Israeli hostages set for release
BY DAVID SAFFER
Israeli hostages
Agam Berger, an IDF lookout at Nahal Oz, Arbel Yehoud, 29, and Gadi Mozes, 80, both abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz, are to be released today after 482 days captivity in Gaza.
This is the third stage of the first phase of the Israel-Hamas hostage and ceasefire deal.
Israel will free 110 Palestinian security prisoners in return. Over thirty are serving life sentences.
Five Thai nationals will also be released in a separate deal between Hamas and the Thai government.
Three male hostages are set to be released on Shabbat.
Government spokesperson David Mencer confirmed yesterday Hamas’ list of 33 hostages in the first phase of the agreement matches Israel’s intelligence.
The bodies of eight hostages in the list will be returned for burial to Israel.
Since the ceasefire came into force Romi
Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher, Emily Damari, Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy and Liri Albag have been reunited with family.
There were tears of joy and relief across Israel last Shabbat at the release of Ariev, Gilboa, Levy and Albag, all IDF lookouts in Nahal Oz, after 477 days.
Dressed in combat gear, resembling IDF uniforms, and holding ‘gift bags’ from Hamas in a propaganda ceremony at Palestine
Square, they were transferred to Red Cross officials then accompanied by parents on an IAF helicopter to the Rabin Medical Center in Petah Tikva before emotional reunions with family members.
IDF doctors confirmed all are in relatively good physical condition with no urgent medical needs.
Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, Mossad Director David Barnea and POW Coordinator Maj. Gen. (res.) Nitzan Alon monitored the return process from a command center.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by phone with Liri’s parents, Shira and Eli Albag.
“This is a very joyous moment we’ve waited for a long time,” he said. “All of Israel embrace Liri and her friends who’ve come back into the light. It’s truly a great day, we’re working on bringing everyone else home.”
Continued on page 3
Arbel Yehud (29), Agam Berger (19) and Gadi Moses (80) reported to be released today
Continued from page 1
President Isaac Herzog said: “An entire nation weeps and rejoices with you at this moment. We are overjoyed to see you smiling and finally reunited with your wonderful families. We pray that you find strength in your journey of healing and recovery, surrounded by endless love and support.”
He added: “Our hearts are with the Bibas, Yehud and Berger families, and with all the anxious and worried families whose loved ones have not yet returned. We will not rest until we bring back all our sisters and brothers from the hell of captivity in Gaza”
National Unity Party leader Benny Gantz called for an investigation into the Nahal Oz failures.
“The lookouts were the eyes that saw but were not heard,” he said. “Their bravery remains etched in our hearts.”
IDF Spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari condemned Hamas’s propaganda ceremony.
The deal included the release of 200 Palestinian prisoners to Judea and Samaria, 121 serving life sentences, 137 affiliated with Hamas. Seventy terrorists have been temporarily exiled to Egypt, some will remain, others will move to Turkey or Algeria. They can return home after three years.
Netanyahu, meantime, is set to be the first foreign leader to meet President Donald Trump in his second term of
office. The meeting takes place at the White House on Tuesday.
Trump wrote in his invitation: “I look forward to discussing how we can bring peace to Israel and its neighbours, and efforts to counter our shared adversaries.”
Netanyahu and Trump, according to reports, will discuss the hostage-ceasefire agreement, an Israeli-Saudi normalisation deal, Lebanon, Yemen, Iran and International Criminal Court warrants.
A key point of the ceasefire agreement is who administers Gaza after Israel withdraws troops. Netanyahu and Trump insist the rebuilding process is only possible if Hamas is not in control.
Trump had vowed to act after his inauguration. Regional decisions so far include an extension to the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire deal to February 18, ICC sanctions and delivery of one-tonne bombs and D9 bulldozers to Israel denied by the Biden administration.
Trump has also suggested relocating 1.5 million Palestinians to Jordan and Egypt to aid Gaza’s reconstruction.
Both countries oppose the idea and deny conversations took place but Trump has restated his view, claiming he has spoken with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah.
Trump has reportedly said about el-Sisi: “We help Egypt a lot, I’m sure he can help us… El-Sisi is in a very tough part of the world… As they say, it’s a rough neighbourhood. But I think he can do it.”
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King attends Auschwitz commemoration
BY DAVID SAFFER
King Charles and world leaders joined Holocaust survivors at the 80th anniversary commemoration of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Poland on Monday.
State delegates included President Andrzej Duda, President Emmanuel Macron, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, President Volodymyr Zelensky, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands and Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia.
Events began in the morning with Duda and around 50 survivors attending a wreath-laying ceremony at the ‘death wall’ where executions took place.
“We are at a special place on a special day,” said Duda. “We Poles are the guardians of memory today and have a mission to preserve the testimony.”
Survivors recalled being at the death camp eight decades ago at the main event in a large tent.
Marian Turski survived the Lodz Ghetto and was deported to Auschwitz.
“Let us not fear discussing the problems that torment the so-called last generation,” he said.
Auschwitz survivor Tova Friedman said January 27 was her birthday. “This is what counts,” she said. “We are here to proclaim and pledge that we will never, never, ever allow history to repeat itself.”
Leon Weintraub survived a three-day death march before being liberated by French soldiers.
“Auschwitz symbolises unprecedented cruelty,” he said.
World Jewish Congress president Ronald S. Lauder said Auschwitz and the October 7 terror attack in Israel had a common thread as the “age-old hatred of Jews”.
“After Kristallnacht, Hitler knew he could do anything with the Jews,” he said. “Kristallnacht was page one of newspapers but world leaders said nothing. The lessons of Auschwitz are not just for the Jews but the entire world.”
Global leaders and survivors lit candles on the tracks at Auschwitz before the ceremony concluded with the blowing of a shofar.
Prior to the ceremony, the King visited the Jewish community centre in Krakow where he was welcomed by Chief Rabbi Ephaim Mirvis and met survivors.
In his speech, the King said the responsibility of remembrance rests on “our
shoulders” as the number of Holocaust survivors diminishes with the passage of time.
“The act of remembering the evils of the past remains a vital task,” he noted. “In Krakow from the ashes of the Holocaust, the Jewish community has been reborn.”
“It is a moment when we recall the depths to which humanity can sink when evil is allowed to flourish, ignored for too long by the world,” the King added.
Scholz spoke at a gathering of the Jewish community in Frankfurt.
“We keep alive the memory of the civilisational breakdown of the Shoah committed by Germans, which we pass down to each generation in our country again and again, our responsibility will not end,” he said. “The collective memory is based on indisputable facts that everyone in our country must face regardless of origin, family history or religion.”
Macron laid a wreath at the Paris memorial for 76,000 French Jews murdered in the Holocaust.
“Let us never forget the millions of victims of the Holocaust. Let us fight tirelessly against antisemitism and hatred, in the name of all those who perished. Let us be the memory of their memory.”
Yad Vashem held a series of initiatives in Israel and around the world.
“We honour the memory of the six million Jewish men, women and children who were murdered and pay tribute to the resilience and courage of the survivors, who endured unimaginable horrors and have born witness for the last eighty years so that we can ensure that future generations never forget,” noted the organisation.
Prince William hailed the bravery of Holocaust survivors during the UK’s national Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony at the Guildhall, London on Monday night.
The Prince and Princess of Wales, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, cabinet members, faith and civic leaders and celebrities attended the ceremony hosted by Reeta Chakrabarti, which included music, readings
and personal testimonies.
Prince William, hailing survivors, said: “Their bravery in sharing with us the most harrowing moments of their lives are extremely powerful and ensure we never forget. I assure them we never will.”
The Prince of Wales recalled people who risked their lives to save others including his great grandmother, Princess Alice, the late Prince Philip’s mother, who protected a Jewish family when she was living in Greece during the Nazi occupation.
Princess Alice in 1993 was made Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem.
Reflecting on his recent visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau, Starmer said it gave him an overwhelming sense of the sheer scale of industrialised murder.
Starmer vowed to defend the truth against anyone who denies the Holocaust.
A National Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre will “speak the truth” for eternity,” he noted. “We will make Holocaust education a truly national endeavour. All schools will teach it, all young people will hear survivor testimonies.”
Starmer concluded: “It is a duty of all of us to make sure “never again” means “never again”.
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis sent a videoed message as he was at the commemoration in Poland.
The ceremony ended with a passage from Jewish-Polish author Gina Turgel’s memoir.
Holocaust survivors Rachel Levy, Steven Frank and Yvonne Bernstein lit candles during the service.
The Countess of Wessex’s String Orchestra, Robert Rinder, actors Bel Powley and Louisa Clein and cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason also participated in the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust event.
Landmarks including Downing Street, Stormont, the Senedd and Edinburgh Castle were lit up as part of a ‘Light the Darkness’ campaign in a moment of national commemoration of Nazi persecution and subsequent genocides.
HMD events took place around the UK including at synagogues and Jewish organisations.
PHOTO:SAM CHURCHILL AND THE HMDT
PHOTO:SAM CHURCHILL AND THE HMDT
Baffling ITN ‘Holocaust’ story
BY HARRY SIMONS
Jewish organisations have condemned a Good Morning Britain presenter for not mentioning Jews were victims of the Shoah in a news story about King Charles being the first British monarch to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau on Holocaust Memorial Day.
Ranvir Singh, who has apologised, told viewers: “Six million people were killed in concentration camps during the Second World War, as well as millions of others because they were Polish, disabled, gay, or belonged to another ethnic group.”
A Campaign Against Antisemitism spokesperson welcomed the apology for a “scandalous blunder” but questioned how the mistake happened when the principal lesson of HMD is to combat antisemitism.
the memory of those who perished,” he noted. “This kind of reporting is not a harmless oversight, it is a dangerous rewriting of history that risks enabling Holocaust denial.”
Jonathan Metliss, Action Against Discrimination, added: “ITN should be ashamed of themselves. The Jewish community leadership and political leaders should be condemning ITN in no uncertain terms.”
“Given that Britain is currently experiencing the worst antisemitism in living memory, that lesson is more important than ever,” said a spokesman. “Why does our society keep failing to learn it?”
Gary Mond, National Jewish Assembly described the “blatant erasure of Jews” as disgraceful.
“To reduce six million Jewish lives to the generic term ‘people’ is a profound distortion of history and an insult to
After the glaring error, CAA posted: “The word you’re looking for is ‘Jews’, not ‘people’. This truly beggars belief. This dire reporting is not only factually incorrect but erases Jews from a genocide. To make matters worse, there is no reference to Jewish people at all for over two minutes into this segment, and when there finally is one, it is only done once and in regard to former history students taking a tour of the Jewish quarter of Kraków.”
CAA added: “There is bafflingly no utterance of the word “antisemitism”. If this is intended to pay respect to the victims of Holocaust Memorial Day, it has failed abysmally and ignores the true nature of this horrific event. How on earth was this allowed to happen, ITV? We demand an explanation.”
The Board of Deputies are deeply concerned and are writing to ITN.
Police not protecting Jews as 50% consider leaving UK
BY ADAM MOSES
Eighty percent of British Jews do not think the police do enough to protect them according to a new Campaign Against Antisemitism poll.
The disturbing revelations for the future of Jewish communities ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day showed that only 16% of those polled are confident an antisemitic crime will be prosecuted with strong evidence and 10% back the Crown Prosecution Service to safeguard them.
The study covered the criminal justice system, political parties, Mayors of London and Manchester on antisemitism, the BBC and universities.
An astonishing, but not unsurprising, 95% of British Jews consider the chant ‘from the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free’ to be an antisemitic call to destroy the Jewish state, only 2% do not.
Of those polled, 98% back CAA calls to proscribe all groups involved in the 10/7 attack in Israel. A similar number would proscribe the Houthis and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
On campuses only 3% of Jewish students believe university’s take appropriate action to antisemitic incidents and 90% cited antisemitism as a key factor when selecting a university, 88% in a school choice.
Regarding national anti-Israel marches,
75% of Jews are dissatisfied with policing, just 5% have confidence in Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley with 60% calling for a change.
Only a third of British Jews believe they have a long-term future in the UK whilst half have considered leaving Britain since 2022 due to antisemitism. Among 18-24-year-olds, 67% might move, 76% cited a surge in antisemitism since Hamas’ terror attack in 2023.
Just over 40% feel welcome in the UK, 47% of 18-24-yearold Jews do not while 58% hide their Judaism due to antisemitism.
The startling stats showed 95% of Jews consider Islamists the most serious threat compared to the far-right (67%) and far-left (91%). Over 90% replied that authorities did not protect communities. Politically, all parties failed British Jews over antisemitism with 75% stating the Green Party and Scottish National Party ‘tolerate’ antisemitism. The government was condemned with 71% of respondents unconvinced. Other results were Sinn Féin 42%, Liberal Democrats 40%, Plaid Cymru 26%, Conservatives and UKIP
22%, Democratic Unionist Party 21%, Reform Party 19%.
Just 9% back London Mayor Sadiq Khan, 12% support Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.
For British Jews, the BBC, at 92%, lead the way with media bias against Israel and 84% agree that boycotts of Israeli artists, academics or businesses selling Israeli products constitute intimidation.
A CAA spokesperson said: “These figures paint a sobering picture of the lives of British Jews and their future. British Jews have lost trust in the criminal justice system in general and Met Commissioner in particular, after he has presided over the worst surge in antisemitism in living memory, opting for excuses over action and gaslighting those who call him out. We need more arrests, prosecutions, serious sentences and a ban on the anti-Israel marches. From politics to the BBC to universities, the Jewish community sees betrayal across our civil and cultural institutions. Antisemitism has become our nation’s great shame, time is running out.”
Gary Mond, NJA Chairman, described the findings as “deeply troubling”.
“Half of British Jews considering leaving the UK due to antisemitism is a damning indictment of our society’s failure to protect its Jewish community and the fact that so many feel forced to hide their faith is unacceptable. This serves as a stark reminder that antisemitism is alive and growing. The government and authorities must act decisively, ban hate-fueled marches, prosecute offenders and restore safety and dignity for British Jews.”
Jonathan Metliss, Action Against Discrimination, said: “It is about time the Jewish community and its leaders unconditionally attack the catalysts of antisemitism such as the BBC, and severely criticise the Labour Party, Police, CPS and London Mayor for their complacency. There has been too much talking but too little action. Dissident voices in the Jewish community do not help. Anti-Israel and Netanyahu rhetoric encourages antisemitic behaviour. Echoes of 1930s Nazi Germany are loud and clear.”
CAA surveys of British Jews are modelled on the National Jewish Community Survey conducted by the Institute for Jewish Policy research.
Fieldwork was conducted 3-11 June 2024, 4,078 responses were obtained.
Probate Lawyer
UN action plan to monitor antisemitism
BY HARRY SIMONS
Jewish organisations have welcomed the release of the United Nations Action Plan to Enhance Monitoring and Response to Antisemitism.
UN Under-Secretary General Miguel Ángel Moratinos, who serves as the High Representative for the Alliance of Civilisations to monitor antisemitism, presented the report.
The publication underlines the importance of tackling antisemitism as a human rights challenge.
Recommendations include the establishment of a UN working group to assess the impact of policies and measures to address antisemitism.
The UN is to offer training to personnel to help combat antisemitism, Holocaust denial and distortion. Training materials will include input from Jewish
communities whilst technology will help counter hate speech and disinformation. Safeguards are proposed to halt misuse of Artificial Intelligence of antisemitic narratives and events such as International Holocaust Remembrance Day will highlight the dangers of antisemitism and promote inclusivity.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in a foreword, said: “Antisemitism has deep roots. It is a pervasive and persistent evil stretching back millennia. Every one of us has a duty to work to defeat it. This Action Plan is an important part of the efforts within the UN to advance that aim.”
Guterres added: “Such is the unremitting nature of antisemitism through the ages, and we must be clear-eyed about the fact that this monster is alive and well in our times, hatred is on the rise, so is Holocaust denial, discrimination is rife. We must condemn these evils, just as we must condemn all forms of racism, prejudice and religious bigotry. We must strive to create communities, countries, and institutions grounded in respect for diversity and human rights for all.
“Our organisation, which was created in the aftermath of the Holocaust, has long worked to combat antisemitism. This plan builds on those efforts, recommending ways we can further enhance
and coordinate our work. No form of prejudice or hatred should find a home anywhere. We will not rest until they have been banished for good.”
World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder welcomed the work of Moratinos to help counter the global threat posed by antisemitism.
“The WJC has worked closely with the UN in the development of this Action Plan,” he said. “We value the genuine cooperation and willingness of Mr Moratinos and his team to listen to the voices of Jewish communities worldwide. The inclusion of Jewish organisations in the process has been crucial in ensuring that the plan reflects the needs and concerns of those most affected by antisemitism.
“The implementation of this plan will require sustained commitment, coordination and action at all levels of government, civil society, and international organisations. It is essential we now move from planning to concrete measures that protect Jewish communities and address the root causes of antisemitism that have plagued UN bodies and member-states.”
WJC is committed to supporting the work of Guterres to turn the initiative into “meaningful action”.
B’nai B’rith President Rob Spitzer and CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin said in a statement: “Moving forward, it will be
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essential that the UN confront expressions of antisemitism within its own system, the focus of the action plan, and that it treat virulent anti-Zionism as the modern manifestation of anti-Semitism that it frequently represents.”
Spitzer and Mariaschin welcomed the plan’s commendation of B’nai B’rith’s ‘Online antisemitism: A toolkit for civil society’ published with UNESCO and Institute for Strategic Dialogue.
In related news, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ireland, Micheál Martin, has announced Ireland’s endorsement of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism.
He said: “Ireland is committed to countering the scourge of racism and hatred and to promoting the values of equality, inclusiveness and the full respect of human rights. Combating antisemitism is an increasingly important and visible part of this work. I have been deeply concerned at the current trend of a global rise in antisemitism, both online and offline. The government takes this issue seriously, and we will continue to tackle all forms of discrimination. We will also continue our close relationship with the Jewish community in Ireland and ensure that their concerns are heard.”
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Anne Frank exhibition opens in Big Apple
BY ADAM MOSES
The World Premiere of Anne Frank: The Exhibition opened in New York City to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau on International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Monday.
In what is a first for the non-profit organisation, the exhibition in the heart of Union Square, Manhattan is a fullscale recreation of the Annex where Anne wrote her famous diary.
Tens of thousands of tickets have been sold for its limited run to April 30.
The initiative, presented in partnership with the Centre for Jewish History, offers an understanding of the Holocaust with contemporary relevance including lessons in antisemitism, racism and discrimination.
Ronald Leopold, Anne Frank House executive director, said: “Anne Frank’s words resonate and inspire today, a voice we carry to all corners of the world, nearly eight decades later. As a custodian of Anne’s legacy, we have an obligation to help world audiences understand the historical roots and evolution of antisemitism, including how it fuelled Nazi ideology that led to the Holocaust. Anne’s legacy is remarkable, as represented in the diary she left us, and as one of the 1.5 million Jewish children who were murdered at the hands of Nazi officials and their collaborators.
“Through this exhibition, the Anne Frank House offers insights into how
this could have happened and what it means for us today. The exhibition provides perspectives, geared toward younger generations, that are certain to deepen our collective understanding of Anne Frank and hopefully provide a better understanding of ourselves.
By bringing this exhibition to New York, a place with many ties to Anne’s story, the Anne Frank House is expanding the reach of our work to encourage more people to remember Anne Frank, reflect on her life story, and respond by standing against antisemitism and hatred in their own communities.”
Dr. Gavriel Rosenfeld, President of the Center for Jewish History, commented:
“Anne Frank’s story becomes more urgent than ever. In a time of rising antisemitism, her diary serves as both a warning and a call to action, reminding us of the devastating impact of hatred.
“This exhibition challenges us to confront these dangers head-on and honour the memory of those lost in the Holocaust.”
Designed for audiences who may not have visited the Netherlands, the Annex is furnished as Anne and her family lived when forced into hiding. Visitors learn about Anne’s life in Frankfurt through the rise of the Nazi regime, the family’s move to Amsterdam in 1933 until her 1944 arrest and deportation to Westerbork then Auschwitz-Birkenau and Bergen-Belsen in Germany where she died aged 15. Artefacts include Anne’s first photo album (1929-1942), typed and handwritten invitations to her friend for a film screening and handwritten verses by Anne in her friends’ poetry albums.
The Anne Frank House is seeking to expand its educational impact at a time of rising antisemitism in the US. A goal has
More blood will flow
BY ANDREW ROSEMARINE
“Know thine Enemy!” says Master Tzu in his Art of War. Our Enemy, Hamas, “The Islamic Resistance Movement,” exists only to destroy Israel. Its very emblem comprises two crossed swords, the Dome of the Rock, and the Palestinian maximalist map “from the River to the Sea.”
Every convicted Hamas terrorist released by Israel under this ceasefire agreement, will aim to kill and kidnap as many Israelis as he can. We are told Israel is to release perhaps as many as 3,000 of them under this agreement.
In 2011, Mr Netanyahu freed 1,029 Palestinian terrorists, 280 of them with life sentences, in exchange for one Israeli, Gilad Shalit, taken hostage by Gazan militants. Hamas’ then military leader boasted that the freed Palestinians had been responsible for the killing of 569 Israelis, almost all civilians. That prisoner exchange was the most irresponsible exchange of prisoners in Israeli history. 1,029 terrorists for 1 Israeli!
But this month’s deal is even worse, because c. 3,000 terrorists are planned to be exchanged for the few remaining hostages still alive, after 250 Israelis and others were taken hostage by Hamas on 7th October 2023. 3,000 terrorists can do much more harm than 1,029. Israel’s government has not learnt from its mistake in 2011.
Of course, we all want all our hostages freed asap. But do we want it at such an exorbitant price in future bloodshed and future hostage-taking? To disincentivize hostage taking, no more than one terrorist should ever be released per hostage. Ideally, no convicted terrorists should ever be released early. Indeed, where it is 100% certain that a terrorist has murdered others and expresses no remorse, I personally see force in the argument that he should be executed immediately after conviction, to save innocent lives, following terrorist prisoner releases of the kind agreed this month. Why was the 2011 Shalit deal so shallow, so short-sighted, so irresponsible? In response to the freeing of the 1,029, a Saudi Prince and a Saudi Imam together offered 1 million dollar rewards for future
been set of reaching 250,000 students. The exhibition is a primary source for students and educators. Since the opening was announced, there has been hundreds of visits booked for school groups across US states. Philanthropic support offers subsidised visits for students attending public schools throughout the US.
Beyond school visits, students are being engaged through independent and religious schools, faith-based organisations and cultural institutions, community groups, and other educational entities.
The exhibition includes an accompanying curriculum developed with the Anne Frank Center at the University of South Carolina. Materials place antisemitism in its historic context. Students will consider the evolution of antisemitism, including how it led to the Holocaust. They will be better prepared to recognise and resist antisemitic tropes, manifestations of antisemitism and the persecution of Jews.
The exhibition is made possible through philanthropic foundations, individuals and NYC metro region.
Anne’s diary is one of the most translated books in the world and an essential tool for Holocaust education. Over 30 million copies of her famous diary have been sold globally. As of 2018, over 270 schools have been named after Anne Frank globally, 100 in Germany. The Anne Frank House was established in 1957 in cooperation with Otto Frank, Anne’s father.
kidnaps of Israeli soldiers. Also, within merely one year from the Shalit exchange, dozens of the released Palestinians had already developed weapons, fired rockets, joined the Hamas leadership and new terror cells. Among those released was Yahya Sìnwar, the architect and Leader of the 7th October 2023 pogrom, that killed c. 1,200, wounded c 3,400, and took c. 250 hostages. Without Yahya Sinwar there would have been no 7th October pogrom. Israel had imprisoned him for killing fellow Palestinians. Those terrorists who kill their own fellow Muslims have no inhibition from killing Jews, wherever they find them. Remember!
I’ve visited Gaza. It’s now a wasteland of rubble. Hamas’ fanatical mass-murderers have brainwashed Palestinians, so that Hamas is successfully recruiting new members. They will continue to murder Jews, Muslims, Christians and others, and take captives. I wish innocent Gazans well. Sadly, both they, and Israelis, will suffer from the current Israel-Hamas exchange in the medium and long term. Yet more of both will die at the hands of those terrorists being released.
Israel’s laying down its sword now is
the equivalent of something the Allied Powers rightly refused to do at the end of World War II, namely making a ceasefire deal with the Nazis. Churchill insisted on unconditional surrender of the Nazis, understanding the essential psychological need for our enemy to understand its utter defeat and moral bankruptcy. In Gaza today, Hamas rejoices, and claims the mass freeing of its fellow terrorists as a victory. And they will all continue to plot against us all.
This release of prisoners is execrable. It will lead to much more bloodshed, and yet more hostage taking.
Andrew M Rosemarine, a multilingual Barrister, runs an international law and immigration law office, has 3 Oxford law degrees, and is a former research fellow of the Harry S. Truman Institute for Peace, Jerusalem. He is qualified in British, European and Israeli law. He has addressed the United Nations 11 times. He has presented TV and radio programmes on Law, and on the Middle East.
NJA Solidarity Mission Lands in Israel
On January 26, the National Jewish Assembly (NJA) launched its Solidarity Mission to Israel, beginning a powerful journey to support the nation’s resilience, renewal, and rebuilding efforts following the traumatic events of October 7th.
The mission commenced with a visit to the Knesset, where the delegation met with MK Shelly Tal Meron, Chair of the Lobby for Hostages and the Lobby for Victims of Sexual Assault. MK Tal Meron described the horrors of October 7th, calling it “the worst tragedy since the Holocaust.”
She spoke candidly about the brutal treatment of Israeli women by Hamas terrorists and the mistreatment of hostages in Gaza, condemning the silence of international organisations such as UN Women and the #MeToo movement. MK Tal Meron also stressed the broader threats posed by Iran and its proxies, including Hamas and Hezbollah, emphasizing their danger to the entire Western world.
The NJA delegation also had the privilege of meeting Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, who expressed deep gratitude for the NJA’s solidarity and advocacy. NJA Chairman Gary Mond received a token of appreciation from the Knesset, while Laurence Julius presented MK Tal Meron with a copy of “Uprooted,” written by
his wife, Lynn Julius, which recounts the destruction of Jewish civilisation in Arab countries.
The delegation, comprising Jews and Christian allies, visited the Old City in Jerusalem, stopping at the site of King David’s Tomb and the Western Wall.
In coming days, the delegation will meet with Simon Walters, British Ambassador to Israel, and attend a critical briefing at IDF headquarters by the IDF Spokesperson. Later, the delegation will hear from Dr. Danny Gold, creator of the Iron Dome, who is at the forefront of Israel’s innovative defence technologies.
The mission will continue with a visit to the Gaza Envelope, where participants will
This solidarity mission reaffirms the
UK Jewish community’s steadfast commitment to Israel during these challenging times. For details about upcoming missions, contact office@nja.org.uk.
hear from Adele Raemer, a survivor of the October 7th attacks, and partake in placing a mezuzah on her rebuilt home at Kibbutz Nirim.
2025 10 - 21 APRIL
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.
SALAM, FAREWELL
Dear Editor
With the emotional whirlwind that has been this week, may I offer to sidetrack readers for just a few moments towards some other welcome, albeit lesser-known developments from the past few days. The developments I am referring to arise from the nomination of a new Prime Minister in Lebanon last Monday, by the name of Nawaf Salam.
In order to take up the office of Prime Minister-designate, Salam has had to step down from his previous role. This was at the International Court Justice (ICJ), where he has been a judge since 2017, and its President since last February.
Salam’s decorated career has seen him serve not only as a jurist, but a politician, diplomat and academic. In the political arena, Salam served as Lebanon’s ambassador to the UN, held the Presidency of the UN Security Council and was Vice President of the UN General Assembly. And, yes, it might come as little surprise that, as ambassador, Salam voted over
200 times in motions against Israel.
The astute might immediately wonder why Salam, with this background, would then become a judge at the ICJ, and in that time would preside over highly controversial cases concerning Israel. These included the Advisory Opinion the ICJ was asked in 2022 to render on the question of the “legal consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory” - a question that begged its own answer before the ICJ even turned towards it - and, of course, the ongoing case brought by South Africa under the Genocide Convention.
Salam’s highlights on the Court in these cases included reading out the Advisory Opinion - a judgment so damning that it went beyond even the expectations of Israel’s fiercest critics. He then, in the genocide case, ordered further “Provisional Measures” (i.e. urgent injunctions) against Israel, at South Africa’s request. While these were also decisions made by a majority of his fellow judges, it was Salam’s other decisions which set off
NJA Blasts IHRC Campaign to Boycott Holocaust Memorial Day
The National Jewish Assembly (NJA) expresses outrage at the Islamic Human Rights Commission’s (IHRC) grotesque and deeply offensive campaign to boycott Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD). This shameless act is an affront to the memory of six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust and a brazen attempt to distort history for political purposes.
IHRC’s call to councils and universities to boycott HMD is a malicious act of Holocaust distortion. By equating Israel’s war against Hamas with the systematic annihilation of European Jewry, IHRC trivializes the unprecedented atrocity of the Holocaust, disrespects survivors, and undermines efforts to combat rising antisemitism.
NJA Chairman Gary Mond stated: “This disgraceful campaign is yet another example of IHRC’s dangerous and hateful agenda. Their actions expose a disturbing alliance between antisemitism and propaganda aimed at delegitimising Israel under the guise of human rights. To weaponize Holocaust remembrance in this way is morally bankrupt and a
further red flags – namely, his decision to set a rapid timetable following South Africa’s request, ignoring Israel’s plea for a postponement where Israel’s counsel was unavailable, and his failure to intervene when Israel was required to respond to a judge’s question over Shabbat. These two decisions drew strong criticism from Judge Julia Sebutinde, the ICJ’s Deputy President. Judge Sebutinde is the one judge on the Court who has voted against virtually every decision taken against Israel in the past year, being the sole dissenting judge on the Advisory Opinion and voting against almost every Provisional Measure ordered by the Court in the genocide case. It is encouraging that she is due to succeed Salam as President – and while she might not prevent the Court deciding against Israel on genocide, she may hold important sway to the extent that she may still be President as the case reaches its decisive stages.
The fact that no question appears to have been asked about quite how Salam came to preside over these cases, is a total mystery. Any court or justice system which champions the rule of law should provide mechanisms to ensure the impartiality of its judges, including for judges to recuse themselves upon even an *appearance* of possible bias. While not explicitly stated in the ICJ’s Statute, this is very much implied and envisaged, especially when read with those sections which stress the independence and impartiality of ICJ judges. It should therefore have become clear a long time ago that Salam, however decorated his career may be, should not have been allowed anywhere near these cases.
And then? As if to vindicate all of us who were so concerned, what does Salam end up doing, in his maiden speech as Prime Minister-designate last week (indeed, before his resignation had even gone through)? In that speech, Salam labelled Israel - the defendant in the cases he has just presided over - “the enemy”, more specifically as part of his pledge to impose the “complete withdrawal of the enemy from the last occupied inch of our land”.
However welcome his resignation, what does all this say about the ICJ, and all those who have lauded its role as an independent adjudicator this past year? The new UK Government has done as much, basing virtually all of its controversial decisions regarding Israel on its belief in the international rule of law and in the independence of international courts. Indeed, it used this exact reason to withdraw the previous government’s strong legal intervention against the prospect of ICC arrest warrants (although the last time I checked, respect for a court’s independence means accepting its decision after arguing your case, rather than deliberately failing to argue your case at all).
But where exactly was that international rule of law, so uncritically worshipped by Sir Keir Starmer et al, during Salam’s presidency at the ICJ? Like so many questions over the past 15 months, answers are very hard to come by.
Yours sincerely
Never Again? Show it then!
STATEMENT
ACTION
ON CAMPAIGN AGAINST ANTISEMITISM REPORT - 27 JANUARY 2025
betrayal of the very principles of human dignity IHRC pretends to stand for.”
IHRC’s efforts to twist the mission of Holocaust Memorial Day are consistent with its history of aligning with pro-Iranian regime and extremist elements. The NJA is actively working with partners across the UK to counter IHRC’s antisemitic rhetoric and its ongoing attempts to subvert democratic and charitable institutions.
We call on councils, universities, and civic organisations to reject IHRC’s divisive campaign and to stand resolutely against their attempts to rewrite history. Holocaust Memorial Day remains a critical moment to honour the victims of the Holocaust, educate future generations, and reaffirm the collective commitment to combat antisemitism in all its forms.
The NJA will continue to fight IHRC’s poisonous influence and ensure that Holocaust distortion has no place in British society.
For more information, contact office@ nja.org.uk.
“AAD welcomes and applauds the report of the Campaign Against Antisemitism (“CAA”) into antisemitism and Jew hatred in the UK and agrees completely with its conclusions.
These also mirror the conclusions of the Anti-Defamation League in the USA in its recent report on the same subject which said that anti-semitic incidents have “surged to a new high”.
According to the CAA report nine out of ten Jews in the UK consider that not enough is being done in the UK to
address antisemitism and that only one third of British Jews believe that they have a long-term future in the UK, Sadly, AAD agrees and supports this analysis.
It is about time that the Jewish Community, its leaders and their friends seriously and unconditionally attacked the sources and catalysts of anti semitism such as the BBC and severely criticised the Labour Party , the Police and the Crown Prosecution Service for their complacency and fear of upsetting other communities, as well as the London Mayor Sadiq Khan who has been found wanting There has been much talking but too little action.
Dissident voices in the Jewish Community do not help. It should be remembered at all times that anti-Israel and Netanyahu rhetoric breeds and encourages anti-semitic behaviour.
On Holocaust Memorial Day of all days, this advice should be taken note of and seriously adhered to. The echoes of the 1930s in Nazi Germany are loud and clear.
As we continuously say “never again” - well show it then!!”
Naji Tilley London NW4
OF JONATHAN METLISS, CHAIRMAN OF
AGAINST DISCRIMINATION (AAD)
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WHAT3WORDS/// WHAT’S MY PURPOSE
BY RABBI NAFTALI SCHIFF
When I was about 8 or 9 I asked my Auntie Helen that question. She told me that everyone has a reason to be on this world and I should ask my Father what mine was!
I must admit I don’t remember if I ever did, however, I’m not sure if there are many more important questions to ask oneself. What’s my purpose in this world? Why am I here? What am I supposed to be doing? How does one find out? Who does one ask? When?
One thing is for certain - every day and at every stage of one’s life, there will be multiple distractions pulling each of us away from the universal “So what?” inquiry as to one’s purpose on life’s journey. Rabim hamarchikim, many are the mundane, everyday functions, needs and calls on our attention, time and focus. And when we seemingly have the day to day stuff sorted, then come life’s inevitable “curveballs”, events and other challenges constantly preventing us from devoting time or headspace to
ask, let alone to seek answers to the most fundamental question of all- what am I doing here?!
Here’s the good news. We’re not alone. Asking the question is a universal for any one of us in possession of a curious and functioning brain and consciousness. So
meaning, purpose and unique contribution. Paralleled to that drive to fulfill and hence be fulfilled, beyond the animal drive for survival, is a personal enemy constantly firing arrows, bullets, bills, noise and general “stuff” that perennially push us to distraction in order escape our
is the constant brushing of both question and search for cogent answer under the carpet, clearly a universal reality. Each of us has an innate drive for
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meaning and our purpose. The renowned psychologist Maslow recognised and identified it with his famous Hierarchy of Needs, drawing attention to the reality that despite the crucial need, most people simply live life engrossed in lower levels of material survival. Judaism identifies this phenomenon as the constant internal personal battle within, the war between the yetzer hatov and the yetzer hara, each inclination competing for our attention for matters important, or lack of it.
Is it not tragic to live life missing one’s unique purpose? Is it not a shame to exist in auto pilot akin to a hamster on the wheel, a rat in some illusionary race, instead of pursuing that which sets us apart, unleashes our uniqueness, our individual greatness and potential impact on the world?
Of course, on a human level there are fundamental needs that must be fulfilled. Furthermore, in the moral and even in the religious sphere of activity, the ethical norm and even observance of Torah and mitzvot are truly just the “hard wiring” of each of our lives. In themselves they are good, yet not enough. They only establish the milieu of unique contribution for each of us. No gravestone lists how many Chinese meals we ate, cars we drove or deals we consummated; no epitaph, the sum total of material we consumed or excreted. Each of us was created with a unique set of circumstances combined with a genetic makeup that allows us to navigate the obstacle course of life’s journey choosing and arbitrating the meaning and purpose of our life’s contribution. Can any of us truly afford to sell ourselves or indeed our world, short?
The world in which we live begs fixing, repairing, the sharing of moral clarity,
of belonging, of connection, of belief, of trust, of unity, of vision, of direction, of positivity, of dreaming, of uniting and of so much more besides. There exists an infinite array of choices around how to interact with an infinite bank of possibilities. Despite the illusion of scarcity, most of us no longer need to go down the mines nor eke out a living in order to provide basic material needs. We do have the time to think, to consider, to explore, to examine. Apart from my face in the mirror (which indeed can serve as a constant reminder!) what is my unique constitution, personality and circumstance that may provide me with the direction of my own life’s contribution? Be aware- What are the negative stimuli that tend to distract and pull me down. Be conscious- What are the distinct attributes that make me shine? Where does my personal chein lie? How do each of these combine with the unique circumstances in which I find myself at this particular coordinate in time, in this place, a member of this people, this family?
In a bid to warn witnesses in a capital case, of the gravity of the testimony they are about to deliver, the Talmud elucidates the uniqueness of every single human being ever created. The culmination of the passage is possibly one of the most powerful statements of the entire Talmud- “chayav adam lomar- bishvilli nivra ha’olam- each person is obligated to say- the whole world was created for me!” It is surely incumbent upon each of us to ask the question “What is my purpose” and to identify pointers and insights that provide personal direction along life’s exciting journey. Personal purpose and mission can evolve and change at different stages upon the way. It’s never too late to pay attention, to become aware. Identifying one’s unique role and contribution is not some narcissistic luxury. It is the essence of why each one of us is here, and perhaps a key to fixing the world we share. Wouldn’t it be a shame to miss it?
Shabbat Shalom.
///What3Words is a geocoding system that has divided the world into a grid of 57 trillion 3-by-3 squares, each of which is identified by a unique three-word address. In this column, Rabbi Naftali Schiff reflects upon three words each week, relating to core issues of the day.
Rabbi Naftali Schiff is the Founder and Chief Executive of Jewish Futures
World of Jewish
BY MORDECHAI COHEN. WHY
DO WE MARK HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY ON JANUARY 27TH, BUT ISRAEL HAS ITS HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAYIN APRIL?
During the Holocaust, a clandestine group named Oyneg Shabbos was famous for the extraordinary task of archiving and chronicling the vibrant Jewish life in the Warsaw Ghetto. The reason for the name Oyneg Shabbos or literally the joy of Shabbat, was that the group, formed by rabbis, historians, social workers and others, often met on Shabbat. They feared that the Nazis would be victorious and as victors, would be the sole authors of our history. To prevent this, the Oyneg Shabbos’s aim was to preserve and tell the Jewish story. Thanks to their efforts, almost all of what we know about the history of the Warsaw Ghetto is from this group.
They hid their work in metal boxes and milk cans that were buried during the war
and that were retrieved afterwards. Because they preserved the story of Jewish life in the ghetto and safe-guarded key documents and memories, many consider those who worked for Oyneg Shabbos to be heroes.
One important chapter of the Warsaw Ghetto story was that of Rabbi Kalonymus Kalmish Shapira, otherwise known as the Rebbe from Piaseczna or the Rebbe of the Warsaw Ghetto. If you have heard of this special scholar or you ever learn about him, it is most likely because his divrei torah from the ghetto were preserved by Oyneg Shabbos.
On January 27th, 1945 the Russian Army liberated Auschwitz. Later, the United Nations designated January 27th as Holocaust Remembrance Day. While the initiative for the designation of this day was co-sponsored by Israel, January 27th is actually not a day that has special national significance in Israel. Israel’s Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaZikaron Lashoah ve-laG’vurah), known colloquially in Israel and abroad as Yom Hashoah, falls on the 27th of
Nissan, which is April 25th this year. This Hebrew date was chosen to reflect the heroism of the Jews who revolted against the Nazis, either by learning torah or by armed resistance during the Warsaw Ghetto revolt, which started on seder night, Nissan 15th (April 19, 1943). It was decided to delay the commemoration of the revolt until after Pesach and the date designated by the Knesset, was Nissan 27.
Just as Oyneg Shabbos ensured that our history was told in our own words, Israel’s choice of date underscores our right to define our own narrative of resilience and heroism. It is our telling of our story in our own way.
Additionally, Israel’s Chief Rabbinate declared Yom Hakaddish Haklali, the General Day of Kaddish for Holocaust victims whose date of death is unknown on the fast day, the 10th of Tevet.
On January 27th this year, I was thankful that Auschwitz had been liberated. I was also thankful that the UN and its member nations commemorated International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
On Nissan 27th, I will observe Israel’s
“I wanted my grandchildren to understand the values that have guided our family. The final result was nothing short of a masterpiece.”
Day of Remembrance of the Holocaust and commemorate that the Oyneg Shabbos group ensured that our history was told through our own voices. I will be grateful that our people were heroes when they spiritually and physically resisted the Nazis during the Warsaw Ghetto revolt. I ask you to consider doing so as well.
Mordechai is a dynamic educator and is proud of his infectious passion for the Jewish people. After studying at different Yeshivot, he went on to teach and direct learning programmes for a variety of Jewish schools, gap years and yeshivot in the United States and Israel. He has spent over seven years guiding, teaching and Head of School at Alexander Muss, Israel and has been a JRoots Educator for 3 years.
YOUR LIFE STORY
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“Without exception, all the family found it deeply emotional to watch. They also learned many things they hadn’t known before. My granddaughter, aged 9, even asked to watch it again!”
HMD event at Richmond Synagogue
“If we had boarded the first train, with my aunt, we would have gone to the Auschwitz gas chamber, but my mother insisted on going on the second train,”said Peter Lantos, who instead spent time in Bergen Belsen, aged five. Liberated by
the British Army, he trained as a doctor in Hungary, before coming to England and becoming an eminent medical academic. He spoke about his experiences to a capacity audience of 220. Author of “The Boy who refused to die,” a memoir of his experiences aimed at younger teenagers, he spoke along with Professor Philip Spencer, Emeritus Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Kingston University, Rabbi Chaim Golker and the Mayor of Richmond, Councillor Richard Pine who grew up outside Bergen Belsen, 20 years later, where his father was stationed with the British Army.
Holocaust music was provided by Stephen Levi of Oi Va Voi and friends and Cheder children described their visits to the Holocaust gallery at the Imperial War Museum.
JNF UK Celebrates the Next Generation of Leaders
On Sunday 26th January 2025, JNF UK proudly hosted a graduation ceremony for its Fellowship Programme, celebrating the achievements of eighteen Year 12 students who have completed an enriching 15-month initiative. The event marked the culmination of a programme designed to strengthen their connection to Israel, foster advocacy skills, and develop leadership and self-empowerment.
The programme commenced in October 2023 and took on even greater significance than previous years in light of the tragic events of October 7th. The JNF UK Fellowship Programme brought together a cohort of young leaders for monthly sessions featuring esteemed speakers and training workshops. This forum empowered students to become passionate advocates for JNF UK and Israel and equipped them with tools to make meaningful contributions within their communities.
The graduation ceremony showcased the students’ growth and accomplishments, where they delivered presentations reflecting on their experiences. Each graduate received a certificate of completion, awarding them for their dedication over the course of the programme.
The event featured an inspiring keynote speech by Reverend Hayley Ace, co-founder of Christians Against Anti-Semitism, who emphasised the importance of being proud of their Jewish homeland and standing up for the truth. She said, “We must not shrink away from the truth or let people reframe what Zionism is.”
One of the participants, Ari, expressed his gratitude for the programme’s transformative impact. “Over the course of the Fellowship Programme, my knowledge of Israel has grown in ways I never expected. I feel motivated to continue to explore what I learnt about Israel and strengthen my connection to this incredible country. I am truly grateful for this opportunity.”
Akiva Mann-Wineberg, a student from Manchester, exemplified the far-reaching impact and effectiveness of JNF UK’s young leadership programme. Inspired by the programme, Akiva founded Liverpool Israel Action, rallying a neighbouring community into meaningful action. His first event drew over 80 participants who joined him in a powerful protest.
Looking ahead, Elan Gorji, CEO of JNF UK says “We are committed to expanding the reach and impact of the Fellowship Programme. We aim to continue developing participants as the next generation of JNF UK ambassadors, ensuring they are well-equipped to contribute to the community and advocate for Israel. We believe that by investing in our youth, we are securing a brighter future for both our community and Medinat Yisrael. Mazel Tov to our incredible Fellows.”
The Fellowship Programme stands as a testament to JNF UK’s commitment to empowering young people and strengthening the enduring bond between the UK and Israel.
Norwood Quiz winners triumph
Twenty-four teams turned out at Alum Hall on Sunday night for the return of the annual Norwood Quiz Night 2025. The ten-man teams raised almost £16,000 for the charity which supports children with
Marking the 80th
neurodiversity and their families and people with neurodevelopmental disabilities. Compered by comedian Philip Simon of the Borehamwood Comedy Club, the quick fire rounds were run by organiser QuizQuizQuiz. Participants saw a video illustrating the impact of Norwood’s vital services on some of the people the charity supports along with a heartfelt appeal delivered by the charity’s Vice Chair of Trustees Dame Tamara Finkelstein, before team Michael’s Winners were declared the winners of the closely-contested quiz.
Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz
On the evening of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, over 120 people gathered at Yavneh School for a special screening of The Commandant’s Shadow, organised by Rebbetzen Joanne Dove of Seed and supported by AJEX.
The film tells the story of the Commandant’s father, who murdered over a million Jews at Auschwitz and Anita Lasker-Wallfisch, who survived the camp against all odds. Eighty years later, their descendants come face to face.
The evening opened with a welcome from Rabbi Malcolm Herman of Seed, followed by introductions from Joanne Dove and Wendy Robbins, the Executive Producer. A recorded message from Maya Lasker Wallisch, daughter of survivor Anita, reminded the audience of the ongoing relevance of Auschwitz in confronting rising antisemitism and race hatred globally. Wendy Robbins highlighted the chilling “banality of evil” and urged everyone to uphold the Holocaust’s legacy by standing against hate.
Dove in conjunction with AJEX. Sharing The Commandant’s Shadow with such an engaged audience was a privilege. Rabbi Garson’s knowledge enhanced the discussion and it was moving to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day in such a meaningful way.”
Rebbetzen Joanne Dove reflected: “The most important lesson is that the best antidote to antisemitism is learning about our Judaism and becoming passionate about who we are as Jews. We need to stand proud and united as part of this
incredible Jewish nation.”
After the screening, a thought-provoking Q&A session was held with Director Daniela Volker and Producers Wendy Robbins and Gloria Abramoff, facilitated by Rabbi Raphy Garson of JRoots. They discussed the making of the film, memorable moments and the ongoing work to use the documentary as an educational tool against hate worldwide.
Wendy Robbins said: “This evening was inspiring, organised beautifully by Joanne
A message from Kai, the grandson of the Commandant, was read aloud: “Being part of this film helped my Dad come to terms with our family’s horrific legacy, transitioning from shame to acceptance and repentance. May this film inspire others to make similar transitions.”
Fiona Palmer, CEO of AJEX, concluded: “AJEX was honoured to be part of this event. Showing this powerful film the night before Holocaust Memorial Day and the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz’s liberation felt especially poignant. Thank you to Daniela, Wendy, and Gloria for creating such an unforgettable and moving film.”
Women take on educational roles in their community as a result of LSJS’ Iyun Programme
The London School of Jewish Studies (LSJS) has been meeting the demand from women seeking to learn Gemara and Halacha at a high level with its Iyun Programme, which is empowering participants to teach in their own communities. Now in its third year, the programme raises the standard of women’s knowledge of the UK’s halachic process. They also focus on building their skills, from reading and understanding Rishonim, to their ability to analyse concepts developed from the sources. Rabbanit Surale Rosen teaches the sugyot b’iyun, while Rabbi Glenn Bezalel gives shiurim on practical halacha.
“Now that I am in my third year, I can reflect on the growth this journey has fostered in my Torah learning; the programme has really allowed me to deepen my understanding of halachic development,” said Iyun participant Sara Garfield. “One of the greatest gifts has been the encouragement from Rabbanit Rosen to develop our independence in Torah learning and share our knowledge.”
As a result of studying Brachot, and her work collaborating on the development of 3-D printed medicines, Sara is investigating whether these novel medicines would require a blessing. She shared this research; first in a local women’s learning group and then in a broader setting, where the insightful discussions inspired additions to her material
Prior to being part of the Iyun programme, many of the participants would have hesitated to give shiurim, fearing their lack of textual skills would hold them back. However, the programme has given them the confidence to “engage with sources independently and grapple with their meaning to deliver their own shiurim.”
Another Iyun student, Hadassah Lev has taken part in a Summer Mishna Chabura for many years and has given a shiur in her community, on Women’s obligation in Zimun, based on her learning
from the programme.
“Taking part in the Iyun Programme has consolidated my learning and my focus on the tracking and development of Torah rabbinic and contemporary sources. It has given me the impetus to open a Gemara, after growing up without anyone offering me the chance to study it,” said Hadassah. “What is great
is the mix of women on the programme; some are brilliant, but everyone comes with their own skill set and textual abilities and it’s nice having that range. I would say that you have to be committed and be willing to break your teeth a little bit.”
“We are so proud to be the ‘go to’ destination for advanced halacha learning for women,” said Joanne Greenaway, Chief Executive of LSJS. “Now that Iyun is in
its third year, we are at the stage whereby our students feel empowered to teach and inspire others, which is incredibly rewarding.”
“A Time for War & a Time for Peace”
Is the pursuit of
a naïve dream for
today? Monday 10 Feb 8–9:15pm UK 1pm MST | 12pm PST | 3pm EST
ASK THE RABBI
WHAT CEASEFIRE?
Dear Rabbi
Do you think the ceasefire deal with Hamas is real, and do you think it will hold?
Anna
Dear Anna
Let’s look at this through the lens of history and reality. A true ceasefire is achieved when the aggressor surrenders unconditionally, returns all hostages, renounces its calls for the annihilation of Jews and Israel, and proves its intentions through concrete actions. Anything short of that is merely a pause in the conflict, not a genuine resolution.
As long as Hamas remains committed to Israel’s destruction and keeps that mission enshrined in its ideology, the state of war persists - even if rockets are not currently being fired. What we are witnessing now is essentially a prisoner exchange, and an unequal one at that. These deals may provide short-term humanitarian relief but do not alter the fundamental dynamics of the conflict.
For Israel to achieve lasting peace, there must be a transformative change in leadership and ideology within Gaza. So long as Hamas remains in power, committed to violence and terror, a sustainable ceasefire is unlikely. Additionally, solutions like the two-state proposal often fail to account for the reality that Hamas, and similar groups, view such arrangements as stepping stones toward
their ultimate goal of eliminating Israel. Until there is a permanent and reliable framework in place - one that guarantees Israel’s safety and acknowledges its right to exist - the region will remain in a fragile and uncertain state. The recent ceasefire, like those before it, is more about managing the conflict than resolving it.
WHO’S REALLY HURTING?
Dear Rabbi
I have a friend who recently has behaved very hurtfully towards me. She’s said some pretty not nice things about me, and I don’t know how I should respond to this. Do I confront her? Do I try to understand her actions, or is it better to just distance myself altogether?
Sarah
Dear Sarah
There’s a saying, “Hurt people, hurt people,” which means that when someone projects pain or negativity onto you, it often reveals more about their inner struggles than it does about you. When someone lashes out or treats you poorly, it’s often because they are grappling with their own unresolved pain, insecurities, or frustrations. Their actions are a reflection of their inner world, not necessarily a fair judgment of who you are. Understanding this can help shift your perspective and prevent you from
taking their words or actions too personally. In fact, this understanding can even lead to empathy. Imagine the kind of emotional turmoil or dissatisfaction a person must feel to take time out of their day to direct negativity toward someone else. Their attempt to diminish you often speaks to their own feelings of inadequacy or inner chaos. Recognising this doesn’t excuse their behaviour, but it can soften your emotional reaction and reduce the power their actions have over you.
That said, empathy doesn’t mean you have to tolerate harmful behaviour. Protecting your emotional well-being is just as important. If someone continually causes you pain, it may be wise to set boundaries or create distance. True forgiveness and understanding do not require you to subject yourself to repeated harm; they simply allow you to let go of resentment and free yourself from the weight of their negativity.
If you had £1440 to spend and someone burns one pound, are you going to burn the other £1339? Of course not. You get 1440 minutes every single day. Now some of those minutes might get ruined by
others. But you still get to decide whether you’ll let those bad minutes ruin all the other ones. Giving too much headspace to the offender will just be wasting your own time and energy. Just focus on what you can control.
Continued on page 27
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Rebbetzen Rachel Cooper ה”ע
BY RABBANIT SALLY MAYER
Rebbetzen Rachel Cooper was born in Hamburg, Germany on 30 December 2026 and passed away in London on 2 January 2025. These simple facts give evidence to a life spent in the service of the Community.
Her father Hechover Henry (Chaim) Pels had already been working in Germany for the Keren Hatorah organisation of Agudath Israel. As the Nazi party was gaining strength he attended a Conference held in Belgium to discuss ways of keeping the Torah World alive in Europe while the danger of the Nazi party was becoming a reality. There he met Rabbi Dr Solomon Schonfeld who offered him a job in England to help running the Chief Rabbi’s Religious Emergency Council which he had set up in 1938 primarily to help religious functionaries escape from Germany. In 1939 Rabbi Schonfeld organised an independent Kindertransport to bring over the children of the Schiffschul in Vienna. After the war, Rabbi Schonfeld kitted himself and Rabbis Shlomo Baumgarten, Eli Munk and J Vilenski as well as Henry Pels, in self-designed army uniforms to bring his mobile Synagogue to the Bergen Belsen concentration camp.
Henry Pels only had a visa for himself and left his wife and seven children in Germany until he could prove that his family would not be a “drain” on the United Kingdom. However in early 1938 Mr Pels procured visas for his family to move to safety in England. He bought a house in St. Kilda’s Road in Stamford Hill. At this time Mrs Cooper, a twin with her sister Hanna, was 11 years of age. Every morning she would awaken to find people asleep in every part of the house while the Chief Rabbis Religious
Continued from page 26
Ultimately, the best way to respond to someone else’s pain-driven actions is to choose your own path. Rather than mirroring their negativity, rise above it. Show kindness when possible, establish boundaries when necessary, and always remember that their actions are a
Emergency Council was racing to procure visas for as many people as possible to escape from the coming holocaust and gave this address to ensure that this would happen. Eventually war broke out and the UK became involved in World War II. All young children were made to evacuate from London into the countryside to ensure their safety from the bombing of London, and the Avigdor School, set up by Dr Soloman Schonfeld and under the guidance of Dr Judith Grunfeld arrived in Shefford.
Eventually Henry Pels bought a house in Hale Lane, Edgware. on the outskirts of London which was relatively free from the effects of the Blitz and the family returned home. Mrs Cooper then attended Copthall High School for Girls in Mill Hill. Mrs Cooper did not take her survival for granted and made a pledge that every day she would ensure that she would make Hashem pleased that He had chosen her to live when most of her school friends in Germany had been cruelly murdered. And that was the way she lived her life. Making every day matter. She then attended the newly formed Seminary in Gateshead in its second year and, having studied optics, worked as an optician to pay her way. She made up her mind that she wanted to marry a Ben Torah and a Shidduch was proposed to a young man learning in Gateshead Yeshiva, Mr Dovid Cooper. Having married in 1946, the couple settled in Gateshead and after two years in the Kollel, the Rosh Kollel Rabbi E E Dessler instructed him to take his family to Liverpool to set up a part time “Kollel” to set up after school Hebrew classes for school children and to try to influence people to return to a Torah way of life.
The family settled in Liverpool and in the early mornings Rebbetzen Cooper would
reflection of them, not a reflection of your worth.
I’M LOSING CONTROL
Dear Rabbi
I’ve been struggling with religion lately. I find keeping kosher, going to shul and yes, even fidelity an ongoing struggle.
travel with her milk churn on the bus to go to the local farm to supervise the milking of cows so that they could drink only supervised milk. One day the farmer asked her why she was doing this and she explained the issue of Cholov Yisroel. The farmer replied that he totally understood – and that during the War some unscrupulous farmers had added pig’s milk to the cows milk without anyone’s knowledge!
Mrs Cooper worked in the Childwall Cheder and was already renowned for her teaching ability, attracting many families to her. Wherever Mrs Cooper lived she attracted people with her non-judgemental personality and her interesting, exciting way of teaching. However, by now the family had four children who attended the local non-Jewish school since Rabbi Cooper ruled out attending the King David School which also had non-Jewish children. After many years in Liverpool where the couple’s tremendous influence meant that many non-affiliated students had been sent by Rabbi Cooper the continue their Jewish studies in Gateshead Yeshiva, the family re-located to London. There, Rabbi Dr Schonfeld appointed Rabbi Cooper as the part-time Rav of the North Hendon Adath Yisroel Synagogue, and Mrs Cooper taught at the Hasmonean Grammar School for Girls in Parson Street. However, when a vacancy came up in the Menorah Primary School, Mrs Cooper, realising that she enjoyed teaching younger children, moved there. As the Shul grew, so did the responsibilities. Rabbi Cooper as Rabbi of the Shul was becoming renowned for his learning ability and Mrs Cooper was becoming renowned for her down to earth, sensible personality. Together they made a formidable team and attendance at the School rose while attendance at the Shul
Sometimes religion feels so restrictive, especially when everyone around me in my workplace is doing whatever they want. It’s hard to stay disciplined when the temptation is everywhere. How do I find the strength to stick to it when it feels so challenging in the moment?
Anonymous
Dear Anonymous
In the early 70s, psychologist Walter Mischel conducted a “marshmallow experiment” at Stamford University. A group of preschool-aged children was brought into a room, one at a time, and seated at a table. The researcher placed a single marshmallow in front of the child. The child was told: “You can eat this marshmallow now. But, if you wait until I come back without eating it, you’ll get two marshmallows.” The researcher then left the room for about 15 minutes. What happened? Some kids immediately popped the marshmallow into their mouths - no hesitation! Others tried to hold out but couldn’t resist and gave in after a few moments. A few managed to wait the entire
also increased. Mrs Cooper always stood at Rabbi Cooper’s side and he would often bring her in when he realised how valuable her points of view were especially understanding Sheilos regarding Kashrus in the kitchen.
Mrs Cooper remained at Menorah Primary School and her reputation, her ability as Rebbetzen, her commonsense attitude, her success as a Reception Class teacher only grew. She attracted not just the young pupils, but equally their parents, and was asked by the Board of Governors to move to the newly formed Menorah Foundation School. This was because Menorah Primary School had no more space to take in young children and had opened a sister school. It was important for families to have confidence that the new school attracted seriously good teachers and leadership. Mrs Cooper worked successfully at Menorah Foundation School teaching Hebrew reading as well as Chumash translation. Her hand-written translation sheets gained a very wide reputation for translation accuracy. She finally retired at the age of 81, and mainly because Rabbi Cooper needed her care and assistance as he was aging.
Mrs Cooper made every day count just as she had pledged to Hashem as a young woman. She never lost her welcoming smile, always had time to help others. When somebody needed help or just a listening ear she not only phoned them while they needed help, but wrote down names and phone numbers and phoned them every Thursday night or Friday morning often for years.
Rebbetzen Cooper is survived by her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.
The
Family
15 minutes and were rewarded with the second marshmallow.
The experiment was a test of self-control and delayed gratification. Years later, Mischel followed up with the participants to see how their ability to delay gratification correlated with their life outcomes. His findings suggested that children who resisted eating the marshmallow tended to have: Better academic performance, better health and social outcomes and stronger emotional regulation and coping skills.
The marshmallow experiment became a cultural metaphor for the importance of self-discipline. Discipline is the strongest form of self-love. It’s ignoring what you want right now for something better later on. Discipline reveals the commitment you have to your dreams, especially on the days that you don’t want to. The future you is depending on the current you to keep the promises that you made to yourself yesterday. So, hang in there and stay focussed. And perhaps consider seriously going to talk to a therapist about your struggles.
When Will We Be Loved? Weekly Dvar Torah FROM ERETZ YISRAEL
BY STEWART WEISS
Can you picture a Jewish people, an Israel, loved and admired by the world at large? An Israel that perennially wins the “Most Admired” prize in international voting? Can you see our Israeli ambassador in the United Nations getting a standing ovation from a standing-room only crowd at the General Assembly? Seems like quite a stretch, doesn’t it? Considering the way we’re typically portrayed in the media, and the level of anti-Israel diatribe in the world at large, such a scenario sounds pretty far-fetched. And yet, this is the challenge, the goal, the dream – and the Divine promise –that lies ahead of us.
As Israel prepares to leave Egypt, the Torah tells us: “And Hashem caused the Jewish people to be viewed favorably by the Egyptians; Moshe, too, was admired as a great man in the eyes of Pharaoh’s servants and the people of Egypt” (Shemot 11:3).
What a stunning statement! We surely would have expected a far different reaction! After years of anti-Jewish incitement
and demonization by the Pharaohs, after 10 devastating plagues that decimated the Egyptian landscape, their economy and their daily routine, we’d have thought the Jews would be utterly detested and ridden out of Mitzrayim on a rail. Instead, we left “b’Yad Rama,” proudly, with hands held high, even showered with lavish gifts from the populace! Earlier (5:21), Bnei Yisrael had complained to Moshe that they were so detested that “even our very scent is abhorrent to the Egyptians!” What happened, so that now we came out smelling like a rose?!
I suggest the Egyptians’ perception of us radically changed when our own perception of ourselves changed! As long as we saw ourselves as a pitiful, pitiable people, others viewed us likewise, and their pity soon turned to contempt. If we had no pride in who we were, if we ourselves had no self-respect, how could we possibly expect others to respect us?
Moshe changed all that. The first task assigned to him by G-d (6:6–7) was to take us out of “sivlot Mitzrayim.” The word “sivlot” can mean “burden,” but it can also mean “tolerance,” in this case,
the tolerance of being brutally mistreated by Egypt and simply shrugging our shoulders and accepting it, doing virtually nothing to stop it. Moshe taught us to stand up for ourselves, to view ourselves and to conduct ourselves as an Am Segula, a precious, holy nation rather than a degraded slave people.
Our defining moment would come when we were commanded to take a lamb –the Egyptian deity – and offer it to the One, true G-d. Dangerous? Challenging? Absolutely! But – no guts, no glory! We would gather up our courage and proudly declare to Egypt and the entire world that we are Hashem’s first-born and that we fear Him and Him alone. Hashem promises that one day we shall be looked up to by the world as a model for holiness in human form. While that seems so very far away, we have recently been granted a glimpse of what the future holds for us. When the Emirates broke ranks with other Arab-Muslim nations and established diplomatic and economic relations with us, they expressed their whole-hearted admiration and respect for Israel and the Jewish people. This was
1st Aliya (Kohen) –SHEMOT 10:1-10:11
After the first seven plagues, Moshe (Moses) and Aharon (Aaron) again warn Pharaoh to let the nation go, lest Egypt suffer an eighth plague. Pharaoh’s advisors encourage him to agree. However, he only agrees to let the men leave temporarily, but not the women or children.
2nd Aliya (Levi) – 10:12-23
The 8th plague: Moshe stretches his staff “over Egypt”. An easterly wind brings a swarm of locusts over the whole of Egypt, eating any grass and foliage still left over from the plague of hail. Pharaoh admits his sin of not
letting the people go and asks Moshe and Aharon to pray for an end to the plague. G-d sends a westerly wind (see Rashi’s commentary) which carries away the locusts. G-d hardens Pharaoh’s heart and he refuses to let the people go. The 9th plague: Moshe raises his hand towards the heavens. For three days, a thick darkness descends over all of Egypt, except for where the Israelites live.
3rd Aliya (Shlishi) – 10:24-11:3
Moshe once again asks Pharaoh to allow the entire nation to leave so that they can bring offerings in the desert. He adds that they should be allowed to take livestock with them. G-d hardens Pharaoh’s heart and he refuses. G-d requests that Moshe ask the Israelites to ask for gold and silver vessels from the Egyptians.
Point to Consider: Why did G-d insist on the Israelites taking these vessels? (see Rashi to 11:2)
4th Aliya (Revi’i) – 11:4-12:20
Moshe warns Pharaoh about the plague of the first born (Rashi), which will only affect the Egyptians. G-d tells Moshe and Aharon the laws of Rosh Chodesh and that Nissan is to be the first month of the ‘year of months’. They are also told to instruct the nation about the Pesach offering: the lamb must be designated on 10 Nissan and slaughtered on the afternoon of 14 Nissan. Its blood is to be placed on the door frame and the meat eaten, together with matza and maror, on the night of 15 Nissan. This will be commemorated every year with the seven day Pesach festival.
5th Aliya (Chamishi) – 12:21-28
Moshe relates the laws of the Pesach offering to the elders. The blood on the door frame will ‘indicate’ to G-d to ‘pass over’ the Israelite houses and only smite the Egyptians.
6th Aliya (Shishi) – 12:29-51
The 10th plague: The plague strikes Egypt at midnight, leaving no house
truly a prophecy come to life. And as our courageous IDF army of holy soldiers fights against the scourge of terrorism, more and more people will, albeit grudgingly, acknowledge that we are in the forefront of the struggle against the forces of evil, against those who would send the world back to the Dark Ages where liberty, equality and prosperity were in the hands of the few, not the many.
The longest journey begins with the first step. And that first step is to stand straight and walk tall, clothed in middot and mitzvot, secure in our role as G-d’s treasured nation. Medinat Yisrael has taken that giant step, for the good of all mankind.
(Rabbi Stewart Weiss is the director of the Jewish Outreach Center of Ra’anana and the Scholar in Residence for the Pesach program in Ramot on the Golan. He is also a member of Mizrachi’s speaker’s bureau. rabbistewart@gmail.com)
without a death. Pharaoh searches frantically for Moshe and Aharon (Rashi) and tells them to leave. The Egyptian people also urge the Israelites to leave. They take their dough with them before it has time to rise. The Egyptians agree to let them take gold and silver items. The nation travels from Ra’amses to Succot. They bake the unleavened dough, making matzot. Additional laws of the Pesach offering are given.
7th Aliya (Shevi’i) – 13:1-16
G-d relates to Moshe the mitzvah of redeeming firstborn male children (pidyon ha’ben). Firstborn animals also have a special sanctity. The mitzvah of tefilin is stated twice.
HAFTARAH (YIRMIYAHU 56:13-28)
Yirmiyahu (Jeremiah) is told by G-d that Egypt will be destroyed by the Babylonian invader Nebuchadnezzar. The nation of Israel, referred to as “His servant Yaakov”, should not be afraid. Even if they are punished for wrongdoings, they will eventually be redeemed from their lands of captivity.
Hatred’s Dark Grip
BY RABBI MOSHE TARAGIN
Egypt was battered by an unrelenting fusillade of brutal plagues that shattered its economy and tormented its populace. By the time the plague of locusts was announced Egypt stood on the brink of ruin, its once-mighty economy reduced to shambles. The Jewish slaves were no longer worth the burden; they had become a liability rather than an asset. Even Pharaoh’s loyal advisors, bound by their allegiance, could no longer remain silent; they implored Pharaoh to release the slaves, incredulously exclaiming, “Do you not see? The entire empire teeters on the edge of disaster!”
Yet tragically, Pharaoh remained obstinate, refusing to fully release the “detestable” slaves while condemning his people to further anguish. Hatred is a spiritual sickness that, consumes the soul, warps reason, and drives us toward self-destructive actions. Pharaoh’s cancerous hatred ran so deep that he sacrificed his empire rather than acknowledging the dignity and freedom of his “sub-human” slaves.
A PATTERN
This was not the first instance of Pharaoh’s psychopathic behavior, nor would it be the last. During the early, harrowing days of Egyptian oppression, Pharaoh sensed that a savior would arise to deliver the Jewish people from bondage. His magicians and astrologers, however, could not determine whether this liberator would be a Jewish or Egyptian male. Ironically, the hero they feared, Moshe Rabeinu, was both—born of Jewish lineage yet raised within the palace, under Pharaoh’s very nose.
Paralyzed by uncertainty, Pharaoh issued a monstrous decree: every newborn male, including Egyptian infants, was to be cast into the Nile. In his viral rage and seething hatred of our people, Pharaoh made a catastrophic decision, condemning his own nation to infanticide and likely endangering Egypt’s demographic future.
Even in the final moments of Egypt’s unraveling, Pharaoh’s psychopathic hatred persisted. The last and most devastating plague, the annihilation of the firstborn, struck terror into every Egyptian household—from Pharaoh’s palace to the lowliest slave quarters. According to the Midrash, even Pharaoh’s own son begged his father to relent, fearing for his life. Yet Pharaoh, consumed by his obstinacy and hatred, refused to yield, sealing his own child’s fate.
Such is the insidious nature of hatred, particularly the deep-seated hatred of Jews. It can grow so obsessive and so corrosive that individuals or nations sabotage themselves, acting against their own best interests simply to unleash their venom.
Pharaoh was not the first to exhibit psychopathic and self-destructive hatred toward our nation. Each year during
Pesach, in the section of V’hi She’amda” we thank Hashem for safeguarding us from the enemies who rise in “every generation” to destroy us. Immediately after we turn to Lavan as the first recorded example of this blight of the mind. Cursed by his animosity toward Ya’akov, Lavan pursued him with murderous intent, prepared to annihilate not only Ya’akov but his entire entourage—including his own children and grandchildren!
SEALING GERMANY’S FATE
Eighty-five years ago, we bore witness to a similarly depraved and obsessive hatred. Hitler’s determination to eradicate the detestable “Jew” crippled his own war effort. Engaged in a grueling battle on two fronts, the German war machine desperately needed manpower and resources. Yet Hitler continued to divert critical assets toward the extermination of the Jews. Stories are told of German soldiers, stranded at train stations, awaiting transport to the frontlines, watching trains filled with Jews being sent to death camps instead.
Obsessive hatred is a disease of the soul which distorts reason and logic leaving no space for wisdom or balance.
SOCIETAL REGRESSION
Beyond its toxic effects on reason and virtue, cultures of hatred become para-
lyzed, unable to benefit from anything the objects of their hatred have created. Hatred leads to dehumanization—reducing its target to something less than human. Consequently, cultures of hatred refuse to acknowledge any value that the people they despise may contribute to their lives. In this way, hatred diminishes not only its victims but also the societies that nurture it.
STEMMING OUR OWN HATRED
In a stunning twist, the Torah commands us to borrow utensils and clothing from the Egyptians—a profound effort to curb the hatred we might harbor toward them. After generations of suffering and
oppression, such hatred would have been natural, even instinctive. Yet, Hashem sought to prevent this contagious emotion from taking root. If we truly despised Egyptians, we would never agree to wear their garments or use their possessions. Beyond serving as rightful monetary compensation for years of enslavement, this act was a deliberate attempt to quell hatred, fostering our moral clarity and emotional health even in the face of profound injustice. Similarly, we were commanded not to harbor any long-term loathing for the Egyptians -Lo Tita’eiv Mitzri- since they hosted us during the famine. At first glance, this seems absurd—how are we expected to feel anything but hatred for those who oppressed us so brutally? Yet, Hashem calls us to see the entire picture. While they ultimately enslaved us, it was Egypt that first offered us refuge during a time of worldwide famine. Though their later actions are unforgivable, Hashem insists we acknowledge the initial kindness they showed by sheltering us in our time of need. This command serves as a powerful reminder that hatred must not blind us to the complexity of history or human relationships, nor to the moments of compassion that existed, even in the most unlikely places.
CONTEMPORARY TRAGEDIES OF HATRED
It is deeply tragic to witness the destructive effects of hatred among our enemies. In the case of our Arab adversaries, it seems they would rather direct their hatred toward us and perpetuate violence than focus on advancing their own societies. Nation by nation, we observe how those that embrace and endorse radical, fundamentalist Islam consign themselves to stagnation and eventual decline. Millions of resources are squandered on building tunnels of hatred instead of investing in the betterment of their people, in the pursuit of progress and human welfare. The cost is immeasurable—not only in lives lost, but in opportunities foregone. Their hatred perpetuates endless cycles of destruction rather than offering horizons of hope. Similarly, our antisemitic enemies are
willing to go to any extreme to vent their hatred. They have become so consumed by their venom that they are ready to turn on their own countries, attacking the very institutions that sustain them. This hatred has spread so malignant that it erodes the democracies they inhabit, threatening to unravel the very fabric of their societies. You don’t need to read the pages of the Torah to recognize psychopathic hatred. The modern-day Pharaohs and Hitlers are all around us—perpetuating hatred and violence, even at the cost of their own self-destruction. Their actions reflect a contagion of spirit which ultimately brings ruin not only to their enemies but to themselves.
Throughout this crisis we are searching for elusive achdut. We are badly divided along ideological, political, and religious lines. A good place to start is by avoiding the word “hate” and the emotion of hatred. We may sharply disagree with others in the land of Israel, but there is no room for deep-seated, consuming hatred. This will derail our progress and submerge us in a sea of toxic emotion.
To understand the folly of hatred read the Torah. To discover how destructive it can be just read headlines. Avoid it at all costs. No opinion, position, or ideology is worth introducing this venom into our society or this toxic force into our hearts. Avoid hatred; it is the poison of progress and is a cancer to the soul.
The writer is a rabbi at the hesder pre-military Yeshivat Har Etzion/Gush, with Yeshiva University ordination and an MA in English literature from the City University of New York. His most recent book, Reclaiming Redemption: Deciphering the Maze of Jewish History (Mosaica Press), is available in bookstores or at www.reclaimingredemption.com.
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Family Fun Bo - אב
We are nearing the end of the plague season in Egypt! The last three were locusts, intense darkness and finally, the killing of the firstborns.
At that point the Jews were finally sent out of Egypt but not before they had a special meal, which we in some ways copy till
today! Matza and Maror (bitter herbs) in particular! They also had a special Korban – a lamb prepared by roasting and they enjoyed it all with their shoes on and walking stick in hand… Off they go in the morning, straight into a desert, fully
trusting Hashem to lead them and take care of them, which He does for forty years.
Towards the end of the sidra, Hashem gives the Jews two special Mitzvot – Tefillin and Pidyon Haben.
The first is a Mitzva men and grown up boys do except for
Shabbat and Festivals, whereas the second one is not a common Mitzva but a beautiful one to witness if you ever can! All of these remind us of the miracles Hashem did for us and the love the Jews showed Him and He showed them!
Number of Lines in the Sefer Torah - 207
Number of Verses - 106
Number of Words - 1,655
Number of Letters - 6,149
I T E F I L L I N R P C
A O B P G O D R Z P Z Y
Parasha Stats Jewish Riddle
X H O V C K O P L P O F
F L N U J B M A L E O C
X W S R T H G S T F I S
Z T N S W U B S D P D C
S V R H E V R O H J G P
Z I X P A N G V A N N D
F O Z K Z U K E Z H S N
C W W V K R L R T I H V
R R B H F M Z A A V J Z
B Z R K D W T D M D M N
DARKNESS • FIRSTBORN •
LOCUSTS
MATZAH
Dingbats
Last week’s answer: In what nonlife-threatening situation is there a positive mitzvah to eat the meat of a neveilah - i.e., something that died without shechita (kosher slaughter)?
The answer is: Chatat Ha’of.
A bird brought as an offering in the Temple wasn’t slaughtered with a knife. Rather, the bird was killed by a sharp thumbnail inserted in the back of it’s neck. If a non-Kohen ate it, he would be transgressing the prohibition of eating neveilah. Kohanim, however, were commanded to eat from this offering.
Well done Danny from Mill Hill
This week’s Question: Which Tractate’s name is the antonym of the name of the Order (seder) of which it is part?
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!
T A D R U N A Q S
Use the area below to write the words you have found.
Jokes
Q: Why couldn’t the leopard play hide and seek?
A: Because he was always spotted
Q: Can February march?
A: No, but April may!
Q: What do computers eat for a snack?
A: Microchips!
Q: I’m orange, I wear a green hat and I sound like a parrot. What am I?
A: A Carrot
Riddles
1. I make two people out of one. What am I?
2. I can be cracked, I can be made. I can be told, I can be played. What am I?
3. You answer me, although I never ask you questions. What am I?
Creating everyday Jewish Leaders
BY RABBI DR. EFFIE KLEINBERG.
Jewish Leadership comes in different shapes and forms.
There are of course communal, non-profit, synagogue and Jewish school leaders, but there are also everyday Jewish leaders. These are the people who find a way to proudly engage in and share their rich heritage and meaningful traditions with others. At Forum for Jewish Leadership (FJL), we are inspired by our alumni who have become high-impact leaders, such as Jonathan Haranouff (FJL 2014) who serves as the International Spokesperson for the Israeli mission to the United Nations.
We are equally inspired by our alumni who are Jewish leaders in their everyday lives, such as Marco Laurence (FJL 2016) currently building a startup company, but who is most proud of being the founder of “The Warehouse,” located in Hendon, teaching Jews self-defense and mental health. Max Steinberg (FJL 2013) works as a hedge fund manager, but spends many hours as a guide and mentor in his role as a trustee of FJL.
To be a Jewish leader in the post October 7th world has taken on an added layer of meaning. One word that has encapsulated the call of Jewish history over the past year is “Hineni” - Here I am. It is a statement that was exclaimed by
Avraham and Moshe in the founding narratives of Jewish history and has echoed over the generations of challenges the Jewish people have faced.
With the uptick in relentless antisemitic incidents over the last 14 months around the world, we need everyday Jewish leaders more than ever. We are in a new era of “Hineni.”
We require young leaders who are ready to take responsibility on their university campuses, in the workplace and within their communities, to bring others in as well. We seek upstanders not bystanders, active participation and engagement, and an awareness that is so badly needed in our communities today.
Certainly, there is a well-founded fear of stepping up in these environments. Daniella* (FJL 2021), working in private banking, told me at a recent FJL alumni reunion that she had stopped wearing her Magen David necklace to work. Eli* (FJL 2023) who paused his studies at a prestigious university to draft into the IDF and has fought in both Gaza and Lebanon over the past year, is aware that there are anti-Israel groups on campus. They got wind of his military service and have threatened him when he returns to campus. Even my taxi driver dropping me off at Ben Gurion airport on my last overseas trip to meet FJL alumni wished me to, “Stay safe!”, a greeting I never received upon leaving Israel over my years living in the country.
FJL receives over two hundred applications each year for its leadership programmes. Since October 7th 2024, we have asked candidates to respond to the question: “How has October 7th shaped your Jewish identity?” An entire study could be written on the responses of young Jews from numerous countries and Jewish backgrounds to this question, but one sample provides a taste of the current mindset of young Jews:
“October 7th changed my life forever. It was the day I found out who my true friends were and whom I could no longer trust. In the Autumn of 2023, I started my first year of university. I was surrounded by antisemitism and was afraid to show any sign of being Jewish, a major part of my identity. I was one of three Jewish undergraduate students. I felt alone and scared. On Friday nights, I would attend Shabbat dinner at Chabad, the only place I felt safe expressing my Jewish identity. By the end of the year, one of my professors threatened to sue me for reporting her antisemitic behaviour. Through my experiences, I’ve never felt more connected to my Jewish community and I will forever stand up to antisemitism.”
At the same time, I have heard from our alumni about their activism on university campuses in support and prayer for the return of the hostages and the safety of the soldiers of Israel, in addition to numerous fundraisers.
This past summer, FJL welcomed over a
“I wanted my grandchildren to understand the values that have guided our family. The final result was nothing short of a masterpiece.”
dozen alumni to Israel who volunteered their time, using their holiday days to assist devastated farms and to bring joy to the evacuee families of northern Israel; Everyday Jewish leaders.
Zack (FJL 2022) experienced antisemitism from his professor, when he was a student at university. In one incident, he revealed that the professor was awarding extra points to those who attended a pro-Palestine rally. He has since channeled his passion and advocacy through his current work at Friends of Simon Wiesenthal, tracking and reporting on antisemitism. Zack noted to me recently in a half-joking manner, “since starting this work, and really seeing things from a different point of view, I really have discovered there is so much to do here.”
Early in the war, Hagai Lober, the father of a fallen soldier, wrote about the motto, Am Yisrael Chai - the Nation of Israel lives. He said that this popular aphorism and song is not just a tagline. It is a charge and responsibility that each of us must take an active role in. We can all be everyday Jewish leaders, by enabling the Jewish people to come alive. And that’s what FJL strives to do through our programmes, events and internships.
*some names changed to protect identities
Rabbi Dr. Effie Kleinberg is the Educational Director FJL and Netzach
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Mr and Mrs Cohen
Dear Mr and Mrs Cohen
Your dilemma is a common one! A competent adviser will be able to direct you through all the important issues you should consider and decisions you need to make to reduce your estate’s inheritance tax liability. Gifting to your children is an option for mitigating inheritance tax. However, this option presents two problems. Firstly, it takes 7 years for the gift to fully exit your estate for tax purposes. You might not have that long before you pass away! Secondly once you gift, you lose access and control of that money/asset. Therefore, it’s not a viable option as you would have to be dependent on your children’s generosity to meet your potential care needs. An attractive alternative option you ought to consider is investing in assets that qualify for Business Relief. The benefits of this option are that it only takes ownership of two years for those assets to be deemed exempt from inheritance tax and you can retain access and control of your money indefinitely. No gifting is required. If you hold these investments at death and they have been held more than two years, these investments will be exempt from inheritance tax. You can also use these investments to pay for your prospective care costs. Investments that qualify for Business Relief come in various forms and with different advantages and disadvantages as well as risks to each investment. Seek advice for an appropriate investment.
ESTATE AGENT
MARTIN FRYDENSON - ROUNDTREE REAL ESTATE
Roundtree Real Estate are your local experienced Estate Agent having been established on the High Street since 2009. We are both ARLA and NAEA Propertymark regulated and we are here to offer you expert advice in Property Sales, Lettings, Commercial and Full Management Services, covering Hendon, Golders Green, Finchley, Colindale and surrounding areas. We have built long standing relationships with all our clients and should you have any property related queries please do contact us.
Contact: 020 8203 2111 mail@theroundtree.com www.theroundtree.com
Market
and companies (1-200).
• Member of Chartered Institute
Contact: Trevor Gee 020 3146 3444 07956 244350 trevor@patienthealth.co.uk www.patienthealth.co.uk
FINANCIAL SERVICES (FCA) COMPLIANCE
JACOB BERNSTEIN
A member of the APCC, specialising in financial services compliance for: Mortgage, Protection and General Insurance Intermediaries; Lenders, Credit Brokers, Debt Counsellors and Debt Managers; Alternative Investment Fund Managers;
• E-Money, Payment Services, PISP, AISP and Grant-making Charities.
Contact: 020 7781 8019 info@richdale.co.uk www.richdale.co.uk
WEALTH MANAGMENT
MARC OVITS – BA (HONS) APFS CERT PFS (DM)
Over 25 years of successful experience in financial services including 11 years of investment banking experience.
Offering expert independent financial advice to individuals, businesses, charities and trusts. Individual services:- Wealth Management, Investment, Retirement, Estate/IHT, protection planning, Tax Mitigation and Cash Management Solutions
Business & Charity services:- Investment Planning, Business Succession & Business Exit Planning, Business Protection, Corporate Pensions, Employee Benefits, Cash Management Solutions, Profit extraction strategies
BUTCHERS
KOSHER DELI
Alpha Wealth Management Contact: 020 8203 6920 info@alphawm.co.uk www.alphawm.co.uk
Kosher Deli was established with the intention of making kosher meat and poultry affordable for all with the convenience of multiple locations and a comprehensive delivery service. All this without compromising on kashrus or quality.
Locations in: Golders Green, Hendon, Temple Fortune, Edgware, Borehamwood & Manchester
CARE
Contact: 020 8381 4450 info@kosherdeliuk.co.uk www.kosherdeli.co.uk
Jewish Care is the largest health and social care organisation serving the Jewish community in London and the South East. Our vital services touch the lives of 10,000 people every week. We provide services and offer a wide range of support groups to older people, people with mental health needs, Holocaust survivors, people living with dementia, people with a variety of needs and carers support.
Contact: 020 8922 2222 helpline@jcare.org www.jewishcare.org
CHARITY JEWISH
Marc Ovits
MANAGED I.T. SERVICES PROVIDER (MSP)
SIMON MOSCOVITZ BSC (HONS) – EUROTEK UK LIMITED
We are a well-established and successful Managed I.T. Services Provider (MSP) with a clear sense of purpose. We plan, design and enable the procurement, implementation, protection and management of a wide range of modern technologies through an earned and trusted partnership with our clients across the UK. We enable our clients to be operationally efficient by successfully embracing their digital transformation journey.
• Why choose Eurotek UK? Deliver > Manage > Automate > Secure > Backup
Contact: 0161 660 2745 hello@eurotekuk.co.uk www.eurotekuk.co.uk
BUILDING AND PARTY WALL SURVEYING
MATRIX SURVEYORS LIMITED
Offering a range of building surveying services and specialising in party wall matters, nationwide, for both consumers and businesses, including; -
• Pre-acquisition Surveys
• Party Wall Matters
• Defect Inspections
• Schedules of Condition
• Insurance Reinstatement Costs Assessments
Contact:
Toli Moscovitz BSc (Hons) MRICS 0161 823 6973 info@matrixsurveyors.co.uk www.matrixsurveyors.co.uk
SHIPPING
STEPHEN MORRIS SHIPPING
• Planned Preventative Maintenance Schedules
• Construction Project Management
• Licence for Alterations
• Insurance claims
ALIYAH ADVISORS
ALIYAH ADVISORS - GARY BROWN - PRACTICAL ALIYAH ADVICE
Book a FREE meeting with UKAA’s founder Gary Brown, who will go through your particular needs and wants on a the PRACTICAL side of leaving your country of origin and/or living in/moving to Israel. This is both for pre and post- Aliyah Olim.
This FREE meeting will allow Gary to advise on who you need to speak with for each requirement and when in the year you should approach them. Confidentiality assured.
Contact: +972 (0)2 372 3775 / +44 (0)20 3 989 5080 info@ukaliyahadvisors.com ukaliyahadvisors.com/providers/
With almost 40 years experience, our company has the ability to move household and personal effects and antiques and fine art with the professionalism and care that comes from that experience coupled with an attention to detail.
We construct our own Tri-Wall and wooden packing cases on site and employ full-time art installers and handymen for those ‘extra’ jobs that always need doing on a move or installation. And size is no limitation – we have moved trains, boats and planes across the world and even bridges and a 5,000 seater tent!
Contact: 020 8832 2222 info@shipsms.co.uk www.shipsms.co.uk
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