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Zelensky to address Knesset as ceasefire talks continue there was “hope of reaching a compromise”.

Zelensky continued a run of video addresses from Kyiv by appealing to US Congress yesterday hours after calling on Russian Federation officials to step down from office.

“If you remain in office, if you do not oppose the war, the international community will deprive you of everything,” he said.

“Quit! A few months without a job is definitely better for you than a lifetime of international persecution,” he added.

Ukraine’s leader has held numerous talks with politicians to garner support.

Zelensky addressed the US Congress yesterday and an eagerly anticipated video call to Israel’s parliament will be attended by MKs over Zoom as they are in recess.

BY DAVID SAFFER

President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to address the Knesset on Sunday (6pm Israel time).

Ukraine’s leader offered a glimmer of hope of a ceasefire when he spoke yesterday of peace talks with Russia sounding “more realistic”.

But as Russian forces continue their bombardment of Ukrainian cities he warned that time was needed for decisions to be in the “interests of Ukraine”.

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said peace talks with Ukraine were “not easy” according to an interview with the R B C News b u t

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Volodymyr Zelensky

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Zelensky’s global standing as a statesman has been praised since President Vladmir Putin sent Russian forces into Ukraine.

Over three million refugees have fled to the sanctuary of neighbouring countries with some 1.9 million refugees fleeing to Poland according to the Polish Border Guard Agency.

Addressing Canada’s parliament this week, Zelensky again appealed for a no-fly zone to counter Russian air strikes and asked how Prime Minister Justin Trudeau would feel if Vancouver or Toronto came under attack.

“We are not asking for much, please imagine how important it is to close our airspace,” he said.

Zelensky addressed the House of Commons last week, and echoing Winston Churchill’s famous World War Two speech, vowed to fight Putin’s Russian forces “whatever the costs”.

In a stirring address, he noted.

“We will fight to the end in the sea, Continued on page 2

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in the air. We will fight for our land, whatever the costs. We will fight in the forests, in the fields, on the shores, in the streets.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson undertook to employ “diplomatic, humanitarian and economic” methods until Putin fails and Ukraine is “free once more”.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Putin spoke on Monday regarding a ceasefire and Israel’s humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Bennett also spoke with Zelensky.

US Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides said Bennett’s mediation efforts are backed by the US. He told US-based NGO Peace Now the US was aware of Bennett’s talks as he had not made a move on Ukraine “without talking to the White House”.

Nides added that Israel had done everything the US had asked them to do regarding Russia.

Support for Ukraine from NATO and Europe has been united.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told a meeting in Brussels the security bloc backed Ukraine and Western leaders had provided military support to Kyiv and vowed to continue.

“The world is condemning this senseless war,” he said. “NATO allies and partners are imposing unprecedented sanctions on Russia and we are united in our support to Ukraine.”

Stoltenberg added, “Since the start of the Russian invasion allies have significantly stepped up our support for the brave Ukrainian people, government and the armed forces with military equipment, humanitarian and

financial assistance and giving shelter to millions of refugees.”

The Prime Ministers of Poland, Slovenia and Czech Republic met Zelensky as a curfew began in Kyiv on Tuesday night.

The three leaders are the first Western heads to visit Ukraine since hostilities began.

The Czech Republic’s Petr Fiala noted on Twitter. “You’re not alone, our countries stand by your side.”

Poland’s Mateusz Morawiecki said Poland’s Mateusz Morawiecki that Europe would never be the same if Ukraine loses.

Ukraine’s Denys Shmyhal called for “devastating” sanctions against Russia and recognition that Russia is a sponsor of terrorism”.

US President Joe Biden is expected to announce an $800m security assistance to Ukraine.

The deal reportedly includes anti-tank missiles to bolster Western anti-armour missiles for Kyiv’s troops. The Biden administration has pledged over $1 billion already to Ukraine in recent days.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Liz Truss anticipates the first refugees under the UK’s ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme will arrive next week.

Truss told BBC Breakfast the first refugees are expected to arrive under the Homes for Ukraine scheme next week with over 120,000 British people offering to host a Ukrainian refugee.

The ‘matching process’ officially starts tomorrow.

Immigration minister Kevin Foster told the Commons home affairs committee 20,000 Ukrainians had applied with 5,500 visas granted to date.

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West Yorkshire Combined Authority to adopt IHRA

Michael Wegier, Leo Brosh and Lisa Baker

BY ADAM MOSES

West Yorkshire Combined Authority is to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of Antisemitism this year.

Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin announced the news at a gathering of local authority councillors across the Yorkshire and Humber region at the Marjorie And Arnold Ziff Community Centre in Leeds.

“It is vital that we serve everyone and are seen to serve everyone, that is why we will be bringing the IHRA definition forward,” she said in a video message.

The Board of Deputies welcomed the announcement.

“West Yorkshire’s imminent adoption of the IHRA definition has helped cement the consensus of supporting the definition across local and regional government,” said the Board’s President Marie van der Zyl. “We thank Mayor Brabin for her leadership.

Now is the time to move beyond motions and to make sure it is implemented in policies and procedures.”

Claudia Mendoza, Jewish Leadership Council co-CEO offered a similar sentiment.

“The IHRA definition is a practical tool to help authorities identify and tackle antisemitism and especially useful in areas like West Yorkshire with sizable Jewish communities.”

She added, “We are thankful for Mayor Brabin for her support in adopting the definition.”

Simon Myerson QC, Chair of the Leeds

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Jewish Representative Council, backed the mayor’s statement.

“A framework for understanding antisemitism is a framework for protecting Jewish communities, and allows policies, behaviour, and political debate to be assessed against an objective standard,” he said. “The IHRA is the best standard available because it has both academic credibility and the overwhelming support of the Jewish community.”

The seminar was organised by the Board and was held at the MAZZ centre. The event included sessions on antisemitism, the region’s Jewish communities, Israel and support for refugees.

Those attending represented areas where 10,000 Jewish people live and work.

Lisa Baker, Leeds Jewish Representative Council President acted as host for the afternoon.

Ms Baker spoke of the importance following the hiatus caused by the pandemic for councillors and other elected representatives across the region to come together and learn in person about Judaism.

She welcomed delegates hearing directly how antisemitism affects Jewish communities. “They should be heartened by the Jewish community’s ability to work collaboratively with other faiths as part of the Leeds Faith Forum and understand how they can support refugees and those seeking asylum,” noted Ms Baker.

Leo Brosh, Yorkshire, East Coast and East Midlands Regional manager, and Michael Wegier BoD Chief Executive attended the seminar.

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17 MARCH 2022

Israel intensifies refugee efforts

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, with Roman Polonsky and Yehuda Setton of The Jewish Agency

BY DAVID SAFFER

Israel is helping thousands of Jewish Ukrainian refugees make aliyah.

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid has visited the Jewish Agency for Israel Aliyah Centre in Bucharest.

The Agency so far has aided 6,000 Ukrainian Jewish refugees reach Israel with the number climbing daily.

Lapid met refugees making aliyah and heard first hand experiences of olim leaving Ukraine.

“We are working in full coordination with the US and European partners to try to end this violent tragedy,” said Lapid, who added that Romania was helping Israel save lives by opening the Siret passage near the Ukrainian border.

“Jewish children who left the orphanage in Odessa passed through the Siret crossing,” he noted. (These are) children with cancer who were sent to Israel for treatment. Also, there are thousands of other refugees whose lives were saved thanks to the cooperation between us,” Lapid added.

The Agency’s Chief Operating Officer, Yehuda Setton, learnt about help refugees receive.

The Bucharest Aliyah Centre was established by the agency and International Fellowship of Christians and Jews when war broke out in Ukraine.

Processing Centres provide humanitarian aid and assist Ukrainian refugees immigrate to Israel.

In Bucharest, there are four centres with some 1,000 Jewish refugees. Further centres are in Poland, Moldova and Hungary.

Following a week of intense political activity in Israel refugees ineligible for citizenship can now remain in the country until it’s safe to return to Ukraine.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett announced the news at a memorial service

PHOTO: MAXIM DINSTEIN

for fallen soldiers in the Battle of Tel Hai over a century ago. “These days there is a significant challenge facing the people of Israel,” he explained. “We are on the verge of a mass wave of immigration. Many Jews want to come to Israel from the war zones, and we must not let them down.

“We have a duty and a historic virtue to preserve our ability to protect the existence of the Jewish people and the Jewish state on our own. It is our duty to give our brothers and sisters the warmest welcome. To take care of them even after everything is over, because they belong here, and the people of Israel will embrace them.”

Regarding non-Jewish immigrants, Israel will accept Ukrainians “fleeing the warzone” who have relatives in the country.

“We will allow them to stay until the wrath passes,” he said.

Bennett addressed Israel’s mediation efforts to end hostilities and humanitarian aid.

President Isaac Herzog noted, “In the face of the war and the heartbreaking humanitarian disaster, we must do everything we can to absorb as many immigrants as we can. We must provide help to those in need.”

Preparations for short-term housing solutions are in place. They include rent assistance and refurbishment of buildings.

Allowance is also being made for a shortage of housing solutions for olim.

Expanding intermediate-range housing include IDF bases that have been evacuated.

Bennett’s comments came after the Cabinet approved a plan for the integration of refugees from Ukraine, Russia and countries of the region.

He commented, “The world is going through tumultuous times. We are managing this complex crisis with sensitivity, responsibility and are making an effort to offer assistance however we can.

“We are preparing to absorb olim (immigrants) and those included under the Law

of Return with the entire package that the state needs to provide to olim, an absorption basket, housing assistance, education and especially a big hug.

“At the same time, we, as a people and a society, will offer humanitarian assistance to Ukrainian nationals who are here temporarily, for a few weeks or months, until the situation there calms down. I see that there are many families who will be hosting in the coming period and this is very important.”

Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked, meantime, reacted to pressure from coalition members, opposition MKs and Ukrainian Ambassador Yevgen Korniychuk who filed a petition to the Israeli Supreme Court against her policies regarding refugees after Shabbat.

“The Interior Ministry’s new policies violate agreements between Ukraine and Israel regarding exemptions from visas for Ukrainian citizens,” the appeal noted. “The Honourable Court is requested to preserve the existing situation and freeze the implementation of the outline, which prevents the entry of Ukrainian citizens into Israel until a decision is reached on this petition.”

Speaking at Ben-Gurion Airport on Sunday night, Shaked announced that anyone from Ukraine with relatives in Israel will be exempt in the 25,000 quota of non-Jewish refugees Israel would accept.

“I suggest to all the critics, go to Terminal 1 and see how hundreds of new immigrants arrive each day,” Shaked said. “Today, 450 arrived. These are refugees who are eligible under the Law of Return who also escaped the war and we’re absorbing them and naturalising them.”

She added, “Despite everyone who attacks and criticises, I’m not forgetting that the state of Israel is first and foremost the national home of the Jewish people. And we’ll invest most of our efforts in those entitled to immigrate under the Law of Return who are arriving here in droves. No other

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country is dealing with so much immediate absorption.”

In related news, the Cabinet has backed a NIS 21 million plan from Bennett, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid and Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz for an Israeli field hospital in western Ukraine to treat 100 daily.

The Foreign and Health ministries will lead the operation through Sheba Medical Centre.

Bennett said, “Establishing a field hospital there, in Ukraine, is an initiative that not many countries are capable of taking on themselves. The State of Israel has this capability and we are getting underway. This is important.”

The refugee furore of recent days followed Bennett launching Operation ‘Returning Home’ for Jews of Ukraine in danger last week. “This is an important moment, a moment for which we have been destined, and for which the State of Israel was established,” he said.

Bennett said Israel must welcome refugees fleeing a harsh war and make certain of a smooth integration process to soften the inconceivable trauma to uproot within hours.

He added, “We all need to excel, not fall into unnecessary bureaucracy, to show flexibility and understanding for the high emotion, to understand that we in the bureaucracy and the government need to bring ourselves to the oleh, it is not the oleh who needs to run all over the place here. We also need to prepare for the day after the welcome. The olim need a place to live, jobs, education and health.”

Bennett spoke with olim from previous waves of aliyah.

“This is a major challenge for us all, both in the government and Israeli society,” he said. “I have no doubt that Israeli society and the Israeli public can rise to the occasion and we will do so.”

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Chabad working 24/7 for Ukraine Jews

BY DAVID SAFFER

Chabad-Lubavitch is working round the clock for Ukraine’s Jews.

Over 25,000 Jewish Ukrainian refugees have fled war-torn regions of the country by bus, car or train with help from Chabad since the unprovoked bombing by President Vladimir Putin’s Russian forces last month.

And emissaries have been on hand to help thousands of refugees daily on the journey via Poland, Moldova, Romania, Hungary or Slovakia.

At the Polish and Moldovan borders, Chabad has been ready with hot food ready to assist.

In Romania, Slovakia and Hungary, Chabad has secured accommodation in apartments, homes, hotel rooms and campsites where refugees can plan the next steps to safety.

The operation has been coordinated by Chabad-led Federation of Jewish Communities and Rabbi Shlomo Peles, who directs Chabad’s crisis centre in Kfar Chabad, Israel.

Flights to Israel are coordinated by FJC’s Rabbi Chaim Friedman, who oversees logistics for new immigrants.

The Ukrainian side of the border is handled by Rabbi Mendy Glitzenstein of Chabad Chernovtzy.

At Kfar Chabad, Dnipro and Crown

Heights, Brooklyn, dozens of Russian-speaking Chabad volunteers work at centres connecting Jews of Ukraine with Chabad centres.

Whether food, evacuation, refugee aid, housing or medical assistance, teams work day and night to help.

“This is a matter of life and death, quite literally, and we see that with every interaction,” commented Rabbi Eli Wolff at the Kfar Chabad centre. “One of our staff here called a fellow in a small village and convinced him to leave. An hour after the man left, his house was shelled.”

Magen David Adom have sent a mobile command centre to Kfar Chabad with satellite technology.

Staff members work closely with Israeli government agencies and NGOs. Most are fluent in Hebrew, Russian, Yiddish and other languages and liaise with Rabbi Mayer Stambler, who heads FJC of Ukraine.

“Magen David Adom, as the Israeli Red Cross, operates this international centre together with Chabad emissaries and will continue to support those in the war zone,” said Eli Bin, MDA director-general.

“I hope that the use of these advanced technologies in our mobile command centre will provide the aid the Ukrainian people need and help them reach safe shores.”

“Chabad has been at the front lines of

the effort to assist Ukrainian Jews since the beginning,” added Rabbi Shlomo Peles, Chabad’s official for relief efforts from Israel.

Chabad Bucharest directed by Rabbi Naftali and Risha Deutsch, together with Rabbi Yitzchak and Dvora Lea Raskin, has welcomed refugees.

Rabbi Shalom and Chani Gopin coordinate matters relating to refugees in Romania.

From Jassy the Gopins rented a hotel and organised meals for hundreds of people over Shabbat.

“We’re helping people move on to their next destination, connecting them with Chabad communities in Switzerland, France, Holland, Germany and Austria, and assisting people immigrating to Israel,” he said, adding, “This is a humanitarian catastrophe that Europe hasn’t known since World War Two. You cannot imagine the terrible pain.”

Rabbi Dovber and Fraidy Orgad, co-directors of Chabad Cluj-Napoca, rented the largest hotel in town, koshered the kitchen and transformed it into a refugee camp overnight.

A group from Chabad-run children’s home in Zhitomir, Ukraine, arrived and have now flown to Israel.

Over a million Ukrainian refugees have crossed into Poland, including many Jews who Chabad helped secure passage first to

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Lvov (Lviv), near the Polish border.

Chabad Warsaw’s Rabbi Sholom Ber Stambler is coordinating relief efforts with rabbinical students to aid transport across the border. “We’re helping in any way we can,” Stambler noted.

In Krakow, Chabad’s Rabbi Eliezer Gurary is on hand and at the Moldovan border. Rabbi Zushe Abelsky has a team of 40 staff to assist with accommodations in Kishinev.

“We’re helping them get their dignity back,” he said. “These are people who left an entire life in Ukraine, losing everything overnight. After 50 hours on the road, our job is to embrace them, feed them and house them.”

Abelsky secured a campsite, four hotels and dozens of private homes. “The phones don’t stop ringing,” he said. “Every hour is something different.”

In Budapest, Rabbi Boruch Oberlander, director Chabad Hungary noted that over Shabbat they had dozens of guests.

Slovakia is also seeing many refugees confirmed Rabbi Boruch Myers, co-director of Chabad Slovakia with his wife, Chana.

The Ukraine Jewish Relief Fund directly aids Chabad’s emissaries on the ground.

Details: https://www.chabad.org/special/ campaigns/ukraine/donate.htm

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Shofars blast during Herzog visit to Turkey

BY DAVID SAFFER

President Isaac Herzog and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

PHOTO: HAIM ZACH (GPO)

President Isaac Herzog was welcomed by the ceremonial blowing of shofars when he visited Neve Shalom Synagogue in Istanbul during a landmark state visit.

The President and First Lady Michal Herzog met with representatives of the Turkish Jewish community.

Herzog paid tribute to the victims murdered in terror attacks at the synagogue in 1986 and 2003.

Chief Rabbi Ishak Haleva, Turkish Deputy Minister of Culture Ahmet Misbah Demircan, Turkish Jewish community co-presidents Erol Kohen and Ishak Ibrahimzadeh, Israeli Honorary Consul in IImir Jak Eskinazi and Chabad envoy Rabbi Mendy Chitrik were among dignitaries present.

The synagogue is the central and largest Sephardic synagogue in Istanbul. Herzog joined in a prayer for peace in the Jewish community of Ukraine.

Israel’s President recalled historic visits by his father and grandfather when Turkey opened its gates to the “daughters and sons of the Jewish people” who settled in the country.

“The Jews who were expelled from Spain and the older Jewish community in Turkey integrated into Turkish society and played an important role in writing the history of the Jewish people,” Herzog explained. “The author of the Shulchan Aruch, Rabbi Yosef Caro, Dona Gracia Nasi, Rabbi Shlomo Alkabetz, the scholar Moses Amon, who was the personal physician of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, and a long line of rabbis, poets, sages, merchants, entrepreneurs, leaders, these all represent only a part of the history of the Jewish People here in this land.”

He added, “All Jews are connected by bonds of mutual responsibility and shared fate. You are a symbol of mutual responsibility, of tradition, of community, in the face of all challenges.”

Recalling “painful terror attacks” on the Jewish community including Neve Shalom, he added, “Unfortunately, around the world Jewish schools and synagogues, Jewish stores and businesses remain in the haters’ crosshairs. You have my support and I welcome the commitment of the authorities to the wellbeing and liberty of Turkish Jewry.”

Herzog met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Presidential Complex in Ankara where he welcomed an “open and honest” conversation.

Stressing the importance of the relationship with Turkey, he noted. “The children of all religions in the Middle East can and must live in peace. I was pleased to hear from him that he agrees with me and that he too thinks that regional stability is very important.”

“We must strengthen what unites us, what unites all religions and people,” Herzog added. “Both of us believe that in days like these, with the winds of war, and the terrible tragedy in Ukraine, we must walk down the path of the heritage of the Children of Abraham. A heritage of respect, tolerance, and friendship. Of a relentless struggle against racism, antisemitism, and hatred of the

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other. Our world needs more peace and fewer wars, tragedies, and battles.”

During an impassioned address, Herzog emphasised relations between the countries.

He noted, “Our peoples’ relationship is an ancient one, with strong historical, religious, and cultural roots.”

Acknowledging strained relations in recent years, Herzog said the countries would be judged by “deeds reflecting a spirit of mutual respect” to confront common “regional and global” challenges.

“Israel and Turkey can and should collaborate in many fields that have a dramatic impact on this region, which we all call ‘home’,” he explained.

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu is due to meet Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid in Israel next month.

“The baggage of the past never disappears of its own accord, but we, our two peoples, our two countries, are choosing to embark on a journey of trust and respect, which will include an in-depth dialogue in all fields,” he noted. “We must agree in advance that we will not agree on everything. Such is the nature of a relationship with a past as rich as ours. But we shall aspire to solve our disagreements with mutual respect and goodwill, by means of the proper mechanisms and institutions.”

Herzog added that members of all religions, Muslims, Jews, and Christians, can and must live in peace.

“I expect us to work together to strengthen the stability, prosperity, peace, and security of our region, for the sake of all nations of this region,” he said. “This is what I dream in Jerusalem, this is what I dream in Ankara.

This is how I act, and this is how the Israeli Government acts. We respect freedom of religion and the practice of religion in every place.”

Turning his attention to Russian hostilities in Ukraine, Herzog described the war as a “humanitarian disaster” that was shocking the whole world.

“We cannot remain indifferent to such human suffering and I welcome any endeavour that will lead to the end of the bloodshed,” he noted. “The Prime Minister of Israel, Naftali Bennett, and the Government of Israel are doing their utmost on this matter.”

Herzog welcomed a summit in Turkey in relation to events.

Addressing Erdogan, he added, “In days like these, we want to send a message that we are working in a different direction and creating new hope for our region.”

First Lady Michal visited the Presidential Library in Turkey accompanied by the First Lady of the Republic of Turkey, Emine Erdogan.

During the visit, Herzog gifted a number of Hebrew books for the Presidential Library’s Hebrew-language collection including works by S. Y. Agnon, Leah Goldberg and David Grossman.

The First Lady presented the library a copy of the Hebrew Bible and Hebrew translation of the Quran.

Erdogan gave Herzog a book of Turkish poetry in Hebrew translation.

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Israel and UAE national libraries collaborate

BY LILLY JOSEPH

His Excellency Abdulla Majed Al Ali of the National Library and Archives of the United Arab Emirates has led a delegation to the National Library of Israel in Jerusalem.

The institutions in a joint project are expanding digital access relating to the history of the Persian Gulf region.

Materials held by NLI are part of the archive of German Jewish scholar and photographer Hermann Burchardt who traveled around the Middle East in the 1890s and 1900s.

The collection contains correspondence, official documents and dozens of photos from the region.

The NLI has provided the NLA with digital copies of materials to include in the collection.

Experts from the institutions will expand information in the archive’s contents including translations.

Ali said, “In addition to benefiting from the holdings of the National Library of Israel we also look forward to benefiting from its unique experience and pioneering role in preserving the historical and cultural memory of our nation and in making it available for the public in our national library.”

Dr. Raquel Ukeles, NLI Head of Collections, “Our joint work on the Burchardt archive is just one example of how interconnected we are. We look forward to future projects of cultural and educational exchange as well as joint work to harness new technologies

17 MARCH 2022

Israel and Egypt agree direct flights

Naftali Bennett and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi

National Library of Israel

for enabling greater access for all knowledge seekers in our region and across the globe.”

Burchardt was born into a wealthy Jewish family in Berlin in 1857.

After studying Arabic, Farsi, Swahili and photography, he moved to Damascus. The archive chronicles his travels including to modern-day Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Morocco, Qatar, Oman and UAE. In one journal, Burchardt records a 1904 meeting with Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa, grandfather of UAE founder Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan.

Following Burchardt’s 1909 murder in Yemen, materials came into the hands of German Jewish scholar Eugen Mittwoch who left them to the NLI. The NLI’s Islam and Middle East Collection

is one of the region’s leading collections featuring over 150,000 Arabic volumes, thousands of manuscripts and rare books in Arabic, Persian and Turkish dating from the ninth to the 20th centuries.

Both the NLA and the NLI serve as central institutions of national memory. In recent years, both have launched efforts to serve scholars and wider audiences domestically and internationally.

The NLA-NLI collaboration is the first joint initiative since the two institutions signed a memorandum of understanding last year following the Abraham Accords.

Additional joint projects are being discussed, especially in technology, professional knowledge sharing and cultural exchange.

Celebrate

Israel and Egypt are to expand direct flights between Ben-Gurion Airport and Sharm el-Sheikh.

The route from Ben-Gurion to Sharm elSheikh is expected to open for Pesach next month.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi first discussed the possibility last September.

The new agreement was formulated by an Israeli delegation led by the Israeli Security Agency and Egyptian government in recent days and finalised in Egypt on Tuesday.

“This agreement will further warm the relations between Israel and Egypt,” said Bennett.

“The cooperation between our two countries is expanding in many fields, and this is contributing to both peoples and to regional stability.” He added, “Israel is opening up to the countries of the region and the basis for this long-standing recognition is the peace between Israel and Egypt. On both sides we need to invest in strengthening this connection and that’s what we are doing.”

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WJR and Board back ‘Homes for Ukraine’ initiative

BY ADAM MOSES

The UK Government must play its role in offering safe sanctuary to those fleeing conflict says World Jewish Relief.

The Board of Deputies has backed the ‘Homes for Ukraine’ initiative announced

by Secretary of State for Communities Michael Gove on Monday.

Gove confirmed the UK would be involved in the new visa scheme where there is no limit to the number of Ukrainian refugees who can live with host families.

WJR welcomed Gove’s announcement and are working closely with the government to assist them.

“Our operational experience in Ukraine, our expertise in refugee resettlement to the UK and our heritage will all uniquely position us to do so,” said a spokesman.

Under the scheme, people can nominate a named individual to stay with them or in another property for six months, rent free.

Those offering accommodation and support should be aware it must be available for a minimum six-month period.

The Board announced its support for the humanitarian scheme which will enable Ukrainian refugees to be given shelter in the UK. President Marie van der Zyl has called on the Jewish community to back the proposition.

“The scheme provides an opportunity for our community and wider UK society

Marie van der Zyl

Ukrainian refugees in Warsaw

to truly support Ukrainian refugees who have been forced to leave their homes,” she said on Tuesday.

“Our community knows all too well the value of people opening their homes to provide places of refuge in times of distress and trouble, and the consequences when people shut their eyes to the suffering of others. I have been proud of the generosity and spirit the UK has shown to the plight of Ukrainian suffering. We will do everything we can to support this scheme, and promote it across our community, and we warmly welcome its development.”

WJR has been working with the Jewish community to centralise offers of accommodation. They are encouraging individuals and community groups willing to offer

accommodation for Ukrainian refugees to notify the WJR website.

WJR is exploring the feasibility of assisting in the identification of Ukrainian refugees within and beyond the Jewish community, and in and around Ukraine, eligible and willing to come to the UK. Details will be announced in due course.

The invasion is forcing unprecedented numbers of Ukrainians to flee internally and across borders. “The majority of Ukrainian refugees fleeing the country are women, children and older people, most of them leaving family members behind,” noted WJR. “Many do not speak English and have suffered significant trauma in recent weeks. Assisting them to come to the UK will require accommodation support but

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PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

also a range of other services to ease their integration into the UK.” WJR is set to play a role to assist the humanitarian process where it can.

WJR has vast expertise having worked in Ukraine for 30 years. Through its network of partners, they continue to prioritise humanitarian support for those inside Ukraine and who have crossed into Poland and Moldova.

WJR was established in 1933 to assist Jews fleeing Nazi Europe and arriving as refugees into the UK. By 1946, WJR’s support had enabled over 65,000 refugees to arrive in the UK, find accommodation, education, employment, financial support, or help to travel onwards to third countries.

WJR instigated the Kindertransport in 1938-39 and helped child survivors of the concentration camps come to the UK. WJR chair Maurice Helfgott is a survivor rescued by the organisation in 1945.

Since 2016, WJR has been working with the Home Office, local authorities, Horton Housing and Refugee Council to assist refugees relocated to the UK. Working in 16 locations across England they are the largest provider of employment services to the refugees in the UK. Anyone wishing to offer accommodation: https://www.worldjewishrelief.org/ homes-for-refugees Families can also register interest to the Government website which is now available.

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ADL data shows record white supremacist propaganda

BY LILLY JOSEPH

Anti-Defamation League data illustrates white supremacist propaganda surged across the United States in 2021.

ADL recorded 4,851 cases of racist, antisemitic and other hateful messages last year.

Worryingly data for antisemitic hate this year has been witnessed in 15 states nationwide to date.

The past 12 months saw the second-highest level of incidents by ADL with around 13 incidents per day. There were 5,125 propaganda incidents in 2020 following 2,724 cases reported in 2019.

ADL’s Center on Extremism tracks racist, antisemitic and hate-filled fliers, stickers, posters, banners and graffiti by far right and white supremacist groups.

“White supremacists more frequently are resorting to hate propaganda as a tactic to spread their noxious ideas and recruit new membership,” said ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt. “It’s particularly disturbing that at a time of when violent antisemitic assaults are on the rise, these groups are dialing-up their hateful rhetoric against Jews and canvassing entire communities with hate literature. This is an alarming trend that needs to be checked, now.”

The report found 38 white supremacist groups behind antisemitic propaganda in

Polish Chief Rabbi coordinates escape plans Poland’s Chief Rabbi Michael Schudrich is coordinating the escape of refugees from Ukraine for the Conference of European Rabbis.

Speaking on behalf of CER’s Standing Committee he said CER was doing all it could to offer humanitarian aid to refugees.

“We are coordinating relief efforts in Warsaw, Moldova, and Romania, successfully absorbing thousands of people who have fled, providing them with much needed clothes, food, and shelter,” he explained.

“I am proud that a number of the CER’s leading Rabbis have travelled to Warsaw to lend their support and truly humbled that in a spectacular display of unity, our rabbis across the continent have mobilised their communities to come to the aid of those suffering.”

The upcoming festival of Purim was not lost on Poland’s Chief Rabbi in an impassioned address to delegates.

He noted, “As we approach Purim this week, I echo the words of Queen Esther who proclaimed, ‘How can I see the evil that will befall the people?!’ The CER and its communities have answered this call and are tirelessly assisting those in need. The displaced and endangered need our help.”

Chief Rabbi Schudrich reportedly began evacuation plans for Jewish refugees prior to the invasion with Russian troops massing at the border.

2021 affecting 49 states and the District of Columbia.

Hate propaganda appeared in every state bar Hawaii. The highest levels of activity were recorded in Pennsylvania (473), Virginia (375), Texas (327), Massachusetts (272), Washington State (228), Maryland (217) and New York State (212).

ADL’s monthly interactive H.E.A.T. Map details hate, extremist and antisemitic incidents by state and nationwide.

Centre on Extremism experts utilise media reports, government documents (including police reports), victim reports, extremist-related sources and investigations.

The map provides a visual representation of propaganda distribution and highlights trends.

ADL counts an incident where multiple or hundreds of fliers are canvassed across a neighbourhood on a given day as a single incident.

The Goyim Defence League, according to ADL, were responsible for over 70 antisemitic propaganda incidents in 2021. GDL fliers, among a raft of hate tropes, blame Jews for spreading COVID-19 and having too much power.

Key findings from the ADL’s 2021 report illustrated that Patriot Front, New Jersey European Heritage Association and Folkish Resistance Movement were responsible for

91% of activity.

As in 2019 and 2020, Texas-based Patriot Front was responsible for most propaganda with 3,992 incidents, over 80% of the national total. They held the largest demonstrations including a July event in Philadelphia and December rally in Washington D.C. ADL recorded 352 incidents that included overt antisemitic language or targeted Jewish institutions.

ADL documented 108 white supremacist events, more than double the 2020 total and the most in the past five years. There were 232 incidents of white supremacist propaganda on college campuses. Patriot Front was responsible for 190 campus incidents.

“Antisemitic and racist propaganda has shock value but limits the risk of individual extremists’ exposure,” said Oren Segal of ADL’s Center on Extremism. “It’s disturbing that white supremacists and antisemites can mobilize supporters quickly to target neighbourhoods in multiple states. This activity is more coordinated than ever before, often incubated and amplified online, and communities need to be prepared.”

ADL held an online webinar “Fighting Hate from Home” earlier this month.

In response to the US Capitol attack and domestic extremist activity in recent years ADL announced the PROTECT Plan to protect civil liberties.

17 MARCH 2022

MPs back Animal Welfare bill Shechita UK has welcomed the passing of the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill in the House of Commons this week.

The organisation called on MPs to back an amendment tabled by Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP that recommended the Animal Sentience Committee respected “legislative or administrative provisions and customs relating in particular to religious rites, cultural traditions and regional heritage”.

Shechita UK called on MPs to oppose an amendment of Greg Smith MP. Shimon Cohen, Shechita UK Campaign Director thanked the government for backing the “wise amendment” of Clifton-Brown that places a duty on the new committee to respect “religious rites”, including Shechita.

“It was heartening to see the cross-party consensus supporting us on this and our particular,” he noted.

Cohen thanked Jonathan Djanogly MP, Theresa Villiers MP and Clifton-Brown for championing the issue.

Prior to Brexit, UK law recognised animal sentience through Article 13 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which came into effect in December 2009.

This did not provide a legal basis for protecting animals but created an obligation on member states and the EU to ensure welfare requirements of animals were considered within the framework of certain EU policies.

UK charity evacuates more than 1,200 from Ukraine to Romania their physical needs, but their mental wellbeing too, given the trauma they A UK-based rescue aid are going through.” charity has evacuated over On top of the evacuation, Tikva has 1,200 Ukrainians from set up a medical clinic in Romania.

Odessa to Romania in the All refugees in the organisation’s past two weeks. care get assistance from insulin-deTo date, the cost of the pendent children through to treating evacuation by Tikva stands infections from the long and arduous journey. at over £1.5m.

The charity is the largA UK doctor and two nurses have est orphanage school and travelled to Romania to run the clinic. community system in the The operation to move families and former Soviet Union. children from immediate danger in Over 350 children includUkraine does not account for mediing 270 orphans have been cal costs or ongoing relocation costs.

PHOTO: TIKVAUK a part of the rescue mission. Some of the children rescued by Tikva Further funds are needed for Tikva And with the first evacmembers of our community, and the chiland help to continue rescue efforts. uation phase complete Tikva is using its dren of our orphanages we have managed Tikva’s core mission is to care for the expertise to evacuate others in need from to rescue, we continue to worry and care for homeless, abandoned and abused Jewish all those left behind here. People have been children of Ukraine and neighbouring reall areas of Ukraine.

Up to six bus-loads of Ukrainians are joining us from all parts of Ukraine, on an gions of the former Soviet Union. being removed from danger zones daily. almost hourly basis. Vacant beds are being Tikva provides a warm, compassionate Jeremy Posen, Chief Financial Officer filled and we will not rest or leave until home, essential social services and a qualiof the organisation, has spearheaded the every remaining person reaches safety.” ty education, while revitalising the growing effort with journeys out of Odessa taking He added, “We need to ensure that the Jewish community of Odessa. over 58 hours. needs of the thousand plus now in our care Posen, who is currently in Romania man- are met. A lot of the children have come aging the gargantuan operation, comment- from abusive homes or neglectful settings. To donate: https://www.charityextra. ed, “While obviously elated about all the It is essential that we look after not only com/tikvaemergencyappeal

BY ADAM MOSES

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14 OPINION

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OPINION

17 MARCH 2022

The opinions on this page do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper

Don’t take things for granted OPINION PIECE

BY ROBERT FESTENSTEIN

voices demanding the banning of Israeli politicians?

It is simple. Alex is dying. Earlier on this year he was diagnosed with an illness which it was thought could be treated and it turns out that it cannot. The detail is unimportant here, what is key is that shortly Alex will no longer be with us. A family man in his mid-40s by a cruel twist of fate will be taken from us, and it is that twist of fate that has made me think about the arguments presented by people who think it is smart to deny entry to countries, groups or platforms because they don’t like what they are going to say.

The Ukrainians trying to escape with their lives and that of their families are unlikely to care about what might have been

There has been much talk said and words written over the last few months about attacks on Israel, is there any left-wing anti-Semitism and whether or not cancel culture has a place in the Jewish community. Some proponents have been thoughtful, others just ridiculous. Purim this year has a particular significance for Ukrainian Jewry who are facing losing their homes and worse. To some extent this puts the shrill cries about Israeli politicians into context.

This week though and with a break from tradition, I am going to speak personally. I have been involved in the above arguments in this column and made my position very clear. What though has made a difference is a close friend of mine who has told me the story of his next-door neighbour, Alex. Alex is a good man. He spends time with his sons, goes with the family to the local football matches and is just a nice guy. So, what possible relevance does this have JAN to cancel culture HALF PAGE ADVERT 2020:Layout 1 and 09/01/2020

tweeted by someone 10 years ago, they have more important issues to deal with.

Alex’s family similarly will have little interest in this self-indulgence as to whether you can judge someone now on what they might have said a decade ago. It is of no importance to those avoiding bombs and

The Ukrainians trying to escape with their lives and that of their families are unlikely to care about what might have been tweeted by someone 10 years ago, they have more important issues to deal with.

16:04 Page 1

those waiting for the inevitable in relation to their loved one. None at all.

We take so much for granted, and Purim is fine time to recognise this. There have been many Purims in our people’s history, and we should remember these. We are so fortunate to live where we do on this island, amongst a community who by and large don’t bother with us. Certainly there is anti-Semitism and I have written about this often and will continue to do so. The anti-Israel voices are loud and often overbearing and the high-pitched tones from those on the left who claim to know better are as grating as they are patronising.

So, amongst all this noise and against the background of Ukrainian people fleeing for their lives or for Alex facing an end to his, we should perhaps just take a moment to consider that not everything is bad, and we should not take life for granted.

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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17 MARCH 2022

PURIM SHPIEL Our fathers now lived as a third generation In Babylon’s lands as a subpopulation But fifty-plus years since our forced emigration Just how does one wake up a slumbering nation?

We ate of their foodstuffs until satiation And underwent rapid acclimatization Now Babylon’s not such a bad situation Oh, how does one wake up a slumbering nation?

When Cyrus extended his great invitation To build up the Temple for rededication We chose to stay put in our present location Ah, what should one do with a tranquilised nation?

The next king, three years since his own coronation Invited the Jews to a grand celebration, This sparked from our leadership much condemnation But see how reacted this exiled nation!

We ate and we drank to our own degradation And did not protest at the king’s presentation Of ex-Temple vessels, a huge desecration - Oh, where is your fire, you servile nation?

So Mordechai, seeking his people’s salvation Each day with the minister sought confrontation: “I won’t bow down, Haman!” To cause escalation “If that’s what it comes to, I’ll wake up this nation!”

The minister saw, and forget indignation He wanted to kill him without hesitation.

But then changed his plan after some contemplation “My one course of action’s to wipe out his nation!”

He knew this required some authorisation So went to the king with concealed jubilation, He chose then his words with extreme concentration “You see, there exists a rebellious nation…”

The king signed and sealed this dire legislation Condemning the Jews to complete annihilation.

The Jews cried aloud then, with great desperation “Hashem Elokeinu! Remember your nation!”

“We have fallen victim to assimilation We wrongly put faith in this administration But now they’ve abandoned us all to damnation It’s true that we’re scattered, but still we’re one nation!”

To Esther said Mordechai: “Go to your station!

You must intervene in this grave situation!

Forget your own instincts of self-preservation For you are the one who must rescue our nation!”

She said, “let us fast for three days preparation And gather together in unification, Then I shall go forth as our representation And plead for the sake of my own, dearest nation.”

The queen set in motion the great confrontation “My people and I have been sold to damnation!”

The king stood, and shouted with much animation “Just who is the one who would strike down your nation?” (“It’s actually you, king, for your information!”

The queen would have said at the first invitation.)

Her finger was pointed with this accusation: “Your minister Haman would wipe out my nation!”

So Haman was hung, and his plot met frustration Indeed, the Megillah’s a great demonstration Of how all events are of God’s orchestration He’ll never destroy his unique, holy nation!

But even this saga of close annihilation Could not spur the masses to choose liberation Who fell back to sleep and embraced subjugation - Oh! How does one wake up a slumbering nation!?

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(Originally published at www.visionmag.org) © Robert Goodman 2022

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18 COMMUNITY

US Chesed funds Mishloach Manot boxes Over 2,000 households of vulnerable and older individuals have received Mishloach Manot boxes funded by the United Synagogue’s Chesed for Purim.

The US Chesed department offered the festive boxes through shuls.

Over 1,000 of the US’ most senior members were presented with the box of goodies supported by Jewish charities including JAMI, Norwood, Chai Cancer Care, Jewish Women’s Aid, Jewish Dead Association, Langdon, and Jewish Blind and Disabled.

Families who receive essential parcels on a weekly basis also got Purim boxes that include homemade hamantaschen, snacks and a ‘Happy Purim’ card.

Michelle Minsky, Head of US Chesed, said, “This is a great project as it offers lots

of opportunities to get involved, regardless of your age, and we know that the recipients really appreciate the food and the thought that goes with it. Thank you to all our wonderful charity partners for their support and to everyone who volunteered their time to bake hamantaschen and pack the boxes to bring joy to many people this Purim.”

Volunteers of all ages participated in the project.

Adults from Edgware, Radlett, Finchley, Bushey, Woodford Forest and Borehamwood together with young people from Project Impact, JFS, Woodside Park, Hendon and South Hampstead made over 3,800 hamantaschen for the boxes.

Youngsters from Bnei Akiva, JFS, Morasha and Jewish communities packed boxes.

Brondesbury Park Sefer Torah dedication

Side by Side gets ready for Purim Side by Side School in Stamford Hill has provided pupils with a range of activities in the lead up to Purim.

To mark Rosh Chodesh Adar 2, the nursery and special needs school welcomed back pupils from Beis Chinnuch Secondary School to help Side by Side youngsters get into the Purim spirit. Pupils heard the Purim story through interactive shows, singing and arts and crafts. They were also reminded of the significance of sharing and receiving Mishloach Monos.

A clown entertained in a session for younger classes as older classes continued preparations.

Skver Cheder also dressed up and joined the school’s after-school club to deliver Purim-inspired activities.

Nursery children particularly enjoyed the opportunity to visit a model of Acheshveros’ Palace in the role play area. Each class was invited to participate in the annual fancy dress show.

Side by Side headteacher Gerald Lebrett said, “The pure joy and excitement that preparing for Purim has brought to each of our pupils has been a delight to see.” Lebrett thanked a dedicated team for ensuring the festival was experienced across the school.

War in Ukraine talk addresses childrens’ fears

Brondesbury Park street celebrations

Brondesbury Park Synagogue held a street parade and grand opening party to celebrate the opening of its new building and dedication of its new Sefer Torah last Sunday.

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, Councillor Abdi Aden, deputy mayor of Brent, and close to 500 congregants, attended.

Congregation leaders Rabbi Baruch and Rebbetzen Kezi Levin led the event.

Following the street parade, the crowd enjoyed speeches, dancing and refreshments with special activities arranged for the children and youth.

The afternoon began with prayers for the people of Ukraine, led by Rabbi Levin.

Addressing the congregation, Chief Rabbi Mirvis praised Brondesbury Park’s community spirit, “wonderful kehillah” and rebirth of Jewish life in Willesden.

Emotional speeches were given by Ingrid Sellman, a member for the past 57 years and wife of former chairman the late David

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Sellman, Rabbi Levin and Victoria Portnoi, chair of Brondesbury Park shul.

Ingrid said, “This is a momentous time in our community. David and Harold (Fleisher, former financial officer of the shul) would be so proud.”

Victoria Portnoi added, “What we have here is unique and very special. This home allows us to fully inhabit our Jewish identity and pass it on to the next generation.”

She added, “We can look ahead to our future as a community, implement our vision, embrace our identities and give our children the precious gift of inhabiting their own Judaism.”

Reflecting on the event, Rabbi Levin described the Sefer Torah dedication as an “epic moment” in the life of the community and a springboard for a bright future.

“That there were so many children and young people in attendance speaks volumes about the regeneration of Jewish life in the area,” he said.

PaJeS continues to deliver topical online sessions. As an urgent response to the war in the Ukraine an online event addressed parents’ heightened anxieties. The talk, hosted by Dr Anna Colton, focussed on children’s fears about the war and parental anxiety about the escalating situation.

The clinical psychologist answered questions around anxiety over the war in Ukraine on television and suggested limiting the time spent watching news and ‘doom scrolling’ social media.

Dr Colton explained how pictures in the press and video footage are feeding into a fear of ‘how do we protect our children.’

There was reference to 1940s Europe and a heightened anxiety in the Jewish community from haunting images of people packed on trains, hiding in underground shelters and a psychopathic dictator.

A common narrative was that children were showing fear that the war would be coming to the UK. Dr Colton explained the importance of reassuring children. She noted that the more attention we give worries the more they grow. And we should distract ourselves and children from discussing the war in detail.

Rabbi David Meyer commented, “It is important to recognise that on some level we are all victims of the war.” He added, that Dr Colton’s guidance was helpful in understanding how to address our fears and how to support children during challenging times.

One hundred and fifty parents attended.

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

A happy Purim at Side By Side

A Siyum for Lechu Bonim boys was held Sunday morning in the Apirion Suite with the boys having completed Mishnayos Meseches Sukka. Yossi Goldschmidt welcomed everyone to the Siyum.

Siyum for Lechu Bonim

PHOTO: LAWRENCE PURCELL

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Chabad mourn death of Potsdam rabbi

BY LILLY JOSEPH

Chabad-Lubavitch are mourning the death of Rabbi Nachum Ber Presman of Potsdam, Germany.

Regional rabbi of the Brandenburg state, the much-respected rabbi, 50, suffered a stroke three months ago.

Rabbi Presman was born in Tashkent, then part of the USSR, where his family were members of the Chassidic community.

Three months after his birth the Presman family immigrated to Israel and settled in Nachlat Har Chabad in Kiryat Malachi, home to Jews then leaving the Soviet Union.

In 1996, after his marriage to Michal Bostomski, the couple travelled to Potsdam where they opened a Chabad centre serving local Jews and those immigrating from the former Soviet Union.

Jewish institutions from preschool to Torah classes folllowed for the community.

Childhood friend Rabbi Eli Woolf said, “Nachum breathed Jewish joy and enthusiasm into whatever he did. Nachum was a soldier in the Rebbe’s army, devoted to building Jewish life in Potsdam, where he so recently celebrated the groundbreaking for a new Jewish centre.”

He added, “Building Jewish life in Germany was not easy. Nachum and his wife overcame many hardships, or perhaps

COMMUNITY 19

Arranged by Chabad Community Care , ‘The Garden Singers’ entertained residents at ‘Gan Eden’, Stanley Road, for Purim this week.

The residents enjoyed the selection of music and clapped along. Gan Eden is Sheltered Housing run by Manchester Jewish Housing Association.

Rabbi Nachum Ber Presman z”l

“challenges” is a better world. But they persevered, never breaking and never retreating. They knew what was needed, and they were ready to serve with joy. Nachum and his family devoted their lives for their community, and now it’s our turn to be there for them.”

Chabad emissaries will hold a Zoom Torah class in Benny’s memory.

Rabbi Presman is survived by his wife, children Menachem Mendel Presman, Miriam Sudak, Avraham Presman and Chaya Muskha Presman, and a grandchild.

Siblings Avraham Presman, Yitzchak Presman, Yaffa Lipsker, Batya Raskin, Esther Raskin and Yehudit Feldman also survive him.

‘The Garden Singers’ entertaining at Gan Eden

PHOTO: LAWRENCE PURCELL

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New campaign tackles community response to mental health challenge Mental health charity, Project Lily, today announced its campaign to train the Jewish community to respond to mental health issues – for free.

Jonathan Dove, Clinical Director of Project Lily explains; “We know that mental health challenges for the Jewish community have never been greater. It is now more urgent than ever to teach people how to care for our own and others’ wellbeing.”

Project Lily’s training has in the past just been offered to communal organisations’ professionals and volunteers. Now the charity says it wants to make their courses available to the wider Jewish public – at no cost.

Jonathan Dove continues: “People are beset by mental health stresses ranging from the effects of Covid to fears about the war in Ukraine resulting in a huge increase in the need for support. Our belief is that people must be equipped to recognise and

respond appropriately to the mental health issues they encounter, and in doing so stop unaddressed problems from escalating.”

With the NHS under enormous pressure to deal with a huge backlog of patient needs, the waiting time to support those with mental health conditions can leave those in need waiting for months, by which time their situation may have deteriorated significantly.

Project Lily’s’ courses are delivered over Zoom and range from 90 minutes to 3 hours in length, with participants learning how to identify and respond to issues that they themselves, or people they encounter, may need help with. Topics covered include: What is mental health, Vulnerability and protective factors, Stress, Anxiety and Depression, and Self-care.

Course places can be booked at Project Lily’s website: www.projectlily.org.uk

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17 MARCH 2022

US communities support Ukraine refugees United Synagogue communities have helped the people of Ukraine through projects and donation campaigns.

Northwood sent four vans filled with donations from members. One van was sent to Krakow accompanied by members, two were sent to Ukraine, a fourth to Ukraine providing relief to soldiers.

In Edgware, hundreds of people donated clothing, bedding and toiletries for the Jews of Ukraine, dozens volunteered to collect at Edgware United Synagogue.

Pinner members and neighbours helped collect over 140 boxes of humanitarian aid.

This was organised by supporters of the charity Goods for Good.

Hampstead Garden Suburb put out a call for help and item donations for emergency aid for refugees. Members and friends packed over 800 boxes of emergency aid.

With help and logistics of Goods for Good, these were sent to Chelm in Poland situated 25km from the Ukrainian border.

Over 200 people visited St John’s Wood Synagogue to donate supplies to Ukrainian refugees, in response to an urgent call from the GIFT who were sending supplies via Poland to Lviv.

The community donated thousands of items to the front-line of the Polish-Ukrainian border.

Steven Wilson, US CEO, said: “Thousands

Northwood United Synagogue

of people will be supported and we are looking at what more we can do to support people fleeing the conflict.”

St. John’s Wood’s Georgia Aaron, age 11, said, “It made me feel great seeing how generous people can be and how a community can join together to do something to make an impact.”

Allegra Crystal, age 13, added, “It was incredible to see the huge outpour of donations from the extended community. It made me realise how important it is to be in a position to help.”

Many communities have raised money for World Jewish Relief and other charities helping the crisis.

Chigwell & Hainault appoints rabbinic couple

Rabbi and Rebbetzen Goodwin Rav Noach Lifshitz with members of the Netzach Yisrael Robotics team

Students from the Talmud Torah Netzach Yisrael school in Bet Shemesh are through to the Israel national finals in the 2022 FIRST Lego League Robotics Challenge.

Their team of 9 boys, aged 12 and 13, were among 84 teams selected from 400 competitors in the first round of the competition, winning 2nd place for Robot Design and 4th place for Robot Performance. Netzach Yisrael is the first Charedi school in Israel to compete in this international competition, and one of very few that teaches STEM subjects.

Talmud Torah Netzach Yisrael is one of 10 schools that comprise the Netzach

Educational Network, led by the dynamic Charedi educational leader Rabbi Menachem Bombach. Bombach started the Netzach Educational Network in 2017, with the goal of revamping Israel’s Charedi educational system. Its schools prepare both boys and girls to attain Bagrut (matriculation) certificates, equipping them to compete for quality employment opportunities and pursue higher education, while also receiving an outstanding Charedi education.

For more information, visit https://netzach.org.il/en/

Chigwell & Hainault United Synagogue have appointmed Rabbi Rafi and Rebbetzen Chaya Goodwin as the community’s new senior Rabbinic couple.

The membership voted by an overwhelming majority to appoint the Goodwins who are the community Rabbi and Rebbetzen.

The Goodwins will take up their new position in the summer once Rabbi Baruch and Rebbetzen Nechama Davis retire from the post in July.

Rabbi Rafi, who hails from Leeds, said: “We are thrilled to have been appointed as the next senior rabbinic couple. In June, we will have been in the community for six

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years. We are so pleased we can continue to build on what we have started. All the messages of support and congratulations from within the community and beyond have been overwhelming.”

He added, “We are very grateful to Rabbi and Rebbetzen Davis for all the guidance and advice along the way which has proven to be invaluable. With an exciting major refurbishment underway coupled with a growing vibrant community we are looking forward to a bright future together.”

Chigwell & Hainault Chair, Lindsay Shure, commented, “Rabbi and Rebbetzen Goodwin have endeared themselves to the community. I’m absolutely delighted, for them and for us. We look forward to many fruitful years together in the community.”

Rabbi Davis, added, “Nechama and I are truly delighted that the community has overwhelmingly endorsed Rabbi Rafi and Rebbetzen Chaya to succeed us. They are warm, easy-going, caring and very capable.

We have really enjoyed their friendship and working closely with them since their arrival. We are also very happy that so many of our young families are so actively supportive. This decision, together with the shul redevelopment project portends a great future.”

The community are recruiting for a new community couple to replace the Goodwins.

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Camp Simcha B’nei Mitzvah group join Purim packathon

Camp Simcha volunteer packers

Teens and tweens on Camp Simcha’s B’nei Mitzvah programme packed over 500 mishloach manot for seriously ill children and siblings the charity supports.

The Purim packing night was attended by 19 children, as part of several activities in their B’nei Mitzvah year to support Camp Simcha.

Cousins Sarah Meister and Adam Porter, from North London, who are celebrating their bat and bar mitzvahs a week apart in October enrolled on the programme together.

Both participated in Camp Simcha’s Toy Drive packing event in December and will be doing a sponsored walk in May, as well the Purim packing activity.

Sarah said: “I have really enjoyed being part of the Camp Simcha programme to mark my bat mitzvah and meeting up with

the same kids for the different activities.”

Adam added: “It was great making mishloach manot for children who are having a hard time.”

Camp Simcha Director of Fundraising Shoshana Copeland said the charity has been thrilled with the uptake of the programme, which was launched at the end of last year.

“Children and parents taking part in the B’nei Mitzvah programme have been so enthusiastic and really seem to enjoy the opportunity it has given them to volunteer in a meaningful way, as well as raise some funds for the families Camp Simcha supports. We are so grateful for their time and commitment; the mishloach manot have been really well received and we look forward to seeing everyone on the sponsored walk in May.”

Sofer Ben Tsion Dansky with his 100 year old Middle Eastern Megillah at his Salford home workshop

Sofer Ben Tsion Dansky

PHOTO: LAWRENCE PURCELL

17 MARCH 2022

jLiving staff achieve record number of leadership accreditations A number of jLiving staff studying for a Level 6 Dihave recently completed a ploma in Applied Health range of high-profile qualand Safety and hopes to ifications and technical finish this shortly. She accreditations in external says: “Health and Safety is leadership training, in a obviously important in all bid to extend their existing walks of life, but I feel that skills and abilities and bring it is of particular relevance extra value to their roles at in the world of repairs and maintenance, particularly the housing association.

Between April and Ocfor tenants at jLiving. I have tober 2021, Lori Gardner, also just been accepted to Senior Housing Manager at study an MSc in Building jLiving, remotely attended Lori Gardner Surveying at Northumbria a leadership course in conUniversity (online!) which junction with WISH (Womwill take two years if all goes en in Social Housing). This to plan.” course involved attending Donna-Marie Durham, two 2-hour sessions per Director of Property has just month covering all aspects completed and passed her of leadership and confiapplication for chartered dence building in relation status with the Chartered to social housing. One of Institute of Building (CIOB) and can now officially use Lori’s jLiving colleagues, Tracey Brennan, was also the letters MCIOB after her on the course together 13 name! other women from different She is also privately fundhousing related organisaing her Masters via distance tions. The monthly sessions Claire Deverell learning (MSc Manageincluded lectures as well as ment in Sustainability). practical problem-solving Donna-Marie says: “jLiving work-related challenges. have kindly agreed to my Lori found the course flexible working request to hugely beneficial and says: facilitate the 12-15 hours of study per week required to “Attending this course empowered me to feel more complete the course. The confident about my abilities course is something I am and also made me feel invery interested in, both in vested in by jLiving. During terms of professional develthis time, I also completed a opment and personal interLevel 2 Mental Health First est to develop skills further in Sustainability and StrateAid in the workplace qualgic Management.” ification, which will also be Donna-Marie Durham an invaluable extra skill to Electrician Mitchell Tayhave”. lor-Brooks was offered the opportunity by jLiving to do jLiving Repairs Manager, his part P electrical qualiClaire Deverell, completed her Part P Certificate and fication, as he can use this 18th Edition wiring reguon certain aspects of his job lations Certificate in 2021. such as installing or fixing Both certificates are related electric showers or changto electrical installations/ ing sockets. It gives him a building regs and comgreater understanding of petency, which give her a electrics to ensure that he better understanding of the can work on them safely work being carried out by and to a very high standard. others for tenants at jLivJane Goodman, CEO of ing. She also completed a jLiving said: “At jLiving, we residential course with the Mitchell Taylor-Brooks strongly believe in giving Fire Safety College in Fire staff as much time and Safety/Fire Risk Assessment, which ena- support if they are keen to expand their bles her to perform Fire Risk Assessments skillset. It is not only beneficial to them and to spot potential problems before they by helping to build their confidence and arise, as well as being more conversant with abilities, but it adds value to their role at the language and regs used during the FRA jLiving and ultimately our tenants, who process. are at the heart of everything we do, will Claire has been keeping herself extreme- benefit too. Our commitment to staff dely busy since, in addition, she has just velopment and training drives up standfinished a Level 6 NVQ in Construction ards of professionalism in the sector. I – Contracting Operations Management, am very proud that we have some very which is hugely useful and relevant to her highly skilled staff with various academic role in both the day-to-day repairs service achievements under their belts. Congratulations to Lori, Tracey, Claire, Mitch and and void management at jLiving.

Not only that but currently, she is Donna-Marie!”

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Norwood Purim fun

COMMUNITY 23

Jewish Care’s Purim Zumba is back

Jewish Care Purim Zumba at Yavneh Primary School

There has been plenty of Purim festivities at Norwood this week.

Norwood’s Rabbi Stanley Coten read the Megillah while Intensive Interaction and Sensory Support Specialist Wendy Yeomans created an interactive sensory film.

People in residential and supported

living services enjoyed a virtual Purim party and disco. There was also a ‘Build a Clown’ colouring craft activity.

Daniel’s, Kosher Kingdom in Golders Green and Just Kosher in Borehamwood supplied hamantaschen for staff and residents.

Hundreds of children from seven primary schools are dancing their way through Purim whilst raising funds for Jewish Care to support older people in the community. They are taking part in Jewish Care’s seventh Purim Zumba this week in sponsored Zumba sessions led by Dancing with Louise. The schools taking part are Yavneh Primary School, Nancy Reuben Primary School, Akiva School, Kerem School, Sacks Morasha Jewish Primary School, Naima Jewish Preparatory School.

Meanwhile, students at Kantor King Solomon High School are connecting with older people locally and have made and sent Mishloach Manot to residents at Jewish Care’s Vi & John Rubens House in Redbridge.

Older people across Jewish Care homes and Retirement Living apartments will

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receive Mishloach Manot and will celebrate Purim with parties and plays. Members across Jewish Care’s community centres and centres for people living with dementia are also enjoying hamantaschen, entertainment and live Megillah readings again too. Last year, the Purim Zumba, parties, entertainment and Megillah readings all took place virtually.

Adam Overlander-Kaye, Jewish Care’s Director of Fundraising and Community Engagement said, “ “We are so pleased that we are able to celebrate Purim together in-person again as a community for the first time in two years and so I’d like to thank all the young people who’ve had fun participating in the Purim Zumba whilst also fulfilling the mitzvah of giving to those in need and learning about what it means to be an active member of our community”.

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Work Avenue celebrates International Women’s Day Over 50 women attended an online careers conference held by Work Avenue in celebration of International Women’s Day. The Women in the Workplace event featured a range of successful Jewish female business leaders, managers and entrepreneurs offering advice on a variety of topics from learning new skills and achieving success in the jobs market to changing careers and starting a small business.

The keynote speaker was Victoria White, Head of Customer Audiences for ASOS, who spoke about how to progress your career as a woman and use time out of the workplace to your advantage.

Victoria, a member of Golders Green United Synagogue, told delegates: “It’s OK to be ambitious and set your sights very high. Don’t hold yourself back, if you don’t need to, and don’t worry about the future… focus on the now.

“Many women have taken time out of the workplace, especially new parents. Don’t write that time off. Be proud of the skills you have gained in your time at home. There are many experiences from parenting that are transferable – organisational skills, influencing skills and budgeting to name but a few.”

Work Avenue is the Jewish community’s leading employment and business charity. Other speakers at the event included best-selling author of The Success Code,

17 MARCH 2022

Purim Funday Sunday at the Aleph Centre

Victoria White, Head of Customer Audiences for ASOS

Amanda Dewinter, Leah Klyne and Hannah Mindel – founders of new businesses GetWeb Traffic and The Club – and Joanna Walker, HR, OD and EDI Manager at NHS England.

Work Avenue’s Director of Operations and Employment Emma May said: “It was fantastic to celebrate International Women’s Day with so many amazing women in our network.

“We were inspired by women who have achieved great success, women who have overcome big challenges and women who are following their dreams. There really was something for everyone.”

A trio of Purim smiles from Jessie Radivan, Max Britstone and Lulu Clyne, three King David Primary School year 6 pupils.

The children at the Aleph Centre cheder at HGSS celebrated Purim with an exciting, fun-packed morning on Sunday. Children and teachers in fancy dress learnt plate spinning and diablo in a circus skills workshop, showed off their costumes on the cheder “Purim Catwalk and Disco”, decorated and shared mishloach manot and enjoyed a Purim play performed by the older children.

Mill Hill East Jewish Community Purim Carnival

Purim fun at Mill Hill East community event

Happy Purim from Jessie, Max and Lulu

PHOTO: LAWRENCE PURCELL

On Sunday 13 March, Mill Hill East Jewish Community (United Synagogue) hosted a Purim Carnival.

220 people attended the event at Copthall School which was a fun-filled bonanza aimed at children from 2-12 years.

Participants enjoyed a choice of inflatables, traditional fun-fair games, arts and crafts and food stalls. The community has continued to grow since its establishment in 2016 and now boasts 290 adult members.

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Co-chair Chloe Prager says: “We were delighted to be able to put on such an exciting event for the youngest members of our community. Our shul has become a destination for young couples and families looking to join a dynamic and vibrant congregation – and it was truly wonderful to see everyone celebrating together in this way. Thanks must go to the event organisers and also to the Office of the Chief Rabbi for their support for this event.”

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Use it or lose it?

ADVERTORIAL

Effective Tax year end planning Vol 2 The writer is the Owner and Managing Director of Alpha Wealth Management Ltd – a boutique independent financial advisory practice. As a Chartered Financial Planner and drawing on over twenty years’ experience in financial services, Marc helps private clients, businesses, charities, and trusts optimize their finances. Prior to acting as a financial adviser, Marc was a Director at several global investment banks, providing investment advice to Europe’s leading institutional investment and pension fund managers.

With the tax year end (TYE) approaching, you should be making the most of the tax reliefs and allowances currently available.

This can lead to a reduced tax bill and boost your savings.

Below is the second checklist of 5 of the top 10 TYE planning opportunities to take advantage of together with the key information you need to make these opportunities a reality.

6. USE ISA ALLOWANCES

ISAs offer savers valuable protection from income tax and CGT and, for those who hold all their savings in this wrapper or a pension, it's possible to avoid the chore of completing self-assessment returns.

The ISA allowance is given on a use it or lose it basis, and the period leading to the tax year end, often referred to as ‘ISA season’, is the last chance to top up. Over 18s can put £20000 p.a. into an ISA and Under 18s can put £9000 p.a. into a JISA. ISAs come in various forms – cash, stocks and shares, innovative finance and lifetime.

7. RECOVER PERSONAL ALLOWANCES AND CHILD BENEFIT

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Personal pension contributions can reduce a individual’s taxable income. In turn, this can have a positive effect on both the personal allowance and child benefit for higher earners, resulting in a lower tax bill.

An individual pension contribution that reduces income to below £100,000 will restore your individual’s full tax free personal allowance. The effective rate of tax relief on the contribution could be as much as 60%.

Child Benefit is clawed back by a tax charge if the highest earning individual in the household has income of more than £50,000, and is cancelled altogether once their income exceeds £60,000. A pension contribution will reduce income and reverse the tax charge, wiping it out altogether once income falls below £50,000

8. INVESTMENTS: TAKE PROFITS USING CAPITAL GAINS TAX (CGT) ANNUAL ALLOWANCES

If you sell an asset or an investment, the first £12,300 of profit is free of CGT. However the CGT allowance will be lost if not used.

Individuals looking to supplement their income tax-efficiently could withdraw funds from an investment portfolio and keep the gains within the annual exemption. Even if cash isn’t needed, taking profits within the £12,300 CGT allowance and re-investing the proceeds means there will be less tax to pay when individuals ultimately need to access these funds to meet spending plans.

Proceeds cannot be re-invested in the same fund for at least 30 days, otherwise the expected ‘gain’ will not materialise. But they could be re-invested in a similar fund or through their pension or ISA. Alternatively the proceeds could be immediately re-invested in the same investments, but in the name of the individual’s partner.

If there is tax to pay on gains at the higher 20 or 28% rate, a pension contribution could be enough to reduce this rate to the basic rate of 10 or 18%.

9. BONDS: CASH IN BONDS TO USE UP PERSONAL ALLOWANCE (PA) / STARTING RATE BAND / PERSONAL SAVINGS ALLOWANCE AND BASIC RATE BAND

Interest income from your savings or bond investments can be used against either your personal allowance, starting rate band or the personal savings allowance. Now could be an ideal opportunity to cash in offshore bonds, as gains can be offset against all of these.

Sale proceeds can be re-invested into another investment, effectively re-basing the ‘cost’ and reducing future taxable gains.

For those that have no other income at all in a tax year, gains of up to £18,500 can be taken tax free. This is made up of personal allowance £12,500 plus starting rate band for savings £5,000 plus personal savings allowance £1,000. Remember that

non-savings income is taxed before savings income and if the exceeds £17,500 the PA and starting rate band will not be available.

If you do not have any of these allowances available, but your partner (or even an adult child) does, then bonds or bond segments can be assigned to them so that they can benefit from tax free gains. Remember, the assignment of a bond in this way is not a taxable event.

10. RECYCLE SAVINGS INTO A MORE EFFICIENT TAX WRAPPER

Using tax allowances is a great way to harvest profits tax free. By re-investing this ‘tax free’ growth, there will be less tax to pay on final encashment than might otherwise have been the case. There may be a better option to re-investing these interim capital withdrawals in the same tax wrapper. For example, they could be used to fund their pension where further tax relief can be claimed, investments can continue to grow tax free and funds can be protected from inheritance tax (IHT).

Similarly, capital taken could be used as part of this year’s ISA subscription.

Although ISAs don’t attract the tax relief or IHT advantage a pension does, fund growth will still be protected from tax. This leads nicely on to one final consideration for individuals over (or approaching) 55 - should ISA savings be recycled into their pension to benefit from tax relief and IHT protection?

SUMMARY

In many cases, effective tax year planning can produce a higher level of savings than the investment return you generate from the amount you invest ! Having advised clients for almost a decade, I am yet to meet a prospect who has fully optimised their finances and taken advantage of all the available tax allowances and reliefs. Perhaps you could be the first ? If not, do yourself a favour and get in touch with a competent financial adviser so you can find out what you are missing out on. Expert advice could be of substantial benefit to YOU !

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Kollel Kinyan HaShas Manchester held a Celebratory L’Chaim late on Sunday evening on the occasion of the Kollel’s Siyum in the Ateres Rochel hall, with special musical accompaniment.

Dayan Chaim Heimlich at the Kollel Kinyan HaShas

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Kollel Kinyan HaShas reception

PHOTOS: LAWRENCE PURCELL

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ADVERTORIAL 27

Paperweight Perspective

What next?

BY BENJAMIN CONWAY CHAIR, THE PAPERWEIGHT TRUST

Rarely, if ever before, have events on the world stage impacted so quickly and so directly on the individual man in the street. We have become accustomed to shaking our head, letting the usual platitudes roll of our tongues, perhaps making a token charitable gesture, before turning the page to check the TV listings or the latest Apprentice casualty.

We raise our eyebrows as another political scandal threatens to wreak havoc at Westminster only for it to be subsumed and become yesterday’s fish wrapping by yet further Royal revelations.

But we can turn a blind eye, we can to all intents and purposes ignore, because with few exceptions none of this really mattered, none of this was life changing.

What happened in distant lands, remained there. If that’s what you thought, well you are so 2021. Our world and therefore our lives are changing so rapidly, I

must encourage you to read this quickly to avoid being out of date.

When Prime minister Harold Macmillan famously said when asked what troubled him most, “events dear boy, events”, he could not possibly have imagined the events that are unfolding before our eyes, let alone their immediate and long-term impact. Whether you are concerned about ten utility price rises in the past 12 months, and a predicted 3 fold increase in costs in the next 6 months, whether you will soon be getting a lot more exercise because the very thought of filling up the tank makes you shudder, or whether you

can no longer buy a ticket to watch Chelsea Football Club, make no mistake, world events have changed our lives.

Many across our community are only just putting back together the pieces of furlough, redundancy, unemployment, closed businesses, the impact on family life, mental health strains, credit card and rent or mortgage debt, and in too many cases the overwhelming fear that they simply can no longer cope.

Whilst the economic situation may be our first and uppermost thought, it is by no means the only dark shadow. Without exception, all of the above bring with

Many across our community are only just putting back together the pieces of furlough, redundancy, unemployment, closed businesses, the impact on family life, mental health strains, credit card and rent or mortgage debt, and in too many cases the overwhelming fear that they simply can no longer cope.

them in one form or another the associated complexities, trials and tribulations of bureaucracy, paperwork and infuriating online IT compliance and access.

This week across the Jewish world we will gather and read in Megillat Esther, “There is a people that is dispersed and divided”. When we are divided others have the ability to cause us harm. That is the basis of Haman’s plot to destroy us. When we are divided, we represent only individuals, not a community. That is the symbolism of why we were instructed that each and every Jew was to give one half shekel.

Each of us is but a fraction of the entity.

However, once we combine with others we make a significant contribution, and realise our strength comes through unity and recognising our need for each other.

As an organisation we are planning and bracing ourselves as we face head on into the perfect storm. As the headlines scream at us, ‘How will we put food on the table?’, there is no quick or simple solution for the myriad of issues we face, but hand in hand with Paperweight we will guide, advise, advocate and mediate and be there for each other.

Debt-negotiating, courtattending, benefits-advising, law-guiding, tribunalaccompanying, hand-holding, rights-advocating, landlordchallenging and people-empowering.

Your situation may involve any of these tasks, and more. Whatever your administrative, legal or financial problems, our 200 caseworkers, based in London, Manchester and Gateshead, have the expertise to help. And it’s all free of charge.

To access our services or to make a donation to support our work, call 0330 174 4300 or visit paperweight.org.uk instagram.com/paperweighttrustlondon

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28 FEATURE

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From the front line…

PUTIN versus PURIM

who have not been shot by the Ukrainians - and sending them Where do you start when there is so much to the Gulags for a well-earned in the news that isn’t really exciting, and break. The only positive that is in fact is immensely depressing. We are coming out of this is the acceptance of Israeli Nathan Bennett about to celebrate Purim, and we remember not just the famous Esther and as the negotiator / intermediary Mordechai, but one of our community’s / peace monger between the two most notorious historical rashas, Haman, antagonists. This does elevate whilst simultaneously we could be looking him to a statesman somewhat in at the prelude to the start of World War III, the mould of Menachem Begin, with a deep foreboding that no-one knows but whether he can pull it off, is what is going to happen whilst Putin is another matter. continuing to push the boundaries, and This is rather like the famous our buttons !!. He is trying very hard to episode from ‘Yes, Prime Minister,’ when Jim Hacker is discussinstigate a conflict with the NATO countries by bombing very close to the Polish ing with Sir Humphrey as to border and by targeting foreign journalwhen he (Jim) is going to press ists. Much of this is encouraging dissenthe nuclear button or whatever tion at home, but if the world expects the political ‘colour’ the button is. little people to take over, forget it. This This is in the days before the man is a tyrant of the first order and is fall of the Berlin Wall . So, Sir brutal in his repression of his own counHumphrey asks, ‘when will trymen and women. Mothers are having you press the button? Will it be to sift through bodies, identity and may be when the tanks are rolling into Jacqueline Curzon mourning their young sons in the streets East Germany? and Jim waves PHOTO: LARA MINSKY PHOTOGRAPHY as they lie on foreign fields (where have and says, ‘well not really…… we heard that before), but it will not sway you know it’s not really close him one jot. He will soon be emulating enough, blah blah blah.’ And the keep going into West Germany?’ He keeps Stalin and removing his Generals - those conversation progresses until ‘what if they on humming and haa-ing and Sir Humphrey asks Jim, ‘If the Russians are now at Calais - will you press the nuclear button?’

And, of course, the answer is - he still can’t Immigration & International Lawyer make a decision! The same applies today: Commercial Barrister - Problem-Solver at what point in time will the Americans say, enough is enough and actually engage with the Russians, it’s very frightening.

I am intrigued by the reporting that is going on in the newspapers, most especially to do with the way that many of these Oligarchs are being portrayed, or if not portrayed, then by association being linked to Israel, whether it is because they have houses there {or here} or their MA (Law, Oxford) 1981, English Bar 1989 boats are moored there. It would appear BCL (Oxford's Prestigious Higher Law Degree) that Roman Abramovich has now got a Portuguese passport to go along with his LicSpecDrEuro (European Higher Law Degree, ULB) Russian and Israeli ones and it would former visiting lecturer Hebrew University Law Faculty appear that he got it through a special deal that allowed Sephardic Jews going back as much as 400 years that are entitled to Portuguese citizenship because they were expelled from the country. Now, French German Italian Ivrit Russian Spanish Abramovich is not a particularly Sephardi name and is unlikely that he or any of his ancestors were ever in Portugal people have assumed dubious means allowed him to acquire a passport and now the Portuguese rabbi has been arrested after he was trying to leave the country. There is a lot of speculation that there has been some kind of exchange of funds.

Squatters broke into the central London home of industrialist Oleg Deripaska, deDIRECT ACCESS QUALIFIED (you don’t need a solicitor to hire me) claring ‘it belongs to Ukrainian refugees.’ It took many hours to remove the squatters from the balcony. The home - estimated to https://www.directaccessportal.co.uk/member/3375/Andrew-Rosemarine be worth £50 million - belongs to Deripaska, a close associate of Putin, and whose personal portfolio includes the Belgrade contact: house amongst his £2.3 million personal

BY JACQUELINE CURZON

ANDREW M. ROSEMARINE

InternationalLawForYou@gmail.com

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wealth.

Now, should you feel moved to want to welcome a Ukrainian family to your home, there is a scheme in place to facilitate this.

Here is what you need to know; • The individual or family must have been resident in Ukraine when war broke out.

• You must know the name of your family, they will be required to register at homesforukraine.campaign. gov.uk • Your commitment is for a minimum of at least 6 months. They will be issued with a 3 year permit subject to Home Office checks.

• You will receive £350 per month for one year, irrespective of how many people you accommodate, this is linked to food and energy bills.

And now for one of my favourite topics, Nicola Sturgeon, aka: she who must be obeyed. Well, that’s possibly what she likes to think anyway. She is advocating a no-fly zone over Ukraine, as we all know this is the step too far for the Americans and the Western alliance, except that Nicola Sturgeon thinks it’s a good idea to warm up WWIII. The UK Secretary of State for Scotland called her utterly irresponsible.

And to add icing on the hamantaschen she wants to scrap Trident, our nuclear deterrent. So Putin might possibly break the no-fly zone and call our bluff, which would therefore force the hand of the NATO countries. Something like Austria, Czechoslovakia and then Poland, I remember those countries from my history books.

I know we don’t yet have a three day week, power cuts, or rubbish accumulating in Leicester Square but Nicola is fundamentally against more drilling in the North Sea (cynically waiting for Independence maybe) when we should be absolutely be trying to reduce the UKs dependence on Russian oil and gas. Although I do draw the line at opening up coal mines. Will she continue to stoop so low? Or is it that she just does not get it?

And now to finish on a cause dear to my heart:- the Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra has cancelled a Tchaikovsky programme as it would be inappropriate in the light of recent events. Now this is about the Cardiff Phil thinking it will look good by sticking its tongue out at Putin.

Will he care, will he notice, will his first ICBM hit the Arms Park? Nyet!

Now, sit back and let your Purim songs, spielen and seudah run riot. All in the name of good deeds, of course.

Love Jacqueline x

InHERITANCE TAX. DO YOU REALLY WANT THE TAXMAN to be the biggest beneficiary of your estate?

Arnold Aaron DipPFS 78 York Street, London, W1H 1DP Tel: 020 7692 0884 advice@arnoldaaron.co.uk www.arnoldaaron.co.uk ‘Consultancy service for Accountants & Solicitors’ HM Revenue and Customs practice and the law relating to taxation are complex and subject to individual circumstances and changes which cannot be foreseen.

Arnold Aaron is a trade name of Arnold Joseph Aaron who is an appointed representative of The Openwork Partnership which is a trading style of Openwork Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority

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Hot Borsht

Another delicious recipe from Denise Phillips For more recipes and inspiration visit my website: www.jewishcookery.com

Beetroot soup, or Borsht hales from Eastern Europe where beetroot was a commonly grown vegetable, a stable of every garden. Original recipes from the time of Fiddler on the Roof, vary from a simple water and beetroot stock to more affluent one’s that include meat or chicken, beaten raw egg or chopped hard boiled eggs, sour cream or boiled potato. In recent years there has been a ‘beetroot revival’ making this dish popular once again as consumers take more interest in peasant or rustic foods; appreciate the nutritional value of this colourful root vegetable and realise just how delicious beetroot can be, especially if it is not pickled!

My recipe is a complete healthy meal in one bowl. Serve this on the coldest days with a thick slab of sour dough bread for a sustaining supper.

Preparation Time: 15 minutes Cooking Time: 2 hours 25 minutes Serves: 8. Remember to wear gloves when handling the beetroot as the colour stains easily.

Ingredients 3 marrowbones – omit for parev option 450g beetroot –fresh or ready cooked without vinegar – roughly chopped 1 1/2 litres water + 2 tablespoons beef stock/ vegetable stock or 2 cubes 3 potatoes (700g) – peeled and roughly chopped 3 red onions – peeled and roughly chopped 250g shredded green cabbage 4 salad tomatoes – peeled and sliced 2 apples – peeled and sliced ~ Juice of 2 lemons 1 tablespoon salt 3 tablespoons sugar Freshly ground black pepper – to taste ~ Garnish: Fresh dill, plus vodka to taste!

Method 1) Place the marrowbones in a deep saucepan with 3 litres of water and simmer on a low light for 1 1/2 hours.

2) Remove the tomato skins by placing them into boiling water for 2 minutes.

Pierce with a fork and the skins will peel away.

3) Grate the beetroot in the food processor – Add the beetroot to the broth.

4) Add the potatoes, onions, stock, cabbage, tomatoes and apples. Season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

5) Cover and simmer for 45 minutes. Add the lemon juice and sugar and simmer for a further 10 minutes.

6) Remove the marrowbones. Liquidise, taste and adjust seasoning accordingly.

Garnish: Sprigs of dill and vodka of choice

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ASK THE RABBI Looking for answers? Send your question to Rabbi@RabbiSchochet.com HAPPY? I’M JUST NOT FEELING IT! Dear Rabbi We are supposed to rejoice in the month of Adar and especially on Purim. But what if you’re just not feeling it? I for one am not!

Sam Dear Sam On every Shabbat and Jewish festivals we recite the Psalm in which King David says, “I was happy whenever people said to me, ‘Let’s journey to the House of G-d.’” What did King David mean by this?

The Midrash explains, the House of G-d refers to the Temple. But why would people make reference to a Temple that wasn’t built yet? Explains the Midrash, this refers to mean-spirited people who knew how much King David wanted to build the Temple, but G-d had denied him that opportunity because he was a man of war, and reserved the project for his son King Solomon. So they mockingly taunted him by saying, “Let’s go to the House of G-d.”

So why is he then happy? You would expect him to be hurt, upset, offended by these taunts.

Yet, far from being angered, King David says, “I’m happy” - because whatever their malicious intent, at least this means that the Temple is on their minds which reflects, if nothing else, a subconscious yearning for it to be built – and that in itself will ensure that it gets built!”

The instinctive response would have been a negative one. They expose a wound in his heart.

But he saw the silver lining. He looked beneath the superficial

exterior of the concern at hand and saw the implicit blessing within: Same reality, completely different perspective.

We tend to think that emotions are simply what we feel.

We don’t choose our likes and dislikes, our resentments and joys. They catch us and hold us helpless in their grip. So we conclude that we can’t help feeling what we feel, and that we are at the mercy of external events.

But King David in this verse suggests something profoundly different: what we feel is largely determined by what we think, how we interpret external events, and how we react to them - this is something that is completely under our control.

We all have issues or concerns of sorts against which we have also have goodness and things to be grateful for. Yes, stuff happens, life doesn’t always go to plan. But to worry, to feel depressed has never helped anyone. Hence the tactic of looking to replace negative thoughts with positive ones. Don’t worry Sam. Stay happy!

SYNAGOGUE MILES Dear Rabbi As a warden of a particular shul which shall remain nameless, I am keen to know if you have any innovative ideas to get people to come back into Synagogue. It’s amazing how people have just fallen out of routine and won’t return.

Anon Dear Anon I am not sure why you feel the

Pirkei Avot Ben Zoma said: Who is wise? He who learns from every man, as it is said: “From all who taught me have I gained understanding” Who is mighty? He who subdues his evil inclination, as it is said: “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that rules his spirit than he that takes a city” (Proverbs 16:32). Who is rich? He who rejoices in his lot, as it is said: “You shall enjoy the fruit of your labours, you shall be happy and you shall prosper” (Psalms 128:2) “You shall be happy” in this world, “and you shall prosper” in the world to come.

need to be anonymous. You are in the same boat as pretty much every other shul. However, I can share with you a scheme we launched in our Shul that is working a treat. Think air miles.

The more one attends shul (there is a halachic registration process) the more discount they get on their membership. In addition, we’ve teamed up with local kosher shops and restaurants to offer them a discount, again based on their “prayer miles.” If one attends daily and Shabbat for a total of 35 weeks in the year, one gets platinum status which entitles them to a 50% discount on membership in the coming year, plus they get to choose the subject matter of my sermon for 3 Shabbatot. Hey it’s not a perfect formula but it works.

ARE YOU ALL IN? Dear Rabbi In the opening of the story of the book of Esther we are given so much detail about King Achasverosh’s feast - the vessels and utensils, the materials and fabrics used. Who cares? Can’t we cut things short and finish quicker?

Josh Dear Josh King Achashverosh threw an enormous party to celebrate his consolidation of power on the Persian throne. It is a drunken, decadent bacchanal that lasts for a full 180 days, followed by an after party for another seven days. Arguably, the only relevant detail of that party is that the mad king summoned his wife

to come, she refuses and he ultimately does a Henry VIII on her.

But there’s an important lesson here. When Achashverosh throws a party, he goes all in. He would not settle for mediocrity.

If he can have it over the top, he will have it just that way! If he can drink for 187 days, so be it. If he can give his people a memory of a life time, this is what he will do.

The invaluable lesson is this: Even this crazy king understood that in life you’ve got to give it all

Follow Rabbi Schochet at: RabbiSchochet.com Twitter: @RabbiYYS Facebook: facebook.com/Rabbiyys.

Dedicated for our brothers and sisters and all the people of Ukraine Who is he that is honoured? He who honours his fellow human beings as it is said: “For I honour those that honour Me, but those who spurn Me shall be…”

We have now arrived at the 4th perek of Pirkei Avot. Ben Zoma is of course famous from the Pesach Seder when he is mentioned early in the Haggadah.

The famous story relates how he was selected to be the nasi of the Jews at only 18 years old, but was worried no one would give him respect due to his age. Therefore, Hashem made a huge miracle and his hair and beard turned

white overnight!

It is important to learn from everyone, no matter how insignificant they may be in your eyes.

Topical to Purim, we learn in the Talmud in Megilah that even though Achashverosh violated many women over many years, a subtle praise given to him is that he never did this during the day, only at night. You see a huge rasha like him still has a level and

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you got! Don’t do things by half measures. As they say in Latin: “Carpe Diem!” Life calls on us to live it to the fullest. Or as they say in modern jargon: “Go big or go home!”

He was a drunken dictator. If even he understood this, how much more so do we need to understand this! Invest yourself in all that you do! Show up to life and to love with every fibre of your being. Flex all of your soul and emotional muscles. Hold nothing back.

Have a joyous Purim!

Perek 4: Mishna 1 something for people to learn from. Quite what good you could say about Putin begs belief, although I guess Jews do live in Russia, relatively peacefully.

Slaying your yetzer Harah shows more might then winning wars as that is the whole entire purpose of life. If you enjoy whatever Hashem gives you, you will always be happy. Have a frelichen Purim!

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Parshat Tzav:

Installing the Kohanim, so dab them in blood?!

BY GAVRIEL COHN

This week’s Sedra details the elaborate seven-day procedure perfomed to inaugurate the Kohanim.

In front of the Jewish People, Moshe immersed the Kohanim in water, dressed Aharon in his priestly garments, offered sacrifices on their behalf, and together with the Temple vessels and altar, he sprinkled them with blood and oil, thereby setting them aside to serve in the Beit Hamikdash.

Yet why this strange ceremony? Is this how one should install ministers to office – spending a week dabbing them in blood and oil and offering up sacrifices?

Some commentators suggest that sprinkling blood on both the altar, representing G-d’s side of the partnership, and on the Kohanim was a way of forming a pact between the Almighty and the sons of Aharon, an ancient method akin to signing a contract or like our handshakes today sealing a business deal. It was an act committing the priests to work in G-d’s Temple (Ralbag; Abarbanel). Alternatively, perhaps this week-long ceremony of Moshe offering korbanot and sprinkling their blood served

Tzav RABBI DR RAYMOND APPLE

A MENIAL TASK?

The Torah reading begins with a short one-word command, “Tzav” – “Command!” G-d tells Moses to command Aaron and his sons about clearing out the residue of the ashes on the altar.

How menial it seems! How can such petty detail be required of the priestly family? Moses complains to G-d (Vayikra Rabbah 7:1) and is told that this is a way of coming close to the A-lmighty.

Jump across the centuries and you find people telling the rabbi how menial all the detailed mitzvot are. There are such great ideas in Judaism, and here you have what some people can only call pettifogging detail – koshering chickens, clearing out the chametz, not turning on the lights on Shabbat…

Complain to the Almighty if you must, and what He tells you is that little things add up and make the daily observance of Judaism an engaging experience and a series of steps up the spiritual ladder.

RIGHT OR LEFT

The final sentence of the sidra (Lev. 8:36) tells us that Aaron and his sons carried out what G-d had commanded, turning

as a crash course for these new Kohanim; Moshe was effectively teaching them how to perform the Temple service they would then be entrusted to perform (Gra).

However, perhaps there is another explanation that can help us decipher this inauguration process of the Kohanim.

The Kohanim, it seemed, were being transformed into sanctified objects of the Temple and consecrated almost as Temple offerings. All the rituals, language, and symbolism of this week-long ceremony implies that the Kohanim were actually becoming holy vessels of the Beit Hamikdash. Just like the altar, the golden ornaments, and the animals offered up, the sons of Aharon were anointed in oil and dabbed in blood.

They were becoming holy objects of the sanctuary, part of the very furniture of the Temple!

This theory helps us appreciate the role of the Kohanim. The priesthood was not a position of power, but of service (see Rashi, Bereshit 47:22). The Kohanim were meant to be entirely dedicated to Temple worship

and to instructing the people in matters of Jewish Law. They were like vessels of the Temple, whose entire being was consecrated to serve in G-d’s house; helping those that needed offer sacrifices, achieve atonement, and come close to their Creator. They were to be totally fixed and dedicated to be functionaries of the Beit Hamikdash. Just like the Mizbeach and Menorah, they were to be vessels and conduits for the Temple service.

Indeed, anyone occupying a position of influence or gifted with unique abilities should see themselves in a similar way.

Like the Kohanim, they should not see their office as a sign of self-importance, but rather that they are consecrated to help others, holy vessels to perform a function for the greater good.

In 1928, Rav Shimon Shkop (1860-1939), one of the outstanding Lithuanian Talmudists of the previous generation published his book of novella on the Talmud. He was one of the most brilliant Talmudic minds of the previous century. In the preface to his

The Kohanim, it seemed, were being transformed into sanctified objects of the Temple and consecrated almost as Temple offerings. (as Rashi informs us) neither to the right or the left.

These days “right” and “left” have a political connotation. Not just in global or national politics but religious politics too. Whoever and wherever you are on the spectrum you tend to think that it is the others who are going too far to the right or too far to the left, becoming too extreme in their orthodoxy or too extreme in their unorthodoxy.

Actually what is going on is an attempt to assess which position is right in your own situation. That does not necessarily mean that either you or others must be wrong, only that you or they are a thinking person whose opinions are in process of formation.

THE HIGHEST PRINCIPLE

Some synagogue-goers are full of complaints at this time of the year.

While the latter part of Sh’mot is read they have to listen to constant detail about the architecture and building of the Tabernacle. Then they get all the

laws about the sacrificial rite and the priesthood.

Where is the spirituality? Where is the poetry? Where are the ethics?

Ask those who complain what they would prefer to hear about. Their answer might possibly be, “Shema Yisra’el” – “Hear, O Israel, HaShem is our G-d, HaShem is One!” (Deut. 6:4). Or perhaps, “V’ahavta l’re’acha kamocha” – “Love your neighbour as yourself!” (Lev. 19:18).

This sounds like an echo of a Midrashic discussion where Ben Azzai said, “To me the most important passage in the Torah is ‘Shema Yisra’el’”, and Ben Nannes said, “I have found an even more important passage, ‘V’ahavta l’re’acha kamocha’”.

Ben Pazzi, however, suggested something quite different: “Et hakeves echad ta’aseh baboker v’et hakeves hasheni ta’aseh bein ha’arbayim” – “You shall offer one lamb in the morning and the second lamb at dusk” (Ex. 29:39).

The views of Ben Azzai and Ben Nannes will appeal to today’s complainers. The Shema is the spiritual foundation of

Complain to the Almighty if you must, and what He tells you is that little things add up and make the daily observance of Judaism an engaging experience and a series of steps up the spiritual ladder.

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work, Reb Shimon explains that G-d gives us our unique talents, jobs, and resources precisely in order to help others. Almost as a personal reflection, he then comments how such is also the case regarding wisdom and study. Because he was such a gifted Talmudist, he dedicated his life to teaching others: “I was a teacher to students in the yeshiva of Telz… then in the city of Maltch… then in the city of Braynsk… then in Grodno.” He would go on to devote his entire adult life to teaching Torah to others, from the age twenty until his passing at almost eighty years old.

Indeed, Reb Shimon saw himself like the Kohanim of old. He did not view himself as occupying a position of power or honour, but rather as a consecrated vessel, an object and instrument to help the people, installed to be totally dedicated to his role and what he could offer to others. That was the purpose of Moshe’s inauguration of the Kohanim, to make them holy vessels, wholly consecrated and fixed in their task to serve the nation.

Gav works as an Account Executive in Public Relations. The views expressed here are entirely his own. Questions? gavcohn@ gmail.com

Judaism. Loving your neighbour is the basis of our ethics. But the third view? We are back to the question, “Where is the spirituality? Where is the poetry? Where are the ethics?”

Ben Pazzi cannot be joking. The Midrashic discussion is too serious-minded for that. So whatever can he mean when he says he finds such inspiration in a verse that gives technical details about the daily sacrifices?

He is affirming that both the Shema and the love of neighbour are indispensable in Judaism, but in order to be able to love G-d as required in the Shema and to love human beings in the spirit of “V’ahavta l’re’acha kamocha”, we have to be willing to make an effort, to make a sacrifice – not just once or twice in one’s life, but every day, morning, afternoon and evening.

What costs us little is worth little..

Rabbi Raymond Apple was for many years Australia’s highest profile rabbi and the leading spokesman on Judaism. After serving congregations in London, Rabbi Apple was chief minister of the Great Synagogue, Sydney, for 32 years. He also held many public roles, particularly in the fields of chaplaincy, interfaith dialogue and Freemasonry, and is the recipient of several national and civic honours.

Now retired, he lives in Jerusalem and blogs at http://www.oztorah.com

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Weekly Dvar Torah F R O M E R E TZ Y I S R A E L

Tzav: To Desire!

BY RABBI JUDAH MISCHEL

When Rav Chaim Shmulevitz zt”l, Rosh Yeshiva of Mir and author of Sichos Mussar was a young man he spent some time visiting with his uncle, Rav Avraham Yoffen, Rosh Yeshivah of Novardok. One evening in the beis medrash, young Chaim asked his uncle who the top student in the yeshivah was.

One after another, Rav Yoffen pointed out outstanding talmidim: “Well, I would say that the student over there by the window has the sharpest mind in the yeshivah… but that one on the other side has the quickest recall. Ah, and the student to his right is the top guy in in-depth learning, while the one on his left excels in quantity – yes, he for sure has the widest breadth of knowledge and has covered the most ground in learning…”

“So dear Feter, please tell me,” pressed R’ Chaim, “which of these four talmidim is the best in the yeshivah? The Rosh Yeshivah smiled, “The best…? Why, none of them!”

R’ Chaim looked confused. His uncle had described all the strengths and virtues of some top talmidim, yet none of them he considered to be the best. Sensing his nephew’s discomfort, Rav Yaffen directed the young man’s attention toward the back corner of the beis medrash, and pointed out yet another young man sitting and learning.

“Look over there. Do you see that student sitting in the back? He is the top student in the yeshivah! You see,” the Rav whispered, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm, “he is the greatest mevakeish, the student with the most desire and drive, the one who ‘wants’ Torah and growth more than anyone else here. He is on fire!

He would stay there in his seat all night until morning, if I would let him. If there’s a ‘best’, he’s it. My dear Chaim, the biggest mevakeish is the most elevated student!”

“Tzav, ‘command’ Aharon and his sons, saying, ‘This is the law of the olah burnt offering: it is the burnt offering which burns on the altar all night until morning,

and the fire of the altar shall burn with it.’”

Toras haOlah, “The teaching of the burnt offering”, is the Torah of olah, ‘elevation’, the teaching of having a burning desire for growth.

Rebbe Shlomo of Karlin exemplified and taught the great value of constantly repeating one’s Torah lessons with fiery passion. His Divine service was a living image of the fire on the mizbeyach, which had to be kept burning at all times.

Whether or not there is active service taking place, the fire on the mizbeyach was always lit. Whether or not we are sitting with a holy book, our learning can remain aflame within our mind and heart.

Regardless of how we hold a candle, the flickering flame reaches upward, yearning to ascend. The flame is drawn down and anchored by the wick, which does not let it disconnect and burn out. And yet, the combustion of gasses constantly pushes upward, straining to break through and be elevated beyond the denser wick. As the flame rises, creating heat and light, air is

pulled into the base of the fire, feeding the fire with oxygen, enabling the light to grow even brighter.

The young, fiery mevakeish in Novardok, “the best student’’, was none other than Reb Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky, The Steipler Gaon zt”l, the author of Birchas Peretz, “The Blessing of Peretz”, or ‘The Blessing Drawn Down by the One Who Seeks to Break Through’. May we merit to follow in his ways!

May our Yiddishkeit be filled with warmth and light and passion to grow and rise toward Hashem – and yet may we also remain anchored and steadied with an eye for the future, so that our fire may burn until ‘morning’, until the coming of Mashiach.

Rabbi Judah Mischel is Executive Director of Camp HASC, and Mashpiah of OU-NCSY. He is a member of Mizrachi’s Speakers Bureau (www.mizrachi.org/ speakers).

Tzav

Sidra Summary this offering every day. Like the olah, the chatat (sin) offering was slaughtered in a designated part of the Mishkan. The procedure for an asham (guilt) offering is detailed.

“This is the law of the meal offering: Aharon's sons shall bring it before G-d, to the front of the altar" (Vayikra 6:7)

3RD ALIYA (SHLISHI) – 7:11-38

1ST ALIYA (KOHEN) – VAYIKRA 6:1-11

The Torah adds new details about the offerings that were discussed in last week’s sidrah. The olah (elevation) offering could be left burning on the mizbeach (altar) throughout the night.

In the morning, a Kohen would remove the ash. Wood needed to be added on the mizbeach every day as fuel for the three fires that were constantly burning (Rashi). The mincha (meal offering) was baked unleavened; those parts eaten by the Kohanim had to be consumed in the courtyard of the Mishkan (Tabernacle).

2ND ALIYA (LEVI) – 6:12-7:10

A fine flour offering from a tenth of an ephah volume of flour was to be offered by every Kohen on his first day of service, half in the morning and half in the afternoon. The Kohen Gadol had to bring

One who survived a dangerous situation could bring a todah (thanksgiving) offering, which was a category of shelamim (peace) offering. It was accompanied by baked loaves; those parts of its meat designated for consumption had to be eaten within a specific time. One was forbidden to eat an offering in a state of ritual impurity. An offering which became impure was to be burned, not eaten. The blood of all animals and certain fats (chelev) of specific animals was strictly forbidden to eat. The right thigh and the chest of a shelamim (peace) offering were eaten by the Kohanim.

4TH ALIYA (REVI’I) – 8:1-13

The Torah now details the seven-day inauguration process of Aharon and his sons, starting on 23 Adar, a week before the setting up of the Mishkan (on 1 Nissan), which was detailed previously in parashat Pekudei (see Rashi’s commentary). Moshe washed and dressed Aharon in the special garments of the Kohen Gadol and anointed his head with oil.

He then dressed Aharon’s sons in their designated priestly garments.

Point to Consider: Why did Moshe have to tell the congregation that “this is the matter that G-d commanded me to do”? (see Rashi to 8:5).

5TH ALIYA (CHAMISHI) – 8:14-21

Moshe brought a bull as a chatat offering. Parts of this were burned on the mizbeach; the remainder was burned outside the camp. He then brought a ram as an olah offering. Aharon and his sons laid their hands upon both offerings (semicha).

6TH ALIYA (SHISHI) – 8:22-29

A second ram, a shelamim, known as the ‘inauguration ram’, was offered. Moshe smeared some of its blood on the ears, thumbs and toes of Aharon and his sons.

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7TH ALIYA (SHEVI’I) – 8:30-36

Moshe also sprinkled inauguration oil, mixed with blood from the offerings, on Aharon and his sons, as well as on their garments. Moshe instructed them on how to eat the relevant parts of the inauguration offerings and told them not to leave the entrance to the ohel moed for the whole of the inauguration period.

HAFTARAH

G-d tells the prophet Yirmiyahu to rebuke the nation for having not listened to Him since the day that He brought them out of Egypt and repeatedly ignoring His prophets.The people’s iniquities include desecrating the Temple and involving their children in idolatrous practices, making the destruction of Jerusalem inevitable, when “the carcass of this people will be food for the bird of the heaven”.

We don’t judge.

We understand.

Just a text away

07860 058 823

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Torah from Israel

17 MARCH 2022

Purim: Shushan and the Culture “Carousel”

BY RABBI MOSHE TARAGIN

Everything in the Purim story happened so quickly. Out of nowhere, an unknown upstart named Haman rose to power and launched a genocidal plan against the “scattered and separatist Jews”. His heinous decree was issued on the 13th of Nissan and three days later, as Pesach begun, the tide had already turned, and Jewish salvation was upon the horizon. A lot happens in a very short amount of time.

While Haman’s genocide was planned and reversed in a matter of days, drunken parties in Shushan lasted six months. Megillat Esther describes 180 days of intoxicated revelry and round-the clock carousing.

These ridiculous and mindless parties bear little impact upon the actual plot. It is true, that the demotion of Vashti clears the way for Esther’s ascent, but very little else about these festivities has any long-term impact.

Yet, the Megillah provides a longwinded description of the foods, wines, furnishings, marble tiling, locations, and attendees. Evidently, the parties hold the key to a deeper understanding of the Megillah story.

The Talmud sensed something sinister about these merry parties. It claims that the Jews were threatened with total annihilation because they participated in these lavish feasts. This is an odd “accusation” and an extremely harsh penalty for attending a party. After all, the same section of the Talmud records that strict kashrut standards were maintained for the Jewish attendees.

Oddly, the partygoers are reprimanded even though no halachot were violated.

What could be so wrong about joining a national celebration? Well, sometimes a party is more than just a party.

An interesting regional shift occurred a few hundred years before the Purim miracle. Prior to this political change, the Mesopotamian region was inhabited by warring tribes- each vying for territorial supremacy. These tribes include many familiar names from the Torah: Amon, Mo’av, Phlishtim, Edom, and Amalek- just to name a few. Around 900 BCE the first regional superpower arose - the Assyrian empire. Several innovations in warfare and weaponry allowed this nation to subdue their enemies and extend their rule over an area stretching from modern day Iran to modern day Egypt. This large territory was soon conquered by the Babylonians – the same people who sacked Jerusalem and demolished the mikdash. Like the Assyrians before them, they too, imposed their iron will and irrepressible military might upon the local cultures. This period – toward the end of the second mikdash – was the age of the great empires. Nothing like it

had been experienced in this region.

Through repeated population relocations, the Assyrians conducted a form of ethnic cleansing. Nevuchadnezzar, who supervised the destruction of Yerushalayim, didn’t have time to bother with population relocation. He brought his captives to Babylonia where he forced them to submit to his rules, his gods and his local culture. Under the mighty fist of these two superpowers there was little room for national identity in ancient Mesopotamia. It had been forcibly purged.

During the sixth century BCE, as power shifted from Babylonia to Persia, something changed. Persia, the empire of 127 regions - was the land of plenty and it amicably welcomed outsiders. Everyone nation and race were embraced, and all local customs and cultural habits were respected. Repeatedly, we are told that individual and tribal customs were respected and accommodated. As the Talmud documents, visitors to the party were served their local foods and certainly, no one was forced to involuntarily drink wine (policies quite uncommon for parties of that era). Each group was afforded an eating area which matched their ethnic backgrounds; some partied in gardens, others preferred patios, while still others chose gazebos. Nothing was enforced and every culture was tolerated and encouraged.

Interestingly, we find very little mention of religion and religious ritual. Achashverosh and Haman never invoke their gods, nor do we ever witness any religious sacrifices of rituals. Religion was pushed to the background, because so many religions were represented. Evidently, everyone was allowed to worship in the privacy of their own heart as they pleased…or not at all.

Repeatedly, we read that the “letters” or official decrees were translated into each language and into every imaginable dialect.

No one would be forced to read about the genocide in a foreign language. No one would be made to feel uncomfortable in the pluralistic city of Shushan. Instead of imposing one common will or culture upon diverse populations, every identity was tolerated and encouraged. Shushan is the first multicultural city. It was the Netherlands of the 6th century BCE. Even Haman’s unexpected promotion punctuates the dynamic and fluid socio-politics of Shushan. This no-name foreigner was suddenly promoted to be the viceroy of Persia, despite not belonging to any Persian aristocracy. This is precisely what agitated Bigtan and Teresh, two guards whose conspiracy was uncovered

by Mordechai, and who were ultimately hung. They were furious that Haman was

Haman’s promotion reflects a freewheeling and democratic society without grounded identity or any orienting culture. promoted despite not being part of the “system”. Haman’s promotion reflects a free-wheeling and democratic society without grounded identity or any orienting culture. Alternate voices weren’t stifled and cultural diversity wasn’t homogenized as in Assyria and Babylonia. Instead, differences were accented and brought to the surface.

So far so good. This sounds like a modern city of tolerance and multiculturalism, one most of us could only dream of. It sounds like a welcome relief from the iron -fisted dictatorships of Assyria and Babylon.

This sounds like a society in which Jews especially should feel welcome. What went wrong?

There is a thin line between tolerating other cultures and erasing national and cultural identity. Be eliminating any customs, religious rites, or communal groupings, people lost their natural identity “markers”. Human beings deeply identify with the groups they “belong” to such as religious groups, ethnic groups, and cultural groups. If every culture is brought to the fore and accentuated nothing truly matters.

The multiculturalism of Shushan scrubbed natural identity and erased any feeling of belonging. Shushan became a carnival of endless cultural diversity but a vacuum of identity. In this international city that never slept every custom and culture was highlighted but none became anchored.

Shushan became a carousel of competing interests and swirling identities. No one felt at home in this large bustling hotel.

What happens when all identity markers are scrubbed? What happens when society no longer rallies around religion, race, family or community? In that “identity vacuum” two “universal” values fill the void: sex and money. These universal desires, common to every race and ethnicity, dominate a multicultural city absent of any identity or cultural anchors.

Instead of selecting a wife, Achashverosh conducts a twelve-month rampage in which he methodically rapes young girls from across his empire. It all looks legal and regulated but, in the end, it is just vulgar and repulsive exploitation of girls who have no recourse against this rapacious monarch. Vashti wasn’t summoned for

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afternoon tea or for a conversation about politics and the economy. We all know, and she herself knew, that she was being summoned to be ogled at by drunken revelers.

She refused and she lost her head. Such is life in the cesspool of Shushan.

When people in Shushan aren’t chasing their libido, they are stuffing their wallets.

Everything in Shushan has a price tag – even genocide. Haman offered a king’s ransom for the blood of his Jewish victims.

After all, everyone respects money and these days, money can buy everything.

Fortunate for Haman, Achashverosh has his own stash, so millions of souls are delivered to death- for free. Without any cultural anchors Shushan spirals into greediness and pornography.

The sickening parties are a cyclone storm of gluttony, pornography, and greed. Partygoers spent six months endlessly gorging and drinking. Unable to ingest any more, they forced themselves to vomit, so they could return empty-stomached to the orgy.

And all this in wide-open public display- in the courtyard of the king- for every passerby to gawk at. Lying prostrate on marble sofas and drinking from golden chalices, they provided the ultimate crass “reality show”. Who needs production teams when drunk clowns are willing to strut their wealth and roll in their own odor. Welcome to the nightmare of voyeurism where everyone stares at people, their wealth and their bodies. Welcome to Shushan.

No dignified human being belonged at that party. Certainly, no Jew belonged at that party. The moral stench should be enough to drive any Jew far away. The food may have kosher, but the atmosphere was toxic. Spending a minute in this contaminated carnival is unthinkable. Six months amidst this moral chaos is Kafka-esque. No wonder they were punished. Thank God they recovered. Better avoid Shushan’s parties.

The writer 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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42 FAMILY FUN

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Tzav This weeks parsha opens where we left off; korbanot. Currently, Hashem tells Moshe to tell Aharon that he is forgiven for the golden calf incident (remember that?). To prove it, He commands Him to take up the mantle of High Priest, Kohen gadol and do the korbanot, sacrifices. This includes the Olah that we mentioned last week, and the shelamim (elevation and peace offerings).

This is what a typical day in the mishkan looked like. Once the day began,the kohanim opened the gates and washed their hands and feet in the special kiyor, the basin made from the mirrors donated from the women. Next, all kohanim put their names into a lot and a goral (lottery) was picked as to who had the privilege to do each job .

Once the jobs were allocated, the kohanim split up. Some went off to clean the ashes or clean and light the menorah (a job Aharon liked to do himself and was very diligent about). Others ran to check the animals and choose two good sheep for the daily tamid offering. One kohein shechted (slaughtered) it and then the pieces were divided among those who won the honour to place them on the mizbeach, altar. Others went to prepare the mincha offering of the tamid and offer it up.

Tangram Challenge!

Using all the shapes on the left can you make the clown shape on the right?

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CHATAT • GADOL • KOHEN • LOAVES • MINCHA • MISHKAN • MIZBEACH • SHELAMIM

17 MARCH 2022

FAMILY FUN 43

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“T

hat one was from Suri, that one was from Chaya…” Rivki mumbled to herself as she sat counting her mishloach manos on the floor of the lounge.

Hadassa was sprawled on the sofa reading and Shloime and Yehudis were playing with trains.

“So how many did you get? said Rivki excitedly.

“I have 4” replied Chaim, looking up from his shlach manos.

“Wow, the same as me! Amazing! What have you got inside?” Rivki said eagerly, leaning over his shoulder to try and see.

“Why don’t we spread them out on the table so we can have a look?” suggested Hadassa.

Rivki, Chaim and Hadassa hurried over to the dining room table. It was erev Shabbos, but Ima hadn’t set the table yet so there was lots of room to spread out their mishloach manos. Everyone started unpacking their goodies.

“Yum, I have bissilli and bamba” said Rivki.

“Ooh, I have Swiss chocolate from my mystery mishloach manos,” said Hadassa.

“Chewy taffies, my favourite,” said Chaim happily.

More and more nush was pulled out of bags and baskets and put on the table.

Everyone was enjoying looking at their yummy treats.

Sweet Envy

“Goodness me,” said Ima, as she entered the dining room.

“Look at all this nush, what a nice treat from Purim to have on Shabbos.”

“I want to eat them now,” said Rivki.

“Let’s keep them l’kavod shabbos, Rivki.” Ima replied as she scooped up Shloime for his nap.

Yehudis wandered over to the table to have a look. She picked up a box that looked like Lego.

“Lego, mine” she said happily hugging it.

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.

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“That’s mine,” said Rivki, grabbing it back.

Yehudis burst into tears and Hadassa ran over to comfort her.

“Can I have a look at those?” Chaim asked Rivki.

“Sure,” said Rivki, passing them over to Chaim.

Chaim took hold of the box and stared at it with excitement. He had always wanted one of these! Delicious sweets that you can build with, like real Lego! This was a mega box with 8 different colours and tastes! Chaim really wanted it.

Use this area to write the words you have found.

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“Can I swop you something for this box?” He asked Rivki.

“No,” said Rivki. “I like these.”

“Pleeeaaase??”

“No,” said Rivki resolutely, taking the box back from Chaim.

Chaim could not think about anything else for the rest of the day. All he wanted was that mega box with those delicious bricks. He could think of nothing else!

Shul came and went, kiddush came and went, challa came and went, but Chaim could think about Rivki’s treat. “...and Haman was a man who could only think about what he didn’t have Mordechai bowing down to him. He was so upset about it, that he couldn’t see how rich and powerful he was. Haman couldn’t see everything he did have, he could only focus on what he didn’t have.”

Chaim slowly became aware that these were Abba’s words of divrei Torah filtering through his daydream of mega boxes and edible bricks.

That’s just like me, Chaim thought. I have so much other nush from my mishloach manos, but all I can think about is the mega box of tasty bricks. I’m so lucky Hashem gave me so much nush. I’m not going to be like Haman and only focus on the bad.

Chaim felt much better. He smiled to himself and whispered “Thank You Hashem for all my yummy mishloach manos nush!”

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Last week’s words: Here are some words you may have found from last week - you may have found more! ash gas has his its sag sap sat

sea set she sip sit spa ages apes

east eats gaps gasp gets gist hags hats

hips hits past pats peas pegs pest pets

pies pigs pits sage sate seat ship sigh

site spat spit stag step stet tags taps

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tats teas test this ties tips gaits gapes

gates haste hates heaps heats pages paste paths

peats phase shape sight spate spite stage state

tapes taste teats eights patties spaghetti

44 FAMILY FUN

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Q: What was Queen Esther’s royal gown made of?

A: Polyester!

Patient: “Doctor, doctor I think I’m shrinking!”

Doctor: “Well, you’ll just have to be a little patient!!”

(Answers at the bottom of page upside down)

1. What starts with P and ends with E and has thousands of letters?

Shimon: “Rebbe, I’ve finished the exam.”

Rebbe: “Good. Did the questions give you any trouble?”

Shimon: “No. But some of the answers did!!”

Yankele: Look at that bunch of cows!”

Moshele: Not bunch, herd!

Yankele: Herd what?

Moshele: Of cows.

Yankele: Heard of cows? Of course I’ve heard of cows!!

2. What occurs once in minute, twice in a moments and never in a thousand years?

3.Why is an island like the letter T?

3) Because its in the middle of water 1. A post office

2) The letter M 1. Mixed emotions 2. High five 3. Seaside THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

4. Fish out of water 5. It’s a small world after all 6. Bond Street

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THE ENTIRE PICTURE

Ronaldo rewrites FIFA records Sixteen-goal Lions

BY DAVID SAFFER

league win.

Luis Diaz opened the scoring in the first half before Mo Salah slotted home a second-half penalty after a handball by Yves Bissouma. Jurgen Klopp’s Reds are now just four points adrift with a game in hand over Guardiola’s side.

Regarding recent signing Diaz, Reds boss Klopp told BBC MOTD: “He’s a top player. We have no groups in this team but a couple of the boys speak Spanish and Portuguese, they’ve taken him under their wing. The boy has settled as quick as any player, and that is helpful.”

Chelsea struck a late winner against Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge to remain clear of the chasing pack for Champions League places.

Kai Havertz clinically finished in the 89th minute to seal the points. Havertz though was fortunate not to be red-carded for an elbow on Dan Burn earlier in the game.

Arsenal are in pole position to take the last top-four spot after a 2-0 win Leicester City at Emirates Stadium. Thomas Partey and Alexandre Lacazette struck for a fifth consecutive win.

The Gunners head United by a point but also have games in hand over the Old Trafford side.

West Ham are two points back after a 2-1 win against Aston Villa.

Ukraine international Andriy Yarmolenko and Pablo Forlans scored second half goals before Jacob Ramsey’s last minute consolation.

Conor Coady headed the winner for

Wolves at struggling Everton to stay in the race for European spots. Frank Lampard’s team have games in hand in the fight to stay up but only goal difference keeps them out of the bottom three.

“We must keep our head up and the important thing now is to remain positive, he told BBC MOTD. Brentford edged closer to safety with a crucial 2-0 win over Burnley courtesy of an Ivan Toney brace while Leeds United enjoyed a dramatic last ditch triumph over Norwich City at Elland Road.

Super sub Joe Gelhardt came off the bench deep into stoppage time to grab the winner from Raphinha’s cross. Leeds boss Jesse Marsch introduced the teenager immediately after Kenny McLean had equalised Rodrigo’s early goal. Raphinha had earlier hit woodwork twice as Leeds bossed the game.

Marsch told Sky Sports: “The crowd were fantastic and the performance brought them into the game. We have to fight for everything. It will make us stronger and we will keep pushing.”

Watford are battling away and enjoyed a superb 2-1 victory against Southampton at St Mary’s.

Cucho Hernandez struck twice only for Mohamed Elyounoussi to set up a tough second half.

The Hornets, Burnley and Norwich occupy the bottom places but with nine points PHOTO: the DAVID SAFFER separating 16th place Leeds and Canaries there is everything to play for in the relegation run in.

rout Scrabble in Cup

Cristiano Ronaldo is the greatest goalscorer of all time according to FIFA records after his stunning hat-trick proved the difference in a thrilling 3-2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford.

The record international (115) and Champions League (140) goal poacher nodded in the winner late on against Spurs, who twice hit back after Ronaldo hadDAVID opened the scoring with a rocket howBY SAFFER itzer then tap in set up by Jaydon Sancho.

TheMogilner visitors scored scoredsix through Harry Reiss goals asaMaccabi Maguire Lions own goal and Harry Kane penalty.

London thumped Scrabble A in the Only Lionel Ronaldo’s Cup. prowsecond round Messi of the rivals Cyril Anekstein essThase Premier a sharpshooter 756 goals the Leaguewith side racked upin a 16-0 modern win withera.

Daniel Green and Michael Kenley Brazil legends Pele and Romario have Dareboth bagging a hat-trick.

Ed Brafman, portedly scored 1,000 career goals but vid Dinkin, and over Adam Hassanali completamateur, and friendly ed the routunofficial in a mismatch of a tie. matches areLions included thesescored statistics.

Josef Bican couldinhave in the opening according theclash Czech FAsoon has hit 821 goals minute of to the but opened the but FIFAand only a tally scoring ledrecognise 9-0 by half time.of 805.

Manchester interim boss Ralf Th e DivisionUnited’s One team, though outRangnickbattled told Sky Sports thatend.

Ronaldo “still classed, away to the has the quality” , Tottenham boss Lions boss was lost for words atAntonio full time Contewas noted he was “a top, player” . such thethat display from histop team who Conte added thattoRonaldo and Messi are gave every respect the opposition. the bestnot players thethere’s world anything in this era.

“I’m really in sure to “When play against this of player, say, we you are happy to make it type through to the they’re decisive,” he said. next round of the cup, ” he commented.

Whilst Ronaldo co battle for3-1 a ChamHendon Unitedand Sports ran out victors pions League and against Leaguespot OneManchester outfit NorthCity London Liverpool continue to battle it out for the Raiders. title.

The Premier side led early in the second City dropped points Crystalbut Palace in half only for Raiders toat equalise struck two late goals to book a place in round three of the competition.

Hendon now turn their attentions to the league as they travel to Oakwood A for a crucial top of the table clash on Sunday (10am).

Daniel Kristall’s team stunned the league leaders last month when they won 2-0, a

BY DAVID SAFFER victory would move them to within a point Oakwood behind twice to knock of Hendoncame with from a match in hand.

HMH out of the Morrison Cup penElsewhere in Peter the latest round of on fixtures, alties in aNorth titanicLondon third round cup tie.

10-man Galaxy made it a The tie of therace round did notDivision disappoint three-way title in the only One as a six-goal thriller 3-3Oakwood before the clash of the day after ended defeating B. shoot-out drama.

Jamie Murray saw red early on but Galaxy HMHwith opened and led rallied goals the fromscoring Josh Cohen and2-1 Jathrough Wagner only for Felix Shacob LeighOscar to record an important 2-1 away lom to complete his treble to put Oakwood win. ahead in head an exciting clash.

Wagner Galaxy Redbridge Jewish Careduly A in bagged almost hitmatches, a fourth the tablehis byhat-trick just one and point after 10 late on.

ButFairlop the game grand finale, third place FChad are afive points beand with ahead, goalkeeper Jorhind with O’s two10-9 games in hand. dan Sharifan save to send Rafi Bloommade scoredthe forcrucial Oakwood. the Premier League champions “Itdefending was a fantastic performance in a through.

Cristiano Ronaldo is the top FIFA goal scorer of all time

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

the Monday night match. Pep Guardiola’s charges dominated the game but lacked a cutting edge in an entertaining goalless draw.

Guardiola told Sky Sports: “We played to win the game, we created more, the way we 16-goal London Lions playedMaccabi was amazing in a difficult stadium.”

Liverpool however were worthy 2-0 winners at Brighton for an eighthGalaxy successive must-win game,” commented player-manager Luke Lewis.

“We sat back and allowed Oakwood the ball, given the one-man advantage and looked to hit them on the counter attack with pace.

“Both goals came down the right-hand side. Leigh crossed the first one into Cohen are out of the league title race to Oakwood finish, before slotting home himself.

Up butfiremain on” track in two cup competitions to rst we go. asTh they are alreadyTwo through the Cyril e Division titletorace alsoAnektook Trophy astein twist withsemi-finals. league leaders Herstwood In other round clashes London AthVale goingthird down to a 2-1 defeat at Temple letico thumped Reich 6-0. Sharpshooter Fortune.

Zacki Doumou and Jamie scored a Faithfold B have playedDavila a game more brace.Vale Rafibut Rees and Aidan Raphael than moved level with a 5-3also winhit at the target in a resounding victory.

North London Raiders Masters.

Boca Chillers defeated Leeds Maccabi by Jacob Kalms struck twice for Fortune who a solitary goal in aleading tight encounter, Oakwood scored through scorer James MilMastershis edged closeofaffair 4-3 against Lonletwith 17thagoal the season. don ThBears. e result was all the more remarkable pacesetters United asPremier Temple were down toHendon 11 players with Sports are on course to winafour con‘keeper Benstill Rebuck dislocating shoulder secutive Anekstein in the warm up. titles. Dovi Fehler (2) and Chaim the goals a quarter “ThisKorman was a scored fantastic win ingiven the final win against NWL Azzurri.

“It was a proper old school performance, we battled and defended for the 90 minutes and took our chances. Experience proved “It be was athe tough against a very well crucial. to winner. ” organ- prove Rovers dropped points in a 2-2 draw at ised team,” said Hendon’s David Garbacz.

Oakwood break HMH hearts in shoot-out drama Away from cup action Division One Azzuri have been in fine form and will now chase circumstances, ” said delighted Fortune Mill Simon Hill Dons, Borussia Jewdinese and boss Linden.

Brook in theofrace for promotion.

“We Farm had Rovers a number players out, ReDons 4-3 inhave a huge top buck gotdefeated injured,Jewdinese so I couldn’t asked of the tablefrom battle. any more the players. We wish Ben a Zach recovery.

Cohen, Nick Phillips, Adam Lisberg speedy and Reece old scored for the hosts in a “It Joseph was a proper school performance, terrific clash thatdefended saw Donsfor jump second we battled and the into 90 minutes spot.took Grant Reingold, Collins and Zac and our chances.Zack Experience proved Brin for theIt’svisitors whoone havewethree to be struck the winner. a big win, will gamesand in hand overto the second side. enjoy we hope build on itplaced in 2019. ” Both teams“Th however are looking at as thea He added, is win marks 50 years results of Azurri areone nine points football club and who will be Nigel Kyteback and from Dons having played three games everyone associated with the club from less day but with a better goal difference that could

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FC East London Bees.

Stoke Salmon one will enjoy. ” continued their march to the titleboss as they eased to a 6-2 triumph at Vale Jacob Emanuel was quick to lowlyRebuck Scrabble. wish well following his injury.

In Division Two,importantly, Geez Park Rangers “First and most everyoneare at on track forlike promotion afterFortune defeating high Vale would to wish the ‘keeper Madreidel 4-2 while aflying quickReal recovery, we hope to seemid-table him back Milbrook Parkpitch Calcio won as 3-0 at Hapoel on the football as soon possible, ” he Hampstead. said.

Elsewhere, there was a change at the foot As for the defeat, Emanuel commented, of the leaguematter with Brady at “It doesn’t how FC bigwinning a squad4-2 you Qarabagel. have, you can never account for unavailZak Lewis, Max Kohler, Brandteam and ability or injury.

Only five Jack of today’s Leo Style moved Brady spota played in our recent winfrom overbottom FC Team, with of Oakwood Town defeating Forlack togetherness and poorTemple individual tune B, who occupy last place in the table.

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KLAL YISROEL, THEY ARE COUNTING ON US. WE CAN’T LET THEM DOWN. PLEASE PARTNER WITH OUR LIFESAVING EFFORTS:

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THERE ARE STILL COUNTLESS FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT UKRAINE PLEADING FOR OUR HELP. THEY HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO TURN. BUT THE GROWING COST IS TOO MUCH TO BEAR.

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IF YOU KNOW ANYONE THAT NEEDS HELP IN UKRAINE, PLEASE EMAIL INFO@JEWISHKIEV.ORG