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Harris and Trump clash on Israel

BY DAVID SAFFER

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump clashed over the Israel-Gaza war during a much-anticipated 90-minute debate on ABC News on Tuesday night.

Democratic nominee Harris said the war in Gaza must end with all hostages held in captivity freed while Republican candidate Trump claimed the vice president hated Israel and would swiftly end the war if elected president in November.

The debate began with a ‘handshake’ but Harris and Trump clashed on the economy, immigration and abortion rights. Throughout a tetchy TV special both candidates provoked the other on a night of memorable exchanges.

Trump offered no evidence when he claimed Haitian immigrants in Ohio ate their pets and challenged Harris over policy changes. Harris attacked Trump’s rallies, claiming people left through boredom, and his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Regarding the Middle East, Harris was asked how she would break through the stalemate to get a hostage deal.

Recalling Hamas’ terror attack on Israel 11 months ago she told millions of viewers on television: “Let’s understand how we got here. On October 7, Hamas, a terrorist organisation, slaughtered 1,200 Israelis, many of whom were simply attending a concert.

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I said then, I say now, Israel has a right to defend itself. We would. “And how it (Israel) does so matters, because it is also true, that far too many innocent Palestinians have been killed… What we know is that this war must end. It must end immediately and the way it will end is we need a ceasefire deal and we need the hostages out.”

Harris explained that mediators continue to strive for a breakthrough after months of deadlock.

“We will continue to work around the clock,” she said. “(We will also) work around the clock understanding that we must chart a course for a two-state solution, and in that solution, there must be security for the Israeli people and Israel, and in equal measure for the Palestinians. But one thing I will assure you, I always give Israel (support to) defend itself, in particular as it relates to Iran.”

Trump did not hold back in his repost when he told viewers that Harris “hates” Israel and should she become president, Israel would not exist within two years.

He noted: “She wouldn’t even meet with (Prime Minister) Netanyahu when he went to Congress to make a very important speech. She refused to be there because she was at a sorority party.

“She hates Israel. If she’s president, I believe that Israel would not exist within two years from now. I’ve been pretty good at predictions and I hope I’m wrong about that one. She hates Israel. At the same time in her own way, she hates the

Arab population, because the whole place is going to get blown up, Arabs, Jewish people. Israel will be gone.”

Trump claimed the war would not have happened if he was president.

He confidently observed: “Iran was broke under Donald Trump. Now Iran has $300 billion because they took off all the sanctions that I had. Iran had no money for Hamas or Hezbollah or any of the 28 spheres of terror, horrible terror, they had no money. There was a big story and you know it, you covered it, very well actually. They had no money for terror. They were broke. Now they are a rich nation, and now, what they are doing, is spreading the money around. Look at what is happening with the Houthis and Yemen, look at what’s going on in the Middle East. This would never have happened. I will get that settled and fast, and I will get the war with Ukraine and Russia ended if I’m president-elect even before becoming president.”

Snap polls and most political commentators felt Harris edged the debate.

Trump claimed victory on Truth Social while Fox News called for more debates. A CNN poll found Harris the winner. She also received an endorsement from Taylor Swift on Instagram.

Harris’ campaign team challenged Trump to another debate before November. Trump responded that Harris wanted a debate because she got beaten “so bad”.

Polling is too close to call. Political shenanigans are guaranteed in the weeks ahead to election day.

Board triennium plan

BY ADAM MOSES

The Board of Deputies has released its draft plan for the triennium.

‘A Brighter Future for the UK Jewish Community’ is based around five key priorities.

The publication details areas to ‘Fight antisemitism’, ‘Stand up for peace and security in Israel and the Middle East’, ‘Defend our religious freedoms’, ‘Make our community more united, inclusive and outward-looking’, ‘Celebrate our faith, heritage and culture as British Jews’.

The initiative is underpinned by plans to enhance advocacy and activism among the Board’s 300 democratically-elected deputies and 200 Jewish communities and organisations represented across the UK.

The draft plan is subject to input of deputies in writing, an open forum at Sunday’s plenary, for those not standing for election, and an online open forum evening that deputies will be invited to contribute.

BoD President Phil Rosenberg said: “The plan displays the fresh ideas, energy and drive of the new Honorary Officer team. We have hit the ground running with a clear sense of mission and purpose. There is no doubt that our community finds ourselves at an inflection point, but we have resilience in our DNA, and I am determined that we will

come back stronger. We look forward to working with Deputies and all parts of our community towards a brighter future for the UK Jewish community.”

The Board has also launched its Gender Equality Plan.

The Honorary Officer team elected in May is diverse with Rosenberg the youngest ever president, two Honorary Officers under 40 years of age, representation from progressive communities and regions, and a vice president with a registered disability.

However, for the first time in 15 years there are no women in the Honorary Officer team.

The plan has been created following meetings of women deputies hosted by Rosenberg, data from an informal survey of women deputies and individual conversations. It has also taken into account recommendations of the Jewish Leadership Council’s 2012 Commission on Women in Jewish Leadership.

The Honorary Officers consulted deputies to generate sustained

action over the next triennium to enhance representation of women, make it fully inclusive and meritocratic.

Rosenberg said, “Our work to make the Board more inclusive continues apace. I am determined that the voices of women are heard at every level in our organisation.”

The plan in consultation with women Deputies is a first for our organisation.

“Many of its provisions, including

a changing culture, will make the organisation better for everyone,” noted Rosenberg. “We have already started implementing many of its recommendations, including the appointment of two new independent chairs for meetings. I am delighted that women deputies have put themselves forward for around 50% of positions in this weekend’s divisional elections. Gender equality is a very high priority for our team.”

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Two dead in IDF helicopter crash

BY ADAM MOSES

Two IDF soldiers were killed when an Air Force “Yanshuf” rescue helicopter crashed while landing in the Philadelphi Corridor near Rafah in the Gaza Strip during the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Sgt. Maj. (res.) Daniel Alloush, H’yd, 37, from Tel Aviv, and Sgt. Maj. (res.) Tom Ish-Shalom, H’yd, 38, from Nes Harim, were named as fatalities.

Six soldiers on the flight were injured, a female medical officer is in critical condition, four are in a serious condition. An investigation has begun to ascertain if the cause of the crash was technical failure or human error. Enemy fire was ruled out by in an initial investigation.

Four Air Force helicopters transported injured troops to Soroka Hospital in Be’er Sheva while troops secured the area.

The helicopter was evacuating a seriously injured soldier in the Engineering Corps under the Givati brigade when the incident occurred.

Army Radio reported a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter from the 123rd division was carrying a Unit 669 medical team to evacuate a seriously injured combat engineer.

The helicopter crashed at a low height and speed in the landing zone.

Pilots have been operating 24/7 since October 7 in the rescue of some 2,000 wounded soldiers, mostly in the Gaza Strip. All training flights of the helicopter are suspended pending the investigation.

This is the first helicopter crash in the Iron Swords War, but not the first damaged since 10/7.

As the war with Hamas enters a twelfth month terror attacks continue.

Hours after the helicopter tragedy an Israeli man was critically injured in a ramming attack at a bus stop on Route 60 near Beit El in Binyamin.

A Palestinian terrorist driving a gas tanker struck the 20-year-old. A civilian nearby shot the terrorist from a village near Ramallah who is being treated at Shaare Tzedek Hospital.

The victim was evacuated to Hadassah Har HaTzofim Hospital. Firefighters secured the area.

Three Israeli civilians were

killed by a Jordanian truck driver at the Allenby Bridge border crossing on Sunday morning. Security guards neutralised the terrorist.

The victims, Yohanan Shchori, 61, from Ma’ale Efraim, Yuri Birnbaum, 65, from Na’ama and Adrian Marcelo Podzamczer, from Ariel, were carrying out vehicle checks before the attack.

President Herzog sent condolences:

“The peace agreements between Israel and its neighbours are a cornerstone of stability in the region, we trust all parties will thoroughly investigate the incident and work to prevent future attacks.” He added: “This horrific act reinforces our resolve to stand firm in the face of terror, we will continue to fight with determination against terrorism and extremist elements which seek to undermine our security, and the stability of the whole region.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “This is a difficult day. An abhorrent terrorist murdered three of our citizens in cold blood. We are surrounded by a murderous ideology led by Iran’s axis of evil. The murderers do not differentiate between us. They want to murder us all, right and left, secular and religious, Jews and non-Jews, until the last one.

“What prevents the destruction of our people, as in previous times, is the strength of the State of Israel and the power of the IDF. Our soldiers’ spirit of

heroism, the police officers, the men and women of our security forces, the supreme sacrifice of our fallen heroes and the stamina of our people, these make all the difference. When we stand together, our enemies cannot overcome us; therefore, their main objective is to divide us and to sow discord among us.”

Netanyahu added: “The great majority of Israel’s citizens are not falling into this Hamas trap. They know we are fully committed to achieving the objectives of the war. We will stand together.”

The Allenby crossing is used to import goods into Israel and by Palestinians to leave via Jordan.

Efforts to secure a ceasefire and release of around 100 hostages continues.

In the north, the IDF and Hezbollah continue to exchange fire at Israel-Lebanon border. Combat operations are ongoing in the Gaza Strip but operations are evolving.

Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told foreign press reporters that Hamas no longer exists as an organised military force and is engaged in guerrilla warfare.

“We are still fighting Hamas terrorists and pursuing Hamas leadership,” he said.

Regarding Hezbollah in Lebanon Gallant said: “We are finishing training the entire order of battle for a ground operation in all its aspects.”

Chief’s son killed in Ukraine

BY HARRY SIMONS

The adopted son of the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine has been killed while fighting on the front line in Russia.

Rabbi Moshe Reuven Azman posted the news yesterday afternoon on X.

‘Tomorrow in the Central

Synagogue (Brodsky Synagogue) there will be a farewell to my son Matityahu (Anton Samborsky), who died at the front defending Ukraine,” he wrote.

Samborski, whom Rabbi Azman and his wife adopted in 2002 at the age of 10, was listed as missing in action

since July.

Rabbi Azman named his son Matityahu after Judah Maccabee.

Samborski was married and had a daughter. A few days after her birth, he was drafted into the Ukrainian army and quickly sent to the front lines after a training course.

BBC blasted for breaching own guidelines

BY DAVID SAFFER

The BBC contravened its own editorial guidelines 1,533 times during the early period of the Israel-Hamas war according to a study detailed in The Telegraph last Saturday.

British-Israeli lawyer Trevor Asserson, who is behind a comprehensive evaluation, found a ‘deeply worrying pattern of bias’ by the broadcaster against Israel .

The 200-page report, released Monday, analysed four months of BBC coverage. Disturbingly, the broadcsster disproportionately linked Israel to war crimes, genocide and international law violations but minimised Hamas terrorism. There were overall issues regarding impartiality, accuracy, editorial values and public interest guidelines.

Twenty lawyers and twenty data scientists used artificial intelligence to analyse some nine million words of BBC coverage across multiple languages and platforms following the 10/7 Hamas terror attack on Israel.

BBC director general Tim Davie, chairman Samir Shah, and board members have been sent the report.

The broadcaster has defended its ‘impartiality’ but will ‘carefully consider’ the report.

Jewish organisations and politicians have welcomed the findings and castigated the BBC.

Gideon Falter, Campaign Against Antisemitism CEO, said the BBC’s ideological bias was “shamefully clear” and should apologise for “biased and inflammatory” reporting.

He noted: “This report vindicates with empirical data what we have said and the Jewish community has known for a long time. Despite its persistent claims of impartiality and stubbornness in the face of complaints, the BBC’s ideological bias is now shamefully clear. Our polling shows that an overwhelming majority of British Jews, 86%, consider that anti-Israel bias in our media fuels antisemitism. The BBC should apologise for its biased

and inflammatory reporting, but since the BBC has so stubbornly closed ranks and denied that there is a problem over the decades and appears to be maintaining this approach in its response to the report, the fundamental reform that is plainly necessary must come from outside. The answer to this report must begin with a transparent and unconstrained public inquiry.”

Laurence Julius, National Jewish Assembly, criticised the broadcasting for nurturing an anti-Israel and anti-Semitic narrative.

He observed:

“The BBC as the world’s most influential media company with a global audience of over 500 million including influential thought leaders has a duty to report news accurately without bias or distortion and to explain the context. The BBC has failed abjectly and this is nurturing an anti-Israel and anti-Semitic narrative across its network. It has to change.”

one of the premier news services in the world, and to hear that standards may be slipping in such a severe way like this, risks tarnishing the reputation of our news service. Serious questions should be asked as to why this has been allowed to happen, and licence-fee payers should expect to see the BBC stick to its own editorial guidelines.”

Shadow Business and Trade Minis-

During the joint BBC Sounds podcast series from October to December last year, the report found 84% anti-Israel/ pro-Palestinian bias, just one section of 33 was found to be pro-Israel.

Following the 10/7 massacre, the BBC was condemned for not calling Hamas ‘terrorists’.

Despite soundings it would describe Hamas “where possible” as a “proscribed

Russell Langer, Jewish Leadership Council, added: “Many in the Jewish community have become increasingly concerned by the BBC’s coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict. In particular, the BBC’s refusal to clearly label Hamas as a proscribed terrorist group continues to cause great offence. Some 11 months into this conflict, it is clear that the BBC is failing in its duty to cover this conflict impartially and can no longer ignore the evidence.”

Jonathan Metliss, Action Against Discrimination, called on the BBC to admit it had major issues with its editorial standards and for an independent enquiry into coverage of the war.

“We need to address what is now an institutional crisis at the BBC,” he said.

“Jewish community bodies and leaders must continue to attack the BBC. The Asserson report provides important and meaningful additional ammunition.”

Lord Polak, Conservative Friends of Israel, said: “Other broadcasters have also made errors, but the BBC keeps getting it wrong. It’s shameful, it’s wrong and what’s worse, the BBC knows it.”

Shadow Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden noted: “The BBC is

ter Greg Smith added: We knew in the aftermath of October 7 that the BBC was struggling to call a terrorist a terrorist. There are now clear grounds for Ofcom and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to use every tool they have in their arsenal to bring about greater compliance with the rules around neutrality and fair coverage in the BBC charter.”

BBC coverage found Israel was associated with war crimes four times more than Hamas, genocide 14 times more and breaching international law six times more.

The BBC’s Arabic service was the most biased outlet globally and a number of BBC journalists were criticised for ‘extreme hostility to Israel’ according to the report.

BBC’s International Editor Jeremy Bowen was among reporters that signalled out for excusing Hamas terrorist activities.

terrorist organisation” the report noted that Hamas was described as a “proscribed”, “designated” or “recognised” terrorist organisation just 409 out of 12,459 times (3.2 per cent) over a fourmonth period.

Asserson, who runs Israel’s largest international law firm, Asserson Law Offices, is a long-standing campaigner against BBC bias.

“The BBC’s responsibility as a public service broadcaster is to deliver news without bias,” he said. “Our analysis reveals a significant deviation from this standard, especially in its reporting on the Israel-Hamas conflict, where the broadcaster showed a clear partiality towards one side. This bias was even more pronounced in the BBC’s Arabic content. Such conduct not only breaches the BBC’s Royal Charter but also calls into question its suitability for continued public funding.”

The entrance to the BBC’s headquarters in London

PHOTO: FRANK AUGSTEIN/AP

Gideon Falter

BBC’s Jeremy Bowen in Israel

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Dayan condemns Cooper ‘Nazi’ comments

BY HARRY SIMONS

Yad Vashem Chairman Dani Dayan has condemned statements by Darryl Cooper in a podcast with Tucker Carlson about the Nazi regime’s actions during Operation Barbarossa in 1941.

Cooper claimed the Nazis were “unprepared” to handle millions of prisoners of war and political dissidents. The statement, Yad Vashem observed, ‘grossly misrepresent’ the facts.

The German invasion of the Soviet Union was planned and included genocidal strategies for the local Jewish population.

Dayan described Cooper’s comments as among the most “repugnant forms of Holocaust denial” of recent years.

“These far-fetched conspiracy theories are not only dangerous and malevolent,

they are antisemitic,” he said.

Cooper, Yad Vashem, noted in a statement, quotes a letter, supposedly from German Wehrmacht SS officer RolfHeinz Höppner on 16 July 1941, where he ‘wrongly indicates’ the murder of civilians and POWS in the USSR was out of ‘humane’ concerns due to insufficient food supplies.

In reality, the letter by Höppner calls for the murder of all Jews in the western region of occupied Poland, called the ‘Warthegau’ by the Nazi,. ‘Misrepresenting this as anything but intentional mass murder distorts history and downplays the Nazis responsibility for the Holocaust and for their other crimes,’ noted a Yad Vashem statement.

Prof. Dan Michman, Head of Yad Vashem’s International Institute for

Holocaust Research, said Cooper was not known for any scholarly research on Nazism and the Holocaust.

His statements in the interview “clearly demonstrate” his ignorance.

Yad Vashem observed: ‘It is crucial to uphold the truth of these events. Approximately six million Jews, including some four million killed near their homes in Eastern Europe, were murdered as part of the Nazis’ systematic genocide called by them ‘The Final Solution to the Jewish Question’. Any attempt to distort these historical facts or explain this away sanitises these genocidal crimes and

dishonors the memory of the victims.’

Prague street named after Winton

BY DAVID SAFFER

A street in Prague has been named after Sir Nicholas Winton to commemorate the 85th anniversary of the Kindertransport this month.

Winton was instrumental in the rescue of 669 children from Czechoslovakia to the UK on the kindertransport programme during World War ll.

Four children on the kindertransport, now in their 80s and 90s, attended the ceremony.

Nicholas Winton Street, a path for pedestrians and cyclists, runs beneath the tracks at Praha Bubny train station where thousands of Czechoslovak Jews were deported during the Holocaust.

Jan Cizinsky, Mayor of Prague’s seventh district, spoke of Winton’s “heroism, courage and humility” during a “dark side of world history”.

He said: “In today’s world, it’s really important that people don’t wait for someone else to initiate an act of goodness, but that they themselves start doing it. It’s important that they take the first step and then others will follow.”

Michael Newman, AJR chief executive, noted: “It is hugely symbolic that (his) endeavours are recognised and celebrated as well as to acknowledge the heroism of many others with whom he worked. In remembering Sir Nicholas, we also honour the parents who sent away their children to an uncertain future as well as the foster families who gave sanctuary to the youngest victims of Nazi oppression. It is our fervent hope that the salvation of the Kindertransport will never again be needed.”

The UK release by Warner Bros. Pictures of ‘One Life’, documenting Winton’s story and starring Anthony Hopkins, was critically acclaimed earlier this year.

Winton, born in London, 1909, cancelled a skiing holiday in December 1938 to witness the plight of Jewish refugees in Prague after Germany annexed the

Sudetenland, a German-speaking area of Czechoslovakia.

Following Kristallnacht, in November 1938, the Nazis initiated a hate campaign against Jews. With the British government relaxing immigration laws for the Kindertransport programme, Winton appealed for Czech children to come to the UK.

Alongside volunteers, Trevor Chadwick and Doreen Warriner of the British Committee for Refugees in Czeckoslovakia, and his mother, host families and funds to cover travel expenses were organised.

Eight trains left occupied Prague.

Tragically, a ninth, the largest, carrying around 250 children which was due to leave on September 1, 1939 failed to leave the station. Most were murdered by the Nazis.

Winton later said, it was the “most emotional moment of his life”.

Winton received many honours including a knighthood in 2003, the Freedom of Prague and London, and Order of the White Lion, the Czech Republic’s highest

as The Central British Fund for German Jewry (CBF), was key to the Kindertransport programme from Germany, Austria and Czechoslovakia under Nazi rule.

After Kristallnacht, CBF founders Lionel De Rothschild and Chaim Weizmann, together with prominent British Jews including Chief Rabbi Dr Joseph Hertz met Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain. They proposed financial support, education and training.

Almost all the children’s parents were murdered during the Holocaust.

Winton was an ambulance driver during the war before joining the RAF. For five decades he did not think he had done anything extraordinary until Esther Rantzen on her TV show That’s Life! in 1988 revealed his remarkable story and arranged for a number of children, now adults, to thank him.

honour.

The individuals Winton saved built families numbering thousands. In a 60 Minutes interview when he was 104, two years before his death in 2015, Winton recalled: “I worked on the motto that if something is not impossible there is must be a way of doing it.”

World Jewish Relief, formerly known

Chamberlain wasn’t keen initially, however, Home Secretary Sir Samuel Hoare, a Quaker, addressed the Cabinet where Foreign Secretary Lord Halifax felt it could bring America on board as allies.

On November 21 1938, Parliament agreed to an unlimited number of child refugees to be given temporary refuge in Britain. A travel permit eliminated the need for formal documents.

The first train on 30 November 1938 left Berlin’s Friedrichstrasse station with 196 children on board arriving early December at Harwich. By the last train in September 1939 some 10,000 children were brought to safety.

The Movement for the Care of Children from Germany (MCCG) oversaw the rescue effort.

WJR has digitised records including individual case files for children on the Kindertransport. A bronze sculpture, The ‘Trains to Life: Trains to Death’ memorial, by Frank Meisler, honouring Jewish children saved on the Kindertransport and over two million children murdered during the Holocaust, stands adjacent to Friedrichstrasse station in Berlin.

Meisler was rescued during the Kindertransport operation in 1939.

Sir Nicholas Winton

NJA’s Successful Speaker Event with John Mason MSP: ‘Fighting for Facts’

The National Jewish Assembly (NJA) hosted a highly engaging online event on September 5, 2024, featuring SNP Parliamentarian John Mason MSP. The event, titled “Fighting for Facts,” offered an in-depth discussion on the difficulties politicians face when they speak out in support of Israel amid today’s increasingly toxic pro-Palestinian rhetoric.

John Mason, who has been suspended from the SNP for stating that Israel is not committing genocide, shared his experience of standing up for the truth. “The term ‘genocide’ is used far too loosely and irresponsibly. Israel’s actions do not meet this definition by any stretch of the imagination. It’s crucial to be precise in the language we use,” he said. Mason’s willingness to defend Israel’s right to self-defence has sparked intense debate within his party, but he remains steadfast. “I stand by my statement because it’s based on facts. Israel has a right to defend itself, and that’s what they’re doing, not committing genocide.”

Mason also discussed the broader political atmosphere within the SNP and Scotland, noting the increasing hostility toward Israel. “There’s a fashion of cheering on the Palestinians and attacking

Israel. Many politicians are simply going with the flow without really considering the facts,” he explained. Despite this, Mason remains hopeful, acknowledging that many outside of politics support his views. “There’s more support among the general public than there is within the party itself.”

Gary Mond, Chairman of the NJA, praised Mason’s courage during the event: “John Mason has shown tremendous bravery in standing up for facts and reason, especially in the face of political and public pressure. His commitment to truth over political convenience is inspiring.”

The event concluded with a lively Q&A session, during which Mason encouraged further dialogue on the importance of facts and honest discourse. “We must continue to have these conversations, stand up for the truth, and push back against false narratives,” he urged.

The NJA remains committed to facilitating these vital discussions, promoting fact-based dialogue, and supporting those who have the courage to speak the truth.

Vilna shul discoveries

BY HARRY SIMONS

Archaeological excavations of the Great Synagogue of Vilna has revealed evidence of the destruction by the Nazis and the Soviet authorities during the Holocaust.

Excavations on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, Society of Lithuanian Archaeology, Goodwill Foundation and Jewish community of Lithuania uncovered a mikva and Bimah.

The synagogue, built in the 17th century in the Renaissance-Baroque style, was the oldest and most significant of Lithuanian Jewry. A complex included 12 synagogues, study houses and community council building, the home of Rabbi Eliyahu, the Vilna Gaon, Kosher shops and ‘Strashun’ library. The site was looted by the Nazi Germans and later destroyed by Soviet authorities.

Excavation Directors, Dr. Jon Seligman from the IAA and Justinas Rakas from

the Archeological Society said: “The synagogue Bimah that was uncovered during the previous excavation seasons, as well as colourful decorations of the floor and walls bring back moments in the life of a lost vibrant community.”

Eli Escusido, IAA Director, added: “This important excavation has been going on in Lithuania for a number of years and takes on a new importance after October 7. In the face of rising anti-Semitism and attempts to deceive and deny, there is one undeniable truth, both simple and tragic, which tells us about an entire community that was destroyed due to hatred of Jews.”

Dr Jon Seligman at the main prayer hall

PHOTO: IAA

Roman paintings discovered in Ashkelon

BY HARRY SIMONS

Two vaulted tombs have been located near Ashkelon’s marina.

The items, at least 1,700 years old, display wall paintings rarely found in Israel, of Greek mythological characters, people, plants and animals.

The Ashkelon Municipality and Israel Antiquities Authority are behind the initiative.

The site was found in the 1930s close

to the beach. The tomb structure was excavated by a British expedition and dated to the 4th century CE. Another tomb, uncovered in the excavation of Dr. Elena Kogan-Zehavi, dates from the 2nd century CE and was relocated from a site in the 1990s.

The structures have been preserved by IAA conservation experts Vladimir Bitman, David Kirakosian, Alexei Ronkin and Yoni Tirosh HaCohen in recent months.

Thousands mourn the Skulener Rebbe

BY ADAM MOSES

Tens of thousands of mourners attended the funeral of the Skulener Rebbe, Rabbi Yeshaya Yaakov Portugal zt’l, from Boro Park who died last Shabbat.

The esteemed rabbi, 68, was born in Bucharest and had suffered from serious illness for a number of years.

The eldest son of Rabbi Yisrael Avraham Portugal zt”l, who he succeeded five years ago, and grandson of Rabbi Eliezer Zusia Portugal, zt”l, Rabbi Yeshaya Yaakov displayed a deep love of Torah throughout his life.

His father, who survived the Holocaust, became known for rescuing Jewish children during Communist rule in Romania. Both his father and grandfather risked their lives to preserve Yiddishkeit under Communist rule. The Rebbe went on to inspire a generation of Jews from all walks of life.

After relocating to the United States, the Rebbe continued the work of his late father.

Chasidim would wait outside his home to receive his blessings and advice day and night. His compassion was a comfort and strength to everyone who visited. His knowledge and

leadership, however, was far beyond Boro Park, as he played a crucial role in supporting the Chessed L’Avraham network of schools in Israel and spread Torah around the world.

The Rebbe who survived a life-threatening illness a number of years ago, an event he thanked G-d for publicly, is survived by his brothers, the Skulener Rebbes of Williamsburg, Monsey, Lakewood and Jerusalem who carry on the Skulen dynasty, and many chasidim globally.

The funeral took place at the Skulener Beis HaMedrish in Boro Park followed by burial at the Vizhnitzer Beis Hachaim in Monsey last Sunday.

Live updates and videos of the funeral were posted on social media for those unable to attend.

Mark Abrahami, ISS head of art conservation, said: “Ancient wall paintings are usually not preserved in Israel’s humid climate. As the paintings were in a relatively closed structure it protected them for decades. We had to conduct a long and sensitive process to stop and repair the ravages of time and weathering. The building was strengthened and stabilised to preserve it for future generations.”

The Ashkelon Municipality has invested resources in the city’s ancient sites with the IAA.

Among other works, a large public park in the Wine City neighborhood includes wine and olive presses. A mosaic on Yekutiel Adam Street is preserved next to a playground. The sarcophagus courtyard has also been upgraded to display ancient artifacts and was set up on Kadesh Boulevard.”

When the public garden is opened, Ashkelon residents, Israeli visitors and tourists will be able to learn more about the bustling modern city.

Eli Escusido, IAA Director, “Ashkelon is an example of how the integration of ancient findings into the urban fabric provokes interest in its public spaces. Thanks to the municipality and conservators residents and visitors will enjoy the extraordinary decorated tombs.”

Mirey Altit, Ashkelon Deputy Mayor and Head of Historical Site Conservation

added: “We are taking care to make the historical sites accessible to the general public, to develop surroundings and conduct cultural activities.”

The IAA have also joined forces with the Ministry for the Development of the Negev, Galilee and National Resilience, Tekuma Authority and Ministry for Social Equality for a NIS 35m fund to encourage high-tech companies to expand into Israel’s northern and southern regions.

The Leap to High-Tech programme support companies opening new branches, developing economic growth and reducing inequalities across the country. Financial support is available for training inexperienced and experienced employees. Programmes will be launched within six months of receiving grants and can submitted until the end of September. The execution period is 12-24 months.

National Resilience Minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf said: “Strengthening employment is a priority. The state has a vested interest to expand activities to the Negev and Galilee.” Director-General Yohanan Mali added: “This programme is about strengthening economic and employment resilience.”

Hassan Tawafra, Ministry for Social Equality, added: “Opening branches will allow companies to access this candidate pool and facilitate the integration of Arab workers into the industry.”

An aerial view of Ashkelon

PHOTO: BIBLEPLACES.COM

The Skulener Rebbe

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Letters to the Editor

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

ASSERSON REPORT

Dear Editor

AAD utterly and unequivocally applauds and commends the 199 page report led by lawyer Trevor Asserson demonstrating that the BBC has breached its own editorial guidelines more than 1,500 times during the height of the Israel- Hamas War

Following the disclosure by HonestReporting on 6 December 2023 of significant issues with the BBC’s coverage of the Israel - Hamas war, a new damning report led by lawyer Trevor Asserson has now

enquiry into the BBC coverage of the Israel - Hamas war to address what is now an institutional crisis at the BBC

Furthermore , the BBC which has a duty to report the news accurately and and impartially , should be formally apologising to both the State of Israel , which has been the victim of a vicious campaign of disinformation and lies and to the UK Jewish Community which has been the subject of increased anti semitic behaviour and incidents following the war, to which the BBC’s misleading coverage has clearly contributed

AAD also calls on the UK Government to condemn the BBC in no uncertain

THE NEW YEAR, WILL BE HERE, SOON

Dear Editor

Well, we are into September - Autumn is upon us as Summer has now gone

Most of us have enjoyed quite a lot of warm, dry weather when the Sun shone

Children are back at school (hooray you may say) - their summer holidays are over

So, it’s time (if you have not already done so), to look forward to Rosh Hashanah

The next festival, which seems to come round so quickly, in our Hebrew calendar

As this year, 5784, will soon come to a close

We cannot but help starting to think of all those

Who we have so sadly lost during this year for one reason or another

Perhaps, uppermost in our minds, is what happened on 7th October

And in the days, weeks and months which we have endured, thereafter

When a Pogrom, perpetrated by Hamas, in our lifetime, early that Autumn

understand

A terrible situation in our Jewish Homeland

As we all hopefully, joyfully, look to celebrate the start of 5785

Shortly, afterwards, the first anniversary of this atrocity will arrive

Another black day in our long history of suffering and human losses

But, Baruch Hashem, Israel and the Jewish people, will be victorious

Defeating all our enemies and ensuring that the Israeli State survives

As it has done so, many times since 1948 – and even better – thrives

On Rosh Hashanah and during the Yamim Noraim

Let us all have in our minds the wellknown, maxim

Am Yisrael Chai

With that thought, I Wish everyone Shabbat shalom

J D Milaric

OPINION

Start again at the beginning

OPINION PIECE

BY ROBERT FESTENSTEIN

We need to start again. We are in the midst of the most serious crisis our community has faced since the Second World War and we need to re-evaluate our position. From the beginning.

On the 6th October 2023 there was an established order of how we believed the Jewish world in the UK operated. We had ready access to all levels of Government and crucially our input counted for something. Interfaith with the Muslim community was accepted as a meaningful way of promoting a relationship as well as developing allies in the battle against Israelophobia and anti-Semitism. Campus issues were by and large being dealt with by the Union of Jewish Students and the BBC was just thought to be routinely anti-Israel without any serious cause for alarm.

By the end of October all of this had changed. The Government seemed unable to exert any influence on the police to protect us and all those involved in interfaith who could have supported us disappeared

like the melting snows of spring. The antagonism towards Jewish students hit an all-time high and the BBC simply ran amok, refusing to call Hamas terrorists.

One might have thought that someone at the head of one of the communal institutions might have called for a summit, to discuss the failures of the various policies and beliefs adopted over the last decade. Or some debate in the Jewish press as to how we should learn from the miscalculations and incorrect assumptions of the past. Even when Labour were elected in July of this year, the old policies held good in that many believed that the bad old days of Jeremy Corbyn were well and truly behind us, and that a Labour Government would support and protect the Jewish community. Only of course it hasn’t as we have seen to our dismay in relation to re-funding of UNRWA, withdrawal of the objection to the referral of Israel to the ICC and most recently, withdrawal of export licences for 30 different defence items due for delivery to Israel.

To make matters worse, instead of calling out the 4 newly elected ‘pro-Gaza’ MPs, as anti-democratic Islamists, many Labour MPs have insinuated that the reason that

The Governors of Menorah Foundation School welcome applications for entry to both the Nursery and Reception Classes 2025

At Menorah Foundation School our children are at the heart of everything we do. Recognising each child’s unique contribution and building on their self-esteem, we learn, grow and succeed together in a community rich in the values of Torah and Mitzvos, where every child is not only encouraged but inspired to reach their potential. By achieving together as a whole school community we encourage everyone to become life-long learners and ‘reach for their star’.

Applications for entry to the Nursery Class 2025 are for children born between 1 September 2021 and 31 August 2022. You will need to submit an Application Form, a Supplementary Information Form and a copy of the child’s birth certificate. The closing date for applications is Thursday 5 December 2024

Applications for entry to the Reception Class 2025 are for children born between 1 September 2020 and 31 August 2021. Applications for Reception must be submitted to the London Borough of Barnet, or your Local Authority, by Wednesday 15 January 2025 (www.eadmissions.org.uk). All supplementary information forms must be submitted to the school no later than Wednesday 8 January 2025

We will be holding an open morning for prospective parents on Thursday 7 November 2024, when applicants will have an opportunity to see the School and meet School staff and governors. Please contact admissions@menorahfoundation.co.uk by Friday 1 November 2024 if you would like to attend.

Both the Nursery application form and supplementary information form can be downloaded from the school website (http://www.menorahfoundation.co.uk/admissions).

Abbots Road, Edgware, Middx, HA8 0QS Tel: 0208 906 9992 Fax: 0208 906 9993 office@menorahfoundation.co.uk www.menorahfoundation.co.uk

Labour lost to these Israel-loathing individuals was because Labour didn’t hate Israel enough.

So what now? It is easy to point out how poor things are now, and how badly we have misjudged our position. What is vital now is that we recognise where we went wrong and how we can fix it.

To begin we should recognise that whilst we may have access to Government, our influence has seriously waned, replaced now by a Muslim community over 10 times our size. As for the universities and the BBC we need to go on the offensive. We cannot afford to believe that if we are polite to these people they will take us seriously. For a good example of what needs to be done look at UK Lawyers for Israel. They are doing exactly what is needed, challenging institutions as to the legality of their actions – most recently the Government on their nonsense decision concerning shipping defence equipment to Israel.Our perspective needs to change so that our starting point is that whilst the bulk of the population are either with us, or neutral, those people in influential positions such as universities or the media certainly are not. Interfaith has now to be considered a

waste of time, unless those to whom we are speaking openly accept Israel as a Jewish state and one which they accept is here to stay. A low bar I know, but for too many in the Muslim community one even they will not stretch to reach.

We need to appeal to that substantial part of the population who do support us, by campaigning solidly and loudly on our own behalf. We need to demonstrate the bias in the BBC, the indifference in the universities and the lack of interest in our protection amongst the police. None of this will win us any friends, but since the friends upon which we believed we could rely, disappeared on the 8th October, we need to find new friends. In the meantime we all need to understand that the Jewish world is a different place now and we have to be prepared to fight for our community. Realistically we have little choice.

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

Sinai Youth Movement Limited

Sinai are recruiting for the role of YOUTH MOVEMENT LEADER

Sinai believes in the preservation and promotion of traditional Judaism and Zionistic values, amongst modern Jewish youth.

TITLE: Youth Movement Leader

SALARY: £22,000 per annum

HOURS OF WORK: Part-Time (c20-25 hours per week – flexible)

LOCATION: Working from home and attending events

START DATE: Immediate

Sinai are looking for a passionate and experienced individual to act as the leader of Sinai

The individual will work as part of a team, receiving administrative support, with responsibility for improving overall engagement across the organisation.

The role will entail working across all levels of the organisation. Liaising with the trustee s and management, working with other administrative staff, supporting leaders and volunteers and engaging with children and parents.

This will include coordinating and overseeing the day to day running of the organisation; promoting and facilitating social and educational gatherings and events, as well as residential camps.

As part of this role, the successful candidate will expected to demonstrate:

• An understand of Sinai’s ethos and ability to promote it

• Passion for youth work, with a drive to deliver increased engagement amongst all involved

• Experience and knowledge of youth movement structure

• Good administrative ability, including preparing and maintaining budgets

• Ability to work flexibly

• Possessing good communication and organisational skills

The role gives an opportunity to make a significant impact within the local Jewish community. To apply, please contact events@sinaiyouth.org

Head Teacher: Mrs H Hunter

Head of Kodesh: Rabbi S Jay Principal: Rabbi Y Hamer

Mizrachi UK Launches Global ‘Simchat Torah Project’ in Jerusalem

Mizrachi UK unveiled its groundbreaking global initiative, “The Simchat Torah Project,” last week in Jerusalem. Two hundred participants from communities across the globe gathered next to the Kotel at the climax of a two-day mission to receive new Torah mantles, given by the families of Kadoshim who have fallen since the tragic events of October 7th, whose names are on the back of the Torah covers.

In response to the question weighing on the hearts of many—How can we dance on Simchat Torah this year, knowing it marks the yahrzeit of countless children, parents, grandparents, and

siblings?—Mizrachi UK turned to the poignant words of Kohelet (Ecclesiastes), which is read on Sukkot: “Et Sfod, V’Et Rkod”—”A time to mourn, and a time to dance.” This message became their guiding light. As we grieve, both as individuals and as a community, we must also find the strength to dance—to celebrate life and resilience despite our collective pain.

The initiative has already seen a tremendous global response. To date, 521 communities in 32 countries —including the UK, China, the Dominican Republic and India - from across the spectrum of Jewish observance—have ordered 630 Torah mantles in memory of each individual Kadosh. The project’s launch in Jerusalem was marked by emotional addresses from Rav Doron Perez, CEO of World Mizrachi, who tragically lost one son but recently celebrated the marriage of another. Senai Guedalia, the wife of Yosef Guedalia HY”D, also spoke at the event, which also

featured moving musical performances by Yonatan Razel.

Rabbi Andrew Shaw of Mizrachi UK who hosted the launch said, “This Simchat Torah, we are faced with an unimaginable paradox— dancing while our hearts are heavy with grief. Yet, through the Simchat Torah Project, we have found a way to honour the memory of our loved ones. Each Torah mantle symbolizes our unwavering faith and the strength of our global Jewish community. While we mourn together as one nation, we will also dance together, demonstrating that even in our darkest moments, we choose life, unity, and hope.”

awaiting their mantles’ delivery.

David Reuben, Executive Director of Mizrachi UK said, “The Simchat Torah Project is a testament to the resilience and unity of the Jewish people. As we

12 communities from the UK were present to receive their Torah mantles from the families of the fallen, with an additional 51 UK communities eagerly

distribute these Torah mantles across the world, we are reminded that even in the face of immense tragedy, our communities come together with strength and purpose. This project honours not only the memory of those we lost but also the spirit of those who continue to carry the flame of Torah and the Jewish people forward.”

Wohl Ilford Jewish Primary School gets ‘outstanding’

Wohl Ilford Jewish Primary School in Barkingside has been graded ‘outstanding’ in all areas in their recent Pikuach inspection with inspectors describing it as a ‘beacon school’.

Pikuach is the inspection service accredited by the Department of Education to undertake inspections of religious education at Jewish schools in the UK, and is the statutory equivalent of Ofsted. Headteacher, Lisa West, said she was thrilled that the inspectors called WIJPS a ‘beacon school,’ as they could clearly see how incredibly special the school is. The Pikuach report comments “the way the school goes about developing pupils’ Jewish character and values is exemplary, and [is] worthy of being disseminated widely as an example to other schools.”

Of the school’s Quality of Jewish education, Pikuach judged WIJPS as outstanding because, “the curriculum intent is strong and provides memorable experiences and rich opportunity for high-quality Jewish learning for all pupils, including those with additional needs and those from different backgrounds.”

In regard to Jewish personal and spiritual development, “pupils leave with a real love of Judaism, respect for others, and the ability to make informed choices.”

Two inspectors spent two days at the

school, immersing themselves in the Jewish studies aspects of the school. One inspector, who visited Key Stage 2 tefillah, reported that he could feel Hashem in the room, as he was visibly moved by the experience of children from all backgrounds davening together.

Rabbi Sufrin, Rabbinic Governor for the school, played a large role in the Pikuach inspection and said he feels “proud and honoured” to be on the governing body of the school. A regular visitor to the school, Rabbi Sufrin regularly supports Kabbalat Shabbat, runs termly ‘Ask the Rabbi’ lessons for years 5 and 6, and supports many of the hands-on activities from which the pupils’ benefit, such as Friday night dinners and matzah making workshops.

WIJPS has the United Synagogue as its foundation body, but caters for pupils from all backgrounds, reflecting the changing demographic of the area but steadfastly holding onto its core Jewish values. Nevertheless, the Pikuach report found from pupil and parent surveys, that responses were overwhelmingly positive, with “100% of pupils reporting that they enjoy coming to school and feel safe and secure.”

Chair of Governors, Ben Saltman, expressed his delight that the inspectors could see the strength of the school’s

leadership and management, as “school leaders and governors have a shared vision, articulate the ethos of the school, and are actively involved to ensure that their high standards are maintained.”

Inspectors also praised the Jewish Studies Lead, Deborah Harris, who “models excellent practice in academic and spiritual matters, works successfully to develop teaching and learning, and conveys passion and devotion to the whole school community.”

A Year 6 pupil told the inspectors, “WIJPS is an excellent school. We are a community and we all respect each other.”

For the full report, please visit https:// www.ijpsonline.co.uk/wp-content/ uploads/2024/07/WIJPS-Final-report-89-July-2024-.pdf

For further information on the school or to arrange a tour, please email office@ ijpsonline.co.uk

The Torah mantles presented in the Old City of Jerusalem

Rav Doron Perez explaining why we must dance on Simchat Torah this year

Rosh Hashanah Tea

Wednesday 25th S eptember 2024

3-5pm

Venue: North-West London

Price: £15 per person

RSVP: 020 8732 6101 or email kklevents@kkl.org.uk

•

•

A new place to call home

Moving to a care home is a big change and it is important to many older people and their relatives that they are staying connected and enriched by Jewish life.

“Otto Schiff care home offers a stimulating, friendly and sociable Jewish environment with specialist dementia care. Our ethos is to ensure that residents lead meaningful lives connected with their spirituality and traditions, staying as active, engaged and independent as possible, while being supported by expert caring staff,” says Kemi Ariba, Jewish Care Registered Care Home Manager at Otto Schiff care home.

“Otto Schiff is full of warmth and care and a wonderful place to live where the caring staff provide specialist support for people living with dementia,” adds Rachel Jones, Jewish Care’s Director of Care Services. “There is so much on offer and having company and social activities on tap is a real benefit of care home life. It can be hugely reassuring for families to have the peace of mind to know that with Jewish Care there is assistance if you need it, and it is there 24/7 as respite or longterm care.

“There’s also the unique Jewish care that we provide, with Jewish life and traditions people feel comfortable with in a culturally familiar environment. Being able to enjoy delicious Kosher food, go to Shabbat services with other residents, and know that Shabbat and festivals are celebrated,

gives a special uniquely Jewish atmosphere that makes it home.

“It can be a good idea to plan ahead and arrange to have a look round our care homes when you can see that your relative’s care needs are changing and when you need a break from caring to give you some extra support, to benefit the wellbeing of both carers and your relative.”

The wide-ranging stimulating activities to suit a variety of interests for residents, include everything from singing and reminiscence groups to weekly visits from nursery children with Debutots and flower-arranging. Residents can spend time in the beautiful outdoor seating area and sensory garden in the courtyard and enjoy activities at the Michael Sobell Jewish Community Centre on the same site, at the Maurice and Vivienne Wohl Campus.

Whether it’s art and crafts, discussions or seated exercises, board games, and cookery sessions, the meaningful activities have a person-centred empowering approach, tailored to the strength and abilities of each resident. Residents can enjoy a cinema experience in the Dagul Lounge and weekly live entertainment.

Intergenerational visits around Jewish festivals by school children, shul and community volunteers enhance daily life at Jewish Care homes. Celebrations around the festivals including hearing the Shofar, shaking the Lulav and Etrog with residents, lighting Chanukah and Shabbat

SPECIALIST DEMENTIA CARE HOME THAT FEELS LIKE HOME

candles, baking and enjoying honey cake on Rosh Hashanah and singing the Seder songs, all stimulate the senses, connecting people living with dementia with their Jewish traditions, with positive memories from their past and with the present.

Creative projects with participatory artists who run specialist programmes including Dance for Life and Music for Life, run intermittently, stimulating the senses and increasing engagement. Musicians from City of London Sinfonia also come in to the care home to run interactive sessions with residents in their Room to Room project connecting on a one to one level.

Dorothea Jacobs has been a resident for five years. She has two daughters, six

grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. She enjoys the children’s visits, the music sessions, the art and entertainment, especially Hebrew singing with the singer and guitar. She also loves the weekly baking group. Susan, Dorothea’s daughter, said ‘My mother always enjoys baking and cooking activities at Otto Schiff. When she was younger, she was excellent at baking strudel and biscuits making. It is so important that this continues as an activity to stimulate her and to enable her to reminisce.’

To find out more about long term and respite care, contact Jewish Care Direct helpline at helpline@jcare.org, call 020 8922 2222 or visit jewishcare.org.

Otto Schiff care home in Golders Green offers a strong sense of community in a warm, Jewish environment. Our dedicated and compassionate staff are expertly trained in taking care of people living with dementia and provide a programme of stimulating activities to ensure residents maintain their skills, self-esteem and independence.

• Competitive rates

• Spacious ensuite bedrooms with 24-hour call system

• Communal lounges for socialising

• Courtyard garden with seating areas

• Recently renovated kosher kitchens providing delicious meals

• Celebration of Shabbat and Jewish festivals

To arrange a visit, please call our team on 020 8922 2222 or email helpline@jcare.org

Dorothea prepares for Shabbat with Danuta at Jewish Care’s Otto Schiff House care home

Jewish Futures inaugurates ‘The Hub’ and kicks off post-summer activities with intensive staff training

Jewish Futures and its family of organisations have long been a source of creativity, innovation, and inspiration within the Jewish community. To accommodate its expanding initiatives, Jewish Futures has inaugurated a new centre, The Hub, located in the heart of North West London’s Jewish community, complementing its existing headquarters in Hendon Central.

At a time when Jewish identity, particularly among young people, is being challenged, Jewish Futures has taken proactive steps by conducting an intensive training week for its dedicated teams of leaders. Educators working across schools, campuses, and with young professionals nationwide participated in sessions designed to equip them for the challenges ahead. This training re-focused educators and staff across all Jewish Futures organisations as the new academic year begins, ensuring that all educational experiences and initiatives achieve maximum engagement and impact.

In the past year alone, over 20,000 young British Jews have engaged in Jewish and Israel solidarity activities through the 12 organisations that form the Jewish Futures family. Whether through Aish UK’s presence on 21 campuses and in 20 schools across the country, the volunteering hubs of GIFT in London and Manchester, the immersive travel experiences and Holocaust education provided by JRoots, or the spiritual engagement fostered by Eilecha, Jewish Futures offers multiple pathways to Jewish connection. Other notable initiatives include Shelanu, which involves thousands of Israelis, Chazon, which engages teenagers from

Orthodox communities, and Taamim, which attracts Jewish food enthusiasts.

The three-story building, once a nondescript office block, now serves as a dynamic space for GIFT’s warehouse and volunteering activities, the newly forming young community Kehal Yedidim, and a young leadership centre and social lounge supporting Aish UK, JRoots, Eilecha, Chazon, and other Jewish Futures initiatives. This new facility embodies the diverse and impactful work for which Jewish Futures is renowned.

To mark the opening of The Hub, Dayan Gelley, Head of London Beth Din, honoured Jewish Futures by affixing the mezuzah at the entrance. He remarked, “This is a wonderful building where people can come to be together, to laugh to enjoy and reflect. I see it’s called The Hub, in Hebrew that’s two letters heh and bet – “huv” which in Aramaic means to give and is the roots of ahava – love. I know that GIFT and all the Jewish Futures organisations are all about giving and sharing a love of being Jewish, of life of authentic Yiddishkeit and I wish tremendous bracha vehatzlacha in the love of giving meaning, purpose and direction that will impact all of British Jewry from The Hub – a true place of Huv!”

Rabbi Schiff, Founder and Chief Executive of Jewish Futures, said: “The new Jewish Futures Hub represents a significant milestone on our journey towards establishing the “Our Story” community building. We are grateful for the growing demand that has driven this expansion—not just in space, but in the scope of our activities and initiatives. The Hub will enable us to achieve even greater engagement and impact, and we eagerly anticipate welcoming the community into this dynamic new space.”

Rabbi Milun, Managing Director

of GIFT, added, “Expanding into The Hub enables us to welcome more volunteers and significantly increase opportunities for giving. With a dedicated space to host our volunteering programmes, we can amplify our impact within the community even further.”

Jewish Futures has negotiated a long-term lease on the property which sits opposite the site of the “Our Story” community building which is currently being completed. A major fundraising campaign is underway in order to achieve this.

Dayan Gelley fixing the Mezuzah with the Jewish Futures Team

Shaare Zedek fundraiser

Over 100 people attended an Antisemitism in Sport & Society discussion to raise funds for Shaare Zedek UK at New North London Synagogue last Sunday.

Following an introductory presentation on the medical centre in Jerusalem former patient Martin Brownstein gave an address before a positive welcome from Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg.

A distinguished panel of speakers comprised former Football Association and Manchester City football club chairman David Bernstein, Jewish Leadership Council chief executive Claudia Mendoza, , former ITN presenter and media adviser Graeme Miller, ex footballer Joe Jacobson and football agent Phil Korklin.

Shaare Zedek advisory board Action member and Against Discrimination chairman Jonathan Metliss chaired event. Each panellist provided their own perspective on the topic before questions and comments from the floor that covered wide-ranging issues relating to antisemitic behaviour and incidents in sport and general. An agreed point was redefining the term ‘antisemitism’ as ‘Jew hatred’.

Shaare Zedek UK chief executive Oshrit Cowan said: “This was an outstanding evening with a lively and engaging audience. We heard a healthy discussion on antisemitism in the UK and raised significant funds for Shaare Zedek in Jerusalem. Metliss added: “This such a worthy cause and the discussion was stimulating with tremendous audience participation.”

Beyond Bat Mitzvah 2024

On 9th September, BES held a graduation ceremony for the first cohort of Beyond Bat Mitzvah participants. The course, which began in May, provided a unique opportunity and experience for women who had not previously celebrated their Bat Mitzvah. The programme was devised by Rebbetzen Eva Chapper who led sessions on subjects including the power of speech, women’s education, body and soul. United Synagogue Educator Shira Jackson taught about prayer and great Jewish heroes of the past. The participants were also encouraged by Eva to keep a “Gratitude Journal” as part of the effort to reflect on what it means to be a Jewish woman today.

participate in such a transformative programme and to celebrate, which proved that it is never too late.

Rebbetzen Chapper said, “It was wonderful to hear the women speak, we really enjoyed learning together and from each other during our sessions. It was so inspiring to hear about their lives and

At the graduation, each of the women spoke eloquently about the personal journey that they had experienced during the course, sharing what they had learnt, discovered about themselves and their Jewish identity and how much it meant to them. Everyone expressed how grateful they were for having the opportunity to

what motivated them to be a part of this. They’re continuing the tradition of Jewish women throughout the generations who’ve always treasured their heritage.” One of the participants said, “I didn’t know what to expect, but it was very moving, everyone spoke so well. I’m really proud that we did this together. A huge thank you to Eva whose inspiration and guidance made this possible.”

The Kasner Centre – a hub with everyone in mind

Chana was honoured to host the inspirational Tzipora Grodko, coach and licensed Psychotherapist, who advocates for sensitivity and change for the single community. Dr Veronique Berman, Scientific Advisor at Chana, opened the event, reminding the audience that The Kasner Centre is a hub and a safe space for the entire community.

YOUR LEGACY

More than seventy women from different communities across London, including many rebbetzins and shadchanim, flocked to hear this inspirational talk on the importance of improving inclusivity for single people within the Jewish community. Tzipora, who travelled all the way from the United States to raise awareness on this important mission, highlighted how it can be extremely painful to be a single person in a community that is so centred around families and couples. She also raised the importance of acknowledging the many accomplished women in the community for their achievements, regardless of whether they are married or not.

An important takeaway from this talk, is that in order for change

to take effect, we as a community need to consciously be more sensitive to the needs of single people in our community. Being more mindful of the way we speak and act towards others can create a more inclusive environment, where all people can, and should feel seen, acknowledged and welcome, regardless of their stage and circumstances in life. We are grateful to Tzipora for championing this important cause within our UK community.

To book for our upcoming event about egg freezing for the single community, taking place on the 17th of September, please visit our website at https://www.chana.org.uk/events/ empowering-your-future.

Joe Jacobson offers a footballers opinion

The inspirational Tzipora Grodko presenting

A Life in the Day of a GettOutUK Caseworker

My alarm goes off at 6:25am. When I come into the kitchen, I’m ready for my first coffee of the day; it’s as much about the caffeine as it is about the chance to prepare myself mentally for the day ahead. In GettOutUK, no two days are the same. Everyone’s story is unique.

By 8:00am, I’ve scrolled through social media and I’m on email. A new “Intake” form is waiting for me to review and forward to the Trustees who have the final say regarding new clients.

My phone pings, at 9:15am. It’s a client, who was told that her Gett might be written, later today. She’s panicking. Will he show up? He’s missed the last five (!) appointments, the last one because he was getting married!! She’s nervous, wondering if today is the day … it’s been seven years!! I do my best to reassure her but inside, my stomach is in knots because I’ve seen this scenario played out, too many times.

At 10:00am, I’m on a Zoom call with colleagues in Israel. We have a mutual client, whose husband is believed to be in Israel and we’re trying to get a court order to prevent him leaving until the Gett is written and delivered to our client, in Manchester.

It’s 10:30am and I am writing a presentation, for a conference of Rebbetzins, about GettOutUK and supporting people in their communities who are getting divorced.

After a hurried lunch of eggs and avocado, I arrive early at Beis Din for a

meeting to discuss a case, where the marriage is ending but the husband refuses to move out of the family home. For as long as he remains there, the Gett cannot be given and this is a tough situation, which everyone is trying hard to handle with tremendous sensitivity.

At 2:00pm, my client arrives and we sit waiting. After a nerve-racking 50 minutes, the Registrar sends me a text. It won’t be happening today! Together, we call a solicitor who was involved in a case, where the husband went to prison for refusing to give the Gett. My client has always been nervous of doing anything that might propel her and her family into the media spotlight. Now, she’s ready to do whatever it takes to break free!

It’s 5:30pm and I’m back home. The US is online and I’m looking at content by influencers some of whom have had tremendous success, achieving Getts for people. I get an email from someone in New York, who is trying to persuade a man to give his wife a Gett. Apparently, they are meeting on Motzei Shabbos.

It’s 7:15pm and after a quick dinner, I need to get ready! Tonight, I’m meeting someone who wants to give a donation to GettOutUK. We desperately need the support of the community, to enable us to employ caseworkers and look after our clients.

If you would like to help, please email gettoutuk@gmail.com.

“I

just hope to survive the winter”

Hanna’s home was destroyed by a bomb. This winter, temperatures will reach -20°C in Ukraine. She needs your help.

Will you repair Hanna’s home and keep her warm this winter?

T: 020 8736 1250

E: info@worldjewishrelief.org

worldjewishrelief.org/winter

COMMUNITY REIMAGINED

A VIBRANT, FRESH NEW EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL EVENT ACTIVITY SPACE FROM THE FAMILY OF JEWISH FUTURES.

United Hatzalah of Israel

United Hatzalah of Israel bridges the gap between the time a medical emergency call is made and the time an ambulance arrives. Its cross-country network of 7,000 volunteer medics allows United Hatzalah to offer all those in Israel a world-leading average response time of just three minutes. This speed can be the difference between life and death.

United Hatzalah’s service is only possible because of its volunteer medics. These incredible people invest their own time in studying and passing the necessary tests, to be able to administer emergency medical and emotional support to those around them. Whether a heart attack, an allergic reaction or a baby coming quickly, United Hatzalah’s volunteer medics have the skills and expertise to provide the initial treatment required and will stop whatever they are doing, personal or professional, when the call comes to attend.

It is these selfless volunteers at the heart of the organisation that makes it so special. It is also their selflessness which has ensured lives have been saved this year.

As news came through on the morning of 7th October, United Hatzalah immediately activated its network of volunteer medics. Those who lived in areas infiltrated by terrorists began responding to calls in their immediate vicinity while an additional 1,500 volunteers from around the country travelled South.

United Hatzalah’s team headed into the danger zone as well as setting up a triage area, and despite an

overwhelming volume of patients, worked to rescue and treat anyone they could.

In the initial weeks of war, United Hatzalah provided 4,720 with immediate medical treatment, evacuated 1,250 injured to hospital and delivered 71 tons of medical supplies and humanitarian aid to Southern Israel.

In addition to physical treatment, United Hatzalah also has a network of volunteers with the training to provide onscene emotional support and stabilisation for both victims and bystanders, allowing them to cope emotionally with a situation in real time.

In the immediate days after October 7th, United Hatzalah’s psychotrauma

team raced to offer support at the scene of terrorist incidents as well as working with displaced people from both the Northern and Southern borders. In the first weeks of war alone, United Hatzalah provided 2,710 individuals with psychotrauma support.

United Hatzalah’s service is something truly unique. It was borne to ensure that when everyday medical emergencies occur, the people of Israel could have faith that the nearest person to them with the medical knowledge to help will be at their side in minutes. What it has become is a lifesaving asset, one which all those in Israel know they can count on in any situation, be it ordinary or extraordinary.

United Hatzalah’s work is funded

entirely through lifetime donations and gifts in wills. This approach allows it to provide its service to all those in Israel absolutely free and irrespective of race, religion, nationality, country of residence or medical insurance status. Making it free makes it accessible to all.

United Hatzalah’s service has never been more crucial than right now. Please consider supporting this lifesaving organisation.

British Friends of United Hatzalah Israel www.israelrescue.org/uk 020 3823 4650

Strengthen

TAL: Building a vibrant Jewish future through education, empowerment, and community

Torah Action Life (TAL) has become a cornerstone of the Jewish community, providing a dynamic platform for education, spiritual growth, and community building. With a mission to make Jewish wisdom, culture, and values accessible to all, TAL empowers individuals, especially youth and young adults, to embrace their heritage with passion, knowledge, and pride. Over the past decade, TAL has rapidly expanded its reach and impact, becoming the go-to organization for those seeking meaningful Jewish engagement.

WHO TAL CATERS FOR

TAL’s innovative programs cater to people of all ages, with a significant focus on building a strong Jewish future. In the past year, TAL proudly launched its **Ladies Leadership Course**, an incredible initiative that saw **20 graduates** complete the program, equipping them with essential leadership skills to impact both the Jewish community and the wider society. This course has been transformative, offering women the tools to become leaders in their personal, professional, and communal lives, and is just one example of how TAL is empowering the next generation. TAL has established itself as the “number one destination” for Jewish girls

seeking education and inspiration. Each week, over 100 girls gather at the TAL Centre for classes and programs that engage and inspire them to build strong, value-driven lives rooted in Jewish tradition. These girls are not just participants; they are the future leaders of the Jewish community, and TAL is playing a pivotal role in their development.

BUILDING JEWISH FAMILIES: A FOCUS ON MATCHMAKING

One of TAL’s most impactful initiatives is its focus on Jewish matchmaking, helping to create strong Jewish families by matching young couples. With an in-house matchmaker, TAL has successfully matched and guided 60 young couples to marriage, creating the foundation for future generations to build Jewish homes. This service has become a vital part of TAL’s mission, fostering lasting connections and helping young men and women find their life partners in a Jewish environment. For many in the community, TAL is not only a place to learn and grow spiritually but also a place to find love and companionship.

A THRIVING COMMUNITY HUB

A key part of TAL’s success is its modern, energetic community centre, recently built in Temple Fortune. This state-of-the-art facility has quickly become a vibrant hub for Jewish learning and engagement. The centre’s welcoming atmosphere allows participants to thrive in their learning, whether they are attending a class, a leadership workshop, or a Shabbat dinner. The space fosters creativity, growth, and a strong sense of community, and it has become the heart of TAL’s expanding activities.

The centre serves as more than just a physical location—it’s a place where people from all walks of life can come together to learn, connect, and grow. It’s where young women and men, in particular, are finding a home to develop their identities and leadership abilities.

JOIN US - THE PLACE TO BE

Whether you’re a young professional seeking meaningful connections or a match, a parent looking for quality educational programs for your children, or a community member wanting to deepen your Jewish knowledge, **TAL is the place to be**. With a wide range of events, workshops, and learning opportunities, there is something for everyone.

We invite you to take a peek and

participate in our upcoming events.

Check out our next major events at www.torahactionlife.com or on Instagram t.a.l_insta

This is the time to get involved—let’s build a stronger, more vibrant Jewish future together.

LSJS to host major ‘Book Sale’

LSJS (The London School of Jewish Studies) is having a book sale starting on Monday 16 September with many items available to buy for less than £5. The collection includes books in English and Hebrew on philosophy, Judaica, history, Israel, politics and halacha, as well as a number of picture books.

Titles on sale include Genesis, The Beginning of Desire by Avivah Gottlieb Zornberg and Jerusalem in the Twentieth Century by Martin Gilbert.

The LSJS library has been described by the Jewish Year Book as “one of the most extensive Judaica libraries in Europe”. It is home to over 70,000 volumes of Judaica and Hebraica, and has been growing for the past 150 years.

“We are selling a number of books from the excess stock of our vast collection,” said Joanne Greenaway, Chief Executive of LSJS. “This is a great opportunity for people to come by and add some great titles to their book collections.”

“Our library combines the best of the old and the new, and is one of British Jewry’s most significant resources as it holds the historic Jews’ College Collection”, said LSJS librarian Samantha Reuben. “The first official record of a library in Jews’ College was in 1859 and it has grown from individual and organisational donations over the years.”

In May 2015, the refurbished Marc Weinberg Community Library opened,

in memory of the former LSJS trustee, and includes a modern open library, a selection of books for sale and an online catalogue. In 2023, with the generous support of

the Phillips family, the Michael & Ruth Phillips Rare Books Room opened; housing some of the oldest and most valuable items in the collection as well as interesting displays about key items.

The LSJS book sale starts on Monday 16 September, until Wednesday 18th, from 9am-5pm. The LSJS library is open to the public from 9am-5.30pm on Monday, 9am-6.30pm

Get ready for the High Holy Days by

Senior S&P Rabbi

Joseph Dweck

Gila Fine

Joanne Greenaway

Rabbi Alex Israel

Michael Rainsbury

Dr Lindsay Simmonds

Rabbi Gideon Sylvester

Dr Tanya White

Dr Yosefa (Fogel) Wruble

Rabbi Dr Raphael Zarum

A spotlight on some of GIFT’s Giving Heroes

BY SHIRA JOSEPH

We need to start again During my time at GIFT, I’ve worked with thousands of volunteers who all want to improve the lives of others around them. And they certainly have, I’ve seen thousands of volunteers engaging in cooking almost 40,000 fresh meals, packing 500+ bags each and every week, befriending over 200 isolated people – all making an enormous difference and changing lives. What these volunteers didn’t necessarily realise when they first got involved however, was the positive impact that volunteering would have on their lives too.

Here are four examples of people who have been impacted by the gift of giving.

STORY 1 | A THREAD OF DIGNITY

For three years, teenagers Jordan and Rachel Pearlman regularly saw their mum, Gaby, helping out at GIFT’s warehouse. They understood that, in addition to giving charity, volunteering can make an enormous difference. Inspired by this, they came up with a brilliant idea in 2022 to get actively involved.

They launched a grassroots initiative called ‘Green Closet’ in collaboration with GIFT. Second-hand clothes are collected, cleaned, and listed for sale on platforms like Vinted and eBay. All proceeds are used to purchase vouchers, which GIFT recipients can spend on new clothes.

and show their support. In February 2024, they joined one of GIFT’s three-day trips to Israel, volunteering on farms and helping to organise an event for displaced families.

Although they had never previously been involved with GIFT, they were so moved by the experience and the feeling of giving unconditionally that they continued their involvement upon returning home.

Later that summer, they took a day out from their holiday in Israel to join GIFT again, this time volunteering in Herzliya at a party for 300 displaced families.

“I think seeing the tragic events of 7th October from so far away in London made us want to help and do something to make our brothers and sisters in Israel feel supported. The fact that so many people volunteered made a huge difference to the suffering, fear, and isolation. The trip had a massive impact, and we will continue to support GIFT in helping the community and making a difference.”

One recipient, a 17-year-old girl who lives alone and is estranged from her family, had only ever worn second-hand clothes. Thanks to this initiative, she had the opportunity to go shopping and treat herself to something new.

“It might seem like a small thing, but receiving those vouchers made me feel amazing. Going into shops like Zara made me feel like a normal teenager. I’ve never had the chance to do that before. It gave me excitement and dignity.”

Jordan added, “Hearing about the people who receive the vouchers has made us so proud of the part we’ve played in making this happen. It’s a reminder to everyone that if you have an idea, there’s nothing stopping you from making it happen!”

STORY 2 | CRITICAL CONNECTIONS

After the events of 7th October, Des and his 19-year-old son Arie felt a strong urge to go to Israel

One of the displaced family members from the town of Kiryat Shmona in the North of Israel, was deeply moved, saying, “We just can’t believe that these people have taken time from their holiday to come and make sure we’re okay and having a lovely time. It’s made us feel so connected with our brothers and sisters around the world. We know everyone really cares.”

STORY 3 | A FRIEND IN NEED

In early 2023, Stephen Bellau, a community man and real estate professional, approached GIFT with a request. He wanted to get involved in the organisation’s Befriender Scheme, which pairs volunteers with individuals for regular

visits. The Befriender Scheme provides weekly phone calls or in-person visits to over 70 people in need.

GIFT connected Stephen with Cyril, a blind and deaf man in his 80s who occasionally feels lonely.

Over the years, they have formed an incredibly strong bond, communicating by spelling out letters on each other’s hands. Cyril has also become close to Stephen’s children and was even invited to speak at Stephen’s shul.

Stephen explains, “I lead a fulfilling and busy life with my wife and three children, but I sensed I had the capacity to give in a different way. I’ve gained so much from Cyril’s example. He is a complete inspiration – a man who exudes kindness, resilience, and strength. Spending time with him helps me keep things in perspective and deepens the meaning of my day. He was awarded an OBE by the late Queen, loves his Jewish roots, and at the age of 82, he has a running machine by his bedside! He paints with authenticity and has written many books. He has an incredible zest for life, combined with sensitivity, intuition, and a fantastic sense of humour. I would encourage anyone to get involved in befriending.”

Cyril shared, “Having friendly visits and communicating with Stephen has brought so much light into my life. It’s been life-changing for me.”

STORY 4 | GIFT TO GIFT

When Miriam’s parents divorced and her mother struggled to provide for her children, GIFT stepped in to deliver weekly food support parcels. As Miriam grew older, she wanted to give back, and so she signed up as a GIFT volunteer driver, delivering parcels to five different areas.

With a desire to continue giving, Miriam and her friends approached GIFT during the Covid pandemic to

see how they could help families during this immensely challenging time. Four of them began cooking meals for vulnerable people in the community, and within three weeks, they had tripled their efforts. As demand grew, GIFT brought the project in-house, and The Giving Kitchen was born. The Giving Kitchen now provides a significant number of hot, nutritious meals to families and individuals in need every week. Recipients have shared that, “Receiving these meals has brought relief and comfort to our lives.”

Miriam reflected: “Growing up, I know what it felt like to go without, and I remember the feeling of receiving those food parcels. We knew we wouldn’t go hungry. As soon as I could, I wanted to find a way to give back, and GIFT and The Giving Kitchen have been incredible opportunities to do just that – to give to others what I so generously received when my family was in need.”

Shira Joseph is the Programme Director at GIFT

This Rosh Hashanah support Hatzola Northwest

From the time Hatzola was called, I was on the operating table within 41 minutes. The speed, clinical expertise and professionalism of the Hatzola Northwest team saved my life. Without their swift response, I wouldn’t be here today”

Average response time: 3.9 minutes for cardiac arrest.

The Jewish Outlook: Triple Focused

BY RABBI SHALOM ROSNER

The midrash tells us that the four species which we shake on Sukkot are parallel to four of our body parts. The Lulav is our spine, the etrog is our heart, the aravot are our lips, and the hadasim are our eyes. Upon reflection, we note that three out of four are exactly parallel. One lulav to one spine, one etrog to one heart, two aravot to two lips, but three hadasim to two eyes! How can we explain this discrepancy?

Sefer Shemen Hatov explains that a Jew really has three eyes. A Jew views life from three perspectives, or with three views in mind. A Jew builds on his past, with a view towards the goals of the future, to achieve the most in the present. Akavia ben Mahallalel (Avos 3:1) teaches us

Histakel BShelosha Devraim V’Ain Ata Ba Lidei Aveira- Focus on three things

and you won’t come to sin. Mei’ayin Batah- From where have you come-past. U’L’an Atah holeich-where are you goingpresent. V’Lifnei Mi Atah Atid Litein Din V’Cheshbon- in front of whom will you have to stand in judgement- future. In order to get the most out of every situation in life, we need to keep all three of these motifs in mind.

This is even hinted to in the names of the first day of the year on the Jewish calendar. We have three names- Rosh Hashana, Yom Hadin, and Yom Hazikaron. Each name evokes a different emotion. Yom Hazikaron- Hashem remembers and records all that we have done in the past year. Yom Hadin- We spend the day in judgement in front of the Borei Olam. Rosh Hashana- It is a day of new beginnings, with all the hopes and aspirations of the coming year.

Over the past year, Am Yisrael in

Medinat Yisrael has had to stand up for itself, defending our people in our land. The bravery, focus, and tenacity of our soldiers, many of which are JCT MAChon Lev students, have reflected a deep sense of history of our land (past), destiny of our nation (future) and an attitude of B’makom SH’ein Anashim, Hishtadel Leeyos Ish (Avos 2:5)- at a time when there are no others, stand up and fill the call of the moment. How fortunate we are to be members of a people who live, breathe, and share common dreams and aspirations of Am Yisrael B’Eretz Yisrael Al Pi Torat Yisrael.

At the Jerusalem College of Technology JCT), we are also trying to fulfill the charge of the three hadasim. We recognize what we have accomplished since our humble beginnings, and are trying to act in the present to assure a vibrant future. There is a present thirst

by international students to stay in Israel for their college years, earning a degree while continuing to deepen their connection to the land of Israel. JCT has invested deep resources and personnel in expanding their international program. To this end, I am privileged to assume the position of JCT’s Rosh Beit Midrash for the English Speaking Program at Machon Lev. We hope to create a Torah program, tailored to the needs of all our students, allowing them to flourish both in torah, avodah, and yirat shamayim. We feel that the reality is fertile for more and more college students to stay in our homeland after their years of study in yeshivah and seminary. We feel privileged to be part of the Geula process by helping more Jews settle in our land.

Jerusalem College

of

Technology

(JCT)

and Ner Yisrael Community invite you to a shiur to be given by

Rabbi Shalom Rosner

“The Avoda of Teshuva in Challenging Times”

Rabbi Rosner is the recently appointed Rosh Beit Midrash of the International Program at JCT He will be available after the shiur to answer questions about the newly expanded academic opportunities for Englishspeaking students at JCT on Monday, September 16th at 8:15pm at Ner Yisrael Synagogue, The Crest, Hendon

For security reasons, please scan the QR code to preregister for this event.

Empty Skies, Empty Seats

BY RABBI MOSHE TARAGIN

As summer turns to autumn, Elul sweeps in, bringing with it a tide of hope and renewal. This month, marks the onset of the new year of study in Yeshivot worldwide, ushering in a period of reflection and rejuvenation. Typically there is an electric buzz when new students arrive. A flurry of activity fills the air –class assignments, chavrutot selection, purchasing the necessary seforim, and, of course, securing seats in the loud and bustling Beit Midrash. After a few days, the chaos subsides, everyone finds their place, and the Beit Midrash begins to brim with energy, intensity and Torah study. Every seat is filled.

But this year, heartbreakingly, there are too many empty seats. Too many seats, once filled by talmidim who fell defending our people and our land, now stand empty and forlorn. Though they are physically occupied by new students, to me they feel empty.

This year, my yeshiva, along with all the other yeshivot and mechinot whose talmidim serve in the IDF, is immersed in sorrow. One the one hand there is great excitement, as a record number of talmidim have enrolled. Amazingly, Sixty four overseas students in my yeshiva have chosen to return, many of whom are planning to ultimately draft into the IDF and to protect our nation.

THE SHADOW

Yet, there is a profound shadow that hovers above us like an ominous cloud, a dark sadness on the edge of the Beit Midrash, and a pervasive melancholy which drifts through the Beit Midrash. Tragically, among the many fallen soldiers from all sectors of Israeli society, a disproportionately high number were students of our yeshivot. The weight of our anguish is unbearable.

As my colleague, Rav Chaim Navon described our yeshivot in last week’s Makor Rishon: “Their study halls teach hope, but now they are also enveloped in grief…I read the stories of the fallen and am astonished: young and gentle men of great character, who preferred the sefer over the rifle, but knew how to wield the sword in defense of their homeland. The gemarot they hold were once studied by war heroes, alav hashalom ... Above every young student in our yeshivot now stands an older brother, an angel, telling him: Grow”

As I walked somberly through the bustling Beit Midrash, tears welled up as I passed the seats once occupied by those who have fallen in battle. I silently asked myself “Do they truly know? Do these younger talmidim understand the sacred space they now inhabit?” I kept my tears to myself, in the quiet solitude of a broken heart and the dark recesses of sorrowful memories.

That first day, as I wrestled with my joy and grief, I saw a father of a fallen talmid visiting our yeshiva- a place where his fallen son had spent so many years of profound learning and growth. Our eyes met and, of course, words faded. There were no words capable of capturing the overwhelming emotions. We embraced, our eyes heavy with the weight of profound loss, and a quiet resignation settled over us.

REBUILD, REBUILD

The Jewish response to tragedy is to rebuild. In exile, when we endured suffering, we rebuilt communities—sometimes in the same location and sometimes after migrating elsewhere. In Israel, we respond to tragedy by rebuilding the land and establishing new settlements. Currently, we face the daunting task of reconstructing an entire region of the country that has been ravaged by vile hatred and barbaric violence.

After welcoming new talmidim to my

to the joy of Torah, could be turned into a weapon against us. Now, more than ever, we must restore the luster of Torah with renewed strength and devotion.

Reflecting on the immense task of rebuilding our Torah world, my mind wandered to moments in history when Torah was restored after great tragedy. I thought of Rabbi Akiva, who lost 24,000 students to a devastating plague. Yet, he did not surrender to despair or succumb to the enormity of the loss. Instead, he taught five extraordinary younger students who transformed the Torah landscape leaving an indelible mark on the evolution of the Talmud. Rabbi Akiva’s resilience and determination showcased the power of resilience in the face of overwhelming loss.

I thought about the German rabbis of the 15th century. After the Black Plague, horrific pogroms swept through Central and Western Europe,

yeshiva in Gush Etzion, I traveled with my own son, who is beginning his hesder journey—combining Torah study and army service in a five-year program. We headed south, near the border with Gaza, where he joined a new hesder yeshiva, aiming to breathe life and spirit into a landscape heavy with sorrow. We drove along roads of death, haunted by the madness and horror they have witnessed. I hope he will help rebuild the south of Israel through his Torah study and through his unwavering dedication to safeguarding our country.

REBUILDING TORAH

We are now tasked with rebuilding not only our land but our Torah as well. On that fateful day we were not just attacked physically. Our enemies sought to desecrate the heart of our nation, targeting us on Simchat Torah, the day we rejoice in G-d’s word. They believed we would be unprepared, exploiting our sacred celebration as a moment of vulnerability. It’s unfathomable that such a day, dedicated

especially in Germany. Hundreds of Jewish towns were destroyed by mobs driven by fantasies of Jewish involvement in spreading the plague. Ignorance, as always, bred hatred. An entire generation of Torah scholars was annihilated. Yet a group of determined German rabbis heroically revived Torah scholarship. Tragically, it wasn’t enough, and most Jews eventually migrated east to Poland and Central Europe.

And, of course, my thoughts turned to the Holocaust survivors who saw an entire world reduced to ashes, and with it, the obliteration of a rich Torah landscape. Visionaries such as Rav Aharon Kotler in the US and Rabbi Kahaneman in Israel dedicated themselves to the monumental task of restoring and reviving the world of Torah, rebuilding from the depths of devastation.

NEW TZADIKIM

Yet, despite the similarities to past reconstruction efforts, I recognize how profoundly different our current situation

is. For the first time since the days of Rabbi Akiva, our talmidim have demonstrated that Torah study and religion are not diminished by army service but enriched by it. Amidst the sand dunes of Gaza and the falling bombs, they faithfully lit Chanukah candles, read the Megillah, conducted brief Seders, prayed on Shabbat, and studied Torah while protecting the land of G-d. These are our new tzadikim. When I recite the section of the Amidah that references the tzadikim, I think of our boys who revived the sacred legacy of scholars and warriors—immersing themselves in Torah study while also understanding when to set aside the sefer and lay down their lives for the Jewish people.

During that first week in yeshiva, I made a pledge to myself. I vowed to find the strength and stamina to shower my new students with boundless love, smiles, and warmth. A yeshiva schedule is rigorously demanding, and the relentless pace of deadlines and responsibilities can be overwhelming. But I owe it to these younger men to be as dedicated, kind and loving as possible. This past year has proven how fragile and precious life can be, and I owe it to the students who perished to give everything I can to those who now sit in their seats.

Empty Skies. Empty seats. Sad spirit. Renewed Hope.

G-d is with us.

The writer is a rabbi at Yeshivat Har Etzion/Gush, a hesder pre-military yeshiva, with ordination from Yeshiva University and a master’s in English literature from CUNY. He is the author of Dark Clouds Above, Faith Below (Kodesh Press), which provides religious responses to Oct. 7.

ASK THE RABBI

G-D AND EVIL

Dear Rabbi, Rabbi, as I look around the world today, I see so much suffering, violence, and evil. Wars, injustices, and natural disasters affecting millions of people. It’s hard to reconcile all of this with the belief in a benevolent and all-powerful G-d. Is G-d responsible for the evil we see in our world? How should we understand G-d’s role in all this?

Lucas

Dear Lucas

A philosophy professor once asked his students the following question: “Is everything that exists created by G-d?” One student bravely answered: “Yes Sir, everything that exists is created by G-d.”

The professor continued: “If G-d created everything, then that means that G-d created evil as well, since it too exists. And according to the principle that our deeds define ourselves, then G-d is evil.”

The student became silent after hearing the professor’s remarks. The teacher smiled smugly, pleased with himself for making his atheistic impression upon his

class, proving once again that faith in G-d is a myth.

Another student raised his hand: “Can I ask you a question Sir?” “Of course,” replied the professor. The student got up: “Sir, does cold exist?” “What kind of question is that? Of course it exists. Have you never been cold?” The students laughed at the young student’s question. But the student countered: “Actually, Sir, cold doesn’t exist. According to the laws of physics, what we consider cold is actually the absence of heat. A person or object can be studied on whether it has or transmits energy. Absolute zero; -460 degrees Fahrenheit, is a complete absence of heat. All matter becomes inert and unable to react at this temperature.” The student continued: “Cold does not exist. We created this word to describe what we feel in the absence of heat.” The professor shifted uneasily. “What’s the point you are trying to make?”

The student continued: “Sir, does darkness exist?” “Of course it exists.” “You’re wrong again, Sir. Darkness also does not exist. Darkness is actually the absence of light. We can study the light but not the darkness. We can use Newton’s prism to

spread white light across multiple colours and explore the different wavelengths of each colour. You can’t measure darkness. A simple ray of light can break into the world of darkness and illuminate it. How can you tell how dark a certain space is? You measure how much light is presented. Isn’t it so? Darkness is a term man uses to describe what happens in the absence of light.” The class is silent, and the professor is uneasy. The young student persisted, asking quietly: “Sir, does evil really exist?” This time, the professor answered more hesitantly. “Of course, as I said before. We see it around us every day. Cruelty, numerous crimes and violence throughout the world. These examples are nothing but a manifestation of evil.”

The student smiled: “Like cold and like darkness, evil does not exist, Sir, or at least it does not exist for itself. Evil is simply the absence of G-d. It is, like darkness and cold - a man-made word to describe the absence of G-d. G-d did not create evil. Evil is not faith or love, which exist as light and warmth. Evil is the result of the absence of Divine love in the human comes when there’s no light. Like light and warmth, G-d created good and intended for there to be goodness in the world. When we humans lack warmth and light, we become cold and dark, we deny the existence of G-d and thus we enable evil in the world.”

should be vigorously questioned. How else can the pious dispel their doubts? If the questions were too challenging, or if, quite understandably, you simply just do not know the answer or know how to answer, then why can’t you just simply say so?

With respect and kindest regards, Melvyn

Dear Melvyn

The class erupted in applause. The student’s name was Albert Einstein.

PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE

Dear Rabbi,

I am most disappointed, upset, distressed, offended, displeased, hurt and very much dissatisfied that this is the second time you have declined or refused to comment on my humble questions that I bothered to send to you in good faith. Isn’t it a nub, doctrine and principle of Orthodox Jewish learning that everything

That’s a lot of adjectives to describe your upset. You live in the UK, right? You have presumably heard of the NHS, yes? When’s the last time you made a specialist appointment? How long did you have to wait? A few months at the least? I get lots of questions and deal with them in order of priority or column space. I note your original question was submitted on July 8. That’s two months ago! Not bad for a waiting list!

Your question was about people driving to synagogue on a Shabbat but once again I have run out of space. So, stay tuned next week when I will deal with it. Meanwhile, remember, patience is an honourable, upright, ethical, meritorious, noble, worthy, good and decent virtue.

HMO News Today

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A Lifelong Journey of Return

BY RABBI SHMUEL REICHMAN

The essence of life is growth and progress, as we strive to fulfill our true purpose. And as we explained in our previous article, the only way we can genuinely change, transform, and evolve is if we have the capacity to assert our inner will and to create a new reality within ourselves. This requires a complete re-creation of self within our consciousness — a remolding of our inner world. While yesterday we were the type of person who did one thing, today a new decision is formed and a new reality is created within our inner world. This requires a complete assertion of willpower, an overcoming of self, and a breakdown and reformation of inner drive and character. This means giving up who we are for who we want to be; sacrificing what we think we want for what we truly want. (See Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Gerushin 2:20, where he discusses the relationship between our true ratzon [“rotzeh ani”] and our lower self.) It means overcoming the emotional and overwhelming pull of current desire and generating a new “want” within our very core. This is why the Rambam places his seemingly philosophical discussion of the concept of free will amongst the halachos of teshuvah; free will is the very root and foundation of Hilchos Teshuvah. Without free will, one could never change and one could never become something else, someone new, and someone better.

Strikingly, Rav Eliyahu Dessler explains that many people never experience a true assertion of their free will due to its immense difficulty. This is why many people do not change. Change is hard, uncomfortable, and often requires sacrifice. One must fully and wholeheartedly believe in their new future in order to give up their current lifestyle. However, when we push with all our might, expressing a full force of our inner will, we get a taste of truth, an experience of destiny, and a glimpse of our true self.

However, this understanding of teshuvah, namely, that of return, has an even deeper layer to it. After all, if teshuvah is an act of return, what or whom are we returning to?

TESSHUVA: A LIFE’S JOURNEY

Genuine teshuvah is not just about fixing our mistakes in Elul and Tishrei; it’s about self-expression, returning to our true and higher selves. As we previously discussed, while we were in the womb, we were in a perfect and transcendent state of being, and a malach taught us kol haTorah kulah (Niddah 30b). As the Vilna Gaon explains, this refers to the deepest realms of Torah, a transcendent Torah that lies far beyond this world, beyond the confines of space and time. (Quoted in Maalos HaTorah by Rabbeinu Avraham, brother of the Vilna Gaon. See also Even Sheleimah 8:24.) This Torah is the very root of reality, and you were granted complete understanding of its every detail. Not only

were you shown this level of Torah, but you also learned your specific share of Torah; you were shown your unique purpose in the world and how your unique role fits into the larger scheme of the human story as a whole. You were given a taste of your own perfection, of what you could, should, and hopefully will become. And from this transcendent realm, you were birthed into the physical world with the mission to actualize everything you were shown in the womb while in your primordial, perfect state.

In essence, your job in this world is not to create yourself but rather to recreate yourself; to re-attain your original state of perfection, as you were shown by the malach. This time, however, it must be done through free will, i.e., by choosing to become great. Only by overcoming challenge and difficulty, and only by asserting your willpower, can you fulfill your true potential. In essence, our entire life is a story of teshuvah — returning to our original, higher, true self.

This theme is the mystical root of creation

is like a flame without oxygen; it simmers out and disappears. It all starts with a single decision to turn the tide — to begin building positive momentum, to start climbing uphill, and to start heading toward your ultimate destination. If you can take that first step and push toward your greatness, you will suddenly begin riding that new wave. This is the power of choice; this is the power of positive momentum.

FAILED OR FAILURE?

The single most important psychological factor involved in this decision is our response to failure. When we fail, we often become convinced that we are a failure. We believe that by making a mistake, we become the mistake. We integrate past experience into our present identity, and we therefore lose faith in ourselves, our hopes, and our values. As a result, we begin to cascade downwards, sliding with negative momentum.

The key to avoiding this slide is to disconnect our failures from our identity. We all fail;

itself. All of existence is meant to return to its original true, higher form. When Adam was created, his mission was to return to his root and source, i.e., Hashem. When Adam sinned, all of existence fell; our goal became to return the world to its higher form and repair a fractured world. In essence, our goal is threefold: to return to our individual higher selves, our collective higher selves as a nation, and our absolute root self — Hashem.

BREAKING MOMENTUM

We can now return to our original question regarding how to stop the downwards momentum of failure and bad decisions. The answer is a simple, single-word answer: decide! Choice is the most powerful tool Hashem has granted us. The power of choice allows us to accomplish anything. When life begins to fall apart, and bad decisions start piling up, we must cut off the downward momentum before it grows out of control and before it destroys us. The key is making the decision, asserting your inner will, and focusing its full force toward cutting off the momentum. If you can stop the momentum of bad decisions, of a lifestyle that is draining the life out of you, you can stop it from spreading. With nowhere to spread, negativity

Tosafos suggests that although Hashem created the world in Nissan, His decision to do so took place six months earlier on the first of Tishrei. The decision itself serves as a form of creation, which is why man is considered to have been created in Tishrei.

The Gemara (Kiddushin 49b) rules that if a man marries a woman on the condition that he is a tzaddik (righteous), we consider the marriage as halachically binding — even if he is wicked! How can this be? The Gemara explains that perhaps he had decided at that very moment to do teshuvah (hirhurei teshuvah) and to become a tzaddik, and that intention itself would be enough to validate his statement. Based on this possibility, we must view his marriage as possibly binding. This example, once again, displays the spiritual significance of a decision.

There are applications of this idea regarding Shabbos observance as well. If one is outside a city on Shabbos, he cannot walk further than two thousand amos from where he is located at the moment Shabbos begins. However, the Mishnah in Eruvin notes that if one is in the midst of traveling right before Shabbos begins, he can point into the distance and say that he intends to be at that place in the distance, and his two thousand amos will be measured from that point. Essentially, halachah recognizes us to be in the place where we want to be; where we decide to be.

THE ROOT OF TESHUVA

we all have times where we give in to temptation and do things that we regret. But failing does not make you a failure. It makes you human, a work in progress; someone who is growing and learning. If we learn to view our failures as learning opportunities and as wake-up calls, instead of perceiving them as crippling obstacles, we can use them to grow and improve. When we make a bad decision, we cannot let ourselves get depressed. Regret and remorse are essential, but we cannot get lost in these feelings. They must be used in a healthy, balanced, and positive way. When we slip up, take a step backwards, and fall down a notch, we have to immediately stop the downwards movement, pick ourselves back up, learn from our mistakes, and continue our upwards climb. This is the character of one who has a growth-mentality — one who does not get crushed by life, but learns from it instead.

THE POWER OF DECISION

It is therefore no surprise that the Torah is replete with lessons of the importance of will and the power of decision. An opinion is quoted in the Gemara (Rosh Hashanah 10b) that man was created in Nissan. Why then do we celebrate Rosh Hashanah in Tishrei?

Free will — choice — is the root of teshuvah. Teshuvah is about reengineering our will, recreating our desire, and rewiring our wants. It’s about the decision to be better, to be great, to become our best and truest selves. As the Ramchal explains in Mesilas Yesharim, if you change what you want (akiras ha’ratzon), you change who you are. When you make a new decision, you create a new reality for yourself. When the shofar blows this year, let us truly awaken. In some sense, we all need a shofar for the shofar; we need a wakeup call to listen to this year’s wakeup call. Many are numb to the wordless blast; deaf to its existential calling. Some have given up on change, while others are too busy with life to stop and truly consider the possibility of more, of a greater life. May we all be inspired to fully utilize this idea, to embark on a journey of genuine teshuvah, and continue the process of becoming our ultimate selves.

Rabbi Shmuel Reichman is a bestselling author, international speaker, and the CEO of Self-Mastery Academy. He has lectured internationally on topics of Torah thought, Jewish medical ethics, psychology, and leadership. He authored a bestselling book, The Journey to Your Ultimate Self. After obtaining his BA from YU, he received Semicha from YU’s RIETS, a master’s degree in education from Azrieli Graduate School, and a master’s degree in Jewish Thought from Bernard Revel Graduate School. He then spent a year studying at Harvard as an Ivy Plus Scholar.

Ki Teitzei

1st Aliya (Kohen) – DEVARIM 21:10-21

Ki Teitzei contains many mitzvot, a selection of which has been included here. It starts with the laws of the ‘female captive’ and her potential marriage to a soldier in battle. It then discusses the laws of a man who has two wives (this later became prohibited in normative rabbinic law). He has a firstborn son with the wife he does not love, and another son with his preferred spouse, but he must still give the firstborn rights to the son of the former, not to son of the latter. The laws of the ‘wayward and rebellious son’ are then detailed.

2nd Aliya (Levi) – 21:22-22:7

If one spots someone else’s animal wandering off the path, there is a mitzvah to look after it and return it to its owner; this applies to all lost objects. If one sees a fallen animal on the road,

there is a mitzvah to help its owner pick it up. A man is not allowed to wear women’s clothing, nor is a woman allowed to wear men’s clothing. If one sees a bird’s nest with eggs in it, there is a mitzvah to send away the mother bird before taking the eggs (shiluach haken).

3rd Aliya (Shlishi) – 22:8-23:7

When building a new house, one must erect a fence on the roof to prevent someone falling off. One must not plant certain mixtures of seeds in one’s field or vineyard (kilayim), nor may one plough with an ox and donkey together, nor wear wool and linen together in the same garment (sha’atnez). If a man falsely accuses his wife of having had pre-marital relations, a heavy fine is levied against him. Whilst men from Ammon and Moab (extant in Biblical times) are allowed to convert to Judaism, they are only allowed to marry fellow converts.

4th Aliya (Revi’i) – 23:8-24

A man who becomes accidentally impure must immerse himself in a mikveh. There is a mitzvah to look after an escaped slave, rather than returning him to his idolatrous master (see

Ramban). The laws prohibiting the charging of interest on loans are mentioned. A vow made to bring an offering to the Temple must be kept within an allotted time.

5th Aliya (Chamishi) – 23:25-24:4

A labourer who is harvesting crops is allowed to eat from the crops whilst working, but cannot take any produce home. The laws of divorce are stated, including the prohibition of a man remarrying his ex-wife if she has had a relationship with another man in the meantime.

6th Aliya (Shishi) – 24:5-13

For the first year of marriage, the couple should prioritise spending time together; the husband is not to serve in the army (other than in a case of pressing national need). When lending money to a pauper, it is forbidden to hold onto security for the loan if this will cause the borrower discomfort.

7th Aliya (Shevi’i) – 24:14-25:19

An employer should pay a hired labourer on the day that the work is done. One must not display bias for or against a widow or a convert. Paupers

are entitled to certain leftover crops from the harvest in the field and the vineyard. The mitzvah of yibum (levirate marriage) is detailed – if a man dies childless, a surviving brother should marry the widow, in the hope that they will have children to continue the deceased’s name. If the brother does not wish to marry the widow, he performs a ceremony called chalitzah. All weights and measures need to be honest and accurate. The sidra ends with the verses that we also read before Purim, on Shabbat Zachor, entreating us to remember how Amalek attacked the Israelites after their departure from Egypt.

Point to Consider: What type of vineyard produce must be left for paupers to take? (see Rashi to 24:21)

HAFTARAH (YESHAYA 54:1-10)

Taken from the book of Yeshaya, this is the fifth of the seven ‘haftarot of consolation’ read after Tisha B’Av. Yeshaya calls out to Jerusalem to no longer be desolate and barren, but to break out into jubilant song, in celebration of G-d showing her eternal kindness and mercy.

When Will We Get Paid? Weekly Dvar Torah FROM ERETZ YISRAEL

BY RABBI DANNY MIRVIS

“You shall pay his wage on that day and the sun shall not set on him, for he is poor and his life depends on it, and he shall not call against you to Hashem, for it shall be a sin on you” (Devarim 24:15).

Towards the end of this week’s parasha, we are commanded to pay our workers on time. The slightest delay beyond sunset of the day on which payment is due is considered a sin. Earlier on in the parasha, we are also commanded to pay Hashem on time:

“When you make a vow to Hashem your G-d, you shall not be late in paying it, for Hashem your G-d will surely demand it of you, and there will be a sin in you” (Devarim 23:22).

We, therefore, see that both regarding payments due to our fellow man and

payments due to Hashem, there is a clear Torah requirement to be punctual and it is a sin to withhold due reward. However, whilst Hashem sets certain standards for us, at first glance, He does not appear to use the same time frames Himself. One of the major tenets of our belief is that the true reward for our efforts in this world will only come in the world to come. If we see the righteous suffer we are not to despair, for we believe their reward is being withheld for later.

How can it be that we are expected to pay our workers on time when time and time again, Hashem withholds and delays our rewards?

I once heard Rav Shlomo Riskin explain that there are different kinds of workers. On the one hand, there is the “s’chir yom” – a daily worker who is employed to perform specific tasks e.g. hiring somebody

to tile a bathroom floor or mow the lawn. These are the workers that the Torah requires us to pay on the very same day, at the completion of their tasks. However, there is also the “kablan” – a worker who is contracted to complete a project e.g. building a house. In such a case, the worker cannot turn up and expect to be paid at each small stage, just for tiling the bathroom floor or mowing the lawn. Only at significant milestones or upon the completion of the project can they expect to deserve the full reward. Hashem does not unjustly withhold the rewards for our efforts because we are not “s’chirei yom” who can expect to be rewarded after completing each specific task. We are “kablanim” with projects and missions to complete. We cannot just put tefillin on one morning or keep one Shabbat and then sit back and wait

to be rewarded. We have missions in life – to build Jewish homes based on Torah values, to lead upright lives dedicated to the service of Hashem, to be lights unto the Nations and to be strong links in the chain of our people. Apart from the general tasks, we also have individual tasks to complete and it is for each person to discover their mission and role in this world. Only when our time is up and we present our final projects for judgment can we expect to be rewarded. May we succeed in correctly identifying, understanding and performing our roles, so that when the deadlines for our missions arrive, we will only deserve reward.

Rabbi Danny Mirvis is Acting CEO of World Mizrachi, and Rabbi of Ohel Moshe Synagogue in Herzliya Pituach.

Have we got a packed parshah to get through, we don’t even have time for all the mitzvot, here are the main ones. If a man goes to war and wants to marry a lady from the people he fought, the Torah says she has to shave off all her hair and spend a month crying in his house. Then we’ll see if he still wants her. If he does, she has to convert and even then, it’s not a good thing to do.

If a thirteen year old boy steals meat and wine from his parents, he is put to death! What?! This is to stop him growing up as a terrible person – but wait – if he also steals from other people, he gets away with it. Both Parents have to be the same height and their voices have

Family Fun KI TEITZEI Dingbats

to sound the same. Both parents must be alive and healthy. Do you know how many times it happened? Never.

We have to bury a dead person straight away!

When you find a lost object, there’s a special mitzvah to return it. You should put up signs. If it’s worth less than a penny or if no one will be able to prove they lost it, like an unmarked ball, it doesn’t have to be returned. In the time of the Bait Hamikdash, there was a place outside Yerushalayim, where people would come to announce what they lost or found.

When you see an animal struggling under heavy packages, you have to help the owner. .It’s

Parasha Stats

D F I O C T E B K Y J Y B T R L O E P F Q C V S J M O A L R H A O N N

K Q C N V G E T E C K O

D F T M Z Z S B F O P C

V C C K R N T K E G B X

tzaar baalei chayim, not being cruel to animals. Also, when you take eggs from a nest, you have to send the mother away so she doesn’t see.

Hashem tells us a man can’t wear ladies clothes or jewellery, nor a woman wear man’s clothing. Put fences around your roofs which really means that we have to be careful that all our houses and buildings are safe, for example, covered plug sockets, smoke alarms, not leaving tiny pieces where a baby can get them etc.

The Torah tells us not to mix wool and linen which we need to be very careful about when we go shopping.

We have to leave a corner of the

field for the poor – peah, any grain you drop you have to leave for the poor – leket and any sheaves you forget, you got it, go to the poor! Also, we have to lend them money if we can and not drive them mad about returning it.

Hashem wants us to be very honest, He hates dishonesty. Hashem hates it so much that it is even forbidden to keep any inaccurate weights at home even as a bookend or paperweight. Lastly, remember how mean Amelek have been to us? The King of Israel must wipe out the entire Amalek. Whew, so many mitzvois this week – yay! Check in next week for even more!

Number of Verses - 110

Number of Words - 1,582

Number of Letters - 5,856

Jewish Riddle

Last week’s answer: What name is mentioned three times in the Torah, once as a non-Jew, once as a convert, and once as a Jew?

The answer is:

Re’uel. The first Re’uel mentioned is one of Esav’s sons, who was not Jewish (Bereishet 36:4). The second refers to Yisro, a convert to Judaism (Shemot 2:18, see Rashi 4:18). The third Re’uel is the father of the nasi (prince) Elyasaf, prince of the Tribe of Gad. His name is spelled three times as De’uel, and once as Re’uel (Bamidbar 2:14). Well done to Sophie Reuben from Manchester!!

Facts about Parashat Ki Teitzei

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!

M R P S I I D E E

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

saint

satin slain slant snail

Jokes

Q: Why did the man run around his bed?

A: To catch up on his sleep!

Q: What kind of car does Mickey Mouse’s wife drive?

A: Minnie Van!

Q: Why did Billy go out with a prune?

A: Because he couldn’t find a date!

tails toils vials vista volts anvils avails saliva sonata talons tonsil violas vitals salvation

When does a cart come before a horse?

What is full of holes but can still hold water? 3. What breaks when you say it?

EXPERT ADVICE

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 a previous blog post, we discussed some of the basics of the Israeli tax system. Once the income tax has been calculated on the taxpayer’s income, the tax can then be reduced by tax credits. These are non-refundable amounts that reduce the total amount of tax due; i.e. they cannot be used to be obtain a refund of taxation. The credits within the Israeli tax system are split into two broad categories – a “points” system, and a “payments based” system.

The points system

Every tax credit point is worth an amount of money. For 2024, the amount is NIS 242 per month (or NIS 2,904 for the entire year).

Personal circumstances will determine how many credit points someone is entitled to. For the most part, eligibility to points for one reason does not prevent entitlement to points for other reasons.

Common examples are as follows:

• A resident of Israel is entitled to 2.25 points

• A female is entitled to a further 0.5 points

• Children aged up to 18 entitle their parents to up to 2.5 points

• New olim are entitled to up to 3 points

• Parents of a child with physical or learning disabilities are entitled to 2 points (one parent only in most cases)

• Soldiers released from active service are entitled to points for a period of time after the end of their service (depending on how long they served)

• Students are entitled to points for a period of time after completing certain Higher Education (depends on what & how long the studies were)

The payments-based system

Under this system, the tax credit is generally based on various payments made, up to certain limits.

Common examples are

• Premiums paid for life insurance

• Certain pension contributions

• Donations to Israeli charities (recognized under Section 46)

The other most-common type of credit is for those who live in communities on the border (in large part: the Gaza envelope and Northern border). This credit is a percentage of income, up to certain income limits. The percentage and income limit is determined by a list issued by the government, and updated every so often.

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SHIPPING

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