Letters

24 LETTERS

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 1926 – 2022

Letters to the

Editor Send in your comments to letters@thejewishweekly.com

Please note: The views of the letters do not necessarily reflect the views of this newspaper. Letters may be edited and publication is at the discretion of the editor.

MORNING/MOURNING AND THE POWER OF “10”

This lady expertly performed her Royal role for 70 years The late Queen was truly one of our modern-day seers One thing that I know is this She will be so sorely missed Once the immediate fog of her passing on slowly clears

On that note, let’s all hope and pray that our new King Charles III During her lifetime, internalised all that he had seen and heard Since he knew that sooner or later And Baruch Hashem, it was the latter He was in line and would be called upon one day to royally serve

Family and friends, as we continue to have 10 days of National mourning For the late Queen Elizabeth II, I just cannot help but continue thinking That we, the Jewish people, will very soon experience Our own, annual “10 Days of Awe,” or “of Penitence.” With the Chagim of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur fast approaching

During these times, may we be able to reflect upon major matters Such as life, death and our behaviour as to what is expected of us By Hashem and people in this post-Elizabethan era And in 5783, our New Year, and immediate future May the same criteria apply to the new government under Liz Truss

May our late Queen’s legacy, going forward, inspire us all To strive to do our best in life and so be better people And as we go about our lives Like she did, try to recognise More of the good in others and so spread more goodwill

At this momentous time, I wish everyone All the best and a Shabbat shalom

by Stephen Miller

In a week which saw in a new female Prime Minister and the loss of our remarkable Queen E 11, our lovely community in St Anne’s joined a special Shabbaton connecting small Jewish communities around the UK. During the Friday night dinner I shared some thoughts... Firstly, I think it is most appropriate that of all weeks for the JSCN to hold this Shabbaton, it has by no coincidence, fallen at this raw time, just 24 hours after we all learnt the sad news, at a time when we need to gather together as a community. To share memories of a simply outstanding Queen who remained deeply committed to a life of service until the very end. She was, and always will be, an inspiration to us as a Jewish community and to the world. It will be a time of change ahead, to get used to having a King as Head of State, with a Queen Consort, and we wish them both much blessings and success in this new era. Interestingly, we are exactly mid-way through the month of Elul - a month of renewal and returning to spiritual purity in time for Rosh Hashana.

Ironically, the sages teach us that in the month of Elul, ‘Melech B’Sodeh’ - the King is in the fields.

This is a metaphor to be interstood as follows. During the year royal subjects would have to travel to the Palace to greet the King, but in the month of Elul, the King comes out of the palace, to the fields to be much closer and approachable to the people. Knowing Hashem is giving us this opportunity to seek him out during Elul prepares us for the Days of Judgement in just over two weeks.

It is a time to take a long hard and honest look at ourselves, to reflect on our actions and behaviour.

Every single person is created in the image of Hashem, and therefore to upset or insult anybody, is insulting our Maker.

How can we stand before Hashem in two weeks time and plead for forgiveness for our mistakes, pray for a good year, of health, prosperity etc if there may be somebody you may have hurt intentionally or

RIP HM QUEEN ELIZABETH

Dear Editor

Thunder that shook us in our beds, and then double rainbows!

Last Friday the subway was packed with people going to Buckingham palace carrying bouquets of flowers .. why?

Sometimes you hide behind living a falsity called denial. They are immortal, they will never leave us. So when we heard the longest thunder in the middle of the night who was awake enough to link it to a tumult in the heavens to allow the Queen to let go of the reigns?

When the reality came together I wondered what thunder is struck in the hearts of so many that felt safe and secure even though we never knew her?

Why did this lady connect to many? Is is because modesty in our world is so important? Is it that she stood for continuity? Is it because she stood for truth? For keeping strong when everything around you is crumbling in public?

Is it because she was predictable in the way she lived her role but didn’t do it for fame? Everything she did wasn’t fake news or hyped but from her heart and interest in others.

This list is endless. The grief is real. I went up to Buckingham Palace to feel collective grief.

To know I am not alone in sharing this emotion within my heart, as I saw endless people streaming by, of all ages, all types from all over. Reading the cards attached to beautiful bouquets.

And to believe that the next stage in our living in the UK is about to begin and how what will that look like?

We are Jewish, we are part of the UK. It very important that if you can to take yourselves out of your world and enter another, to see history infold and to admit uncertainty and sadness again.

I was at the Platinum Jubilee sleeping there to be part of the celebrations it seems only yesterday, what an eclipse of emotions when I went Friday.

I took my children to the weddings and Royal Ascot to see a Royal modestly advertising the country we are part of and I was proud to show my children modesty does exist outside of Stamford Hill and its something to be proud of.

Thank you Ma’am for setting boundaries and remaining Loyal to your role.

We acknowledge your pure dedication and we learnt so much form you.

Shulamis Levy

even unintentionally.

This is a time to mend broken relationships, to commit to only speaking positively, to uplift and inspire others. It was very poignant to see pictures of that beautiful rainbow over Buckingham Palace just before the sad news was announced yesterday.

Many people took it to be a comforting and colourful sign that the Queen has crossed the bridge and letting us know she made it.

For me, personally, I took it as a message that as one human Monarch passes, our true enduring King of Kings is constantly present.

Not only that, but we are taught that every Jew is Ben or Bat Melech, a son or daughter of the King.

We may not live in Palaces, or be driven around in horse drawn carriages, but to be a Jew means we too are born into royalty, we are infused with the Divine.

We may be simple commoners, we may find ourselves in difficult circumstances, but to align ourselves with Avinu Malkeinu, our Father, Our King means we have a duty and responsibility to live dignified lives serving Hashem, doing mitzvot, and being the best role models we can be to all those around us.

My blessing to us all is that we wear our Jewish crowns with pride and humility, with honesty and sincerity and may Hashem bless us all with a peaceful, healthy and happy year to come.

Kesivah V’Chasimah Tovah

by Rebbetzen Anna Bergson

Firstly I would like to start by saying what a great article you published about HRH last week. As always giving over the current news in the clearest fashion!

Secondly, the Bank Holiday that has been bestowed upon us is wrong. I understand there is a large part of the population that will be sad the Queen has passed and we definitely owe Her our gratitude especially for the way the Jews have been allowed to live freely in her country. But for the majority of people will be using this as an extra free day off to go out wife family and friends and not even think about the Queen and what the day should mean.

In a time of such financial uncertainty for the government to have put 2 extra Bank Holidays in this year is just unfair on small, medium and large businesses. Its all very nice that all the staff get to gallivant around for a long weekend. But that has cost the employer a lot. From lost wages to lost production. And if you don’t give it off to your staff your the bad person.

It would be much more effective to the cause if employers were told to hold a 2 minute silence as well as a viewing of the ceremony. Then the employers don’t lose out, the respect to the Queen is there and its not just a free day at the park.

Yes I may sound like a grump but I spoke to a business today who told me it’s costing him £14,000 in wages alone for that day. Surely at a financial time like now this has to be thought about.

Your sincerely A small business owner

Seed appoint Rabbi Akiva

Seed has welcomed Rabbi Akiva Rosenblatt and Talya Abraham to the school’s team.

Rabbi Rosenblatt will be working in Etz Chaim Jewish Primary School, Immanuel College Preparatory School and Rimon Jewish Primary School.

He studied at Sunderland Yeshiva, Heichal Hatorah Betzion (R Tzvi’s) and Jerusalem Kollel where he attained his semicha.

Rabbi Rosenblatt is a graduate of the Rabbinic Training Academy, a prestigious, UKbased, 18-month leadership programme that develops the skills of newly-qualified rabbinic couples with a strong focus on emotional and psychological wellbeing.

He was previously Woodside Park United Synagogue assistant rabbi and is currently

Rabbi Akiva Rosenblatt

Hadley Wood Jewish Community senior rabbi. Married to Batya, they have three children.

Talya has completed a year at Midreshet Tehillah seminary in Jerusalem and will support the school programme whilst working part-time with young children in a playgroup in Golders Green.

PHOTO CREDIT: LAWRENCE PURCELL PHOTO CREDIT: LAWRENCE PURCELL

Bury and Whitefield Jewish primary school kids enjoy Rosh Hashana lessons as Rabbi Feldman blows the shofar. Chief Rabbi of the U.A.E. Levi Duchman marries Lea Hadad in Dubai, joined by 1,500 guests.

Aish appoints Rafael

Aish UK has appointed Rafael Joseph as Head of Schools Division.

The appointment demonstrates a commitment to doubling existing programmes for the upcoming year under new CEO Rabbi Naftali Schiff.

Aish has run programmes in and out of Jewish and non-Jewish secondary schools for over 20 years. The appointment of Joseph, who spent the last 18 years at JFS as a Jewish Studies teacher and sixth form Jewish Studies coordinator, gives invaluable school and pupil focused insight into developing the department and programming.

Rabbi Naftali Schiff, Chief Executive of Aish UK said. “Rafael’s experience and commitment to the Jewish development of thousands of young Jews thus far, puts him and Aish in great stead for the future. Secondary school students are in some of their most formative years for building a connection to their Judaism. We aim to inspire and connect as many of them as possible before stepping into the professional world.”

Joseph will provide an informal setting for Jewish students to connect with their Jewish identity. He will develop the existing school’s provision, including the ‘NXT’ programme that offers opportunities for school students to hear from Jewish leaders in professional fields.

This can lead to mentorships and a chance for students to see there is every possibility of being professionally successful whilst maintaining a strong Jewish identity.

The schools programme offers an alternative way for young Jews to connect with their Jewish identity, creating a safe space to explore being Jewish without fear of judgment.

Joseph will broaden the team of Aish educators to show students the beauty of Torah and life that comes with it.

He said, “To connect young people to their Jewish identity in the modern day is an incredibly challenging endeavour. I welcome that challenge and hope we will be able to inspire every Jewish student to realise the inheritance assigned to us and embrace that privilege.”