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BEAVERBROOKS LEGACY ENDURES DURING COVID-19 18 MARCH 2021/5 NISAN 5781

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COMMUNITY URGED TO COMPLETE CENSUS

Orit Farkash-Hacohen

Beaverbrooks Chairman Mark Adelstone has experienced the most challenging 12 months of his professional career as the world has grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic.

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SEE PAGE 6

READ THE FULL EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW INSIDE THIS WEEK'S SUPPLEMENT ON PAGE 23

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“BURN THE JEWS” outrage in Shenley

BY ADAM MOSES Police are investigating an incident of malicious communications and hate crime during an online Shenley Parish Council meeting in Shenley on Tuesday night.

An anti-Semitic comment was made on a text chat by an attendee who posted “BURN THE JEWS” to the astonishment of those watching the meeting.

The alleged person who made derogatory comments was kicked off the virtual gathering.

“Any report to police will be taken seriously and dealt with sensitively,” noted a Hertsmere police spokesman.

Community Security Trust have been informed and are also assisting.

“This is an absolutely shocking image that says so much about Jew-hatred today, how it spreads in new ways, but is still so old and brutal,” noted Mark Gardener, CST. Parish Council Chair William Susman noted, “We take pride in Shenley being a friendly, welcoming and inclusive community. I was shocked when the meeting was interrupted by this vile individual spouting such religious and anti-Semitic hatred. Ironically, this came after the

meeting was opened by Reverend Daniel McCarthy who addressed the community with a message of peace and loving kindness called on us to treat others as we would like to be treated ourselves.” He added, “This type of hate crime will simply not be tolerated and has no place in Shenley, or frankly anywhere in the world. It has been reported to the Police, the CST and Zoom, who I am sure will track down the individual concerned and bring them to justice. Our clerk was quickly able to eject this awful person from the meeting room and disable the chat function, whereby our

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meeting was able to successfully continue.”

Borough Councillor, Natalie Susman, commented, “These abhorrent actions of this vile and ignorant individual have no place anywhere, let alone in Shenley. We are a quiet village, proud to be part of Hertsmere with one of the largest Jewish populations in the UK. To shout out interrupting the meeting and print “BURN THE JEWS” is calculating and malicious.” She added, “This is an event that has shocked all of the community, Jews and others. I think that even the non-Jewish members of the community, many for whom this may be their first encounter with anti-Semitism are in disbelief. We will be working with official channels to ensure that this individual is identified and dealt with accordingly.”

Hertsmere has 60 percent of the Jewish population of Hertfordshire living within it, it also has one of the highest growing Jewish populations in the country.

Figures are rising and the 2021 Census will reflect this statistic.

Hertsmere Borough Council leader, Maurice Bright, was viewing the meeting.

“We see incidents, fairly rare, of anti-Semitic incident postings and graffiti in the area,” he said. “They always shock, it’s always saddening and serves to be a regular reminder that we must always remain vigilant for those who try and split what is a happy place to live. It was immediately reported to the police and we will not be deflected from making Hertsmere a place where all people from all backgrounds and religions can live together in a collegiate way.”

Cllr Bright had not seen a similar anti-Semitic incident before in a virtual online meeting.

“To see “BURN THE JEWS” spring up and hear someone in the background being offensive was a shock,” he noted. “Cowards paint signs and run off, this was someone who chose to behave in an offensive way. We have to remain vigilant and call out this behaviour when we see it from all levels whether that be the police or local authority.”

Shenley United Jewish Community minister, Rabbi Alan Garber, commented, “I’m shocked by the incident especially as we have such strong inter faith programmess and connections in the Shenley community.”

A referendum for a draft Shenley Neighbourhood Plan was passed and will go to Referendum in May. To assist the enquiry: herts.police.uk/report, herts.police.uk/contact or telephone 101 quoting crime reference 41/19051/21.

Individuals are 100% anonymous at Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 or www. crimestoppers-uk.org

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The Zionist Central Council has adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of Antisemitism.

The ZCC formally agreed after noting 34 democratic countries, including Israel, UK Government, Labour Party, councils and universities had adopted the IHRA definition without amendment or revision.

“The ZCC has not heard any good reason why any organisations, particularly in the Jewish community, should not adopt

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IHRA, and we therefore encourage its undiluted adoption,” they noted in a statement. ZCC added, “If the Jewish community, in fighting the oldest, and all forms of, racism, won’t adopt the IHRA definition, why should anyone else?”

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WHAT’S INSIDE THIS WEEK 02 News 20 Opinion 22 Games 23 Supplement 48 Community

54 Features 56 Judaism 64 Kids 66 Youth 68 Sport

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18 MARCH 2021

Bibi UAE trip cancelled but $10 billion investment declared

BY SIMCHA ABIR Prime Minister Netanyahu’s trip to the UAE was postponed but the two nations have announced a billion-dollar investment deal.

A diplomatic dispute involving Jordan ended Netanyahu’s first official visit to the UAE as the plane sent by the Gulf state for Israel’s leader was not authorised to take off in Jordan. By the time authorities approved the flight, Netanyahu’s schedule was dashed due to other commitments.

Netanyahu, however, acclaimed future

prospects between the countries after discussions with UAE’s Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed.

A visit would soon take place, noted Netanyahu, the two countries would also “promote a ‘Green Pass’ mechanism” and most importantly, he added, the UAE were planning to invest a “gigantic sum of $10 billion in various projects” in Israel.

Bilateral trade between Israel and the UAE is expected to increase from $300,000 to $500 million annually according to Foreign Policy.

Netanyahu had been due to meet UAE

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed at the international airport briefly, but, according to Israel’s leader, “difficulties in coordinating flights was due to an incident at the Temple Mount”.

Bicom reported a mishap over Jordanian Crown Prince Hussein’s visit to the holy sight. Israeli reports it was cancelled due to the Crown Prince’s security delegation at the border being larger and more heavily armed than agreed was rebuffed by the Jordanians.

“We had reached arrangements for visits with the Israeli side,” an official reportedly

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noted. “We were surprised when they sought to impose new arrangements and change the plan for the visit in a manner which would have distressed Jerusalemites during that night of worship. As such, the Crown Prince decided that he would not impose that upon Muslims or disturb the purity of that night.”

Bicom stressed that this was the fourth time Netanyahu had cancelled a trip to the UAE following the signing of the Abraham Accords last year.

Crown Prince Hussein has yet to visit Israel.

Defence Minister Benny Gantz and Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi have bolstered relations with the Jordanians.

Gantz accused Netanyahu over the diplomatic incident as Israel are “committed to agreements with the Jordanians” and has great respect for the government and King Abdullah.

He added, “Jordan is Israel’s strategic partner. The defence and diplomatic ties we share are a cornerstone of our national security approach. Unfortunately, Netanyahu’s conduct in recent years has done significant damage to our relations with Jordan, causing Israel to lose considerable defensive, diplomatic and economic assets.”

Prior to the UAE trip neither nation formally confirmed what would have been a landmark trip for Netanyahu, whose trip last month was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

There were also concerns with next week’s election on the horizon.

Neither El Al, Israir or Arkia were scheduled for the visit.

Israel established relations with the UAE and Bahrain last September in the US-brokered deal.

IDF develops “Iron Sting”mortar system

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Israel’s Defence Ministry has completed development of a new guided mortar system.

The ‘Iron Sting’ system, using GPS and laser technology, provides an enhanced level of precision and minimises the risk to civilians that will be beneficial in crowded urban areas.

Defence Minister Benny Gantz said the system “changes the battlefield” and provides forces with “accurate and effective” means.

Col. Assaf Shatzkin, head of the land systems department in the ministry’s research division, added that the system would help the army combat Hamas and Hezbollah as it can strike short-range targets with precision of a few meters.

“With this precise mortar shell, it can be more focused on the enemy, without collateral damage to those that are not relevant to the fighting.” he reportedly noted.

The system could be active in a few months, he added.

The IDF is battling Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip and training for a possible conflict with Hezbollah. Israel blames Hamas for civilian casualties as terrorists launch from residential neighbourhoods.

18 MARCH 2021

Kosovo embassy opens in Jerusalem

BY SIMCHA ABIR Kosovo has opened an official embassy in Jerusalem.

They are the first European country and Muslim-majority nation to establish an embassy in Israel’s capital city following the United States and Guatemala.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora announces that the Kosovo Embassy in the State of Israel, with headquarters in Jerusalem, officially has been opened,” noted a statement. Ratification of diplomatic ties came in Israel last month and at a Kosovo-Serbia summit.

Israel became the 117th country to recognise Kosovo as an independent and sovereign state at a virtual ceremony. Foreign Ministers Gabi Ashkenazi and Meliza Haradinaj-Stubll signed a landmark accord at the Israeli Foreign Ministry with Ben Gurion Airport shut due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“This is an opportunity to strengthen the relationship with the Kosovar people,” noted Ashkenazi. Haradinaj-Stublla described the ceremony as a “new chapter” for both countries.

Former Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti met Serb President Aleksandar Vucic at the White House last September to initiate the agreement. Former US President Donald Trump brokered the accord. “Setting of the plaques and the state flag at the Kosovo Embassy in Israel reflects the Government of Kosovo’s commitment to comply with the pledge for establishing the diplomatic mission to Jerusalem,” noted a statement.

Trump said at the time, “After a violent and tragic history and years of failed negotiations, my administration proposed a new way of bridging the divide. By focusing on job creation and economic growth, the two countries were able to reach a major breakthrough.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu added, “Kosovo will be the first majority-Muslim country to open an embassy in Jerusalem. The circle of peace and recognition of Israel is widening and is expected to add additional countries.”

The European Union warned Serbia and Kosovo they could undermine EU membership hopes.

Kosovan Prime Minister elect Albin Kurti was in a difficult diplomatic position before taking the helm as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Kosovo the embassy move could potentially damage relations between the countries.

Kurti reportedly said, “The place where the embassy will be located is to be considered following checking of the documentation of the outgoing government.”

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Arnie stands for Salford City Mayor Salford Conservatives have seManchester, he has lived in lected Councillor Arnie SaunSalford for 30 years. A rabbi by ders to be their candidate in the profession, he served as senior election for City Mayor of Salford minister at a local Synagogue. He in May. also served as Jewish Chaplain to Cllr Saunders was one of the HM Forces. first to breach the so called “red Arnie works part time as Chapwall” when he won Kersal for the lain to the Newlands Care Home Tories in a by election in March in Salford and has huge expe2017. He was re-elected with an rience in helping people with Cllr Rabbi Saunders increased majority in 2019. problems. His wife, Myrella, is a Arnie describes himself as a “caring cap- primary school teacher in Salford. italist “who understands the concerns of Arnie’s first experience of a council chamordinary people”. Born and bred in Greater ber was in 1971 when he was presented

with a trophy for winning the former Prestwich Council’s annual school cycling competition.

If elected, he will focus on “jabs and jobs” helping to continue the roll out of jabs and exploiting post Brexit and post pandemic opportunities to bring jobs, trade and business to Salford. He will also work to protect Salford’s ‘Green Belt’, improve Salford’s street scene, reduce crime, improve public transport and keep Council Tax as low as possible.

Arnie sits on the Local Government Association Community Wellbeing Board at national level. He stood at the last general election as candidate for Worsley and Eccles South and turned the constituency into a marginal seat.

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18 MARCH 2021

Board calls on communities to back Census

BY SIMCHA ABIR The Board of Deputies has called on Jewish communities to take part in 2021 Census Day on Sunday.

The Board dedicated its latest BoDCast series to the Census. A panel, comprising Office of National Statistics’ Peter Benton, Institute of Jewish Policy Research’s Dr Jon Boyd and Charedi educator/ blogger Eli Spitzer spoke about a need to tick the ‘Jewish’ box under the religion question.

Board of Deputies President Marie van der Zyl reminded viewers it was a “legal requirement to complete the census”, adding, “It is a communal obligation to tick the ‘Jewish’ box, in order for local authorities and charities to understand the services which we all need”.

Benton reflected on the Census as a 220-year-old institution. “All of our local services are planned on the basis of cenBoyd added, “By ticking that box, you sus information,” he noted. “If you’re not count yourself in and include yourself in counted, your needs can’t be seen, wheth- the research that is done by the communier it’s for healthcare or education or school ty and about the community.” places or housing.”

Spitzer noted, “It is so important to raise Boyd outlined the importance of data awareness of the need for members of the census provides for community plan- the Charedi Jewish community to engage ning around synagogues, schools, care with the census, complete the census and homes and cemeteries. “Stand up and be also to do it properly by ticking the Jewish proud,” he said. “Fundamentally, we need question.” to takePAGE Jewish life seriously.” added HALF ADVERT JAN 2020:Layout 1 09/01/2020Spitzer 16:04 Page 1 that the starting point for

distribution of funding for community needs was based on census data, so there was a risk of the Charedi community missing out if people did not complete the form for every individual.

Spitzer outlined obstacles in terms of Charedi participation, a lack of access to the internet in Charedi homes and the paper form has space for five household members, far fewer than membership of many families.

Boyd said data showed the British Charedi community was “roughly doubling in size every 20 years” due to high fertility rates with good national healthcare provision.

Benton said the Office for National Statistics had set up assisted digital centres to help those who could not get online and had taken on 300 local community engagement managers and community advisers.

This included Hackney and Haringey’s Carole Sandground to support the Stamford Hill community.

Asked about concerns surrounding census’ data security, Benton reassured viewers.

On a question of whether this was the last national census, Benton said that there would be a full review in 2023 about whether comparable data could be gathered before deciding on whether or not to hold another census in 2031.

Boyd noted that previous censuses in 2001 and 2011 had been the “most extraordinary gift” to this community and the envy to Jewish communities around the world.

Census Day is on Sunday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, the Census has been delayed until 20 March 2022.

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Israel, Czech Republic and Hungary in COVID-19 talks

BY ADAM MOSES Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a trilateral summit with Czech Republic Prime Minister Andrej Babis and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on COVID-19 vaccines in Jerusalem.

Speaking at a press conference in Jerusalem, Netanyahu noted there were collaborations in research, development and production of vaccines for the deadly virus.

Netanyahu praised his guests for assisting on the international stage. “In the spirt of that friendship, they came here to Jerusalem to see how we can cooperate on covid,” he said.

Discussions included involving the Czechs and Hungary in an international plant in Israel for the production of vaccines of the future.

“There is interest in cooperating on this,” noted Israel’s leader. “This creates a capability for our countries that is I think more significant when we do it together. We are better together.”

Heads of government and officials discussed the fight against coronavirus

Viktor Orban

PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA

including an exit strategy, reducing regulation between countries and the ‘green’ passport.

Orbán praised Israel on its vaccination campaign, describing Israel as a ‘role model’, adding that his country had ‘good ideas’ regarding the green passport.

“We are presenting domestic options for

Andrej Babis

PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA

the green passport and are about to join the global initiative,” he reportedly said.

Babis said Israel could rely on the Czech Republic as a friend. He also was inspired by the vaccination campaign.

Babis took the opportunity to criticise the International Criminal Court’s decision to investigate alleged war crimes by Israel against the Palestinians.

“We think it is intolerable, the Czech Republic does not recognise Palestine as a state, it is a political ruling,” Babis reportedly said. “The court should stop being selective. We will not forgive anything that will endanger the State of Israel, which is the only democracy in the region.”

Netanyahu confirmed Israel would help other countries regarding the pandemic and especially with vaccine surpluses once all citizens had received its inoculations.

“I promise we will do whatever we can,” he reportedly said. “We live in an age of pandemics and we do not know if this will continue, so we need to organise ourselves against these possibilities,” He added, “We

must become a seller and not just a buyer, become a producer. Together we can do it.

Unfortunately, it will take two years, but we will be able to not only provide vaccines to our own population, but also to others.”

Health Minister Yuli Edelstein, Foreign Minister Gaby Ashkenazi, Health Ministry Director General Prof. Chezy Levy, National Economic Council head Professor Avi Simhon and National Security Council deputy head Eitan Ben-David attended.

Israel Ambassador to Hungary, Yaakov Hadas, Israel Ambassador to Czech Republic, Daniel Meron, and Hungarian Ambassador to Israel, Levente Benko, also attended.

Netanyahu and Babis also delivered a joint statement after the Czech Republic officially opened its mission in Jerusalem, flouting EU’s policy not to recognise the city as Israel’s capital.

Orban, Ashkenazi and other dignitaries from both countries attended the ceremony.

Hungary opened its mission in 2019, the first in the European Union, going against EU rules.

Netanyahu thanked the two leaders for support in opening diplomatic missions in Jerusalem.

Netanyahu was present as his first official trip to the United Arab Emirates was cancelled after Jordan blocked travel in its airspace.

Responding to a question, Netanyahu reportedly commented, “My visit to the UAE was not possible due to misunderstanding and difficulties in coordinating our flights that stemmed from an incident that happened yesterday on the Temple Mount.

It took us several good hours to straighten things out with Jordan. We could have flown, I can fly over Jordan, but until this coordination was achieved, the visit was not possible.”

Netanyahu added that he had spoked with UAE leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed and they agreed a visit should take place soon, movement on the green passport between Israel and UAE should take place and the UAE was investing $10 billion in projects.

Prof. Simhon has spoken with UAE’s leader about projects.

“This is another way of jumping our economy forward,” Netanyahu noted.

Jewish heads appeal after JFS student death Headteachers of 10 Jewish schools have written a joint letter to pupils and parents following the devastating death of a JFS Year 10 female student last week.

JCoSS, Hasmonean Boys and Girls School, King David in Manchester, Immanuel College, Yavneh Schools and JFS were among schools to offer condolences to the bereaved family and the JFS community.

The heads made a direct appeal to parents regarding ‘social media activities’.

A letter noted, “Please make sure that you are talking to your children about their online/social media activities, making sure there is nothing ‘hidden’ on their phone, using parental controls, checking their phones regularly, keeping their phones out of bedrooms and in public spaces wherever possible.”

JFS headteacher Rachel Fink wrote to

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parents and pupils last Friday, noting, “It is never easy to share this type of news and wanted you to be aware in order that you can support your children over the weekend should they wish to talk about this with you.” She added, “Some students in school, particularly friends will be finding this news very difficult. Other students, not just close friends, may find this very upsetting. I appreciate that there are likely to be many feelings and many questions, even more so because of all our recent experiences during the pandemic.”

Ms Fink asked children to attend school this week. JFS is working with the Emergency Response Initiative Consortium to provide support to students and staff.

She noted, “There will be people to talk to or a quiet space to sit if it feels too much to be in class.”

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ZAKA co-founder resigns over abuse allegations

BY ADAM MOSES In one of Israel’s biggest scandals in decades ZAKA co-founder Yehuda Meshi-Zahav has resigned after a plethora of sexual abuse allegations came to light just two weeks after he received a prestigious Israel prize.

Accusations date back to the 1980s. According to Channel 12 News, Meshi-Zahav will defend himself by claiming all relations were consensual.

The latest allegations came after Haaretz newspaper published an article last week regarding six alleged sexual abuse charges, from men and women, some minors at the time. A further dozen testimonies have emerged however it is unclear how many are under the statute of limitations.

Lahav 433 serious crimes unit confirmed investigations alongside a review of a 2010 sexual harassment claim. The case was dropped due to a lack of evidence.

The chair of the emergency response organisation last month won a ‘life achievement’ accolade. He has relinquished it until the “cloud has been removed” he told Zaka volunteers.

Reports of Meshi-Zahav’s national success resulted in accusations online and in media outlets.

It has since come to light the State Prosecutor dropped allegations against Meshi-Zahav in 2013 despite evidence.

National Fraud Investigations Unit investigators were looking into alleged financial irregularities at Zaka when sexual allegations in Rehovot’s ultra-Orthodox community surfaced against Meshi-Zahav.

Investigators closed the case when alleged victims refused to testify.

Alleged crimes have reportedly been known to the Charedi community in Jerusalem.

We always saw him with women and suspected that he was a deviant, but we never suspected he was a pedophile or a rapist,” a Zaka official reportedly said. “In retrospect, this (the allegations) explains a lot of things we saw over the years.” The volunteers especially feel very hurt,” he continued. “They are the ones doing the work, but now they feel ashamed to be associated with ZAKA. Yehuda has hurt thousands of volunteers. People see ZAKA vehicles and think of if (the organisation) as something awful,” he said.

According to reports, one alleged victim claimed that Meshi-Zahav threatened that if he told anybody, two Zaka jeeps would run them over.

Following the expose last week, Meshi-Zahav sent a letter to ZAKA volunteers confirming he was stepping aside and would hand back his prestigious accolade.

He noted, “An entire organisation that has broken down walls and built bridges,

Yehuda Meshi-Zahav

PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA

and has taught love and understanding between sectors and communities stands on its merit. And me, what am I? All in all, I am a faithful messenger of these volunteers, men and women, from different ethnic communities and religions, ZAKA volunteers, who carry out their sacred work and are so dear to me. Out of concern for the holy organisation that I built with my two hands and a deep recognition of its essential nature for the fabric of society in our country, I draw the obvious conclusion from this great storm, even when these stories are unfounded, gossip and the settling of scores against me. Firstly, I need an enormous amount of mental

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strength for this struggle and look with anguish at the damage that may be caused as a result to this important organization, its activities and 4,000 dedicated volunteers.

“As a first step, I request to relinquish the honour that has been bestowed upon me by the decision to award me the Israel Prize in a sign of recognition for the activities of the organization and for the activities of every single volunteer. Secondly, the situation in which I find myself, requires me to take time out from my responsibilities as chairman until the cloud has been removed.”

ZAKA also issued a statement.

They noted, “The management of the ZAKA Search and Rescue organisation, its members and volunteers received with shock and astonishment the testimonies allegedly related to its chairman Yehuda Meshi-Zahav that were published Thursday by Haaretz. The organisation’s management has confidence in the official investigative authorities who will examine in the most professional way those matters that require investigation.

The Jewish Weekly follows halachic guidance on the laws of Lashan Harah. Articles like the one above are published to warn the Kehilla of the dangers that exist in society, in particular to protect vulnerable adults and children.

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Tribute evening for Dayan Refson zt”l

BY DAVID SAFFER Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis led moving accolades in a tribute evening and Sefer Torah completion in memory of Dayan Yehuda Refson.

Rabbonim and Leeds Jewish community members joined distinguished speakers including Dayan Menachem Gelley and members of Dayan Refson’s family in recalling his life in a Zoom conference attended by over 400 people.

It is apt a Sefer Torah is being completed because Dayan Refson was a “living Sefer Torah”, noted the Chief Rabbi. “He was the very embodiment of the finest values of our authentic Torah tradition.” He added, “Thanks to his teaching, guidance and inspiration in the Leeds Jewish community and well beyond so many people have been able to go along a Jewish journey of accomplishment and success.”

Chief Rabbi Mirvis described Dayan Refson as a man of “incredible good heart, good nature, a mensch and a lovely person to be in the presence of.” He continued, “He sanctified the name of G-d through everything he taught and did throughout his life.”

Noting five elements of his life and teachings, the Chief Rabbi highlighted Dayan Refson’s deep knowledge, humble nature, love of his community, upkeep of authentic Torah Judaism and family life.

For the Jewish community of Leeds which he served from the late 1970s his loss is immeasurable.

Members of the community and family members paid tribute to Dayan Refson in a moving film. His daughter, Soro Jaffe, offered an emotional and respectful tribute to her late father.

“You passed away as you left, a true Chassid and a Torah driven Jew,” she said.

“Everything my father did was a vehicle to yiddishkite, his daily life was totally given over to mitzvahs,” Soro recalled, noting that even an exercise bike had a contraption on to rest his holy books.

“These small things left an indelible impression on us, as children and as adults, but looking back he never spoke about it or imposed his customs on us but led by example,” she recalled. “He was so passionate and dedicated to fulfilling the Torah and its mitzvah’s, its minhagim and customs. Every mitzvah was a scene, each custom was an experience, an exciting event.”

Soro added, “He was completely absorbed by Torah and full of its knowledge, yet never preached it, he led by example, by being a Sefer Torah.”

Recalling words of the Rebbe on the first yahrzeit of his wife in 1989 that one

Rabbi Yeremi Angyalfi pays tribue to Dayan Refson

A Sefer Torah is completed in honour of Dayan Refson Dayan Yehuda Refson zt”l

PHOTO: CHABAD

Members of the community and family members paid tribute to Dayan Refson in a moving film. His daughter, Soro Jaffe, offered an emotional and respctful tribute to her late father. of the most special things to cause the elevation of a departed soul was writing a Sefer Torah, Soro concluded that it was “most fitting that a Sefer Torah be written to replace the ‘living one’ that was taken from us”.

Rabbi Yeremi Angyalfi worked with Dayan Refson from 1976 until Purim last year.

“There are so many people in Leeds who feel so bereft from every part of the community,” he said. “When you had something to discuss, an issue, something

important, his response would always be to sit and think. He thought deeply about everything, he was deliberate, and he would listen, and he had this amazing ability to drill down to the depths of what you were talking about and found a way to express with you what to do in a practical way. I found this remarkable.”

Rabbi Angyalfi added, “So many people find exactly the same thing, and that is not by mistake, there are not that many Rabbonim in the world where you can come to and get that sort of mentorship.”

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Rabbi Angyalfi concluded, “He was a Shaliach and Chassid of the Rebbe.”

Leeds synagogues Beth Hamidrash Hagadol, Etz Chaim and the United Hebrew Congregation together with Chabad Lubavitch sponsored the Zoom event on the first yahrzeit of Dayan Refson’s passing.

Dr Jonathan Straight chaired the tribute attended by over 400 people.

The Jewish Weekly editor Yossi Saunders was well aware of Dayan Refson’s attributes from his days working as a chazan and Jewish family educator in Leeds. a few years ago.

“Dayan Refson was humble and approachable,” Yossi recalled. “In meetings, he was softly spoken and always had attention to detail. Dayan Refson was very in-depth in terms of his knowledge but also cracked jokes and had a wry smile.

He will be remembered fondly but sorely missed.”

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18 MARCH 2021

Archaeologists discover new fragments of Dead Sea Scrolls

Coins from the Bar Kochva period

Part of the Book of the Twelve Minor Prophets scroll

BY DAVID SAFFER Archaeologists have uncovered fragments of the famed Dead Sea Scrolls in caves of the Judean Desert.

The parchments, written in Greek, were discovered where Jewish refugees hid 1900 years ago. Rare coins bearing Jewish symbols such as a harp were also found along with a 6,000-year-old mummified skeleton of a child and large basket dating back 10,500 years, probably the oldest in the world.

Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) made the historic discovery following a complex operation.

The Ministry of Jerusalem Affairs and Heritage have funded the national project since 2017. Research is set to continue for future generations.

The momentous finds from the Second Temple Period corroborate Jewish heritage of the region.

The National Parks Authority prohibits entrance to the cave due to risk of accident.

Since the scrolls were discovered over 70 years ago, antiquities raiders have targeted the desert caves.

“The aim of this national initiative is to rescue these rare and important heritage assets from the robbers’ clutches,” noted IAA’s director Israel Hasson. “The newly discovered scroll fragments are a wakeup call to the state. Resources must be allocated for the completion of this historically important operation. We must ensure that we recover

PHOTO: ORIT KUSLANSKY ROSENGARTEN, ISRAEL ANTIQUITIES AUTHORITY

all the data that has not yet been discovered in the caves, before the robbers do. Some things are beyond value.”

Hasson added, “The desert team showed exceptional courage, dedication and devotion to purpose, rappelling down to caves located between heaven and earth, digging and sifting through them, enduring thick and suffocating dust, and returning with gifts of immeasurable worth for mankind.”

Avi Cohen, Ministry of Jerusalem and Heritage director general, commented, “It is very exciting to see these finds and expose them to the public, finds which shed great light on our history. These finds are not just important to our own cultural heritage, but to that of the entire world. The ministry will continue to be part of the project, in order to complete the mapping of the caves that contain similar finds. The continued project includes the combination of extraordinary professionals and advanced technologies, and we are proud of this unique cooperation, which we applaud”.

Raz Frohlich, Ministry of Sports and Culture, CEO added, “This is a historic discovery, on an international level at this time.

Alongside progress and technology, we are reminded of the rich historical heritage of the Jewish people.”

Hananya Hizmi, Civil Administration in Judea and Samaria, noted, “This is definitely an exciting moment, as we present and reveal to the public an important and significant piece in the history and culture of the

PHOTO: DAFNA GAZIT, ISRAEL ANTIQUITIES AUTHORITY

“This is definitely an exciting moment, as we present and reveal to the public an important and significant piece in the history and culture of the Land of Israel.”

Land of Israel. In as early as the late 1940s, we became aware of the cultural heritage remains of the ancient population of the Land of Israel with the first discoveries of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Now, in this national operation, which continues the work of previous projects, new finds and evidence have been discovered and unearthed that shed even more light on the different periods and cultures of the region. The finds attest to a rich, diverse and complex way of life, as well as to the harsh climatic conditions that prevailed in the region hundreds and thousands of years ago.”

The Dead Sea Scrolls include the earliest known copies of the Biblical Books. Considered the most important archaeological discovery of the 20th century, scroll fragments bear verses from the books of the prophets Zechariah and Nachum.

Since the operation began in October 2017, teams led by Oriah Amichai, Hagay Hamer and Haim Cohen have surveyed 80 km of the caves. The survey, which included zoological and botanical aspects, sheds light on the Judean Desert caves.

Fragments of the scroll of the Book of the Twelve Minor Prophets was written by different scribes.

Conservation and study of the fragments, conducted by Tanya Bitler, Dr Oren Ableman and Beatriz Riestra of the Dead Sea Scrolls Unit at the IAA, allowed for reconstruction of 11 lines of text, partially preserving Greek

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translation of Zechariah 8:16–17. Also identified, on another fragment, are verses from Nahum 1:5–6.

Comparing text in newly discovered fragments to text known from other versions of the text, including verses known in the Masoretic text, differences are notable, some surprising. Differences explain biblical text up to the days of the Bar-Kokhba Revolt. Another aspect is despite most of the text being in Greek, G-d appears in ancient Hebrew script, known from times of the First Temple in Jerusalem.

The mummified skeleton was wrapped in cloth in a fetal position. Prehistorian Ronit Lupu of the IAA noted the skeleton and cloth wrapping were “remarkably well preserved”.

Because of climatic conditions skin, tendons and hair were partially preserved. A preliminary study of a CT scan suggested a child aged 6-12 years old.

The Nofei Prat pre-military leadership academy discovered the basket in Muraba‘at Caves in the Nahal Darga Reserve. The basket dates to the Pre-Pottery Neolithic period.

The skeleton and basket were dated using C14, by Prof Elisabetta Boaretto of the Scientific Archaeology Unit of the Weizmann Institute of Science. The study of the skeleton is being led by Lupu and Dr Hila May from Tel Aviv University.

Research of the basket is being headed by Dr Naama Sukenik and Dr Ianir Milevski of the IAA.

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Israel passes 6,000 COVID-19 deaths

BY DAVID SAFFER Over 6,000 Israelis have died of COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic a year ago.

To date there are 6,047 fatalities which is tragic, however Israel continues to receive global recognition of its vaccine campaign and there is a declining trend in victims to the deadly virus.

October 2020 was the worst month of the pandemic with 956 fatalities. There have been 272 deaths since the beginning of March.

Health Ministry data illustrated the lowest rates of positive tests since December.

But with the latest lockdown easing there had been a slight increase in coronavirus patients.

The Health Ministry advised that the R or reproduction number is presently 0.78.

Prof. Eran Segal, an advisor to the coronavirus committee noted on Twitter that

Israel is seeing a drop in the R number whilst health officials announced lifting restrictions for residential facilities.

Under new regulations, guests must be fully vaccinated, recovered from COVID-19 or under 16.

Some 27 municipalities are still defined as ‘red’ denoting a high infection area, 171 municipalities were ‘yellow’ and 1,031 as ‘green’. Just over three percent of Israelis live in ‘red’ areas.

According to data, 586 Israelis are hospitalised in serious condition and 208 on ventilators.

Jerusalem has the most active cases with 4,722 patients battling the virus. Tel Aviv-Jaffa has 1,309 patients, Netanya 1,027, Be’er Sheva 1,018 and Ashkelon 819.

To date over 55% of Israelis have received a first dose of the vaccine, 46.5% the second booster.

Reports this week noted that Israel had invested NIS 2.6 billion for 15 million

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coronavirus vaccines.

The state is expected to spend NIS 2.5 billion for vaccines required this summer.

The green pass issued to Israelis with both vaccine doses or having recovered is valid for six months.

Health Minister Yuli Edelstein reportedly said, “The positive public response to the vaccine drive and its effect on reducing morbidity also allows us to alleviate, albeit only slightly, visitation restrictions for those residing in health and welfare facilities.”

With cases and hospitalisations falling, Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv announced earlier this week it was closing its last active coronavirus ward. Ichilov serves Tel Aviv and its metropolitan area.

Israel’s cabinet has also renewed night field trips for youth movements in open areas for grades 11 and 12 and post-secondary boarding schools where 90% of pupils are vaccinated.

Coronavirus czar, Prof. Nachman Ash, reportedly said that herd immunity would be achieved when seven million citizens were vaccinated. This would include children.

“I hope that will happen in the summer, we are waiting for the results of Pfizer’s research on the subject,” he reportedly noted.

The Cabinet, meantime, has reopened Israel airspace. Airports will be restricted to a daily quota of 3,000 entries, social distancing rules and tests will be applicable at the airport.

But Israel’s Supreme Court has ruled against the daily restriction as it had violated a “basic constitutional right to enter and exit Israel, and others rights at the core of the democratic fabric of life”, the court reportedly noted.

The government justified restrictions over mutated variants.

A court statement reportedly explained, “The restrictions were set without the government having any data about the number of citizens abroad who want to return to the country, there was no explanation why the daily cap was set at 3,000, and the impression created is that instead of investing efforts and resources in enforcing quarantine the government preferred to impose a regime of entry quotas, which is more simple to implement but infringes much more on basic rights.” The court added, “This conclusion is magnified by the fact that Israel is the only democratic country in the world where citizens have been so sweepingly limited in entering their country. The threat of the coronavirus and its different variants isn’t expected to disappear in the foreseeable future, despite the success of the vaccination drive.

The ruling noted that the government

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must develop a solution that “better balances the threat of variants versus the violation of basic civil rights”. It added that restrictions were an “assault on the very heart of the legal right to enter Israel and to leave it, and other rights that are at the heart of the fabric of life in democratic societies”. It concluded, “In the future, any new restrictions on travel into or out of Israel need, in legal terms, a comprehensive, factual, data-based foundation.”

In related news, wearing masks in public spaces is mandatory despite the vaccination campaign.

Health Ministry Director General Prof.

Hezi Levi noted that this measure was necessary as the vaccine was unavailable to children and teens under 16 years of age.

“A vaccinated person can also be a source (of coronavirus infections) if those around them are without a mask and are not inoculated,” Levi reportedly said. “This goes doubly for children under 16 who are certainly not yet vaccinated. That is why we’re not thinking currently about abolishing the mask mandate.”

Levi added that whilst he was encouraged by recent data, the ministry was monitoring the situation to prevent the spread of the virus.

Meanwhile, according to a Coronavirus National Information and Knowledge Center report, the recent fall in the (R) number indicated the pandemic in Israel was declining.

“The vaccination campaign is starting to bear fruit,” the report noted. “The number of verified cases is in a steady decline and the number of patients in critical condition is also decreasing slowly.”

As infections were still widespread there was no room for complacency, the report added.

A study by Hadassah Medical Center researchers at in Jerusalem, meantime, has revealed that women vaccinated during pregnancy pass Covid antibodies to their babies.

“Our findings highlight that vaccination of pregnant women may provide maternal and neonatal protection from SARS-CoV-2 infection,” researchers reportedly wrote.

The study is the largest of its kind to date but small. Only 20 women and their babies were screened. Researches accept further research is needed to evaluate the effect of vaccination at different stages of pregnancy alongside efficacy of other vaccines.

Another recent small study by Tel Aviv University and Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv found that coronavirus antibodies was in the milk of mothers vaccinated against coronavirus.

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Election 2021 News Exclusively covering the election for The Jewish Weekly is weekly columnist JAMES MARLOW with his report, news briefs and final polling before the election, according to the Israeli survey poll companies.

James has been covering Israeli Elections since the eighties and has extensive knowledge of the many Parties, Candidates, Proportional Representation system and analysing coalition agreements. In addition James gives intriguing insights into

Israel’s fourth election in 2 years on Sky News, LBC Radio and many online events, including for the Zionist Federation, Ner Yisrael, Glasgow Friends of Israel and United Synagogue using Zoom.

The Marlow Report The Jewish Weekly went to press before the final polls were released on Friday morning (19 March), however they have generally been consistent these past few weeks with Likud leading with between 27 to 30 seats.

Its nearest rival, Yesh Atid led by Yair Lapid is holding steady with 19 to 20 seats.

Next comes Naftali Bennett’s Yamina party with 11 to 13 seats. Former Likud MK, Gideon Sa’ar who vowed to topple Netanyahu as Prime Minister with his party, New Hope, continues to plummet in all surveys.

When Sa’ar first declared his independence from Netanyahu earlier this year, the polls suggested he would receive a massive 21 seats, which is quite consistent when any new party suddenly emerges on the scene.

But after a week or two, reality sinks in and the Israeli voter begins to consider, “Maybe this new party is not the answer to all my professional and personal problems”, and they end up (sometimes) returning to the party they originally voted for.

New Hope is now currently polling at just 9 seats and political commentators are asking, what was it that Sa’ar did, that went so wrong?

Firstly, Gideon Sa’ar hired four Republican strategic political consultants from the United States. They founded the well-funded Lincoln Project in 2019 to convince “moderate” Republicans to vote for Joe Biden instead of Donald Trump last November.

In other words, the Republican political strategists were anti-Donald Trump and they used some of the most vicious tools available, to topple the 45th President.

The political strategists referred to Donald Trump as the “enemy within” and its political strategists really got under the skin of Donald Trump. Gideon Sa’ar believed they would be perfect for his campaign

against Netanyahu and he hired them.

However questions over its finances and sexual harassment allegations against its founder, rocked the Lincoln Project. As the scandals kept coming, Sa’ar hesitated as to what to do, despite his poll numbers falling, before he finally fired them last month.

New Hope is a right wing party, but does not appear to have any real new policies which are different from the Likud. Except the goal of getting rid of Netanyahu and applying Israeli sovereignty over the Jewish communities of Judea and Samaria.

Which by way, Netanyahu also wants, but postponed the “annexation” for 3 years, in favour of peace and trade deals with the UAE and Bahrain.

In contrast, Naftali Bennett, who also wishes to see the end of Netanyahu, articulated a plan to get Israel back to work after the “corona crisis”. He wrote a book about Covid and how to deal with it. Bennett in his many interviews also speaks about social and economic policies, especially referring to the high cost of living for many in Israel, who are on low wages.

Whether Bennett can do something about everyday high prices in Israel, remains to be seen. But those who previously told pollsters they would vote for Sa’ar, have now switched to Bennett, which explains why Yamina is third in the polls.

If the pollsters are correct, New Hope will only receive 9 to 10 seats and this will be seen as a huge failure for Sa’ar who did not even land one good punch on Netanyahu. Except the initial shock of breaking away from the Likud with 3 or 4 Likud MKs, and initially polling to win 21 seats in an election.

The other interesting observation from the polls is that the Likud has generally, been consistent with its amount of seats expected. The two right wing parties of Bennett and Sa’ar have really been taking votes off each other. In order to have a serious chance of toppling the Likud, (similar to what Labour did back in 1992), Bennett and Sa’ar must take 8 to 10 seats away from the Likud. But neither of them have found the correct strategy to do this. What’s clear

is that the anti-Bibi campaign, simply doesn’t work.

It is well known that Binyamin Netanyahu has 3 indictments against him and the trial will commence after the election. But if the polls are to be believed, and they generally are correct, with the exception of the undecided 20% of voters, more Israelis will vote for the Likud led by Netanyahu, than any other party.

The Israel Democracy Institute survey found that 1 in 3 Israeli Arabs want Netanyahu to remain as Prime Minister. Although the survey also showed that 52% of Jewish voters did not want him to remain.

Nevertheless, the Likud have a strong 10 seat lead and that is unlikely to disappear before next Tuesday. Therefore this election is NOT about who can become Prime Minister and form the next government.

It’s about the anti-Netanyahu camp doing whatever they can do, to stop Bibi from forming a government and remaining Prime Minister. In other words, it’s about whether we go to a fifth election, just after Succot, or not.

The anti-Netanyahu campaign is strong.

It has the powerful media behind it. Public broadcaster Kan seen on channel 11 and independent news channels 12 and 13 want Netanyahu to “go home”.

The two most famous news websites in Israel; Walla and Ynet are anti-Netanyahu.

The Jerusalem Post, Times of Israel, Maariv and Yediot are anti-Netanyahu. Yet his polls numbers are not being dented that much. Do you have any idea how frustrating and annoying this to the anti-Bibi camp who just want him gone?

Netanyahu is a magician when it comes to general elections and he relishes political campaigns. If he is not on the streets meeting people, he is making videos, tweeting, and all the time turning his guns on his two main right wing opponents, Yamina and New Hope and of course his closest rival, Yesh Atid.

The slogan - if you vote for Bennett or Sa’ar, you will get a left wing Yair Lapid for Prime Minister, which scares many, on the right. In addition, Netanyahu has been

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courting the Arab vote and just like in 2015, 2019 and 2020, many more Israeli Arabs vote Likud, than they vote for Labor.

In response Yair Lapid is wooing left wing voters from Blue and White, Labour and Meretz. These small parties will barely make it over the minimum threshold of 4 seats, but Lapid is calling for their voters to ditch those parties and switch to his faction, so he can catch up with the Likud.

But the basic arithmetic is quite simple.

If Lapid has any chance of forming a left wing government, he will need those 3 parties to reach the required number of 61 seats or more.

The same applies to the Likud. Netanyahu is likely to take votes from Yamina and New Hope, because Netanyahu manages to take votes from Bennett’s party at every election campaign. But Bennett is probably Netanyahu’s only hope of forming a new government, as Sa’ar has repeatedly said, he will never sit with Netanyahu.

So this election is about whether Netanyahu can form a government of 61 seats or more with Shas, UTJ, Religious Zionists and Naftali Bennett’s Yamina party. Or we go to a fifth election, as Bennett and Sa’ar are unable to make that number without the left wing parties and Lapid will not have the support of Bennett or Sa’ar.

Now do you understand why we keep going to elections?

ELIGIBLE VOTERS According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, there are some 6 million eligible voters who can cast a ballot for the 24th Knesset on Tuesday. Some 13% of eligible voters are aged between 18 to 24 years old.

29% are aged between 25 to 39 years old.

32% are aged between 40 to 59 years old.

Israelis over the age of 60 years, comprise of 26%.

78% of eligible voters who live in Israel are Jewish of which 11% are chareidi orthodox. Around 17% of eligible voters are Arab, including Muslims, Christians and Druze. And 5% are Christians who do not define themselves as Arab or they have no religious affiliations.

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ELECTION NEWS BRIEFS:

IMPORTANT DATES: March 23 Election Day

• Netanyahu tells Ayala Hasson of Channel 13 News that there will NOT be a fifth election citing polls that say Likud support is firm while Yamina and New Hope support is fading away. Netanyahu also ruled out a rotation government with Naftali Bennett.

March 30 Final results presented to President April 06 Deadline for President to choose candidate to form government May 18 Deadline for first candidate to build coalition June 15 Deadline for second candidate to form coalition

A chunk of the money will go to two different kinds of Corona voting stations – for those who have Corona and those who are in isolation. In addition, Israel is spending 17 million shekels just to clean polling stations on Election Day due to Covid 19.

• Labor joins Meretz in saying it will back Yair Lapid to become the next Prime Minister.

• I n a change of direction of strategy, Yair Lapid of Yesh Atid is now targeting Blue and White, Labour and Meretz voters.

• Blue and White leader Benny Gantz says he will support anyone able to prove they have enough support to form a coalition without Netanyahu.

• Mansour Abbas who heads the Arab Ra’am party says he is leaving the door open to cooperate with the anti-Netanyahu bloc. He had previously stated that he would be prepared to work with Netanyahu, as long as he is able to establish reforms that will benefit Arab Israelis in exchange.

July 6 Failing the above, deadline for any MK to form government

• Despite the polls showing Gideon Sa’ar and his New Hope party falling to just 9 seats in three polls this week, Sa’ar claims he can still be Prime Minister.

October 5 Date of next election if no government is formed

• The budget approved for the election due to Corona will be 675 million shekels, up from 392 million last year.

• Netanyahu made a commitment in a video that his goal is to establish a broad right wing coalition without a premiership rotation and certainly without Yair Lapid.

ISRAEL VOTES 2021 JAMES MARLOW compiles the FINAL poll of polls based on leading Israeli pollsters for the news networks and newspapers.

In total, 39 parties have registered to run for the twenty-fourth Knesset. If a party receives less than 3.25% of

votes, which is equivalent to less than 4 seats, all of those votes are discarded.

James has taken the average number of seats predicted for that party and each party thereafter and the results are as follows.

NAME OF PARTY

HEADED BY

SEATS IN MARCH 2020

CURRENT POLLING

LIKUD

Binyamin Netanyahu

36

29

YESH ATID

Yair Lapid

Broke from Blue & White (33)

20

YAMINA

Naftali Bennett

5

12

NEW HOPE

Gideon Sa’ar

NEW PARTY

10

JOINT LIST (Arab Parties) Hadash, Balad, Ta’al

Ayman Odeh

15

8

SHAS

Aryeh Deri

8

8

YISRAEL BEITENU

Avigdor Lieberman

7

7

UNITED TORAH JUDAISM

Moshe Gafni

7

7

LABOR

Merav Michaeli

1

6

RELIGIOUS ZIONISTS – OTZMA YEHUDIT – NOAM

Betzalel Smotrich (3 Parties)

RZ broke away from Jewish Home

5

BLUE AND WHITE

Benny Gantz

33

4

RA’AM (Arab)

Mansour Abbas

Break away from Joint List

4

MERETZ

Nitzan Horowitz

5

0

NEW ECONOMY PARTY

Yarom Zelekha

NEW PARTY

0

TOTAL NUMBER OF KNESSET SEATS

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120

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OPINION

The opinions on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of this Newspaper

Israel slowly opens up but Covid continues to kill OPINION PIECE

BY JAMES J MARLOW The Israeli government has approved a further easing of Corona virus restrictions on employers and employees, as Covid infection levels continue to drop, due to the rise in vaccinations. Work place gymnasiums, sit-in restaurants and bars and attending professional conferences, are among some of the restrictions lifted this week.

Israelis who have found themselves stranded abroad for the past few weeks or in some cases, months, are now on their way back to Israel and will be in time to vote in next Tuesday’s general election.

But amongst the celebration of Israeli success, another double Corona virus tragedy occurred this week. Shuruq Jubran, a 23-year-old woman from the Arab Israeli town of Jisr az-Zarqa in the north, died last Monday due to complications from the coronavirus, three weeks after giving birth.

She had been treated at the Hillel Yaffe Medical Center in Hadera, since giving birth to her first child.

Shuruq contracted COVID-19 at the end of her pregnancy and was not able to see her daughter after the delivery. The baby, however, was said to be in good condition.

Just 10 days earlier, her sister, 31-year-old Amna Kahwaji, died under nearly identical

circumstances, after giving birth to her first child a week earlier, several weeks after contracting the coronavirus. Both women were not vaccinated for Covid.

Mu’awiya Kabha, who leads the Health Ministry’s outreach to Arab communities, told Channel 12 news that the tragic deaths were devastating reminders of how important it is for all pregnant women to get vaccinated.

Army Radio reported Tuesday that another mother had lost her unborn twins due to the coronavirus. She was said to be hospitalized in moderate condition, and had apparently not been vaccinated.

The report on Army Radio said that 40 pregnant women are currently hospitalized due to complications of the virus, none of whom are vaccinated.

The head of the public health services in the health ministry Dr Sharon Elroy-Price says the Corona virus pandemic is not behind us and the infection is still a danger in Israel. Speaking on Kan radio, she said about 80% of the people hospitalised with Corona virus are not vaccinated.

According to health ministry data released as of last Tuesday morning, Israel had 27,040 active cases of the coronavirus, with 602 people in serious condition, 211 or them on ventilators.

The death toll stood at 6,037. The country’s vaccination campaign has so far seen about 5.2 million citizens receive at least one dose

the next stage will be to allow foreign tourists into the country from so called approved countries.

of a COVID vaccine, with around 4.3 million also receiving the second shot. Israel has a population of about 9.3 million people.

Those Israelis who have received both shots have to present their “Green Pass” document, in line with government “purple badge” regulations to gain entry to most venues, as video emerges of life getting back to normal, begins to take shape.

But there is still a number of Israelis who refuse to take the vaccine citing all kinds of danger. They are extremely vocal on social media about how their human rights have being removed, because they cannot gain entry to venues or leave the country.

Israel has so far paid 2.6 billion shekels for the Corona virus vaccines, according to a treasury representative, during deliberations at a Knesset Finance Committee meeting.

The message is quite simple. Take the vaccine along with the second shot and receive a Green Pass. Israel is particular worried about the British variant of mutations reaching the country, but Pesach for Israelis will be the big test.

If the rate of infection in Israel remains low after Pesach, the next stage will be to allow foreign tourists into the country from so called approved countries.

James Marlow is a broadcast commentator and communications trainer Facebook: James Jeremy Marlow Twitter: @James_J_Marlow

The work of faith communities is not just for the now, but here to stay OPINION PIECE

BY LEONIE LEWIS MBE As a committed Jewish woman, I have been engaged in the faith sector both professionally and voluntarily for over 25 years. I am particularly motivated by how collaboration leads to respect and understanding.

Our world has been turned upside down in the last 12 months since the start of lockdown, but the pandemic has also demonstrated the value of the faith sector to Government, charities and more importantly the needs of the general public.

Faith groups, including places of worship have provided food to ameliorate food poverty, activities to comfort the elderly, isolated and lonely, delivered shopping and medicines to their members which has amounted to countless volunteering hours making people’s lives and instilling hope in many of us.

The current roll out of the vaccine has

also given many of us hope that we may be able to visit and hug our loved ones soon.

In a report by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) found that 72% of BAME communities were unlikely/very unlikely to get the vaccine.

In my capacity as Trustee of Faiths Forum for London and a Charity and Community Consultant, I am currently working to promote the COVID-19 vaccination to hard to reach groups and have collaborated with Vaxi Taxi, a programme led by Dr. Sharon Raymond which helps patients access

temporary clinics set up in faith and community centres across London, along with Faiths Forum for London.

When the faith sector partners with the NHS, and the local authority collaborates in a true trusting relationship the result is that many more people coming forward for vaccinations.

In the London Borough of Hackney, the Chassidic and Charedi Jewish community recently collaborated with the local authority,the NHS and other agencies in the Borough and this helped maximize the rollout

The relationship between faith communities and local authorities must be enhanced in order for communities to have an active role in decision making and strategic planning THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

in the local community but most importantly recognised the value of maintaining and developing the relationship going forward.

What I want people to take away is that the faith sector is possibly the most trusted sector by the most vulnerable people and it needs confidence to demonstrate this, sadly many still don’t understand its influence and its offering.

The relationship between faith communities and local authorities must be enhanced in order for communities to have an active role in decision making and strategic planning beyond the vaccine roll out and COVID-19. The work of faith communities is not just for the now, but here to stay.

Leonie Lewis, is a leading charity and community consultant and is Vice Chair of the Faiths forum for London, Vice President of the United Synagogue, and Advisor to the Children’s Aid Committee.

Leonie is an assessor for the Queens Award for voluntary Service Assessment Committee.

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We cannot negotiate with people who say ‘what’s mine is mine and what’s yours is negotiable.’

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Bridge With Harold Schogger

Dealer: North EW Vul

JFKennedy, 1961

OPINION PIECE

BY JAQCQUELINE CURZON The Panelbase poll for The Sunday Times found only 25 percent of Scots supported holding a referendum in the next year.

Some 30 per cent said they would support a referendum in the next 2-5 years, while 45 per cent agreed with the statement “there should not be another Scottish independence referendum in the next few years’’. Polls are generally trending away from both the SNP and Sturgeon, with signs appearing in Glasgow, calling for her to resign.

Even party diehards are speaking out against her, with the party’s ex -deputy leader Jim Sillars warning, ‘Nicola Sturgeon must be replaced as SNP leader before the Holyrood election.’ The Nationalist veteran (83) insisted he will not vote for the party on May 6. He called for Ms Sturgeon to be unseated as he slammed the SNP’s ‘toxic tentacles,’ adding ‘there needs to be a revolt and a change in leadership, a real sweeping change.’ For a political party which has held onto the reins of power practically unopposed for 14 years, it is easy to see how they could be perceived as a banana republic, where absolute control is open to abuse.

The Nationalists refuse to accept and sort out their biggest issues, such as homelessness, poverty, healthcare and education, instead marching determinedly on with their fixation on Independence.

Official Scottish Government reports tell us life expectancy is actually declining in 40 percent of Scotland’s local authorities, statistics indicate Scottish homeless people are three times more likely to die than those in the rest of the UK. Westminster is not responsible for these failings, only the First Minister can be held accountable.

Scotland offers more benefits and subsidies, like free personal care introduced by Labour and the Liberal Democrats, than are available to those south of the border, yet Scots face greater health care risks than others in the UK, despite devolved initiatives like free prescriptions, dental treatment and free eye tests.

Never mind the recent £20k pay rise to her obliging Chief of Staff, Liz Lloyd, who has just hit the headlines with claims that she meddled in the Salmond enquiry, two months before the FM claimed she was aware of the investigation. David Davis MP invoked parliamentary privilege to flag up this apparent contradiction. It is inconceivable that this could have been

sanctioned without FM knowledge or approval.

It is in the realms of finance and the economy that Scots should really worry, for this is where they demonstrate incompetence on an epic scale. Brian Monteith, editor of ThinkScotland.org, reports that economic failures, too many to include here, are likely to bring her down, but readers might read elsewhere about the nationalisation of Prestwick Airport, following which the Scottish Government spent millions on an airport with no flights; the administration of Burntisland Fabrication (BiFab yard); the £200+ million contract to (SNP supporter Jim McColl’s) Ferguson Marine to build windowless ferries. Last year, they purchased a shipyard which had no orders – except for those that drove it to bankruptcy, and have underwritten the Lochaber smelter, with a potential £600 million charge to the Scottish taxpayer.

To allow this last venture to go ahead, the SNP Government provided a 25-year guarantee of 80% of the value of a power supply contract between the smelter and the power plant, worth around £575m.

Sturgeon’s Government loaned the Indian steel tycoon Sanjeev Gupta [GFG Alliance] millions to buy the Clydebank and Dalzell steel plants, despite concerns over his financial stability. The Scottish Government claims to have demonstrated due diligence, but the loan has never been repaid, with the taxpayer still being on the hook. If Gupta’s firm were now to default and the Scottish Government guarantee be called in, the losses would come out of the UK Government-funded Scottish capital budget, which are used primarily to build hospitals and schools.

Is it any wonder that healthcare and education are struggling?

What have the SNP actually done for Scotland? They introduced a smacking ban, a Hate Speech Law, and focused on Independence and rejoining the EU. The voters need to sharpen their pencils before reaching the polling booth, and seriously consider Sturgeon’s track record.

In her own constituency - Glasgow Southside - the new Labour leader Anas Sarwar is standing against her. It matters not if she wins, it is about having an alternative candidate which counts, although if Sarwar flags up even half of this fiscal mess, she may find woes anew. The expression ‘give them a noose…’ springs to mind. If Ms Sturgeon were to think her world was spinning after her recent run in with Alex Salmond, her nightmare has only begun.

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When South pulled his partner’s penalty double, North placed him with good spades and shortness in hearts and so bid the slam in spades when choosing clubs as the trump suit, would have resulted in an easier slam to play.

West led the king of hearts and shifted to a devilish ten of clubs, achieving what he hoped – to cut declarer’s direct communication with that imposing club suit.

However, the declarer found a neat counter.

As the auction suggested that West had at least nine tricks in his own hand, marking him with at

Chess Checkmate in four moves.

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least eight hearts, it was likely that West had at most one trump. So declarer cashed the ace of trumps and played on clubs. This left East with no answer for no matter whenever he chose to ruff a club declarer would overruff and return to dummy with the ten of trumps to enjoy enough clubs to dispose of his remaining diamond losers.

The chance of success in adopting this line was a little less than 50% while a 2-2 trump break was about half the chance of a 1-3 trump break.

18 MARCH 2021

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Beaverbrooks legacy

In an in-depth interview, The Jewish Weekly’s David Saffer caught up with Beaverbrooks Chairman Mark Adlestone, to hear how the award winning family jewellers have coped during COVID-19.

BY DAVID SAFFER The Beaverbrooks story began in 1919 when Isaac, Harry and Maurice Adlestone moved to Belfast to pursue a dream of selling fine jewellry and gifts. The multi award-winning company has played a part in customers’ weddings, anniversaries, birthdays and simchas galore.

Beaverbrooks has seen it all, that is until the 2020 pandemic.

In a frank interview, Mark Adlestone Chairman since 2012, discusses how the century-old business has responded to three lockdowns, the furlough system, rent negotiations and more. His thoughts are illuminating andrevealing but above all else heart-felt.

Awarded an OBE and The Sunday Times ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’, Mark’s vast experience has been key to leading the renowned family business through a historic period in history.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the first of three lockdowns on March 23rd 2020. It’s a date etched in Mark’s memory.

“I was in denial, I didn’t believe what was actually happening, I also believed it was a massive overreaction and to some extent still believe that to have been the case,” he recalled. “I’m not a Covid denier, far from it, I’ve seen first-hand the devastation at Heathlands Village where we lost 24 residents, how damaging and devastating the disease has been for certain people. My question is about proportionality, who do we protect, at what cost and also what does that cost mean to the rest of the community who had not been at risk but had other ailments. I remember talking to my Managing Director, Hannah Blackburn, I said that I can’t fight against mass hysteria because that’s what I felt it was.”

Beaverbrooks closed its doors as the country fell silent and four days later its online business closed.

“We didn’t feel our warehouse could operate safely and within Covid guidance rulings,” Mark recalled. “Actually, we were driven by a different imperative because

of what we were hearing from the government. And if you look at the different lockdowns, it’s interesting to reflect on the mood.

“The first lockdown was devastating, it was a case of do nothing, stay at home. If you go out for a run it needs to be within a certain vicinity from your own home and should be for a certain period of time. The only exception was for essential work reasons. Because we were termed ‘non-essential retail’, initially we had a mindset that we should not be thinking of operating. But we quickly realised we were at odds with other organisations who were sailing on through the lockdown operating online businesses or operating from stores doing the equivalent of virtual selling or selling by phone. So, we had a rethink and realised that rather than asking are we essential, we should be asking a different question, ‘Are we Covid safe, can we make our warehouse Covid compliant?’ Once we asked ourselves that question we started thinking differently about the operation.”

Nineteen days after shutting its online operation on March 27th, Beaverbrooks reopened it.

“We brought in senior management to operate the system to see what it felt like, were we comfortable bringing fellow workers back as it was super safe,” Mark recalled. “We came in on the Thursday and they came back on the Tuesday.

Some colleagues were very nervous but we demonstrated how safe everything was. They were not sure how the business would be and whether people would buy online but we got off to a steady start and quickly got back up to the figures we were doing the previous year online.

We exceeded the figures as this was the only way people could buy jewellery or watches.”

Buoyed by early success, Mark reflected on the Conservative government’s support which came in quickly and was timely.

He recalled, “There were three levels of support but in that first week we had

no idea what it was going to look like. thought, okay we can survive that. There It was only when we started thinking was December to come. We traded well about trading that we started to feel a lot online in November which included Black more optimistic. At the same time, we Friday weekend. That was very successgot clarity on the support the governful even though shops were not ment was offering in terms of furlough open. We were down, but not money, the job retention scheme, in as much as we thought and terms of not having to pay business then came December. rates and to a lesser extent, but “Business was really still importantly, additional grants strong, there was a reoffered to our stores not operating. bound from customers The combinations of these things who had not been able helped significantly. to shop in store, and as “We started trading again in our it turned out, it was front stores in June 2020. We’d been speakloaded to the beginning ing to colleagues who had experience of December. of retail in Germany. Football restarted in Germany before the UK, so did retail, and we’d heard stories they were doing around 40% of pre-lockdown figures. So, our best estimates were 40% in stores, we anticipated it being really tough. Because we were unsure how customers would react we made stores super Covid friendly.

There was the issue of how customers would feel.

Would they come out, what would it be like in terms of queues, getting into shopping centres and customers wearing PPE, we didn’t have any answers. But very quickly we were doing good business, more than 40% of the previous year’s figures, eventually we did similar which was incredible. As the summer months went on it was good solid business.

“We didn’t see the second lockdown coming last November but it was only going to Mark Adlestone, Beaverbrooks Chairman be a four-week lockdown, so we

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again, to streamline more. During the year we had an opportunity to purchase three Rolex agencies. Unfortunately, the pandemic will be devastating for some businesses, when that happens it creates opportunities and we are in a strong position to take advantage as and when they arrive.”

During the height of the pandemic, Beaverbrooks furloughed 900 of its 950 workforce, 700 are presently furloughed.

Regarding rents of stores discussions with landlords were very different.

Mark recalled, “With every landlord we engaged in conversations and negotiations. My position for the first lockdown was that we should share the pain equally because we were paying for something they were not providing. We could not

The Beaverbrooks Story 1919 Isaac, Harry & Maurice Adlestone move to Belfast to pursue business dream

We often say the festive season is coming later and later, this time it was the opposite, customers shopped early. I thought December was going to be unbelievable but it did slow a bit. Looking back, people shopped early because they were fearful of shopping centres being too busy, they didn’t want to be out there when it was super busy.”

The UK entered its third lockdown in the build-up to the festive period. Beaverbrooks closed its stores between December 19th and January 5th. Stores will reopen April 12th.

Mark recalled, “We have a shop in Belfast and I remember hearing Northern Ireland was not going to reopen Boxing Day and would remain closed for six weeks. I thought, you have to be kidding me. As it turned out they were right.

“Our online business was very strong, which helped and 19 of our 72 stores were operational doing virtual appointments, click and collect and customer queries over the phone. That was really successful.

Other stores closed apart from a couple of days in January when customers did click and collect.”

Beaverbrooks ended its financial accounting year last month. Results have been revealing.

“Because of our online business we traded well when open,” noted Mark. “We’ve surprisingly had a decent year. From the depths of despair at the beginning of the first lockdown, I’m more relaxed but we could not have done it without the support of the government.”

Looking ahead, are you positive about the future in terms of trading when the current lockdown ends?

Mark noted, “I’m very positive, I’ve read there is in excess of £180 billion in savings not spent because of people not going to pubs, restaurants, holidays and shops.

There is a pent-up demand and we expect to do strong business after the lockdown.

We are really optimistic. It’s been a crazy year, people want a semblance of normality. We believe they will want to treat themselves or loved ones.”

Evaluating the past 12 months, has this been the biggest challenge of your business career?

“For sure, we’d have to go back to the Second World War for a comparable challenge,” Mark noted. “We have become masters of closing down and opening up again. There has never been anything like it. The Second World War was more extreme as there was not that level of government support available so shops had to close. We are fighting Covid, somehow it feels different. There is quantitative easing and rates of interest are low, that’s why I feel confident. But, the year we have just been through as a business has been the most challenging we have faced in my lifetime.”

Has COVID-19 made Beaverbooks stronger as an organisation?

“It’s a really interesting question, it’s counter intuitive but in a way, I would say yes,” Mark noted. “We have worked really hard communicating with colleagues. We have been closed six of the last 12 months and colleagues have been at home on furlough. For many it’s been a nightmare, for others amazing, they have had time with family. But it’s been a nightmare particularly for people working from home, homeschooling children and having tight deadlines to meet. The administration team at our head office in St Annes have been working from home and it’s really challenging. If you take payroll as an example, they’ve had to work on furlough, which is complicated, particularly flexi-furlough, it’s incredibly useful for us as a business but to administer has been a nightmare for colleagues.”

He added, “Culturally we are stronger because we reached out all the time to our people. We paid 100% of salaries, made

sure they did not have money worries.

Many have partners or family working for companies and there are comparable stories of a lack of communication, support, the ‘not knowing’. Compared to us there was an extraordinary difference. This year demonstrated how important it is to work for a company that cares for its staff as we do. And there is a residual feeling they want to repay us because of the way we looked after them. Our team really want to be successful. There was definitely an element of that between June and November and we will feel it again.”

Mark continued, “The past year gave us an opportunity to look at the business

Mark Adlestone 1979 Joins Beaverbrooks the Jewellers 1990 Beaverbrooks Joint Managing Director

1920 The Adlestone brothers open first shop in Belfast 1920s Adlestone brothers open stores in North of England 1935 Beaverbrooks name appears. Named after Lord Beaverbrook 1940 Head Office moves from Manchester to St. Annes where it remains 1945 After World War Two only six of 14 shops survive 1948 Percy and Sydney Brown join the business 1950 Gerald Adlestone, Isaac’s son, joins the business 1969 Beaverbrooks celebrates 50th anniversary 1979 Mark Adelstone joins the company, becoming a director in 1984 1990 Mark Adelstone and Andrew Brown became joint Managing Directors

2000 Beaverbrooks Managing Director

2000 Mark Adelstone appointed Managing Director

2008 Sunday Times ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ (Multi winner ‘Leadership’ category).

2001 Beaverbrooks launched first website and opens 50th store in Oxford

2009 The FED (Manchester) Chairman

2012 Mark Adelstone appointed Chairman

2012 Beaverbrooks Chairman

2018 Anna Blackburn joins board of directors and appointed Managing Director

2015 Awarded OBE by HM The Queen 2017 Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester 2019: High Sheriff of Greater Manchester Other (includes) Eshel UK Friends of Colel Chabad Hon Life President, Jewish Leadership Council, National Association of Jewellers, Withington Girls’ School governor A lifelong Blackpool F.C. supporter, Mark enjoys sport, music and theatre.

Married to Gabrielle, they have three daughters, Tara, Chloe and Libby

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Beaverbrooks has 72 UK stores, 950 employees and donates 20% of net profit annually The Charitable Trust has donated over £15 million to more than 400 charities Accolades include: Sunday Times Top 100 ‘Best Companies to Work For’ HM Government Payroll Giving ‘Platinum Award’ UK Jewellery Awards ‘Employer of the Year’

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access our stores. Some landlords went with that, some didn’t, some shut down, some gave us 25%, some engaged in discussions with an ability to extend leases, others haven’t engaged at all which is extraordinary.”

Beaverbrooks took advantage of a payment holiday that proved helpful for cash flow regarding its VAT bill in March 2020. A delay in rates also proved advantageous to the business.

Are you happy with how the government handled the pandemic and how do you look back on the decisions made by the Prime Minister?

“Regarding the financial side of things, 10/10, the government has been unbelievable,” Mark said. “In terms of the concept of the lockdowns, the about-faces, the changing of opinion, following the science, I’d have done that differently. There are plenty of examples around the world where lockdowns have been less intense and results have been fine. I’d have locked down international air travel earlier. If we had done that at the beginning we would not have imported as much of the virus as was the case. And I would have applied a different balance. Certain people at risk needed to isolate but under 50s without underlying conditions, let them get on with it.”

Mark caught COVID-19 last March as he ended his term as High Sheriff for Greater Manchester.

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“I was meeting everybody you can imagine so could have caught it in any number of places,” he recalled. “Many in our team also caught it but thankfully they are relatively young, fit and healthy, and nobody, myself included, has been really poorly with it.”

Beaverbrooks has come through the pandemic and experienced a very low turnover rate of staff, but Mark empathizes with small businesses, particularly hotel, hospitality, night clubs and restaurant industries.

“It’s awful, they have done great work making themselves Covid secure but were forced to close down,” he noted. “They and the self-employed have not benefited from the furlough scheme as we have. I feel very sorry for them.”

Beaverbrooks did not have a specific pandemic plan but have had insurance in place for consequences that could affect a business since 2007.

“Therein lays a legal argument,” noted Mark, who was unable to be too specific.

“Essentially, we took out significant additional insurance cover. It’s an interesting one. We have taken legal advice because the insurance seems to fit the criteria for this type of eventuality. It could roll on for months.”

Mark, aside from his commitments at Beaverbrooks, is a lifelong Blackpool FC supporter. Communal and charitable causes though are a mainstay in his life.

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As High Sheriff of Greater Manchester and Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Mark has benefited the Jewish Leadership Council, Eshel UK Friends of Colel, Chabad and The FED, overseeing its merger with Heathlands Village in Manchester.

“I’ve built up a great team around me, they allow me to look at the business from a more objective perspective,” he noted.

“I spend 60% of my time on Beaverbrooks and 40% on community work. I split my time between the Jewish and non-Jewish world.”

Mark is set to chair the Representative Council of Greater Manchester in May and is currently chair of the Jewish Strategic Group which was formed at the beginning of the pandemic. Jewish organisations work with local authorities, the police, Crown Prosecution Service and local MPs. “The strategic group was something good that came out of something bad in Covid,” he noted. “Every six weeks we come together on a Zoom conference. It’s a one-stop shop, anything Jewish comes to this group and it’s working unbelievably.”

Mark will soon chair The Mustard Tree which deals with homelessness. He works with African and Caribbean Mental Health Services and Triple C, which deals with disability in Arts.

Back to Beaverbrooks and legacy is close to Mark’s heart.

Who will be there to free the most vulnerable members of our community from loneliness this Pesach?

“I’m acutely aware we started off as a family business and often think about what it will look like in the future, to what extent I can influence it going forward,” he explained. “There are key areas, if possible, to almost set in stone. How we treat our colleagues is critical. How we treat our customers, the experience they get, we never want that to be compromised. How we treat our suppliers, how we negotiate with them, to what extent do we work in partnership with them, that relationship is critical. Finally, our connection to community.

“The big question is how? ‘The Beaverbrooks Way’ is a manifestation, an articulation of the values we have in the business.

We have a purpose to enrich the lives of our colleagues, customers, suppliers and communities. And I’m looking to ‘future proof’ that as a legacy. It’s a family business, my middle daughter, Chloe, has joined, she is fourth generation and very keen. I’m a family member but if everybody who joins the business realises that the key to this business is based on our four values that is how a legacy can continue.

“Having said that, Beaverbrooks gives me a platform to be able do all the things I want to do through the charitable trust and I have no intention of going anywhere. But there will come a time and I’m really keen that the business is protected. There is no plan to float or sell the business, we will protect it going forward.”

“I’m so grateful to the Social Work Team for connecting mum with the tea parties over Zoom. It’s the highlight of her month, her face lights up when she sees her friends online”.

Laurence, Myrtle’s son and her full-time carer

JEWISH CARE WILL, BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP Loneliness doesn’t go away, the forced isolation that Covid-19 has caused has made it so much worse.

Myrtle is just just one of over 1,200 people our Social Work and Community Support Team care for every week, a service which is completely reliant on the generosity of our community.

So please make a gift to ensure we can free more people from loneliness this Pesach and beyond.

To make your gift, please call 020 8922 2600, or visit jewishcare.org/donate Charity Reg No. 802559

JW Pesach 158x265mm v1.indd 1

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Older people like Anna are in crisis.

She has no idea when she will get a vaccine. No idea when she will be able to leave her home again.

You can help us provide support and care for Anna and thousands more vulnerable older Jewish people.

DONATE NOW www.worldjewishrelief.org/pesach

Registered charity no. 290767

don’t forget me And don’t forget to leave a gift to World Jewish Relief in your Will

You can help end Jewish poverty For more information about leaving a gift in your Will, or about our Free Will service, please contact Richard Budden

richardb@worldjewishrelief.org

020 8736 1250

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Kosher Deli improvises to beat Covid-19 Like kosher delicatessens, butchers and restaurants across the UK, the past 12 months has been tough. Improvisation and versatility have been key to coming through the coronavirus pandemic. Kosher Deli’s Marketing Executive Penina Muyal talks us through the methods they used.

BY DAVID SAFFER Kosher Deli provides affordable quality kosher meat with the convenience of multiple locations.

The UK’s largest kosher butcher and delicatessen has stores in Golders Green, Temple Fortune, Hendon, Edgware, Borehamwood and Manchester.

Kosher Deli offers ready-made meals in store with a delivery service all over the UK. A comprehensive range of chicken, beef, lamb, turkey, veal and duck is available pre-packed in store or by order and can be cut to specification through the butchery service.

Kosher Deli has 150 staff and prides itself on the highest level of Kashrut. They are licensed under Mehadrin, London Board of Shechita, United Synagogue and Sefardi Kashrut Authority.

How did Kosher Deli go about setting up the operation when the initial lockdown was announced for March 23rd 2020?

“At the beginning of Covid with panic buying, customers bought every single thing that went into the shops, often before items hit the shelf”, recalled managing director, Jana Klein. “Once they saw we really were not going to run out of stock, things settled down and buying patterns returned to normal.” She added, “The government probably didn’t react quite as fast as they might have, they always seemed to be a step or two behind but I think they’ve made up for it now by an excellent vaccination programme.

They introduced excellent schemes to help businesses but some businesses unfortunately will not make it through this time. We made use of some of the government schemes, for example, furlough at the beginning. When staff caught Covid in the shops, we had the whole team isolate for the required 10 days while bringing in staff from other shops to fill the vacuum.

We supported our staff throughout their time off and a gradual return to work.

Our area manager Jack Bendahan was on top of quick decisions that needed to be

Kosher Deli’s northern headquarters

time, the floor is clearly labelled where customers can stand, all staff wear masks at all times and customers are asked to wear masks and follow guidelines in store.”

Kosher Deli’s Penina Muyal

made and followed NHS Test and Trace instructions.”

Marketing Executive Penina Muyal noted, “I would not call it luck but it was fortunate in a sense that it was just before Pesach, which is a busy time for us. The first steps were to ensure staff in the factory and shops were safe. We followed government guidelines but there were customers isolating or too scared to go out to the shops. Our order line became extremely busy as we did a lot more deliveries than normal. We had to improvise, we set up a ‘click and collect’ service so customers would not have to go into a shop. Customers could book online or pay over the phone and shop staff in PPE would bring bags to a customers’ car. It made a huge difference, customers were comfortable and happy that they were being taken care of and we were taking it seriously.”

Regarding social distancing measures, Penina noted, “We allow a maximum number of customers in the shops at one

What other issues arose in the business?

“At the same time as we were having our Covid challenges, Europe was going through lockdowns as well and we were inundated with orders from Europe. We had to make sure we had enough stock both for our export orders and home market. We thankfully have the most modern slaughter house in Europe which is owned by us so we were more than able to keep up with the stock demands. Then came the uncertainty of Brexit and there was an interruption in export due to the lack of direction from the government as to all the different paperwork needed in order to export. We faced many challenges but we worked hard as a family and thankfully came through.”

What were the biggest challenges over

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PHOTO: SAMUEL BENDAHAN

the 12 months?

“In terms of the business, our main concern was that we would have enough stock to cover us through the panic buying and the upcoming Peach season,” noted Jana. “We also supply some of the other butchers and we made sure it was a priority for them to have their full stock of goods and were not put at a disadvantage by just stocking our own shops.”

She added, “When people started panic buying, we couldn’t keep product on the shelves. We are lucky that we have our own poultry slaughterhouse so within a couple of days we had three times as many chickens as we usually have and our beef slaughterhouse just kept sending us lorries of beef.”

Penina commented, “We lost business on the wholesale side because schools, caterers, hotels, shuls and restaurants closed. We had to up our retail sales so put a lot of effort into the marketing side and especially social media. Straight after Pesach, we put a lot of effort into WhatsApp deals. To get a deal you had to be on a group, go in store and get the

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deal. These deals and groups have been extremely popular.

“I run our Instagram and Facebook accounts. We came up with a Kommunity Kook Up around October and featured a product every month. The first month we selected five Instagram accounts, sent out the featured product and they created a dish which we featured on Instagram. It was an overnight success. After the first month there were so many people who wanted to join. We were fully booked with people to participate with featured products. We then combined a WhatsApp deal with the Kook Up. Each month, for one week on the Kook Up group, we featured product as a WhatsApp special deal.

Members of the group could purchase the product and try it at home.”

How did the Kommunity Kook Up come about?

“We had customers coming in asking how do I cook this or make that,” recalled Penina. “We discovered that people tended to use the same repertoire of recipes over and over again. We wanted to change that up and have had amazing feedback, customers have been really happy. All the recipes are on our Instagram page and website. It’s really nice working with the community. You don’t have to be a top chef to join, anyone can join and it’s been really special.”

She added, “With the Kook Up, I’d like to collate the recipes, we are part of the community, it’s what keeps us going and we want be part of that all the time.

Different types of people participated in the Kook Up and social media has been a huge hit. We started with around 180 followers, now we have over 1,750 but we have grown organically. You can join groups to get an extra 50 followers a day but we decided not to do anything like that, people heard about us, came to us and enjoyed our pages.”

Approaching Pesach again, how is Kosher Deli set up?

“We have prepared a lovely menu that customers can order their food ready cooked as well as our regular cooked food selection,” noted Jana.

“In terms of fresh product, we have everything we usually have in plenty of supply and we know that most people are not travelling so we have taken that into account when making our orders,” Albert Bendahan, CEO, added. “Our sales are in the hands of Hash-m. Only He knows if they will be better or worse than last year, but I can tell you, they will be the sales we were decreed to get”.

Looking ahead, how do you see the future?

“We support the community in many ways, having good and constant supply, keeping prices down, working closely with charities like Jewish Care, Keren Shabbos and our soup kitchen in Golders Green gives out almost 1,000 meals a week and surplus items, all for free,’ noted Jana.” In terms of business trends, she observed, “We have found that customers

It has been an achievement that we want to continue on an upward trend.”

The Kosher Deli story dates back to 1936 when Fritz Frohwein came to London from Germany where he had trained as a master butcher and opened Frohweins on Finchley Road. Fritz’s son James took it over and it grew into farms, a slaughterhouse, butcher shop and even dog food with the waste. His son in law, Albert Bendahan, the current CEO, took over in 1990. Within a few years the business had an east London factory in Bow, three shops and partners in the slaughterhouse.

Around 2000, the factory was moved to Cricklewood, north London. In 2007, the Kosher Deli brand was launched with two shops. The Edgware shop was switched to Kosher Deli, Hendon opened in 2010, Borehamwood in 2016 and Manchester three years later. The same year, just before Pesach, a state-of-the-art factory opened in Luton.

Mouth-watering hotdogs available from the hotdog stand in the Temple Fortune branch

a great outing for kids as well as a quick lunch for local businesses as there aren’t many options for kosher cooked-on-thespot lunches and dinners.”

She added, “I am very positive overall.

It’s a family business, we put in everything to make sure customers are happy and get the service they deserve. To have gotten through Covid we must be grateful to G-d.

Kosher Deli’s meals to go

are buying more, less often. I can’t see the future but we have learned more about our capabilities which we are putting to good use with a number of projects and opportunities we are working on.”

Kosher Deli has added to its regular certification by working hard with Rabbi Berger to gain Mehadrin certification.

“This decision has opened up markets in the ultra-orthodox communities such as Stamford Hill, Manchester and Antwerp. We are able to do this at extremely competitive prices, Penina noted.

“We are concentrating on the retail and export side of the business whilst we are waiting for the rest of the trade to open in the coming months with schools opening, restaurants and eventually weddings. As part of our innovations, Kosher Deli has launched a hot dog stand in its Temple Fortune branch. There are four options and they have been a huge hit. We offer customers another food option while they are getting things for the week or for Shabbat. It’s an easy dinner option,

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Full details of the kashrut certification including Mehadrin is available on Kosher Deli’s website.

Customers can sign up online for a loyalty card, which will be sent out after Pesach.

To join the WhatsApp groups, loyalty card scheme or for further details visit www. kosherdeli.co.uk To join the Kommunity Kookup message Instagram @kosherdeliuk_uk

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Taim Deli is a smash hit

BY DAVID SAFFER Taim Deli has made its mark since setting up last summer and opening for business just before Rosh Hashanah in 2020.

The kosher delicatessen started its first pop up venture back in December giving the Jewish community of Essex an opportunity to pre order online or collect for reasonable prices.

Currently there are different menus for Israeli street food and authentic Kosher Indian cuisine.

After Pesach they are starting Chinese and Japanese menus as well as traditional salt beef and latkes added its mainstream menu.

And when current lockdown restriction is lifted they will offer the Jewish community the chance to dine in a restaurant based at The Willows in Ilford. At the same time, they are expanding Shabbat orders across London and

Chicken Tikka: Tender pieces of chicken, marinated with aromatic spices

GIFTs of Food Support over Pesach GIFT volunteers have been extremely busy this week packing and delivering thousands of pounds worth of Kosher for Pesach food that is being distributed to families supported by GIFT in the run up to the festival. GIFT has seen a 35% increase in referrals over the past year and numbers have shot up in the weeks prior to Pesach.

Yasmine Ittach, GIFT’s Family Liaison told us “ During this latest lockdown, we have received an unprecedented rise in the number of requests from families for food parcels. I have been both humbled and saddened by the stories of struggles and the profound impact the Pandemic has had across the cross-sections of our Community, which has led to the increase in the number of families we are helping. Some of the families who have reached out are professionals whose businesses have disintegrated and who find themselves on Universal Credit and asking for food parcels for the first time ever. Others include families where one or both of a couple have been made redundant, and they suddenly find themselves in the unfamiliar position of struggling to pay the bills/rent/mortgage. Yet others are parents who feel devastated and ashamed that they are having to ask for help with food to feed their children. Finally, there are elderly, vulnerable or shielding individuals who no longer have a support network to rely on and feel isolated. What binds all these families is the deep appreciation for what many of them describe as a lifeline that they have been given to get through this challenging time. It makes our work so much more meaningful,

knowing that what we do is making even a small difference.”

In addition to food support packages, GIFT is aiming to provide catered Passover meals to its most vulnerable service users generously sponsored by the Magen Avot Community.

Chaya Langerman explains - “Magen Avot is proud to join GIFT in ensuring that people struggling will have cooked food on their table this Pesach. We are extremely grateful for all the donations been received towards that cause, and are still appealing for funds to make this happen.”

Jonathan’s wife tragically died during Covid. He has never had to cook for himself or the children and he is now having to learn.

“I truly have no words to express the kindness and generosity GIFT has shown us.

We are fortunate to have never needed that service but when my wife passed away during Covid and we were suddenly left without her; I couldn’t even cook for the family, let alone anything else. - my wife did everything in the home. GIFT took us under their wing, sending soups and meals and organising after school help and online tutors for the children. Phones calls of support and also teaching me how to cook, so I can try and survive without them going forward. This has been a very heartbreaking and scary journey, but thanks to GIFT, they were the angel by out side and still are.”

To help provide Pesach meals for Jonathan & his family and hundreds of other families struggling during this time, visit jgift.org/ pesach

its pop-up option to north west London and central London.

The kosher delicatessen supplies fine, freshly cooked kosher and speciality dishes.

Supplying high quality kosher food, Taim Deli serves a diverse range of Mediterranean, European & Moroccan foods to suit all taste buds.

They are also on hand to create a special meal for the Shabbat table.

Food is prepared to a high standard with fresh and natural quality ingredients without additional preservatives or additives.

They also import a range of specialist food items from France including relishes, sauces and various pâtés including foie gras.

Operating mainly from Loughton and all over Essex they deliver food for Shabbat, for a small charge, or collections are available from Loughton Synagogue.

Eventually the goal is to open a

kosher delicatessen in Essex with a kosher superstore for the local Jewish community in a ‘one stop’ shop where customers can buy anything for Shabbat.

A bakery and butcher section will also be available.

Taim Deli cater for all special events including birthday parties, anniversaries and kiddushim. They will also cater for a shiva. For products marked vegetarian or Parev, food is prepared in dedicated ovens and utensils.

All orders: Taim Deli 07399 014842. For questions email info@taimdeli.co.uk General enquiries: 07399 014842 or email info@taimdeli.co.uk Opening Hours: Monday to Thursday (9am-8pm) Shabbat orders: (Monday 9am to Wednesday 8pm or email orders@taimdeli.co.uk Collection location: Loughton Synagogue, 102 Borders Lane, Loughton, IG10 3QX Friday Collection Hours for Shabbat orders: Summer (10am to 5pm), winter: (10am-2.30pm)

New family game for Pesach

Jewish Futures has released an exciting new game – OUR STORY cubes, a highquality product for all the family – in time for Pesach. The brainchild of GIFT educator, Avraham Zeidman, and sponsored by the Neil Blair Partnership, OUR STORY cubes offer interactive and educational fun for all ages.

Story-telling is a tool like no other: it conveys where we came from, the values of the past that have shaped our present, and the lessons of our present that will take us into the future. The 27 cubes, divided in three bags, depict images that symbolise the past and the present and blank cubes that are for the future story that our generation has the responsibility to build.

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Neil Blair, a long-standing trustee of GIFT, one of the member charities of the family of Jewish Futures said, “it is our pleasure to have helped in the creation of Jewish Futures’ OUR STORY cubes. I am sure they will add an element of freshness, interactive and imaginative fun for families this Pesach.”

Rabbi Naftali Schiff, Chief Executive of Jewish Futures said, “OUR STORY cubes are a fantastic new innovation from our newly formed Creations Department. They are an out-of-the-box, fun way for people of all ages to use their own creativity and imagination in telling stories from the past, engaging in the challenges of the present and building the narrative that shall form our future. That future is in their hands!.

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“Biggest challenge of career” says NRPS head Nancy Reuben Primary School Headteacher Anthony Wolfson took time out of a busy schedule to look back on a remarkable period in the school’s history.

His recollections are open, honest and Insightful.

Nursery pupils getting ready for Pesach

BY DAVID SAFFER Thousands of schools in the United Kingdom have experienced an unprecedented 12 months since Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the first lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic on March 23rd 2020.

Nancy Reuben Primary School is a high-achieving modern orthodox school with around 200 pupils, aged 2 to 11, from Ashkenazi and Sefardi backgrounds.

Children are safe, valued and flourish.

NRPS, since it opened in 1999, instils Torah values, positive character traits and educates to the highest academic standards in secular and Kodesh subjects.

Celebrating every child’s individuality, NRPS is one of over 540 schools that are members of the Independent Schools Association. The governing body empowers the senior leadership team whilst care and respect permeate the curriculum and school community. Pastoral care is outstanding.

NRPS serves Hendon, Golders Green, Hampstead Garden Suburb, Finchley, Edgware and Borehamwood.

When Boris Johnson closed the country down, what were your initial thoughts?

“There had been some talk that this could happen,” Anthony recalled. “We had not had a huge amount of notice, nobody had planned for anything like this so we were in uncharted waters, not just us but all schools. We had to suddenly find a way for teachers to engage with children in a meaningful way, to support them with their learning without the benefit of face to face education.”

NRPS looked at various platforms including Zoom and Google classrooms whilst communicating with parents to manage expectations.

“You had parents who wanted a full days remote teaching with a timetable at home that replicated a school day while other parents were relaxed with any level of online provision, equally happy to have time to let their children play at home,” Anthony noted. “There was a novelty element, children in the first few weeks felt it was like a holiday with some work.

But as time went on, parents realised we are in this for the long haul. They had to

work from home so broadband connection issues suddenly came to the fore.

We had to think fast on our feet, working with parents and governors trying to find solutions. From a staff point of view, it was challenging, we went from talking in a corridor or staff room to Zoom meetings, which are okay but it was not the same as sitting in a room where you were able to talk, look at body language, facial expressions and so on. There was also the issue of teachers and pupils getting tired of looking and talking to screens for lengths of time.”

He added, “School business was transacted in a different way, it was very stressful for teachers and leaders because any normal sense of a school day went completely out of the window. After being in from 8am to 4pm, suddenly, myself and senior colleagues were meeting online or talking by phone at 9pm, 10pm, sometimes later if something came up that we needed to respond to the next day. School day boundaries went out of the window and remained out of the window until May 2020 when the government said certain year groups could go back. We put in mitigations over a four-week period that enabled us to bring back the entire school over June and July 2020.”

NRPS hired barriers, created five playground spaces utilising existing playground space and a car park to get the whole school back. They also worked with Od Yosef Hai Synagogue, who adjoin the building. With no functions on and an enormous room, NRPS moved in a class as they had in their own school hall.

“It worked,” enthused Anthony. “We staggered start and finish times but it was basically modelled on a normal school day. By 9am, the whole school was in and lessons went on until 4pm. We didn’t have to do what other schools did whereby some classes went in two days a week and learnt online or classes came in for half a day then went home for half a day. We decided to create a sense of normality and use that time to catch up and reassess where children were at. It worked until

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the end of the academic year, we had the summer holidays then came back in September hoping a new school year would be more normal.

“Everyone was back for autumn term, but we ran the gauntlet from September to December of a teacher testing positive and having to isolate, or a family member testing positive and the teacher having to isolate as they were part of the same household, or a child in the class testing positive closing a whole class bubble.

There was also a class which we had to isolate for two weeks, they came back but within a few days another child tested positive so they went off for two more weeks.

“Then in January, the government announced schools would be locked down again, apart from children of key workers and vulnerable children. So, until March 8th 2021 when all schools went back we had ‘early years’ in. But the government’s definition of who is a vulnerable child was so broad. We had to tell parents, we are limited, we can’t take everyone, we had to tightly manage the situation which caused frustration in some cases. But we looked at every request and discussed it with parents. This continued until the whole school recently returned. However, we are keeping classes separate, we are staggering break times, we are not getting the whole school together in a hall. We are continuing to run Zoom assembly’s where every class is on the screen in the classroom. Parent consultation meetings are also on an online platform. And that is how it will be until the government says the lockdown will be eased. I think this will be the new norm until the middle of June.

Could anything have prepared you for the past 12 months?

“Nothing could have trained teachers to do what they had to do,” Anthony said.

“Teaching online was an alien concept to teachers. If you had told teachers at the beginning of the school year in 2019 we will go into lockdown and teach from home, then tell some staff we may have to furlough you, these were words not in the school vocabulary.”

He added, “I’m in my 20th year as a head and I’ve never encountered anything quite so pressured and demanding as we went through. It’s been really full on, any headteacher will tell you that.

Managing staff, helping parents understand what is going on, supporting them and children, working with governors, managing expectations of everybody, it has been very challenging. We have had

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and fun activities such as a Zoom talent show and PTA activities. We worked hard to maintain a sense of community and togetherness at a time when everyone was apart with lots of varied online activities for children and parents. When it comes to resilience, children managed their learning and developed an independence far quicker than might have been expected.”

He added, “Recognising the financial impact of Covid on families, governors had to respond sensitively. On one hand we recognised parents who were going through a tough time at work with some furloughed or out of work. But at the same time, we had to ensure financial sustainability as an independent school that is dependent on fee paying parents with no government support.”

So, what did you learn as a leader?

“I had to make tough decisions, work through difficult choices faster than ever before, often without the ability to get staff together and bounce ideas off each other, which placed added pressure and strain on everyone,” noted Anthony, “At the same time, you had to recognise that everyone was enduring their own personal challenges and in some cases dealing with bereavement and tragic sudden loss. We had to be there for everyone. It strengthened the leadership team as we responded in real time to daily challenges, the likes of

Year 2 get hands on with African Drumming

to be solutions focused, and that’s not forgetting hundreds of pages of government guidance.”

Are you satisfied how the government handled the pandemic and would you have done anything different to the Prime Minister?

“There was no ‘rule book’,” Anthony explained. “Maybe going forward, there will be one on how to manage a pandemic and schools will be better equipped. The idea though of a ‘snow day’ is probably ancient history because we have Zoom and online lessons. Schools may be physically closed down but learning will move online. That is a positive to come out of this, but from the government point of view, there was no way of providing quick guidance in how to manage this.”

He added, “The government was firefighting, making up guidance at short notice. The challenge for us was that the guidance appeared to come out at midnight on a Thursday evening with the expectation that by 9am next day you had digested 300 pages of notes and were fully operational. And it was relentless.

No sooner did you get one set of guidelines and things changed. And it was not always obvious where changes were so you had to go looking for it.”

Anthony continued, “Barnet public health were brilliant, we had access to a consultant every day, any questions that came up we could get hold of them.

There were times when the DfE’s coronavirus helpline was closed, crashing or being down, which was frustrating. All round, it’s been very challenging, the main thing I’d change was the amount

which we had never seen before. That was the strength of our school. “ He added, “Lots of plans were cut short.

Things we had planned a year ahead suddenly became less relevant. However, there were positives from some of the changes that schools made. Some revised ways of doing things have shown that actually the old ways needed change and 2020 made change happen with exceptional speed. Some of those changes will remain long after the pandemic because they’ve made things slicker. It’s also important to mention that the cohesiveness of the school community comprising staff, parents and governors shone throughout the year enabling us to make the seemingly impossible absolutely possible.

“I cannot thank my colleagues at Nancy Reuben enough for creating an oasis of calm for children and parents throughout the 12 months despite personal challenges. Everyone deserves a medal!”

Finally, if you could have given yourself a year ago some advice what would it be?

“Leading a team of people is about trying to exude a calmness when the pressure is unrelenting,” Anthony said, “I’m proud of how we have managed things, that’s a great thing to take forward. In any crisis you are dealing with, try and keep a level head, that is the nature of leadership.”

of documentation, though worthy there were pages and pages, it was information overload. Whenever a guidance email came, you’d think, oh no, not again.”

Are NRPS a stronger organisation in terms of now handling emergencies?

“Without a doubt, this was proper crisis management,” noted Anthony. “Teachers, the senior leadership team, myself, the governing and parent body, we have been on a huge journey together. We are stronger from it for sure, we have learnt how to manage the challenge together.”

He added, “For me, there was a lot of PR and it was essential, keeping parents informed, communicating in an open and transparent way. A lot of parents got in touch to say they really appreciated the updates, being open and sharing information. At times, I thought that I was driving people mad, the last thing they wanted to hear was another update, but actually many parents thanked me, they enjoyed reading the communications, they found them helpful and reassuring that the school was in control and dealing with everything as best as they could.”

NRPS kept all teaching staff but furloughed some support staff.

“We are an independent school so was able to do that, everyone has been back since September,” noted Anthony.

Mental health and wellbeing of staff and children is essential, how did NRPS manage this?

“It was important to give children opportunities to do creative things,” noted Anthony. “We helped everyone balance new demands through a mix of online learning

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Baked Apples with Crunchy Coconut Topping Baked apples of all description are a popular family favourite. This Pesach friendly version is ideal for Seder night as it can be made in advance and enjoyed hot, cold or warm.

Preparation Time: 15 minutes Cooking Time: 20 minutes Serves: 4

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

Ingredients 4 large eating apples – halved and cored 55g raisins 4 tablespoons honey 75ml apple juice or water ~ 50g medium matzah meal 50g desiccated coconut 50g margarine ~ 2 tablespoons walnuts – roughly chopped Method 1) Preheat the oven to 180 C/ 350 F/ Gas mark 4.

2) Arrange the apples cut side up in a shallow ovenware dish.

3) Divide the raisins among the apples, pressing them into the core cavity.

4) Drizzle with 2 tablespoons honey and add the apple juice or water to the base of the dish.

5) Put the maztah meal, coconut and margarine in a small bowl and rub together until the mixture is well combined.

6) Stir in the walnuts. Spoon topping over the apples and drizzle over the remaining honey.

7) Cook in the preheated oven for 20 – 25 minutes until the topping is golden and the apples are soft.

Serve with ice cream or sorbet.

Everyday Pesach

BY DENISE PHILLIPS

Entertaining for large numbers of more than 10 and family gatherings during the 8-day festivities is highly unlikely to happen this year because of Covid.

Preparing, cooking for smaller groups, and making it special for all the right religious reasons is more significant than ever before. So, I want to make ‘This night different and special from all other nights.

Back to basics - regular every day ingredients are what you need to buy. I would like to share some tips, culinary advice, and recipe ideas to help you achieve this.

Essentials from the list below are necessary, but few luxuries for single use are needed especially as packets often come in large sizes.

You need matzo, dairy, proteins, oil and vinegar, pantry products, fruits and vegetables, and some herbs and spices and of course plenty of eggs! Mayonnaise, chrain, pickled cucumbers, jam, honey can all be used after Pesach. Ingredients like Passover ketchup, potato flour, Passover matza meal (it is different from the regular brand), Passover cereal buy minimal or not at all! I find I end up throwing most of these ingredients out every year.

If you plan your menus well you can only buy what you need.

GOOD TIPS GOING FORWARD…

• Always write notes on the Pesach menus and recipes that you have used in previous years and make a note of what worked well and what was not enjoyed so much. Plan your quantities carefully so you do not have too much left over.

• Choose a seder menu that is: a) Easy to serve b) Will not dry out if the seder service goes on longer than anticipated ( it always does) c) Left overs will be fine for Yom Tov lunch the next day.

• Choose recipes that are created ‘KFP’ –Kosher for Pesach as these will work better. Trying to substitute regular ingredients for Pesach ones does not necessarily give the best results.

• Start shopping early - you will get the best choice, avoid the rush and keep an eye out for those special offers, there are normally lots on offer in many supermarkets and kosher shops.

• Buy Smart – do not over buy, you can always top up during the week, and check the use by dates in case you over

buy. Get an extra dozen eggs they are always needed!

Recipes to make include soups, savoury bakes, meat balls, shepherd’s pie with minced beef or vegetarian and the like – they are family favourites and freeze well.

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Soup recipes like roasted carrot and onion, beetroot and sweet potato, leek and potato soup are healthy and filling too.

Savoury bakes include nut roast, potato and mushroom, kugels, layered vegetables with a matzah and cheese topping, frittatas with potatoes all are delicious and economical to make.

For main meals, make baked fish, meat stews, vegetable tagines using permitted vegetables, spices, and dried fruits Desserts are great using basic ingredients like eggs, ground almonds, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla extract, apples or pears, pecans/ walnuts, chocolate - you will be amazed how many recipes you can make. I have quite a selection for you to choose from on my website www.jewishcookery.com My favourites include Passover apple cake, chocolate and raspberry jam cake, rocky road clusters and fruit strudel.

Keep it simple, keep it tasty and if possible keep it on a budget!

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Pesach Supplement

SUPPLEMENT 35

of the London Beth Din - Pesach 5781/2021 KLBD wishes you and your family a Chag Kasher v’Sameach

Why is this year different from all other years?

Erev Pesach on Shabbat

All times provided are for London.

Why is this year different?

Friday 26th March

Sunday 28th March

The day before Passover is universally accepted as being the busiest day on the Jewish calendar. On this day, the last remains of Chametz are used up, the Pesach/Chametz changeover usually takes place, breakfast can be Chametz but lunch must be ‘Pesachdik’. Preparations for the Seder night and laying the table for Yom Tov usually ensure that no one gets much rest. But this all changes when the day before Pesach falls on Shabbat when many of these activities are forbidden. However, two Shabbat meals still need to take place, both of which must have Challah for Hamotzei because Matzo may not be consumed on erev Pesach! Please see our detailed guide to erev Pesach falling on Shabbat on our website www.kosher.org.uk/whydifferent Below is a brief summary.

Burning of the Chametz should take place in the morning before 11.04am.

The declaration Kol Chamira, which annuls any leftover Chametz is omitted as a quantity of bread must be left for Shabbat.

Note that British Summer Time begins at midnight on Motzei Shabbat, 27th March. Accordingly, second day Yom Tov begins at 8.14pm at which time candles may be lit and preparations for the second Seder may commence.

Thursday 25 March

After the meal, any leftover crumbs should be flushed away. Throw away paper plates etc., shake out and store away tablecloth with the other chametz utensils. The declaration Kol Chamira which was omitted Friday is now recited and can be found at the beginning of a Haggadah or in the Sacks siddur on page 642. This should be completed before 11.04am.

th

The fast of the firstborn usually takes place on the day before Passover.

However, since we do not fast on Shabbat, it is brought forward to Thursday. The celebration Siyum meal made at the conclusion of studying a volume of Talmud, which would release a firstborn from fasting, will take place after prayers on Thursday morning.

The search for Chametz usually takes place the night before Pesach. This year, that would be Friday night and the use of a candle is forbidden on Shabbat. The search therefore takes place Thursday night after nightfall.

The blessings and declaration made after the search can be found at the beginning of a Haggadah (Sacks siddur page 642).

All preparations for Seder should be made before Shabbat. At the Shabbat evening meal, the Challah should be eaten carefully so that all the crumbs can be disposed of in the morning.

Many use Pitta bread which create less crumbs. It is ideal to use disposables for the meal.

Thursday 25th March The fast of the firstborn or Siyum Search for Chametz after nightfall (7.10pm) Friday 26th March Burning of the Chametz before 11.04am Shabbat 27th March Finish eating chametz by 10.00am Dispose of all Chametz and recite Kol Chamira before 11.04am Yom Tov 7.13pm

Shabbat 27 March The morning service is held early as one needs to finish eating chametz by 10.00am.

Yom Tov candles should not be lit until after 7.13pm, when Shabbat has terminated. The light should be taken from a pre-existing flame.

KLBD wishes the community a Chag Kasher V’Sameach – a happy, healthy and kosher Pesach.

Summary of times:

th

The mid-day meal (seudah shlishit) is eaten without Challah or Matzo using Pesach dishes. Cooked matzo or matzo meal products such as kneidlach may be consumed on erev Pesach, but according to most authorities, not baked items made with Matzo meal.

(7.14pm if your clock doesn’t change automatically)

Sunday 28th March British Summer Time begins 2nd Yom Tov begins at 8.14pm BST (7.14pm GMT) Monday 29th March Yom Tov ends 8.16pm BST (7.16pm GMT)

KLBD Sale of Chametz Form – Pesach 2021 - ‫ פסח תשפ"א‬- ‫מכירת חמץ‬ It is essential that all Chametz is disposed of or sold before Pesach.

Although the non-Jew usually sells it back after Pesach, this is an entirely valid and legal sale. The chametz to be sold should be securely locked away in a room or cupboard, which will not be used over Pesach. It is customary to sell the Chametz via the local Rabbi. If this is difficult, please use the online Mechiras Chametz facility at www.kosher.org.uk/category/sell-my-chametz or fill out the form below. *Required 1.

Name *

2.

Address *

3.

Post Code *

4.

Approx. £ value of chametz to be sold. Please try not to overestimate the value of your chametz. *

5.

If you will be outside the UK for Pesach, please state the country you will be staying in. If you are planning to be further east than Israel, we will not be able to cover you with this sale and one would need to contact a Rabbi in that area to arrange the sale. You may also email us for advice to info@kosher.org.uk.

6.

I hereby appoint Rabbi J Conway to act as my agent and sell all chametz that will be in my possession. I hereby authorise him to act in my stead, and empower him to do all that is required to make such a sale valid in order that I conform to all the halachic requirements and restrictions regarding the possession of chametz over Pesach. I hereby also make any Agreement of Sale (shtar mechirah) that he may use for this purpose, part of this authorisation.

7.

Signed: *

Pesach 5781/2021 - Covid-19: Product Guidelines “in-extremis” Unlike last year, Passoversupervised products should be widely available this year via internet shopping, home deliveries, 24 hr shopping and other facilities as listed in this supplement.

However, if due to Covid-19, basic products are not available, KLBD has once again compiled guidelines, allowing the use of some regular products, which can be found at www.kosher. org.uk/inextremis These guidelines are intended specifically for circumstances when regular supervised products are not available or if people are in isolation and unable to go shopping themselves or have supervised products delivered to their home.

Please scan this QR code for online Sale of Chametz

Date: *

This service is offered free of charge. However, any donation to help defray the costs of this communal service would be greatly appreciated.

 £50  £30  £20  £10  OTHER

Full KLBD Pesach information at www.kosher.org.uk/passover KLBD Pesach product search at www.passover.isitkosher.uk

Cheques payable ‘United Synagogue KLBD’ Please complete and return to:

Kashrut Division, 63 Broughton Avenue N3 3EN, London GB (temporary address) TO ARRIVE LATEST BY TUESDAY 23RD MARCH 2021

CONTACT US:

KLBD, 305 Ballards Lane N12 8GB | Switchboard: 020 8343 6255 | Product enquiry: 020 8343 6247 | Web: www.kosher.org.uk For text alerts: Text KOSHER to 07786 200 350 KLBD Kosher Direct KLBD Direct

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

| Email: info@kosher.org.uk

36 SUPPLEMENT WARNING

There is no kashrut supervision of the ‘Kosher for Passover’ section in supermarkets and errors do sometimes occur. When purchasing products for Pesach from any non-supervised establishment, you are advised to check that all items bear a reliable kosher l’Pesach hechsher and do not contain kitniyot.

KEY D P NP KLBD-P S-P S-CY

Dairy (non-supervised milk) and suitable for Passover Parev and suitable for Passover Not suitable for Passover KLBD certified for Passover Supervised for Passover by other Authority Supervised Chalav Yisrael by other Authority

Approved Products BABY MILKS

Kosher l’Pesach baby formula is sold in kosher stores.

In cases where this cannot be used, the following are approved. Separate utensils should be used as most baby milks, including kosher l’Pesach baby formula, contain kitniyot. Since feeding bottles normally come into contact with chametz, it is recommended to purchase new ones for Passover.

Alpro Soya P Growing Up Contains Kitniyot Aptamil Listing refers to powder and ready to feed versions in bottles and cartons.

D Anti Reflux D Comfort D First Infant 1 D Follow On 2 D Growing Up 3 D Growing Up 4 D Hungry D Lactose Free D Pepti 1 D Pepti 2 D Pepti Junior D Preterm (Hospital Use Only) D Profutura First Infant 1 D Profutura Follow On 2 D Profutura Growing Up 3 D Sensavia First Infant 1 D Sensavia Follow On 2 D Sensavia Growing Up 3 Cow & Gate Listing refers to powder and ready to feed versions in bottles and cartons.

D Anti Reflux D Comfort D First Infant 1 D Follow On 2 D Growing Up 3 D Growing Up 4 D Hungry Infant D Nutriprem 1 (Hospital Use Only) D Nutriprem 2 D Nutriprem Human Milk Fortifier D Nutriprem Hydrolysed D Nutriprem Protein Supplement Enfamil D AR D O Lac

Hipp Organic Listing refers to powder and ready to feed versions in bottles and cartons.

D D D D D D D D

Combiotic Anti Reflux Combiotic First Infant 1 Combiotic Follow On 2 Combiotic Growing Up 3 Combiotic Growing Up 4 Combiotic Hungry Infant Comfort Good Night

Kendamil Mehadrin Must have a Kedassia Passover label.

Kendamil Porridge is also available for Pesach.

Both Milks and Porridge contain kitniyot.

See note above.

S-CY S-CY

First Infant Toddler

D D D

First Infant 1 Follow On 2 Growing Up 3

Nanny Care

Nutramigen

NP 1 with LGG NP 2 with LGG NP 3 with LGG Vanilla NP Puramino Nutricia D Infatrini NP Infatrini Peptisorb P Neocate Junior Strawberry P Neocate Junior Unflavoured P Neocate Junior Vanilla P Neocate LCP P Neocate Spoon P Neocate Syneo Pregestimil D Lipil SHS D Caprilon

18 MARCH 2021

TO ADVERTISE CALL 020 3906 8488 D Galactomin 17 D Galactomin 19 D Locasol Similac D Alimentum D High Energy SMA Listing refers to powder and ready to feed versions in bottles.

D Advanced First Infant 1 D Advanced Follow On 2 D Advanced Growing Up 3 P Alfamino D Althera Anti Reflux D D Breast Milk Fortifier D Comfort D Extra Hungry D Gold Prem 1 (Hospital Use Only) D Gold Prem 2 D HA Hypoallergenic D High Energy D LF Lactose Free D Little Steps First Infant 1 D Little Steps Follow On 2 D Little Steps Growing Up 3 D Organic First Infant 1 D Organic Follow On 2 D Organic Growing Up 3 D Pro First Infant 1 D Pro Follow On 2 D Pro Growing Up 3 P Wysoy Contains Kitniyot Vitaflo D Renastart

COFFEE Nescafe Certified Kosher for Passover all year round, provided they have an English label and UK customer service number. There is no KLBD logo on the packaging.

KLBD-P Black Roast KLBD-P Fine Blend KLBD-P Original KLBD-P Original Decaff KLBD-P Origins Indonesia- Sumatra KLBD-P Origins Uganda- Kenyan Nescafe Azera Certified Kosher for Passover all year round, provided they have an English label and UK customer service number. There is no KLBD logo on the packaging.

KLBD-P Americano KLBD-P Americano Decaf KLBD-P Espresso KLBD-P Intenso Nescafe Gold Certified Kosher for Passover all year round, provided they have an English label and UK customer service number. There is no KLBD logo on the packaging.

KLBD-P Barista Style KLBD-P Blend KLBD-P Blend Decaf KLBD-P Intense Starbucks Certified Kosher for Passover when bearing the KLBD-P logo.

KLBD-P Caffe Verona KLBD-P Colombia KLBD-P Espresso KLBD-P Espresso Blonde KLBD-P House Blend KLBD-P Pike Place KLBD-P Veranda Blend

COFFEE MACHINES

The following coffee pods are approved for Pesach.

We recommend purchasing a new machine for Pesach. If this is not possible the machine should be taken apart, cleaned and kashered.

Nescafe Dolce Gusto Certified Kosher for Passover all year round, when produced in the UK, which can be identified by the word ‘ENGLAND’ ink jetted on the underside of the box.

There is no KLBD logo on the packaging.

KLBD-P Americano KLBD-P Americano Intenso KLBD-P Americano Smooth Morning KLBD-P Espresso KLBD-P Espresso Honduras KLBD-P Espresso Intenso KLBD-P Grande KLBD-P Grande Intenso KLBD-P Grande Intenso Morning Blend KLBD-P Grande Mild KLBD-P Lungo KLBD-P Starbucks Americano House Blend KLBD-P Starbucks Americano Veranda Blend KLBD-P Starbucks Espresso Colombia KLBD-P Starbucks Espresso Roast KLBD-P Starbucks Espresso Roast Blonde

Nespresso

Please note Nespresso Variations are not approved for Pesach.

P Barista Creations Chiaro P Barista Creations Corto P Barista Creations Scuro P Capriccio P Cosi P Decaffeinato Firenze Arpeggio P Decaffeinato Ristretto Italiano P Decaffeinato Vivalto Lungo P Decaffeinato Volluto

P Ispirazion Roma P Ispirazione Firenze Arpeggio P Ispirazione Palermo Kazaar P Ispirazione Venezia P Ispiriazione Genova Livanto P Ispiriazone Ristretto Italiano P Master Origin Colombia P Master Origin Ethiopia P Master Origin India P Master Origin Indonesia P Master Origin Nicaragua P Peru Organic P Volluto Nespresso Starbucks P Caffe Verona P Colombia P Espresso Roast P Espresso Roast Blond P Espresso Roast Decaf P House Blend P Pike Place Roast P Sumatra Nespresso Vertuo Please note Nespresso Variations are not approved for Pesach.

P Altissio P Alto Dolce P Alto Intenso P Arondio P Barista Creations Bianco Forte P Barista Creations Bianco Leggero P Decaffeinato P Decaffeinato Intenso P Decaffeinato Ontuoso P Diavolitto P Doube Espresso Chiaro P Double Espresso Scuro P Elvazio P Fortado P Giornio P Half Caffeinato P Intenso P Master Origin Colombia P Master Origin Mexico P Melozio P Odacio P Solelio P Stormio P Voltesso

DAIRY ALLERGIES

For advice about milk substitutes which are permitted on Pesach for children with dairy allergies, see the FAQ’s on our website or alternatively email info@kosher.org.uk or call 020 8343 6247.

EGG ALLERGIES

For information about egg substitutes which are permitted for those who are allergic to eggs, please contact KLBD by emailing info@kosher.org.uk, or call 020 8343 6247.

FRESH PRECUT FRUIT & VEGETABLES

Precut fresh fruit and vegetables are not approved due to the fact that Citric Acid (potentially of Chametz origin) is commonly used to prevent discolouration. There is no problem with precut fresh herbs or herbs grown in pots. Chopped herbs should be avoided as they cannot easily be checked for infestation.

FROZEN FISH

Frozen fish, whole or filleted, is permitted, provided that no other ingredients have been added. It is advisable to rinse the fish before use. Please note that when buying fish from a non-supervised source, it is important to make sure that some skin (bearing easily detachable scales) is attached. For a list of kosher fish, see The Really Jewish Food Guide or check www.isitkosher.uk.

FROZEN FRUIT

Unsupervised frozen fruit should not be used because factories may use ascorbic or citric acid as a processing aid, which is often derived from chametz sources.

FROZEN VEGETABLES

Unsupervised frozen vegetables should not be used.

This is because many factories use starch or citric acid during processing, and some process chametz products on the same lines.

GLUTEN FREE MATZO

Gluten free matzos are available from many kosher shops. Please note that only gluten free oat matzos are Hamotzi and suitable for the mitzva of matzo at the Seder. Matzos made from potato flour are NOT suitable for this purpose.

MINERAL WATER

All still bottled water and naturally sparkling water is fine. Artificially carbonated water may be carbonated with CO2 from the brewing industry and should be avoided unless specifically approved. The following products have been checked by the KLBD.

Acqua Panna

S-P Natural Spring Brecon Carreg NP Sparkling P Still Buxton Spring NP Carbonated P Still Evian P Still

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

Harrogate NP Sparkling P Still Perrier P Naturally Carbonated San Pellegrino S-P Sparkling Spa NP Intense P Reine Vittel P Still Volvic NP Sparkling P Still

SALT

Lo Salt S-P Reduced Sodium Salt Saxa Certified Kosher for Passover all year round. No logo.

KLBD-P Fine

SUGAR

Tate & Lyle Certified Kosher for Passover all year round and bear a KLBD-P logo.

KLBD-P Caster KLBD-P Granulated KLBD-P Preserving Certified Kosher for Passover even when bearing the regular KLBD logo.

KLBD-P Demerara Inspired Guyanese KLBD-P Demerara Unrefined

SUPERFOODS

Seagreens No logo. Available from health food stores, mail order and internet companies.

KLBD-P Culinary Ingredient KLBD-P Food Granules KLBD-P Salad & Condiment

SWEETENERS

Hermesetas NP Granulated NP Liquid P Mini Stevia Sweet NP Crystals NP Tablets Sweet ‘n’ Low S-P Sachets Xylitol Available from all kosher stores, by telephone order 020 8809 0411 or online www.xylitolshop.co.uk. Must carry a KLBD-P label. Does not contain Kitniyot.

KLBD-P Sugar Alternative

TEA

Taylors of Harrogate Teabags and Leaf Tea. Not Decaffeinated. Kosher for Passover all year round, even though it does not currently bear a KLBD-P logo.

KLBD-P Yorkshire Tea

Cleaning & Household Products CLEANING

All products are approved in the following categories: Bleach Dishwasher Detergents Disinfectants Oven & Hob Cleaners Surface Cleaners The following products are either KLBD certified for Passover or their Passover status been checked.

OVEN & HOB CLEANERS

Certified kosher for Passover all year round with KLBD-P logo.

KLBD-P Oven Cleaner Power Spray KLBD-P Specialist Cleaner Hob & Cooktop KLBD-P Specialist Cleaner Oven & Grill

SOAP FILLED PADS

Soap Filled Pads often contain animal derived ingredients. Some people prefer to avoid their use on utensils and surfaces that come into direct contact with food. Supervised ones with a kosher l’Pesach hechsher are available from Kosher stores.

SURFACE CLEANERS Astonish

Products certified kosher for Passover all year round with KLBD-P logo, unless otherwise indicated.

KLBD-P Anti Bacterial Cleanser KLBD-P Cream Cleaner Bleach KLBD-P Cream Cleaner Lemon Fresh KLBD-P Kitchen Cleaner Zesty Lemon KLBD-P Mould & Mildew Blaster KLBD-P Multi Purpose Cleaner Bleach KLBD-P Specialist Cleaner Dish & Pan KLBD-P Specialist Cleaner Stainless Steel KLBD-P Window & Glass Cleaner

WASHING UP LIQUID Fairy

Applies to products made in the UK. P Washing Up Liquid All Varieties

18 MARCH 2021 HOUSEHOLD The listed products have been checked by KLBD and found to be suitable for use on Pesach.

BAKING PARCHMENT Certified kosher for Passover all year round with KLBD-P logo.

P Bacofoil Greaseproof Paper P Bacofoil Non Stick Baking Paper P Bakewell Baking Paper

CAKE TIN LINERS P P P P

ASDA White Fairy Cake Paper Cases ASDA Retro Paper Cases ASDA Spotty Paper Cupcake Cases ASDA Disposable Cake Tin Liners

HOB COVERS

Sheets of silica-bonded mica, recommended for covering ceramic hobs for Pesach, are available from: Shutlers Temple Fortune Parade Bridge Lane London NW11 0QN Tel: 020 8458 5649 Bake-O-Glide induction hob covers are available from https://bakeoglide.kitchen/products/bake-o-glideinduction-hob-protector-3-sizes

KITCHEN TOWEL P P P

ASDA Shades Kitchen Towel ASDA Shades Power Towel ASDA Smart Price Kitchen Towel

The following products are suitable for Passover with or without a KLBD-P sticker. These have been tested by KLBD and there is no concern of Chametz when used for Pesach.

KLBD-P Ora The All Round Household Towel KLBD-P Plenty Handy Towels KLBD-P Plenty The Original One

Cosmetics COSMETICS FOR PASSOVER 2021

In general, all facial cosmetics, nail varnish, nail varnish removers, antiperspirants, hairsprays, shampoos, shower gels, baby wipes and soaps may be used as they are inedible. It is better, however, to avoid products which mention the following in the ingredients declaration:

Derived From Barley Amino-peptide complex Barley Extract Hordeum Vulgare Phytophingosine Extract Derived From Oats Aveena Sativa Oat Beta Glucan Oat Flour Oat Extract Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids) Lauroyl Lysine (or other Lauroyl derivatives) Only when specifying derived from wheat or oats.

Derived From Wheat Disodium Wheatgerm AminoPeg-2 Sulfosuccinate Hydrolysed Wheat Protein Hydrolysed Wheat Gluten Hydrolysed Wheat Starch Maltodextrin Sorbitan Derivatives Triticum Vulgarae Wheat Amino Acids Wheat Bran Extract Wheatgerm Oil Wheat Protein

CONTACT LENS CARE

All products are approved.

DENTAL CARE PRODUCTS

See ORAL HYGIENE and DENTURE PRODUCTS in the Medicines list.

LIPSTICK Due to the fact that lipstick comes into contact with the mouth, it is preferable to check that it does not contain Chametz derived ingredients.

The following products have been researched and are free from Chametz derivatives. Other products not included in the list may be used provided they do not contain any of the ingredients listed in the note above.

NP Collection Lasting Perfection Matte Liquid P L’Oreal Color Riche P L’Oreal Color Riche Matte Addiction P L’Oreal Color Riche Shine P L’Oreal Les Chocolats Ultra Matte Liquid P L’Oreal Rouge Signature Matte Liquid P Maxfactor Colour Elixir P Maxfactor Lipfinity Bullet P Maxfactor Lipfinity 24 Hrs (2 Step) P Maxfactor Lipfinity Velvet Mattes NP Maxfactor Velvet Mattes P Maybelline Color Sensational P Maybelline Color Sensational Made For All P Maybelline Color Sensational Shine Compulsion P Maybelline Superstay 24 Dual Ended

SUPPLEMENT 37

TO ADVERTISE CALL 020 3906 8488 P P P NP P P

Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink Crayon Maybelline Superstay Matt Ink Liquid Rimmel Lasting Finish Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte Rimmel Stay Satin Liquid

PERFUME

Perfumes contain alcohol, which could be chametz if derived from wheat. If the perfume is made with denatured alcohol, however, it can be used without concern.

Perfumes such as Kuumba Made are declared to be alcohol free. See also the Alcohol Free Fragrances section on Beauty Base (www.beautybase.com).

Only the companies listed on www.passover. isitkosher.uk have so far confirmed their source of alcohol. Other brands would be permitted, provided denatured alcohol is specified in the ingredients declaration on the bottle.

Medicines This summary has been compiled by Rabbi A Adler BPharm MRPharms, a practising pharmacist, in consultation with the food technologists of the London Beth Din. A full list of Medicines for Passover can be downloaded from our website at www.kosher.org.uk/passover, or alternatively check our superfast online search www.passover.isitkosher.uk.

General points regarding medication for Passover: • In general, all solid dose tablets and prescribed capsules are in order for Passover use. Those who prefer not to take gelatine capsules are advised to ask their physician if they can prescribe the medication in an alternative form.

• When taking non-essential medicines, it is preferable to use tablets rather than gelatine capsules.

• Wherever possible, tablets or capsules should be used rather than liquid or chewable preparations, as these may contain ingredients such as sorbitol and glucose, which could be derived from wheat.

• All inhalers are permitted. Ointments and creams are permissible, except for those specifying chametz ingredients on the packaging (eg Aveeno cream, based on oats), which should be avoided.

• Prescribed medication should not be altered without consulting a doctor.

Special Note About Medication for Children Most liquid medications for children (with the exception of some antibiotics from the manufacturers listed below) cannot be guaranteed free of chametz derived ingredients. If you are likely to require any liquid preparations for a child during Pesach, we advise that you include these medications in your sale of chametz. Tell your Rabbi that the medications may need to be used on Pesach and he will accordingly arrange with the non-Jewish purchaser to allow such use if needed. If it is imperative that your child uses the medication on Pesach, it may be taken from the chametz location, used as necessary, and returned.

ANTIBIOTICS, ANTIFUNGALS & ANTIVIRALS

All antibiotics in tablet and capsule form are permitted. Sugar free antibiotic liquids should be avoided as they usually contain sorbitol which could be chametz. If a child needs an antibiotic liquid during Pesach, it is preferable to ask the doctor to prescribe one sweetened with sucrose.

Your pharmacist should be able to advise if you have been prescribed one containing sorbitol.

P Amoxicillin Suspensions (not sugar free) P Erythromycin suspensions (not sugar free) P Nystan Suspension P Nystatin Suspension (Sandoz) P Penicillin V Solutions (not sugar free) P Phenoxymethylpenicillin Solutions (not sugar free) It should be noted that even though it is becoming more difficult to find antibiotic liquids which are not sugar free, the following manufacturers do still use sucrose in some products: Actavis Aurobindo Bristol Flynn Kent LTT Medreich Pharma Pinewood Squibb

ASTHMA AND RESPIRATORY

All inhalers may be used. Please note that many powder inhalers contain lactose and, except in cases of emergency, should not be used after a meaty meal.

P P

Bricanyl Tablets Phyllocontin Continus Tablets

CONSTIPATION

P P P P P

Bisacodyl Tablets Boots Natural Senna Laxative Tablets Compound Macrogol Sachets Cosmocol Plain Sachets Fybogel Natural Sachets

P Fybogel Orange Sachets P Ispagel Orange Sachets D Lactulose Solution P Manevac Granules P Movicol Plain Sachets Flavoured varieties are not suitable for Passover.

P Normacol Granules P Normacol Plus Granules P Senokot Dual Relief Tablets D Senokot Max Strength Tablets D Senokot Tablets

COUGHS & COLDS P P P P P P P P P P

A Vogel Echinaforce Drops Beechams Flu Plus Caplets Benylin Day & Night Tablets Care+ Codeine Sugar Free Linctus Care+ Decongestant Solution Care+ Pholcodine Linctus Care+ Simple Linctus Galpseud Tablets Galpseud Linctus Sudafed Decongestant Tablets

CYSTITIS

P P P P P

Boots Cranberry Sachets CanesOasis Granules CranMed Forte Capsules Cysticare Tablets Cystocalm Granules

DENTURE PRODUCTS P P P P P P P P P NP P P P P

Dentomycin Gel Dentu Creme Dentural Cleaner Solution Fixodent Fresh Cream Periochip Poligrip Ultra Cream Seabond Denture Fixative Seals Steradent Active Fresh Tablets Steradent Active Plus Tablets Steradent Pro 3 in 1 Tablets Steradent Pro White Tablets Ultra Corega Powder Wernets Super Powder Wernets Ultra Powder

DIARRHOEA P P P NP NK

Care+ Kaolin Mixture Children Diocalm Ultra Capsules Imodium Capsules Imodium Plus Caplets Imodium Instant Melts

HAYFEVER & ALLERGIES P P P P P

Clarityn Allergy Tablets Haymine Tablets Phenergan Tablets Piriton Allergy Tablets Piriton Syrup

HOMEOPATHIC PREPARATIONS

P P P P

Cymex Cream Lypsyl Lip Balm Vaseline Lip Therapy Vaseline Petroleum Jelly

MOUTHS CONDITIONS

P P P P P

Gengigel Gel Gengigel Mouthwash Iglu Gel Oralmedic Sticks Pyralvex Solution

NASAL DROPS & SPRAYS

Many of these contain glucose which could derived from chametz sources. Where prescribed and urgently required, however, they may be used, as they are inedible and not taken by mouth. The products listed are known to be free of glucose.

Dymista Mometasone Pollinosan Rhinolast Rinatec Sterimar Vicks Decongestant

NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT

See www.passover.isitkosher.uk.

ORAL HYGIENE

Toothpastes not containing Sorbitol are permitted, for example Colgate Total Advanced Whitening, Oral B 3D White Luxe Blast and Sensodyne Repair & Protect Sensitive.

P Corsodyl Original Mouthwash NP Corsodyl Mint Mouthwash NP Corsodyl Alcohol Free Mint Mouthwash NP Corsodyl Spray NP Listerine All Products P Reach Dental Floss Unflavoured KLBD-P Steins Mouthwash S-P Zohar Mouthwash

PAIN KILLERS

All pain killers in tablet form are permitted. Soluble and effervescent tablets should be avoided, as they may contain ingredients derived from wheat.

P Anadin Extra Caplets P Anadin Ibuprofen Tablets P Anadin Joint Pain Tablets P Anadin Original Caplets P Anadin Paracetamol Tablets P Co Codamol Tablets (not effervescent) P Hedex Extra Tablets P Hedex Tablets P Nurofen Express Caplets P Nurofen Tablets P Paracetamol Tablets P Panadol Tablets P Solpadeine Max Tablets (not soluble) P Solpadeine Plus Tablets (not soluble) P Veganin Tablets

Due to the large number of homeopathic preparations on the market it is impossible to list individual items. If you are receiving a homeopathic treatment from a practitioner, you should ask them to ascertain the source of your remedies.

PAIN KILLERS JUNIOR

TABLETS & GRANULES (e.g. those produced by Weleda and Nelson) Some are formulated with lactose which is Dairy.

Single dose powders from Don Harrisson also contain lactose. Such preparations should not be used together with or after meat.

Lozenges and throat sweets usually contain ingredients such as glucose, which may be derived from wheat and should be avoided. The following can be used as an alternative.

P Difflam Oral Rinse P Difflam Sore Throat Rinse P Difflam Spray P TCP Original Liquid

LIQUIDS These are often formulated with ethyl alcohol. This can be derived from wheat and should be avoided unless source of alcohol has been verified.

The following items have been checked: P Ainsworths Liquid P Goulds Liquid* P Goulds Solid (these are not lactose based) NP Helios Liquid NP Nelsons Liquid D Nelsons Solid NP Weleda Liquid NP Weleda Solid *Available from Goulds Homeopathic Chemist.

Tel 020 8343 1735 or 020 3632 1685.

INDIGESTION & ULCERS

P P P P P P P P P

Bisodol Extra Strong Mint Tablets Bisodol Indigestion Relief Tablets Carbellon Tablets Enterosgel Sachets Enterosgel Tube Gaviscon Advance Liquid Gaviscon Cool Liquid Gaviscon Liquid Peptac Liquid

INFANT COLIC

P Colief Infant Drops P Dentinox Infant Colic Drops NP Gaviscon Infant Sachets One can use 2ml of Gaviscon Adult Liquid, added to the feed or on its own in place of one sachet.

P Infacol Drops

LIP CARE

P P P

Blistex Relief Cream Carmex Lip Balm Chapstick

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

None are suitable for Pesach, but see special note above about medication for children. Paracetamol suppositories may be used as an alternative.

SORE THROATS

VITAMINS

Many vitamin preparations used to be derived from wheat sources. This is less common now, especially in solid dose preparations. Most do contain Kitniyot however and therefore should only be used in cases of necessity. Many people will be using vitamins and supplements at the moment, due the coronavirus pandemic. The general rule is to avoid liquid or chewable supplements where possible.

Those which are swallowed whole may be used if required. See full listing of approved products at www.passover.isitkosher.uk.

Cytoplan UK

Choline Bitartrate Powder Biotin Tablets Cherry C Capsules Multi B Extra Tablets Vitamin B6 Tablets Vitamin C Bioflavonoids Capsules Vitamin C Calcium Ascorbate Powder

Pure Encapsulations

Cranberry NS Capsules Curcumin Capsules Emotional Wellness Capsules Folic Acid Capsules Multi T D Capsules SP Ultimate Capsules Uric Acid Formula Capsules Vitamin B12 Capsules Zinc Capsules

Vitamins 4 You (Tel: 0161 792 0398, Email info@vitamins4you.co.uk) Maternal Care Capsules Multicare Capsules

Zahler Vitamins (Tel: 020 7112 5200)

38 SUPPLEMENT

Pesach Shopping & Takeaways 2021 KLBD are excited to offer you a wide range of options to help you with shopping and buying ready-made food for Pesach this year in the safest and most convenient ways possible.

Takeaways: 1070 Kitchen Tel: 020 7624 2013 office@1070kitchen.co.uk www.1070kitchen.co.uk Ben Tenenblat Tel: 020 8205 0463 info@ben-tenenblat.com www.ben-tenenblat.com Hello Kosher Brought to you by Eat Me Events and Jason Millan.

Tel: 020 8167 1680 hellokosherlondon@gmail.com www.eatmeevents.com/pesach Hermolis Tel: 020 8810 4321 sales@hermolis.com www.hermolis.com Itzik Caterers Tel: 020 8438 9891 Mob: 07971 056543 info@itzikcaterers.com www.itzikcaterers.com Jasmine Catering Tel: 020 8951 0100 info@jasminecatering.co.uk www.jasminecatering.co.uk Just Kosher Tel: 020 8207 5556 info@justkosher.co.uk www.justkosher.co.uk Kosher Candy King Tel: 07552 343901 yosiebh@sky.com Kosher Deli Order Line: 020 8381 4450 info@kosherdeli.co.uk www.kosherdeli.co.uk La Fiesta Golders Green Tel: 020 8458 0444 Litke Caterers Tel: 020 3332 0555 catering@litke.co.uk www.litke.co.uk Royale Cuisine Tel: 020 8808 3316 info@royalecuisine.co.uk www.royalecuisine.co.uk

Fishmongers: Leveyuson Tel: 020 8202 7834 Nat Jacobs Tel: 020 8958 5585 sales@natjacobs.co.uk www.natjacobs.co.uk

Shopping:

Kosher Deli Tel: 020 8953 9713 Delivery service offered throughout London.

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the following products are certified Kosher for Passover – ‫כשר לפסח‬

Tate Tate & Lyle & Tate Lyle Sugar Tate & Sugar Lyle & Sugar Lyle Sugar Granulated, Granulated, Granulated, Caster, Granulated, Caster, Preserving Caster, Preserving Caster, Preserving and Preserving and Demerara Demerara and Demerara and Demerara

Sugar Tate & Lyle Sugar

Kosher Deli Tel: 020 8905 4423 See more details above

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‫ושמח‬ ‫ושמח‬ ‫ושמח‬ ‫כשר‬ ‫כשר‬ ‫ושמח‬ ‫חג‬ ‫כשר‬ ‫כשרחג‬ ‫חג חג‬

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Dayan Ch. Ehrentreu, Emeritus & Consultant Dayan Dayan M. Gelley Rosh Beth Din Dayan I. Binstock Dayan S. Simons

Kashrut Kashrut DivisionDivision London Kashrut London BethDivision Din, Beth Kashrut 305London Din, Ballards Division 305Beth Ballards Lane, London Din, London Lane, 305 Beth Ballards London N12 Din,8GB, 305 Lane, N12 Ballards United 8GB, London Kingdom United Lane, N12London Kingdom 8GB, United N12 8GB, Kingdom United Kingdom Tel: +44Tel: (0)20 +44 8343 (0)20 6255 Tel: 8343 +44 Fax: 6255 (0)20 +44 Tel: Fax: (0)20 8343 +44 +44 8343 6255 (0)20 (0)20 6254 Fax: 8343 8343 +44 6255 6254 (0)20 Fax: 8343 +446254 (0)20 8343 6254 Email: info@klbdkosher.org Email: info@klbdkosher.org Email: info@klbdkosher.org Web: Email: www.kosher.org.uk Web: info@klbdkosher.org www.kosher.org.uk Web: www.kosher.org.uk Web: www.kosher.org.uk

NESCAFE GOLD NESCAFE BLEND GOLDNESCAFE BLEND NESCAFE GOLD BLEND GOLD BLEND

NESCAFE GOLD NESCAFE BLEND DECAFFEINATED GOLDNESCAFE BLEND DECAFFEINATED NESCAFE GOLD (BlueBLEND Label) GOLD DECAFFEINATED (Blue BLEND Label) DECAFFEINATED (Blue Label) (Blue Label) NESCAFE ORIGINAL NESCAFE (RedORIGINAL label) NESCAFE (Red NESCAFE ORIGINAL label) ORIGINAL (Red label)(Red label) NESCAFE ORIGINAL NESCAFE DECAFFEINATED ORIGINAL NESCAFE DECAFFEINATED NESCAFE ORIGINAL ORIGINAL DECAFFEINATED DECAFFEINATED

Kosher Edge (Formerly known as Mendy’s) Tel: 020 8958 3444 orders@kosheredge.co.uk Golders Green Kosher Kingdom Tel: 020 8455 1429 Open before Pesach 24 hours Kosher Deli Tel: 020 8731 6450 See more details above

Coffee Nescafé

Yorkshire Tea

Passover 2020 – ‫פסח תש"פ‬

Nescafe UK products are certified KLBD-P even though the logo is not currently printed on the packaging.

The product must have an English label and bear the Inkjet Code 1092 (or 0012) on the back

The Kashrus Division of the London Beth Din Gold Blend Gold Blend Decaffeinated Original (Red Label) (KLBD) hereby confirm that the following (Blue Label) product is certified as Kosher for Passover ‫כשר‬ ‫ לפסח‬even though the KLBD-P logo is currently not printed on the product packaging.

‫ושמח‬ ‫ושמח‬ ‫כשר‬ ‫ושמח‬ ‫כשר‬ ‫ושמח‬ ‫כשר חג‬ ‫כשרחג‬ ‫חגחג‬

Kashrut Division London Kashrut BethDivision Din, 305London Ballards Kashrut Beth Lane, Division Din, London 305 Kashrut London Ballards N12Division 8GB, Beth Lane, United Din, London London 305 Kingdom Beth Ballards N12 Din, 8GB, Lane, 305 United Ballards London Kingdom N12 Lane,8GB, London United N12Kingdom 8GB, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)20 8343 6255 Tel: +44 Fax:(0)20 +44 (0)20 8343 8343 6255 Tel:6254 Fax: +44 +44 (0)20(0)20 Tel: 8343+44 8343 6255 (0)20 6254 Fax:8343 +446255 (0)20Fax: 8343+44 6254 (0)20 8343 6254 Email: info@klbdkosher.org Email: info@klbdkosher.org Web: www.kosher.org.uk Email: info@klbdkosher.org Web: www.kosher.org.uk Email: info@klbdkosher.org Web: www.kosher.org.uk Web: www.kosher.org.uk

Hendon

Taylors of Harrogate

Kosher Deli Tel: 020 8202 0402 See more details above Tapuach Tel: 020 8202 5700 sales@tapuach.co.uk www.tapuach.co.uk Delivery is available to the following postcodes only: NW2 / NW3 / NW4 / NW7 / NW9 / NW11 / N3 / HA8 Delivery costs will be calculated at checkout. Delivery is half price for orders over £100. Click & Collect for other postcodes.

Temple Fortune Kosher Deli Tel: 020 8458 7933 See more details above

Online Just Kosher www.justkosher.co.uk See more details above

Original Decaffeinated

(Nestle UK product (Nestle is identifiable UK product by (Nestle an is English identifiable UK label product (Nestle bywith anis UK English UK identifiable product Consumer label isby identifiable with Relations an UK English Consumer by Dept, label an English and with Relations bears UKlabel Consumer Dept, with UK and Relations Consumer bears Dept, Relations and bears Dept, and bears the Inkjet Code 1092 the Inkjet or 0012 Code on the 1092 the 50g or Inkjet size.)

0012Code on thethe Inkjet 1092 50gor Code size.)

0012 1092 on the or 0012 50g size.) on the 50g size.)

YORKSHIRE TEA (Teabags & Leaf Tea. Not Decaff.)

Tea

Salt

Taylors of Harrogate

SAXA

Products are certified KLBD-P even though the logo is not currently printed on the packaging.

Products are certified KLBD-P even though the logo is not currently printed on the packaging.

Yorkshire Tea

Table Salt

(Teabags & Leaf Tea. Not Decaff.)

(all sizes)

‫חג כשר ושמח‬ Kashrut Division London Beth Din, 305 Ballards Lane, London N12 8GB, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)20 8343 6255 Fax: +44 (0)20 8343 6254 Email: info@klbdkosher.org Web: www.kosher.org.uk

KLBD NEWS AND ALERTS IS NOW ON WHATSAPP

Sabeny Tel: 020 3697 3410 www.sabeny.com Exclusively online Delivery Service: £2.45 or Free Delivery over £80.

Tapuach www.tapuach.co.uk See more details above

TO JOIN 1. ADD KLBD NEWS & ALERTS +44 20 8343 6333 TO YOUR CONTACTS

Borehamwood Just Kosher Tel: 020 8207 5556 info@justkosher.co.uk www.justkosher.co.uk Click & Collect Free Delivery Service to: Borehamwood, Radlett, Stanmore, Edgware, Hendon, Golders Green, St Johns Wood, Southgate, Ilford, Cambridge, Bushey, Reading and Oxford.

‫ב"ה‬

Dayan Ch. Ehrentreu, Dayan Ch. Ehrentreu,Dayan Ch. Ehrentreu, Dayan Ch. Ehrentreu, KASHRUT DIVISION KASHRUT DIVISION KASHRUT DIVISION KASHRUT DIVISION Emeritus & ConsultantEmeritus Dayan & Consultant Emeritus Dayan & Consultant EmeritusDayan & Consultant Dayan Rabbi J.D. Conway Director Rabbi J.D. Conway Director Rabbi J.D. Conway RabbiDirector J.D. Conway Director Dayan M. Gelley Rosh Dayan Beth M. DinGelley RoshDayan Beth Din M. Gelley Dayan RoshM.Beth Gelley Din Rosh Beth Din Dayan I. Binstock Dayan I. Binstock Dayan I. Binstock Dayan I. Binstock Dayan S. Simons Dayan S. Simons Dayan S. Simons Dayan S. Simons

Products bear the KLBD-P logo on the packaging.

We also offer a selective range of cooked foods with readymade meals in all our stores and through our dedicated order line on 020 8381 4450 Edgware

‫ב"ה‬

COURT OFCOURT THE CHIEF OF COURT THE RABBI CHIEF COURT OF THE RABBI OF CHIEF THE RABBI CHIEF RABBI BETH DIN,BETH LONDON DIN, BETH LONDON DIN, BETH LONDON DIN, LONDON ‫והמדינהלונדון והמדינה‬ ‫צדק דק"ק‬ ‫לונדון‬ ‫והמדינה דין‬ ‫דק"ק‬ ‫צדק בית‬ ‫לונדון‬ ‫והמדינה‬ ‫בית דין‬ ‫דק"ק‬ ‫לונדון‬ ‫דק"קצדק‬ ‫בית דין‬ ‫בית דין צדק‬

Artisan Gluten Free

2. SEND US A WHATSAPP MESSAGE "PLEASE ADD ME"

Pourtoi Tel: 020 3674 3156 info@pourtoi.co.uk www.pourtoi.co.uk

Search www.passover.isitkosher.uk to see which products are kosher for Pesach this year.

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

RECEIVE KASHRUT ALERTS VIA WHATSAPP MESSAGES AND NEWS OF THE LATEST CERTIFIED PRODUCTS AND SPECIAL OFFERS VIA STATUS UPDATES

SCAN QR CODE

18 MARCH 2021

SUPPLEMENT 39

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PESACH / COVID-19 SUPPLEMENT

Jewish Care bring freedom from loneliness and isolation this Pesach As the country reaches the anniversary of the pandemic, the Jewish community prepare for the second Passover festival in lockdown. The Covid-19 pandemic has unfortunately forced many people to isolate over the last year, exacerbating loneliness and increasing the need for communities to come together and support those who are vulnerable.

Jewish Care has launched an appeal asking the community to help raise funds for the organisation’s Social Work and Community Support Team and Helpline who have been there to help thousands of people in need during the pandemic, and will continSusan with her husband, George ue to be there as the country starts to compassion, advice and guidance, these prepare its way out of this challenging vital services are also helping to keep a period. The organisation needs to raise Jewish connection alive for many older over £150,000 each month to keep these people in our community. services going.

For some people, this will be through Jewish Care’s Helpline has answered 21,000 calls since the start of the pandem- receiving one of the 50,000 hot, kosher meals from the organisation’s Meals ic and the social work team are supporting 1200 clients. As well as providing high- on Wheels service, which have been delivered by volunteers since the start of ly trained, professional support, warmth,

lockdown. 3000 meals are delivered to the community each month.

As well as providing highly trained, professional support, warmth, compassion, advice and guidance, these vital services help to keep a Jewish connection alive for many older people in our community.

The charity has supported many older people to make the transition from their own home or a hospital-stay, into a Jewish Care home where they are expertly cared for and can share in celebrating festivals and Shabbat with a close community.

Susan cared for her husband George on her own for many years.

As his mobility declined, getting out of their first floor flat without a lift became impossible. When Susan could no longer cope alone, she contacted Jewish Care and was put in touch with Tracey from the Family Carers Team and senior social worker, Yvonne.

Together, they guided her through moving George to Jewish Care’s Otto

Schiff care home. Susan says, “Through the pandemic, the staff made sure we stay in touch through phone calls, video calls and now visiting in a booth, keeping George, myself and all the staff safe. After 53 years of marriage, it means so much to me to be able to see him.”

Jewish Care’s Chief Executive, Daniel Carmel-Brown, says, “Jewish Care’s Social Work and Community Support Team and Helpline is there to support lonely and isolated members of the community and those in need, but this service comes at a cost. It receives no Government funding and is completely reliant on the generosity of our community. Jewish Care needs to raise over £150,000 every single month to keep the Social Work and Community Support Service going.

“Jewish festivals can be the loneliest time of year for many people living alone, so please make a donation to help us continue to free our clients from loneliness this Pesach and beyond.”

To donate to Jewish Care’s Pesach Appeal, please visit jewishcare.org/donate or call 020 8922 2600.

N G I T V O E N H C

‫ב''ה‬

est 1989

CHEESE SELECTION BOX NEW

for H PESAC

4 x 80g Mini Sticks

2 x Mild Cheddar

Individually Wrapped

1 x Red Leicester

Available from March 22

1x Double Gloucester

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PESACH / COVID-19 SUPPLEMENT

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Raphael Jewish Counselling Service

Since lockdown started last March, many people’s mental health has been significantly affected. Issues relating to anxiety, isolation and depression have become heightened and intensified during this period. This means that more than ever the services of Raphael Jewish Counselling Service are essential in offering confidential help and emotional support to individuals and couples from across the Jewish community.

BY MICAELA BLITZ Raphael Jewish Counselling Service was established over 40 years ago and in that time has helped many people suffering from emotional distress. In recent years, mental health has become much more widely discussed and latest figures show that one in three British adults seek counselling support at some time in their lives.

Chairman of Trustees, Roberta Coffer, has been involved with the charity for 22 years, first as a counsellor, before taking on her current role. She has seen how the organisation has evolved, yet feels that the essence of what the charity tries to do has remained the same throughout. As she explains: “Raphael has always been about putting the client first and that is central to everything we do. We offer a safe, non-judgemental space that people can talk through whatever is troubling them and find ways to manage it.”

The current situation means that the ‘safe space’ on offer is now more of a virtual space with sessions taking place via Zoom, Skype or phone, rather than the usual Raphael therapy rooms in Edgware. For counsellor Myriam Kamhi, this new way of working has allowed more flexibility in terms of timings so that clients can fit sessions around home schooling, working from home or any other issues that may be facing them in the current period. However, she also recognises that for some clients interacting virtually can be challenging, with many struggling with internet issues, or to find a quiet space to attend a session.

In some instances, clients feel uncomfortable talking about issues relating to their domestic situation or family members whilst in that environment. For those not based in the local area, working virtually has meant that counsellors like Myriam have been able to hold sessions with clients further afield meaning that Raphael are able to cover a wider area and support more people from across the whole community.

When the lockdown first started, the number of people contacting Raphael

18 MARCH 2021

went down for a short time as many adjusted to a new way of doing things and family dynamics changed. Since that initial dip numbers have risen significantly.

Potential clients are either referred via their GP or social worker, or anyone seeking help can also contact Raphael directly via their website or by phone. The intake counsellor is responsible for speaking to all new potential clients to assess the problems they are facing and to find the most suitable counsellor to help them.

After an initial discussion with clients to assess their needs and once a ‘match’ has been made, de-tails will be passed to a counsellor who will then arrange sessions directly with the client. Raphael currently has a team of around 30 counsellors all of whom offer their time on a voluntary basis. The service that is offered is completely confidential and as a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy is bound by its Ethical Framework for Counselling Practice.

For anyone that may be struggling or in distress and may feel in need of support, Myriam en-courages them to contact Raphael so that they can speak to someone in confidence. “Being able to have

weekly counselling sessions on Zoom (in the current climate) creates a safe and private space in which we can meet regularly and think together about what is happening in their lives.”

There is no limit to the number of sessions a client can have, and it is down to the discretion of the client and counsellor to decide this. Sometimes the initial problem someone may be seeking help for leads to other issues which need to be addressed and this is the reason that Myriam feels that it is hugely beneficial to offer open-ended sessions so that the client feels free to explore.

Whilst clients are charged a fee for sessions, Raphael have always maintained that they will never turn anyone away based on their financial situation

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and special provisions can be made for those unable to afford to pay the full cost of their sessions. This is something that Roberta feels is particularly relevant at the moment with many facing financial insecurity and should not impact further on issues that people may be having.

As Clinical Director, Sara Cooper works closely with her team of counsellors offering them one-to-one fortnightly supervision in supervision groups facilitated by professional and experienced supervisors as part of their involvement, to ensure that any issues or questions that may arise can be resolved quickly. The expertise and experience of the counsellors that volunteer for Raphael spans various disciplines, but the main approach across the organisation is non-directive. This means that counsellors work with clients to understand more clearly their own needs and how to meet them. As Myriam explains: “As human beings, there is always that internal pull to help people and give them answers, but our role is to recognise that they can find the answers for themselves and bring about change.”

Sara is always keen to speak to any qualified or trainee counsellors who might be interested in volunteering their time as a counsellor and feels that it is great not only for client’s development, but for counsellors as well. As well as counsellors, Raphael also have an honorary psychiatrist for assessment and also take rabbinic guidance from representatives from across the Jewish spectrum, where necessary.

Like many charities, Raphael is very much dependent on the generosity of their donors and fundraising to be able to continue the work that they do. The current situation has made that more difficult and whilst Roberta remains positive that this will not affect the charity, it cannot be denied that it has added a significant strain. Roberta recognises that whilst Raphael may not have the profile of other larger organisations within the community, the work that they do is vital and hopes that it will continue to grow stronger and be able to help more people in the future. She comments: “Raphael is more than just a charity organisation, but in some respects a family both for the counsellors and volunteers and for those seeking our help. Many clients have said it is a lifeline that has changed their lives.

We want to do the best for them in every way and hope that we can continue to offer them the help and support that they need as and when necessary.”

If you would like to find out more about the work that Raphael does, or how you can get in-volved, please visit - www. raphaeljewishcounselling.org or call 0800 234 6236 Follow them on Facebook page www.facebook.com/raphaeljcs and Twitter @JcsRaphael

18 MARCH 2021

SUPPLEMENT 41

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PESACH / COVID-19 SUPPLEMENT

Seeds of redemption are sprouting

BY ANNA BERGSON Remember the good old days when you were dancing at a Simcha… it didn’t matter whose clammy hand grasped yours as everybody in the circle was equal, a unified mass.

It’s been over a year now and we’ve all been through so much.

With the vaccine roll-out providing a way out of lock-down we are slowly getting back to ‘normal’.

However it’s bizarre that this doesn’t feel anything like our old normal.

Usually when we’ve been through a trauma we allow ourselves time to process the experience - to talk it through, to heal.

However picking ourselves up post-Covid and resuming our business as usual attitude I can’t help feeling there’s an elephant in the room?

Feeling the global pain and suffering over the Covid year I have tried to find a link to each upcoming Yom Tov and Moshiach - surely the time is upon us?!

The Rambam teaches us that in order for Moshiach to come the whole world will be united with the knowledge of Hashem. Never before has the world been so united and connected.

But as each Covid Yom Tov came and went and still no giant Shofar call I’ve had to dig deep, keep yearning and wait patiently…

And then on Monday 22 February Boris Johnson gave his eagerly anticipated Press Conference. Being fashionably late a la Boris style it was left to various commentators to time-fill. I was pacing up and down my kitchen with fingers crossed he would announce re-opening of schools. With the nation tuned in and

listening I stopped in my tracks as one of the top political commentators said (and I quote), ‘Israel is leading the world with its vaccination programme’.

A shiver went down my spine. ‘Israel is leading the world’.

Who would have thought, a small nation, with all the odds against us, we’ve suffered for millennia but yet at the final hurdle of a global war against Covid - Israel is leading the world?!

I was recently directed to more of the Rambam’s teachings on Moshiach and I’ve had to lower my expectations of some giant spiritual event like the Sinai experience (although this is still possible) with something much more subtle. When we plant seeds and watch them sprout it doesn’t happen instantly. It’s a process that takes time. But we know the seeds have embedded in the soil and growing

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

because we see after a few weeks the shoots. And then a few weeks or months later the shoots are even taller and stronger. And it may take a year or years until finally fruits develop and become ripe.

So let’s keep patient, learning, praying, hoping and looking for the subtle signs the Redemption is on it’s way because I for one am ready for a global simcha dance! And I don’t mind who’s obligatorily sanitised hand grasps mine!

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18 MARCH 2021

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PESACH / COVID-19 SUPPLEMENT

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Jewish Women’s Aid

BY MICAELA BLITZ Covid-19 and the lockdown situation has seen a significant increase in reports of domestic abuse against women throughout England and Wales. Being forced to stay at home for long periods has made it harder for victims to escape their abusers and seek the help that they need.

This is also reflected within the Jewish community by Jewish Women’s Aid who have received more calls to their confidential helpline compared to the previous year. The organisation, which supports women and children from the Jewish community, has recorded a 12% rise in the number of women they have supported since April 2020, and a 26% rise in the time spent directly working to support clients. For Naomi Dickson, CEO of JWA, these are worrying trends.

“Lockdown has allowed perpetrators to continue their abusive treatment behind closed doors with less outside intrusion.

With restricted access to the outside world, this also means that women have less opportunity to contact us. We have had to change everything we do as an organisation in order to ensure that as many women as possible can get the help that they need.”

Naomi hopes that the introduction of a new webchat service will be one way to achieve this. The facility which is available on the JWA website means that for

those unable to easily make a phone call to their service, they will still be able to make contact.

The financial impact of lockdown has also affected women in abusive situations and the issue of financial destitution is more significant than ever.

Many women have found that partners have made it impossible to access bank accounts or stopped their credit cards leaving them unable to provide for themselves or their children. In response to this, JWA have set up a Grants Fund to help women in this situation and since the start of lockdown have issued more than 50 grants at a total of £40,000.

Domestic abuse may begin in a small, subtle ways meaning that many women often don’t recognise it as abuse, growing to accept these ‘episodes’ over time

finding their own ways to cope, accept or even excuse this treatment. The nature of abuse can be reflected in different ways whether as sexual, physical or mental abuse, or even as spiritual abuse whereby Jewish laws and teachings are used as a means of control. Research shows that women within abusive relationships often endure their situation for many years before seeking help. Nationally, this can be up to 9 ½ years, but within the Jewish community, this can be closer to 11 ½ years of abuse, and this is something that Jewish Women’s Aid is looking to change by ensuring that as many people as possible know about their services. This is a significant amount of time to undergo such treatment and during that period children may have also been witness to or victims of this behaviour, making

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

the effects even more far-reaching and serious.

Part of the work that JWA does is with communities and leaders from across the Jewish spectrum helping to educate and train them to be able to recognise and understand how to respond if they suspect that this is happening to members of their community. During lockdown, this has been done through virtual talks with synagogues and other community groups to help raise awareness and to highlight the fact that abuse can happen to anyone. A common misconception that they address is that certain factions of the Jewish community may be more likely to facilitate domestic abuse, but research has found that this is not the case.

“Abuse is all about an imbalance of control in a relationship, where the victim is without power. This leads to the perpetrator become the dominant force. It is important to educate people to understand what this abuse looks like so that this behaviour is not tolerated.

We work to help women to overcome potentially harmful situations and rebuild their lives in safety.

Despite not being able to have regular face-to-face sessions, JWA case workers have ensured that sessions are able to take place online and therapeutic toys and other learning materials have been supplied to children at home in order to ensure that lockdown does not affect their progress. For some children experiencing an abusive home environment, lockdown has been particularly difficult.

Without the respite and safety that school often offers, many have been struggling to deal with their situation. In response to this, JWA have introduced a six-week Parental Guidance Programme so that parents are able to effectively understand how they are feeling.

Naomi, who was recently included in the BBC’s annual global 100 Women list for her work supporting women in abusive situations, has worked in this sector for many years and said, “I feel hopeful that we are moving in a direction towards society taking the problem of violence against women and girls more seriously. We see that now, in the outcry in response to the murder of Sarah Everard, who was killed while walking home in south London. If we really speak up, we can make change with a lasting impact.”

If you are worried that you are in an abusive relationship, or you are concerned about a friend or family member, please contact Jewish Women’s Aid in confidence: jwa.org.uk/contact-us

18 MARCH 2021

SUPPLEMENT 43

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PESACH / COVID-19 SUPPLEMENT

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

JTeen supporting Jewish teenagers JTeen, a recently formed charity aimed at supporting the emotional wellbeing of teenagers, held its inaugural event for parents on Sunday night. The theme of the session was “From Lockdown to Freedom – How to Free Your Teen”. Over 200 parents joined the session on Zoom from across the UK to hear inspiring words from Rabbi Moshe Levy, Executive Director of Chazak, Mrs Judith Nemeth, an Educational Consultant and Founder of Al Pi Darko and Yaakov Barr, a highly regarded Psychotherapist and Director and Founder of JTeen.

JTeen’s core service is its text line for teenagers, “JTeen SUPPORT”, which allows teenagers to text completely anonymously and receive support from trained volunteers to assist with dealing with any emotional support, guidance and crisis intervention that they may need. The

extensive volunteer training programme has been devised in collaboration with John Cameron OBE, former Director of the NSPCC and Childine.

In its short time since opening, JTeen has already assisted over 200 teenagers offering support and counselling from qualified therapists where required.

Alongside JTeen SUPPORT, JTeen is working with several Jewish secondary schools across the country to advise on adolescent mental health and it has now, through JTeen PARENTS, began interacting with parents of teenagers as well.

So far, JTeen has rolled out its services across North West London, but plans are in place for the services to be fully available nationally and internationally to English speakers in the coming months.

Commenting on the success of the initial parent event, Yaakov Barr said, “we

Giving job hunters access to technology One of the many challenges that the coronavirus pandemic has highlighted for those seeking employment is a lack of access to technology.

When lockdown began, we at Work Avenue noticed some clients were unable to join our online support services and training programmes due to a lack of equipment.

This was especially true during periods of home-schooling, where the family computer or tablet was often being used to access classes.

To answer this need, we applied to the National Lottery Coronavirus Community Support Fund for a grant to create a digital skills and laptop library. We purchased 15 laptops, which are now loaned out periodically, for free, to our community of jobseekers, who use them for online workshops and seminars, 1;1 guidance and discussions with our team of business and employment advisors, CV creation and job-search activities.

One user of the laptop library is Suzanne – a single mother who was made redundant when Covid first struck.

She said: “I felt scared, uncertain and very

alone.

“I had been thinking of retraining for a while anyway, so instead of falling into a deep despair I resolved to put that idea into action and look upon this as the push I needed to make a change.”

Suzanne signed up for various courses and started talking to Work Avenue for extra support and guidance, but was being slowed down by a creaky old computer.

She added: “The laptop library has been an absolute lifeline for me. It would be a nightmare not to have a computer at the moment as this connects me to other people, allows me to network, helps me with my job-search activities and enables me to join training courses.

“The laptop library is such a great resource for our community, and one I am telling all my friends about.”

To find out more please visit www.theworkavenue.org.uk.

JTeen trustee Avi Barr

were overwhelmed with the number of parents who joined our inaugural session.

Perhaps we shouldn’t have been quite so surprised given the volume of interactions we have had with teenagers through our text service over the last few weeks since we launched at the beginning of February. The current challenges created

by Covid and the associated anxieties of going back to school as well the difficulties that so many teenagers face, whether it be school pressure, social pressure or family pressure, means that we have a crucial role to play in being there for our teenagers – not just those really struggling but any teenager who feels they will be benefit from reaching out to someone who cares and understands what they may be going through.”

LAPTOP LIBRARY If you are struggling to access a computer for your job search or online training, contact us for info about our free Laptop Library service.

Only available to clients in London. Collection only, Finchley Central.

LAPTOP LIBRARY

THEWORKAVENUE.ORG.UK/LAPTOPLIBRARY 020 8371 3280

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Registered Charity 1164762

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18 MARCH 2021

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Zichron Menachem The past year, like for all of us, has been extremely challenging for Zichron Menachem (ZM), who exist to bring joy to children and young people with cancer and their families.

Zichron Menachem (ZM) supports sick children and their families in Israel while they are in hospital or at home, they run a day centre in Jerusalem, as well as camps throughout the year both in Israel and abroad.

Families of all religions and backgrounds turn to ZM for help, be it for information, a second opinion from our “clinic of hope”, or a break from the punishing routine of medical appointments.

Parents and siblings have access to counselling, workshops, respite trips and big brother/big sister programmes, making sure that the entire family is cared for when they need it most.

Every year Zichron Menachem run a summer camp abroad for over 130 young people with cancer. It is an all-expenses-paid trip of a lifetime. For 10 days they tour historical sites, visit local amusement parks and dance and sing every evening.

Chagit Weisberg, who joined the last trip in 2019 said “Every time I call home from here, they laugh. They say, ‘You look so alive! You have strength and energy.’

Things I can’t do at home because I am too weak, I can do here.”

Zichron Menachem works closely with Israel’s leading medical professionals, who strongly believe that no child can be treated comprehensively without the support we provide.

Unfortunately due to Covid – In 2020 our annual pre-Pesach camp which is held in the North of Israel for 3 days was cancelled. This camp gives parents and siblings a chance to get a well-deserved break and get ready for Pesach.

Plans for our annual parents camp in the UK were also well underway before being cancelled in April 2020. This is usually a time to give parents a week’s respite where they can enjoy their time sightseeing London and connect with others suffering in the same way. ‘‘The support that I receive from being together with other mothers that are running between hospital beds and a household of kids gives me a support that no one else can give’’ Mrs Bechor - UK camp 2019 Similarly, our annual summer camp to Europe and our Chanukah camp in Eilat also had to be cancelled.

However Zichron Menachem didn’t let the children down…

In the early days of lockdown, children were never forgotten. In their own special way, the charity arranged for the fire department to deliver cakes and presents

to vulnerable patients who were isolating at home. This was accompanied by our mobile unit that visited with full musical entertainment making wonderful memories and special days to remember.

Throughout lockdown, hundreds of packages filled with books, arts and crafts and treats were distributed to patients and their families all over Israel – bringing brightness to the lockdown gloom.

Until two weeks ago there were no plans for this year’s Pre-Pesach camp.

However, once there was an announcement that hotels in Israel were opening – ZM chairman Chaim Ehrenthal, immediately started planning how he could still try and make the camp happen.

Two machines (approved by Misrad Habriut) were ordered for in-house Covid testing, as well as new medical supplies being purchased for the mobile buses to get everybody to the camp. A hotel was booked and special arrangements were made for outdoor meals. It was decided with the professors and doctors that all counsellors, doctors, nurses and children would have to be tested in their Kupat Cholim and then be retested on Tuesday using our equipment prior to alighting each bus.

Much to our shock, two of our counsellors tested positive in their Kupat Cholim despite having had both vaccinations. It was then decided to test these individuals in-house where they both tested

negative! However, with much debate, it was with huge disappointment, tears and unhappiness that at the last moment the camp had to be cancelled as we just could not take any risks.

Texts of positive encouragement were received by Chaim from parents and counsellors complimenting him on his responsible decision. Eli Seliger, UK chairman said “This was a difficult test for Zichron Menachem – and they have once again passed with flying colours.’’

One of our popular activities are hair parties. It is a time for uniting children that wish to do a positive act of kindness by donating their hair for the making of wigs both in Israel and locally in the UK. In the last month we have been approached four times by young and older members of our community to produce purpose made peyos and sheitels. This is all supplied free of charge with the hair donated by our wonderful young girls.

In addition, these kind girls raise sponsorship towards the cost of manufacturing

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these purpose-made pieces. We pride ourselves on producing personalised wigs – which brings a true sense of humanity back to the sick child. ‘‘Putting on my lace top wig makes me feel like I can go back to school with my friends and look like everyone else, I am so thankful that there are so many kind girls willing to make such a sacrifice to help me feel normal.”

Ora age 12’.

Despite lockdown we are still receiving 4-6 braids of hair a week. As we have no indication when we will be able to host our next haircutting party, we have added a new incentive to this popular campaign – The pamper box. This means that anybody who donates their hair will receive a pamper box of goodies as a thank you.

For more details on the hair campaign or to request a hair pack call 0208 455 6288 or email hair@zichronuk.org. For other general enquiries please call our office 020 8731 8150.

We are grateful to our many supporters in the UK, that enable us to help children and adults with cancer, regain their self-respect and confidence.

Please G-D we should see an end to this pandemic and all of us should be able to get back to a normal life in the very near future. Chag sameach.

18 MARCH 2021

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Whilst you’re stuck at home, unable to get to the hairdressers you can do something amazing to bring a huge smile to the face of a young person with cancer in Israel or the UK. Grow your hair to at least 30cm and raise money with sponsorship. Your lockdown locks will help us make a wig!

Contact us now to receive a fundraising pack, pamper box and your invitation to a virtual hair party. Call 020 8455 6288 or email hair@zichronuk.org www.zichron.org/uk Registered charity number 1102612

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GIFT PESACH 2021

Sunday 21st March: 10am - 2pm

DON’T THROW IT!

GIFT IT!

Hendon:

The GIFT Warehouse, 61-63 Watford Way, NW4 3AX

Golders Green: Pai House, 2A Alba Gardens, NW11 9NR Edgware:

22 Hazel Gardens, HA8 8PB

Borehamwood: 20 Chandos Road, WD6 1UZ

CHOMETZ COLLECTIONS GIFT YOUR UNOPENED CHOMETZ

HGS:

27 Winnington Road, N2 0TP

Stamford Hill:

81 Lordship Road, Stamford Hill, N16 5HF

Monday 22nd/Tuesday 23rd March: 10.30am - 12noon Hendon:

The GIFT Warehouse, 61-63 Watford Way, NW4 3AX

W.Hampstead:

JW3 (side enterance), 341-351 Finchley Road, NW3 6ET

For those shielding who need Pesach shopping

volunteer@jgift.org

YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Due to the unprecedented times, GIFT is responding to the increasing demand for food and practical support within the community.

Please buy extra food items today for THE GIFT PESACH BOX located at the front of your local Jewish store or make a donation.

RIDDLES PUZZLES

an m d i e Z pt Tour A i b gy R agb ient E c n A ical Ma

tz e r e P i b

LEARNING

0 5 .

3 £

at Order esach p / g r o . jgift

Rabh Haggadah Show Pesac

In partnership with Sabeny.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL

0208 457 4429

OR YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE

www.jgift.org/pesach

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GIFT - make a difference

48 COMMUNITY

18 MARCH 2021

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AJR & Project ImpACT LSJS BIG Super Seder Day bridge the generation gap attracts over 450 from Two community organisations have joined forces this week to send care packages to over 300 elderly people to help raise their spirits during lockdown.

The Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR) came up with idea to collaborate with teen volunteering specialists Project ImpACT to benefit their members who are not online and therefore have not been able to join the 300-plus Zoom events held during the past year by AJR. Carol Hart MBE, Head of Volunteer and Community Services for AJR said, “We often get messages from our members telling us how much they enjoy and value our online events, but we realise there are many who are not online and are missing out.

“I asked Project ImpACT if they could help and they had over 60 young volunteers sign up within minutes!” The two organisations held a joint online event which saw AJR member and Kindertransporter Vera Schaufeld talk to the teens about her life while they assembled the packages, which included hand-written cards.

Project ImpACT runs weekly volunteering initiatives for teens supporting a variety of charities. Chayli Fehler, Founder of Project ImpACT said, “We were delighted to help with this initiative. ImpACT teens are a huge credit to the community, volunteering behind the scenes every week for different charities and they are always eager to do more. Within a few days they had packed 300 care packages with personal notes. Our teens continue to display a pride in volunteering for the wider community and this invaluable project which bridged the generations is exactly the sort of meaningful engagement we love to support.”

Jane, a Project ImpACT parent said, “What an incredible session today! Joe and I sat on the edge of our seat listening to Vera’s story. It was so moving, frank and just awe inspiring.

Joe enjoyed packing and the whole thing was a great success in every way. Thanks so much to Project ImpACT for continuing to think up creative ideas that only do good for the

across the world

Leo Wiener, Refugee from Czechoslovakia

The LSJS BIG Super Seder Day took place on Sunday attracting over 450 people from around the world. Offering three different sessions across five slots throughout the day as well as a keynote speech from former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, in conversation with Gila Sacks and Stuart Roden, discussing “The Politics of Freedom - the challenge of strengthening social justice and civic society today and the influence of Rabbi Sacks zt”l”. LSJS President Chief Rabbi Mirvis delivered a wonderful message before the closing sessions for the day. Please see the below copy of the full timetable and details on all the speakers.

Dean of LSJS Rabbi Dr Raphael Zarum said “What Jewish ideas, texts, values, music and art could best help us prepare for Pesach this year? That question was at the

heart of our Super Seder Day.” Joanne Greenaway, LSJS Chief Executive said “LSJS is now reaching more people than ever from across the UK and around the world. I’m so glad we could provide thought-provoking content and help to create positivity and inspiration this Pesach. Having lived through a year of restrictions, we were even better placed to consider the meaning of true freedom.”

Recordings for all sessions were made available for participants so nobody missed out if two speakers they wanted to hear were on at the same time. And for those who didn’t sign up in time you can buy the keynote session from the LSJS shop lsjs.ac.uk For more information on LSJS courses please go to www.lsjs.ac.uk or 020 8203 6427.

Leading peer recalls career Project ImpACT volunteer Olivia

community.”

The packages have been very well-received. Laura Kaye said of her mother Eva Behar, “She is a very happy lady.” Leo Weiner had his care package hand-delivered by his step great-niece Hannah, and was very grateful to receive it. Carol Hart said, “I have been inundated with phone calls this morning from members who are so appreciative of this small gesture and can’t thank AJR and Project ImpACT enough. It’s been a great initiative. These care packages are a small way to let those members know they are not alone and we are thinking of them”

Rabbi Jonathan Hughes interviews Lord Peter Levene for US in the City

BY ADAM MOSES

07807 254 142

020 8455 7246

mail@nlscaffolding.co.uk NO JOB TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL www.nlscaffolding.co.uk

Over 100 people attended an online conversation with Lord Peter Levene.

The distinguished businessman, former government adviser and Lord Mayor of London was taking part in a video interview with Rabbi Jonathan Hughes of the United Synagogue in The City.

Lord Levene recalled highlights of an impressive career from living in Willesden, through his time at City of London School and work in the City, where, as well as becoming Lord Mayor, he was Chairman of Lloyd’s of London.

In addition, Lord Levene was a leading adviser to the Government on defence issues.

He also offered career tips, such as “using a direct approach” and “always focusing on the issue at hand”.

Rabbi Hughes said, “It was a privilege to speak with Lord Levene whose unique life

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story and achievements are something to behold. I know that the interview was very well received by many watching live online and on social media subsequently. US in The City continues to go from strength to strength.”

The event took place on US tv and Facebook, and forms part of an outreach program run by Rabbi Hughes, Minister of Radlett Synagogue and promoter of the US in The City.

Axiom Stone Solicitors hosted and promoted the event, which was organised by the law firm’s chairman, Jonathan Metliss, a Patron of US in The City.

“Rabbi Hughes runs the City programme and is an enthusiastic supporter,” noted Metliss. “This was an excellent, entertaining match and another successful well attended US in the City event. Axiom were pleased to sponsor and support it.”

Metliss is also involved with many other Jewish groups and charities.

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18 MARCH 2021

GIFT prepares for Pesach Pesach is all about the sedarim; matzah, marror, the four cups and delicious Festival meals. This year GIFT has encountered a record number of households that will not have the same opportunities to celebrate the Festival. GIFT continues to empower and enable volunteers with a number of vibrant opportunities and has stepped in to ensure that many more people will enjoy Pesach in the best way possible.

GIFT volunteers have been extremely busy this week packing and delivering thousands of pounds worth of support packages containing Kosher for Passover food.

In partnership with the Magen Avot Community and Twogether UK, a YP association dedicated to help Jewish charities in France and in the UK, GIFT will also be distributing thousands of catered meals to those most vulnerable, together with seder plates, generously sponsored by the Yoni Jesner Foundation. GIFT also wishes to thank their Pesach partners Sabeny, who in addition to donating food items, are also inviting their online Pesach store customers to donate to GIFT.

GIFT getting ready for Pesach deliveries

CONSIDERING ALIYAH? Join hundreds of British Olim making their Aliyah dream a reality.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT

DOV NEWMARK: dov@nbn.org.il www.nbn.org.il 0800-075-7200

WORKING IN COOPERATION TO BUILD A STRONGER ISRAEL THROUGH ALIYAH

Every one of us, together

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In order to restock its depleting food bank, GIFT is also running a food drive on Sunday 21st March at various locations across London & Manchester and is appealing to the community to drop off their in-date, non-perishable food donations. More information can be found on jgift.org/Pesach.

Also on this day, GIFT is running a free one day virtual children’s camp, filled with educational content, arts and crafts, a virtual magical ancient Egypt Tour, story time and an exciting game show.

An additional Pesach treat for children is an activity book that GIFT has produced filled with fun and educational activities to keep children stimulated and educated over the Pesach break.

GIFT wishes to thank the community for partnering and investing with them to develop a mindset of giving whilst supporting those in need.

For more information about any of GIFT’s activities over Pesach, contact the GIFT office or check out jgift.org/pesach

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18 MARCH 2021

Joseph Winton celebrates 102 years Born 2 March 1919, Joseph Winton recently celebrated his 102nd birthday with a visit from his daughter, Daniella, birthday Zooms and cake with fellow residents and staff, at Jewish Care’s Lady Sarah Cohen House, where Joseph has lived since June 2017. Joseph has two children, Philip and Daniella, and three grandchildren.

Joseph was born after World War I and lived through World War II. His parents Yiska and Shlomo Weissberg, a tailor, escaped Lodz, Poland in 1920 with his sister Rosette and then had his brother Jacques three years later in Brussels. In World War II, when the Nazi’s invaded Belgium, Joseph’s sister joined the Underground. Joseph and Jacques fled the country, hiding on a train for nine days and nights arriving in Toulouse, France and then hid on a transatlantic ship helped by an officer in the Polish Army, boarding without knowing their destination.

They arrived in Plymouth travelling by train to London and were taken to Chelsea Barracks to be interviewed by Scotland Yard, Joseph and Jacques were then allowed to make their way to family in the East End. Joseph joined the Royal Army Ordinance Core, making the most of his multi-lingual skills in German, French and Flemish, to work in communications. Joseph’s brother, Jacques and his brother in

Joseph celebrating his birthday

Joseph during his National Service

law, also Joseph, joined the French Army and also survived the War. After the War, Joseph began a business as an agent for French Ladies Designer Fashion house called Desarbre and then ran a business selling unique Trefousse leather gloves, which were supplied to Her Majesty the Queen.

He met Ann Ahuva Armon in 1957, who was living in Israel and grew up in

Manchester. Marrying soon after they met on 20th March 1957, they were together for 59 years, living in St Johns Wood then moving in 1960 to Fitzalan Road in Finchley where they had Philip in 1961 and Daniella in 1965.

Many years later, Ann moved to Lady Sarah Cohen House, where he would visit her each day, as well as attending Jewish Care’s Michael Sobell Community Centre

in Golders Green to make new friends, dividing his time between his wife and his grandchildren, until Ann sadly passed away in February 2016 and Joseph moved to Lady Sarah Cohen House in 2017, where he also celebrated his 100th birthday with a big party and a card from The Queen.

Talking about his birthday this year, Joseph said, ‘It’s a perennial thing! I loved my personalised card that sits in my office.

I always smile and my advice is to live a healthy life, try to do the right thing and be content with what you have.”

Joseph’s daughter, Daniella Winton added, “We were delighted to have the pod to visit dad on his 102nd Birthday which of course is a very special occasion. We brought cards, a cake, some big balloons, presents and this all really made his day or as he would say it made him “tickled pink”.

“It was a big comfort to us and he enjoyed every moment. Since then, the following week it was my birthday and on that day it was also my first visit in over a year where I could go into his room and hold his hand and that was my best birthday present of course. All in all, my dad remains happy, healthy and positive which is a testament to the incredible staff at Jewish Care who have kept him so well cared for and nurtured during this very difficult time. Thank you so much Jewish Care.”

The Machzikei Hadass community in Manchester arranged a Shmurah Matza collection this past Sunday in a Covid-safe environment.

Manchester King David Primary School Year 6 held a WW2 day on Friday 12th March. This was to consolidate their learning on WW2. The children were split into different “families” and were evacuated together and completed many different challenges including spitfire plane making, food rationing and code breaking.

In the afternoon they practiced air raid sirens, completed army marching, danced ‘The Lambeth Walk’ and held a medal ceremony.

Shmurah Matzah collection

Isabella, Nyla, Bebe, and Benjamin dressed for WW2

PHOTO: LAWRENCE PURCELL.

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PHOTO: LAWRENCE PURCELL.

54 FEATURE

18 MARCH 2021

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From the front line…

BY JACQUELINE CURZON Danny Mortimer, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, warns that without corrective action the unofficial backlog of NHS patients waiting for treatment will be close to 7 million by the end of this year. He says there was a backlog of 4.5 million patients, 224,000 of whom had been waiting for more than a year for treatment. This compared to 1,500 at the end of 2019. The NHS have been adamant all along that they were not running a covid-only service, but tell that to the 7 million who are waiting.

As well as delays to elective treatments, experts are increasingly worried again about the impact on cancer services, where patients were promised Jacqueline Curzon that their treatment would be ‘unaffectPHOTO: LARA MINSKY PHOTOGRAPHY ed.’ More than 3 million people in the UK have missed cancer screening as a result of coronavirus and a recent study said that hospitals were wrong to tell cancer patients to postpone treatment.

Too right! If you have cancer you're on a ‘watch and wait,’ but you know what the endgame is. Very few people will be cured or achieve remission; meanwhile mercy of a sinking NHS? Between March the Big C is not having a holiday - the villainous little mutations are just plotting new and December last year there was a drop of pathways to destroy you, whilst shaking 90,000 breast cancer referrals, and estimates indicate 11,000 cases of cancer have hands with the dreaded coronavirus on the likely been missed. These ladies are not way. Between them, they’re going to take unique - and I only see people in chemo in out an awful lot of people. As a person who one hospital, on one day a fortnight. How has cancer and has also had covid twice, I many others are out there? can tell you I’ve been far more concerned Derek Draper (53), husband of Good about the cancer ripping my life to shreds Morning Britain presenter Kate Garraway, than I was about having a virus which is, in is still in Intensive Care with long covid. most cases, generally not life threatening.

When he was admitted to hospital last I know covid has brought a massive death toll across the globe; but do spare a thought March he was placed into a medically induced coma, before waking up in July. He for those with cancer, where so many will has remained in hospital for the past year, die. with doctors saying he is the sickest person I made a comparison on covid versus they have treated. The virus has left him cancer deaths - you’ll be surprised. The numbers following relate to the totals across severely damaged, with him now having the UK, Europe and worldwide. From covid diabetes, holes in his heart and lungs, and pancreatic, liver and kidney damage, this the figures over the past year are 124,000 aside from having lost 8 stone. Kate has / 853,000 / 2.6 million. From cancer the yet to be able to visit her husband, due to annual figures are 166,000 / 1.2 million / coronavirus restrictions, although she has 10 million.* 10 million is equivalent to the seen him on video. Our hearts go out to entire population of Sweden or Israel, so Mr Draper, who is one of 186,000 people forgive me for stressing that we must not suffering from long covid, and we wish him take our finger off the pulse of cancer. The a complete recovery. biggie is breast cancer, where the numbers The international press has been overreach 2.25 million cases worldwide. What’s the outlook for those women out there who flowing with incendiary comments, following Harry and Meghan's audience with haven’t been called in for routine mammograms, or whose appointments and referOprah in the royal kingdom of Hollywood. rals were cancelled during the pandemic?

Now, there’s nothing wrong with voicing Come to think of it, even those who have opinions, in fact freedom of speech should had [mammograms] may not feel entirely be an inviolable right of society, but I was confident either… I met 2 ladies recently in disappointed to read that the executive chemo who had negative mammograms director of the Society of Editors (a body for and then discovered soon after they had the UK Press) has resigned following a row advanced cancer (secondaries) in their over reaction to his comments on racism. spine. Have we reached a point where, if we Ian Murray said he would step down from don’t take ourselves off for private health his role following reaction to their strongly worded statement. He claimed it was checks or investigations, we are at the

Too great haste leads to error (Moliere)

intended in the context that allegations have to be supported. Piers Morgan has also quit his position on Good Morning Britain, rather than apologise for his personal view, which was that he did not believe much - or any - of what the Duchess said. We're living in very worrying times when a voice of dissent is not permitted, regardless of whether it's in politics, social media, in university debating societies or in the press.

A fascinating insight into the Royals was found online a day later, under the pen of Peaches Golding, currently the Lord Lieutenant of Bristol. She has worked with the Royal Family for 25 years and she describes how impressed she has been with Charles’ desire to ‘champion diversity’ and multiculturalism, ‘working tirelessly to improve opportunities for ethnic communities.’

She says the Queen also prioritises relationships within the Commonwealth countries. I am inclined to believe this.

Oh, and did I mention she is also black, so I suppose her views are equally as pertinent as those of Meghan - perhaps even more accurate and valid.

I take the opportunity here of appealing to London parents who are involved with, or otherwise support, Hasmonean High School. Four of my own children have attended it, our decision based on the quality Kodesh and Chol curriculum it provides. The Boys School has been in its present location for 40 years, and the premises are tired, outdated and lacking capacity for growth. The Hasmo MAT originally proposed new premises, which was ultimately refused permission by Sadiq Khan. The school then offered a compromise, and tried to enable the relocation, but with additional covid strictures this looks virtually impossible. Hasmonean would appreciate our community requesting that the Mayor now permit the original scheme to proceed. If you are supportive of this, please email mayor@london.gov.uk and cc jules.pipe@london.gov.uk, expressing your disappointment in the Mayoral decision.

Thank you, on behalf of myself, the Trustees, the Building Committee and most especially, the students.

Dame Cressida Dick, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, is under fire by members of the public for intervening in the vigil held on Clapham Common, following the tragic death of Sarah Everard. Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, has ordered an urgent independent review. This smacks of hypocrisy when all political parties effectively bought into the government’s covid lockdown timetable, but now want a scalp for the police action, to appease public indignation. You can’t cut it both ways. Either there is a lockdown or there isn’t! The Commissioner has defended her decision, which was understandable in the context of the current covid climate. We have to allow the police to enforce the law, to do their job,

if we allow Parliament to ban gatherings.

Breaking news is that protests will now be allowed from March 29, which is great news for the more militant amongst us, but I think it’s a knee jerk response, as of course you can’t resume dance, ballet or sports training until mid April or later, and you absolutely cannot go into a coffee shop until May 17th. Let’s not forget those businesses gone under by following government guidelines. Who makes this nonsense up?

It was disingenuous for Boris to say he was ‘deeply concerned’ about it, since he set the lockdown wheels in motion and has been compliant in moving the goalposts every time the scientists sneezed.

Last week a report by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary criticised the police for being too soft on disruptive protesters such as Extinction Rebellion. It’s an uncomfortable truth that they also stood well back when BLM protests were in full flow, and when antisocial mobs were vandalising buildings or pulling down statues. Yet they stepped in this time, and like the teddy bears’ beds, it’s often impossible to get it right; too soft - too hard. Either way, the police are criticised.

What we really need to see is consistency, Dame Cressida. A further point about the protests was that Ms Everard was not the first victim to suffer a ‘stranger’ attack.

There was no vigil in honour of the others, and sadly Sarah will not be the last.

We have heard calls for a male curfew, which is preposterous, and seen announcements that undercover police will be sent to nightclubs and bars to gather intelligence on predators, along with a decision by No. 10 to spend £45 million on additional street lights and CCTV, which surely smacks of a woke response. I absolutely don’t belittle women’s safety, but don’t we already live with our every move captured on camera?

Whilst these initiatives are, at first glance, commendable, there is a serious backlog of medical procedures and treatments outstanding, aside from the impossible uphill struggle to physically access a GP. Go back to my opening paragraph and the numbers waiting for treatment… But hey, I don’t write policy.

So, I've decided - from April, I’m going to go to Cirque le Soir for treatment. The chemo staff can come hook me up once I’m inside, on the dance floor.

Finally, a lovely piece of news. France is to return Rosiers sous les Arbes, a 1905 oil painting by Gustav Klimt, to the descendants of Nora Stiasny, a well known Austrian Jewess. Stiasny was forced to sell it by the Nazis for a meagre price in 1938. The Klimt - the only one in France - has been hanging in the Musee d’Orsay in Paris since 1980.

Love Jacqueline x * [source: GLOBOCAN 2020]

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Say No to Bullying

BY YAAKOV BARR It’s something we hope will never happen to our children, but bullying has existed throughout the ages and never has its threat been greater.

WHAT IS BULLYING?

Bullying is an act of repeated aggressive behaviour in order intentionally to hurt another person, physically or mentally.

Bullying is characterized by an individual behaving in a certain way to gain power over another person. But the term “bullying” is often misused. The word “bully” may conjure up images of a 9-year-old kicking a 7-year-old for bothering him. But teenagers experience bullying, too, and research shows it can be a major cause for depression and (chas’v sholom) worse... The teenage years are when a person is developing self-identity and unfortunately, it’s in this fragile state that bullying can has the most destructive impact.

Yoni was overweight. He had been so for as long as he could remember but it was only around the time of his 17th birthday that it had become a real factor in his life. It started when one of the popular boys in his shiur in yeshiva called him ‘fatty’ and then before he

knew it, it had caught on and the whole shiur referred to him as ‘fatty.’ Every day it would happen a few times, perhaps a friend saying, ‘Good morning fatty’ or ‘Can I borrow a pen, fatty,’ but each time the word ‘fatty’ would ring in his ears throughout the long day. He pretended that he didn’t care and tried to ignore it but it was impossible. Yoni started to lose his self-confidence and sometimes cried into his pillow as he thought about how ugly he was. He began hating yeshiva and himself.

What makes bullying so dangerous is the shame that the victims often feel and consequently their reluctance to reach out and tell someone about what is happening. Sarah was one such girl.

Even though it was thirty years ago, Sarah vividly remembers the time she felt the first pinch.

The teacher had just announced that she had got the top mark and suddenly she felt a sharp pain in her arm. She yelped in pain and everyone laughed. Sarah instinctively knew who had hurt her. The pinch came from the girl sitting behind her, a girl who was bigger than anyone else and who was jealous of Sarah.

This was the first of hundreds, if not thousands, of pinches she would have to endure over a three-year period. Nobody knew, only at night did Sarah stare at the little red blotches on her

skin. Sarah remembers the fear, the fear of telling her teachers, the fear of speaking to her parents, the fear that everyone would laugh at her and the fear of coming to school each day.

Today Sarah is happily married but still bears the scars from all those years before, not on her skin but deep inside her heart.

CYBER BULLYING

The technological world in which we live has created a new form of bullying called cyber bullying. This new type of bully can attack his victim any time of the day or night, often without revealing their true identity.

Cyber bullies can create insulting web pages, send harassing emails, texts or post negative comments, all with the touch of a button or the click of a mouse. Sometimes it might begin as a joke, but once something goes into cyber-space it can never be retracted and the joke quickly becomes someone else’s nightmare.

WHAT PARENTS CAN DO TO HELP THEIR TEENAGERS DEAL WITH BULLYING

If you notice anything wrong with your child try to discuss it with them. It’s essential to be on your child’s side and not to diminish or undermine the pain they are feeling.

Throw out any of you own outdated beliefs about bullying which you may have. It is not

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a normal part of childhood and your child does not need to toughen up. Bullying is a despicable behaviour that should not be tolerated. Speak to your child’s teachers and seek professional advice if you are worried about your child’s emotional wellbeing.

JTEEN

Many teens don’t feel comfortable sharing with a parent or teacher. These are the years where they want to feel independent and a sense of belonging. Jteen is a new charity set up with the support of Rabbonim to help teens completely anonymously and confidentially reach out and seek emotional support and guidance from trained volunteer counsellors and therapists. If your teen is struggling to share their pain and emotional challenges, then encourage them to reach out to Jteen.

Yaakov Barr is a psychotherapist, clinical supervisor and Director of Jteen.

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ASK THE RABBI

Looking for answers? Send your question to Rabbi@RabbiSchochet.com IS IT RIGHT FOR JEWS TO CALL OUT JEWS? Dear Rabbi, What are your thoughts and comments concerning the furore about publicising the holding of weddings and other simchas in defiance of the lockdown regulations that only exist for the protection of the whole population?

What does the Torah say about Jewish people who publicise the wrong practices of other Jewish people or Jewish organisations in order to protect oneself and/or one’s family from harm, risk and danger?

Is one still expected to keep quiet? What does the Torah say about situations like this?

Melvyn Dear Melvyn You ask a fair question and I will try to be as fair as possible in my response. Those who were breaching lockdown were committing a range of violations. 1) They were putting themselves and others at risk.

That in itself is a violation of the Biblical precept, “and you shall be exceedingly careful to guard your life.” 2) They were breaking the law of the land which is also a halachic violation. 3) Once the secular media gets hold of it, then of course that gets picked up by the national secular media and that then becomes a Chilul Hashem – bringing the Jewish people into ill repute. For the record, the caterers and others who facilitate these events are assisting in facilitating a sin (misaya’a l’dvar avaira) so they too are doing wrong.

Focussing in particular on point

number 3 – were the secular media not to expose it, would the Chilul Hashem have ensued? If someone is a victim of an anti-Semitic attack on account of what was reported in the papers, is the paper responsible or those who enabled the story in the first instance? Can you shoot the messenger?

The bigger question here is whether the secular paper did it with all good intentions to put paid to the breaches and risks (they didn’t – they merely forced it deeper underground), or did they do it because it’s a story?

Would they have reported it even if it was a whole group of secular Jews celebrating in Knightsbridge or is it more of a story because it involves Charedim and there may be an anti-Charedi bias? There are more questions here than the four asked at Seder night. Suffice it to say, however, one reporter from a secular paper did call me to have an off the record conversation because he was most perturbed that his own paper sold out some fellow Jews.

ANOTHER PESACH IN LOCKDOWN Dear Rabbi Another Pesach in lockdown. I need some inspiration, please.

And I know others will benefit from some words of wisdom from you as well.

Faye Dear Faye The Jewish commitment to celebrating Pesach is strong. Even in the most difficult situations, our ancestors have found ways to mark the occasion. Vaihingen

Pirkei Avot In this week’s chapter, we learn the importance of davening properly. Rabbi Shimon tells us that we must be very careful about saying Krias Shema and davening at the proper times.

He urged us to make our davening heartfelt, rather then simply reciting mere lip service out of habit.

There is a beautiful story of the Arizal who used to daven with extraordinary intensity over the high holidays. One year it was revealed to him that the Rosh Hashanah davening of a certain man in a certain town had reached even higher

Concentration Camp, Pesach 1943. One camp resident, Moshe Perl related: “The people in the camp were already used to their miserable situation. They saw death before their eyes.

But they asked, “Where could we get flour? How could we bake matzah?” “Shortly before Passover, one of the SS men in the camp entered my workshop, where I painted signs. He asked me to make dummy targets for target practice. Just then, an idea flashed through my mind. I claimed that I would need flour, lots of flour, to paste the pictures of soldiers on the targets. He asked how much flour. I said that I would need five kilograms.

He liked my suggestion and immediately gave me an appropriate referral.” The Jews of the Vaihingen Concentration went to work baking the matzah in secret, even though they knew that they would die if they were caught. They baked the matzah in the oven in Perl’s workroom, keeping the door and windows sealed. When the night of the Seder came, twenty Jews managed to pull off a Seder, where aside from the matzah they ate potatoes and drank homemade “wine” which consisted of water and sugar. They even managed to read the Haggadah. While the Nazis succeeded in destroying so many Jewish lives, they failed to destroy the Jewish life from these Jews on that Passover.

There may be a part of you thinking, “If the grandchildren or cousins are not attending, or if I can’t have my friends over, maybe I should just cancel the Seder this year. After all, everything seems to be cancelled.” Such feelings are understandable, but we

cannot allow them to dictate our behaviour.

If we go back to the very first Passover, we learn that while the Jews ate the Paschal lamb while still in Egypt, they were quarantined at home (with the extended family). They were not allowed to leave home the entire Passover evening. There were no communal elements to this ritual. The reason: Although they were about to become a nation, they needed to realise that there was something special and unique about their individuality, about the people with whom they shared the same living space. Nations

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

Please daven for Shmuel Eliezer ben Perel who is in an induced coma with Covid in Antwerp. levels then his!

Greatly intrigued, he set off for the town and asked the individual what he did during his prayers that had made such an impression up in Heaven. Embarrassed the man replied that there must be a mistake as he can’t even read the whole Alef Beis, only the first ten letters from Alef to Yud! When pressed by the Arizal, he admitted that when he went into shul he was upset to see everyone praying with such fervour whilst he couldn’t read. He decided to at least do the best he could by reciting over

Perek 2: Mishna 13

and over again the first ten letters with feeling and devotion to Hashem.

We see clearly from this story how important it is to pray with the heart!

Rabbi Shimon ends the Mishnah by urging us not to consider ourselves as a wicked person as this leads to depression and apathy. In a week where we have once again seen tragic news in one of our schools, the issue of mental health can not be swept under the carpet, rather like they did way back in the days of pirkei avot, it must be addressed properly to help save lives.

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tend to swallow up individuals, and this is why this family-based message was so important.

This has particular resonance for us all. Like last year, once more we are going back to the original! This year, G-d wants something else from us. Let’s live up to the challenge. G-d desires our hearts. He knows what we are going through. He knows the enormity of the challenge.

When we rise to the challenge, even if not quite as splendid as in previous years, He takes notice, derives pleasure, and reciprocates in abundance. Next year indeed in Jerusalem!

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Corona Diary #26 Time After Time

BY RABBI MOSHE TARAGIN Jewish holidays recount seminal moments of Jewish history. These annual celebrations shape our collective memory just as they animate our common future. The celebration of our history creates eternal meaning for Jews across the generations and across the globe. As these celebrations are timeless and transcend time and place, we wouldn’t assume that the weather of Pesach would be significant. Surprisingly, the Torah binds Pesach to the spring season; by designating that Pesach be celebrated during ‘chodesh ha’aviv’ or spring, the Torah tethers Pesach to a particular season. To ensure that Pesach coincides with spring, it is necessary to periodically adjust the Jewish calendar by adding an extra month.

Synchronizing Pesach and spring is valuable enough to mandate calendar adjustment. It is striking that a seasonal backdrop should so deeply shape the celebration of Pesach- even to the point of altering the calendar. We would assume that a historical event such as Pesach should cycle independent of seasonal factors.

This twining of Pesach with the spring season, showcases that Pesach isn’t merely a miracle of liberation but also a moment of national revival. Prior to our slavery in Egypt, we had already assumed our status as G-d’s chosen, and our small nation had already launched its mission of representing G-d in our world. The initial success described in the book of Bereishit was stunted by our journey to Egypt and our descent into slavery. For more than two centuries of persecution, the Jewish ‘project’ went into hibernation. The Jewish spirit was broken

by Egyptian oppression as our people fell into national and historical irrelevancy.

Suddenly, G-d revived this dream and restored our mission. This Pesach awakening revived ancient promises and reawakened a mission which had been slumbering for two centuries. Suddenly, Jewish history was once again alive and promising. For this reason, the Pesach revival occurred just as the revival of Nature began. During spring, Nature revives her strength and bounces back to life. The holiday of hope and vision occurred just as Nature herself became reinvigorated with life and vitality.

This parallel between historical and natural revival must be forever maintained - even at the cost of calendar adjustment.

The ‘spring renaissance’ isn’t merely a backdrop to Pesach or a prop to help us more deeply experience the restorative nature of Pesach. Readying us for redemption in Egypt, G-d’s first command was to establish a separate Jewish calendar- which would launch in Nissan and not in Tishrei.

Living two parallel calendars creates two parallel ‘modes’ to our lives. We are all born of flesh and blood and all inhabit a concrete natural world governed by the

natural order. This world feels very stable and unchanging. In the book of Kohelet, as he charts the endless and cyclical flow of water, Shlomo Hamelech comments upon the unchangeability of Nature: “all the rivers flow to the sea without the sea becoming full; to the place where the rivers flow the waters return”.

By contrast, alongside our natural world, we also occupy a historical world- one that is very much affected by human decisions and behavior. The historical process isn’t random but driven by moral values, and is constantly surging toward a better state- a condition we refer to as redemption. The timeline of history possesses a beginning and an endpoint. Redemptive history began the night of Pesach and leading up to the launch, G-d established a parallel track of experience and a separate calendar history and of redemption.

These two realms- the realm of static nature and of dynamic history aren’t unrelated. The events within the historical realm deeply impact the realm of Nature.

As religious and moral history progresses and Man advances toward G-d, the natural world around him improves. Throughout history, human failure damaged our world- beginning with Man’s first disobedience which plunged Nature into a diminished state. One day, Man will once again return to a more perfect religious state and the natural world will return to a more perfect state. The march of history impacts the state of our natural world.

Pesach must overlap with the rebirth of Nature because the historical trajectory which Pesach drives will shape the natural world we inhabit. Pesach launches history and through this launch also awakens the spring of Nature. Pesach, more than any other holiday, reminds us of how historical/religious experience and general time experience mesh.

Annually, as the Pesach season begins, we sense a shift. Our imaginations turn to thoughts of past and present redemption just as our emotional state is released from the winter doldrums. This year, the Pesach and spring shift feels even more important.

In general, our lives feel more meaningful when our time is partitioned rather than interminable or uninterrupted. For example, the partitioning effect of day and night creates a natural and healthy bio-rhythm, which frames humans experience. Typical daytime activities are separated from nocturnal activities and this segmentation creates order and organization. When this rhythm is unsettled - such as when we suffer jet-lag- our experience becomes discombobulated or cloudy. Healthy time-partitioning between night and day helps us process our past experiences and reset our energies and ambitions toward our future experiences. In fact, in parshat Bereishit, the Torah presents planetary

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This twining of Pesach with the spring season, showcases that Pesach isn’t merely a miracle of liberation but also a moment of national revival. orbits as a manner of providing ‘time-partitioning’. Without planetary orbit night would run into day and our experience would become blurred and fuzzy rather than sharp and segmented.

Shabbat provides an additional weekly time partitioning. The weekly suspension of our routine allows reflection and processing; Shabbat allows us to internalize the past week while reimagining the next week.

Without this “break” the days start to bleed into weeks and the weeks into months.

Continuous and undifferentiated life can become disorienting. Both daily bio-rhythm and Shabbat observance are divine gifts allowing us to partition our time into smaller more “manageable” units.

Holidays create further partitioning. Each holiday conjures a different past event and each holiday poses distinctive religious and historical lessons. Ideally, a holiday is transformative forcing us to pivot our routine and shift our imaginations to different themes and ideas. This shifting and resetting creates refreshed experience, without which our lives can feel endless and aimless.

This year I appreciate the value of the ‘holiday-shift’ even more. The arrival of Pesach has many of us startled: “didn’t Pesach

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just happen a few weeks ago?”. Sukkot feels like it was month ago and Chanukah as if it happened just yesterday. This pandemic has blurred our normal timelines. As our lives have become very monotonous, our ability to partition time and differentiate experiences has been diminished. Work schedules have shrunk, travel has disappeared, and our lives have become smaller and more unvaried. The past year sometimes feels very indistinguishable and it is almost impossible to partition our past year into distinct experiences.

During this ‘never-ending’ year I am even more grateful for our holidays, which encourage me to pay attention to the calendar, experience the holiday shift and create partitions of time. Hopefully, Pesach and spring will bring new vigor, refreshed hope and restored vision. Hopefully Pesach will help me sharply outline my life and my experiences.

Rabbi Moshe Taragin is a rabbi at Yeshivat Har Etzion/Gush, a hesder yeshiva. He has smicha and a BA in computer science from Yeshiva University as well as a masters degree in English literature from the City University of New York.

BEN URI: SURVIVAL AND A PURPOSEFUL FUTURE Q&A 6pm Tuesday 23 March Book now by email to questions@benuri.org and send advance questions – or ask on the night B

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decision-making process, de-accessioning and methods of disposal

Our history – the first 80 years – six years without a gallery – 20 years since The strategies for survival and public benefit from the last 20 years

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The 2016-2017 decision to merge with the University of East Anglia and its collapse at the altar

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The current and future strategy to deliver a thriving, purposeful, and distinctive Ben Uri in 2050 and beyond The Ben Uri Research Unit (BURU) for the study and recording of the Jewish and immigrant contribution to British visual culture since 1900 The redefinition of the collection to dovetail with the focus of the Research Unit, including recent acquisitions The pioneering research and ambitions of the Arts and Health Institute using the collection as its source of material And any other subjects you choose

Please join us on Tuesday 23 March at 6pm GMT A Zoom link will be sent on Tuesday afternoon, 23 March

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Weekly Dvar Torah FR O M ER ETZ Y I S RA E L

Are you there if your camera is off?

BY RABBI YEHOSHUA FASS

Many of us have attended virtual meetings or online events over the past year where some participants have had their cameras off. I, for one, often leave such experiences with a feeling of distance and disconnect. While technology has amazingly enabled us to increase our learning and participation from the comfort of our home, there is a present danger in a causal approach to such screen time.

When any man [Adam] of you [mikem] brings an offering unto the L-rd, you shall bring your offering...

The Parsha’s opening line describes the precise and technical laws associated with Korbanot and does not explicitly expand on the value-based concept behind these offerings.

The Ramban explains that the Avoda, our worship of Hashem through Korbanot represents a physical act combined with spiritual and devotional intent. He viewed the Korban as inherently significant and fundamental to religious practice. In

contrast, the Rambam saw Korbanot purely pragmatically, as a means of weaning Klal Yisrael away from idolatry, and did not appreciate the Korban as having any inherent, or priori value.

While these two Torah giants seem fundamentally at odds with one another, one can perhaps suggest that they offer complimentary perspectives. The Ramban focuses on the act of an individual bringing a Korban, the spiritual significance of this experience. The Rambam’s approach focuses on the abstract concept of Korbanot as a whole.

Despite their different interpretations, the Ramban and the Rambam both agree upon the first practical Halacha mentioned in this week’s Parsha – a Korban must be owned by the person who is offering it. The question we need to ask ourselves is where is this Halacha derived from and why is it important? Rashi suggests that it comes from a phrase in our text, “When any man [Adam] of you,” which refers to man using the unusual Hebrew word “Adam,” instead of the usual word, “Ish.” This use of “Adam,”

is a reference to the first Adam in the creation story. Rashi explains that just as Adam did not bring stolen animals as offerings – since all the world was his – future generations may not bring Korbanot using animals that were acquired dishonestly.

Rav Shimon Schwab asks how can one learn this Halacha from Adam, if it was actually impossible for him to steal, since everything belonged to him? He answers that the text is not teaching this based on the phrase “When any man [Adam],” but rather, the emphasis is on the end of the verse, i.e., “of you [mikem]”. The principle idea behind this Halacha is that you can only offer a sacrifice from something that is “mikem,” that belongs to you. Thus, the reference to Adam, who owned everything, and could offer up a sacrifice using any of the animals that existed.

The underlying concept behind this Halacha is not theft, but rather the need for a Korban to be a more complete expression of oneself, using something that is personal. Why? The act of offering something that belongs to me not only

emphasizes my personal connection to the physical act of sacrifice, but also helps me understand the converse lesson that I must strive to be ever mindful of the blessing and beauty that Hashem has bestowed upon me, and find the appropriate outlets to express appreciation and gratitude.

While we can no longer bring Korbanot in today’s modern reality, this lesson of recognition, appreciation, and realization of G-d’s gifts, remains one of our primary aspirations for greater connectivity. When we choose to understand that there exists an emotional or spiritual aspect in our physical realm, we come to understand the true lessons behind the idea of Korbanot.

In our ongoing Avoda, be it in our prayers or communal activities, this is a significant reminder that our physical (or virtual) presence is far more powerful than we realize.

Rabbi Yehoshua Fass is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Nefesh B’Nefesh. He is a member of the Mizrachi Speakers Bureau (www.mizrachi.org/speakers).

A Torah bite for the Shabbat table

Keeping it real RABBI GOODMAN Nearly 3332 years ago, at exactly midnight, a terrible epidemic struck the Egyptian people, killing tens of thousands of firstborns. Not a single Egyptian home escaped unscathed; every family suffered at least one tragic loss. Except for the Jews.

Miraculously, not one Jewish firstborn died. Every Jewish household that followed Moshe Rabbeinu’s instructions to paint blood on their doorposts and stay home, survived.

Of course, these historical facts come as no surprise. We mention them each day in our prayers and celebrate them each year on Pesach. We have been hearing about them since we were in kindergarten and will continue hearing about them until the day we die. However, on a scale of one to ten, how “blown away” do we really feel by the incredible miracle that our ancestors experienced on that monumental night?

This week’s Parsha introduces us to the sacrificial offerings brought in the Temple.

Already a difficult concept for our Westernized minds to grasp, the Sefer HaChinuch

in Parshas Terumah works hard to provide us with some type of understanding.

He explains that mere words fail to significantly influence our hearts. Saying to Hashem, “I have sinned and won’t do it again,” is admirable but unlikely to guarantee any meaningful change. Rather, experience speaks louder than words. When a person undergoes an “ordeal” to atone for his misdeeds, his atonement becomes more authentic and real. Whether it is the cost, effort and humiliation involved in bringing the sacrifice, or the experience of watching the animal burn in his stead, one who brings a sacrifice will come away a changed person.

Sadly, over the last year we have endured a terrible ordeal. Covid 19 has swept the world, killing people in its wake, but this time the Jews are not immune. Tragically,

Jewish communities worldwide have been plunged into mourning. We have witnessing firsthand how pandemics do not pick and choose their victims; they strike wherever they can.

The supernatural events of that infamous night in Egypt many years ago were the exception and not the rule. Every single Jewish male firstborn should have died.

Instead, Hashem protected every single one. Imagine how stunned we would be should Covid-19 have failed to infect and kill any Jewish people; how “blown away” we would feel.

This Pesach, instead of merely “talking” about the miraculous redemption of the firstborn, we have the chance to experience and feel it, and in turn, completely metamorphosize our appreciation and gratitude for Hashem’s boundless

We have witnessing firsthand how pandemics do not pick and choose their victims; they strike wherever they can.

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kindness. May Hashem grant us the ability to develop a true appreciation for Him without the need for such adversity and calamity.

A project of My Dvar Torah, Torah Bite is your resource for a short, dynamic, and meaningful Dvar Torah to share at the Shabbos table. Originally from London, Rabbi Ben Goodman has spent 20 years in Jerusalem, teaching and inspiring students from all backgrounds and from all over the world. He is the director of My Dvar Torah, providing tailor-made Divrei Torah for all occasions. www.mydvartorah.com.

He encourages feedback & ideas: ben@mydvartorah.com

MIZRACHI UK PRESENTS A SPECIAL FILM PRESENTATION FOR PESACH

FREEDOM WE HAVE SPENT SO MUCH OF THE LAST YEAR LOCKED DOWN. LET US EXPERIENCE, THROUGH WORDS AND MUSIC, THE ‘FESTIVAL OF OUR FREEDOM’ AND THE MOST MAGICAL NIGHT OF THE YEAR

written and narrated by RABBI ANDREW SHAW

performed by

JONNY TURGEL

musical arrangement by ASAF FLUMENDORF

produced by

DAVID REUBEN

Tuesday 23 March 2021 | 8:15 pm ON MIZRACHI UK'S FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE CHANNELS IN MEMORY OF HENRY AND JULIET PFEFFER

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Vayikra RABBI DR RAYMOND APPLE

HISTORY & DESTINY

The parashah spells out the details of the sacrifices that were to be offered in the sanctuary.

In Hebrew a sacrifice is “korban”, from a root that means to come near. The korbanot are history, but they are also destiny.

For both reasons we read the sacrificial data at the beginning of the daily morning prayers.

Bringing sacrifices makes us closer to God. The Netiv Binah says that the offerings “come to teach us that we have received all our possessions from Him and that we are therefore to place them at His disposal”.

Hence as each day opens we say to the Almighty, “HaShem, what can we do to serve You today?”

THE POOR MAN’S OFFERING

The second chapter of Vayikra begins by saying, “When ‘nefesh’, a soul, brings a meal-offering to the Lord…” (Lev. 2:1).

“Nefesh” – on one level – means a person. It also means a soul.

Whose soul are we talking about? The Gemara Menachot as quoted by Rashi says this refers to the poor man. Others can afford more costly offerings but the poor man is limited in his means and can

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The main thing about his offering, however, is that his soul is in the offering he brings. More than this, he asks God to regard his offering as symbolic. His offering denotes that if he could he would offer his very nefesh, his entire soul, his whole life, to the Almighty.

JEWISH & NON-JEWISH SINS

The list of offerings includes sacrifices in expiation of sins.

There were deliberate sins and unwitting sins. Some wrongful acts are a mistake which would have been firmly prevented if we had possessed enough awareness of what was going on; others were the outcome of defiance of God. In the view of most commentators, we are speaking about deeds carried out by Jews. The Sifra, however, thinks that the Torah text is concerned with acts committed by anyone, Jew or non-Jew. All are God’s children and all owe Him fealty.

True, there are certain types of sin that arise out of a person’s ethnicity or culture, but no human being is excused or acquitted because of where they come from.

UNWITTING GOOD & EVIL

Rashi’s commentary on this week’s reading introduces us to a fascinating doctrine.

There is a verse that says, “If a person sins but does not know it, he is guilty and bears his iniquity” (Lev. 5:17).

Rashi’s “chiddush” (his novel idea) is that just as a person is punished if he

sins unwittingly, so is he rewarded if he does a good deed unwittingly (as usual with Rashi, the doctrine derives from much earlier rabbinic sources, but such is Rashi’s greatness that without him we may not have known it).

An example given by Rabbi Elazar ben Azariah of this unwitting mitzvah concept is a person who is harvesting his field and forgets a sheaf. The Torah prescribes (Deut. 24:19) that the stranger, the orphan, etc., may enter and take the forgotten sheaf.

This is part of the Jewish code of social welfare and ensures that no-one will be without means of support.

We are assured that the Holy One, blessed be He, has a special blessing for the farmer, yet the farmer was unaware that he had done a mitzvah. Had he consciously decided to do the mitzvah, we could not have said that he had forgotten the sheaf.

Where would the forgetfulness have been if he knew what he was doing?

The result of his unwitting good deed is that he enjoys a Divine blessing.

One should never do a mitzvah for the sake of a reward but if the reward comes, it is still a reward. It is always best to do a mitzvah because you want to, but if the mitzvah happens regardless, it is still a mitzvah.

There is a Biblical verse, “Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days” (Kohelet 11:1).

The conventional interpretation is that if you invest wisely you will eventually gain a profit, but the Soncino edition of

18 MARCH 2021

Kohelet adds (page 181), “The traditional Jewish interpretation is accepted by many moderns, that the exhortation is to practise goodness and kindness from which a reward may unexpectedly and after a long interval be reaped”.

In the sense of the Rashi commentary which we have quoted, the verse may be read as saying, “Make good deeds a habit and sometimes you will find yourself doing them even without realising it, and even if you were not looking for a reward you will still earn one”..

Rabbi Apple served for 32 years as the chief minister of the Great Synagogue, Sydney, Australia’s oldest congregation. He is now retired and lives in Jerusalem. Rabbi Apple blogs at http://www.oztorah.com

Chovat Halevavot Hilchot Shabbat So why do the righteous scrimp whilst the wicked prosper? This question does not only bother the “modern mind”; it was of keen interest of our prophets and pious people, one of whom – Jeremiah– said the famous words, “Why does the way of the wicked prosper?” and many similar expressions said by Chabakuk, King David and Malachi.

The first thing to know, writes the author, is that no single answer can explain each instance of the wicked seeing success.

Moshe Rabbeinu summed it up, “The hidden matters belong to G-d”. Similarly, King Solomon taught, “If you see the poor being oppressed and the perverting of justice and righteousness in a country, do not be amazed”. Bottom line is about G-d we can be reassured, “The Rock, whose work is perfect”.

Nonetheless, Chovot Halevavot provides some measure of understanding so we should not be completely stunned by the success of sinners and the righteous struggle to attain success.

At first, the author provides several reasons why the righteous suffer.

1. Firstly, it is possible that even a righteous man has sinned at some point (or more…) in their life and as part of their atonement they undergo financial or other struggles.

2. For other righteous people, some of their pleasure in this world is removed from them in order to give them higher pleasure in the afterlife.

3 .Sometimes, a righteous person suffers so that others can see how he (or she) nevertheless serve Hashem and learn from them.

4. Sometimes, due to the wickedness of people in their generation, the righteous person suffers financially or otherwise, to contrast how the righteous serve G-d as opposed to others in his (or her) generation.

5. Finally, there is sometimes a complaint against the righteous for not protesting the misconduct of others in their generation and this alone could bring about some need for atonement which is achieved through suffering.

It is preferable to ensure all sealed containers, such as packets, cans, tins and bottles are opened before the onset of Shabbat or a Festival. Opening containers on Shabbat can, if not done in a permissible manner, involve various prohibitions.

If containers were not opened prior, there may be circumstances in which opening them will be allowed.

If one is to open a packet on Shabbat, they must try to do so in a manner which ruins the ability of the packet to hold the contents (for example to tear the packet all the way down) or to open the packet at the bottom as well as at the top. Likewise, if one needs to open the cardboard box of a cereal, or of Matzah, they should tear it lengthways too.

Some allow the opening of perforated plastic bottle caps; others however do not do so and if one has the custom not to, they should pierce a hole in the bottle cap before opening it and detaching it from the ring. The same is true of metal lids, often found at the top of grape juice bottles.

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However, one cannot pierce through any writing or picture on the lid.

Sachets of sugar etc which one usually empties the entire contents of immediately upon its opening, may be opened on Shabbat with its contents instantly removed.

When opening containers, one must not pierce a neat hole in order to remove the contents of the container through that hole. A sticker which covers a carton for example, may be removed.

A box of tissues may not be opened on the perforated lines as this involves more than one prohibition on Shabbat; one must therefore tear the box from the side.

If opening a can of soda, one should preferably (carefully) pierce a hole at the bottom so that when they open it at the top, they do not create a container.

In all circumstances, care must be taken not to tear any writing on the packets.

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Vayikra

Vayikra Word Search

The Jewish people had set up their Mishkan and now it was time to put it to good use! Moshe is called into the area of the Mishkan by Hashem and is taught all the laws of the sacrifices. Some were offered up daily, others weekly or on special festival days but the majority of this week’s Parsha discusses other sacrifices. Some are brought in the form of animals, birds or a meal offering. Some have parts of the animal eaten by the Kohanim and some are entirely consumed by the fire on the Mizbeach. Bringing an offering to Hashem was sometimes done to atone for a sin, or on other occasions, but it would always have been accompanied with strong feelings of closeness to Hashem and true happiness to be part of a nation so proud to serve Him always! This is a message we can remember even today, when we cannot bring up the sacrifices in the Beit Hamikdash but we pray for it’s return speedily in our day!

Tangram Challenge!

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

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ALTAR • GADOL • KOHANIM • OATH • OFFERINGS • SANHEDRIN • SHECHITA • VAYIKRA

18 MARCH 2021

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Vayikra In a nutshell The Mishkan has been set up and it’s now time to learn all about the central activity that took place in it – Sacrifices. The basic idea of the animal sacrifice was for us to give away some of our money in place of hiving ourselves away. If a person sinned, they would say to Hashem – let this animal sacrifice atone for my sins. However, it was not only for sinning that sacrifices were brought as we shall see. Others explain that since the Jewish people were surrounded by idol-worshippers who offered up sacrifices to their deity, the Jewish people were given this opportunity to do so for service of the One Hashem.

Firstly, Hashem calls to Moshe, the word “Vayikra” spelled with a small “Aleph” to show how humble Moshe was even though he was in communication with Hashem Himself!

First we learn of the Korban Olah – this is an offering which is entirely burnt on the Mizbeach and

the Kohanim do not eat any of it.

Then we learn of the “Mincha” offering – often brought by the poor person who could not afford to bring an animal as a sacrifice. The Mincha offering consisted of fine flour, olive oil and spices.

There was a “Peace offering” - the meat was eaten by the person bringing it, some parts are given to the Kohanim and the rest is brought up on the Mizbeach.

There are numerous categories of “Sin offerings”.

Some would be brought if an individual sinned, others if the community sinned and sometimes it would be if the sin had been committed by the King or the Kohen Gadol.

Finally, there is the “Korban Asham” – a “guilt” offering brought by a person who has benifited inappropriately from the property of the Mishkan or Beit Hamikdsah. Other reasons for bringing the guilt offering are if one has a doubt if they committed

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.

certain serious sins or if they have made a false promise whilst arguing over monetary matters against their friend.

More offerings are taught about in other sections of the Torah. Some of these include the Rosh Chodesh, Shabbat and Yom Tov offerings. How about the Korban Pesach which was brought amidst great joy each year by millions of Jews.

Today, we no longer have the opportunity to bring Korbanot as we do not have the Temple or full access to the Har Habayit, but we pray and hope for the opportunity to be brought back to us as soon as possible.

The Beit Hamikdash wasn’t merely a place to slaughter animals and eat the meat. These activities were carried out with strong feelings of connection and reconnection to Hashem in a very elevated atmosphere. This is what we long to get back.

Use this area to write the words you have found.

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Last week’s words: Here are some words you may have found from last week - you may have found more! act and cat tan coda toad candid add ant dad acid iota antic addition ado cad oat anti taco action addiction aid can tad coat tain addict THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

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Q: Why did the boy throw a bucket out the window?

A: He wanted to see the waterfall.

Q: Why did the girl throw butter out the window?

A: She wanted to see the butterfly.

(Answers at the bottom of page upside down)

1. What does December have that other months don’t have?

3. What kind of coat is always wet when you put it on?

2. If a red-house is made of red bricks, has a red wooden door, and a red roof, and a yellow-house is made of yellow bricks, has a yellow wooden door, and a yellow roof, then what is a green-house made of?

Q: Why did the boy throw his watch out the window?

A: He wanted to see time fly.

Q: What do you call a bee that can’t make up its mind?

A: A Maybe

3) A coat of paint!

2) Glass!

1. The letter D!

1. In-between jobs 2. Repeat after me 3. Your guess is as good as mine

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4. Repair 5. Put it in writing 6. Ambiguous

34 SPORT 68 NEWS

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Champions League Sixteen-goal Lions race hots up rout Scrabble in Cup

BY DAVID SAFFER

the Blues, Liverpool and Everton along with Tottenham Hotspur. Aston Villa mathematically are in with a shout but have slipped from the reckoning in recent weeks.

Liverpool returned to winning ways after a woeful run of form with a win at Wolves in the Monday night fixture, Everton and Tottenham went down to defeats against

Manchester United and Leicester City have taken a giant step towards Champions BY DAVID SAFFER League qualification with rivals slipping up last weekend.

Reiss Mogilner scored six goals as Maccabi The Reds edged past Scrabble rivals West London Lions thumped A inHam the courtesyround of a Craig Dawson own goalCup. whilst second of the Cyril Anekstein The Premier League side racked up a 16-0 win with Daniel Green and Michael Kenley both bagging a hat-trick. Ed Brafman, David Dinkin, and Adam Hassanali completed the rout in a mismatch of a tie.

Lions could have scored in the opening minute of the clash but soon opened the scoring and led 9-0 by half time.

The Division One team, though outclassed, battled away to the end.

Lions boss was lost for words at full time such was the display from his team who gave every respect to the opposition.

“I’m not really sure there’s anything to say, we are happy to make it through to the next round of the cup,” he commented.

Hendon United Sports ran out 3-1 victors against League One outfit North London 16-goal Maccabi London Lions Raiders.

The Premier side led early in the second half only for Raiders to equalise but struck must-win game,” commented Galaxy playtwo late goals to book a place in round er-manager Luke Lewis. three of the competition.

“We sat back and allowed Oakwood the Hendon now turn their attentions to the ball, given the one-man advantage and league as they travel to Oakwood A for a looked to hit them on the counter attack crucial top of the table clash on Sunday with pace.

(10am).

“Both goals came down the right-hand Daniel Kristall’s team stunned the league side. Leigh crossed the first one into Cohen leaders last month when they won 2-0, a to finish, before slotting home himself. Up victory would move them to within a point to first we go.” of Hendon with a match in hand.

The Division Two title race also took Elsewhere in the latest round of fixtures, a twist with league leaders Herstwood 10-man North London Galaxy made it a Vale going down to a 2-1 defeat at Temple PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK Marcus Rashford impressed a winDivision against West three-way title race in theinonly OneHamFortune. clash of the day after defeating Oakwood B. Faithfold B have played a game more the Foxes thumped managerless Sheffield Burnley respectively.

Chelsea Jamie Murray saw red early on but Galaxy than Valeand butArsenal moved level with a 5-3 win at United with with goals Kelechi Iheanacho grabbing are three pointsRaiders clear ofMasters.

The Hammers, who rallied from Josh Cohen and Ja-a North London hat-trick. a game instruck hand. twice The Merseyside cob Leigh to record an important 2-1 away have Jacob Kalms for Fortunerivals who Chelsea drew at Leeds United and are scored are five through points adrift of the Londoners. win. leading scorer James Milfive pointshead backRedbridge from third-placed LeicesOle Gunnar bossed the Galaxy Jewish Care A in letwith his 17thSolksjaer’s goal of theReds season. ter who United a point.

West and remarkable won when the tabletrail by just one by point after Manchester 10 matches, game The against result was all Ham the more City lead theFairlop way byFC 14 are points are five Dawson defected a Bruno Fernandes corthird place fiveand points be- as Temple were down to 11 players with wins from securing the ner intoBen his own net dislocating at 53 minutes.

Marcus hind with two games intitle. hand. ‘keeper Rebuck a shoulder The Bloom Champions League spots though is in Rashford and Rafi scored for Oakwood. the warm up. Mason Greenwood went the point. performance The battle involves Luke win Shawgiven blocked “Itmain wastalking a fantastic in a close “Thto is scoring was a whilst fantastic thea

goalbound effort from Tomas Soucek.

Solksjaer told Sky Sports, “We could have been more comfortable towards the end as we had a few decent chances to finish it off.

We like to make it hard for ourselves!”

West Ham’s David Moyes told Sky Sports, “We are getting greedy now because we have enjoyed that feeling of winning. We

Championship-bound side on.

Interim boss Paul Heckingbottom told Sky Sports, “It’s an upset dressing room in there. The boys’ leader (Wilder) has gone, it’s taken its toll on the players and staff today.” He added, “(We need) a recognition of what the team has done to get here. Five years ago, this team was in League One.”

Ole Gunnar Solksjaer’s Reds bossed the game against West Ham and won when Dawson defected a Bruno Fernandes corner into his own net at 53 minutes. don’t feel good tonight. I don’t enjoy coming here and losing 1-0 which shows how far we have come. I’m disappointed with it but it shows we are doing much better.”

Brendon Rogers side took a grip on a topfour spot at King Power Stadium. Having missed out during the run-in last season City’s boss is determined his side get over the line this time around.

Iheanacho’s treble was the standout statistic of a 5-0 win. The Nigerian international opened the scoring from a Jamie Vardy pass just before the interval. Leicester settled the contest after half time when Ayoze Perez fired home before Iheanacho notched his second anotherFortune Vardy circumstances, ” said from delighted assist.Simon Iheanacho boss Linden.completed his hat-trick in“We the 78th moments later Ethan had aminute, number of players out, ReAmpadu goal. have asked buck got scored injured,ansoown I couldn’t Rodgers told BBC Sport, “When weBen have any more from the players.

We wish a that intensity to the game and work as hard speedy recovery. as“It wewas do, the players deserve amounts a proper old schoolhuge performance, of credit. hunger appetite we battledThey andshowed defended for theand 90 minutes in thetook game. not only wanted toproved score and ourThey chances.

Experience goals not concede. to be but the winner.

It’s a”big win, one we will The and Blades were to playing first game enjoy we hope build their on it in 2019. ” since parting with manager He added, “Thcompany is win marks 50 years as a Chris Wilder.

Thewill decision beyond befootball club and be one is Nigel Kyte and lief given the journeywith Wilder the everyone associated the had clubtaken from day

PHOTO: DAVID SAFFER

“It was a proper old school performance, we battled and defended for the 90 minutes and took our chances. Experience proved to be the winner.”

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one will enjoy.”

Vale boss Jacob Emanuel was quick to wish Rebuck well following his injury.

“First and most importantly, everyone at Vale would like to wish the Fortune ‘keeper a quick recovery, we hope to see him back on the football pitch as soon as possible,” he said.

As for the defeat, Emanuel commented, “It doesn’t matter how big a squad you have, you can never account for unavailability or injury.

Only fi team Wolves keeper Rui Patricio isve of today’s PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK recovering stretchered played inafter our being recent win over FC Team, a off against Liverpool lack of togetherness and poor individual

18 MARCH 2021 Chelsea bossed the game against Leeds at Elland Road but missed opportunities.

The Blues are 12 games unbeaten under Thomas Tuchel whilst Marcelo Bielsa’s side picked up only a third draw of the season and showed application to share the spoils.

Both teams hit woodwork, Chelsea bizarrely when Luke Ayling’s clearance struck Diego Llorente before looping over keeper Illan Meslier and striking the crossbar.

Edouard Mendy touched a Tyler Roberts’ chip on to the bar.

Tuchel told BT Sport, “I don’t want to be too harsh. As long as we have chances and touches in the box and don’t concede too many chances the results will be there. We need to accept this.”

Bielsa was philosophical, he told BT Sport, “We value a lot the point, if there had to be a winner it wouldn’t have been us.

The superiority they showed in the first half was greater than the superiority we showed in the second half. If we don’t play at the rhythm we play at, the differences between us would be a lot bigger.”

Liverpool edged past Wolves with a Diogo Jota strike against his former club just before half time at Molineux. But the main talking point was a head injury to Wolves keeper Rui Patricio who was carried off the pitch on a stretcher after a clash with skipper Conor Coady in stopping Mo Salah from scoring.

John Ruddy replaced Patricio after a 15-minute delay. Patricio has undergone post-concussion evaluation, it is thought his injury is not as bad as initially feared.

Liverpool manager Klopp told Sky Sports, “It was an awful situation. I have spoken to Wolves staff, they are rather positive. It was a proper shock.” As for the game he noted, “We had very good moments where we should have done better. Defensively the whole game was really good. I didn’t like the start, we weren’t active enough. We defended well, we counter-attacked. A lot of really good football moments. The goal we scored was beautiful. I thought the goalie would have saved it but it was in. A lot of good news tonight but most important, the three points. We want to go into the (international) break with a positive feeling and we have it.”

Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo told Sky Sports, “It was a collision with the knee of Coady on the head. We have spoken already. He is OK. All these situations when it is the head get us worried.” Regarding the defeat, he commented, “We had chances, we defended well and we played good football with some chances we should take advantage of. The building and the creation was good and the players played a good game.”

Arsenal deservedly dented Tottenham’s Champions League hopes with a 2-1 home win in the latest North London derby.

Erik Lamela came on early for Son Heung-min due to an injury and curled home an astonishing ‘rabona’ past Bernd Leno just after the half hour. Lamela’s ‘goal of the season’ contender though was wiped on the stroke of half time by a Martin Odegaard’s deflected strike and Alexandre Lacazette slotted home a controversial penalty just past the hour after being adjudged to have been fouled by Davinson Sanchez.

Lamela was sent off on 76 minutes for a second yellow card after a clash with Kieran

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Alexandre Lacazette secured a derby win against Tottenham

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

Tierney. Despite being down to 10-men, Tottenham went close when Gabriel headed Sanchez’s goal-bound shot off the line after Harry Kane’s free-kick had ricocheted back off the foot of a post.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta told BBC Sport: “We had a really strong performance right from the beginning, we created many chances and went a goal down with their first shot. But I love the reaction of the team, we stayed composed and in the end, we won the game. Scoring before half-time was really important as it put us in a good position for the second half. We scored the second goal, we got a bit nervy in the final 10 minutes and that is one of the things we need to improve as a team.”

Tottenham’s Jose Mourinho told BBC Sport, “First half we were poor, 1-1 is not a reflection of what happened on the pitch.

They were more intense, aggressive, moving the ball better than us. In the second half we recovered control of the game. In our good moments we made changes to try to win the game and when the game was there to be played, the referee made a wrong decision (Arsenal’s penalty), VAR confirmed the wrong decision from the referee. And then at 2-1 it was time for the team to step up and show a good reaction to get an equaliser, but I cannot say much more than this.”

Regarding Lamela’s goal, he noted, “The goal was sensational no doubt. But the most important thing is the result and we lost the game.”

Burnley dashed Everton’s European dreams with a gutsy 2-1 win at Goodison Park.

Chris Wood opened the scoring for the visitors with a 13th minute finish before a superb Dwight McNeil strike doubled the lead. The Clarets were denied a penalty and Johann Gudmundsson’s hit a post before Dominic Calvert-Lewin nodded in a Tom Davies just after the half hour.

Erik Lamela scored a ‘Ramona’ wonder goal against Arsenal

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

England’s Jordan Pickford departed through injury and Everton improved on the resumption but Sean Dyche’s side dug deep to move seven points clear of the bottom clubs.

Dyche told BBC Match of the Day, “I thought we attacked well today and made things awkward. I think we’ve been performing pretty decently. There have been a lot of challenges this season, but the lads are alive and there have been good signs.”

Regarding the run in after the international break, he told Sky Sports, “After seven games we had two points. Now we have a healthy point return. The players’ attitude has been magnificent. This break will give us a chance to get some back to full fitness.”

Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti told Sky Sports, “ We lost a great opportunity to climb the table. We made the same mistakes we have in games this season at home.

We started poorly and were 2-0 down. We tried to get back into the game but it was not enough.”

Away from the Champions League chase, Sergio Aguero completed a 3-0 win as Manchester City eased to victory against Fulham after a goalless first half.

John Stones tapped home just after the break from a free kick and Gabriel Jesus finished clinically before Aguero fired in a penalty on comeback from injury.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola told BT Sport: “A great performance against a team like this who are so physical and have good ideas. It was an important victory for us. Eight games left and we are closer.”

Fulham’s Scott Parker told BBC Match of the Day, “The season is not going to be defined by a team we have played tonight and the quality they have. Individually, I wanted to leave an imprint and individually we did that. We will dust ourselves down and move on.” He added, “This is the part of the season when trophies are won and rewards are won. It’s the nitty-gritty of it. It’s the defining

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moment. We understand that. It’s the home stretch for us. We are in a good place and we will continue.”

Brighton bounced back to winning ways to move three points clear of the relegation spots with a vital 2-1 triumph at Southampton.

Lewis Dunk opened the scoring with a towering header from a corner before Che Adams levelled before half time. The Seagulls were not to be denied though as Leandro Trossard scored just before the hour.

Brighton keeper Robert Sanchez saved another Adams strike late on to seal the win.

Brighton boss Graham Potter told BBC Sport, “I thought it was a deserved victory. Second half we got a really good goal and when we had to defend we defended against a really good side that plays with huge intensity.” He added, “We have to not worry about anyone else. We have to focus on ourselves and getting the points. We haven’t got enough points as it is so we have to keep working.”

Saints are level with Burnley but manager Ralph Hasenhuttl is aware his side are in a relegation scrap.

He told BBC Sport, “It is time to work on a few basic fundamentals in the next weeks.

The second goal gave them a lift. Afterwards, we did not have a solution, only one chance at the end. We are not hungry enough and the basics are missing at the moment which makes it very difficult to win games.”

Newcastle United are two points ahead of Fulham in the relegation battle after Jamaal Lascelles earned a last-ditch point against Aston Villa at St James’ Park.

An Ollie Watkins’ deflected header on 86 minutes went in off an unlucky Ciaran Clark and looked to have given Villa the points until Lascelles nodded home Jacob Murphy’s cross for a deserved point.

Murphy hit the crossbar just before Villa opened the scoring but the draw was scant reward.

Steve Bruce told BT Sport, “Arguably we had the best chances but the goal they scored was a bit of a fluke. Then you have to show desire to get back into it and we did that. We at least deserved that.” He added, “There are still 10 games to go. We’re unbeaten in our last couple. We’ve got to show the same attitude and hopefully big players are back around the corner. That gives us something to focus on and I’m still convinced we’ll be OK. There is no question managing Newcastle is always difficult. There’s a huge spotlight and that’s the way it should be. I’m ready for the challenge and my experience I hope will prove vital.”

Crystal Palace all but sealed West Brom’s fate when Luka Milivojevic scored from a first half penalty.

The Baggies are 11 points from safety given their goal difference with nine matches remaining.

Sam Allardyce told Sky Sports, “There’s 27 points available and 20 needed. We can only really afford to drop seven points. It’s a massive mountain to climb for us. Everybody knows that.”

Leicester City host Manchester United in a highly anticipated FA Cup quarterfinal clash on Sunday (5pm). In other clashes, Everton welcome quadruple-chasing Manchester City whilst Bournemouth take on Southampton. Chelsea are odds on favourites to knock out Sheffield United.

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