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TENSIONS RISE AFTER TRUMP CLOSES PLO OFFICE BY ADAM MOSES closed, we will continue to freeze WE WILL REMEMBER THEM
A renewal of Middle East peace talks received a major blow after the US State Department decided against renewing a permit for the office of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation in Washington last week. The Palestinians responded by cutting ties with the US Consulate in Jerusalem. “Communications with the consulate in Jerusalem and meetings between American and Palestinian officials in Palestine are currently frozen because of the decision not to renew the PLO office in Washington’s certification,” Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s diplomatic affairs adviser Majdi al-Khalidi confirmed to The Jerusalem Post. “This is temporary until they clarify to us if the office is closed or open. If they tell us the office is
our communications.” Khalidi added that PLO Washington representative Husam Zomlot and Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat were in contact with the Trump administration. A State Department official commented, “We continue to be in contact with Palestinian officials about the status of the PLO office in Washington as well as about our larger efforts to advance a lasting and comprehensive peace, these discussions are ongoing.”. Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Malki commented to AFP, “What is the use of holding any meetings with them when they close our office? Our meetings begin from our office, and the arrangements are there,” “In practice by closing the office they are freezing all meetings and we are making that official.”
AJEX PARADE P3
“When you go home tell them of us and say, For your tomorrow we gave our today”
A PLO spokesman confirmed it had received instructions from Abbas “regarding closing down all communication lines with the Americans”.
The US consulate in Jerusalem declined to comment but referred to a statement on Saturday noting it was hopeful any “closure will be short-lived.”
“We are not cutting off relations with the PLO,” the statement said. The PLO requires renewal of its CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
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23 NOVEMBER 2017
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Hundreds of projects take place for Mitzvah Day ADAM MOSES Thousands of volunteers of all ages and faiths helped others in a Jewish-led day of good deeds for Mitzvah Day 2017. Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Imam Ibrahim Mogra, Muslim Council assistant secretary general participated alongside MPs and celebrities in initiatives across the United Kingdom. Over 1,200 projects in 415 Mitzvah Days supported the elderly, homeless, refugees and some of the poorest and most vulnerable in society across the United Kingdom. This years event also saw 40,000 volunteers take part in 731 Mitzvah Days in a record global reach of 30 countries from Australia to Germany, France, Israel, Philippines, Namibia, Belarus and Romania. Chief Rabbi Mirvis helped sort clothes at South Hampstead High School in London. “Mitzvah Day promotes one of the core values and priorities of our Jewish community in a most extraordinary way,” he said. “The energy, compassion and kindness with which thousands of people on Mitzvah Day give of their time for countless worthy activities never fails to inspire me.” Laura Marks, Mitzvah Day founder and chair, commented: “In a divided world, where we are increasingly suspicious and often fearful of our neighbours, events such as Mitzvah Day are more vital than ever in bringing people together and beginning to form real and lasting friendships between faith groups.” Around the country, numerous faiths including Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists participated, resulting in over 100 interfaith events. Imam Ibrahim Mogra led Muslim involvement in Leicester to bake challah and make place mats for the homeless.
“Mitzvah Day is important for the Muslim community to participate in. “It gives us an excellent opportunity to get to know our Jewish brothers and sisters, as well as people of other faiths,” he said. Mitzvah Day also united politicians with Theresa May, Jeremy Corbyn, Vince Cable and Nicola Sturgeon putting out messages of support. “Mitzvah Day is a special time when thousands of people, of different faiths and no faith, come together to help others and do something positive for their local community,” The Prime Minister noted. Projects included a joint Jewish, Muslim and Christian trip to Calais to help Care4Calais and the Dunkirk Refugee Women’s Centre where the group took five cars packed with donations including coats, jumpers and cake. Muslims from the new Golders Green Islamic Centre joined Jews to give blood at Golders Green Synagogue. The only Jew in the Cumbrian village of Hawkshead teamed up with the local church for a series of events including tea for the elderly, knitting for the homeless and tree planting. Meantime, EastEnders and Fiddler on the Roof star Tracy-Ann Oberman and Mock The Week creator Dan Patterson joined volunteers to sing for the elderly at the Spring Grove Care Home in Hampstead. Schoolchildren from JCoSS and Lady Nafisa Schools cooked for the homeless at Sufra NW Food Bank. In Leeds, university students set up food collections all over the city whilst across the Pennines, members of BBYO’s Manchester chapter visited residents at Heathlands Village and in Leeds, Jews and Christians in Newcastle wrapped more than 100 shoe boxes
for the areas most in need. Across London, there was a plethora of activity. Mill Hill East Jewish community attended a clearing, planting and tidying event in Canada Villa’s garden including laying a new herb garden for use in cookery courses for young people. “Mill Hill East has gone from strength to strength,” said Avi Gillis. “We are now having Shabbat morning services fortnightly and a good crowd of all ages attend.” Children from Woodside Park Synagogue cheder visited Jewish Cares Rubens House in Finchley where they sang songs they’d written and composed. Residents and children baked and decorated biscuits before making decorations for Chanucah. Younger children also visited Clore Manor home in Hendon with the PJ Library. Meanwhile, Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue children visited The Betty and Asher Loftus Centre whilst volunteers went to Sydney Corob House for people with mental health needs. At Stanmore and Canons Park Synagogue, a week of events included an interfaith gardening project where volunteers transformed a rehabilitation garden at The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital. The shul ran activities for the Princess Alexandra home, Firm Foundations, Watford New Hope Trust, US Project Chesed, Separated Child Foundation, Camp Simcha, JAMI, National Animal Welfare Trust, Jewish Women’s Aid and Afula children’s home in Israel. Volunteers gave blood for the Joely Bear charity, whilst a craft fair benefited Norwood’s Kennedy Leigh Centre and local emergency services. And a ‘knitathon’ took place for Akim and Gimmel Foundation. “We really appreciate everyone’s help and assistance in this communal initiative for Stanmore Shul to do something good for the wider community,” commented Stanmore organiser Juliette Harris. “There was such a wonderful
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis and Rabbi Lew with the Stanmore Synagogue soup makers on Mitzvah Day
atmosphere around the Shul as all the volunteers rolled up their sleeves and got to work, making sure that all the activities we organised were a huge success and all the collections were sifted and sorted, ready for dispatch. “We are so looking forward to doing even more next Mitzvah Day.” Members of New West End Synagogue, Central Synagogue, Western Marble Arch, Holland Park and Westminster Young Professionals worked together to benefit St Mungo’s, Chapter 1, Dashwood House, The Separated Child Foundation, The Refugee Council, Magic Breakfast, local foodbanks and Thames Reach. Pupils at Wohl Ilford Jewish Primary School supported three charities. Organised by house captains Ethan Clerck, Talia Woolf, Samuel Anto-Agyei and Aaron Caplin, families raised funds for Lupus UK, Unicef and Camp Simcha, whose Chief Executive, Neville Goldschneider, spoke to pupils about the work of the charity. At Bushey Synagogue, young and old volunteers, aged three to 100, took part in numerous projects with the highlight a musical afternoon tea on a ‘generation to generation’ theme. Youngsters including the Bushey Brownies entertained more than 100 senior members of the community. The room was decorated in green and white courtesy of the Bushey
The Jewish Weekly www.thejewishweekly.com office@thejewishweekly.com editorial@thejewishweekly.com letters@thejewishweekly.com advertising@thejewishweekly.com Renovating an ancient synagogue from the 1600s in Bealrus on Mitzvah Day
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Barmitzvah Club boys. Rabbi Elchonon Feldman took part in the musical entertainment with a guitar sing-a-long. There was also a craft fair for children who made paper flowers for guests and Chanucah cards for Aleh who support severely disabled children in Israel. Rabbi Feldman said, “It is a real credit to this community and the young members in particular, that we saw the generation gap well and truly closed. “Everyone helping everyone and enjoying each other’s company. Truly community at its best intergenerational and inclusive of all.” Other Bushey volunteering included a team of people tending to the gardens at the New Hope Trust homeless shelter for the fifth year in a row, other helpers assisted outside local Jewish shops whilst another annual project benefitted the charity GIFT. And volunteers helped at Watford General Hospital where a tea and memorial service had been organised for people who had lost a relative in the past year. Mitzvah Day organiser Alisa Heimann said, “There was a great buzz around Bushey this year with so many members of the community giving up time to help make a difference to someone else’s life.”
TURN TO PAGE 4 FOR A MITZVAH DAY PHOTO COLLAGE WHAT’S INSIDE THIS WEEK 02 News 06 Israel News 08 Community News 15 Business 16 Judaism 20 Sports 22 Kids
26 Youth 30 Women 32 Comedy 33 Travel 34 Nutrition 35 Food
23 NOVEMBER 2017 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
US office by the State Department every six months but the notice does not automatically mean the mission will cease. President Donald Trump’s administration has 90 days to decide if the Palestinians have entered direct, meaningful negotiations with Israel. If so, he can waive the condition to shut the office. US law states that the PLO cannot operate a Washington office if it advises the International Criminal Court to prosecute Israelis for alleged crimes against Palestinians. Mr Abbas appeared to violate this law in an address to the United Nations General Assembly in September when he called on the ICC to prosecute Israeli officials for their involvement in “settlement activities and aggressions”. The coming days are another crossroads in the stop-start peace process.
NEWS 3
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Large turnout for AJEX parade New Bushey cemetery wins Jeffrey Fox, AJEX vice president and prestigious award BY JW REPORTER a former national chairman, said, “The Hundreds of members of the Jewish community participated in the annual Association of Jewish Ex Servicemen and Women (AJEX) remembrance parade at Whitehall on last Sunday. AJEX President, the Hon Vice Admiral The Lord Sterling of Plaistow, Colonel Martin Newman, AJEX national chairman, and General Sir Peter Anthony Wall, the Parade’s reviewing officer, laid wreaths at the Cenotaph. Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis recited the mourner’s Kaddish. Prayers honored those who laid down their lives in service and the six million victims of the Holocaust.
parade is extremely important to AJEX and the Jewish community. “70,000 Jews served in World War Two but the number of veterans who can take part is diminishing as time takes its toll, “We are looking at current serving personnel and the younger community to support AJEX so the annual commemoration service can continue as long as possible.” The service also included a commemoration of the 100th anniversaries of the Battles of Passchendaele and Jerusalem in addition to 75th anniversaries of Dieppe and El Alamein.
Reflecting on those we lost
BY ISAAC SHERMAN
The architects that designed the United Synagogue’s New Bushey cemetery, Waugh Thistleton, have won the Religion Award for a completed project at the World Architecture Festival. The Festival which was held last week brings together the world architecture community to learn, exchange ideas and be inspired. The cemetery, which was completed earlier this year, makes use of natural features and landscaping with an environmentally sensitive approach. Visitors to the new site will notice the creative use of a range of water features, flora and fauna. One interesting feature of the state-of-the-art prayer halls is their use of ‘rammed earth’ which utilises highly compressed natural materials to form walls which will then be clad with timber creating a
thermally massive building – meaning that the fabric of the halls will store heat in the cold and stay cool in the summer. Speaking about the award, United Synagogue President Michael Goldstein said: “We are delighted that Waugh Thistleton have received this recognition for the wonderful work they have done. The new Bushey cemetery has a beauty and a dignity that provides a fitting resting place for our community’s loved ones.” Andrew Waugh, Director at Waugh Thistleton Architects, said: “We’re thrilled to have won this prestigious award - competing on an international platform means that this a special accolade. All good buildings rely on teamwork between client and designers. The support and collaboration from the United Synagogue was essential in the success of the project.”
The new cemetery
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23 NOVEMBER 2017
Mitzvah Day Photo Collage
Woodford Forest Synagogue entertain at Jewish Blind and Disabled’s Milne Court in Woodford - picture by Sarah Barraclough
Pupils at Wohl Ilford Jewish Primary School collected plastic bottle tops for Lupus UK, footwear for Unicef and toys for Camp Simcha
Generations coming together to serve tea at the Bushey Synagogue Seniors’ afternoon tea party
A family that participated in the Mitzvah day celebrations in Central London Loccal MP, Bob Blackman popped in to test the soup made for a homeless charity before he went off to the AJEX Parade with Rabbi Lew and the Stanmore contingent.
Mill Hill East Jewish Community go green fingered for Mitzvah Day
Tracy-Ann Oberman, Dan Patterson, The Mayor of Camden and MD Founder Laura Marks among the volunteers singing for the elderly at Spring Grove Care Home - picture by Yakir Zur Mitzvah Day Executive Director Dan Rickman, MP Oliver Dowden, Rabbi Jonny Hughes amongst others entertain the elderly at Radlett United Synagogue - picture by Michelle Becker
Bob Blackman MP talks abut the importance of Mitzvah Day at Stanmore Synagogue
MP Tulip Siddiq amongst others making cards for children in hospitals
Eli Sutton, Abi Lewis, Matthew Bucholter, Eden Molwood, Gabs Kaufman at Heathlands Village Manchester
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Bushey Synagogue members having fun preparing for the Seniors’ Tea
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Parshas Vayishlach 1-3 December 2017 Highlights Include
Friday Night @ Ner Yisrael - 8.30pm Shabbos Morning @ Ner Yisrael Shalosh Seudos @ Toras Chaim Melava Malka @ Evening Beis Sunday Morning @ Torah Way Sunday Boker Iyun on Chanuka @ Ner 10-12.15
Panel Discussion on 'Rabbinic Authority and Personal Autonomy' Shiurim and Derashos at all minyanim Divrei Torah 'Transitioning into the Workplace' Shiur on 'Ahavas Hashem v'Yiraso' Jewish Thought Track and Lomdus Track with seder and shiur
For more information please contact aryeh.manheim@touro.edu or go to www.lcm.touro.edu/london
6 ISRAEL NEWS
23 NOVEMBER 2017
THE JEWISH WEEKLY
NEWS IN ISRAEL
IN ASSOCIATION WITH BICOM
Netanyahu and Putin discuss Syria ahead of Sochi summit Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the situation in Syria with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this week
ahead of a summit meeting between Putin and his Iranian and Turkish counterparts in Sochi on Wednesday.
The Russian President and the Israeli Prime Minister discussed the de-escalation zone in the south of Syria, according to Kan
Putin and Erdogan PHOTO CREDIT: BICOM
Radio News in a phone call last night Netanyahu expressed Israel’s opposition to Iranian military entrenchment in Syria. Putin also spoke with US President Donald Trump, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and King Salman of Saudi Arabia. A statement by the White House said Trump and Putin had both expressed support for a UN-led process to resolve the Syrian conflict and that they “affirmed the importance of fighting terrorism together”. Putin hosted Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Sochi, following a summit of the three countries’ Chiefs of Staff yesterday. A joint statement said that the trio discussed “concrete steps to complete the elimination
of the remaining IS and Nusra Front formations”. Putin also received a surprise visit from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the coastal city on Monday to discuss potential peace initiatives for Syria ahead of the latest round of Geneva peace talks later this month. Also this week, the former Commander of the Russian Air Force Gen. (res.) Viktor Bondarev, who now chairs the defence affairs committee in Russia’s upper house in Russia’s Federation Council, said that Russia would retain military assets in Syria after the conclusion of the military campaign. Russia has primarily operated from an air base in Latakia province and a naval supply facility in Tartus.
Community urged to keep praying for Rabbi Shteinman BY ISAAC SHERMAN
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Chief of ICU Medicine Prof. Eliyahu Sorkin of Mayanei Yeshua Hospital briefed the media on Wednesday, 4 Kislev, on Maran HaGaon HaRav Aharon Yehuda Leib Shteinman Shlita. “When we refer to Rabbi Shteinman and rabbonim like him, we cannot simply refer to their bodies. Their age is not relevant for they are in a different world. Their bodies are a means and not an entity as is the case with us and they have control, something we cannot understand. There is an issue with a kidney and we are searching for a solution. His heart, cardiac and main life functions are fine. I do not view his situation as life-threatening, but I do not know what tomorrow will bring. This morning, his condition was significantly worse than now. There were issues with his heart and blood pressure. I do not wish to give more details.” At first it was reported the Rabbi's condition was stable, and he remained for observation but it now appears he has taken a turn for the worse. Doctors initially reported the Rabbi was moved to an ICU and he was not informed of the passing of his daughter, Rebbetzen Rochel Devorah Berlin A”H, whose levaya has now taken place. The
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Rebbetzen, 72 was his oldest daughter. Earlier, Ponevezh Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Gershon Edelstein together with Rabbi Shalom Cohen called for all affiliated yeshivos and talmidei torah to interrupt their regular schedule to recite prayers for Rabbi Shteinman. The community is urged to pray for Rabbi Aharon Yehuda Leib ben Gitel Feiga.
Rabbi Shteinman
23 NOVEMBER 2017
ISRAEL NEWS 7
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Egyptian Ambassador marks 40 years since Sadat visit Israel’s Parliament, the Knesset, earlier this week marked the 40th anniversary of Egyptian President Sadat’s historic visit to Jerusalem, which paved the way for peace between the two countries. Egyptian Ambassador to Israel Hazem Khairat delivered a speech at the Knesset and said: “President Sadat`s insistence on waving the message of peace from the Knesset podium was unprecedented, and it was a symbol of the value of the shared life”. He also mentioned the Egyptian efforts to broker reconciliation between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, saying: “Egypt still carries the flag of peace in the region, and it is working to reach a compromise between the various Palestinian elements and factions in order to put them back on the road to peace negotiations.” During a special Knesset session, Speaker Yuli Edelstain called on leaders of other Arab states to “follow
in the footsteps of Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin. Colleagues, Parliament Speakers in Arab countries – you are invited! Our hand is extended in peace – to all our neighbours.” Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu compared Sadat’s visit to “seeing the first person on the moon,” adding that “in the 40 minutes it took for him to fly from Egypt to Israel, he changed history”. Netanyahu suggested that Sadat should be an example for Palestinian leaders, saying he had “yet to meet a `Palestinian Sadat` who will declare his wish to end the conflict, recognise the State of Israel within any borders and support our right to live in peace”. In response, Leader of the Opposition Isaac Herzog said: “We need not only a Palestinian Sadat, but an Israeli Begin as well”.
President Sadat PHOTO CREDIT: BICOM
Hezbollah denies arming Yemen rebels Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah has rejected claims that the group is arming Houthi rebels in Yemen and that it fired a missile at the Saudi Arabian capital, Riyadh, on 4 November. Nasrallah said: “We have not sent any ballistic missiles or advanced weapons – not even guns – not to Yemen, not to Bahrain, not to Kuwait, not to Iraq… or any Arab country”. He did admit that Hezbollah supplied weapons to “the forces of resistance in the Gaza Strip and to fighters in Syria”. “The problem with Saudi Arabia is that they don’t understand that Yemenis have brains and are strong and can produce their own weapons,” he added. In the speech Nasrallah said he was proud and honoured to have sent Russian made Kornet anti-tank missiles to Gaza. Israeli media have noted that they have been used by Hamas against Israeli forces in recent years. Nasrallah was responding to
a statement from Arab League foreign ministers, meeting in Cairo, who accused Hezbollah of “supporting terrorism and extremist groups in Arab countries with advanced weapons and ballistic missiles”. The Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said that Iran, which supports Hezbollah, was aiming “to destabilise and fuel sectarian rift” in the region “and to drive a wedge between ourselves and our people”. Commenting on the relationship between Israel and Saudi Arabia, Nasrallah said “there is pressure on the Palestinians to accept dictates that will kill the Palestinian issue under what some are calling the ‘deal of the century’… there are Arab countries that want to forge ties with Israel – namely Saudi Arabia. The interview by IDF Chief of the General Staff Gadi Eisenkot to the Saudi website Elaph is a dangerous development for the Palestinians”.
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23 NOVEMBER 2017
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PBM delights in the city BY ISAAC SHERMAN
Professionals’ Beis Hamedrash (PBM) held an exclusive event at Rothschild Bank in the City last week, attracting around 100 guests. The main speakers were Dayan Chanoch Ehrentreu and Ian Paul Livingston, Lord Livingston of Parkhead. Lord Livingston was the former CEO of BT Group plc, a previous
Minister of Trade and Investment under David Cameron, and now serves as chairman of Dixons Carphone and the Mann group, as well as being a trustee of Jewish Care. Set up in South Africa by South African Chief Rabbi Dr Warren Goldstein, PBM is suitable for those who are just starting out or who would like to build on existing skills. There are multiple tracks of shiurim tailored to
Dayan Chanoch Ehrentreu in conversation with Lord Livingston and PBM UK founder, G Brett
meet the specific requirements of participants. PBM also offers courses on Mishnah, Parshah, Business casestudies, Prayer and Hebrew grammar. Each session focuses on a short piece of text introduced by relevant background information followed by an opportunity to study the text with a partner. The sessions end with a recap and summary of what was covered during partner study time. An emphasis is placed on the skills and methodology that can be learned from the text covered in that session. Last week, after the learning sessions were finished, Dayan Ehrentreu gave an in depth analysis on a Talmudical piece discussing contractual relationships. The Dayan’s shiur was a perfect example of the packaged learning that PBM has excelled in and become famous for. Paul Mann then interviewed Lord Livingston in true Paxman style. Paul, from Credo Wealth Management, manages a variety of clients, comprised of individuals, pension schemes, and Family
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Enjoying the event
Offices. A qualified lawyer, with a background in Investment Banking since 1997, he quizzed Lord Livingston on all manner of subjects ranging from his time at BT, the phone call from the former Prime Minister that led him into government, and his current positions with Dixons. The audience enjoyed hearing about his career high. On his last day at BT, his wife rang him to ask him to look up at the BT tower as he left for the last time, and he saw a goodbye message at the top of the iconic tower, wishing him good luck for the future. When
asked what the most important asset in any business is, the firm answer was ‘people,’ and the importance of having the right staff around you. The event, held in the Sky Pavilion of the bank, with stunning views of The City in the background, was catered by James A Zimmer complete with an open bar. Overall, the business ethics and networking event was a shining example of how big business and Judaism can function side by side. More info of future events can be found at www.pbmuk.org or phone 07533 874 623.
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10 NEWS
23 NOVEMBER 2017
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Kindertransport statue gets wrapped up! The Association of Jewish Refugees along with World Jewish Relief are delighted to support the Wrap up London 2017 campaign by allowing the placing of bright red coats on the iconic Kindertransport statue at Liverpool Street Station,
to help encourage Londoners to donate their old coats to those in need. The Kindertransport statue was chosen by the charity Hands on London as a hero image for the launch of the Wrap up London 2017 campaign, to help symbolize the
Young World Jewish Relief supporters get their quizzing hats on
number of coats Wrap Up London donates to refugees each winter. It was one of three iconic London statues – the other two being Sherlock Holmes at Baker Street station and Amy Winehouse at Camden Market – which featured in the launch event on 6 & 7 November. The Chairman of the AJR-Kindertransport committee Sir Erich Reich said “This campaign helps to signify how the underprivileged refugees and unaccompanied children need help today, just as they did in 1938 and 1939.” In 2016, nearly 23,000 coats were donated, but in the seventh year of the annual collection the number of people living in crisis in London is sadly rising, so the need is even greater – especially when it comes to men’s jackets. Any coats donated will be passed on by Hands On London to those who need them most, including refugee charities, the homeless, the elderly and families in need. To get involved visit www. wrapuplondon.org.uk and find your local collection point.
Kindertransport statue all wrapped up!
& Tell us about yourself I’m a housewife and mother to four adult children, volunteer. How and why did you get into volunteering? My youngest son, who turns 20 this December, was introduced to volunteering options during a school assembly just before his Barmitzvah, under the banner of The Yoni Jesner Award where participants are encouraged to volunteer for a minimum of 20+ hours over a period of time. They were given many different options of where they could volunteer and he chose GIFT. Rather than just dropping my son at the warehouse to volunteer and sit in the car and wait for him during the 45 minute session
I decided to go and volunteer as well. We both found it very enjoyable and there was plenty of camaraderie amongst all the volunteers. I have continued volunteering for the past seven years and enjoy it very much. My son, (bar his gap year abroad and being away at university) still volunteers when he can, when he is back in London. Besides the Thursday night session which is where we originally started I also volunteer on a Tuesday morning with the bread and food packing. Who do you currently volunteer for and what do you do? I currently volunteer for the charity, Gift. One of the elements of my role is to attend a local
It was a full house at Young World Jewish Relief’s first ever Supper Quiz on Sunday 12th November, with more than 200 people taking part in the evening at St John’s Wood Synagogue. More than 20 teams fought it out over 8 rounds with a very close victory for the winning team, Eretz Quizrael, who won by just 3 points. The questions covered a wide range of sub-jects including History, What happened in 2017 and Silicon Valley. The night raised almost £3000
for vulnerable Jewish communities in Eastern Europe. Hannah Layton, Chair of Young World Jewish Relief made the appeal speech on the evening and says, “It was a great atmosphere as the teams vied for first place and the quiz masters did a fantastic job putting together engaging and intriguing questions. The proceeds raised will go towards supporting some of the most vulnerable Jewish communities in Eastern Europe”.
Winning team L to R Duran Ross, Adam Jacobs, Josie Ross, Steven AltmannRicher, Joshua Magidson, Claire Altmann-Richer, Emily Frankel, Sophie Hirt, Danielle Levy PHOTO CREDIT: WORLD JEWISH RELIEF
Volunteer Spotlight DEBBIE GORDON bakery who generously donates on a weekly basis by allowing me to collect any unsold bread and pastries at the end of the day. I sort these into large bags which simplify the packing process and take it to the warehouse where we pack it all on Tuesday and Friday mornings. I also help with the Thursday evening packing sessions where we prepare food and vegetable bags for the weekend. This charity helps disadvantaged families in various ways. Gift provides bread, dry food and vegetables as well household
goods to those who are in need. It runs a Homework club assisting those children who need a little extra help with their homework. It also helps parents with young children after school while they attend to their older children or vice versa. It is most well-known for its food banks in or outside local shops which facilitate the collection of food for packing in the warehouse, where it is ultimately dispatched to the appropriate families.
Think Volunteering, Think JVN www.jvn.org.uk info@jvn.org.uk 020 8203 6427 @JVN_org_uk THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM
How has volunteering changed your life and how do you think it affects the people you volunteer for? Volunteering is something that easily fits into my daily life and helps to provide an extra pair of hands for the busy staff so they can concentrate and arrange other aspects of the charity. There is a lot of satisfaction in being able to help others and I would definitely recommend to anybody giving up some time to help others less fortunate than you.
23 NOVEMBER 2017
Board of Deputies and Jewish Women’s Aid unite in fight against domestic violence BY LEAH MALKA
The Board of Deputies and Jewish Women’s Aid are spearheading a cross-communal awareness-raising campaign against domestic violence. Synagogue movements support the initiative. Rabbis across the country will speak out against violence against women, against domestic violence and abuse in the Jewish community in sermons on Shabbat. They will share the message on social media and posters will be on display in synagogues. The campaign coincides with the annual UN-designated International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (IDEVAW) on Saturday. “It’s incredibly powerful to be working with the Board of Deputies and synagogue movements from across the community to come together and make a clear statement supporting women affected by domestic violence and abuse,” said Naomi Dickson JWA chief executive. “I hope women affected continue to contact us for support whenever they need it.” Jonathan Arkush, Board of Deputies President, added: “I support this cross-communal initiative to raise awareness of domestic violence. “It exists in our society and our community is not immune. “Our eyes must be open to the scale and severity of abuse committed in the home and we
have to ensure that any person who falls victim to it knows where to look for help.” JWA and local domestic violence agencies kick off the campaign at Brent Cross Shopping Centre today. Amongst supporting religious bodies are the United Synagogue and Spanish & Portuguese Sephardi Community. “There is no place for violence in our homes, where every person has a right to feel safe and protected, and it is our duty to wipe out every last trace of it,” commented Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis “I urge everyone to take a stand against the scourge of domestic violence and to support the campaign.” “I support JWA and the Board of Deputies in their efforts to address the problem of domestic violence,” noted Rabbi Joseph Dweck. “It is important to speak out, identify and deal with domestic violence within our community. “Jewish teaching on the issue is clear, violence or harm caused by anyone to another person is forbidden and, especially in this area of conflict, not only are there physical scars but far-reaching emotional trauma as well. “These are considerably more challenging to repair. The damage caused by domestic abuse is immense and deep and affects entire families. “We must empathise with victims and get involved in projects such as this excellent venture by JWA and the Board of Deputies to educate the public and assist those in need.”
Conference of European Rabbis reaches new agreement on Holocaust Graves The Conference of European Rabbis (CER) Standing Committee has signed a memorandum of understanding with the United States Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad on the preservation of Holocaust graves internationally. The agreement was signed at a Gala Dinner at the new Edmond Safra Synagogue in Monaco. The new arrangement will mean that the two organisations will exchange information on cemeteries and synagogues in eastern and central Europe as well as furthering the preservation of cemeteries and places of mass burials of victims of the Holocaust and other repressive regimes. During the Standing Committee meeting other important topics will be discussed including the rise of anti-religious practice legislation across Europe, anti-semtism and extremism. These subjects will be discussed with Prince Albert of Monaco in an audience with CER President Chief Rabbi Goldschmidt of Moscow, First Vice President Chief Rabbi Korsia of France, Associate President, Chief Rabbi Mirvis of the UK and the Rabbi of Monaco. Rabbi Torgmant. Ahead of the historic series of meetings Chief Rabbi Goldschmidt said, “I am incredibly proud that we have signed this new agreement which will mean that our two organisations can work in closer cooperation
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going forward. The CER, through Lo Tishkach has already collated a database of thousands of graves and I am sure that working together with the United States Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad will mean that we can achieve even more together.”
Signing the agreement
12 NEWS
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Hertfordshire runner completes Brownies at remembrance service 12-marathon challenge Damian Schogger successfully completed a fundraising challenge he set himself in early 2017, by running his 12th full marathon of the year. A keen runner since 2011 and a trustee of the Talia Trust for Children UK – which provides funding to support children from disadvantages homes who suffer from learning disabilities – Damian decided to up the running and fundraising, having run seven marathons before 2017. Damian, who is a member and Honorary Officer at Borehamwood & Elstree Synagogue, said: “I knew that getting sponsorship for one or two marathons was unlikely, so I came up with the
The joys of running
#12in12 challenge to run 12 full marathons in 12 months. It started in Cambridge on 26 February, and I managed to run the 12th race at
the Phoenix Riverside Winter Marathon yesterday along the Thames, completing the challenge in under nine months. So far I’ve raised nearly £4,500 but I’m still hoping to reach £5,000 through people’s generosity.” Damian’s races this year have included the London Marathon and marathons in Richmond Park, Bournemouth, Farnham and Stevenage. Having run 3:08 at the Abingdon Marathon in October 2016, he has also secured a ‘good for age’ place for the 2018 London Marathon which he’s looking forward to. “I’m already being asked what my next challenge is, but nothing definite is planned. Before anything is agreed, it would have to be cleared with my ever-supportive wife!” added Damian.
Members of 4th Hendon Brownies braved the cold to join with other members of the Jewish community at the AJEX Annual Remembrance Ceremony and Parade. The Brownies led by Flag Bearer Daniella and Placard Carrier Ora were the youngest members of the youth contingent to take part. They stood on Whitehall and remembered those who on the anniversaries of Passchendale and the liberation of Jerusalem both in 1917 as well as those from other conflicts and the Holocaust, paid the ultimate sacrifice.
Daniella and Ora at Horseguards Parade Ground after the service
ORT late night shopping ORT UK’s late night shopping experience at the Tory Burch store on New Bond Street, was a huge treat for fans of the clothing designer. Over 50 guests attended the private event at the elegant boutique, to raise money for World ORT’s network of schools and training programmes. Attendees were treated to
champagne and chocolates as they browsed the ‘Holiday Collection’ and admired the stunning displays of clothes, shoes and bags. One lucky shopper, Sara Goldman, won the ORT UK raffle prize of a much-coveted T-Satchel, while everyone received a Tory Burch goody bag to take home.
Damian in Littledown
Celebration of Rabbi & Rebbetzen Davis’ 20th Anniversary with Chigwell & Hainault Synagogue Two hundred people attended a concert performed by the London Jewish Male Choir at Chigwell and Hainault Synagogue on Sunday night to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Rabbi Baruch and Rebbetzen Nechama Davis joining the community. Rabbi Julian Shindler
Rabbi Baruch Davis at his big night
and Michael Goldstein, President of the United Synagogue, together with the Shul chairman, Lindsay Shure paid tribute to the Davis, praising them for the wonderful work they have both done over the past 20 years within the local and wider Jewish communities.
They were presented with a book of photos and tributes from the community, including the Chief Rabbi and Lord Sacks, together with an engraved sterling silver Chanukiah to commemorate the occasion.
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Guests at the private event in the Tory Burch store
Unique annual service at Richmond Synagogue On November 11th, Richmond Synagogue held its unique Annual Service of Civic Remembrance and Reconciliation. A congregation of more than 140 included local dignitaries, clergy and leaders of Help for Heroes, Combat Stress and the Royal British Legion, to commemorate those who lost their lives in the two World Wars and in more recent times. The poignancy of the day was all the more apparent by the presence of representatives of many faiths, and those of no faith, all united with a common purpose of reconciliation and the promotion of peace. Amongst those attending were
Zac Goldsmith MP, former MP Sarah Olney, Cllr. Lisa Blakemore, Mayor of Richmond; Deputy Lord Lieutenant Gillian Norton OBE, and 9 Richmond councillors. Clergy and lay members of the Anglican, Hindu, Islamic, Roman Catholic and Sikh faiths were also present, as well as those of no faith. The service was conducted by Richmond Synagogue’s Rabbi Meir Shindler, whose sermon highlighting the concept of Remembrance and Reconciliation; emphasising that Remembrance is something that must be constantly renewed and must not now, nor ever, be consigned to history.’
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Back to our roots BY MICHAEL SAVILLE
Tuesday November 14th 2017, the week in which Parashat Toledot was read was a particularly appropriate day for the Saville family to visit their home town of Middlesbrough. 12 family members came from Israel and two from London. The first tourist site visited was the river Tees and the Transporter Bridge which preceded road bridges over the river. The group enjoyed an explanatory talk by sister Ruth Posner followed by self-catered lunch in the Bridge museum and a ride on the Transporter. Next stop was the cemetery where four family members are buried. Sadly one tombstone was flat on the ground so without another thought the strong men of the group lifted the heavy Matzeva and secured it upright in its place. Psalms and memorial prayers were recited at each tombstone and the visit ended with the group singing Adon Olam, one of the many
family tunes to have been passed down from Lithuania to Middlesbrough to Israel. We then drove in three hire cars to the family’s first home in the 1930s in Ayresome Park Road where the group were thrilled to be invited into the house. The source of the family’s love of Chazanut was pointed out as the space in the living room once occupied by a radiogram. The kitchen door which wouldn’t open in 1947 due to abnormally heavy snow had long been upgraded. We identified the bedroom in which brother David z”l slept as a baby and recalled that when father Morris returned home on leave from the RAF in 1943 and popped his head round the door, David naturally enough, didn’t recognise him and cried bitterly. Ayresome Park Road was the home of the local soccer team whose supporters in their flat cloth caps were described by father Morris as “a lot of Meshugoyim”, but that didn’t stop his two sons sneaking into
the ground for the last 10 minutes when the gates opened. Next stop was our second home in Orchard Road where we lived in the 1950s. This time there was noone at home but that did not stop the group entering the garden by an unlocked gate to see the site of Test matches between England and Australian teams of the early 50s represented by the two brothers. We then drove to the synagogue which was closed down in 1998 when two of its remaining Sifrei Torah were taken to Israel where they are still in regular use. The fabric and some of the interior of the building is the same as it was when it closed but apartments now occupy the place of the sanctuary. The doors leading to the Cheder rooms have been blocked up but the memories of the teachers and their Torah lessons live on in the family. The last remaining Jew in Middlesbrough greeted us when we arrived and we recited Tefilat Mincha with only 1 short of a minyan which used to
Norwood charity shops announce Black Friday sale and late night designer shopping events
The interior of the charity shop
Norwood charity stores are offering shoppers a number of treats over the next few weeks, with a Black Friday sale this Friday and two special late night shopping events in Golders Green and Stanmore in the first two weeks of December. Norwood is offering a 50% discount on all products sold across in its eight charity shops on Friday, 24 November as part of the Black Friday phenomenon. It is the first time Norwood has rolled out a sale across its stores for Black Friday, a retail tradition that’s come across from the US and falls on the day after Thanksgiving. Norwood stores will be open from 9.30am to 2.45pm on 24 November and the 50% discount will apply throughout the day. In addition, Norwood’s Golders Green and Stanmore stores will host late night designer shopping events in December. On Tuesday, 12 December the store at 14 The
Broadway will extend its opening hours to 8.30pm, with the 84 Golders Green Road ladieswear boutique doing the same on Thursday, 14 December. There will be bubbly on the evening to welcome shoppers, and Norwood staff will be dressed up to add some glamour to proceedings! Shoppers can expect to pick up late night bargains from brands including Chanel, Burberry, Alice Temperley, Diane von Furstenberg and Oscar de la Renta. Norwood trading operations manager Kayt Mendies said: “This is a great chance for us to do something different for our customers. Everyone loves a bargain and the Black Friday sale will certainly provide many of those. Added to that, our late night shopping events will provide a bit of midwinter glamour for our loyal shoppers!”
The family outside of the Shul
happen regularly towards the end of the life of the synagogue. From there we proceeded to St Barnabas Road the site of the family Kosher deli which operated from the 30s till the 60s. The shop is now split into two apartments but we were able to sense a feel for the old shop by visiting the cobbled alley behind it. We drove past grandparents’ house in Berner St where memories of Shochet Zeide Saville shechting a chicken in his back yard came back to mind. Our final stop was the primary school which all three siblings attended in the 40s and early 50s. The buildings look the same apart
from a new addition between the Juniors’ and Infants’ sections. The school guide welcomed us warmly offering us space in the Staff car park and coffee in the staff room. He gave us a tour of all the buildings and we noticed how modern and bright the schools were compared to the dismal and dingy classrooms we remembered. The pens with nibs, inkwells and blackboards have long gone and been replaced with state-of-the-art drawing materials and computers. The group agreed at the end of the day that this was a pilgrimage worth making once but no more in a lifetime.
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Mezzuzot put up at the new Etz Chaim School BY MORDECHAI ULLMAN Hundreds attended the Chanukat Habayit of one of Manchester’s foremost Jewish institutions on Sunday Rosh Chodesh Kislev. Led by Rabbonim, Roshei Yeshiva and long-standing community leaders together with the prestigious school board, the community showed up in force to celebrate together with the renowned Mechina L’Yeshiva Etz Chaim Boys School. The event was marked by the Keviat Mezuzot at its spacious new premises at The Park Mount, located on Broughton Park’s Bury New Road. The sprawling campus stretches until New Hall Avenue, allowing for enjoyment of space both internally and externally. Devoted Menahel Rabbi Eli Cohen welcomed the guests and cited the words of the great Ponovezher Rav who related that the cement with which the Volozhin Yeshiva was built had not been mixed merely with water but with the tears of joy and prayer. The inauguration of the school’s new building likewise, he said, arouses in all involved, tears of hope and prayer for the ongoing success of Etz Chaim. Rabbi Cohen expressed the community’s deepfelt appreciation to the governing body of the school led by a pillar of the community
Dancing outside the new school to celebrate
Reb Mordechai Halpern. He alse paid tribute to Reb Dovid Greenblat, Reb Dovi Roberts the S’gan Menahel and Mr David Marlow and gave special thanks to the renowned Baal Chesed Reb Yitzchok Dov Bamberger. The Menhael concluded with his emotive prayer that every child should be educated with the tools to survive the flood of challenges which faces this generation Following the recital of two psalms of Tehillim, the school choir gave a moving rendition of Mizmor Shir Chanukat Habayit as well as the more recent “P’sach Lonu Sha’ar” to the delight of the assembled, expressing the keen feelings of gratitude that the burgeoning community had found a suitable and spacious site.
Rabbi Yaakov Wreschner then addressed the crowd explaining the sacred duty of the community to ensure an educational environment for every child in the community. Etz Chaim School, the Rav explained, has admirably risen above the challenge of shortage of space and funding, to ensure that no child in the community is left without a school. The school also continues to engender the “Voice of Yaakov” to combat the “Hands of Esav” our generation grapples with. Following a L’chaim, the main entrance mezuzah was affixed by the Satmar Dayan, Rav Yisroel Chaim Horowitz. A spirited dance then broke out as young and old rejoiced in the large front courtyard. Further mezuzot were then affixed by generous donors. Now educating it’s second generation of students, Etz Chaim continues to occupy a place of pride alongside the dozens of schools Manchester is privileged to have. With the younger years now in triple stream the growth it has achieved since it’s humble beginnings is a credit to its founders and leaders ever since.
Manchester mourns the loss of three righteous individuals Manchester’s Broughton Park community has recently suffered the loss of 3 prominent members. Mark (Mordechai) Schwinger passed away suddenly. The previous night he had attended his Daf Yomi shiur as normal. Mark was a lover of Chazannut and was an excellent Baal Tefillah himself. He was a member of the Manchester Jewish Male Voice Choir. He was for many years a shadchan- together with his wife Renee. Indeed I met my wife in his lounge and he also found my daughter’s bashert. He was involved in
Leeds Milim event a hit with sports fans BY ADAM MOSES
Men and boys gather for the opening of the new school on Sunday
BY RABBI ARNOLD SAUNDERS
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many communal activities and his home was a veritable centre of chesed. He leaves behind his wife, 2 sons, 3 daughters, a sister and grandchildren. Toby Freedman was the daughter of the late Rabbi and Rebbetzin Yisroel Freedman, a lecturer in Manchester Yeshiva and the Rav of what is now called the Meade Hill Shul. She passed away after a short illness last Thursday. She was taken to Eretz Yisrael for burial to be near her venerated parents. She attended the Gateshead Seminary for 3 years before going on to teach in Cheder. She was always thinking of others and was always praying for sick
people. She was very proud of her heritage and would often talk about her illustrious forebears. She is survived by her sister Channah with whom she lived. Mrs Renee Masher who passed away on Shabbat was a ‘Mikvah Lady’ at the communal Mikvah for many years. She was also a member of Misaskim and the Chevra Kadisha. Mrs Masher did a tremendous amount of good deeds for the community and those in need. She is survived by her husband and children who include eminent Rabbis. May they all rest in peace and may there families find comfort.
Top sportswriter David Conn gave an illuminating talk at the latest Sports Milim event in Leeds. David addressed over 150 delegates at The Grammar School At Leeds and talked about his latest book The Fall of The House of FIFA. Phil Goldstone organised the event. “We had a fantastic evening,” he said. “David overviewed the story about FIFA and recent evidence of corruption at the highest levels of
MiliM organiser Phil Goldstone and David Conn
Avot U’Banim - The Father & Sons learning Winter programme at MH begins
Learning for all generations
Morechai Markovic learns with his son
Over 100 Boys recite Tehillim at MH Synagogue for Rav Schneebalg
Boys reciting Tehillim
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the organisation under the leadership of Sepp Blatter. “After a fascinating address, David took questions from an engaged audience.” Phil added, “Milim is becoming one of the major Jewish literary events in the UK calendar. “Next year our major events will take place in February and March across several Leeds locations and will be followed up by a sports writing festival towards the end of the year. “Our events are now an established fixture in the North of England Jewish calendar.”
MH Synagogue
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Not paying into a pension yet ? Here’s what you are missing out on ….. BY MARC OVITS
BA (HONS) APFS CERT PFS (DM)
Pensions are the most tax efficient way to save for retirement. Moreover for business owners facing higher dividend taxation since April 2016, pension payments are now a compelling alternative to salary or dividends. Put simply, paying into a pension is the most tax efficient way for business owners to extract profits out of their companies. Company pension contributions are treated as an allowable expense (subject to the wholly and exclusively rules) and they therefore reduce company profits saving a business owner corporation tax. Nor are there any national insurance payments to pay either. These advantages, combined with pension freedoms that commenced in April 2016, have resulted in pensions becoming the savings vehicle of choice for many. Put simply, no other tax wrapper offers the same degree of tax and estate planning advantages as a pension. To give you a sense of what’s on offer, here are 10 reasons to fund a pension before the tax year end on 5th April. 1. Tax relief at highest rates Successive Chancellors have decided against cutting the rate of tax relief on pension saving. But with the spotlight constantly falling on pension saving incentives at each Budget, relief at the highest rates may not be around forever. Additional and higher rate taxpayers may wish to contribute an amount to maximise tax relief at 45%, 40% or even 60% while they have the opportunity. Carry forward can allow contributions in excess of the current annual allowance without any annual allowance tax charge. 2. Avoid the annual allowance cut for higher earners by using carry
forward Some high income clients will face a cut in the amount of tax-efficient pension saving they can enjoy this tax year. The standard £40,000 AA will be reduced by £1 for every £2 of ‘income’ clients have over £150,000 in a tax year, until their allowance drops to £10,000. Some people may be able to reinstate their full £40,000 allowance by making use of carry forward. The tapering of the annual allowance won’t normally apply if income less personal contributions is £110,000 or less. A large personal contribution using unused allowance from the previous 3 tax years can bring income below £110,000 and restore the full £40k,000 allowance for 2017/18. And some of it may attract 60% tax relief too.
carry forward. Anyone already in capped drawdown, or who only takes their tax free cash, can access their pension pot and retain their full £40,000 allowance.
3. Last chance for a £40,000 p.a. carry forward ? 2016/17 was the last tax year in which one could carry forward unused annual allowance from 2013/14 when it was still £50,000. The maximum carry forward of unused allowances for the current year is £120,000, being £40,000 for 2014/15 plus £40,000 from 2015/16 and 2016/17. Could the Chancellor take away this opportunity in a bid to reduce the cost of pension tax relief ?
6. Avoid the child benefit tax charge A personal contribution can also ensure that the value of child benefit is preserved for the family, rather than being lost to the child benefit tax charge. And it might be as simple as redirecting existing pension saving from the lower earning partner to the other. The child benefit, worth over £2,500 to a family with three kids, is cancelled out by the tax charge if the taxable income of the highest earner exceeds £60,000. There’s no tax charge if the highest earner has income of £50,000 or less. As a pension contribution reduces ‘income’ for this purpose, the tax charge can be avoided. The combination of higher rate tax relief on the contribution plus the child benefit tax charge saved, can lead to effective rates of tax relief as high as 65% for a family with three children.
4. Boost pension funds now before accessing flexibility Anyone looking to take advantage of the new income flexibility for the first time may want to consider boosting their fund before April, potentially sweeping up the full £40,000 from this year plus any unused allowance carried forward from the last three years. The Money Purchase Annual Allowance (MPAA) will mean the opportunity to continue funding will be restricted. The MPAA is currently £10,000 but is set to fall to £4,000 a year in April - with no
5. Recover personal allowances Pension contributions reduce an individual’s taxable income. So they’re a great way to reinstate the personal allowance. For a higher rate taxpayer with taxable income of between £100,000 and £122,000, a personal contribution that reduces taxable income to £100,000 would achieve an effective rate of tax relief at 60%. For higher incomes, or larger contributions, the effective rate will fall somewhere between 40% and 60%.
7. Sacrifice bonus for an employer pension contribution March and April is typically the time of year when many companies
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pay annual bonuses. Sacrificing a bonus for an employer pension contribution before the tax year end can bring several positive outcomes. The employer and employee National Insurance savings made could be used to boost pension funding, giving more in the pension pot for every £1 lost from takehome pay. The reduction in one’s taxable income potentially means that lost personal allowance may be recovered, or the child benefit tax charge avoided.
8. Providing for loved ones The new death benefit rules will make pensions an extremely tax efficient way of passing on wealth to family members - there’s typically no Inheritance Tax payable and there’s also the possibility of passing on funds to any family members free of tax for deaths before age 75. Investors may want to consider moving savings which would otherwise be subject to Inheritance Tax into their pension to shelter them from Inheritance Tax and benefit from tax free investment returns. Provided investors are not in serious ill-health at the time, any savings will be immediately outside the estate. 9. Dividend changes and business owners Many directors of small and medium sized companies may be facing an increased tax bill following changes to the taxation of dividends. A pension contribution could be the best way of cutting their overall tax bill, while still receiving the same level of income. If the director is over 55 they now have full unrestricted access to their pension savings. There’s no National Insurance on an employer pension contribution or dividend payment, but dividends are paid from profits after
corporation tax AND may also be taxable in the director’s hands too. By making an employer pension contribution, this ensures that the tax that would have otherwise gone to HMRC boosts the director’s retirement savings instead. 10. Pay employer contributions before corporation tax relief drops Corporation tax rates have reduced from 20% to 19% from the financial year starting April 2017 with a further planned cut to 17% to effect from April 2020. Companies may want to consider bringing forward pension funding plans to benefit from tax relief at the higher rate. Payments should be made before the end of the current business year, while rates are at their highest.
The Writer is the owner and Managing Director of Alpha Wealth Management Limited. Drawing on over twenty years’ experience in financial services, Marc helps private clients, businesses, charities, and trusts optimize their finances. He is a Chartered Financial Planner providing ‘Independent’ financial advice. Prior to being 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. For advice on inheritance, investment, protection, or retirement planning, please contact Marc on 020 8203 6920 or 07866 503 898 or marc@alphawm.co.uk.
16 JUDAISM
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ASK THE RABBI Looking for answers? Send your question to Rabbi@RabbiSchochet.com Is religion too complicated? Dear Rabbi, I think the reason why so many people rage against religion today is because a lot of it is so contradictory. I mean this in the nicest possible way and with no disrespect intended towards you or readers. But I think life should be left alone to be as simple and sensible as it is. Sonia Dear Sonia, Your email made me think about just how much of our daily life really makes so much sense. Let’s see: We leave bank doors wide
open but chain the pens to the counters. We leave our expensive cars in the drive or on the street and fill our garages with useless junk. Chemists make the sick walk all the way to the back to fill their prescriptions, while the junk food they might sell is at the front for the healthy people. And my favourite all time observation was when I pulled up to a “drivein” cash machine in the United States and noticed the key pads had Braille lettering. What’s up with that? Life actually makes very little sense as it is and we are full of paradoxes in our daily living. Meanwhile, if you could be a little more precise and actually tell me what you find so contradictory about religion then maybe we can take this further.
Why is there a desire to sin? Dear Rabbi, If G-d created us and does not want us to sin, why on earth did He create the desire to sin? Raymond Dear Raymond, Do you know Sonia (above)? Or is everyone jumping on this, “I can’t make sense of religion” bandwagon. Our Rabbis offer an interesting adage, “you destroy man’s desire to sin and you destroy the world.” What they are saying is, it’s not that we need to sin. But we need the temptation to sin in order to have the balance of choice in our
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lives which is the only thing that really gives life meaning. Take for example love. My ability to choose to love someone, rather than me being programmed to do so is the only thing that really makes love meaningful; and so too with sin and virtue in the context of religion. If I was only programmed to do good rather than choosing to do good then my actions will be devoid of any meaning. It is only when I have the propensity for both and I choose good that there is value to my actions. Why are there natural disasters in our world? Dear Rabbi, If G-d is good, why are there natural disasters in the world? I get it that evil perpetuated by man can be blamed on man. But who are you going to blame an earthquake, hurricane etc. on, if not “G-d?” Howard Dear Howard, Good question. The great 14th century Spanish scholar Rabbi Nissim (ben Reuven) of Gerona wrote: “It is the will and desire of the Almighty to allow for the world to run in accordance with the natural order as much as possible, as nature is very precious in His eyes, which He will not change other than for some dire need.” Whether you accept the reality of global warming or not, one thing is clear. The world is waking up to what was a reality in Jewish teachings since the beginning of time. To some degree we are the architects of our own destiny. More than 3300 years ago the Torah talks about not wasting. Today the world wakes up to recycling. In 1313 BCE the Torah talks about how to treat the land. In 2017 CE the world is attune to green peace. What Rabbi Nissim is telling us is that when encountering natural disaster, though G-d’s hand is involved in every happenstance, nonetheless, He will not typically intervene in the natural process – and sometimes we do bring it upon ourselves by our own callous attitude towards the environment. But here again the question must be asked: What constitutes a dire need, to prompt G-d to intervene? Is the potential loss of tens of thousands of lives and the displacement of millions more in a
tsunami or a hurricane not a dire need? If it is within G-d ability to stop it, surely there is a cut-off point? Anne Graham once offered a fascinating perspective when she said: “I believe G-d is deeply saddened by natural disasters, just as we are, but for years we’ve been telling Him to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the “Gentleman” that He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect G-d to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?” Strange is it not, how people rubbish G-d and ridicule religion (and there have been enough letters in this column to demonstrate that) and then wonder why the world’s sometimes falling apart. There’s much more to be said about this – at a later date. Are these questions real? Dear Rabbi, Do you receive all the questions that are printed every week in the paper? I am a big fan and I know a lot of people that make your column their Friday night theme. But I do wonder. Hope you don’t mind but I choose to remain anonymous. Anon Dear Anonymous, If I had a pound for everyone who asks me this, I would be retired by now. But I appreciate the flattery in thinking I am creative enough to come up with 4-5 new questions a week, every week. It’s hard enough to patiently answer each the various questions, absurd though some of them might be. The questions I leave to all of you.
Follow Rabbi Schochet at: RabbiSchochet.com Twitter: @RabbiYYS Facebook: facebook.com/Rabbiyys.
No. 10
25 November 2017 Shabbat ends
23 NOVEMBER 2017 Volume 30 No. 10
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Hertz p.106
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JUDAISM Soncino p.164
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Haftarah Artscroll p. 1140 |
Vayetze Artscroll p.144
Vayetze
7 Kislev 5778 London THE4.52pm JEWISH WEEKLY Artscroll p.144 Jerusalem 5.15pm
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Hertz p.106
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Soncino p.164
Haftarah Artscroll p. 1140 |
Hertz p.118
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Soncino p.188
Hertz p.118 | Soncino p.188 Parshat Vayetze
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In loving memory of Pat Maissel h i
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In loving memory of Pat Maissel h i
“And he dreamed, and behold! a ladder set up on the ground and its top reached to heaven; and behold, angels of G-d were ascending and descending upon it” (Bereshit 28:12).
“If G-d is with me”
by Rabbi Garry Wayland, US Living & Learning Educator At the beginning of this week’s sidrah, as Yaakov begins his flight from his brother Esav, alone in the world, he sleeps out in the open and dreams of a ladder resting on Earth yet reaching the Heavens. G-d tells him that “I am with you, I will guard you wherever you go, I will return you to this place”. Yaakov’s first reaction upon waking up is to acknowledge that, “indeed, G-d is in this place and I was not aware!” (Bereishit 1st Aliya (Kohen) – Vayikra 12:1-23 28:10-16) After childbirth, a lady would wait several weeks before bringing an elevation offering (olah) and a Given the intensity of this revelation and the sin offering (chatat). This completed her post-birth clarity of G-d's promise, Yaakov makes a purification somewhat process. surprising vow: “If G-d is with me, God Moshe Aharon thatand someone and told guards me and on my way… I returnwho in had the appearance of a particular type skin peace… the Lord will be my G-d. This pillarofshall disease (tzara’at) would to show You the white be a house of G-d, and have of everything give blemish to a give Kohen. Kohen(ibid. would evaluate me, I shall YouThe a tenth” 28:20-22). and decide if the was clearly tzara’at, Yaakov seems to affliction be expressing doubt in G-d's promise. His vow, dedicate the site to G-dIfand thus rendering theto person impure (tameh). the to donate of his wealth, is contingent upon his case was unclear, the Kohen would quarantine safe return.in a house for seven days, after which the person the Kohen would re-inspect the afflicted area and declare whether the person was tameh or tahor The Ramban (Nachmanides, d. 1270) mitigates this problem by interpreting the Hebrew word ‘im’ (pure). to mean ‘when’ rather than (the usual) ‘if’. Yaakov Question: what were the three types of blemish was therefore saying “When G-d is called? (13:2) Answer on bottom of with pageme, 6. and guards me on my way…” Yaakov has perfect 2nd (Levi) – 13:24-39 faithAliya that G-d will keep His promise and Yaakov Itwill was also fulfil hispossible vow. for tzara’at to develop from a burn. Tzara’at could erupt on the scalp or on the beard area, causing loss ofEphraim hair. The Kli Yakar (Rabbi a Shlomo Luntschitz,
wholesome man, dwelling in tents [of Torah study]” (ibid. 25:27 with Rashi’s commentary). Therefore, when Yaakov said, “if G-d is with me”, he was referring to ‘staying with G-d’ in the spiritual sense, through his own actions and choices. The phrase “if I return to my father’s house” means that, despite being away from the positive influence and guidance of his parents and immersion in Torah study, his spiritual level would remain intact.
Sidrah Summary: Tazria-Metzorah
Sidrah Summary: Vayetze
Sidrah Summary: Vayetze
only in return for the right to consort that night 1st Aliya (Kohen) – Bereishit 28:10-22 “And he dreamed, and behold! a ladder set up on ground and itsLeah top reached to heaven; behold, Yaakov. conceives and hasand a fifth son, On Yaakov’s journey to Charan, he sleeps andthe with angels of G-d ascending descending upon it” (Bereshit This 28:12). Yissachar. is followed by a sixth, Zevulun. dreams of awere ladder placed and on the ground and reaching up to the heavens, with angels She then has a daughter, Dinah. Rachel finally has a child, Yosef. Yaakov demands that Lavan let him ascending and descending. G-d is at the top of the ladder, telling Yaakov that he will inherit the return home after all his years of work. Land and that he will have plentiful offspring. 5th Aliya (Chamishi) – 30:28-31:16 Yaakov wakes up, realising that this is a holy Lavan asks Yaakov to stay on and to specify his place, where the Temple would later be built payment. Yaakov replies that he will only keep (Rashi). He builds an altar and takes a vow plain-looking animals in the flock, and only keep their offspring with unusual patterned skin. committing to serve G-d fully (Ramban). Yaakov becomes very prosperous. Lavan’s sons 2nd Aliya (Levi) – 29:1-17 Yaakov travels eastwards. He sees a well in a field, accuse Yaakov of theft. G-d tells Yaakov to return to covered by a large stone. The local shepherds tell Cana’an immediately. Rachel and Leah agree to Yaakov that the daughter of his uncle Lavan is leave. approaching. Yaakov moves the boulder blocking 6th Aliya (Shishi) – 31:17-42 the well and waters Rachel’s flock. He kisses Yaakov’s entire family leaves. Lavan finds out three days later and chases after Yaakov, catching up Rachel and weeps. with him at Mount Gilad. G-d appears to Lavan in a 3rd Aliya (Shlishi) – 29:18-30:13 Yaakov wants to marry Rachel, the younger sister dream, telling him not to harm Yaakov. Lavan of Leah, and offers to work for Lavan for seven criticises Yaakov for fleeing and for stealing his years as payment. Although Lavan agrees, when idols. Yaakov denies the latter charge, unaware the time comes, he tricks Yaakov, swapping that Rachel was hiding them. Yaakov also defends Rachel for Leah. Lavan defends his actions and his record in Lavan’s house, where he worked agrees to let Yaakov marry Rachel a week later, if tirelessly, despite Lavan’s trickery. he works for another seven years. Leah, unlike 7th Aliya (Shevi’i) – 31:43-32:3 Rachel, is blessed with children: Reuven, Shimon, Lavan proposes a peace treaty, which Yaakov Levi and Yehuda. Rachel gives Yaakov her agrees to, symbolised by a stone monument built maidservant Bilhah to conceive ‘on her behalf’. by Yaakov’s sons. Lavan and Yaakov part ways. Bilhah gives birth to Dan and Naftali. Leah then Question: what was the name given to the gives Yaakov her maidservant Zilpah, who gives monument? (31:47) Answer on bottom of next birth to Gad and Asher. page. Point to Consider: why was it permissible for Haftarah Yaakov to marry two sisters, which the Torah The Haftarah, according to the general United prohibits? (29:28) Synagogue custom, is taken from the Book 4th Aliya (Revi’i) – 30:14-27 of Hoshea (chapters 13-14). The prophet Reuven finds some dudaim (jasmine – Rashi) in Hoshea rebukes the tribe of Ephraim for their the field and brings it to his mother Leah. Rachel rebelliousness, warning them of the dire asks for some of the jasmine. Leah agrees, but consequences. However, they will ultimately return to G-d, Who will welcome them.
1
A metzora third interpretation is offered the offerings Ba’al would also bring three by animal Haturim (Rabbi Ya’akov ben Asher, d. 1343), who and three meal offerings. writes that Yaakov was perhaps not confident of Point to Consider: what is the significance of the G-d's promise, not because of a lack of faith in cedar wood, crimson thread and hyssop? (see G-d, but because of a lack of faith in himself. Rashi to 14:4) Yaakov was thus asking, “if G-d is with me” – 5th Aliya – 14:21-32 despite my (Chamishi) fears that I am not worthy. Yet once A metzora could not animal Yaakov made who this oath, that G-dafford wouldthree hopefully help him come may, it appears that he offerings couldwhat instead bring one animal offering, gained in confidence, thebirds. next verse states one meal offering andastwo that he “lifted up his legs and went to the land of 6th Aliya (Shishi) – 14:33-15:15 the east” (ibid. 29:1). Tzara’at also affected houses. The house owner would report the suspicious signs to a Kohen. The We can live trusting deeply in others G-d house would be evacuated beforeand theinKohen’s that things work However, it is red arrival. If the will Kohen saw out. a deep green or deep sometimes harder to believe that we are ‘affliction’, he would order the house to be deserving of G-d's blessings and protection, and quarantined for a week. He would then re-inspect that we are capable of living up to our mission as the house. If the affliction had spread, the infected we go on our journeys through life. Ultimately, stoneswas would be removed and replaced. If the blessed with returning safely, both Yaakov affliction nevertheless returned, the house would spiritually and physically. be demolished. However, if replacing the stones solved the problem, the Kohen would declare the house tahor (pure). The Torah lists specific discharges that would 3rd Aliya (Shlishi) d.1619) presents– 13:40-54 a different resolution, cause a man to be considered tameh, and details Asuggesting slightly different form tzara’atare is detailed, that G-d andofYaakov actually talkingcaused about atwo different issues. wasA the purification procedure. which more substantial lossG-d of hair. guaranteeing physical safety; he was metzora (one Yaakov who hashisbeen contaminated with 7th Aliya (Shevi’i) – 15:16-33 escaping his brother was tzara’at) wasfrom sent outside of the Esav camp who and had to A similar set of laws is listed for a lady who has attempting kill him.(see Yaakov, however, was specific discharges, as well as the laws of niddah tear his/her to garments p4 article). Tzara’at concerned aboutclothing. his spiritual wellbeing, garment that he could also infect A suspected (menstruation), which form the basis of the laws would be able to maintain connection was quarantined before his thelofty Kohen madetoa of family purity. G-d, developed through his years of “being a decision about whether it was tameh. If it was Haftarah declared tameh, the garment was burnt. From the Book of Melachim (Kings II), the haftarah 4th Aliya (Revi’i) – 13:55-14:20 takes places upon the background of the long The Torah of details theLev process through which a 3 In memory Yehudah ben Shevach siege and ensuing famine of the Shomron area metzora purified himself/herself after the period (Samria) by the King of Aram. Four metzora’im of isolation and the healing of the affliction. This were put outside the city gates because of their involved a Kohen taking two birds, cedar wood, affliction. They discovered and reported that the a crimson thread and hyssop. The Kohen would Arameans had actually left their camp, which slaughter one of the birds and – using the wood, thread and hyssop together in a bundle – sprinkle allowed the Jews to plunder the camp and thus In of Yehudah ben metzora. Shevach The end their famine. its memory blood seven times Lev on the
“And he dreamed, and behold! a ladder set up on the ground and its top reached to heaven angels of G-d were ascending and descending upon it” (Bereshit 28:12).
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Produced by US Living & Learning together with the Rabbinical Council of the United Synagogue Editor: Rabbi Chaim Gross Editor-in-Chief: Rabbi Baruch Davis Editorial Team: Ilana Epstein, Michael Laitner, Sharon Radley
of Dvinsk (d. 1926) understood that2015), in chapter two of his book The (d. the territorial compromises that it outlined; yet it HaKohen World War Two, appointed an 11-member 29 November 2017 marks now outside of Prime theIt yearsgovernments since the and UN pro-active Special Committee onwere Palestine in April 1947. was rejected by70Arab Ministers (The Toby Press, 2010) Nonetheless, theattempts Partition Plan’s significance scope of the oaths. Rabbi Yoel recommended the Partition Plan. Palestinian Arab leaders. leaders chose GeneralThose Assembly adopted reaction in Jerusalem to the Partition remains undiminished in Contrastingly, understanding the described 18 JUDAISM 23 NOVEMBER 2017 of Satmar (d. 1979) did not regard the THE WEEKLY to declare war on the nascent State of JEWISH Israel in Teitelbaum Resolution 181 (ii), known history and religious debate behind the Plan. 29 November 1947 was a Shabbat. vote of thealso Partition Plan in particular as The Partition Plan provided context for the May 1948; the Resolution was as thus never fully majority colloquially ‘the Partition Avner only heard about the Partition vote establishment of State in the this way. of Israel. fascinating Rabbinic debate surrounding a implemented, since it was superseded the effective Plan’, which divided by (what The roots of the Partition Plan lay in during the early hours of Sunday morning. After The 70th anniversary of UN Resolution 181 (ii) – the ‘Partition Plan’ 1949 Armistice Agreements and Talmudic passage (Ketubot 111a) which was thenbetween called) Israel Palestine the Balfour Declaration, whose British-born Israeli‘oaths’ diplomat Yehuda Avner initial, lively rejoicing in Jerusalem, by Rabbi Michael Laitner, Jewish Living Division Rabbi; Assistant Rabbi, Jewish and The discusses three linked relating to Jewish its neighbours. into proposed centenary weaspirations. celebrated a few 2015), in chapter two of hisbound book Jews The the grim realities of British withdrawal national These ‘oaths’ Finchley United Synagogue Arab states with a joint Economic Union and (d. weeksPrime That Declaration (The Nonetheless, the Partition Plan’s significance to ago. a. notMinisters proactively createToby awas state;Press, b not to2010) rebel and preparations for the coming with Jerusalem as an ‘international city’ reactionofinrule Jerusalem to the Partition adopted by the League Nations at also remainsWar undiminished understanding the described non-Jewish but c. bound nonagainst World Two, an 11-member 29 November 2017 marks administered by the appointed UNinTrusteeship Council. conflict set in as violence increased. 29 to November was a Shabbat. history andlobbying, religious debate the Jews not oppress the Jewish people. the Remo Conference in1947 1920 Special Committee onthe Palestine inbehind April 1947. ItPlan. 70 years since the UN After much voting was 33-13 in San Avner wrote candidly of his faith and Avner heard about establishment thePartition State ofincluding Israel. Britain.as recommended the Plan. with 10 of abstentions, General Assembly adopted favour, the only objective for the a Partition vote fears at that challenging time, finding during the early of Sunday morning. Did the positive decisions Remo Resolution 181 (ii), known The roots of the Partition Plan lay in Mandatory Power inhours Palestine to of San After particular strength through Tehillim the Balfour Declaration, whose conference and lively the Partition mean that in Jerusalem, was also one of the finalcontext catalystsfor fortheprepare Partition Plan provided colloquially as ‘the Partition The Resolution help “ainitial, national homerejoicing for the Plan centenary we celebrated a few in May (the Book of Psalms). efforts for Jewish statehood would not break the grim realities of British withdrawal Israel’s Declaration of Independence a people”. The Mandate was Plan’, which divided (what fascinating Rabbinic debate surrounding Jewish weeksIt ago. That Declaration was Agency, these ‘oaths’? Writing after the San Remo and preparations for the coming 1948. was accepted by the Jewish Talmudic passage (Ketubot 111a) which was then called) Palestine awarded to Britain in adopteditsbylimitations the League of Nations at Following the Partition Plan Resolution, the1922. renowned Rabbi Meir Simcha conflict set in as violence increased. on ‘oaths’ Jewish immigration and conference, discusses three linked relating to Jewish into proposed Jewish and despite the San Remo Conference in 1920 HaKohenAvner of Dvinsk (d. 1926) of understood that wrote candidly his faith and dreams of Jewish sovereignty in Israel the territorial compromises that it outlined; yet it national aspirations. These ‘oaths’ bound Jews Arab states with a joint Economic Union and as the objective for a By 1947, Britain held the outside attempts now of the fears atstill that were challenging time, finding rejected by create Arab agovernments for the first time in almost 2,000 years to a. not proactively state; b not toand rebelpro-active with Jerusalem as an ‘international city’ was Mandatory Arab Power in Palestine to Mandate, to of the frustration of boththrough scope the oaths.strength Contrastingly, Rabbi Yoel particular Tehillim leaders. Those leaders chose seemed closer than ever to fulfilment. against non-Jewish rule but c. also bound nonadministered by the UN Trusteeship Council. Palestinian help prepare “aon national home State for theof IsraelJews ofBook Satmar (d. 1979) of Psalms). and (the Arabs. The Uniteddid not regard the declare the nascent in Teitelbaum Jews notpeople”. towar oppress Jewish people. 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Following in thisafter way.the Partition Plan Resolution, implemented, since itdecisions was superseded the effective League of Nations Did the positive of Sanby Remo dreams of Jewish sovereignty in Israel Armistice Agreements between Israel 70th was anniversary of catalysts UN Resolution 181 (ii) – the thestill ‘Partition conference and Partition meanand that TheThe Resolution one of the final for 1949 By 1947, Britain held Plan the Plan’ 4 In memory Chaim benfirst Moshe for the timeBentzion in almostYehuda 2,000 years The of British-born Israeli diplomat Avner its neighbours. efforts fortoJewish statehood Israel’s Declaration Independence in MayDivision by Rabbi MichaelofLaitner, Jewish Living Rabbi; Assistant Rabbi, Mandate, the frustration of would both not break(d. 2015), seemed closer than everhis to book fulfilment. in chapter two of The WritingThe afterUnited the San Remo 1948. It was United accepted by the Jewish Agency, these Jews ‘oaths’? and Arabs. Finchley Synagogue Yet a rocky(The road Toby still lay Press, ahead before 2010) Nonetheless, the Partition Plan’s significance Prime Ministers the renowned RabbitheMeir Simcha Nations, which had replaced despite its limitations on Jewish immigration and conference, dreams would be realised. reaction in Jerusalem to the Partition remains undiminished in understanding the describedthose Dvinskafter (d. 1926) an understood that League War of of Nations World Two, appointed 11-member 29 November 2017 marks the territorial compromises that it outlined; yet it HaKohen history and religious debate behind the Plan. 29 November 1947 was a Shabbat. attempts nowinoutside of the years since the and UN pro-active It Avner only heard about the Partition vote 4 Special Committee onwere Palestine April 1947. was rejected by 70Arab governments In memory of Chaim Moshe Bentzion establishment of theben State of Israel. scope of of thethe oaths. 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Declaration was implemented, since it was superseded by the weeks and preparations for the coming Talmudicby passage which was then called) Israel Palestine 1949 Armistice Agreements between and adopted the League(Ketubot of Nations111a) at conflict set in as violence increased. discusses three linked ‘oaths’ relating to Jewish into proposed Jewish and the The San British-born Israeli diplomat Yehuda Avner Remo Conference in 1920 its neighbours. Avner wrote candidly of his faith and national aspirations. These bound Arab states with a joint Economic Union and as (d. 2015), in objective chapter two‘oaths’ The In memory the forof his a bookJews of at Chaim Moshe Bentzion fears that ben challenging time, finding to a. not proactively create a state; b not to rebel with Jerusalem as an Plan’s ‘international city’ Mandatory Prime Ministers Toby Press, 2010) Power (The in Palestine to Nonetheless, the Partition significance particular strength through Tehillim against non-Jewish rule but c. for also nonadministered by the UN Council. described reaction in Jerusalem to bound the Partition prepare “a national home the remains undiminished in Trusteeship understanding the help (the Book of Psalms). Jews not to oppress the Jewish people. After much lobbying, voting 33-13 in Jewish Plan. 29 1947 was people”. The I Mandate wasa Shabbat. Insights into Jewish History Part 87: Yonatan’s Opportunism Parallel Part 37:was The Emergence ofNovember Faith history andThinking religiousthe debate behind the favour, with 10 Britain. Avner only heard about the Partition vote by Rebbetzen to Britain in 1922. Epstein, Cockfosters establishment ofabstentions, the State ofincluding Israel.New Following Ilana the Partition Plan Resolution, & N Southgate United Synagogue; by Rabbi Dr Moshe Freedman, West Endawarded United Synagogue Did the positive decisions of San Remo The roots of the Partition Plan lay in during the early hours of Sunday morning. After Head of Project Development, USinLiving dreams of Jewish sovereignty Israel & Learning conference and the still Partition mean that The Balfour ResolutionDeclaration, was one of the whose final catalysts for By the 1947, Britain held Plan the initial, lively rejoicing in not Jerusalem, for the first time in almost 2,000 years efforts for Jewish statehood would break Israel’s Declaration of Independence in May Mandate, to the frustration of both centenary we celebrated a few such The than situation was Kohen Gadol (High Priest). He also sent him a seemed closer ever in to Judea fulfilment. the that grimWriting realities of British withdrawal Many scientists, Fowler this ‘covenantal of theseexplains ‘oaths’? after thepattern San Remo 1948. Itago. was That accepted by the Jewish Agency, Jews and Arabs. The United weeks Declaration was (Judah) purple robe and a golden crown, indicating that he Yet a rocky desperate. road still layYehuda ahead before and preparations for the coming hasthe three elements: the child, the as American neurologist relationship’ conference, renowned Rabbi Meir Simcha despite by its limitations onof Jewish immigration and Nations, which had replaced the adopted the League Nations at the Maccabee had signed would also gain the stature of a king if he offered those dreams would be realised. and conflict the shared centres ofunderstood valuesincreased. and that Professor Jordan Grafman, parents set (d. in as violence HaKohen of Dvinsk theSan territorial that it1920 outlined; yet it League ofhold Nations after 1926)together. the Remocompromises Conference in a treaty with Rome, and his fealty to Alexander. power which the relationship These believe that spiritual Avner wrote candidly of his faith and pro-active attempts were now outside of the rejectedobjective by Arab for governments and aswas the a was later killed in battle by4 what Fowler the family’s ‘story’; the atcalls that challenging time, finding In memory of benContrastingly, Moshe Bentzion scope offears theChaim oaths. Rabbi Yoel Palestinian Arab convictions, leaders. Thosesuperstitions leaders choseinclude the Greeks. By agreement of Demetrius then enhanced his offer, by releasing Mandatory Powerandinfaith Palestine to shared principles, memories and ambitions which in a Divine being particular strength through Tehillim to declare war on the nascent State of Israel in Teitelbaum of Satmar (d. 1979) did not regard the the Greeks, his brother Judea of most of the taxes and tributes that they help prepare “a national home for the with bond the family provide humans members together. (the of Book Psalms). the of Partition Plan in particular as May 1948; the Resolution was thus never fully majority vote Yonatan was allowed to owed the Seleucid throne. Although Yonatan Jewish people”. an The Mandate was advantage. implemented, since evolutionary it was superseded by the effective in this way. awarded to Britain in 1922. reside in the town Michmash, 20 miles north of took advantage of both offers, perhaps playing People use their religiousbetween convictions patternthe of relationship resonates Following Partition Plan Resolution, 1949 can Armistice Agreements IsraeltoandThis covenantal the two men off against each other, ultimately he survive emotional hardships which may have withThe theBritish-born factdreams that our with G-dinAvner isIsrael Jerusalem. In Jerusalem itself, the Hellenised backed Alexander. of relationship Jewish sovereignty Israeli diplomat Yehuda its neighbours. Jews controlled the Temple and were holding By 1947, Britain still held the defeated other humans who lack religious faith. often inchapter similar parent-child terms.years for inthe first time in almost (d. described 2015), two of his 2,000 book The Mandate, to the frustration of both expresses thiscloser on behalf ofever G-d Himself, Prime Ministers (The Toby Press, 2010) children hostage from the city’s most prestigious Josephus (the Roman Jewish first-century seemed than to fulfilment. Nonetheless, the Partition Plan’s significanceMoshe Jews and Arabs. The United Yet the emergence of faith belief in thethewhen he says: “You are children historian) recounts how, once Alexander had won described reaction in road Jerusalem tothe the Lord, Partition Yet a rocky still of lay ahead before traditional families. remains undiminished in and understanding Nations, which had replaced the your G-d” (Devarim 14:1). Idolatry, therefore, is not supernatural may be more complex. Children November a Shabbat. The situation, though, did not remain static. the crown from Demetrius, he went on to marry dreams 1947 would was be realised. history and religious debate behind the Plan. 29those League of Nations about the worship of statues or foreignvote typically have a of pure and onlymere heard about the Partition establishment theafter Stateuntainted of Israel. curiosity, justAvner Yonatan found an opportunity though the the daughter of the Ptolemy Egyptian king. At the The roots of the Partition Plan lay in which is a product of their unfettered minds gods. It is the abandonment of one’s Divine during the early hours of Sunday morning. After 4 In memory of Chaim ben Moshe Bentzion infighting amongst the Seleucid hierarchy. In wedding reception in Acre, Yonatan was the guest the to Balfour Declaration, spirituallively home, with the of striving make sense of the worldwhose around them. parent and initial, rejoicing in aim Jerusalem, Anitoch, the capital of the Greek Selucid of honour; his siding with Alexander was seen as centenary we celebrated fewbuilding committing the to finite fall While other creatures are occupieda with grim centres realities of of value Britishthat withdrawal Kingdom, King Demetrius was challenged for the contributing to Alexander’s victory over Demetrius. weeks ago. That Declaration was dens, searching for food and caring for their outside of theand family’s shared story for the coming preparations crown by Alexander, the son of the previous king Megillat Ta’anit, an Aramaic document formalised adopted by the of with Nations at type young, humans are League endowed a unique conflict set in as violence increased. Antiochus Epiphanes (familiar to us from the in first century CE that denotes all the different San Remo in our 1920 of the curiosity. From Conference an early age, inquisitive The ritual aspect organised religion therefore Avnerofwrote candidly of his faith and Chanukah story). days in the year that one should not have public as begin the to objective for a minds search for deeper meaning, has two elements to this area. time, Services, fears relevant at that challenging finding mourning, mentions 23 Iyar as such a day. Mandatory to in the festivals andparticular questioning the Power purposeinof Palestine life, our place daily lawsstrength build ourthrough relationship Tehillim In a bid to amass strength and allies, both men It explains that on this date, Yonatan was made help prepare “a national home for the cosmos and the meaning of our existence. with G-d through reminding us of our part in wrote to Yonatan at the same time, to bribe him (the Book of Psalms). both Kohen Gadol and king. With the backing Jewish people”. The Mandate was the story of the Jewish people. But they also for his support. Demetrius authorised Yonatan to of the Seleucid kingdom, he minimised the power awarded to Britain in 1922. This was noted by American theologian James W. provide opportunities for our own families to raise an army, though Demetrius would have seen Following the Partition Plan Resolution, of the citadel, the stronghold of the Hellenised and sovereignty build a personal Fowler (d. 2015) in his book Stages of Faith, which share experiences dreamstogether of Jewish in Israel this as self-serving; if he entered into a war with By 1947, Britain still held the described the emergence of faith in children in a family story. for the first time in almost 2,000 years Alexander, Yonatan would assist him militarily. On Jews in Jerusalem. Its inhabitants fled the city. Because of the great threat that they had posed to Mandate, to sense, the frustration of their both natural much broader as part of seemed closer than ever to fulfilment. the other hand, Yonatan, once equipped with a Jews and Arabs. The United development. He writes, “Our first experiences of Yet a rocky road still lay ahead before legal army, could use it for his own reasons. the people for so many years, the ruin of the Nations, which had replaced theWe are faith and faithfulness begin with birth. Yonatan was given permission to have armour citadel was indeed a moment to rejoice. those dreams would be realised. League of Nations after made, and finally Demetrius offered the release of The celebration, however, was short-lived, as we received and welcomed with some degree of In fidelity byofthose us. By their 4 the hostages that his general Bacchides had memory Chaimwho ben care Moshefor Bentzion shall discuss next week. consistency in providing for our needs, by their imprisoned in the Accra Citadel, located just making a valued place for us in their lives, those below the Temple in the south of the city. who welcome us provide an initial experience of Yonatan, with letter in hand, rushed to Jerusalem. loyalty and dependability. Notice that even in this As he read out the letter in front of the Hellenised rudimentary form, faith exhibits what we may Jews, they feared that the tide was turning against call a covenantal pattern of relationship. In the them. The hostages were immediately released interaction of parent and child not only does a back to their families. Yonatan resided once more bond of mutual trust and loyalty begin to develop, in Jerusalem and repaired some of the damage but already the child, albeit on a very basic level, 1st century that years of war had caused, including rebuilding senses the strange new environment as one that Roman portrait bust, the walls of the city with square stones. is either dependable and provident, or arbitrary said to be of Josephus and neglectful”. Yonatan then received a second letter, this time
The 70th anniversary of UN Resolution 181 (ii) – the ‘Partition Plan’ by Rabbi Michael Laitner, Jewish Living Division Rabbi; Assistant Rabbi, Finchley United Synagogue
memory of Reuven ben Yehuda InInmemory of Reuven ben Yehuda Leivish Leivish
5
In memory of Yocheved bat Berl Dov In memory of Yocheved bat Berl Dov
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Answer: Lavan called it 'Yegar-sahaduta' and Yaakov called it 'Galed'.
from Alexander. Alexander ordained Yonatan as
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Parshat Vayetze In this week’s D’var Torah the Chief Rabbi ponders the question: why are we compared to dust? Why are we compared to dust? In Parashat Vayetzei immediately after his dream of the ladder Hashem appeared to Ya’akov and he said ‘V’haya zaracha k’afar ha’aretz – your descendants will be like the
Tehillim Psalm 30
Psalm 30 is one of the most famous Psalms in the entire book of Tehillim. Recited every morning prior to ‘Baruch She’amar,’ these famous words bridge the gap between the ‘morning brachot’ and ‘Pesukei D’zimra,’ the verses of praise. Over the years, it became an exceedingly popular cantorial piece, sung on Shabbat Chanukah at the end of Mussaph service. The jolly opening words make it easy to understand why. This Psalm is related to the ‘Chanukat HaMizbeiach,’ the dedication of The Temple because it celebrates how King David eventually defeated all his enemies. When King Solomon inaugurated the Temple, it was a vindication of his father’s greatness, in winning battles, against evil people and his Yetzer Harah too. King Solomon would never have been granted the privilege of building the Bet Hamikdash if his father had been a sinner. King David wrote this as he had already died, showing how one can suffer the purgatory of Gehinnom even whilst alive! He describes how Hashem raised him up ‘from the lower world,’ and he sings praise to G-d for this. Our Rabbis tell us that the flames of frustration in life from all manner of sorrows, bad events anguish and anger can all count as little bits of Gehinnom in our lifetime. King David says the famous words ‘what gain is there in my death, in
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dust of the earth.’ ‘U’faratza – and they will be scattered.’ ‘Yama va’kedma, va’tzafona va’negba – to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south.’ What we immediately think of when being told we’ll be like the dust of the earth is that you cannot count the number of specks of dust that exist – it’s simply impossible. Similarly,
This week’s Tehillim is for a Refuah Shalemah for Rabbi Aharon Yehuda Leib ben Gitel Feiga Shteinman my descent to the pit, will the dust acknowledge you’ he asks? Only if Hashem hears him and favours him then his lament can be ‘transformed into dancing,’ and his ‘sackcloth undone’ and changed for simcha. By reciting these sobering words each morning, it sets us up perfectly for the long day ahead, full of its usual challenges as we always remember our goal in life. By focusing on what is important, we will be steered toward the correct path in life, ultimately ending in the rebuilding of our Temple once more, Amen.
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Hashem is promising us that over the ages the numbers of the Jewish people will be vast. Hashem is promising us that over the ages the numbers of the Jewish people will be vast. However Sforno gives a very deep and profound peirush here. Sforno says that when we walk around, we trample the dust, we kick it and treat it with disdain. It’s simply of no value to us. However, those who kick the dust about will eventually die. They will be buried beneath that very same dust. So too with the Jewish people. Hashem is telling Ya’akov Avinu that the time will come in the future when in our exile, we will be treated as if we are subhuman. However, at the end of the day those who treat us in this fashion will be the very nations which cease to exist and Am Yisrael Chai – the Jewish people will prevail and will live on. Am Yisrael Chai – the Jewish people will prevail and will live on. Sforno adds that that deliverance of our people will take place at a time when things simply can’t get worse. And it’s
that very message which is conveyed in the rest of our verse ‘u’faratza yama va’kedma ve’tzafona va’negba’ notice that the directions are not clockwise and they’re not anti-clockwise: from the west and to the east, from the north and to the south. The Kli Yakar explains here Hashem wants us to know that just like the rapid swing of a pendulum so too, our fate will very quickly change from one in which there is no light at the end of the tunnel to outright salvation. Just like the rapid swing of a pendulum so too, our fate will very quickly change from one in which there is no light at the end of the tunnel to outright salvation. While saying these words one cannot but think of the tumultuous events of the past century and the manner in which the Almighty has kept his covenant with our people, against all odds He has delivered us. In the same way that He has guaranteed that we will continue to exist, so may He bring about the ultimate redemption, speedily in our time. Shabbat shalom
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ONE NATION... ...MANY TEAMS
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Hendon blow title race open with win over Oakwood BY DAVID SAFFER
Hendon United Sports Club A showed their Premier Division credentials after a hard fought 2-1 win against Oakwood A. Zac Lewis struck both goals to inflict a first defeat of the season on the defending champions. Hendon moved into a share of third place alongside Oakwood and Maccabi London Lions Blue - four points behind leaders Brady Maccabi and a win adrift of Redbridge Jewish Care A. With games in hand on all their rivals an exciting battle ensues. “It was a great result,” said player-manager Greg Corin said. “Oakwood pushed us the whole way, but our quality showed in the end and we’re delighted with the result. “Some of the team may be passed their best years, but this has to be one of the most talented squads we’ve been able to put together over the last few seasons. “Larry Cohen provides us with a fantastic option at the back when he is available and together with Avi Korman it was a commanding display in defence. “Zac’s technical ability is so high and if he can work on getting himself fitter then I really think he will be head and shoulders above
Hendon go close from a corner
the vast majority of players in the league. “I was delighted for him today, he was due a couple of goals in this fixture.” “A very well contested game where a draw would probably have been the right result,” lamented Oakwood boss Daniel Kristall. “Hendon started strongly and we couldn’t really get into the game. They scored a very nice goal in the opening stages but we dominated the second half and got a deserved equaliser through Dave Woolman. “We were then on top but got caught out on the break with a brilliant strike by Lewis. “Hendon broke well all game and did look the more dangerous side in front of goal. They also defended very well throughout the match but we had the ball and territory for the most part. We just lacked that bit of patience and quality in the final third. “Our starting midfield haven’t played over the last three months and it showed. Credit to all of them though because they stepped in for the team, for that we thank them because they were so determined to play. If we’d have been at full strength, and especially in that area, we’d have won. “Also, Joe Botchin made some
fantastic saves to thwart Hendon on his home debut.” Kristall added, “To go fourteen months unbeaten in the league shows what a great team this is. We will bounce back. “We are incredibly proud as a management team how far we have come and now expect a reaction in the next few weeks where we turn our attention to both cup competitions. “As for the league, we know how strong the division is and teams will drop points. I believe it will be the most open race in years and am confident we will be in the mix at the end. “Don’t write us off, many did that last season and look what happened.” Mill Hill Dons won a 4-3 thriller at Straw Hat Pirates to move into second spot in Division One a point behind Bayern Mincha with a game in hand. The visitors fell behind to a free kick but leveled before half time after a goalmouth scramble when Jamie Nagioff scooped the ball home. Mill Hill edged ahead after the restart through Zach Cohen, and after Straw Hats equalised, retook the lead through Cohen before Adam Isaacs sealed the points. “I’m delighted with the result today, it was a very hard fought game and a well deserved victory for the boys,” said Mill Hill boss Brandon Hammé. “Jamie (Nagioff) bossed the midfield battle today, his trickery on the ball was wonderful to watch, an all round great performance and Richard (Reback) made crucial saves including a great double save early on. “Zach (Cohen) was involved in three goals and Adam Morrow epitomised the role of a modern day balling playing centre back.
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Hendon United Sports Club A
“Things are looking really promising and if we keep on picking up results, the sky is the limit for this team.” FC Team defeated Real Hendon 4-0 courtesy of a Richard Salmon hat-trick and Jon Breger strike in the division’s other clash. There were goals galore in Peter Morrison Cup second round clashes. Premier Division Brady Maccabi led the way with a thumping 14-0 victory over Division Two side North London Raiders C. Reiss Mogilnerhot hit five goals and Stanley Offord a hat-trick. Ben Kohler (2), David Cohen, Jordan Nathan, James Joseph and Marc Rister also scored for Brady. Maccabi London Lions White enjoyed a 5-1 at Camden Park in an all-Premier clash. Conor Perl (2), Tyler Smith (2) and Eshed Calman hit the Lions goals. Player-manager James Gershfield described the win as a “professional performance”. “For the first 30 minutes this was an even game but some very poor defending gifted Lions three goals,” said Camden manager Stirling Kay. “Lions scored a early goal in the second half then we had our best spell of the match and were
rewarded with a Kane Gilbrey goal. This was a deserved reward for the team who kept going when the game was out of reach. “On the plus side were debuts for Richard Silver and Jordan Silverstone, and the return of Gilbrey for his first game this season. “Congratulations to Gersh and his boys, they were very deserved winners and we wish them good luck in the next round.” Redbridge Jewish Care A defeated League One Faithfold A 8-0. Steve Summers and Nathan Sollosi scored hat-tricks, Sam Sollosi and Ben Sollosi also hit the target. “A proper score line saw normality restored and Redbridge advance to the next round of the cup,” commented Redbridge joint-manager Jon Jacobs. “The memory of the shock win earlier in the season was well and truly forgotten. “This is the standard of play that we have come to expect and served as a good warm-up for the big Premier league games to come. “We wish Avi and his boys the best of luck for the rest of the season.” “I don’t like making excuses because it happens to everyone but we had too many key players missing,” said Faithfolkd boss Avi Markiewicz.
23 NOVEMBER 2017
Oakwood look to strike from a corner kick
“Against teams in our division we can cope but against Premiership opposition you need all your best players available. “People pulling out Sunday morning doesn’t help, it baffles me how people can do that. “As for the game, we had our chances and didn’t take them, a couple of poor refereeing decisions didn’t help either but that doesn’t mean for one second we deserved anything from the game. “Redbridge were the better team on the day and I’m sure will relish their revenge. We can now concentrate on the league.” Redbridge Jewish Care B won 6-1 against Faithfold B
Daniel Gordon (2), Adam Noble, Dan Lipman, Lee Cutler and Dan Andrews scored the Redbridge goals. Fairlop FC won 10-1 against Hertswood Vale. James Jaconelli hit a hat-trick, Daniel Bean (2), Max Freedman, Daniel Rosen, Bradley Gayer and Adam Goldman also scored. Josh Cohen struck Vale’s consolation goal. “Despite scraping a team together on the morning of the match, we decided to go ahead with the game and not call it off,” said Jacob Emanuel of Hertswood. “Credit to my guys who played today for putting in the effort but
we conceded too many goals from sloppy errors and made it far too easy for Fairlop. “Back to the league, where we’ll have some of the boys returning in a bid to move on from today.” Division Two team Bayern Mincha almost caused the shock of the round after a 6-5 penalty shoot defeat at Maccabi London Lions Blue following a 1-1 draw. Catford and Bromley Maccabi came out 5-3 shoot out winners against HMH Old Boys (Masters) after a 1-1 draw. “We won on penalties and deserved it,” player-manager Jeff Gotch. “They were an extremely young side littered with ex-Prem players and we matched them fully for the whole game. “Both teams had chances to win the game in the 90 minutes, but it wasn’t to be. “In the shoot out we converted our penalties. Captain Joel Lassman tucked home the decisive kick after our goalkeeper Guy Ben Aroya had saved their previous
Dan’s football round up column BY DAN SILVER
North London is Red. A phrase which has been exclaimed multiple times this week and to be fair, rightly so. I’m not normally the one to be praising Arsenal’s performance as I think the club is the ideal business proposal for any successful businessmen to purchase, which exceedingly infuriates me as a football club isn’t a business, it’s a hub of joy for fans of any calibre watching their boys play and the quote that’s been indoctrinated into me is one by Eric ‘the King’ Cantona, “You can change your wife, your politics, your religion, but never, never can you change your favourite football team.” But besides the fact I think Arsenal football club and the majority stakeholder Stan Kroenke show absolute no love for the fans, the football on the pitch shall and always will be the main talking point of the weekend. Now, ever since the 4-0 loss to Liverpool and 3-1 loss to Man
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City, it has always puzzled me as to why Wenger has mysteriously often decided against using Ozil, Lacazette and Sanchez as a potent three-pronged attack this season. With Lacazette scoring two absolute bangers for France against the current world champions Germany during the international break, it was a no brainer to start him against their arch rivals and he most definitely didn’t disappoint. For the Gunners first goal, Shkodran Mustafi headed a free-kick powerfully past Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris in the 36th minute after referee Mike Dean had contentiously penalised Davinson Sanchez for a challenge on Alexis Sanchez, while the German defender also looked to have been offside. Then, Lacazette and Sanchez were central figures in the crucial second goal, as the latter lashed the ball into the roof of the net from an angle by the Chile international, to secure the solid 2-0 victory maintain their arch-rivals miserable record at the Emirates
Stadium. There’s just no stopping them, is there? Every single week, City somehow keep on dazzling me with their beautiful tikka-takka football that shows why their true contenders not only for the Premier League but also for the Champions League titles. They produced yet another dominant performance in a victory at Leicester that protects their eight-point advantage at the top of the Premier League. Pep Guardiola’s side picked up where they left off before the international break as they recorded a 16th consecutive win in all competitions to take them to 34 points from their opening 12 games - equalling the Premier League record they set under Roberto Mancini in 201112. With an abundance of attacking prowess’s, there’s no chance of City slowing down anytime soon. Other results include Chelsea cruising to an easy away win over West Brom, which led to the sacking of relatively solid manager Tony Pulis, who’s surely a run in for the Welsh job. Liverpool eased past Southampton to secure three Premier League wins in a row for the first time in 2017 and Newcastle United ultimately shattering my hopes once again as they let a one goal lead slip from the palms of their hands to a now 38 games unbeaten at home Manchester United.
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kick. “It’s a great result that gets us back to winning ways.” Los Blancos defeated North London Raiders B 4-1 courtesy of a Simon Moses hat-trick and Gav Kreiger strike. David Simnock scored the Raiders goal. “We bossed the game and should have scored more,” said Joel Barnett of Blancos. “A solid back four were largely
untroubled and some slick attacking movement ensures the game was won.” North London Raiders A were 5-1 victors against Temple Fortune A after extra time. Zack Neiman (2), David Dinkin, Josh Goldstein and Josh Green scored the Raiders goals. Declan Spiro scored a consolation goal for Fortune.
Oakwood A
Maccabi GB coaching appointments for European and Maccabiah Games BY DAVID SAFFER Andrew Myers and Daren Nathan have been appointed Maccabi GB assistant general team managers for the European Maccabi Games in Budapest in 2019 and next Maccabiah Games. Myers graced Brady Maccabi and Wingate and Finchley Football Club as a player and is currently London Maccabi Lions U15 manager. On the international scene, he participated in the European Maccabi Games (1987 and 1995), Maccabiah Games (1993) and Pan American Maccabi Games (2007). “The chance to give something back to Maccabi GB and hopefully enable our squads to have the same incredible experiences we have enjoyed over the years is something I am really looking forward to,” said Myers. Nathan entered into a management role at London Maccabi Lions and during seven years in charge secured two league titles culminating in the U16 Boys Football team gold at the European Maccabi Games in Berlin in 2015. “These tournaments mean so much more than just sports competition,” said Nathan. “I want our team managers,
athletes and their family’s to enjoy the experience as much as I did with my team in Berlin.” Commenting on the appointments, Maccabi GB general team manager Joel Nathan said, “Having known both Andrew and Daren for many years I could not think of better people to ask to work alongside me. “Andrew has a wealth of Maccabiah experience and that will be a major factor in helping all the squads prepare and whilst Daren has only managed at one European Maccabi Games, his eye for detail is something I was very impressed with and felt he would be ideal for this role.” He added, “The three of us will work together not only in building on the success of the last two games, we will leave no stone unturned as we help prepare the squads for both tournaments.”
Andrew Myers
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23 NOVEMBER 2017
Parshat Vayetze In last week’s parshah, Yaakov fled from Esav, who was angry at Yaakov that he hadn’t received the blessings from Yitzchak. Yaakov flees to Charan, to his uncle Lavan. On the way, he goes to sleep. He gathers 12 stones beneath his head which turns into one stone . Yaakov falls asleep and dreams of a ladder coming down from heaven. On the ladder there are angels going up and down the ladder.
Join the dots!
Yaakov wakes up and continues his way to Lavan. There, he wants to marry Lavan’s daughter, Rachel. But Lavan only allows him to if Yaakov works for him for seven years. Yaakov does so but then a very strange thing happens… On the day of the wedding, Rachel is swapped with her sister Leah and without knowing it, Yaakov marries Leah instead of Rachel. Yaakov now has to work another seven years to marry Rachel! Later on, Yaakov also marries Zilpah (Leah’s maidservant) and Bilhah (Rachel’s maidservant). Over the years, Leah gives birth to 6 sons, Zilpah to 2 sons and Bilhah to 2 sons too. Rachel waits many years to have children and then has Yosef and Binyamin. If you counted well, that is 12 sons- who are going to be the 12 tribes! Yaakov has been in Charan for 14 years and wants to leave. He packs up his belongings and with his family, goes back to Canaan.
Bouncing Camel
Yaakov left Lavan on his camel, with his family following him on theirs.
You will need • Cardboard egg carton • Brown paint and a paintbrush • 4 orange or yellow pipe cleaners • Brown thick paper
Arts and Crafts
• Scissors • 1 Black marker • Glue or a hot glue gun (you may need help from an adult with that).
Method 1. Cut out 2 sections of the cardboard egg box, leaving them attached to one another. 2. Paint them brown and let them dry. 3. In the meantime, cut a 2-inch strip of the brown thick paper and fold in half lengthwise. Cut small slits into the end to form the frills for the tail. 4. Cut the camel’s head and neck from the thick brown paper. 5. Take the pipe cleaners and and wind them around two of your fingers. The top needs to be shaped upwards, so it can be attached to the cardboard egg box. The bottom needs to look a bit like camel’s feet. 6. With your scissors, cut a small slit into the front of the cardboard egg box and add a dot of (hot) glue, the neck of the camel will go in there. Do the same at the back, the tail will go in there. 7. When that is dry, turn the whole thing upside down and glue two legs to the cardboard egg box. THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM
23 NOVEMBER 2017
CUT OUT & KEEP Ingredients:
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TO CREATE YOUR VERY OWN JEWISH WEEKLY RECIPE BOOK
rainbow salad pots
• 350g pasta shapes • 200g green beans, trimmed and chopped into short lengths • 160g can tuna in olive oil, drained • 4 tbsp mayonnaise • 4 tbsp natural yogurt
• ½ small pack chives, finely chopped (optional) • 200g cherry tomatoes, quartered • 1 orange pepper, cut into little cubes • 195g can sweetcorn, drained
Method: 1. Cook the pasta until it’s ready to be eaten and drain well. 2. Cook the green beans in simmering water for 2 mins, then rinse in cold water and drain well. 3. Mix the tuna with the mayonnaise and yogurt. Add the chives. 4. Tip the pasta into a large glass bowl or four small ones, or four wide-necked jars (useful for taking on picnics). 5. Spoon the tuna dressing over the top of the pasta. Add a layer of green beans, followed by a layer of cherry tomatoes, then the peppers and sweetcorn. 6. Cover and chill until you’re ready to eat.
Did y u kn w? Fun winter facts
The word winter comes from the Germanic wintar which in turn is derived from the root wed meaning ‘wet’ or water’, and so signifying a wet season.
The earth is closest to the sun during winter!
The average snowflake falls at about 3 mph.
According to the Guinness World Records, on January 28, 1887, a snowflake 15 inches wide and 8 inches thick fell in Fort Keogh, Montana, making it the largest snowflake ever observed.
The coldest temperature ever recorded during a UK winter was -27.2 °C which was recorded in the village of Braemar in the Scottish Highlands.
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The largest recorded snowman ever built was in Bethel, Maine, in February 1999. The 113-foot, 7-inch snowman broke the previous record held by Yamagata, Japan, at 96 feet and 7 inches.
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23 NOVEMBER 2017
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Repositioning
By Chaya Sandler “Don’t touch the scanner.” Manny shook a finger at Idy sternly as he swivelled round in his chair. “I have a lot to do tonight and I can’t watch you all the time.” “Relax…. I can take care of myself.” Idy flashed a sweeter than sugar smile. Manny narrowed his eyes, “don’t play little miss innocent with me young lady. I know how mischievous you are. I’ll be keeping an eye on you through the cameras.” “Please, I’m not a 5 year old. I’ll be as good as a helperbot.” With that Idy clicked her boots and floated off. Hmmm, where to start? She could turn the ships gravity off but she’d done that too many times already. Besides, Manny wasn’t in a forgiving mood tonight. With her parents out on a shuttle ride that she hadn’t wanted to join (If they were going to see Saturn’s rings, maybe she would have gone with. The Asteroid belt? That was boring already) and Manny preoccupied, Idy had free run of the ship. The space ship. Idy dangled her hover boots over the railings on the deck and tried to resist the temptation to use the scanner. Behind her, the Milky Way passed by in all its glory. Stars, not even visible as specks from Earth, sparkled blindingly, only dimmed by the protective shaded windows. Saturn was just out of range of this window. They couldn’t get any closer or its gravity would pull them in and no one had worked out how to safely enter Saturn’s atmosphere safely. For that they had the scanner. Idy was really, really tempted. The deep space scanner was a highly sophisticated, extremely complex piece of machinery. The cutting edge of technology. It
also produced beautiful images of deep space. And Idy loved star gazing. A slim chrome keyboard sat in the middle of a smooth plastic console. Idy gently tapped the console and the screen appeared in mid-air. “Passcode.” Idy leaned over and gently breathed onto the console. Since both her parents were registered, her DNA was similar enough to allow her to pass. Since all members of the crew were authorised apart from Idy, the security inside wasn’t hard to bypass. The scanner whirred to life with a soft whining noise. Idy had never used it without her parents before. She hoped Manny wouldn’t hear the noise. The images were beautiful and Idy just kept zooming in. Then a notice pinged on the screen, “are you certain you wish to continue.” Idy nodded. “Repositioning in progress.” Idy nearly screamed, repositioning! That would throw them off orbit and if that happened they would be sucked into Saturn’s gravity and burn up in its atmosphere. She franticly tried to tap all over the screen but nothing happened. “Computer!” “Yes Idy.” “Cancel repositioning!” “You are unauthorised to make this command.” Now, now it decides to recognise her?! At least she knew the override code. “Computer, override 4682382904h2klweu238.” There was no response.
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Suddenly the ceilings sizzled, electricity streaked across the room and all the lights went off. The door began to open and close rapidly. All of a sudden the gravity disappeared and Idy floated straight for one of the streaks of energy! Idy screamed. She covered her eyes and suddenly strong arms grabbed her and dragged her away. “Manny!” She cried in relief. “Oh Manny, I’m so sorry. I know I should never have touched the scanner, I’m so sorry. I promise, I promise I’ll never do it again!” She was sobbing hysterically. “What are you talking about?” Mannny exclaimed. “The scanner? This has nothing to do with the scanner. The star closest to us flared unexpectedly which caused our ships systems to go haywire. It’ll only last about two minutes though. We’re equipped to deal with this. I came to find you in case you were scared or would get hurt. Where does the scanner come in?” When Idy had finished sobbing out the whole story Manny looked at her sternly. “Repositioning just means the camera is changing angles. The ship itself doesn’t move. However, you were very wrong to touch the scanner when I told you not to.” “Are you going to tell my parents?” Idy hiccupped. “I think you’ve learned your lesson.” “I think next time, I’ll be quite happy with seeing the Asteroid belt. Enough excitement for me.” “So you’ve repositioned your opinions?” “Manny!”
THE END
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Parshat Vayetze In a Nutshell In last week’s parshah, Yaakov fled from Esav. He was on his way to Charan, to his uncle Lavan. This week, we read about his jouney to Lavan. He wants to go to sleep on the way and gathers stones to be like a pillow under his head. The 12 stones that he gathers all want to be the pillow of this righteous man and by the end of the night, they have moulded to be one stone. Yaakov
goes to sleep and dreams of a ladder coming down from the sky. He sees angels coming up and down the ladder. At the end of the dream, Hashem appears before Yaakov and promises him that the land he slept on will be the place of the First Temple and the stone that was his “pillow” (the 12 stones that became one), will be the foundation stone! When Yaakov arrives in Charan, he meets Rachel, Lavan’s
daughter. Yaakov wants to marry her, but Lavan only allows him to to do so if he works for him for seven years. Yaakov agrees and works for seven years. However, before the chupa Leah is swapped for Rachel and unknowingly (because the bride’s face was covered with a veil) Yaakov marries Rachel’s sister Leah. Yaacov goes to Lavan, who tells him he will need to work
another seven years to marry Rachel. Yaakov agrees. In the years that follow, Leah gives birth to six sons and Yaakov’s concubines Bilhah and Zilpah each give birth to two sons. Rachel waits to have children for many years. Finally, she gives birth to two sons. The 12 shevatim (tribes) are born! Yaakov has been in Charan for many years and wants to leave. Lavan, in his typical ways, tries
to sabotage Yaakov’s leaving, but in the end Yaakov manages to leave with his family. In the years that he worked for Lavan, he has done very well and has obtained a lot of wealth, many sheep and cattle. Yaakov leaves Charan with his family and possessions, on his way to Canaan. He is about to meet his brother Esav again.
5 ways to start your day the right way 2
1
THE MOST IMPORTANT MEAL
MOVE YOUR BODY
3
SMILE
Exercise and even just stretching your body wakens the body and its muscles up, a healthy way to start your day!
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. When you eat a proper breakfast, you will snack less during the day. A healthy breakfast can be muesli, fruits, cereals, or a sandwich.
4
5
ORGANISE YOUR DAY FROM THE START
When starting the day, think of what you want to achieve that day and visualise how you are going to achieve it. Then, by the end of the day, you will see how much you achieved! This will give you renewed energy for the next day.
There is no better way to start your day than with a smile and a good mood. You can do this by playing happy music!
YOUR THOUGHTS DETERMINE YOUR FUTURE Your thoughts have a big impact on your behaviour. If you feel positive and optimistic about your new day, it has a bigger chance to be a successful day! Focus on the many new opportunities the day brings, on the good sides of having a fresh start every day!
THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM
23 NOVEMBER 2017
YOUTH 27
THE JEWISH WEEKLY
News Bites BOY,12,BUYS £300,000 NUMBER PLATE
A twelve-year-old student has bought a car number plate for the equivalent of £300,000 ($400,000) in an auction held by Abu Dhabi police. The boy paid 1.5m dirhams for the plate - numbered 1111 - in the auction of special registration plates intended to raise money for local police, The National newspaper reports. According to the paper, Khalifa Al
Mazrouei raised 500,000 dirhams of his own money which he won in a Quran recital competition, with the rest coming from his father. The plate is likely to be mounted on the Mercedes car in which he rides to school, The National said. Unfortunately, he won’t be able to drive the car legally for some years because the driving age remains at 18 years on Emirati roads.
Scientists say 8,000-year-old pottery fragments have revealed the earliest evidence of grape wine-making. The earthenware jars containing residual wine compounds were found in two sites south of the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, researchers said. Some of the jars bore images of
grape clusters and a man dancing. Previously, the earliest evidence of wine-making was from pottery dating from about 7,000 years ago found in north-western Iran. The latest finds were published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
BIZARRE SHAPE OF INTERSTELLAR ASTEROID
NZ MINISTER ORDERS PROBE INTO ‘IMPOSSIBLE’ MATHS EXAM
New Zealand’s education minister has ordered an investigation into an examination paper which reportedly reduced students to tears. The National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) level 1 maths exam was held on Monday, and is the standard secondary school qualification in New Zealand. However, pupils left the exam complaining that the three papers they had sat were “impossible” and contained concepts that they had not been taught, the New Zealand Herald reports.
‘WORLD’S OLDEST WINE’ FOUND IN 8,000-YEAR-OLD JARS IN GEORGIA
The paper reported one student as saying the paper was “incomprehensible in parts”, and that “in some cases calculations were impossible given the lack of information. In others, there were questions not covered in the syllabus”. One question which came under particular scrutiny appears to involve quadratic equations, which are not covered until Level 2 in New Zealand; while two others were described as “effectively identical”, meaning students would be penalised twice if they didn’t know the answer.
An asteroid that visited us from interstellar space is one of the most elongated cosmic objects known to science, a study has shown. Discovered on 19 October, the object’s speed and trajectory strongly suggested it originated in a planetary system around another star. Astronomers have been scrambling to observe the unique space rock, known as ‘Oumuamua, before it fades from view. Their results so far suggest it is at least 10 times longer than it is wide. That ratio is more extreme than that of any asteroid or comet ever observed in our solar system.
Using observations from the very large telescope in Chile, Karen Meech, from the Institute for Astronomy in Honolulu Hawaii, and colleagues determined that the object was about 400m long, rapidly
rotating and subject to dramatic changes in brightness. These changes in brightness were the clue to ‘Oumuamua’s bizarre shape.
Dear Agony Uncle Joey,
KEEP CALM AND ASK
AGONY AUNT MIA AND AGONY UNCLE JOEY
The Jewish Weekly’s Teen Agony Aunt and Agony Uncle are here to help with all your questions, problems and difficulties. Just write your letter to agonyaunt@thejewishweekly.com or agonyuncle@thejewishweekly.com Disclaimer: All letters that are published may be edited. All letters are kept confidential and names can be changed for confidentiality upon request.
I have a friend who unfortunately lost his grandmother, whom he was very close to. His father is sitting shivah (the 7-day mourning period). I don’t know what to say or do when I will go and visit. How should I go about this? Regards,
And if you have something nice you remember about your friend’s grandmother, this is the time to share it with them, it can bring great comfort to the mourner, but only when you feel they are ready for it and they would want to hear it. Good luck with it and may there only be happy things from now on!
Gabe
Regards, Uncle Joey
Hi Gabe, This is indeed a very hard situation and can be uncomfortable to many people, even adults who have been to shivahs many times! The purpose of the shivah is to give the mourners comfort. To help them think about their loss and to be there for them. Therefore the “rule” is to wait for the mourner to speak, before you speak. This way, he can start the conversation and he can decide the topic. The best thing to do is to just listen.
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28 YOUTH
23 NOVEMBER 2017
THE JEWISH WEEKLY
Q: What is red and smells like blue paint? A: Red paint.
Q:Why do the French like to eat snails so much? A: They can’t stand fast food. Q:What do you call bears with no ears? A: B
(Answers at the bottom of page upside down)
1. I fly without wings, I cry without eyes. What am I? 2. You can crack me; You can make me; You can tell me; You can play me. What am I?
I buy a goldfish?” The guy said, “Do you want an aquarium?” A: I said, “I don’t care what star sign it is.”
2. A joke! 3.
1. Dozing Bull 2. Condescending 3. Defeat 4. Singing in the rain 5. Captain Hook 6. Paradox
Dingbats Answers THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM
1. Clouds
0 Anything multiplied by 0 will equal 0.
3. What number do you get when you multiply all of the numbers on a telephone’s number pad?
Q: I went in to a pet shop. I said, “Can
23 NOVEMBER 2017
YOUTH 29
THE JEWISH WEEKLY
Be Careful What You Wish For
PART 4 OF 5 FUNERALS WERE A HUGE DEAL IN VICTORIAN ENGLAND
BY CHAYA SANDLER Toby has always known he was special, problem is no-one else does and even he gets a little stuck on how. Is the school newspaper his big break? With the discovery that Elliot has a time machine and the addition of Charles Dickens and Griff, a swashbuckling detective from the 1700’s to their team, the paper is a big success. But they are arrested and sentenced to death by the Interera court for interfering with the space- time continuum. Whilst escaping, they fall seemingly to their deaths. The platform exploded. We fell screaming into the darkness. This was it, I was going to die. In my teens! I hadn’t even grown out of my spots yet! Oh the ignominy, fate had bested me and greatness could finally catch its breath. I wouldn’t be chasing it anymore. This was the end. I squeezed my eyes shut and prayed frantically. Splash! I shut my mouth hurriedly as salt sprayed onto my face and suddenly I found myself submerged in water. Kicking, I gasped for air at the surface. Griff pulled me up. Of course, I looked soaked, my hair would dry at funny angels, my clothes would be creased and smell of salt and Griff just looked dashingly handsome as he stepped out of the sea. Elliot was drying what looked like a glowing smart watch. “Elliot you made a time travel watch?!” “Yeah, “he shrugged “no biggie” “No... You know what, forget it. You, uhh, whatever. Where are we? Or when are we?”
“South end! My time.” Dickens proclaimed happily. We had basically stepped into a postcard. I pulled out my phone and took a quick snap. I’ve included it in the article, you see it? I took that 157 years ago. Thing is, the beach was pretty deserted for mid June in Victorian London’s favourite holiday destination. “Where is everyone?” Dickens pontificated. “Let’s find out.” “Griff, you became a detective to have fun, right?” He winked in response. “The time police shall be making haste in pursuit i should imagine.” I’m glad Elliot hadn’t fetched Shakespeare, I could barely understand Dickens sometimes. He was correct though. “Let us make haste forthwith then.” Ugh, Griff was even worse. “How did a 1700’s gentleman get to be called Griff?” “By being born Sir Griffindor.” I stared incredulously. “No way. Sir Griffindor?! As in Harry ;Potter?!” “I do not know this Master Potter, young sir Toby, may I suggest we leave before the time police catch to us?” “So are we on the run through time? This is crazy, we can’t do that! We need.....Elliot,
I fixed him with a hard stare, “are you a super genius?” He shrugged. “Could you create a memory eraser to make the time police forget about us?” “If there’s a blueprint online.” “Ok, you work on that then. Meanwhile, where should we go?” “There is a train for 2 and 6 back to London where I have residence. I am usually in Kent at this time of year so we need not fear of encountering my past or future self.” “You should wear some sort of disguise just in case though. I don’t want any more trouble with the Inerera police and their hideously dressed court.” We found a hat for Dickens to wear and I gave him some sunglasses. He looked ... incredibly weird. Inspiration struck. I watch a lot of Sci-fi so I knew just what to do. Find a newspaper to find out the date. Since Griff looked slightly more suited to this time period than Elliot and I, we sent him to buy a newspaper. He came back with a sombre expression. “We should not go to Master Dickens’s house.” “Why heavens not?” “I don’t think we should go to London either.. not today.” Dickens snatched the paper from Griff before anyone could stop him. He
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stilled, lowered the paper slowly. “Ah.” Griff patted him on the back gently whilst I slipped it from his fingers to find the headline; A NATION MOURNS. A nation mourns the loss of one of her greatest writers. Enough has already been said upon the genius and generous nature of the man who has been so suddenly taken from us. Charles Dickens is no more, but his works are imperishable and cannot be pried away. 13th June 1870, Dickens died on the 9th and was buried in Poet’s corner 4 days later. Dickens was muttering under his breath. “Um.. I’m sorry mate.” “The cheek! I wanted to be buried in Kent! Drat and bother! Well we can’t very well stay here.” “Master Elliot, does your time travel watch allow us to choose dates?” “Yeah.” “Then let us journey henceforth to my residence upon the beautiful Esmeralda, queen of the seas.” Before anyone could reply, there was a blinding darkness and when it faded, 12 floating time officers were pointing their guns at us.” Ready, aim, fire.” The purple orbs shot towards us and I braced myself for the second time in a day, to die. I stared at the glow as it grew and grew until - Flash! My stomach dropped as if i was on a roller coaster and suddenly I was on a 18th century battleship. In the midst of a fierce looking battle with a bunch of pirates. “Get us out of here!” I yelled but there was another flash and the time police stepped out of a void. “There is no escape for you.” Great. I was about to die. Again. TO BE CONTINUED...
30 WOMEN
23 NOVEMBER 2017
THE JEWISH WEEKLY
W oman of W orth ֵֽא ׁ ֶשת ַֽחיִ ל ִמי יִ ְמ ָצא she was overwhelmed and surprised by the response of people in the local area, and as donations began being brought to her home, she began to realise that a larger space was needed to house all of this stuff. The couple, who are members of Borehamwood & Elstree United Synagogue, called upon the Katie Korklin help of Simon Mitchell, Chair When Katie Korklin watched the of the Synagogue to help them news coverage of the Grenfell out. Within a few of hours, Towers fire earlier this year, she provision was made for the was very much affected by what synagogue to be a main drop she saw. Along with her husband, off point for donations. Within Phillip, she wanted to try and do two hours of opening its doors, something to help the victims of the synagogue was having to this tragedy. “These tragic events turn people away as the hall really touched me emotionally. was already full of donations. I remember watching a report Katie explains, “People were about a woman who in sheer bringing so much, that there desperation to save her young were queues out of the door. It child, threw him out of the was really heart-warming to see window. As the mother of a new that it not only touched members born baby, and young child, I of the synagogue but people of could not imagine what she all faiths from the wider local would have had to have gone community. It really brought through to make that decision.” everyone together for this good The couple decided to start cause, and many people that had collecting clothes and supplies came along just to drop off stuff for the victims so that they ended up staying and helping could help them in a practical throughout the night.” way. Katie contacted friends After sorting out many and family, as well as posting of the donations, a group on local ‘What’s Coming to the of volunteers delivered the Wood’ Facebook group to gain first wave of supplies which further support. included blankets, and clothing As a marketing manager for to the victims in West London Shaare Zedek, Katie has always that evening. In the days that been charity minded, but even followed, Katie together with
KATIE KORKLIN
Philip connected with local volunteers who explained that they were trying to establish a temporary nursery nearby. The nursery had been located on the ground floor of the building, and had been completely destroyed in the fire. “When we heard this, we thought this would be a project for us to focus our efforts on.” Katies explains. “As we have young children and that we hd been donated many children’s toys, clothes and toiletries, we felt this would be a good way to help.” Katie and Philip set about organising supplies with the help of volunteers, that would be useful to the children in the area. Even the day nursery based at the Synagogue, where Katie’s daughter attends, also got involved by donating arts and crafts materials as well as toys to the cause. Katie worked closely with a charity called Grief Encounters that supports bereaved children and families, and using some of the art and craft supplies, they were able to create a two week summer camp programme in the summer for many of the children and families affected by the tragedy. Financial contributions were co-ordinated with Rugby Portobello Trust who was one of the first organisations in the North Kensington area that opened its doors to the Grenfell victims, and also helped organise
grants and support for those affected. She was also contacted by a member of the Synagogue who was a doctor at the Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead, who told her of a young girl who had been admitted to the hospital from Grenfell. Katie made contact with her family, and put together a package of toys and blankets for her and her family. Since the tragedy, Katie and her family have continued to stay in touch with this family, and have even been to visit them. “It was so nice to meet them, and to see how they were doing. They were so grateful and appreciative of what we had done, and it really made me realise how this kind of thing could happen to any of us. Katie is pleased that the family have now been moved into temporary accommodation, after spending the past five months in a hotel room. In that time, they have also had a new baby, and Katie, who had her own son in February, is trying to help the family in any way she can. The devastation caused by the fire had awful and tragic consequences for so many people in the area, and Katie feels that by being able to help these people in some way and getting to know them, and see what they have gone through, that something positive may have come out of it. “For me, I
am really proud to have been able to help those from outside my local community, and bring people together. It has been a real life lesson not only for me, but my husband and family, and really shows what amazing things people can do when they work together.” Simon Mitchell, Chair of Borehamwood and Elstree Synagogue commented on the hard work and dedication that the couple showed in organising the collections. “Katie and Philip were phenomenal throughout, and were responsible for not only masterminding the collection, but establishing where best to channel donations, making contacts in the North Kensington area, negotiated storage facilities for the donations, and along with other volunteers sorting through hundreds of black bags of donated goods. They worked tirelessly for the first 36 hours almost non-stop to make this happen. I have been involved with the Synagogue for around 10 years, and this undoubtedly has to be one of my proudest moments. It was incredible to see so many people, adults and children, from all over the area working together, and being so generous to make this all happen over such a short period of time to help others in such desperate need.”
TIPS & TRICKS – BEAT THE WINTER COLD Jewish Weekly aims to source the most genius, time saving and useful hacks for you every week, so watch this space!
Sneezing? Coughing? Feeling a bit under the weather? Well, here are a few ways to make you feel better. • Full Steam Ahead - Fill a bowl with hot water, place your face over the steam (do not get too close to the hot water) and put a towel over your head to help clear any congestion in your nose or head. Not only will it help you breath more easily, but can get a bit of a facial into the bargain. You can also add a few drops of peppermint oil for an extra menthol hit. • Gargle your sore throat away – Mix ½ teaspoon of salt into a glass of warm water, and gargle for a few minutes. It may taste horrible, but the salt will help to soothe your sore throat. Repeat every 6 – 8 hours.
• Vitamin C Hit – Make sure you get an extra boost of this cold fighting vitamin by having oranges, strawberries or even kiwis which will help you say ‘C you later’ to any dreaded lurgy. • Rest is best – If you are not feeling great, then a bit of R & R may be just what the doctor ordered. Blocked sinuses can make breathing tricky when lying down, so use a few pillows to prop up your head to ease nasal pressure. • Mother knows best – We have always been told that the best cure for a cold (or indeed anything) is a big bowl of chicken soup, but it seems that science agrees. There are many cold-fighting properties in it, which is probably why it is known as ‘Jewish Penicillin!’ If you have any suggestions or there is something you want feedback on, please contact us on office@thejewishweekly.com. Your question might be someone else’s solution!
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32 COMEDY
23 NOVEMBER 2017
THE JEWISH WEEKLY
The joys of transport and other things COMEDY BY ED MOSS I took a trip recently to Newcastle, and as I waited for the train in Victoria (Manchester) station, my heart well and truly sank. There were 43 girls from a Jewish High School in Salford all set to head off to Gateshead – and yes, my seat was slap bang in the middle of them all. Even a former SAS man (of which I am not!) would have baulked and resigned his commission on the spot if faced with a pack of 43 schoolgirls of any description. A death worse than fate! But I couldn’t have been more wrong! Apart from wandering quietly from seat to seat to speak to one another, they were more than a credit to their school. Polite, quiet and most wonderfully, not a single
mobile phone between them to stare at like zombies with perfunctory silly grins on their faces. And as they alighted from the train in Newcastle, one of the girls turned to me and said “I do hope we didn’t disturb you during the journey?” No my dear, you certainly did not. However, what did flummox me was the return leg home. There were just three train carriages with half of the rear carriage devoted to First Class (which is simply standard class with a clean linen headrest cover and a free cup of plasticated tea). Now it doesn’t take someone with a masters degree in railway logistics or a bachelors degree in rail passenger management to work out that an early afternoon train on a Friday from a major city
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(Newcastle) passing through four other major cities (Durham, Leeds, York and Manchester) on its way to yet another major city (Liverpool) might need more than two and a half carriages to accommodate Friday afternoon commuters wanting to get home. But no. Transpennine Express, with their infinite lack of wisdom and their kow-towing to shareholders, is more than happy to have people paying good money to stand from Newcastle to Manchester, a journey of some two and a half hours. And this doesn’t take into account the passengers who couldn’t actually embark at Durham, Leeds and York because the train was packed. Had I been the teacher in charge of the aforementioned 43 girls on that particular journey, I wouldn’t have stood a chance of getting them home. This really is unacceptable. Or at least it should be. To return to the subject of a previous column, I actually managed to elicit a response from Liverpool Airport to my complaint about them charging what is in essence
an entrance tax to drop-off or collect passengers. It was the expected response about it being “part of their business model” to generate funding to support the running of the airport. I replied once more to inform them that on this occasion, I wasn’t in the least impressed with their response. Aargh! The old Pound coin is no more, yet I received one in change the other day and never thought about it until afterwards. I shall now drill a hole in it and shove it on my key ring as a shopping-trolley token. As for the ten-pound note I received that I thought was the first of the new plastic ones to be forged. Nah. Silly me. It was a Scottish ten-pound note. I had a bad case of call-centre-it is last week. “Your call is important to us”. Like me, I am sure you love that statement as you hang on the telephone for dear life trying to speak to someone about your mobile phone account, your broadband account or your insurance policy. “Your call is in a queue and will be answered shortly”. “You are caller number 23”. “We are
experiencing higher than normal call volumes”. And so it goes. If our calls are so important, why do we have to hang on the line listening to twee on-hold messages eschewing their wonderful products, or someone playing Greensleeves on an out-of-tune Stylophone. Meanwhile, it took me over 30 minutes of patient hanging-on to talk to a customer services person at the company where my call was plaintively so important to them that I not only almost lost the will to live while waiting, but noticed that my beard had grown at least an inch (or is that two and a half centimetres?)
Ed Moss
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23 NOVEMBER 2017
TRAVEL 33
THE JEWISH WEEKLY
Barbados – Gateway to the Caribbean
Travel News Roundup is brought to you by Malcolm Ginsberg, Editor in Chief of Business Travel News (www.btnews.co.uk). He is a member of the International Travel Writers Alliance, a noted analyst on aviation matters and is seen from time to time on TV and heard on the radio. He would be pleased to hear from tour operators and travel agents who have future packages of a general nature that might interest Jewish Weekly readers. info@btnews.co.uk Virtually every island in the ‘Carib’ has some sort of Jewish connection whether refugees from Portugal or Spain in the 16th century, from Russia, or the Holocaust. Topping the list is Barbados, often considered the “Gateway to the Caribbean” and an island with a remarkable Jewish heritage. British Airways, Thomas Cook and Virgin Atlantic fly from Gatwick and Virgin adds Manchester. If you live in North London don’t be put off by the South London air gateway’s location. It is a very easy airport to use with good train services via Thameslink and Victoria, coaches from various points, and of course the M25. Our recent trip to Barbados was short, the introduction to a Caribbean cruise, but most enjoyable, and another place earmarked for greater exploration. Flight time is around eight and a half hours to Grantley Adams International Airport, a big change in temperature but a well organised reception for large wide bodied aircraft with 250 plus passengers. Our stay was at Cobblers Cove a top quality boutique experience. Be prepared for no TV in your suite. You can hire (no requests over the last 12 months according to a member of staff) and there is a television room, but you soon get used to really being on holiday and relaxing. There is free wi-fi of course. The restaurant is considered one of the best on the island and residents receive complimentary afternoon tea. No real need for lunch. The small beach is spotless, the water
warm, and there is the alternative of a pool. The tennis courts and gym did not seem to get much use during our stay. One would not expect the guests to use the local bus services, but it is free for UK pensioners and quite an experience for the 20-mile drive into the capital Bridgetown. The 40 suites are distinctly colonial, large and with either balconies or opening out into a central garden area. Barbados was the only overseas territory visited by George Washington as a young man, the experience probably saving his life. He contracted smallpox, built up immunity from an often fatal disease that became prevalent in the US for some time. Bridgetown is a small city, town being the operative word, with a yacht basin in the centre and the cruise port, walkable, on the outskirt. There are plenty of shops, and outdoor market. Right in the centre of Bridgetown is the synagogue. Jews first came to Barbados 1660’s, refugees from Recife. With their help Barbados went on to become one of the world’s major sugar producers. The Shul dates from those times. Destroyed by a hurricane in 1831, was rebuilt, fell into disrepair and was sold in 1929. In 1983, it was bought back by the Jewish community and was restored to its present state with its beautiful Gothic arches, and is now a Barbados National Trust protected building and an active synagogue. Located within the complex, which includes a fascinating cemetery, is the very modern Nidhe Israel Museum which traces the history of the Jews on the island. Prince Edward and Sophie were visitors during their Queen’s Diamond Jubilee tour with the Countess of Wessex expressing a particular interest in the Mikvah which dates from the very early days of the synagogue. A tour around the museum and the synagogue provide a very nice and interesting experience of Jewish life and history in Barbados. The Shul is open from Mondays to Fridays from 9 to 12 AM and from 1 to 4 PM and services take place on Friday at 7 PM in ‘True Blue’, Rockley New Road, Church of Christ, during the summer, and in the synagogue during the winter. Barbados has a vast choice of hotels from the celebrity driven Sandys Lane (including a championship golf course), Fairmount, and Hilton (which overlooks Bridgetown), to more modest accommodation. There are numerous places to visit and plenty of lovely beaches where you can dip into a warm and safe sea.
Sunny Barbados
Barbados also means cricket and The Oval, on the outskirts of Bridgetown
offers tours. The Barbados Museum is either
a short taxi or bus ride from Bridgetown. Located at the Garrison, it is housed in the former British Military Prison and affords a pleasant visit telling the history of the island. One can see artefacts of the Amerindians, furnishings of an eighteenth century plantation house and a collection of rare historical maps. Opposite is the Garrison Savannah Turf Club with meetings on most Saturdays. Even if you are not into horses it is a great day out, mixing with locals and visitors, with up to eight races. Harrison’s Cave is an interesting ride into the middle of the island. From the Centre you descend to join an electric tram for a guided drive along the mile long grotto passing various chambers and waterfalls and viewing amazing stalagmites and stalactites. The caves were first mentioned in 1795 but it was not until 1976 when they were rediscovered. They are now one of the island’s major tour attractions. Always popular from the UK even in difficult times Barbados is likely to boom again over the next few years.
Book celebrates London City Airport’s 30 years BY MALCOM GINSBERG On Thursday 5 November 1987 HM The Queen officially opened London City Airport. Since then nearly 60 million people have passed through a creation that has become synonymous with the 21st century success of what was once London’s docklands, and today a major world centre of international commerce. Malcolm Ginsberg’s fascinating new book London City Airport Thirty Years Serving the Capital uncovers the recent history of the docklands, once the busiest port in the world, the controversial birth of the airport and with it the parallel development of Canary Wharf, ExCeL London, and the Docklands Light Railway (DLR). Nicknamed LCY (the official airport code) it is a fascinating story that our enterprising Victorian forebears who built the docks would have praised. A short chapter compares 1987 and 2017, and The Timeline takes you through the years. In 1987 the one pound coin existed. In 1987 you needed to find a telephone box to make a call and there were 20.5 million cars in the
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UK as against 34.5 million today. Air travellers needed an eight-part ticket coupon. London City Airport was about to be born. In its first full year LCY moved 133,000 passengers. In 2016 the figure was 4.6 million. Malcolm Ginsberg explores the most exciting urban development in the UK since World War II and with it the reinvention of the West India Docks and its dominant feature the 50-storey One Canada Square, Britain’s tallest building prior to the opening of The Shard in 2013. He draws a parallel with the world outside Docklands, often dramatic events that affected London, and with it the airport. In 1988 British Aerospace demonstrated the feasibly of jet operations in the airport with the BAe146 ‘whisperjet’. In 2009 British Airways opened a non-stop service from New York Kennedy with a specially adapted Airbus A318. Headwinds in the other direction meant a refuelling stop in Shannon. The airport was really on the map. For the future the Bombardier C Series can make JFK non-stop. On 2 December 2005 Ken
Livingstone, by then Mayor of London, who had opposed the airport, cut the tape for the London City Airport DLR station. Today, 61% of its passengers use the station to access the airport. At £25 London City Airport Thirty Years Serving the Capital is the ideal Christmas present for the regular traveller and the aviation enthusiast. Contact Malcolm Ginsberg 07973 210631 malcolm.ginsberg@ btnews.co.uk
Malcom Ginsberg outside London City Airport
34 NUTRITION
23 NOVEMBER 2017
THE JEWISH WEEKLY
High Blood Pressure? Maybe not! BY ALAN FREISHTAT High blood pressure is no joke. Having high blood pressure can have several negative effects on your health, many of them can lead to premature death. HPB or hypertension, can lead to damaged or narrow arteries. That in turn decreases blood circulation throughout the body. It can weaken your arteries as well and result in an aneurysm, which can result in internal bleeding and ultimately, death. High blood pressure can also damage your heart causing heart attacks or heart failure. It also can have a pronounced negative effect on the blood vessels in your brain. This is what leads to stroke which is a prime risk factor of HBP. It is also linked to both mild cognitive impairment and dementia. And lastly, it can lead to kidney failure. So if you have high blood pressure, it needs to be treated and lowered. Using lifestyle changes is always preferable and changing our eating habits, starting to exercise and reducing stress are great ways to lower blood pressure. But if you don’t do that, then medications may be necessary. But when the doctor takes your pressure and it comes out high, how accurate is that number? Bella, age 63, was a client of mine last year. Her doctor sent her because she had been having borderline high to high blood pressure. Even with medication, when she went to her appointments, her
readings were high. However, when Bella’s neighbor, a nurse by profession, checked her BP, it was always 10-20 points less than the doctor’s readings. Was it the different cuffs they are using? Not likely! Bella had something known as White Coat Syndrome, that is, when you see the doctor (many of them wear a white coat when they work) your pressure goes up. White Coat Syndrome As much as 20 percent of the population suffers from “white coat syndrome,” in which blood pressure surges when measured in the doctor’s office. This becomes a challenge for physicians seeking an accurate blood pressure reading. But, Nathan Consedine, PhD, a health psychology researcher at Long Island University says that, “a fear response in a health care setting is perfectly normal because most people associate hospitals and clinics with sickness and injury”. “Fear is a response selected to promote immediate avoidance of a physical threat,” Consedine says. “Doctor’s offices and hospitals are places where bad things happen, so it’s not surprising that people avoid them.” It is interesting to note that a person with white coat syndrome may not feel anxiety, but her body, “at a low level, is ready to run away.” These fears of doctors and medical establishments in general sometimes manifest themselves in other ways. People sometimes
faint when they need a blood test and see the needle on a syringe before receiving an injection. I met someone who went for a routine colonoscopy and they had to wait as his anxiety about the test pushed up his blood pressure up 70 points. So this phenomenon is not rare. What Causes this? The typical cause is being anxious at the doctor’s office, possibly over what their blood pressure reading will be or over the act of having their blood pressure taken itself. People with white coat hypertension tend to have higher anxiety levels at the doctor’s office not only compared with people who have normal blood pressure, but also compared with those who have persistent hypertension. Interestingly, people prone to white coat hypertension are not necessarily any more anxious in their overall lives than the average person. They seem to overreact specifically when they are in the doctor’s office. Age is another risk factor for white coat hypertension, which occurs more frequently in older people. It’s not just in the doctor’s office. The condition is called “white coat” because blood pressure spikes in the doctor’s office or other medical settings where a physician (or other health care provider) is measuring blood pressure. But there are also cases in which blood pressure might be elevated with one doctor who measures your blood pressure but not with another doctor.
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In some people, blood pressure is not elevated if a nurse or technician measures it as opposed to a doctor, or if the person is wearing an ambulatory monitor (which measures blood pressure every 20 to 30 minutes over a day or two and stores the readings) as opposed to having the reading taken by a medical professional. Anxiety about blood pressure can lead to a vicious cycle in which higher and higher blood pressures at the doctor’s office lead patients to obsessively measure their blood pressure at home. This in turn can lead to more anxiety and possibly artificially high readings even at home. Other Temporary Factors There are other things that temporarily can raise your blood pressure at the doctor’s office. For one, did you rush to your appointment? If you are late and you are walking very quickly and then perhaps do a flight or two of stairs you will increase your circulation and in turn, your BP will rise. Also, make sure you use the bathroom before your appointment. When a person has the urge to go, stress hormones are released and your pressure automatically rises. It can go up about 15 points just from that. A serious dose of caffeine will also temporarily raise your blood pressure. So a strong cup of coffee or an energy drink will inflate your readings. Are you sitting in the doctor’s waiting room for a long time in over-anticipation of your visit? That can certainly make someone anxious. And sitting with your legs crossed while your waiting can also make your BP go higher. Although some experts feel that having white coat blood pressure is a benign condition, a study 2 years ago published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology suggested that it is linked with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. A different study however, published last year in Europe showed that this condition only mattered in people over 60 with 3 other risk factors for Cardiovascular Disease. On one of her visits to me, I spoke with Bella at great length and when I told her that her blood pressure may only be high when her doctor takes it, she asked me to check it. Guess what? After three
readings over 3 minutes, she had perfectly normal blood pressure! Try to work on the anxiety you are having about your blood pressure being taken. Identify your anxiety and confront it. You can learn how to be more relaxed with your doctor. High Blood Pressure can be a dangerous condition, but if you can identify that yours is only around the doctor, you won’t run the risk of treating a condition you don’t really have. Relaxing and keeping yourself from over-reacting to the presence of your doctor will “add hours to our day, days to your year and years to your life”.
Alan Freishtat is an A.C.E. certified personal trainer and a behavioural change and wellness coach with over 19 years of professional experience. Alan is the creator and director of the “10 Weeks to Health” programme for weight loss and is available for private coaching sessions, consultations, assessments and personalised workout programmes both in his office and by telephone or Skype. Alan also lectures and gives seminars and workshops. Contact Alan on 02-651-8502 or 050-555-7175, or email alan@alanfitness.com. For more information visit www.alanfitness.com
23 NOVEMBER 2017
THE JEWISH WEEKLY
FOOD 35 615 min Duration 600 min Cook Time 15 min Prep Time 10+ Servings
joyofkosher.com Overnight Brisket, AKA, wake up to the smell of dinner. It’s 8 am and dinner is ready! Oh poor you, you worked so hard! NAH... you slept like a baby knowing that dinner was cooking itself while you slumbered. Low oven temp and a long slow cook session ensures that this brisket is tender and not dried out. Be sure to use a whole brisket with fat on it, or a second-cut brisket (also known as the deckel). This will guarantee a moist, juicy, and savory end result. A first cut brisket will just be stringy.
INGREDIENTS • • • • • • • •
3 large onions, thinly sliced 3 whole heads of garlic, sliced in half to reveal the cloves 1 whole brisket (fat on) or 2 second cut briskets Kosher salt Freshly cracked black pepper 2 cups dry red wine 2 cups beef or chicken broth 1 cup crushed tomatoes (optional)
PREPARATION 1. Preheat oven to 105°C. 2. Layer sliced onions and garlic in a large roasting pan or Dutch oven. Season brisket with salt and pepper. 3. Place brisket on top of onions and garlic. Pour red wine, broth and tomatoes, if using, into pan. Cover food directly with a layer of parchment (foil will leech onto your food) and then seal tightly with foil. 4. Roast at 105°C for 10 hours. 5. Gently transfer brisket to a cutting board to cool before slicing. While brisket is cooling, strain onions and garlic from pan juices, being sure to press all juices out. Skim fat off of pan juices and reduce pan juices stove top until it coats the back of a spoon. 6. Slice brisket across the grain and transfer back to braising pan. Store in refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze for 1 month (freeze reduced braising liquid separately). 7. Reheat brisket, covered in a low oven at 95°C. until hot. Serve with reduced pan juices.
OVERNIGHT BRISKET
ITALIAN COURGETTE This healthy vegetable side dish is the perfect complement to any meal. For more flavor and pizzazz, add and sauté a carton of fresh sliced mushrooms and some red bell pepper strips. Season with a little extra garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper to taste.
INGREDIENTS • • • •
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 onion, coarsely chopped 2 courgette, thinly sliced 2 teaspoons prepared crushed garlic
• ½ teaspoon crumbled, dried oregano • ½ teaspoon salt • ½ teaspoon pepper
PREPARATION 1. 2. 3. 4.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and sauté 2 minutes. Add zucchini, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper, and sauté for 3 minutes. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 10 minutes. Serve immediately.
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21 min Duration 15 min Cook Time 6 min Prep Time 4 Servings