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Israel mourns the loss of Aura Herzog at 97 Ambassador Mike Herzog, former Chief Rabbi Israel Meir Lau, Aura’s grandson Noam Herzog and granddaughter Maayan Bronsky. The funeral was officiated by IDF Chief Cantor Shai Abramson, who also delivered a eulogy. President Herzog recalled his mother’s love for her family, the State of Israel and understanding the world. Regarding his father, Chaim, he noted, “You were his source of strength and his partner on his extraordinary life’s journey,” adding, “Your many years of partnership were the secret of the success of Continued on page 2
BY DAVID SAFFER
Heartfelt tributes have been paid to former First Lady Aura Herzog who passed away at her home on Monday. President Isaac Herzog’s mother, 97, was the wife of the late Chaim Herzog, Sixth President of Israel. The funeral at the Great Leaders of the Nation section at Mount Herzl Cemetery was attended by hundreds of dignitaries and citizens who came to pay their last respects. Among them were the Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Leader of the Opposition Benjamin Netanyahu, IDF Chief of Staff, Commissioner of Israel Police, Director of Mossad, Director of the Israel Security Agency, ministers, Knesset members past and present, Ambassadors, intellectuals, artists, religious leaders and foreign dignitaries. She was buried next to her late husband. President Herzog eulogised his mother. Eulogies were also delivered by the President’s brother
Aura Herzog A”H
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father’s mission, which in fact became your shared mission.” President Herzog recalled her life’s work of volunteering and as a pioneer to those who came to Israel in the Second Aliyah. “For you, the State was above all else, hence your wonderful suitability, yours and father’s, for all your roles, because your mission, your shared mission, for our nation and our state, was above all else,” he explained. Israel’s President noted her bestselling book, which taught generations of Israelis how to conduct themselves in a world of social codes decades before reality TV and lifestyle shows. He added, “You grew up in Cairo, in a cosmopolitan reality spanning worlds and epochs, between world wars and immense social and geopolitical upheavals. You came from a secular home but were a traditionalist your whole life.” President Herzog concluded by noting her union with his father. “I hope and believe that together, both of you up there in heaven are comforted by the fact that we here are continuing your great mission, for the sake of the People of Israel and the State of Israel,” he said. A public figure and social activist for many years, Aura founded the Council for a Beautiful Israel. Members of the public were able to pay respects in the Great Hall of the President’s Residence before the funeral procession and eulogies. Flags on state buildings were lowered to
President Herzog at his mother’s funeral
half-mast and memorial candles were lit at the President’s Residence following Aura’s death. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett led national tributes to the first family. “Aura loved her people and her country,” he said, “She lived modestly and raised a wonderful family while being constantly active on behalf of the public and society in Israel. My deepest condolences go out to President Herzog and the entire Herzog family. May her memory be blessed.” Merav Michaeli, Minister of Transportation and Labour Party leader, commented, “Aura was a formidable personality and her extraordinary life story was one of great activity and giving, one that made an enduring and significant contribution to the character of the
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State of Israel, it’s culture and its beauty. The originality and vision of creating the World Bible Quiz and the Council for a Beautiful Israel are the jewels in the crown of her great endeavours for this country. One only needs to see the heights you and your family have attained to understand what support and strength she gave you.” Born in Egypt to Leah and Simcha Ambache, her parents had four children. Aura’s older sister, Suzy Ambache, married former foreign minister Abba Eban. Her parents were expelled by the Turks during the First World War and reached Egypt from Jaffa. She grew up and was educated in Ismailiyah and Cairo and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and physics at Witwatersrand University in South Africa. At the end of her studies in 1946, Aura made aliyah to Israel and joined the Haganah. That year, she was elected to participate in the first class of the Jewish Agency’s diplomatic cadet school. Aura married Chaim Herzog in 1947 accompanied him throughout his roles in the IDF and public life. In the 1948 War of Independence she served as an officer in the intelligence division and in the Science Corps. She was seriously wounded in a terror attack on the National Institutions building in March 1948. In 1950-4 and 1975-8, Aura lived with her family in the United States when Chaim Herzog served as the military attache and Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations. She served as secretary-general of the committee for the celebration of the first decade of the State of Israel, initiating the Bible Quiz, which has taken place every year since.
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Former President Chaim Herzog
Aura also served as director-general of the Council of Arts and Culture (1959-68) and in 1969 founded the Council for a Beautiful Israel. In 1971, Aura published her book The Secrets of Hospitality about manners and customs. During Chaim Herzog’s tenure as President of the State of Israel (1983-93), Aura took on public roles and when Israel celebrated 40 years of independence, she headed the Israel Wears Clean campaign. Aura went on to fulfil more roles, including Chairwoman of the Public Committee for Jubilee Events (1988). She also served the Broadcasting Authority plenary, Mifal Hapayis, Tel Aviv Museum and Friends of Schneider Medical Center. Aura was international president emeritus of the Council for a Beautiful Israel. After the death of her husband in 1997, she founded and headed the Chaim Herzog Foundation to commemorate his work and legacy. President Herzog received letters of condolence from world and Jewish leaders around the world. US President Joe Biden said, “Your mother was an extraordinary individual who dedicated her life to the nation she loved.” He added, “Your mother was someone who I admired greatly. To this day, I feel honoured that I met her.” Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, “For each of us the mother is the closest and dearest person, her death is an irreparable loss.” Aura is survived by her four children, 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. WHAT’S INSIDE THIS WEEK 02 News 14 Opinion 15 Games 16 Community 20 Features
22 Travel 26 Cookery 30 Judaism 38 Kids 34 Youth 42 Sport
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Bennett warns of millions new Covid cases BY DAVID SAFFER
Israel could experience millions of new coronavirus cases due to the Omicron variant. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett gave the bleak warning about the projected exponential spike in infections at a press conference from his office in Jerusalem on Tuesday. “We are confronting a wave of infection the likes of which the world has not seen in 100 years,” he said. “Omicron is a strain that is more infectious than all of the others put together. The numbers are higher than we have seen until now.” Bennett pointed out that he predicted this scenario could happen last month. “The whole world is dealing with it,” commented Bennett. “In Boston, they are standing for hours in sub-zero temperatures. In London, they have stopped administering PCR tests to those who have been verified in antigen tests. In Austria, they are receiving answers after a week and in New York after five days. Morbidity is in the millions and here as well, we will reach several million infected.” Bennett explained how Israel would manage the crisis according to three principles centring on the economy, protecting the vulnerable and safeguarding children. Regarding the economy Bennett did not want people to lose jobs or businesses to close. “It is easy to fire, it is more difficult to find work afterward,” he said. “It is easy to close a business, it is difficult to rebuild it. I know this, I have managed businesses. We still remember the abandoned businesses of previous waves, some of them have yet to recover. I said this during the Delta wave as well.” Bennett added, “We will not leave citizens to deal with this alone. The state will help carry the burden. Not everyone can work from home. Quarantines also have an economic price. All workers in the economy will receive salaries even during quarantine, starting from the first day of quarantine. There will also be a response for the self-employed.” Bennett went on to describe how the State would protect the vulnerable, at-risk groups and senior citizens. “In Israel, we are hermetically safeguarding retirement homes and geriatric hospitals,” he explained. “We have brought drugs from both Merck and Pfizer. Almost 400,000 seniors have already been inoculated with the fourth dose of the vaccine and this is an unparalleled achievement around the world. No country is taking care of its seniors better than Israel.” As for safeguarding children, Bennett commented, “Omicron is hurting children, this is a fact. This variant does not skip over
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK
children. Most of them will be asymptomatic or mildly ill, however, a minority among the unvaccinated will fall severely ill. This worries me greatly.” He continued, “In Israel, we are taking a stringent approach in everything regarding children. The education system is subject to the same rules as everyone and indeed we will see more children in quarantine because fewer of them are vaccinated.” Bennett repeated his call of recent weeks for parents to get children vaccinated. The government is giving out three testing kits to every pupil. More will be sent direct to families for home use. Bennett claimed that Israel were the “champions at undergoing tests” and had adapted tests so people no longer have to wait five-to-eight days for results. “We are doing almost 400,000 PCR tests a day,” he noted. “If there is something that I hate, it is to stand in line, I know that it is frustrating. But the lines are long because many people have been infected or suspect they have been infected. There is a plan and it applies to everyone, from birth to 120.” Bennett concluded by accepting the coming weeks would be difficult but Israel would prevail. “The State of Israel is providing the best layers of protection in the world, vaccines that others do not have, drugs that others do not have and economic assistance to those in quarantine. But each one of us must take responsibility and see to their children, their parents, and get vaccinated, wear masks and not gather unnecessarily. There is no reason to panic. There is no reason to get hysterical. We will get through
this together.” Despite Bennett’s comments there have been critics including Social Affairs and Social Services Minister Meir Cohen. “The public doesn’t trust us and there is a lot of confusion,” Cohen told the weekly Cabinet meeting. “On the one hand, we allow large gatherings in sporting events, while not allowing gatherings in other places, and it is confusing the public.” “We are not clear in our orders, and the public constantly demands clarifications,” added Economy Minister Orna Barbivai. “The current public sentiment is that the government has given up the battle against the COVID pandemic.” In related news, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid has tested positive for coronavirus, his office announced on Monday. Lapid is triple vaccinated and told those concerned he was feeling alright. “I feel great because I am vaccinated,” he tweeted. “Get your vaccine, put your mask on, we’ll pull through this together.” Lapid cancelled his weekly meeting with the Yesh Atid faction. Foreign Ministry Director-General Alon Ushpiz and Public Security Minister Omer Barlev have also tested positive. Deputy Foreign Minister Idan Roll tested positive last week. It was also announced this week that the heads of a number of Yeshivas were isolating after testing positive including HaGaon HaRav Gershon Edelstein, HaGaon HaRav Baruch Dov Povarsky, HaGaon HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, HaGaon HaRav Dovid Cohen, HaGaon HaRav Avraham Yitzchak Kook, HaGaon HaRav Dov Landau and HaGaon HaRav Dovid Shapiro aside from
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dozens of mashgichim in Israel. Meantime, the IDF has called on the Health Ministry to shorten soldiers’ coronavirus quarantine to five days despite the Omicron surge in cases as it could hit operational capabilities. Around 5,000 soldiers are classified as active COVID-19 patients including two major generals. Thousands more are in quarantine after exposure to a carrier. But the IDF claims most soldiers are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi assessed the IDF’s operational capabilities in special units such as air defence, submarines and critical facilities prior to appealing for the five-day total for “essential’” IDF personnel. “If quarantine time won’t be shortened, there will be no one to protect the frontier in two weeks,” an IDF officer reportedly said. “We must change IDF’s quarantine policy. The main goal is to maintain operational continuity, but with such long isolations, and at this rate of contagion, it will be impossible.” The number of isolations has halted command and training courses. In regards to travel, the Israeli government has cancelled its list of ‘red’ countries, including the UK, which is now on Israel’s ‘orange’ list. The easing of restrictions has seen foreign visitors from ‘orange’ and ‘green’ countries allowed to visit Israel from last Sunday. Sharon E. Bershadsky, Director, Israel Government Tourist office in London, welcomed the news. “After a turbulent two years for the travel industry we are delighted the recommendation by the Israeli Health Ministry to reopen Israel skies to travellers has been approved,” she said. “Despite the borders being closed for four weeks the reopening has sparked hope and anticipation that this positive start to the New Year will set the pattern for 2022 travel.” She added, “There is of course still a long way to go but we are deeply encouraged by this significant milestone.” Last weekend saw the Israeli Cabinet update Green Pass regulations until February 1st. Commercial facilities will operate according to the ‘Purple’ Pass. This will benefit shopping centres and closed commercial facilities according to the 1:15 occupancy ratio. Shops with floor space of less than 100 square meters will allow entry according to the 1:7 ratio or four customers, whichever is higher. There are measures for seating in food courts whilst everyone in shopping centres must wear masks. Shopping centre operators must appoint ushers to notify those present of guidelines.
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Israel and US warn Iranian regime BY DAVID SAFFER
Israel and the United States have continued the war of words against Iran over its nuclear aspirations. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett offered a stark warning to the Iranian regime that Israel would maintain “unrestricted freedom” to act regardless of a nuclear agreement between Tehran and world powers. The US, meantime, made it clear to Iran it would face “severe consequences” if it attacked Americans after placing sanctions on US nationals. Bennett spoke on the matter before the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee earlier this week. “We are dealing day and night with Iran and its malign activity,” he said. “We are shifting to a concept of consistent offense and not just consistent defence.” Regarding nuclear talks in Vienna, Bennett voiced Israel’s concern. “It is important for me to say here clearly and unequivocally, Israel is not a party to the agreements,” he noted. “Israel is not bound to what will be written in the agreements if they are signed. Israel will maintain unlimited and unrestricted freedom of action, everywhere and at all times.” Iran last weekend announced sanctions on 51 US nationals, including US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley and
consequences.” Sullivan noted that the US was united in its resolve against threats and provocations. “We are united in the defence of our people,” he said. Sullivan added that the US would work with allies to “deter and respond to any attacks carried out by Iran”. Meantime, Israel Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, who is currently isolating after testing positive for Covid-19, spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron about the Vienna nuclear talks. According to Israel’s Foreign Ministry, Macron affirmed his commitment to the security of Israel and the importance of the relationship between Israel and France. Bicom noted that according to delegates in Vienna talks between the PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK Naftali Bennett JCPOA participants and Iran had progressed in the last week. The main former national security advisor Robert issues include a full return to JCPOA comO’Brien regarding the death of Qassem pliance by Iran, the lifting of US sanctions Soleimani a year ago in addition to “terror- and US guarantees to remain in the deal. ism” and human rights violations. Iran has reportedly reached 60 per cent In response, White House National uranium enrichment with hundreds of adSecurity Advisor Jake Sullivan said in a vanced centrifuges. statement, “Make no mistake the United A number of countries want Iran to deStates of America will protect and defend stroy these centrifuges, but Iran prefers to its citizens. Should Iran attack any of our store them. nationals, including any of the 51 peoA negotiating issue is the role of the Interple named yesterday, it will face severe national Atomic Energy Agency verifying
CAA blast neo-Nazi sentence BY ADAM MOSES
Campaign Against Antisemitism continue to criticise a sentence handed down to a convicted neo-Nazi ordered to read classic literature by a judge. Ben John, 21, who has reported back to Judge Timothy Spencer QC on his reading efforts, was convicted at Leicester Crown Court last August of possessing information likely to be useful for preparing an act of terror, a charge that carries a 15year jail sentence. John was handed a two-year jail term last September suspended for two years plus a further year on licence, monitored by the probation service. John was also given a five-year Serious Crime Prevention Order to stay in touch with the police who would monitor his online activity and up to 30 days on a Healthy Identity Intervention programme. CAA have backed a call by the Attorney General on the Court of Appeal to review an “unduly lenient” and “pathetic” sentence. Other groups back CAA’s standpoint.
Spencer told John at last week’s hearing to write down the books he had read and was encouraged by his efforts. But in an interview with Scout News last month, John reportedly said that he had not read the books but they were “buried somewhere” in a box at home. A CAA spokesperson said, “It is inexplicable that a man who collected nearly 70,000 neo-Nazi and terror-related documents could entirely avoid a custodial sentence for crimes that carry a maximum jail term of fifteen years. Instead, Mr John left court with a mere suspended sentence and some English homework.” They added, “For all the novels that the judge ordered Mr John to peruse as he enjoys his unearned freedom, it was notable that Crime and Punishment was not among them. Perhaps the judge himself ought to review that classic as he reflects on the risk that his dangerous sentence poses to the public. “We await the result of the Attorney-General’s referral of the sentence to the Court
of Appeal.” Commenting on the sentence, Counter Terrorism Policing East Midlands Detective Inspector James Manning, who led the investigation, said, “The terrorist material he was found in possession of is extremely dangerous, and he acquired this to further his ideology. It indicates the threat that he and other followers of this hateful ideology pose to national security. It was not light reading, or material most would concern themselves with for legitimate reasons. This has been a long and complex investigation over the course of 11 months.” The former De Montfort University student had 67,788 documents containing National Socialist, white supremacist, antisemitic material and Satanic information. John ignored warnings by counter-terrorism officers. Spencer said that John’s crime was an isolated incident by a “lonely individual” and “act of teenage folly”. Spencer added that John was “highly susceptible” to recruitment by others more prone to action but was not of the view that harm was “likely to have been caused”. John was instructed to return to every four months to be tested on his reading of classic literature. Lincolnshire Police said John had become part of the Extreme Right Wing online and was studying Criminology with Psychology in Leicester when he was arrested.
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whether Iran complies with returning to its JCPOA nuclear commitments in a transparent manner. Regarding sanctions, Iran has called on the US to lift sanctions placed by President Donald Trump before dismantling its nuclear infrastructure. Iran also wants the Biden administration to provide a legal guarantee the US will not pull out of the deal if it is restored. Bicom note that whilst this is doubtful due to a divided Congress over the JCPOA and diplomacy with Iran, negotiators are trying solve the issue. Talks in Vienna are entering a crucial period as the US set an unofficial January deadline as to whether Iran was serious about returning to the JCPOA. Israel continues to try to influence the outcome through closed door meetings with the US and European allies. Foreign Minister Lapid has said that Israel is not opposed to a deal, but sanctions must remain on Iran and only a credible military threat will result in an agreement to stop Iran’s nuclear programme. Negotiations restarted last November. The initial deal was agreed by Iran, US, China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany. Bennett’s comments came after Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said this week that progress had been made to reach a “stable agreement”.
ECTR appoints Kurz Former Federal Chancellor of Austria Sebastian Kurz has been appointed co-chairman of the European Council on Tolerance and Reconciliation. Kurz is known for fighting antisemitism, terrorism, extremism and radicalisation with a focus on preventing youth radicalisation during his almost 10 years in leadership roles. He has also been vocal in addressing Austria’s role in the Shoah and supporting educational projects for younger generations to learn about a dark chapter of Austrian history. “It is a great honour to join such an important organisation which works against extremism and for greater tolerance across Europe,” Kurz said. “I know first-hand how importantly leaders take the work of the ECTR in creating policy to fight racism, antisemitism and xenophobia.” “I am very excited to have someone of former Chancellor Kurz’s standing, experience and knowledge join the ECTR,” Dr. Kantor said. “He is exactly the right type of leader who understands intuitively the needs to impart these important lessons to younger generations, and has a long-standing vision to fight extremism, racism and intolerance.” Kurz joins Dr Moshe Kantor, ECTR president and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair as chair of the ECTR, a position he has held since 2015. ECTR prominent members also include former Prime Ministers of Spain and Sweden, Jose María Aznar and Goran Persson, and former German Bundestag Speaker, Rita Sussmuth.
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Femicide report released
13 JANUARY 2022
Dorries writes to BBC over Oxford Street antisemitic coverage
BY SIMCHA ABIR
The Israel Observatory on Femicide has released its 2021 year-end report. The IOF report headed by Dr. Shalva Weil of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem illustrates data on the murder of women in Israel by partners and family members. The number of femicide deaths, 16, is a 24% drop from 2020. Worryingly, the report points to an increase in the murder of mothers by sons. Femicide is classed as a hate crime as women or girls are killed as they are female. Israeli women murdered accidentally, as the result of a crime or non-women-specific violence are not in the statistics. Of the cases, six murders were by women’s partners, four by sons and two by brothers. In four cases, the identity of murderers is unknown. “There are several explanations for the decrease in Israel’s femicide rate in 2021,” noted Weil. “One is the end of the strict coronavirus lockdowns. Another is the unprecedented media coverage on the subject of femicide and the significant work being down by Israel’s feminist organisations and associations. Additionally, this year saw several harsh verdicts for perpetrators, which may have acted as a deterrent.” Other findings highlighted ethnicity, age, weapon, prior complaints and indictments. Regarding victims’ ethnicities, 50% were Arabs (31% Israeli Arabs, 19% Druze), 44% were Jewish, one was from the African Hebrew Israelite community from Dimona. The average age of femicide victims was 45.6 years old. The youngest victim was 27, the oldest was 76. Of the murders, 25% of the women were stabbed, a third were shot, a third strangled and 13% by other means. To date, eight indictments were filed
BY ADAM MOSES
Dr. Shalva Weil
against murderers. In three cases, the murderer was unfit to stand trial. In 2021, groundbreaking verdicts were issued, including life sentences for murderers. “We have to recognise femicide as a pandemic, as lethal as is COVID-19, and to allocate funds to eliminate these acts of violence,” noted Weil. “Further, we must educate our fellow citizens to respect their elderly mothers.” “One of the most alarming features of femicide in 2021 is the increased rate of mothers murdered by their sons,” concluded Weil. IOF data was gathered from local and national media reports then crosschecked with police data bases, women’s’ organisations and parliamentary reports. To comply with international guidelines, femicide data was restricted to victims aged 18 and older.
Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries has written to the BBC’s Director General over the broadcaster’s coverage of an antisemitic incident on Oxford Street during Chanukah. Video footage showed a group of men allegedly making Hitler salutes, spitting, striking windows and threatening a private bus-load of Jewish teens. Footage also showed teenage passengers dancing in the street before being forced back onto the private bus. The antisemitic incident saw the Board of Deputies and Campaign Against Antisemitism blast the BBC over its reporting. Ms Dorries wrote to Tim Davie explaining the BBC’s coverage was “not only distressing for those involved but also the wider Jewish community.” She also expressed her dismay that the row had been allowed to “drag on” and called for the BBC to “resolve the issue” quickly or broadcaster regulator Ofcom should intervene. The Secretary’s intervention came after CAA wrote to Ms Dorries and BBC over its coverage of the West End incident. CAA noted the BBC defamed Jewish victims and suggested they may have brought the attack upon themselves. The coverage saw a rally, led by CAA, outside Broadcasting House whilst long-time BBC broadcaster Rabbi YY Rubinstein resigned over the November attack. Rabbi Rubinstein, who worked with the Corporation for 30 years, described the Corporation’s response as “inexcusable”. Ms Dorries wrote, “Whilst it would obviously be inappropriate for the Government to take a view on the details of the case, as the BBC is editorially and operationally
Nadine Dorries
independent, and responsibility for regulation sits with Ofcom, I would like to understand the actions the BBC has taken so far in response to the concerns raised by the Board of Deputies and how you intend to resolve the issue in a suitably timely manner. You will know my concerns about the speed of the process which I asked officials to communicate to the BBC. “It is crucial that the BBC can be properly held to account for the fulfilment of its Mission and Public Purposes as set out in the Charter, including through a fair and effective complaints process.” The Board slated the BBC over “deeply irresponsible journalism” and called on the organisation to discipline those responsible, correct its report, apologise to victims and undergo training to improve the BBC’s ability to cover the Jewish community with “accuracy, understanding and respect”. CAA at the time labelled the incident “outrageous”, called for action and offered to provide antisemitism training.
Environmental Ministry and IAA to invest in pilots BY ADAM MOSES
The Ministry for Environmental Protection and Israel Innovation Authority are continuing to invest in environmental pilots. Five start-up companies have won NIS 5.3 million for innovative solutions in circular economy, air pollution, and hazardous materials during the funding round. Projects were assessed by Ministry and IAA experts. Grants constitute 50% of the costs for each of the projects. Due to climate challenges and a demand for governmental support for growth of innovative technologies, the investments program has been reopened for submissions. Companies are invited to submit pilot proposals until March 6th. A key challenge is the transition from technological potential to a commercial pilot. Dror Bin, IAA CEO, said, “Israeli climate technologies companies have the potential to significantly help address the global climate crisis. The whole world is looking for technology to produce innovative and
ground-breaking solutions for reducing the emission of greenhouse gases and for coping with further ramifications of the crisis.” He added, “The innovative Israeli climate technology industry is a significant player in the war against the climate crisis, and the Israeli companies who are blessed with ground-breaking out of the box thinking are likely to leave their mark on the entire world. As a government we have a significant role in implementing the technologies being developed in Israel, on the one hand allowing Israeli companies to develop and gain real time experience, and on the other hand providing this benefit to the State and its entire population.” Avital Eshet, Head of Economic Policy and Tech Innovation at the Ministry, added. “Israel is not exhausting its local technological potential. Governmental support is necessary because environmental technologies are characterised by market failure, since in this field capital investment is expected to give a significant boost to the economy, but the risk is often too high, and the yield is in the far too distant future.” She
continued, “Our successful collaboration with the Innovation Authority is expected to continue and expand, with the goal of nurturing an Israeli ecosystem that enlists local strengths for the sake of the struggle against the climate crisis, which is the most significant global risk we face today.” Since its launch in 2018, the joint programme has held six calls for proposals. There have been some 120 requests for support from enterprises demonstrating projects on a commercial scale in varying environmental areas. Examples include reducing air pollution, transport, renewable energies, energy efficiency, marine environment protection, managing and recycling waste, green construction, managing water resources and sewage and monitoring environmental hazards. Approved projects include Agrint who are implementing a pilot to allow the precise spraying of harmful pesticides. The pilot will be carried out with Volcani Institute and the Plants Production & Marketing Board at a number of agricultural sites.
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Daika Wood is carrying out a pilot to produce wall cladding using circular economic principles. Products will be produced using wooden industrial waste, pruned branches from municipalities and agricultural waste without utilising plastic and hazardous adhesives. The pilot will be held at Polymer Gvulot. Diptera.ai is carrying out a pilot to eradicate a major sanitary pest. The aim is to dilute the Asian tiger mosquito population by releasing millions of infertile male mosquitoes into the wild without using chemical pesticides. The pilot will be carried out at Kibbutz Tzora. Clean Flare is running a pilot to monitor an industrial flare to make burning efficient and reduce pollution. The pilot will be held at the Bazan facility in Haifa Bay. Emma Sensing has a pilot to assess a technology for monitoring chlorine pipes and storage vessels to establish pipe corrosion and cracks prior to a gas leak. This is conducted using ultra-sonic sensors. The pilot takes place at the Dead Sea Magnesium Plant.
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Lapid calls for halt to JNF tree-planting in Negev BY ADAM MOSES
Foreign Minister Yair Lapid has called for tree-planting in the Negev to be suspended after rioting erupted in southern Israel on Tuesday night. The crisis revolves around the status of the land. Legally it is state land contested by local Bedouins who are claiming rights. A car was set on fire and firebombs were thrown at passing cars. Two police officers sustained light injuries, 21 people were arrested. Large stones were also placed on the railway tracks. The conductor of a train from Tel Aviv to Beer Sheva had time to stop the train. Ongoing controversy surrounds Jewish National Fund planting trees in the region. The initiative is being carried out for ecological reasons and timed to coincide with Tu B’shvat, next week. “Twelve years of forsaking the Negev and neglecting the Bedouin problem aren’t going to be solved in a single day,” commented Lapid. “The State of Israel needs to plant trees on state land, but we don’t have to damage the livelihoods of the residents of the area.” He added, “The government of change is committed to solving the Bedouins’ problems and to lead to regularising the Negev. Politicians from all sides need to calm instead of stoking the fire. I condemn the violence on the ground and back up the police’s actions to restore public order.”
Yair Lapid
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK
Communications Minister Yoaz Hendel noted, “Rioting in the Negev must not be forgiven. The big lie that unfolded here in the past decade, the loss of governance in the Negev and the Galilee, and the weakness under the Likud’s rule are no excuse. We are in power and we have no option other than to restore sovereignty to the Negev.” Meir Cohen (Yesh Atid), the minister responsible for Bedouin villages in the Negev,
has spoken to both sides to find a solution. “After years of neglecting the Negev and trying to evade making decisions regarding Bedouin villages in the south, the current government is making great effort to establish new communities with proper settlement arrangements, above all, while safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty,” he said. Cohen called on politicians from all sides to take responsibility not to inflame the conflict. Ra’am have informed the coalition leadership it will boycott voting in the Knesset until the tree-planting is stopped. Mansour Abbas, leader of United Arab List commented, “We won’t vote with the coalition, until this is solved. Bicom view the issue as the most serious threat the coalition government has faced, though no government bills are up for an imminent vote in the Knesset. A similar issue over tree planting in the Negev occurred in 2020. The Netanyahu-Gantz government suspended the activity. JNF plan to plant some 1,250 acres of forest. This first phase includes 75 acres where local Bedouin farmers had been planning to cultivate. New Hope MK Ze’ev Elkin is the minister responsible for the tree planting. Tree planting resumed under police protection. Elkin confirmed yesterday it would be the last day of planting “in this round”.
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NEWS 9
Israel’s new tourism website Israel’s Ministry of Tourism has launched a new website incorporating travel restrictions. The announcement follows government approval to re-open Israel’s skies to vaccinated and recovered incoming tourists. The site incorporates information related to local coronavirus guidelines for tourists visiting Israel. The site will be updated in accordance with changes in regulations. It is currently in English and will be translated to other languages. Information includes Planning Your Trip (definition of vaccinated and recovered tourist, list of approved vaccines and required documentation for entry into Israel), During Your Stay (where/how to get Corona testing) and Before You Leave (requirements for testing and documentation). The site includes links to related information at the Israel Ministry of Health and the Home Front Command websites. The pandemic has decimated Israel’s tourism industry after a consistent period of increasing growth. 2019 was a record year for incoming tourism to Israel with 4.55 million tourists (11% increase on the previous year) and revenue of NIS 23 billion. Incoming tourism shrunk to 832,500 tourist entries in 2020 and 401,500 in 2021 (with revenue of approximately NIS 2 billion). The Ministry of Tourism has worked throughout the pandemic to ensure the awareness of Israel. In Israel, the Ministry has made investments in maintaining and upgrading tourism infrastructure, so tourists can enjoy the historical, religious, cultural and tourist sites on offer.
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TAU study shines new light on Canaan copper industry
13 JANUARY 2022
CER lead Sassoli tributes BY ADAM MOSES
The Arava Valley BY SIMCHA ABIR
A Tel Aviv University study has established the Arava Valley’s copper industry was the most advanced smelting centre 3,000 years ago. The study was conducted by graduate student David Luria of TAU’s Jacob M. Alkow Department of Archaeology and Ancient Near Eastern Cultures together with the Sonia & Marco Nadler Institute of Archaeology. It is being published in the journal PLOS ONE. According to Luria, the Canaan copper industry was concentrated in two mining areas, one in Timna (north of Eilat) and the Faynan (northern Arava, in Jordan). Previous research claimed Egyptian technologies were brought to the region by Egyptian Pharoah Shishak in 925 BCE. But Luria argues technological success of the Arava copper industry was not related to Egyptian capabilities, but to the Arava people who used methods known today as “trial and error” and “scaling up.” “Obviously these terms were not in use in ancient times, but the application of their practical principles was made possible due to a basic understanding of engineering and common sense, which were seen in other places in the ancient world as well,” he noted. Luria added that the “trial and error” method allowed Arava metalworkers to improve technological processes and increase production. “Scaling up” made it possible to increase production using materials and processes at the time with a minimum cost and technological risk. “Shishak’s expedition was not intended to
PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA
physically take over the copper mines in the Arava, but rather to formulate a long-term agreement with the Arava people in order to bolster local production and thus increase copper exports to Egypt, which was suffering from local production difficulties at the time,” Luria noted. “It appears that the secret of the success of the ancient copper industry in the Arava lies in the skills and abilities of efficient managers, who were assisted at every stage of their decision-making by talented technological experts. Archeology today can’t identify who these executives were, but a careful analysis of the deposits left in the area can tell us an accurate story. These findings are the residues of copper production that have accumulated as heaps of waste that can be dated, and whose size allows us to assess the volume of production at any given time. Moreover, by conducting a chemical analysis of the copper content remaining in the waste, we can determine the quality of the production; when the amount of copper in the waste diminishes, we can conclude that the process had become more efficient.” Luria added that traces detected at the sites showed the management team closed inefficient mines and opened efficient ones. A decision was also taken to reuse waste from earlier periods. “The important lesson to take away from this technological success is that the hightech savvy of individuals, educated and energetic people who lived here in the first millennium BCE, succeeded, just like it does today, in bringing about a huge revolution in the local economy,” Luria concluded. “As they say, there is nothing new under the sun.”
Conference of European Rabbis president Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt has led tributes to European Parliament President David Sassoli who passed away in hospital in Aviano on Tuesday. Chief Rabbi Goldschmidt worked extensively with Sassoli, 65, on the protection of religious freedom in Europe. “Europe mourns today for the passing of a true democrat, a gentleman and a passionate advocate for peace and integration,” he said in a statement. “The CER joins the many paying tribute to President Sassoli whose friendship and support we will miss. President Sassoli graced many of our meetings during his presidency and his steadfast support for Jewish life has been a beacon throughout some very difficult times.” The Italian former journalist, television newsreader and politician had been seriously ill since December 26th with a complication of the immune system and had cancelled official activities. Sassoli was taken to hospital in Strasbourg due to pneumonia in September and worked remotely the following month, resuming political duties in November according to Italian media. “Pneumonia is an ugly beast, the important thing is to avoid relapses and the convalescence must be adequate,” he reportedly told Corriere in September. Born in Florence in 1956, Sassoli started out as a local journalist with 11 Tempo in Rome before writing for daily newspaper II Giorno, also in Rome. He joined Italian national television broadcaster RAI in 1992 going on to be became a national media figure with anchor of the evening news. His move into politics came with the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democratic Party in 2007. Sassoli was the party’s head of delegation
David Sassoli
PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA
in the European parliament (2009-14) then a surprise selection as president in 2019. A vote to elect his replacement was set for this month as Sassoli would not seek re-election. MEPs are expected to hold the first round of voting next week. European Council President Charles Michel described Sassoli as a “passionate European”. “We already miss his human warmth, his generosity, his friendliness and his smile,” he said. Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission President, “I’m deeply saddened by the death of a great European and Italian,” adding that Sassoli was a an extraordinary EU parliament president. Frans Timmermans, the European Commission vice-president, tweeted, “I’m at a loss for words. His kindness was an inspiration to all who knew him.” He is survived by his wife, Alessandra, an architect, and two children, Giulio and Livia.
Tribute made to Rebbetzin Kamenetsky Rabbinical leaders have paid glowing tribute to Rebbetzin Tamah (Temi) Kamenetsky, z’l following her death last Sunday. Rebbetzin Kamenetsky, 92, was the wife of the Philadelphia Rosh Yeshivah, HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Kamenetsky and a member of the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah of Agudas Yisroel of America. The funeral took place at the yeshivah before burial at Mt. Judah Cemetery in Queens, New York. Rebbetzin Kamenetsky was the daughter of the late Rav Mordechai and Charna Reizel Brooks. She was born in the Bronx and grew up in Brooklyn, where she attended Rebbetzin Vichna Kaplan’s seminary. Following her marriage to Rav Shmuel, the couple began their life together in Lakewood. Rebbetzin Kamenesky supported her husband throughout their long marriage.
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She was active in establishing shiurim for women especially on Shemiras HaLashon. The rebbetzin is survived by her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchilRebbetzin Kamenetsky A”H dren. Her sons include Rav Sholom Kamenetsky, Rav Avrohom Kamenetsky, Rav Dov Kamenetsky, Rav Ze’ev Kamenetsky, Rav Dovid Kamenetsky, Rav Aharon Kamenetsky and Rav Eliyahu Kamenetsky, Her sons-in-law include Rabbi Zvi Berkowitz, Rabbi Shalom Kelmer, Rav Shia Shechter and Rabbi Yechiel Moskowitz.
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Israeli Security Agency smash Iranian espionage network BY ADAM MOSES
The Israeli Security Agency and Israel Police Lahav 433’s Unit of International Crime Investigation has exposed an Iranian espionage network. Israeli women were approached on social media to perform various espionage tasks inside Israel. Investigators accumulated evidence and suspects were indicted at Jerusalem District Court yesterday. Assignments included covertly photographing the US embassy in Tel Aviv and US embassy in Jerusalem, guiding sons to serve in the Israeli Intelligence Directorate and transferring funds. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has congratulated the ISA and Israel Police on its operation to prevent terrorist activity against Israel. “The State of Israel is in an ongoing campaign with Iran,” he said. “We see never-ending efforts and attempts by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps to recruit Israeli citizens. These attempts go beyond security and intelligence, they are expanding to efforts to influence the citizens of Israel and Israeli society, sow discord and polarisation, undermine political stability in Israel and damage the public’s trust in the government. “I call upon Israel’s citizens to be cautious
of these attempts. It is possible that behind the information that you consume or share on social media are the Iranians. Have no doubt, the long arm of the security establishment will catch up with anyone who tries to harm Israel’s security.” An ISA senior official commented, “This is a serious affair in which an Iranian espionage ring operating inside the State of Israel was exposed and taken down. We are seeing espionage attempts inside Israel by approaching Israeli women, supposedly innocently, and convincing them to maintain ongoing relationships. Despite the suspects’ own suspicions that the man was an Iranian intelligence operative they decided to maintain the relationships and perform various assignments for him. These grievous actions put the suspects themselves in danger along with their family members and innocent Israeli citizens, whose details were transferred to Iranian intelligence, as well as information about Israeli and American sites in Israel that could become targets for terrorist attacks. “Iranian intelligence uses the internet extensively. Recently there has been an increase in the number of approaches to Israeli citizens. This is done to gather information that could help Iran in its fight against Israel. The ISA will continue to halt Iran’s intelligence attempts, including by monitoring its online activity.”
NEWS 11
Lapid approves Afghan donation Foreign Minister Yair Lapid has approved a $500,000 donation to help Afghan refugees who fled to Tajikistan after the United States withdrew from Afghanistan and Taliban takeover. This is Israel’s first response in an official capacity. Funds are believed to be transferred through The United Nations Refugee Agency. Israel had provided aid through non-profits such as IsraAID, which funded rescue flights for refugees. The ultra-orthodox Borough Park community in New York provided food packages labelled “With love from the Jewish
community.” According to the Foreign Ministry, the donation will provide health care, sanitation, shelter, education, food and professional training for refugees. “Israel is proud to be a part of an international effort to assist refugees fleeing the Taliban regime in Afghanistan”, commented Foreign Ministry Director-General Alon Ushpiz. “This cooperation with the UN organisation for refugees, through our agency for International Development Cooperation Mashav, is the core of Israel’s values.”
Covid-19 deaths reach 967 The Jewish community has experienced 967 Jewish funerals since the start of the coronavirus pandemic where the deceased contracted COVID-19. There have been three funerals in the Jewish community reported to the Board of Deputies in the last week. The Board works with burial boards, regional Jewish communities and the Jewish Small Communities Network for up to date figures of COVID-19 deaths. “We wish bereaved families a long life, and pray that the memory of their loved ones should be for a blessing,” noted the Board in a statement. The Board liaises with seven of the largest denominational burial boards to collate an indicator of deaths where Covid-19 was a factor. Burial boards include The Adath Yisroel
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Burial Society, the Federation of Synagogues Burial Society, the Joint Jewish Burial Board, Spanish and Portuguese Sephardi Community, United Synagogue Burial Society and Western Charitable Foundation. The Board receives reports about large and small Jewish communities across the United Kingdom. Data on how many funerals were carried out by burial societies and communities where COVID-19 appeared on the death certificate of the deceased is from hospitals and the wider community. When comparing figures, data separate to this indicator may not have similar parameters. Successive figures are not indicative of a trend as smaller communities are not reported weekly.
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Meron passageway demolished BY DAVID SAFFER
Israel’s Land Enforcement Authority has overseen the demolition of a passageway at Mount Meron where a stampede on Lag B’Omer took place. The demolition of Gesher Dov was carried out as a part of a number of demolitions of structures and facilities at the site due to safety fears at the holy site. A State Commission of Inquiry into the stampede took place after the tragedy that resulted in 45 fatalities and 100 people injured. The Authority has demolished 50 of 73 structures viewed to be unsafe, including all bleachers, hadlaka platforms, passages and bridges. “The Authority is accelerating the enforcement (of building violations) in order to enable the planning and development at the site and the orderly and safe preparations for the upcoming (Lag B’omer),” a statement from the Authority said. Religious Affairs Minister Matan Kahana is in charge of the Meron site. Kahana and Tzviki Tessler, appointed as project manager, met with commission members and discussed the recommendations for Lag B’Omer. An estimated 100,000 orthodox pilgrims were celebrating the festival at the historic
Meron
PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA
resting place of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai when the worst civilian disaster in the State of Israel’s history occurred. During the ceremony, tragedy unfolded in a narrow tunnel. The government was warned of a disaster by former State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss in 2008. Following a report, the government in 2009 tasked the Government Companies Authority at the Finance Ministry to form a body to maintain the area. But a State
Comptroller’s Report published by Lindestrauss in 2011 said the government made minor repairs. In 2013, then finance minister Yair Lapid placed responsibility on the Ministry for Religious Affairs. But public safety questions again emerged in 2017 and a year later. The death toll has surpassed previous Israeli tragedies including the Tel Aviv central bus station, Shmuel HaNavi bus, Dizengoff bus, Coastal Road bus and Dolfinarium
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discotheque suicide bombings. It also exceeded the death count following Lod Airport, Kiryat Shmona and Ma’alot massacres. At Meron, there were nine fatalities when a roof collapsed in 1911. In related news, Yosef Ezriel (Yossi) Reit of Ramat Beit Shemesh, who was seriously injured, had surgery on Monday at the Schneider Children’s Medical Center in Petach Tikvah. His family, who made aliyah from the United States, have requested the public daven for his recovery. Yossi has been in a coma since the disaster. The surgery was to take away a tracheostomy that has enabled him to breathe. His father. Dr. Yechiel Reit, reportedly said, “During the disaster, he suffered cardiac arrest and a brain injury. He hasn’t yet emerged from a coma. He opens his eyes but he only minimally responds, he’s not really waking up.” “There are many good people who help us and want to assist,” Dr. Reit added. “Different officials and tzedakos. Baruch Hashem, we’ve received lots of support. I thank all the good people who care and want to help us and daven for him.” Prayers are requested for the refuah sheleimah of Yosef Ezriel ben Chaya Michal b’otoch shaar cholei Yisrael.
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FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK OPINION PIECE BY YOSSI SAUNDERS
Many people have been asking me my opinion on Chaim Walder, a world-renowned author and therapist who recently committed suicide after abuse allegations from 22 people in Israel. When I reply that I have removed his books from my house, the next question some ask is “but what’s wrong with his books, they still inspire people?” It’s interesting that no one has ever answered my next question. Simply put, ‘if it was G-d forbid your child who had been abused by him, how would you feel seeing people reading his books?’ Chaim Walder’s death has polarised world Jewry the last few weeks. Throngs of people turned up to his levaye as if he were some kind of Gadol Hadar (greatest of the generation) and some shops and schools are still reluctant to remove his books, despite the publishers offering full refunds to bookstores. I was disappointed if not unsurprised to see certain media ignore the story altogether. One website even dared to report on his death with the brazen title ‘Baruch Dayan HaEmet,’ proceeding to list all his achievements making zero mention of the trail of devastation he left behind, and the ongoing daily mental suffering and continued anguish of his victims.
Chaim Walder
PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA
Sadly, far too many people in positions of power keep quiet under the guise of Lashon Harah, or fear of arguments with friends and followers.
However, the tide has turned. Rabbi Moshe Meiselman this week stood up and called him a ‘Rasha Merusha -evil and wicked.’ Rabbi YY Jacobson said that it drives him mad when the perpetrators gets more sympathy then victims, and he described him as an ‘evil within our midst.’ Rabbi Yitzchok Breitowitz castigated him in his ever popular Shiurim and world famous Rabbi Yitzchok Berkowitz touched upon it too. Many more countless Rabbis and Rebbetzens around the world finally came out and spoke about it, including Rebbetzen Esti Hamilton who gave a lot of courage especially to victims of abuse who were suffering in silence. Their words give tremendous strength to Jews around the world who seemed lost for direction and badly in search of much needed guidance. Sadly, far too many people in positions of power keep quiet under the guise of Lashon Harah, or fear of arguments with friends and followers. One should fully study the Chofetz Chaim in depth to understand why it is permissible to speak about such a serious matter, and to protect others from similar events G-d forbid. The past few weeks I have had people begging me to ignore the subject, not to mention it at all this week, saying it’s best for the community not to be ‘thrown under a bus.’ Many frum people are indeed righteous, most charedi rabbis are a beacon of light for their communities, and indeed our
newspaper celebrates the many multitudes of brilliance that comes out of the frum community on a weekly basis. But that does not mean we should allow room for evil people to hide and commit their crimes behind the ‘Lashon Horah mask.’ Allegedly, people knew what Walder was up to for years, but no one ever mentioned anything. Dangerous people must be called out to protect others. There are very bad people out there, wolves dressed up in sheep’s clothing amongst our own communities. We must do our upmost to make it out job to keep our children safe. This is a much deeper subject of changing the entire attitude amongst world Jewry with regards to safeguarding and doing all we can we as a community to ensure these terrible events never happen again. Chaim Walder was a man who had a position of trust and confidence with parents and schoolteachers around the Jewish world, and who became a role model for children, whose books were in libraries, schools and houses all over the globe. The sad reality is that he was a man living two lives, appearing outwardly as a respected rabbi, whilst secretly manipulating, grooming and abusing innocent women, teenagers and children as young as nine. By committing suicide before going on trial, he has forever denied his victims the opportunity for some semblance of justice in this world.
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OPINION
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The opinions on this page do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper
Picking up the pieces OPINION PIECE BY YAAKOV BARR
It is a story that makes anyone recoil in horror. A well-known Jewish children’s author and therapist is accused of committing serial abuse of the worst kind and then takes his own life. There are more questions than answers. How was this allowed to happen? What stopped the innocent victims from speaking up earlier? How do we discuss the matter with our children, and do we allow them to read his best-selling books? I cannot profess to have all the answers but the fact that this newspaper is printing this article and we can discuss these disturbing issues already means we are moving forward in a positive way. For too long abuse has been denied and hushed up. Victims have been intimidated and been too scared to speak out. The more that we, as a community, are willing to confront the issues, the more we encourage those suffering at the hands of others to find the courage and strength to reach out and ask for help. That is why we set up Jteen, the anonymous and confidential text helpline for teenagers. Teens can feel empowered to share whatever may be affecting them, from the serious threats to life, abuse,
bullying, anxiety or problematic relationships to less life altering issues and concerns as well. It does not matter how big or small the worries are, our children need to feel that they can speak out and that as adults we are listening loud and clear in a non-judgmental manner. Unfortunately, children are often given the opposite message. They are told to smile and pretend, to maintain either a personal reputation or a family name, whilst continuing to torture themselves with pain and guilt. As parents, we also need to feel confident that our children are safe when they interact with a therapist or counselor. There are too many so-called “professionals” claiming to be experts who are not registered or accredited with any organisation. Every therapist should also be insured, and DBS checked. Vulnerable groups of people need to be protected and DBS checks assist in ensuring that the clinicians
who are not suitable or safe are not allowed to work with these groups. Every professional working in mental health should receive regular supervision and personally I believe that work should only be done within a therapy clinic/office rather than a private home. Our children may at best be confused or at worst disillusioned that another person, who they have looked up to has now let them down so spectacularly. Unfortunately it may not be the first time that children have encountered a person whom they thought was genuine and real, only to be later exposed as corrupt and fake. If our children can speak openly about it to us, then we are being parents in every sense of the word. We can demonstrate to them the importance of validating a person’s feelings. We may not always have the answers, but we have to allow them to ask the questions, to process and to heal. We tell our children that we are always there for them to talk about whatever is troubling them. At the same time we should help our children and ourselves by not devaluing
We may not know all the facts of this particular case, but we know that we want our children to be surrounded by role models, authenticity and truth.
everything that is good about our communities, our Rabbonim and our communal institutions, because of those who never deserved to be members in the first place. We have to continue to trust, because without trust we cannot form relationships and without relationships what do we have? But as I take the books off my shelves, I think of the victims and the inevitable repercussions, the bitterness and the anger. We simply cannot allow our children to read these books because otherwise what kind of message are we giving to my children? We may not know all the facts of this particular case, but we know that we want our children to be surrounded by role models, authenticity and truth. I also hope and pray that we can learn something from what has happened; that as a community we break stigmas and provide a voice and a safe haven for those who cannot speak for themselves. That we stand up for those who suffer silently every day and every second. If we can do that, then perhaps we can ensure that these terrible events never have to happen again. Yaakov Barr is an accredited psychotherapist, clinical supervisor and founder of Jteen. The Jteen text helpline is completely anonymous and confidential and is open for teens from the ages of 11-20 every night from 6pm-12. The number to text is 07860 058 823. For further information go to www. jteensupport.org
The Tyranny of the Echo Chamber OPINION PIECE BY ROBERT FESTENSTEIN
The House of Commons Library in September 2021 produced a document named ‘Asylum Statistics’. This document as the name suggests, is a statistical analysis of those seeking asylum and breaks down the figures into the numbers awaiting decisions, trends as to where asylum seekers settle and their origin. It tracks over time the source of people seeking asylum, with Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia being highest in 2001. By 2017 these had changed to Syria, Iran and Eritrea. According to the document in 2020, the countries from which the largest number of asylum applicants came to the UK were Iran (3,847), Albania (2,784), Eritrea (2,496), Iraq (2,304), Sudan (2,040) and Syria (1,479). It is an uncomfortable fact that whilst many of these applicants are in genuine fear of their lives, they also hold views which are contrary to the accepted norms in the UK, including misogyny, homophobia and of course, anti-Semitism. It is not clear whether Samuel Hayek (chair of the JNF) had these figures in mind when he gave his interview to the Jerusalem Post in December last year. It is clear though that his comments concerning
Muslim immigrants have created a storm of protest, including demands for the JNF to be ostracised until Mr Hayek is removed as chair. Declarations that Mr Hayek is an islamaphobe and a bigot are gathering pace in what appears to be an unstoppable avalanche of outrage and horror. What the real horror here is the wholesale abandonment of reason. Decisions on whether people are racist or not in the UK are not determined by way of discussion or reason, they are made by shrill voices on social media in modern style campaigns reminiscent of the Salem Witch Trials. The Jewish community sadly, is no different. Leader after communal leader have declared Mr Hayek as racist without even thinking about what might lie behind his comments.
Mr Hayek might be wrong about the UK Jewish Community having no future, though what is becoming obvious is that it is becoming more and more polarised, with the very orthodox at one end, and the secular at the other. The ‘middle of road Jew’ who went to Shul on Shabbat morning and then football in the afternoon is no longer typical. We moving towards an all or nothing existence, and there is certainly merit in discussion on this, not outright dismissal. As for the comments concerning Muslim immigration, the issues are more nuanced that claimed by the witch hunters. Claudia Mendoza (joint CEO of the Jewish Leadership Council) in her article in the Jewish Chronicle in November of last year said: Not wanting to recognise that victims
The middle of road Jew who went to Shul on Shabbat morning and then football in the afternoon is no longer typical. We moving towards an all or nothing existence, and there is certainly merit in discussion on this, not outright dismissal. THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM
can be perpetrators often inhibits Jews from calling out antisemitism from those who are also victims themselves. This is especially problematic when antisemitism comes from within Muslim communities. There it is. Clearly laid out. The inhibition referred to has grown to a complete bar and the shutters have come down on any discussion in relation to Muslim anti-Semitism. The Witch hunter’s actions bear this out in their crude interpretation of Mr Hayek’s comments and their utter refusal to even contemplate that there is a problem with another UK minority. Censorship and cancelling people is neither democratic nor a reflection of good leadership. Some subjects are difficult to navigate, and the true mark of a leader is to recognise this. In the current hysterical climate generated by Mr Hayek’s comments, we are a long way from even accepting a discussion is necessary. Screaming ‘racist’ from the roof tops is not going to make this issue go away, it is just going to make it more difficult to deal with. Robert Festenstein is a practising solicitor and has been the principal of his Salford based firm for over 20 years. He has fought BDS motions to the Court of Appeal and is President of the Zionist Central Council in Manchester which serves to protect and defend the democratic State of Israel.
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1. 2+ clubs; includes all balanced 12-14/18-19 hands 2. 4+ spades; transfer if Opener is 12-14 balanced 3. 4-card spade raise, 18-19 balanced 4. Re-transfer This is also from the Bermuda Bowl and the bidding was bizarre to say the least. Most of the time, North declared 4s and the lead was the h10. West led the queen of clubs and declarer was given a chance to show some good technique when East followed with an encouraging five. South played the eight of clubs from hand, won the club continuation with the ace, cashed the ace of trumps and led the two of trumps to dummy’s ten. After both defenders had followed to the trumps, declarer ruffed the seven of clubs. Next, she played the two of hearts to the ace and a heart back to her king. While she planned to ruff the jack of hearts in dummy if West followed low, she took another course when West played the queen of hearts: she discarded a diamond from dummy. This end-played West, who then cashed the ace of diamonds. East would have done better to play the king of clubs at trick one. Declarer wins with the ace and draws trumps, ending in dummy, and leads a low club. East rises with the ten and plays a diamond to declarer’s ten and West’s queen. After ruffing the club exit, declarer cashes the ace and king of hearts, then ruffs the jack of hearts in dummy. Now she plays a diamond to the king and ace but West is still end-played: declarer throws dummy’s last diamond loser and ruffs in hand.
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One Year On, Chabad MHE Light up a life with GIFT is Just Getting Started
Rabbi Dovie Shochet with two local Police Officers
It was in the midst of the pandemic, when much of the world was locked down, that Rabbi Dovie and Jessica Schochet opened Chabad in Mill Hill East. The plan had been in the making for several years but when the time came to move, the world was in lockdown. “We realised we didn’t want to delay,” says Rabbi Dovie. “It was a prime time to move, especially as during covid people were most in need.” In a short span of time their presence was certainly felt. Introducing themselves initially through zoom events including cookery demonstrations and general talks, they also delivered hundreds of homemade challot, cheesecakes before Shavuot, and honey-cakes before Rosh Hashana. “Many are unaffiliated with any community or synagogue and they really welcomed the connection,” Jessica says. Those connections paid off when near a hundred people turned out for “Shofar in the Park” on Rosh Hashanah, and more than two hundred turned out for a public Menorah lighting in the neighbourhood Waitrose carpark. The Schochets have expanded their reach beyond the immediate community. They
negotiated with the local Belmont Children’s Farm which has a public farm and set up a Sukah on site, along with food stalls, face painting and other forms of entertainment. This attracted people from all over Northwest London. They’ve also run numerous programmes in the Jewish Blind and Disabled home in Mill Hill East. CEO, Lisa Wimborne said: “We are delighted to see the arrival and growth of Chabad Mill Hill East. We are grateful for their partnership and all they have done for us to date.” Additionally they work closely with the Aarandlae Manor Care Home, Belmont Nursery, and Mill Hill Pre-Prep School, all which contain Jewish residents and pupils. The Jewish community in Mill Hill East has grown tremendously in the past few years, due to the large housing developments and central location. There are many young Jewish couples and families moving into the area and Rabbi Dovie and Jessica aim to be there for every Jew, regardless of affiliation. Plans are afoot in the new year for a Hebrew school for children, a monthly women’s programme and other regular in-person events.
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GIFT’s Light Up A Life volunteers
Over the winter break, a group of adults and children organised by Light Up A Life came to the GIFT Hub in North West London to volunteer their time for those in need of extra help in the community. After a short briefing and history and vision of the charity, the group worked together as a very efficient team to pack hundreds of support packages containing different kinds of staples, in a flurry of activity and concentration. Monica, who came along with her husband and two children, said afterwards “We had fun. It was definitely worthwhile! it was a great way to involve kids, and very educational”. Isaac, aged 14, said “it was very satisfying to do something useful for other people and it was very well organised too”. Estie, aged 18 from Brondesbury Park, said “It’s a great opportunity to get together and give back to the community and feel grateful for what you have too.” Laura Granditer from Light Up A Life remarked. “The session really fulfilled our purpose to bring together volunteers with charities who need extra help during the
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Xmas holidays. Working with GIFT gave our volunteers a really good insight into what food poverty means for people during these particularly challenging times - and having the hands-on experience really brings the reality home. Everyone came away feeling they’d done something worthwhile on Boxing Day, and many said they wanted to go back soon and do more.” GIFT’s Founding Director Michelle Barnett was delighted with the collaboration, explaining “This time of year is often challenging with so many of our regular volunteer packers and deliverers away. Light Up A Life always manages to bring in a wonderful group of vibrant & dedicated volunteers who are so willing to help. Unlike some other charities who are forced to close down their operations at this time of year, our service users need our support more than ever and we are grateful to Light Up A Life as well as our regular volunteers & staff who give extra hours to ensure it’s business as usual!” To volunteer your time with GIFT contact Info@jgift.org
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The Duchy of Lancaster Benevolent Fund panel met recently and considered the application from Yad Veachisomoch L’Chaim. The panel had a small surplus and were therefore able to award a larger amount than expected! The grant awarded was for £5,000. £2,000 of which was for the warehouse construction and £3,000 for the foodbank. Colonel Martin Newman, one of their senior Deputy Lieutenants, presented the cheque at the foodbank.
Colonel Martin Newman presenting the cheque
PHOTO: LAWRENCE PURCELL.
Holy Law Shul Prestwich Ovos Uvonim one hour after nacht in the Shul’s Henry Seaberg Hall.
Father and son learning together
COMMUNITY 17
AJEX announces new national chairman AJEX Jewish Military Association has appointed Staff Sgt Dan Fox as its new national chairman. Staff Sgt Fox has been closely involved with the organisation in recent years and takes over from Mike Bluestone who served as national chairman for two and a half years. Bluestone was instrumental in navigating AJEX through challenges faced during the Covid-19 pandemic including its online presence and creating successful online and in-person events. This culminated in the AJEX Remembrance parade and ceremony attended by over 2,000 people and 25,000 online views. Hundreds of thousands of Jews have served in the British Armed Forces during the World Wars, AJEX ensures their contribution is never forgotten. Fox is determined to pass the legacy on to the next generation. He joined the Army Reserve in September 2006 and was mobilised into the Regular Army for a year in July 2009, including a six-month operational tour of Afghanistan. Still a reservist, Fox serves at least 30 days a year in uniform, alongside his day job. He also regularly gives talks to Jewish
PHOTO: LAWRENCE PURCELL.
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community organisations on the history of Jews in the British Armed Forces and experiences of serving Jewish servicemen and women. Having served as Deputy National Chairman of AJEX since June 2019, Fox takes the helm with a wealth of insight and experience. He said, “It is a great honour to chair AJEXJMA, which is such an important and historic part of our nation’s Jewish and military communities. I look forward to taking forward the incredible work AJEX does on welfare, education, remembrance, and fighting antisemitism.” AJEX Chief Executive Fiona Palmer commented, “We are immensely grateful to Mike for his tireless commitment, determination and leadership. He helped to guide AJEX during an unprecedented and challenging time. We are delighted to welcome Staff Sgt Fox, with his skills, knowledge and passion for all that AJEX stands for. Dan will help the organisation build on past successes.” AJEX has a packed year ahead including new education initiatives, speakers, an innovative Jubilee project and various events. Details: www.ajex.org.uk
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Jewish Care resident, members and volunteer receive New Year’s Honours Henry Lewis, a resident at Jewish Care’s Wolfson Assisted Living at Sandringham has been awarded an MBE and is the oldest person to receive honours in this New Year’s list, aged 102. Henry received his award as honorary vice president of the Magic Circle, for his services to fundraising and charitable causes. Henry was born on 12 October 1919 in Hackney and grew up in a family of eight children. He is a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and of the In-corporated Society of Valuers and Auctioneers. He says, “It’s very nice to receive the Honour and of course, I’ll have to wait to go to Buckingham Palace. I’ve had a wonderful life and I’ve really enjoyed being able to do my magic shows around the world as my hobby. When I was eight years old, I found a magic book in a pile of rubbish and that’s what got me interested in magic. I gave my first public show at the local Town Hall. I’ve performed all over the world, Canada, Sweden, Denmark and Israel and the USA in large public theatres. I was the President of the Inner Magic Circle and the Society of American Magicians and a gold medallist performer. My most recent magic show was to entertain my fellow residents at Jewish Care’s Anita Dorfman House at Sandringham.”
Freddy Berdach BEM, Jewish Care Ronson Family Community Centre volunteer Henry Lewis MBE resident at Jewish Care’s Wolfson Assisted Living at Sandringham
Staff and fellow residents are delighted for Henry and Tuzani Chitsa, Registered Manager at Jewish Care’s Anita Dorfman House, says, “We feel honoured to have such a pleasant, talented man.” Freddy Berdach, volunteer and member of Jewish Care’s Holocaust Survivors’ Centre has been awarded a BEM for his services to Holocaust education and awareness. Freddy volunteers for Jewish Care at The Ronson Family Community Centre at Sandringham and delivers Challah to other Holocaust survivors. Freddy still talks to
PHOTO: YAKIR ZUR.
schools and universities about his experiences, virtually. Freddy says, “I arrived in the UK in December 1938 after fleeing Vienna at the age of eight years old. My father managed to escape to Switzerland where he secured a visa for me and my mother to come to England for my mother to go into domestic service. I was fostered out eight times over the two years so I wouldn’t be too at-tached to the families. When my father arrived here, he volunteered the British Ex-peditionary Force in Le Havre. He was wounded and stayed in hospital for nine months before being honourably discharged and
demobbed in Taunton, Somerset, where he became an enemy alien. “Having missed two years of school, I eventually started school in Holloway. I fin-ished my A levels and was called up for National Service and deferred my universi-ty place at Kings College. “I served two years in the RAF during the Korean War in 1951 as part of Air Traffic Control on RAF Stradishall in Suffolk, and RAF Ringway, which is now Manchester Airport. “After being demobbed I started working and met my beautiful wife – we were married for 63 wonderful years. I worked in the family tie manufacturing business be-fore going on to export menswear and I have three beautiful daughters, six grand-children and three great grandchildren.” He adds, “I want to do things for others. I was lucky, having survived when so many didn’t and I thank G-d everyday for my blessings. It’s important for young people to know what life was like and what good opportunities they have today.” Congratulations go to members of Jewish Care’s Holocaust Survivors’ Centre, Lily Bruml who received a BEM and Frank Bright who was awarded the honour of an MBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours for their services to Holocaust education and awareness.
Grand Melava Malka in Belz Manchester Motzei Shabbos celebrating the forshpiel for two chasanim sons of Rav Shmuel Schwartz and Reb Feivel Opman.
Melava Malka at Belz for sons of Rav Shmuel Schwartz and Reb Feivel Opman
PHOTO: LAWRENCE PURCELL.
Carrying out the KD Yavneh Sefer Torah
PHOTO: LAWRENCE PURCELL.
Manchester King David Yavneh boys Thursday morning layning, this was the first day back after the Winter Holidays. THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM
20 FEATURE
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Noa Girls Launches Innovative ‘Clinical Training Programme’ Noa Girls has initiated an innovative ‘Clinical Training Programme’ as part of its commitment to meet the surging demand for its services. Noa provides practical, emotional and therapeutic support for adolescent girls in the Orthodox community, delivering tailored one-toone support to girls via its keyworking, mentoring and therapy programmes, as well as working with girls’ families. Its mission is to empower each girl to harness her innate strength to move forward to overcome the obstacles in her life to live an independent positive and healthy future. Noa’s professional team includes clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists, child and adolescent psychotherapists, social workers, family therapists and volunteer mentors. In April 2021 Noa ran an immensely successful fundraising campaign. As a result of the community’s incredible generosity, Noa was able to clear out its waiting list of 58 girls and take on many additional girls who had since been referred. However, as Noa’s CEO Naomi Lerer explains, the urgent need has not abated.
“Mental health issues have exploded over the past few years, and Covid has not only exacerbated issues, but has brought them further out into the open,” she says. “This has had an enormous impact on our services. Despite everything we were able to do thanks to the fundraiser, our current waiting list stands at over 40 girls.” Noa is committed to providing its girls with the highest levels of wraparound care and support, and to ensuring that they can provide an address for all girls brave enough to seek support. In order to continue to meet the growing needs of the community Noa needs to recruit more staff to join Noa’s team. As well as being suitably qualified, personable and talented, it is essential that Noa staff have a deep understanding and experience of working within the community.
Naomi Lerer explains “when our girls are supported by staff who can really relate to them, they feel truly understood and are able to make meaningful progress”. To this end, Noa’s new Clinical Training
Programme will provide a unique opportunity for women from the community who seek to undertake a qualification in a therapeutic field such as social work or psychotherapy. Noa will offer financial support to the successful applicants for their training, as well as work placements, access to in-house training and clinical supervision. Successful applicants will need to commit to a period of employment at Noa in a clinical role, for a time period commensurate to the funding allocated, where they will benefit from becoming part of a supportive, caring and professional team who are dedicated to the wellbeing of girls. “We know that there is vast untapped talent within the community,” concludes Naomi Lerer, who is also Rebbetzin of Central Synagogue. “Our hope is that the Clinical Training Programme will enable us to recruit more staff and increase our capacity, which will have such a positive impact on the entire community.” For more information or to receive an application pack, please email hr@noagirls. com
Jami Mental Health Awareness Shabbat 2022
The sixth annual Jami Mental Health Awareness Shabbat (MHAS) last weekend saw hundreds of events take place in shuls, schools and organisations across the country. These ranged from interactive education sessions and virtual panel events to dedicated Kabbalat Shabbat
services and personal testimonies. Laurie Rackind, Chief Executive at Jami, said, “I am so proud to be part of a community that embraces the opportunity to challenge stigma, raise awareness and promote conversations around mental health. Living in this climate of constant uncertainty, it is more important than ever to have open conversations about mental health and encourage people to get help when they need it.” The MHAS was held on 7-8 January, coinciding with Shabbat “Bo” during which the weekly Torah portion about the plague of Darkness is read, the description of which has particular resonance with mental illness. This year’s theme was ‘Mental Health in a Changing World’. Recent global crises, including the threat of climate change and living through a pandemic, has impacted on all our mental health and led to increased feelings of anxiety and stress for many people. For those already living with mental illness or caring for someone with mental health
Maccabi GB speaking about mental health before a league game
problems, the past year has been tougher than ever. Over 200 organisations marked this special Shabbat with events including United Synagogue’s dedicated Kabbalat Shabbat on theUS.TV; publishing of collected divrei Torah and thoughts from Rabbis and cantors of the Movement of Reform Judaism and Liberal Judaism by The Honeycomb Project; and Masorti’s Senior Rabbi, Jonathan Wittenberg in conversation with Jami chief executive Laurie Rackind at a special Kabbalat Shabbat Zoom. Jami delivered a programme of events including sessions for young adults on climate change and mental health; men and mental health; impact of increased reliance on digital technology on
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wellbeing; and youth mental health in collaboration with Beyond. RSY-Netzer marked the Shabbat with a memorial tea and havdallah in memory of Zach Klement, an important member of RSY-Netzer and mental wellbeing advocate; while Maccabi GB continued to support Jami’s MHAS through the “One Minute for Mental Health” initiative, whereby players paused for one minute before kick-off to think about how to openly encourage conversation around mental health. Ashley Lerner, CEO of Maccabi GB shared, “Highlighting positive mental health is incredibly important and we are pleased that through our Affiliated Football Leagues, we could assist reaching as wide an audience as possible”.
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GENEuary 2022: Giving January life GENEUARY
Following the success of GENEuary 2021 Jnetics presents GENEuary 2022 bigger and January 2022 Jewish Genetics Awareness Month better! GENEuary is a monthlong awareness campaign, We had no idea that designed to raise awareness we were both carriers of about recessive Jewish Tay-Sachs disease and genetic disorders and the count our lucky stars that we now have the knowledge importance of carrier testing. to manage our risk of passing The GENEuary campaign, it to our future children will include a series of events across the community For more information about that will focus on raising screening at The Jnetics Clinic visit jnetics.org/screening awareness of these life-limiting and life-threatening disorders. Find us at www.jnetics.org Nicole Gordon, CEO, @jneticsUK explained “in times of such for nine to 47 conditions, now spanning uncertainty, so much is out of our control, across the Sephardi and Mizrachi commubut eradicating Jewish Genetic Disorders nities as well as the Ashkenazi.” from our community is not. As a charity “Jewish Genetic Disorders, are disorders we exist with the sole aim of testing as that are relatively more common among many young adults through our schools and universities programme and our clinic Jewish people than the general population. Jnetics currently tests for 47 of the targeted at young couples. The last 12 most common and severe JGD’s that are months have been hugely exciting in the history of Jnetics as we moved from testing either fatal in childhood or cause chronic
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The team at Chana were a lifeline for my husband and I after we tragically lost our baby girl last year. We have been given so much support and care through this difficult time. We really appreciate everything that they do.” Rachel – Chana client For nearly 30 years, Chana have been providing emotional and practical support to Jewish couples who are longing for a family, but may be struggling. To date, 825 babies have been born with Chana’s help – with your help, that number can keep rising.
CHANA PROVIDES:
• A confidential free helpline • Cutting-edge medical information courtesy of our in-house Scientific Advisor • Specialist medical support through our Medical Advisory Panel - 30 of the UK’s leading specialists and healthcare professionals • Treatment advice sensitive to the centrality of halacha at all times • One-to-one and couples counselling: Male and female therapists • Financial assistance for investigations and treatments • Support groups • Secondary infertility support • Webinars and monthly newsletters • Training and guidance for communal leaders • Events featuring the latest information on reproductive health “Having a miscarriage never even crossed our minds but unfortunately left us both
disability and shortened lifespan”, Guila Vaz Mouyal, Jnetics Research & Development Manager went on to explain “these conditions span the community cutting through the Ashkenazi, Sephardi & Mizrahi populations, at the moment Jnetics tests for 28 Ashkenazi conditions, 15 Sephardi & Mizrahi conditions and 4 that are relevant to people from all backgrounds”. “Tay Sachs is the most widely known JGD, but there are others, just as severe, that can cause devastating impact to a family. With screening widely available there is absolutely no reason why any couple should have to endure the pain of their child being born with life threatening or life shortening genetic illness” Nicole Gordon explained. Jnetics’ test identifies individuals and couples at risk of having a child affected by a severe JGD. This in turn allows them
Jnetics Reg charity no. 1134935
FEATURE 21
to explore several reproductive options available to ensure they don’t pass on the disorder to their children in the future. GENEuary 2022 presents a series of important conversations between Jnetics and several guest speakers about Jewish Genetic Disorders, identity, breast cancer and cross border screening. To find out more about GENEuary and events taking place in the month of January please visit https://www.jnetics.org/support-us/ geneuary2022/. Please join us this January to help raise awareness of Jewish Genetic Disorders and help us achieve our mission of ensuring babies born into our community are free of life shortening, incurable and life debilitating Jewish Genetic Disorders. The GENEuary campaign has the full support of all synagogue movements in the UK, as well as a number of partner organisations. For further information on GENEuary contact guila@jnetics.org To book a screening appointment visit www.jnetics.org/screening
Chana’s precious moments grieving and feeling alone. We were put in touch with Chana and our healing began. The guidance from our therapists helped us navigate through one of the toughest challenges of our lives. Their support changed us as individual people, as a couple and then as parents to Sofia. Unfortunately, miscarriages, still births and infertility are more common than we think, and Chana needs our help to be able to continue to support people in our community facing these ongoing daily struggles.” Kelsey Ainhorn – Chana client
CHANA BRINGS LIFE INTO THE WORLD, THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL
With Covid causing backlogs across the entirety of the NHS, Naomi, Adam & Eloise waiting times for appointments are now up to a year, time Moments’. young couples often simply cannot afford We need to raise £700,000 in 36 to wait. Demand for our vital services has hours to ensure that we’re able to continincreased by 20% since our last fundue to support couples in our community raising campaign 18 months ago. Your who need our help. support is needed more than ever for Every donation, large or small, will our Matched Funding Campaign on 16th make a real difference, and will be dou-17th January 2022, entitled ‘Precious bled by our generous ‘matching funders’
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during the live campaign. Help ensure that more families in our community can enjoy life’s precious moments. During our campaign on the 16th–17th January, all you need to do is donate via Charity Extra website or over the phone. “We would like to thank Chana for the many years of giving us therapy and support. Our Jewish Neshama is now here and giving us total joy. We wake up every morning and know how blessed we are. Our journey was very difficult and painful. Where we are now would not have been possible without Hashem and Chana. Love Naomi, Adam & Eloise”
Find out more at chana.org.uk/moments A Free Helpline: 020 8201 5774 info@chana.org.uk Registered charity no. 1172957
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Travel
Malcolm Ginsberg, Jewish Weekly Travel Editor, is the Editor-in-Chief of Business Travel News, a member of the International Travel Writers Alliance, a noted analyst on aviation matters. Over the years he has been hosted by Jewish communities as varied as Hong Kong; Hobart, Australia; Quito, Ecuador and Cape Town, a very Jewish city at the tip of South Africa. Travel organisers please contact malcolm. ginsberg@btnews.co.uk www.btnews.co.uk
Liverpool With the idea of a holiday abroad once again in question our thoughts for a break must return to the UK. Here is one solution: Travel editor Malcolm Ginsberg reports. Have you ever considered Liverpool? It’s an easy drive from Manchester and 200 miles from North London with good rail connections from all over the place. And plenty of hotels at all grades. It has a fine Jewish heritage too. The Beatles were managed during their most memorable times by Brian Epstein, of Lithuanian Jewish decent. Jews first settled in Liverpool in the late 17th century and as the port city developed so did the community. In 1874 the Princes Road synagogue was consecrated, one of Britain’s finest late Victorian religious buildings. As with all regional communities the numbers have declined in recent years and there are now three active synagogues. Kosher food is available at a number of Tesco stores and Rosemans Delicatessen in Abbey Road. When visiting a major city for the first time I always take the double decker bus tour to orientate myself and as a introduction. In Liverpool’s case it starts by the Albert Dock, just by The Beatles Story, a fascinating exhibition of memorabilia which I shall be reporting on another time. Beside the Beatles, Liverpool is also famous for its comics. The list includes the wonderful Arthur Askey, Ted Ray, Jimmy Tarbuck and of course Sir Ken Dodd. A man called Tom, a true ‘scouser’ and our guide for a 90min trip, was worthy to be nearly ranked with these notables. If you take the ride make sure he is on your bus for what will be a most entertaining journey. As he reminded us. “It should be nighttime 24/7 in Liverpool, because they don’t allow The Sun!” in reference to an article printed in the paper after the 1989
Inside Princes Road Synagogue
Hillsborough football disaster, under the headline The Truth, prompting a boycott by Liverpool readers. It’s a red double decker of course. And that’s no joke if you are an Everton supporter. Setting out from the Royal Albert Dock, The Three Graces quickly come up on your right – the Royal Liver Building, The Cunard Building and the Port of Liverpool Building, magnificent living memorials to times gone by and open to the public. On the other side is the Mersey Ferry, made even more famous by the late Gerry Marsden’s hit “You’ll never walk alone” from Carousel by Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein. The tour does not go past Anfield/ Goodison Park football stadium. Make the pair a separate visit. We soon arrived in Stanley Street where there is a statue to Eleanor Rigby. It’s the creator and sculptor that may surprise you, Tommy Steele (Sir Thomas Hicks), just one of his many creative talents and a long-time friend of The Beatles. The tour continues past the rejuvenated Cavern Club in Mathew Street (and another Beatles Museum) towards St Georges Hall one of the finest examples of neo-classical buildings in the world, standing out magnificently on the city’s
Princes Road Synagogue
Lennon’s favourite pub) with a free glass of bubbly. Not so due to Covid-19. We stopped at Strawberry Field, a children’s home in John Lennon’s time. If the hop-on hop-off arrangement is working (but not at present) it’s a good place for tea and cakes. Along Menlove Avenue, a main road, at number 251 is John’s Auntie Mimi’s house, his childhood home, an unpresumptuous suburban semi with a blue plaque. We are reminded that close by Lennon’s mother Julia was hit by a car and died on the evening of 15 July 1958. It is now a grade
Liverpool bus tour
skyline. We don’t pass the Epstein Theatre, on the upper floor in Hannover Street, the 360-seat theatre named after the Beatles original manager. Take in a show. Next up was supposed to be the Philharmonic Dining Rooms (said to be John
The Beatles Museum
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II listed building and gifted to the National Trust by his widow Yoko. Past the splendid Calderstones Park in a very pleasant and tidy part of Liverpool and viewed from Mather Avenue, is Forthlin Road and another rather plain local council-built Graded II listed building, the childhood home of (Sir) Paul McCartney, now owned by the National Trust and listed as ‘The Birthplace of the Beatles’. Most of the early writing was done here. We had to view from the top of the narrow street, our wisecracking guide muttering something about the locals not wanting any more traffic. Liverpool Festival Gardens is a popular hop-on hop-off point in normal times and dates from 1984 when Michael Heseltine held the environment brief and really pushed Liverpool. He is held in great regard by the city. The gardens are worth a visit regardless of the bus. The final run back to the Albert Dock took us past The Yellow Submarine play centre and the ACC exhibition complex. Let Tom have the final word: “Ken Dodd doing a gig at the Liverpool Empire. He walked out at the interval and quietly nipped to the bar, sat a couple tables away from two completely oblivious scouse blokes chatting between themselves. First bloke says “what’s the difference between Ken Dodd and a coconut?” Second bloke replies “I don’t know what is the difference between Ken Dodd and a coconut?” “You can get a drink out of a coconut!” On hearing this Ken is quite taken aback and shouts over to the lads “Oi I heard that.” First scouser sorely embarrassed can’t apologise enough says “Oh mate I’m so sorry I didn’t mean anything by it, just having a laugh with my mate here. I honestly didn’t mean anything by it.” Ken tells the lads “It’s no problem boys. I understand. I love a good joke as you can tell, do you want a drink?” The lads respond “Of course mate that would be great.” “Well go and get yourselves a coconut!”
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The Cannabis category in the UK
ADVERTORIAL 23
Cannabotech UK Director, Nick Kenny talks about the growing CBD industry in the UK CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE EVOLUTION OF THE CANNABIS CATEGORY IN THE LAST 3 YEARS?
Cannabis has been on a revolutionary journey globally over the past decade with North America leading the movement as legislation finally catches up with adult consumer use. In fact, at the start of 2020, cannabis was the biggest growth industry in America. In the UK, cannabis legislation has been on a much slower trajectory. It was legalised for medical purposes in 2018, with prescriptions to be administered by specialised registered doctors. However, since legislation came into force, there have only been a handful of NHS cannabis prescriptions due to the contradictory legislation on medical cannabis and the reluctance of NHS physicians to prescribe. This has led to patients themselves having to seek medical cannabis in licensed private clinics and foot the bill. The system in place is very much in its infancy and a work in progress. As an example, the UK is one of the largest exporters of medical cannabis in the world, but currently, due to convoluted licensing and regulatory processes required, imports 100% of its cannabis medicine.
CBD, one of the non-psychoactive cannabinoids in the cannabis plant, is treated differently as CBD products can be sold in the UK under certain conditions. Primarily, they are not for medicinal use and must be considered a food supplement (when ingested) or a cosmetic (when applied topically). They must also be processed outside of the UK to be legal to be sold in the UK, providing they contain no controlled substances such as THC and are derived from hemp. In 2021, CBD companies must have submitted a UK Novel Food Application in order for their consumable products to remain on the shelf in UK stores. The therapeutic benefits of CBD and its ability to be sold in UK stores have led to a rapidly growing industry in the past 3 years, with many analysts believing the market value to be as large as £600M .
WHY SHOULD PEOPLE TRUST CBD OIL PRODUCTS WHEN THERE ARE STILL MANY PEOPLE WHO THINK IT’S ILLEGAL?
CBD is a non-psychoactive product and has many therapeutic benefits. As part of the cannabis plant, it has been used to treat a variety of ailments for thousands
long as it meets necessary requirements, there are still many ways it can become more accessible allowing companies within it to provide the best products for the UK adult consumer. of years. Unfortunately, in the UK, as mentioned already, legislation has been convoluted and has not been clear to those in the industry or adult consumers looking to purchase and use. CBD products are now however, required to meet standards set out by the Food Standards Authority, like any other consumable products, in order to be sold in UK stores. Therefore, it is now a question of what retailers and brands you trust, rather than CBD itself.
WHY IS IT (CBD) TAKING SO LONG TO PROPERLY BE RECOGNIZED AND LEGALIZED?
CBD is still tainted with the history of cannabis illegality and its perception from the 1930s ‘Reefer Madness era’ onwards. This has led to regulators needing to be reeducated on the plant, its properties and why it’s important for adult consumers to have access. All of which takes time. Although CBD as stated above is legal as
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WHAT IS YOUR PROGNOSIS FOR THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS?
In the UK, small progressive steps will be made and in fact, are being made. Sadiq Khan’s announcement for a pilot scheme to decriminalise cannabis possession in under-25s is an example of this. However, it is unlikely the UK will take any significant steps in the legalisation of cannabis. I do foresee the UK expanding its medical program to be more accessible to patients as well as a more professional consolidated CBD industry. I believe any other developments will be dependent on the movement of other markets. As and when the US moves to federal regulation and countries in Europe expand their accessibility to cannabis, it is only a matter of time before the UK has to catch up or miss the opportunity altogether. What is clear is that adult consumers and patients are crying out for more access and range of propositions.
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Rojak Fruit & Vegetable Salad
Another delicious recipe from Denise Phillips For more recipes and inspiration visit my website: www.jewishcookery.com
Hailing from Singapore, this salad brings together fruit, vegetables and crispy tofu. Suitable for vegans, gluten free and dairy free guests too! It is a sweet and spicy salad that is ideal as part of a buffet or enjoyed as a healthy side dish with your main course. The dressing uses tamarind which is a seed pod from the tamarind tree. This has a unique sweet and sour flavour and used is extensively in SE Asian and Indian cooking. It can be found in a jar as a paste or as a block. Preparation Time: 20 minutes Cooking Time: 10 minutes Serves: 6 Ingredients 2 large ripe mangoes 150g radishes – finely sliced 1 cucumber – deseed and cubed 1 ripe pineapple – peeled and cubed 125g baby spinach 350g firm tofu 1 fresh red chilli – deseeded and finely chopped 100g unsalted peanuts 4 tablespoons vegetable/ rapeseed oil DRESSING 2 limes 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons runny honey 1 teaspoon chilli paste 1 teaspoon tamarind 1 teaspoon light brown sugar Garnish: Sprigs of mint
Tu B’shvat BY DENISE PHILLIPS Tu B’shvat, the festival of trees, starts the evening of Sunday 16 January, and in Israel it is a national holiday. Tu B’shvat literally means 15th of the month of Shvat, the day it occurs in the Hebrew calendar, but the number 15 also refers to the name of G-d which connects the physical to the spiritual side of this world and the next. A popular way of celebrating this festival is to eat different types of fruits, especially the 7 biblical species – wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates. It is a way of honouring the specialness of the land of Israel. However, Israel is now a major producer of food – growing more than 40 types of fruit in abundance. As well the oranges and grapefruits that we know so well, they are big growers of avocados, bananas, apples, olives, cherries, figs, plums, nectarines, grapes, dates, strawberries, prickly pear (tzabbar), persimmon, pomegranates and loquat (Israel is the second leading producer of loquat after Japan). Loquat is quite unknown in this country, but it tastes sweet, yet slightly tart, with notes of citrus. Be sure to choose fully ripe loquats, as immature fruits are sour. Ripe ones turn a bright yellow-orange and are soft to the touch. Loquats bruise easily and have a relatively short shelf life, rendering them near impossible to find in
commercial supermarkets which answers perhaps why we can’t get them! However, you can purchase prickly pear in the UK. To make these cactus fruits more friendly, the prickles are removed before they are sold. Prickly pears are ripe when they give slightly in the palm of the hand. The flesh inside is golden yellow or red, dependent on the country of origin, with a cool, refreshing taste like that of watermelon. To prepare: Cut the pear in half and peel off the skin or scoop out the flesh with a spoon, discarding the seeds. Sprinkle with lemon or lime juice. Persimmon or Sharon fruit are now in season, and they are ripe when they have a deep orange colour and the skin has a slight softness. If in doubt, slice off a small amount of the fruit and taste it; a ripe persimmon should taste pleasant and sweet, not sour, or bitter and you can eat the skin. They are a good source of vitamins A and C as well as manganese, which helps the blood to clot. They also have other antioxidants, which help reduce the risk of many serious health conditions including cancer and stroke. Be adventurous this Tu B’shvat and choose and try an unusual fruit. Specialist greengrocers have plenty. And to share a quote from Proverbs, Chapter 3 verse 18, ‘The Torah is a tree of life to those who grasp her and whoever holds on to her is happy’.
Method 1. For the dressing, combine the zest from 1 lime and all of the lime juice with the remaining dressing ingredients. Season to taste with sea salt and black pepper. Transfer to a jug and set aside. 2. Slice the cheeks from the mango and finely slice each one into lengths, removing the skin. 3. Finely slice the radishes, then deseed and cut the cucumber into cubes. Peel the pineapple and cut into 1cm cubes. 4. Mix the mango, radish, cucumber, pineapple and spinach in a salad bowl. 5. Cut the tofu into 2cm cubes. Finely slice the chilli. 6. Preheat the oven to 200C. Place the peanuts on a tray and toast for about 10 minutes. Set aside. 7. Add the oil to a frying pan and sauté the tofu. Fry for about 10 minutes, or until deep golden on all sides. Sauté the chilli for 2 minutes so just soft. 8. Remove and leave to drain on kitchen paper, then scatter on top of the fruit. Drizzle over the dressing and top with the toasted peanuts and sprigs of mint.
We would like to take this opportunity to express how deeply touched and overwhelmed we were by the outpouring of heartfelt תפילות, multitudes of thoughtful, caring sentiments, acts of support, assistance & comfort by so many individuals & organisations from within the קהילהand beyond throughout the period of our wife/mothers illness and during the week of shiva. This truly demonstrated your deep care and concern and was a source of much חיזוקto us all. Words alone cannot express our sincere הכרת הטובfor your kindness. We feel privileged to be part of such a special community. !מי כעמך ישראל Each and every one of you should be זוכהto only much שמחותand גזונטand be spared from any sorrow. נזכה לראות גאולה השלימה במהרה בימינו Family Yodaiken
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You and I, we’ve been through it all. You’ve seen how many hours I spent tending these fields. You’ve seen my tears — of gratitude when produce grows in abundance, of worry when it does not. You’ve watched me raise my children here and you’ve listened as I taught them the laws of our sacred land. I know I’ve abandoned you. Leaving you wasn’t easy. It never is, because this land is part of who I am. There are more seasons of change ahead. The harsh winter isn’t over, and the hot summer is yet to come. I’m not in the field to bear them with you, but I’m watching. I see how the howling winds threaten. I see how you still stand tall, refusing to bow under the pressure — and this Shmitah, so will I.
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ASK THE RABBI
Looking for answers? Send your question to Rabbi@RabbiSchochet.com WHEN A HEART GOES OINK!
a skin transplant from a pig because it’s not kosher, and eventually it was done with a cow instead. It might have been intended to amuse viewers by portraying Orthodox Jews as radical, but it is ignorance and the furthest thing from truth.
Dear Samantha To be sure, this is not a new question. While this surgery is novel, pig’s valves have been used previously for heart surgery where the same question arose. Moreover, pig’s skin has been used for facial transplants on burn victims. The basis for the concern is the verse in Leviticus (11: 7-8): “And the swine…it is impure for you. You shall not eat of their flesh or touch their carcasses.” However, as noted by the commentaries, the prohibition against touching the carcass was only applicable in Temple times during the pilgrimage on the three main festivals – Pesach, Shavuot and Sukot. Those were particularly spiritual and auspicious times which necessitated that the Jewish people were in a heightened sate of ritual purity. Even then, it was specifically the flesh of the pig. This, as opposed to the skin or internal organs. Beyond that however, there is a basic principle that when a life is in danger all of Jewish law is suspended and whatever can be done to save the individual must be done. That includes eating a ham sandwich on the afternoon of Yom Kippur, or transplanting a pig’s heart into a nice yiddisher boy who requires it. Someone recently drew my attention to some satirical show where a Jewish girl refused
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Dear Rabbi I read about someone getting the world’s first ever heart transplant from a pig. Would this be an acceptable procedure for a Jew? Samantha
Dear Rabbi I know this is a hot topic and you may not want to respond publically to my question, but I would really appreciate a private response at the least as I value your opinion. By now everyone knows the tragic story of the author in Israel who took his own life. A lot of things have been said about him and of course he authored many books. I have a whole collection of his books and I enjoy sharing them with my grandchildren. Do I continue to do so? Burn them? What should I do? Elchonon Dear Elchonon Much has been said on this topic already and by rabbis far greater than myself. As you rightly describe, the whole sorry saga is nothing short of tragic. It’s tragic because the Orthodox community has, for far too long, taken a “hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil” approach to abuse. Often rumours abound and we revert to the mantra of loshon hora etc. closing our eyes, ears and mouth. We say nothing, we do nothing, and in the interim more harm is being perpetuated. The Torah prohibition of lo selech rachil – “do not go around gossiping,” is followed immediately with the injunction, “do not
Pirkei Avot ַה ְמ ַח ֵּלל,אֹומר ֵ ּמֹוד ִעי ָ ַר ִּבי ֶא ְל ָעזָ ר ַה ,ּמֹועדֹות ֲ ְו ַה ְמ ַבּזֶ ה ֶאת ַה,ֶאת ַה ָּק ָד ִׁשים ְו ַה ֵּמ ֵפר,ְו ַה ַּמ ְל ִּבין ְּפנֵ י ֲח ֵברֹו ָב ַר ִּבים ,ְּב ִריתֹו ֶׁשל ַא ְב ָר ָהם ָא ִבינּו ָע ָליו ַה ָּשׁלֹום ַאף,ּתֹורה ֶׁשּל ֹא ַכ ֲה ָל ָכה ָ ְו ַה ְמגַ ֶּלה ָפנִ ים ַּב ,טֹובים ִ ּומ ֲע ִׂשים ַ תֹורה ָ ַעל ִּפי ֶׁשּיֵ ׁש ְּביָ דֹו …עֹולם ַה ָּבא ָ ֵאין לֹו ֵח ֶלק ָל Rabbi Elazar of Modiin said: one who profanes sacred things, and one who despises the festivals, and one who causes his
stand idly by when your friend’s blood is being spilled.” In the words of the Sforno (amongst numerous others): “And from where is it derived that if you see a man pursuing another to kill him or you see a man pursuing a betrothed maiden, that you must rescue the pursued by taking the life of the pursuer? From “You shall not stand by the blood of your neighbour.” In simple terms, of course gossip is wrong and has its own tragic consequences. But when someone is reputed to be threatening the lives of another – and sexual abuse is a direct threat to one’s life and wellbeing – then you have to do what you have to do, to investigate it and stop it! If in the process of the investigation the one being investigated takes their life, well, alas, tragic as it is, it is not the fault of those looking to protect the lives of the innocent, as per the aforementioned verse. Even for those who still insist it is all rumours, my response is: It is told of the Chofetz Chaim that he was once taken to court on some trumped up charges. At one point his lawyer told the judge: “You really think a man of this rabbi’s stature can do such a thing? They say someone once stole from him and he went running after the thief yelling, ‘I forgive you! I forgive you!’” Whereupon the judge asked, “do you really believe that?” And the lawyer replied: “Your honour, whether I believe it or not is irrelevant. One thing is for sure. They don’t tell such stories about you and me!” I’ll let you draw your own conclusion from that. As for the books themselves,
I would make the following observation. There is a law that when a heretic writes a Torah scroll one is obligated to burn it. In other words, you don’t argue that this is a Torah scroll after all, who cares who wrote it. No! You cannot separate the scroll from the scribe or a book from its author. Ultimately this is an educational decision. You have to consider the fact that you don’t want your children or grandchildren to be exposed to the writings of an individual when they might end up traumatised upon discovering the truth about someone they considered a quasi- celebrity. Moreover, keeping such books around and having children read them can
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Dedicated in memory of Tova bas Chayim Hillel Monis and Meir Shimon ben Avrohom Yakov fellow’s face to blush in public, and one who annuls the covenant of our father Abraham, may he rest in peace, and he who is contemptuous towards the Torah, even though he has to his credit [knowledge of the] Torah and good deeds, he has not a share in the world to come. Many people simply do not realise the value and power of Chol Hamoed. This newspaper does not print on Chol Hamoed precisely due to the importance this Mishnah in particular places upon it. As an aside, Daf Hayomi is tomorrow
Perek 3: Mishna 11
starting the new Masechtah of Moed Koton, which is all about Chol Hamoed. Sign up at MDY.COM. If one seriously needs to work to earn money then it is permissible however one should be extremely careful. The holy words of the sages of the Mishna were not chosen in vain, but were precisely calibrated to guide Jewish people along the tree of life, the correct and true path that we should follow. May we all merit to listen to the words of our sages, Amen.
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make him a legitimate character in the eyes of the reader and might send a terrible message to innocent children that such behaviour is tolerated. In addition, the books are triggers for victims or really anyone sensitive enough to the plight of victims. The most important lesson is per the Talmudic words: “No one can be trusted when it comes to matters of promiscuity.” If you hear something say something. I’ll finish with a heartfelt plea that we finally bring an end to this devastating scourge in our community and in society; and a heartfelt prayer that victims everywhere find healing, peace of mind and tranquillity of soul.
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Torah from Israel Beshalach: Outsourcing Kindness
BY RABBI MOSHE TARAGIN As the nation hastily quits Egypt, Moshe has other concerns on his plate. On this epic day of freedom Moshe is preoccupied with the bones of an ancient “grandfather”, whom he never met. Two hundred years earlier, upon his death, Yosef had pleaded that his body be re-interred in Israel and, of all people, Moshe felt duty-bound to satisfy this request. On that momentous day, millions of people were busily scurrying around Egypt, preparing for their desert journey, but Moshe remained focused on a person he had never met, who wasn’t even part of his direct lineage. This profile of Moshe’s integrity and dutifulness is a fitting introduction to his career as a leader. An old adage asserts: if you want something done, ask a busy person. Moshe personifies this truth. This portrait of Moshe, bursting with excitement and energy, is very different from his portrayal toward the end of the parsha. As the battle with Amalek rages in the valley below, a wearied Moshe struggles to keep his exhausted hands extended in prayer. His fatigued hands are being supported by his brother and his nephew. What has changed? What happened to his boundless energy? Why has Moshe become so weary? Some of this transformation has little to do with Moshe. At the outset of the journey from Egypt, Moshe was filled with rosy optimism about the future for his newly liberated nation. Watching the people traverse the sea, he joined them in celebration and in song to G-d. Sadly, after this highlight, the national mood begins to deteriorate. Severe desert conditions loom as the harsh reality of the wilderness sets in. Complaints, unrest and accusations swirl, as the nation struggles to find their balance and their faith. Four times they protest the lack of provisions, ridiculously longing for the “lavish” banquets they enjoyed in Egypt. Their ludicrous nostalgia, petty bickering and cowardly lack of faith all deflate Moshe’s
enthusiasm, jading his optimism. Dashed expectations always weary our spirit. Beyond dashed expectations, Moshe is less energetic because he is not as personally involved in the Aalek war as he was in the hauling of Yosef’s coffin. He could have easily delegated the burdensome commission of Yosef’s bones to a descendant of Yosef or to someone less busy than himself. He had much on his mind, as he was spearheading a national evacuation and commencing a desert voyage. Yet, despite his frenetic schedule, Moshe does not get lost in the “swirl” of this major undertaking. He doesn’t allow the larger mission to distract him from the individual needs of a deceased forefather. Sometimes we get caught up in the energy and excitement of the moment and we ignore individuals. We get swept up by the euphoria of crowds or the excitement of large-scale agendas, and we neglect individual human beings standing right alongside of us, who could benefit from some personal attention. Observing my Rebbe, HaRav Aharon Lichtenstein, at weddings, was an amazing and formative privilege for me. Even at an advanced age, he would dance with tremendous fervour and passion. He would dance until the final “bell” maximizing the joy of the chatan. During intermission, when he wasn’t dancing, he would lengthily chat with the elderly guests of the wedding. Often, elderly people get “lost” in the frenetic pace of a wedding. Watching my Rebbe not getting swept up in the electricity of the wedding, but paying attention to individuals, lessoned me never to ignore private individuals, or never to be distracted by larger crowds. When I read about Moshe I think about my Rebbe. Moshe’s labour of love didn’t conclude with his removing Yosef’s coffin from an Egyptian crypt. Again, refusing to delegate, he kept the bones “on his person”, personally managing their safety and transport. This personal overseeing is even more impressive given the fact that Moshe was often beckoned to the mishkan. It would be sensible to stow the
The easiest way to break an emotional rut is to perform a personal act of kindness or charity. It imbues us with meaning, nobility and selflessness. coffin far away, lest he become impure through contact with a Yosef’s dead body, thereby disqualifying himself from entering the mishkan. Despite the risk, Moshe remains personally involved in this extended project. Moshe refuses to outsource his act of kindness. Acts of kindness and compassion fill us with vision and energy. The easiest way to break an emotional rut is to perform a personal act of kindness or charity. It imbues us with meaning, nobility and selflessness. Moshe is no different, and as they depart Egypt, he is empowered by this quiet and unadorned act of kindness. By contrast, toward the end of the parsha, Moshe has become a delegator, dispatching Yehoshua to conduct war, while he ascends a mountain to pray. This division of labour is absolutely necessary. Unlike the supernatural war at the sea, the Amalek war-which is a battle for the divine presence in a world of evil- must be waged by humans. An 80-year old Moshe can hardly lead the charge. Moshe is an operator of miracles not a military strategist. That function falls to his disciple, Yehoshua. Through no fault of his own, Moshe has become a supervisor. When directly engaged in charity Moshe possesses unbounded energy. When he becomes severed from direct engagement, his hands become weary. Such is the
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nature of personal acts of kindness. They energize us and ennoble us. Our modern world has become massive and outsized. We live in ever larger settings- larger countries, larger cities and larger communities. Inevitably, we must create large-scale institutions and multi-million dollar organizations to administrate the distribution of welfare and of charity. The need for organizational philanthropy is even more true regarding the grand historical project of rebuilding and resettling our homeland of Israel. However, large-scale or “organizational charity” cannot replace one-on-one individual acts of kindness. Philanthropy cannot replace compassion. Cutting a check in support of an organization cannot replace quiet and gentle kindness. Moshe administrates three and a half million people. Yet he isn’t too busy to bestow kindness to Yosef. The best portion of a good man’s life is his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love… William Wordsworth 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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Lighting a Candle in the Dark BY RABBI BEREL WEIN If a person lights even a small candle in a dark room, the resultant light in a dark room is instantaneously recognizable. Even the flickering of the smallest candle shines brightly in an enclosed space that is dark. However, if one is to light even a large candle in a room filled with brilliant sunlight or an excess of artificial illumination, the light of that candle is hardly noticeable or recognizable. One can say the same idea regarding miracles. If one views a world full of ever-present miracles, then one, individual miracle, no matter how powerful and supernatural it may be, will, at best, cause only a minor and temporary impression. The very definition of miracles is that these are events that do not often occur, and are not predictable or subject to rational, scientific analysis. However, when there is a plethora of miraculous events, miracles themselves,
no matter how wondrous they may be, begin to lose their impact and power upon human beings. A miracle that happens regularly is no longer a miracle at all, but, rather, is part of what people view as being the natural course of events in the world. Miracles that are repeated often eventually become stale and regular and lose their miraculous status. Just witness today’s great wonders of nature, of medicine, of technology, and of all other fields that border on the miraculous. When the first rocket with a human inside was launched, it was considered miraculous. Today, it is a weekly event and nothing special for the spectator. The more an experience becomes regular and expected, the less any special quality is attached to it. When there is a multiplicity of miracles occurring all at the same time, like the candle lit in a room with floodlights, its brightness is hardly noticeable. The individual miracle has lost its power of influence and is
already discounted by human beings. All of this is a preference to understanding the Jewish people after they experienced the Ten Plagues that delivered them from Egypt, followed by the splitting of the sea that delivered them from the sword of the Pharaoh and his army, followed by the miraculous sweetening of the bitter waters in Marah, followed by the heavenly bread that was given to them for their sustenance. In that floodlit world of miracles, the flame of an individual miracle and its influence waned greatly. This helps us understand the behavior of the Jewish people throughout their forty-year sojourn in the desert of Sinai. Everything was so miraculous that nothing was a miracle any longer. Therefore, the evil instinct of rebellion, arrogance and carnal desires continued to surface over and over throughout the Torah. It is difficult to appreciate and focus upon a miracle that is ongoing, and is always accompanied by other wonders as well.
Beshalach
In our time, the rejuvenation of the Jewish people, the mass study of Torah, the creation and continued growth of the State of Israel in the Land of Israel, are all events that border upon the miraculous and supernatural. Yet they, too, are not treated in that manner, for the recognition of miracles is difficult for human beings to maintain and preserve. For forty years in the desert, the Lord attempted to protect the Jewish people through heavenly intervention, but the Jewish people did not understand or appreciate what was happening, and, therefore, they only complained. Our Rabbis teach “One who is experiencing a miracle does not recognize the miracle that is happening at that moment.” And so it is. Rabbi Berel Wein is Senior Rabbi of Beit Knesset HaNassi in Jerusalem and Director of the Destiny Foundation.
“Moshe stretched out his hand over the sea, and G-d moved the sea with a strong east wind all night, and He turned the sea to dry land and the water split” (Shemot: 14:21)
Sidra Summary cry out in prayer, and also ask Moshe why they left Egypt only to die in the desert. Moshe tells them not to fear; they will experience G-d’s salvation.
3RD ALIYA (SHLISHI) – 14:15-25
1ST ALIYA (KOHEN) – SHEMOT 13:17-14:8
After Pharaoh sends the Israelites out of Egypt, G-d does not lead them on a straight path through the land of the Pelishtim (Philistines) towards Cana’an (later Israel), but rather towards the Sea of Reeds. Moshe is carrying Yosef’s bones, as Yosef had requested before his death (see Bereishit 50:25). A pillar of cloud guides the Israelites by day, and a pillar of fire lights up their journey at night. G-d tells Moshe to turn back in the direction of Egypt. G-d hardens the heart of Pharaoh, who pursues the Israelites with his armed chariots.
2ND ALIYA (LEVI) – 14:9-14
The Egyptians catch up with the Israelites, who are encamped by the Sea. Seeing the approaching army, the people
Moshe raises his staff; an easterly wind blows and the Sea splits. The Israelites walk through the dry channel, the water providing a wall on either side of them. The Egyptians enter the Sea but struggle to move forward. Point to Consider: Why did G-d move the sea with a “strong easterly wind”? (14:21)
4TH ALIYA (REVI’I) – 14:26-15:26
Moshe raises his staff; the Sea closes on the Egyptians, drowning them. The Israelites see the drowned Egyptians on the seashore. Together with Moshe, they sing the Song at the Sea (Shirat HaYam) which celebrates G-d’s miraculous salvation. The nation travels on, experiencing three days in the desert without water. They come to a place called Marah, where the water is too bitter to drink. They complain to Moshe, who is shown a tree by G-d. Moshe throws the tree into the water, thus sweetening it.
5TH ALIYA (CHAMISHI) – 15:27-16:10
The Israelites arrive in the Sin Desert and complain to Moshe that they are hungry. G-d tells Moshe that he will send down a daily portion of ‘bread’ from the heavens. Moshe tells the people they will also get meat in the evening.
6TH ALIYA (SHISHI) – 16:11-36
The heavenly bread – called ‘man’ (manna) – falls between two layers of dew (Rashi). Each household gets a daily portion sufficient for its members. Moshe tells them not to leave any over until the next day. Some people ignore this warning; their manna becomes infested. A double portion falls on Friday. Moshe tells them to use the excess for Shabbat and not to go out to collect any manna on Shabbat. Again, some ignore this instruction. Moshe tells Aharon to preserve some manna in a container, as a
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reminder to future generations.
7TH ALIYA (SHEVI’I) – 17:1-16
The Israelites travel to Refidim, but again do not find water. G-d tells Moshe to strike a rock with his staff; water emerges from the rock. Amalek attacks the Israelites at Refidim. Yehoshua (Joshua) leads the battle against them, whilst Moshe, Aharon and Chur (Moshe’s nephew) ascend a nearby hill. Whenever Moshe raises his arms, Israel overcomes Amalek. Aharon and Chur support Moshe’s tired arms. Yehoshua is victorious.
HAFTARAH
Devorah was a prophetess and a judge. The haftarah, from the Book of Judges, includes the song that Devorah sang to celebrate the defeat of the evil Ca’ananite general, Sisera. This defeat was facilitated by the bravery of Yael, who attacked and killed Sisera with a tent-peg.
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Beshalach: Shabbat, a gift from Heaven BY GAVRIEL COHN One might think that discussing Shabbat is a subject for next week’s Torah portion, Parshat Yitro, when the Ten Commandments were given to the Jewish People: “The seventh day is a Sabbath to G-d; you shall perform no work… Because in six days G-d made the heaven and the earth… and He rested on the seventh day.” Yet the commandment of Shabbat also features in our current Torah portion too, Parshat Beshalach. Yet here Shabbat has nothing (explicitly) to do with G-d’s creation of the world and was not given to the People in an otherworldly Divine Revelation. Instead, in our sedra, no reason for Shabbat is given at all. The Jewish People are simply told not to venture out of their tents to collect the manna on Shabbat, that is all. Here, in contrast to the Divine Revelation of Parshat Yitro, Moshe instructed the People while standing amidst the bustling daily life of their national encampment. Upon G-d’s instruction, he simply gave them a series of rules for the seventh day. They would each be given a double-portion on Friday and that, on Saturday, everyone was to remain within their boundaries. Yet no explanation was provided, nor was the Six Days of Creation
invoked. Thus, perhaps this offers another, entirely different dimension of Shabbat, the ‘Shabbat of Parshat Beshalach,’ the social, human value of the seventh day of rest, instead of the Divine, theological one, focused upon later in the Ten Commandments. Rabbi Yehuda HaLevi expanded upon this social, this-worldly aspect of Shabbat in his philosophical work, the Kuzari, written “in defence of the despised faith.” He poignantly told of the benefits Shabbat had for the downtrodden Jews of his time: “Were it not for these holy days, the lowliness of our spirits due to the incessant exile would create a climate where not one of us would ever wear clean clothing, nor would we have an occasion for gathering together to recall our Torah. Were it not for these days, we would not have even one day of pleasure out of all our days. Now, however, one sixth of our days consists of physical and spiritual relaxation, which is of a quality that not even kings can attain. This is because they do not have peace of mind
during their days of respite; if they have to toil and travel on those days, they toil and travel. Their spirits are therefore not completely at rest.” (Sefer HaKuzari, 3:10; see also Guide for the Perplexed, 3:43). Indeed, many of the greatest Sages spoke of how the mitzvot can be purposeful and positive. For the newly emancipated Israelites roaming the desert in Biblical times, these rules of Shabbat were in fact heaven-sent, a way of creating a special, family-focused occasion, that otherwise may never had taken place due to the people’s pressures to collect much-needed sustenance in the desert (it was this very pressure for food in the desert that led to their strife and restlessness). For the poor, ridiculed medieval Jews discussed in the Kuzari above Shabbat allowed them respite, and to feel like nobleman, at least once a week. In our modern age too, the regulations of Shabbat allow us to rest and spend time with our loved ones. The dictates of Shabbat make us get dressed in smart suits and
For the newly emancipated Israelites roaming the desert in Biblical times, these rules of Shabbat were in fact heaven-sent, a way of creating a special, family-focused occasion…
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elegant dresses, to spread a white tablecloth over our tables, setting it with fine sliver cutlery, and to gather our families together and dine in an atmosphere of festivity. Without this day set aside, such may only transpire on those rarest of occasions. Shabbat certainly marks G-d’s Creation but, like the Jews of the desert, it also allows us to simply stay in our tents and enjoy the gifts rained down upon us from the heavens. Gav is an informal educator at Immanuel College, teaching Kodesh to Sixth Formers. Questions? gavcohn@gmail.com.
Beshalach RABBI DR RAYMOND APPLE
of historic significance.
ONLY ONE SHIRAH
THE WATERS STOOD UPRIGHT
The central feature of Beshalach is the Song of the Sea (Ex. 15), sung triumphantly by Moses, Miriam and the Children of Israel and now included in the daily morning prayers. The Song of the Sea is not the only song which Israel sang during the course of Biblical history. The record of great songs is preserved in the Mechilta. The Israelites sang in Egypt on the night they departed. They sang when a well of water sprang up in the wilderness. Moses sang a song of comfort before he died. Joshua sang when he won a great victory. Deborah and Barak sang when they vanquished Sisera. David sang when he was saved from his enemies. Solomon sang when the Temple was dedicated. King Yehoshafat sang when he went into battle. Despite all these songs, there was only one Shirah, which Hertz called “probably the oldest song of national triumph still extant”. People hum, sing and chant on countless occasions. Sometimes the occasions are days of communal celebration like the Seder. Sometimes they are the emotional outpourings of the soul, like Kol Nidrei. But there is a special quality to a song that a redeemed nation sings on a unique occasion
One of the more puzzling statements in the Song of the Sea is the assertion that when the Israelites crossed the Sea, the waters stood upright (Ex. 15:8). We can understand how this made two columns between which the people could cross on dry land. But the Tanya (Sha’ar HaYichud) wonders whether such a miraculous event is feasible and could recur. Clearly it was the work of G-d, but like all Biblical miracles it is hard to fit it into the physical universe. The Tanya compares it to all the Divine miracles. If this was a miracle, says the Tanya, “how much more so is the creation of something ex nihilo – out of nothing – which transcends Nature and is far more miraculous than the splitting of the Red Sea, so that with the withdrawal of the power of the Creator from the thing created, G-d forbid, it would revert to nothingness and total non-existence. Surely the activating force of the Creator must continuously be in the thing created”.
THE ROYAL EXAMPLE
The royal dignity seems to be at stake. How can the Torah say of the king of Egypt, “And he harnessed his chariot, and he took his people with him” (Ex. 14:6)? Kings don’t harness their own chariots. For such things they have servants.
Maybe Ibn Ezra is right that it is like the verse, “Solomon built the house and finished it” (I Kings 6:14). Others did the menial work but the king received the credit. The Midrashic sages however use a different approach. The Egyptians, they said, had had more than enough. The Israelites had been a source of trouble for so long and the Egyptian people had suffered so much because of them, even to the extent of losing their first-born sons in a plague imposed by the Israelite God, that they wanted nothing more to do with Israel. It went so far as to lead to a mutiny in the palace. Pharaoh told his servants to harness his chariot but they refused. Maybe he said, using Alice in Wonderland terms, “Off with their heads!” Maybe they eventually gave in and obeyed the royal master. The king was so determined to pursue the Israelites that he forced his servants’ hands and declared that he would harness his own chariot if he had to. Eventually the people as a whole relented and gave the king the support he wanted. There is another case in the sidra of a leader tasking personal steps to carry out a policy: Ex. 13:19, which says, “And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him”. The sages ask why the Children of Israel did not carry out this pious act on Moses’ behalf.
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Maybe the people were so concerned with getting out of Egypt and taking some assets with them that they had no time for spiritual duties. Another possibility is that the mitzvah of tending to Joseph’s remains was so important to Moses that he had to do it himself and didn’t even ask for help. Rabbi Raymond Apple was for many years Australia’s highest profile rabbi and the leading spokesman on Judaism. After serving congregations in London, Rabbi Apple was chief minister of the Great Synagogue, Sydney, for 32 years. He also held many public roles, particularly in the fields of chaplaincy, interfaith dialogue and Freemasonry, and is the recipient of several national and civic honours. Now retired, he lives in Jerusalem and blogs at http://www.oztorah.com
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The Power of Perception: Creating Your Reality BY RABBI SHMUEL REICHMAN When you look in the mirror, what do you see? Before judging whether or not you like what you see, first think about what you see. How do you see yourself? How do you identify yourself? Often, when we look at great people, we wonder, “were they always this way?”. When I was younger, I became fascinated by a simple question: How does a normal, regular person start to journey from “average” towards the extraordinary? How do we begin dreaming bigger and striving for a greater purpose in life? One of the most fundamental components, as simple as it sounds, is a single word: identity.
SELF-PERCEPTION
In our previous column, we discussed the power of perception. We all wear conceptual glasses that provide the lenses and paradigms through which we understand and experience the world around us. This includes our perception of Hashem, Torah, and mitzvos. However, there is an even more fundamental subject of our lenses and paradigms: our self; namely, the lens through which we perceive ourselves. Our identity is the way we perceive, define, and experience our “self.” So again, when you look in the mirror, what do you see? Who do you see? How do you think about yourself? Is the voice inside your head always giving you positive feedback and inspiring you to strive for your greatness? Or is there a negative voice that seems to always focus on what’s going wrong? The most important characteristic of our identity its growing and adaptive nature; it is not static or set. Many people struggle with the same problems and the same internal battles for most of their lives because they have created a static identity. They have come to believe that “this is simply who I am.” Yet, the moment we realize that our identity can be molded and developed, that we are never static, we can fuel our growth and begin the journey of self-transformation.
DISCOVERING OR CREATING YOUR IDENTITY?
Let’s assume we’re at the point that we want to create a more empowering identity and positive self-perception. How do we begin? The first step is realizing that we aren’t supposed to “create” our identity, we’re supposed to discover it. As the Gemara in Niddah 30b explains, we each have the ability to achieve our own unique greatness. When we were born into this world, we were given the ability, and responsibility, to discover our unique potential and purpose, and
work throughout our lives to achieve our greatness. Rather than trying to artificially create ourselves, we need to spend time getting to know ourselves, our unique talents, what we are drawn to in life, and begin molding and developing ourselves into our true form. We need to resist the tendency and temptation to look around and try to achieve greatness by copying other people. Role models are important, but instead of trying to imitate them, we should be inspired by them to discover the unique greatness that we can find and develop in ourselves. Michelangelo was once asked: “How is it that you create such wondrous sculptures and works of art? How can something so innovative and ingenious emanate from mere mortal hands?” Without skipping a beat, Michelangelo responded: “Before I even begin my work, the sculpture is already complete within the marble block. My job is simply to discover it, and then chisel away the superfluous material.” What if we realized that, much like Michelangelo’s sculptures, we too are already perfectly formed beneath the surface. Our job in life isn’t to take a slab of stone and change it into something beautiful; our job is to discover who we truly are, who we already are, and to then “chisel away the superfluous material”, expressing our inner self. Growth isn’t about becoming great, it’s about becoming you; learning isn’t about discovery, it’s about self-discovery. You are a masterpiece covered with stone; your job in this world is to uncover and express yourself, your true self.
MOVING OUTSIDE OURSELVES
The first and most fundamental requirement for developing a strong identity is self-awareness. To become and achieve the extraordinary, we first need to understand who we are – our values, how we think, what drives us, how we work, etc. Each of us is unique; we see the world differently, think differently, learn differently, and grow differently. To optimally grow and learn, you first need to understand how you grow and learn best. This requires self-awareness – taking the time to get in touch with who you are and how you work. The best way to begin developing your self-awareness is to look at yourself from an outside perspective – by moving outside of yourself, you can get a clearer sense of who you truly are. Sit down in a room by yourself and try to get outside of your internal perspective, outside of your own head; try to look at yourself objectively, from the outside. By default, we live inside ourselves: we think, feel, and experience all of life internally. However, many people are stuck in that perspective, trapped inside of themselves, unable to move outside and see how they’re really doing. Genuine growth begins with genuine self-awareness – the ability to clearly see who we are,
to honestly evaluate our strengths and weaknesses, and assess our progress and shortcomings. It’s where we sit down, move outside of ourselves, and begin asking important questions, such as: Who have I become and what have I accomplished with my life? Where are I going in life? What drives me and why do I do what I do? What am I talented or skilled at? What value can I offer the people around me and what can I contribute to the world? Once we can move outside ourselves and take an objective external view, we can analyze and redirect; we can see where are and where we need to go in order to achieve our goals. Just like a GPS tells us where we are, where we need to go, and how to get there, self-awareness does the same. Once we become aware of who we are, where we need to go, and how we need to get there, we can move back inside of ourselves and begin the journey.
GROWTH MINDSET
Being an eved Hashem needs to be our absolute core identity. We need to view ourselves as someone who devotes our entire life towards Hashem, connecting to a higher purpose and truth. However, there are also subcategories of our identity, such as being a talmid chacham, a professional, or an entrepreneur. We also have many roles within our relationships, such as being a husband or wife, a sibling, a friend, and so on. As an essential component – or subcategory – of our identity, we need to have a growth-mindset, the unstoppable and unquenchable desire to grow, learn, and expand. This is the fundamental difference between humans and animals. Animals are created finished and complete. Animals don’t develop their mind, will, or character; they are what they are. The moment a sheep is born, it begins to walk; when a horse leaves the womb, it begins to gallop. An animal begins life complete, and it never changes or evolves. Angels as well are created complete and perfect, with no room to grow or improve. Humans are unique; we grow, adapt, and evolve through a lifelong journey of growth and self-development. This is why Esav was born hairy. As Chazal note, the word “Esav” shares a root with the word Asuy, meaning complete. From the moment he was born, Esav corrupted the ideal purpose of man, claiming to be perfect and fully formed. The true form of man is a grower, where we live with a growth-mindset and strive to become great. There is a tendency and allure to saying “I’m perfect the way I am. I don’t need to change.” Not only does this mindset inhibit growth, but it also contradicts our entire purpose in life. As human beings, our entire mission and purpose is to become perfect. The desire to act as though we are already perfect does have an element of truth to it though: at our very root, in the spiritual
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world, we are already perfect (Niddah 30b). However, as the Vilna Gaon explains, we were born into this world to achieve and actualize that perfection, to become and earn what we already are at root.
THE NATURE OF A GROWTH-MINDSET
The most important component of a growth-mindset is the belief that we can learn and accomplish anything. Nothing is impossible and nothing is unreachable. With the right mindset, effort, persistence, and the help of Hashem, we can do anything we set our minds to. The moment we adopt a growth mindset, an adaptability mentality, we can embrace any new challenge Hashem sends our way, because we now live with the realization that we can meet any obstacle and solve any problem. Even once we’ve adopted a growth mindset, will there still be uncertainty, struggle, and failure along the way? Certainly! But with a growth and adaptability mindset, we can embrace the challenges and uncertainty of life, and ride the difficult waves that Hashem sends our way. That’s not to say this is easy. It’s not. Figuring it out can be grueling and tiresome. But that’s the greatness of being human: we are uniquely able to embrace struggle and push through, growing each step of the way. When we fall in love with growth, when we learn to appreciate the journey of self-development, we not only find the energy and willpower to pursue our dreams and greatness, but we actually fall in love with the process itself. Of course, it takes time and it’s difficult. But when we realize that we can learn anything and become anything, we stop focusing on the reasons we should give up and we start striving after our greatness; we begin asking ourselves not whether something is possible, but whether it’s necessary. I love teaching my clients how to develop a “not-yet” mindset. When one of my clients tells me that they have a limitation, I immediately qualify their statement with a “not-yet,” helping them see their limitation as a temporary challenge instead of a permanent problem. If they tell me their relationship isn’t working, I’ll quickly add, “it’s not working yet.” If they tell me their company isn’t succeeding, I’ll add, “it’s not succeeding yet.” This completely transforms the way we view our problems and struggles. It turns everything into a momentary situation, so instead of viewing our problems as fixed realities, it trains us to view them as fixable and solvable. The “not-yet” mindset is the foundation of our growth-mindset. If you enjoyed this article and want more, then visit my website (ShmuelReichman. com) and learn more about Self-Mastery Academy, my online course. Join our vibrant community of hundreds of people striving to become their greatest selves.
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Beshalach
Beshalach Word Search
Moshe Rabbeinu finally leads the Jewish people out of Egypt! But a few days later, Pharaoh thinks it would be clever to chase after the Jews, and force them back to being slaves. He takes a large army, and runs after the Jews, who are approaching a sea – Yam Suf. As he gets nearer the Yidden realise they must daven to Hashem, and Hashem says – time to move forward! The sea splits, leaving dry land for them to walk through, completely calmly. The Egyptians decide to chase after the Jewish people, and the waters came onto the Egyptians, drowning them and their chariots. The Jews then travel further to Marah, guided by a cloud during the day and a pillar of fire by night. They are now beginning their journey in a desert, but they completely trust Hashem. When they ask for food, Hashem sends them a special food called Manna which had fabulous tastes! At the end of the Sidra, Amalek comes to fight with the Jews. Moshe goes up to Daven, ably supported by his devoted Yehoshua and, with hearfelt connection to Hashem, the Jews were able to succeed in winning the war. Hashem tells us not to forget what Amalek did. And so, each year, we recall the bad deeds of Amalek and his great (great….though not great) grandchild Haman. Can you remember when we do this?
Tangram Challenge!
Using all the shapes on the left can you make the horse and rider shape on the right?
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BONES • CLOUDS • COMPLAIN • FIRE • MANNA • PILLAR • REEDS • SPLIT
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“H
appy Birthday!” shouted everyone as Rivki entered the lounge. It was Sunday and Ima had set out a lovely birthday tea of scones with cream and jam, smoked salmon sandwiches, chocolate biscuits and lemonade in honour of Rivki’s birthday. In the middle of the table was a delicious-looking, rainbow-themed birthday cake. Everyone sang happy birthday and tucked into the scrumptious food. “Thank you Ima,” said Rivki. “This is the best day ever!” “And don’t forget your presents,” said Abba, coming into the room carrying a large pile of cards and presents. “Wow!” exclaimed Rivki. She straight away got started opening all the presents as quickly as she could. There was a brand new scooter from Abba and Ima; a lovely silver bracelet from her grandparents; a furry notepad with stickers from her siblings and last of all, a new dolly from her great-aunt Lily who lived in Australia. “This is amazing,” shouted Rivki in delight. “These are the best presents ever!” Rivki was excitedly admiring the dolly, when she noticed Abba and Ima looking at each other seriously. “What’s wrong?” she said. “Come and sit with me,” said Ima, patting the couch next to her. “I’m so sorry, honey. I know you like this new dolly, but I’m afraid
Birthday Dolly
we can’t keep it.” “But why not? It’s my favourite dolly!” Rivki stamped her foot. “Rivki, I know this is hard to understand,” said Ima, pulling Rivki into a big hug. “It is a lovely dolly. It is just the dress she is wearing. Do you think that’s a nice dress for a Bas Yisroel to wear? It doesn’t look very tznius, does it?” “Can’t we just make her a new dress?”
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“That’s a very clever idea, but there is something else though. I know this doll looks so nice on the outside, but unfortunately there is a sad story behind this dolly. “What do you mean?” “Well this dolly was made by a company that many years ago employed Jewish people as slaves in Germany.” “Really??” asked Hadassa. “That’s
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KIDS 39
terrible!” “Yes, it is really sad, but it is important that we are aware of these things,” Ima said, turning back to Rivki. “Would you want to use a dolly from a company that took part in the terrible treatment of Jewish people like us?” Rivki shook her head sadly. She gave the brand new dolly one last hug and reluctantly passed it to Ima. “You’re such a good girl,” said Abba, ruffling her hair. “Why don’t we give it to a charity so that another child who can’t afford a dolly can use it.” “I’m still sad, I want a dolly for my birthday,” sniffled Rivki, burying her head into Ima’s lap. “We are so proud of you Rivki. Shall we get you a new doll to replace this one?,”asked Abba. “If you want, you can even come with us to choose it in the toy shop.” Rivki perked up, “I can choose whatever I want?” “As long as it’s appropriate then yes, of course you can,” smiled Abba. “Thank you so much,” Rivki said, feeling much better. “Three cheers for Rivki!” shouted Chaim, as everyone crowded round Rivki to give her hugs and praise for doing the right thing even though it was hard.
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Beshalach
In a nutshell We are finally free! Pharaoh practically begs us to get up and go and, at the crack of dawn (and a teenage yawn) we leave. There were shorter routes that Hashem could have led us through but there was a risk that if difficulties would arise, we would promptly return to Egypt. As Yosef had requested that his body be brought up from Egypt and buried in Eretz Yisroel, Moshe Rabbeinu himself got hold of the coffin and took it out with him. He cherished Mitzvos so didn’t leave it to anyone else. A cloud showed the way by day, and a pillar of fire led the Jews by night Anyway, guess what? A few days after they leave Pharaoh once again thinks it wise to chase the Jews. So, he gathered an army – a large and powerful militia complete with horses etc and they travel after the Jewish people who get the fright of their lives especially when they realise that the only place to run is straight into the Yam Suf. The Yam Suf isn’t a charming lake either, it is much larger than that.
And so they complain to Moshe and he prays to Hashem. Hashem tells him – don’t cry out. Now is the time for action. Travel forward! Only one gentleman takes the plunge and his name was Nachshon son of Aminadav. The water reaches his neck and splits, carving a beautiful and comfortable path (or 12 paths, one for each tribe) for the Jews to cross. Walls of water (and other goodies) are standing straight as the Jews walk through the area, on the night of the 7th day of Pesach. Guess what? Pharaoh and his men think it wise to chase after the Jews further – notwithstanding the fact that a most unusual miracle has just occurred – and the waters come crashing down, completely drowning the tremendous army Pharaoh had brought with him. Finally, the Jews are free of their enemies. They sing a song “Az Yashir”. Moshe sings for the men and Miriam for the women. They then travel towards a place called Marah, socalled due to their inability to taste the water there
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.
due to its bitterness. Hashem tells Moshe how to sweeten it. Then their journey food supplies had finally been depleted so the Jews beg Moshe for food. And so begins the miracle of Manna. For forty years, Hashem graciously granted us a supernatural food, with a wondrous variety of tastes, landing promptly each morning, at a distance from the tents depending on how righteous its occupants were. “Don’t leave it overnight”, the Jews are told, as it will come fresh every morning – besides for Shabbat, when a double portion would arrive on Friday (hence our Lechem Mishneh on Shabbat). Guess what? There were two Jews who thought they knew better and left their food outside and their food was eaten by birds. Finally, Amalek, the old enemy of the Jewish people, comes to fight the Jews and, following their heartfelt prayers, a victory is brought about through Moshe and Yehoshua. Hashem never allowed us to forget the brazenness and cruelty of Amalek and to this day, Amalek is seen as the epitome of evil on the planet.
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Last week’s words: Here are some words you may have found from last week - you may have found more! dug gad gal guy lag
lug rag rug agar alga
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gull raga ugly algal gaudy
guard gully gladly gradual gradually
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Azurri knockLions out HMH Sixteen-goal in stunning cup win rout Scrabble in Cup BY DAVID SAFFER
NWL Azzurri enjoyed a sensational 4-3 winDAVID against top flight HMH in the second BY SAFFER round of the Cyril Anekstein Cup at the Hive. Mogilner scored six goals as Maccabi Reiss Zak Jackson home two spot kicks London Lions slotted thumped Scrabble A in the for the Division side Anekstein to knock out the second round of One the Cyril Cup. Premier League outfit side in a famous victory. The Premier League racked up a 16-0 Aaron Gale and Green Solly Bradley also hit the win with Daniel and Michael Kenley targetbagging in a seven-goal thriller. both a hat-trick. Ed Brafman, DaMossand scored a hat-trick HMH vidAlex Dinkin, Adam Hassanalifor completwho possession ed thedominated rout in a mismatch of abut tie. missed a number of chances including a penalty. Lions could have scored in the opening Hapoel eased to opened a 4-0 victominute ofHampstead the clash but soon the ry against inhalf the time. other tie of the scoring andScrabble led 9-0 by tournament. The Division One team, though outIn another Division Two classed, battledcup awayshock, to the end. Boca Chillers edged Brook Farm Lions boss was lostpast for words at fullRovtime ers 3-2 in the thedisplay sole Peter such was fromMorrison his team Cup who round two respect tie. gave every to the opposition. Josh Burchhardt, Harrison Baum and “I’m not really sure there’s anything to Jack we Davis DivisiontoOne say, arescored happy against to makethe it through the teamround to send Boca into next round. next of the cup, ” hethe commented. A host of cup ties take invictors both Hendon United Sports ranplace out 3-1 competitions Sunday. Hendon and against Leagueon One outfit North London HMH will both look to advance in the PeRaiders. terTh Morrison Real e PremierCup sideagainst led early in Madreidel the second and only FC East Londonto Bees respectively. half for Raiders equalise but struck Away thetocup action Maccabi Lontwo latefrom goals book a place in round don FC came out on top of a hard-fought three of the competition. relegation Premier clash against Hendon now turnDivision their attentions to the Faithfold by 1-0toatOakwood Rowley Lane. league as White they travel A for a The win Maccabi points crucial topsaw of the table move clash four on Sunday clear of Faithfold who battled throughout (10am). the match. Daniel Kristall’s team stunned the league The second half of the Premier leaders last month when they wonseason 2-0, a is set towould be fiercely with just six victory movecontested them to within a point points separating thirdinplace of Hendon with a match hand.Oakwood and Faithfoldinatthe thelatest foot of the table. Elsewhere round of fixtures, The O’s clash with Galaxy leaguemade leaders 10-man North London it a Hendon was Oakwood three-way titlepostponed. race in the only Divisionface One Maccabi onday Sunday in what should be an clash of the after defeating Oakwood B. intriguing match. Jamie Murray saw red early on but Galaxy Division One from league Stoke rallied with goals Joshleaders Cohen and JaSalmon claimed a tenth league win the cob Leigh to record an important 2-1ofaway season in a 5-2 away triumph at Temple win. Fortune. Galaxy head Redbridge Jewish Care A in Nick Barnett, Smaje, Winton, the table by just Jamie one point afterJack 10 matches, Alex Bleetman and Olly Goodman scored. third place Fairlop FC are five points beStoke have two points this hind with twodropped games injust hand. season and remain Jamie WeinRafi Bloom scoredunbeaten. for Oakwood. er’s pointsperformance clear of Borussia “Itside wasarea four fantastic in a Jewdinese. Conor Brand and Alex Grey
16-goal Maccabi London Lions
PHOTO: DAVID SAFFER
must-win game,” commented Galaxy player-manager Luke Lewis. “We sat back and allowed Oakwood the Maccabi and Faithfold battle for possession ball, given the one-man advantage and looked to hit them on the counter attack with pace. “Both goals came down the right-hand side. Leigh crossed the first one into Cohen to finish, before slotting home himself. Up to first we go.” The Division Two title race also took a twist with league leaders Herstwood Vale going down to a 2-1 defeat at Temple Fortune. Faithfold B have played a game more than Vale but moved level with a 5-3 win at North London Raiders Masters. Jacob Kalms struck twice for Fortune who scored through leading scorer James Milletwith his 17th goal of the season. The result was all the more remarkable Faithfold go close to scoring as Temple were down to 11 players with scored for ‘keeper BenFortune. Rebuck dislocating a shoulder in Borussia the warmalso up. won 5-2 as they defeated Redbridge Care Purple “This wasJewish a fantastic win away givenfrom the home.
“It was a proper old school performance, we battled and defended for the 90 minutes and took our chances. Experience proved to be the winner.” PHOTO: DAVID SAFFER
Heads up in the clash between Maccabi and Faithfold
circumstances,” said delighted Fortune boss Simon Linden. “We had a number of players out, Rebuck got injured, so I couldn’t have asked any more from the players. We wish Ben a speedy recovery. “It was a proper old school performance, we battled and defended for the 90 minutes and took our chances. Experience proved to be the winner. It’s a big win, PHOTO: oneDAVID weSAFFER will enjoy and we hope to build on it in 2019.” Sharpshooter struck He added, “ThisZack win Collins marks 50 yearsfour as a goals, Mitch Gerber theKyte target. football club and will bealso onehit Nigel and Ryan Cole and Benwith Oldstein scored for everyone associated the club from day the Essex side.
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PHOTO: DAVID SAFFER
Mill Dons one willHill enjoy. ” moved into third place with 6-1 win against midtable HampValea boss Jacob Emanuel was quick to steadRebuck Ducks.well following his injury. wish Strawand Hat most Pirates’ clash with everyone FC London “First importantly, at Beeswould was postponed. Vale like to wish the Fortune ‘keeper In Division Two, cut a quick recovery, weLondon hope to Athletico see him back thethe deficit at the topaswith a as 6-1possible, triumph at on football pitch soon ” he Millbrook Park Calcio. said. Zacki Doumou fourcommented, goals. Max As for the defeat,scored Emanuel Walker andmatter Jess Phillips alsoa scored “It doesn’t how big squad in youa resounding win. have, you can never account for unavailAthletico, whose ability or injury. Onlymatch five of versus today’s Redteam bridge in Jewish Care White was postponed, played our recent win over FC Team, a trail of league leaders Geez by lack togetherness and Park poorRangers individual six points.
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