The Jewish Weekly Issue 345

BY DAVID SAFFER

US election on knife edge

Israeli citizens back former President Donald Trump over Vice President Kamala Harris in the ‘too close to call’ US presidential election race ahead of Tuesday’s vote.

The outcome is on a knifeedge according to pollsters. Both candidates have been criss-crossing key battleground states to gain votes.

Harris built a four percentage point lead in August after her nomination in July but Trump has narrowed the gap to one percentage point. And his cause was given a huge boost on Tuesday night when President Joe Biden made headlines that went viral when he appeared to label

final stretch of the US presidential election race

Trump’s supporters “garbage” in a campaign Zoom call.

16:13 17:26

“They’re good, decent, honourable people.” Biden added: “The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters... his, his demonisation of Latinos is unconscionable.”

Biden was responding to outrageous remarks made by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe who attacked Puerto Rico at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally but critics lambasted Biden’s comments, overshadowing Harris’s unity message at the Ellipse.

A White House transcript of Biden’s comments soon included an apostrophe in the word ‘supporter’s’ but the damage was done.

Continued on page 8 The

Speaking about Puerto Ricans, he stated:

Knesset MKs ban UNWRA from Israel

BY DAVID SAFFER

Israel is set to ban the UNWRA agency after overwhelmingly passing legislation in the Knesset on Monday despite global criticism.

One bill ends a 1967 deal enabling the controversial organisation from operating inside Israel.

A second bill prevents Israeli authorities engaging with the agency in Gaza, and Judea and Samaria.

Unless challenged in Israel’s courts, legislation takes effect in 90 days.

UNRWA can operate in Palestinian territories.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Office has stated Israel will ensure humanitarian aid reaches Gazan civilians before the law is implemented.

“UNRWA workers involved in terrorist activities against Israel must be held accountable,” Netanyahu said on X. He added: “Since avoiding a humanitarian crisis is essential, sustained humanitarian aid must remain available in Gaza now and in the future.”

Israel and UNRWAs relationship has deteriorated, especially after allegations employers had participated in the 10/7 terror attack.

A number of European countries responded by suspending UNRWA funding. Many resumed. An UNWRA investigation subsequently dismissed nine employees.

Muhammad Abu Attawi has been identified as a Hamas commander at the Nova Festival massacre.

Israel has since alleged up to 1,500 UNRWA workers have ties to terror organisations. The IDF has also discovered Hamas military infrastructure underneath UNRWA buildings.

Under the new legislation, UNRWA will not ‘operate any institution, provide any service or conduct any activity whether directly or indirectly in the sovereign territory of Israel’.

Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee, Yuli Edelstein, stated in the debate: “As part of the committee’s discussions on the law, a video was shown that proves the involvement of UNRWA personnel in kidnapping a body to the Gaza Strip and other evidence of their activity in Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza. In addition, the person who commanded the massacre in the Be’eri bomb shelter, where 16 Israelis were murdered and from which four were kidnapped to Gaza, was a UNRWA terrorist. In light of this, and since it has been proven to the State of Israel that UNRWA and its employees acted against the State of Israel, the State must determine that UNRWA’s activities in its territory will be stopped.”

Edelstein added: “The State of Israel will provide every service it is obligated to provide to its citizens and residents in all those places where UNRWA operated, coordinated by the Jerusalem Municipality. There is no place for enemies in the heart of the capital of the Jewish people.”

Likud’s MK Bismuth noted: “UNRWA is not a refugee aid organisation, it is a Hamas aid organisation. UNRWA employees were full partners in the brutal, incomprehensible massacre committed against us.”

He added: ”If you really want stability, if you really want security, if you want real peace in the Middle East, organisations like UNRWA won’t bring you there.”

“If the United Nations is not willing to clean this organisation from terrorism, from Hamas activists, then we have to take measures to make sure that they cannot harm our people ever again,” commented MK Sharren Haskel. “The international community could have taken responsibility and made sure that they used the proper organisations to facilitate humanitarian aid, like the World Food Organisation, like UNICEF, and many others who work all around the world.”

UNWRA director Sam Rose told BBC Newshour the organisation could not

continue if Israel fully implements its ban. Rose insisted UNWRA operates differently to other UN agencies.

The US, UK Germany, France, Australia, Canada, Japan, and South Korea has condemned Israel over the bill, warning it may have “devastating consequences” in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

A joint statement read: ‘UNRWA provides vital and life-saving humanitarian assistance and basic services to Palestinian refugees throughout the region. This will have devastating consequences on an already difficult humanitarian situation, which is rapidly deteriorating, especially in northern Gaza.’

US Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew failed to convince Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, Yisrael Beitenu Party chief Avigdor Liberman and National Unity’s Benny Gantz to postpone the legislation.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “This legislation risks making UNRWA‘s essential work for Palestinians impossible, jeopardising the entire international humanitarian response in Gaza and delivery of essential health and education services in the West Bank…We urge Israeli lawmakers to ensure that UNRWA can continue to deliver its essential work.”

Bismuth told the BBC that Israel will not bow to international pressure to withdraw the bill, stating: “We believe in our bill because it’s a just and right bill.”

IAF strikes on Iran change “balance of power”

BY DAVID SAFFER

Israeli Air Force precision airstrikes last Saturday have changed the balance of power with Iran.

The IAF struck 20 military targets in three waves in Tehran, Karaj, Isfahan and Shiraz.

Long-range air-defence systems, manufacturing and storage sites for ballistic missiles were destroyed in a response to drone attacks last April and earlier this month.

The operation, coordinated with the US, ensured Israel did not target nuclear or energy facilities.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant compared the complex operation to the 1967 Six-Day War. “This is a proof of ability,” Gallant told IAF leaders on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu backed Gallant in an address to the Knesset.

“We have severely damaged Iran’s defense systems and its ability to export missiles,” he said.

Netanyahu is determined to “dismantle the axis of evil”, end the threat of Hamas and Hezbollah and advance peace talks with Arab nations.

“If Israel falls,” he noted, “the entire Middle East will fall into (Iran’s) hands, but we will not fall. We will win and the whole world will be a better place.”

The US State Department said Monday that Israel’s response was “proportionate” and cautioned Iran against further escalation.

Israel and US ambassadors warned Iran against further strikes at an emergency UN Security Council session on Monday.

Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon reiterated Israel’s right to defend itself and protect its citizens. US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said there would be “severe consequences” should Tehran target Jerusalem.

“As we have stated time and again, we have the right and duty to defend ourselves and will use all the means at our disposal to protect the citizens of Israel,” Danon noted.

Danon called on the UN to recognise

the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation and impose sanctions against Iran’s “military and economic infrastructure”.

He also urged the UN to “take every step” to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear state.

“We will not hesitate to act in self-defense,” added Thomas-Greenfield. “Let there be no confusion. The US does not want to see further escalation. We believe this should be the end of the direct exchange of fire between Israel and Iran.”

Israel described its latest operation a success. Reports suggest it will take Iran up to three years to reestablish further ballistic missiles.

IDF Chief of Staff Halevi said: “The operation used only some of our capabilities. We hit strategic systems in Iran, this has great importance. We will now see how matters develop. We are ready for all scenarios.”

IDF Spokesman, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari added: “The retaliatory strike has been completed, its objectives have been achieved… (Targets) included missile manufacturing facilities used by Iran in its attacks on the State of Israel over the past year. Simultaneously, we targeted Iran’s surface-to-air missile arrays and Iranian aerial capabilities that were intended to restrict Israel’s aerial freedom of operation in Iran. Israel now has broader aerial freedom of operation in Iran”.

Despite the success of the operation, Netanyahu’s government was criticised by some politicians for not targeting Iran’s nuclear programme.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid stated: “Israel’s enemies know this morning that the IDF is strong, can attack powerfully, and reach anywhere. The decision not to attack strategic and economic targets in Iran was mistaken. We could have and should have exacted a much higher price from Iran.”

Tehran said it has a duty to defend itself and limited damage was caused. Iranian news sources reported two

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soldiers were killed.

Israel remains on high alert although there has been no changes to Home Front Command guidelines.

The Biden administration confirmed it was notified about the strikes. US National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett called on Iran to cease attacks on Israel to avoid further escalation.

“Their response was an exercise in self-defense and specifically avoided populated areas and focused solely on military targets, contrary to Iran’s attack against Israel that targeted Israel’s most populous city,” he said.

Israeli leaders, meantime, continue to meet US political leaders to enhance diplomatic relations.

President Isaac Herzog met with Secretary of State, Antony Blinken in Tel Aviv on Sunday.

“We are ready and operating on various fronts, serving a great cause for the free world,” he noted.

Regarding Gaza, Herzog welcomed Blinken meeting families of hostages still held in Gaza more than a year after being abducted by Hamas terrorists.

“It is the highest plight in this crisis, in this war,” he said. “We know there is a unique opportunity following the killing of Sinwar and other circumstances that have evolved to make a special effort to employ all tools necessary and possible to move forward and bring the hostages back home.”

As for the northern front, Herzog overviewed a different situation.

“We’ve been constantly attacked for a year, and in the last few weeks, constantly

attacked from Lebanon,” he observed. “We have to take all the steps possible to eradicate the capabilities of Hezbollah, to move forward in preventing the onslaught against the citizens of Israel, and the cities and towns, their attacks with drones, missiles, rockets, and their attack on the private home of the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It’s all part of a major campaign which, at the end of it all is led and commanded in Tehran. A major answer has to be made towards Tehran.”

Blinken said: “The death of Sinwar creates an important opportunity to bring the hostages home, to bring the war to an end, and to ensure Israel’s security,” he said.

Blinken said discussions included arrangements at the end of the conflict. He noted: “As President Herzog said, we have to make sure that this is a moment of opportunity to move forward.”

In related news, Netanyahu recently addressed the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organisations delegation.

Netanyahu told delegates that Israel was the only force in the world fighting Iran.

He said: “It’s not only our fight, it’s the free world’s fight. This (Iranian) dictatorship wants to throw us all back into a dark age. Us first, because we stand in their way of conquering the Middle East, but they want to subjugate the world and bring it back to dark ages. When you come in solidarity here, it’s not only solidarity with the Jewish people and the Jewish state, it’s with civilisation.”

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Prime Minster Netanyahu addresses US Jewish organisations

Continued from page 1

Trump, when he was advised of the comment at his rally in Allentown, Pennsylvania, likened Biden’s quote to Hillary Clinton’s infamous “basket of deplorables” comment in the 2016 campaign, which scuppered her presidential bid.

“Remember Hillary?, she said ‘deplorable’ and then said ‘irredeemable,’ right? That didn’t work out. ‘Garbage,’ I think, is worse,” Trump said.

Trump’s Republican vice-presidential nominee JD Vance accused Biden and Harris of “attacking half of the country”.

Trump later posted on his Truth Social website that Harris was “running a campaign of hate”.

He wrote: “She has spent all week comparing her political opponents to the most evil mass murderers in history. Now, on top of everything, Joe Biden calls our supporters ‘garbage’.”

“You can’t lead America if you don’t love the American People,” Trump added.

Biden posted on X: “Earlier today I referred to the hateful rhetoric about Puerto Rico spewed by Trump’s supporter at his Madison Square Garden rally as garbage, which is the only word I can think of to describe it,” adding that that was “all I meant to say.”

A Channel 12 TV poll backed Biden after the October 7 terror attack but support has diminished.

The Satmar Rebbe of Kiryas Joel, Rabbi Aharon Teitelbaum has traditionally backed Democrats but has endorsed Trump according to Arutz 7 due to possible implications of a Harris presidency for Jews.

Trump is expected to mobilise thousands of votes in New York. The Satmar is providing free transportation to polling stations for early voting to assist chassidim.

According to the poll averages from Decision Desk HQ/The Hill, Trump holds a lead in key battlegrounds essential to the Electoral College system including Florida 51.7% to 45.1%, Nevada 48.1% to 47.2%, Arizona 49.2% to 47.3%, Georgia 48.8% to 47.4%, Wisconsin 48.5% 48.1%, Pennsylvania 48.5% to 48.1%, North Carolina 49.1% to 47.6% and Michigan 48.2% to 47.9%.

Herzog bravery awards

BY ADAM MOSES

President Isaac Herzog has announced recipients of the ‘Medal for Civilian Bravery’.

The accolade is the highest award for bravery and will be presented in an official ceremony at the President’s Residence to the first group of honourees.

The ceremony honours civilians who acted with exceptional courage and self-sacrifice for Israeli society and State of Israel.

Nominations were submitted by the general public, winners were selected on recommendations of an advisory committee appointed by Herzog composed of public and community figures.

The committee was chaired by former Deputy President of the Supreme Court Judge Professor Elyakim Rubinstein. A research team reviewed each nomination.

Herzog agreed with the advisory committee that the award program will continue.

The accolade was established by Herzog following stories of bravery during October 7.

Alongside the toll of the attack, the extraordinary acts of heroism by citizens saved lives.

Moshe Ohayon and his son Eliad of Ofakim were killed while helping civilians in the city.

Youssef Ziadna, a Bedouin from Rahat saved the lives of 30 participants at the Nova Festival, rescuing them under fire and bringing them safely home.

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Lion Bar and son Omer, a resident of Tel Aviv, saved dozens of civilians from the fighting in Sderot and the massacre at the Nova Festival. Lion, a retired colonel, helped about 60 men and women find safety. The following day, Lion and Omer searched for survivors. On their way home, a terrorist shot Lion and Omer. Both were wounded, Lion did not survive his injuries.

Oz Davidian of Moshav Maslul saved dozens from the Nova Festival massacre. Familiar with the terrain, he made around 15 trips under fire transporting them to moshavim.

Tali Hadad of Ofakim and mother of six, all serving in the IDF, evacuated 12 injured people under heavy fire, making several courageous trips.

Amit Man, a resident of Kibbutz Be’eri, was on call at the clinic on October 7. She treated five injured individuals at the clinic under fire. Terrorists shot her in the legs and killed wounded people she was caring for. Amit acting bravely until her death. Nirit Honwald-Kornfeld, a nurse from Be’eri, joined Amit treating the wounded under dire conditions. She survived by hiding in the clinic until the arrival of IDF. Dr. Daniel Levi, a physician at Soroka Medical Center, treated the injured alongside Amit and Nirit. He was killed when terrorists stormed the clinic.

Brothers Noam and Yishai Slotky of Be’er Sheva fought Hamas terrorists. They held off the attackers in a fierce battle at Kibbutz Alumim. Their bodies were found surrounded by terrorists.

Moti Ezra of Bat Hefer rescued his daughter Nitzan from the Nova Festival. On the way, he saved 30 other festival-goers before returning to rescue his daughter from hiding.

Dahish, Ismail, Rafi and Hamad Alqrinawi of the Bedouin community from Rahat rescued several people fleeing from the Nova Festival.

Ben Benjamin Shimony of Ashkelon made several rescue trips during the Nova Festival attack, saving lives until he was killed by terrorists.

A special category for children’s bravery are awarded to Romi Shira Suisa from Sderot who shielded her younger sister after their parents were murdered. Korin (12) and Shay (8) Taasa from Netiv HaAsara were saved by their father who sacrificed his life to protect them from a grenade attack. Michael and Amalia Idan from Kfar Aza survived 14 hours hiding in a closet after their parents were murdered and their sister was kidnapped.

Prior to the Chagim, Herzog undertook a three-day journey of remembrance and reflection across 26 communities attacked by Hamas on 10/7.

The tour began at the Nova Festival site near Re’im, marking the moment of the beginning of the attack. He went on to visit Neve Eshkol, Magen, Nirim, Ein HaShlosha, Nir Oz, Kissufim, Kibbutz Re’im, and Be’eri.

At the Nova site, Herzog said 10/7 should be remembered in infamy.

He noted. “The world has to realise that in order to change the course of history

and bring peace it must support Israel in its battle against its enemies.”

At Sderot, Herzog said: “The renewed growth of Sderot and of all the communities in the western Negev and in the north is a supreme national mission.”

The second day started at Kibbutz Alumim followed by visits to kibbutzim of Nachal Oz, Kfar Aza, Mefalsim, Yakhini, Sderot, Nir Am, Erez, Netiv HaAsara and Zikim Beach. Herzog concluded by visiting Kibbutz Kerem Shalom, Pri Gan, Holit, Sufa, Nir Yitzhak, Ein HaBesor, Mivtahim, Yesha, Urim Base and Ofakim.

At each stop, Herzog met local residents, bereaved families and families of hostages. He laid wreaths, lit memorial candles and ended with a prayer for the return of the kidnapped.

Herzog summed up the journey, stating: “We conducted a long and emotional journey, a journey of remembrance, pain, consolation and support for all the residents of the Gaza border communities. I am proud to be part of this remarkable nation. I say to all of Israel, I saw a nation rising to its feet, rising like a lion. I see communities rebuilding, creating, despite the terrible and horrifying difficulties.”

Herzog said bereaved families, families of the fallen and families of the murdered had gone through hell yet gave strength in every community.

“We will never forget the shock, the astonishment, and the sheer magnitude of the disaster,” he said.

Rabbi Aharon Teitelbaum backing Trump

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Tories back Israel & Jewish community

BY HARRY SIMONS

Conservative Party Leadership Candidates have written to CFI supporters underlining their support for Israel and the UK’s Jewish community. The new leader will be announced on Saturday.

The correspondence follows CFI hustings earlier this month when the two candidates outlined visions for the Party. Around 300 activists joined the event in person and online.

Both candidates stated that as leader they would stand with Israel and oppose antisemitism.

Robert Jenrick said: “Under my leadership, our party will continue to stand with Israel and not give an inch to Hamas or their apologists here in the UK.” Kemi Badenoch noted: “We will continue to strengthen our ties with Israel and root out the tragic resurgence of antisemitism in the UK. We will be true to our values.”

Both candidates expressed concern over the Labour government’s policies on Israel.

Badenoch stated that “we stand on the edge” of Labour “reversing” the UK’s strong relationship with Israel built by the Conservative Government, as well as “turning the UK against our free, democratic ally, making ourselves, Israel, and Jewish people around the world less safe”.

Jenrick said Labour has demonstrated they prioritise “appeasing sectarian extremists” over standing with our allies like Israel.

“Israel has a right to defend itself and we must reject Labour’s suspension of arms export licences to Israel for use in Gaza,” he added. “We must staunchly oppose UK involvement with UNRWA when

time and again they are linked to Hamas.”

Both condemned increased levels of antisemitism after Hamas’ October 7 terror attack on Israel.

Badenoch stated: “We have seen a deeply worrying rise in antisemitism in the UK. We have seen people in this country use their views on Israel as an excuse to display antisemitism. We have seen this at protests on our streets and we see this in our universities. Those who glorify terrorism and celebrate the massacre of Jews have no place on our streets.”

Israel isn’t dependent on the atrocities of its enemies but on the values it shares with the UK.”

Badenoch detailed her actions to increase ties with Israel, including working towards a free trade deal and rejecting calls for an arms embargo.

Jenrick noted his actions in support of Israel, observing:

Jenrick noted: “Over the past year we’ve witnessed, weekend after weekend, the grotesque spectacle of people taking to the streets of our cities to valorise Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. We’ve seen antisemitism skyrocket to record levels”. He added: “Jewish people in the United Kingdom have faced abuse and intimidation because other Jews, thousands of miles away, have been murdered. This

fact must shame us. I will never be cowed from calling out the antisemitic alliance between the far-left and Islamists in this country.”

Both expressed support for the construction of the Holocaust Memorial beside Parliament.

Badenoch noted: “I am proud to have helped the Conservative Government build the closest ties to Israel that the UK has ever had,” adding, “Our relationship is built on decades of cooperation and steeped in historical ties. Our support for

IMOD ‘Iron Beam’ $500m deal

BY ADAM MOSES

The Israel Ministry of Defense have announced a landmark security deal worth over $500 million.

The Iron Beam is Israel’s first domestically developed laser interception system. Lead developers are Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Elbit Systems.

The ground-based high-power laser air defense system is designed to counter

aerial threats including rockets, mortars, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and cruise missiles.

Iron Beam is a global technological breakthrough. Interception capabilities have passed successful trials. The system is expected to integrate into Israel’s multi-layered defence alongside the Iron Dome and David’s Sling systems to combat current and future threats at lower operational costs.

IMOD Director General Maj. Gen. (Res.) Eyal Zamir signed the deal at the Ministry’s headquarters in Tel Aviv attended by Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Dr. Daniel Gold, Head of Defense Research and Development, Yoav Tourgeman, Rafael CEO, Bezhalel Machlis, Elbit CEO, Dekel Cohen, CPA and senior officials.

Zamir said: “Since the outbreak of war, the Ministry has signed hundreds of orders worth billions of dollars to

“In Government, I tabled legislation to stop local councils boycotting Israel. I successfully campaigned to proscribe Hamas and Hezbollah and I revoked visas for supporters of Hamas… It was a record that saw me sanctioned by the Iranian regime, something I regard as an honour”. He will continue to campaign for proscription of the IRGC.

“Our defence of Israel has never mattered more”, added Badenoch, ”As Israel fights terrorism on multiple fronts, facing Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran, the UK must stand strong with its ally.”

strengthen domestic production capabilities and build the IDF’s force. The Iron Beam deal is among our most significant agreements as it heralds the beginning of a new era in warfare. The initial capability of the ground-based laser system is expected to enter operational service within one year. The deal will ensure continued and accelerated procurement of many additional laser systems.”

Continued on page 11

Kemi Bedanoch giving full support to Israel in the leadership race

Continued from page 10

Gold noted: “The Iron Beam system demonstrates the expertise of our defence industries combining creativity, innovation and inventiveness with effective management and execution capabilities. We have achieved a qualitative military edge and its battlefield implementation by successfully integrating defence industries and startup companies. Iron Beam will complement the Iron Dome, the combination of laser and missile interception will strengthen our defence systems.”

Tourgeman added: “After years of research, development and significant technological breakthroughs in laser technology at Rafael, the Iron Beam system will soon reach maturity for operational deployment. The project marks

a significant milestone in upgrading Israel’s air defence capabilities. Iron Beam will join Iron Dome and David’s Sling, providing optimal protection for Israeli citizens.”

Machlis noted: “Iron Beam represents a quantum leap in future defence technology against various threats. The development of laser technology and its integration into a national project led by the IMoD is another significant step in maturing Elbit’s capabilities in advancing defence and warfare technologies.”

BoD & ADL digital resource

A free digital resource to teach secondary school children about Jews, Judaism and antisemitism has been launched by the Board of Deputies and the Anti Defamation League.

Jewish Living Online contains information via multimedia content, including British Jewish voices, discussion and critical thinking questions and assessment tools.

The initiative follows an alarming rise in antisemitism in the UK and many other countries, and in particular, a surge in antisemitic incidents among younger demographics.

With heightened tensions in some classrooms over the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, the resource offers teachers and pupils the confidence to better understand their Jewish neighbours.

The first iteration is designed to fit in with the standard curriculum for KS3 (1114 years) and above.

There are plans to expand the project

to include Welsh, Scottish, and Northern Irish variants in compliance with respective national guidelines and language requirements. A future teacher training module for JLO is also planned.

BoD President Phil Rosenberg said: “The need for improved education in schools could not be more urgent. It is our firm belief that educating about antisemitism must also begin with understanding and identifying who British Jews are, what Judaism is, and our history, literature and culture. This is a groundbreaking course which will both engage and inform the attitudes of the next generation, inoculate them against the virus of antisemitism and enable them to join us in celebrating the faith, heritage and culture of British Jews.”

ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt, said:

“Unfortunately, the UK is no exception to the global tsunami of antisemitism we’ve witnessed over the past year. This initiative marks the first of many similar programs we plan to implement globally, aimed at educating and empowering the next generation. By providing teachers and students with essential tools to understand and confront antisemitism, we are taking a vital step toward a future where antisemitism and hate have no place in our communities.”

Thousands mourn Rabbi Halioua

BY ADAM MOSES

Thousands of mourners attended the funeral of Rabbi Shlomo Halioua, zt’’l, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Chaim Berlin in Flatbush. He passed away on Simchat Torah.

Eulogies were delivered by the esteemed rabbi’s sons, sons-in-law, and prominent rabbonim, including Rabbi Chaim Kitowitz, Rabbi Malkiel Kotler, Rabbi Elya Yarmalk, Rabbi Yitzchok Meir Senderowitz and Rabbi Avigdor Kitowitz.

Rabbi Halioua, 65, was taken to hospital before Shemini Atzeret, but ensured Simchas Torah celebrations at the yeshiva went ahead.

Rabbi Halioua had recently taken up the position of Rosh Yeshiva following the death of Rabbi Aharon Schechter, who was a member of the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah of Agudath Yisrael of America.

Tehillim had been recited over Yom Tov.

Rabbi Yair Hoffman said yeshiva students were in a state of shock as Rabbi Halioua had been destined to play a pivotal leadership role in the Torah world.

Known for giving “masterful” shiurim, students were at ease with his

down-to-earth nature.

Rabbi Shlomo had a close association with Agudath Israel.

In a double tragedy, the funeral of Rabbi Halioua’s mother, Rebbetzin Mesoda zt”l, took place shortly after his. She was critically ill and hospitalised a few rooms from her son.

Rabbi Yosef Halioua spoke of the “same hospital, same floor, same condition.’

Rebbetzin Halioua was the wife of the late Rabbi Avraham Halioua who immigrated from Morocco to the United States aged 20 in 1948. He was a former rabbi in Flatbush. He died in 1988.

He is survived by Rebbetzin Esther Soleimani and Chavi Schur, and grandchildren.

Rabbi Shlomo Halioua zt”l

Major General Zamir announces the Iron Beam $500m deal PHOTO: IMOD

Israeli leaders attend 10/7 ‘Hebrew date’ events

BY DAVID SAFFER

Israeli leaders attended memorial ceremonies to mark the Hebrew anniversary of the October 7 terror attack last weekend.

Events took place for IDF fallen soldiers and civilian families.

Speaking at the memorial ceremony for soldiers, Herzog spoke of his three day journey earlier this month through communities and posts where atrocities took place on 10/7.

“It was a journey of unity and mourning, a journey of sorrow and memory and a journey of hope,” he said.

Herzog added: “All of Israel are responsible for one another. We see in this campaign, even in these very days, the overwhelming force of Israeli mutual

responsibility in all its strength. The supreme task still lies ahead of us, to urgently bring back the hostages from the hands of the murderers.

“The elimination of the arch-terrorist Sinwar and other enemies, and the impressive fighting by the IDF and security forces, have created an opportunity that we must not miss. We must act with all our might to secure the return home of the hostages. Many of the fallen saw this as their supreme mission… Their rescue is a supreme and binding duty, without which we cannot be whole as a people and as a State.”

Herzog continued: “Recent days have again reminded us of the heavy and painful price of war. So many families have joined the circle of bereavement, stricken with grief and sorrow, the heart of the entire nation breaks again and again. But even when the campaign is tough and prolonged, one thing is clear, the only way to endure these difficult days is together, with a deep belief in the justness of our path.

“This pertains to our commitment to rebuild and restore to their homes all the displaced families and communities in peace and security.

University Screening Week – 3 Weeks to go!

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Through a simple cheek swab, done in the comfort of their own home, students will be screened for 47 recessive disorders, helping them make informed decisions about the health of their future family.

Over 1 in 3 people of Jewish descent are carriers of at least one of the disorders covered by Jnetics. The conditions covered by the Jnetics recessive screening test can lead to devastating health conditions in children, if both parents are carriers, and can occur even when there is no known family history.

Unless screened, carriers often go undetected until it is too late. The best time

to screen for these conditions is before starting a family as it gives individuals the greatest number of reproductive options to avoid having an affected child in the future, should they be identified as a carrier. By participating in Jnetics’ screening programme, students can gain valuable insight into their genetic backgrounds and take proactive steps in family planning when the time is right.

By signing up for screening during this dedicated week, students can not only enhance their personal health knowledge but also contribute to a healthier future for the entire community. “Jnetics believes that knowledge is power” explained Nicole Gordon CEO.

“By empowering our young adults with genetic information, we pave the way for healthier families and communities.” She added.

How to Participate:

Students need to register for screening by 10th November, by visiting https://www.jnetics.org/ oncampus/

For more information about Jnetics and the University Screening Week, please contact the

Jnetics Team at students@ jnetics.org.

It pertains to our duty to stand by the physically and emotionally wounded. It pertains to the necessity of strengthening, backing and supporting the soldiers of the IDF, the police, the Shin Bet, the Mossad, and all security forces and their commanders in active duty and reserves, their families, and the members of the emergency and rescue organisations.”

Addressing family members, Herzog said he could not heal their shattered world but the State embraced them and asked for forgiveness for not protecting loved ones.

Recalling the victims, he noted: “About 900 innocent citizens have fallen in this cruel conflict, which began with the murderous assault by Hamas monsters who attacked us with barbaric cruelty… Hundreds of children were orphaned by hostilities. More than a hundred parents left with no children at all. Nearly two thousand citizens left without siblings.”

Herzog said Jews, Muslims, Druze and Christians, veterans and new immigrants, Israelis and citizens from other countries were slaughtered, wounded or abducted in cities, kibbutzim, villages, at music festivals, fields, bases and every corner of life.

Noting the terrible loss, Herzog spoke of heroism.

“Even in the depths of darkness, in the

valley of death, in the long hours of terror, loved ones shone, glowed and illuminated,” he noted. “Heroes of all ages, without uniforms and often without weapons, stood before the enemies with supreme bravery and noble spirit, even in their final moments. We will never forget their bravery and sacrifice during this challenging campaign.”

Speaking about the hostages held in captivity, he said: “We have a window of opportunity that we must seize. The sanctity of life flowing through our veins as a nation and a state compels us urgently to fulfil the supreme human, moral, Jewish and Israeli duty, to bring them back, some to their homes, and some to a Jewish burial.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was heckled by grieving family members at the ceremony.

Footage shows Netanyahu at a podium delivering his address when shouts of “shame on you” and “my father was killed” can be heard from the audience. Netanyahu stopped his speech briefly. Protesters were escorted from the venue before he continued. Sunday’s event didn’t initially include family members. The program was revised to include a representative.

President Herzog honours fallen soldiers PHOTO:GPO

JLE steps up for thousands of Yidden looking to connect post Oct 7th

“A safe space. A place I can call my Jewish home. My home base for learning, growing and knowing what it means to be a member of Klal Yisroel”.

When you ask the students and young professionals that flock to its Golders Green centre and campus hubs what the JLE means to them, these statements are what you are most likely to hear. And now, more than ever before in its 40 year history, the JLE is playing the central role in providing the meaning, inspiration and sense of Torah identity for thousands of young Jews in the wake of the tumultuous events of the past year.

One of those young professionals is James who found his way to the JLE after being the victim of an anti-Semitic attack.

“I grew up in a very secular and loving household. I was bar mitzvahed in a liberal synagogue and only went to a Jewish school for my final 2 years of schooling. I then went to a small university with an even smaller Jewish community. Over my 4 or so years there, I lost touch with the Jewish community and kind of trundled through life focusing on work.”

“In 2021 I was the victim of a violent anti-Semitic attack by an Islamic extremist who told me that he was looking to kill a Jew. Thankfully I was able to escape and I;m here to tell the tale, but you can imagine that the attack made a huge impact on me. I began to wonder what it means to be Jewish and decided to find Jewish organisations that would be accepting of my secularism but connect me with Judaism. And that’s how I found my way to the JLE. From the moment I walked through the doors, I felt at home.”

For James, the JLE has became a safe haven, and as he told a recent JLE fund raising dinner at Kensington Palace where he spoke eloquently about his journey, the JLE is an amazing

community of support where he says that he now feels that he can embrace his yiddishkeit and grow in his learning and mitzvah observance in a non-Judgemental environment.

Another example is a JLE student we spoke to called Lorene whose story reflects that of so many of the JLE’s participants since October 7th.

Lorene grew up as a secular Jew in Paris and as a successful cosmopolitan lawyer, always considered herself to be fully integrated in a world that did not have a strong emphasis on Jewish identity. All that changed on October 7th.

meals with new friends, the hours spent speaking to the wonderful Rebbetzen Cohen-Arazi who was there for me every step of the way, and the meaningful classes I attended, I was able to turn the corner and begin living a Jewish life.” Lorene’s JLE journey culminated in an exceptional volunteering trip to

“I can’t tell you how many people that I thought were my friends that disappeared on that day”she said when we asked her about her experiences post that tragic day last year. “I was left to process the horrific attacks whilst also realising that the friendships and social circles that I had invested in with all my heart had now completely abandoned me because I was Jewish. I was left alone. Isolated. Heartbroken.”

Thankfully, Lorene had a place to turn to and it was her connection with the JLE that gave her the comfort, inspiration and power to emerge from those dark days with a new sense of Jewish pride and a connection to Klal yisroel

“A new found love of Judaism was born inside of me. From the delicious shabbat

Israel with the JLE where she was able to complete the circle and kept shabbos for the first time - she has kept it since. She is one of over 65 people who this year took on shmiras shabbos properly.

Lorene and Nick’s experiences reflect just some of the countless young Jews that have been enriched, nurtured and inspired by walking into the JLE since October 7th. They represent just some of the thousands of participants who regularly attend the educational and social programming at the JLE. These include the Mentorship Programme which pairs together young professionals and members of the community who meet regularly to help facilitate professional and spiritual development. This programme has accepted 100 new applicants, an increase

on the 70 that joined last year. Another incredible initiative that has seen tremendous success is the JLE Beis resident Programme which is now in its second year and has seen its members double to 35 young Jews who are now able to live close to the JLE and take full advantage of the davening, shiurim and chaburas that the JLE offers daily, thank to a stipend from Olami in New York. The plethora of programmes and Rabbinical support means that many of these previously unaffiliated Jews were now excited to take on Shmiras Hamitzvos, with 65 people taking on Shmiras Shabbos last year, a 30% increase on previous years.

We asked Rabbi Amrom Nemeth, Rosh Beis Hamedrash of the JLE, what he felt was the biggest change since the events of October:

“I would say that the need for community had not been such a priority for young unaffiliated Jews prior to October 7th. We always saw young people come to our classes as they were interested in both the social and educational angle, but there was not such a need to be identified as part of a community. This all changed with October 7th and its aftermath where so many of them found themselves isolated and confused by the reactions of their non-Jewish friends and colleagues. We found that more than ever before these young Jews were looking to belong to a Community that offered meaning, spiritual connection and the safety of fellow Jews.”

The JLE is running it’s “Stepping Up For The Future” campaign this Sunday 3rd/Monday 4th November as it looks to continue working to secure the future of the community’s young Yidden

Faiths stand ‘Stronger Together’ at Mitzvah Day gardening project

The month leading up to Mitzvah Day – the UK’s largest faith-led day of social action – kicked off with an interfaith gardening project that really put its theme of ‘Stronger Together’ into action. Those taking part included members of Stanmore & Canons Park Synagogue, Mosaic Jewish Community, Kenton Swaminarayan Hindu Temple, St William of York Roman Catholic Church, Harrow Interfaith and the Friends of Canons Park, as well as Bob Blackman MP, Cllr Ameet Jogia MBE and Cllr Kantilal Rabadia. Bob Blackman – MP for Harrow East and Chair of the 1922 Committee – took time out of organising the Conservative Party leadership contest to join in the green-fingered action. He said: “Mitzvah Day is brilliant because it brings the whole community together to do things they may not usually be doing. Today, we had a whole group of volunteers, from many different backgrounds, unite to

make this garden look beautiful.”

In total an inter-generational group of 40 people mucked in – working harmoniously together. Their jobs including weeding, raking, sweeping, clearing and tidying the overgrown flower beds in the walled rose garden, in order to get everything ready for the winter months ahead and then planting next year.

The project gave the opportunity for the volunteers of different religions to spend time getting to know each other – re-establishing old friendships and sparking new ones.

Project Co-ordinator Corinne Linskell, of Stanmore and Canons Park Synagogue, said: “This interfaith gardening project was a special way to kick off our Mitzvah Day activities. With so many faith groups working together on behalf of the local community, we were much ’Stronger Together’, achieving what we could not do on our own. This is such a rewarding,

positive and enriching initiative to be part of.”

The volunteers’ efforts were warmly welcomed by the Friends of Canons Park, whose Chair Sharon Graham described the day as “incredibly special and much appreciated”.

The leaders of the other faith groups present all reflected on the importance of being together and the fundamental principle that all religions share to make the world a better place.

Speaking on behalf of St William of York RC Church, Lisa Harris said: “One of the greatest Commandments is to love one another. We

show this in doing little or even big things together. As this wonderful Interfaith Mitzvah Day project has shown, we are all ‘Stronger Together’.”

• To register for this year’s Mitzvah Day, which will take place on and around Sunday 24 November 2024, please visit www.mitzvahday.org.uk.

Limmud Torah in full swing at the JLE

Working together for a better tomorrow

It’s not that simple

OPINION PIECE

BY ROBERT FESTENSTEIN

Upon the report of confirmation of the death of Sinwar, the author of the atrocities of the 7th October last year, the UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was reported as saying “The release of all hostages, an immediate ceasefire and an increase in humanitarian aid are long overdue so we can move towards a long-term, sustainable peace in the Middle East.”

I confess to being uncertain what he meant by this. Did he mean the entire Middle East including Syria over which Israel has had little involvement or just Gaza, Lebanon, Iran and Yemen? Hard to tell really. I am not sure how a ceasefire in Gaza is going to make any difference to the Houthis who I am sure will continue to send over missiles to kill Israelis.

The difficulty with the PM’s wish list is that it is both too long, and too short. Too long because the three items he has declared are needed have little to with the peace he is seeking. As for too short, it just doesn’t work. Hamas have no intention of yielding up the remaining hostages. They provide

too much leverage, including enough pressure on the Israeli Government so as to reduce the level of unity in the country as the frustration and fears of the hostage families grow. That has to be a big plus for Hamas. So why should they give it up?

There needs to be a plan which will bring about this sustainable peace of which Sir Keir talks. At present there isn’t one. In fact there cannot be one for as long as the destruction of Israel remains at the top of the agendas of Hamas and Hezbolla. These Islamist terror groups play the very long game. This is not about war which started in October last year, nor indeed any of the confrontations this century. It is about continuing the fight to drive out the Jews from the land of Israel, such fight which began at the beginning of the last century.

helpful to them right now because of their losses and need to regroup. However helpful that might be, what is more helpful is that both terror groups have had it confirmed that it is in order to keep weapons and soldiers in hospitals and schools because for some reason the western media are frightened to report this.

Hamas and their Lebanese counterparts are I am sure treating the Israeli advances in Gaza and Lebanon as just minor inconveniences on their way to a Jew and Israel free zone. A ceasefire would be really

The use of human shields is forbidden by Protocol I of the Geneva Conventions and is also a specific intent war crime as codified in the Rome Statute, which was adopted in 1998. The BBC and their acolytes are not frightened of reporting this constant and cynical conduct in the use of human shields. They just refuse to do so, since they know that if they do it will give credence to what Israel has been saying and that is clearly a no-go area for the BBC, who incidentally have now started call the IDF the Israeli military. I have said before the language is everything and if using the word ‘military’ in that context makes Israel seem menacing and sinister when reporting, then the BBC will I am sure will continue to

describe the IDF as such.

As for the other issues facing Israel and causing her to continue fighting, these are best ignored in the now accepted approach by the Labour Party is to largely blame Israel for being attacked, for responding and now protecting the Israeli citizenship by taking on Iran.

I have no idea what a sustainable peace would look like, but if Sir Keir and his Labour Party continue to blame Israel for defending herself, then by doing so they are pushing the prospect of peace further down the road. Calling for a ceasefire and the return of hostages makes for good rhetoric but in the absence of any meaningful pressure on Hamas/Hezbollah these are just empty words. Time to get reading Sir Keir, so you start to understand how complicated this particular conflict is.

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.

PM Starmer presenting at the LFI

MARCHING STANDINGTALL

AJEX REMEMBRANCE PARADE & CEREMONY 2024

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

REGISTER NOW AND SAVE THE DATE TO JOIN AJEX AT THE CENOTAPH AS WE REMEMBER.

In the wake of the October 7th anniversary, we reflect on the ongoing fight against antisemitism. Together, we will honour the thousands of Jewish servicemen and women who fought for our freedom, ensuring their legacy continues to inspire us today.

United as British Jews in pride and purpose, we march not only to Remember, but to actively stand against hatred and discrimination. Veterans, individuals, families and community groups of all ages are welcome to stand tall with us in solidarity. Together, we honour the past and pledge to shape a future free from antisemitism.

The Ceremony will be led by Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, KBE. 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.

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.

PLEASE G-D - ISRAEL IS HERE TO STAY

Dear Editor

I am currently in Israel, reading and

hearing differing worldwide accounts, regarding Bibi Netanyahu’s government’s current policy vis-a-vis the war.

Come and live in Israel to gain a different understanding and perspective

of what is really going on here! One is entitled to an opinion but please do not be an armchair critic. Baruch Hashem, I have a daughter with six children, four of whom are married, with families. I have four grandchildren in the army, one of whom is a professional soldier, a Lieutenant Colonel. My son-in-law comes from a large family, all married with between 6 to 8 children each. None of them are extremists, mostly hard-working professionals and peace loving, going about their daily lives - one of whom lost a 23-year-old married son with a four-month baby. Unfortunately, there were other losses in the family. I have asked the opinion of many Israelis, both on left and right of the political spectrum (hundreds in number), who, in the main, agree with the government’s ongoing reaction to the brutal and unspeakable horrors of October 7th. Of course, not everybody agrees. Yes, the government must make more efforts to bring the hostages home safely. I certainly would not like to be in the Prime Minister’s shoes.

Albeit we need friends, Israelis have had enough of kowtowing to public opinion. War is terrible, especially the

loss of innocent lives, but very sadly, at times a necessary evil. The salient point is that one cannot believe what you read in the media! It is truly unbelievable to learn of sheer exaggeration of facts, dishonest and bias reporting - especially that of the BBC and United Nations. Furthermore, no credit is given to our brave soldiers, many of whom gave up their lives in trying to minimise loss of civilian casualties. No other army in the world acts in this manner? Today, among many other families, I attended memorial services at Har Herzl Military Cemetery for 2 very young soldiers who gave up their lives for us.

I speak as one, who together with my husband z.l. visited Israel very regularly most of our life, especially in the last 40 years, with dual nationality for the last 22 1/2 years, whilst visiting family, we have experienced the action of terrorists who literally spread TERROR to the extent that one is afraid to walk or drive, in certain places, in our own land. Palestinians in the main can walk without fear. The perennial statement that “land for peace “will solve all, is sadly a fallacy! Our detractors, who want our demise, need to understand that enough is enough and that they are finally accountable for their actions. Please G-d, Israel is here to stay, striving for everlasting Shalom and worldwide democracy.

Yours sincerely

Flora Frank (Mrs.)

JW3 Protest Exposes Met’s Failure to Protect Jewish Community

BY STEVE WINSTON

The scene outside JW3 Centre in north London this past Sunday was, sadly, all too emblematic of the institutional inertia that has come to define British policing when it comes to addressing antisemitism within the broader scope of pro-Palestinian activism. One might have thought, for a fleeting moment, that the Metropolitan Police would be proactive, perhaps even zealous, in ensuring that Jewish attendees could safely enter a conference to discuss a topic as timely and weighty as “Israel After October 7th: Allied or Alone?” Alas, those attending the Haaretz event had to run the gauntlet through a jeering crowd of protesters chanting “Palestine is Not Your Home” and the stomach-turning accusation of “genocide supporters.” In what can only be described as a poor excuse for crowd control, the Met’s

to be about voicing grievances and turns into an exercise of targeted harassment, a line has been crossed. The sight of police officers standing idly by as a predominantly Jewish crowd was greeted with chants and slurs was not merely uncomfortable; it was reprehensible. What should concern us all is that this wasn’t an isolated incident. This escalating intimidation against Jews in the UK comes against the backdrop of growing antisemitic rhetoric couched in anti-Israel protest. Despite official assurances from the government and the Met Police’s own social media platitudes that “antisemitism has absolutely no place in our society,” the reality on the ground belies such statements. What message does it send to British Jewry when law enforcement appears more focused on maintaining the “rights” of demonstrators hurling vitriol than on the basic safety of Jewish citizens attending a conference?

Since October 7, we have witnessed a visceral erosion of the boundaries that

message is not merely a call for political change, but intimidation. So, what must be done to address this? First, it is time for a shift in the Metropolitan Police’s approach. The Public Order Act provides ample latitude for officers to impose strict conditions on protests that veer into the territory of incitement or hate speech, yet the Met appears reluctant to enforce these provisions with any vigor. One arrest for “criminal damage” is not an adequate response to a demonstration explicitly targeting the Jewish community with hostility. Police must be empowered— and indeed, mandated—to protect those targeted for their identity, especially in volatile contexts such as this. Second, there must be accountability at the institutional level. The NJA, as a conduit for the voice of the Jewish community, is pressing the police and the Home Office to answer for these failures. It is not enough to simply acknowledge antisemitism as an abstract evil; there must be concrete policies in place to address it. The NJA is advocating for clear guidelines that distinguish legitimate protest from hateful intimidation and insist that law enforcement officials follow these

must not remain silent. If the Met Police continue to exhibit such dereliction of duty, Jewish institutions should demand formal inquiries, question senior officers, and escalate these issues with parliamentary allies. The time has come for the NJA to drive the formation of a task force dedicated to monitoring antisemitic incidents at public events and ensuring swift police action.

The sad irony, of course, is that Sunday’s Haaretz conference was not a rally of hawkish ultranationalists; it was a gathering aimed at dialogue and introspection. Yet even this gathering, committed to discourse rather than division, was met with unbridled hostility. If this level of antagonism is permissible here, where will it stop?

In the absence of assertive action, the message from British authorities seems to be that Jews may no longer expect to safely and openly participate in civic life. And if this is indeed the message, then it must be fought against with every ounce of energy, resolve, and courage the Jewish community can muster.

Steve Winston is the Managing Director of the National Jewish Assembly

OPINION PIECE

A personal memory of Yigal Calek Z”L

BY RABBI NAFTALI SCHIFF

Israeli born Yigal Calek z”l, The world renowned Founder and Director of Pirchei London- the London School of Jewish Song, Yigal Calek z”l passed away aged 80, in London last week.

I feel a personal obligation to express a few thoughts of appreciation for the depth of feeling, emotion, expression and vision that Yigal - ל״ז

instilled in me aged 9-13 as a soloist in the choir. However, most importantly perhaps this is an opportunity to consider on a broader level some of the innovations that Yigal bravely opened up for the children of a generation trying desperately to rebuild a destroyed world. The latter I am sharing as an expression of appreciation because Yigal Calek was for the Jewish world, far more than a choir master and composer of some popular tunes!

Traditionally, Jewish music had been largely limited to the chazzanut presentation of the individual and shabbos table liturgy defined by family and local custom. Many will not even recall a pre Carlebach, MBD, Avraham Freid, Miami Boys or Chassidishe choirs ensemble, not to mention the Yishai Ribos of today. Yigal brought davening and pesukim alive with original, passionate and lively melodies and literally brought Jewish song to the world stage via large public concerts and professional orchestrated musical arrangements. The world of Jewish song, davening and simchas was changed forever via his immense contribution. Masterpieces such as Ko Amar, Be’ein meilitz, Ashira Lashem, Mareh Cohen, Podo veshalom nafshi, Chamol transformed a generation and shall forever be embedded in the cultural psyche of Am Yisrael!

Holocaust generation that had in many cases forgotten how, why and when to sing. Yigal Calek knew it was Time to Sing- תע רישל; even if others didn’t necessarily yet see that which he saw “crystal clear”- he saw, felt, lived and breathed the תולוק םיקרבו - thunder and lightening of Sinai and knew it was time to use his artistic, musical and pedagogical flair to wake up the fervent joy and deep rooted passions of Klal Yisrael לקל

,תורימז

…Yigal felt the pain of the

the

יעורזמ; he felt the Children of Silence of Soviet Russia; he recognised the yearning of the Pintale Yid, the pained Jewish soul yearning for true Connection, the לוק הקד הממד, the “still small voice” so so crystal clear. He knew how to fan those fading embers still wallowing as part of the remnant that survived and take the tears of Rachel crying for her children languishing in exile

and turn them to the magnificent energy, hope and vision of

; the wailing הניק lament of ןימאמ ינא to a march of hope driving towards חישמ וניקדצ and the magnificent destiny of the Jewish People. He took post war chinuch from the traditional cheder classroom to an immersive experience of a journey of song spanning millennia and transcending time and place. Be the children of those hundreds of Pirchei London , their doting parents, grandparents and communities who never thought they would see Jewish children bursting forth in joyous song and dancing with smiling faces, sparkling eyes and passionate youthful exuberance once again.

teacher who treated children as adults, confiding in them, believing in them, training them to appreciate both the gifts bestowed upon them and the Source of all blessing; the privilege of being a Jew, and a part of a generation that would bring back joy, depth, passion and revival to the second and third generation. Yigal appreciated the complexity of the many stripes and types of Yidden that make up the totality of the Jewish People. At a time when communities and families were simply trying their best to rebuild, he was an individual who genuinely taught and sang to the refrain of םיענ

. His deep recognition and awareness of subtelty in musical expression was deeply reflected in his uncanny and unusual treasuring and cherishing of hues of colour, choreography of events both on stage and in the classroom.

As a ןהכ , Yigal Yisroel understood the potential of שודק יוגו םינהכ תכלממ and the accompanying responsibility that is wedded to such awareness. He had an incredible ability to see the big picture whilst constantly juggling an unusually deep appreciation for detail. This applies to both the ensemble and the personality and potential of each individual. The natural conductor in him managed to direct the whole orchestra whilst taking genuine interest in each pupil, each neshama, each flower of the bunch of םיחרפ that needed a uniquely personalised and loving nurturing.

Yigal oozed with ןח and G-d given charisma and perceived Yiddishe chein in many kids that others struggled to inspireרבדמב ןח אצמ! He treated children as adults, gave them confidence and steered them to appreciate and strive to actualise their own potential as individuals . His ילכ תונמוא , profession, was song however the depth of perception, the power of his educational parables were akin to Magidim of yesteryear.

) However, for some reason my first solo on stage was

And he certainly woke my soul to do my best to pass that on to others too. I sang

“for the sake of my Brothers and my Friends…” . Somehow he also trusted me a few times to have one of those whole song solos. One was םולשה ריש which I think instilled in me a sense of the majesty and importance of every single Jew- irrespective of knowledge, practice, wealth or anything else. However, the most impactful of all was the singing of ישפנ

that perhaps without knowing it, pierced my heart and soul with the concept of

- of not living life merely as an individual, but rather of connecting one’s life with the totality of the Jewish People.

I mention all this not in order to grandstand myself but rather because we often struggle today with bringing effective pathways to authentic Yiddishkeit and hashkafa to our younger generation. Sometimes we stand in shul and mumble words without thinking for a moment of the power of each syllable, we act out mitzvos as automatons and we forget the grandeur of what it is to be part of רחבנה םע and the majesty of the holy תויארחא of being a Jew.

A less known record of Yigals ( from the period he taught at NWLJDS) was called רישל תע - a Time to Sing. The mere fact that Yigal taught in diverse schools across the breadth of the communal spectrum embracing boys from Pardes House alongside pupils from North West and Kerem together with them, teaching both the same passionate love of Yiddishkeit via the combination of pesukim and song is a testament to the depth of his genuine and unconditional love of all Jews and passionate commitment to sharing the vibrancy of Torah and mitzvot with all. Like so many trailblazing revolutionaries Yigal was a brave, single minded, creative visionary and indeed a maverick who saw that which others didn’t yet see, acted upon it with abnormal energy, passion and willpower affecting change to a post

Yigal himself was a unique combination. A Sabra- strict and tough at times on the outside, yet incredibly soft and sweet on the inside. As pupils in the classroom and at choir rehearsals, we both feared and adored him and somehow the לארשי לכ םשב, the palpable love of all Jews , of הרות of the ע״שבר , seemed to bring it all together in the hands of the חצנמ the conductor who brought us all together Yigal was complex; Yigal was sophisticated; Yigal was deep and penetrating in all he saw, communicated and lived and yet when he gesticulated with his hands, to those who understood, exquisite harmony burst forth. It may begin with an almost inaudible hum, break into the “oooo”, transition to a la la la and then burst into exuberant song- accompanied with his signature “ hands on friends!”

Perhaps he was also the forerunner to bring informal education into the classroom, an original and innovative pedagogue, a

He shared with us a genuine passion for Torah, for the Land and the People of Israel, for Jews of all types. In addition he drew a magnificent vision of majesty, revitalisation and joy for a traumatised and broken generation. He taught us to dance again- as individuals and as a Klal!

There were no compromises on the תראפת of רדהנ המ תמא or the authentic expression of ישפנ

. The business of waking up the latent heart of the Jewish spirit Is a serious business in which getting it just right often could not, should not and wasn’t compromised. Yigal taught me the genuineness inherent in straight talking, openness , vulnerability and authenticity in all. For me he imbibed a piercing passion for davening, song and devotion.

The greatest prize in the choir was to be trusted with a solo. The most coveted of those was to be invited to sing a whole song by yourself on stage. My timing was invariably off and voice not that great, (perhaps that’s why he chose me instead to act the Mother in the famous skit before

I was one of those naughty 9,10,11 year old kids. We all were and the truth is perhaps it’s that םיעושעש דלי and the chain that personifies all of לארשי . It’s something that I think Yigal recognised and fanned the yearning and creative playfulness in so many thereby blazing the way for chinuch of the last generation before חישמ to not be limited only to the stender and classroom. To him I am personally and eternally grateful and as a community I believe we owe the broadest and deepest בוטה תרכה, appreciation for the תושדחתה, vitality, innovation, courage and creativity he brought to us all, just at the right time. May we be blessed to “put hands on friends” as he used to say. Am Yisrael so needs the harmony of song that bridges the loneliness in the crowd of a virtual and augmented reality world- May we bravely break the chains of those who are physically and spiritually held captive at this time and merit to join together building a world of hine ma tov uma naim shevet achim gam yachad.

Rabbi Naftali Schiff is the Founder and Chief Executive of Jewish Futures Trust

Mill Hill Sukkah

This year, for the first time, a public Sukkah was erected in Mill Hill, on Mill Hill Broadway, in “the square”, a first in Mill Hill history. The Sukkah was set up by Rabbi Motty Schochet, as part of his regular outreach work in the area. The Sukkah was available for anyone who passed by, as they walked up and down Broadway. Every year Rabbi Motty shakes the Lulav with hundreds of people over the Yom Tov of Sukkot, as he walks up and down the Broadway, offering men, women and children to do the Mitzvah. This year people had the opportunity to shake the Lulav inside the Sukkah, as well as something to eat or drink in the Sukkah. For many of the people visiting the Sukkah, it was the only time that they stepped into a Sukkah over Yom Tov, which brought much joy to them. For one visitor, it was the first time in their lives stepping into a Sukkah. Many personal stories were shared in the Sukkah, and people were visibly grateful for the opportunity. Many thanks to

the people that helped build and sponsor the Sukkah, including Tuli the owner of “SukkahFix”, and to the Barnet council for permitting and endorsing the Sukkah in the square.

British spy book launch

The story of André Joseph Scheinmann, a German born Jew, hero of the French Resistance and British spy with the Secret Intelligence Service during World War II has been released.

I Am André is authored by US historian

Diana Mara Henry and published by Chiselbury

At the event, attendees heard insights into André’s life.

Historian Sheryl Green shared expert perspectives, while Diana Mara Henry and Michel Scheinmann, André’s son, offered moving glimpses and personal memories.

New Figures from Chai show an increase in the number of clients affected by breast cancer

To mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October, Chai Cancer Care has released new figures to highlight the need for increased awareness and support for people affected by a diagnosis

Over the past year, 17% of all appointments at Chai were for women diagnosed with breast cancer.

Between 1 October 2023 and 30 September 2024, Chai facilitated a total of 22,046 appointments for people impacted by cancer, with 3,834 of those appointments supporting individuals with breast cancer.

This represents a nearly 2% increase from the previous year, when Chai supported 3,766 breast cancer patients.

In response to this growing need, Chai offers a comprehensive range of services, including emotional counselling, physical therapies, and dedicated support groups for those navigating the challenges of a breast cancer diagnosis. Sara*, in her late 40s, is one such client. Diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2023 with no prior family history, Sara has found crucial support through Chai’s services. She says: “Having cancer is really complicated. As well as managing your daily care, you must project manage a lot of things and there are so many decisions to have to make -

been brilliant. I have been getting counselling support from the most amazing woman, who is so compassionate and reassuring. Being in a Jewish space has been so reassuring. When you’re feeling vulnerable and not sure in yourself, there’s nothing like being surrounded by so many special people.”

This year has also seen the launch of

Chai’s support group for individuals who have tested positive for the BRCA 1 or 2 gene mutation, who have not been diagnosed with cancer.

Since the NHS Jewish BRCA Testing Programme began in January, which allows people in England over the age of 18 with at least one Jewish grandparent to be tested, the need for support has increased. The BRCA gene mutation affects 1 in 40 Ashkenazi Jews and 1 in 140 Sephardi Jews, compared to 1 in 250 in the UK general population.

Mike Bluestone, Vice-Chair, AJEX said: “It has been an absolute privilege to collaborate with Diana, researcher Sheryl Green and Paul McCue of the Secret WW2 Learning Network. This is a moving and inspirational story of courage and defiance that must be told.”

I Am Andre is the culmination of decades of research, capturing the resilient spirit of a man who risked everything for freedom.

The event was supported by The Secret WW2 Learning Network and AJEX.

the people I know who have had cancer, are all in their 80s and above. 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. They have

Lisa Steele, Chief Executive of Chai Cancer Care, said: “The rising number of women affected by breast cancer, and the increased awareness around the BRCA gene mutation, remind us how crucial it is for people to seek support early. At Chai, we are here for every individual and family affected by a diagnosis, offering a safe and compassionate space. Whether

through counselling, physical therapies, or support groups, we are committed to walking alongside those facing this journey. I encourage anyone who has been affected, or who may be at risk, to reach out—Chai is here for you.”

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ASK THE RABBI

GENESIS QUESTIONS

Dear Rabbi,

Two questions, if I may: Question One: Given that the only source of Cain’s murderous genes could have been his parents and they were created in G-d’s image, from where did they acquire those genes? Question Two: To whom was G-d speaking when he said ‘Let us make the human in our image’, and ‘The human has become like one of us?

Leon

Dear Leon

Answer One: Who said it’s in the genes? Ever heard of free choice? We all have a propensity toward evil – that’s the way G-d made his world. As such we have balance and then we make informed decisions. Cain cannot be blamed on his parents, much as kids often like to tell that to their therapists. Daily we are faced with choices. Daily life challenges us with situations that come in many shapes and forms - the way we relate to G-d, to our spouses, our children, our peers, our neighbours. These tests reflect the genuineness of our commitment,

the depth of our faith and the measure of our character. It’s true that sometimes the way parents raise their children can impact adversely on their character and choices – but ultimately it is their choices.

Answer Two: G-d was speaking to some of the angels, spiritual beings, and us being made in the image of G-d means, we have certain angelic like traits where we are endowed with great spiritual abilities, enabling us to climb higher realms – not to escape into heaven, I should add, but to bring some of that heaven down to earth. That again, comes down to the choices we make.

TO WALK OR TO STAY?

Dear Rabbi, I was staying in a hotel recently over Shabbat and realised a little too late that when I walked out of my room, I triggered a light in the hallway. I then had the dilemma of whether I was allowed to return to my room still that same night. In the end I thought it is not too dissimilar to the Shabbat lifts so common in Israel and went back. But I’m still left wondering.

Warren

Dear Warren

The Israeli lift is programmed to function on a recurring schedule to obviate the need for passengers to operate any switch. Hotel lights respond to individual movement and not on any preset pattern. So, the two are not analogous. If it’s daytime or there is other light in the hallway, which means you’re not really dependent on or benefitting from this light, then there is no concern. Where you know definitively that your movement is going to trigger that light and you will invariably benefit from that light, even if unintentional in the first instance, then you have a problem. It might make sense to wait for someone else to come on the floor and trigger it and then again you have no problem.

I am aware of a case where someone realised as he was standing in the lavatory that his movement was going to trigger an automatic flush. Should he have remained standing there the whole of Shabbat? Where he has no benefit, is not doing it intentionally, (and besides, he would otherwise starve ‘cause you can’t make Kiddush in there) then he could walk away. Hey no one said, it’s easy to be a Jew.

SHOULD I BE CANCELLED?

Dear Rabbi,

I can’t help but notice that you tend to disagree with a lot of readers’ points of view. Don’t you think you ought to agree more with them? I’m surprised you’re still writing all this time on and haven’t yet been cancelled.

Margaret

Dear Margaret

You mean I should just agree with them even if I don’t? Is that how it works in our woke politically correct world today? Everyone just has to be in agreement with one another, lest I offend your snowflake sensibilities and otherwise risk being cancelled?

There’s a difference between

disagreement and disrespect. Our problem isn’t a disagreement problem, and our problem isn’t a diversity problem. Our problem is a disrespect problem. You see when I disagree with you, we’ll talk it out. We may never come to any agreement on the matter. And that’s OK too. So, when I disagree with you, we talk it out. But if I disrespect you, we won’t talk. We’ll just shut each other down or look to cancel one another. The hard fact is that we might disagree often, but if we disrespect one another it puts a wall between us.

Say something wrong, tweet something people disagree with, express an opinion that is surprising or contradicts the established view people have of you, and the demands for you to be fired, de-friended or otherwise driven from the realms of men quickly follow.

A lot of people have what is known as a confirmation bias. In other words, they seek out to listen to only people they agree with. Really, what we need is a collaboration bias. We ought to seek out people that we in fact different than us and look for people that might have a different perspective to us. There’s plenty of disagreement out there and that’s normal. Unfortunately, there’s too much disrespect out there as well. You seem to exemplify that. You need to find another way. You can and need to do better.

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Keeping spiritually connected in winter

BY RABBI YAAKOV KLEIN

It’s perfectly normal for us to be feeling a wee bit down this time of year. Let’s be honest, it’s a bit depressing to take down the succah, to put our lulav and esrog away. We just had the most incredibly enthralling month of spiritual elevation and - now what? Where do we go from here?

Here’s a thought that I’ve found useful. Universities, particularly prestigious universities, call their graduations, “commencement ceremonies.” The word commence means “to begin”, because even though the graduation marks the end of this period in the student’s life, it is truly only the beginning of the period he or she had been preparing for all along.

The Chagim are like a university for the Jewish soul. At the beginning of each year, we experience a “crash course in Yiddishkeit” - discovering anew how to reveal Hashem’s presence in the worldRosh Hashonah; how to serve Hashem

with Yiras Shamayim (fear of heaven) and Kedusha (holiness) - Yom Kippur; and how to express our overflowing Ahavas Hashem, (love of Hashem) and joy over the great blessing of being a Jew - Succos, Hoshana Rabbah, Simchas Torah.

We don’t put down the arba minim to leave them behind. Rather, we put them down because we have successfully inculcated them within our very being. Our heart, bursting with yearning and holy passion, is the esrog; our spine, firm with religious conviction and devotion to Hashem, is the lulav; our eyes, shining with the joy of an elevated perspective on life, are the hadassim; and our lips, pouring forth praise and gratitude to Hashem, are the aravos. It isn’t that the Yomim Nora’im are the high point of the calendar and it is all downhill from here. On the contrary! After having “graduated” from the university of the Chagim, we are now ready to march upward and onward into the thick of the battle, into the primary task of a Jew: to uplift every aspect of the human conditiondrab, mundane, and dismal as it may seem - to the greatest spiritual heights.

To use another analogy, base camp at the foot of a mountain is super enjoyable, filled with warmth, good food, excitement, and energy. But the only way to reach the summit is to gear up, leave the comfort of base camp behind, and embark on a long and treacherous climb through the cold and snow, through the darkness and danger, holding onto the lessons we’ve learned and the faith that we can make it.

After the “base camp” of Tishrei, we are now ready to commence, to start our trek into the wilderness of the winter, where Hashem’s dream of an elevated humanity flourishes in a way unmatched during the rest of the year.

In the upper realms of the angels, it’s Yom Kippur all year long. No eating. No drinking. Everything is draped in white. But Hashem created the world specifically because He didn’t want that of human beings. It’s nice to experience that level for a bit, but that’s not the ultimate. The ultimate is a regular day in November, no Chagim in sight, trudging home in the dark from the 4:20 Maariv, shoes soaked from the slush, after a long 9-5 workday - coming home

to a family, to friends, to the complexity of human relationships, holding on to every spark of inspiration that will enable us to continue being mindful of the lessons we learned in our Tishrei “college”, at the base camp we enjoyed before commencing our glorious climb. This is the pinnacle. This is the high point of the Jewish calendar. This is what it means to be a Jew.

May we merit a winter filled with the warmth of spiritual connection, bursting with soulful and inspired living, and saturated with the great joy of our awareness that, with every work of tefillah, every line of Torah, every bracha, every mitzvah, every chessed and act of kindness, we are fulfilling the very purpose of creation, bringing the world closer and closer to the final redemption, may it be speedily and in our days.

Rabbi Yaakov Klein, author and founding director of Eilecha, part of Jewish Futures

To find out more about Jewish Futures and Eilecha, go to https://www.jfutures.org/ our-organisations

A meaningful Simchat Torah for students with Aish on Campus

As the one-year anniversary of the tragic events that occurred on Simchat Torah approached, Jewish communities around the world grappled with how best to observe the day. For Jewish students on university campuses across the UK, this occasion carried particular weight.

They faced the question of physical safety and comfort in coming together to celebrate, as well as determining what form this celebration should take, given its significance.

The Aish on Campus teams rose to the challenge with sensitivity and thoughtfulness. Their mission extends beyond simply offering a safe space for students to connect with their Judaism and each other. For the couples and staff who live and work across 23 universities in the UK, it’s about providing a genuine

portal to the depth and beauty of Jewish life and wisdom, demonstrated through the warmth and vibrancy of a Jewish home. This enabled them to craft meaningful, heartfelt, and respectful Simchat Torah programming for 2024, balancing celebration with a focus on growth and connection.

There was a wide array of events across Aish on Campus centres nationwide, allowing hundreds of Jewish students to come together.

In London, students joined the

celebrations of Kehal Yedidim, the community within the Jewish Futures organisation, in a newly launched event space designed for London campus programming. The gathering included a lively kiddush, highenergy dancing, and a focused Hakafah featuring slow songs of prayer and unity. This combination of joy and solemnity empowered students to express resilience and strength, connecting deeply to their heritage and to each other.

Nicholas Azulay, a student who attended, shared, “The event allowed me and other young Jews to come together to celebrate our identity while also reconnecting with everything that we stand for as a people.”

“Dance because you know what it’s for, for those who cannot anymore”

In Leeds, students heard from Rabbi Binyomin Rose, who shared stories of those who “danced in hell” under the watchtowers of Auschwitz simply because it was Simchat Torah. This powerful lesson—that one can find the strength to celebrate even in the midst of pain— deeply resonated with the students. They adopted a theme that beautifully captured this spirit: “Dance because you know what it’s for, for those who cannot anymore.”

In Birmingham, Rabbi Chaim Lehrer and his family hosted over 180 students across the three days of Simchat Torah and the following Shabbat. Rabbi Lehrer spoke about the importance of using the joy of Simchat Torah with purpose, providing a

framework for students to understand and connect with what it means to be Jewish. The message that resonated most was the idea that the best response to those who spread hate is to cultivate and celebrate the values and wisdom that Judaism offers.

Tali, a student in Birmingham, reflected, “The joy we express on Simchat Torah is our powerful answer to hatred; it’s about embracing what we love and what defines us as Jews.”

From Cambridge to Manchester, Sheffield to Warwick, and in cities like Bristol and Nottingham, Aish on Campus teams worked to inspire and engage students, offering them meaningful opportunities to connect with and celebrate the Torah. In a world so often shadowed by messages of negativity and hate, the enthusiasm and strength displayed by these students—the future of the Jewish community—shine through. They are stepping forward to celebrate, lighting the way through darkness with resilience, pride, and joy. To find out more about Aish UK, go to https://www.aish.org.uk

Students celebrating during Sukkot with Aish UK

Students celebrating during Sukkot with Aish UK

Students celebrating during Sukkot with Aish UK

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.

[A-HEAD] LIVING WITH PURPOSE

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.

Daf Topics THE RETURN OF THE LOST

TRIBES - Bava Batra 122a

BY RABBI YAKOV SCHONBERG

Bava Basra 122a asserts that in future Eretz Yisrael will be divided equally between thirteen tribes. This begs the question: will the ten lost tribes have equivalent status to the rest of Klal Yisrael, despite their long detachment from Torah Judaism? It is generally understood that the ten tribes are considered ‘lost’ because they have been assimilated and intermarried with native populations and have become lost to Judaism. Moshiach is destined to gather in the exiles from wherever they have spread across the world and will identify from which tribe each Jew stems. How can we imagine that native folk who have converted to other religions and live their lives like the locals, will be treated with equal status to religious Jews just because of their ancestral origins 2,580 years ago?

WILL THEY RETURN?

There is a machlokes in Mishna Sanhedrin 110b between R’ Akiva and R’ Eliezer whether the ten tribes are destined to return from their places of exile. In Devarim 29:27, Moshe Rabeinu warned the people that if they stray into idolatry, Hashem will punish them by driving them into another land -הזה םויכ . R’ Akiva understands ‘as this very day’ to mean that just as the day passes never to return, so the Ten Tribes will not return. R’ Eliezer interprets these two words positively – just as the day darkens and then becomes light, so too the Ten Tribes for whom it is dark, will one day have light and return at the time of Moshiach’s ingathering. The gemora quotes a Baraisa saying that R’ Akiva holds that the Ten Tribes have no share in Olam Habo. Ramban in Sefer Hageulah (Shaar-1) brings many proofs that Tenach assumes a return of the Ten Tribes. Bava Basra 115b is still fresh in our memory quoting a tradition that no tribe would ever be wiped out. Our gemora which states categorically that Eretz Yisrael will be divided afresh between all twelve tribes, implies the return of the Ten tribes. How can we reconcile R’ Akiva’s view that they will not return with many sources which indicate an ingathering of the exiles of all twelve tribes?

RECONCILING RABBI AKIVA

Rashi anticipates this question with two approaches. His first explanation is that

R’ Akiva’s severe punishment concerns entitlement to Olam Habo of just that generation, but their descendants will share fully in Israel’s destiny. Rabeinu Dovid Bonfils, a talmid of Ramban, elaborates on Rashi, explaining that a number among the exiles remained loyal to Torah and in the fullness of time they would grow into a sizeable community. R’ Akiva would agree that these descendants would be retrieved by Moshiach. However, the simple meaning of Toras Kohanim on the pasuk (Vayikra 26:38) ם�תְֶּ֖

implies otherwise. It quotes R’ Akiva saying that this refers to the Ten Tribes being lost and consumed among the nations, indicating that they would not return.

YEMOS HAMOSHIACH

Rashi’s second view is that Olam Habo in this context refers to the earlier stage of Yemos HaMoshiach and Moshiach will reject them in punishment for their having spoken disparagingly about Eretz Yisrael, saying their land of captivity surpassed Eretz Yisrael in beauty. Accordingly, we cannot say that this relates only to the generation that was exiled, as Yemos HaMoshiach refers to the ingathering of people who are currently alive. Abarbanel (Yeshuos Meshicho-2:1:4) cites Arachin 33a which relates that Yirmiyahu travelled to retrieve the Ten Tribes in King Yoshiyahu’s reign. Abarbanel asserts that Yirmiyahu did not target Assyria, but he traced individuals who had escaped from Assyrian captivity and managed to bring back a few from each tribe. and they would have blended with the two southern tribes and joined in the Babylonian exile with rest of Klal Yisrael. Thus, whilst it may be true that the Ten Tribes exiled to Ashur will not return, their lineage would have been preserved within Klal Yisrael. Radvaz (OC-8:85) maintains that even according to this view there were always a few individuals from the ten tribes who resided within Yehudah and Binyomin, as can be seen that there were always Batei Avos which were drawn from all twelve tribes.

WHERE DID THEY GO?

According to R’ Eliezer’s view that the Ten Tribes will return, where will Moshiach find them? Melachim-II,17:6 and Divrei Hayamim-I,5:26 enumerate where they were deported to in Assyria. Many have attempted to trace them, and we shall just mention evidence from two sources. Otzar Midrashim (vol.1-p20) records the visit of Eldad HaDani to Tunisia in the late ninth century. R’ Tzemach Gaon was consulted about his claim to have come from Chavilah, near

the Sambatyon River. His Torah was as taught by Yehoshua and his halachos concerning hilchos shechita are quoted by Tosafos at the beginning of Chulin. Rishonim considered him as authentic although Ibn Ezra (Shemos-2:22) was doubtful. In 1159, a Jewish merchant of Tudela, Spain, set out on a journey which would take fourteen years, travelling through three continents. He kept a detailed diary, which has been published as ‘The Itinerary of Benjamin of Tudela’, describing all the Jewish communities he visited, providing valuable historical information. He explored the mountainous areas of Afghanistan where he found thousands of Israelites practicing a form of Judaism, descendants of the Ten Tribes, and he described their customs. He also gathered information on other areas of Israelite settlement, such as China and Tibet. We can ask: if the tribes were taken to Assyria, why are they found in these remote faraway locations? The answer is that the Jews escaped from their Assyrian captivity and attempted to return to Eretz Yisrael. However, that required travelling to the west, but the Assyrian empire blocked their way. They therefore escaped to the safety of the uninhabited mountains to the East. According to local history, their Israelite leader was called Afghan, after whom Afghanistan was named. Some travelled further later, hoping to reach home by travelling around the globe due East. Some reached Tibet and then China and Japan, whilst others avoided the Himalayas by going southward towards India. As a result, communities appeared at all locations along these routes. However, 800 years have passed since Benjamin’s visit. The Afghans were forcibly converted to Islam and missionaries ensnared the Chinese Jewish community of Kaifeng in mid-nineteenth century. Thus, although many survived with some form of Judaism for centuries, there is little trace of that today. The earlier generations who maintained their religion in the face of multiple challenges will surely be rewarded after Techiyas Hameisim, but that takes place after the Yemos HaMoshiach period which follows Kibutz Goliyos. Thus, they would not be present at Chalukas HaEretz which is at the start of Yemos HaMoshiach (Abarbanel:Yeshuos Meshicho-2:3:7).

IMPORTANCE OF TRIBAL SYSTEM

Dividing Klal Yisrael into their respective shevatim will involve a major upheaval, with everyone moving home to their newly allocated areas. All will devote their time to Torah study as one’s livelihood and residences will be provided. One can wonder why the tribal system still has relevance, as it appears to

divide rather than unite Jewry. The answer lies in the deathbed berachos Yakov gave to his sons, where the unique character of every son is identified. Each person must serve Hashem according to his unique abilities, and each tribe was endowed with special characteristics. It is the synchronisation of different musical instruments that creates the harmonious symphony, and the blend of a rainbow of colours that produces the artistic masterpiece. In the desert encampments, each tribe has its flag and marching position reflecting their relationship, and this was also reflected in the division of the land.

SHECHINAH’S RETURN

The last chapter of Sefer Yechezkel details the revised allocation of land between the twelve tribes, dividing the land into thirteen equal horizontal strips stretching across the whole country, each strip being 25,000 rods deep. A rod is six amos and assuming an amah to be 18 inches, the depth would be 225,000 feet, or 42.6 miles. Thus, the total length of the future Eretz Yisrael is about 554 miles North to South. The thirteenth strip goes to the Nasi (Moshiach) who holds it for the community, including residences for Kohanim and Leviim, with Har Habayis in the centre. Rashi maintains that the boundaries described in Yechezkel are identical to those in Bamidbar. That poses a problem as even if one reckons 300 miles from Yerushalayim to the northern border at Har Hahar, there are only about 150 miles south to Eilat. Rabbi Moshe Eisemann explains in his Artscroll Yechezkel that the encampments presented Israel as a holy nation and their arrangement is paralleled in the division prediction. We know that the ןורא םיבורכו are not part of the dimensions of the םישדק ישדק. They are not limited by the spatial limitations of a physical world. The division into equal strips thus demonstrates that Klal Yisrael will likewise not be constrained by space limitations.

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.

FROM ERETZ YISRAEL

Overcoming Challenging Times Weekly Dvar Torah

BY RABBI SHALOM ROSNER

These are the generations of Noach, Noach was a righteous man he was perfect in his generations; Noach walked with G-d (Bereshit 6:9).

There are many derashot on the first pasuk of Parshat Noach. Most relate to the term tzaddik (righteous) and dorotav (his generation) to determine whether Noach was a true righteous person or he was righteous only in comparison to his society. Let’s focus on a different word in this pasuk – the word “haya, was.”

There is a Midrash (Bereshit Rabbah 30:8) that states that the word haya (was) is used to depict five individuals in Tanach. Noach – Noach was a righteous man (Bereshit 6:9); Yosef – Yosef was seventeen years old (Bereshit 37:2); Moshe – Moshe was pasturing the flocks of Yitro (Shemot 3:1); Iyov – There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Iyov (Iyov 1:1); and Mordechai – There was a Judean man in Shushan the capital, whose name was Mordechai (Esther 2:5).

The Midrash explains that each

Noach

1st Aliya (Kohen) – BERESHIT 6:9-22

Noach is introduced as a righteous man who “walked with G-d”. He had three sons, Shem, Cham and Yefet. The people have become thieving and corrupt. Noach is told by G-d that He will destroy the world with a flood and commands Noach to build a wooden Ark with specific dimensions. Noach and his family are to enter the Ark, as well as a male and female of every nonkosher species of animal and bird.

2nd Aliya (Levi) – 7:1-16

In addition, seven males and females from each species of kosher animal and bird are to enter the Ark. Noach is 600 years old when the Flood starts. The rain falls gently for the first seven days, then heavily for 40 days and nights.

individual saw a “new world”. Noach witnessed the world being destroyed by a flood and then saw it being rebuilt. Yosef was enslaved and rose to serve as second to the King of Egypt. Moshe had to flee from Pharaoh and later witnessed the entire Egyptian army drown at Yam Suf. Iyov suffered terrible losses and eventually was blessed with being able to rebuild it. Finally, Mordechai was nearly hanged by Haman and ultimately witnessed Haman being hanged on the very tree that was prepared for Mordechai.

Obviously, the Midrash is not just sharing some coincidental wordplay. There must be some deeper meaning for the use of the word “haya” in connection with each of these individuals and the way they were able to perceive a “new world”. In his book “Power of a Vort”, Rabbi Yissachar Frand offers the following insight. We witness two diverging approaches among those who suffer a tragedy. Some people are able to overcome a seemingly hopeless situation, while others become obsessed with their troubles, romanticize over how wonderful the past was and it

becomes impossible for them to move on. Perhaps the lesson this Midrash is suggesting – lies in the word “haya” – was. The key to being able to experience a “new world” is to let the past fade rather than harp on it. For example, it must have been very difficult for Noach to adapt to the new reality following his exit from the ark. There was not a soul to be found. Complete destruction – as what would transpire following a nuclear war. Noach did not sit and contemplate his glorious past, rather he let it go. He began to build his future – at the age of 601! We witnessed this in our generation with people who survived the Holocaust. The Klausenberg Rebbe for example, lost his wife and eleven children, yet he was able to pick up the pieces, rebuild and establish a Chassidic dynasty with tens of thousands of followers. This was possible because he had the attitude of “haya” –what happened in the past was terrible, but he was able to put it behind him and move forward. Again, this is not an easy task and we cannot judge anyone’s reaction to experiencing a tragic event.

3rd Aliya (Shlishi) – 7:17-8:14

The rising Flood waters cover the highest mountains and wipe out every living creature.

The rains strengthen for a further 150 days, after which they stop and the waters start to recede. Ten months after the start of the Flood, the mountain tops become visible again. 40 days later, Noach sends out a raven and then a dove, to see if the Flood waters have receded.

4th Aliya (Revi’i) – 8:15-9:7

Upon G-d’s command, Noach, his family and the animals leave the Ark. Noach builds an altar and brings one of every kosher animal and bird as an offering. This pleases G-d, Who pledges never again to destroy life on Earth.

5th Aliya (Chamishi) – 9:8-9:17

G-d establishes His covenant never to destroy the world with another flood, with the rainbow as its sign. Whenever a rainbow appears, it is a ‘reminder to G-d’ to keep this promise.

6th Aliya (Shishi) – 9:18-10:32

Noach plants a vineyard, eventually drinking its wine and becoming drunk. Cham enters Noach’s tent and disgraces his father; Shem and Yefet then protect Noach’s dignity. After Noach wakes up, he realises what has happened and curses Cham and his descendants, but blesses Shem and Yefet. Noach dies at the age of 950. Cham and Yefet’s descendants are listed, including Nimrod, a mighty warrior and conqueror.

7th Aliya (Shevi’i) – 11:1-11:32

All people share a common language and live in Babylonia. They decide to

Yet, in order to be able to rebuild, one has to put the past behind them and focus on building a brighter future.

The message of this Midrash should echo within each of us. No matter the difficulties and challenges we may encounter, we cannot allow ourselves to dwell on the past, rather we have to focus on what can be done to rebuild. Rav Soloveitchik suggests that when one experiences hardships he should not dwell on: “why did this happen to me” but rather – “what I am to do now”. May we be able to emulate these five individuals who rose from despair and were each successful at building a bright future.

Rabbi Shalom Rosner is Rosh Beit Midrash of the Machon Lev English speaking program and Rabbi of the Nofei HaShemesh community. He is also the Tzurba Maggid Shiur, giving a weekly shiur on Tzurba Hilchot Shabbat. He is a member of the Mizrachi Speakers Bureau (www.mizrachi.org/speakers).

build a city with a tower that can reach the heavens – the Tower of Babel. The Midrash says that, led by Nimrod, they wanted to wage war against G-d. However, G-d thwarts their plans, dispersing them around the world and introducing different languages so that they can no longer understand one another. Shem’s descendants are listed, up to the generation of Avram (later Avraham) and his nephew Lot. Avram marries his niece Sarai (later Sarah), who is not blessed with children.

Point to Consider: Why does the Torah give no details of Avraham’s youth or upbringing?

MAFTIR (BAMIDBAR 28:9-15)

The reading for Shabbat Rosh Chodesh is taken from parashat Pinchas and details the additional Shabbat and Rosh Chodesh offerings in the Temple.

HAFTARAH (SHABBAT ROSH CHODESH)

The special haftarah for Shabbat Rosh Chodesh is the last chapter of the Book of Yeshaya (Isaiah). The world is G-d’s “throne and footstool”. Trying to appease G-d with insincere offerings will be punished, yet one who is truly “zealous regarding G-d’s word” will be rewarded. Those who love and are loyal to Jerusalem will enjoy the messianic future, in which they will rejoice in the rebuilt city.

Family FunNOACH - חנ

Ten long generations after Adam and Eve, we meet Noah who is the hero of this week’s parshah. The people who lived at the time of Noah were not honest — they stole, robbed, told lies — you name it, they did it. They were wicked and did not follow in G‑d’s ways. The only righteous person in the whole generation was Noah. G‑d tells Noah that He is planning on destroying the entire world by bringing a great flood.

G‑d tells Noah to build an ark — a teivah — where he and his family as well as any people who will repent could escape from the flood. It takes Noah 120 years to build the ark — do you know why? G‑d wanted to give a chance to the people to repent, so Noah builds the ark very, very slowly, and whenever people pass

by his yard and ask him what he is doing, he says: “I am building an ark, because G‑d will destroy the world if you do not repent. Repent, there is still a chance! Start behaving honestly and become good people!” But the people laugh at Noah and don’t take him seriously.

Sadly, the day comes when G‑d tells Noah to go into the ark with his three sons and their wives, as well as to take a male and female of every single type of animal and, of course, food and water for everyone. When Noah seals the ark, drops of rain start to fall, which slowly became bigger and bigger. G‑d still wants to give a last minute chance to the people to repent, to show that them that this is real, but they do not change their minds. The rain becomes a flood which lasts 40 days

Parasha Stats

and 40 nights. The entire world is covered in water, and everything is destroyed.

When the flood is over, the earth is still covered with water and the teivah floats around for a long time. After another 150 days, it finally settles on Mount Ararat and Noah sends a raven out of the ark and then a few doves to see if there is dry land yet. Finally after a few weeks a dove comes back with an olive branch in its beak. Noah understands that the earth has dried, and finally G‑d commands him to exit the ark. When he leaves, Noah builds an altar and offers sacrifices to G‑d to thank Him for sparing his life. G‑d swears that He will never again destroy the entire world and uses the rainbow as a sign.

For the next ten generations, everyone speaks the same language and has the same customs. At one point, though, a large group of people get together and decide to build a tower with which they could “reach into the sky” to show that they are as powerful as G‑d. At this point, G‑d makes all the people speak a different language, so no one can understand one another and there is a great mess. Their project comes to a halt, and the people separate into different nations.

Finally we meet Abram or Abraham, the hero of the next few parshas, and great great great great great great great great grandson of Noah.

Facts about Parashat Noach Number of Verses - 153

Number of Lines - 230

Number of Words - 1,861

Number of Letters - 6,907

Jewish Riddle

Last week’s answer: Which weekly Parasha is never read (outside of Israel) on Shabbat Afternoon?

The answer is:

Parashat Bereshit. Outside Israel, Simchat Torah always falls on a weekday. So the only Shabbat when Parashat Bereshit is read is the following Shabbat in the morning. In Israel, however, when Simchat Torah falls on Shabbat, we read Parashat Bereshit that very same afternoon.

Well done to Marvin Shaw from Edgware

Tangram Challenge!

Using all the shapes, can you make the shape on the right?

Word Wheel

The goal of a word wheel puzzle is to create as many words possible with the letters in the word wheel. Each word must contain at least three letters. You can only use each letter once and every word must have the letter in the centre of the wheel.

Last edition’s words

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

F T C R A I A B E

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

Jokes

Q: What do you call a sleeping bull?

A: A bull-dozer!

Q: How do you fit more pigs in your farm?

A: Build a sty-scraper!

Q: What do you call the cow that had no milk?

A: An udder failure!

Q:What do you call a pampered cow

You measure my life in hours and i serve you by expiring. I’m quick when i’m thin and slow when i’m fat. The wind is my enemy. are ear era rag ran earn ears eras gear gran near rage rags rang sear seer agree eager

A: Spoiled milk

Riddles

I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have no body.

EXPERT ADVICE

Dear Richard, I am ready to make Aliya but the thought of having to start the process of selling up is driving me crazy. What advice can you offer?

Regards, Duvi

Hi Duvi,

Following on from where I left off last week, the next factor to consider is:

Staging

Did you know that well-placed furniture can open up rooms and make them seem larger than they are? Or that opening drapes and blinds and turning on lights make a room seem bright and Cheery? It’s true which is why staging your home to look its absolute best is an important factor in the selling process. Here are some inexpensive ways to highlight your home’s best features:

Clean or paint walls and ceilings.

Clean all flooring and fixtures — lights, fans.

Repair all plumbing leaks.

Remove excessive wall hangings, furniture, & personal goods.

Turn on all lights and open the drapes during the daytime.

Play quiet background music and infuse your home with a comforting scent.

Vacate the property when and if it’s being shown to prospective buyers.

Accessibility

Accessibility is a major issue in many parts of the world. Again, you cannot do anything about your home’s accessibility to specific things but it does play a role in the price of your property. Your agent will work with you to highlight the places of interest that are most accessible to your home. Here are a few important areas to think about:

Public transportation

Main roads

Shopping centres

Schools and other educational institutions

Outdoor areas — public pools, parks, playgrounds

Entertainment

Condition of your property

The condition of your home is always a factor in how quickly a home sells. It’s a fact, acquiring the highest market value and elevating your home above the others in the same price range. Here are some inexpensive ways to maximise your home’s curb appeal:

Keep the grass cut and outside clutter to a minimum. Apply fresh paint to any wooden fences and your front door. Clean windows inside and out.

Wash or paint your home’s exterior. Ensure guttering is firmly attached.

An experienced estate agent can help you navigate the selling process and will work with you to get the best possible price for your home in your timeframe.

Richard

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TELECOMMUNICATIONS

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