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ISRAEL FLIGHTS BACK!

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WIZZ AIR RESUMES FLIGHTS FROM LUTON TO TEL AVIV L’CHAYIM FOR

BY DAVID SAFFER Wizz Air has resumed flights from Luton Airport to Israel.

The first flight to Tel Aviv since lockdown departed last Sunday.

Operating days are Thursday and Sunday.

Routes to Lisbon, Tenerife and Burgas (Bulgaria) were also available.

The low budget airline announced new routes midweek.

Faro in Portugal begins next month followed by Corfu, Heraklion, Rhodes and Zakynthos in July.

For the UK Jewish community, news of flights to Israel is welcome news even though only Israeli citizens benefit for now.

Exceptions for non-nationals whose lives are based in Israel may be made. The individuals should contact the Consular Department at the Israeli Embassy for information.

“Israel has been a good route for us,” Wizz Air UK managing director Owain Jones told The Jewish Weekly.

“There is strong traffic historically between the two countries.

It is a flight that could operate as there was no a ban on flying. The restriction is individuals who enter Israel and that is a demand we are catering to.”

Flight numbers were not released but being back in the air was a positive signal for the carrier as the world battles the

coronavirus pandemic.

“We were not expecting to be filling our aircraft,” he explained.

“Flights from Luton have been between 50-80 percent load factor depending on destination.

People are restricted by regulations. In Israel, there are people who have an essential need to travel and that is what we are catering for.”

Wizz Air have adopted a safety process called ‘aircraft fogging’.

An anti-viral agent spreads across every surface. When the aircraft returns from service, it is de-cleaned with the same anti-viral solution.

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VE DAY AJEX is inviting people across the whole Jewish community to raise a special L’chayim this Friday night, 8 May, to mark VE Day and recognise all those veterans who fought to bring peace to Europe 75 years ago.

Because of the present COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, physical acts of commemoration are impossible. AJEX however, wants to make sure that as many people as possible take a moment to reflect on the immense contribution made by so many Jewish servicemen and women towards the defeat of Nazism and the victorious end of the Second World War. Given that this special anniversary falls on a Friday, what better way to commemorate and remember VE Day and all who fought than to add a toast to our Shabbat meal.

For more information please contact Headoffice@ajex.org.uk or call 020 8202 2323

AJEX Charitable Foundation Registered Charity No 1082148

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BoD receives “bombs and bullets” threat

BY ADAM MOSES The Board of Deputies has called on Facebook to take action after receiving direct threats on the platform.

A comment suggesting the Board should be bombed was left on a post from a former Labour Party member.

The former member, thrown out of the Labour Party last year, has repeatedly baited the Jewish community. She continued hateful rhetoric against the Board, making a veiled threat that ‘if you want race conflict, you are going the right way’.

“Normally, we would ignore such statements as the ramblings of someone who has long been discredited, but this time her statements led to a direct threat to our organisation, with one respondent on another of her posts threatening to ‘bomb’ us,” commented BoD President Marie van der Zyl. The respondent subsequently doubled down on his statement, calling for “bombs and bullets” upon the Board.

Police and the Community Security Trust are looking into the incitement to violence incident.

Facebook, disturbingly, took no action initially to remove the account as the ‘bomb threat’ comment did not contravene ‘Community Standards’.

Ms van de Zyl voiced concern at the worrying episode, especially the length of time

it took Facebook to remove the account of the man who made the direct threat or original poster who incited it.

“What this incident demonstrates, beyond the shadow of a doubt, is that either Facebook’s Community Standards are hopelessly flawed or those employees responsible for implementing them are extremely ill-trained, or possibly not,” she said. “We note that the inflammatory post that led to the threat, and the accounts of both people concerned are still available.”

The BoD chief continued, “We live in a climate where Jewish institutions have been attacked in the very recent past. We do not understand why a social media company is somehow so reluctant to take action on direct threats against a Jewish communal organisation. We know, too, that despite the very real threat of attacks on Muslims and other communities across the world, Islamophobia and other forms of hate speech have also been allowed to propagate on Facebook.” She added, “We would urge Facebook to wake up and realise that there is a difference between free speech on the one hand, and incitement and hate speech on the other.”

“We have been aware of this threat since it was first reported and have been working with the Board of Deputies to assist their investigation and advise them regarding their security,” confirmed a CST spokesman.

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CAA blasts Starmer as Formby resigns

BY HOWARD LAWRENCE The honeymoon period for Keir Starmer is over.

Campaign Against Antisemitism blasted Labour’s leader soon after the resignation of General Secretary Jennie Formby on Monday.

In a stinging attack, CAA chief executive Gideon Falter condemned Starmer’s promotion of Afzal Kahn to the Shadow Cabinet and failure to suspend Diane Abbott, Bell Ribeiro-Addy and Salma Yaqoob after a controversial Zoom conference last week.

Falter welcomed Starmer’s promises and apology to the Jewish community after his election but was scathing on his inaction since regarding anti-Semitism.

Writing to Starmer on his one-month anniversary as leader, Falter lamented that CAA had not been contacted by him or any member of his team since taking office.

“Our ambition is to safeguard the Jewish community, uphold British values of tolerance and decency and help Labour return to its fiercely anti-racist past,” he explained. “It is incumbent upon you not only to make promises and apologies but to take firm action against antis-Semitism.

Falter was adamant that Starmer had so far failed to address Labour’s endemic racism problem.

The appointment of Afzal Khan as Shadow Deputy Leader was the first of a trio of key issues.

“Promoting Mr Khan, who has posted on social media about a supposed “Israel-British-Swiss-Rothschilds crime syndicate” and “mass murdering Rothschilds Israeli mafia criminal liars” is inconsistent with tearing anti-Semitism “out by its roots”, as you promised to do,” wrote Falter.

Falter was also critical Starmer had only “weakly reprimanded” not suspended Abbott, Ribeiro-Addy and Yaqoob after participating in a Zoom session with Labour activists Jackie Walker and Tony Greenstein. Both had been expelled from the Party in connection with antis-Semitism.

An independent complaints process was now “urgently needed” as a “prerequisite” to restoring Labour’s credibility noted the CAA leader.

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Afzal Kahn

PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA

As for Formby’s departure, Falter said the General Secretary “disgracefully presided” over the most opaque and unjust disciplinary system encountered in any political party by a considerable margin.

“You pledged to take “personal responsibility” for rooting out anti-Semitism in the Labour Party,” concluded Falter. “It is a matter of deep regret that we are forced to doubt the seriousness of your pledges so soon after your election.”

Regarding Formby’s tenure in handling of anti-Semitism, Jewish Labour Movement has consistently taken a view that the governance and leadership of the Party was “fundamentally broken and no longer fit for purpose”.

JLM called on the Equalities and Human Rights Commission to launch an investigation into the Labour Party in 2018.

“We hope that her successor as General Secretary will be in post in good time to implement the recommendations of the EHRC report,” JLM noted.

“JLM will be prepared to reengage with Party HQ once new management is in place and it has demonstrated the necessary contrition and willingness to change.”

Starmer thanked Formby for leading the party’s organisation with commitment and energy through a period of political upheaval.

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7 MAY 2020 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 On board, cabin crew and passengers wear facemasks, cabin crew must also wear gloves.

Sanitising wipes are handed to passengers entering the aircraft and onboard magazines have been removed. Passengers are seated in line with physical distancing advice.

Onboard purchases are made by contactless payment.

At the airport, passengers must follow social distancing in queues.

“It is not the most efficient operation but is required to give our customers confidence that they can travel,” noted Jones, who did not feel anxious when he took the first flight out to Lisbon.

“I’ve been talking to customers who feel fairly relaxed. People that have to travel are taking sensible precautions as we are.

It’s as safe as we can make it for them to travel.”

Safety issues aside, there has been a huge sense of relief at Wizz Air. “Airlines and crew are meant to fly,” explained Jones. “Aviation is keeping countries open. It has kept going throughout, albeit in far small numbers, but it is good to be back in the air.

“There are customers who have found themselves stranded, they are now taking an opportunity to get home. We are able to help. It’s a small step but it’s what was needed.”

Looking ahead, Jones noted, “There are

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TO ADVERTISE CALL 020 3906 8488 very few flights in operation but our routes will gradually build. We are looking at 10-20 percent of flights in May and would like to be back to 75-80 percent by the end of the year.

It’s not going to be the case where we will be flying the amount immediately before the Covid-19 crisis. It’s a gradual build up.”

He added, “We are waiting to see what happens.

With flights at the moment, people are doing things because they have to. We will see how things develop over the summer.”

Jones praised the UK government for its support at an unprecedented time.

“The government have been really supportive,” he said. “British airlines are working on plans to get things going. There are working groups and a concerted effort to get flying back. It’s an essential part of the British economy. It deserves close attention to get things back in a structured

way safe for customers.”

Jones added, “People are able to book flights but have to abide by travel restrictions.

“In the UK, it’s essential flying only. Israel has travel restrictions for Israeli citizens.

We are flying to Tenerife, the only passengers we can carry are Spanish permanent residents but there are people stuck in Tenerife who are British and want to come home. So, there is two directional traffic.

“People are restricted by government regulations, but we are planning ahead for a time when restrictions will be eased and people can travel more freely.”

The Jewish Weekly’s travel expert Malcolm Ginsberg has welcomed news of the flights to Israel.

“It’s great to see the flights taking place and I’m sure other carriers will be watching with interest.”

“Aviation is keeping countries open.

It has kept going throughout, albeit in far small numbers, but it is good to be back in the air.”

NEWS IN BRIEF

WJC praise for Trump World Jewish Congress welcomed US President Donald Trump’s rejection of anti-Semitic attacks against Jewish institutions at the start of Jewish American Heritage Month.

JAHM celebrates Jewish achievements in American history. “President Trump has consistently stood by American Jewry and the State of Israel throughout his tenure,” said WJC President Ronald S. Lauder. “He is committed to eradicating the spread of anti-Semitism from our society even in the midst of the present immense global uncertainty and concerns accompanying the COVID-19 crisis.”

Lauder added that Trump continually recognises the Jewish community as an integral part of what makes America a beacon of democracy, coexistence and opportunity.

WJC’s leader praised Trump for recognising anti-Semitic discrimination, persecution and violence continues to plague Jewish communities.

Lauder noted, “’Hatred is intolerable and has no place in our hearts or in our society,’ President Trump declared. These words must be repeated over and over again by each and every person in a position of influence until it is made absolutely clear that incitement, bigotry, hatred and xenophobia will not be tolerated.” Lauder hopes the day will come when anti-Semitism has been eradicated in America.

Behind closed doors vulnerable people at risk need your help People with poor mental health are being hit especially hard by the coronavirus outbreak and demand for Jami’s services is rising daily. For people already living with mental illness, the additional anxiety and physical isolation they are experiencing can be life threatening.

Jami is continuing to provide practical and emotional support for everyone affected by a mental health problem as well as prioritising contact and expanding our services for the most at risk. Core services are provided daily by phone and video conference, supported by friendly doorstep chats, food deliveries and online groups and activities.

We urgently need your support to deliver and maintain these essential life saving services.

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For more information on how to look after your mental health during this crisis, visit jamiuk.org/coronavirus @JamiPeople

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Bibi can lead 23rd Knesset

BY SIMCHA ABIR Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can lead a unity government after the Knesset passed amended legislation by 72 votes to 36 this morning.

The ruling backs Netanyahu and Benny Gantz’s coalition deal and ends days of televised debate.

With the Knesset approving the deal, a new government can be sworn in on Wednesday.

At the time of going to press, Likud was collecting MK signatures to nominate Netanyahu to form a new coalition. President Reuven Rivlin on receipt of the nomination will task Netanyahu to form Israel’s 23rd Knesset.

Netanyahu will lead the country for a historic fifth term until October 2021, Gantz will serve as Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister before taking the helm.

The rotation deal is a first in Israel’s political history, The new government will focus on Covid-19 for six months while negotiating a legislative agenda.

Israel’s Supreme Court had considered whether an indicted politician could form a government following a number of petitions.

Netanyahu faces three corruption charges, allegations he strenuously denies.

“This is an unusual coalition agreement, with some clauses raising serious legal concerns,” said Chief Justice Esther Hayut.

The Movement for Quality Government in Israel had petitioned the court. Whilst respecting the decision they will protest.

“We are unable to come to terms with this situation of a criminally indicted prime minister,” a statement noted.

A demonstration will take place on Saturday evening under the banner of ‘Israel is ashamed’.

“The Netanyahu-Gantz government is the exact definition of the expression ‘it’s kosher but it’s stinks,’” the statement added.

Days of drama culminated in Netanyahu and Gantz amending their deal after judges expressed reservations on certain points.

The court intervention resulted in a clause for appointments of senior officials in the coalition’s first six months shortened to 100 days, coronavirus-related legislation was amended but Likud and Blue & White refused to give way to opposition party’s holding Knesset committees.

Though a tradition, past governments have not always followed procedure.

The legal storm saw Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit call for the High Court not to intervene in the coalition agreement.

“There is no reason to strike down the agreement or any of its clauses,” Mandelblit noted. “Intervention by the honourable

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Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz

court in coalition agreements should be only reserved for exceptional and rare cases.”

Israel’s current leader had called on the Chief Justice, who headed up a panel of 11 judges, not to derail the coalition as a fourth general election would be a “catastrophe” for the State of Israel.

A vocal critic of Israel’s High Court undermining the will of the people after elections, Netanyahu’s opponents believed the court was safeguarding Israeli democracy.

Netanyahu criticised the High Court in an address to the nation on Monday night.

“In a democracy, he who gets the majority, leads the people,” said Netanyahu.

“I was elected by a majority vote. A huge majority of people want me to lead the government that we are working to establish. It is not appropriate for any element, neither clerks nor judges in court, to interfere with this basic component of democracy.

“The agreement with Blue & White was crafted very carefully and tearing chunks of it will undermine it. Any intervention increases the likelihood of a fourth election, which would be a disaster for the State of Israel. I hope the High Court doesn’t do that.”

PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA

Proceedings began last Sunday with Chief Justice Hayut stating that “the fort will not fall” if the court allowed Netanyahu to form a coalition government despite being indicted.

Under Israeli law, a Prime Minister may remain in post until a verdict is reached, including appeals.

Pro-democracy demonstrators have demonstrated weekly against Netanyahu.

Defending Netanyahu, Michael Rabello, told the panel that over a million Israelis voted for him aware he could be Prime Minister.

“How can you say that this panel can replace the voters?” he said.

Daphna Holtz Lechner, countered that Netanyahu as Prime Minister would be “very dangerous”.

Mandelblit, prior to the hearing, said Netanyahu’s indictments raised “significant problems” but no legal basis banned him from serving while facing criminal charges.

Thousands of Israelis protested in Tel Aviv’s Rabin Square against a unity deal on Saturday night.

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PaJeS are prepared for schools to reopen with a number of initiatives.

A ‘Heads Up Kids’ back to school programme for primary schools will be available by the end of May. Dr Mark Berelowitz, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at The Royal Free Hospital, is to share practical guidance on ‘transitioning to a new normal’ with headteachers.

In order to support schools with logistical and educational implications PaJeS has also established a working party with medical professionals and headteachers.

A meeting for headteachers will consider implications for schools and how to ensure a safe and secure environment for students

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and staff.

“The challenges facing our school leaders at this time are unprecedented,” said Rabbi David Meyer. “They have to consider health and wellbeing of students and staff as well as endeavouring to deliver school based and remote learning programmes.”

He added, “The professionalism and dedication shown by headteachers and teaching staff across all schools during this time is quite exceptional. Parents realise that this is an exceptionally challenging situation and by working together I am sure we will find innovative and effective solutions that will ensure the needs of our children are met.”

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Sharansky donates $1million Genesis Prize

BY ADAM MOSES Celebrated human rights activist Natan Sharansky has nominated 15 charities around the world to benefit from a $1million Genesis Prize.

All the organisations are supporting vulnerable residents in the midst of coronavirus pandemic.

Jewish Care is among beneficiaries of the award. The grant boosts its emergency COVID-19 appeal. Funds will purchase protective equipment for staff in care homes.

“Many people of goodwill around the world have given generously to help organisations and individuals who have been devastated by COVID-19,” explained former Jewish Agency for Israel chair Sharansky. “I am grateful to have the opportunity to contribute to this humanitarian effort.”

He added, “Throughout the long history of the Jewish people our ability to come together as one during the times of crisis, to unite and help each other, gave us strength to persevere and face the future with hope and confidence. I cannot think of a better

Natan Sharansky

PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA

way to use the Genesis Prize money than to fund those who are fighting the coronavirus epidemic, both in Israel and around the world.”

Mental Health Awareness Week 18 – 24 May 2020

The theme of this year’s Mental Health Awareness week is kindness.

Kindness is the act of doing something motivated by genuine desire to make a positive difference. Kindness and our mental health is deeply connected – it is an antidote to isolation and helps a sense of belonging. It can reduce stress, bring a fresh perspective and deepen friendships.

Kindness to ourselves helps boost our self-esteem.

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Daniel Carmel-Brown, Jewish Care chief executive, said the gift would support staff looking after the most vulnerable members of the community.

He added, “Knowing that we have partners alongside us gives us strength and hope at this challenging time.”

A $100 million endowment by The Genesis Prize Foundation funds the prize.

GPF co-founder and chairman Stan Polovets noted Sharansky’s award came at the beginning of the pandemic and the prize would help individuals “most impacted” by an invisible enemy.

Israeli philanthropist Morris Kahn contributed funds in honour of Sharansky.

“We are not only battling to save the lives of those infected by COVID-19, the harsh reality has threatened the lives of many, including victims of domestic violence and those less fortunate in need of medical attention,” said the SpaceIL chief.

“Mr. Sharansky is an example of a true believer in life and the bounty of life. His decision to grant these important organisations is the core of the Jewish values, to be compassionate and help ease the pain of others.”

Grants offer immediate relief to those most affected.

The Weizmann Institute research programme in Israel, Columbia University and New York University are all working on long-term advances against the disease.

Columbia researchers are developing treatments, NYU’s Tandon School of Engineering are addressing challenges including creating “zero contact” hardware.

Genesis announced a competition to honour of Sharansky that will recognise Israeli innovation in combating COVID-19.

Start-Up Nation Central in partnership with GPF will run the competition.

Prizes go to companies working on technologies, therapies or vaccines.

The Jewish Agency has partnered with Sharansky and Genesis Prize for the 2020 programme.

Grants are strategic, addressing immediate humanitarian relief and future challenges.

Beyond Israel, grants will support projects in Italy, France, Russia, Spain, United States, Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.

The Genesis Prize, launched in 2013, honours individuals for professional achievement, contributions to humanity and a commitment to Jewish values. Sharansky was the eighth winner in recognition for human rights, democracy along with service to the Jewish people and State of Israel.

Previous laureates include Michael Bloomberg, Michael Douglas, Itzhak Perlman, Sir Anish Kapoor, Natalie Portman and Robert Kraft.

Dates for your diary Monday 18th May 4:30 – 5:30pm Wellbeing and Self Care (for students 18 plus) Kelly Waldorf, Education Outreach Worker, Jami

Monday 18th May 8:00pm Community Conversation on Kindness, Open to all Tuesday 19th May / Thursday 21st May 11:00am – 1:00pm Kind Co-Working

Wednesday 20th May 2:00pm Head Room Café online Kindness Creativity Session Wednesday 20th May 8:00 – 9:30pm Preventing Mental Health Burnout Phillipa Carr, Education Manager, Jami

Thursday 21st May 5:00 – 6:00pm Youth Session: Self - Care During Strange Days (for young people aged 12 – 16)

Sarit Gafan, Jami volunteer and wellbeing practitioner

Emma Dorman, Senior Education Coordinator, Jami

Tuesday 19th May 4:00pm Poetry Tuesday

Thursday 21st May 8:00 – 9:00pm Open Mic Night – everybody welcome

Tuesday 19th May 6:30 – 7:30pm “If you can be anything, be kind” – a kindness workshop (for ages 18-32) Emma Dorman, Senior Education Coordinator, Jami

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Covid death rate in Israel down

BY DAVID SAFFER The rate of deaths from COVID-19 has significantly reduced in Israel.

To date, there have been 239 fatalities with 16,314 confirmed cases. The Bedouin city of Hurais remains the highest infection rate at 19.2 percent and has returned to lockdown.

Health Ministry data illustrates that 5,549 people are currently infected with the disease, there are 70 people on ventilators. Over 10,500 have recovered.

Israel’s government remain vigilant and the ministry is to conduct 100,000 serological tests to establish the level of infection across its population in the coming weeks.

Tests will determine if someone is carrying the disease or has been exposed and developed antibodies against the virus.

The results, Health Ministry Director General, Moshe Bar-Siman-Tov, noted, would determine if Israelis are close to developing herd immunity or begin preparations for a resurgence of the virus.

The cabinet, meantime, has reopened its education system in a phased return. Parents can decide if they wish to send children back to classes.

Some one million school children returned to lessons last Sunday. Nursery schools and kindergartens are able to reopen next week.

It is hoped all schools will have returned in a phased return by the beginning of June.

Stickers in supermarket aisles encourage people to distance themselves from one another: “For the sake of your health, stand here”

PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA

“The data we are receiving is very good, we see a significant decline in morbidity, even compared to global numbers,” said Education Minister Rafi Peretz Peretz.

In spite of welcome news, Peretz was cautious in case of a spike in cases.

Current guidelines mean pre-schools and kindergartens are split into groups no greater than 15 on a different day adhering to social distancing. Half a class attends on a Sunday

to Tuesday, the remainder on a Wednesday to Friday. Youngsters would alternate days each week.

Education Minister Rafi Peretz said a “gradual return” would enable parents to help restart the economy as children resumed pre-coronavirus lives.

Issues however remain on social distancing. Some municipalities, including Tel Aviv and Be’er Sheva, did not reopen schools as ‘clear regulations’ have as yet not been established.

Dr. Shulamit Bismanovsky, head of the Organisation of Private Nurseries and Kindergartens, pointed out that social distancing for youngsters under three is not possible.

The issue also applies to teachers of this age group.

“Who will be responsible for any contagion?” she said.

Away from education, shopping centres, markets, libraries, gyms, swimming pools and nature reserves are expected to open this weekend. Measures regarding shoppers include personal details being given entering a centre. This aspect has been criticised.

Restrictions are also in place for exercise equipment in public parks and walking on a beach. It is not anticipated that sunbathing or swimming in the sea will be allowed.

The Finance Ministry, meantime, has called for a reopening of national parks and hotels.

The ministry wants restaurants and event

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7 MAY 2020 venues to open by the end of May. Currently, a date of June 15 has been set.

Businesses will receive a NIS 5,000 fine for breaching Health Ministry guidelines.

Israelis must wear a facemask outside and follow social distancing guidelines. Failure to follow either measure could result in a NIS 200 fine.

Social gatherings are allowed for groups up to 10 people from Sunday. Social distancing measures apply.

A lifting of social distancing measures means citizens are able to visit ‘first-degree’ family members, including elders. Precautionary instructions are to be announced.

New measures will continue so long as the infection rate does not exceed Health Ministry predictions. If they do, the government will return an area to lockdown.

In related news Israel’s Shin Bet security service can utilise mobile phone data to track people infected with the coronavirus until May 26.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet approved emergency regulations to use the technology on Tuesday. Netanyahu had called for a six-week extension.

The coalition government put forward legislation to the Supreme Court after it ruled Shin Bet could not continue its practice until legislation was passed. A clause enables journalists to protect sources, though Shin Bet can see phone data on a case-by-case basis.

Data presented to the intelligence subcommittee demonstrated Shin Bet identifying almost a third of those infected by surveillance.

7 MAY 2020

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Langdon virtual Velo

Langdon’s virtual Velo

participants “Your support today will help Langdon emerge from this crisis stronger and more resilient and in a position to enable our members to be stronger and regain their independence, thank you for your wonderful generosity.”

All funds raised will help Langdon and its 200 key workers, to deliver support services as Langdon members are especially vulnerable during these most challenging of times. Langdon supports over 180 young people and adults with learning disabilities and autism and their families.

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For more information please contact lauren.shaw@langdonuk.org

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From their gardens, living rooms, and streets, over 150 cyclists came together ‘virtually’ to support Langdon on Sunday, following the cancellation of the Langdon Velo, one of their most significant fundraising events of the year.

Connected by zoom and social media, Langdon supporters including a number of its members with learning disabilities and their families, joined the Virtual Velo and cycled, roller-skated, and scooted throughout the day to complete the challenge. The event raised a phenomenal £60,000.

Langdon’s CEO Neil Taylor, who took part in Sunday’s challenge said to

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Help Kisharon carry on vital services Kisharon launch an emergency appeal this bank holiday weekend (10th – 11th May) and are appealing to the community for their support to ensure their services can carry on.

Kisharon is aiming to raise £1 million towards their annual budget in 36 hours with the help of a Charidy campaign so all donations will be generously doubled.

Lockdown has affected charities far and wide with thousands of fundraising events being cancelled. The Kisharon annual dinner which was predicted to raise one million pounds was one of these casualties. It is now vital that funds continue to be raised to enable the pivotal services to carry on and ensure those with complex learning difficulties have equal opportunities and are supported.

Hilary Newmark Director of Fundraising says, “The urgency of our funds is vital for today so that we can keep Kisharon services running until the end of the year. Individuals at Kisharon have essential needs.

Whilst our dinner has been cancelled our social care must go on. People at Kisharon, and their families, rely on us so we hope that the community will be generous in order to allow us to deliver our essential services”.

The fundraising campaign, “Carry On”

shows just how much families value the services Kisharon offer and the lengths staff are going to currently in these challenging circumstances to carry on. Kisharon is asking the community to help raise awareness ahead of Sunday to reach their fundraising target. If Kisharon close it is simply unthinkable.

Help Kisharon carry on. You are not only helping to support the people Kisharon care for, but the whole Kisharon family.

Donate now at: Charidy.com/kisharon All donations are greatly appreciated and will be doubled.

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8 COMMUNITY

7 MAY 2020

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Watford announces the Shabbat in a Box brings comfort during appointment of new dynamic rabbinic couple Coronavirus crisis

Shabbat in a box

The United Synagogue has launched two new projects to support its most vulnerable members during the Coronavirus crisis.

Following the organisation’s successful “Seder in a box” and “Pesach Food Parcels” initiatives, the United Synagogue has launched two new programmes: “Shabbat in a box” and “Essential Food Parcels”.

The “Shabbat in a box” contains everything one needs for Shabbat: Friday night dinner, Shabbat lunch and Seuda, challah, grape juice and printed materials.

The freshly-cooked meals are delivered weekly before Shabbat.

The “Essential Food Parcels” were developed to ensure that people do not go hungry. They are offered, free of charge, people who are self-isolating and cannot go out to buy food and to those in financial need. contain items such as tea, coffee, soup, tinned vegetables, pasta, rice, crackers, cheese and cold meats. The organisation has tried to include some household items too such as toiletries and washing machine tablets that are needed for day to day living.

The United Synagogue has set up an Amazon Wish List so that the community can sponsor items to help support those in need: www. theus.org.uk/amazon Over Pesach, more than 900 vulnerable families received Pesach food parcels from the United Synagogue, more than in previous years. The organisation delivered 1,001 Seder in a box kits complete with a three-course meal for those alone or self-isolating.

Michelle Minsky, Head of the United Synagogue’s Chesed department, said: “We have been facing ongoing demand to support our most vulnerable members

David Rose, Barnet United Synagogue delivers Shabbat in a box boxes

during the lockdown period. Our communities have been identifying people who really need additional support during this time and we have an obligation to help them.

“We are specifically offering these initiatives to those most in need, to members who are self-isolating or who have had difficulty in meeting the costs of their essential food items due to a change in circumstances. The United Synagogue is one big Jewish family and as the Talmud teaches, “kol yisrael areivim zeh la-zeh”, we are all responsible for one another.”

Karen Harris, member of Woodside Park United Synagogue’s Care team, said: “When I informed one of our members that she would be getting a “Shabbat in a box” from the United Synagogue last week she was so relieved it brought tears to my eyes.

“She doesn’t have the resources or energy at the moment to prepare food and she has been really worried about how she was going to eat, especially over Shabbat. It is totally heartwarming to see what difference this makes to people’s lives.”

“We have been facing ongoing demand to support our most vulnerable members during the lockdown period

Despite the challenges posed by Coronavirus, the community was able to attend a highly successful virtual ‘Meet the Rabbi and Rebbetzen’ event last month.

Rabbi Mordechai Chalk grew up in Golders Green, going to school at Hasmonean High School for Boys before spending the next 11 years in Israel studying at Bais Yisroel Yeshiva, the Mir and teaching at Yeshivat Sha’arei Mevaseret Zion. Rabbi Chalk teaches part time in JFS and has just graduated from the Rabbinic Training Academy (“RTA”). Rabbi Chalk is also a qualified shochet and personal trainer. He enjoys lifting heavy weights in the gym and still supports his local team, Barnet FC. Shira grew up in St John’s Wood and is the daughter of Dayan and Rebbetzen Binstock. She has spent much of her life as part of the United Synagogue and was active in her shul. Shira studied in Israel, has a degree in Education from Goldsmiths, University of London and has been involved in education work subsequently.

She writes popular ‘Tribe Scribe’ cartoon in the weekly United Synagogue Daf Hashavua.

The Chalks have spent the last two years as founding members of the Rabbinic Training Academy giving them the opportunity to gain experience and understanding of the UK Jewish and broader community. In addition to advanced Halachic studies, the RTA provides professional development and training in counselling, relationships and mental wellbeing.

Rabbi and Rebbetzen Chalk are proud parents of Tzvi (3½), Meir (2) and their new arrival, Miri.

Rabbi Mordechai Chalk said: “Shira and I are delighted to be joining the Watford & District Synagogue family. Watford is a community of great potential in an area of Jewish growth. We look forward

Rabbi and Rebbetzen Chalk and family

to engaging with the wider Watford and District community and we are excited to build a bright future together. We all appreciate the challenge of engaging with the community virtually during this time of corona crisis and we very much look forward to meeting everyone personally in due course.”

Brian Markeson, Chair of Watford & District Synagogue, said: “The Watford community welcomes the exciting appointment of Rabbi and Rebbetzin Chalk, a young and dynamic couple embarking on their first community role. The Chalks have varied and successful track records in education at all levels, and we are very confident that they will help us strengthen and grow over the years ahead.

“Although their initial engagement will by necessity be virtual, we know that they will soon embark of a number of exciting initiatives which will restore Watford’s glory and enable the community to grow and go from strength to strength. We look forward to the whole community being able to meet them in person as soon as we get back to shul.”

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7 MAY 2020

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Jewish Chaplaincy steps up All at Jewish Choice are well and it is taking to support Chaplaincy at the Nightingale Hospital new residents again ‘we can also be proud that we had Jewish Medics working long hours to help save lives at the hospital.

We also had Dr Harrie Cedar a Hospital chaplain at St Thomas Hospital willing to help and offer Meditation sessions to staff and families, ‘all in all it was a great Kiddsuh Hashem to work at the hospital.

We all pulled together with those of others faiths chaplaincy team and you had a real sense that the medical staff much appreciated our input and willingness to get involved and volunteer our help. Rabbi Coten observes out of this crisis with so much suffering and sadness we have something positive to take away.

For further information about this press release Contact Rabbi Stanley Coten at stanleycoten@gmail.com Rabbi Coten at Nightingale Hostpital

Residents are doing well at Jewish Choice homes

The experience and hands-on expertise of the long-established Jewish Choice team has resulted in the respected elderly care home ready to accept new residents again, from across the Jewish community and quicker than most other care facilities. (picture ref. Jewish Choice carers get to know residents well & vice versa) Independence means Jewish Choice can act with some speed when it comes to being proactive in meeting the residential care needs of the elderly in the community. Being hands-on helps too - both the Chief Executive, Paula Peake and Registered Manager, Roger Ellis moved-in to the home and so were on-site to not only retain an overview of circumstances on the ground, but also manage all that is necessary to ensure the high standards of care were maintained despite the unprecedented circumstances, for residents both within the home and the independent living apartments juxtaposed.

They rolled-up their sleeves too!

Being so decisive, as well as confident in its expertise, enabled the Wembley based home to lockdown some 10 days prior to Government guidelines being announced.

Now it is moving with well-judged alacrity again and opening-up the home to

those elderly people who may have found it tough-going in recent weeks during the lockdown. Particularly so, if they have previously found everyday chores difficult or were recovering from illness or accident.

Jewish Choice has therefore instigated a new approach which not only encompasses its usual careful and comprehensive assessment of circumstances, health and wellbeing, prior to an invitation being extended to live at this reassuring homefrom-home, but now incorporates a coronavirus test too.

New residents will enter Choice House in an isolation area and just to be overly cautious will remain there for up to 7 days, yet will still benefit from the close care and attention for which Jewish Choice is renowned and which relatives trust the charity implicitly for. At that time, provided the test is negative and no symptoms are evident, Jewish Choice will integrate the new residents into the home. If the test proves positive, they will stay in the area longer and have appropriate treatment.

And so, with a heightened level of protection for all residents and the care team, Jewish Choice is welcoming new residents with open arms.

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The Nightingale hospital at the Excel Centre was billed one of the biggest ‘teaming’ challenges the UK the UK has ever seen, the coming together of medical and clinical staff at a time of national crisis on this scale has not been seen. Rabbi Stanley Coten Senior Jewish Hospital chaplain was asked to coordinate the Jewish Community’s chaplaincy response. He says ‘I was pleased that we were able to pull together an excellent team of chaplains, to work with the general chaplaincy team.’ A range of medical experts were brought in during the Covid crisis, including various consultants. Our chaplaincy Coordinater Professor James Calder of Imperial College Medical School liaised with central government and the Health minister Matt Hancock.

One of challenges facing us says Rabbi Coten ‘was that the patients on the ward were in isolation from their families friends and we are working around that by making audio files for them to use so that they can be given ipads to hear the prayers. As far as chaplaincy support we also were sending audios of common prayers. Rabbi Wilkinson, an experienced chaplain volunteered to support our team, and produce sounds files of the common tefillot,Adon Olam, Yigdal, shema. Rabbi Coten said that we also needed a people trained to go into to the wards, as necessary, kitted out with PPE.’ So as well as myself, Rabbi Akiva Rosenblatt was trained as he and his wife Batya , who make up the assistant rabbinic couple at Woodside Park, United Synagogue stepped up to help us - he immediately became our youngest Chaplain ‘ notes Rabbi Coten.

Rabbi Rosenblatt was asked what prompted him to respond to the chaplaincy call, ‘I wanted to do something more meaningful to help.’ Dayan Ivan Binstock of the London Beth Din came forward and was ready to answer rabbinical queries from United Synagogue colleagues. Rabbi Coten said

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VE Day Memories from across Jewish Care Jewish Care volunteers, clients and residents have been sharing their memories of the War and VE Day as the country prepares to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day. Residents across Jewish Care homes will mark the day with war time sing-alongs of classic songs from the 1940s and screenings of a Vera Lynn concert. There will be one to one singing for residents in their rooms. Reminiscence and shared memories will be part of the VE Day experience.

Harry Karker, a resident at Jewish Care’s Clore Manor home, who recently celebrated his third Bar Mitzvah at 96, remembers, “VE Day was a happy occasion! I was in Paris, there were lots of drinks and chocolate and we went to a huge party in a hall. I was in the Royal Engineers but had stopped working. I spent a lot of time in Paris, waiting for my family and I had a job finding them. There was great rejoicing. When I did find my parents, they were dancing in the streets.”

Freda Ziff, Member of Jewish Care’s Brenner Centre at Stepney Jewish Community Centre at Raine’s House remembers Harry Karker from WWII

Joyce, Brent, who is 94, lives at Jewish Care’s Lady Sarah Cohen House, says, “I remember the streets were packed with

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people dancing and celebrating late into the night and I watched from the window and on the television.”

Volunteer, Harry Nash, was just 5 when the war ended and like many, remembers “diving under the kitchen table when the Doodlebugs were falling, running to shelters in the night time and standing by the window in my parents’ bedroom looking out at night on the silent film shows with Charlie Chaplin and Laurel and Hardy.”

Naomi Harris, Volunteer Specialist Worker at Jewish Care’s Holocaust Survivors’ Centre Shalvata therapeutic service, says, “My strongest memory of VE day is that we moved house on that day, my parents, my sister Judy and me, from a rented flat into a new home in NW4, my parents’ house having been bombed in Stepney so that we had moved around a lot.

“When the car drove up the road, flags hung from every house and lamp post, people were congregating in the street and, aged 5, I thought the celebration was that we were moving in!”

Miriam Moseley, 95, was a volunteer for Jewish Care for 24 years is now a member of Jewish Care’s Brenner Centre at Stepney Jewish Community Centre at Raine House. She says, “I love the Centre as it’s real East End and that’s what I am. We lived in Shoreditch when I was growing up and I was a teenager when the siren went on the first day of the war and I ran home, scared.

“I was one of four sisters and four brothers and I had the happiest but the poorest home. I have no idea how but my mother had a piano, my brother Tony was fantastic with music and later wrote the Eurovision song ‘Save All Your Kisses For Me’. My sister did impressions and I was shy but I used to sing and tap dance. We had such a happy home.

“I started working when I was not quite

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14 on Charterhouse Square making forest caps for RAF and the Army. The bombing was terrible during the War but on VE Day I remember me and my friends went up to Trafalgar Square and there were soldiers there from every country.

“That was the best day of our lives, the war was over, people were singing and playing music all the war tunes, everybody was singing and clapping and kissing. My mother made a VE Day party, we lived on the ground floor of Cookham Buildings, everybody put tables out everywhere, people were singing ‘On Coronation Day, We’ll Meet Again’ and everyone sang the old Cockney songs and people were so happy. VE Day was the most magical day.

I love Churchill, he won the war for us. I am a great Royalist too and I love Vera Lyn. “Now I’m very lucky because I live on the eighth floor of my building and I have the best view of the reservoir. My sons phone me up all the time, and I have a lot of grandchildren and great grandchildren.”

Freda Ziff, who is 87 and lives in Whitechapel, is also a member of the Jewish Care community centre in Stepney. She remembers, “During the war my mum worked in the cigarette factory and I looked after the kids. We’d go to the shelter in Whitechapel and you knew everyone.

My dad was in the army serving in France and Belgium, he was wounded and taken to St Thomas’ Hospital for soldiers in London. I remember taking a steamboat across the Thames to go and visit him.

“It was my mum’s birthday on May 8, VE Day and I’ll never forget it. Shoes were flying off people’s feet, the gas lanterns were on all night and people tore down the blackout blinds. It was lunchtime and there were loudspeakers in the street and everyone was shouting war is over!

“The celebrations carried on all weekend with parties in the streets, halls, churches and shuls. The women brought food and put tables out and decorated the streets.

Most of the men were still at war. Mum had been a cook for weddings before the war and she’d always say “When the War is over, I’ll make you a great big party for your birthday”. My birthday is on 28 May and as the War had ended my Mum did make me a big birthday party and somehow managed to find everything to bake a lovely cake so we could celebrate with all our friends and family and my younger sister and brother and all the people who had been evacuated came home.

“I thank G-d I’m here today, though it’s hard not to go out. I love it at the Jewish Care community centre. I have family to look after me and I keep in touch with my friends there but it’s not the same. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone again.”

7 MAY 2020

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VE Day brought us all together

BY DAVID SAFFER The nation comes together to celebrate VE Day 75 over the bank holiday weekend despite the country being in lockdown. Although veteran parades and street parties have been cancelled a historic moment in history will be marked across the United Kingdom.

A two-minute silence take place at 11am on Friday to remember the declaration of victory and end of the Second World War in Europe. The BBC is to broadcast a programme including an extract from Sir Winston Churchill’s victory speech at 3pm on VE Day. Britons have been encouraged to hold 1940s-style afternoon tea parties with homemade bunting and recipes of the era. The Queen will deliver a pre-recorded address followed by a national doorstep rendition of Dame Vera Lynn’s ‘We’ll Meet Again’.

With the passing years, the number of people who witnessed the events of a monumental day is declining. But for those who were there, the memories are clear as if it was still May 8 1945.

Every family and community have a tale to tell. My parents, Harold and Valerie Saffer, have lived in Leeds all their lives.

Dad, now 93, always enjoys telling his children, grandchildren and now great-grandchildren about his life whenever there is an opportunity.

Speaking to him earlier this week on a WattsApp call, the memories came flooding back.

“During the war, I was evacuated with my younger brother Monty to Lincoln,” he recalled.

“We were with a nice family but they had no idea we kept kosher. The first night they gave us rabbit stew as a treat. It was really nice of them but we couldn’t eat it. Monty looked at me, he didn’t have to say anything. At an opportune moment we put the rabbit in our pockets. Local pets had a nice meal that night!”

As for VE Day, dad recalled, “We knew it was coming because we followed the news on radio and it was in newspapers. We were living in Chapel Allerton, lots of Jewish people were there at that time. Churchill declared a public holiday so there was huge excitement. On the day itself, there were street parties. There was food, a bonfire, it was fantastic. The atmosphere was jolly, people were dancing and some people were a little worse for wear! As the evening went on, I went for a walk with Monty around the Granges and Hamilton’s nearby. Everyone was so happy, there was also relief that the war was finally over.”

As for mum, she was just nine at the time of VE Day.

Ve Day Celebrations in London, 8 May 1945

“We had a cobbled backstreet behind our home in Spencer Place, which led on to a park where there was wrought iron gates that were taken away for the war effort,” she recalled.

“I don’t remember much about the war, but my father, Harry Moss, was a fire warden so we had ‘SP’ on the wall, which stood for stirrup pump. My mum, Jean, would not leave my father so my sister, Carol, who was born in 1940, and I were not evacuated. I recall mum baking bread and tea cakes in the dining room. A big lorry also used to come around with lemonade and eggs. Meat was hard to come about so we used a meat substitute, The first banana I saw was after the war.

“On VE Day, like everyone we had a street party, loads of neighbours brought food out, everyone came out, we had fireworks and there was a great atmosphere.”

My mother-in-law, Betty Cyna, 87, lives in North West London, she was 12 on VE Day. “I was evacuated in the early part of the war with my eldest brother, Alex, to a wonderful place in Cornwall,” she recalled.

“Before that, seeing planes dropping bombs on the East End is something you never forget.

“We lived on the top floor of a flat in King Edwards Road, Hackney and on VE Day, neighbours came out. The atmosphere was phenomenal. Everyone was laughing and also crying, it was such an emotional occasion.”

One of Betty’s four brothers, Alfie Waxler, 84, lives in Edgware with his wife Denise.

“I was evacuated with Sydney to Norfolk,” he recalled. “I remember harvesting

PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA

and going to school. “We lived near the docks in the East End and my most vivid memory of the was during the Blitz. We went to the roof of the flats where I could see the bombs dropping, the anti-aircraft ‘Ack-Ack’ guns going, the whole of London was ablaze. I was not scared at all, for a kid it was exciting.

“I knew that the allies were entering Germany and Hitler was going to surrender so were all excited VE Day was coming. All my family went to the street party. I helped lay out the tables and put up bunting. The memories are vivid and unforgettable.”

Nowadays, I live in leafy village of Shenley where Rabbi Alan Garber looks after the community.

His parents, Norman and Vita Garber are close by in London.

Norman was born in 1937 and lived in Islington near Holloway Road during the war years.

“I was not officially evacuated,” he recalled. “An aunt was a nursing sister at Charing Cross Hospital. One of her colleagues was the daughter of a farmer so we went to farm near Northampton. The highlight of being evacuated was helping the farmer get the cows in from the fields.

“My father, Alec, was an air raid warden.

My mother, Kitty, was a great cook but her kneidlach could have been used for bombs over Dresden!

“What I always remember was the German V-1 ‘Buzz Bombs’ because when they went over, they hummed, stopped and then exploded. There was an Anderson shelter at the bottom of the garden with around 10 people cramped in.

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“On VE Day, everyone got together for a street party on Torrington Road. Police blocked off entrance to the road so cars could not get down. There was plenty of sandwiches but I always remember having jelly and custard as it was a real luxury. The atmosphere was electric and there was a feeling of real togetherness. That is what I remember most.”

Trevor and Sandra Lenson live down the road in Shenley. Born in 1937, Trevor was in Temple Fortune with his parents, John and Sonia Lenson, and sister Gillian throughout the war.

“My father did non-combat service, we lived over my mother’s hairdresser’s salon called Gillian on Monkville Parade on the Finchley Road,” Trevor recalled.

“You could hear bombs dropping when we went to air raid shelters at the ‘dingle’ near Henley’s corner. There was no damage where we lived but Neasden a few miles away was severely damaged.

“I was evacuated with Gillian for around four weeks to Oakham, Leicestershire but it was terrible. Luckily, I had loving parents and when they came to see us they brought us home.

“I remember the radio broadcasts during the war but was not really aware VE Day was coming. But I was so excited when my parents told me we were going up to town to celebrate VE Day. It was a day out in the West End, but of course, I didn’t realise the significance of the day.

“We went by underground from Golders Green and I always remember wearing a new grey short trouser suit. When we arrived at Piccadilly, there were crowds of people, all joyously happy. There were circles of people watching various street acts. There was lots of dancing and I recall a man doing a Houdini act escaping from a chain a few times.

“We then went to the Criterion cinema in Piccadilly Circus where they played cartoons. They showed the latest news and showed the liberation of Belsen. I had no idea about the Holocaust and it made a great impact on me. I needed to visit the camps and a few years ago we took a fourday trip Auschwitz, which was so emotional. It was something I had to do.

“After the cinema, we walked down to Buckingham Palace, which was a long schlep in those days. King George VI and his wife, later to be the Queen Mother, Princess Elizabeth, now the Queen, and Princess Margaret came out on the balcony with Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

“It was incredible to witness that moment. It’s amazing how you remember things in your life that never go away.

Sometimes its tragedy, sometimes its joy.

This was joy.”

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7 MAY 2020

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Saluting our veterans on the 75th anniversary of VE Day

David Teacher 96, a D-Day veteran, ready to head to France for the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings

PHOTO: LAWRENCE PURCELL

David Teacher MBE who was a D-Day veteran who landed on Juno Beach on 6th June 1944 part of Operation Overlord

PHOTO: LAWRENCE PURCELL

The ZF leads Israel 72 with Home Atzmaut Not allowing the lockdown and social isolation to get in the way of celebrating the ongoing miracle that is Israel, the Zionist Federation, supported by Masa, UJS, The Jewish Agency, JNF UK, Technion UK and the Israeli Embassy, brought the unique Israeli spirit of Yom Ha’atzmaut into homes with its Home Atzmaut event on 29th April 2020. With well over 2000 people celebrating Home Atzmaut in homes across the UK – as well as in the States, South Africa and Australia, #HomeAtzmaut was a resounding success.

And as if that wasn’t enough, almost 10,000 people came together online and watched the #HomeAtzmaut singalong concert with Israeli actress and entertainer Einat Sarouf, which the ZF hosted in partnership with the WZO. 1000’s more also came together for a multitude of other activities – Technion UK’s 72 Live online event, Etgar’s Israel Quiz, JNF’s Song Ha’atzmaut, the Israel Dance Institute’s ‘A Daily Dose of Dance ‘ and Ohel Sara’s ‘Walk a Mile for Israel’. And so it was for all this and more, that the Zionist community came together to celebrate.

And celebrate we did, just as millions of Israelis were celebrating in a similar fashion.

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Singer Avrumi Halpern with 17 year old Yissy Shadmi on Keyboards

PHOTO: LAWRENCE PURCELL

As all residents and staff of Beenstock Home are in self isolation and Lockdown Avrumi Halpern with 17 year old Yissy Shadmi on keyboards came along to brighten up residents and staff in the car park on Monday afternoon.

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BY JACQUELINE CURZON I previously mentioned the fact that the Nightingale hospitals are largely sitting empty. There are nine of them scattered across the UK, and very few utilised to their intended capacity. That they are so huge is largely due to scaremongering tactics created variously by the Oxford academics and the scientists at Imperial College, London. This is exactly what happens when we rely on speculation: how much did these field hospitals cost us, and how much care could have been provided instead in a dedicated Covid setting of one or two city hospitals? This would have freed up NHS beds for those still requiring surgical and standard medical management. I don’t like to keep saying The Emperors New Beds, but it’s becoming farcical to feel people are forced to stay at home, or worse, intentionally staying at home, to avoid Covid-19, when lives could be saved, more or less as normal. As in all circumstances where everyone is competing to be right about the data, it comes as no small surprise that the London Nightingale is being wound down. I would love to know how many patients utilised the 5000-bed capacity?! I read in the Imperial reports that they anticipated a 5-month lockdown, at least for most of us. If you are a Government minister you could obviously pop off to your holiday home (300 miles away) for some R&R with the family.

Where erroneous data is relied upon, we find the academics and government ministers are insistent that they were correct.

To admit an overstatement would appear, in their eyes, to be weakness, but in our eyes, to represent decency and common sense. We have had numerous conflicting opinions between the Imperial College models and those of the Oxford University scientists. Some senior ICU doctors have said, as an example, that the use of ventilators for geriatric patients was unlikely to be beneficial, yet the original modelling was premised on massive casualties and provision in that age group. Now what are we going to do with all the surplus PPE which we are unlikely to use? I know - maybe we could sell them back to China?

We’re also now told that social distancing has worked too well. I for one want to be able to return to normal, but they have created a culture of fear within society, where we will trust no one. I can say categorically: - nobody is going to be willingly locked up for another six weeks. Common sense, appropriate distancing, combined with improved personal hygiene should be sufficient in most cases. Care homes must critically continue to be extra vigilant.

There was also a very recent suggestion that those over 70 could be ‘protectively quarantined’ for up to another 18 months.

Jacqueline Curzon PHOTO: LARA MINSKY PHOTOGRAPHY

It’s very disconcerting to hear that, although the Government wants to lift the lockdown, 80% of our citizens feel we should maintain it.

Well for people in their twilight years, further self-isolation is cruel and completely ridiculous. Baroness Altman, the Conservative peer, has commented that it would create civil unrest if the over 70s were cherry-picked to do a longer lockdown.

As somebody who is in a similar category for existing lockdown, I can completely concur with that. At least if I am sent to prison for breaking it, I could perhaps look forward to flatscreen TV, kosher meals on demand and no children to harass me all day and night. Being locked up with one’s lively kinderlach brings a new definition to unusual punishment...

For most of us SAGE is a Jewish Nursing home in Golders Green. To our Government it stands for Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, in which Professor Neil Ferguson is a vocal member. He is the scientist from Imperial College, who advised the Government on various community measures prior to lockdown and is now postulating that lifting lockdown could see another 100,000 people die.

Initially he said our casualty rate could be up to 200,000, before rounding it down to 20,000. It’s all a long shot as they just have no idea, made worse because the information from China was unreliable at best, and blatant lies at worst. President Trump has come under fire yet again for claiming that the virus lab in Wuhan is unequivocally the ground zero for coronavirus. This laboratory - Wuhan Institute of Virology is a level 4 facility, (highest level) and stores some of

the deadliest viruses in the world, including Ebola, SARS, MERS and possibly a whole host of other goodies that we would rather not know about. In fact, the SARS crisis in 2002 was let out of the bag because of mishandling by a student. Goodness knows that was a close enough shave.

There is a level 2 lab in bat-flying distance from the wet market where the trouble allegedly began. Coincidence??

Could we even compute that Covid may have escaped Pandora's Box intentionally?

Can you imagine if it was released, perhaps not expecting massive global devastation, but perhaps to see how the population managed in terms of immunity or how the government/health care system managed disease control? A socio-medico experiment? Conspiracy theories will abound and are entirely speculative but given the subterfuge that many governments will go to hiding their political and global agendas, nothing would surprise me.

Britain’s decision to delay the imposition of lockdown in March comes under question with a senior former MI6 official claiming that intelligence agencies knew all about this, l-o-n-g before they admitted it. There is a security alliance called the Five Eyes:- US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, who state, “despite evidence of human-to- human transmission from early December, the PRC [China] denied it until late January." I would like to suggest it was much earlier than that. Evidence was emerging that Covid-19 may have made it to France by November, when a 53-yearold man was admitted to hospital in Paris with the symptoms, subsequently testing positive, and he had never been to China.

This would tie in with my disclosure last week about the Wuhan football team being shipped out to Spain in late autumn. This could be regarded as highly suspicious, and if they had known about a viral leak at that stage, how could they fail to pass the information on? What a blatant disregard for life. The WIV claims, 'there is a set of strict management rules with sophisticated protective facilities and strict measures to ensure the safety of lab staff are in place.'

This was backed up by the Chinese Embassy in London. Well they can say what they like. Whether we believe them is a different story.

It’s very disconcerting to hear that, although the Government wants to lift the lockdown, 80% of our citizens feel we should maintain it. So, when IS the right time to open our restaurants, stadiums, galleries, shops, schools etc? Our economy is going down the chute, many small businesses feel they will never reopen, and our population perceive threat lurking in every footfall. The health care system is going to be soon overwhelmed, senior staff telling me last week that the new

7 MAY 2020

age NHS will mainly offer video consults, with GPs following suit. Humbug!! Doctors need 1:1 with patients for how else will proper evaluation take place? We’ve been forcibly transported into a futuristic existence, and now we discover we are locked in a one-way system. How can normality be reclaimed? Looking at the scientific evidence, there have apparently been no cases recorded of child-to-adult transmission, which would indicate that it’s pretty safe for them to phase-in a return to school. Dominic Raab is considering steps for the 'new normal' in school education but proposing to continue with the 2m rule. Bonkers! I’m intrigued to know just how many children one could fit in a 'socially distanced' classroom. 10?

15? and what do we do with the remaining 15 children in each class, when there are probably 20 classes in a school? Maybe if the Government just got on with sourcing a few billion facemasks these could be distributed to our regular classes. This might see us through until the new session starts in September. In the interim however the Government doesn’t want to be drawn on face masks, despite medical professionals saying they are 'useful.’ I’m not sure if that might be because we are no longer on best friend terms with China, probably the biggest supplier in the world, or because our collective piggy bank is empty.

Over to cancer news, it is reported that a mother with terminal breast cancer has appealed for permission to travel to the US to take part in a potentially life-saving medical trial. She was told she was incurable last August and has been accepted on a San Francisco trial. (leronlimab).

However, with travel to the US currently prohibited her MP has made application to the American Embassy for an emergency visa. I’d like to know for people - like myself - also with incurable cancer, and terminal disease, why I should be prevented from applying for overseas clinical trials? Whilst not quite in the geriatric bracket, I’d like to extend my life as much as humanly possible. There are trials over there, but I’m not being a given a crack at them. I would add there are numerous others out there in the same position: how do you measure the price of one’s life?

The total number of deaths in the US is now in excess of 56,000 with infections closer to 1,000,000. An avoidable disaster, most certainly, and we share their pain.

How could we ever have anticipated such an Armageddon! Congratulations though to Wuhan, the epicentre of the pandemic, which now has zero cases of Covid-19.

Keep safe and keep sane Jacqueline x

To support Jacqueline in her battle with pancreatic cancer, please go to: https://www.gofundme.com/f/jacqueline039s-front-line-cancer-battle-fund THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

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Looking for answers? Send your question to Rabbi@RabbiSchochet.com TO MASK OR NOT TO MASK? Dear Rabbi If a person believes based on medical expert advice that wearing a mask on a quiet road is unnecessary, should he wear it anyways because of the chilul Hashem (tarnishing the good name of Judaism) it will cause in some circles if he doesn’t? Does the answer depend on his motivation (convenience vs. making a political statement)?

Derek Dear Derek Wherever a Jew walks he is representing more than himself.

New York Mayor de Blasio’s remarks prove the point. When he observed a couple of thousand Chassidic Jews breaking social distancing rules at a funeral, he tweeted a warning to “the Jewish community – and all others.”

And while there is zero justification for him to tar all Jewish people with the same brush and his critique smacks of unquestionable Anti-Semitic undertones, that doesn’t negate the fact that society judges our actions collectively rather than individually. If therefore there is a national guideline which insists I have to conduct myself in a certain way, then that becomes my overriding obligation regardless of opinions and so-called medical expertise.

There was a wedding that took place in North-West London the other week. It was in a private garden with only fifty people present. There was, allegedly, some form of social distancing.

The family in question had consulted and asked a leading Rabbi

who granted them permission to proceed. Ultimately the police turned up, broke it up and the next day it made national headlines. The question I have for the Rabbi in question is, “would you have granted permission if you knew that it would cause such a chilul Hashem?”

It comes back to the same point. No act is committed in isolation. We hold ourselves to a higher standard and we will always be held to that standard.

And it is always in that awareness that we must conduct ourselves.

HOW DO I COPE WITH THE LOSS? Dear Rabbi I lost three people close to me during this pandemic and I am feeling myself overwhelmed with sadness. I am an avid reader of your column and while this may not be something for the paper, I am looking for some words of encouragement from you. If you don’t mind to reply to me privately, or, perhaps in the paper for the benefit of others who may have endured loss at this time.

Many thanks in anticipation.

Deborah Dear Deborah There is a curious instruction in the Torah portion of last week where G-d says: “Be holy for I am holy!” How are we expected to emulate the Divine? I am mortal while He is immortal. I am limited while He is omnipresent?

Our Rabbis explain that this comes to teach us that we should strive to emulate G-d’s ways. By

Tehillim Psalm 140 In the beginning of this week’s psalm, King David turns to Hashem and says “Save me from evil people, save me from the lawless men of violence, who devise evil schemes against me..”

Evil people act following word of mouth so the psalmist adds, “ They sharpen their tongues like serpents, spider’s poison is on their lips”.

He asks for their plans to meet with failure.

“Elokim Hashem, oz yeshuati, sacotah leroshi byom nashek- Hashem our Lord, Might of my salvation, you protected my head on the day of armed battle.”

According to Rabbi Spero in his brilliant book ‘The touch sof Tehillim,” he says that the word ‘sacotah - You protected’ has the same root as the word ‘sechach’ I.e the covering of our Succah.

The protection of the Succah saves us from evil people, just like the fist Succahs in history in the desert showed complete faith in G-d who

definition just as He is compassionate, so we must be. Just as He is merciful so should we be.

But I would take this one step further. Each time a loved one is taken, they take a piece of us with them. But G-d is saying you all have a piece of Me in you as well. Know therefore that even as your loved one may no longer be physically with you, they are safe by My side. And as you have a piece of Me in you, then just as they remain eternally with Me they remain eternally connected with you. And indeed as per the verse, “in all their pain He has pain,” I feel your pain and share in your loss - but I endure – “be holy for I am holy.” You have a piece of Me in you – you have the wherewithal to do the same.

You have the very real ability to summon the strength and carry on. For this indeed is how your loved ones want it.

We wish we had even one extra moment; to ask, to discuss, to share, to have that one more embrace, to be able to say I love you just one more time. “Be holy for I am holy” teaches how we remain eminently close with those who enhance our souls, knowing the connections between here and there; that there is a staircase which connects this world and the next. Our loved ones remain eminently connected to us, they walk by our sides, they reach out to us. Even as we cannot see them, they are watching over us.

Even as we cannot hear them they are whispering love into our hearts. Even as we cannot feel them, they are taking us into their ethereal embrace.

That awareness should give us the strength we need and should enable us to find the comfort we

seek. “Be holy for I am holy:” You are the master of your soul. Take out time to be alone with your soul, to dig deep and carry on.

Indeed may all those who

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

This Tehillah is a refuah sheleima for Shmuel Yosef ben Faiga Chaya had protected us against the wicked Egyptians.

He ends his plea with an assurance that Hashem will defend the poor.

At the end of the psalm, we find the famous words that has become a popular Lubavitch song, “ Ach tzadikim.. - Righteous men shall raise your name the upright shall dwell in your presence.”

Many have the custom to say this verse after praying each morning.

It’s a great way of not rushing out of our shuls and may we merit to once again be allowed to attend them together very soon, Amen!

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mourn find solace – may G-d wipe away tears from off all faces and may we merit an end to all this suffering for once and for all, forever more.

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tests and kept the entire Torah, including the Mitzvot D’rabbanan – Rabbinic ordinances (Yuma, 28b, Rashi Bereishit, 26:5),nevertheless, the Torah attributes his endearment because he transmitted the Torah tradition to his children.

The first mitzvah of the Torah is “Pru u’revu” (Bereishit 1:28). This is generally translated as “be fruitful and multiply” and simply meaning to have many children.

The Shelah Hakadosh (Shaar Ha’otyot – Derech Eretz; LONDON’S LEADING PLATFORM FOR STUDENTS AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS cf Shulchan Aruch O.C. # 231), writes that the purpose of the mitzvah is to raise children in Torah and Mitzvot.

This weeks Parasha Sheet is sponsored by Rabbi Menachem Junik in memory of his beloved father’s 15th Yartzeit on 9 Iyar 5780 Our Sages (Tosfot Bava Basra 13b) term this commandment a “Mitzvah Rabba” – a great Mitzvah, bemorea Jews in the the more Shulchan Aruch O.C. # 231), writes that the purpose of the cause the Thus, by stressing the relationship of adults and minors Thus, childthatis are born intoworld, a family not only th RABBI JONATHAN TAWIL th Mitzvot will be fulfilled.

Iyar 14 5780 of the Pasuk “Emor” — needs, such as food,isclothing The redundancy of the The Pasuk redundancy including both “Emor” —is to regarding the laws of defilement, the Torah emphasizes mitzvah raiseincluding children inboth Torah and Mitzvot.

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THE QUOTE states that this messageprohibited is found three times in the Torah: by the Torah.

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P a r a s h a S h e e t This weeks Parasha Sheet is sponsored by Rabbi Menachem Junik in memory of his beloved father’s 15th Yartzeit on 9 Iyar 5780

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Corona Diary #7

7 MAY 2020

Beneath Our Own Two Feet

BY RABBI MOSHE TARAGIN Discussing the laws of sacrifices, Parshat Emor enumerates a very limited class of animals which are acceptable for religious ceremonies in the Beit Hamikdash. Animal sacrifices in the Temple were offered exclusively from oxen sheep or goats- not exactly a colourful or exciting group of animals!! More “sensational” or exotic animals would certainly lend more drama to the “sacrifice experience”. Imagine the powerful scene of a ferocious sabre-tooth tiger being tugged into the Temple and offered to G-d as a demonstration of raging religious devotion. Likewise, imagine the drama of hauling a mammoth hump back whale thousands of miles to the seaside ports of Israel and subsequently towing it to Jerusalem as a sign of our untiring devotion to G-d. Somehow, the extremely limited list of oxen, sheep and goats feels very boring and extremely lackluster. Why are our choices for sacrifices so humdrum?

The Midrash elaborates that religious ceremonies are conducted solely with domesticated animals. Even though several wild animals are kosher and may be eaten, they aren’t suited for Temple sacrifices.

These restrictions upon animal sacrifices provide an important lesson about religious identity and religious experience.

By definition, religion implies interacting with, and searching for, “something else”- beyond the routine of daily life. We search for a relationship with the “Other” who isn’t limited to our human world.

We follow His Law, even when it urges us to transcend our day-to-day routine. We study His Torah, which contains His timeless will – a wisdom which lies beyond our immediate reality. Additionally, we assert that history is evolving to a Messianic era, which will be dramatically different from our current condition. Finally, though we embrace our current world, we acknowledge a more eternal realm which awaits us. Religion is a journey and a quest for something beyond the concrete reality we inhabit.

Yet, in searching for the “beyond”, we sometimes convince ourselves that religious experience cannot truly be attained in our current condition or in our current lives. When pursuing religious meaning we sometimes attempt to become “someone else” or “something else” because we simply cannot envision our current wearisome lives as religiously “suitable” or as opportunities for religious encounter. In extreme

cases, people feel compelled to change their name, their dress or their community because their current condition feels too drab and too empty- incompatible with true religious experience. Restricting religious sacrifices to domesticated animals stresses that religious opportunity lies right beneath our own two feet- in our own backyards. Religious meaning doesn’t demand combing the jungles or traversing the high seas to locate some other reality to replace our current “boring” or simple reality. Encountering G-d doesn’t demand that we divest our current selves to transform into something entirely different or altered. Instead, genuine religious experience consists in reframing our common and daily routine with religious motivation and in rerouting our ordinary experiences toward religious goals. The foundation of religion must be crafted from the commonplace; upon this foundation we can then assemble more sophisticated religious ideas and more spectacular religious moments. As surpassing as religion can become, it must be firmly founded upon the “ordinary” and the domestic: simple goats and oxen from our own courtyards serve as the platform for religious experience. To grow religiously we needn’t travel to distant shores; it is sufficient to stay at home.

This truth about religion has become even more evident during the current corona crisis, as we have been literally, and imaginatively, quarantined at home.

The gala Pesach seders of past years were replaced with more muted and private gatherings. The communal gathering in Synagogues, were cancelled, yielding quiet personal prayers offered in our homes. So much of our religious energy – typically invested outwards, has now been turned inwards, to our inner lives and our own family life. Living with our families in such close quarters and for such concentrated periods, we face some very challenging questions: have we become more tolerant, generous, selfless and sympathetic? Have we transformed into more nobler, more righteous and more religiously sensitive versions of ourselves? Have we grown religiously even though that growth hasn’t radiated outward but spiralled inward?

Spending two months at home has reinforced the sense that religious growth must begin at home- literally in our own backyard.

Home quarantine hasn’t just reminded us that religious identity starts at home;

This truth about religion has become even more evident during the current corona crisis, as we have been literally, and imaginatively, quarantined at home. it has also spotlighted the true source of human identity and, ultimately, of human happiness and contentment. Under normal conditions, our self-fulfillment, and self-affirmation are products of many different spheres of human activity. Our identity and sense of self are molded by our professional achievements, our social interactions, our financial successes, our academic endeavours and by many other areas of human experience. An invisible virus has shut down many of these spheres and has reduced human identity to its most basic core. This reduction has posed a haunting existential question: Can we be happy in our own skin without any other external circles of human experience?

Can we draw happiness and self-esteem solely from our religious identity, our very personal and private moments, and our basic interactions with our nuclear families? Ultimately, without this elementary contentment, other forms of satisfaction

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remain transient and artificial. If this internal and self-sufficient contentment is missing, externally supplied fulfilment rings hollow and is, ultimately, illusory.

When –with G-d’s help- the crisis passes will we be able to maintain this core happiness even as we return to our routine and add additional layers of human activity to our lives? Will we be able to maintain a sense that, ideally, everything we need for human happiness can be located in our private lives? Can we remember that happiness is found in our own backyard and not on international flights or in busy malls? This once-in-a-lifetime health crisis strips human identity to its very core. What and who will we find looking back at us in the mirror?

Rabbi Moshe Taragin has taught at Yeshivat Har Etzion in Gush Etzion, for the past 22 years.

7 MAY 2020

Emor RABBI DR RAYMOND APPLE

THE PROCESS OF REDEMPTION

One of the Lubavitcher Rebbes gave a broad interpretation to the law of counting the Omer, which comes in this week’s reading (Lev. 23:15).

Just as one must daily count the Omer and yearn for the coming of Shavu’ot, he said, so should a Jew count and work towards the coming of the Messiah.

He quoted Micah 7:15, “As on the days of your coming out of Egypt, I will show him wonders…”

The Rebbe wondered why the prophet speaks of days, when the Exodus was really only one day, 15 Nisan.

He remarked that the redemption from Egypt actually never ceased.

It was not just one day. It is still in process. Not in a physical, literal sense; we are not talking about a geographical migration but a metaphorical redemption, whereby day by day we liberate ourselves from thought systems which continue to affect the development of a messianic value system.

Day by day a person must ask, “What have I done today to improve myself and the world?”

COUNTING FROM “SHABBAT”

The Pharisees and Sadducees had a bitter argument about the law of counting the Omer (Lev. 23:15).

The Torah commands, “Count from the

morrow of the day of rest (Shabbat)”.

The Sadducees says Shabbat means Saturday; the Pharisees says it means “day of rest”, meaning the first day of Pesach.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe asks why the Torah was not more explicit in its wording, and why it gave room for the ancient argument.

He explains that the verse is a tribute to Pesach. The importance of the festival as the transformation of the human personality whereby we acknowledge that the power of handling something like chametz which can be either a force for good or a force for evil needs to be emphasised.

By calling Pesach “Shabbat” gives the festival an exceptional status.

THE JEWISH PRIEST?

The sidra has a lot to say about the kohanim.

Every time we read this section I think of a newspaper crossword puzzle. The clue was “Jewish priest”; the answer was “rabbi”.

How wrong can you be?

A priest is not necessarily a rabbi: a rabbi is not necessarily a priest.

Being a priest is limited to someone with the requisite lineage; being a rabbi is not an outcome of heredity.

A priest can sometimes (regrettably) be ignorant: a rabbi is measured by his learning and knowledge.

A priest conducts ceremonies: a rabbi is a scholar and teacher, and some rabbis never ever conduct a service.

Mesillat Yesharim: Part 36 RABBI MORDECHAI ULLMAN Love is another pivotal component of being a Chassid. This is expressed in three ways, explains Ramchal. 1) In joy of serving G-d 2) in feeling closeness to G-d 3) in rising to the defence of G-d’s honour.

In living with loving, the Chassid pursues every opportunity to be close to Hashem as does one run after something (or someone) very dear to them. This means that merely discussing G-d or his Torah leads the Chassid to tremendous levels of joy, similarly to how one would enjoy simply talking about someone they hold very dear. If one absolutely loves our Creator, they will never miss an opportunity to serve Him unless their situation forces them to. Verses in Tehillim express King David’s intense love of G-d. “My soul cries for you as a hind for water…my soul thirsts for G-d…O when will I come to appear before G-d”. We may not be on David’s level, but singing these words (in Hebrew, to one of the famous tunes applied to them, can arouse feelings of yearning…). This level of love must be completely independent of any favours G-d does for us; we are instructed to love G-d even if He takes away one’s soul or their possessions.

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The problem arises when the going gets tough. How, then, do the tough get going and ensure their love is not diminished? Ramchal gives two suggestions. The first one is to tell oneself the well-known adage, “All that G-d does is for the best”. Similar to how a doctor may need to remove what appears to be healthy flesh in order to prevent disease from spreading further. This does not lead a person to love their doctor any less; to the contrary – sincere appreciation of this leads to greater love. (Easier said than done, but thankfully we are given time in this world to attain new levels each day.) If one was on an even higher level they would not even need to tell themselves the above. Their entire raison d’etere in this world is to make G-d’s name great. If they are granted a situation that creates a blockage to this, they react with enthusiasm in removing that blockage. Similar to an army officer who chooses the most difficult of battles simply to show their strength. Any opportunity the Chassid has to show their intense love of G-d they are more than happy to do so.

May we never be tested and instead sing our hearts out to G-d, “Libi U’vesari Yeranenu el Kel Chai”!

I know that the prophets say, “A priest’s lips shall preserve knowledge, and they shall seek the Torah at his mouth” (Mal. 2:7), and that verse certainly emphasises the importance of a priest being well versed in the Torah.

But in fact every Jew should be a fountain of knowledge, which the Torah implies when it calls us “a kingdom of priests and a holy people” (Ex. 19:6), but the specialist authority on Torah was and is the rabbi.

ABOVE THE LAW

Aaron and his sons, the kohanim, were told they had to “separate themselves from the holy things of the Children of Israel so that they profane not My name” (Lev. 22:2).

According to Rashi, this applied when the kohanim were in a state of ritual defilement. At such times they had to observe restrictions and not think, as Sforno points out, that they were above the law and could do whatever they fancied.

No priest or leader was or is too important to be subject to the law.

In modern times the lesson may be one for those who say to a police officer, “You can’t book me – I’m a VIP!” Or those who say, “I’m allowed to rort the system – I’m a high flyer!” Or maybe, “I’m a star, and stars don’t have to be faithful to their

spouses!”

Trading on your status, exploiting your eminence and rank – it is an insult to society and its mores and it degrades the concept of leadership.

The moment a leader becomes too big for his or her boots is the moment to give up, step down and go back to the ranks.

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

Halachot of Tefilla Covid-19 has found Jews worldwide praying at home instead of at the synagogue.

Whilst most laws of Tefilla are often automatically solved by attending Shul, these may be forgotten or neglected whilst in one’s home. We therefore present ten of the “less-obvious” Halachot of Tefilla.

1. It is forbidden to pray facing a picture or a mirror. If one closes one’s eyes it is permissible to stand opposite a picture, but not opposite a mirror.

2. When praying without an Aron Kodesh, one does not lower the head when saying Tachanun.

3. One must ensure they are fully dressed when praying. Praying in Pyjamas or without socks on is inappropriate.

Shemoneh Esrei should also not be recited with slippers on etc if that is not how one stands in front of distinguished people.

4. One should not pray if they need to relieve themselves.

5. One should wash their hands prior to praying if they have not paid attention to keeping them off parts of the body that require hand washing 6. It is forbidden to interrupt Shemoneh Esrei for any reason. If a child is crying one may gesture to them. If this does not help, one should move themselves but

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make every effort not to talk.

7. It would appear that although we usually allow praying Maariv before nightfall, if one prays Mincha at home after Plag Hamincha, one should wait until nightfall before praying Maariv (unless one will not be awake then, in which case should preferably wait for sunset before Maariv.). The usual Mitzvot such as Sefirat Haomer and Kiddush Levana do not require a minyan so should be recited at home as usual. Kiddush Levana should preferably be recited outdoors.

8. It is preferable to designate a certain area of the house in which one prays.

Needless to say, it should face eastwards towards Jerusalem.

9. If one is praying Shemoneh Esrei, it is forbidden for others to walk or sit down in front of them. The person praying should therefore stand next to a wall. It is also forbidden to start praying if one is already sitting within the four amot of where they will be standing.

10. One may not pray near a child who has soiled themselves.

It is important to remember to pray not only for the sick to recover, but also for the healthy that they should not fall sick, as we learn from King David.

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Emor Parshat Emor opens with the laws about Kohanim who must protect themselves from becoming impure but also get to enjoy food portions that only they can eat. We are taught the importance of ensuring that the Kohanim and any animals brought as a sacrifice do not have any blemish.

We are also taught about the Yamim Tovim - each of the festivals. Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot. It is in this week’s sidra that we are taught about the four types of plant that we shake on Sukkot. Do you remember any? We also learn about Sefirat Ha’omer - counting the days in between Peach and Shavuot. Can you guess how many days there are?

At the end of the day, whether or not we are Kohanim, we all hope for the time that we will be able to serve Hashem in peace, in Yerushalayim, together with the Kohanim, and celebrate the three major festivals in their fullest sense.

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BODY • IMPURE • KOHANIM • OMER • PASSOVER • SHABBAT • SHAVUOT • SPEAK

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

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Emor

In a nutshell Emor is the name of this week’s sidra and it opens with laws applying to male Kohanim. Only if one of their seven closest relatives die, may they become impure. The Kohen Gadol, however, never leaves the Beit Hamikdash. We then learn about blemishes that disqualify a Kohen from serving in the temple. The Kohen represents the Jewish people and therefore if a part of his body is seriously disfunctional, unfortunately, he cannot represent the nation, for it appears that the Jewish people themselves are fractured. This teaches the importance of unity He can, however, enjoy other privileges of being a Kohen, and eat from the Korbanot the portions that only a Kohen can partake of.

In a similar vein, an animal with a missing limb or other permanent blemish may not be offered up as a Korban. You wouldn’t bring the Queen an imperfect gift, bought on ebay in a “used” condition, so don’t bring anything less perfect to G-d.

A Kohen has restrictions, sure, so if his football lands in a cemetery, that would be the end of his game, but he also has gifts – from most Korbanot, the Teruma from produce etc. and not only does he enjoy it; his wife and kids do too.

We then have the laws about not slaughtering a female animal and its child on the same day.

Then the Parsha launches into the laws of the Shabbat and Yomim Tovim, starting with Pesach, continuing with the Korban Omer, which came from barley, leading to Sefirat Ha’omer for fifty days leading in turn to Shavuot on which a double Korban of bread is brought. Shavuot has many names, three of which are based on this weeks sidra’s description of it being, “the festival of the harvest, the bread of the Bikkurim and, of course, celebrating the seven weeks hence “Shavuot”.

The Parsha continues with Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur (including the laws of fasting) and Sukkot,

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.

followed by Shemini Atzeret. On Sukkot we bring four species of plants and wave them before Hashem in the Temple and today, wherever we are. Do you remember the name of any of them?

In closing the laws of the festivals, the Torah gives the laws of oil for lighting the Menorah. How’s that for an allusion to Chanuka?! Then talks about the Lechem Hapanim – the special loaves of bread that sat on the Shulchan in the Mishkan for one week, remaining fresh throughout.

Sadly, we close with a man who misused the name of G-d and he had to be put to death. It started with a monetary fight, never a good idea.

Finally, there’s the laws of how to pay in cases of damage. Injuring a person in the times of the Sanhedrin incurred a fine. Every society is expected to have laws (and a school or a home is no different).

Enjoy following the laws wherever you are…

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7 MAY 2020

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Q: Why did the teddy bear say no to dessert?

A: Because she was stuffed.

Q: What did the left eye say to the right eye?

A: Between us, something smells!

Q: What do you get when you cross a vampire and a snowman?

A: Frost bite!

(Answers at the bottom of page upside down)

1. What has a face and two hands but no arms or legs?

3. What can you hear, but not see or touch, even though you control it?

2. A girl fell off a 20-foot ladder. She wasn’t hurt. Why?

Q: Two pickles fell out of the jar onto the floor. What did one say to the other?

A: Dill with it!

3) Your voice 1. A clock

2)She fell off the bottom step.

1. High school 2. Long overdue 3. Hurry up

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4. Alright on the night 5. A hole in one 6. Downtown

Help us carry on our vital services Emergency Appeal 10-11 May 2020 Things have changed a lot for Kisharon since the lockdown. Our work is frontline, just like doctors, nurses and paramedics. Our key workers go above and beyond, some even sacrifice seeing their families, but they soldier on to support our Kisharon people.

Our annual dinner was set to raise ÂŁ1 million pounds, and while this has been cancelled, our social care must go on and is needed now more than ever. Help us carry on supporting those with complex learning difficulties.

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