Gallant warns Hezbollah as HRW confirm Hamas war crimes
BY DAVID SAFFER
Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has issued a stark warning to Hezbollah that Israel Defence Forces can begin strategic operations “in an instant” in Lebanon.
Gallant said there could be a ground invasion if the Iran-backed terror group continues to fire into Israel.
The United Nations has warned of a “catastrophe beyond imagination” if an escalation occurs.
“We
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reportedly said during a northern border operational visit. “It will be quick, surprising and decisive. Soon we will reach a crossroads, whether we can return our residents through an agreement or do so through a military-operational process. Before choosing the interchange and the route, we must choose the right course. Once on it, we need to move quickly.”
The IDF confirmed Israeli jets targeted strategic Hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon last night.
Continued on page 4
Defence Minister Gallant warns Hezbollah PHOTO: GPO
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Dayan will deliver an in-depth analysis of the failures in deterring terror and the operational deficiencies on October 7. He will speak about the ongoing dynamics of the current war, with a particular focus on the threats posed to Israel by Hezbollah and other terror organisations led by Iran.
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A spokesman stressed troops do not target civilians but strike Hezbollah terrorists and infrastructure in the region.
Whilst hostilities grow in the north, the IDF continues its war against Hamas. Over nine months have passed since Hamas’ 10/7 terror attack and the group has been castigated in an NGO Human Rights Watch report detailing how Hamas committed hundreds of war crimes that fateful day.
The report rejected Hamas claims the massacre did not target civilians, stating: ‘The intentional killing and hostage-taking of civilians was planned and highly coordinated.’
It continued: ‘The widespread attack was directed against a civilian population. Killing civilians and taking hostages were central aims of the planned attack, not an afterthought, a plan gone awry, or isolated acts. Human Rights Watch concluded
that the planned murder of civilians and the hostage-taking were crimes against humanity.’
The report added: ‘Palestinian fighters fired directly at civilians, often at close range, as they tried to flee, and at people driving through the area. The attackers hurled grenades, shot into shelters, and fired rocket-propelled grenades at homes. They set houses on fire, burning and choking people, and forcing out others whom they shot or captured. They took dozens hostage and summarily killed others.’
HRW confirmed the participation of four other Palestinian armed groups. It also found evidence of sexual and gender-based
violence by fighters.
Bicom noted the report ‘permanently discredits’ attempts by anti-Israeli activists to deny the facts of October 7. ‘It is a thorough and conclusive analysis by an organisation not usually predisposed to favour Israel,’ they said a statement.
The report called on states with influence over Hamas to demand the immediate release of all hostages.
Between October 2023 and June 2024, HRW interviewed 144 people including 94 Israeli and other nationals who witnessed the 10/7 assault, victims’ family members, first responders and medical experts.
Researchers analysed over 280 photographs and
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videos during the assault posted on social media or shared with Human Rights Watch.
In related news, Shin Bet and Israel Police’s Lahav 433 have arrested three Israelis, including a Beit Shemesh Chassid, for allegedly carrying out security-related activities against Israel.
A gag order was lifted this week. E.S., 21, among various tasks, started fires in a forest and sent threatening messages for financial remuneration but refused to carry out murder.
The Jerusalem District Attorney’s Office charged S. with contact with a foreign agent. The recruited Israelis by S. were interrogated and released from custody pending a decision.
“The use of the method of contacting Israeli citizens through social networks under a false identity is a well-known method of operation of the Iranian intelligence agencies,” Shin Bet said in a statement.
Holocaust Memorial Bill in King’s speech
The Board of Deputies has welcomed the inclusion of the Holocaust Memorial Bill in the Government’s legislative agenda outlined in the King’s Speech yesterday.
The Memorial and Learning Centre has been a longstanding policy for the Board. It was detailed in its recent 2024 Jewish Manifesto in the build up to the general election.
The Government’s priorities in promoting safety, security and tackling terrorism is ‘crucially’ important, noted the Board.
They welcomed the Government’s commitment to securing long term peace and security in the Middle East, including a two-state solution with a secure Israel alongside a viable Palestinian state.
These are key Board policy positions. As with all legislation, the Board will scrutinise the Government’s plans.
Other policy issues covered in the manifesto were acknowledged in the King’s Speech including proposals to support mental health services, banning conversion therapy, equal pay and tackling violence against women and girls. The Board noted, however, that there will be anxiety in certain
communities, particularly the Charedi community, around VAT on private education. “This is particularly true given the maintenance of the twochild cap, which disproportionately impacts larger families,” noted the Board in a statement. BoD President Phil Rosenberg commented: “We look forward to working with the Government on a number of issues of particular importance to the Jewish community which were outlined as part of the King’s Speech and the accompanying legislative agenda. We will always seek to provide the Government of the day with advice, guidance, praise or constructive criticism, with regards to the general feelings of British Jews on relevant legislation; today provides an encouraging start to build on.”
King Charles in the monumental procession PHOTO: GOV.UK
Ruins from a home in Be’eri soon after October 7th
Lammy visits Yad Vashem
BY DAVID SAFFER
Foreign Secretary David Lammy has spoken of his hopes for a hostage deal during his first visit to Israel since Labour triumphed in the general election earlier this month.
During meetings with President Issac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Israel Katz, Lammy reiterated his call for the release of all hostages held in Gaza and a binding ceasefire.
Herzog officially welcomed Lammy before a meeting with the family of Tamir Adar from Kibbutz Oz who was murdered by Hamas and whose body was being held by the terrorists in Gaza.
“I hope that we see a hostage deal emerge in the coming days, I am using all diplomatic efforts,” Lammy said. “I hope too, that we see a ceasefire soon and we bring an alleviation to the suffering and the intolerable loss of life that we’re now seeing also in Gaza. It’s in that spirit that I return as Foreign Secretary, hoping to bring, and for the UK to do all it can to bring, peace and stability to this region.”
Herzog noted: “The fact that you won in such a landslide enables the United Kingdom to move forward in a very dramatic way, and be involved in new frontiers and new horizons.” He added: “We are at war with an empire of evil that wants
to undermine the stability of the world and is rushing to the bomb, undermining international trade, blocking trade routes which were laid down hundreds of years ago, actually, by the British Empire as part of the world order. And of course, trying to surround Israel by its proxies from all over. That is why there is no more just war. We are a nation seeking peace. I believe that we must find peace with our neighbours. I know Britain sees it as a very important point.”
Addressing the hostages, Herzog noted: “We are working tirelessly to get them out. The underlying interest is to bring our hostages back home. I know that your government is working to get our hostages back home.”
Katz said he discussed with Lammy the Gaza war, regional issues and the Iranian threat.
He added: “I told him that actions like the elimination of Mohammed Deif and continued military pressure on Hamas, along with a clear message from the UK and the world that any ceasefire is conditional on the release of all hostages, are the only ways to bring them home. We will continue to work together to strengthen the friendship between the UK and Israel.”
Lammy visited Yad Vashem with its Chairman Dani Dayan, UK Ambassador to Israel Simon Walters and UK
Ambassador Tzipi Hotovely on Monday.
The visit featured a tour of the Flashes of Memory: Photography during Holocaust exhibition, the Book of Names and a memorial ceremony in the Hall of Remembrance where Lammy lit the eternal flame and laid a commemorative wreath before signing the Yad Vashem Guest Book.
Noting his constituency, Stamford Hill, as one of the “historic homes” of the Jewish community in London, Lammy said, “We honour all that were murdered and we remember the evils of genocide in that period period of history.”
also in London.”
Lammy also met the Palestinian leadership in Ramallah.
JNF UK is looking for young pioneers with an interest in self-development and learning more about contemporary Israel to enrol on the next
Dayan responded: “A lesson of the Holocaust is the imperative to combat and defeat with all the strength the prevalent calls for the annihilation and elimination of the Jewish state that we hear in the halls of power in Tehran, Columbia University classrooms and unfortunately
Bicom noted, that contrary to reports, that Labour will maintain the UK’s objection to the International Criminal Court prosecutor’s application for arrest warrants for Israeli officials including Netanyahu.
Foreign Secretary Lammy at Yad Vashem PHOTO: GPO
Biden makes it “harder” for Israel to defeat Hamas
BY DAVID SAFFER
The Republican Party’s vice presidential candidate JD Vance has criticised President Joe Biden for “making it harder and harder” for Israel to defeat Hamas.
The Ohio Senator, speaking at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on Monday, said policies were prolonging the war and preventing an Israeli-Saudi accord.
Vance called for Israel to end the war in Gaza “as quickly as possible” to enable
the “Israelis and the Sunni Arab states” to form a united front against Iran.
Former US president Donald Trump, who survived an assassination attempt 48 hours earlier, named Vance as his running mate and will accept the party’s presidential nomination tonight.
Labour ministers, meantime, have rejected comments attributed to Vance that the UK is an ‘Islamist’ country.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner told ITV: “I don’t recognise that characterisation, I think he said quite a lot of fruity things in the past as well.”
An intensive investigation into how sharpshooter Thomas Matthew Cooks, of Pennsylvania, shot dead by secret service agents less than 150 meters away on a roof at AGR International Inc at the Butler Farm Show grounds where a rally took place, breached security.
Corey Comperatore was killed in the shooting, two people have serious injuries.
Trump, with blood on his face, was rushed by agents from the stage to
safety. An image of him raising a fist as a symbol of resilience with an American flag in the background has become an iconic image.
After receiving medical attention, Trump thanked G-d for preventing the “unthinkable from happening” and has called for unity.
Biden, despite his differences with Trump, condemned the targeting a political leader.
“The political rhetoric in this country has gotten heated, it’s time to cool it down,” he said in an address to the nation on Sunday. “In America, we resolve our differences at the ballot box, not with bullets.”
Biden added: “There is no place in America for this kind of violence, for any violence. Ever. Period. No exception. We can’t allow this violence to be normalised.”
World leaders including Barack Obama spoke out against the shooting.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attack affected all democracies.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer noted that political violence in any form had no place in societies.
This was the first attempted assassination of a president or presidential candidate since George W Bush in 2005. US campaigns witnessed the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy in California
in 1968, George Wallace suffered serious injuries in 1972, Jesse Jackson in 1988 and Obama in 2008 endured threats to life. All followed the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963.
Netanyahu expressed shock at his weekly cabinet meeting while ministers condemned death threats to Netanyahu, his family and other politicians.
Energy Minister Eli Cohen said: “The attempted assassination (of Trump) is a warning sign for those who incite against Prime Minister Netanyahu and those who remain silent about it.”
Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara is bolstering security but Justice Minister Yariv Levin criticised Baharav, noting: “It’s a miracle what happened in the US hasn’t happened here yet. I’ve had long conversations with the attorney general, repeatedly warning for months that such an event could occur here. It’s only a matter of time.”
Levin called on Baharav to take immediate action against those who incite murder and those who commit violence.
“The response we received was silence, which could be interpreted as consent that such things are permitted and acceptable,” he said.
National Security Minister Itamar BenGvir stated, “It’s time to hold hearings for those who prevent indictments, block enforcement and allow incitement.“
Former US President standing strong PHOTO: AP PHOTO /GENE J. PUSKAR
Herzog inaugurates Yad Vashem campus
BY ADAM MOSES
President Isaac Herzog has inaugurated the Moshal Shoah Legacy Campus and David & Fela Shapell Family Collections Center at Yad Vashem.
The five storey state-of-the-art structure houses a vast collection of Holocaust-related artefacts, documentation, photography, artwork and testimonies for future generations.
The launch took place at Yad Vashem’s Jerusalem Theatre with the world famous Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, featuring Violins for Hope, accompanied by the Neve Shir Choir and Cantor Simon Cohen. IDF Reservist and violinist Mordechai Shenvald, a grandson of Holocaust survivors and injured during the 10/7 terror attack, played the theme song from Steven Spielberg’s film, ‘Schindler’s List’ on a violin from Yad Vashem’s artifact collection which belonged to Motale Shlain, a Jewish 14-year-old partisan killed by the Nazis.
President Isaac Herzog, Yad Vashem Chairman Dani Dayan, Yad Vashem Council Chairman Rabbi Israel Meir Lau, Martin and Ilana Moshal and Irvin Shapell spoke about the groundbreaking project.
Dayan noted: “The few remaining items are invaluable, each a precious link to our past. Even after eighty years, the events
of the Holocaust remain beyond our full comprehension. We believe that personal stories and belongings allow us to weave fragments of the tapestry of remembrance, six-million puzzle pieces and offer a glimpse into the lives of the Jewish people and communities of Europe and North Africa.”
He added: “The national treasures to be housed here are deeply meaningful to us, both as Jews and as human beings. They bear silent witness to our people’s experience during the Holocaust. To me, the collections housed here represent the crown jewels of the Jewish people, they are our very DNA. These artefacts will stand as a testament to our history, resilience, and culture for generations to come.”
Herzog stated: “Many of these items have been entrusted to Yad Vashem over the years with the purpose of giving voice and identity to the victims. Each item carries a story, a story of life, hope, and pain. These items connect us to the past and remind us of our responsibility to remember and to remind. Each one of them is a pillar of memory that cannot be toppled, a message that the past sends to the present and future.”
He added: “It is our duty to keep this memory alive, to give it the proper honour to preserve and share it for future generations. Thanks to all those
who led this amazing project, we remember those who lost their lives, those who fought, and those who survived and witnessed the importance of memory. Together, we will continue to shed light on the truth and preserve the memory, for those who were, for those who will be, and for all of humanity. As Yad Vashem embarks on this new chapter, these world-class facilities stand as beacons of remembrance, education, and hope, ensuring that the lessons of the Holocaust continue to resonate and inspire future generations.
The campus is located on Yad Vashem’s Mount of Remembrance. The David & Fela Shapell Family Collections Center includes Holocaust-related objects. Five advanced laboratories for paper, photographic artefacts, textiles and art preserve collections. On site are approaching 228 million pages of documentation, 40,000 artefacts, 14,000 works of art, 540,000 archival photographs and films together with tens of thousands of survivor testimonies.”
Just some of the artefacts found
PHOTO: GPO
Bibi meets Chabad emissaries
BY HARRY SIMONS
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Chabad emissaries from Israel and around the world to mark the 30th yahrzeit of the Lubavitcher Rebbe in Jerusalem last week.
Rabbi Avi Weinstein, Chabad on Campus chief operating officer, Rabbi Moshe Shilat, Chabad on Campus Israel and Harvard University Chabad Emissary Rabbi Hirschy Zarchi participated.
The meeting was among thousands of global events including prayers, lectures, tributes and good deeds in the Rebbe’s memory.
Around 50,000 people visited the Rebbe’s resting place in Queens, NY. Netanyahu recalled first meeting the Rebbe at Simchat Torah, 42 years ago when he told him to love Israel, defend the Land of Israel and fight the lies. The Rebbe also told Netanyahu that G-d would redeem Israel when enemies tried to destroy them so long as Israelis helped G-d.
“We have to take our own active action against our would-be destroyers,” Netanyahu told emissaries. “We’re fighting back in Gaza, Lebanon and other parts of the Middle East. But we also have to fight the battle for public opinion, for justice and for our own solidarity with our beleaguered people. We can win this war. But we also have to win the war in the world. The quicker we end this war, the quicker we’ll be able to fend off the slanders.”
Netanyahu told the emissaries not to surrender to antisemitic lies.
“You are our ambassadors in the spirit of the Rebbe,” he said. “This is what the Rebbe told me. ‘You are going to be the ambassadors of the Jewish people in the Hall of Darkness,’ as he called the UN. Light a candle of truth. Stand up against our enemies, for our people and for our land. It’s the same message. It’s just become even more necessary, acute and indispensable than at any time in your lifetimes. Carry that message to our people. Carry that message of truth to the world.”
CAA slam Palestine conference
BY HARRY SIMONS
Campaign Against Antisemitism has condemned an East London Educators Conference on Palestine earlier this month.
The ‘How to talk about Palestine in our schools’ event in Newham, East London was hosted by Newham, Tower Hamlets and Redbridge National Education Union in association with the local branches of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.
According to an online flyer the conference included ‘workshops on antisemitism and anti-Zionism’.
Approximately 40 people attended the event for parents, carers, youth-workers and general public. Attendees split into workshops for specific topics.
A CAA spokesperson said: “It appears that this so-called workshop was rife with antisemitism. This conference had it all, from comparisons of Israel to Nazi Germany, to allegations that the Jewish State was somehow complicit in the murder of its own people on 7th October, to characterising Israel as a ‘racist endeavour’, to describing Zionism as a virus, to the wild claim that Israel ‘wanted the Holocaust to happen’.
“What makes the whole thing even more appalling, is that it was organised by the National Education Union ‘in association with’ members of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. Both organisations
have a long history of causing distress to the Jewish community. The only silver lining of this conspiracy-fuelled event is that it was so very poorly attended.”
A CAA investigation in 2017 exposed extensive antisemitic bigotry amongst PSC supporters on social media. The General Secretary of the NEU has a controversial record regarding antisemitism.
CAA have also condemned former Conservative MP and Minister, Sir Alan Duncan, who reportedly suggested on-air House of Lords members were working at the behest of the Israeli state.
CAA noted this was not the first time Duncan had made such an assertion and submitted a complaint to the Party to expel him as a member. A Tory spokesperson confirmed an independent panel had dismissed the complaint. A spokesman said: “At a time when antisemitism is at an all-time-high, invoking conspiracy theories and tropes about dual loyalty only inflames the situation for British Jews. Political parties are responsible for holding their representatives to account. The Conservative Party has failed to do this and would do well to remind itself of the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s ruling with regard to Labour under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.”
PHOTO: GPO
IDF draft orders
BY HARRY SIMONS
Israel Defence Forces are set to distribute draft orders to thousands of Chareidim on Sunday.
But it has resulted in a political storm. Hundreds of Chareidim have taken part in protests to the draft orders near Bnai Brak. More demonstrations are expected in the coming days.
Yuli Edelstein chaired an emergency Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee meeting yesterday.
Edelstein expressed anger that the IDF are unable to confirm a clear plan over exact numbers and mechanism for selecting recruits.
Edelstein, who has questioned the legal standing of the orders, warned of “absolute chaos” in the Chareidi community.
“Even one day in the military is destruction, we are fighting G-d’s war,” said Rabbi Meir Zvi Bergman, of the Council of Sages for the United Torah Judaism Party.
On Tuesday, the Movement for Quality Government in Israel and Magen Forum appealed to the Supreme Court for the Defence Ministry and IDF to draft 63,000 yeshiva students eligible for conscription under Israel’s Security Service Law.
Charedi leaders are fighting the draft into the IDF.
A number of rabbinical leaders have instructed yeshiva students not to serve in the IDF even if they are not full-time. Outgoing Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef warned he would take his students out of the country to avoid the draft.
Ultra-Orthodox exemption has threatened Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition.
It has been reported though that Netanyahu has reached agreements with ultra-Orthodox parties on the Draft Bill. Netanyahu claims he will have a majority for any legislation, despite opposition from Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.
Edelstein, earlier this week, criticised Netanyahu, stating: “There is only one place where the conscription law is discussed, and that is in the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee. We will start working on the wording of the clauses on Wednesday, everyone is invited, all citizens and the prime minister.”
Bibi reaffirms hostage commitment
BY ADAM MOSES
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed his commitment to the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza at an IDF Officers graduation ceremony.
Netanyahu said their return was a sacred mission and moral obligation.
“As of now, we have returned 135 hostages thanks to a combination of military and diplomatic pressure, and standing steadfast on our principles,” he said. “One hundred and twenty of our brothers and sisters are being held hostage by Hamas, they are constantly before our eyes. We have a moral obligation to bring them all back to Israel, the living and the deceased. This is a sacred mission. Only clarity and determination will lead to the release of our hostages and achieving of the rest of our war objectives.”
Regarding a ceasefire, he noted: “I am committed to the outline for the release of our hostages; however, the Hamas murderers are continuing to cling to demands that endanger the security of Israel. As Prime Minister and out of national responsibility, I am unwilling to agree to these demands.”
Netanyahu overviewed four principles for the security of Israel. A deal must
allow Israel to return to fighting until all war objectives are achieved, Israel will not permit smuggling of weapons to Hamas from Egypt nor the return of terrorists to the northern Gaza Strip. Netanyahu also insisted the maximum number of living hostages are released at the first stage of the outline.
Defence Minister Yoav Gallant received applause when he called for a comprehensive state commission of inquiry into the 10/7 terror attack at the ceremony.
“It must examine all of us, the decision-makers and professionals, the government, the army and security services,” he said. “This government, and governments over the last decade led to the events of 10/7. This commission must examine the intelligence and operational failures, deal with the process of managing the war, delve into the building of Hamas’s forces over the last decade, beginning with the formulation of the Hamas plan to invade the communities of the south, and up to the errors made in assessing the enemy’s capabilities and in warning of its intentions, culminating in 10/7.”
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BoD slams RA exhibits
BY ADAM MOSES
The Royal Academy has apologised and removed two Gaza-war related paintings from its summer exhibition following criticism from Jewish leaders.
The Board of Deputies wrote to the RA expressing ‘significant concern’ on Monday over three paintings with antisemitic tropes.
A Kausar painting showing an individual hiding behind a sign reading ‘Jews say stop genocide on Palestinians: Not in Our Name’ and one by Andy with screaming women with a swastika overhead are no longer on display. But ‘The Mass Slaughter of Defenceless Women & Children Is Not How You Deradicalise Gaza featuring a faceless pilot in an aircraft with Star of David insignia front remains.
An RA spokesman reportedly said: “We
are aware of concerns about two artworks that relate to the Israel/Palestine conflict. We have discussed the matter thoroughly and have also received external guidance. We recognise that an exhibition for young people and artwork by young people is not an appropriate environment for volatile public discourse… Having reviewed and considered the matter carefully, we feel that by continuing to display these artworks, with limited opportunity to provide context or discourse, we would risk causing undue upset and could put people at risk. We have therefore made the decision to remove these two artworks from display. We apologise for any hurt and distress this has caused to our young artists and to our visitors. We will learn from this experience and we are reviewing our processes.”
Board Vice President Andrew Gilbert,
in his letter to the RA, noted: “We would question the judgement of allowing these pictures with their highly politically charged and controversial messages into the RA’s summer exhibitions, particularly with no attempt to present any context or contextualising works which might express a contrary view. It risks giving the impression that the RA is taking a political stance on a very controversial issue, which would seem at odds with its objectives, not to mention its charitable status.”
Gilbert pointed out some imagery and content comprised antisemitic tropes as defined by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism.
He added: ‘Antisemitic incidents in the UK are currently at an all-time high, many Jews in the art world feel they are
Herzog welcomes new ambassadors
BY ADAM MOSES
President Isaac Herzog has received diplomatic credentials of new ambassadors to Israel from Kazakhstan, Peru, Kenya, Japan, and Italy
The ambassadors expressed hopes for return of hostages held in Gaza return. All representatives wore the yellow ribbon pin in support of the hostages at the President’s residence in Jerusalem.
Kazakhstan Ambassador Daulet Yemberdiyev said: “We feel the support of the State of Israel in all fields.”
Herzog replied: “Your country is showing much leadership in your region. We
have a lot to do together.”
Herzog told Peru’s Ambassador Javier Martin Sanchez Checa Salazar: “Young Israelis love to visit your country, it has amazing nature and a Jewish community. There is a strong bond between our peoples, and we must work to strengthen the business ties between us.”
Salazar stressed his country’s support, noting: “I look forward to working hard to strengthen relations and cooperation between our countries. We condemn the terrible attack on October 7 and support Israel’s position in demanding the immediate release of the hostages.”
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being marginalised and silenced for showing sympathy with the victims of the October 7th attacks by Hamas terrorists and expressing the view that their continuing holding of hostages is responsible for this terrible war.”
Jonathan Metliss, Action Against Discrimination, chairman, backed the BoD view.
“This is no forum for political statements of this nature, which can only provoke even more antisemitism and antisemitic behaviour,” he said. “We applaud the Board for its official protest and call for all three exhibits to be removed forthwith. Sadly, the UK Jewish Community and its leadership bodies must remain vigilant against displays of this nature at art galleries and museums as they are a catalyst for antisemitic and anti-Israel behaviour and incidents.”
Herzog told Kenyan ambassador, Albert Kendagor: “Kenya is a special and important country for many Israelis. I hope that during your time you will be able to upgrade the relationship between our countries. We appreciate your call for the immediate release of the hostages. This is something that should be heard throughout the region and the world.”
Kendagor noted: “Israel and Kenya have many common areas of interest, including in the field of agritech. We also face the common threat of terror, and we look forward to working together for peace and security. We hope that all the hostages will be
released.”
Herzog addressed Japanese Ambassador Arai Yusuke, stating: “Japan is a very important nation and friend to Israel. Israelis want to enhance the relationship between our countries. I hope we are able to see more Israelis visiting Japan and more Japanese people visiting Israel. I also look forward to seeing more cultural exchanges and cooperation in business and security.”
Yusuke said: “Cooperation between our countries is in our national interest. I wish very much for peace and normality to return to your country.”
Finally, Italian Ambassador Luca Ferrari submitted his Letters of Credence, noting: “Italy and Rome have impacted our very being for thousands of years. Today, Israel is facing a war that is also important to the innate safety issues of Europe and Italy, especially as a key nation in southern Europe and the Mediterranean, is aligned with us in combatting terror and hatred of this kind and in understanding the international threats that they pose.”
Ferrari said: “I am very keen to foster the bilateral relationship, we are working on many agreements for cooperation. We also stand with Israel at this very difficult stage. You have the full support of Italy, its people, and its government.”
President Herzog with Ambassador of Japan, H.E. Mr. Arai Yusuke
PHOTO:GPO
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The Dangerous Alliance Between the NEU and PSC
BY STEVE WINSTON
The recent “East London Educators Conference on Palestine,” organised by the Newham, Tower Hamlets, and Redbridge National Education Union (NEU), exposed a deeply disturbing collaboration between pro-Palestine activists and educators. This event, heavily influenced by the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign (PSC), showcased an alarming trend of anti-Israel indoctrination infiltrating our education system, where partisan beliefs are presented as facts.
At the conference, attendees participated in workshops facilitated by people like Diana Neslen, and Dr Layla Altihaj (who leads Prevent Watch, an organisation dedicated to criticising a key component the UK’s counter-terrorism strategy), whose sessions gravely distorted the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
For instance, Neslen’s session on “Anti-Semitism and Anti-Zionism” sought to decouple Israel from Jewish identity entirely. This rhetoric not only dismisses the historical and religious connection of Jews to Israel but also undermines the legitimacy of the Jewish state and ignores
the statistical findings of multiple studies which find that over 90% of world Jewry identifies as Zionist.
Amy Fletcher’s workshop on “How the union can support talking about and organising about Palestine in school” encouraged educators to embed pro-Palestinian narratives into the curriculum under the guise of human rights education. Dr Layla Altihaj’s session on “Government Policy Islamophobia and Prevent” advised that Prevent is “an Islamophobic policy.”
This collaboration between the NEU and PSC is about systematically embedding a biased and dangerous ideology into the minds of young students. One speech by Daniel Selwyn, a Geography teacher at School 21 in Newham, detailed how to incorporate Palestinian issues into various subjects. Selwyn’s methods include forming “Human Rights Clubs” and using poetry events to bring Palestinian solidarity into the classroom.
The implications of these tactics are profound. Teachers are bypassing senior leadership teams (SLTs) to push their agendas, forming WhatsApp groups, wearing badges, and organising “charity” bakes to promote their cause. This covert operation was evident when a mother from Borehamwood complained about her school’s refusal to host a
pro-Palestinian speaker while welcoming a representative from a Jewish organization. Instead of respecting the school’s decision, activists like Glyn Secker from Jewish Voice for Labour (JVL) suggested instead to find a Jewish speaker sympathetic to the PSC to shift the school’s stance.
The NEU and PSC’s tactics are clear: avoid direct confrontation with school authorities and instead, build support from the ground up by embedding these biased narratives into the standard curriculum. This strategy was openly discussed by participants from various schools across Highams Park, Hackney, Ilford, Newham, Walthamstow, and Borehamwood. They shared techniques on how to subtly introduce pro-Palestinian content into lessons, bypassing any administrative oversight.
One particularly egregious aspect of this indoctrination effort is the promotion of antisemitism under the pretence of human rights advocacy. Statements like “they use the Holocaust” to justify Israeli actions are not only historically inaccurate but also deeply offensive. Such rhetoric minimises the horrors of the Holocaust and weaponises it to delegitimise Israel.
The NEU’s apparent endorsement of these activities is deeply concerning. By allowing such biased workshops and
failing to address the propagation of hate and misinformation, the NEU is complicit in turning classrooms into potential breeding grounds for radical leftist and jihadist ideologies. This not only undermines the educational mission of fostering critical thinking and balanced perspectives but also endangers the Jewish community by normalising antisemitism.
The National Jewish Assembly (NJA) is actively working to expose and counter these dangerous influences. We remain committed to holding the NEU accountable for allowing such blatant indoctrination and ensuring that our schools remain places of education, not propaganda. We urge educators and parents alike to remain vigilant and to report any instances of biased or hateful teaching.
Education should be about fostering critical thinking and understanding, not breeding grounds for hatred and division. We must ensure that our schools are safe spaces for all students, free from the poison of radical indoctrination. The future of our education system and the well-being of our children depend on our collective action against this alarming trend towards pro-Palestine antisemitism.
Steve Winston is the Managing Director of the National Jewish Assembly
Tel
Zichron
OPINION PIECE
GIFT and JLGB
Celebrating young volunteers with the Yoni Jesner Awards
On a memorable Monday night, GIFT, together with JLGB, celebrated the remarkable achievements of 200 young people who completed the Yoni Jesner Awards. This year, students from Year 7 to Year 9 from various schools across London earned their awards, upon completing an incredible number of volunteer hours within the community.
The Yoni Jesner Award, established by Marsha Gladstone in memory of her son Yoni (HYD), aims to inspire young people to take their first steps towards active community involvement. The award is
tragically lost his life in a bus bombing in 2002. Amongst his belongings, two A4 sheets containing his profound thoughts on life were found, offering incredible insight into his character and values.
Yoni wrote these reflections for himself, as guiding principles to live by and contemplate.
structured into three categories based on the number of volunteering hours: 20, 50, and 100 hours.
Yoni Jesner (HYD’), a young man dedicated to making the world a better place,
The award ceremony, held on Monday night, was a joyous occasion attended by Chief Rabbi Mirvis who also addressed the volunteers and those in attendance, together with Marsha Gladstone, trustees of the Yoni Jesner Foundation, family and friends of Yoni Jesner (HYD’), 200 parents, and the true stars of the night—80 young people who completed the award this year. Participation spanned a diverse array of schools including JFS, JCOSS, Hasmonean High Schools, Haberdashers’ Boys and Girls School, Menorah Grammar, Yavneh College, and City of London Schools, among others.
Quote from Marsha Gladstone “Thank you to all the incredible awardees. You are all giving of your time and giving of
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO CEO OF JEWISH FUTURES
Jewish Futures is home to 12 dynamic and successful charities serving the Jewish community, including GIFT, Aish, JRoots and Chazon, all of which share the same deeply ingrained core values, seeking to build stronger and more meaningful connections for Jews of all ages and backgrounds.
We are looking for a top performing, experienced Executive Assistant to support our CEO. The ideal person must be highly organised, proactive, able to multitask and prioritise, have excellent attention to detail and exceptional interpersonal and communication skills.
As the Executive Assistant to the CEO you will ensure the smooth operation of day to day secretarial and administrative activities whilst actively contributing to strategic and organisational initiatives and projects.
your heart. This is more precious than anything. That’s why I’m so proud of you and so proud of the Yoni Jesner Awards because this way of giving is what Yoni was all about.”
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis spoke movingly to awardees “I am going to be emerging from this evening filled with inspiration from everything you have achieved and PG will continue to, throughout your life, achieve.
Ultimately we are primarily defined not by what we receive and have but rather in terms of what we give.”
GIFT is excited to launch the updated Yoni Jesner Award in schools nationwide. Barry Colman, Head of Senior Schools at GIFT, has been presenting the award in assemblies, emphasising the simplicity of getting involved and the importance of giving
back. He said: ‘It’s simple to get involved, and helps children understand the importance of giving back. GIFT provides a huge range of volunteering opportunities including packing in the food hub, tutoring, befriending, helping at events, to name but a few’. In the words of Yoni Jesner HYD’ ‘If you don’t do it, who will?’
For more information on how to get involved and to learn about the Yoni Jesner Award, please visit www.jgift.org
You are invited to
Rabbi Daniel Rowe
Celebrating 25 years of dedicated service to British Jewry
A unique opportunity to show appreciation for one of our community's most intelligent, erudite, eloquent and impactful educators before he makes Aliyah.
Sunday 21st July 2024
5-Star Venue near NW London
Reception - 19:30 Tributes - 20:30 followed by Keynote Address from Rabbi Rowe "Seeking Truth: Navigating Pathways in an Upside-Down World"
Launch of the Rabbi Daniel Rowe Student Scholarship Fund
£50pp suggested donation
RSVP: aish.org.uk/RabbiRoweTribute
Engaging the Next Generation: Rabbi Daniel Rowe’s Perspective on Jewish Education
BY RABBI ARI KAYSER
As Rabbi Daniel Rowe prepares to move from the UK to Israel, Rabbi Ari Kayser interviews him to reflect on his 25 years with Aish UK, exploring his insights on Jewish education and the challenges facing British Jewry.
It’s been 25 years! Let’s go back to the beginning. When did you first get involved with Aish UK?
I first got involved as a madrich on summer programmes in the mid-1990s. The research was starting to come out about the global rates of intermarriage and the global assimilation rates. There was a Jerusalem Report article at the time titled, “Anglo Jewry, An Endangered Species? There’d been some research by a Harvard professor suggesting that the Jewish people were essentially going to cease to function as a recognisable entity between 2020 and 2090. Rabbi Sacks had written a book, Will We Have Jewish Grandchildren? There was this major question of what sort of future will there be for the Jewish people. Outside of the Orthodox community, the Jewish world was considered very likely to disappear quickly.
When I heard about Aish programmes, where people can come and learn in a non-judgmental environment that was having a positive impact on continuity. I thought I’d love to be involved in that. I saw the incredible impact of those Summer Fellowships programmes and when I came back from university, I got myself involved. I used to go around different campuses giving talks and creating events and Shabbatonim. At a certain point I realised we can make a difference. So many young Jews had a certain apathy or went through negative experiences and Judaism just didn’t speak to them. To me, it was just because they hadn’t really tasted the beauty and the power, and the depth of what Judaism has to offer. I thought, we owe it to 3,000 years of Jewish heritage and all that we’ve been through together to at least help young Jews understand.
Growing up in Manchester, did any aspects of your childhood, family, or upbringing influence you to consider these profound questions at such a young age? You were only 18 at the time! What about your childhood, or upbringing sparked these profound questions at such a young age?
My parents were very involved in the Joint Israel Appeal. As a child, I remember Russian Jewry and the fundraising that was being done to support them. When Chief Rabbi Jakobovits and Chief Rabbi Sacks came to Manchester, they used to stay in my parents’ house, so I
got to hear a lot of their conversations and they were very much oriented to this question.
I’d been a very philosophically-sceptical child. I was asking questions in a way that I was not getting what I felt was a satisfactory answer and it made me just doubt the whole thing. So I did a lot of my own exploring and thinking and discovering that on the one hand, there was this very rich, deep, profound and compelling Jewish philosophy and wisdom, and on the other hand, I could still relate to the idea that in the free market of ideas, it was very easy for a young Jew, even from a strong background, to grow up and think Judaism doesn’t really have much to say. I realised we have got to change the priority of what we teach.
Looking back, can you share a memorable
moment from all of these years with Aish UK?
I think it was probably the final banquet of the very first trip when people got up and spoke about what they gained from it. It was staggering to hear so many people from different backgrounds talk very openly about the struggles they’d had all the way. They had written off Judaism in their life and in just a few weeks they opened doors for themselves.
It’s very hard to explain the emotion I was going through. It was like somebody got up and literally used the words in the title of a book, My Friends, We Were Robbed. Why did no one tell us all this? Why did no one show us all this? It felt as if, those of us who have been blessed with a real exposure to what Judaism really is, have got an obligation to reach out, because no matter their background, there was a unanimous feeling of, “if only we knew”.
What would you say is the biggest challenge facing British Jewry today?
There are four challenges I see facing British Jewry, though the first is not uniquely a challenge for British Jewry. All Jews are facing the fact that we live in a thought climate that is negative toward religion, hostile to Israel and where belief in G-d and belief in the justness of the State of Israel are mocked and attacked online. For a long time the bedrock of Jewish identity was Israel. Today, for most young people, it’s a drag on Jewish identity. Once upon a time, the more connected you were with Israel, the more likely you were to engage with Judaism. Today it’s the other way around. The more Jewishly you engage, the more likely you are to be willing to defend Israel. The second challenge, which is more of an internal issue, is our communal funding priorities. We must continue to invest more in Jews at their pivotal ages, between 16-32, when they are making key decisions about their life and identity. I once calculated that age group has around £300 per person invested in it per year. That is almost negligible compared to the thousands of pounds that are spent
on older and younger demographics. The third challenge is that our homes are often not as strong as they could be. Either marriages themselves are weak or the Jewish commitment or knowledge in the home is not that of what our grandparents were. So the ability to pass on that Jewish identity to the next generation is more difficult.
The final challenge is that we live in a digital world. That universe is inhabited and dominated by people with extremely hostile views towards religion and towards Israel. Forget explicit antisemitism, which is enormous on platforms like TikTok which young Jews are on, but even the more cynical and negative attitudes that pervade social media pose a threat. We are fighting against an extremely powerful global thought climate, one that is often contradictory to the values and ideals that are needed for Jewish continuity.
What role do you envision technology playing in the future of Jewish outreach and education?
For thousands of years, Judaism was excluded from the global conversation. Now, thanks to technology, not only are we invited to the table, but we also have a voice that will be heard worldwide, whether we like it or not.
As technology gets stronger and stronger, our ability to give people access to that which would have been inaccessible is now a reality. One day, this technology will change the way we study Talmud, for example, and ensure language is no barrier. In the interim, Jewish educational foundations and organisations have to consider how to use technology to the maximum potential.
At the same time, we have to also realise that a lot of what Judaism offers is not technologically available. The natural warmth, the soul, the love, the power of the Jewish family, the Jewish community, the power of being part of the story of 3, 000 years of Jewish history, the depth of touching the G-dliness of every soul and teaching people how to do
that themselves–that cannot yet be done online. We need to enhance technology with the human depth found in Jewish community experiences, like the Shabbat table or communal singing, to offer young Jews the best opportunities to discover their place in the great Jewish story.
You are known for addressing difficult questions in various formats, from debating atheists to Q&A sessions with students and speaking out in short online videos. What are the most common questions you receive from students?
answers.
If a new question emerges that I haven’t looked into, I try to look into it. What are the assumptions that underlie it? What does the raw data say? What are the moral issues? Where do they come from? What are the premises that underpin all that? And when you’ve done all of that, then you can usually get into the guts of where a Jewish perspective would differ, where either our understanding of Judaism is incorrect, or where there really is a clash of values. By exploring the root, we can really see that different premises and dif-
archaeology, the existence of G-d. What is the next big area that you would like to study and explore?
Right now, there are a lot of questions about Israel. In general, it will depend on the person, but typically they involve contradictions in the way society thinks about something and the way the Torah either appears to think about or actually does think about it.
Sometimes that can be scientific or a question about archaeology or Bible criticism, and it’s an intellectual contradiction between the way parts of academia think about issues and the foundations of Jewish belief. Other times it’s sociological, like LGBTQ+ questions, or the role of women in society. In all cases, I try to be honest about the Torah opinion and about the premises that society is built on, and to really understand where the primary point of divergence is. How do we look at the same data and reach different conclusions?
We may be carrying a lot of assumptions that Judaism doesn’t carry. We may have misconceptions about what Judaism believes even though we were brought up “Jewishly”. In every generation, Torah forms an alternative voice to whatever the dominant narrative of a society is, whatever its assumptions are. For example, in the West, the individual is the centre of reality. Now, Judaism was often more individualistic than a lot of the societies around it, because it placed a lot of weight on the value of the individual, but it placed enormous weight on the value of family, community, tradition and society in a way that the modern world doesn’t. Often, you’ve got to work out where we diverge on any given issue? What does Judaism really say? Often, our view of it is incorrect. Additionally, we don’t have to assume that societies got all the right
ferent assumptions will lead to different conclusions. My aim is not to try to make up people’s minds for them, but I want to share ideas they may not have known. Underpinning many of these intellectual questions are often deeper questions that are much more existential, like, “why am I here?”, or “what is the meaning of my life?” So, the question may be phrased as an intellectual question, but really, they are asking if Judaism is where I’m going to find my place in the world? So, whilst we may want to give certain intellectual insights and tackle questions on that level, we also want to share how Judaism is the voice of the soul.
That is why somebody could say consciously, “I feel like I don’t believe in anything. I feel part of this Jewish family, and it’s more than just being part of any old family. There is something on the intangible level that I always want to be a part of.” I often see that the intellectual process is often just giving permission to a process that is a natural awakening, a space that lies in every single Jew.
You have taught a lot about the fundamentals of Judaism, misconceptions,
I am interested in exploring the question of the relationship between different faiths. All of humanity is part of a big story and the Jewish people are a critical part of that story. Historically, we have struggled a lot with other religions because of the nature of the State of Israel, where it is geographically located and the narratives that have been built around it. The conflicts we are in now are religious, or at least have religious components to them, and now, everyone’s looking to solve these problems, ignoring the religious dimension. The place of the Jewish people amongst the nations of the world, specifically Islam, I think this is a very big burning issue. I am also interested in exploring technology. Not just how we avoid the dangers of technology, but how do we envision a new future for humanity? Technology is going to offer us possibilities that we could not dream of. Things that the prophets or the rabbis of the Talmud have told us, and we just thought were metaphors, might become literally true. When they said in the future pork will become kosher, it may well happen. Or ‘the wolf will lie down with the lamb’, these things could become literally true at some point, as well as metaphorically true. The real point is that technology is going to offer us an ability to change what a human is. We are future-oriented people who have always had a vision of a radically different humanity. Every week we enter Shabbat, where we travel into a
state of what the world will look like when you don’t need to work anymore. At the moment, people are talking about how to rein in technology, but they are not asking where technology could take us? What could humanity look like? How can it bring us more into a state of oneness? We must get ahead of the conversation and not behind it.
What inspired your decision to move to Israel?
I have always dreamed of being in Israel. It is something that our ancestors would have given anything for. I have been in England for the Jewish community and so long as I felt I could have a bigger impact here than anywhere else, I was here. This year I became convinced that there is an opportunity to project Torah out of Jerusalem. And I couldn’t say no. If I believe there’s a chance to make a greater impact, I am excited to pursue that opportunity.
G-d tells Abraham, “Lech Lecha”, be on a journey, and go to a land which I will show you, which you can’t even see now. I think that means that you must always hear the voice that says be on the journey. You don’t stay somewhere just because you were there yesterday. Not physically and not in terms of our own spiritual growth. I’m always asking myself, “where does G-d want me next on the journey?” I believe when you are open to that question, the opportunities come. Thankfully, a tremendous opportunity came. More important than the messenger, although that’s also very important, is the message itself. Ultimately, we would like every Jew to be a messenger. The digital world offers that possibility for everyone to find their unique voice.
To stay connected with Rabbi Daniel Rowe and explore his insightful articles, videos and latest updates, visit his official website at rabbidanielrowe.com.
Jewish Women’s Aid marks 30 years of service with special thank you tea
Jewish Women’s Aid (JWA) marked its 30th anniversary with a tea thanking JWA’s dedicated founders and volunteers on 2nd July in North London. The event was hosted by JWA Ambassador, Rachel Riley MBE. It was a heartfelt tribute to the founders and dedicated volunteers whose unwavering support has been instrumental in JWA’s three decades of
volunteers to commemorate the organisation’s journey and its achievements in supporting Jewish women and their children affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence over the past 30 years.
providing support services, advocacy, and advice to vulnerable women and children, across the country. The tea brought together pioneers and
Caroline Ratner, Chair of Trustees for Jewish Women’s Aid, opened the event with a warm welcome, expressing her gratitude and admiration for the attendees. “It is a privilege to honour the remarkable individuals who have dedicated their time and energy to making a profound impact in our community. Their contributions have not only changed lives but have also set a powerful example for future generations.”
Rachel Riley MBE, a passionate advocate for Jewish Women’s Aid, expressed her gratitude and admiration for the
Malki Foundation UK in fine spirits
On Thursday 11th July the Malki Foundation UK held it’s Whisky Tasting & Sushi Evening compered by Grant Sydney, whisky connoisseur and hosted by Geoffrey Hartnell, Chair of Malki Foundation UK Trustees. Five whiskies were sampled from five different regions and each individual whisky was successfully
auctioned off to raise funds to provide vital therapies for severely disabled children in Israel, essential therapies which allow parents to keep their children living within the warmth and care of the family home. For further information about the Malki Foundation UK contact alison@ malkifoundation.org.uk
attendees, highlighting the essential role of volunteers and founders. “Today, we celebrate you –the heart and soul of Jewish Women’s Aid. Your dedication has enabled the organisation to provide crucial support and hope to those in need. Thank you for your unwavering commitment and passion.”
The event featured an insightful conversation hosted by Rachel Riley and Honorary President and founder of Jewish Women’s Aid, Judith Usiskin MBE, and Honorary Vice Presidents and founders, Elaine Grazin, and Mildred Levinson. They shared stories of the organisation’s founding, challenges overcome, and the milestones achieved.
Judith Usiskin reflected on the early days, “We started with a vision to create a safe space for Jewish women, and it is incredible to see how far we’ve come. Our journey has been one of resilience, hope, and unwavering commitment.”
Sam Clifford, Jewish Women’s Aid’s
new Chief Executive, shared her vision for the future of Jewish Women’s Aid, emphasising the importance of continuing to innovate and expand its services to meet the evolving needs of the community. “While we deeply wish our work were unnecessary, we will continue to be there for Jewish women and girls at risk of violence and abuse. Our mission remains as critical as ever. We are committed to strengthening our support systems, raising awareness, and changing the culture to protect and empower women and girls. Our vision of a world where women and girls live their lives free from all forms of abuse is at the forefront of every decision we make.”
LSJS students celebrate at Siyum
Students from LSJS’s year-long Adult Education programmes got together to celebrate the completion of their courses at a special siyum last week.
Students at the Siyum included those from the new Rabbi Sacks course; an in-depth study of key areas of Jewish thought through the writings of Rabbi Sacks, which was based on a course Rabbi Sacks originally devised in 1978. There were students who had completed LSJS’ Tanach Course where they studied all 24 books of the Bible with a range of expert Jewish educators.
The LSJS Rabbi Sacks Learning Fellowship for young professionals also received their certificates having completed their one-year free programme. Throughout the fortnightly sessions, they studied a range of topics in Jewish thought, such as free will, responding to evil and Jewish approaches to AI; each taught from the viewpoint of Rabbi Sacks’ teachings with educators who were some of his closest talmidim.
The Iyun
advanced halacha learning programme for women were also in attendance, along with Rabbanit Surale Rosen who leads the course and had flown in especially from Israel. Iyun, now going into its third year, has allowed a group of women to study the laws of brachot in-depth this year, having covered Kashrut in the first year.
The Siyum featured representatives from each cohort sharing words on what they had learnt and how their course had impacted them.
Other speakers at the evening were Rabbi Barry Kleinberg, who facilitates and teaches on the Rabbi Sacks in-depth course, Michael Rainsbury, LSJS Head of Adult Education, LSJS Dean Rabbi Dr Raphael Zarum and LSJS Chief Executive Jo Greenaway.
Founders together with current and past trustees PHOTO: LIZANNE CHALK
(L-R) Chair of Trustees Caroline Ratner, JWA Ambassador Rachel Riley, Treasurer Jo Rosenthal, Chief Executive Sam Clifford. PHOTO: LIZANNE CHALK
Michael Rainsbury, LSJS’ Head of Adult Education and the LSJS Rabbi Sacks Learning Fellows 2023/4 who were among those celebrating
Beyond the headlines
A weekly glimpse into the Israel you won’t read in the news
BY SIVAN RAHAV MEIR - TRANSLATED BY YEHOSHUA SISKIN, JANINE MULLER SHERR
MUHAMMAD DEIF, DONALD TRUMPMAKING SENSE OF IT ALL
Who would have thought that the targeted assassination of Muhammad Deif would be eclipsed by the assassination attempt against Donald Trump?
It is our hope that Deif has, indeed, been eliminated and that the world has been cleansed of this evil. Trump has only suffered a light injury, baruch Hashem, but the attempt has thrown American politics into turmoil.
When you feel that the world is going mad, it is important to return to our sources. This week’s Torah portion, Balak, reminds us that what we are experiencing today has occurred before. We read how Balak, king of Moav, hires the prophet Bilaam to curse the Jewish people. Bilaam tries again and again to curse them, but each time only blessings emerge from his mouth.
The narrative provides many profound insights, but here are some thoughts that relate also to current events:
• There is a never-ending battle between good and evil, as reflected both in the actual events that we can see as well as those in the concealed, spiritual realm.
• Our enemies consistently try to destroy us instead of attempting to better their own situation.
• Our prayres, blessings, speech, and even ordinary words carry weight. The king of Moav practically pleads with Bilaam to pronounce evil words against us; he knows that words are impactful.
• What is most amazing is that this entire drama takes place without Am Yisrael being aware of it. In fact, we are very often oblivious to the harm from which G-d rescues us in our day-to-day lives. This parashah shows us that we have no idea what is taking place behind the scenes — what was planned, what was destroyed, what could have happened, and what almost happened. It’s also an opportunity for us to acknowledge the efforts of those who, unbeknownst to us, toil to eradicate our enemies.
May we see the fulfillment of Bilaam’s beautiful blessings: “Those who curse you will be cursed,
and those who bless you will be blessed.” Our world is divided between light and darkness; we are on the side of the light.
And finally, may we see the fulfillment of Bilaam’s famous words regarding our own communities: ”Ma Tovu Ohalecha Yaakov, Mishkenotecha Yisrael”- “How goodly are your tents, Jacob, your dwelling places, Israel,” with blessings showered upon our homes, families, shuls, Torah study and daily lives, especially during this summer of political unrest and world instability.
A NEW TORAH SCROLL FINDS A HOME
Two years ago, Ashira Landau commissioned a sofer sta”m to write a Torah scroll in the merit of singles who are waiting to find their marriage partner. In the midst of fundraising for this project, she discovered thousands who, like her, were feeling the urgency of their unfulfilled desire to start a family and build a home. Together with the contributions Ashira took their names, and each morning the scribe prayed for them before inking more letters in the Torah scroll.
When the war broke out just around the time that the Torah scroll was ready, it became clear to Ashira that there was a connection between the two events. “The war was being fought to protect our existing homes, and this sefer Torah was being written in order to establish more homes in the future. This is our answer to the enemy’s attacks,” she said.
It was decided to welcome the new Torah scroll into the Ma’ahal HaGevurah (Tent of Heroism) synagogue, located in
central Jerusalem and established by bereaved families who lost loved ones in this war. The symbolism wasn’t lost on anyone: the Torah scroll was dedicated by those waiting to establish their own homes, and many of the fallen soldiers had not yet established a home of their own. The bereaved parents accompanied the singles in prayer as the Torah scroll was welcomed into its new home. At the same time, they also prayed for the speedy return of the hostages and evacuees to their homes; and finally, for G-d Himself, Who has been longing to return to His home for two thousand years.
Maisels shared his insights:
At the dedication ceremony for the new Torah scroll, Ashira prepared bags of candy as a “reframing experience” for the kids who didn’t receive the traditional bags of candy on Simchat Torah. And while Ashira didn’t realize this when planning the event, it turned out that the day the Torah scroll was dedicated, 7/10, was the reverse of the tragic date of the attack, 10/7.
THE FOUNDATION OF THE NATION
Gal Gueta lost her husband, Amit, a soldier in the Maglan commando unit, on Simchat Torah. Last Shabbat was their first wedding anniversary.
“When Amit would come home from the army, we would cut ourselves off from everything and focus on ourselves. This came from an understanding of the value of the time we spent together, which contributed to the connection between us.
“In honor of my wedding anniversary, I suggest that all married couples who read these words should spend an hour together with one another — to sit, talk, study together — to just connect. This time can also be spent with a friend, a relative, or anyone else. The main thing is to increase goodness among the nation of Israel. It is the goodness to which Amit aspired and succeeded in living every day.”
WHAT’S IN A NAME
What names are being given to babies these days, and why? Mohel
Rabbi Hillel
“Amid the backdrop of nine months of war and the ongoing captivity of hostages, these same nine months also marked the pregnancies of four britot I had the honor of performing this week, each on consecutive days. Each ceremony left me imbued with hope. I encountered parents who brought life and light into the world during a period overshadowed by loss and darkness.
At the first bris, the baby was named Kfir (a lion cub) Amiad (eternal nation)a name imbued with strength. At the next one, the baby was named Neta Reuven, honoring his grandfather Reuven, steadfastly rooted (the meaning of “Neta”) in the land. The third baby was named Peleg (stream), evoking the words from Tehillim, ‘like a tree planted by streams of water’, and the fourth was Chaggai, named after the prophet Chaggai, a beacon of hope and comfort, who prophesied the return of Am Yisrael to their homeland.
These names are emblematic of the many meaningful names being bestowed in these times. Best wishes, and as it is said at the bris: ‘B’damayich chayi, In your blood is my life.’”
The new Torah Scroll
Rabbi Hillel Maisels
ASK THE RABBI
ELECTION ANIMOSITY
Dear Rabbi Elections have now happened in the UK yet there seems to be so much bad blood between people. In my own synagogue there was an argument on the Shabbat between two members, staunch supporters of the Reform party and another leading member of the Conservative party. The latter blamed the others for diluting the vote, a lot of words were exchanged and if it wasn’t for others stepping in, it might have led to blows. Isn’t there a better way? Does Judaism have a particular view on politics?
Raymond
Dear Raymond
It’s not just in this country. The United States is going through its own political turmoil with upcoming elections between a bully and a man past his sell by date. And the people are deeply divided. Even in our beloved Israel, the rhetoric and venom being spewed is, alas, quite toxic. Our biggest problem is the way the argument is conducted. There is a difference between
disagreement and disrespect. Our problem isn’t a disagreement problem, and our problem isn’t a diversity problem. Our problem is a disrespect problem. You see when I disagree with you, we’ll talk it out. We’ll sit there and say, OK let me hear your perspective. And by the way we may never come to any agreement on the matter. And that’s OK too. So, when I disagree with you, we talk it out. But if I disrespect you, we won’t talk. We’ll just shut each other down or look to cancel one another. The hard fact is that we might disagree often, but if we disrespect one another it puts a wall between us. Say something wrong, tweet something people disagree with, express an opinion that is surprising or contradicts the established view people have of you, and the demands for you to be fired, de-friended or otherwise driven from the realms of men quickly follow.
Cancel culture, which is the scourge and the malaise of our 21st century is scorched earth, partisan politics, where people we disagree with are maligned. It divides families, it divides society, it tears apart relationships, it polarizes and pits people against one another. We may always be two Jews as indeed we are with
three opinions, but we should always maintain one heart. A lot of people have what is known as a confirmation bias. In other words, they seek out to listen to only people they agree with. Really, what we need is a collaboration bias. We ought to seek out people that we in fact different than us and look for people that might have a different perspective to us. There’s plenty of disagreement out there and that’s normal. Unfortunately, there’s too much disrespect out there as well. We need to find another way. As you rightly point out, we can and need to do better.
WHAT OCCUPATION?
Dear Rabbi I pick up the Jewish paper from time to time, as it’s on my doorstep and it’s free. So, I thought I might write to you to ask you a question and I hope that’s OK. Why are Jews so critical of what happened on October 7th. What did you expect after so many years of occupation? Israel is occupying Gaza and has created a siege around it, so in desperation, the Gazans need to kill Jews and shoot rockets to fight the injustice, full stop!
Samir
Dear Samir
up to the deadly consequences of the withdrawal and re-entering Gaza, Israel showed restraint. The results? Hamas built a terror state. Since then, tens of thousands of rockets have been sent from Gaza to murder as many civilian Jews as possible. Thousands of Jews were murdered.
Thank you for taking the time to write, though I hope you’re prepared for my answer:
Fact: Hamas, the ruling party in Gaza, openly calls for the death of every Jew in Israel, as clearly stated in their charter, written in 1987. Should Israel concede to this demand?
Fact: Hamas is a terrorist organization as so recognised by the international community that wants to wipe Israel, a country the size of New Jersey with 6.6 million Jewish residents, off the map. They would gleefully burn 6 million Jews alive, as they did to the children in Southern Israel on October 7th. Should we allow them?
Fact: In August 2005, much to the bewilderment of many Jews around the world, Israel expelled 10,000 Jews from their homes in Gaza, their communities demolished by the IDF. Not a single Israeli was left in Gaza. Israel gave its Arab neighbours the opportunity to create an independent Palestinian State in Gaza with a flourishing society, the “Singapore of the Middle East.”
Alas, the very next day rockets came pouring down on Israeli cities, targeting civilians in homes. Instead of waking
The fact that Israel secures its border with Gaza, is “security.” We don’t need to imagine what would happen if Israel had allowed the border to be open over the past 17 years: we saw it in gruesome reality over the October 7th weekend, with children slaughtered.
This is an allegation that is designed to undermine Israel’s efforts to protect its people, the soft front of the Jihadi movement, perpetrated by useful idiots. It’s been said many times, “If Hamas would put down their weapons tomorrow there would be peace. If Israel put down their weapons tomorrow there would be no Israel.”
And to be clear: The siege Israel created was not to block essentials, but to stop (unsuccessfully) weaponry from being smuggled into Gaza to be used against Jews in Israel. Had Gaza been a friendly neighbour there would be a peaceful coexistence. But when you have a neighbour who wants all your children to die, should you not inspect what goes into the country? Let it be said loud and clear: The siege is not the reason for the rockets; the rockets are the reason for the siege.
Anyone who denies that reality is lying to you, full stop!
HMO News Today
Expert Tips for Finding the Right Tenants: Insights from Hampshire Heights Ltd
We know that finding the right tenants is crucial for maintaining a harmonious and well-managed property. Drawing from years of experience in property management, we’ve developed a thorough screening process to ensure we select reliable, responsible tenants who contribute to a positive living environment. Here’s how we do it:
One of the most critical steps in our tenant screening process is obtaining references from previous landlords. However, we don’t just accept any reference at face value. We verify the legitimacy of references by checking the Land Registry to confirm that the person providing the reference truly owns the property. This extra step ensures that the reference is genuine and trustworthy. Additionally, we ensure the tenant’s rental history is consistent and reliable by verifying dates and addresses to make sure there are no gaps or inconsistencies in their story.
Our team is vigilant in identifying potential red flags that could indicate problematic tenants. For instance, tenants who are in a rush to move might be trying to leave their current residence quickly due to unresolved problems. This urgency can be a red flag. Similarly, if a tenant offers to pay significantly over the market price or insists on paying in cash, it could indicate potential money laundering or other illegal activities.
Financial reliability is key to ensuring that tenants can meet their rental obligations. To this end, we conduct thorough financial checks. We go beyond standard reference checks to verify financial documents. In the past, one of our colleagues uncovered a fraudulent bank statement that would have passed a typical reference check program. This experience underscores the importance of our detailed approach. We also ensure that prospective tenants do not have any County Court Judgments (CCJs) in their name, which can indicate past financial difficulties.
For additional security, we require tenants to provide the contact information of a next of kin who can be contacted in case of emergencies. In some cases, we also ask for a guarantor. Having a next of kin contact provides an extra layer of security, ensuring we have someone to reach out to if anything goes wrong. For added peace of mind, especially with tenants who have less rental history or borderline income qualifications, we may request a guarantor who can vouch for the tenant and take responsibility if they fail to meet their rental obligations.
By following these comprehensive screening procedures, Hampshire Heights Ltd ensures that we find reliable, responsible tenants who contribute to a positive living environment for all residents. If you’re a landlord seeking expert tenant screening services or a prospective tenant looking for a well-managed property, contact Hampshire Heights Ltd today to learn more about how we can assist you.
Hampshire Heights are experts in HMO property management.
Reference check coming back with positive results
Spiraling Through the Cosmic Symphony of Life (Part 2)
BY RABBI SHMUEL REICHMAN
There may be nothing more enchanting, mystical, and mysterious than the wonder of music.
In our previous article, we began to develop a deeper understanding of the concept of music, its cyclical nature, and the Torah ideas related to circles. To review, a circle represents spiritual death. It is a geometric anomaly; it is the only shape with no newness — no turns, no corners, and no changes. It has no beginning and no end. A circle is a cycle that goes nowhere; it lacks evolution and generates no growth. No point on the circle is unique, with each point equidistant to the center. A circle simply cycles back on itself without making any progress.
On a psychological level, the circle in human life is the mindless cycle of habitual living, without any newness, growth, or evolution. So many struggle to create genuine change, going through the motions instead of growing through the motions. This is why the Hebrew word for habit is “hergel,” which also spells ha’regel, “the foot.” The foot is the part of the body furthest away from one’s head, which is the locus of thought, willpower, and decision-making. The feet walk automatically with no need for thought or contemplation. Hergel represents a lifestyle devoid of thought and newness. Fascinatingly, the root of “hergel” is “gal,” and “le’galgel” means to roll, another circular motion.
Mindless habit creates a lifestyle that leaves one shackled in a mental and spiritual cage. Every week is just about surviving from Shabbos to Shabbos. Every year, it’s the same holidays, the same experiences, the same birthdays, and the same ups and downs. Life becomes a giant circle, a cycle of minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years. Spirituality becomes ritual; religion becomes habit. Davening, saying berachos, and learning Torah become items on a checklist instead of an opportunity to connect to Hashem. Relationships becomes tiresome, food becomes boring, and life loses its flavor. This is the spiritual danger of circles, of cycles, of habit. This is a life without purpose, without passion, without an empowering why to all aspects of one’s life. When one lives a Jewish life without questioning, without taking ownership, and without seeking deeper meaning and purpose to all aspects of their lifestyle, they are doomed to live within the cage of circularity, where mindless habit replaces mindful transcendence.
JUDAISM: A RELIGION OF NEWNESS
Judaism is strongly connected to the concept of newness. Upon leaving Egypt as a newly formed nation, the first mitzvah the Jewish People received was the commandment to declare the new month, “Ha’chodesh ha’zeh lachem rosh chadashim — This month shall be for you as the head of months”
(Shemos 12:2). Why is this the first mitzvah the Jewish People are given, right at the moment of their formation? This seems like a secondary concept, paling in comparison to mitzvos such as Shabbos, bris milah, and other such prominent mitzvos. What is unique about declaring the new month?
Upon leaving Egypt, the Jewish People experienced their birth, their inception as a nation. The Hebrew word for month, chodesh, also spells chadash, which means “new.” Just as the moon constantly changes as it waxes and wanes, we are a people of newness and constant growth, waxing and waning through our continuous evolution. This is why the Jewish People count by the lunar year, built from months. The Western world, in contrast, counts by the solar year, which is based on the earth’s yearly rotation around the sun. The Hebrew word for “year” is “shanah,” which shares the same root as yashan, which means “old,” and comes from the same root as the word yashein, which means “sleeping.” It reflects the concept of repetition and mindless cycles, as the word sheini means to repeat or do something twice. The sun does not appear to change; it remains static. A life of shanah represents a life spent spiritually sleeping, lacking any growth or newness. In a solar year, the months are merely a practical way of breaking down the year. In the lunar year, however, the months are the creative building blocks that come together to form the year. In essence, the Jewish system is built from twelve months of growth and evolution, not a single repeating year. However, to understand the true ideals of Judaism and reframe how we are meant to relate to circles, we must briefly delve into the nature of time.
THE NATURE OF TIME
The widely accepted understanding of time is that it moves in a straight line. Hashem created our world of space and time, and since its inception, time has been moving inexorably forward. Along this line of time is the past, present, and the future. If we were to move backward along this line, we could peer through history and find Avraham Avinu at the Akeidah, Moshe Rabbeinu receiving the Torah, and the Rambam writing the Mishneh Torah. Our current experience is taking place in the middle of the line, and if we could move forward along the line, we would see events that have not yet occurred. However, there is a major contradiction to this theory. There is a piyut in the Pesach Haggadah (Sefer U’v’chen V’amartem) that describes how Avraham Avinu served matzoh (unleavened bread) to the three malachim who visited him because it was Pesach at that time. Rashi (Bereishis 19:3) quotes this opinion and says that Lot served matzoh to the malachim as well when they came to Sodom. How can this be? The mitzvah of matzoh originates from the events of yetzias Mitzrayim, which would not occur for another two hundred years!
In order to understand why Avraham and Lot served their guests matzoh before the
miracles of Pesach occurred, we must develop a deeper understanding of time. Time does not move along a continuous, straight line; it circles around in a repeating yearly cycle. As the Ramchal explains, Hashem created thematic cycles of time, and each point in the year contains unique spiritual energy. This deep understanding transforms our perception of time. We don’t celebrate freedom each year on the fifteenth of Nissan because that’s when the Jews were freed from Egypt; rather the Jews were redeemed from Egypt on the 15th of Nissan because that is z’man cheiruseinu, the time of freedom. This power of freedom allowed the Jews to escape the slavery of Mitzrayim, and this is why Avraham and Lot ate matzoh long before yetzias Mitzrayim occurred. Matzoh represents freedom, and Avraham and Lot tapped into the spiritual energy of freedom present at that point in time. Rather than commemorating a historical event, they were tapping into the deep energies of time already inherent at that point in the circle. So too, when we celebrate each holiday, we do not simply commemorate a historical event; we tap into and experience the deep energies inherent at that point in time. Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkos, and all the chagim give us the opportunity to access unique spiritual energies in time.
SPIRALS IN TIME
However, even the circle analogy is limiting. If time were indeed a circle, each point of the year would simply be a repetition of that point from the previous year, from the previous lap around the circle. That would be pointless. We do not seek to re-experience the past each year. Our goal is to expand upon what we have created year after year, so that each time we return to that same point on the circle, we are on a fundamentally different level. Each Rosh Hashanah must be higher than the previous one: each Pesach, a new Pesach; each Shavuos, a new Shavuos, etc. Through our growth and ascension, we convert the two-dimensional circle into a three-dimensional spiral, traversing along the same circle to ever greater heights. We maintain circularity while achieving ascension.
The same is true for all spiritual circles. The ideal is not to transcend the circular system but to uplift it, to transform the circle into a spiral, and to find deeper ways of creating newness within the circular system. (This spiral concept also applies to the yearly Torah cycle.)
BRINGING CHODESH INTO SHANAH
This is the connection between chodesh, the lunar year, and shanah, the solar year. If time is meant to be a spiral, there is an apparent tension between these two themes: The Jewish system of time is rooted in chodesh (newness), and seemingly opposed to shanah, the circular system of solar years. However, we have already shown that Judaism does not oppose circles, but instead proposes to transform them into spirals. Therefore, we
must further develop our understanding of shanah.
In truth, our goal is not to transcend the realm of shanah but to transform it into an experience of chodesh within the realm of shanah. As such, we build months within the year, infuse newness within the habitual, and form spirals within the circular frameworks. We do not separate the months out of the year; we use the months to uplift the year. The physical template of shanah is infused with the innovation and creativity of chodesh. This is beautifully manifest within the word shanah itself.
Shanah means that which is cyclical and repetitive, representing mindless ritual. However, shanah also has another distinct meaning: to learn and to change (shinui, l’shanos). This is because when you add chiddush to shanah, i.e., when you infuse newness into the circle, you create spiraling growth. This is why deliberate, effective repetition is the key to genuine growth.
Chazarah is usually defined as “review.” As such, when people review what they learned, many simply read it over, mindlessly repeating what they already know and what they have already understood. But true chazarah, true repetition, is the process of learning old material on a completely new level, achieving elevated levels of clarity and gaining new insights. True chazarah requires bringing everything you have learned since last studying this material into your experience of reviewing it. Each time you repeat this process, you are able to elevate your learning to completely new heights, transforming your circle into a spiral. This is why the Gemara (Chagigah 9b) says that learning something one hundred times cannot be compared to learning it one hundred and one times. Every time you review something, it should be a revolutionary experience of discovery and innovation. We don’t repeat, we expand; we don’t circle, we spiral.
The same is true of all experiences within time. Every day is a new day, every moment a new moment. The external templates and vessels — the surface layer of our lives — may seem repetitive, but we can create newness within each action and within each moment. We might daven the same tefillah every day, but as the Nefesh Hachaim explains, every tefillah should be a completely new experience. We may have the same spouse and family for our whole lives, but every day is a new opportunity to deepen our connection and to further build our relationships. We do not pass over time, reactively experiencing life; we actively ride the waves of time, creating spirals from the circles, infusing chadash within the shanah.
In our next article, we will delve deeper into this fascinating topic and try to understand the nature of circles and spirals on an even deeper level, especially as it relates to music. In the meantime, may we all be inspired to continue to embark on the journey of becoming our ultimate selves!
Family FunBALAK
King Balak, the newly appointed head of Moav was terrified of the Jews. They had just won a battle against two mighty kings -Sichon and Og. How could he beat the Jews? He had a grand plan to hire a certain individual with the power of the tongue – Bil’am who was known to be able to bless or curse people.
Balak sent messengers to Bil’am. Bil’am was able to communicate
with Hashem, who warned him not to go, but eventually, Bil’am was allowed to go but informed that only what Hashem allowed him to express would be able to be said. Indeed Bil’am leaves on the journey with his donkey, but the donkey acts strangely on the journey and Bil’am gets injured and ends up hitting his donkey three times! The donkey actually has been given the power of speech
Parasha Stats
F G A A C T U M R B H K
• ANGEL
• BILAM
• BLESSING
• CURSE
• DONKEY
• MOAB
• MOUTH
• TENTS
B M R F U D N X L G H D
S A F G R L I E J B O J
G L O G S I S O N N N S
F I H M E S O F K O D T
H B J T I C T E N T S R
G J K N U J Y B N P A G
Q O G V A O M Z T U O G
L K I U B U M J P R A Z
X M Q E X A R P X K Q H
Y J S P S X M C F T E Z
L E G N A J Z T W X Y O
and tells Bil’am off for hitting him! Bil’am then realises that an angel is blocking the way and once the angel warns him to behave, it was time to continue.
Eventually, Bil’am arrives at the hilltop and begins giving some awesome blessings to the Jewish people – some of which we are very familiar with, such as Mah Tovu.
Balak is frustrated but Bil’am gives him a different idea of how
to harm the Jews – get them to sin! Indeed this is what happened but at the end a big hero named Pinchas brought an end to the terrible plague that fell upon the Jews after they sinned.
G-d protects us from our enemies, but we must be careful to do the right thing at all times!
Facts about Parashat Balak
Number of Verses - 104
Number of Words - 1,455
Number of Letters - 5,357
Jewish Riddle
This week’s Question:
Name 6 couples mentioned in Tanach whose first names start with the same letter in Hebrew
IF YOU KNOW IT, EMAIL US THE ANSWER
Last week’s answer: Of which two people in the Torah can it be said that their names spelled backwards are words used by the Torah to describe them?
The answer is Noach and Er, son of Judah. Concerning Noach the verse says “Noach found favor (chein) in Hashem’s eyes.” In Hebrew, Chein is Noach spelled backwards. Concerning Er the verse says “And Er, Judah’s firstborn, was evil (rah) in Hashem’s eyes. In Hebrew, Rah is Er spelled backwards.
*WELL DONE TO MICHAEL BAYER!!!*
Tangram Challenge!
Using all the shapes, can you make the shape on the right?
Word Wheel
The goal of a word wheel puzzle is to create as many words possible with the letters in the word wheel. Each word must contain at least three letters. You can only use each letter once and every word must have the letter in the centre of the wheel.
Last edition’s words
Here are some words you may have found from last week – you may have found more!
L N A E S T S I E
Use the area below to write the words you have found.
Jokes
Q: What’s worse than finding a worm in your apple?
A: Finding half a worm!
Q: What do you call a group of disorganised cats?
A: A Cat-tastrophe
Riddles
Q: What kind of dinosaur loves to sleep? A: A Stega-snore-us! 1. What can’t be burned in fire, nor drowned in water?
2. I come across as flat, But theirs more to me than my surface; You climb my moutains from top to bottom, And fall from bottom to top.
What am I?
3. Who always enjoys poor health?
EXPERT ADVICE
10 YEAR EXEMPTION CHANGE
This blog will look at various tax issues affecting olim; focusing on the Israeli tax law, and the interplay that would be relevant for new olim from across the world.
It goes without saying that anything written here is general in nature, and professional guidance should be sought for each individual case.
In previous blogs, we discussed the 10-year exemption from Israeli taxation on non-Israeli income that applies to new residents or veteran returning residents.
The exemption from taxation, enacted in 2008 and backdated to anyone who moved to Israel from 2007 onwards, is two-pronged; not only is the income exempt from taxation, but there is also an exemption from reporting such income on a tax return. The exemption also extended to not having to report overseas assets on any asset declarations that a taxpayer may have been required to file.
Over the last decade or so, the Israeli tax authority has attempted to pass legislation to require the reporting of the exempt income, so that they can double check and approve –or otherwise – that they agree that income is indeed foreign sourced and entitled to the tax exemption. However, due to various political considerations, both parts of the exemption remained in place.
In April 2024, due to pressure from the OECD and the requirement for all member countries to collect and share tax information between them, the law has been changed in respect to the exemption from reporting exempt income.
The repealing of the reporting exemption comes into effect for any new resident or veteran returning resident who become resident in Israel from 1st January 2026 and onwards. The exact nature of the reporting requirement is not yet clear, but will presumably be addressed by the Israeli tax authority in the coming months.
In theory, other than a difference in the amount of tax paperwork that’ll need to be filed, there should be no extra tax that a taxpayer will need to pay. However, it’s reasonable to assume that the tax authority will use the information that they’ll now be privy to in order to assess whether they believe that full Israeli-earned income is being declared and taxed,
Another potential “line of attack” that the Israeli tax authority could take is to investigate those who move to live in Israel in late 2025 (and I’m purposefully leaving that date range vague) , and see whether there’s an argument to make that their residence in Israel didn’t start until 2026 – the implication on reporting requirements being clear. Someone considering moving in the latter part of 2025 should give serious consideration to how they can show that their residence indeed moved in 2025; we discussed residency criteria is a previous blog post.
BUTCHERS
KOSHER DELI
Kosher Deli was established with the intention of making kosher meat and poultry affordable for all with the convenience of multiple locations and a comprehensive delivery service. All this without compromising on kashrus or quality.
Locations in: Golders Green, Hendon, Temple Fortune, Edgware, Borehamwood & Manchester
Contact: 020 8381 4450 info@kosherdeliuk.co.uk www.kosherdeli.co.uk
ESTATE AGENT
MARTIN FRYDENSON - ROUNDTREE REAL ESTATE
Roundtree Real Estate are your local experienced Estate Agent having been established on the High Street since 2009. We are both ARLA and NAEA Propertymark regulated and we are here to offer you expert advice in Property Sales, Lettings, Commercial and Full Management Services, covering Hendon, Golders Green, Finchley, Colindale and surrounding areas. We have built long standing relationships with all our clients and should you have any property related queries please do contact us.
Contact: 020 8203 2111 mail@theroundtree.com www.theroundtree.com
FINANCIAL SERVICES (FCA) COMPLIANCE
JACOB BERNSTEIN LLB (Hons) CeMAP
A member of the APCC, specialising in financial services compliance for: Mortgage, Protection and General Insurance Intermediaries
• Lenders, Credit Brokers, Debt Counsellors, Debt Administrators and Debt Collectors Wealth Management (Portfolio Management and Advice Services), Capital Markets (Asset Management and Broker Dealers), Wholesale Investment Firms (Fund Managers, Corporate Finance and Private Markets)
• Payment Services, PISP, AISP and E-Money.
Contact: 020 7781 8019 info@richdale.co.uk www.richdale.co.uk
Book a FREE meeting with UKAA’s founder Gary Brown, who will go through your particular needs and wants on a the PRACTICAL side of leaving your country of origin and/or living in/moving to Israel. This is both for pre and post- Aliyah Olim.
This FREE meeting will allow Gary to advise on who you need to speak with for each requirement and when in the year you should approach them. Confidentiality assured.
Contact: +972 (0)2 372 3775 / +44 (0)20 3 989 5080 info@aliyahadvisors.com aliyahadvisors.com/aloh-naaleh/
JEWISH CARE
Jewish Care is the largest health and social care organisation serving the Jewish community in London and the South East. Our vital services touch the lives of 10,000 people every week. We provide services and offer a wide range of support groups to older people, people with mental health needs, Holocaust survivors, people living with dementia, people with a variety of needs and carers support.
Contact: 020 8922 2222 helpline@jcare.org www.jewishcare.org
CHARITY
ALIYAH ADVISORS
ALIYAH ADVISORS - GARY BROWN - PRACTICAL ALIYAH ADVICE
WEALTH MANAGMENT
MARC OVITS – BA (HONS) APFS CERT PFS (DM)
Over 25 years of successful experience in financial services including 11 years of investment banking experience.
Offering expert independent financial advice to individuals, businesses, charities and trusts. Individual services:- Wealth Management, Investment, Retirement, Estate/IHT, protection planning, Tax Mitigation and Cash Management Solutions
Business & Charity services:- Investment Planning, Business Succession & Business Exit Planning, Business Protection, Corporate Pensions, Employee Benefits, Cash Management Solutions, Profit extraction strategies
Alpha Wealth Management
Contact: 020 8203 6920 info@alphawm.co.uk www.alphawm.co.uk
BUILDING AND PARTY WALL SURVEYING
MATRIX SURVEYORS LIMITED
Offering a range of building surveying services and specialising in party wall matters, nationwide, for both consumers and businesses, including; -
• Pre-acquisition Surveys
• Party Wall Matters
• Defect Inspections
• Schedules of Condition
• Insurance Reinstatement Costs Assessments
Contact:
Toli Moscovitz BSc (Hons) MRICS 0161 823 6973 info@matrixsurveyors.co.uk www.matrixsurveyors.co.uk
SHIPPING
STEPHEN MORRIS SHIPPING
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
MARTIN HEIMAN – SMARTINET
We’ve been providing businesses with all of their communication needs since 2010. We specialise in supplying businesses with VoIP Packages, Mobile Plans, Broadband, Card Merchant Services, Leased Lines, On-Hold Marketing, and Call Centre Services. Smartinet, your reliable and efficient business communications provider.
Contact: 0333 613 0000 connect@smartinet.co.uk smartinet.co.uk
MANAGED I.T. SERVICES PROVIDER (MSP)
SIMON MOSCOVITZ BSC (HONS) – EUROTEK UK LIMITED
• Planned Preventative Maintenance Schedules
• Construction Project Management
• Licence for Alterations
• Insurance claims
With almost 40 years experience, our company has the ability to move household and personal effects and antiques and fine art with the professionalism and care that comes from that experience coupled with an attention to detail.
We construct our own Tri-Wall and wooden packing cases on site and employ full-time art installers and handymen for those ‘extra’ jobs that always need doing on a move or installation. And size is no limitation – we have moved trains, boats and planes across the world and even bridges and a 5,000 seater tent!
Contact: 020 8832 2222 info@shipsms.co.uk www.shipsms.co.uk
We are a well-established and successful Managed I.T. Services Provider (MSP) with a clear sense of purpose. We plan, design and enable the procurement, implementation, protection and management of a wide range of modern technologies through an earned and trusted partnership with our clients across the UK. We enable our clients to be operationally efficient by successfully embracing their digital transformation journey.
Looking for a bespoke Kosher holiday that meets all your tailored needs?
Discover your perfect Kosher getaway with Bespoke Kosher Travel! Our experienced team specialises in creating customised holidays that meet your every Kosher requirement From remote destinations to popular tourist spots, we've got you covered
Contact us today and let us plan your dream Kosher holiday!
Thursday 7 November – Sunday 17 November 2024
We’re really excited to be adding this amazing itinerary to our 2024 programme. An absorbing experience that combines the challenge of cycling off the beaten track with dramatic backdrops and the calming tranquillity of a stunning country and culture.
If you have adventure in your soul, a huge sense of camaraderie and a passion to help some of the most vulnerable in our community, then join us!
Places are limited so we recommend booking early.
REGISTER NOW via the QR code or our website, or for details talk to Julie on 07718 969138 or at julie.braithwaite@norwood.org.uk
or visit