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CHURCH OF ENGLAND OFFERS “SYMBOLIC REPENTANCE” BY DAVID SAFFER
The Church of England is to apologise next year for its contributions towards antisemitism in England during the Middle Ages. King Edward I expelled England’s 3,000 Jews in 1290. Though the Church was not established until the 16th-century the apology is a “symbolic repentance”. The admission of guilt coincides with the 800th anniversary of the Synod of Oxford in 1222, the council that created antisemitic laws that included Jews being forced to wear badges, limiting them to certain occupations and prohibiting synagogues being built. The announcement comes after a recent surge in antisemitic incidents in Britain as documented in CST’s latest report. The Bishop of Lichfield, The Right Reverend Dr Michael Ipgrave confirmed the Archbishop’s
CAA’s Gideon Falter
office had received a letter proposing a service that might offer an act of repentance. “We are exploring the idea of such a service to be planned in conjunction with the Council of Christians and Jews, as well as
the potential for a liturgical resource that might be offered to local churches to model an appropriate symbolic repentance,” he noted. Campaign Against Antisemitism has welcomed a “historic step” by the Church of England. A spokesperson said, “The Church of England, inspired by decrees from Rome, was absolutely central to the horrific antisemitism suffered by English Jews in the Middle Ages, including religious propaganda, badges of shame, the invention of the blood libel, massacres and the first national expulsion of an entire Jewish community from a European country.” CAA added, “For the Church to confront its past is laudable, we commend the Church of England for taking this historic step, which sends a powerful message not just about historic misdeeds but about how our faiths and society can better themselves today.”
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Fixler High Court appeal fails BY ADAM MOSES The parents of two-year-old Alta Fixler must decide if they are to take her heartbreaking case to the Supreme Court after a High Court appeal to continue life support treatmet failed last Friday. Alta suffered severe brain injury at birth, but her family want her to be treated in Israeli or the US where hospitals have confirmed treatment is available. Costs of transporting Alta safely would be met. Over 43,000 Jewish Weekly people responded to our petition to allow a leave of appeal but Lord Justice Baker upheld an earlier court ruling by Mr Justice MacDonald to provide palliative care. Lord Justice Baker concluded, “I know that Alta’s devoted parents will be profoundly distressed by the outcome of this appeal. Every parent and grandparent, indeed every person, from every community will have the deepest sympathy for them, and for Alta’s loving sibling. The strong support they draw from their faith and their community will be a source of consolation, but the emotional pain they are suffering is very hard to endure.” He added, “I understand why they have pursued this appeal and deeply regret that I cannot do more to help them. As a judge, however, my duty is to apply the law, and in this case, the law requires me to dismiss the appeal for the reasons I have given.” Justice Baker noted that a few days before the appeal hearing the parents’ solicitor filed an application to adduce fresh evidence, consisting of four statements from medical doctors, three reports relating to the transporting of Alta to Israel by air ambulance, a legal opinion on the religious principles, laws and cultural practices of Israel, and 12 letters from public figures in Israel and elsewhere, including the President of Israel, the Chief Rabbi of Israel, the President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, and three US Congressmen. This however did not sway his decision. “This Court has great respect for the views held by the President and Chief Rabbi of Israel and the other correspondents,” he noted. “The issues arising in this case, as in similar cases in the English courts in recent years, have attracted extensive comment in this country and abroad. Such comment, from whatever source, cannot have an important influence on the outcome of proceedings, which must be determined on the evidence and in accordance with the principles of English law.” Despite the huge setback, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has vowed to keep fighting for treatment. Schumer has already announced that a visa had been granted to transfer Alta to a US hospital as her father is an American citizen. “For some reason, the United Kingdom is
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Alta Fixler with brother and father
PHOTO: COURTESY
still not letting her go. It’s hard to figure out why,” Schumer reportedly said at his weekly Sunday morning press conference in New York. “I asked that she be allowed to safely leave the country with her parents and come to the US where a hospital is willing to give her the kind of help she needs to live a happy, productive life.” The Phoenix Centre for Rehabilitation and Pediatrics have reviewed medical files and have stated in a letter they “welcome the opportunity to take this child into our pediatric nursing home”. “We’re going to keep fighting till she’s allowed to come,” Schumer noted. Former Israel President Reuven Rivlin and Health Minister Yuli Edelstein joined the quest for Alta to be treated in Israel in preference to palliative care last month. Edelstein appealed to former Health Secretary Matt Hancock on the family’s behalf confirming Israel would treat Alta. According to Israeli law where parents oppose cessation of medical treatment leading to a child’s death and life expectancy exceeds six months, medical treatment must not cease. Board of Deputies President Marie van der Zyl wrote to the Department of Health and Social Care for serious consideration. Alta lacked oxygen when she was born in December 2018 but miraculously survived. Hopes she may come home hit complications and the hospital advised removal of support but Alta’s parents demanded private support at home or abroad, both viable. The public is asked to daven for Alta bas Chaya betoch sha’ar cholei Yisrael. Petition: https://www.change.org/p/thehigh-court-support-the-right-of-appeal-tosave-a-life Donations to financially assist the family: https://thechesedfund.com/savingalta/ fundraiser?aff=July13
AAD and Board back England Euro 2020 trio BY DAVID SAFFER Action Against Discrimination and the Board of Deputies have condemned the racist abuse of Black members of the England’s Euro 2020 team that lost against Italy in a penalty shoot-out on Sunday. Over one million people have signed a petition calling for people who racially abuse footballers to be banned from grounds for life. AAD chariman Jonathan Metliss described online hate posts towards Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka who missed penalties as “despicable in every respect”. Metliss, likewise, condemned abuse directed at actor and writer Jolyon Rubinstein as he took off his coat to reveal a shirt with his name on the back as “no less reprehensible”. AAD has consistently campaigned for serious action to be taken by the Government, police, clubs, Football Association and social media outlets to eradicate this behaviour. “The fact that it continues unabated is an indication of their failure,” Metliss said, adding that the rioting and violence was predictable. “The finger has to be pointed at the FA who have singularly failed to adopt measures to warn against and prevent this behaviour at England games,” he noted. “The Government of the day is also culpable in not taking appropriate action.” Metliss continued, “The FA has failed to condemn the recent waving of Palestinian flags by players which was an incitement to racial hatred. These problems will not go away until there is unified preventative action by all those mentioned above. This has all gone on for far too long.” BoD President Marie van der Zyl said that racist abuse aimed at England’s players online was appalling. “We hope the perpetrators can be tracked down and met with the full force of the law,” she noted. “We have long campaigned for tighter regulation on online abuse and this underscores why it is so necessary. Bigots, thugs and vandals like these contribute nothing to our society, whereas this diverse England team under Gareth Southgate has achieved so much and we commend their excellent representation of our country both on and off the pitch.” Rubeinstein, a satirist, recounted on Twitter that a group of six men in their 50’s laughed when he told them his granddad
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Marcus Rashford
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK
had fought the Nazi’s. He noted, “Your hatred only strengthens my Anti-racist belief. I stand with progress and a new progressive patriotism that is about inclusion and respect.” Support from politicians, players and community leaders has been unrelenting towards Rashford, Sancho and Saka. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the Football Association has condemned the abusers. And England boss Southgate said the racist abuse was “unforgivable” while England captain Harry Kane slammed those behind the racist abuse of his teammates who had “shown courage to step up and take a penalty when the stakes were high”. Kane said the trio deserved “support and backing” not “vile racist abuse”. He added on Twitter, “If you abuse anyone on social media you’re not an England fan and we don’t want you.” Hundreds of people left solidarity messages at a vandalised mural of Rashford in Withington, Manchester that was defaced following the defeat. Rashford noted in a statement, “I felt as if I’d let everyone down.” The Manchester United star added, “I can take critique of my performance all day long, my penalty was not good enough, it should have gone in but I will never apologise for who I am and where I came from. I’ve felt no prouder moment than wearing those three lions on my chest and seeing my family cheer me on in a crowd of tens of thousands.” The Metropolitan Police is investigating the abuse and said “it will not be tolerated”.
WHAT’S INSIDE THIS WEEK 02 News 14 Opinion 16 Letters 16 Games 17 Community 26 Feature
28 Cookery 30 Judaism 36 Kids 38 Youth 46 Sport
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CST report reveals record antisemitic incidents
Board reports first COVID-19 deaths since April
A Community Security Trust report reveals an unprecedented number of monthly antisemitic incidents during and after the recent conflict in Israel and Gaza. The record wave of anti-Jewish hate was accompanied by violent rhetoric and extremist incitement online and at anti-Israel demonstrations and rallies around the country. CST recorded a total of 628 antisemitic hate incidents from 8th May to 7th June, the highest number recorded in a monthlong period, four times expected incidents. There were 146 incidents during the same period in 2020 and 135 incidents in the month prior to 8th May. Reported antisemitic incidents attracted widespread publicity due to the impact on Jewish communal morale. Individuals targeted Jewish people or neighbourhoods with shouts of “Free Palestine”. “CST’s report details the racist hatred, abuse and intimidation that British Jews suffered over a month- long period,” said CST Chief Executive Mark Gardner. “This anti-Jewish rage was fuelled by extremists and directed against everyone from schoolchildren to rabbis, coming as violence and intimidation in schools, streets and shopping centres. We need firmer action against the perpetrators, and an end to the selective
The Board of Deputies has registered the first reports of funerals where the deceased contracted COVID-19 since the last reports on 17th April. There have been 906 funerals conducted by the community as reported to the Board since the start of the pandemic, an increase of three on the previous reporting period ended 18th June. “Every loved one lost to Covid is a tragedy,” noted Board President Marie van der Zyl. “We wish bereaving families a long life, and pray that the memory of their loved ones should be for a blessing.” She added, “Our community has received an almost three-month respite from COVID-19 mortality. That is now at an end. We have no evidence that the community is disproportionately affected as it was in the first wave but we must remain vigilant. “As society opens up, we must maintain good COVID-19 practice such as washing hands for 20 seconds and observing mask-wearing and other social-distancing measures where appropriate. Critically, we need as many people as possible to take the vaccine. If you have not yet taken the vaccine, please do so and encourage your friends and family to do the same.” The Board of Deputies works with seven
Mark Gardner
anti-racism from those who passionately oppose most racism but uniquely ignore, misrepresent or make excuses for this type of anti-Jewish hate.” Several pro-Palestinian demonstrations across Britain included antisemitic placards, chants and speeches from a minority of participants. Outside the UK, global jihadist groups including Al-Qaeda and ISIS released numerous statements urging violent jihad and attacks against Israelis and Jews worldwide. CST has recorded antisemitic incidents since 1984.
UNLOCKING OUR PAIN
Marie van der Zyl
of the largest denominational burial boards to collate an indicator of deaths where Covid-19 was a factor. Denominational burial boards include The Adath Yisroel Burial Society, Federation of Synagogues Burial Society, Spanish and Portuguese Sephardi Community and United Synagogue Burial Society. When making comparisons data separate to this indicator may not have similar parameters.
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Antisemitic content on TikTok up 912% Antisemitic content on TikTok has increased by a staggering 912% according to a new study. Research from Dr Gabriel Weimann of the University of Haifa and Natalie Masri of IDC Herzliya’s Institute for Counter-Terrorism illustrated figures has surged from 41 last year to 415 in 2021. The platform also saw 61 antisemitic postings this year compared to 43 last year. Antisemitic tropes and images in video content included Nazi salutes, Holocaust propoganda caricatures of Jews. Usernames including “@holocaustwasgood” and “@eviljews” rose from four to 59 this year. Dr Weimann reportedly noted, “TikTok’s catering to young, impressionable and naive audiences, combined with bad-faith actors who are posting hateful content online, is something that should be taken very seriously.” The report follows a similar one by the Institute for Counter Terrorism at the University of Haifa in 2020 that showed TikTok was filled with far-right antisemitism. ‘Spreading Hate on TikTok’ followed the platform from February to May 2020 discovering a plethora of antisemitic posts including Adolf Hitler speeches, ‘Sieg heil’ salute postings, neo-Nazi violence, white supremacist symbols and Holocaust denial. Holocaust survivor and educator Lily Ebert had her TikTok videos targeted by antisemitic trolls praising Hitler only two months ago. A TikTok director told a Knesset Committee last October that hatred had “no place” on the video-sharing platform and there would be increase efforts to remove antisemitic content. Campaign Against Antisemtism has called for tougher regulations on social media sites. Social networks proactively search for and remove hate speech from platforms.
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Dowden calls on social media giants to adopt IHRA
Oliver Dowden
PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA
BY DAVID SAFFER The Government has called on five social media giants to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism. And the Board of Deputies has made it clear action is needed after “significant targeting” of Jewish users. Secretary of State Oliver Dowden last week wrote to Facebook (which owns Instagram), Twitter, Google (which owns YouTube), Snap and Tiktok identifying the IHRA definition as an “invaluable tool” for organisations to understand how antisemitism manifests itself in the 21st century. Dowden was writing with regard to the Online Security Regulatory Framework, which accompanies the Government’s Online Safety Bill.
The Culture Secretary said the framework would put “significant measures in place” to ensure platforms tackle illegal and legal but harmful content, including antisemitic abuse. Marie van der Zyl, Board of Deputies President welcomed the government’s action and called on Dowden to follow this by calling on Ofcom, as the planned regulator for social media, to use IHRA when assessing whether social media companies are fulfilling a “duty of care” to Jewish users. “The Board of Deputies has been clear in all its meetings with social media companies that if they truly want to combat antisemitism on their platforms, they need to adopt the full IHRA definition of antisemitism as part of their community standards and use it when considering antisemitism complaints”, she noted. Ms van de Zyl added that at a meeting with Dowden to discuss the rise in online hate in response following the recent Israeli-Palestinian conflict last month the Board urged him to write to social media companies regarding the full IHRA definition. “We thank the Secretary of State for doing so and hope that in the coming period he will also write to Ofcom and ask them to use IHRA in their assessments of online antisemitism when they become the new regulator for social media,” noted Ms van de Zyl. “We are determined to ensure that Jewish social media users are free to enjoy the online space without fear of being targeted by hate,” she added. In his correspondence to the social media companies, Dowden wrote that all online abuse was unacceptable and communication should never be a refuge for “abusive, harmful
or criminal behaviour”. Highlighting the Community Security Trust’s 2020 report citing 634 online instances of antisemitism, which was the second highest annual total of online incidents reported to CST, Dowden noted. “This figure accounts for only reported instances with the actual instances likely to be much higher. These statistics alone highlight the role platforms have in allowing this type of harmful material to spread.” He added, “The Government is committed to tackling those who spread extremist views which promote violence, hatred and division against individuals and communities in our society. This includes the spread of antisemitic content online, which can incite hatred and division against the Jewish community.” The Tory government formally adopted the IHRA working definition of antisemitism in December 2016. Dowden confirmed that the online safety regulatory framework is to put “significant measures” in place to ensure platforms tackle illegal and legal but harmful content, including antisemitic abuse. He added, “It will require platforms to take effective steps to remove and limit the spread of illegal content, including criminal antisemitic abuse.” It is in this context Dowden “strongly” encouraged Facebook to adopt the definition and consider its practical application in company’s policies and procedures. “The definition is not legally binding, but it is an invaluable tool for organisations to understand how antisemitism manifests itself in the 21st century and to tackle it,” Dowden concluded.
Bennett and King Abdullah II secretly meet BY SIMCHA ABIR Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has met King Abdullah II at his palace in Amman. The first meeting between the Israeli Prime Minister and the King of Jordan in over five years was secret and took place earlier this month. The meeting was described by Israeli media as “positive” as the leaders agreed to open a “new page” in relations after the tense period between the two countries. Bennett reportedly arrived in the Jordanian capital by helicopter with the leaders discussing Israel supplying greater drinking water provisions to the drought-hit kingdom. King Abdullah had difficult relations with former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu especially in the past 12 months. Foreign Minister Yair Lapid met fellow Foreign Minister Ayman al-Safdi on the Jordanian side of the Allenby Bridge. Israel has agreed to sell Jordan an
additional 50m cubic metres of water this year. Lapid and a-Safdi also agreed to increase Jordan’s export potential to the West Bank from $160m a year to $700m a year. Technical teams are ratifying the water agreement to raise the volume of exports to the Palestinian Authority in accordance with the 1994 Paris Protocol. “The Kingdom of Jordan is a neighbour and important partner of the State of Israel,” Lapid said. “The Foreign Ministry will continue to hold talks to preserve and strengthen relations. We will expand economic cooperation for the benefit of the two countries.” According to the Jordanian Foreign Ministry, Safadi underlined a need to maintain calm in the Palestinian territories and reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. He also highlighted a need to respect the status quo on the Temple Mount and respect the right of Sheikh Jarrah’ residents to their homes. Bicom noted the Bennett-Lapid
government is determined to improve Israel’s relations with its neighbours after several years of tensions. Defence Minister Benny Gantz sent a proposal to Lebanon for humanitarian aid via the UN peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL. Gantz has stated Israel will offer assistance to Lebanon. It is reported that Lebanon has not yet responded to Gantz’s proposal. The US welcomed the new agreement between Lapid and Safadi, stating “tangible steps” will increase prosperity and “advance regional stability”. King Abdullah is due to meet US President Joe Biden next week at the White House. Bennett is also set to visit the US to meet Biden. His administration has called on all sides to lay the groundwork for a resumption of peace talks. Biden, meantime, has written to President Isaac Herzog following his inauguration last week highlighting “common interests” in
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advancing peace, stability and security for Israel and the Middle East. “I know that you are deeply committed to Israel’s future as a Jewish and democratic state, living in peace and security alongside its neighbours,” Biden wrote. “I am confident that in the years ahead you will make valuable contributions to promoting coexistence and tolerance within Israeli society and to championing a message of hope about the future.” Biden congratulated Herzog on his election as the 11th President of the State of Israel in a statement due to his “unwavering commitment to strengthening Israel’s security, advancing dialogue and building bridges across the global Jewish community. “I am confident that under his presidency, the partnership between Israel and the United States will continue to grow and deepen,” he noted. Herzog succeeded Reuven Rivlin following his seven-year term in office.
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CAA call on corporations and unions to protect Jewish workers BY ADAM MOSES Campaign Against Antisemitism have called on corporations and unions to protect Jewish workers after a Jewish inclusion officer for a children’s book society resigned after receiving death threats for speaking out against antisemitism. April Powers, former Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer at the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, posted a statement on Twitter in response to antisemitic attacks across the United States. The statement, released on behalf of the SCBWI, recognised that the world’s 14.8 million Jewish people have the right to life, safety and freedom from scapegoating and fear. “No person should be at risk because of their heritage, religion, disability or whom they love,” it noted. “In the last several years, antisemitism has been on the rise globally, and has fuelled a 75% increase in hate speech and random violence against Jewish people in the last few weeks alone. Because antisemitism is one of the oldest forms of hatred, it has its own name. It is the example from which many forms of racism and violence are perpetrated.” Some Twitter users were incensed Powers did not include a statement on Islamophobia in the release. Powers engaged in an online debate with one user before blocking them. She later regretted her handling of the incident and resigned. But CAA found it “extraordinary” Powers had
April Powers
PHOTO: TWITTER
seen the need to resign following a negative reaction to “bravely calling out” antisemitism. CAA added that it was “all the more outrageous” that she was pilloried for having spoken out against a form of racism to which she, as a Jewish woman, would be particularly sensitive. “This incident stands in stark contrast to the mere reassignment a few weeks ago by Google of its Head of Diversity Strategy after he was revealed to have made antisemitic comments,” noted a CAA spokesman. “Yet again, it seems that diversity is inclusive of all minorities except Jews, and opposed to all forms of discrimination except antisemitism.” CAA had a sobering warning. “If it becomes impossible to call out
antisemitism in the corporate world, it will become even harder to combat it,” they commented. “It is past time that corporations and unions live up to their values and protect their Jewish workers and members.” Speaking on her experience, Powers reportedly said, “This person is calling me a white supremacist and that I deserve to die and so does my family. It doesn’t matter if it’s credible or not, the feeling that you have when someone threatens your life and that of your family online and publicly is a terrorist act.” She added, “I am so sad and disheartened that this is the world that we live in right now because none of them deserve any of this and their lives, safety and careers are on the line because of it.” Following Powers’ resignation, SCBWI released a statement, noting, “As an apolitical literary organisation, it is not our mission to promote any specific political viewpoint or policy. Instead, we provide our members the opportunity, space, tools, exposure and empowerment they require to make the high-quality, diverse children’s books that all children need.” SCBWI added that Powers resigned by her own choice as she felt she had made mistakes in her professional decisions in managing social media. “We want to be sure that our community understands our core mission as an organisation of children’s book writers, illustrators, and translators,” they added.
Powers clarified on Facebook that SCBWI did not fire or ask her to resign. “There are good, kind people who work and volunteer there, many of whom are from marginalised, minority, or underrepresented backgrounds (including Jewish) themselves who have also been harassed and trolled relentlessly,” she said. But SCBWI received criticism for its handling of the situation by New York City based PEN America . They noted on its website, “Issuance of a factual public statement within the scope of a professional’s job should not be grounds for discipline or resignation under pressure. Biases and bigotries take on many variations and targets anti-Black racism, Islamophobia, antisemitism, homophobia, sexism and other forms each have their own distinct characteristics and are worthy of forceful denunciation in their own right. The fight for human rights and dignity must oppose such hatreds in all their forms absent any such indication, the condemnation of one form of hatefulness should not be read to imply indifference toward others.” Founded in 1922, PEN America champions the “freedom to write” and “power of the word” to ensure people have the freedom to create literature and express views. Its membership includes over 7,500 authors, journalists, editors, poets, playwrights, publishers, translators, agents and other writing professionals.
Boris invites Bennett to the UK BY SIMCHA ABIR Prime Minister Boris Johnson has spoken with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett for the first time since Bennett took office and has invited the Israeli leader to visit the UK. A statement from No 10 confirmed Johnson congratulated Bennett on the formation of a new government and reaffirmed the “strength of the UK-Israel relationship”. The statement added that the leaders stressed their commitment to deepening cooperation on defence, security, technology and trade. Johnson and Bennett discussed a “shared fight against coronavirus” and welcomed the collaboration between the nations throughout the pandemic including exchanges between medical experts and data-sharing on vaccines. Inviting Bennett to the UK, the No 10 statement added, Johnson raised the importance of working together to tackle climate change. He also hoped Bennett would attend the UK-hosted COP26 summit in November. In related news, Conservative peers Lord Polak and Lord Grade of Yarmouth voiced support of Israel and condemned Palestinian stubbornness to peace. Speaking in the House of Lords, Polak said some peers failed to “comprehend the
winds of change in the region” as seen in the Abraham Accords and a joint NATO drill which included Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and the UAE alongside Israel. Polak asked whether the Minister agreed the most helpful contribution towards peace and prosperity would be for Lords to use influence with Palestinians to urge them to sit around the table with Israelis. FCDO Minister Lord Ahmad welcomed the Abraham Accords in his response and emphasised that Israel and the Palestinian Authority should sit down and agree a way forward and progress. Lord Grade spoke about a territory controlled by proscribed terrorists determined to wipe Israel off the face of the earth no matter the cost of its people. Lord Ahmad replied that if Hamas wanted to be a party to peace, it needed to “ensure that that recognition is extended”, adding the UK Government ‘did not engage with Hamas”. Meantime, CFI are campaigning to elect community champion Ian Cohen in the Fortune Green by-election tonight. Cohen is known across Fortune Green for his business, charitable and community involvement. A Fortune Green resident for 50 years, he fell 74 votes short of being elected in the ward in 2014.
Chief Executive The Board of Deputies is the democratic, representative voice of the British Jewish community, with Deputies from more than 200 synagogues, organisations and regional councils. We advocate for the community to a wide range of external stakeholders, and co-ordinate a range of cross-communal projects and initiatives. We are looking for an experienced leader with excellent judgement and deep knowledge of the UK Jewish community to lead our professional team, provide strategic vision and guidance in partnership with our Honorary Officers, maintain and strengthen relationships with our partners and stakeholders, and efficiently manage the organisation’s operations and finances. The successful candidate will have a track record of successful management and senior leadership experience, be able to demonstrate strong advocacy and communication skills, have a passionate concern for the Jewish community and a compelling strategic vision for the Board’s place within it. Closing date for receipt of applications – 6th August 2021 To view the job description and apply for this position please visit our website - https://www.bod.org.uk/careers/
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Surfside search for victims to end in August
Search underway at Champlain Towers
BY DAVID SAFFER Florida authorities hope to complete the search for victims of the 12-storey Surfside tower block by August. But the timescale is fluid. Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava confirmed there are currently 90 deaths, 71 bodies have been identified including three children. Families have been notified, 31 people remain missing from the Champlain Towers South residential condominium. Twelve lawsuits have been filed including the family of teenager Jonah Handler pulled alive from the rubble with his mother, Stacie Fang. The 54-year-old mum died of her injuries in hospital and was the first victim named in the condominium disaster on June 24. Jonah’s father, Neil Handler, is acting as guardian, and Kevin Fang, Stacie’s brother, have filed a lawsuit on behalf of the 15-yearold who lived on the 10th floor with his mother. According to documentation, Stacie and Jonah were “side by side” in his room when the building collapsed. “Stacie and Jonah landed several floors below and miraculously were still alive,” the lawsuit stated. Jonah survived but has lifechanging injuries. The lawsuit states the condominium association knew the building was “structurally unsound, unsafe and at grave risk of collapse”. According to a 2018 report, the legal team note, the 40-year-old building had “widespread structural damage”. Authorities, meantime, are recording personal items on a database for families of victims. Photos are taken of possessions and logged using GPS.
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Miami-Dade Police Sgt. Danny Murillo said the process was “trial and error” as the tower collapse was not an “everyday event”. Rachel Spiegel’s 66-year-old mother, Judy, died in the disaster. Her remains were recovered last Friday. Other Jewish victims include Tzvi and Itty Ainsworth, David and Bonnie Epstein and Aryey and Ruth Oliwkowicz. “All my parents’ stuff over a lifetime is gone,” Rachel said including a wedding album. Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett commented, “The work is so delicate.” An “estate process” is in place confirmed Miami-Dade Police Director Freddy Ramirez who added special consideration recognised “religious” property. Rabbis are ensuring religious items are handled with care. “Our officers are learning so much about culture,” Ramirez noted. “There are just so many dynamics with the sadness and the sorrow.” The remaining part of the building was demolished over safety fears prior to Tropical Storm Elsa hitting the region last week. Miami-Dade Fire Chief Alan Cominsky is uncertain when recovery operations will end. “We were looking at a 14-day to 21-day timeframe,” he told a press conference. The timeline was “a sliding scale.” Burkett added that the recovering operation was for bodies and possessions of victims. “It doesn’t get any less difficult and finding victims, that experience doesn’t change for our search and rescue folks,” he commented. “It takes a toll, but you’ve got to love the heart that they’re putting into this and we’re very grateful.” First responders from Israel have left the site where over 6.4 million lbs of concrete and debris has been removed. The Israeli team used building blueprints
to create detailed 3D images of the disaster site to aid the search. They also gathered information from families, many Jewish, to build a room-by-room model. Community members took part in a memorial walk for rescue workers took place on Saturday night. During a brief ceremony, Mayor Levine Cava thanked the battalion for “unrelenting dedication” and presented them with an honorary “key to the county.” The Israeli team joined task forces from around the US working 12-hour shifts. With many occupants believed to be Jewish, emergency workers worked with a rabbi to ensure religious rituals are observed. Teams from Florida, Indiana and Pennsylvania are at the recovery effort, Cominsky confirmed but Virginia, New Jersey and Ohio teams have departed. “We’re doing everything that we can, everything possible, until we feel that we’ve delayered every floor,” Cominsky noted. Hours before the formal transition from rescue to recovery emergency workers joined local officials, rabbis and chaplains in a moment of silence. Firefighters from Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and the Federal Government officials were also present. Officials vowed to continue recovery efforts until the remains of every one missing was discovered. Miami-Dade Assistant Fire Chief Raide Jadallah told families that crews would stop using rescue dogs and listening devices. “Our sole responsibility at this point is to bring closure,” he said. Later, during a news conference, Jadallah said crews remained committed to finish the job. “The resources are still there, the men and women are still there, the support is still there,” said Jadallah.
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“We have all asked G-d for a miracle, so the decision to transition from rescue to recovery is an extremely difficult one,” Levine Cava told a news conference. She added, “They’ve used every possible strategy, and every possible technology available to them to find people in the rubble. They’ve removed over 6.4 million lbs of concrete and debris from the mound. They’ve used sonar, cameras, dogs, heavy machinery. They’ve searched for void spaces and they’ve searched for victims. They ran into a building they were told could collapse, and they braved fire, smoke, torrential rain, and strong winds in the hopes of finding people alive.” Miami-Dade Fire Rescue tweeted, “With heavy hearts, we begin search & recovery efforts, and will continue to give our all as our commitment still remains to reunite families with their loved ones.” Dennis Dirkmaat, Department of Applied and Forensic Sciences at Mercyhurst University, explained that crews would use heavy equipment in a “top down approach” to lift material and place it in containers before evaluating for human remains. No one has been pulled out alive since June 24. Twice, rescuers had to suspend operations due to instability of the building. Families are prepared for tragic news about relatives. “For some, what they’re telling us, it’s almost a sense of relief when they already know (someone has died) and they can just start to put an end to that chapter and start to move on,” said Miami-Dade firefighter and paramedic Maggie Castro. Authorities are launching a grand jury investigation into the collapse. Lawsuits have been filed by Champlain Towers families. Ahead of the demolition, Levine Cava advised nearby residents to remain indoors and close windows. With so many people unaccounted for, the federal government sent a specialist University of Florida team to help with DNA analysis. Beachside communities in the area held subdued events for the Fourth of July. Miami Beach cancelled its Independence Day celebrations. It has not yet been determined what caused nearly half the 12-storey, 156-unit building, to collapse. Condominium owners were reportedly due to start making payments for $9 million in repairs recommended in a 2018 report warning because of major structural damage. Tehillim are being said for unaccounted people. Over 12,400 individuals across the globe have donated almost $1.5 million to $5,000,000 a fund. Donations: www.thechesedfund.com/ shulofharbour/maimitragedy
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WJC expands Facebook partnership
CER completes training for 38 rabbis BY LEAH WAXLER Conference of European Rabbis has delivered training for future communal leaders. The first cycle of its Rabbinical Reserve of Europe programme saw 38 young rabbis from 19 countries receive formal training addressing challenges facing Jewish communities around the world. Over two years, participants learnt about a range of issues including the inspection of mikvahs, supervision of factories and restaurants in accordance with kashrut laws and how community leaders can help combat the rise of antisemitism. Rabbis also received professional training focusing on communication, leadership, fundraising and public speaking. During a ceremony, Rabbi Avinoam Citron of Liverpool, Rabbi Daniel Brezner of Minsk and Rabbi Daniel Ashkenazi of Barcelona received prizes for contributions to communal life. Rabbi Nachum Zicherman of Moscow, Rabbi Eliyahu Krivoshi from the Torat Chaim Yeshiva in Moscow and Rabbi David Basok of Wroclaw won commendations for diligence and commitment to communities. Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, CER
BY ADAM MOSES World Jewish Congress has expanded its partnership with Facebook for Holocaust education. Users can search for information on Aboutholocaust.org in 12 languages. WJC developed the website with UNESCO as a comprehensive, accessible online resource detailing the history of the Holocaust and its legacy. The launch has begun and will continue over the coming weeks. Facebook users can search for terms associated with the Holocaust or denial of it. Visitors are provided with facts about the Shoah and other national, ethnic and political groups by Nazi Germany and accomplices during World War II. The website was available for English language users only on Holocaust Remembrance Day last January. New languages on the site includes Arabic, English, French, Polish, Russian and Spanish followed later this month by Chinese, Farsi, German, Hebrew, Hungarian and Portuguese. Facebook may add additional languages in the future. Earlier this year, Facebook’s Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg said that WJC and UNESCO were honouring the six million people murdered for being Jewish and those who survived. She added, “At a time of rising hate and intolerance, taking time to read and reflect on what happened to Jews and others in Europe is more important than ever,” she noted. Directing users to the resource is Facebook’s latest effort to combat antisemitism and Holocaust denial on its platform. It follows the social media giants’ expansion of its hate speech committing to remove content related to Holocaust denial and antisemitism. “Holocaust denial, Holocaust distortion and the spreading of conspiracy myths about the Holocaust have become cornerstones in the vicious incitement of antisemitic hatred on the part of white supremacists, neo-Nazis and other extremist forces,” commented WJC President Ronald S. Lauder. “Learning the facts of the Holocaust is crucial to combating all those who deliberately desecrate the memory of the millions who were murdered by Nazi Germany and its multinational accomplices in order to promote their reprehensible agenda. The Holocaust is the ultimate example of what can happen when hatred and malicious lies rooted in deliberate misinformation are allowed to thrive.” Lauder added that WJC was gratified to work with UNESCO and Facebook to
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ensure that its 2.7 billion users are provided with accurate, comprehensive information about the Holocaust. “Connecting Facebook users around the world to AboutHolocaust.org contributes greatly to promoting tolerance and empathy as the antidote to resurgent antisemitism, xenophobia, bigotry and hate,” he noted. “I commend Facebook for its continued efforts to remove hateful content and support Holocaust education. I encourage other social media platforms to follow this example of how to use their technology to ensure that their influential platforms contribute to disseminating the truth.” Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General welcomed users globally having access to accurate Holocaust information. “Denial and distortion are forms of contemporary antisemitism, which we must all take an active stand against,” she said. “In the context of the global rise of misinformation, social media platforms have a role to play in combating false narratives and hate, and redirecting users to reliable sources of information.” Users will be directed to credible information about the Holocaust and survivors’ stories. Facebook’s Public Policy Director, Israel & Jewish Diaspora, Jordana Cutler, is proud of a partnership with WJC and UNESCO during rising antisemitism globally. “By expanding this tool to reach more people in more languages, Facebook is taking an active role to fulfil the promise of ‘Never Again’,” she noted.
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president, commenting on the programme, said: “These rabbis are the next generation of leaders and we have a duty to train them. The challenges facing the Jewish communities of Europe, and indeed the whole world, are huge. Assimilation is very high and the rabbis of our communities are the spearhead and focal point of Jewish life. We need to give them the practical tools needed to succeed in their work.” In 2019, the CER established the rabbinical programme to empower communal leaders to oversee the provision of halacha in Europe. The programme included sessions with Chief Rabbi Goldschmidt, Dayan Menachem Gelley, Rabbi Moshe Lebel and Rabbi Reuven Leuchter. CER secretary, Rabbi Aharon Shmuel Baskin, co-ordinated the programme. Rabbis attended from countries including Spain, Switzerland, Russia, France, Poland, Belarus, Latvia, Moldova, Sweden, Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, Austria, Georgia, Ukraine, Estonia and UK. The programme was developed by Rabbi Lebel and CER’s chief executive, Gady Gronich, in affiliation with the Patrick and Lina Drahi Foundation, Pilgens Foundation and Ms Joel Aflalo.
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NEU’s Joint General Secretary faces grilling over antisemitism BY ADAM MOSES Campaign Against Antisemitism has commended Robert Halfon MP, for his robust questioning of Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, Kevin Courtney, regarding antisemitism at a House of Commons Education Committee hearing on Tuesday. Courtney attempted to defend controversial stances he and his union have taken in relation to antisemitism. Halfon, the Committee Chair, grilled Courtney about matters of “grave concern” to the Jewish community including why the NEU had not adopted the International Definition of Antisemitism. The British Government, all major political parties and anti-racism organisations, including CAA have adopted the IHRA defintion. Halfon quoted a Jewish former NEU member who had called for adoption of the Definition by the union, adding there was nothing stopping the NEU’s executive adopting it. Courtney called on former Jewish members to re-join and disclosed he had written
to some Jewish members, emphasising there was a very strong place for them in the union. He explained, “For people who see Israel as the homeland of a nation, who see it as a refuge of last resort, who see it as a response to the Holocaust, there is a place for people with those views in the union.” Halfon pressed Courtney on adopting the IHRA definition and asked why over 100 Jewish members had quit over concerns how the NEU handled antisemitism. Courtney said the NEU was working “very hard against antisemitism” and organising training. Halfon noted the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas resulting in demonstrations across Britain and increased antisemitism in schools and campuses.
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Courtney replied that demonstrations were about the evictions of Palestinian families from Sheikh Jarrah condemned by the British Government and United Nations. Halfon observed Jewish members felt NEU support was secondary to campaigns criticising the State of Israel. Courtney denied this, adding the union put out statements that Israel and Hamas should stop bombings. Courtney said he spoke about the topic at demonstrations. The conversation turned to antisemitism training sessions organised by Warsaw Ghetto vandal and NEU official, Ewa Jasiewicz. CAA recently revealed Jasiewicz did not lead sessions but they were led by two activists from far-left fringe Jewish group, Jewdas. Courtney offered a “potted history” of the matter, noting the NEU allocated staff to work with the union’s various forums which requested sessions on racism, Islamophobia and antisemitism. Pressed on the Ghetto vandalism, Courtney insisted Jasiewicz “didn’t teach about it” and had “sourced the people”. Courtney accepted the vandalism was “completely wrong” and the NEU didn’t know about it when they employed Jasiewicz until 2018. Courtney claimed the NEU had discussed it with her at a very senior level in the union. He added, “I believe in redemption, she has apologised for those actions and they were wrong.” Halfon asked about anti-Israel rallies, including at least one Courtney addressed, featuring antisemitic placards. “You failed to condemn them yet you
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spoke at that rally,” Halfon observed. “Do you believe it is appropriate for you to speak at rallies with antisemitic placards and chants?” he added. Courtney reportedly declared, “I condemn all acts of antisemitism”, noting antisemitic placards were not everywhere and most were not antisemitic. Courtney pointed out the NEU was against all forms of racism, Islamophobia, and antisemitism. Halfon ended by asking if the NEU was safe for Jewish people. “From where I’m sitting, he noted, “Jews don’t count” at the NEU and there appears to be a “hostile environment” for Jewish people. Courtney stressed Jewish people” absolutely count” in our union and called for the PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK people to re-join. He again stressed that the union was committed to opposing all forms of racism, Islamophobia and antisemitism. Halfon interjected, “Except when it comes to antisemitism, when you turn a blind eye.” Courtney vehemently disagreed. “That is absolutely untrue,” he responded. “That is a disgraceful slur on me and my union.” CAA noted Courtney spoke of antisemitism almost exclusively alongside “Islamophobia” and “all forms of racism”, rather than exclusively about anti-Jewish racism. A CAA spokesperson commended Halfon for his robust examination of Courtney. “It is not often that the leadership of a controversial union is held to account, and it was clear from Mr Courtney’s answers that he and his union see no shortcomings in their conduct in relation to antisemitism and the Jewish community, despite the mass resignation of Jewish NEU members,” they noted. “While Mr Courtney professes his opposition to antisemitism, he nevertheless addressed rallies featuring antisemitic placards, allowed the Warsaw Ghetto vandal to invite fringe figures to deliver antisemitism training to his members, will not commit to adopting the International Definition of Antisemitism, and, above all, has presided over a union that has lost a significant portion of its Jewish membership, for which he apparently offers no apology. “The Jewish community has long had concerns about the NEU, and Mr Courtney’s performance today showed him to be unapologetic and without any kind of plan to take robust action.” Halfon referred to research by CAA during questioning of Courtney.
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Labour MP denies Dame Louise quit Labour over antisemitism BY ADAM MOSES
to be found guilty of racism by the Equality and Human Rights Council.” Former Labour MP for Riverside Dame Campaign Against Antisemitism notLouise Ellman is “appalled” her successor ed Green was referring to a report by the Kim Johnson denies she was forced out of Equality and Human Rights Commission that found Labour unlawfully discriminated the Party over antisemitism in 2019. Dame Louise’ “agonising decision” to quit against Jewish people. the Party after 22 years was because it was CAA was complainant in the EHRC’s “no longer a safe place for Jews” and leader investigation. Jeremy Corbyn should bear responsibility. Responding to Green’s comments, JohnJohnson’s startling comments on BBC son insisted, “Louise Ellman was not forced Politics North West came in a segment on out. She took a decision to resign from the misogyny against Muslim women in Labour Party after 22 years as an MP.” on Sunday. Johnson succeeded Dame Louise as MP During what turned into a spat with for Riverside after she resigned over antiConservative MP, Chris Green, Johnson semitic abuse. Dame Louise later reportedly recounted accepted Labour had had an issue with antisemitism. in The Times, “The change in Liverpool Riv“We do have an Action Plan,” she said. erside, then my constituency, was speedy “We have improved our position on that. and traumatic. Membership increased from However, Baroness Warsi, who has called 500 to 2,700. The atmosphere in the regular out Islamophobia out in the Tory Party, meetings became deeply unpleasant. It was nothing has happened there. So at least made clear that I was the target and I was we acknowledge and deal with the issues to be removed. My crime was that I was a within our Party.” ‘Zionist’.” Green recounted instances of alleged Dame Louise reportedly responded to discrimination against women in Labour, Johnson’s claim on TV, stating, “I am apconcluding with Dame Louise. “You look palled by this statement. Keir Starmer has at Liverpool and the clearing out of Louise already apologised to me for the antisemiEllman and other Jewish Labour members,” tism that drove me out of the party.” he noted. Dame Louise accused her successor of Johnson interjected, stating, “That’s ridic- gaslighting her, noting on Twitter, “Last year ulous”. But Green continued, “Labour is the I documented (in The Times) how antionly party to join the British National Party semitism in Liverpool Riverside CLP and HALF PAGE ADVERT JAN 2020:Layout 1 09/01/2020 16:04 Page 1
Dame Louise Ellman
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in the Party nationally forced me out. I’m appalled that the current MP denies what I experienced. This is gaslighting.” Commenting on the Johnson-Green TV quarrel, a CAA spokesperson said, “The tradition of downplaying antisemitism in the Labour Party clearly endures. First,
Jeremy Corbyn denies that Luciana Berger was hounded out of the Party, and now Kim Johnson, who only became an MP because of the vacancy left by Dame Louise Ellman’s resignation over antisemitism, denies that Dame Louise was forced out of the Party. Sir Keir Starmer has previously declared that anyone who thinks that accusations of antisemitism in the Labour Party are exaggerated are part of the problem and should be nowhere near the Labour Party. What will he now do about a member of his own Parliamentary Party who apparently thinks such things?” CAA and the Board of Deputies have tweeted support for Dame Louise Board of Deputies noted on Twitter, “If Labour is to properly address the antisemitism within the Party, it must become unacceptable for Labour MPs to engage in denial and gaslighting of this sort. Minimising the problems of the past raises the risks of their recurrence in the future.” CAA said the incident came a month after Corbyn made a similar claim about former Labour MP, Luciana Berger, in an interview at the Cambridge Union. When asked about Ms Berger being “hounded out” of the Party due to antisemitism, Corbyn insisted she was not “hounded out” but decided to resign. Ms Berger was among a number of MPs who quit Labour in protest at its institutional antisemitism.
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Herzog witnesses UAE embassy opening
Isaac Herzog
BY SIMCHA ABIR President Isaac Herzog participated in the opening of the United Arab Emirates embassy in Israel yesterday. Based in the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange building a flag raising ceremony followed the inauguration of Israel’s embassy in the UAE last month. Herzog watched on as UAE’s Ambassador to Israel, Mohamed Al Khaja, raised his country’s flag outside the building. “Opening the embassy is an important milestone on our path to peace, prosperity
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and security in the Middle East,” said Herzog during the ceremony. “Seeing the UAE flag proudly hoisted in Tel Aviv seemed like a distant dream a year and a half ago, while now it seems natural and legitimate.” Al Khaja noted, “The peoples of the region want a stable and prosperous Middle East. It is time for new approaches and thinking of a new and better way for the future of the region. It is our hope that the opening of the embassy will mark an important milestone in relations between the countries.” The UAE normalised relations with Israel last year under the ‘Abraham Accords’.
Herzog has held a plethora of meetings since succeeding Reuven Rivlin as Israel’s 11 president including with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday. Herzog and Erdogan held a 40-minute telephone conversation after tense relations between the nations. During the recent hostilities with Hamas in Operation Guardian of the Walls, Erdogan claimed Israel was a “terrorist state” earning the wrath of the US State Department. US spokesperson Ned Price condemned Erdogan’s anti-Semitic comments as” reprehensible”. Following this week’s discussions, Herzog’s office released a statement, noting, “The presidents see great importance to the continuation of contacts and dialogue despite all the disagreements in order to promote positive steps to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that will also contribute to the improvement of Israeli-Turkish relations.” Erdogan promised support to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Istanbul at a meeting on Saturday. “Turkey will not remain silent about Israel’s actions and the peace and stability in the region will not be possible as long as the Israeli occupation continues,” he said. Israel and Turkey’s relationship has dipped in the past decade thought they have strong commercial ties.
Lapid addresses EU Foreign Affairs Council BY LEAH WAXLER Israel’s Foreign Minister Yair Lapid addressed the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels this week. The first Israeli foreign minister to do so in a decade, Lapid noted the recent opening of the Israeli embassy in Abu Dhabi. Lapid said it was “no secret” that he backs a two-state solution with the Palestinians but conditions were not in place for a peace agreement. Lapid noted he had made agreements with Jordanian Foreign Minister on trade and water, and met with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. “I want to expand the circle of peace to more countries,” he added. Regarding the Palestinians, Lapid commented, “We need this circle to eventually include the Palestinians. It is no secret that I support a two-state solution. Unfortunately, there is no current plan for this. However, there is one thing we all need to remember. If there is eventually a Palestinian state, it must be a peace-loving democracy. We cannot be asked to take part in the building of another threat to our lives, what we need to do now is make sure that no steps are taken that will prevent the possibility of peace in the future,
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and we need to improve the lives of Palestinians. Whatever is humanitarian, I will be for it. Everything that builds the Palestinian economy, I am for it.” Lapid described Israrl’s new government as “an exciting experiment in modern politics.” The coalition had abolished the traditional division between right and left. “It is new, but it is also a return to the core roots of liberal democracies, making decisions that one can disagree with, without hating those with whom we disagree,” he said. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell welcomed Lapid to Brussels. “It’s important that the new Israeli government comes here to Brussels, it is an opportunity for a fresh start,” Borrell said. “I think it’s a good opportunity for us to restart our relations, which in the past were quite deteriorated.” German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas described the visit as a “good sign”. Lapid and Shoukry in Brussels held the first bilateral talks since Israel’s new government took office. Egypt has been key mediators in negotiations with Hamas following the May conflict. Shoukry called for a need to resolve the stalemate between the Palestinian and Israeli
sides for comprehensive peace negotiations, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated on Twitter. U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Israeli and Palestinian Affairs Hady Amr is expected to make his first visit in the region next week. In related news, Foreign Ministry director-general Alon Ushpiz flew to Rabat, Morocco in a diplomatic mission initiated by Lapid to meet Foreign Minister Fouad Yazur and senior officials. Direct flights between Ben-Gurion and Casablanca and Marrakech are expected next month. “The flights operated by Israeli and Moroccan airlines will greatly promote tourist and business travel between the two countries,” the Foreign Ministry stated. A Moroccan Air Force plane landed in Israel for the first time at Hatzor Airbase before a joint international exercise with the Israel Air Force. The IDF have not commented on military cooperation with Morocco. Morocco’s King Mohammed VI congratulated Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on his new coalition. Israel and Morocco restored diplomatic relations in December 2020.
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Kirschenbaum gets 10-year prison term BY LEAH WAXLER Former deputy Interior Minister Fania Kirschenbaum is to appeal a 10-year prison term for bribery. She’s been ordered to pay a NIS 900,000 fine to the Supreme Court. Tel Aviv District Court Judge Yaron Levy said the former Yisrael Beytenu lawmaker had taken bribes in a “systematic, cunning and sophisticated” manner over six years from eight unconnected sources. The bribes totalled NIS 2 million. Benefits and cash were used by Kirshenbaum, family members, associates and her party. “The role of the court is to point out loud and clear the seriousness of the damage her actions caused to Israeli society and democracy,” Levy said. Kirschenbaum’s sentence was delayed until September 5 to allow an appeal. Giora Aderet, who represented the disgraced leader, noted, “Such punishment for offenses of this kind has never been handed out, it is extremely harsh.” Judge Levy sentenced former Agriculture Ministry director-general Rami Cohen to 30 months in prison and ordered him to pay a NIS 180,000 fine. Former party headquarters chief David Godovsky is serving a seven-year prison sentence. Godovsky was convicted in a plea bargain for taking bribes, money laundering and requesting bribes. Charges of extortion, conspiracy to commit a crime and tax offenses were dropped in the deal. Kirschenbaum is one of 36 serving and former officials accused in the corruption investigation that began in 2014. To date 17 suspects have been convicted, including former Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov.
Greenstein declared bankrupt Palestine Solidarity Campaign co-founder Tony Greenstein has been declared bankrupt after failing to pay Campaign Against Antisemitism £81,854 following an unsuccessful defamation claim. CAA have described the veteran anti-Zionist activist a “notorious antisemite”. Judge Catherine Burton, noting Greenstein failed to attend or make representations, made the bankruptcy order. The defamation win against Greenstein, who was expelled from the Labour Party, secures CAA’s ability to call out anti-Jewish racism. “The wheels of justice may grind slow at times, but they grind sure,” noted a CAA spokesperson. “The bankruptcy order against Mr Greenstein will greatly reduce his capacity to litigate against others without any ability or intention to pay when he loses,” CAA added. “Today’s ruling should serve as a warning to others that we will be unrelenting in the pursuit of justice for the Jewish community.” CAA has written to the Charity Commission to notify them of the bankruptcy order as Greenstein is a trustee of The Brighton Trust, formerly known as the “Trust 4 Unpopular Causes”.
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ISRAEL POLITICS FROM THE KNESSET with political analyst JAMES J. MARLOW
QUESTIONS TO THE CORRESPONDENT Jeffrey Berger asks: JAMES, I am so grateful to you for explaining the “Israeli political system” in easy to understand terms, which has really helped me greatly in the last few months. Could you therefore tell me whether Ra’am have dropped out of the government or not, as there was something in the news about it, but it’s now gone all quiet. Hello Jeffrey: Firstly, I very much appreciate your kind comments on the coverage and hope you will continue to get updates from this column and spread the word. To your question. A coalition crisis did erupt last Sunday when the Arab Ra’am party with 4 seats, threatened to stop supporting the coalition. The dispute was over the new government talking to Ra’am’s rival, the Arab Joint List party, about supporting it on a parliamentary safety net. In the end, Bennett agreed to a list of demands from Ra’am by the end of the day, some of which were reported on the main Israeli networks. In response, Netanyahu criticised Bennett for “surrendering” to Ra’am’s demands, in exchange for parliamentary cooperation. The opposition leader said that “Bennett had sold him [Mansour Abbas] the Negev, three hours after he issued his demands.” Speaking to his Likud faction on Monday, Netanyahu declared that “Bennett only has six seats and in this reality, every anti-Zionist Knesset member in the coalition, is a de-facto Prime Minister. “Bennett will have to continue to surrender to the dictates of every anti-Zionist Arab MK. If Mansour Abbas will ask him [Bennett] to stand on one foot, clap and put his hands on his head, Bennett will do it. “Bennett is a weak and extorted Prime Minister.” This is the usual rhetoric in the Knesset and Bennett’s reaction was no less harsh when he told Netanyahu that he has done absolutely nothing on restraining Iran while he was in office. However Gil Hoffman of the Jerusalem Post posted a video on twitter of Bennett previously praising Netanyahu, and thanking him for all he had done for highlighting the dangers of Iran. So you see, a lot of the harsh rhetoric is “politics” and sometimes it’s very difficult to isolate the truth. As you may have seen me write many times, the problem with the media is that many journalists will only quote one side to fit their political agenda and not the other side. So your answer is yes, there was a coalition crisis. But this issue has now been resolved and Ra’am is still part of the government, for now.
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Pinni Weiss asks: JAMES, You explained last week that the government failed to pass the citizenship law and it expired last week, meaning if an Arab marries an Israeli, they are now entitled to automatic citizenship. So what happens now?
commit to voting for the legislation next time around.
Hello Pinni: Some brief background for readers. The citizen’s state law or family reunification law, was first passed in 2003 and the legislation has to be extended annually by a Knesset vote. It prevents the automatic granting of residency permits or as you say, Israeli citizenship to Palestinian Arabs on the basis of marriage to an Israeli. Although at least one Labour Arab MK and the 6 Meretz MK’s along with the 4 Ra’am MK’s expressed their huge concern with the extension of the law, they voted for it. But it failed to pass because two of Ra’am’s 4 lawmakers decided to abstain, while Yamina MK Amichai Chikli voted against. Chikli is the chap that voted against the government, but is still officially part of Bennett’s party, Yamina. As a result, the 59-59 Knesset vote was a defeat for the fragile government and a major blow to the Lapid-Bennett coalition. Now lawyers acting for some 1600 Palestinian families, have now applied for A-5 residency visas, so they can be reunited with their families in Israel. Despite the fact that the government says it will re-introduce the law at a later date when it believes it can pass, the Meretz party have now declared that they will not
Hello Haley: He did, along with all his belongings and personal items and I actually wrote an opinion piece in this week’s Jewish Weekly on the subject. Please take a look.
Haley Levy asks: JAMES, Did Netanyahu move out of the official Prime Minister’s residence in Jerusalem yet?
Jonny Greenward: JAMES, What did we learn from Foreign Minister Yair Lapid’s visit to Brussels and his address to the EU this week? Is it true that he told them he believes in a two state solution? Hello Jonny: Last Monday was the first time an Israeli Foreign Minister has addressed a gathering of EU Foreign Ministers in Brussels, since Tzipi Livni in 2008. Lapid is seeking to open a new chapter in Israeli – EU relations, after the EU took action against Israel related to the territories. In fact, enshrined in the EU-Israel association agreement, is an article that says both sides will hold formal political dialog every year. But since 2012 there has been no “association council”, until of course this week. Economically, things continued as normal, but politically, relations deteriorated and the EU were not willing to improve the relationship or hold an association council meeting, as long as Netanyahu was PM. The EU had previously linked relations
with Israel, to the Palestinian “peace process” which came to a halt in 2014 after Mahmoud Abbas announced he would not return to the table. The last document Israel signed with the EU was in 2004. Lapid will be looking to upgrade this trade agreement on the basis that 70% of the Israeli economy is “services”. The EU recognise that Israel is a developed country and half of Israel’s exports to the EU come from service sector. So Lapid’s objective is to increase the economic prosperity for both sides. But this is an extremely ambitious aim, because some of the EU’s most fierce critics have an agenda against Israel. They wish to be part of the Middle East peace process and have a decisive say. Lapid told foreign ministers in Brussels, “It is no secret that I support a two state solution. “But if there is a Palestinian state, it must be a peace loving democracy. “We cannot be asked to take part in the building of another threat to our lives” he said. The EU don’t know Bennett. They have heard he is a right-wing extreme religious figure, mostly from journalists and NGO’s. But the EU also recognise that because the government is made up of parties from the extreme left to the right, it is extremely fragile. Therefore it will not push too hard on the Palestinian issue, or the government may fall apart. However because the EU was quite happy to oppose the Netanyahu government, the EU is currently challenged.
Ask your Israeli political question to James J. Marlow by email: James@TheCommunicationBureau.com or Twitter @James_J_Marlow THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM
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OPINION PIECE BY JAMES J MARLOW Former Prime Minister and now opposition leader Binyamin Netanyahu, finally moved out of the official “residence” on Balfour Street in Jerusalem last Saturday night. It had been four weeks (up until last Saturday night) since the new “change” government was sworn in 60 to 59 with one Arab Ra’am MK abstaining. But as it was not even clear whether the change bloc would receive a Knesset majority on Sunday 13 June, the Netanyahus made no firm plans to leave the property. In addition, the newly appointed Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett with only five of his six party MK’s backing him, was quite happy for the Netanyahu’s to remain at the official residence for a few weeks longer. Bennett knew that there were security concerns at Netanyahu’s Caesarea home, which needed to be addressed and the two homes in Jerusalem were also a major security problem. The security adjustments
Netanyahu leaves Jerusalem
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But would you believe after all of the hate rhetoric against the Netanyahus for remaining in the house for an extra four weeks, Naftali Bennett has no immediate plans to move in. in Caesarea have now been made and the Netanyahus have moved. But would you believe after all of the hate rhetoric against the Netanyahus for remaining in the house for an extra four weeks, Naftali Bennett has no immediate plans to move in. His children are in local schools and he therefore wishes to remain with his family in Ra’nana. This has angered some of Bennett’s neighbours, because of the increased security in the area and the regular rightwing demonstrations taking place outside his house, which bother the neighbours. Let’s be clear, the “crime minister black flag movement” has caused major disruption outside the Prime Minister’s residence
in Rehavia for the best part of a year. They used loud hailers, blaring music and even urinated in the streets. Not to mention the rubbish left, the violence against police and the thousands of local residents who couldn’t sleep at night or walk past the demonstrators in the day. Of course Netanyahu had to leave the official residence, he is no longer Prime Minister of Israel. But demonstrators, backed by much of the media used terms such as “squatting” and “shameful” referring to Netanyahu and even compared the event to “Donald Trump refusing to accept the election result”. We were told Bennett wanted to move in and every other former Prime Minister
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leaves when they “loose” an election. So why can’t Netanyahu? But now we know, Bennett does not wish to move in just yet, because of his young family. The black flag folk cried “cut the electricity” and “switch off the water” in a bid to intimidate the Netanyahu’s. But really Bibi and Sara were just waiting for security adjustments to be made to their house. The black flag movement are now making plans to demonstrate outside the Netanyahu’s Caesarea home later this week. It’s not enough for them to see Netanyahu ousted as Prime Minister, they want to see him in jail. Elements of the left dislike Bibi so much, as far as they are concerned, he must be put behind bars. Of course there are also those who don’t like Netanyahu on the right. MK Gideon Sa’ar for example and others from the New Hope party loath him. Much of the media doesn’t like him. They begrudge his success. They know that it is highly unlikely, someone else will assume the position of Prime Minister for 15 years. Netanyahu has set a record which is unlikely to be broken. But Netanyahu is no longer in power. Bennett is Prime Minister and Lapid is scheduled to take over in two years. So what’s their problem? Why are they holding on to all this hate? I think the answer is that the Left-Centre-Right-Arab (eight party) coalition with a razor thin majority of one seat is so concerned that Bibi as opposition leader, with 30 seats accredited to the Likud party, is going to come back. The new government know they will struggle to pass any real legislation during their term in office, because of the major differences between the coalition partners. These include security, settlements, foreign affairs, social and economic policies and so much more. The government could not even get an agreement on the citizenship law last week, which failed. The black flag movement believe erroneously by the way, that if their anti-Netanyahu movement can keep the pressure on and the media cover the demos, then the prosecution has a bigger chance of winning in court and Netanyahu will never make a comeback, if he goes to prison. The only problem with that scenario is that the prosecution is beginning to crack. They are struggling to find real evidence in the three cases against Netanyahu and so the prosecution requested another delay in the trial of the former Prime Minister last week. Meanwhile the war of words between Netanyahu and Bennett in the Knesset is reaching new heights. Stay tuned. James J. Marlow is a broadcast journalist previously working for ITN, EuroNews, LBC Radio, Daily Express and a number of Jewish publications. In addition, he runs a Media and Communications / Public Speaking Training Operation and was a consultant at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem. Email: James@TheCommunicationBureau.com
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OPINION 15
The opinions on this page do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper
Christian Aid In a relatively surprise move, it appears that the Church of England are about to apologise for their treatment of Jews going back to their expulsion in 1290. The Rt Revd Dr Michael Ipgrave OBE, Bishop of Lichfield and chairman of the Council of Christians and Jews, said: “In 2019 the Church of England published God’s Unfailing Word, which included an historic expression of repentance for the Christian church’s participation and collusion in over a thousand years of anti-Judaic thinking and practice in England. “This key teaching document mentioned the possibility of local churches modelling such repentance within specific acts of Christian worship.” The report from 2019 and the recent suggestion of an apology comes some time after the publication by the Catholic Church in 1965, as part of the Vatican II council, a declaration entitled Nostra Aetate, which argued that modern-day Jews could not be held accountable for Jesus’ crucifixion
and that not all Jews alive at the time of the crucifixion were guilty of the crime. The current suggestion of expressions of repentance would carry more weight if they were made in the context of the current trend in antisemitism. We have come full circle, in that instead of being blamed for the death of a man in Israel 2,000 years ago, we are now being blamed for the deaths and ill treatment of people in Israel and the surrounding areas today. In other words, same song, just different music. Returning to Church of England and the expression of repentance, this needs to be accompanied by a determination to eradicate the current increase in anti-Semitism disguised as criticism of Israel. According to the Christian Aid website the Church of England is one of 41 sponsoring churches across Great Britain and Ireland. The website also informs that Dr Rowan Williams,
The work undertaken by Christian Aid is all about the Palestinians; the Jews have been airbrushed away.
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angle, I mean the religious one. It bears repeating, Christian Aid refer to …the poorest people in Israel and… Detailed examination of the pages in question makes no reference to Jews at all. There is plenty of reference to illegal Israeli settlements, Israeli occupation, blockade and human rights. Nothing about the terrorists in control of Gaza and absolutely nothing about attacks from Gaza aimed at Israeli civilians. The work undertaken by Christian Aid is all about the Palestinians; the Jews have been airbrushed away. This would be understandable if this was a far-left website, or something from one of the extreme Palestinian groups. But from a Christian Charity headed by the former Archbishop of Canterbury? Certainly not. The proposed apology arising from the 2019 report ‘Gods unfailing word’ has the right sentiment. Until this is translated into action, where groups such as Christian Aid stop promoting their one-sided agenda, the rot which set in over 800 years ago will remain.
Robert Festenstein is a practising solicitor and has been the principal of his Salford based firm for over 20 years. He has fought BDS motions to the Court of Appeal and is President of the Zionist Central Council in Manchester which serves to protect and defend the democratic State of Israel.
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OPINION PIECE BY ROBERT FESTENSTEIN
former Archbishop of Canterbury, has held the position of Chair of the Board of Trustees since 2013. At first glance, the work undertaken in the Middle East by Christian Aid is routine. The link to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory states: Christian Aid has been working with the poorest people in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory (IoPt) since the early 1950s. This is a commendable statement, and normally I would expect then in the pages that follow to see reference to general poverty as well as perhaps the impact that conflict has had on income and how Christian Aid are addressing that. Sadly and perhaps predictably (given the reference to ‘Occupied Palestinian Territory’) this is not the case. Instead of a campaign aimed to increase the financial well-being and security of the least well-off in this region, the pages simply repeat the same old tropes about Israeli oppression. That this should be the case on a charity website is bad enough, but what makes this so much worse is the one-sided nature of the narrative. I don’t mean the political
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מקדש שני מפני מה חרב? מפני שהיתה בו שנאת חנם ( אהבת חנםBASELESS LOVE) CAN WE REBUILD IT!
WHY WAS THE TEMPLE DESTROYED? DUE TO BASELESS HATRED. ONLY THROUGH
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Dealer: East Vuln: N/S ENOUGH IS ENOUGH Dear community, I’m just another person living in London. I may be your neighbour, I may be your friend, I may be part of your school rota. The point is, I’m just your average person. I am writing in today on behalf of all charities, not to point fingers, but rather to spread awareness. Boruch Hashem, there is an incredible number of charities in the London Jewish community and with that, a huge amount of people who work to ensure that their vital work is carried out. Those who work for these charities, take on the job for its meaning, its purpose, and most certainly not for financial gain. There is little or no room to make it big financially whilst working for a charity. I myself am heavily involved in charities, one way or another, and on a daily basis I see members of staff working unsociable hours, often working full time on part time salaries. They do this because they try to help anyone that asks whether it is 10.30 at night or during normal working hours. They do not just look the other way because its late. Our Kehilla is so blessed to have so many charities, each focusing on different ways to support the community, whether its solution-based charities such as hospital meals and help for those with disabilities or whether it’s preventative charities like youth movements. Each charity has their tachlis. In addition, each charity has their own hashkafa and Rov which they take advice from. So why am I bothered? What could possibly be the problem with such a giving community? My problem is as follows. Time and time again, I have walked past people talking on the streets, I’ve heard people talking at the back of shuls, I’ve even overheard people talking at the table next to me at a restaurant. What are these people talking about? They are spending their time bashing charities. It is a disregard and lack of appreciation for all the amazing work this community does, all the hours of effort put in to make this Kehilla a better place. It is also disrespectful to the thousands of people who rely so heavily on the support of Jewish charities in London. I am fully aware of the hundreds of charidy campaigns going on, often several happening on the same day. I am also very aware that it may have come to a point where people just can’t give anymore. That is totally okay. But please keep your thoughts to yourself. There is no need to spread your personal view as
to whether a charity needs the money or the way in which they use their resources. This is something everyone, including myself, should work on. We all have our own opinions about each organisation, and each have our own views on which deserve our money more. That is also totally fine, but let’s try keep it to ourselves. The majority of charities are running these campaigns because they desperately need the funds. Trust me, no one likes fundraising, no one likes asking people for money. People do it, because they believe in the cause and because these funds are necessary for their vital work to continue. Finally, to the individuals who feel it is necessary to email charities requesting a full break down of their budget. Everyone is entitled to ask these questions however please do so with respect. Please don’t make assumptions in your emails. Please remember that your email is not going to some robot but is being received by incredibly sincere and special people who have given up their lives to help others. Furthermore, please try to refrain from emailing for the sake of asking with no intention of donating or supporting the cause. Should staff members spend their time answering emails from members of the community who are asking just to make what they think is a valid point? Or should they be spending their precious time helping the community? I’ll end with this… I have had the privilege of being involved in several charities for many years. Over the years, I have had conversations with people who have felt the need to speak negatively about various charities. Unfortunately, nobody knows which direction their life will take and exactly what Hashem has planned for them individually. Many of these people have now benefited from these charities and have been so reliant on them for help and support during difficult times. Now that they are a recipient of the charity’s support, they suddenly feel that the charity is vital in the community. I only wish happiness and health for everyone reading this. I thank you for taking the time, and I just hope that people will think twice before they speak badly about an organisation in our Kehilla, or any for that matter, again. I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Please email me on vitalcharities@gmail. com
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While North’s raise to game was somewhat of an overbid. However, the final contract did have only three top losers. West led the queen of diamonds. East took this with his ace and continued with the ace and another trump, West discarding a club on the second round. Declarer noted that West had already indicated three points in diamonds with his opening lead. Also, if the contract was to have any chance, declarer needed West to have the king of clubs. If this were the case, East would require the ace of hearts to have an opening bid. If all this came about, declarer saw that playing a heart to the king would only succeed if both the jack and ten of hearts fell in three rounds, a rather unlikely possibility. Instead, declarer adopted a different approach to developing the heart suit: after winning the second round of trumps in hand with the jack, declarer led a heart towards dummy and finessed the eight. (Declarer’s plan was to pin the jack or ten third with West on the third round hearts or to find East with exactly ace-jack-ten of hearts. East won the first heart trick with the jack and played another trump to dummy’s queen. Declarer continued with the king of hearts, which East covered with the ace. Declarer ruffed this with his last trump and played the king of diamonds, throwing the two of clubs from dummy. Declarer then took the club finesse. When that was successful, declarer drew East’s remaining trump and cashed the queen of hearts. His careful play was rewarded when West followed with the ten. South took the two remaining tricks with the nine and four of hearts. As a result, he had ten tricks three trumps, a heart ruff, three hearts, one diamond and two clubs to make this optimistic contract.
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COMMUNITY 17
The Sephardi Kashrut Authority 3rd Kaifeng welcomes you Annual Mashgiach Conference
as always with safe measures in place
Dayan Yossi David gives a shiur on Hilchos Shemitta
Last week, The Sephardi Kashrut Authority held its 3rd annual Mashgiach Conference at its Headquarters in Hendon. The conference focuses on topical issues – this year, Shemitta which begins this Rosh Hashana – and is a chance to meet, network and interact with fellow mashgichim. Mashgichim heard from Dayan Yossi David, Rosh Va’ad Hakashrus, SKA Senior Food Technologist, Rabbi Dr Jeremy Meyer and then special closing divrei chizuk from the Rosh Beth Din, Dayan Abraham David. The Rosh Beth Din compared the work of the mashgichim to the holy service of the Kohanim due to the direct impact it has on
the whole of the Jewish People. Much emphasis was placed on the effective raising of standards in supervision over the last year thanks to the efforts of all staff. Director of Licensing Aaron Isaac said: “It’s a real honour to host the dayanim in person after the difficulties we faced last year. This event has become the highlight of the year and something the mashgichim truly look forward to. Staff were able to recharge and engage in their continuing professional development. The SKA continues to take pride in the personal development of all its employees and this event was a great example of that.”
Government restrictions on restaurant activities are easing back to ‘normal’. However, Kaifeng Restaurant in Hendon is very aware that ‘normal’ will not be what it was before the pandemic. “We have never closed. Our staff has worked through the crisis, providing food for the community and has maintained our wonderful relationship with customers and friends.” says Philip Pell Restaurant co-owner. He goes on to say” We strongly support our right for families and friends to get together and celebrate Simchas. However, we also wish to continue to protect the community from any needless danger.” Kaifeng welcomes everyone to the restaurant, but will ask politely that masks are worn when not seated at a table for the security and comfort of fellow customers. Kaifeng will continue to offer hand sanitiser and perform temperature checks when entering the foyer of the restaurant and the
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tables will continue to be ‘socially spaced’. Their much complimented Take Away service will continue to observe the precautions that have been in place for the last year, ensuring the strictly kosher meal arrives safely to your door. Kaifeng has been operating continuously throughout the pandemic so has been able to retain all of their staff. “The same friendly faces will be here to greet you-the only difference is a couple of new dishes on the menu!” says Philip. To save 15% on eat in lunch and dinner meals at Kaifeng go to www.vouchergallery.com where you can buy a Discount Card for one year for £20 rather than £40 up until 25 July 2021. Use JW1 as promotion code.
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Golf Day raises £20,000 AJEX smashes fundraising target for charities
Fiona Palmer, AJEX Chief Executive and Deborah Field, AJEX Campaign Manager proudly holding the CharityExtra cheque from generous donors
Golf day charity winners
The 16th Annual Asher Teper Golf Day organised by the Hebrew Order of David UK was held at Hartsbourne Country Club. The day was a huge success with 88 players raising £20,000 for Manna UK, Camp Simcha and The Malki Foundation. Organiser Michael Foreman said “Despite COVID, we defied the odds and pulled
off our most successful Golf Day to date. We are delighted that we have been able to help the charities who have gone through such a torrid 18 months.” The winning team comprised Brian Green, Howard Presky, Richard Layton and Stephen Fisher.
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AJEX has raised over £165,000 in a 36-hour campaign to ensure the charity passes on the baton of remembrance to future generations. Smashing its £150,000 target, every donation was doubled through a match funding campaign. Funds will continue to support veterans and those still serving. The Duty & Care themed ini- Hugo Rifkind tiative ensures money raised goes towards the charity’s key objectives of remembrance, education, welfare and combatting antisemitism. The fundraiser ended with an online interview with Times journalist Hugo Rifkind. JLGB’s Cidney Miller interviewed Rifkind who recalled childhood memories with the Cadet Forces. He also spoke about his grandfathers, who served as an air raid warden and with the RAF, his father, former Cabinet Minister Malcolm Rifkind, and antisemitism. “AJEX was founded almost 100 years ago in response to ignorance and hatred,” said Mike Bluestone, AJEX National Chairman. “We are proud to combat antisemitism and show the Jewish role in modern Britain.” Bluestone added that AJEX remembers the heritage of military service by sharing the history of Jewish servicemen and
women, and supporting the veteran community. Fiona Palmer, AJEX Chief Executive added, “We are so grateful to everyone who donated, each one of you have made a difference to ensure we can carry on our education programmes in schools, continue to help combat antisemitism and for us to continue to support veterans and their families who depend on our help.” Ms Palmer is looking forward to the annual parade and ceremony at the Cenotaph in November. “COVID-19 allowing, the community can join in person to remember the many Jewish people who served and thank those that continue to serve today,” she added. Since the start of the 20th century over 150,000 Jews have served. The charity commits funds to relieving the suffering of the Jewish veteran community as well as running educational initiatives that reach out to thousands of school children every year. Bluestone commented, “People rely on our help and we are proud to be supporting them, educate others and do our duty. We can’t do all of this without the help from the community.” To donate: www.charityextra.com/AJEX
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Kisharon raises £23k in London Bridge challenge
Rabbi Joel Kenigsberg and Erez Goldberg
The Nathan family
Kisharon held a family-friendly walking challenge taking in ten of London’s iconic bridges between Vauxhall Bridge and Tower Bridge raising Ninety participants including mums, dads, grandparents and children completed the 6.5 or 13 mile route raising £23,000 towards front-line services for the charity. The walk was a great opportunity for participants that included Kisharon support staff to explore the best London has to offer as well as supporting the charity. Ian Tate, Kisharon challenge events manager said, “It was wonderful to see people taking part with staff and walking alongside participants of all ages. There was a wonderful atmosphere throughout but
especially as people crossed their respective finish line to received a well-deserved medal.” Tate, who hopes to do something similar next year, thanked event sponsor Regatta Great Outdoors and volunteers. Participants Ruth and Andy Finkel noted, “The route was fantastic and we saw many sites we have never seen before such as the SOE Memorial and the Battle of Britain memorial.” Future challenges include the Maccabi Fun Run, London to Brighton bike ride and Royal Parks Half Marathon. Personalised challenges are also possible.
Norwood supporters ride like the wind
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Details: www/kisharon.org.ok
Norwood’s cyclists
Norwood’s New Forest & Isle of Wight Challenge, which took place over four days last week for the charity in support of people with learning disabilities and autism and children and their families facing challenges? 38 new and long-standing Norwood supporters braved the 300km cycle challenge held in and around the scenic countryside of the New Forest amid severe weather warnings, raising £72,000 for the charity. Participants included Norwood Chief Executive Dr Beverley Jacobson riding a tandem with her eldest daughter Talya who endured a fall from their bike and rode through a torrential down pour, showing characteristic resilience in doing so, thanks in no small part to the support of her teammates and fellow participants. Despite the group’s cycling day over in
the Isle of Wight being cancelled due to 40mph winds, which resulted in the cancellation of the ferry, Norwood’s cyclists still cycled to the coast in spite of the severe winds, completing the challenge. Norwood has been running its famous Challenges since 1992 to raise money for the charity’s vital services. Like all areas of life, Norwood works to ensure our fundraising Challenges are inclusive and open to the participation of the people we support. The training and preparation required to participate in a Norwood Challenge has obvious physical benefits, added to which the mental determination, self-belief and physical effort required to complete a Challenge empowers the individual taking part to overcome whatever challenges they may face and to fulfil their potential.
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Now is the PERFECT TIME to start learning DAF YOMI as מסכת סוכהbegins soon Friday 9 July 2021 | כ"ט תמוז תשפ"א (Start the Daf and make your siyum before this upcoming Sukkos!)
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15 JULY 2021
GiFT launches its first Batmitzvah course
King Solomon and Immanuel Teams with Raymond Simonson
KKS and JFS scoop Dragon’s Den-style prizes Kantor King Solomon High School and JFS claimed joint first prize in PaJeS’ Dragon’s Den-style competition. The second PaJeS Pitch competition saw three finalists awarded funds for innovative, pupil-led projects at Jewish schools with Genesis Philanthropy Group support. The initiative attracted Jewish secondary school children from across the UK. With school children by the COVID-19 pandemic the theme of this year’s event was Life After Lockdown. Demonstrating sustainability of projects, budgets, how the school would be positively impacted and ways in which Jewish values would be at the projects’ core were key requirements for applicants. Entries came from Kantor King Solomon, JFS, Immanuel College, Hasmonean Boys, King David Liverpool and JCoSS. The finalists pitched to a panel of judges. After deliberation, KKS and JFS claimed joint first place. Immanuel College were runners up. KKS year nine pupils Maria and Jake pitched “The Nature Zone” to improve the mental health of students by reducing the levels of stress and anxiety. An outdoor area includes a gazebo structure and garden space populated with plants and greenery, where students from all years can relax. A prize of £6,000 was awarded. JFS year 12 pupil Jake and Luke together with Hannah, Charles and Anna from year 10 came up trumps with “Music for All” due to the substantial reduction of students participating in music lessons and activities at the school. The JFS team proposed free music lessons for an introductory period of one term to bring 20-30 new students into the music department and widen the community of musicians at the school. A prize of £6,000 was awarded. Immanuel College year 12 pupils Sophie and Jacob made the final three with “The Beit Project” to turn the school’s Informal Education hub/Beit Midrash into a multi-purpose space benefiting the wellness
The GIFT Batmitzvah group
Anna, Jake, Charles and Luke from JFS
and Jewish involvement of pupils in the school. A prize of £3000 was awarded. Rabbi David Meyer, PaJeS Executive Director introduced the virtual event moderated by Raymond Simonson, JW3 CEO. Each finalist gave a short presentation before being asked questions by judges. The panel included Miri Benchetrit, Genesis Philanthropy Group, Lauren Hamburger, PJ Library UK and entrepreneur Daniel Green. Daniel Price and Jonny Sitton, My 1st Years co-founders, sent feedback remotely. Ms Hamburger was impressed by well-researched, creative and considered projects. “The students talked about the various social and mental challenges as a consequence of the pandemic,” she noted. “But instead of focusing inward, they worked together to come up with ideas that will help their peers and the wider school community. I can’t wait to meet up with them and brainstorm ways to turn their visions into a reality.” Rabbi Meyer praised the high quality pitches. “The ideas were innovative and impressive and it was particularly exciting to see the students taking such an interest in leading these projects in order to benefit their school,” he said. Marina Yudborovsky, Genesis Philanthropy Group CEO, said: “We were extremely impressed with the quality of the proposals and would like to congratulate each and every participant.”
The sessions focused on giving, starting with oneself and moving outwards to family, friends and community. The girls made gifts for new mothers through the charity Mother to Mother; and flowers were arranged in vases to be given by the girls as appreciation gifts. In groups, the Batmitzvah girls brainstormed and presented ideas to help the community and packed support parcels in the GIFT Hub for GIFT recipients. GIFT Bnei Mitzva coordinator Esther Zneimer who ran the course said - “It was so great to see the girls engaging in the giving activities and contributing to the discussions. The energy of the group was incredible!” Natalie van Dijk, mother of twins, Lielle
and Sophia told us “I was looking for a Batmitzvah program that incorporated fun, yet educational and meaningful activities. The GIFT Batmitzvah course was well organized, stimulating and got the girls really thinking about how they could give to others. My girls really enjoyed it.” Another mother noted, “My daughter was delighted to join the GIFT Batmitzvah program. She had the best time with her friends. In just a short amount of time GIFT were able to instil in her values of chesed and kindness, as well as giving. She is already looking forward to the next time she can help out at GIFT.” To get involved in GIFT activities contact Info@jgift.org
ADMINISTRATOR An opportunity has arisen to join our team at Heaton Park Synagogue, working in a busy and vibrant environment. The successful candidate will be responsible for the financial administration of the Synagogue and other administrative duties. We are looking to appoint someone who will be a resourceful team player with good interpersonal and communicative skills. We require someone who has strong I.T. skills together with a working knowledge of computerised accounting systems. Hours: 20 hours per week to include alternate Sundays. You will be required to do some overtime when needed. Salary is negotiable dependent on qualifications and experience. To apply please supply a cover letter along with your C.V. by noon on Thursday 29th July via email to: hilaryfoxler@btinternet.com Appointment will be conditional on receipt of satisfactory references and D.B.S.
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The Seventy Faces of Survivors BY RABBI NAFTALI SCHIFF Holocaust Survivors have a far greater legacy to preserve than the often-harrowing eye witness accounts of the horrors of destruction alone. Over the past 25 years Survivors have become my greatest mentors, teachers and sources of inspiration. I’ve travelled from Melbourne (Eva Slonim) to Cape Town (Eva Blumental); from Tel Aviv (Dov Landau) to New York (Pearl Benish; Montreal (Chaim Swimmer) to Miami (Yisrael Weinstock); Jerusalem (Yosef Levkovich) to Manchester (Eva “Bobby” Newman); London (Hershl Hershkovic) to next door (David Goldberg). Six million legacies were lost. Their remnant- “she’eirit hapeletah” - a few Survivors - were their only extant voice to the world. Today, there are but a handful left amongst us that carry anything close to an adult memory of that which once was. We all know of the monumental work of Spielberg’s Shoah Foundation and its unparalleled archive of first-hand Survivor testimonies. People ask me why then have I invested so much time as an educator interviewing a few more. I think that for me the answer began as something quite personal. I was struck by the straight-talking and directness of Survivors and realised that in a world of increasing veneer and superficiality there was something unique in the quality of authenticity common to the majority of Survivors I met, especially in recent twilight years. Long gone is the time in which Survivors felt the need to shrink into the shadows, hiding the number branded into their forearm so often embarrassed as to why their families went “like sheep to the slaughter”; the days and nights of working desperately to eke out a living any way they could, of valiantly raising families subjugated to the constant nightmares whilst struggling to even share with us the truth of the horrors they witnessed. The nightmares remain yet, thank G-d, over time Survivors often became the silent heroes amongst us. The few who made it. Those who rose up and built anew; those to whom we owe an unplayable debt of honour and gratitude. As an educator, a parent, a Rabbi and co-founder of JRoots, I realised that the authenticity I touched in the Survivor was something we needed desperately to preserve. It became far more than a personal quest, rather a communal responsibility. The “Timeless Wisdom” over 150 Survivors have shared with me on film for posterity is now absolutely priceless. This is why we have already turned many of these into full length documentaries or recently shorter social media friendly clips bearing precisely that name. At JRoots we specialise in creating the most powerful immersive Jewish travel
At JRoots we specialise in creating the most powerful immersive Jewish travel experiences for groups of young Jews. experiences for groups of young Jews. Experiences impact young people forever. People impact people forever. To look into the eyes of a Survivor, to humbly listen to their tale, is to be profoundly touched, not only by their incredible endurance, but often by the quality of their hard-earned life’s wisdom, values and lessons shared for eternity.
WHEN LIFE IS TOUGH:
“you asked me how I managed to carry on trudging through the snow in a pair of clogs and pyjamas on the death march? In
life you’ve just got to know - you just keep going! How? Just one step at a time! (Leslie Kleinman)
WHY GIVE TO OTHERS?
“To give us to live - as long as I can give I shall live” (Pearl Benish)
RESILIENCE
You ask me? “Why did I refuse to carry a white stick? I refused to let them make me a nebach! I told them white is a sign of surrender - I’m a Jew! We don’t surrender
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15 JULY 2021 to hardship- we figure out a way to adapt! (Hershl Hershkovic) “Worry? Fear? “You ask me why I don’t worry? Why I wasn’t afraid? I told you - worry and fear are like a rocking chair! You think you’re going someplace - it doesn’t take you anywhere! (Yosef Levkovich) No two Survivors are the same. We must attempt to avoid generalities and sweeping pronouncements with reference to anything to do with the Holocaust nor those who still carry its living memory. We tread on hallowed ground. We do not occupy the same universe. We called the JRoots Legacy Live project “70 Faces” because the number 70 in Judaism represents the multi-faceted nature of reality. Each Survivor has their singularly unique memory, experience and story to tell, teachings to share. There is no right or wrong, truth or falsehood. Each story or nugget of sensibility, faith, tradition, or value is theirs to share- ours to pass on, and on… The Shoah Foundation and many other evidential archival interviews with Survivors will serve forever to combat Holocaust denial and more. The 70 Faces, Timeless Wisdom and Legacy Live projects of JRoots are not about evidence alone. They are rather an attempt to capture a few representatives of our nation who have survived despite the odds and as such have the unparalleled ability to impact people, our young people in particular, with the deepest sense of humanity, of life and of Jewishness. These are people who not only had a Yellow Star pinned to their chest, but often branded harshly into their arm and burned into every fibre of their being. In my experience, these heroes of survival, resilience, persistence and rejuvenation have no pretence, no illusions, no facade. Their love, their values, are raw. Their emotions real. Their life’s wisdom not merely written on their sleeve but embedded into the essence of who they are and that which they have to share. In an age in which we often struggle to pass on values to our children and students and at times languish in moral ambiguity ourselves, the messages of Survivors are perhaps imbued with a sense of moral authority earned through fire. I am talking far away from the guilt trip of yesteryear, rather the reality of the Jew who despite the crematorium of Auschwitz and killing fields of Babi Yar stood in front of us to share their Jewish story, an embodiment of the Jewish Story, Our Story. There are universal lessons for life and particular anecdotal teachings of Jewish identity that live for eternity. The “70 Faces” / “Shivim Panim” Survivors series of projects from JRoots preserves for us a cadre of incredible people and their personal accounts of hope in place of despair, love instead of hatred, building in place of destruction. In the current days of both traditional mourning and contemporary challenge, we have much to learn from the Survivor heroes who despite all, still live and love in our midst. Rabbi Naftali Schiff is the Chief Executive of Jewish Futures and Co-Founder of JRoots.
15 JULY 2021
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From the front line…
Wembley fans shared a kaleidoscope of shattered dreams
BY JACQUELINE CURZON Civil servants and local council officials must ‘get back to their offices,’ Lord Udny-Lister, the PM’s ex chief of staff has said, adding that government departments are sitting empty with corridors of empty rooms and a negative knock-on effect on local businesses. Boris is lifting the WFH [work from home] directive on July 19th, so only time will tell if the public truly has the confidence to go back to the office. Udny-Lister insisted he was not advocating a full-time return to office working. Now we know some people may prefer WFH, but there are Jacqueline Curzon an equal number desperate to get back PHOTO: LARA MINSKY PHOTOGRAPHY to the workplace, citing lack of boundaries between work and home as their survivors according to Russian media. In motivation. Gary Ashworth, chairman a different story, one of Belarus’s leading of Interquest Group, says most of his 450 opposition figures, Viktor Babaryko (56), a staff have struggled, especially over the issues of commuting. He said his employees former banker, was sentenced to 14 years now have terrible mental health problems, in a maximum security colony. Fourteen and consequently he was ‘going to encour- years?! That’s akin to a death sentence. He age them to come back 5 days a week.’ It’s was arrested in June 2020 on fraud charges, and was also ordered to pay £13 million maybe not for everyone, but surely businesses cannot justify maintaining empty in damages, according to activists. This premises, or having little oversight on their may ultimately be an example of what lies staff working arrangements. Research also in store for Navalny, a life altering sentence indicates other positives to going to work, with stiff financial penalties. Who would such as ‘dressing’ for the workplace which realistically survive such a sentence? creates a more productive mindset, as A fourth person has died after crashing well as the additional social benefits of the his e-scooter. An unnamed man (54) hit employee environment. Personally, I can a metal fence on a footpath at the back of think of nothing more stressful than trying Falmer railway station in Brighton. to work with the racket and distraction of He was taken to the Royal Sussex County small - or not so small - children around Hospital with serious injuries on June 8 me. and died 3 weeks later. Sussex police have An Oxford-born dancer has been accept- appealed for witnesses. Separately George ed to train at the Vaganova Ballet Academy McGowan, a 19-year-old from Portsmouth, in St Petersburg. Taiga Kodama-Pomfret was confirmed to have died of his injuries (16), who started ballet aged nine, was 10 days after his scooter collided with a car apparently swept away when he saw the on June 12. Like so many things which look Bolshoi dancers perform, and has now like fun, you might get a surprise when won a place at this top academy, many of you ultimately run into trouble. When I whose graduates go on to perform with the was dragging myself around the outdoor Mariinsky or Bolshoi, two of the world’s GoApe course, I knew inherently the risks leading ballet companies. This is of parif I were to fall off the bridges or miss my ticular interest to me as it is the rigorous step, and before anyone reminds me that training method which my ballet daughter I was safe, as I was attached by a clip and follows. In her recent exam, as an examwire, you’d be both right and wrong. I ple, she was required to do a two hour would be left dangling, and a team would set routine, in addition to several hours certainly come to my rescue, but my pride of training. The Russians (and others, would have been unquestionably dented, particularly the Chinese and Americans) for by no stretch of the imagination could take their training extremely seriously and I pull myself up, from a ‘hanging by wire’ are always determined to raise the barre. altercation, and that’s on just one round of Well done, Taiga. the course. On an e-scooter you’re taking A less happy bit of news saw an aeroquite serious risks each time you engage plane crash into the sea, near Russia's ‘drive!’ And it only takes one second for it Kamchatka peninsula. The plane, an to go horribly, irreversibly wrong, especially if you forgot your helmet. Imagine Antonov An-26 carrying 28 passengers, my feigned surprise to read that Sadiq was travelling from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky to Palana when it lost contact Khan is proposing an extension of cycle with air-traffic control. The wreckage was lanes to accommodate further e-scooters. found a few hours later, and there were no The number of rental scooters is set to be
raised from 600 to 1,200, which begs the question of e-scooters being illegal (aside from authorised schemes), so is this just legalisation by the back door? Maybe we should firstly encourage scooter-users to take a road test unless they already have a vehicular license; secondly, to wear a helmet, and thirdly, to take out insurance? If they then collide with you {Ms Pedestrian} on the pavement, they will be able to compensate you for the injury they might cause. That way, if you’re a car driver, and a scooter ends up unexpectedly in your path, you then both have insurance to deal with whatever situation arises. Gone are the days, sadly, of pavements being the prerogative of pedestrians and prams :- it’s now open season. Different approaches to ending lockdown are creating some north-south confusion, especially if you’re thinking of travelling by train from England to Scotland. The FM has indicated that northerners shouldn’t expect her to offer the ‘easy option’ given by the PM. I rather doubt she would find running the UK an easy option. From 19th July you will not need a mask in England, but once past the border you will be reminded to don a mask, even if you’re in an empty carriage. British Transport Police have said they will encourage and enforce if necessary. A fine of £60 awaits those who decline to oblige. Whilst we are on the topic of trains, the question of how seating could be improved comes to mind. Perhaps if identically spaced, airline style seats were installed, that might be an answer, which might also feel more spacious, in a covert covid secure way. That’s if you can cope with the generic ‘Dear Passenger’ announcement, since the usual salutation of Ladies and Gentlemen is now deemed defunct…. We are being told to move forward with discretion, but hold it right there, we haven’t been encouraged to do anything with discretion, certainly not in relation to the controversial wearing of masks. For the shadow Health Secretary, Jonathan Ashworth, to ask ‘how many deaths are acceptable’ is childish and completely misses the point. Death is all around us, true, and even if we hadn’t had the pandemic, death was already knocking at the door. [I note that no one is asking how many deaths from cancer are acceptable, for those figures are sky high when compared to covid.] Hmmmm. I think Ashworth and Co. need to gain a sense of perspective here, as we are on a footing where almost all the country has been vaccinated, but apparently this still isn’t good enough. We’ve moved from a position of total freedom being anticipated when we’d vaccinated the elderly and the vulnerable, to now possibly waiting for zero-covid,
which is an altogether different story. Javid has indicated that from August 16, those of us who are double jabbed will not have to isolate if a close contact tests positive, but this won’t help those travelling for example to Israel, which once again insists incomers must isolate for 10 days. Now over to the football corner where I read of the death of Paul Mariner (68), an old-style footballer, who began his career at Ipswich Town in 1976 for a fee of £220,000. For a 22-year-old this was quite an accomplishment. He scored 61 goals in 155 matches, and made 35 appearances for England as a centre forward, which was highly impressive. After retiring he coached at Harvard, later settling in Boston, and his career only wound down in 2020, after he was diagnosed with brain cancer. He is survived by his three sons. Staying with the beautiful game, it was maddening for our team to lose on penalties, especially on home ground, but that’s the way the cookie crumbled. Another three years might see our fortunes improve, but for now let’s show our support for our talented football lads and their phenomenal manager, Gareth Southgate. It is anticipated that several awards and gongs may be in the running for them. In this week's obits was Richard Donner (91), the American film director behind The Omen (1976), Superman (1978), Lethal Weapon (1987) and Conspiracy Theory (1997). He had worked for 20 years in tv, on programmes such as Kojak, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., before getting his career break with The Omen. Born in New York in 1930, the son of Fred Schwartzberg and Hattie Horowitz, both Russian-Jewish immigrants, he was often found in the cinema owned by his grandfather. After serving in the US Navy, he began - but didn’t complete - a degree in business studies at New York University, moving on to acting which in turn led him to directing. Known as a renowned bachelor, Donner surprised his friends when in 1986 he married Lauren Shuler, a producer, who survives him. And finally, congratulations to Laurent Simons (11), who obtained his Bachelor's Degree with distinction from the University of Antwerp. Laurent, who went to secondary school aged 6, and university at 8, took just 18 months to complete his degree in quantum physics. His parents are now planning for his doctorate. Putting aside emotional arguments about young people being pushed too hard, and having no childhood, it is nonetheless a major accomplishment to reach such a level at this young age. Let’s keep watch on this young man with an avid interest in biotechnology. Love Jacqueline x
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28 COOKERY
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Asian Coleslaw A different type of coleslaw using Asian flavours and ideal regardless of the time of the year. I rather like these fresh vegetables and leaves mixed together with the oriental flavours of ginger, lime and chilli. Serve on a buffet table as it goes well with fish, meat and vegetarian dishes. There are numerous types of Chinese cabbage –pak choy, bok choy, white choy sum all are suitable for this salad. To keep the salad fresh pour over the dressing just before serving.
Another delicious recipe from Denise Phillips For more recipes and inspiration visit my website: www.jewishcookery.com
Preparation Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 10 minutes Serves: 6 Ingredients 200g courgettes ½ Chinese white cabbage –shredded Large bunch fresh basil or coriander –roughly chopped Large bunch of fresh mint – roughly chopped Dressing 2 cm fresh ginger- peeled and finely chopped 3 cloves garlic- peeled and finely chopped 2 limes – juice and zest ½ chopped red chilli – finely chopped 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons dark soya sauce 2 tablespoons sesame oil 1 teaspoon sugar 200g cashew nuts - roasted– roughly chopped Salt and freshly ground black pepper – to taste Method - For the Base 1) Grate the courgettes or shred into ribbons. 2) Put the Chinese cabbage in a large bowl with the chopped herbs.
3) Mix the ginger, garlic, lime juice and zest, chilli, olive oil, soya sauce sesame oil and sugar together. Pour over the dressing and toss well. Season to taste. To serve: Just before serving top with the chopped cashew nuts.
The Humble Shredded Cabbage Salad BY DENISE PHILLIPS There are numerous types of cabbage salads and Jewish people just love coleslaw regardless of the occasion or time of the year. It is also a great salad to serve for Shabbat or Yom Tov as it does not wilt overnight like most salads. The classic coleslaw is a mix of cabbage and carrots combined with a dressing – there are optional extras. Coleslaw has quite a historic story and although there is some evidence that coleslaw was probably eaten by the Ancient Romans, it only emerged in its modern form in the 18th century with the invention of mayonnaise. The name “cole slaw” is a partial translation from the Dutch term “koolsla”, a shortening of “kool salade”, which means “cabbage salad”. It was commonly called cold slaw in England until the 1860s when “cole” meaning cabbage was revived, being based on the Latin colis meaning “cabbage”. What I would like to do is modernize it into a gourmet creation with the wow effect and share some options to add to the varieties that you may like to include. Cabbage comes in green, red and white and so many to choose from – sweetheart, savoy, pointed spring, Cavolo Nero - all provide a different appearance and flavour. I like to experiment with the colours so sometimes it is a trio with red, white and green cabbages. Or just green or go for red and white.
Coleslaw has quite a historic story and although there is some evidence that coleslaw was probably eaten by the Ancient Romans.
Chop the cabbage differently – shred, slice or spiralize. Vary the dried fruits or fresh fruit to reflect the season or to blend with your main course. Dried fruits like cranberries, dates, raisins, figs, apricots are great. I like to soak them in boiling water for 10 minutes, then drain before adding to the
salad. Fresh fruit that work well include apples, peach, plums and grapes. They also add natural sweetness. Nuts that work well include pecans, cashews,walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds and macadamias. Roast them first for about 5-8 minutes in the oven at 200C/400F/ Gas mark 6. Add just before serving.
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TIPS FOR THE PERFECT COLESLAW INCLUDE:
• Red cabbage will bleed into the slaw at it marinates, so don’t use if you don’t want this to happen – use green or white. • Even though the salad is refrigerated in an air-tight container, coleslaw should not be kept for more than three to five days and should be consumed within the stated number of days in a recipe. • Dressings – here you can be creative. I like to keep it parev. Add soya yoghurt – go for vanilla, lemon or coconut and add to non-dairy cream or cream cheese. Add a choice of flavoured oils – chilli, garlic, rosemary and lemon. Soya sauce, chopped chilli, ginger and garlic make delicious Asian slaw. Vinegar - don’t add too much, less is more. • Don’t add too much dressing- it spoils the crunch and appearance. • Be aware of the quantity – chopped cabbage always seems to make a BIG bowl. Start with a small quantity you can always add more. • Top with fresh herbs just before serving. This adds colour and freshness.
And what is great about coleslaw – everyone loves it!
30 JUDAISM
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ASK THE RABBI
Looking for answers? Send your question to Rabbi@RabbiSchochet.com CAN I WATCH?
Dear Rabbi Is it appropriate on the ninth of Av to spend time reading a book or watching a film, just to while the time away? Sarah Dear Sarah Would you consider asking the same question regarding Yom Kippur? While the two are not analogous, the shared uniqueness in the twenty-five hours of fasting, reflects the awesomeness attributed to each. Whereas on Yom Kippur one spends the days in remorse for misdeeds and resolving to do better in the future; on the ninth of Av one is meant to spend the time lamenting the destruction of our Temples and the long state of pain and suffering we have endured ever since – with a yearning for a better future ahead. To be sure, if it is something say Holocaust related, which would evoke the right sort of emotions appropriate for the day, then I would say that is not an issue. Moreover, if one really struggled to fast and distracting oneself through more mundane means helps, then provided it is appropriate content, so be it. Just remember, it is the one day about which our Sages said: “One who mourns the destruction of the Temple will merit to rejoice in its restoration. One who does not mourn its destruction won’t merit in its restoration.” The very question itself, if I might dare suggest, reflects how complacent we have become with our current state of affairs. We need to desperately redress
the balance, enhance our consciousness and indeed do all we can to bring about the era, promised to us by the Prophets through the ages, when we will know of no more pain and suffering, and when these days will be turned from sadness to joy once more, forever more.
HERE COMES THE JUDGE!
Dear Rabbi I was really inspired by your recent article on not being judgemental against others and the appropriate behaviour of three rules for these three weeks. But what about Jews that are an embarrassment to our people; that bring us into ill-repute. Surely it should be different when dealing with them. Rosalind. Dear Rosalind So you liked my piece on not being judgemental but wonder whether you can choose to be judgemental about certain Jews that don’t act appropriately. I maintain that when Jews are shunned, ignored, looked down upon, etc. they don’t just resent the perpetrator. They resent whatever the perpetrator represents. In other words you’ll lose them to the faith altogether. But when you reach out to them with open arms and enveloping souls then you touch something inside them such that a merger of souls transpires and they feel uplifted by your love and find themselves more willing to follow the path in which your soul directs them. There is an elderly man celebrating 80th birthday. Wife says, “What would you like to
Pirkei Avot ,ֹאש ׁ ֱהוֵ י ַקל לְ ר,ַר ִּבי יִ ׁ ְש ָמ ֵעאל אוֹ ֵמר וֶ ֱהוֵ י ְמ ַק ֵּבל ֶאת ָּכל,וְ נוֹ ַח לְ ִת ׁ ְשח ֶֹרת :ָה ָא ָדם ְּבשִׂ ְמ ָחה שְׂ חוֹ ק וְ ַקלּ וּת,ַר ִּבי ֲע ִקיבָ א אוֹ ֵמר ְסיָ ג, ָמס ֶֹרת. ַמ ְר ִּגילִ ין לְ ֶע ְרוָ ה,ֹאש ׁ ר , נְ ָד ִרים.עשר ֶ ׁ ָ ְסיָ ג ל, ַמ ַעשְׂ רוֹ ת.לַ ּתוֹ ָרה : ׁ ְש ִת ָיקה, ְסיָ ג לַ ָחכְ ָמה.ְסיָ ג לַ ּ ְפ ִר ׁישוּת
do?” He says, “Let’s take a flight somewhere.” She says, “Well it is your b-day but I prefer to drive cross-country,” so that’s what they did. “I’ll drive,” husband says to wife. “Well it’s your b-day, but I prefer to drive,” she replies, so that’s what she did. “I think you ought to slow down on these roads,” says to her. “I’m driving and I like to go fast,” she counters and what she did; soon got pulled over by the police. Officer says, “Ma’am you were speeding?” The woman, who is also hard of hearing, turns to her husband and asks, “What did he say?” The old man yells, “He says you were speeding!” The patrolman says, “May I see your license?” The woman turns to her husband and asks again, “What did he say?” The old man yells, “He wants to see your license!” The woman gave the officer her license. The patrolman says, “I see you are from Newcastle; spent some time there once & went on blind date with most annoying obnoxious woman I’d ever seen.” The woman turned to her husband and asked, “What did he say?” And the old man yells, “He said he knows you!” The question we need to consider is how much yelling are we doing instead of pausing long enough to listen to what it is the other person has to say? How much noise are we generating instead of letting the silence rise above the din? How much do we push for and insist on our way without considering the other? How well do we care to know one another and what’s at the core, rather than jumping to preconceived conclusions? Let me ask you to consider
this: Can you really tell a parent, “I love You but I don’t like Your children,” How do you think the parent feels about it? Do you think they can reciprocate that love? Do you think the feeling is mutual? So you’ll tell me the parent doesn’t necessarily know what you think about his child. And yet when we’re talking about a ‘Supreme Parent’ who knows – who penetrates the inner recesses of our minds and hearts - you can smile and
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For Refuah Shalema for Mordechai Ben Chaya Sara
Rabbi Ishmael said: be suppliant to a superior, submissive under compulsory service, and receive every man happily. Rabbi Akiva said: Merriment and frivolity accustom one to sexual licentiousness; Tradition is a fence to the Torah; Tithes a fence to wealth, Vows a fence to abstinence; A fence to wisdom is silence.
In life many people suffer in many different ways. Often people think that so and so must be perfect with seemingly no worries at all. If people seem wealthy for example having large houses, fancy cars and holidays aplenty, jealous neighbours can often think that people don’t have a care in the world. That is not always the case. Everyone has some form of tzorus and people really should not think just because someone has a smile that all is ok. They are simply following the
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pretend all you want to others down here, but up there it’s all laid bare. It doesn’t matter how difficult the child. You can call out the misdeeds, but ultimately every parent loves their children and so must we. My mother still has a sticker in my childhood home in Toronto that, I think says it all: “Children need love, especially when they don’t deserve it.” (As to why my mother felt the need to have that reminder is another matter).
Perek 3: Mishna 13 advice of this Mishnah! Always treat everyone to a smile! If you always greet everyone cheerfully, and feel happy towards others even if turmoil is going on inside. Be agreeable to a great person is a reference to the neshomo of a person who you should always readily give in to, as the neshomo is like a head. Be strict with the bodily and earthly desires, compared to a a person acting maturely. May we all merit to reach this lofty level!
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Torah from Israel
15 JULY 2021
Tisha b’av and the 20th century BY RABBI MOSHE TARAGIN Mourning is a deeply personal and emotional experience. Merely “going through the motions” without authentic inner sadness yields a listless and empty experience. Mourning ancient tragedies of Jewish history on Tisha B’av can be challenging in that way. It has historically been a daunting challenge since we lament events which transpired in the distant past. Tisha b’av in the modern state of Israel is even more complicated. For centuries, Jews were scattered across the globe and mired in hopeless conditions of despair. Living through seemingly endless cycles of persecution and discrimination, it was easier to trace their bleak world to the day we left Yerushalayim. Tisha b’av may not have been “current” but its footprints were traceable in their everyday lives. Regrettably, we had abandoned our G-d and betrayed our love and for that we were cursed. Our suffering was the price we paid for our crimes all the while hoping to one day rebuild our great love with G-d. That day has come, and our love has been restored. Millions of Jews live in Israel and millions of others live in the spiritual shadow of Israel. Though we still struggle with the final phases of history, our condition doesn’t even closely resemble that of previous generations. Living with triumph and pride, how do we mourn within this unfamiliar historical context. Without updating our mourning, Tisha b’av can become emotionally disconnected. Even if our imaginations summon genuine tears, the entire experience can become divorced from our dayto day experience. How can Tisha b’av be updated to the 21st century to render it not just authentic but relevant? Perhaps by looking back to the past century and to the two seismic events which reshaped the Jewish landscape– the Holocaust and the formation of the state of Israel. If we don’t orient Tishav b’av around these two history-changing events, we risk severing our mourning from our reality. The Holocaust not just as a horrific tragedy. It was the abyss of centuries of Jewish persecution. Without minimizing the suffering we endured during the long night of Jewish exile, the Holocaust was the single greatest trauma of Jewish history in 2500 years. No inquisition, no pogrom, nor no Crusader invasion can begin to compare to the Holocaust in scope and intensity. The Holocaust wasn’t just the darkest moment of Jewish history. It also pulled back the curtain, exposing the horror of anti-Semitism. Throughout history, violence toward Jews could always be
attributed to the general decayed state of humanity: Amidst a general environment of religious intolerance, racial discrimination, and overall violence, hostilities toward Jews felt “natural”. Life in cruel and repressive societies is always fragile, and Jewish life was even more vulnerable in these morally detestable societies. Remarkably, Europe of the 19th and 20th century had turned the corner and was a continent on the move. Rapid industrialization, economic revolution, political enfranchisement, and cultural evolution had all created an environment of confidence, progress, and belief in the virtue of Man. Humanity had convincingly pulled itself out of the quagmire of corruption and savagery and was hurtling toward a utopian world of science, tolerance and enlightenment. Germany was as the center of this development, spearheading advances in every sector of human progress. Yet, even this progressive and cultured society degenerated into hatred and genocide. Jews should certainly not define themselves by anti-Semitism, but we also should not ignore its pervasiveness. This hatred is baked into human history. It can be tamed and curtailed but can never be fully eliminated. Tisha Bav launched a bleak world of hatred and repression. After extinguishing the light in Yerushalayim, humanity suffered through close to 1500 years of stagnation and oppression. Over the past 500 years humanity experienced a renaissance and fashioned a more civil world of ration and morality. Sadly, even the modern enlightened world isn’t immune to anti-Semitism. The Holocaust reminds us of the catastrophic impact of Tisha b’av- the unleashing of anti-Semitism. This incurable disease has stained the moral consciousness of human history. The second seismic shift in the Jewish world during the past century was the formation of the State of Israel. How should Tisha bav be streamed through this miracle of history? Firstly, by realizing how close we are to the conclusion of history. Ironically, as our appetites have been whetted, Tishav b’av feels even more devastating. Our ancestors lived hundreds of years apart from redemption. They dreamed and hoped, but it remained elusive and distant. They imagined caressing the stones of the Kotel and kissing the dust of a blessed land. Yet they lived trapped lives, dispersed across continents and strewn across time. We are living at the doorstep of history. As we pray that “our eyes should witness the return to Zion” we are troubled by the prospect that those eyes will go dark before redemption
Our return to Israel in the 20th century also unleashed a torrent of opposition to Jewish presence in Israel. We face physical violence, international condemnation, and accusations of moral hypocrisy. concludes. Will we miss these epic scenes by a mere ten years? Will redemption happen soon after we have departed this world? These haunting possibilities didn’t occupy our ancestors, but they should worry us and agitate our Tisha b’av. In a similar vein, we are so close to the conclusion of this marathon, but yet there is so much more that we hope for. Modern religious Jews who love Israel should always calibrate their redemptive imagination somewhere between triumph and longing. We know how to celebrate the miracles we have been experienced but we must also “long” for the fully redeemed state which is still elusive. If, year-round, we spend too much time celebrating, Tisha b’av is a day to adjust the balance and remind ourselves to “long” and to yearn for comprehensive geula. Our return to Israel in the 20th century also unleashed a torrent of opposition to Jewish presence in Israel. We face physical violence, international condemnation, and accusations of moral hypocrisy. Some
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of this opposition is just a manifestation of classic antisemitism dressed in the costume of contemporary politics. However, opposition to Jewish settlement in the land of israel is a separate form of animosity. Tisha b’av is responsible for this struggle as well. We inhabited this land thousands of years ago and were at the verge of creating the kingdom of G-d. We forfeited that chance on Tisha b’av, and it has been a long odyssey home. The long road home has been fraught with anger and opposition. One day the world will embrace our presence in this land and celebrate Jews in Yerushalayim. The world is still broken and resists us. We broke our world on Tish b’av and for this we cry 20th century tears. Rabbi Moshe Taragin is a rabbi at Yeshivat Har Etzion/Gush, a hesder yeshiva. He has smicha and a BA in computer science from Yeshiva University as well as a masters degree in English literature from the City University of New York.
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Weekly Dvar Torah F R O M E R E TZ Y I S R A E L
Earning Our Keep BY MRS YAEL LEIBOWITZ After the first case of murder in history, the murderer was confronted by G-d Himself. “Where is your brother, Hevel?” G-d asked. To which Cain, the murderer responded. “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Bereishit 4:9). In what follows next, we, as students of Tanakh learn for the first time that there are certain behaviors the Land itself simply won’t tolerate. “Your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground! Therefore... if you till the soil, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. You shall become a ceaseless wanderer on earth” (Bereishit 4:10-12). The Land rejected Cain. The Land that, the Tanakh tells us, was forced to absorb the blood of the innocent, rejected the one responsible for the violence. And so, as we learn about the very origins of humanity, the Tanakh communicates one of its most important truths. Our existence
on the Land is contingent on our ability to “take care of our brothers.” Should we fail, the Land will reject our right to inhabit it. This concept, revolutionary and unique to monotheism, is reiterated numerous times throughout Sefer Devarim. It articulates an inextricable link between our worship of G-d, our responsibility towards our fellow human beings, and the fulfillment of our destiny as a people. Our religion, Moshe reminded us, as we stood perched to enter the Promised Land, demands that we build a society free of idols, but also one that is free of injustice and exploitation. It is a religion that tells us to sacrifice to G-d in the Temple, but also to take care of the poor and
the vulnerable. Before he died, Moshe reminded us that the only way to truly worship G-d, is by being good, and kind, and fair to each other. But sometimes that’s easier said than done. And after entering the Land, we began to lose sight of that fine balance. Ritualistic behavior began to overshadow the ethical, and we began to prioritize our imagined service of G-d, over the wellbeing of the people standing right next to us. In the famous haftarah that we read on this Shabbat right before Tisha B’Av, we see the desperate attempts of Yishayahu HaNavi to communicate just how perverted our conception of religion had become. “G-d doesn’t want empty sacrifices, or lengthy prayers,” Yishayahu claimed. He wants you to “aid the wronged. Uphold the rights of the orphan; defend the cause of the widow” (Yishayahu 1:17).
Our existence on the Land is contingent on our ability to “take care of our brothers.” Should we fail, the Land will reject our right to inhabit it.
Devarim
Sichon came out to wage war. The Israelites destroyed him and his nation, taking his entire land, with the exception of Ammon. The nation then successfully defeated the other Emorite king, the mighty Og, king of Bashan, conquering his territory.
3RD ALIYA (SHLISHI) – 1:22-38
In the 40th year after leaving Egypt, towards the end of his life, Moshe gathers the nation together and rebukes them, alluding to the many places where they made mistakes since leaving Egypt (Rashi). Moshe recalls the time spent at Mount Sinai after receiving the Torah, and that the nation could have gone from Sinai straight into the Land of Cana’an. At that stage, Moshe realised that he needed assistance to lead such a big nation.
2ND ALIYA (LEVI) – 1:11-21
Moshe therefore told the people to appoint judges over sub-groups of 1000, 100, 50 and 10 men. He told those judges to be fair and brave in their work, and that any dispute too difficult to resolve should be brought to Moshe himself.
Mrs. Yael Leibowitz teaches at the Matan Women’s Institute for Torah Learning and the Pardes Institute. She is a member of the Mizrachi Speakers Bureau (www.mizrachi.org/speakers).
6TH ALIYA (SHISHI) – 2:31-3:14
Sidra Summary
1ST ALIYA (KOHEN) – DEVARIM 1:1-10
More than anything else, Yishayahu tried to tell us, G-d wants us to be tolerant, and generous, and just. But we didn’t internalize what Yishayahu said. Violence and corruption persisted. And eventually, in 586 BCE, and then again in 70 CE, just as it had rejected Cain, the Land of Israel rejected us. But, as Yishayahu prophesized, it also allowed us back. And after thousands of years of exile, the words of comfort offered by Yishayahu are now manifest in the very streets that he once stood. As Yishayahu promised, we have returned to our Land and once again, we can build a society founded on the religious principles formulated in Sefer Devarim. Once again, we have the opportunity and the obligation, to build the society Moshe envisioned; one in which our right to remain in the Land is ensured by our understanding that before anything else, we are our brother’s keepers.
Moshe recalls the sin of the spies. The people had approached Moshe 38 years earlier, wanting to send a mission to inspect the Land. Moshe agreed and selected 12 leading men, one from each tribe. Upon their return, Yehoshua and Calev spoke positively, but the other spies persuaded the people that going into the Land was impossible, due to the giants and the strongly fortified cities. Moshe’s attempts to reassure the people of G-d’s protection when they would enter the Land were rejected. G-d then decreed that the generation who had accepted the negative report of the ten spies would die in the wilderness and not enter the Land. Point to Consider: Why did Moshe agree to sending spies, if he would later rebuke them for the mission? (see Rashi to 1:23)
4TH ALIYA (REVI’I) – 1:39-2:1
Those aged under 20 at the time of the sin of the spies would be allowed to enter the Land. Despite Moshe’s discouragement, some of the people then attempted to enter the Land, despite Moshe’s warning that G-d would not now allow them to
7TH ALIYA (SHEVI’I) – 3:15-3:22
enter. They refused to listen and were brutally crushed by the Emorites. The nation wept and then turned back towards the Sea of Reeds.
5TH ALIYA (CHAMISHI) – 2:2-30
Moshe then recalls that 38 years later, the Israelites turned northwards and passed by the descendants of Esav in Seir, making sure not to start a war with them, nor to take any provisions without payment. The nation then headed towards the Moabite desert. G-d instructed Moshe not to start a conflict with Moab. Conversely, on their march towards the Land, G-d instructed them to pass through the land of Sichon, the king of Cheshbon, albeit this might lead to a war.
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Moshe apportioned the land taken from Sichon and Og to the tribes of Gad and Reuven and some of the tribe of Menashe (as detailed in parashat Matot – see Bemidbar 32). However, the men of these tribes were still required to enter the Land of Cana’an to fight with the rest of the nation. Moshe told his successor Yehoshua that just as G-d had helped them to defeat Sichon and Og, so too He would help them in their conquest of the Land.
HAFTARAH CHAZON
This haftarah, taken from the beginning of Yeshaya (Isaiah), is the third of the three ‘haftarot of tribulation’ and is always read on the Shabbat before Tisha B’Av. The prophet relates G-d’s rebuke of the nation for rebelling against Him and bringing animal offerings without actually addressing their sinful ways. The verses of rebuke are traditionally read to the tune of Megillat Eicha (Lamentations), which is recited on Tisha B’Av. Yet the haftarah ends with the hopeful message that Zion “will be redeemed with justice”.
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Parshat Devarim: The two mitzvot of this week – the book and the sword BY GAVRIEL COHN Sefer Devarim is Moshe’s parting speech to the Jewish People, delivered on the plains of Moav, just a month before they enter the Land of Israel. Moshe opens by summarising the Jewish People’s past exploits in the desert. He first recalls setting up a hierarchy of judges for the people to turn to for litigation decades earlier. Intertwined with this summary, Moshe instructs all future judges with the only two commandments presented in this week’s Torah portion: “Do not appoint an unknowledgeable judge” (see Rashi, 1:17) and “do not fear any man.” These mitzvot perhaps serve as a backdrop for the rest of the sedra’s stories. The subsequent episodes retold by Moshe in this week’s portion – the episode of the spies; a fringe, rebellious attempt to fight their way into the Land after that sin; and the conquests of the Jewish People against Sichon and Og – rested on whether they adhered to the values of these two commandments or not. These mitzvot
apply not only to rabbinic judges but, broadly speaking, are relevant to us all. When kept together, they underscore our entire commitment to Judaism. The first mitzvah that Moshe gave in his speech, “do not appoint an unknowledgeable judge”, teaches us that decisions in Jewish Law can only be passed by those proficient in it, and that we must accept their competent, all-encompassing understanding. As Rav Soloveitchik explained, just like the fields of architecture, medicine, or engineering, “Jewish law has its own methodology, mode of analysis, and rationale which can be understood only by a Torah scholar who has mastered its abundant material. Jewish law is an autonomous, self-integrated system… ‘Common sense’ can only spread confusion and havoc when applied to halachah, just as it does when it is applied in all specialised disciplines” (Torah lecture, 1973). As Moshe subsequently relates, the people failed to recognise this when they took matters into their own hands after being punished by G-d following the sin of the Spies, decideding instead to ascend to the Land of Israel: “You did not listen… and climbed the mountain but were struck… then you retreated and wept before G-d.”
Instead, we must accept the decisions of the Divine and His laws, embracing the halachic value-system as a whole. The second mitzvah, “Do not fear any man,” instructs us to stand firmly by G-d’s commandments and not to cave into pressure or threats from others. The Jewish People failed to adhere to this after the spies relayed their report about the Land of Israel. As Moshe recounts, they panicked, terrified of Canaan’s inhabitants, and fired G-d’s wrath against them. However, as Moshe continues to retell, later, the Jewish People then stood by this mitzvah to not to fear any man, and bravely conquered the cities of Sichon and Og bordering Israel. Our Torah portion ends with Moshe encouraging the nation to prepare for invading the Land, echoing this commandment: “You shall not fear them, for Hashem, your G-d, He shall wage war for you.” As Moshe taught our ancestors on the banks of the Jordan, we must only appoint knowledgeable judges, and then we must stand by their rulings, fearing no one. Our Sages stated that “the sword and the book came down from heaven tied to each other” (Midrash Rabba, Devarim). The “book” – halachah, that self-contained,
complex system of Jewish law – was given together with a “sword” – reserves of stubbornness to ensure that we keep what is written therein, the strength to “not fear any man.” These two commandments perhaps serve the basis of our commitment to Judaism. Popular culture today may clash with the “book,” given to us in a fiery Divine Revelation; yet we are armed with the sword, the tenacity to remain faithful to it (As Moshe recounts, “you are passing through the boundary of your brothers the children of Esav, who dwell in Seir, they will fear you but you should be very careful”). Our ancient value-system, the “book,” (kept whole and true through knowledgeable judges) has preserved us since our earliest days in the desert, smelting and refining us into a people of morality and G-d-consciousness, and we have protected it as if by a sword, fearing no one. Gavriel Cohn is an informal educator at Immanuel College, Bushey. He has written a number of Torah articles for various publications. If you have any questions or comments, please get in touch! gavcohn@ gmail.com.
Chovat Halevavot Hilchot Shabbat The author brings several more reasons why the Torah was not specific about the entirety of the reward one gets for doing Mitzvot (especially in the Afterlife). 1. Much of the service of G-d involves one’s intention and feeling which is not discernible to an outsider. One can sway when they pray but actually be far away… Therefore for the portion of Mitzvot which are apparent to all, such as Mitzvot which one performs with their body, G-d will often bring about reward even in this world, whereas Mitzvot which largely depend on intent and feeling would also have their reward “hidden” until one reaches the World to Come (or Afterlife in preparation thereto). Parshat Bechukotai is quite specific that if the community keep the Mitzvot then they will see the fruits of their efforts in this world too and the Chovot Halevavot explains that this is specifically said to the community as they can thereby encourage each other. “We all need it to rain for our crop to grow so let us work together to support each other doing Mitzvot”. 2. A further reason the Torah only addresses the reward one gets for performing Mitzvot in a physical sense is because
Hashem (through Moshe) was communicating to human beings and the only language that they understand is tangible cause and effect. 3. Finally, the ultimate reward is the pleasure that one will experience when their soul is able to bask in the presence of Hashem. Therefore, when G-d tells us in Parshat Bechukotai that He will be a G-d for us and He will not despise us, He means it in the ultimate sense too – that we will be fortunate for our souls to draw close to Him, effectively hinting at the fact that there is a higher level of reward that we will benefit from, for the performance of Mitzvot. So, in terms of Bitachon, the way of one who trusts Hashem in this area is to recognise that all the permissible pleasures that they have enjoyed and that they are destined to enjoy are due to G-d’s ongoing kindnesses. They can be certain that G-d does repay those who keep His Mitzvot, but at the same time, their intention whilst performing the Mitzvot is as if one is repaying a debt, in recognition of all the kindness that G-d constantly bestows upon us, morning, noon and night.
There is a further category of Muktzah called, Muktzah Machmat Mi’us – which means an item which is extremely repulsive and therefore is not generally moved at all. This is a severe category of Muktzah and therefore such an item may not even be used if one needs the space it is occupying or if one found a creative manner in which to make use of it. Examples of this are a child’s potty or an adult’s bed-pan although it is presumably not so applicable today as it only applies if it is made of unglazed earthenware or of wood. The permissible reasons to move such an item are: a. If one has a need to use it for the very purpose it was manufactured for (obviously, a use which is permitted on Shabbat). In order to carry the aforementioned articles for such a purpose, one would need to first pour some clean water in them and thereby one
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could consider that the item is being moved on account of the water inside it (which could theoretically be drinkable by an animal) b. If it is in one’s dining room, kitchen or living quarters, it may be moved due to the leniency of “Graph shell Re’I” . Other items, although they may appear to come under this severe category of Muktzah, for example a rack which is designed to hold raw fish, although it has an unpleasant smell, it is not considered repulsive. Similary an eathernware lamp which is used with an unpleasant smelling fuel such as paraffin, does not earn this severe category of Muktzah and may be moved so long as one has found a use for it or the space which it was occupying.
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Devarim BY RABBI YITZCHOK KATZ
GIVING A BOOK ITS NAME
Though the fifth Book of the Torah is generally called D’varim, which means “words” or “matters”, Jewish tradition uses the Hebrew name Mishneh Torah, a “repeated” Torah (equivalent to the Greek Deuteronomy), because it is Moses’ summing up and reiteration of the teaching contained in the previous four Books. The phrase Mishneh Torah comes from Deut. 17:18 and Joshua 8:32. Nathan Marcus Adler in his commentary on Targum Onkelos surmises that when the scribe wrote each word of the Torah he uttered or repeated the word to make sure that everything was included and there were no mistakes. From this we can learn that when studying the Torah text it is not enough to skim-read the words. One must go slowly and carefully, making every word at least minimally audible.
THE NAME OF G-D
In Deut. 4:33 the Torah calls G-d E-lohim but Targum Onkelos changes the word to the four-letter Y-H-V-H. The E name refers to G-d in his capacity of power and justice (middat ha-din); the Y name is G-d in his capacity of love and mercy (middat ha-rachamim). It is interesting that in the first line of the Shema (Deut. 6:4), we find both names,
followed by two implied comments: the more personal Name is Y-H-V-H, and the two names jointly denote G-d, making the two Names one. What right does Targum Onkelos have to alter a word in the Torah? His problem is that people might think that there are several G-ds who all claim the right to the name E-lohim, and the second of the Ten Commandments warns us against allocating G-dship to no-G-ds, so in order to avoid misinterpretations of the verse. Onkelos makes sure that we realise that there is only one genuine G-d whose personal Name is Y-H-V-H.
VISION & VIEWING THE FUTURE
The haftarah is the first chapter of Isaiah, beginning Chazon Yeshayahu, the Vision of Isaiah (it is from this phrase that this Shabbat derives its title of Shabbat Chazon). The word Vision is used because prophets have insight into events and movements. What makes them able to see into tomorrow? And if G-d knows what will happen in the future, why should we pray or repent since we cannot change anything? On the first question we can say that a prophet sees trends and developments and warns that if they are not checked by human conscience, there will be future repercussions.
On the second, the philosophers say that with G-d there is no differentiation between past, present and future, but an Eternal Now. G-d does not attach a future time-frame to an event. Everything is contemporaneous.
WHAT MADE MOSES SPEAK?
Early in his career Moses says, “I am not a man of words” (Ex. 4:10). By the time of the Book of Deuteronomy we read, “These are the words which Moses spoke”. Tongue-tied Moses has become a speaker! What caused the change? Maybe it is the Torah which made him a speaker – politicians have speechwriters and so did Moses, except that in his case G-d was his speech-writer. Maybe it is leadership that made him a speaker – his experiences, challenges and decisions moved him and gave him the gift of words. The best answer is suggested by Rashbam in his commentary on Exodus 4:10. He says that the problem was not that Moses had a serious speech defect or a lack of verbal fluency. He simply did not want to be known as a mere orator word spinner but as a worker. How often have I heard it said about a public figure, including rabbis, “He is wonderful at giving speeches, but what else can he do?” It is said that at an 1897 conference of
Russian Jews, Rabbi Shmuel Mohilever insisted that all speeches be in Yiddish. Some people found that very difficult and would have preferred to speak Russian, Polish or German. Nonetheless Rabbi Mohilever was adamant. “If you have to speak in Yiddish you will prepare properly, you will weigh your words and be relevant and concise. You won’t waste time on rhetoric and we will be able to get on with the practical work,” he said. Rabbi Apple served for 32 years as the chief minister of the Great Synagogue, Sydney, Australia’s oldest congregation. He is now retired and lives in Jerusalem. Rabbi Apple blogs at http://www.oztorah.com
Transforming hate and anger into love BY ARYEH SAMPSON The Baal Shem Tov, the founder of the Hassidic movement, explained that ‘the world is a mirror’– the defects we see in others are a reflection of our own. When Moses sent spies on a reconnaissance mission to Israel, they returned with an evil report about the land of Israel. The Jewish people then accused G-d of hating them .The commentator Rashi explained that G-d loved them – but they hated G-d, and they projected those feelings onto G-d. Projection plays an important role in modern psychology. It is understood to be a defence mechanism that helps us deny seeing our weaknesses. We deny negative traits in ourselves and project them onto others. We therefore may come to hate others as we project our negative feelings about ourselves onto them. It’s also common for bullies and racists to project onto others all the bad that they feel about themselves and don’t want to face. Another ramification of this desire to deny weakness is anger. It’s common to find that anger arises when a person’s inner insecurities or vulnerabilities are triggered. This can be a cause of much conflict in marriage and relationships. These insecurities are often described in psychotherapy as ‘the wounded inner child’ as they may have their origin in
painful or traumatic experiences in childhood. This part of a person’s psyche then becomes disowned and denied. The Talmud tells us that anger can act as an inner teacher, giving us greater self awareness. It reveals to us our own hidden insecurities – the nature of our own wounded child. Awareness, as Rabbi Salanter explained, is the first step of personal change and leads to control and transformation of these weaknesses. There are many methods in psychotherapy to deal with overcoming
insecurities and our wounded inner child, as it provides a safe place to explore inner feelings. Often there is unfinished business from the past that needs to be dealt with. The origins of the wounded child need to be understood and painful experiences expressed. This helps us heal and leads to greater self acceptance and love of ourselves. We can drop the desire to project negative feelings and become less angry. This in turn brings love and acceptance On a spiritual level, accidents or
Seeing hatred and anger in others is a call for us to look inside and become more self-aware. To face our inner demons and transform them. THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM
coincidences do not exist. Seeing hatred and anger in others is a call for us to look inside and become more self-aware. To face our inner demons and transform them. In doing so, we become more loving to ourselves and bring more love into the world.
QUESTIONS 1) Think of someone you dislike or hate and ask yourself – do you have the same qualities that you dislike in that person? 2) Think of times when people triggered your anger. Is it triggering a feeling of insecurity or personal vulnerability in yourself? 3) What is the nature of this insecurity? 4) Is there a wounded inner child within you that that needs healing? If you are interested in viewing a webinar on Love, Communication and Marriage, or receiving a free download copy of Go to Yourself, email aryeh.sampson@gmail. com. He also has a YouTube channel, ‘Aryeh Sampson’ where he shares insights on a range of psychological issues. For more information about counseling view www.ascounsellinginnorthlondon.co.uk
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Devarim
Devarim Word Search
We have arrived at the fifth book of the Torah! Devarim is a long speech which Moshe gave to the Jewish people before he parted with them to the Next World. He reminds them of the areas in which they stumbled and gives them valuable lessons in how to stay away from sin. In Parshat Devarim itself, Moshe tells over some of the big events that happened in the Midbar and what instructions Hashem gave the Jewish people in terms of whose land they were allowed to conquer. Towards the end, we read again of how the Jewish people managed to overcome two mighty kings – Sichon and Og and Moshe later explained to his successor, Yehoshua, that in the
same way they had won these two kings, so too will Hashem help the Jewish people overthrow the mighty kings who occupied the Promised Land. After Shabbat is Tisha Be’av, a day where we pause and think about the Beit Hamikdash, the closeness to Hashem that the Jewish people experienced and the holy Service that took place there. We also spare a thought for the suffering that our nation has undergone since we were thrown into exile. Then we also plead with Hashem and express our faith, that one day, soon, we should merit to see Moshiach and have the 3rd Beit Hamikdash rebuilt – Amen!
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AMMON • CHAZON • DEVARIM • EICHA • EMORITES • JUDGES • MOAB • SICHON
Tangram Challenge! Using all the shapes on the left can you make the stork on the right?
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e runs with the ball, darts around a defender, aims for the goal, he shoots...he scores!! The crowd chants “Aron, Aron, Aron…” “...Aron, Aron!” Chaim was prodding him awake. “Rabbi Stern is coming this way! Can you please pay attention!” “I’m tired” Aron whispered back “I was up all night practising for my big game on Sunday.” “Don’t you mean our big game? Anyway none of it will matter if you get banned from the school team for getting into trouble at school.” “They wont ban me! I’m their star player!” “Shhhh, he’s coming!” Rabbi Stern checked their work and then strode back to the front of the class. “So, who can tell me why the second Beis Hamikdash was destroyed?” “Sinas chinam, baseless hatred” piped up Shmuel. “Chazal tell us that in every generation the Beis Hamikdash is not rebuilt, it is as if it was destroyed in that generation.” Their teacher continued. “ That means what we are missing in our classrooms and our communities is achdus. We need to work on ourselves to love every Jew and treat them as you would want to be treated. We can then work together to bring moshiach bimheira veyameinu amen.” The bell rang and the class packed up
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Together we can their bags to leave. “Let’s go and have a practice game.” Aron was itching to get on the pitch and score goals, just like in his dream. “Ok” sighed Chaim. “But can you please pass the ball. We won’t win if you keep trying to be the only one who scores goals.” “But I’m the best at it, I will win the game if I score the goals.” Chaim sighed to himself, Aron didn’t seem to understand that football was a team sport, not just about Aron himself. Sunday morning dawned. Excitement
was in the air as the boys started warming up on the pitch, getting ready for the big game against Toras Mordechai. “I’m so excited,” said Aron, “I am going to win this!” “We” muttered Chaim resentfully, “we will win this together as a team.” But Aron was too busy showing off his ball skills to all the parents on the sidelines to notice his friend’s annoyed expression. The whistle blew and they were off. It was the second half and Chaim’s team were losing. Their top scorer Aron hadn’t
scored one goal and Toras Mordechai were leading 2-0. Passing the ball, tackling players, it seemed like everyone was working together as a team until Aron got the ball. Aron streaked past the midfielders and defenders, dribbling the ball around player after player. His teammates were shouting at him to pass the ball as they were in a better position to score, but as usual Aron wasn’t interested. He wanted to have all the glory to himself. He aimed for the goal and...skidded on the grass, falling hard. “Ow” he shouted, rubbing his ankle. The coach decided he was going to have to come off. Aron sat on the bench sulking, they would never win without him. Suddenly he heard shouts. Aron looked up to see Shmuel, the substitute, score a goal! The game progressed and Aron was shocked, his teammates were amazing. Chaim scored next and then just as the match was almost over, Zevi nipped a neat one past the goalkeeper. His team erupted into cheers, they had won the match! Aron was happy the team had won, but he was upset he hadn’t been part of winning the game. “I’ll try to be more of a team player,” he said to Chaim afterwards. “If we can win this game as a team, we can bring moshiach as a team.”
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Devarim
In a nutshell A very warm welcome indeed to the fifth and final book of the Torah. The book of Devarim is a wonderful source of all the fundamentals of the Jewish faith – the existence of G-d, how He appeared on Mount Sinai and gave us the Torah and the reward and punishment for doing Mitzvot. It is also a provides a synopsis of the Jewish people’s travels and travails through the wilderness. It teaches us how to love and fear Hashem and to walk in His ways. The sidra opens by describing where the Jewish people were up to when Moshe began his 30+ day lecture of love. It was Rosh Chodesh Shevat, and he began by hinting to them some of the places where they and/ or the previous generation had unfortunately stumbled. Life was not easy for Moshe in the wilderness; he was not given an easy time by the Jews. He was sometimes made fun of; his leadership and integrity challenged, and it was in some ways due to their rebellion that he ended up hitting the rock and was thus banned
from entering the holy land. Nevertheless, he did not reprimand them in order to “get even” with them; he brought home the lessons that they vitally needed to carry with them when he was leave this world. He describes to them how they required judges to relieve some of the burden off him and how he had instructed them to listen to the litigants and bring any complicated issue to him. Moshe reminds the Jewish people how they clamoured around him, demanding the sending of spies to check the land – although G-d had assured them it would be good. When the spies return how the Jewish people grumbled in their tents, “Hashem hates us!”. How ridiculous – Hashem actually loves His nation. We felt hatred towards him and therefore we imagined that this feeling was reflected. This is important for life – if you feel hatred towards someone this does NOT mean that they have ANYTHING against you! When it was time to travel in the vicinity of Esav, we
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.
were warned not to attack Esav or try to take away his inheritance which G-d had designated for him. We were likewise warned not to attack Moav. Moshe reminds the Jewish people how they sent messengers to Sichon King of Cheshbon requesting access through his land, to no avail. Sichon instead tried to attack the Jewish nation, to no avail! Then they were confronted with Og, the giant, and his nation, but, once again, Hashem saved His nation. Finally, Moshe reminds them how the east of the river Jordan has been given to the tribes of Reuven, Gad and half of Menashe. Moshe recollects how he inspired Yehoshua – “Look and see how Hashem enabled us to overcome the two mighty kings Sichon and Og; so too will he do for you in relation to other kings who occupy the land of Cana’an”. Words of encouragement and hope designed to instil faith of G-d in the soon-to-be leader of the Jewish nation.
Use this area to write the words you have found.
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Last week’s words: Here are some words you may have found from last week - you may have found more! big bio bit bog boo
bot gob lib lob obi
sib sob bigs biog bios
bits blog blot bogs boil
bolt boos boot bots glib
glob gobs lobs obit slob
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bigot biogs blogs blots boils
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bigots biologist
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Q: Why do seagulls fly over the sea? A: Because if they flew over the bay, they would be bagels!
Knock, knock. Who’s there? Cows go. Cows go who? No, cows go MOO!
Q: What do you call an alligator in a vest? A: An investigator!
(Answers at the bottom of page upside down)
1. You can hold me in your hand and yet I can fill the entire room. What am I?
3.I sound like one letter but I’m written with three. I show you things when you look through me. What am I?
Q: Why did the math book look so sad? A: Because it had so many problems!
2. Spelled forwards I’m what you do everyday, spelled backwards I’m something horrible. What am I?
3) An eye! 1. A lightbulb!
2) LIVE!
1. Pound cake 2. Public eye 3. No through road
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4. Hay stack 5. Below par 6. Eye shadow
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A contest for kids from around the world
Hey kids,
How does a trip to Eretz Yisroel sound? All you need to do is put your creativity to good use. This coming Rosh Hashanah, a new Shmitah year begins. For a full year, farmers in Eretz Yisroel will take a break from their fields. It may seem fun to have no job for a year, but it’s actually pretty tough on the farmers. because they have no income. Chevras Shmitah is the kids division of Keren Hashviis, an organization that raises money for the farmers so that they can keep this very special mitzvah.
And now Keren Hashviis is turning to you.
What can your sign accomplish? A Super Shmitah Sketch Story An Israeli ba'al teshuva was telling his rav about some of his old habits. Back in the day, before he was frum, the man would drive around the fields of Eretz Yisroel and steal metal fences, poles, and signs, which he would sell as scrap metal. There was one place he would never steal from, though: any are that was guarded by the company called "Shmitah." He saw the big yellow signs waving in the breeze and thought that "Shmitah" was the name of a scary security company. He definitely didn't want to mess with them! And so the man never stole from those farmers. Hashem promises to protect any farmer who keeps Shmitah. And that year, the farmers with yellow banners hanging were definitely saved from being robbed.
Farmers who are Shomrei Shmitah hang a banner on their land, letting everyone know that they are keeping the important mitzvah. It's inspiring to see so many fields proudly proclaiming, "We keep Shmitah!" This year, for the first time in nearly 2000 years, there's a good chance that majority of the Jewish land in Eretz Yisroel will actually keep Shmitah! And that’s where you come in. Join the Super Shmitah Sketch and share your Shmitah artwork. Not only will the winning designs be used, you’ll also win a trip to Eretz Yisroel to see your design in person! Your design encourages and inspires farmers to keep this incredible mitzvah. In this zechus, we hope that Klal Yisroel will be able to bring Moshiach even closer.
It can be YOUR art hanging on hundreds of farms in Eretz Yisroel. How? 1. Design a banner that uses one of the following phrases: כאן שומרים שמיטה • וצויתי את ברכתי • גיבורי כח עושה דברו • ישמחו במלכותך שומרי שמיטה 2. Submit your artwork to Keren Hashviis via • Email: Send a PDF attachment to youth@kerenhashviis.org.uk 3. Farmers in Eretz Yisroel will choose the winners. The contest is open to children ages 9 and above. The contest closes Thursday, 23 Av (1 August) at 11:59 pm EST. Submissions received after the deadline will not be considered.
Prizes Grand Prize:
Honorary Mentions:
Unforgettable 3-day trip to Eretz Yisroel for you and two adults, where you can meet farmers and Gedolei Yisroel
Your very own Shtar Shutfus that allows you to partner with a farmer, own a plot of land, and earn the very special mitzvah of Shmitah
One Lucky Winner!
Three Lucky Winners!
Share your creativity.
Show support for the brave farmers.
Win big!
Prizes will be awarded at the discretion of Keren Hashviis who will have full and sole decision of the winners. The grand prize includes airfare and (3 days, 2 nights) accommodations for the winner and one accompanying adult, as well as a helicopter ride and transportation in Eretz Yisrael to visit gedolim and farmers. The prize is not transferable. If the winner chooses not to accept the prize or is unable to travel or to travel before the end of the Shmitah year 5782, a new winner will be drawn. The trip will be closely documented by photographers and videographers from local and global media.The winner will receive an album covering the highlights of the trip. Keren Hashviis retains the rights to all decisions relating to the raffle.
Chevras Shmitah Registration Register for Chevras Shmitah to join the Super Shmitah Sketch contest and win a trip to Eretz Yisroel. • Chevras Shmitah is open to children aged nine and above. • Parents must give their consent for children to join the program. • Multiple family members can fill out the same form.
Family’s Last Name __________________________________ Address ___________________________________________ Parent's Phone Number _______________________________ Parent's Email_______________________________________ Child’s First Name
Child's DOB
Child’s School/Yeshiva
I agree that my child/ren can join Chevras Shmitah. Chevras Shmitah, run by Keren Hashviis, may send information, magazines, or prizes to registered members. Chevras Shmitah may publish the details of contest submissions, including the names of winners etc. Keren Hashviis will not distribute personal names and contact details of members to any other programs or organizations. Sixty days after Shmitah ends, the Chevras Shmitah will be closed for operations and will not contact members further.
Parent’s Name _______________________
Parent’s Signature _______________________
Keren Hashviis 0333-800-6868 | youth@kerenhashviis.org.uk | PO Box 77772 London NW11 1PX
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SPORTS WEEKLY SPECIAL
EURO 2020
Penalty heartache again but pride in Three Lions BY DAVID SAFFER England’s penalty shootout jinx came back to haunt them as their Euro 2020 dreams ended in heartache at Wembley but Gareth Southgate’s team has given the nation hope for the future. This defeat, England’s seventh shoot-out tournament loss, will hurt for some time to come but a semi final and final appearance in the last two major competitions means England are one of the most consistent teams in Europe. The question now is whether Southgate can take the next step with his exciting young squad at the World Cup in Qatar 2022. When the match kicked off at Wembley last Sunday night hopes were high a 55-year wait for a trophy was finally going to end and Harry Kane et al would join the Boys of 66 as immortals. And it appeared on when Luke Shaw sensationally fired England ahead with a brilliant strike on two minutes. But Italy, unbeaten for 33 matches The ‘Three Lions’ made lasting headlines in Euro 2020 coming into this final, slowly got a foothold in the game and deservedly the “toughest punishments possible” for equalised through Leonardo Bonucci in the those responsible. 67th minute after England keeper Jordan “We will continue to do everything we Pickford pushed Marco Verratti’s header can to stamp discrimination out of the on to a post. game, but we implore the government to Southgate for whatever reasons only put act quickly and bring in the appropriate on three subs to freshen the side, unlike legislation so this abuse has real life conItaly. Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho sequences,” the FA noted in a statement. eventually entered the fray in the final min- “Social media companies need to step up ute of extra time for the penalty drama. and take accountability and action to ban Harry Kane and Harry Maguire scored, abusers from their platforms, gather evPickford saved efforts from Andrea Belotti idence that can lead to prosecution and and Jorginho, but Rashford struck a post, support making their platforms free from Gianluigi Donnarumma denied Sancho this type of abhorrent abuse.” and then teenager Bukayo Saka to seal Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the victory for the Italians. Southgate and his abuse “appalling”. squad consoled the trio who were then “This England team deserve to be laudsubjected to abhorrent online racist abuse ed as heroes, not racially abused on social media,” he said. “Those responsible for in the aftermath of the final. The Football Association have called for this appalling abuse should be ashamed
of themselves.” The Duke of Cambridge, who is FA president, spoke with the England players after the game. Southgate, who knows only too well what if feels like to miss a penalty in a shoot-out, told BBC Sport. “We are all together. They have given the country some unbelievable memories,” he said. “Tonight is going to be extremely difficult for all of us, of course. You have to feel that disappointment because the opportunities to win trophies like this are so rare in your life. But when they reflect on what they have done, they should be incredibly proud of themselves. The players have been an absolute credit. They have given everything they possibly could. They have been an absolute joy to work with and they have gone further than we’ve gone for
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so long. But it is incredibly painful in that dressing room.” “The calls for the penalties were mine,” he added. “They have done more than any other England team in over 50 years.” Kane accepted the defeat would “hurt” for the rest of their careers. “Penalties is the worst feeling in the world when you lose,” he told BBC Sport. “It wasn’t our night but it’s been a fantastic tournament and we should hold our heads high.” Maguire told BBC Sport, “It is hard to take any positives at the moment. We are heartbroken. We are all devastated. The lads gave absolutely everything and emptied our tanks on the pitch. It was a ding-dong battle, we had the first half, they had the second, and extra time could have gone either way. It wasn’t our night on penalties. The fine margins went for them.” Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Southgate responded to the racial abuse aimed at Rashford, Sancho and Saka as “unforgivable”. Regarding his tactics in the final, he noted, “We picked a team because of the tactical problem Italy posed. I think for the first 45 minutes, people would agree, that worked. Italy are always going to have possession but we were actually controlling the ball for long periods. We couldn’t keep the ball as well in the second half. They went for a false nine for a period of time, which was difficult. It was a difficult to solve. We didn’t create the chances we would have liked to. There are lots of things we want to reflect on, but I wouldn’t be giving a proper appraisal until I watch the match back fully.” He added, “As a manager, you have to accept that there will be intense analysis. We have benefitted from a lot of praise during the tournament. There will be a lot said after the game and I have to accept the analysis when things don’t go right.” He added, “You make hundreds of decisions day in, day out, during the tournament. Some you get right and some that you don’t. You have to get more right than wrong. So, I take responsibility and take the criticism that comes with that. I have to take that. If I didn’t get all the decision right last night, so be it. I have to live with that.” Southgate continued, “When you’re in
15 JULY 2021 sport and you get to finals, those opportunities are so rare, so to be close, it’s very hard the day after. You have given everything, the emotions are drained. We will go again.” Asked whether England as a team were ‘too nice’, he commented, “We overcame a lot of hurdles that we haven’t in the past. We have a lot of players who are inexperienced at an international level and they performed incredibly. We have beaten Germany and we have taken Italy, who are unbeaten in 33 games, right to the wire.” Southgate added, “If you want sustained success as a team, you need to be constantly evolving, improving and constantly finishing in latter stages of tournaments. It feels like my stomach has been ripped out this morning. But the fact we have had the first signs of some consistency, a World Cup semi-final and a Euro final, has to be a step in the right direction.” As for his decision-making in the final,” Southgate was forthright. “You’re always learning as a manager,” he said. “I’ve now managed some of the biggest games in world football. They take you across an incredible rollercoaster. You never get them all right. Sometimes you win in matches despite those decisions. It’s all part of learning. You are always going to learn and that process is never ending, really. I need to watch the game back. So much has happened in that two hours of the game. To go through the whole timeline now, too much has gone on for me to reflect properly. But that’s what we will do.” Regarding the younger players in his squad,” Southgate noted, “We’ve wanted for a long time to make playing for England fun and enjoyable. I think they have had a fabulous experience, they have loved one another’s company. It’s a club-like spirit. All this team can go again, there is no doubt about that.” So, Euro 2020 is over and taking aside the shoot-out despair there are many positives to look back on for Southgate and co. The squad is not weighed down by history and set out to make history. The opening round of matches was marred by shocking footage of Denmark and former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Cristian Erickson receiving CPR treatment after collapsing the clash against Finland. The match was initially abandoned but continued, Finland winning 1-0, after news came through Ericsson, 29, had survived a cardiac arrest. He is thankfully now recuperating. England’s campaign got up and running
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TO ADVERTISE CALL 020 3906 8488 with a 1-0 win against Croatia in Group D. Raheem Sterling justified his selection with the only goal set up by Kalvin Philips, who got the nod for an advanced midfield role, in a deserved triumph at a sundrenched Wembley. After a drab 0-0 draw against Scotland, Sterling scored the only goal against Czech Republic to win Group D. Jack Grealish set up the 12th minute winner but Kane failed to score for a third successive game. England had yet to produce “champagne football” but that did not bother Southgate who insisted performances would come starting with a clash against Germany. Should England prevail they would meet the winner of Sweden versus Ukraine for a place in the semi final. And the route to the final cleared when they defeated the Germans for the first time in a knock out game since the 1966. Sterling and Kane scored to send 40,000 fans at Wembley into raptures. England are tough to beat and when Southgate introduced Grealish there was a zip to the attack. Sterling knocked in Shaw’s cross after 75 minutes before Kane nodded in Grealish’s pinpoint cross for his first Euro 2020 goal. Pickford had performed well but Thomas Muller missed a golden chance to equalise before Kane sealed a quarter final spot. England had delivered at the highest level and finally defeated their great rivals at the fourth time of asking in a major tournament tie in 55 years. The last time an England side played four competition games without conceding a goal was when Sir Alf Ramsey et al triumphed in ’66. England in the quarter finals enjoyed a record-breaking 4-0 win against Ukraine in Rome to book a semi-final spot against Denmark at Wembley. And Kane was back to his best after his group stage struggles. Kane is England’s talisman and from the moment he poked home Sterling’s accurate pass on four minutes victory was not in doubt. Ukraine, following their exertions against Sweden in the last 16 looked jaded, and when Maguire thumped home a header from Shaw’s free-kick, 20 million TV viewers back home could relax. Kane headed in another pinpoint Shaw cross and Jordan Henderson grabbed his first international goal from a Mason Mount corner. England fans were in dreamland. Southgate racked up the substitutions to ensure no players would be suspended for
Malcolm Ginsberg with daughter Jackie and grandson Alex
the semis. Noteworthy milestones included England recording seven consecutive clean sheets. England came from a goal down against Denmark to win 2-1 and book a day of destiny against Italy. Kane scored the 104th minute winner, coolly slotting home after his penalty was saved by Kasper Schmeichel in the first period of extra time. The atmosphere at Wembley was special and Sterling appeared sharp. England though conceded a spectacular 30-yard free kick from Damsgaard on the half hour but they didn’t panic. England pushed forward and when Kane found Saka, the youngster’s low cross was diverted by Danish skipper Simon Kjaer into his own net with Sterling ready to pounce six minutes from half time. England slowly gained momentum but Schmeichel denied Maguire then Mount before full time. Into extra time and Schmeichel denied Kane with a strong hand then Sterling was pulled down for a penalty. Kane stepped up to slot in the rebound after Schmeichel saved to put England ahead. But there were 16 nerve jangling minutes to go. However, Denmark wilted, finishing the game with 10 players with all substitutes used. England played keep-ball for the final few minutes of the match. Alas, Italy proved a step too far for England and when it comes to penalties, no matter how much a team prepares with sports psychologists you cannot practice for the moment when a player has to take that walk for a spot kick. When historians look back on Euro 2020 they will recall that England provided magic moments for fans, especially against Germany and Denmark to make a first Euro final against Italy. Southgate got a plethora of tactical calls correct particularly in ignoring calls not to start the tournament with Sterling, questions over Kane’s form in the group stage and his formation against the Germans and Danes. The England squad have experienced what it takes to make a final and should not be underestimated. They were considered inferior to Bobby Robson’ World Cup ’90 and Terry Venables’ Euro ‘96 squads but have now achieved more than both. Aside from Ramsey’s lads in ‘66 they are the only team to make a major final. Southgate and England are knocking on the door of glory.
Brothers Malcolm and Warren Ginsburg, who attended the 1966 World Cup final, were at Wembley. Malcolm went with daughter Jackie Kramer and grandson Alex. Warren was with his son Robert, grandson Oli and son-in-law Nik Suander. THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM
ENGLAND’S 55-YEAR TIMELINE OF WOE 1966 World Cup, England Final: England 4 West Germany 2 (AET) 1968 Euros, Italy Third place: England 2 Soviet Union 0 1970 World Cup, Mexico Quarter Final: England 2 West Germany 3 (AET) 1972 Euros, Belgium Failed to qualify 1974 World Cup, Germany Failed to qualify 1976 Euros, Yugoslavia Group stage 1978 World Cup, Argentina Failed to qualify 1980 Euros, Italy Group stage 1982 World Cup, Spain Second group stage 1984 Euros, France Failed to qualify 1986 World Cup, Mexico Quarter Final: England 1 Argentina 2 1988 Euros, West Germany Group stage 1990 World Cup, Italy Semi Final: England 1 West Germany 1 (AET) (4-3 loss penalties) 1992 Euros, Sweden Group stage 1994 World Cup, USA Failed to qualify 1996 Euros, England Semi Final: England 1 West Germany 1 (AET) (6-5 loss penalties) 1998 World Cup, France Last 16: Argentina 2 England 2 (AET) (4-3 loss penalties) 2000 Euros, Belgium/Netherlands Group stage 2002, World Cup, South Korea/Japan Quarter Final: England 1 Brazil 2 2004 Euros, Portugal Quarter Final: England 2 Portugal 2 (AET) (6-5 loss penalties) 2006 World Cup, Germany Quarter Final: England 0 Portugal 0 (AET) (3-1 loss penalties) 2008 Euros, Austria/Switzerland Failed to qualify 2010 World Cup, South Africa Last 16, England 1 Germany 4 2012 Euros, Poland/Ukraine Quarter Final: England 0 Italy 0 (AET) (4-2 loss penalties) 2014 World Cup, Brazil Group stage 2016 Euros, France Last 16: England 1 Iceland 2 2018 World Cup, Russia Semi Final: England 1 Croatia 2 (AET) 2020 Euros, various countries Final: England 1 Italy 1 (AET) (4-2 loss penalties)
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