The Jewish Weekly Issue 341

Israel enters “new phase” of war with Hezbollah

BY DAVID SAFFER

Israel has entered a “new phase” of war against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Defence Minister Yoav Gallant last night confirmed the IDF’s stance during a visit to Ramat David airbase yesterday.

Gallant’s comments came shortly after hundreds of hand held radios, walkie talkies and pagers, used by Hezbollah simultaneously exploded across Lebanon over the past two days. According to reports 14 people were killed and 450 injured in the walkie talkie explosions yesterday, 12 were killed and 3,000 injured, 200 critically by pager blasts on Tuesday.

Israel has not commented if they are behind the audacious wave of blasts but security services are on high alert to Hezbollah mounting a sustained rocket assault.

Concern is mounting about an imminent full-blown war with Hezbollah.

“The ‘centre of gravity’ is moving north,” he said. “We are allocating forces, resources and energy for the northern arena. We have not forgotten the hostages and our missions in the south. We are committed to our duties, and we are carrying them out simultaneously.”

Continued on page 4

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Continued from page 1

“We are fully coordinated and united in our determination to achieve our goals. I believe that we are at the start of a new phase in the war and we must adapt.”

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is “deeply alarmed” by the explosions and called on all parties to avoid further escalation.

“The logic of making all these devices explode is to do it as a pre-emptive strike before a major military operation,” he said at a press conference.

Whilst the IDF has been heavily involved in dismantling Hamas’ infrastructure in Gaza following the October 7 terror attack, hostilities in the north have been ongoing.

Israel is determined to push Hezbollah back from the border. Earlier this week Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Office announced a new war goal to return 80,000 residents to their homes.

Prior to the mobile device explosions negotiations between Netanyahu and Gideon Saar’s New Hope party had been taking place for Saar to replace Gallant. Talks were suspended on Tuesday.

The move had concerned families of

hostages held in Gaza due to Saar opposing a deal with Hamas.

Netanyahu and Gallant have increasingly disagreed over the way ahead for a hostage deal.

The Biden administration reportedly did not have advance warning of the pager blasts while the FCDO has called for “calm heads and de-escalation”.

Hezbollah has vowed to respond, the Lebanese government blame Israel for the detonations. Iran’s Ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, was reportedly injured, losing an eye.

Mossad, according to numerous news outlets, planted the explosives imported to Lebanon.

Taiwanese pager firm Gold Apollo reportedly said in a statement the AR-924 model was made under a license agreement by Budapest-based BAC Consulting KFT, said yesterday.

Gold Apollo was identified by photographs of the devices. “The product was not ours. it was only that it had our brand on it,” Gold Apollo founder and president, Hsu Ching-kuang, told reporters in New Taipei.

The political damage to Hezbollah, who switched to pagers from mobiles to avoid tracking movements, is significant.

Netanyahu has instructed ministers not to comment about the explosions. He met President Isaac Herzog yesterday to discuss the situation which has diplomatically escalated.

Global media networks have reported on the fallout since news broke of the blasts.

Jonathan Panikoff, US’s former Middle East deputy national intelligence officer, described the explosions as the “biggest counterintelligence failure” Hezbollah has experienced in decades.

While the Israeli government have stated it will expand operations in Lebanon the IDF has not issued changes to Home Front Command security guidelines.

Combat operations continue in Gaza. Tragically, four Israeli soldiers searching for weapons where six hostages were executed in Rafah were killed when a building they were inside exploded. The IDF is investigating the cause. They were named as Givati Brigade combat soldiers Captain Daniel Mimon Toaff, Staff Sergeant Amit Bakri and Staff Sergeant Dotan Shimon, and paramedic Staff Sergeant Agam Naim of the 401st Armoured Brigade’s 52 Battalion.

Naim is the first female soldier killed since the Operation Swords of Iron ground offensive began in Gaza after the October 7 terror attack. Five others were injured in the blast.

Since 10/7, 713 soldiers have been killed, 346 since the IDF launched the ground operation.

Rabbonim

The fallen heros - Daniel Mimon, Amit Bakri, Agam Naim, Dotan Shimon

PHOTO:IDF SPOKESPERSON’S UNIT

Starmer: Holocaust “mandatory” in curriculums

BY DAVID SAFFER

The Holocaust is set to be a mandatory topic in schools.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer launched a £2.2m Lessons from Auschwitz project as part of the Government’s curriculum review at a Holocaust Education Trust appeal dinner.

The Holocaust is on the national curriculum for Key Stage 3, but not all schools follow it. This initiative will ensure every child in England learns about the Shoah. The course includes a visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Poland.

During an impassioned speech Starmer, who has vowed to visit the death camp, praised the Trust and young ambassadors retelling the Holocaust story. He also recalled meeting Manfred Goldberg, who survived several concentration camps including Precu and Stutthof, who had dedicated his life to sharing his story.

Unusually, both of Manfred’s parents survived the Holocaust but his brother Herman disappeared.

“I can barely imagine the courage it takes to tell that story not once, not twice but over and again as it is necessary to do so,” Starmer said. “He does it so we might learn and never forget.”

Starmer also spoke about hearing a survivor speak when he was at secondary school in Camden.

“This whole group of boys that had been rowdy were totally silent, totally absorbed, completely listening to what they were being told,” he told the dinner. “Every single boy took in what was being said to them. I will never forget it.”

Starmer welcomed the fact that many ministers and political rivals were “standing together cross-party” supporting the project.

“We feel very deeply the responsibility of defending the truth of history,” he said. Regarding hostages held in captivity in Gaza, Starmer vowed to “help bring the remaining hostages home”. He added: “We have to fight this underlying hate, this resurgence of antisemitism.”

Starmer continued: “Every year we say never again. Yet on October 7, over 1,000 people were massacred by Hamas for the very same reason, because they were Jewish… In the last year we have seen record levels of antisemitism in Britain, hatred marching on our streets, children afraid to wear school uniforms, students targeted on university campuses because they are Jewish… Online our children are swamped with misinformation, disinformation, Holocaust denial, conspiracy theories, contortions of ideas and history, pure hatred and prejudice… We will not be silent and look the other way. We will call out antisemitism for what it is,

hatred, pure and simple, and we will fight this with everything we have got. Just as I fought to bring my party back from the abyss of antisemitism, I promise you, I will do the same leading the country.”

Starmer vowed to build a Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre next to Parliament as a “national statement” and noted former Prime Minister Gordon Brown pioneered the Lessons from Auschwitz initiative that has seen thousands of students have a “life changing opportunity” to visit Auschwitz.

“My wife Vic has been, I must go,” he said.

After announcing the £2.2m funding initiative, he noted: “We cannot stop there.

It’s too important. This was the first year participation in Holocaust Memorial Day fell at the very same time antisemitism is soaring to record levels. We can’t sit back and accept that. We’ve got to be bolder and more defiant about the national importance of Holocaust education.”

Starmer added: “The Holocaust will remain on the curriculum come what may and schools who do not currently have to follow the national curriculum will have to teach the Holocaust when the new curriculum comes in. For the first time, studying the Holocaust will become a critical, vital part of every single student’s identity. And not just studying it, learning from it too. Above all, acting on its lessons.”

Starmer said that every student should have the opportunity to hear a survivor testimony.

The coming year will see the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, British liberation of Bergen Belsen and arrival of orphan survivors to Windermere.

Starmer observed: “These are likely to be among the last major anniversaries

with survivors. As we mark each one and we renew our promise to remember, let’s be even bolder and more ambitious in sharing their message and fighting antisemitism and all forms of hatred in

our society. Together we can ensure the message of Britain’s Holocaust survivors will echo eternally across the generations so the Holocaust is never forgotten and repeated.”

Gadot & Herzog fight global antisemitism

BY DAVID SAFFER

President Isaac Herzog has opened applications for a global Jewish council to fight rising antisemitism since the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.

The ‘Voice of the People’ initiative is designed to unify Jewish communities.

In a virtual conversation with Israeli actress Gal Gadot last Sunday, Herzog backed the resilience of the Jewish people, echoing Gadot’s comments that “we will prevail”.

Gadot said: “October 7 was a turning point for the Jewish community worldwide. I don’t think anyone ever expected or thought that such a horrific event could happen to our people, or happen in the world at all in 2023. Not a day goes by without me thinking about the hostages and the fact that while we’re here talking, they are still in Gaza, in the tunnels, surviving for almost a year in this hellish reality. “Words cannot describe the horror. I’ve been in contact with the families, and I’ve been so inspired by them. They’re going through the most horrifying experience, yet at the same time, there’s something amazing about our people. There’s no sense of revenge. Everyone is full of hope, light, and love. Everyone wants this situation to end as soon as possible.”

Herzog noted: “On October 6, it was the best of times and the worst of times for Jews. It was the best of times because our

communities thrived, the State of Israel was strong and robust, and we had strong Jewish leadership. But it was also the worst of times. There was a lot of anger, conflict, and division among people. Many Jews were distancing themselves from us, fading away. Then this event happened, an earthquake, and it has shaken all of us. Many Jews who never felt strongly before suddenly woke up, reconnected and became proud Jews again. But some still drifted away. We must focus on how to bring everyone back together. That’s the essence of this initiative, to unite us, discuss our problems and our future, and realise that we always overcome when we stand together.”

He added: “The biggest challenge facing Jews worldwide is antisemitism. We are a small nation, 15, maybe 17 million people, among 8 billion human beings, we must support the needs of Jewish communities everywhere. We need to offer hope, a vision and a future for the next generation. That’s what we are doing here, launching a historic process.”

Gadot continued: “Israel is the insurance policy for Jewish people around the world. Israel was born after the Holocaust, we must make sure that Israel stays strong and stable. Hopefully, one day, hopefully soon, we will live in peace with all our neighbours.

“When I started 15 years ago, being Israeli was something people admired and were excited about. People talked

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about strong Israeli women. Now it’s more complicated. The conversation has changed, I find myself repeatedly having difficult and uncomfortable discussions with people who have their own ideas about what’s happening, I try to give them a full picture of the reality.

“Antisemitism has always been there for the Jewish people, but we have the power to come together, spread light and keep going even when it’s hard. We have to advocate for the hostages to come home, it’s unimaginable that they’re still there. We will prevail, but the only way is by being united.”

Herzog noted: “It is the highest priority for our nation to bring our brothers and sisters back from the dungeons and tunnels in Gaza. Preserving and protecting our nation is our utmost priority, we must bring peace. I believe in the future. I believe that from great crises, opportunities emerge. One day, I believe we will see movements calling for peace, for more inclusion, and for Israel’s permanent and peaceful existence in our region.”

Israeli footballer Daniel Lifshitz, whose grandparents were taken hostage shared his moving story. “My grandfather fought in four wars and founded Nir Oz to protect Israel,” he said. “Now he’s being held hostage in Gaza, but I feel it’s my mission to bring everyone home. Peace itself is being held hostage.”

Lifshitz called on Jewish communities to rally together, noting: “Peace is held hostage in Gaza. The world needs to

hear this. Sport can play a huge role, if we amplify the message, it will be such a powerful moment for the Jewish people and the world.”

The two-year initiative addresses antisemitism, Israel-Diaspora relations and security concerns.

150 Jewish leaders will convene monthly to develop strategies and solutions before a conference in Israel in March 2025.

Shirel Dagan-Levy, CEO of the ‘Voice of the People,’ observed: “This is a bold step forward in fostering unity, strengthening security, and empowering Jewish leaders. In this time of unprecedented challenge, we are calling on Jewish leaders worldwide to join us in securing our collective future.”

The initiative will benefit the next generation of Jewish leadership. Alongside the council, a community network will engage Jewish communities through virtual Town Halls and research projects. Sunday’s event included performances from singer Michal Greenglick, who lost her brother during the fighting in Gaza, and poet Aija Mayrock.

Applications: https://www.voiceofthepeople.network/home-en/#open-call

Pearce is LFI chair

BY HARRY SIMONS

Jon Pearce is the new parliamentary chair of Labour Friends of Israel. Pearce succeeds Steve McCabe, who

stood down from parliament at July’s general election and served as LFI chair from 2020-24.

He takes the helm as LFI focuses its work on five key areas, namely, working for a two-state solution, promoting peacebuilding, strengthening regional security and prosperity, enhancing the bilateral relationship between Britain and Israel, and fighting anti-Zionist antisemitism.

Speaking after his appointment, Pearce, MP for High Peak, said: “After 14 long years in opposition, this is a moment of great hope for LFI. A chance to work with a Labour Government to help make Britain and the world safer, less divided, more prosperous.”

In his first official engagement as LFI chair, Pearce met this week the leadership of the Union of Jewish Students to discuss antisemitism and safety of Jewish students on UK campuses.

Albania and Serbia back Herzog’s hostages appeal

BY ADAM MOSES

President Herzog called for the secure return of hostages when he met Prime Minister Edi Rama of Albania in Tirana last Thursday.

Herzog was making the first visit by an Israeli President to Albania.

Accompanying Herzog was Idit Ohel, mother of Alon, who is among 101 hostages still held captive by Hamas. Rama, known for his love of painting and art, presented Idit with a book of his works as a token of appreciation and backed the importance of bringing the hostages home.

Herzog said: “It is especially meaningful to be among friends at this painful time for Israel, as we near the one-year mark since Hamas terrorists brutally attacked Israel. It is a year since thousands

of terrorists invaded our country, savagely murdered and wounded thousands, and kidnapped hundreds of Israelis and foreign nationals into Gaza.”

Addressing Rama, Herzog noted, “Ever since that dark day in October, Albania has placed itself firmly on the right side of history. Your country has shown, again and again, that you stand with the people of Israel, as we fight to defend our borders and our civilization.”

He added: “Hostages are being held in cruel bondage in Gaza, in gross violation of every humanitarian and ethical norm. The entire international community must do everything in its power to bring them home. Unfortunately, we are fighting more than one terrorist enemy simultaneously. The trail of blood linking all of the agents of hate is Iran, and its cruel, antisemitic fixation with the destruction of the State of Israel.”

Rama welcomed the Israeli delegation and had a message for Ohel’s mother and the other hostages.

“I’ll pray for him to get back,” he said. “I want to send a very brotherly message to all the parents of the hostages on one hand, expressing the most heartfelt condolences to all of them

who lost their kids, who lost their loved ones in this horrendous moment in time, and on the other hand, to wish to all the others, to hug their kids and to hug their loved ones as soon as possible.

“I can’t agree more with every Israeli citizen and every Jew in the world when it comes to the need for the world to understand that the horrors we are witnessing, and also the so many unnecessary victims of this war where so many innocents are losing their lives because of the need to eradicate this devil from the underneath of the earth. It did not start from nothing, but started from a horror that nobody around today’s world has ever imagined that could be seen in our lifetime. These images of that day, that very dark day, not just for Israel, but for all the world, were images that no one should forget and everyone when speaking about the way through, should start from those images, otherwise history may repeat itself, and this would be, then not the sin of Israel, but this will be the sin of all humanity.”

During the visit it was announced Albania will open a commercial liaison office in Jerusalem.

The decision marks an upgrade in the relationship between the nations.

Herzog met descendants of Albanian citizens remembered as Righteous Among the Nations for saving Jews during the Holocaust. He concluded the visit with a ceremony at the Holocaust memorial, commemorating the rescue of

Jews in Albania, at the invitation of Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj, with participation of the Jewish community.

Herzog initally met President Aleksandar Vucic of Serbia on an official visit to Belgrade.

Herzog was received by Serbia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marko Đuric, a relation of Ohel, whose mother is an Israeli of Serbian origin.

He said: “Hostages are from various nationalities. Alon is a young Israeli who is a musician, an incredible kid, who was at the music festival. The world must remember the plight and the return of the hostages should be the utmost objective of the international community.”

Herzog participated in a Holocaust memorial ceremony in the city and met the Jewish community.

Both Albania and Serbia are close allies of Israel, providing support in international forums and engaging in security and strategic cooperation.

During the visit, the leaders spoke about the hostages, security, economic, and strategic collaborations between the countries, particularly those related to wartime.

An economic delegation from the Israel Export Institute, Manufacturers Association, Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce, Israel Innovation Authority and Ministry of Foreign Affairs accompanied Herzog, holding business meetings to promote industrial and economic cooperation.

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Cooper addresses CST lunch

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper addressed the Community Security Trust annual Business Lunch.

Almost 400 guests were in attendance, CST’s largest turn out for the event.

CST works closely with the Home Office to manage an annual government grant of £18m for security guards and other measures at Jewish community buildings across the UK, while also supporting the government’s efforts to tackle the ongoing threats of extremism and antisemitism.

Cooper reiterated her commitment to combatting antisemitism and praised CST as a crucial partner to keep Jewish communities safe

“The rise in antisemitism the UK has seen since October 7 is abhorrent,” she said. “Let there be no doubt, there is no place in this country for any form of hatred. As Home Secretary I will do everything in my power to protect Jewish communities and ensure those responsible for antisemitic hate crimes feel the full force of the law. The Home Office is committed to continuing our multi-year funding for protective security, managed by CST as well as working alongside the police as part of our collective effort to ensure everyone in the UK feels safe in public.”

Guests were also addressed by Matt Jukes, Assistant Commissioner of the

Metropolitan Police. CST’s Deputy Chairman Sir Lloyd Dorfman introduced Cooper and thanked CST and its volunteers for their daily work to keep the Jewish community safe.

Dorfman commented: “We have built a state of the art, 24-7 web of protection across the Jewish community, working in close partnership with officials at the Home Office. Our partnership managing the government grant that pays for security guards at Jewish schools, synagogues and other premises is the most obvious manifestation of that joint effort. But it goes much deeper, with regular exchanges of information and insights about the latest developments in anti-Jewish extremism, whether from Islamists, far right, far left, or those anti-Israel extremists who cross the line from legitimate political protest into incitement, intimidation and support for terrorism.”

Mark Gardner spoke about the aftermath of October 7 with the rise in anti-Jewish hatred in the UK.

“CST literally gave our community the confidence and strength to continue its way of life,” he said. “New staff were employed and guarding had to be increased, everywhere. We did it immediately and we continue to do so. It is our mission and our privilege. I see more people wanting to be more Jewish, and that makes me even more proud of CST,

$220m ‘Iron Sting’ mortars

Israel’s Ministry of Defence has acquired $220m ‘Iron Sting’ precision-guided mortar munitions from Elbit Systems.

The advanced PGMs will enhance operational capabilities of IDF ground forces.

IMOD Director General Major-General (Res.) Eyal Zamir signed to order.

Iron Sting PGMs are equipped with sophisticated laser and GPS guidance systems that minimise collateral damage

and reduce the risk to non-combatants.

These advanced munitions represent a significant leap in the IDF’s ability to conduct operations in complex combat conditions and urban environments.

The IMoD has accelerated cutting-edge armaments. The initiative ensures IDF forces have the most advanced and effective ammunition, enhancing operational efficiency and safety.

enabling Jewish life, and empowering this community in the fight for its future and that of our children.”

Jukes commented, “The partnership between Policing and CST will never have been more important than it is today. In the spirit of collaboration, we all want the same thing, whether it’s at school, at synagogue at work or public transport. I want you, your children, your grandchildren and friends to be able to live whatever Jewish life you have chosen freely and without fear, here in London and across the UK. The work to do that in the last year has felt to be the hardest that I can remember but it’s been harder still for your community and for CST. That is why Counter Terror Policing’s partnership with the Community Security Trust is critical.”

The lunch was concluded by Sir Gerald Ronson, who thanked guests for attending and pledging support for CST.

He noted: “A lot of people seem surprised by all the antisemitism that’s out there. I’m not surprised. My war did not start on October 7, my war started 62 years ago on the streets of the East End. As a young man, I joined with others who protected our community. Things have come a very long way since then. Thirty years ago, CST became a registered charity and now it is widely recognised as the best community security organisation anywhere in the world. Everything we have built at CST is there for a time like this. That investment is what enabled us to respond immediately, so that our community kept leading its Jewish life.”

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Rosenberg’s ‘seaside tour’ of Brighton

BY HARRY SIMONS

Board of Deputies President Phil Rosenberg visited the Jewish community in Brighton & Hove as he continues to prioritise regional communities.

Rosenberg began his seaside tour by attending the Yellow Ribbon Campaign meeting to highlight the plight of hostages held in Gaza. Maintaining his focus on hostages, he attended the BoD AdoptA-Hostage Campaign vigil at the BNJC

Jewish community centre.

The local vigil, organised by Sussex Jewish Representative Council, is significant as the community has ‘adopted’ Tsachi Idan, a cousin of BoD’ staff member Adam Ma’anit who lives in Brighton.

10/7 terror attack.

The Friday night service was devoted to Rosenberg’s family friend Nathanel Young who was killed in action on October 7 near the Re’im military base close to the Gaza border.

Idan’s eldest daughter Ma’ayan (18) was murdered on October 7 and Tsachi was abducted to Gaza by Hamas terrorists.

After emotional speeches by BNJC’s Matt Marks and Adam Ma’anit, Rosenberg hosted a Q&A with representatives from across the community and summarised the Board’s three-year action plan.

Meetings were held with Sussex Police and community members to discuss antisemitic incidents, policing of protests and events, community cohesion, and terrorism legislation.

Rosenberg attended the Memorial to the Victims of October 7 in Palmeira Square.

The community organises a daily service, each dedicated to a victim of the

Over Shabbat, Rosenberg addressed community members at shul events and the nightly vigil at Palmeira Square where Michael Levy, whose brother Or Levy is a hostage in Gaza, dedicated the service to the memory of Or’s wife Eynav Alkayam-Levy who was murdered on October 7.

Concluding his trip, Rosenberg expressed his admiration and respect for the energy, dynamism and diversity of Brighton & Hove’s Jewish community.

“The commitment they have shown to come together across the community, after the horrific events of 10/7, is a shining example we should all be inspired by,” he said.

Rosenberg expressed deep gratitude to the co-chairs of the Sussex Jewish Representative Council, community rabbis and communal leaders.

After successful visits to Jewish communities of Bournemouth, Manchester, Southport, Glasgow and Edinburgh, Rosenberg has planned visits to Liverpool and Birmingham.

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New teacher training staff join LSJS

LSJS (The London School of Jewish Studies) is excited to announce the appointment of two new additions to its teacher training team. Rabbi Yehuda Pearlman will be the Jewish Studies programmes manager and Jonny Atkins has taken on the role of School Direct Secondary programme manager.

Jonny Atkins will be working three days per week as LSJS’ School Direct Secondary programme manager, whereby he will be running the training provision in Jewish Secondary schools.

He will also remain at Immanuel College, where he is responsible for the learning and development of staff and students. He has extensive experience as a teacher trainer at schools, working with trainees and early career teachers

to support their development as educators. Jonny is also in the first cohort of the Lira Winston Fellowship for School Leadership.

“I’m tremendously excited to be joining the talented and passionate team at LSJS. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to mentor our large group of trainees on the first step of their teaching journey,” said Jonny. “Additionally, I look forward to partnering with our schools and am already relishing the challenge to get a diverse, committed, and talented group of Jewish educators to become school leaders of the future.”

Rabbi Pearlman will be responsible for Jewish Studies (JS) subject training for School Direct (SD) Secondary schools, the Israel Seminar for JS trainees and

Teach to Lead, specialist teacher training for JS teachers. As well as developing other programmes with JS teachers, he will also be running Project Innovate, LSJS’ exciting initiative, launched last year, to encourage Jewish studies teachers to try out new ideas in the classroom. The programme brings teachers together from different schools so they can learn from each other and develop bespoke projects for their own schools.

He has been the Principal of Broughton Jewish Primary School for over 10 years, and has an MSc in Education Leadership and Management, a PG Cert in Jewish Education and a Post Graduate Foundation in Systemic Practice. He is currently studying for a PhD in Jewish Spiritual Education. Rabbi Pearlman is a Pikuach Inspector and was a key member of the Pikuach working party that developed the criteria for Jewish Spiritual Development in Schools and rewrote the Pikuach Inspection framework to reflect those expectations.

“It has been a wonderful experience

getting to know the new cohort of young educators who are passionate about making a difference to Jewish Education in the UK,” said Rabbi Pearlman. “I am looking forward to supporting them in their journey as they learn to engage the hearts and minds of our teenagers. “It is a privilege to be part of the LSJS team and I am very excited to connect with leaders in UK Jewish Education and across the world to explore opportunities to learn from each other.”

“We are excited to welcome Jonny and Yehuda to the team. They each come with a wealth of experience from having worked in senior school positions for many years,” said Dr. Helena Miller, Director of Degrees and Teacher Training Programmes, Senior Research Fellow. “We are looking forward to working with them as we continue to develop our teacher training provision”.

Rabbi Yehuda Pearlman

Jonny Atkins

We will overcome Antisemitism

BY LORD ERIC PICKLES

As the old year gives way to the new one and we commemorate Rosh Hashana, a dreadful anniversary awaits the world in the early days of the new year. The last twelve months were dominated by the October pogrom, with the largest murder of Jewish people since the Holocaust and the largest number of British victims to terrorism since the Manchester Arena bombing.

I am afraid that the weekend around the 7th of October will see crowds ghoulishly celebrating murder, sexual violence, and kidnapping. More attempts will be made to exclude Jews from public places and public life. While mistakes have been made since last October, I do not doubt that the new government, like the previous government, are determined to protect and stand up for British Jews. The latest wave of Antisemitism arrives as a perfect storm when reliable news outlets are at their weakest. Newspaper readership has plummeted; regional and local newspapers have disappeared; the once powerful nightly news bulletins

have diminished in their influence. At a time when we needed it the most, our national broadcaster, the BBC, has disappeared in a miasma of half truths, Israeli hatred, and a willing gullibility on Hamas.

This year, it is estimated, 52 percent of the UK’s population relied on news via a social media platform, where there is little moderation or balance. Welcome to the world where the musings of a “social influencer “ is given the same weight as an Ofcom regulated broadcaster. Silly, but dangerous, rumours quickly spread. As we saw last week, even candidates to the high office of President of the United States are susceptible to fake news on X as the rest of us.

Along with the bigotry, intolerance and Antisemitism that stalk our streets is the reemergence of Holocaust denial and distortion. This year the UK holds the Presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) and I am currently the Chair. The problems that we see on British streets and on our campuses are mirrored right across Europe and the USA. At times I have worried that Holocaust Remembrance and Education are built on shifting sands.

Our UK IHRA presidency is predicated on laying a firm educational foundation

for Holocaust Remembrance across member countries in a post 7th October world. Early in our year we gathered experts and teachers together in Scotland to enhance best practice. Our own Holocaust Education Trust (HET) is developing new and innovatory ways to teach young people the truth of the past. HET’s use of virtual reality in it’s Testimony 360 programme is a world leader. The new Chair of HMDT, Sir Sajid Javid, is determined to enhance the Trust’s offering to young people.

Two further IHRA projects will focus on education. Firstly, “My Home Town”, which is a schools project that will focus on local history during the time of the Holocaust. Secondly, in the weeks before the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz we will embrace the world of social media by producing short clips which shows the “Holocaust in Eighty Objects.”

The UK legacy project of our year will be a portal to view the testimony of UK survivors gathered from across the world from partner organisations, including the Shoah Foundation in America. This is organised through the Association of Jewish Refugees and already has 4600+ documents on the site.

Over the past decade and a half I have listened to many firm declarations of support for the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre, next to Parliament, from six Prime Ministers, none was clearer than from Sir Keir Starmer, speaking at the Annual HET Fundraising Dinner. I have now no doubt that it will be built. I recognise that there are still objections by neighbours to the site, many of them powerful and influential individuals. I hope in time they will be proud to live, or work close to, this striking winner of an international architectural competition.

Eighty years ago, Europe began to understand that the Heart of the continent had been ripped out. Europeans would never be the same again.

The UK is fortunate to have a vibrant Jewish Community. Jewishness is a fundamental part of the British identity, central to what makes our nation tick. By valuing the community, we support our nation.

The last few months have been trying and difficult. I firmly believe we will overcome the Antisemitism. Better times will come. Until then, hold on to the things that matter: friends and family.

Shana Tovah!

Norwood raise £564K at annual dinner

Over four hundred attendees raised a record £564,000 at the 19th annual Norwood Distressed Investing Dinner at the Savoy Hotel in London on Monday. Members of the distressed investing community took the opportunity to network with Europe’s leading contacts in the sector, before hearing a heartfelt appeal for funds from Norwood parent Caroline.

The charity supports adults, children and their families with neurodiversity and neurodevelopmental disabilities.

The event was made possible thanks to the long-standing industry support of lead event sponsor Akin, entertainment sponsor Ankura and carbon neutral

sponsor, Vista Insurance Brokers.

Welcoming guests, Gordon Singer said he was hugely proud of what has been achieve over the years through the dinner.

He added that committee members had oversold to bring the event to as large a network as possible,

The evening was to help “fund essential and life-changing services for the many people supported by Norwood every year”.

Over the course of its history, the dinner has raised over £5m to support Jewish community members.

Outgoing Norwood Honorary Vice

President Neville Kahn spoke of his enduring commitment to the charity and the importance of raising awareness and funds for Norwood.

“The expert services provided by Norwood aren’t readily available elsewhere”, he added,

referencing the increased need for Norwood’s services amid rising costs of care, which, he cautioned could only be met “thanks to your donations”.

Kahn introduced Caroline, mother of Charlotte, who is supported by Norwood’s holiday schemes for children and young adults. Charlotte, who has a range of learning disabilities and complex needs, is featured in the appeal film broadcast to guests.

She said it showed “how well cared for and supported she is…(enjoying) a ‘normal’ camp experience in a safe environment appropriate to her needs”.

Caroline spoke of the advocacy and advice the charity provides her family as they consider Charlotte’s options to achieve her best outcome in adulthood. Appealing for funds, she credited Norwood with giving her a chance of “having a very rare night out together, as well as shar(ing) our story and experience of their life-changing support”.

Closing

VISITING ISRAEL THIS SUKKOT?

3. Visit the Burned Car and Nova Festival Sites:

4. Immersive

survivors and connect deeply with

Members of the Distressed Investing community were treated to a special performance by entertainer Russell Kane, who was welcomed to the stage by Alastair Dick, of Ankura.

the programme, Jed Hart thanked everyone for pledging generously.

Your Creation Story: The Journey of Self-Discovery

BY RABBI SHMUEL REICHMAN

Michelangelo was once asked, “How is it that you create such wondrous sculptures and works of art? How can something so innovative and ingenious emanate from mere mortal hands?” Without skipping a beat, Michelangelo responded, “Before I even begin my work, the sculpture is already complete within the marble block. My job is simply to discover it and then chisel away the superfluous material.”

The dormant potential already exists beneath the surface; the job of the artist is simply to discover that which is hidden within and then transform the concealed into the revealed.

YOUR CREATION STORY

Like Adam, each of us has our own unique creation story. The Gemara discusses the enigmatic events surrounding our formation, the initial stage of our own creation story (Niddah 30b). The Gemara explains that when you were just a fetus, you were in a perfect and transcendent state of being; a malach (angel) taught you kol haTorah kulah (all of Torah), and you experienced the entirety of reality with a crystal-clear lens. However, the Gemara continues with an anti-climactic punch (literally): just before you were born, this malach struck you on the mouth, causing you to forget everything you learned. Two obvious questions arise:

• Why does the malach make you forget what you’ve learned?

• And more importantly, if the malach is going to cause you to forget it, why even teach it to you in the first place?

The Vilna Gaon answers as follows: When the Gemara describes the fetus learning kol haTorah kulah, it isn’t referring to basic “Chumash with Rashi.” Rather, this refers to the deepest realms of Torah — to a transcendent level of Torah that lies far beyond this world. 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. Most importantly, though, when the malach struck you, you didn’t lose this Torah; rather, you lost access to it. Instead of disappearing, this knowledge and clarity became buried deep within your subconscious. The reason is as follows: What you received in the womb wasn’t real, it was merely a gift — something unearned and undeserved. The goal of life is to come into this world and rebuild all that you experienced and understood while in the womb. However, this time, it will be real, because you will have to build it yourself. 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, by choosing to become great. Only by overcoming challenge and difficulty, 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.

LEARNING OR EXPRESSING?

Perhaps this explains why we often feel a sense of recognition when we hear a deep thought or profound insight. Instead of feeling as though we are learning it for the first time, everything just “clicks,” almost as if we already knew the idea. This is because we do already know it. We’re not learning, we’re rediscovering what we already learned in the womb, what’s ingrained within us. The Torah is already there at a subconscious level; now we must invest the effort to build and express it in this world.

This explains an interesting Gemara (Megillah 6b), which says that if someone claims that he exerted himself in learning but has failed to acquire understanding, you should not believe him. Likewise, if he claims to have put no effort into his learning but has succeeded regardless, you should similarly not believe him. Only someone who says that he exerted himself in his learning and succeeded should be believed.

The Vilna Gaon raises a fascinating question: The wording of the Gemara is “yagati u’matzasi,” understood to mean “I exerted myself and succeeded.” However, the word metziah doesn’t mean succeed, it means find! Shouldn’t the Gemara have used a word such as asisi, paalti, or hitzlachti, which refer to accomplishment or achievement? The Vilna Gaon explains this according to the aforementioned idea. Genuine learning isn’t about achieving something new, it’s about finding that which already exists within your subconscious, that which you learned while in the womb.

This same idea lies at the heart of the classic conceptual debate between the worldviews of Plato and John Locke. Locke claimed that the human mind begins as a blank slate, and that a human being is then imprinted upon and molded through everything he or she encounters and experiences throughout life. Plato, however, quoting Socrates, believed that everyone is born with the knowledge of everything embedded deep within. Therefore, the job of a teacher is not to impart novel information but to help the student come to understand on his own what he already knows deep within himself. The word “educate” comes from the Latin word which means to “take out” or “draw forth,” because teaching is the act of drawing out the dormant potential from within each student.

UNDERSTANDING OUR YEARNINGS

This fundamental truth expresses itself within the concept of human desire. As humans, we all have cravings and yearnings. However, these cravings tend to be limited to that which we have already experienced. For example, many people crave pizza, ice cream, steak, and other delicious foods. But this is only because we have tasted them before. I don’t know anyone who craves kosher bugs such as locust, even though in certain Asian

countries, bugs are served as delicacies. This is because we only yearn for foods that we have tasted before. Think about this: Do you crave anything that you haven’t tasted before? Do you crave the remarkable cuisine called “yabagaloola”? Of course not, because it doesn’t exist, and we can only crave something that we have previously tasted. If so, why do we crave wisdom, greatness, significance, and perfection? Because we have tasted it before — in the womb! We were all once in this perfect state, we tasted it, and now we crave to experience it once again.

HUMAN GROWTH

With this principle in mind, let us explore the process of human growth. Many people grow from the outside in. They look around at their friends, their family, and society, and then shape themselves to fit their surroundings. The clothes they wear, the things they talk about, and their values and goals become a reflection of their external environment. In other words, many people feel like they are a slab of clay and mold themselves to fit in to their environment, i.e., into the molds that society creates for them.

What if we realized that, much like Michelangelo’s sculptures, we too are already uniquely and perfectly formed beneath the surface. Our job in life isn’t to take a slab of stone and sculpt something beautiful; our job is to discover who we truly are, who we already are, and to then “chisel away the superfluous material” and express our inner self. Growth isn’t about becoming great, it’s about becoming you; learning isn’t about discovery, it’s about self-discovery. You are a masterpiece covered with stone; your job in this world is to uncover and express yourself, your true self.

This is why the Torah compares man to a tree (Devarim 20:19). An apple seed already contains all of its potential within it. It then spends its life expressing the potential that is latent within it. You never hear an apple seed looking around and saying, “I want to be a pear tree!” As human beings, we too are created with all our potential invested within us. As a fetus, we were each given our unique purpose, our unique tree to grow. Our job in this life is to take our seed and harness our potential. True happiness is when you are becoming you — when you are on the journey to becoming your true self, spending each day bringing out more and more of what you are meant to become.

True growth requires us to grow from the inside out. We need to go into a room, by ourselves, and ask the real questions: Who am I? What drives me? What makes me unique? What are my talents? What are my passions? What can I contribute to the Jewish People and the world as a whole?

Instead of becoming a mirror, which reflects everything outside itself, we can become projectors. We can build something majestic and beautiful within ourselves and then express that outward into the world.

BECOMING PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER

After developing one’s self, the next step toward greatness is contributing that

uniqueness toward something greater than oneself — finding your “self” within a greater whole. This is why the greatest thinkers and talmidei chachamim (Torah sages) are both fully loyal to the mesorah (tradition) while simultaneously expressing their uniqueness and working to develop the mesorah further. This is the very essence of Torah She’baal Peh, the ability for human beings to express their unique Torah into the world, while still remaining faithful to the objective body of Torah She’bichsav. Torah She’bichsav doesn’t change from its original form as given by Hashem. Torah She’baal Peh, however, is in continuous development and is the medium in which human beings can become part of Torah.

Chazal tell us that when you leave this world, you will meet three malachim. One angel will ask you: “Where are your mitzvos?” The second angel will ask you: “Where are your aveiros?” The last angel will ask you: “Where is your Torah?” Although the first two questions make sense, the third one is puzzling. After all, learning Torah is a mitzvah and should therefore be included within the first angel’s question. Why then is it a separate, unique question? The Vilna Gaon adds a chilling detail to this story: When you see this third malach, you will recognize him; he is the same malach who taught you kol haTorah kulah in the womb, who showed you your potential in this world. Now, he is here to greet you as you leave this world and to ask: “Where is your Torah? I gave it to you in the womb for free, but did you build it yourself? Did you make it your own? Did you fulfill your purpose in this world?”

When Avraham is instructed to leave his home and embark on his journey toward greatness, Hashem tells him two unforgettable words: “lech lecha — go for yourself.” Lecha can also be read as go “to yourself.” Avraham was commanded to embark on a journey to “himself” because the genuine journey of life is the journey to the self. Let us each be inspired to bring our own Torah into the world and express our unique purpose.

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.

Beyond the headlines

A weekly glimpse into the Israel you won’t read in the news

BY SIVAN RAHAV MEIR - TRANSLATED BY YEHOSHUA SISKIN, JANINE MULLER SHERR CONSOLATION

Would you like to see prophecies of consolation coming true before your very eyes?

We’ve been reading the haftarot of nechama—consolation–which describe Jerusalem awakening from her slumber and coming back to life; Jews who are distant, both physically and spiritually, coming home again; and the Jewish nation returning to Hashem and to our proper place in the world.

And then I received a moving video with the following note: “Shalom, it’s Rabbi Reuven Taragin from Yeshivat HaKotel. Fifty new students arrived this week! These young men from the UK, the US, and Canada have graduated from high school and instead of going straight to college have chosen to spend a year learning Torah in Jerusalem, even during a time of war.

“From my own experience, I know that their Torah study and their encounters with the people in the Land of Israel this year will stay with them for the rest of their lives, and that many of them will ultimately decide to remain in Israel. Twenty graduates of our programme are currently serving in the IDF.”

Welcome to our dear brothers! In the end, all of our prophecies of consolation will come true.

OUR YOUTH HAVE SPOKEN

I was just at the Kotel for Selichot. To my surprise, the majority of those attending these nightly services at the Kotel, throughout Israel, and around the world are young people. I looked around, expecting to see the iconic elderly figure, the grandfather who would go from house to house, lantern in hand, knocking on doors and rousing people with the cry of, “Selichot, Selichot.” But that image is long gone. Now it’s his great-grandson summoning the public — not with a knock but through TikTok… Already, at the start of Elul, the winding streets of the Old City are overflowing, creating what looks like a human traffic jam! The women’s section is packed with young, enthusiastic girls. One was in the middle of asking me for a selfie when

her friend gently whispered, “Not now in the middle of Selichot,” before returning to her heartfelt recitation of the ancient prayers.

It’s worth noting that Selichot is not like Shabbat or kashrut; there is no halachic obligation for young girls to be standing here at midnight, reciting ancient liturgical poems and holy words and pleading for mercy with tears in their eyes. This is simply a generation that loves our customs and is excited about our traditions and Jewish identity. Lifted by these words of consolation and hope, they leave with glowing faces.

There is no organization responsible for bringing these young people here from all over Israel. But clearly, something is happening here. Hearts are stirred and it’s impossible to sleep.

Elul 5784. You’re invited, too.

MY RETURN TO THE SHUL... AND THE SIDEWALK

On Rosh Chodesh Elul, I arrived at the Hakippah synagogue in Be’er Sheva to deliver a lecture to a women’s group in memory of their member, Orit Weil, z”l.

The time and venue were particularly moving to me personally: As a young woman, I came here to “do Shabbat” for my very first time. Arriving here last week, I paused for a moment on the sidewalk at the shul entrance. I remember standing at this exact spot and feeling as if I had been privy to a tremendous secret. It was my first exposure to the Torah portion, Shabbat meals, and Torah learning. But it was something else that occurred after the prayer service that for me was truly life-changing.

I was a young journalist and a real workaholic (okay, so that part hasn’t changed), and after the service, I remember watching as members of the congregation lingered on the sidewalk and stood in circles talking among themselves. I couldn’t understand what they were doing. Who were they waiting for?

Finally, I decided to ask someone. The lovely girl who was hosting me explained: “We’re not waiting for anyone. It’s Shabbat.” Boom. Is there any day of the week when people stand around on the sidewalk, simply talking to one another, without glancing at their watches— I mean, cell phones? When are we not rushing to get somewhere? And even if we as individuals are able to set aside some time in our schedules for such one-on-one encounters, when is the entire community in “Shabbat mode”? When is the entire nation, in essence, the entire world tuned in to this special frequency? Yes, I realize that

there are more probably more exciting stories about discovering the beauty and serenity of Shabbat. And the highlight of Shabbat is certainly not “hanging out” outside a shul in Be’er Sheva. Still, coming here and seeing the sidewalk brought back what was for me a lifechanging experience.

On Rosh Chodesh Elul, the appointed month for thinking about teshuva, returning, and charting a new course for ourselves, I had the privilege to return to the very place where it all began for me, this time, as a teacher of Torah.

For passersby, this synagogue is probably nothing special. But in truth, it houses a force of tremendous spiritual energy, a revolutionary “startup” hidden among the housing projects. In 2024, people are still standing on this sidewalk once a week, looking other people in the eye, and paying attention to what they say, leaving behind all the noise, commotion, and distractions of the week.

My heartfelt thanks to Hakippah for hosting me this week, and even more, for hosting me on that unforgettable Shabbat so many years ago.

SAYING GOODBYE TO HERSH GOLDBERG-POLIN

Thousands came to the funeral of Hersh Goldberg-Polin who was murdered in captivity by Hamas.

“Hersh and Aner are now together forever,” Jon, the father of Hersh, said referring to Aner Shapira, Hersh’s good friend, who was murdered on October 7. “There is symbolism in the fact that we just finished saying Kaddish for Aner and today we begin saying Kadddish for Hersh. One year is not enough to sanctify the names of these special two young men. They deserve two consecutive years of Kaddish.”

Jon continued: “When we told him at age seven that we would be making aliyah to Israel, we told him that the name Hersh could be challenging for Israelis. Maybe you want to become Tzvi, which has the same meaning (deer). But Hersh said confidently: “I am Hersh. Let the Israelis deal with that.” Ultimately, his name became famous throughout the world. Rachel and Jon did not bring him home, but Hersh entered the homes of millions everywhere.

And then Rachel spoke: “I want to thank G-d right now in front of all of you for giving me this magnificent present of my son Hersh. For 23 years I was privileged to have the most stunning honor to be Hersh’s mama. I’ll take this moment to say thank you.”

Continuing, she turned to those in

Israel and throughout the world who had been at her side: “I want to say thank you to the countless people in this entire extended community who have held us, cared for us, prayed for us, cooked for us, and carried us when we could not stand up. I am so thankful to you and I apologize deeply but now we’re going to need continued help to get through this new chapter too, and I beg of you all please don’t leave us now. You gave us so much for 11 months and we gave you nothing in return.” It seems to me that anyone who heard this would say, “Rachel, this is not true. You gave us so much.”

Then she turned directly to Hersh. “I need to request your help. Our worry turns to grief. This is a new kind of pain, I beg you, Hersh, do what you can to have your light shine on me, on father, on Libi and on Orly. Give us healing and resilience from above so we can rise again, so that G-d will bless us and one day we will hear laughter and we will turn around and see it’s us, and that we’re okay. And you will always be with us as a source of love and vitality, you will become our superpower.

“Sweet boy, go now on your journey. Finally, finally, finally, finally you are free. I will love you and miss you every day for the rest of my life. I know you are right here in my heart, I know, I only need to teach myself to feel you in a different way.”

Condolences to the Goldberg-Polin family and all those who love them. Hersh was brought to rest when the new month of Elul, a month of rectification, positive change, introspection and spiritual healing was about to begin. The city of Jerusalem heard inspirational eulogies, fitting words for this month of teshuvah.

Translated by Yehoshua Siskin, Janine Muller Sherr

Want to read more by Sivan Rahav Meir? Google The Daily Thought or visit sivanrahavmeir.com

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Helzel, tzimmes, dipping apple in honey and teiglach made Rosh Hashonah special!

BY DAVID SAFFER

So, Rosh Hashonah 5784 is around the corner.

It’s a time to reflect on the past year and the 12 months to come. It’s also a time for traditional foods including apples and ‘round’ challah dipped in honey, both a symbol for a sweet new year, honey cake, some families serve the head of a fish so everyone will be at the ‘head’ and not ‘tail’ of the coming year, often, a new fruit is eaten such as a pomegranate, a symbol of fertility, leeks and onions are associated with the Exodus from Egypt,

the Jewish new year in Leeds with my late father Harold Saffer, and mother Valerie, who is nowadays taking it easy. Alongside my siblings, Rosh Hashonah was a special time of year with my grandparents, Harry and Jean Moss, always joining us for meals.

Sending and receiving New Year cards was the norm, nowadays it’s a pre-Rosh Hashonah WattsApp!

raisins in the hope of raised expectations and peas in the hope of increased peace. Rosh Hashonah, alongside Pesach, is the one where Jews gather for a traditional family get-together. My clan is no different and I’m looking forward to seeing my children and grandchildren in the coming days. When I think back, times haven’t changed much, which is the way it should be at this time of year. It seems an age ago that I was celebrating

My earliest recollections include waking up on the first day to find a selection box of chocolates for a ‘sweet’ new rear. Grandad Moss was a dab hand at roasting peanuts for a nosh, slipping me Typhoo Tea football cards at the dinner table without anyone noticing. As a football nut in the 60’s, receiving a coveted Billy Bremner, Bobby Charlton or Bobby Moore card was noteworthy. When it came to the main meal there were festive delicacies particularly mandlen and kreplach in the chicken soup, helzel stuffing and tzimmes with turkey then teiglach and honey cake for desert. There was always a battle for the giblets and ‘chucky’ eggs. I’m not a fan of eggs but for some reason they always seemed okay in the must-have soup.

When it comes mandlen and kreplach, I’m not talking of over-thecounter products. Mums were the real deal, homemade and scrumptious. And for anyone unaware of teiglach, they were sensationally sweet and sticky. Certainly, no good if you had loose fillings, as I could testify, but well worth it!

I’m not plugging any cookbooks but my family have sworn by the late, great Evelyn Rose, whose recipes have traditionally been taken on board.

As the years passed and more members of the family came along the thrill of Rosh Hashonah never waned,

although with the passing years teiglach lamentably disappeared from our menu as they were too fiddly to make I’m told, but the memories endure.

Of course, the highlight of the shul service was hearing the shofar.

Beth Hamidrash Hagadol Synagogue was packed back in the day and there were occasions when the main ‘shofar blower’ struggled so a substitute was called in to complete the task. Certainly, that’s how I remember things. Happy days!

This year, I’ll be adopting a new tradition in the service as my sister, Lucille, who lives in Manchester, gave me an old pocket-sized Siddur Hashalom prayer book that belonged to our grandfather, Rabbi Louis Saffer. All my siblings have something from Zaide’s vast library, which means a lot to us. This Sinai publication from Israel in 1956 has dozens of frayed pages and is very well read. There’s no explanatory section like

a

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modern day Machzors but I’ll follow the shofar section in shul and later recite Tashlich to make it more meaningful. So as the Jewish New Year gets nearer all that remains is to wish all our readers

happy, healthy and prosperous year ahead.

a plea for all the hostages held in Gaza to be released.

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The Israel Guide Dog Centre

For many individuals living with blindness or severely impaired vision, PTSD, or autism, the world can often feel overwhelming and isolating. However, the Israel Guide Dog Centre (IGDC) has been providing a beacon of hope for over three decades, transforming the lives of hundreds of Israelis who would otherwise be leading severely limited lives.

Initially, the Centre only provided guide dogs, but they expanded their training programme a few years ago so that they are now also able to provide service dogs for people suffering the devastating effects of PTSD. And if a dog is not able to become either a guide or service dog, then they can become an emotional support dog for children with autism. In this way, they ensure that virtually all their puppies are able to play a role in bringing light and joy into someone’s life.

The heart of IGDC’s work is the powerful bond between clients and their guide or service dogs. This partnership is more than just functional—it’s life-changing. For those who are blind, a guide dog isn’t just a companion; it’s a doorway to independence, enabling them to attend university, secure employment, and fully engage in their community.

For individuals with PTSD, these dogs provide emotional support, a renewed sense of purpose, and critical assistance in managing symptoms. They perform tasks such as waking their owners from

nightmares and calming them during intense stress. For children with autism, the presence of a dog can foster new ways of relating and communicating with the world around them.

Becoming a guide dog is no small feat; each dog undergoes rigorous assessments to ensure it possesses the necessary fitness, stamina, and temperament for this demanding role. However, even dogs that do not meet the criteria to become a guide dog find a significant role in assisting people with PTSD or families with children with autism, where their presence is equally transformative.

In the aftermath of the tragic events of October 7th, the need for guide and service dogs in Israel has surged. Combat-related blindness and PTSD are increasingly common, affecting both soldiers and civilians and leaving families to cope with the aftermath. Approximately 15% of combat injuries involve vision loss and in response, the IGDC is expanding its efforts—breeding more puppies, training additional trainers, and offering psychological support to those adjusting to these life-altering changes.

The work of the Israel Guide Dog Centre is a testament to the incredible

difference that a dedicated service animal can make in the lives of those facing overwhelming challenges.

The Israel Guide Dog Centre’s life-changing work depends heavily on the generosity of donors from the UK, US, Canada, and Israel. Supporting the IGDC is about extending our hands in compassion and solidarity, ensuring those who need it most know they are not alone, especially in these exceptionally difficult times.

MARCHING STANDINGTALL

SUNDAY 17TH NOVEMBER | PARADE BEGINS 2PM | THE CENOTAPH, LONDON SW1

Register now and save the date to join AJEX at The Cenotaph this November where we will honour the thousands of Jewish servicemen and women who served for our freedom.

United as British Jews in pride and purpose, we march to Remember, to honour and to stand against antisemitism, shaping our future together. Veterans, individuals, families and community groups of all ages are welcome. We will be ‘Standing Tall’ in solidarity, honouring their legacy.

If you are a Parade regular or newcomer, be sure to register to participate. To secure your spot to march book your ticket by Friday 8th November at www.ajex.org.uk

To support the Parade as a spectator from the East Whitehall Pavement no booking required. Please allow enough time to arrive at the event as there will be a high level of security provided by CST and the Police.

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Rebbe’s ‘shofar campaign’ is 70 years old

BY DAVID SAFFER

The sound of the age-old shofar at High Holy Day services on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is an annual highlight of the Jewish calendar.

Synagogues will be jammed to the rafters around the globe in anticipation although I’m sure many communities will be thinking of the plight of 100 hostages held in captivity in Gaza coming up to almost a year now. It is unimaginable to think what they have endured so the shofar notes ‘tekiah, shevarim and teruah’ will be more poignant than ever in 5785.

The tradition always makes me smile and takes me back to my childhood growing up in Leeds. Everything stopped as the Rabbi, Chazan or appointed elder took centre stage at Beth Hamidrash Hagadol Synagogue. You could hear a pin drop. Often it was melodic, but on occasion the central figure would buckle under the pressure before a packed shul! There were plenty of shuffling, mumbles and whispers across the seats. My children would come to enjoy the wonderment of the shofar as they grew up in Leeds and my grandchildren will no doubt be as transfixed in years to come at shuls in London and Manchester.

Sadly, not everyone can be in a shul on these most auspicious of days but kind-hearted individuals ensure this is addressed, including Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries, who have a comprehensive programme to ensure the shofar is accessible to everyone.

The late Lubavitcher Rebbe’s revolutionary ‘shofar blowing’ campaign in the build-up to the High Holidays began over 70 years ago.

Back in the day, you either heard the shofar in shul or at someone’s home so when the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M Schneerson, instigated a pilot initiative in 1953, it was bold and exciting as Chabad students took to the streets of Brooklyn, New York.

What New Yorkers made of the experience is now folklore and recollected at this time of year.

In 1954, Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky joined the Rebbe’s staff, serving in various posts, including personal secretary to the Rebbe. Krinsky participated in the ground-breaking shofar blowing initiative on the streets of Brooklyn. “This, as well as offering passers-by the opportunity to make a blessing on a lulav and etrog, was clearly an innovation of the Rebbe,” he recalled.

Rabbi Moshe Pesach Goldman was a Lubavitcher yeshivah student at Crown Heights.

“This was something totally new. Shofar in the street? It was unheard of. Jewish stores were open, we’d walk in and blow shofar for the shopkeepers,” he recalled.

The informal initiative became a permanent fixture after the founding of the Lubavitch Youth Organisation of New York in 1955 alongside a street ‘lulav ‘n’ etrog’ programme. Chassidim travelled

to more locations annually. Detailed reports would be delivered to the Rebbe. The campaign escalated to kibbutzim in Israel.

In response to a 1958 letter from a Jewish hospital chaplain in Brooklyn, regarding blowing the shofar at Rosh Hashanah, the Rebbe explained that an aspect of the shofar was to coronate G-d A-lmighty as king of the universe. All Jews should have the opportunity to hear the call of the shofar. Listening to the shofar is spiritually uplifting. Nothing has changed in the ensuing decades.

The swinging 1960s saw visitors around the world, many from Israel, travel to New York to take in the Jewish holidays and hope to meet the Rebbe. Blowing the Shofar before prayers or in the afternoon became part of Rosh Hashanah in Brooklyn. The media soon took note.

The National Jewish Post & Opinion in October 1960 reported: “Farmers in the Lubavitcher cooperative ‘Kfar Chabad,’ are rich in … zeal. Starting on the Rosh Hashanah holidays, they, along with local Chassidim, trek to all hospitals within

walking distance of their synagogue and blow the shofar for bedridden patients.”

Chabad proved a hit throughout California during the 60s. A decade on and emissaries took the shofar campaign to hospitals in Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Long Beach and Berkeley.

A message of positivity was growing.

The Rebbe expanded the campaign to include the month of Elul, when by custom the shofar is blown daily except on Rosh Hashanah eve. He stressed the healing it brought to patients in hospitals. And in 1978, noted that blowing the shofar for patients “literally revives souls”.

“Strolling along a street in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn, I saw a young man with a shy, fish-out-of-water look about him,” wrote Ellie Spielberg in The New York Times’s Metropolitan Diary in 1994. “He stopped and asked if I’d heard the Shofar being blown that day. I answered no. So, he opened his jacket, whisked out a small ram’s horn and gave me a private concert. With joyful abandon, he played and played, conjuring trills, stops and drones of a tune as old

as the Bible. I closed my eyes. Then he stopped, tucked away the Shofar, said ‘Shona Tovah’, Happy New Year, and was gone. It was the best Rosh Hashanah I’ve had.”

The Rebbe highlighted the importance of taking the shofar to isolated soldiers in the Israeli military.

And he developed the campaign to include Jews in prison and even more hospitals.

In 1991, visitors to New York for the high holy days to meet the Rebbe had increased exponentially. Eyewitnesses recall the Rebbe observing huge crowds and stressing an expectation that those gathered participate.

The Rebbe’s campaigns continue to inspire. Nothing, arguably, reminds a Jew of who they are like a shofar being blown. Chabad emissaries will be out in force, along with many individuals, determined to ensure that as many people as possible hear the unique sound of the shofar.

GIFT Launches “Be a Giving Hero” Campaign to Inspire Thousands to Give Back

In today’s world, where the focus is often on ‘I’ and ‘me,’ GIFT stands as a beacon, teaching people the importance of giving, thinking about others, and building stronger communities. With 10 days to Rosh Hashanah, GIFT is launching its largest fundraising campaign to date: “Be a Giving Hero,” a unique initiative with a two-fold mission—to raise much-needed funds and to inspire the Jewish community to engage in meaningful acts of giving ahead of the New Year.

Over the course of 36 hours, starting this Sunday, GIFT aims to raise £1.2 million by encouraging 10,000 individuals to make donations, no matter the size. The campaign serves as a vital step in GIFT’s mission to foster a generation of givers, with the funds directly supporting educational programmes, food distribution to families in need, and volunteer opportunities that strengthen the fabric of the community.

The timing of this campaign, just before Rosh Hashanah, is particularly meaningful. As we prepare to reflect on the year past and the year ahead, GIFT is urging people to start 5785 with a spirit of generosity. “Be a Giving Hero” is more than just a fundraiser; it is a movement to instill the values of compassion, kindness, and community support at a time when these qualities are most needed.

“Now, more than ever, we need to counterbalance a culture of self-interest by teaching people—young and old—the power of giving,” said Michelle Barnett MBE, Director of GIFT. “The funds raised through this campaign are crucial, but even more important is the message: that we all have a role to play in supporting and uplifting those around us.”

One of the campaign’s key components is the “Giving Hero Missions” programme, launching in schools and Cheders. Designed to engage primary school children, this initiative encourages young people to complete small but impactful acts of kindness—such as holding the door open for someone or picking up litter. These

everyday acts are a powerful reminder that giving doesn’t have to be financial; it’s about creating a mindset of generosity from an early age.

Children participating in the missions will wear special “hero masks,” and perform acts of kindness. This is just one-way GIFT is helping young people realise that they can be heroes in their own communities, shaping the next generation of givers in a fun and meaningful way.

With rising demand for community support and food assistance, the funds raised from this campaign are critical. GIFT’s services have become a lifeline for many, providing food parcels to families in need and offering educational initiatives that teach the values of empathy and giving. By reaching the £1.2 million goal, GIFT will be able to continue delivering these essential services, while also expanding its new volunteer hub and food bank in Hendon.

This new hub will officially open ahead of the campaign with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a volunteer appreciation event. It will serve as a central point for community members to engage in volunteer work and give back in tangible ways, further promoting GIFT’s mission of creating a community of givers.

GIFT invites everyone—regardless of age or ability—to take part in the “Be a Giving Hero” campaign. Whether by making a donation, participating in one of the campaign’s exciting fundraising events, or simply spreading the word, there are many ways to get involved and make a difference.

“The beauty of this campaign is that everyone can be a part of it,” added Michelle Barnett. “Even the smallest acts of giving can have a huge impact when multiplied across a community. We’re not just raising money—we’re creating a culture of giving that will benefit our community for years to come.”

For more information on how to get involved in the “Be a Giving Hero” campaign, visit www.jgift.org

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Kisharon Langdon £65k golf day

Kisharon Langdon raised £65,000 at its first golf day at the prestigious Hartsbourne Country Club.

Forty four teams participated in the inaugural event as a merged charity bringing together supporters, sponsors and golfers for two days of camaraderie, fun and philanthropy.

Participants played on the 18-hole Willow course in a Stableford team competition and heard how the charity benefits its learning disability and autism community

Kisharon Langdon CEO Richard Franklin said: “It was wonderful to see

such support from our very generous golfing audience. To have a parent and person we support at the tournament, sharing such positive experiences of our education, day opportunities and supportive living assistance programmes, will live long in the memory of all who were present.”

Franklin thanked committee chair Tony Franks for his hard work in making the event a success.

Prizes were awarded to the winning teams on both days. Day one’s victory went to Tony Khalastchi, Michael Khalastchi, Ben Buck and Haydn Fentum, Day two’s honours were claimed by Max Harris, Steve Marlow, Reece Parmenter and Julian Evans. The event, which included a kosher breakfast, halfway house refreshment break and buffet lunch, featured raffles and a silent auction across both days. All proceeds go towards vital services helping individuals with learning

disabilities live fulfilling and independent lives.

Adam Overlander-Kaye, Fundraising director of, added: “This event marked an important milestone for our merged charity. The incredible funds raised will make a tangible difference to the people we support, ensuring they can continue to thrive and access life-enhancing opportunities.”

Pupils from Wohl Campus, Kisharon Noé School, a Loftus Learning Centre attended the putting green, sharing their enthusiasm with players before lunch. Kaye added. “We look forward to welcoming everyone back for next year’s event and continuing to grow this important tradition.”

The Kisharon Langdon golf day was a testament to community support and a shared commitment to ensuring people with learning disabilities and autism have every opportunity to thrive.

Kisharon Langdon Golf Day winners day 2 Julian Evans, Steven Marlow, Warren Rosenberg, Reece Parmenter, Max Harris

PHOTO: GODFREY DYAN LRPS

Giving University students the “why?”

By now, Simon Sinek’s essential philosophy, and title of his best seller; “start with why?” has permeated the majority of large companies across the world. His secret was to have a greater understanding of the reason you do what you do. It is this “why” that should guide your day to day endeavours. What is Judaism’s “why?” Why do Synagogues exist? Why are there 20 Kosher restaurants within 2 miles of my current location? Why do we have Jewish Schools? Why does Aish, GIFT, JLE, Chaplaincy, The United Synagogue and a hundred other Jewish organisations exist?

The Jewish community hasn’t forgotten recent memories that form our shared history and they have found their place in the educational journey of the next generation. Poland trips have understandably, become a rite of passage for many youngsters. The centrality that October 7th has played in the Jewish educational arena this year is undeniable. We are experts at coming together when our backs are against the wall and we hear the almost Shofar like sound inside our heads that proclaims “people want to kill us”. Furthermore, one cannot ignore the increased uptake that Jewish organisations are experiencing post the events of October 7th, whether it be Shul

attendance, programmes and activities or simply activity on Social Media

But it’s not enough.

To answer the following questionsWhy should we continue our traditions? Why should we marry Jewish? Why should we raise our children Jewish? Why should I incorporate Jewish practice into my life? - with heartfelt sincerity and all the best intentions - “because our ancestors would want us to” - is not enough. To restructure our lives, make tremendous sacrifices in areas that most of the world do not have to “in the memory of those who died because of their Jewish Identity” - is quite simply, not enough. It doesn’t answer the core question – “why?”

In fact, to exclusively approach Judaism in this guilt-ridden manner and to rely upon it completely is an absolute disservice to the fundamental values we are trying to instil in the next generation. People shouldn’t be Jewish in the honour of others, people should want to be Jewish because they understand the wonderful impact that our values will have on their lives. This is our “why”.

Why does Aish invest in relatable young Rabbinic couples on campuses in Nottingham, Leeds, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester and Cambridge to name a

few? Why do these aforementioned couples make sacrifices in being one of only a handful of religious Jews in their area, away from their parents and friends for a few years? Simply put, because the “why” demands it.

Campuses have always been rife with people who make Jews feel uncomfortable and display hostility. This is nothing new. One might think that the worst thing about these incidents is the incident itself … but it is not. I had the privilege of growing up being racially abused for two ethnicities - one for being Indian and one for being Jewish. One of the outcomes was me not wanting to embrace either identity. The hostility shown towards those ethnicities pushed me towards wanting to be as “normal” as everyone else. One could say, my identities were being bullied out of me. It made perfect sense - the less Jewish or Indian I was, the easier my life would be. This is ultimately what young Jews face today - a choice: be proudly Jewish and face hostilities or be a hidden Jew and have an easier life.

If we are going to expect young Jews to choose the first option - be proudly Jewish regardless of the consequences, we are going to need them to understand what it is that they are standing up for. Essentially, we will need to ensure they

have the “why”. No one ever sacrificed anything unless it was something they genuinely believed in. Only once they had a “why”!

Our endeavour as an organisation is to ensure that through vibrant events, educational activities and trips and meaningful Shabbat experiences that our students know full well what it is that they are standing up for. Aish seeks to provide the next generation with their “why”. This is a crucial time in the unravelling story of Jewish history. One that will push people onto one of two paths - proudly Jewish or clandestinely Jewish. What will make the difference is if a Jew feels a connection to their Judaism. If there is a relationship established between a Jew and their heritage, the desire to stand up for what is right and for their identity will be infinitely stronger. It will no longer be based on historic sentiment, but rather a sense of self identity. To give the younger generation their “why”, is to give them the most important nutrition their diet needs right now.

Rafi Joseph Director AISH London Campuses

NORTHERN CAMPUSES

RABBI SHAULY & ADINA STROM shaulynadina

RABBI BINYOMIN & SHANI ROSE aish_leeds

ZAK & DALIA SILVERBLATT aishcambridge

LONDON CAMPUSES

RAFI JOSEPH & RABBI ALEX WITLER aish_life_london

RABBI YANKI & TAMARA DAVIS aishnotts

RABBI CHAIM & MICHAL LEHRER the_brum_life

RABBI JONNY & ELISHEVA NEWMAN briz_newmans

PROVIDING JEWISH ENGAGEMENT FOR STUDENTS ON 35+ UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES NATIONWIDE

Universities in Bath, Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Coventry, Durham, East Anglia, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hertfordshire, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, London, Loughborough, Manchester, Middlesex, Newcastle, Nottingham, Oxford, Sheffield, St Andrews, Warwick and York

Israel Haters and Their Naïve Humanism

BY RABBI MOSHE TARAGIN

Why do they oppose us with such intensity? Why does the hyper-liberal world react so viscerally to Israel? What stirs their agitation, driving them to fabricate wild claims and hurl accusations with unbridled fury?

These questions have haunted us for nearly a year. Has the world gone mad? In just a few weeks, every soul will stand before Hashem, as described in the solemn tefilla of U’netaneh Tokef passing in front of Him like sheep. As we exclaim in the haunting Zichronot prayer of Rosh Hashanah: the fate of nations will be sealed—some destined for the sword, others for peace; some for famine, others for abundance. On this sacred day, we plead not just for ourselves but for all of humanity. What has become of the world we pray for?

Of course, there are many answers to this question. Irrational and disproportionate hatred of Jews is nothing new. It is humanity’s oldest hatred, a vile stain on the moral conscience of mankind. Though ancient, antisemitism evolves with each generation, latching onto the shifting cultural narratives of the times. In the current cultural milieu, hatred of the Jewish state presents a profound challenge to a core tenet of modern progressive ideology. It unsettles naïve humanists on both a moral and existential level. When individuals feel that their ideological foundations are threatened or discredited, they fiercely defend their worldview. In this current struggle, our enemies are willing to concoct farfetched notions and propagate blatant falsehoods, desperately clinging to their old convictions. This is part of what fuels the irrational and vehement opposition to Israel and the disturbing support for Hamas, despite its horrific acts of rape and barbaric murder. The events of October 7th profoundly challenge core aspects of humanistic belief, and for some, the only solution is to find a way, anyway, to blame Israel. This is their only strategy for preserving their ideological premises.

HUMANISM AND RELIGION

A core belief of religion is that humanity was created with inherent goodness. At the heart of faith lies a profound conviction in mankind’s potential. Hashem ended each day of creation by declaring it good, and after creating man, He pronounced His creation “very good” or “tov me’od”. As Shlomo Hamelech writes in Kohelet: Hashem made man upright, yet man himself devolved into complexities and distortions.

Hashem endowed us with reason and the capacity for growth, and through these divine gifts, humanity has transformed the world. People of emunah are meant to be humanists, optimistically believing in mankind’s ability to elevate society through education, reform, and

dialogue. Ultimately, the advancement of the human condition reflects the will of Hashem.

Unfortunately, many religious Jews feel alienated by the term “humanism,” viewing it as a replacement for religion—a system of ideas that has supplanted religious identity. This perception is not unfounded. Humanism, which began in the 14th century, emphasized the potential of man. Initially, it was a religiously inspired movement, celebrating the divine spark within humanity and mankind’s ability to reshape the world. However, as human innovation progressed, society grew more secular, and humanism gradually severed its religious roots. As man became more self-sufficient, the need for a Higher Being seemed to diminish. The tragic result of 600 years of humanism has been the rise of modern secular city.

Despite its unfortunate impact on religious observance, the core ideas of humanism are not foreign to religious belief. People of faith affirm the potential of man, and acknowledge the divine

raw, repugnant evil displayed on October 7th?

Such manifestations of hatred deeply trouble radical humanists. How can such blatant cruelty exist in a supposedly enlightened world? How can we reconcile this butchery with the belief that humanity has transcended base instincts? The shattering of their worldview terrifies them and challenges the very foundation of radical humanism. Their unwavering belief in the inherent virtue of man is profoundly shaken.

To reconcile such violence and preserve their naïve notions about the virtue of humanity, radical humanists seek an underlying justification for the hatred—a rationale for the violence. They must find an original sin so severe, so criminal, that any response no matter how evil can be framed as resistance to an even greater evil. To make sense of such brutality, they vilify Israel, accusing

spark that resides within each person. It is Hashem’s will that we harness these gifts to better our world.

TOO MUCH HUMANISM?

As opposed to those who place too little faith in humanism, others place too much faith in human virtue. Radical humanists believe so deeply in the inherent goodness of man that they struggle to acknowledge the existence of evil, hatred, and unprovoked violence. “If humanity is innately virtuous,” they argue, “hatred should be eradicated through education, understanding, and dialogue.” If people are naturally kind, eliminating evil should be fairly straightforward. Radical humanism is sometimes naively utopian. This compassionate but naïve humanism is deeply challenged by barbaric atrocities such as those committed by Hamas. The evil and hatred of Hamas are beyond comprehension, shaking the foundations of a humanistic worldview. The chilling footage of the cramped tunnels where our slain hostages spent their final months starkly reminds us of the darkness that can reside within some hearts. Who will ever forget the

the Jewish state of the most heinous crimes to explain away the unexplainable. In their view, our fictitious crimes against humanity justify any response, reframing Hamas’s violence not as savage evil but as legitimate resistance against occupation, imperialism, and apartheid. This distorted narrative allows naïve humanists to cling to their idealistic beliefs about mankind.

It is this ideological struggle over foundational beliefs that drives their vehement opposition to Israel. In their worldview, it cannot be that human beings are capable of such atrocities on their own; it must be a reaction to even graver crimes committed by others. The current battle is fought with such ferocity because it threatens their fundamental understanding of human nature.

CLEAR-EYED HUMANISTS

As Jews, we believe in the inherent goodness of human beings and their capacity for progress. We also hold that education, dialogue, and cooperation can reduce hatred and bigotry. Yet, we recognize that evil will always exist. Divinely

endowed free will gives humanity the power to commit heinous crimes and harbor baseless hatred. It allows individuals to build cultures based on animosity, to distort religion into a tool for spreading venom, and to perpetuate multi-generational hatred. Our belief in human potential is not at odds with acknowledging the existence of pure evil.

We are not responsible for the crimes ascribed to us. We face animosity because we are Jews and because we have persistently sought to return to our ancestral homeland peacefully. Antisemites around the world will continue to hate us and portray us as the root of all societal ills. Alongside antisemites, naïve humanists, unwilling to confront the reality that even divinely graced humans are capable of devilish behavior, join in the hatred. To avoid confronting the collapse of their ideals, they fabricate accusations against the Jewish state. To avoid the death of their worldview they murder Jews. Our belief in humanity is not naïve; it is tempered by an awareness of the persistent evil in the world. We strive for a world where justice, peace, and understanding prevail, but we do so with the understanding that not everyone will choose the path of goodness. Man is free to choose, and often, he chooses the path of destruction and hatred. It is as simple as that.

This year, when we pray for Hashem to remove the “kingdom of evil” or the “memshelet zadon” from the Earth, we know precisely whom we are referring to. G-d creates good. Man creates evil.

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.

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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.

UK ARMS LICENCES TO ISRAEL

Dear Editor

We appear now to have a second instance of the new UK Government disingenuously attempting to hide behind the rule of law when making controversial decisions on Israel.

In a previous letter, I highlighted the disingenuity behind the withdrawal of the UK’s objection to arrest warrant applications for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant before the ICC. The problem with that decision was that it was justified not on its merits, but – strangely – by the Government’s much-vaunted belief in the rule of law and separation of powers. I explained how such an intervention was not only *not* a threat to those values, but was actually a *legal right* the Government and others had – making the law a convenient but ultimately dishonest excuse.

And this is where we come to the next concerning decision. On 2 September, the Government announced it was to immediately suspend 30 (out of around 350) arms export licences to Israel. Pressed to defend its judgment, ministers yet again rushed behind legal cover. The Prime Minister told the House of Commons that this was a “legal decision, not a policy decision”, that it followed a legal review of export licences launched shortly after the new Government took office, and that “it is important that we are committed to the international rule of law”. In the House of Lords, the relevant Under-Secretary of State said: “This decision is consistent with the law we are obliged to follow.” And yet, just as last time, this rush for legal cover is hugely problematic. The basis for the decision is the Government’s Strategic Export Licensing Criteria (SELC), which it must consider when deciding to grant, refuse or revoke arms export licences to third party arms manufacturers. The Government specifically

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relied on criterion 2c of the SELC for its decision, often repeating its wording verbatim: the Government will “not issue export licenses if there is a clear risk that the items might be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law”. This appears to be the only criterion the Government relied upon here (albeit while claiming several factors went into it).

The problem is, in the Government’s accompanying policy paper (as many others have pointed out), no plausible link is made between “the items” under export to be used by Israel, and the possible breaches of IHL. This is because the policy paper only alleges breaches relating the provision of humanitarian aid and the treatment of detainees, and not the only plausible scenario in which the “items” could be used, i.e. military activities in armed conflict. Worse still, on that point, the paper actually *concedes*: “Despite the mass casualties of the conflict, it has not been possible to reach a determinative judgment on allegations regarding Israel’s conduct of hostilities.”

As such, the Government has not been able to decide that there is a “clear risk” of the “items” being used to seriously breach IHL, in the only plausible scenario in which such a risk can exist. And yet the licences were revoked on that test.

A valid critique of the above is that it only shows a legally flawed decision, and not a political decision. But this falls away when it is noted that the SELC are just “criteria” set by the Government. Some of these criteria, including this one, are mandatory (the Government

“will not issue” licenses if...). While the criteria do exist under a legal framework provided by an Act of Parliament and secondary legislation, the application of those criteria in a particular case does not automatically bind the Government to a certain decision. The SELC are, ultimately, the Government’s *policy* on whether or not to suspend arms export licenses under the legal powers given to them by the legislation. Of course, it is prudent and correct that the Government follows its own policy, but that makes the compulsion to act only a policy-related one, not a legal one.

For these reasons, it is extremely difficult to believe anything other than that this is yet another political decision exposed naked, cowardly hiding behind a legal fig leaf. And, in conclusion, we are once again taken back to the question: why pretend it’s anything but political at all? As with the decision on ICC arrest warrants, there is nothing inherently wrong with the Government saying it took this decision for reasons of policy, and for people choosing either to support or disagree with it on its political merits. But once again, we have yet another example of ministers shying away from justifying difficult political decisions in those terms, and confronting the political consequences, good or bad, that might result.

Naji Tilley, London NW4

Hostage families address memorial

Brighton’s Jewish community continues to keep the plight of hostages held in captivity alive.

Two hostage family members addressed large crowds at Palmeira Square memorial for victims of the October 7 terror attack.

Michael Levy told a 100-plus turn out that his brother, Or, who was kidnapped at the Nova Festival after Hamas murdered his wife Eynav, begged Hamas not to take him.

Or and Eynav sought protection in a shelter with Hersh Goldberg-Polin. An off-duty soldier bravely repelled seven grenades that Hamas threw into the shelter. An eighth killed the soldier and many inside. Hamas then shot Eynav and 15 others.

Michael said: “I saw a video of Or after and I have never seen him like that. He was terrified.”

Michael also told the crowd that Or and Eynav’s three-year old son Almog’s birthday party was the saddest he had attended. “They showed Almog videos and photos of his father so he won’t forget him,” he said.

Sharone Lifshitz spoke about her father, Oded, kidnapped from his home with her mother Yocheved, who was released in the November ceasefire deal, but Hamas kept Oded.

Sharone also paid tribute to murdered teenager Noya Dan, who was the child of her best friend Galit. Oded was a grandfather figure to

Memorial stone dedication

The dedication of Lincoln Jewish Memorial Stone took place at the International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) earlier this month.

The event commemorated Jewish crews of bomber command and medieval Jews of Lincoln.

Of 57,861 men and women who gave their lives supporting Bomber Command during World War II over 600 were Jewish.

Rabbi (Flight Lieutenant) Samuel de Beck Spitzer formally dedicated the memorial stone, which is placed alongside Memorial Spire. It overlooks the city and

cathedral.

The idea for the stone arose from a meeting of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem in 2020 during a visit to Lincoln. This was taken forward by the ICEJ Tim Collis who worked with Phil Kerry, owner of Goldholme Stone Quarry at Ancaster, to identify a suitable piece of sandstone and its decoration.

The memorial is modelled on the Ancient 1st Century Magdala Stone discovered near the Sea of Galilee in 2009. It is carved with images and articles from the Second Temple era in Jerusalem, prior to its destruction by the Romans in 70CE.

Noya, a huge Harry Potter fan. Author JK Rowling posted about Noya on social media. Noya was murdered with her grandmother Carmela.

Forty seven members of the kibbutz were killed by the terror group.

Sharone said that in the “pyramid of loss” a child is at the top, adding: “We went to the graves. I took some plants from my father’s cacti garden and we planted them. There’s a path between the graves of the grandmother and granddaughter to walk towards each other, for their souls.”

Sharone wants her father who is frail and has complex medical issues home.

Both family members will attend the Liberal Democrat Conference where they

will speak to MPs for help. Michael said: “The government, the international community, me, you. Everyone must do more. Almog needs his father.”

Ilford Federation Synagogue pre Rosh Hashanah programme

Last Sunday afternoon 15 September a pre Rosh Hashanah programme was held, at Ilford Federation Synagogue when people heard three speakers cover a variety of topics which seemed to have a common theme of journeys to a kinder world.

Rabbi Stanley Coten inspired us with his experiences as senior chaplain for

The memorial stone was cut and carved by hand by craftsmen in Jaipur India.

The ceremony was attended by representatives from the local Lincoln Jewish community together with Jewish communities across the North.

Alan Benstock attended on behalf of the Leeds Jewish community. Air Vice-Marshall Phil Lester represented the Chief of the Air Staff and Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Graydon Chair of Trustees IBCC welcomed everyone.

hospitals, Norwood care homes and prisons. Each client requires understanding of their unique situation.

Rebbitsen Rochel Leigh from Cambridge enthralled us with her work in Internal Family Systems. Through guided meditation we learnt how we might reconcile our various internal voices and how this approach has helped many troubled people. Prior to Rosh Hashanah it can help us reflect internally and move forward in our lives.

Finally, Rev Stewart Myers took us on some of his life journeys as minister and teacher: to Bradford, Israel, Australia and London. He told us that the Hebrew root of the word shofar means to improve, so the sound of the shofar wakes us up and reminds us to try to improve ourselves even in small ways.

In the words of one of our audience, “May this be the first of many” new programmes at IFS.

(L-R) Rev Myers, Rabbi Coten and Rebbetzen Leigh

Michael Levy PHOTO: NAOMI JACOBS

Sharone Lifschitz

PHOTO: HEIDI BACHRAM

AVM Phil Lester, Alan Benstock, Phil Kerry, Dr David Elms ICEJ, Tim Collis

Cancer treatment can feel like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut

Over the past year (August 2023 – August 2024), Chai has facilitated more than 800 specialist sessions focussing on scar tissue massage and manual lymphatic drainage to aid clients’ recovery.

Privately, scar tissue massage can cost between £65-£185 per session. Two clients share their stories, here: Sara, who is in her late 40s, was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2023. A mother of two, she thought her symptoms – including a rash – were viral. Within a few weeks of seeing her GP , Sara had surgery – followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The treatment has left Sara with scar that is 6cm long

and 2cm wide. The scar can feel tight and impacts her ability to move.

Today, she has scar massage therapy to alleviate those symptoms. She says: “Having cancer is really complicated. There’s a mixture of competing demands: they tell you to keep exercising, then there’s a lot of fatigue and they tell you to rest. And then there’s having a family and house to still run. I know I’m in my late 40s, but I don’t feel very young anymore.”

She adds: “I have been getting the most amazing support from Chai. As well as counselling, I’ve been having scar therapy at Chai Cancer Care once a week. I want to move without pain from the tight scar tissue. I want to be able to pick things up to move my arm and drive in comfort, to do practical things that mean I can have a full life. Scar therapy, apart from being incredibly relaxing, gives me that immediate expert help.”

Jonathan Goldman, aged 62, was diagnosed with throat and mouth cancer 16 years ago – aged 46. Today, he is still receiving treatment for scar tissue damage. He is married with three daughters. He lives in north-west London, working in the property industry.

Mr Goldman says: “The surgery was a lot, it took 14 hours and I was woken up four days after the procedure. They reduced my tongue by 25%. I had to learn to eat and talk all over again. It took about four months for me to get my voice back, my voice still isn’t the same.”

He adds: “The cancer was one thing, but the treatment also impacted the rest of my body. I think of it as a sledgehammer hitting a nut. The surgery left immense scarring in my neck area and blocked all the lymphatic drainage points on that side of my face. Chai offers lymphatic drainage massage and scar tissue massage which helps a lot. It helps reduce the swelling and increase movement.”

Michelle is a scar massage therapist at Chai, who has worked at the charity’s flagship centre in Hendon, north-west London, for three years. Working with more young people,

she says: “We are seeing young people coming through for scar tissue massage. I see a lot of women who have had treatment for breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Most people we support benefit from the reduction in pain or tightness, the discomfort they feel from that.”

Lisa Steele, Chai’s Chief Executive, says: “At Chai, we recognise that cancer impacts every part of a person’s life. Scar tissue massage is just one way we offer care, addressing both the physical and emotional challenges our clients face. Our goal is to help people improve their quality of life.”

Chai’s CEO, Lisa Steele

Everyone is welcomed at Chai with a smile

OPINION

More BBC angst

OPINION PIECE

BY ROBERT FESTENSTEIN

Earlier this week I had the pleasure of interviewing Trevor Asserson about his report concerning the BBC. This was a Zoom event put on by the National Jewish Assembly and as I understand it, was the event with the second highest online attendance.

The BBC – which employs some 21,000 people - has finally been pinned down on its demonstrable bias, which we have had to endure for years. It is a shame that despite the number of communal bodies claiming to represent whole or part of the UK Jewish Community they were not able to get together and produce this much needed report. We know for certain that since at least Operation Protective Edge in 2014 there has been no shortage of evidence to support the assertion that many BBC journalists were clearly biased against Israel in their reporting and made no attempt to disguise their intense dislike of the Jewish State.

During the interview I asked Trevor about the attitude of the BBC towards the Israeli

Prime Minister. He explained that he was shocked at how journalists who were supposed to be reporting the news, had adopted such an antagonistic view towards many Israeli politicians and particularly the Prime Minister. I cannot remember seeing such hostile comments about any other world leader which led me naturally into the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism which includes singling out Israel in a different way to other countries.

The Asserson report is not about anti-Semitism; it is about the attitude of the BBC to Israel in its reporting. I have no doubt that this attitude has been responsible in

some part to the increased incidents of Jew-hate across the UK. Simply put, given the BBC’s status, if they say Israel and its Jewish leaders are so bad, then the Jews here in the UK must bear some of the responsibility for what is happening 2,000 miles away. Or at its simplest, because the Jewish community openly supports Israel, in view of the ‘revelations’ from the BBC, we are fair game.

So what do we do? We cannot complain about the way in the BBC system of checking for impartiality is working since there isn’t one. Nor does there appear to be any system for monitoring journalistic

JFC launches Child Contact Centre

The Jewish Family Centre has launched its new Child Contact Centre.

Divorce is a difficult topic to approach in the Jewish community as in many others, however, help and support are available for families navigating these challenging times.

JFC’s first-of-its-kind facility within the UK Jewish community is much needed.

Designed to provide a safe, supportive environment for court-mandated contact sessions, the centre features specialised rooms tailored to the unique needs of children and teenagers. With enhanced accreditation from the National Association of Child Contact Centres this innovative space offers families a neutral, welcoming setting during difficult transitions.

The Jewish Weekly spoke to Sandy Weinbaum, CEO of the JFC, on the launch of the new centre.

What inspired the JFC to launch this Child Contact Centre?

Sandy: “We recognised a growing need within the community for a safe, nurturing space where families can maintain connections during difficult periods. Our new centre provides a neutral environment for court-mandated contact sessions, ensuring that children and families have the support they need during times of separation. We are deeply committed to family wellbeing, and this Centre is a reflection of that commitment.”

What makes this Child Contact Centre unique compared to other facilities?

Sandy: “What sets us apart is that we are the only Jewish centre in the UK with enhanced accreditation from the NACCC. Our facility is designed specifically for children and teenagers, with dedicated, age-appropriate rooms that create a sense of security and comfort. We’ve taken every detail into account to make sure that families feel supported in a space that meets their emotional and practical needs.”

How will Family Law professionals’ benefit from attending the launch event?

Sandy: “This event is a great opportunity for legal professionals to see the centre in action. They’ll get to tour our specialised rooms, meet our highly trained staff, and understand how the centre operates. It’s also

a chance to network with peers, share insights, and learn more about how we can work together to support families during difficult times.”

How do you see this centre impacting the community?

Sandy: “We hope it becomes a beacon of support, offering families a sense of stability when they need it most. It’s not

output. In other words, they can cheerfully run amok with no prospect of very being brought to account.

The answer is not to waste time complaining to the BBC. Their complaints system is designed to filter out as many complaints as possible and even if your complaint does get through it is not going to make any difference. Trevor’s firm of solicitors is preparing a claim against the BBC and for more details have a look at their website: https://asserson.co.uk/assersonreport/.

In addition complain to the Culture Secretary - enquiries@dcms.gov.uk – and also to your local MP. If nothing else, they need to know the appalling impact that this entity is having on our daily lives. The extraordinary has become the ordinary. No other minority is subjected to this behaviour so why should we.

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.

just about the space, but the care and understanding we provide.”

The launch event take place on Tuesday, welcoming legal professionals and mediators to tour the facilities and engage with the JFC team.

JFC and family contact centre: 020 82091117

Ki Tavo

1st Aliya (Kohen) – DEVARIM 26:1-11

Once the nation has come into the Land of Israel, there is a mitzvah for a produce-grower to take the first fruits of the new harvest and place them in a basket, before bringing them to a Kohen in the Temple (the mitzvah of bikkurim). After the Kohen takes the basket, the person who has brought the fruit reads out a text which recalls the initial descent to Egypt, the slavery and the redemption. It concludes with an expression of gratitude to G-d for the bounty of the Land.

2nd Aliya (Levi) – 26:12-15

At the end of every third and sixth year of the seven year shemitah cycle, one has to make sure that all the tithes from the produce of the Land from the previous years have been given to their respective recipients. Once that has been organised, a text known as viduy ma’aserot is said, which declares

“THE ETERNAL WILL ORDAIN BLESSINGS FOR YOU UPON YOUR BARNS AND UPON ALL YOUR UNDERTAKINGS: YOU WILL BE BLESSED IN THE LAND THAT THE ETERNAL YOUR G-D IS GIVING YOU”

one’s careful commitment to the laws of tithing, followed by a prayer to G-d to bless the Land.

Point to Consider: In what part of our liturgy is the final part of the viduy ma’aserot also said? (26:15)

3rd Aliya (Shlishi) – 26:16-19

Moshe encourages the people to keep the mitzvot and to view them every day as fresh and new (Rashi). This will elevate the nation to the status of being holy and distinguished.

4th Aliya (Revi’i) – 27:1-10

Moshe tells the people that on the day they cross the Jordan, they should take stones, coat them with plaster and inscribe upon them the words

of the Torah. They should erect these stones on Mount Eival, where they shall also build an altar and bring peace-offerings.

5th Aliya (Chamishi) – 27:11-28:5

After the nation enters the Land, they will come to Mount Gerizim and Mount Eival. Six of the tribes are to stand on one mountain, six on the other. The Levi’im will stand in between the mountains to call out the blessings and the curses, to which the people will respond “Amen” (Rashi).

6th Aliya (Shishi) – 28:6-69

This aliya opens with further blessings. If we follow G-d’s will – our enemies will flee from us and other nations will be in awe of us.

The sidra continues with the tochacha, the passage of retribution (which is recited in an undertone by the person reading from the Torah). If we do not listen to G-d and do not observe His mitzvot, the consequences will be grave. Verse after verse warns of petrifying suffering, including illness, plague, blindness, children being taken captive, being at the mercy of other peoples, and the nation becoming scattered over the Earth.

7th Aliya (Shevi’i) – 29:1-8

Moshe reminds the people of their wondrous Exodus from Egypt, their miraculous survival in the desert for 40 years and their victories over the mighty kings Sichon and Og.

HAFTARAH (YESHAYA 60:1-22)

Taken from the book of Yeshaya, this is the sixth of the ‘seven haftarot of consolation’ read after Tisha B’Av. The prophet relates a vision of the nations of the world coming to Zion and recognising G-d. Violence and pain will become memories of the past – “never again shall your sun set, nor shall your moon be withdrawn; for G-d will be an eternal light”. These verses are included in the Memorial Prayer recited at cemeteries and shiva houses.

FROM ERETZ YISRAEL

The Blessing Weekly Dvar Torah

BY SIVAN RAHAV MEIR

One of the most famous greetings when two Jews meet is a verse from this week’s parasha (Devarim 28:6): “Blessed are you when you come, and blessed are you when you depart.” In its simplest meaning, we wish that someone be blessed when they leave home in the morning and return in the evening.

Our Sages give two additional explanations: On the personal level, the verse wishes a blessing upon one who comes to learn Torah in the beit midrash and one who leaves to go to work; on the national level we should be blessed when we enter the Land of Israel, and also when we leave it and go into exile. This is a blessing to the Jewish nation to help it survive all the exiles and diasporas throughout its history.

Rashi gives a different explanation and says that this verse refers to a person’s entry into and exit from life. We should try to remain complete throughout the entire journey: “Your exit from the world should be the same as your entry, without sin.” Just as an infant is pure and has not sinned, so we should try to keep the slate as clean as possible throughout our lives. We are blessed when we come into the world; let us try to leave in the same manner.

We also read in this week’s parasha (Devarim 27:9), “This day you have become a nation.” What “day” was Moshe referring to? He wasn’t speaking about the day of the Exodus, nor about the day that the Torah was given.

Rashi explains that Moshe was saying his farewells to the people just before his

death. He handed over his sefer Torah to the tribe of Levi, which caused major discontentment among the Jewish people. They all went to Moshe to say that they had also received the Torah at Mount Sinai and that it belonged to them just as much as to the tribe of Levi, and asked Moshe why he had only charged the Levites with keeping the Torah after his death.

Thrilled with this complaint, Moshe responded, “This day you have become a nation.” Rashi explains, “Today I have understood that you really wish to cling to G-d.”

Remember, Moshe had heard many complaints from the Jewish people throughout their forty-year sojourn in the wilderness – about food, water, and the route to the Land of Israel. Now they

came with a completely different kind of complaint; they too want to be a link in the chain of passing on the Torah to the next generation. They also want to keep its commandments and be actively involved in the Torah. Moshe was so moved by their concern and sense of responsibility to the Torah that he was essentially saying, “Now I know, this entire journey has been worthwhile, and we have succeeded. You are now a nation.”

Sivan Rahav-Meir is the World Mizrachi Scholar-in-Residence and an Israeli journalist and lecturer. She is a member of the Mizrachi Speakers Bureau (www. mizrachi.org/speakers).

ASK THE RABBI

DRIVING TO SYNAGOGUE (AGAIN)

Dear Rabbi,

You must surely know that at least a dozen or so of your regular congregants drive to get to your Shul on Shabbos.

I note your comments that “how you get to synagogue is none of my business. I don’t ask, I don’t second guess and I don’t judge.” But isn’t this a cop-out attitude of the job function you hold?

Also, how do you know what G-d would prefer? Where is the authoritative reference for this?

With respect and with kind regards. Melvyn

Dear Melvyn

Thank you for your patience, waiting for my response. Thank you also for highlighting to me what you believe my job should be.

I’m reminded of the time, when someone came into my synagogue, back in the day when one paid for parking, looking for change in order to park.

Or the time a whole bunch of guests walked in at once to a Bar Mitzvah and I jokingly said to someone, “did they all just arrive by coach?” Turns out it wasn’t much of a joke.

Based on your suggestion I’m inclined

to stand at the doors of the shul every Shabbat, and question each congregant as they enter, how they got to shul that morning. If the answer is not to my standard, I will deny them any fish-balls at the kiddush. I might also name and shame them from my pulpit. And, I will of course do all I can to keep them in the synagogue – after all I can’t have them driving home again.

Alternatively, I can regularly speak and encourage a more observant Jewish llifestyle and hope that over time people do aim a little higher. I refer you to the example I cited in my original letter that you quoted, in which a man called me after hearing my message on a Shabbat and has been walking ever since.

I wonder which of the two approaches you think would be more effective?

How do I know what G-d would prefer? He told me. In the Torah. In the same place as He introduced me to Shabbat in the first instance.

DRIVING TO SYNAGOGUE (AND AGAIN)

Dear Rabbi, Regarding Melvyn’s question about riding to Shul on Shabbat, yet to be discussed.

When I was in my mid teens I remember a friend saying at Chedar to our

Orthodox Rabbi that she couldn’t attend on Shabbat as it would mean taking the bus. He told her it was better to take a bus and come to Shul than never come.

How does this sit with you?

Marilyn

Dear Marilyn Meet Melvyn above. Melvyn meet Marilyn. Look what you started! I mean if I haven’t kept to my job function properly then this Rabbi that Marilyn refers to has been in total breach!

To be sure, I actually think he was, with a response like that, and all the more so to a young impressionable Cheder girl.

By thus Rabbi’s logic (and quite possibly by Melvyn’s as well) if I steal ten pounds from someone and then give it to charity I’ve still fulfilled a mitzvah. Newsflash: the end hallows the means is a pagan concept, not a religious one. Robin Hood is not a Jewish role model.

of free will are not contradictory but complementary. G-d’s knowledge of the future doesn’t negate our ability to choose; rather, it exists beyond the limits of time, which only humans experience.

So the Rabbi’s response does not sit, stand or lie with me in any way, shape or form whatsoever.

As a final point: Prayer is a universal language where I can communicate with G-d whenever I want, wherever I am and in whichever language I can. So prayer from home when there’s no appropriate access to Synagogue is definitely the preferred method in the eyes of G-d.

G-D & FREE WILL

Dear Rabbi, Rosh Hashanah is known as the Day of Judgment, where we are said to be inscribed for the coming year based on our deeds. But if G-d is omniscient and knows the future, how do we reconcile this with the idea that our prayers and repentance on Rosh Hashanah can influence His decree? Is it possible for G-d’s judgment to change, or is the process of judgment meant more for us than for Him?

Bryan

Dear Bryan G-d’s omniscience and the concept

On Rosh Hashanah, we stand before G-d not because His knowledge is incomplete, but because the process of judgment is one of self-reflection and transformation. The purpose of the judgment is not to change G-d’s will but to allow us the opportunity to change ourselves. The prayers, repentance, and reflection we engage in during this time shift us - our hearts, our intentions, and our actions. As we change, we align ourselves with different outcomes in the world.

This is why our sages teach that “repentance, prayer, and charity remove the evil decree.” It’s not that G-d changes His mind, but rather that we, through sincere teshuva (repentance), change ourselves and thus the course of our lives. The process is not just about pleading for a different outcome; it’s about stepping into the potential G-d has always seen in us.

In a sense, Rosh Hashanah is not a day of G-d’s judgment in the human sense of deliberation and decision-making. It’s a day when we are invited to become active participants in our own spiritual renewal, to see ourselves through the lens of G-d’s love and justice, and to take responsibility for the path ahead. G-d’s knowledge is perfect and timeless, but our capacity to change and grow within that framework is limitless.

Daf Topics

PAYING THE SHADCHAN-Bava Batra 87a

BY RABBI YAKOV SCHONBERG

Bava Basra 87a discusses the halachos of a sarsur, a middleman, who charged for his services with an uplift in the price of the goods being sold. That term was later applied by poskim to a shadchan or broker, whether a marriage or estate broker. Fees charged by shadchanim are often viewed as high in relation to work performed, as a suggestion for a match may proceed to success without much effort by the shadchan. What is the basis for the fee payable?

KOSHER MONEY

Paying Shadchanus does not appear to have been practiced in earliest times and that remains the custom of many Sefardic communities still today. This is evident from the fact that halachos of shadchanim are not mentioned by Shulchan Aruch at all, and they are only found in the glosses of Rema (CM87:39/185:10/264:7). Sefardim view match-making as a special mitzvah which should not be commercialised by charging for the service, and some Ashkenaz idealists also hold that view and refuse to take money for making a shidduch. However, R’ Zalman of St. Goar, Germany, a talmid of Maharil, writes in his Minhagei Maharil (Hilchos Chanukah) that Maharil lived in his yeshiva which was next door to his wife and children, but did not want to derive financial benefit from his wife’s assets. The yeshiva was funded by the community, but Maharil did not want to take payment for teaching Torah. He therefore acted as a shadchan, corresponding across the country with shidduch suggestions, which were respected and largely successful because of confidence in his personality, and he supported himself from his shadchanus earnings. R’ Moshe Sternbuch notes that several gedolim purchased their esrogim with kosher shadchanus money, because the kashrus of money earned from teaching Torah as a Rav or Rosh Yeshiva is questionable. R’ Yisrael Isserlein (Terumas Hadeshen 85) writes in the fifteenth century about varying customs concerning the timing of payment of shadchanus in different areas of Germany - at the vort or at the wedding - so clearly this payment was a well-established practice then. Sources indicate that in those days the amount of shadchanus was calculated as a percentage of the dowry, resulting in a much higher charge for wealthy families.

SPLITTING THE SHADCHANUS

Pischei Teshuvah (CM-105:6[3]) quotes Ateres Zvi who records a resolution found in the protocols of Vaad Arba Aratzos, the Council of Four Lands, which had been established in the sixteenth century. It stated that a shadchan who initiated a shidduch, the ליחתמ, and one who achieved closure, the רמוג, divided the fee between themselves equally. An initiator is defined as one who is also involved in negotiating financial arrangements. Anyone acting in progressing the shidduch had no entitlement to shadchanus. However, he then notes a later custom of dividing the fee three ways between the יעצמא ,ליחתמ and רמוג equally, with the ליחתמ now defined as the party without whose suggestion the match would not have started. With financial arrangements nowadays forming a greater part of the finalisation process, the custom has moved towards the ליחתמ getting one third and the רמוג receiving two thirds, but always according to local custom (R’Moshe Sternbuch, Teshuvos Vehahogos-3:457). In the NewlyREDS scheme, shidduch suggestions are submitted online and forwarded to shadchanim, and if an engagement results, the submitter is offered one sixth of the shadchanus, on the basis that he is a ליחתמ, but since he does not contact the parties directly, he only gets half that fee.

STATUS OF THE PAYMENT

Where a shadchan is requested by parents to find a shidduch for their child, the service is regarded halachically like employment, and since the shadchan is paid for the job rather than the time worked, he is classed as a kablan. The terms of employment will be either as stipulated at the outset or will be assumed to be in accordance with local custom. Payment of a kablan is due when he completes the job, and in the case of a shadchan, that would be at the vort. Where a shadchan, professional or amateur, introduces a suggestion to parents without being commissioned to act on their behalf, there are differences of opinion as to whether he has employee status. Avnei Nezer (CM-36) and other Acharonim assume that the shadchan, in making the introduction, is acting on behalf of those that will benefit from his service, namely choson and kalloh, but customarily payment in made by the parents on their behalf. They base themselves on a comment of Vilna Gaon (Biur Hagra-CM87:117) where he quotes Maharam that uncommissioned shadchanus has its roots in the laws of someone who went down (‘yored’) into his friends’s field and planted trees there

without the landowner’s consent. Bava Metzia 101a discusses such a case and rules that where the field was ready for planting, we estimate how much money a person would want to give for someone to do the planting, and this is the amount the planter is reimbursed. Vilna Gaon states that compensation for a broker is calculated in a similar way, as the children prepared to get engaged are like the field ready for planting.

PRACTICAL DIFFERENCES

Poskim then debate the differences arising from treatment of shadchanus as payment of an employed worker or as a ‘yored’. Besides Avnei Nezer’s claim that the primary liability falls on the young couple as beneficiaries of the uncommissioned work, there will also be the issue of whether Bal Tolin applies for late payment, as that would only apply in connection with employment. Another difference may arise where the shadchan lives in Eretz Yisrael and the parents live abroad. Generally, shadchanus abroad commands much higher rates, so where employment is actioned abroad those higher charges would be payable, but where he is acting on his own accord, the benefit would be assessed according to the location of the shadchan. However, Erech Shai (CM-185) maintains that all shadchanus charges function based on employment law and the liability rests with the parents. R’ Asher Weiss (Minchas Asher-2:119) explains that even where the shadchan approaches a parent of his own accord, when the parent accepts the proposal, he is assumed to do that in accordance with established practice and custom of shadchanus, so that contractual employment is created even if not verbalised. He interprets Vilna Gaon’s comment to mean that fees are chargeable even if there is no prior agreement, in the same way as a ‘yored’ can claim payment, but the liability still has its roots in employment law.

FALSE INFORMATION

What if the shadchan gives false information to stimulate the shidduch? R’ Zvi Spitz (Mishpetei Hatorah, Bava Kama 26) presents the case of a shadchan who told the boy’s parents that the proposed girl’s parents were offering an apartment in Yerushalayim and on that basis they started meeting. When the couple announced that they were ready to get engaged, the parents met to finalise arrangements. It then became apparent that the girl’s parents had never suggested giving a Yerushalayim apartment and that this offer had been fabricated by the shadchan to get the boy’s parents to agree to the date. The boy’s father immediately broke off further negotiations and refused

to proceed as he was unable to commit himself to such a large expense. However, the young pair refused to entertain any other shidduch suggestions as they had become attached to each other through their association. Eventually, the parents had no option but to come to compromise terms and the couple were happily engaged – and the shadchan claimed his fee. The boy’s father refused to pay the shadchan saying that his fabrication had caused the negotiations to fail and had caused him damage in that it cost him much more money than he intended, as he had other shidduch offers at a lower cost. R’ Spitz paskens that the shadchan must be paid in full because he had fulfilled his obligation, as the shidduch had come to fruition. A shadchan should not provide dishonest information, but that does not impinge on the liability for payment – one is not paid for provision of information. R’ Yitzchak Silver (Shaarei Mishpat – Sechiras Poalim-10:8) cites cases where the shadchan was careless or fraudulent, or did not complete his work, yet nevertheless the shadchan should be paid, because the couple benefited in the end. There may be cases where the shadchan would not be paid, depending on circumstances, just as when a regular employee defaults in his duties, and normal employment law should apply.

UNSETTLED ACCOUNTS

R Moshe Sternbuch (Teshuvos Vehanhagos-1:736) stresses the importance of settling the shadchan’s fees in accordance with his standard charges. He brings instances where the couple experience trouble in their relationship or infertility, and Rabbonim have attributed the cause to unsettled accounts of the shadchan. Mishpetei Hatorah (2:32) notes that occasionally a shadchan demands more than his entitlement and then pressurises the parties by warning them of the serious consequences of not paying shadchanus. He writes that people should not be concerned by such claims because in shamayim they know the truth and disregard his contentions. Therefore, if there is any disagreement regarding the charge, it should not be litigated, but rather a Rov should be asked to arbitrate settlement.

Rabbi Schonberg was born in London in 1948 and attended Hasmonean School. He attended Manchester, Chaye Olam and Gateshead Yeshivos. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1972 becoming a partner at Cohen Arnold.

To contact Rabbi Schonberg, please email, yschonberg@gmail.com

To find out more, you can sign up at mercazdafyomi.com and receive a free gemoroh.

Family Fun KI TAVO

For Parshat Ki Tavo we have a very joyous opening to the Sidra - the Mitzva of Bikkurim! During the time of the Beit Hamikdash this Mitzvah was performed amidst great fanfare, music and all. A farmer would go down to his field and see that his produce was ready to be harvested (any one of the seven species with which the land of Israel is blessed. He ties a reed around it and prepares to ascend to our beloved Yerushalayim! Upon arrival, he is greeted with music and a warm welcome and presents his food gift to the Kohanim.

The Parsha continues with another Mitzvah: “Vidui Maasrot”after the first three years of giving the different sets of Ma’aser, one comes to the Beit Hamikdash and declares that they have assigned their Ma’aser to the correct beneficiary and have not eaten it in

the wrong manner.

The person ends with a prayer - “Hashem, look down from your Holy abode and bless your people and the land”. Filled with joy and gratitude to Hashem, the farmer returns home, yearning for his next opportunity to witness all the grandeur and elevation in the Beit Hamikdash.

We are then taught of the ceremony that took place on Mount Gerizim and Mount Eival, where half the nation (Reuven, Gad, Asher, Zevulun, Dan and Naftali) ascended Mount Eival and the other half (Try to see if you can “Fill in the blanks”!) Mount Gerizim. In the valley between them, the Leviim would announce blessings for those who uphold the Torah and the opposite for those who intentionally transgress it. Many of the examples stated are relevant

Parasha Stats

Jokes

Q: What is a News Year’s resolution?

A: Something that goes in one year, and out the other!

Q: What is the best New Year’s resolution?

A: 1080p

I made a New Year’s resolution to stop procrastinating, but I’m going to wait until next year to start.

Q: What happened to the man who shoplifted a calendar on New Year’s Eve?

A: He got 12 months

to us in daily life - not to shame someone behind their back, or offend one’s parents for example.

The Parsha continues with the tremendous blessings that will meet the nation if they keep the Torah, describing how our fruit basket will be filled, how our nation will be blessed with children, finding blessings wherever they come or go.

Then, the Torah warns of what can go wrong and sadly, the warnings turned into prophecy. Throughout the ages, the Jewish people have found themselves at the hands of bitter enemies who have brought about much hunger, thirst and suffering and sometimes worse than that. Whilst one cannot specify why an individual suffers, the Torah reveals to us that as a nation, we will see patterns of following the Mitzvot

bringing blessing and deviating from them bringing the opposite. Other prophetic words include the scattering of the Jews throughout the world - as we all know to be the case as well as the fact that we have constantly remained small in number.

Towards the end of the Sidra Moshe tells the Jewish people - you saw all that Hashem did to Pharaoh and his nation and the miracles He has done for you. You have been led in the Midbar for 40 years living off the Manna - your clothes (miraculously) did not wear out, nor did your shoes. You had no bread nor wine to consume; instead you were taken care of by Hashem. If you want success in life, Moshe concludes in this parsha, “Guard the Torah!”.

Number of Verses - 122

Number of Words - 1,747

Number of Letters - 6,811

Riddles Jewish Riddle

1. What can’t be put in a sauce pan?

Last week’s answer: Who didn’t eat or drink for upwards of 60 years?

The answer is:

Choni Ham’agel. The Talmud recounts the events whereby Choni Ham’agel slept for seventy years. Hence, he neither ate nor drank during that time.

Well done to Benji Cohen from Elstree!!

This week’s Question:

What three people in the Chumash had a mechuten who had the same name as they?

2. If there are three apples and you take away two, how many apples do you have?

3. What building has the most stories?

Facts about Parashat Ki Tavo

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With best wishes & much success, to all The Jewish Weekly readers!

Martin Heiman

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