avram separates from Lot. Lot goes to live in a wicked, mean place. And then he gets kidnapped in the middle of a war between 4 and 5 kings! Avram hears and rushes to rescue him. The only problem is – after defeating 5 kings just by himself with 318 men, has he used up all his credit and now the deal with Hashem is off?

Hashem appears to him and they make an oath. Avram cuts up animal pieces and places them in two rows.

Hashem sweeps smoke and clouds through them and puts Avram to sleep, promising him that his children will be strangers in a strange land for 400 years but Hashem will save them and give them Israel.

Sarai starts to think that maybe she

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Facts about Parashat Lech-Lecha Number of Lines in the Sefer Torah - 208 Number of Verses - 126

Dingbats 2-3 3

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3. Foreign language 4. Better half

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5 1. Easy on the eyes 2. Back to square one

2

6 Answers

5. Scoreboard 6. Tennis Ball

1

26 OCTOBER 2023

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FAMILY FUN 35

Using all the shapes on the left can you make the house shape on the right?

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

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

Use the area below to write the words you have found.

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Last week’s words

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Here are some words you may have found from last week – you may have found more!

and ant ate eat

nan tad tan tat

tea ante dane data

date dean nana neat

tate teat attend tenant

andante attendant

Jokes

Riddles

Q: How do you get a squirrel to like you?

A: Act like a nut!

1. I am an odd number. Take away a letter and

Q: What do you call two birds in love?

A: Tweethearts!

2. If 2 is company and 3 is a crowd, what are 4

Q: How does a scientist freshen her breath?

A: With experi-mints!

3. I add 5 to 9 and get 2. The answer is

and 5?

correct, so what am I?

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Answers

1. Seven 2. 9 3. A clock. When it is 9 am, adding 5 hours would make it 2pm

Q: What building in England has the most stories?

A: The public library!

I become even. What number am I?

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PRIVATE HEALTHCARE SPECIALISTS

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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.

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ALIYAH ADVISORS - GARY BROWN - PRACTICAL ALIYAH ADVICE Book a FREE meeting with UKAA’s founder Gary Brown, who will go through your particular needs and wants on a the PRACTICAL side of leaving your country of origin and/or living in/moving to Israel. This is both for pre and post- Aliyah Olim.

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BUILDING AND PARTY WALL SURVEYING

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SIMON MOSCOVITZ BSC (HONS) – EUROTEK UK LIMITED We are a well-established and successful Managed I.T. Services Provider (MSP) with a clear sense of purpose. We plan, design and enable the procurement, implementation, protection and management of a wide range of modern technologies through an earned and trusted partnership with our clients across the UK. We enable our clients to be operationally efficient by successfully embracing their digital transformation journey.

• Why choose Eurotek UK? Deliver > Manage > Automate > Secure > Backup

Contact: Toli Moscovitz BSc (Hons) MRICS 0161 823 6973 info@matrixsurveyors.co.uk www.matrixsurveyors.co.uk

Contact: 0161 660 2745 hello@eurotekuk.co.uk www.eurotekuk.co.uk

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