The Jewish Weekly Issue 210

THE LARGEST CIRCULATED JEWISH NEWSPAPER IN THE UK!

EE FR

CONTACT ROUNDTREE REAL ESTATE TODAY SALES LETTINGS INVESTMENTS

020 8203 2111 mail@theroundtree.com

www.theroundtree.com

1 Sentinel Square, Brent Street NW4 2EL

04 NOVEMBER 2021/29 CHESHVAN 5782

020 8203 2111 mail@theroundtree.com

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

www.theroundtree.com

1 Sentinel Square, Brent Street NW4 2EL

@TheJewishWeekly 210

Marketing Sponsor:

Discuss it over lunch It’s the food that makes the mood- our milky and meaty food courts will be open all day.

Register to visit

08-09 Nov 2021

jtrade.co.uk Info@jtrade.co.uk 020 8806 1998

THE LARGEST CIRCULATED JEWISH NEWSPAPER IN THE UK!

EE FR

CONTACT ROUNDTREE REAL ESTATE TODAY SALES LETTINGS INVESTMENTS

020 8203 2111 mail@theroundtree.com

020 8203 2111

www.theroundtree.com

mail@theroundtree.com

1 Sentinel Square, Brent Street NW4 2EL

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

www.theroundtree.com

1 Sentinel Square, Brent Street NW4 2EL

ISRAEL WELCOMES TOURISTS AGAIN

04 NOVEMBER 2021/29 CHESHVAN 5782

@TheJewishWeekly 210

BY DAVID SAFFER

Individual tourists can visit Israel and Tourism Minister Yoel Razvozov is hopeful restrictions will be lifted further for families in the not too distant future.

Razvozov was in demand at the Israeli Pavilion at the World Travel Market at ExCel London this week and stressed the positives for visitors from over 40 countries traveling to the Holy Land.

“As we open the borders for individual tourists, it’s important British visitors re-discover Israel,” he told The Jewish Weekly. “This is just the first step in the right direction.”

“The British market is of great importance for the Israeli tourism industry,” said Razvozov.

“Just look around, our pavilion is not the biggest, but it’s one of the busiest. British travel agents and companies are really interested in Israel, which provides us with

Sharon Ehrlich Bershadsky Director of the Israel’s UK & Ireland Tourist Office with Tourism Minister Yoel Razvozov at the World Travel Market

a hope to renew the tourist flow at the greater scale.”

The Israeli Pavilion had some

PHOTO: SWAINUK

air companies, the travel agents’ association and individual agents.

Issues remain and the vaccination guidance will be continually evaluated but the Israeli minister is focused on the future.

There was guarded optimism regarding families with children being able to again travel to Israel.

“Everyone is optimistic, but we still have to take possible ramifications of the pandemic into account,” he said. “It’s quite hard to predict what will happen in those terms, yet as Israel is the most vaccinated country, including the booster, we hope to get back to normal as soon as possible. “ “The upcoming month is a kind of case study,” Razvozov added.

“We will review our policies and their implementation, check the contamination rate and so forth. As the FDA and European

40 presenters representing El Al, hotel chains and travel agents.

Razvozov held meetings with SHABBAT: London Manchester Leeds Liverpool Bournemouth Antwerp Birmingham Gateshead

“When my sister told me she had breast cancer, the first thing I did was call Chai.”

If you or someone you know has been affected by a cancer diagnosis, call Chai.

The Chai BRCA and Breast Awareness Campaign is sponsored by the family and many friends of Debra Persey z’l.

Chai Lifeline Cancer Care Registered Charity No. 1078956

Call 0808 808 4567 or visit chaicancercare.org

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 PARASHAT TOLEDOT BEGINS 16:12 16:13 16:06 16:13 16:17 16:50 16:12 16:02

ENDS 17:14 17:19 17:19 17:26 17:26 18:00 17:23 17:17

2 NEWS

TO ADVERTISE CALL 020 3906 8488

4 NOVEMBER 2021

Coalition attempts to pass budget

BY SIMCHA ABIR Israeli MKs have started the voting process to pass a first state budget since March 2018.

Failure to pass the budget by November 14 would see the end of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s coalition government and trigger a fifth election in recent times.

Should Bennett’s budget bid not succeed opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu will have a chance of returning to power.

The coalition includes eight parties and holds a slender 61-59 majority in the 120-member assembly.

Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman envisages that the budget will pass. And political writers expect it to get the green light such is the angst against the Likud leader but Netanyahu is believed to be hopeful that either the Yamina or Islamist Ra’am party will break away.

“The moment the budget passes, this buys the government stability for several years, and what it means for the opposition is disintegration,” Bennett said this week.

“They are desperate to topple the budget and to take us to a fifth election, this is their goal.”

Hundreds of amendments include 600 objections from the opposition to be voted

upon before a final vote expected today or Friday. The government has allowed 10 days to ensure the budget passes.

Both the coalition and opposition have instructed MKs to attend the sessions to ensure all votes count.

The Bank of Israel, meantime, has called on the Knesset to pass the state budget as a pro-rata version of the 2019 budget has been in operation, which economists believe have stifled growth.

In a statement, the Bank of Israel stressed the “tremendous economic importance” of approving the budget due to a political stalemate since 2020.

Backing the budget plan, the Bank noted a two-year spending package and economic reforms would make it “easier” for the government and businesses to function.

Ahead of the vote, the government passed an economic package to slowly lift the minimum wage to 6,000 shekels a month by 2025 from currently 5,300 shekels a month.

Civil workers’ salaries would be frozen with the labour union agreeing not to strike for a year during negotiations.

“We have reached an amazing achievement but we have not solved all the problems,” Lieberman told a news conference.

“It is a very complex business and will not go easily.”

CYP-IAPT Salaried Trainee in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) at Noa Girls Noa Girls is a charity supporting adolescent girls in the Orthodox Jewish Community An incredible opportunity has become available for a full-time fully funded position (including both university PGDip course fees and placement), with funding provided by NHS England via the Child and Young Persons Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Programme (CYP-IAPT).

Salary commensurate with experience: up to mid-point NHS Band 6 equivalent Role Requirements: 2 days per week study towards post-graduate diploma - Kings College London 3 days per week clinical placement – Noa Girls Candidates must have experience of clinical work in the mental health field For further information on the role and its requirements, or to request an application pack, please contact HR@noagirls.com Start date: January 2022 Closing date for applications: 12pm on Monday 15th November 2021

Israel Tourism stand at the World Travel Market

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 authorities approve vaccinations for kids, it will be easier to lift the restrictions further. I understand the burden, but our main goal at this point is to provide health safety for the tourists and the Israeli population.”

Looking to 2022, will Israel be open for visitors especially for Pesach and the summer?

“It’s quite hard to provide any definite timeframes, the pandemic is quite dynamic and unexpected,” Razvozov explained.

“We hope that the vast vaccination process will help us in overcoming new potentially dangerous virus-variants and we won’t see high numbers in terms of the new cases discovered daily. The world is following Israel in acknowledging that there is a necessity to provide a booster vaccination, as the process unfolds we will open the borders more and more. At the moment the guidelines for entering Israel are quite rigid, but we hope that as the booster vaccination spreads, we will be able to ease up the entry process.”

So how straightforward is the process of travel to Israel?

“The Ministry of Health has prepared forms to be filled in English,” noted Razvozov. “There was some technical glitches on the first operational day, but we set up a “front command and operations room”, my office has analysed the problems reported and tried to fix them right away.

“Those eligible to come have to fill an online form, upload “Covid-19 passports” or “vaccination passports”, have a PCR test 72 hours before boarding and PCR test after the

The Jewish Weekly www.thejewishweekly.com office@thejewishweekly.com editorial@thejewishweekly.com letters@thejewishweekly.com advertising@thejewishweekly.com London tel. 0203

906 8488 Manchester tel. 0161 804 1321

PHOTO: SWAINUK

landing. Once a person provides the documents online, he gets an Israeli Green Pass.

The Green Passport is activated once the negative PCR results upon landing arrives, it usually takes 8 to 12 hours. As for the test, one may make a pre-payment, so the process in the airport is smooth.”

He added, “There have been harsh times, yet we are overcoming them together. Israel waits for the British Jewish community to renew its visits, it’s been a long period, we have missed you so welcome back!”

There was relief in many quarters when Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz ratified a return to travel by balancing health and the economy.

The Tourism Ministry though stressed there was a long way to go before pre-pandemic conditions were met.

“We are full of hope that the necessary measures that have been introduced will help, and as things improve it will be possible to ease the conditions of entry into Israel,” noted a statement. “We will continue to work to increase the number of tourists who can enter Israel, in order to reignite the travel and tourism economy.”

“This is not the end of the struggle, only the beginning,” said Razvozov. “We look forward to welcoming back tourism to Israel.”

Tourists can enter Israel if they have a World Health Organisation approved vaccine.

These include AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer which are used as boosters in the United Kingdom.

Full details for travellers are available online.

WHAT’S INSIDE THIS WEEK 04 News 18 Opinion 20 Games 21 Community 26 Feature

28 Cookery 30 Judaism 36 Kids 38 Youth

DISTRIBUTED IN: UNITED KINGDOM: LONDON, MANCHESTER, LEEDS, BOURNEMOUTH, GATESHEAD, BIRMINGHAM, LIVERPOOL BELGIUM: ANTWERP

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

EMPOWERED 36

HOUR APPEAL

FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN 7-8 NOVEMBER

Our community’s needs have changed profoundly over the past 18 months, and Norwood’s support has become even more integral for the children, families and adults we support.

We are working directly with those vulnerable members of our community to ensure we can be there for them, when and where we’re needed.

With your help, we’ll be able to raise essential funds to help keep our vital services running.

charityextra.com/norwood

T 020 8420 6970 E togetherweare@norwood.org.uk Charity no. 1059050 Patron Her Majesty The Queen

4 NEWS

TO ADVERTISE CALL 020 3906 8488

4 NOVEMBER 2021

Israel begins climate change

BY DAVID SAFFER Prime Minister Naftali Bennett launched Israel’s ‘100-Step Plan’ at the United Nations COP26 climate summit in Glasgow on Monday.

Acutely aware action is needed to accelerate towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and UN Framework Convention, Bennett told delegates Israel was at the “beginning of a revolution” regarding climate change.

“We’re currently doing more to promote clean energy and reduce greenhouse gases than at any other time in our country’s history,” he claimed on Monday.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the end of the two-day leaders’ meeting said he was “cautiously optimistic” about the summit so crucial to combating the impact of global warming.

Over 100 countries agreed to cut emissions by 30% by the end of the decade whilst the US and EU leaders say it’s crucial to cap global warming limited to 1.5C. The Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge both attended the COP26 conference.

The Queen in a pre-recorded video message at Windsor Castle called on world leaders to “achieve true statesmanship” and create a “safer, stabler future” for the planet.

It was time to act “for our children and our

children’s children” and “rise above the politics of the moment,” she said.

Israel is committed to cutting gas emissions to net zero by 2050 and will phase out the use of coal by 2025.

“We’re making progress, but let’s be real, Israel is a small country,” Bennett told delegates. “We’re less than a third of the size of Scotland. So, our carbon footprint may be small, but our impact on climate change can be mighty. If we’re going to move the needle, we need to contribute Israel’s most valuable source of energy, the energy and brainpower of our people. This is what fuels our innovation and ingenuity. This is where Israel can make a real difference. Israel may be 60% desert, but we’ve managed to make it bloom. We may be in one of the driest places on earth, but we’ve managed to become the world’s number one country in water innovation.”

With Israel having the most start-ups per capita worldwide, Bennett appealed to innovators to help save the world.

“We’re going to need new inventions and new technologies that have not yet been even imagine,” he said. “This is why I call upon our entrepreneurs, our innovators, in Israel and across the world, you can be the game changers, you can help save our planet.”

Bennett added, “Israel’s national pivot

to climate solutions can be only achieved with the right ecosystem. This is why I set up a task force called The Green Sandbox, to provide funds to help the entrepreneurs out and ensure that their path is free of bureaucratic bumps.”

Israel’s leader concluded, “As we work to keep people safe today, we will also be working for the resilience of tomorrow, where our children will breathe cleaner air, drink cleaner water and live in a world that treats the planet better than we did. Israel can become the climate innovation nation and we’re ready to pave the way.”

The Israeli delegation included Bennett, Environmental Protection Minister Tamar Zandberg, Energy Minister Karin Elharrar along with officials and business people.

The Energy Minister, who has muscular dystrophy, made headlines in Glasgow herself when the lack of wheelchair access meant she could not attend Monday’s session and had to return to her hotel.

Embarrassingly for organisers, the only options for Elharrar were to walk or take a shuttle not suitable for her wheelchair.

Arrangements were duly made to ensure accessibility for Tuesday’s session.

Johnson apologised for the situation. “I gather there was some confusion with the arrangements yesterday. I’m very, very sorry about that,” he said.

INSTANT FUN JEWISH KARAOKE AT HOME!

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

Naftali Bennett speaking at COP 26

Bennett thanked Johnson for his “quick intervention” regarding an “unfortunate incident” he described as a “learning opportunity”.

4 NOVEMBER 2021

TO ADVERTISE CALL 020 3906 8488

revolution

PHOTO: YOUTUBE

Johnson and Elharrar backed Bennett’s sentiments.

“We can talk about accessibility and the rights of people with disabilities, but in life

we need to implement all the conventions and all the regulations and that was an experience that showed that we need to pay attention to all the details everywhere,” she said. “I am sure it will be different in the future.”

UK’s Environment Secretary, George Eustice, said the incident was “deeply regrettable” whilst British Ambassador to Israel, Neil Wigan was also disturbed by the incident.

But disability charity Scope said the incident was inexcusable.

“No one should be excluded from participating in an event that is addressing one of the biggest issues of our time,” said Alison Kerry of Scope. She added: “It’s high time accessibility is built in from the start and not an afterthought.”

A COP26 spokeswoman noted, “This was a genuine mistake and we have apologised to Minister Elharrar. We remain committed to an inclusive event accessible to all and the venue was designed to facilitate that.”

Bennett met various world leaders including Crown Prince of Bahrain Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa in a packed schedule.

There was also time to join a reception hosted by Prince Charles.

The Israeli leader met with US President Joe Biden, Johnson, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Prince William,French

President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aside from the leaders of Australia, Italy and Honduras.

Israel’s delegation held numerous meetings. Commenting on the climate gathering on LBC radio, Zandberg was forthright.

She told presenter Eddie Mair. “I think the global crisis demands that all countries of the world will be united otherwise we will all face a catastrophe.”

Regarding discussions with other nations, Zandberg commented, “Being here has strength, almost 200 countries, over 120 heads of state, this sends a message. This conference is covered all over the world, citizens look up to their leaders. To have this conference as an anchor where everyone can gather around, (holding) bilateral, multilateral and negotiation meetings that are about tightening commitments and bringing more players to the table, to (help) make targets a reality”.

As for actions of activists, including teenager Greta Thunberg, Zandberg noted, “We see activists outside, especially from the younger generation and they demand from us, their leaders, don’t neglect us, don’t risk our future.”

She added, “Prime Minister Johnson spoke about it, children who will demand justice from us are not born yet. The activists are right in demanding more all the time, the needle is moving. We do not want to have to sentence our children and grandchildren to a catastrophe.”

Zandberg concluded, “Our Prime Minister has committed to be net zero by 2050,

NEWS 5 we also have a series of governmental decisions with a new budget that is about to pass in the Knesset that is dedicated to cleaner energy, electric transportation and to innovation. For us it is the beginning of the road, we have already made the first steps and will exceed them.”

The summit made global headlines throughout, and there was controversy from an unlikely source when the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby “unequivocally” apologised after inadvertently comparing the climate crisis to Nazi Germany.

The Most Reverend Justin Welby was reported to have said that leaders will be “cursed” if they don’t reach agreement and suggested that a failure to act would possibly be more grave than leaders who ignored warnings about the Nazis in the 1930s.

When the comment was pointed out, Archbishop Welby immediately apologised, tweeting, “I unequivocally apologise for the words I used when trying to emphasise the gravity of the situation facing us at COP26.

It’s never right to make comparisons with the atrocities brought by the Nazis, and I’m sorry for the offence caused to Jews by these words.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism commended Archbishop Welby for his rapid and unreserved apology.

A spokesman said, “Making such comparisons rarely strengthens one’s cause.”

The controversy came in a BBC interview by the Archbishop with political editor Laura Kuenssberg.

COP26 was delayed by a year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sing with friends and family. Perfect for kids, parents and grandparents! Great entertainment and fun for the whole family.

There’s nothing to install. Just plug your jKaraoke Kit into your home device and speakers. It’s as easy as 1-2-3.

Choose from our extensive range of Jewish hits and sing with the kids, family and friends!

WWW.JKARAOKE.COM THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

6 NEWS

TO ADVERTISE CALL 020 3906 8488

4 NOVEMBER 2021

CAA evaluate Labour response to EHRC report

BY ADAM MOSES Campaign Against Antisemitism has evaluated how the Labour Party responded to the Equality and Human Rights Commission report on antisemitism within the party a year ago.

Joe Glasman, CAA Head of Political and Government Investigations, said that while Labour leader Keir Starmer pledged to tear out antisemitism by its roots, there had been only a “light trimming”.

“The leadership has yet to fulfil its promise of zero tolerance, the real challenge will be applying the new rules to those in the Labour Party who supported or enabled the unlawful victimisation of Jewish people,” Glasman noted. “In particular, Labour must investigate our complaints against its MPs if the Jewish community is finally to have justice.”

When the EHRC found Labour institutionally racist against Jewish people, Starmer described findings as a “day of shame” for the party. CAA noted the Jewish community had been “finally vindicated”.

The organisation has detailed evidence of Starmer living up to his pledge, including suspending former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, pending an investigation, though the suspension was short-lived with Corbyn “eligible” to attend the Party’s annual conference this year.

Labour Against the Witchhunt and

disgraced former Labour MP Chris Williamson’s ‘Resist’ faction have been proscribed.

And the National Executive Committee has resolved to introduce a semi-independent disciplinary process, a decision endorsed by the Party’s annual conference.

Labour-controlled local authorities have a good record of adopting the International Definition of Antisemitism. But Corbyn was readmitted by the same disciplinary process the EHRC deemed unfit for purpose, and Jewish Voice for Labour remains active. Also, the pro-Corbyn Momentum faction, has not been proscribed. And lamentably, there are issues in Labour handling antisemitism.

The Parliamentary Labour Party and Shadow Cabinet include politicians actively behind Corbyn and CAA complaints against 15 sitting MPs remain outstanding.

One against Deputy Leader Angela Rayner was dismissed, note CAA, which does not reflect a leadership “wholly willing” to address past failures. Starmer has “repeatedly refused to engage with us”, despite being the complainant in the EHRC’s investigation the organisation notes on the matter.

Numerous MPs and officeholders have also not been sanctioned for sharing platforms with members suspended or expelled over antisemitism, despite Starmer’s election pledge.

CAA note disciplinary actions in other

Sir Keir Starmer

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

high-profile cases being reversed, and they view goodwill between Labour and the Jewish community in the months after Starmer became leader having disappeared following the Hamas and Israel conflict when a number of Labour MPs ignored displays of antisemitism at rallies and on occasions joined them.

“All of this has been noted by the Jewish community,” commented CAA, who illustrated in a poll that British Jews feel the party is over twice as tolerant of antisemitism than other political parties.

A poll also showed 88% of respondents consider the Party “too tolerant” on antisemitism under Starmer compared to 86% under Corbyn.

CAA were likewise stunned to hear Starmer declare at Labour’s conference that he had “closed the door” on antisemites in the Party and on Labour’s “shameful chapter.”

They explained, “His keynote speech did not mention antisemitism at all, with the partial exception of his delight in welcoming Dame Louise Ellman back to the Party.”

Starmer’s reference to Ellman sadly met with “some hissing” in the crowd.

Even if the Labour leadership succeeds in redirecting the Party, CAA note, and confronts problems in the PLP, over two thirds of the party believe antisemitism in the Party is “exaggerated”, findings similar to a poll after the 2019 General Election.

CAA concluded, “We continue to encourage the Labour Party in its positive steps and fulfilment of the Action Plan agreed with the EHRC, but we will also continue to pressure the Party on its failures and inconsistencies, and ultimately expect to see our complaints investigated and upheld so that the Jewish community gets more than just the promise of justice.”

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

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

richardb@worldjewishrelief.org

020 8736 1250

www.worldjewishrelief.org/will THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

reg. charity 290767

MASECHES TAANIS DAF YOMI

STARTING SOON!

Sunday 14 November 2021 |

‫י' כסלו תשפ"ב‬

Join R’ Eli Stefansky’s Daily Daf Yomi Shiur online and receive a

Your choice of English or Hebrew Artscroll, or Mesivta

FREE GEMARA MASECHES TAANIS

StudioLebovits.com

The Gemaras are sponsored by current members of the shiur

To get your FREE GEMARA visit us online at

or call/text

JOINDAFYOMI.com 07588 866 840

to fill out the form, and to watch R' Eli's Full Daf Yomi Shiur & The "8 Minute Daf" Review.

8 NEWS

TO ADVERTISE CALL 020 3906 8488

Wizz Air Barton apologises over Holocaust comment restarts Israel route

BY DAVID SAFFER

Wizz Air has restarted its route from London Luton to Tel Aviv in Israel.

Tickets are available on wizzair.com or on the airline’s mobile app, with fares starting from £39.99.

Passengers can book tickets with the airline’s travel insurance package which includes Covid-19 cover and WIZZ Flex.

With WIZZ Flex, passengers can cancel a flight up to three hours before departure without any fee and receive 100% of the fare immediately reimbursed in airline credit.

Marion Geoffroy, Wizz Air Managing Director, said, “We look forward to welcoming back customers to experience our exceptional service on board our new, green Airbus aircraft.”

Bristol Rovers manager Joey Barton has apologised after he described a bad football performance by his team as ‘a Holocaust’ following a recent loss to Newport County.

Campaign Against Antisemitism and Action Against Discrimination led an outcry over the comments at the end of October and welcomed Barton’s contrition over the incident which resulted in national headlines.

The Football Association duly acted and the Bristol boss has responded with regret.

“Clearly no offence was meant, but some people have rightly pointed out to me the use of the analogy was not correct,” Barton said. “So, if anybody was offended by that, I would like to apologise. I think the FA were right to write to me and remind me of that.

You hope to use better analogies in future, but it was certainly with no malice or offence intended to anybody.”

He added: “It’s our duty to be word perfect and not create controversy. I get that everything we say, even this I’m saying now will no doubt be pieced together in such a way that it will be there to grab and capture the attention of people that use social media, the internet. For me, it was a poor analogy to use in the context of the modern-day

world we live in, and it won’t happen again.”

“Trivial comparisons to the Holocaust, the systematic murder of six million Jewish men, women and children, are never acceptable,” noted a CAA spokesman. “Barton is right to apologise, but it remains remarkable that Joey Barton he and others too often PHOTO: FACEBOOK feel it appropriate to make such thoughtless comments in the first place.”

CAA went on to call for the former Premier League star to again consider undertaking Holocaust education. Barton should use his platform to “encourage others to do so to better understand the impact of his words”, they added.

Jonathan Metliss, AAD chairman, commented, “This does not change my previous comments and advice that sportsmen and in this case footballers need to be properly educated and informed about the Holocaust and antisemitism generally which is clearly not the case to date.”

Reaction towards the former England footballer’s post-match interview following

4 NOVEMBER 2021 a 3-1 loss against the Welsh side at Memorial Stadium was swift.

CAA was stunned at Barton’s “shocking act of ignorance”, AAD demanded an apology to Holocaust survivors, Bristol councillor Fabian Breckels described his comments as “appalling”, Bristol Holocaust Memorial Day Steering Group labelled them “offensive” whilst National Holocaust Centre trustee Dame Helen Hyde said Barton showed a “lack of knowledge”.

It is, CAA noted, “a disgusting gesture of disrespect to those murdered by the Nazis and survivors”, Metliss said Barton’s language was “deplorable, sad and regrettable”, Breckels blasted the club for not commenting on the controversy whilst the Steering Group said Barton displayed a “lack of understanding of the true barbarism, torture and evil that was inflicted”.

Reacting to the Newport defeat, Barton said, “I said to the lads during the week, you know, the team’s almost like musical chairs, you know. Someone gets in and does well, but then gets suspended. Someone gets in and does well, gets injured. Someone gets in, does well for a game and then has a Holocaust, a nightmare, you know, an absolute disaster.”

This is not the first time a Holocaust reference was made after a poor performance.

In 2019, football pundit and former Arsenal footballer, Perry Groves, apologised after reportedly describing a player as having “a Holocaust of a game” on a live radio show. A year earlier, Phil Brown, former Hull City manager, apologised for the same phrase, also on radio.

Stand

F20

looking forward to meeting you at Schedule a meeting THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

Tel: 0161 211 7568 email: hello@betterwebsites.co.uk www. betterwebsites.co.uk

ALIYAH FINANCES WEBINAR

Smart Investment, Pensions and Tax Planning

хѷтп су/# спср

о

$)4 ($) *(.&4Ѷ # -/ - *0)/ )/ җ о .- 'Ҙ *0' !$ Ѷ 1$/ 'Ѷ #- ).&4 о *ѵ

• .$ . *! /# .- '$ / 3 .4./ ( • 3$($.$)" /# рпҊ4 - / 3 !- + -$* !*- '$( • 3 $..0 . 2$/# - (*/ 2*-&$)" • ).$*).

$(*) ) --* #Ѷ # -/ - '/# ) " 4(*) ( . Ҟ *' -. - )

• • • •

*' -. -

# / .#*0' * 2$/# +-*+ -/4Ѽ $/$" /$)"

)# -$/ ) 3 ) !$/. *! !!.#*- )1 ./$)" )# ) $)" 4*0- - /$- ( )/ $) *(

"$./- /$*) 1$ *0- 2 .$/ ѷ

)ѵ 4(*) ( .ѵ0&ѵ *(

*- (*- $)!*-( /$*)ѷ псп чспс ршуу *' -. -

)ҽ 4(*) ( .ѵ *(

"$./- /$*) '*. . / с+( *) /# 4 *! /# 2 $) -ѵ # 2 $) - 2$'' # ' *1 - **(

) ..* $ /$*) 2$/#ѷ

With investing, your capital is at risk

Raymond James Investment Services Ltd is a member of the London Stock Exchange and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Registered in England and Wales number 3669657. Registered office: Ropemaker Place, 25 Ropemaker St, London EC2Y 9LY.

10 NEWS

TO ADVERTISE CALL 020 3906 8488

4 NOVEMBER 2021

Greek Supreme Court bans Shechita

BY ADAM MOSES Jewish bodies have blasted a decision by the Greek Supreme Court to ban Shechita.

The ruling of the Hellenic Council of State, Greece’s supreme administrative court, ended a Joint Ministerial Decision regulating religious slaughter in 2017.

“This ruling, which literally forbids Kosher religious slaughter, is a strike against the right of the Greek Jews to freely practice their religion and observe the traditions of Jewish faith,” said the Central Board of Greek Jewish Communities in a statement.

“Keeping a kosher diet is an integral part of Jewish law, it is being observed throughout centuries, and its banning would constitute a heavy blow to the Jewish way of life.”

KIS added, “We hope that the Greek State’s competent authorities will regulate the issue of animal slaughter with a just and viable solution that will safeguard the continuation of the observance of the religious duties of the Greek Jews, as well as of the thousands of Jewish visitors in Greece.”

KIS is the country’s European Jewish Congress (EJC) affiliate.

Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, Conference of European Rabbis president, said the decision would “send a shudder down the spine of Jews throughout Europe”.

He noted, “As we have said throughout, the justices of the ECJ and the European Commission’s claim that the ruling that upheld the bans on Shechita in two Belgian

regions was a pipe dream. They have given an exit notice to Europe’s Jews as Greece has now followed the Brussels region of Belgium demonstrating the dangerous precedent set by the ECJ. “The EU and its member states have a decision to make, do they want Jews in Europe or will they allow their Jewish communities to be stigmatised and hounded out?”

The Greek ruling was a response to a petition by the Panhellenic Animal Welfare and Environmental Federation. The Greek Court move was predicted by Jewish leaders last December.

“We warned in December about the downstream consequences that the European Court of Justice ruling carried with it, and now we see the outcome,” said Rabbi Menachem Margolin of the European Jewish Association. “Jewish freedom of religion is under direct attack. It started in Belgium, moved to Poland and Cyprus and now it is Greece’s turn.”

He added, “These direct attacks are coming from many of the same governments and institutions who have sworn to protect their Jewish communities. What we are witnessing is rank hypocrisy. When it comes to antisemitism, governments and institutions rightly stand behind us. But when our faith and practice is assailed left and right by laws, they are nowhere to be seen, nowhere to be found. What use is it to protect Jews while legislating fundamental pillars of our religion out of existence?”

Rabbi Menachem Margolin of the European Jewish Association

PHOTO: TWITTER

Rabbi Margolin continued, “We will be urgently making representations to the highest levels of the Greek government to get direct answers to this simple but fundamental question. How can there be Jews in Europe if you keep bringing laws against us?”

The Greek court stated, “The government should regulate the issue of slaughtering animals in the context of worship in such a way as to ensure both the protection of animals from any inconvenience during slaughter and the religious freedom of religious Muslims and Jews living in Greece.”

Jewish organisations globally are considering their next move on the controversial ruling.

Teen arrested over swastikas Metropolitan Police are investigating antisemitic incidents last Saturday.

Police have appealed for witnesses after a 16-year-old was detained on suspicion of religiously aggravated criminal damage after spray painting swastikas near Belsize Square Synagogue. Anyone with details should call the police 101 (Crime Number 6604/30OCT) or Crimestoppers 0800 555111.

A suspect was arrested after spray painting “**** Jews” outside a Gateshead yeshiva.

The individual was apprehended by yeshiva security before police arrived. Officers are treating the incident as a hate crime. Two similar incidents occurred in the area last month.

Anyone with information should contact police via Tell us Something page or call the police 101 (Crime Number 120031T/21) A Jewish man returning from synagogue was struck with a glass bottle on Rossington Street in Stamford Hill. Details: Contact police 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123 (reference 4628710/21) A Jewish child was racially abused by a woman, also in Stamford Hill, on 28th October.

A woman wearing a yellow blanket shouted, “I am sorry to say you guys are the worst! F****** Jew!” The incident was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim. Anyone with information should contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 9990123 (Crime Number CAD7476 01/11/21) Antisemitic incidents can also be reported to Campaign Against Antisemitism.

30,000 visit Ma’arat Hamachpelah Balfour Declaration anniversary

Ma’arat HaMachpelah in Hebron

BY SIMCHA ABIR Around 30,000 people visited Ma’arat HaMachpelah in Hebron to celebrate Parshat Chayei Sarah last weekend.

Israel’s police, security forces and medical teams were on hand for the pilgrimage.

There were no reports of major trouble.

According to a statement by the police, the operation was to ensure peace, safeguarding transportation links in the area. Past years’ have seen traffic jams on major Highways to Hebron from Friday afternoon and Motzei Shabbar.

Border Police Commander at the Ma’arah, Deputy Commissioner Aviram Barzano told B’Chadrei Charedim ahead of the event that past warnings of attempted terror attacks required a “significant presence and

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

preparation” ahead of the arrival of pilgrims.

Barzano added, “We want people to come here without having to worry about their safety. We’ve added extra patrols, set up additional defensive positions and lookouts to deter the terrorist groups who may want to attack. They shouldn’t even think about it.”

Barzano told media outlets that some 1520 attempted terror attacks took place in the Ma’arah area. “This year alone we’ve already had 10 and thankfully they have all ended without injury to any of our forces or civilians in the area,” he explained. “We give 10 ‘exceptional days’ each year to each religion, wherein members of that faith have the entirety of the Ma’arah to themselves. We know how to make this balance work.”

Last year’s annual event was cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions.

The 104th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration has taken place.

Paul Goldstein & Eyal Lewin’s book ‘The Serendipitous Evolution of the Balfour Declaration’ (Cambridge Scholars Publishing) released this year has been acclaimed by historians.

The publication provides an understanding of the complex geopolitical elements that shaped the facts on the ground in the Middle East in the early 20th century. Analysing events that led to the declaration for a “national home for the Jewish people” on November 2nd 1917, the book demonstrates how national interests of nations involved in World War One intersected with the Jewish nation on its journey towards political sovereignty.

Adapted from Dr Goldstein’s PhD thesis, the book was the culmination of four years archival research. The text is of interest to specialists and researchers. It also serves as an academic source for university courses on the history of Israel and the Middle East.

A hidden child during the Nazi occupation, his parents were deported, but survived. Immigrating to Canada from Belgium in 1954, at the age of 88, Dr Goldstein received a PhD from Ariel University, Israel last year. He obtained his Master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Toronto.

Dr Goldstein rose to the top of a major packaging company in Montreal and helped combat the resurgence of neo-Nazi

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

The Balfour Declaration

PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA

movements in Canada. Later, he enjoyed a financial planning career.

Dr Goldstein’s wife passed away in 2019.

Their three children, 15 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren live in Israel.

Eyal Lewin is Assistant Professor at the Political Science Department at Ariel University and Editor-in-Chief of National Resilience, Politics and Society.

He is also a Research Fellow at the Middle East and Central Asia Research Center.

12 NEWS

TO ADVERTISE CALL 020 3906 8488

4 NOVEMBER 2021

Biden marks Tree of Life tragedy anniversary

BY SIMCHA ABIR US President Joe Biden marked the threeyear anniversary of the mass shooting in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighbourhood last Shabbat.

The community centre suffered the worst antisemitic atrocity in American history when white supremacist gunman Robert Bowers killed 11 worshipers during Shabbat morning services in October 2018.

Biden, speaking ahead of the landmark date, said in a statement that the aftermath reminded everyone to “turn pain into purpose” and “stand up against antisemitism” with “clarity and conviction”.

Biden recalled the tragedy when a lone gunman attacked the synagogue on what was supposed to be a “peaceful Shabbat morning” and “stole the lives of 11 souls in prayer.” Eleven others, the president added, escaped, “some with serious physical injuries, others with indelible scars of grief.”

The attack, Biden noted, was an assault on “members of the Tree of Life, New Light and Dor Hadash congregations, the American Jewish community and our country”.

It was a reminder that “hate never goes away. “If we give hate oxygen it can consume,” he said.

Biden praised the “unyielding character” of a community including first responders, teenagers who organised a Havdalah vigil and an art teacher who a Stars of David in a local coffee shop.

Tree Of Life Community Centre

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

A designer also produced an iconic image that inspired a nation with the words ‘stronger than hate’.

Biden added, “We must always stand up and speak out against antisemitism with clarity and conviction, and rally against the forces of hate in all its forms, because silence is complicity. We must recognise in others our shared humanity and strive to summon unexpected faith in unanticipated

moments in the hope that we might heal and rebuild.”

Pointing out that his administration has set out the country’s first comprehensive strategy to address domestic terrorism, Biden noted that legislation now counters unlawful acts of hate, protects houses of worship and legislative action reduces all forms of gun violence.

Biden concluded, “As we mark three years

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

since this heinous attack, we resolve to remember the lives lost and commit to protecting a future worthy of their memories.

May the survivors and the families of the victims hold fast to the teachings of their faith and find comfort in the embrace of their community and their country.”

Earlier this year it was announced that Daniel Libeskind would be lead architect in the rebuilding of the Tree of Life centre.

Libeskind is internationally acclaimed for architecture and urban design. His portfolio of work includes rebuilding the World Trade Center Master Plan along with Jewish museums in Europe, Israel and United States.

The son of Holocaust survivors from Poland, Libeskind said, “Our team is committed to creating a powerful and memorable space.”

Bowers, armed with an assault rifle and handguns, entered the Pittsburgh synagogue and opened fire, killing 11 congregants and wounding six people. Four were police officers.

When surrendering, Bowers told an officer that he “wanted all Jews to die”.

Joyce Fienberg, 75, Richard Gottfried, 65, Rose Mallinger, 97, Jerry Rabinowitz, 66, Cecil, 59 and David Rosenthal, 54, Bernice, 84 and Sylvan Simon, 86, Daniel Stein, 71, Melvin Wax, 88 and Irving Younger, 69 died in the antisemitic attack.

Bowers faces 63 criminal charges related to the massacre.

4 NOVEMBER 2021

13

TO ADVERTISE CALL 020 3906 8488

If something doesn’t feel right, we’re here to help Whether you have an ongoing health concern, you’re waiting for NHS treatment, or want a second opinion, you can access specialist healthcare now.

Specialist appointments available for: ✓ Cardiology

✓ General surgery

✓ Cosmetic surgery

✓ Gynaecology

✓ Dermatology

✓ Men’s health

✓ Diagnostic imaging

✓ Orthopaedics

✓ Digestive health

✓ Pain management

✓ Ear, nose and throat conditions

✓ Physiotherapy

✓ General medical conditions

✓ Private GP

✓ Sports injuries ✓ Urology ✓ Varicose veins ✓ Women’s health

Appointments available from

£220

*

✓ Podiatry

For appointments call 020 3642 1594 For self-pay prices call 020 4502 3354 or email selfpay@theholly.com Highgate Private Hospital, 17 -19 View Road, Highgate, N6 4DJ

highgatehospital.co.uk/selfpay

Customer experience in the crisis

HG616-SEP21-V1

*Subject to availability

Crowdfunder

Thanks to the amazing generosity of our community, thousands of at-risk children and families won’t be invisible anymore.

With over £325,000 raised in memory of Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks z’l, we can ensure that many of Israel’s most vulnerable members of society will get the vital help and support they need.

THANK YOU! FOR SUPPORTING OUR CROWDFUNDER

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

It’s not too late to make a donation and help us provide our critical work.

Please donate at www.charityextra.com/ britishemunah This advert has been kindly sponsored

emunah.org.uk

British Emunah on Registered charity no. 215398

14

TO ADVERTISE CALL 020 3906 8488

•

Raincoats from £29.50

•

Sports Jackets and Blazers all ½ price.

•

Suits £85 each 2 for £150

•

Warm winter overcoats all half price

•

Padded winter casuals from £29.50

•

Shirt Bargains £10 each 3 for £20.00

•

Big sizes no problem up to 60 inch chest and 21 inch shirts

10 Golders Green Road London, NW11 8LL Open weekdays until 6pm & Sundays til 5pm

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

4 NOVEMBER 2021

JEWISH WOMEN ’S A ID

Sh abbat 12-13 November 2021

Join us across the UK to raise awareness of domestic abuse and sexual violence in the Jewish community. By breaking the silence we can help stop abuse and make sure women have the support that they need.

Download free resources to help you take part at jwa.org.uk/toolkit

Thank you to our supporters:

Registered Charity No. 1047045

16 NEWS

TO ADVERTISE CALL 020 3906 8488

4 NOVEMBER 2021

Thousands attend 38th annual Chabad Conference

BY DAVID SAFFER Thousands of emissaries attended the 38th annual International Conference of Chabad-Lubavitch Emisseries (Kinus Hashluchim).

This year’s ‘hybrid gathering’ was smaller than normal due to Covid-19 measures in New York City. Sessions took place across various locations in Brooklyn whilst meals were staggered as an extra safety condition.

The annual event saw delegates pray at the resting place of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson as is tradition.

Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, vice chairman of Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch, read a collective prayer on behalf of shluchim. Rabbi Avremi Zippel, Chabad Utah, summed up the feelings of many regarding the Ohel visit as a highlight of conference.

“Shluchim from around the world, serving vastly different communities, we all come together today bound by a common goal, united as we face the Rebbe and recommit ourselves to his ideals,” he told Chabad.

Rabbi Shmuel Neft of JRCC Rockford in North York, Ontario, Canada, added, “This visit is all the more meaningful after not being able to visit for so long. The heavens are open at this moment, I pray for my community members and their families.”

Rabbi Eli Levy, Beit Jabad Colegiales in Buenos Aires, said that visiting the Ohel allowed emissaries to “refocus and reconnect”. And Rabbi Dovid Tal of Chabad Timrat in Israel, echoed those thoughts after

38th annual International Conference of Chabad-Lubavitch Emisseries

not visiting for over two years. “It’s always an emotional time,” he said. “Just seeing all my brothers-in-arms, my fellow Shluchim, gives me the strength to continue my activities.”

Rabbis across the globe take the opportunity to network and that was the case for the Chief Rabbi of Iran, Yehuda Gerami.

Rabbi Gerami over the past decade has overseen the development of Jewish schools, kashrut and mikvahs, the latest

PHOTO: CHABAD

in Tehran. He has also opened a yeshiva and kollel to help train the next generation rabbis, shochetim, scribes and mohelim.

The Chief Rabbi of Russia, Rabbi Berel Lazar, who was among those at conference, has assisted Iran’s 20,000 Jewish community, which dates back over 2,500 years.

Rabbi Gerami also met Rabbi Mendy Chitrik, head of the Ashkenazi community of Istanbul.

“It’s been an amazing experience,” he said. “The outpouring of brotherly love and support from my colleagues serving Jewish communities around the world has been heartening.”

Amongst speakers at the conference were Rabbi Mendy Sternbach, Lagos, Dovid Lichtenstein, Lightstone Group CEO, Rabbi Ari Laine, Chabad Panama, Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch, and Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, Merkos vice chairman and master of ceremonies.

“The Rebbe’s visionary approach to Judaism, focusing on the importance of every individual Jew, has become increasingly vital during the ongoing upheaval and isolation of the pandemic,” conference chairman Rabbi Kotlarsky said leading up to the event.

Panel discussions and workshops highlighted isolation and mental health. Delegates also heard about Jewish pride on campus, strengthening Jewish communities and Jewish identity in Gen-Z. Last year’s digital conference, a first since the Rebbe initiated the event, led to a week-long virtual farbrengen and the world’s longest Zoom video conference.

The first conference took place in 1983 with some 65 emissaries from the United States and Canada attending. An inaugural group ‘class’ photo was taken inside the synagogue at Chabad-Lubavitch Headquarters in Brooklyn. In 1987, the event became an international conference with emissaries from around the world. Around this time the photo moved outside to include all rabbis. And it is still a high point.

Due to the pandemic organisers looked at other ways to capture the picture.

Since the first gathering, conference has grown exponentially, in pre-pandemic years some 6,000 emissaries and lay leaders attended from over 100 countries.

The event is the largest rabbinical gathering globally and biggest ‘sit-down’ dinner in New York.

WJC and JOC back university students

BY ADAM MOSES World Jewish Congress and Jewish on Campus have joined forces to help students identify anti-Semitic incidents at universities.

The global partnership began as an Instagram campaign last year to help students through education, social media engagement and grassroots activism.

“College campuses should be a place that allows for the free expression of thought and exploration of ideas, not a breeding ground for hatred and antisemitism,” said WJC President Ronald S. Lauder. “Jewish students should be free to express their identities without risk of harassment, including their support for the only Jewish state.”

Lauder added that the WJC will, in effect, “incubate” JOC to strengthen future Jewish leaders.

“It is crucial for us to help as young people combat false narratives and to enable them to advocate effectively in their communities,” Lauder noted.

Julia Jassey, JOC CEO commented, “At a

time when students are heavily affected by antisemitism on campus, they should also be given the tools to lead the fight.”

Jassey added that joining with WJC would create an “unprecedented opportunity of collaboration” between student and professional communities on an international level to give students the ability to act in accordance with our perspectives on the ground.

In other WJC news, Lauder told the South African Jewish Board of Deputies national conference there were two global pandemics, COVID-19 and antisemitism.

Speaking from the WJC’s New York headquarters, Lauder explained he had witnessed two “global viruses” since attending an executive meeting in Johannesburg in 2015.

“The WJC watches everything that happens around the world, including in South Africa, 24 hours a day,” Lauder explained. “We will be there for you if you ever need us.”

Noting that WJC is fighting the “mighty wave” of antisemitism and anti-Zionism, Lauder added, “I can promise you we will

protect Jews everywhere. That’s why this organisation was formed in the first place.”

WJC has been shocked by incidents against Jews in Paris, London, Los Angeles and recently in Sweden when a rabbi was attacked.

“These things shouldn’t happen at all,” Lauder noted. “Israel comes under constant assault through the United Nations and on social media, mainstream newspapers, and on college campuses.”

Turning his attention to comparisons between Israel and apartheid South Africa, Lauder said this was an example of “complete falsehoods” the world still believes.

“Unhinged hatred of Israel is simply the latest version of antisemitism,” he explained.

Lauder added, “In the late 19th and early 20th century, they (Jews) were hated for their race. Today, we are hated for the national state of Israel.”

Lauder questioned the hatred as Jews made up just 0.2% of the world’s population.

“Jews are the target of more than 50% of all religious crimes,” he commented. “These

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

aren’t just isolated attacks. They have occurred in 89 countries.”

Regarding social media posts being reported as truth in the media, Lauder commented, “This was most evident with the attacks on Israel this past spring. If South Africa, France, Great Britain, or any other country other than Israel had been attacked by more than 4,000 rockets launched by terrorists, everyone would have hit back hard, and everyone would have every right to do so.

“Yet, the world’s press and social media charged Israel with crimes against humanity. That defies all logic. It’s ludicrous. It also gives you an idea of what the WJC is fighting every single day.”

Lauder told delegates WJC was seeking the people behind “sickening” lies.

“We will start making them uncomfortable,” he noted. “If I’ve learned anything about antisemites, it’s that they’re cowards.

The only way to deal with bullies and cowards is to fight back even harder, and they get a taste of their own medicine. That is when antisemitism will start to disappear.”

THIS IS ME!

SUP

Hey wats up??

HEYYY

wanna hang?

WHY U IGNORING?

U OK? HEYYY

What's really happening behind your screen?

Just a text away 07860 058 823 @jteensupport Www.jteensupport.org

Remember Jteen is confidential and anonymous and is available for anyone between the ages of 11-20.

We can't see your number and we won't ask for your name.

18 OPINION

TO ADVERTISE CALL 020 3906 8488

OPINION

The enemy within OPINION PIECE

BY ROBERT FESTENSTEIN I read two items this week, one a report from HOPE not hate about far right wing groups across Europe and other a blog from a Jewish woman at Warwick University about left wing anti-Semitism.

Both were alarming for different reasons.

The rise of the far right is of very serious concern. The trends in Hungary and Poland have been well documented, in particular the attitude of the Hungarian Government to whitewash Hungary’s involvement in the deportation and murder of approximately 500,000 Jews. This re-writing of history reinforces the absolute need that we must be constantly vigilant to protect the truth of the past. Add to this the ever-present fear of the risk of violence towards Jews and our way of life and concerns become very real indeed.

It is perhaps the physical nature of the risks from the far right that make dealing with these more straightforward. Fences around synagogues with security present amount to a good deterrent from the random attack and the support of the police helps to keep us relatively safe. It isn’t

that there is no risk, simply that it is more manageable.

The article from Emilie Eisenberg, the student at Warwick University is in some respects much more frightening. Her article in the Times of Israel talks about her being an activist, campaigning in particular to make changes in the university’s lack of discipline surrounding sexual assault and harassment. Ms Eisenberg was very much a part of this campaign and had made many friends as a consequence. All this changed when she posted an article on Instagram about anti-Semitism against the background of the latest conflict between Israel and Hamas earlier this year. The article made reference to the increase in anti-Semitism and specifically referred to another Jewish woman being attacked.

The response was swift and brutal. Many of Ms Eisenberg’s friends informed her that they would not associate with her any longer and she has been effectively ostracised by

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

those people she believed were her friends.

It is vital to bear in mind that all this arose because of a post about anti-Semitism.

Pause for a moment and consider this: a Jewish woman posted on mainstream social media about her concerns arising from increased anti-Semitism and the response was not to pledge solidarity with her, but to abandon her. Bear in mind also that this happened in the context of a university where she describes - The most important thing to note is that this all came from extremely well-educated activists. They were all very left-wing and inclusive.

This appalling episode points to something which is much more insidious and threatening than the possible physical violence from the far right. These well educated activists will go on to be people of power and influence in trades unions, the media and business generally. Their attitudes will permeate throughout society. The sad reality is that this has already happened. When my

Antisemitism is clearly well established and acceptable amongst the far left and that is now the real battleground for Jews in the UK.

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

4 NOVEMBER 2021

late father in law wanted to know what was happening in Israel he preferred to watch Al-Jazeera news because he found it more balanced than the BBC. The far left has become part of the mainstream, as influencers and decision makers.

Their anti-Semitism is alive and well, yet as a community we are cheerfully ignoring it, instead celebrating the demise of Jeremy Corbyn and recently a professor from Bristol University and claiming that all is right with the world. The fences and police might keep the far right away but the far left are marching steadily onward, marginalising Jews and as Ms Eisenberg has experienced, rejecting them as suitable comrades once their identity is revealed.

Antisemitism is clearly well established and acceptable amongst the far left and that is now the real battleground for Jews in the UK. Robert Festenstein is a practising solicitor and has been the principal of his Salford based firm for over 20 years. He has fought BDS motions to the Court of Appeal and is President of the Zionist Central Council in Manchester which serves to protect and defend the democratic State of Israel.

What is the most tax-efficient way to pay yourself with company profits?

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

By Marc Ovits Business owners and the self-employed can pay themselves in different ways from company profits. The right choice will also depend on your own personal needs.

Business owners can extract profits by • taking more salary • paying extra pension contributions • paying a dividend Below is a table comparing these three options for a company with £20,000 to distribute.

KEY CONSIDERATIONS YOU SHOULD MAKE BEFORE DECIDING ON THE BEST OPTION:NATIONAL INSURANCE CONTRIBUTIONS National Insurance (NI) contributions are paid on an employee’s salary, at a rate of 13.8% employer NI and a further 2% employee NI, or 12% if their salary is below the upper earnings limit. This is the biggest hit that payments could receive.

For example, £20,000 would suffer £2,425 employer NI. The residual would then suffer a further £2,109, if below the upper earnings limit, and that is even without Income Tax. If above the upper earnings limit however, the employee NI would be only £351.50.

From April 2022, employees, employers and the self-employed will all pay 1.25p more in the pound for NI. CORPORATION TAX Salary and pension contributions are generally classed as “allowable business expenses”, and therefore reduce the amount of corporation tax payable. On the other hand, dividends are not a business expense and will be subject to corporation tax. With corporation tax at 19%, this reduces the payment made by £3,800.

From 1 April 2023, the Corporation Tax main rate for non-ring-fenced profits will be increased to 25% applying to profits over £250,000. A small profits rate (SPR) will also be introduced for companies with profits of £50,000 or less so that they will continue to pay Corporation Tax at 19%.

Companies with profits between £50,000

and £250,000 will pay tax at the main rate reduced by a marginal relief providing a gradual increase in the effective Corporation Tax rate.

INCOME TAX Pension contributions are not taxed immediately. At retirement, typically 25% of a withdrawal is extracted as tax free cash and the remainder subject to Income Tax at your marginal rate. Whilst invested income and growth from pension investments are tax free.

Salary will be subject to your marginal rates of Income Tax. If you are earning at or near £100,000, you will need to be careful, as the loss of the personal allowance could make this option less attractive – pension payments are a good way to mitigate this level of tax. In our example, we have assumed that the whole amount will be within the higher rate band, so it is subject to 40% tax.

Dividends are also subject to marginal rates of income tax, although you may also have access to the dividend allowance of £2,000 depending on other dividends received. In the example below, I have assumed that this payment is in addition to dividends already taken, which has used the allowance. The higher rate tax on dividends is less than on salary at only 32.5%. However dividend tax rates will rise

ADVERTORIAL

by 1.25% from April 2022.

INHERITANCE TAX (IHT) Payments made to pensions remain outside your estate for Inheritance Tax purposes. If your estate is already above the IHT nil rate band any further drawing, such as dividend or salary, that are not spent will just increase the estate and therefore the amount of IHT payable.

ANNUAL ALLOWANCE ISSUES At £40000 per annum there is plenty of scope for annual pension contributions.

For many, the tapered annual allowance won’t be an issue, but for those who it affects - including those that have already used their standard annual allowance this will need to be considered.

ACCESS Pensions are a long-term investment that won’t help your day-to-day situation – you can’t buy groceries with a pension contribution. So, although it can be relatively easy to justify a pension contribution on the numbers alone, holistic planning requires you to have a good understanding of your own circumstances.

Get in touch for advice on how to extract your profits as tax efficiently as possible.

You might be paying considerably more tax than you need to be paying.

How salaries, dividends, and pension contributions compare for a company with £20,000 to distribute to a higher rate tax payer:

Employer’s National Insurance Corporation Tax Cost to company Residual amount Immediate Income Tax Employee National Insurance Amount paid Income Tax if drawn from pension * Net benefit

SALARY

DIVIDEND

£2,425 £20,000 £17,575 £7,030 £351.50 £10,193.50 £10,193.50

£3,800 £20,000 £16,200 £5,265 £10,935 £10,935

PENSION CONTRIBUTION £20,000 £20,000 £20,000 £3000 £17,000

*Assumes basic rate tax payer at retirement after 25% tax free cash

33 Bell Lane, London NW4 2BP Tel: 020 8203 6920 Email: info@alphawm.co.uk www.alphawm.co.uk INDIVIDUAL/TRUST Wealth Management | Investment Planning | Retirement Planning | Estate Planning | Protection Planning | Cash Optimisation | Tax Mitigation | Private Medical Insurance CORPORATE/CHARITY Investment Planning | Business Succession & Business Exit Planning | Business Protection | Corporate Pensions | Employee Benefits | Cash Optimisation

20 GAMES

4 NOVEMBER 2021

TO ADVERTISE CALL 020 3906 8488

Games

Bridge With Harold Schogger

Dealer: South Vuln: E/W

s h d c

953 A752 J64 Q 10 8

N s h d c

AQ842 K Q J 10 9 87 7

W

E

s h d c

K J 10 7 6 3 Q 10 9 5 2 52

S s h d c

W 2c* End

N Pass

864 AK3 AKJ9643

E

S

4s

1c 5c

*5-5 in the majors

After East leapt to 4s, South decided to take advantage of the vulnerability and bid 5c. Dummy was near perfect. Declarer took the opening lead of the king of hearts with the ace and ruffed a spade high. The 3c was then led to dummy’s eight and another spade was ruffed. Dummy was re-entered with a trump and dummy’s last spade was ruffed.

As West could have at most two diamonds to go along with his singleton trump, declarer played the ace, king and another diamond. East could let the jack of diamonds hold or take the queen of diamonds and then find himself endplayed. East chose the latter course and was left on lead with only spades and diamonds in his hand. A lead of either pointed suit allowed declarer to throw a heart from hand and ruff in dummy. Declarer lost only a heart and a diamond.

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

4 NOVEMBER 2021

TO ADVERTISE CALL 020 3906 8488

COMMUNITY 21

Lost grave of Jewish commando remembered after 45 years AJEX Archivist Martin Sugarman has made it his mission to ensure any Jewish war grave errors that are discovered or reported are corrected.

The most recent stone changed is that of Kurt Theodor Goldschlager, who was born in the Weiden district of Vienna, Austria in 1912.

One of four brothers, Kurt, Erich, Paul and Robert, who later lived in Chicago with the changed surname Gordon, their father Julius was an architect, who died of natural causes in 1940. Their mother, Irene, nee Von Posner was deported to Auschwitz and murdered in 1942.

In the 1930s Kurt had been a member of the Austrian National swimming and water polo teams.

He fled to England in June 1939 and worked for a Jewish charity in London. He then joined the British army Pioneer Corp from1940-3. Kurt was advised, like many European Jews in the forces, to change his name, in this case to 13801160 Pte Kenneth Edward Clarke. He then volunteered into No 10 International Commando for a year in 1943 as a Corporal, 13118804/550135, probably in No 3 Troop (Jewish Troop) but may also have served in the Dutch Troop.

Kurt returned to the PC, but was again posted to No 10 Commando in the last four months of the war, where he was an interpreter and interrogator in the front line, using his extensive language skills.

Whilst fighting in Europe after D Day with No 10 Commando, Kurt was mentioned in Despatches for bravery near Osnabruck.

Before being demobilised in summer 1946, Kurt took part in the de-nasification process after the war in Germany.

Post army, Kurt ran a ladies tailoring business in Harrow Road, London, which failed, so he moved to Manchester. He never married. In May 1977, Kurt was a victim of a mugging and badly injured, sadly dying soon after of his injuries at Ancoats Hospital. He was buried in a pauper’s grave with no name marker, in the Roman Catholic section, at Southern cemetery in Chorlton.

Nobody was aware he was Jewish or had

Kurt Theodor Goldschlager

Joe Flacks, Rabbi Dovid Lewis, Colonel Martin Newman, Councillor Rabbi Arnold Saunders and Rabbi Nir Nadav at the rededication ceremony

family in the USA. And so, it would have remained.

However, in April 2021, Kurt’s American niece Tracy Fish (nee Gordon) of San Diego, California contacted Sugarman via the American WW2 researcher Leah Garrett, telling Kurt’s story.

Sugarman knew of Kurt as he appears in the 3 Troop list of fighters in his book, ‘Fighting Back’.

Joe Flacks, AJEX Chairman of the Manchester branch, worked with Sugarman and they obtained finance from philanthropist Jerry Klinger in the USA to have a headstone with Kurt’s name placed upon his unmarked grave and also a larger headstone placed in the nearby Jewish cemetery, which explains who Kurt was and how his grave location, once unknown, can now be found.

A re-consecration ceremony took place

organised by Flacks last Sunday.

“All at AJEX are grateful to Rabbi Dovid Lewis of Bowdon Synagogue in South Manchester for supervising the wording and installation of the memorial stone,” he said.

Tracy watched the ceremony via Zoom with her husband, commenting, “It never occurred to me that the stone was going to be so individually personalised, and so beautiful. I was expecting a simple plaque with all the names of the men buried there that served in the No.10 commandos. It’s really beautiful. All these men deserve recognition for their service.”

She added, “I only wish my father could have seen what has been done for his baby brother.”

The Southern Cemetery is the largest municipal cemetery in the UK and second largest in Europe.

The Jewish section was initially used from

1892 by the Manchester Reform Synagogue, later shared from 1924 with South Manchester Synagogue, the Sephardi community from 1934 and Whitefield Synagogue from 1957.

Sugarman continues to ensure Jewish Servicemen and womens’ graves are corrected.

He has ensured hundreds of Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstones and descriptions or additions to the headstones have had significant changes made as well as amendments on the CWGC web site showing each veteran was Jewish.

Harold Pollins, Ruskin College Oxford, Andy Green, Western Front Association, Saul Issroff and Gina Jewish Genealogical Society, Stan Kaye, a private researcher, genealogist, Cathie Hewitt, ‘Jews of the RAF’, Col. John Starling, Pioneer Corps/Logistics Corps Museum, and Harvey Kaplan of the Scottish Jewish Archives, have all helped Sugarman on amendments, which will be implemented in the coming months, or have already been changed.

If you suspect CWGC headstones are incorrect or important published facts about deceased servicemen and women on the CWGC web site (https://www.cwgc.org) or elsewhere, are wrong contact Martin: 07806 656756.

THE HOUSE CLEARANCE SPECIALIST • FOR ESTATE AGENTS, SOLICITORS, BANKS & TRUSTEES •

ALL QUALITY FURNITURE BOUGHT

best prices paid for:

HOUSE CLEARANCE

also…

RUBBISH CLEARANCE SERVICE GARDENS, SHEDS, GARAGES, LOFTS ETC

Tel: 020 8960 5401 / 07825 224144 A "STIRLING" JOB, EVERY TIME gordonstirling65@gmail.com

ALL AREAS COVERED 7 DAYS A WEEK

07807 254 142

020 8455 7246

mail@nlscaffolding.co.uk NO JOB TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL www.nlscaffolding.co.uk

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

22 COMMUNITY

TO ADVERTISE CALL 020 3906 8488

The Director General for Adult Social Care visits Kisharon

Michelle Dyson of Adult Social Care visits the Kisharon Bike Shop

Adult Social Care Director General Michelle Dyson and National Care Forum CEO Vic Rayner have paid a special visit to Kisharon.

Michelle was keen to see a range of care and support services including

specialist facilities for people with learning disabilities.

Kisharon CEO Richard Franklin arranged visits to the Kisharon Noé School, Kisharon Bike Shop, Further Education College,

supported living service sites including the newly refurbished Decoy Avenue. They was also an opportunity to see the Childs Hill Library.

During the day touring the Kisharon facilities Richard overviewed what Kisharon offers with the impact and outcome of services. It was an opportunity to discuss NCF’s reform ambitions and the reintroduction of CQC monitoring which is seen as a significant step forward.

Kisharon is passionate about developing transformative change for people with additional needs.

National social care issues were spoken about including capital funding requirements, the investment of £500m in staff training, the importance of further professionalisation of support roles, retention of staff and transition from education to adult life, which is a particularly challenging stage for people with learning disabilities due to a lack of consistency in provision nationally.

“Given the large number of social care providers operating nationally, that the Director General spent almost three hours with Kisharon demonstrated the depth, empathy and interest shown in our offering for people with learning disabilities and their families,” noted Richard.

Ms Dyson thanked Kisharon for the visit.

“I saw so much and was impressed by so much you have so many different projects in train,” she said. “What is most striking is your dedication, care and determination to leave no stone unturned in making sure that all those you help have the quality of life they deserve.”

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

4 NOVEMBER 2021

The Ichud HaKehillos LeTohar HaMachane Asifa, Manchester held in Jewish High. The hall was packed and there was standing room only.

Rav Chaim Feivel Schneebalg

PHOTO: LAWRENCE PURCELL.

WE’RE READY FOR YOUR EVENT BOOKINGS

EZRI@EVENTSBYEZRI.COM 020 8556 6666

24 COMMUNITY

TO ADVERTISE CALL 020 3906 8488

Tzipi hosts JNF fellowship

Ambassador Tzipi Hotovely meets JNF’s fellowship group

Ambassador Tzipi Hotovely has hosted the inaugural JNF UK Fellowship Programme at the Israeli Embassy.

The 11 fellows began a leadership journey by asking thought-provoking questions of the Ambassador and guest speaker Dr Alan Mendoza.

In this first session, Living with the Neighbours: Israel and its surrounding countries, Dr Mendoza spoke about the impact of social media and the relationships between Israel and its neighbours.

Programme Head Rabbi Sam Taylor said, “Throughout Jewish history, we’ve had

some incredible leaders who have been proud to stand up and be counted and now we want to inspire young people to do the same. We want to build a bridge not only to Israel and JNF UK, but also between the fellows and a wide range of influential speakers.”

Ambassador Hotovely told the group about her journey into politics.

JNF UK Chairman Samuel Hayek said, “These young, British Jews have clearly shown the active role they want to play in connecting meaningfully with JNF UK, Israel and Zionism.”

4 NOVEMBER 2021

Future dreams raises over £1.4m Over 7,700 donors in an extraordinary display of support have donated to breast cancer charity Future Dreams raising over £1.4million in 36 hours.

The ‘Let’s Nail Breast Cancer’ matched funding campaign means much-needed funds will help the charity survive, helping thousands of men, women and their families into the future.

Spencer Leslie, husband of the late Danielle, was overwhelmed by the generosity of everyone who donated to the crowdfund- Future Dreams Chairman Spencer Leslie with Trustee Sam Moffat ing appeal.

“This will make an enormous difference educating on early detection.

The money raised will ensure the charto how Future Dreams House can support all those touched by breast cancer,” he said. ity can keep Future Dreams House open “It goes without saying this is a wonderful and continue pledging funds towards their testimony to the great vision my late wife three divisions of support, awareness and Danielle and Sylvie her mother had when research, focusing on secondary breast she set up Future Dreams before this awful cancer.

Future Dreams was founded in 2008 by disease took her life. I and the family are so grateful this will allow her legacy to live on.” mother and daughter, Sylvie Henry and Future Dreams needs £2million per an- Danielle Leslie, who were both diagnosed num to keep the doors of the house and with the disease. It was their wish to ensure services open. that no one else would go through a breast The target was £700,000 and to the sur- cancer journey alone and wanted to create prise of the charity donations flooded in a place that offered men and women a safe to raise £1,402,938. (Donations after £1.2m space in a supported environment.

Sadly, after both lost their lives the Future were not match funded) Future Dreams raises important aware- Dreams House opened, but their legacy ness and funds vital research into second- lives on in it. ary breast cancer and provides practical Donations can still be made: www.futureand emotional support and saves lives by dreams.org.uk/donate

Daniel’s Football Project kicks off

Private Healthcare Specialist: Putting People First trevor.gee@patienthealth.co.uk www.patienthealth.co.uk

Free advice on:

Ask the expert:

to find better priced, and higher levels of insurance cover, contact Trevor Gee at Patient Health:

020 3146 3444

y y y y

Maximising cover Getting best value Pre-existing conditions Insurers & hospitals

Free policy reviews.

FCA licensed.

LLB: solicitors finals.

CONSIDERING ALIYAH? Join hundreds of British Olim making their Aliyah dream a reality.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT

DOV NEWMARK: dov@nbn.org.il www.nbn.org.il 0800-075-7200

WORKING IN COOPERATION TO BUILD A STRONGER ISRAEL THROUGH ALIYAH

Every one of us, together

Daniel Weller

As part of Daniel Weller’s Bar Mitzvah celebration, he initiated a special second hand football kit collection in conjunction with GIFT. Daniel collected over 100 items and even got companies such as Power league and Patron Capital to donate items.

Daniel told us “I’m one of only a few Jewish boys at my school and wanted to do something meaningful to show my classmates that being Bar Mitzvah is about taking responsibility for the community around me. Instead of chucking away football shoes and kits that are too small, we can

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

use them for a good cause!”

Daniel together with his family spent the day at GIFT packaging up all the items, based on children’s ages and requests.

The Items were distributed to GIFT recipient families, Sufra Charity helping those in extreme poverty; items were sent to South Africa to children from townships and to refugees through the Refugee and Assylum Seeker Drop in Project.

To sign up for a meaningful Bar or Bat mitzvah project please contact Esther@ jgift.org

4 NOVEMBER 2021

TO ADVERTISE CALL 020 3906 8488

Broughton Jewish Cassel Fox Primary School this week started selling Poppies which are supplied by the Salford Branch of the Royal British Legion.

Ezra Wacks, Reuven Shwartz, Nathan Nussbaum and Ezra Rowe

Mitzvah Day at King David Primary school

Jewish Care’s Bridge Extravaganza raises over £2million The Bridge E x t r av a g a n z a Committee are celebrating their 25th anniversary supporting Jewish Care.

This year’s annual Extravaganza for Jewish Care attracted over 180 players, raising more than £90,000 Nathalie PHOTO: YAKIR ZUR. for vital core Shashou services.

Adam Overlander-Kaye, Director of Fundraising and Community Engagement, Jewish Care, said “The Bridge Extravaganza Committee never ceases to amaze us with their total commitment to Jewish Care over the last 25 years. We have watched them go from strength to strength, raising huge amounts for Jewish Care each year. We are incredibly grateful to them and everyone who took part in the tournament and look forward to the next 25 years.”

Bridge Extravaganza Committee member, Nathalie Shashou who recently qualified at the prestigious Lady Milne trials and was selected to play for the winning England team in 2021.

PHOTO: LAWRENCE PURCELL.

For Mitzvah Day 2021, King David Primary school pupils are doing a food collection in conjunction with GIFT to help people in the wider Manchester community.

Pictured are JS head Pupils Levy Kopirovski, Shai Bowers, Boaz Rubin-Birchall and Axel Wagman with some of the food collected.

COMMUNITY 25

Emunah raises over £320K British Emunah raised over £320,000 in a 36-hour fundraising drive.

The first ever online crowdfunder via the Charity Extra website, saw 1,500 individuals donate.

Prominent supporters backing the efforts included Israeli President Chaim Herzog, Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, Lady Elaine Sacks and TV star Maureen Lipman.

Lady Sacks and the late Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks have been long-term supporters of Emunah, including setting up a music therapy programme.

The fundraising drive, titled Invisible But Not Unseen, was conducted in his memory.

Lady Sacks told Emunah supporters, “Helping children in Israel is such an honour and a privilege. My dear husband was always so moved by our visits to the Emunah homes and day care centres and I, in turn, am now so moved by the support shown in his memory.”

Without being able to hold fundraising dinners or physical events for two years, the charity, which supports thousands of at-risk and vulnerable children and families in Israel, found support online.

Emunah Director Sharon Dewinter was delighted by the number of supporters the campaign attracted and their generosity.

“It was a real 36-hour rollercoaster,” she said. “We dreamed really big and raised a lot of money that will help Emunah continue its vital work. With a tiny staff team and

Sharon Dewinter of Emunah celebrates

no match funders, until the final hours, this was a heroic effort by everyone, especially our ambassadors, who didn’t stop for a moment to make sure this dream came true.”

To donate: www.charityextra.com/ britishemunah

Aish School Trip to Poland has huge impact on students from London and Manchester

The group visiting Majdanek Concentration Camp

This past week Aish UK in partnership with JFS sent a group of students from London and Manchester on a 5 day trip to Poland to learn about the centuries of Jewish life and the tragic end it faced during the holocaust. Visiting old shuls and communities of the pre-war period and then paying respect to those who were murdered in the concentration camps as well stopping by powerful monuments and gravesites of Jewish children.

Arranging one of the very few Poland trips since the reopening of international travel,

the trip was hugely impactful on the students and focussed on educating and evaluating the past and encouraged students to consider the impact of the events of holocaust and how this affects their own investment in their community and their Judaism.

“Unquestionably the most powerful trip I’ve led. Having an intimate group gave us a special opportunity to connect and build really meaningful relationships. We all left Poland with a deep sense of Jewish pride, empowered to return to play an active role in

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

Jewish continuity.” said Josh Brickman, Aish Schools Coordinator.

“It was a real privilege to have guided a fantastic group of students for the first time post-pandemic since February 2020. They all immersed themselves in the journey and gelled incredibly as a group.” commented Rabbi Raphy Garson, JRoots Tour Guide.

Please direct any questions to Royi Gutkin, Director of Fundraising at Aish UK. Rgutkin@aish.org.uk

26 FEATURE

4 NOVEMBER 2021

TO ADVERTISE CALL 020 3906 8488

From the front line…

What's going on in Scotland?

BY JACQUELINE CURZON Readers may wonder why I frequently include news from North of the border. Well, apart from my 25% Scottish lineage and the fact I lived there for so many years, I still feel quite connected with my tartan blood. Now since the SNP came into power, they’ve - in my opinion - done more to damage Scotland's glorious bounty and economic wealth, than I dreamt possible. Like many Scots living south of the border, I find each political twist and turn to resembles a new chapter in a Dantean horror story. Take drugs! or rather take the example of their nationalist policy on drugs. For seven years the drug death rate in Scotland has spiralled out of control, leaving us with the highest death rate in the whole of Europe. This happened with Nicola Sturgeon at the helm, and she’s taken the unusual step of now legalising class A drugs, which of course will please both suppliers and users, but also alter the medico-legal landscapes. Drug fuelled crimes may not be recorded because the drug abusers could walk free without facing consequences. It’s a genius solution which means an individual will only receive a Recorded Police Warning, and so the statistics may be skewed in a favourable light. The change concerning drug violations was announced in the Scottish parliament without any debate or a vote, and instead of announcing this controversial news herself, the FM left it to the newly appointed Lord Advocate, Dorothy Bain QC. The Scottish government didn’t even meet to consider this unbelievable revelation, and by effectively decriminalising these dangerous drugs, they’re sending a message that they're 'not such a bad thing after all.' Hopefully you won’t ‘come a cropper’ or come across a ‘copper,’ after having partaken of them, but if you do, no-one will be held accountable because it wasn’t illegal. Drug dealers will be in their absolute element, knowing they can micro-deal with smaller quantities, as if class A were sweeties. This is surely a retrograde step designed to perpetuate drug misery and will facilitate abuse, misuse, overdose and unfortunately, deaths. Will the drug statistics for Scotland improve? I think the answer is likely to be 'no.'

Spending cuts by SNP ministers were the real reason for the “disgusting“ state of Glasgow’s streets as we approached Cop26, says Michael Kelly, formerly Lord Provost between 1980-84, claiming it was a ridiculous attempt to blame Margaret Thatcher, who left power more than 30 years ago.

Kelly ridiculed claims by the SNP’s current council leader Susan Aitken, that many of Glasgow’s problems could be traced back to the Thatcher government, saying Aitken had remained silent whilst the SNP government at Holyrood “starved Glasgow of funds for years.” Small consolation for whoever is right, for a disgusting vision of overflowing, fly tipped bin bags and rats awaited the 120 heads of state who arrived for Cop26.

Jacqueline Curzon PHOTO: LARA MINSKY PHOTOGRAPHY

Thankfully HM The Queen opted not to attend, but this could be for reasons aside from the highlighted problems in sanitary safety.

Scotland’s NHS crisis has now become so bad that GPs say they need a new Nightingale hospital to cope. 200 British troops are set to be called in to prop up the health service, whilst a senior GP claimed closing the Louisa Jordan might have been one of the ‘worst decisions’ of the pandemic taken

by Nicola Sturgeon, who revealed back in September that she was formally seeking assistance from the British Army, after a scandal in which a pensioner died at home after waiting 40 hours for an ambulance.

Soldiers will drive NHS ambulances whilst others will run mobile coronavirus testing units, previously staffed by Scottish ambulance service workers. The Louisa Jordan was funded, I believe, by the UK central government, but was closed in July, and is now being used to host events such as concerts and WWE wrestling, before playing host to the Cop[out] 26 climate summit. Ms Sturgeon is apparently considering setting up temporary admissions wards elsewhere.

To misquote Laurel & Hardy, ‘well, there’s another nice mess you’ve gotten us into.’ In an interview with the BBC, Dr John Montgomery, chairman of the South Glasgow GP committee, warned of a looming winter crisis saying, "given the critical problem we face right now is lack of beds, the Louisa Jordan was set up for exactly this."

The FM blames the current crisis on coronavirus, it being the fall-guy for every crisis she has faced. Professor Michael Griffin, president of the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh, warns that Scotland has ‘a real workforce problem in the NHS and in social care.’

A campaign group has called on the SNP to allow children as young as 12 to change gender without parental consent. Children in Scotland, which receives more than £1 million per year in public money, said ‘allowing preteens to obtain gender recognition certificates could prove “extremely beneficial“

and would help normalise trans identities.

Under current plans the legal age to change gender is being reduced from 18 to 16, and a spokesman for the Scottish government said 'ministers confirmed they do not intend to allow persons under the age of 16 to apply for legal gender recognition.' The proposals were criticised by opponents who claim children should not be empowered to make irreversible decisions such as these. Under the FOI act, I’ve ascertained that there have been at least 51 cases in which trans males under the age of 18, born as females, had been approved for double mastectomies, over a six year period to 2020. The teenagers are sent to hospitals in England to undergo further assessment for specialist chest reconstruction. In theory those as young as 17 can receive this, and children as young as 16 have been referred for surgical pre-assessment. Campaign groups say that lowering the age at which people can change their gender to 16 is morally wrong. Trina Budge, director of For Women Scotland accused the NHS of covering up the extent of the practice, arguing it will see many more young people approved for surgery which they may live to regret. Budge said many other countries, including England, were sensibly rolling back on invasive and non-reversible treatments for young trans people, adding it was shocking to see Scotland heading in the opposite direction, by referring so many girls under 18 for double mastectomies. A Scottish government spokesperson said, ‘under the oversight of the clinical team, a small number of young adults have been referred for a chest reconstruction surgery at 17.’ As I’m often reminded, the brains of young people are not fully developed until their 20s, but this is being ignored whilst catastrophic surgery is approved. I note that Sturgeon has recently indicated she would like to become a foster mother, although interesting to see if the childless politician will opt for gender binary, neutral or rainbow.

The Nationalists are quick to shout Referendum, and equally fast to criticise every political move of the Conservatives. However they will happily accept financial help, be it in the form of adolescent surgeries, troop support, furlough finance or anything else.

Who will help them out if they demand and gain their desired separation? I’m not sure the coffers of Europe will prove elastic enough to stretch from Berlin to Glasgow.

In other news, Police Scotland have admitted liability over flaws in its call handling system “materially contributed“ to the death of a young mother who lay injured and dying in a crashed car with her partner. The force pleaded guilty to a criminal breach of health and safety laws following the deaths of John Yuill and Lamara Bell. The office of the chief constable of Police Scotland admitted at the High Court in Edinburgh that between April 2013 and March 2016, it had failed to provide reliable call handling; in July 2015 Bilston Glen failed to record a

call reporting a vehicle was at the bottom of an embankment, having crashed off the motorway. The force admitted that Miss Bell (25) and Mr Yuill (28) were ‘unaided and exposed to the elements’ for three days.

Mr Yuill died at the scene whilst Miss Bell died in hospital four days after being found.

Lord Beckett adjourned the case to consider matters before announcing the sentence.

Perhaps if the officers in charge served a little time behind bars, there would be fewer life costing mistakes.

From bars to Barrs… Irn-Bru is at risk of running short on the supermarket shelves after the producer warned that deliveries had been hit by recently spiralling petrol prices and turmoil in the supply chain. AG Barr said it had experienced challenges across the UK associated in part with the pandemic, impacting customer deliveries and said it was hopeful the issues could be resolved. Roger White, chief executive of the company, added that 'supply issues have resulted in cost inflation and we have had particular disruption with materials, particularly aluminium cans. Inflation is all around us - materials, wages and supply, so we have to be careful how this is managed.'

I know it’s their other national drink, but I would imagine on analysis there is probably enough carcinogenic additives in a crate of irn bru - if you can get it - to run your car if you’re stuck.

And finally, a war hero who is believed to be the longest serving clan chief in Scottish history died recently at the age of 102. Captain Alwyne Farquharson was the 16th Laird of Invercauld, a sprawling estate encompassing 100,000 acres, including several Munros, the Glenshee ski resort, grouse moors and 24 miles of the salmon-rich River Dee. As Laird of the Estate he was the nearest neighbour of the Queen at Balmoral.

Educated at Eton and Oxford, Alwyne joined the Royal Scots Greys, seeing action in Africa, Italy and France. During the Normandy landings he was seriously wounded and was awarded an MC for gallantry. Like his father - a close friend of King George V - he was highly active as a local councillor and JP. He spent his final days at his home in Norfolk, after serving for 73 years as both chief of Clan Farquharson and chieftain of the Ballater Highland Games, frequently attended by members of the Royal Family.

Believed to be the oldest and longest serving clan chief in history, he was without doubt one of the most dedicated to his role and he touched many hearts. Earlier this year it was announced he would pass the mantle of heading the Ballater Highland Games to his 40-year-old great-nephew Philip. He attended his last Games at the age of 100, receiving a standing ovation as he arrived with a guard of honour.

What an inspirational life!

Love Jacqueline x

https://www.gofundme.com/f/jacqueline039s-front-line-cancer-battle-fund THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

28 COOKERY

TO ADVERTISE CALL 020 3906 8488

4 NOVEMBER 2021

Turkish Red Lentil & Carrot Soup When I was in Istanbul about 10 years ago, I attended a cookery class, and this is a variation of one of the recipes that we prepared. I have kept this recipe vegetarian and without butter and love to serve it with sesame bread. Red lentil soup is a regular and popular addition to many restaurants. Smoked paprika and sumac provide the subtle and exquisite flavours in a delicious warming soup.

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

Preparation Time: 20 minutes Cooking Time: 35 minutes Serves: 12

Ingredients 300g red lentils 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 3 onions, finely chopped 3 cloves garlic – peeled and chopped 2 tablespoons smoked paprika 1 tablespoon sumac 6 carrots – peeled and roughly chopped 2 tablespoons tomato puree 200g potatoes peeled and diced 2 litres vegetable stock 1 red chilli – deseeded and finely chopped 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste) Freshly ground black pepper (to taste) Garnish: Sprigs of fresh mint, sumac Method 1) Place the red lentils in a colander and rinse. Set aside.

2) Heat the vegetable oil in a large deep saucepan.

Lentils for Shabbat Toledot

BY DENISE PHILIPS It is always great to connect a spiritual element in your Shabbat menu with the Sedra. This week we read Parsha Toldot where red lentil soup plays an interesting part in the story of Esau and Jacob.

Esau comes in very hungry from a hunting expedition and wants to eat the red stew that Jacob was making.

Jacob responds that if Esau sells his birth right, he will give him some stew to which Esau agrees.

Lentils are also a traditional mourner’s meal for Jews.

Lentils roll, so death, sorrow, and mourning constantly roll and change from one to the other, with lentils representing the circle of life.

We learn about this as Jacob was cooking for his father Isaac, who was mourning the death of his father Abraham (Jacob and Esau’s grandfather).

Red lentils break down faster than any other types of lentils when cooked. The texture becomes soft and creamy making them perfect for soups, stews, and curries. All varieties of lentils do not need to be soaked before cooking and are best cooked in flavoured stock with a ratio of 1

part lentils and 2 parts stock. Red lentils can take on many flavours as they cook - garlic, ginger, turmeric, curry powder, cumin, coriander, paprika and chilli powder. Coconut milk as well as plant-based milks like rice milk, oat milk and almond milk can also be used instead of stock.

Cooked, drained lentils can be mixed with freshly chopped herbs for a delicious, nutritious, and low-calorie boost of flavour. While sticking to classics such as fresh parsley will add a welcome splash of colour and so too will slightly more exotic herbs, such as lemongrass and fresh turmeric.

Lentils make a healthy addition to your recipes as they are rich in fibre, magnesium, folate and protein which will keep you feeling full longer.

With a packet of red lentils weighing 1kg for about £1.80 they are an economical store cupboard ingredient that you should purchase for the cold winter months ahead. Properly stored, dried lentils will generally stay at best quality for about 2 to 3 years at normal room temperature, although they will usually remain safe to use after that. To maximize the shelf life of dried lentils, keep the package tightly closed at all times.

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

3) Sauté the onions, garlic, smoked paprika, sumac, carrots and potatoes for 5 minutes.

4) Add the washed lentils, stock, tomato puree and chilli.

5) Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 30 minutes.

6) Add salt and pepper to taste.

7) Liquidise the soup. Taste and adjust seasoning accordingly.

To serve the stylish way: Garnish with a dusting of sumac and sprigs of fresh mint

4 NOVEMBER 2021

PRECIOUS STONES

PAINTINGS/ARTWORK PORCELAIN

JEWELLERY WATCHES & CLOCKS

MEN’S & LADIES HIGH-END FASHION FURNITURE

QUALITY NAMED GLASS GOLD

29

TO ADVERTISE CALL 020 3906 8488

COSTUME JEWELLERY PROPERTY WINE & ALCOHOL CARS

SCULPTURE & BRONZES

PROBATE VALUATIONS

SILVER

Selling items of value has never been simpler.

WHETHER YOU’RE CLEARING A HOME, MOVING OR REMODELLING, I WILL GET THE BEST PRICES FOR ANY ITEMS OF VALUE YOU’RE LOOKING TO SELL • I AM AN INDEPENDENT BROKER ACTING SOLELY ON YOUR BEHALF • I SELL THROUGH MANY DIFFERENT AUCTION HOUSES, HIGH-END DEALERS, COLLECTORS AND PRIVATE CLIENTS • HAVING BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR OVER 10 YEARS LOOKING AFTER MANY, MANY CLIENTS, YOUWILLALWAYSRECEIVEMYPERSONALDISCREET ONE-TO-ONESERVICE (REFERENCES AVAILABLE) • THERE IS NO COST OR OBLIGATION MEETING WITH ME AT YOUR HOME OR STORAGE FACILITY • PROBATE VALUATIONS CARRIED OUT • CLIENTS IN THE UK AND EUROPE • BASED IN ST JOHNS WOOD • DISCRETION ASSURED AT ALL TIMES

Perry Field | 07802 157500 You can also message me through my website www.simplysold.co.uk

THE ANNUAL AJEX REMEMBRANCE PARADE & CEREMONY SUNDAY 21ST NOVEMBER • PARADE BEGINS 2PM THE CENOTAPH, WHITEHALL, LONDON SW1

LAST CHANCE FOR PARTICIPANTS TO BOOK: TUESDAY 9TH NOVEMBER

This year marks 100 years since the first Jewish Veterans laid a wreath at The Cenotaph Join us at this year’s AJEX Remembrance Parade and Ceremony to mark this poignant moment. Together at this special event, we will honour and remember the thousands of Jewish Servicemen and Women who fought and served for our freedom. We are proud of their service, strength and resilience – which resonates after 18 months of the Covid Pandemic.

TO PARTICIPATE in the Parade please book your ticket by Tuesday 9th November at www.ajex.org.uk TO SUPPORT the Parade and be a spectator from outside the secure area at the Ceremony – no booking required.

Follow updates on the Social Media channels below.

WE WILL REMEMBER T 020 8202 2323 E ajexremembers@ajex.org.uk youtube.com/AJEX_JMA

facebook.com/ajexheadoffice

twitter.com/AJEX_UK

instagram.com/ajex_jma

WE ARE PROUD THAT THIS EVENT IS A KEY PART OF MITZVAH DAY. AJEX Charitable Foundation Registered Charity No: 1082148

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

ASK THE RABBI

30 JUDAISM

4 NOVEMBER 2021

TO ADVERTISE CALL 020 3906 8488

Looking for answers? Send your question to Rabbi@RabbiSchochet.com TO VACCINATE OR NOT TO VACCINATE Dear Rabbi I had decided not to vaccinate myself or my family. However I am seeing an uptick in Covid and I wonder whether I am doing the right thing. Are there Halachic views against vaccination? Also, I read that you got Covid. Does this mean that you didn’t vaccinate?

Alan Dear Alan All Halachic authorities maintain that one has an outright obligation to take medically recommended vaccinations. On the basis of the Torah mandate, “and heal he shall heal” we derive that G-d gives man licence to heal and we do not say, “If G-d made me ill, He will make me better.”

Or worse still, “if G-d wants me to get Covid then I will get it and it is not for me to resist it through a vaccine.”

To be sure, Judaism believes in man’s Free Will and the significance of our actions, and not in pre-determinism or fatalism. As in the words of the commentaries on the Talmud (Bava Kama 85a) one is not allowed to rely on miracles, but must follow the way of the world. In this case, follow the guidelines to vaccinate.

Unfortunately there are those who refer to the aforementioned verse “and heal he shall heal” and misinterpret the Talmudic comment (Brochot 60a) “from here we derive that a doctor has permission to heal.” They put emphasis on the word “permission” and suggest it is not obligatory. They ignore the

Talmudic commentary there which explains that the choice language was deliberate to rectify the possible mistake of some religions or cults who think that medicine runs counter to G-d’s will.

Maimonides – who was an eminent doctor – also explained this quote is deliberate to ensure that potential doctors don’t say, “Who needs this danger. I can make a mistake and I am better off playing it safe and avoiding medicine altogether.” Rather, says Maimonides, we have permission to heal, and it’s even a mitzvah to do so.

Finally, there is also an oft-misquoted Mishna (Pesachim 4:9) which says that the Rabbis were in favour of King Chizkiah’s “discarding the ‘Book of Medicines’” citing this as proof that we are better off avoiding certain medicinal processes.

Maimonides explains that this was in fact a book of old remedies which was being misused, killing people instead of healing them.

As for your more personal question, yes I most certainly did vaccinate – but clearly G-d intended for me to spend most of Sukot at home. The bottom line is, you must do what you have to do and then let G-d worry about what He has to do. Now go do the right thing.

HOW DO I GET HIS ATTENTION? Dear Rabbi I feel as though my husband has become more connected to his phone than he is to me. Can you advise please what I can do?

Shelly

Dear Shelly Start by having him read this.

A woman went to the perfume counter and asked for a perfume that will prove irresistible. The lady at the counter showed her many samples, some smelling like roses, others like jasmine, some smoky. The woman paused a few moments: “Do you have anything that smells like an iPhone?”

Then there’s that time WhatsApp had a worldwide outage. The man said, “My WhatsApp stopped working. I had a conversation with my wife instead. She seems nice!”

The internet has become the biggest energy leak in our relationships. Instead of spending time together people are on their phones, in separate rooms, watching of reading their own things. Meanwhile children spend their whole dinner scrolling through social media rather than talking about their day.

They compensate by insisting that they will always make “quality time.” I may not spend a lot of time with my spouse or my child but I will ensure that the eight minutes I do spend with them is “quality time.” It’s a monumental bubbe ma’aseh. “Quality time” is a myth.

Love and time are very much connected. When something is of value to us, we spend time with it. When you have a minute, pause and ask yourself, “Where do I spend much of my time?”

And that’s how you know what you really value! We will always make time for the things we value!

It is not about “quality time.”

It is about spending time, full

stop! You know why? Because it is only when spending time that you pick up the nuances of corrections that need to be made before they become crises.

Things do not just go suddenly wrong. Marriages don’t just suddenly break up. Kids don’t suddenly awake in the morning with problems that were not previously there. We just didn’t make the time – and we’ve missed the nuances.

What we need instead of

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

Pirkei Avot Rabbi Shimon said: If three have eaten at one table and have not spoken there words of Torah, it is as if they had eaten sacrifices offered to the dead, as it is said, “for all tables are full of filthy vomit, when the All-Present is absent” (Isaiah 28:8).

But, if three have eaten at one table, and have spoken there words of Torah, it is as if they had eaten at the table of the All-Present, blessed be He, as it is said, “And He said unto me, ‘this is the table before the Lord’” (Ezekiel 41:22).

Last week we saw how important it

quality time is “down time!”

Grab your kids, grab your spouse, shut everything else down. No phones, no iPads. Simply being together, in a device free zone, sends a message that family time takes precedence over everything else. By managing your media and reclaiming your family time, you show your spouse that she/he is really important to you, and you teach your kids what really matters in life.

Perek 3: Mishna 3 was to discuss words of Torah whilst we eat. This transforms the mundane act of digesting calories into a highly spiritual act of G-d.

This week we continue on similar themes, with Reb Shimon adding his opinion to that of the two Reb Chaninas.

We see from this Mishnah that the importance of discussing Torah doesn’t just transform your table into a holy place, it’s actually the difference between ‘a table of filthy vomit’ and the Table of Hashem.’

One may be forgiven for wondering why Reb Shimon has to go to such extreme

language to hammer home his point.

Perhaps the reason is to drive home his message that eating in an atmosphere of Torah learning is not merely a nice bit of advice that sounds good, but rather crucially a way to distinguish between the righteous and the rest.

If one’s table is simply a place to satisfy base desires for food and drink, without making blessings before and after then it is simply not befitting for the King of all kings to join.

May we all merit to turn out tables into tables fit for the King Amen!

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

SUGAR FREE

NO NUTS

VEGAN

www.steinsfoods.com

Contact: 0208 900 1000

LOW

CALOR IE

, s r e l l e 5 Best S & g n i g a k New Pac e t s a T t a e r G e m Sa

32 JUDAISM

TO ADVERTISE CALL 020 3906 8488

Torah from Israel

4 NOVEMBER 2021

Toledot: Run Away, Run Away

BY RABBI MOSHE TARAGIN We know precious little about Yitzchak’s life.

Unlike his father and his son, he lived a very pedestrian lifestyle, waging no wars, never traveling abroad and never convening with angels. Avraham’s dramatic career spans three parshiyot of the Torah, while Ya’akov’s saga is chronicled over six parshiyot. Oddly, Yitzchak’s entire life is condensed into one parsha – most of which is dominated by his twin boys and their ongoing wrestling match over the title of first born.

The one and only “episode” in which Yitzchak is featured is his persistent struggle with local tribes over wells and waterways.

Evidently, this unpleasant affair characterizes or defines Yitzchak, his personality, and his role in the book of Bereishit. His constant restraint to provocation is both peculiar and impressive. As he accrues extraordinary wealth, he elicits the of local Plishtim who seal water reservoirs which Avraham had excavated. Avimelech their leader, turns a blind eye to their harassment, and instead, demands that Yitzchak relocate. Yitzchak enjoys the upper hand in this standoff and could easily have ignored Avimelech’s absurd claims. The raiding of vital water wells was a spiteful and criminal provocation which should have been punished.

Furthermore, Yitzchak resided on lands he had legitimately farmed and cultivated. As an affluent man, Yitzchak could muster significant influence and support in rebuffing the anger of jealous villagers and in denying Avimelech’s unfair request. Yet, despite his leverage and the legality of his situation, Yitzchak complies with the unfair ultimatum and moves to the valley of Gerar where he must “start from scratch” and hollow out entirely new waterways. Though he receives temporary respite, Yitzchak’s land trials are just beginning.

Having relocated to the valley, Yitzchak is now contested by wandering shepherds who dispute his right to the water streams he had painstakingly excavated! Unlike the earlier adversaries who merely “sabotaged” Avraham’s wells, these random tribesmen actually claim this newly developed water stream as their own!! Astonishingly, Yitzchak complies and surrenders these hard earned resources. Showing inordinate patience and persistence, he now digs an entirely new well, but this too becomes a point of contention with the local sheperdsmen. Excavating a fourth set of wells, the opposition finally fades and, Yitzchak, enjoying elusive tranquility, names the region Rechovot- signaling the uncontested prosperity which is now his. Repeatedly, Yitzchak chooses compromise over confrontation even though his policies of

appeasement force him to construct new waterways and to renovate damaged ones.

Restraint and compromise become Yitzchak’s defining features. The book of Bereishit is nicknamed the story of the “Yesharim” – those who were “peaceable and fair”. Our Avot labored for hundreds of years to craft a world of morality and belief in one G-d. While preaching religious values, they built their world through kindness and honesty. More than any of the Avot, Yitzchak upholds this lifestyle of honesty and “peacefulness” even in the face of hostility and provocation. Avraham is the consummate ideologue, revolutionizing human imagination and introducing bold and new ideas. His name Avraham- father of nationsimplies great responsibility and educational mission. For his part, Ya’akov encountered constant struggle- both with his murderous brother and with his scheming father-inlaw. His tumultuous life serves as a prototype for the turbulence and upheaval which our people would face along their historical journey. Ya’akov’s name alludes both to his grasping the ankle of his brother as well to his bypassing that brother in securing his father’s blessings. Each episode highlights the unusual struggle Ya’akov faced as the underdog. As history’s underdog, the Jews still managed to reshape the human imagination. Avraham and Ya’akov lived moral lives, but their respective missions compelled them to lives of ideological and personal confrontation.

Yitzchak lives a very different arch. His birth elicits smiling and amusement, and his name is taken from the cheerful laughter which surrounds his entry into this world.

Every personal milestone of Yitzchak generates happiness and public welfare. When he is weaned from nursing, great public parties are staged. The project of identifying a wife for Yitzchak delivers great riches to her family. Professionally, Yitzchak becomes a farmer, unlike his father who lived the nomadic life of a shepherd. Fundamentally, a shepherd “takes” from the land whereas a farmer contributes to the land. Basically, while Avraham is a “consumer” Yitzchak is a “producer”.

By providing unmatched prosperity to his world, Yitzchak demonstrates that a life of religious belief also improves the human condition. It is one thing to preach religion and theology, and quite another to convince humanity that a theological “leap into faith” will materially benefit their lives. For people to choose a life of faith they must be assured that it will also improve the conditions of their lives. Yitzchak provides this proof.

This religious holy man also has the “Midas touch”. People smile at him and are attracted to his religion because they sense personal

One of the great arts in life is knowing how to balance between confrontation and conciliation. benefit and interest. His religion speaks to them.

However, Yitzchak’s mission carries a “cost”. For him to persuade humanity that religion benefits the human condition he cannot create an environment of strife or turmoil. If his world swirls with conflict and quarrel, it will alienate his audience from religion and his message will be lost. People must sense his serenity and contentment forged by a life of belief and faith. For his mission to succeed, he must forgo his personal “legal” rights and reconcile with his aggressors. In avoiding confrontation and achieving his larger goals, he must repeatedly waive his interests and withdraw from conflicts. Be litigating his rights and pursuing his assailants he may win the battle of the wells but he risks losing the larger agenda. His flexibility and constraint in face of so much antagonism defines his legacy.

By repeatedly avoiding strife, he brings a quiet peace to the world of Bereishit, further convincing humanity that belief in G-d would deliver prosperity. They sense the serenity and inner harmony which only faith can foster.

One of the great arts in life is knowing how to balance between confrontation and conciliation. When should legitimate rights be demanded and protected and when should they be waived for larger interests?

Some people are natural “confronters” while others are natural “peacemakers”. Endless “confrontation avoidance” can ruin relationships, which generally thrive on frank and direct communication. Hurt feelings and grievances, if left unexpressed, can fester into deep resentment and erupt into anger and even violence. Additionally, constant

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

restraint and “surrender” can encourage aggressive and abusive behavior. In its worst form, constant surrender can create a dangerous celebration of victimhood.

In the modern world the risk of constant pacification and the encouragement of abusive behavior has become a very serious concern. There are times to confront bullies and to combat aggression.

However, there is generally greater personal cost to a life of constant confrontation.

A life of turmoil and endless interpersonal imbroglios erodes our inner peace and our emotional equilibrium. Confrontation may help us advance our public agendas but we, and those with whom we live, generally suffer in their emotional well–being. Confrontation carries a steep price in tension and personal anxiety.

Often Israelis are terrified about not becoming a ‘frei’er’- which loosely translates as a victim or pushover who is easily duped.

Sadly, the deep obsession with not becoming a frei’er can encourage overaggressive protection of personal rights. Yitzchak’s decisions should caution us about the danger of “confrontationism”. It may provide short-sided gains but it usually carries longterm costs. The two must be calculated very carefully. People who desire a life of “yashar” follow Yitzchak in limiting their conflicts and choosing compromise over confrontation.

They generally lead healthier emotional lives.

The writer is a rabbi at Yeshivat Har Etzion/ Gush, a hesder yeshiva. He has smicha and a BA in computer science from Yeshiva University as well as a masters degree in English literature from the City University of New York.

4 NOVEMBER 2021

JUDAISM 33

TO ADVERTISE CALL 020 3906 8488

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

Who am I?

BY RABBI BINNY FREEDMAN If LeBron James stops playing basketball, who is he? Is what I do really who I am?

And if that’s all there is to it, then what happens when I can’t ‘do it’ anymore?

Parashat Toldot addresses this very issue. Yitzchak wants to bless his son, Esav, the elder of twins, before he dies. His wife, Rivka, overhearing Yitzchak’s request to Esav, tells Yaakov, the younger son, to disguise himself as Esav, in order to fool blind old Yitzchak into giving him the blessing instead.

Yitzchak approaches his father, saying “My father”, to which Yitzchak responds: “here I am; who are you, my son?” to which Yaakov responds: “Anochi Esav Bechorecha”, I am Esav, your firstborn (Bereishit 27:18-19).

The word Anochi, I am, is found in just a few other places in the Torah: - After Cain kills Abel, he responds to

G-d, “Hashomer achi Anochi”, Am I my brother’s keeper? (Bereishit 4:9) - G-d opens the Ten Commandments with “Anochi”, I am G-d… Who took you out of Egypt… (Shemot 20:2) - In this same Parashat Toldot, Rivka is carrying a baby in her womb who is kicking to such a degree that she sensed something was wrong: “VaTomer Im Ken lama zeh Anochi”, If so, why am I? (25:22) The Midrash (rabbinic legend) suggests that every time Rivka walked by a house of Torah study, Yaakov began to kick, and every time she walked by a house of pagan idolatry, Esav began to kick. Rivka, not realizing she was carrying two babies, began to wonder who this baby really was and where this was coming from. The word Anochi reflects the question: ‘Really, who am I?’ Is my future in monotheistic ethics, or am I really a product of the pagan world I come from’?

She discovers that there are actually two

Toledot

nations in her belly, and they will engage in a struggle of historical proportions, with the younger ultimately the victor. Strangely, even though her twins will be at war with each other, this somehow comforts Rivka. She is no longer confused about who she is.

Yitzchak, in responding to Yaakov, says “Hineni”. Avraham said “Hineni” when faced with the test of the Binding of Yitzchak and Moshe said “Hineni” when G-d sends him to return to Egypt as His messenger to set the Jewish People free.

Hineni: Here I am; a word that suggests I know exactly who I am, why I am here, and most importantly, what I have to give to the world. Perhaps Yitzchak is confronting Yaakov: ‘I know who I am, but do you know who you are?’

Is he Yaakov, the paragon of truth and virtue, a dweller of tents and role model of ethics? Or is he Esav, willing to deceive his own father in order to achieve what is

6TH ALIYA (SHISHI) – 27:28-28:4

to Egypt for food and assures him that he will be a forefather of a great nation.

Rivkah’s plan is successful; Yaakov receives the blessings. Esav returns from the field, realises what has happened and lets out a loud and bitter cry.

Yitzchak also gives Esav a blessing, but it includes his future subservience to Yaakov. Esav plans to kill Yaakov. Rivkah realises this, and tells Yaakov to escape to her brother Lavan in Charan. Yitzchak instructs Yaakov to marry one of Lavan’s daughters. Before Yitzchak sends Yaakov away, he blesses him with the blessing first bestowed upon Avraham, including, specifically, the blessing of the Land of Israel. From this we can see that Yitzchak had always intended that the real legacy was to go to Yaakov, not Esav.

Point to Consider: Why did G-d insist on Yitzchak not leaving the Land? (see Rashi to 26:2)

2ND ALIYA (LEVI) – 26:6-12

Yitzchak, aged 60, prays for his wife Rivkah to have a child. Rivkah conceives twins and is told prophetically that the two children will father two separate nations. Esav is born first, red and hairy.

Yaakov then emerges, holding on to Esav’s heel. As they grow up, Esav becomes a hunter, whereas Yaakov dwells in tents of Torah study (Rashi). Yitzchak loves Esav, whereas Rivkah prefers Yaakov. One day Yaakov prepares a red lentil stew.

Esav returns exhausted from the fields, demanding that Yaakov give him some of the stew. Yaakov agrees, but in return for Esav selling the first-born rights to him.

Esav agrees, taking an oath in return for the food.

Famine hits the Land of Cana’an (later Israel). G-d tells Yitzchak not to go down

Rabbi Binny Freedman is Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Orayta. He is a member of the Mizrachi Speakers Bureau (www.mizrachi.org/speakers).

“May G-d give you of the dew of the heavens and of the fatness of the earth, and abundant grain and wine” (Bereishit 27:27-28)

Sidra Summary

1ST ALIYA (KOHEN) – BEREISHIT 25:19-26:5

necessary?

In order to disguise himself as Esav, Yaakov must be really confident that he knows who Yaakov really is. Otherwise, the disguise might end up becoming more of a reality than was intended.

This is the challenge of Anochi. If Cain could kill his own brother, then what does that mean about who he really is? And perhaps this is what G-d is saying at the beginning of the Ten Commandments.

Before you develop a relationship with Me, says G-d, you have to know who you are.

Because the first place to look for G-d is deep inside ourselves.

Here, at the beginning of the birth of the Jewish nation, the Torah challenges us with deciding who we really are. And how the events that shape our lives affect who we really want to be. What we do is only part of who we are, our essence is much deeper than that. And this was precisely Yaakov’s challenge.

Yitzchak lives amongst the Plishtim (Philistines) in Gerar. Afraid to reveal that Rivkah is his wife, lest harm befall them from jealous men, Yitzchak tells the locals that she is his sister. However, the ruler Avimelech discovers that they are actually married. He accuses Yitzchak of deceiving him, but warns the people not to harm Yitzchak and Rivkah. Yitzchak sows the land and becomes very prosperous.

3RD ALIYA (SHLISHI) – 26:13-22

The Plishtim, jealous of Yitzchak’s prosperity, stop up his wells. Yitzchak carries on digging wells; the arguments eventually end.

4TH ALIYA (REVI’I) – 26:23-29

Yitzchak moves to Beersheva. G-d appears to him in the night, telling him that He will bless him. Yitzchak builds an altar.

Avimelech brings an entourage from Gerar, offering Yitzchak a new peace treaty.

5TH ALIYA (CHAMISHI) – 26:30-27:27

Yitzchak agrees to the peace proposal.

Esav marries two Hittite women. This pains his parents, as both women worship idols (Rashi). The ageing Yitzchak, almost blind, asks Esav to go and hunt some game for him to eat, after which he will bless Esav. Rivkah overhears and instructs the reluctant Yaakov to go to Yitzchak disguised as Esav, with two cooked goats, so as to receive the blessings instead of Esav.

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

7TH ALIYA (SHEVI’I) – 28:5-9

Yaakov sets off to Charan. Esav marries a third wife, Machalat, the daughter of his uncle Yishmael.

HAFTARAH

The prophet Malachi speaks of G-d’s love for Yaakov and His rejection of Esav. However, Yaakov’s nation has to justify G-d’s favour; the prophet rebukes them for being lax and insincere in their Temple service.

34 JUDAISM

TO ADVERTISE CALL 020 3906 8488

4 NOVEMBER 2021

Toledot: A medium-rare steak – is that what Yitzchak cares about?

BY GAVRIEL COHN Yitzchak and Esav had a particularly close relationship.

As the verse relates, “And Yitzchak loved Esav because his game was in his mouth.”

Yitzchak was blessed with immense wealth. He was an agricultural pioneer, a man of business acumen who succeeded mightily: “And Yitzchak sowed in that land [of Gerar], and he found in that year a hundred-fold of bounty… The man [Yitzchak]… grew constantly greater until he had grown very great. He had sheep, cattle, and much production.” Yitzchak re-dug the wells his father Avraham had once owned and spent his days making the land prosperous, excavating wells and accumulating tremendous wealth, as he proclaimed, “Now the L-rd has made room for us and we will be fruitful in the Land.” His affluence was, as the Ramban estimates, like that of a king.

Esav, Yitzchak oldest son whom he loved dearly, was “a man who knew hunting, a man of the field.” Esav attended to Yitzchak, honouring him and feeding him of the finest meat, caught by his own hand. Perhaps Esav even served as Yitzchak’s right-hand man, protecting his business interests by force, like the relationship between Pichol and Avimelech (R’ Meidan). Esav was precious to his

father. In Yitzchak’s old age, just before he was to pass away, he requested of Esav to “make for me delicious foods and bring them to me; I will eat them in order that my soul will bless you before I die.”

Yitzchak was then terribly shaken when Yaakov deceived him, taking the blessings in Esav’s stead.

From the above it appears that both Yitzchak and Esav appreciated “the fatness of the earth and an abundance of grain and wine” maybe a little too much.

It seems as if their relationship was based on a mutual love for physical indulgence; that, as we quoted, “Yitzchak loved Esav because his game was in his mouth.” Isn’t this strange for a Patriarch?

However, nothing could be further from the truth. This father and son pair didn’t see eye-to-eye. They differed radically on perhaps the most crucial issue of all (and one of the key messages that the Rambam later strove so tirelessly to teach): The true purpose of materialism.

For Yitzchak, his wealth, business ventures, well-digging, and meat always served as a means, not as an aim.

Yitzchak wanted to settle and succeed in the Land precisely because it had been promised by G-d to his father and he was under divine instruction never to leave it; Yitzchak wanted to continue Avraham’s legacy (and ensure his father still had a stake-hold in the land). He desperately wanted to bring G-d’s descriptions of an abundant, flourishing land for his descendants to fruition, building a thriving

Toledot RABBI DR RAYMOND APPLE

HISTORY & DESTINY

Central to the reading this week is the story and personality of Isaac. The Torah (Gen. 26) tells us contradictory things about him.

He became richer and richer, but presumably only because he took initiatives and start-ups. At the same time, if he wanted water supplies he went back to his father Abraham’s wells and dug again where his father had dug – no new initiatives, no start-ups, no originality.

Life always has two aspects, history and destiny. The wise person knows how to intertwine them, learning from and where necessary preserving the ways of the past, but knowing that sometimes the past needs to be discarded and replaced with new visions and plans.

TWO BROTHERS

Isaac had two sons, the twins Esau and Jacob, who were rivals and often opponents. Even before they were born, the sons were at loggerheads.

The Torah says (Gen. 25:22) “vayitrotz’tzu habanim”, “the sons struggled”; the sages derive the verb from “rutz”, “to run”, suggesting that when their mother

territory for them to succeed morally and spiritually. YItzchak asked to indulge in fine meats before he was bless his son in order that “his soul will cleave to his son’s during that experience of enjoyment so that he would be able to bless him with a full, happy heart and with contentment…

After eating, Yitzchak would be full of delight and joy [from the delicious meal] and so divine inspiration would rest upon him” (Ramban). All of Yitzchak’s material engagement was to serve as a means to achieve other, higher purposes – either to fulfil G-d’s masterplan or to strengthen his relationships. In the same way, we too are enjoined to partake of delicacies on Shabbat and Yom Tov, to use these physical enjoyments to celebrate “before G-d” (Rambam).

Esav, on the other hand, could not have been more different. He pursued immediate physical pleasure; seeing materialism as an aim, he desired instant gratification.

This man of the field marauded the desert for an instant kill, to have animal flesh dripping from between his teeth. He took whichever women he desired as wives.

Esav “despised the birth-right” (the right to inherit Yitzchak’s estate) precisely because it was material wealth that was not an aim in-and-of-itself but rather a means. The birth-right, holding the status of the family firstborn, was a weighty responsibility. The first-born’s role was to manage the entire household and to serve as a religious leader. Instead, Esav swapped it for a bowl of lentils which he

wolfed down without a moments pause.

The first time he was in any distress over Yaakov’s schemes was when he lost the blessings, Yitzchak’s promises of wealth and power. In losing those blessings, Esav was deprived, in his mind, of a pure materialism that carried no other purposes beyond it, no strings attached like the birth-right did. Yaakov, Rivkah assessed, was better suited to also receive such blessings as Yaakov did not view such assets as end goals in-themselves. Yaakov would use them properly as instruments to achieve higher, positive purposes.

Perhaps Yitzchak, with his hunting assignments for Esav and his blessings of plenty, sought to teach Esav what materialism should really be used for or maybe Yitzchak was tragically blinded to his oldest son’s true compulsive self.

Be that as it may, Yitzchak saw materialism as Judaism sees it; not as an aim but as a means through which one can accomplish the most noblest of aims: To thrive in this world positively, strengthen one’s relationships, and to feel a wholesomeness and joy that can then radiate outwards, blessing others!

Gavriel Cohn is an informal educator at Immanuel College, Bushey. He has written a number of articles for various publications. If you have any questions or comments or would like the Torah sources for this piece, please get in touch! gavcohn@ gmail.com.

Rivkah, the wife of Isaac, knew what was going on and worked out an elaborate scheme to show Isaac how gullible he was. passed a place of learning, Jacob tried to get out of the womb, and when she passed a place of idolatry, Esau tried to get out.

Once they were born, the two sons remained locked in combat. Isaac didn’t always realise how he was being manipulated by Esau. Esau would come to his father with complicated, minute halachic questions such as whether straw or salt had to be tithed. Esau rejoiced that his son was so apparently meticulous in his religious observance.

The truth, as Rashi tells us, is that Esau was “ish yode’a tzayid”, “a man who knew how to hunt” – in a metaphorical way, hunting in the sense of ensnaring his father with his apparent piety which was really mere pretence.

TWO CROWNS

The sidra begins with something that looks quite obvious – “These were the generations of Isaac the son of Abraham; Abraham begot Isaac” (Gen.25:19).

Why does the Torah seem to say the same thing twice in one verse?

Apart from the idea in the Talmud (BM 87a) that people needed to be assured that Isaac really was the son of Abraham and not a result of adultery by Sarah, a Midrash quoted by Rashi says that Abraham was crowned with Isaac and Isaac was crowned with Isaac.

They were so proud of each other that they brought a special smile, a special quality of dignity to one another.

Life always has two aspects, history and destiny. The wise person knows how to intertwine them…

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

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

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

4 NOVEMBER 2021

TO ADVERTISE CALL 020 3906 8488

JUDAISM 35

Dead Ends on the Road to Greatness

BY RABBI SHMUEL REICHMAN In our previous article, we continued discussing our underlying question of “why don’t people become great?”.

We explained why many never even begin the journey, either because of fear, lack of self-confidence, or a desire to be accepted by others. However, even among those who overcome these obstacles and begin their journey towards greatness, many never reach their destination for the following reasons:

1. WE BEGAN OUR JOURNEY, BUT NEVER REACHED OUR FULL POTENTIAL

Some of us do overcome the obstacles that prevent us from starting the journey towards greatness, and we embark on an awe-inspiring journey of personal growth self-development, heading towards our greatness. We begin making progress, heading towards our dreams and becoming the person we know we’re destined to be. But somewhere along the way, many of us fall short and fail to reach our full potential. We might be a leader or a relatively successful and important person, but before we have even touched the surface of what we’re capable of, we become satisfied with the progress we’ve already made and spend the rest of our lives in the comfort of our past achievements. Instead of pushing further, we shift our car into neutral and spend the rest of our lives on cruise.

Why do we do this? Why do we cut ourselves short, especially once we’ve already made so much progress on our journey to greatness?

There are two main reasons why people often get stuck in this mode. The first is the “good enough “ problem. This is when a person is driven less by a desire to achieve their greatness, and more by a need to be seen as great in other people’s eyes. All they want is that when people look at them, they say, “Wow, look at them. Look at all that they’ve achieved. What an amazing person.” Essentially, such a person doesn’t want to achieve greatness. They want to achieve enough so that other people think they are great. For such a person, their underlying motivation is public perception, social acceptance, and honor (kavod). Actually achieving what they are capable of doesn’t matter, and is therefore unnecessary. Who they actually are and what they believe holds little importance either. The only thing that matters is what people think of them.

However, this sets up a growth model that is dependent on other people, despite the fact that true growth is internal. In essence, such a person will always compare themselves to others. Why? Because there’s no need to actually become great. The only important thing is that they are better than those around them, the greatest in the room.

If when looking around, they can say, “I’m better than all of these people,” then they feel that they are great. There’s no need to push

themselves or achieve their true potential; everything is relative to their surroundings.

Why would someone live like this? It’s simple: they believe that if other people love them and if other people think that they’re great, then they’ll also love themselves, they’ll also think that they’re great.

They’ve mixed the order up. They’re under the illusion that we mirror other people’s perception of us, but while other people’s view of us can affect us, the only way to gain self-worth and an empowering self-image is to build it from within. Instead of becoming a mirror, trying to reflects everything outside ourselves, we need to become projectors: We need to build something majestic and beautiful within ourselves, and then express that out into the world.

When Michael Jordan was interviewed, he asked them “How do you think I became who I became? Who do you think I competed against? If I competed against others, I’d never have become who I am; I’d have settled once I was the best. But I competed against myself! The person I knew I was meant to become! I wanted to become better than I was and become the best me. Everyone else made the mistake of competing against “me”, and not against themselves, so they all fell short, and felt like they weren’t great.

On the flip side, this idea not only ensures that we reach our ultimate greatness, but it also eliminates any potential for jealousy. If each of us is completely unique, it makes no sense to compare ourselves to anyone else.

As Einstein famously said, “If you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing it’s foolish.” We cannot compare ourselves to someone else, because we are all completely different. If we genuinely understood this, we would never be jealous. Once we realize that everything in our life is exactly what we need to fulfill our unique potential, we’ll stop looking around at what other people have and start utilizing what we have. To take it a step further, we can actually begin to be happy for other people’s success, as we will realize that we aren’t competing with each other. We’re all on the same team; we’re all part of the cosmic symphony of life. Our ear would never be jealous of our hand, since they’re both part of the same body; so too, if we realized that we’re all part of the same “body,” we would never be jealous of anyone else.

2. WE MADE TREMENDOUS PROGRESS, BUT GAVE UP WHEN IT GOT TOUGH

Only a select few have made it to this point.

They’ve overcome their fears, the temptation to be normal, and even the compelling voice inside that tells them to look around and stop striving because they’re already better than everyone else around them. At this point, we’re talking about someone who is genuinely striving for greatness and has made incredible progress on their journey towards their ultimate self.

But sometimes, even the greatest among us give up. As we previously discussed, the journey of growth always includes a stage where we lose momentum, where we lose our initial inspiration and find ourselves hitting a brick wall. The first stage of growth is

filled with exponential progress; we go from zero to sixty in no time at all and it’s exciting to witness so much improvement in such a small period of time. But once we begin to plateau and our growth becomes more gradual, it’s much harder to see the progress and growth. We may be putting in the same exact amount of effort, but we are not seeing the same results that we’ve become accustomed to. This leads us to feel tired and frustrated, and we start losing sight of why we started in the first place. And when we lose sight of our inner “why,” the underlying reason and purpose that drove us to begin this journey towards greatness, we are no longer able to find meaning in the pain or purpose in the journey. We stop enjoying the process, we stop wanting to show up each day. And when we lose our inner drive, it’s only a matter of time before we feel ready to throw in the towel and call it quits.

But we can’t let this happen! We were ready to go all in, we were ready to devote ourselves towards our mission, towards our dream, towards the ultimate life imaginable.

We just weren’t ready for this brick wall; we weren’t ready for the journey to require so much of ourselves. We convince ourselves that “this wasn’t what I signed up for!” It’s here that true greatness is born, because only those who make it past this point can ever achieve something extraordinary.

Picture a magnificent human sculpture.

Initially, there’s only a large slab of stone and the vision of the artist. The early stages of creating this masterpiece are relatively easy and enjoyable: the artist begins cutting away large slabs of stone. The progress is clear, and with every slab that hits the floor the artist sees how much closer he is to reaching his destination. But then comes the next stage, where the artist needs to precisely carve out all the features of the human face. Each minute detail can take hours, perhaps even days.

It’s very easy to consider all of this time devoted to such minor details a waste of time.

It’s nearly impossible to tell the difference from one hour to the next. It’s easy to throw in the towel and quit. But it’s this precision that creates something extraordinary. Learning how to see the small improvements helps us continue growing past the initial stages of the journey.

enough, accomplished enough, and contributed enough. Great enough became enough.

Why? Why would they stop? Why wouldn’t they keep pushing to see what else they are capable of? Why would anyone want to spend the rest of their life stagnant, crystalized in their current state of greatness?

Perhaps it’s because such a person is already in the public eye and is playing on a grander scale. The initial process was a private, contained journey. The failures were seen, but only by those in his or her private circle. But now, to continue striving for greatness would mean walking into the unknown again, as a public figure, with the spotlight shining directly on their every move. Can someone continue striving - while genuinely risking failure - in such a situation? It’s possible, but so much more difficult. As a result, those who have already achieved a relatively high level of success will continue “doing what they know best,” never reengaging the dreams, ambitions, and passions of their youth. They not only enjoy being great at what they do, we have little desire to go back to stage one of the growth process, to fail in the public eye, or to go through another difficult journey towards an even higher level of greatness.

But while many of us might never experience, or even understand such a challenge, one thing is certain: while this person achieved something great, they did not achieve greatness. Because, as human beings, we are never done, we are never finished; there is always more for us to learn, create, and become. We are created b’tzelem Elokim, and as such, we have infinite potential.

We all traverse through the journey of life, trying to fulfill our own personal purpose.

Every step of our journey is of ultimate importance. But more important still is the necessity to be a journeyer, to continuously grow through life. We are here to achieve greatness, and living without a higher “why” is not truly living. We are the unique creation of Hashem that has been placed in the world with the mission of becoming great. We need to find our unique mission, embrace the struggle, and head towards our unique greatness while enjoying every step of the process.

3.WE ACHIEVED SOMETHING GREAT, BUT NOT OUR ULTIMATE GREATNESS

Rabbi Shmuel Reichman is an author, educator, speaker, and coach who has lectured internationally on topics of Torah thought, Jewish medical ethics, psychology, and leadership. He is the founder and CEO of Self-Mastery Academy, the transformative online self-development course based on the principles of high-performance psychology and Torah.

After obtaining his Bachelors degree from Yeshiva University, he received Semikha from RIETS, a Masters degree in Jewish Education from Azrieli, and a Masters degree in Jewish Thought from Revel. He then spent a year studying at Harvard as an Ivy Plus Exchange Scholar. He is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Chicago.

To find more inspirational content from Rabbi Reichman, to contact him, or to learn more about Self-Mastery Academy, visit his website: ShmuelReichman.com

This last category is for those who overcame their fears and strove for greatness, and even when they hit obstacles and lost their inspiration, they were able to find a way to peer deep within themselves and muster up the strength and courage to keep pushing forward, despite every temptation to give up.

They never gave up, they never lost sight of their vision, and their spent our life focused and driven, heading passionately towards their true greatness.

And great they became. These individuals achieved the extraordinary and contributed their incredible talents and skills to the world around them. But somewhere along the line, they stopped. At some point, they became satisfied with their past accomplishments and stopped pushing forward. They decided that they’re “great enough”; they’ve learned

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

36 KIDS

4 NOVEMBER 2021

TO ADVERTISE CALL 020 3906 8488

Toledot

Toledot Word Search

Parshat Toledot is the first time we come across twins! Yitzchak and Rivka, who waited for twenty long years, are finally blessed with two lads! The older one Esav is the wild one, the younger one Yaakov, the calm one. Esav sells his birthright to Yaakov in exchange for some lentil soup. Yitzchak visits Pelishtim and makes a covenant with Avimelech the king. He uncovers wells and sows food there, with amazing returns.

Yitzchak wants to bless Esav but Rivka arranges for Yaakov to get them instead. Esav is furious and Yaakov leaves home to get married in Charan to his cousin(s).

The blessings Yaakov receives are for material success in this world, lots of produce and money. This was intended for Esav so he could support Yaakov's spiritual goals. In the end Esav gets a blessing of "Living by his sword". One thing we are taught is that either Yaakov and his descendants are more powerful, or Esav. When we have a strong "voice of Yaakov" we have defence from the "hands of Esav".

Tangram Challenge!

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

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

F

V

M

F

M

U

S

H

U

N

K

R

G

O

J

V

Z

L

C

V

P

M

N

B

K

N

G

O

L

J

W W

X

Q

Z

U

R

T

F

E

E

W

S

O

Y

M

K

Z

L

W W

S

S

X

M

O

B

Q

O

L

B

Z

V

I

S

D

I

L

L

G

U

C

I

H

H

U

N

T

E

R

X

E

F

V

R

A

L

G

Q

S

V

O

K

A

A

Y

W

J

Y

S

S

Y

U

A

V

S

W

O

T

H

G

I

R

H

T

R

I

B

O

B

X

M

N

D

S

X

M

E

N

M

C

X

V

G

H

U

T

N

O

G

T

U

N

K

BIRTHRIGHT • BLESSING • DISGUISE • EISAV • HUNTER • TWINS • WELLS • YAAKOV

4 NOVEMBER 2021

TO ADVERTISE CALL 020 3906 8488

“H

alf-term!

Half-Term!” chanted Rivki and Chaim as they slung their school bags onto the floor. They ran into the lounge, eager to start playing games after a long day at school. Ima called after them “Please can you hang up your bags and tidy away your shoes,” but Rivki and Chaim were too busy playing.

Ima sighed and picked up all the bags and tidied the shoes. It would be nice if they had listened to me, she thought, but they are so happy I will leave them to play.

Ima started making supper, while trying to entertain Yehudis and Shloime who were having a pre-supper snack of crackers. When the meatballs were finally ready, she called “Supper is ready, everyone please come to the kitchen.”

Hadassa arrived first, along with Abba.

Abba helped put Shloime and Yehudis in their seats, while Ima served her first customers.

“Where’s Chaim and Rivki?” asked Hadassa after swallowing her first bite.

“They seem a bit preoccupied with playing Rush Hour,” Ima sighed.

“Chaim, Rivki, supper time!” called Abba loudly.

Everyone in the kitchen waited, but no-one came.

“I’ll go and get them,” said Ima. “No,” Abba said. “You are tired, you worked hard to make them supper, you shouldn’t

Supper Time

have to chase them to come to the table. I think it is time they learnt to listen to their Ima. We will carry on with supper without them.”

Hadassa was thrilled. Extra special time with her Abba and Ima, without Chaim and Rivki!

Hadassa told Abba and Ima all about her school day, her friends and the plans she had for half-term.

When everyone had finished eating, Hadassa went off to do her homework. Abba went off to finish a few bits for work and Ima was tidying up the kitchen.

THE PERFECT GIFTS FOR

CHANUKAH

Suddenly Rivki and Chaim ran into the kitchen.

“Hey!” said Chaim “Where’s our supper?”

Ima carried on cleaning.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “But we called you and called you and you didn’t come, so we ate supper without you.”

Rivki burst into tears. “But I’m hungry,” she sobbed.

Chaim grumbled “It’s not fair.”

“I think” said Ima “You two should follow me.”

Ima led them to the study and knocked on the door.

20% OFF

REG. PRICE £8.99

ONLY

£7.19 EACH +P&P Quote JW37 at checkout to claim your 20% discount.

BUY NOW from

www.hermieshop.co.uk Quote JW37 at checkout to claim your 20% discount.

20% discount applies to mugs only.

Offer ends at 11.59pm on 31st December 2021.

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

KIDS 37

“Come in,” said Abba. “Oh” he said when he saw the two miserable faces of his children.

“I thought,” said Ima “It might be better if you explain to them why we didn’t wait for them for supper.”

Abba sighed and closed his laptop. He held out his arms to Rivki and Chaim. Reluctantly they joined him.

“Kids, we love you very much and we want you to have supper. That is why Ima spent time and effort making you delicious meatballs and spaghetti. Do you think it is nice after all of Ima’s hard work for you to not listen when you are called for supper?” Abba said.

“But we were busy with the game, Abba,” said Chaim.

“And what do you think is more important, your game or listening to your mother and father?”

“Listening to you and Ima,” said Rivki sniffling.

“Well done” exclaimed Abba.

“I’m sorry,” said Chaim, hanging his head.

“Me too” said Rivki and they both ran to hug Ima. “I tell you what, because you have apologised and I’m sure you have learnt your lesson, I’ll re-heat supper for you and you can have it now.”

“Thank you so much,” Chaim and Rivki said, smiling together. “We will try to listen better in future.”

38 YOUTH

4 NOVEMBER 2021

TO ADVERTISE CALL 020 3906 8488

Toledot

In a nutshell Parshat Toledot tells the story of a couple who waited for children for twenty years! Yitzchak, who was forty when he married Rivka, was well aware of the golden legacy he was to pass down and prayed for a child as did his wife. Eventually, she was expecting, and it felt like there was an internal struggle. Indeed, she was told that there were actually two children inside her and one would overpower the other.

She gives birth to two boys; one whom they named Esav and the other Yaakov. Esav was the rough one and Yaakov the gentleman. Esav spent his day in fields and Yaakov in the tents (studying Torah). Yitzchak nonetheless loved Esav – because he understood that all challenges come from Hashem. We are taught that Rivka’s love, however, was stronger for Yaakov.

One day, Esav comes home from a particularly tiring day (our Sages taught that he committed various sins that day – not least the murder of Nimrod, from whom he took the coveted clothing passed down from Adam) and smelt something good on the stovetop. He notices that Yaakov is cooking lentils and requests some of him.

Yaakov had one request in return – let me have the rights of the firstborn! Only Yaakov was suitable to continue the legacy of Avraham and Yitzchak. His hunger pangs overcame his sense and Esav agreed.

Yitzchak is forced to travel to G’rar where he is concerned his wife will be captured so he explains that this is his sister. Avimelech the king later rebukes him for saying so, but issues a warning that no one may bother them. Yitzchak then tries to reopen the wells his father had dug during his sojourn in Pelishtim and ends up in an argument with the locals about them. The third well however, he enjoyed in peace. He also farms the land and sees great blessing. Avimelech asks for a peace treaty which he agreed to.

Esav gets married to two idol-worshipping Hittite women, to the chagrin of his father. As his father grew older and blind, he wished to bless Esav. He calls Esav in and requests of him to hunt some animals for food.

Rivka overheard this request and called Yaakov in and told him to do exactly the same – prepare food for his father and present himself as Esav! Yaakov was worried

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.

– what if my father feels my smooth skin and notices that I am not Esav? Rivka tells Yaakov not to worry and dresses him in Esav’s rough clothing, covering his arm and neck. Yaakov goes in and gives the food to his father who checks by feeling his son and proclaims the famous words, “The voice is the voice of Yaakov” – respectful, soft-spoken, “And the hands (feel like they) are the hands of Esav”!

Yitzchak showers the blessings on Yaakov for the “dew of the heaven and fat of the earth” and more. Yaakov is about to leave the room and guess who arrives?

Esav! Esav is furious when his father tells him that he has already given out the blessings and gives Esav the famous “blessing” – “You shall live by your sword”.

Esav vows to avenge the theft of his blessings. Yaakov is sent off by his father (at the request of his mother) to the home of Lavan, where he will eventually set up his own home. In the meantime, Esav marries a child of Yishmael.

Use this area to write the words you have found.

r c

e c

e

n c

i t

Last week’s words: Here are some words you may have found from last week - you may have found more! aft fad far fat fed fem

fer foe for oaf oft ref

afro daft deaf deft fade fame

fare farm faro fate fear feat

feta foam fora ford fore form

fort fret from raft afore after

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

draft fader famed fared fated forte

frame dafter deform farmed farted fatted

fatter fedora foamed foamer format formed

framed rafted formate formatted

4 NOVEMBER 2021

YOUTH 39

TO ADVERTISE CALL 020 3906 8488

Q: What is fast, loud and crunchy?

A: A rocket chip!

Q: What did one plate say to the other plate?

A: Dinner is on me!

Q: What is worse than raining cats and dogs?

A: Hailing taxis!

(Answers at the bottom of page upside down)

1. What has a neck but no head?

3. Bobby throws a ball as hard as he can.

It comes back to him, even though nothing and nobody touches it.

How?

Q: Why did the kid cross the playground?

A: To get to the other slide.

2. Why would a man living in New York not be buried in Chicago?

3) He throws it straight up.

1. A bottle!

2) Because he is still alive.

1. Double-decker bus 2. Over to you 3. Lake Ontario

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

4. Equal rights 5. Get underway 6. Toucan

Marketing Sponsor:

Important Visitor Information: Event address: Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, London E16 1XL Parking: Pay and Display, on-site parking available Covid Policies: • Hand sanitiser stations distributed throughout the hall • Social distancing will not be required • Masks will not be required • Rapid testing will be available for £10 at the entrance, but to avoid long wait times, we strongly advise you get tested in the 48 hours prior to coming (bring your negative result with you). Fully vaccinated visitors do not require testing at all.

Register to visit

08-09 Nov 2021

Registration: Pre-registration is advisable, but you can also register on-site Shacharit: There will be Minyan at the speakers corner at 8:00am Food and Drink: There will be a dedicated food court selling a variety of hot and cold food. It will be split into meaty and milky sections. There will also be free coffee stations for your convenience.

jtrade.co.uk Info@jtrade.co.uk 020 8806 1998

CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS REGISTERED AUDITORS

www.cohenarnold.com 020 8731 0777

LOOKING FORWAR SEEING Y D TO OU AT STAND C

44