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RUBASHKIN RELEASED 21 December 2017/ 03 Tevet 5778

BY ADAM MOSES

President Donald Trump has sensationally commuted the prison sentence of Sholom Rubashkin.

Bipartisan leaders from across the political spectrum encouraged the action, which was announced yesterday in a White House statement.

The 57-year-old father of 10 children had previously run the

Sholom Rubashkin

Iowa headquarters of a family Agriprocessors business that was the country’s largest kosher meat-processing company.

But he was convicted of bank fraud and sentenced thereafter to 27 years in prison in 2009.

Rubashkin has served more than eight years of the sentence, which has been deemed excessive in light of its disparity with sentences imposed for similar crimes.

‘This action is not a Presidential pardon,” the statement noted.

‘It does not vacate Mr. Rubashkins conviction and it leaves in place a term of supervised release and a substantial restitution obligation, which were also part of Mr. Rubashkins sentence.

‘The Presidents review of Mr. Rubashkins case and commutation decision were based on expressions of support from Members of

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CHANUKAH ROUND-UP

PHOTO COLLAGE PAGE 8

Candle lighting at the Aish Chanukah party

Congress and a broad cross-section of the legal community.

‘A bipartisan group of more than 100 former high-ranking and distinguished Department of Justice (DOJ) officials, prosecutors, judges,

PHOTO CREDIT: BLAKE EZRA

and legal scholars have expressed concerns about the evidentiary proceedings in Mr. Rubashkins case and the severity of his sentence.

‘Additionally, more than 30 current Members of Congress have

written letters expressing support for review of Mr. Rubashkins case.’

Former high-ranking DOJ officials expressing support for review CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

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Our next issue will be out on Thursday 11th January 2018

2 NEWS

21 DECEMBER 2017

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

National outrage at Council leader’s meat ban

BY ADAM MOSES Leaders nationally have slammed Lancashire County Council’s decision to ban non-mechanically stunned meat from schools.

Board of Deputies Vice President Marie van der Zyl met Council leader Geoff Driver to discuss the Council’s decision this week.

Jonny Wineberg, Jewish Representative Council chair of executive, Aaron Bass of Shechita UK and Daniel Elton, BoD Government Affairs Officer also attended the meeting.

“I remain troubled by Councillor Driver’s dismissive attitude,” said Ms Van der Zyl. “He refused to see the danger of his assertion that Jewish and Muslim councillors could not be objective because of their faiths. He also

stood by polarising and divisive language that can only harm community relations.

“Our elected representatives should be taking a lead on how to treat others with respect. Councillor Driver has failed to do that on this occasion.”

The Jewish communal delegation described the Council leaders’ comments on non-mechanically pre-stunned slaughter as ‘cruel’ and ‘abhorrent’.

“We found Councillor Driver unable to recognise the repercussions of comments that Councillors of faith were unable to be objective in their roles,” said Mr Wineberg.

“Whilst he said that this was about politics not religion and apologised “if anyone was offended,” we do not deem that a sufficient apology.

“Indeed, he backtracked on this at the meeting saying that he stood by his comments! We believe that his use of divisive language is not in keeping with his position.”

Mr Wineberg added, “In the North West, we have a great recent record of building bridges between faith communities and improving understanding and respect for diverse views and practices.

“It is concerning to have a situation in Lancashire schools where children will now be told that the practice of their faith is not compatible with the view of local government.

“We hope that this misjudged decision will be overturned at the earliest possible opportunity.”

Both the Board and Representative Council are writing to Councillor Driver noting their views

and have committed work with colleagues to protect the Jewish community’s rights.

In a further local twist, Rabbi Arnold Saunders, who is a Tory Councillor on the Salford City Council, has connections to Lancashire Jewry through official civic ceremonies such as Holocaust Memorial Day. “The decision back in October is shocking and misguided and has deep ramifications not only for the

Thousands mourn fire victims in New York

BY DEBORAH WAXLER

The Jewish community of Flatbush in Brooklyn is mourning the deaths of three children and their mother following a fire in their home on Monday.

Fire Marshalls confirmed within 24 hours that an ‘unattended’ menorah sparked the Chanukah inferno which ripped through a Sheepshead Bay home in the early hours of the morning.

Firemen were reportedly at the scene within three minutes of a 911 call from neighbours by which time the three-story home was engulfed in flames.

“It was early morning, everyone in the home was asleep,” Fire commissioner Daniel Nigro reported the Yeshiva World News.(YWN) The fire “got a good start before a neighbour noticed and called us.

“What they were confronted with is fire meeting them at the front door. So the units, knowing there were people in the home, pushed in very aggressively.”

Nigro confirmed that nine people - the parents, six children and a cousin, were in the house.

“This is a terrible tragedy, not just for this community, but for our city,” Nigro added.

“This time of year, when these things strike, it just tears your heart out for the family.

“Our city grieves with this family

today.”

Thousands of mourners packed the streets of East Flatbush for a scheduled funeral in the evening.

SUVs carrying the bodies curtailed the procession outside Beit Knesset Sheves Achim.

The bodies were identified as 40-year-old Aliza Azan and children Moshe 11, Yitzchak 7, and Henrietta 3. They were taken to JFK Airport where a plane was waiting to fly them to Israel for burial.

“I just can’t believe it,” a family friend, Jamhila Ruben, told the New York Post.

The heroic actions of the father, Yosef Azan, 45, was described at a press conference as he saved two of his teenage children, Shalit and Daniel.

All three are in a critical condition at Staten Island Burn Centre.

The community has been urged to pray for them.

Yosef attempted to re-enter his home but failed to do so due to the flames.

Smoke alarms saved the lives of another teenage son and cousin on the first floor.

Five firefighters were reported to have minor injuries.

YWN reported that sources confirmed that among the deceased, some were classmates of the Sassoon children at Yeshivat Ateret Torah killed in another fire in Flatbush in 2015.

The house in ruins PHOTO CREDIT: YESHIVA WORLD NEWS

In that fire tragedy, seven children in one family perished. Rabbi Sasoon, the father of the victims in the 2015 fire, wrote a comforting letter to Mr Yosef Azan.

There were other Chanukah incidents around the world.

Two fires caused damage to homes in Kiryat Bialik and Ramat Beit Shemesh in Israel on the first night of the festival.

According to YWN, a menorah was not on a stable surface in one of the incidents.

No one was reported injured in either incident.

Meanwhile, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service warned families about the danger of lit candles after receiving two callouts after Shabbat.

In a tweet, the service warned, “Candle safety alert. Don’t leave them unattended – particularly if you’re celebrating Hanukkah this weekend. Our crews have attended two fires today caused by unattended menorah candles.”

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future of ritual slaughter but also community relations in the region,” he said.

“The irony on this is not lost on me because Lancashire County Council has at least one slaughter house where Jewish ritual slaughter takes place.

“In my view a council should not interfere with decisions that are the remit of the government.”

NEWS IN BRIEF

Board of Deputies reacts to BBC Religion and Ethics Review

Board of Deputies Chief Executive Gillian Merron has welcomed the BBC’s Religion and Ethics review in which the broadcaster commits to expanding coverage around Jewish festivals.

She said: “The BBC has a vital role to play in dispelling myths and prejudices. We are encouraged that the corporation has undertaken a wide-ranging review, consulting the Board of Deputies and other stakeholders.

We are glad that the BBC has committed itself to expanding its coverage around religious festivals. We would also like to see BBC coverage take into account the full diversity of the Jewish community in the UK and for that coverage to strive to be both rigorous and accurate.”

WHAT’S INSIDE THIS WEEK 02 News 04 Israel News 08 Photo Collage 10 Community News 18 Sports 21 Supplement 33 Business

34 Feature 36 Judaism 40 Kids 44 Youth 48 Women 50 Food 52 Travel

21 DECEMBER 2017

Far-Right outrage in Austria

BY DEBORAH WAXLER

Jewish leaders across Europe have voiced grave concerns about a coalition agreement in Austria resulting in the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) returning to government with the conservative People’s Party (ÖVP).

The Board of Deputies were outraged by the news and made a swift condemnation.

Richard Verber, senior vice president, said far right parties had brought “unprecedented misery” on Austria and other European countries in the past.

“It is up to all European countries, including the new Government of Austria, to make sure it does not do so again in the future.” he added.

“We fully support the position adopted by the Austrian Jewish community, European Jewish Congress (EJC) and World Jewish Congress (WJC) of non-engagement with the far-right in Europe.

“While some parties claim to have disavowed their anti-Semitic and racist roots, actions speak much louder than words.

“We urge the European Union and other international partners to carefully monitor the situation in the coming weeks and months and respond as appropriate.”

WJC was similarly appalled.

President Ronald S. Lauder diplomatically congratulated Sebastian Kurz on becoming the chancellor of Austria, but voiced “severe” concern over his decision to form a

Rubashkin finally freed after eight years CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 of the much-publicised case included Attorney General Edwin Meese III, Attorney General Michael Mukasey, Solicitor General Seth Waxman and FBI Director Louis Freeh.

Current Congress members across the political divide expressing support included Senators Bill Cassidy, John Cornyn, Orrin Hatch, Mike Lee, Rand Paul, Roger Wicker and Yvette Clarke. Representatives also across the political landscape expressed support.

The family is well known in worldwide Chabad movement, and many projects have been launched alongside countless prayers over the last eight years.

NEWS 3

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

coalition government with the farright party led by Heinz-Christian Strache.

“It is severely disquieting that despite the many real concerns known and expressed about the FPÖ, it will now retain a position of serious influence, giving the Austrian government a real push even further to the right,” he said on the WJC website.

“Mr. Kurz is a capable man, who has shown very positive attitudes toward Israel and the Jewish people, and I wish him luck as chancellor in leading Austria to great success.

“I hope he will make every effort to ensure that the policies set within his government continue to follow a democratic line, and do not dissolve into dangerous populism.

“The FPÖ is a far-right party whose members have in the past expressed xenophobic and anti-Semitic sentiments, yet is has now been charged with overseeing the interior, defense, and foreign ministries, three of the most important and powerful fields of government.

“We have heard promises since the election that FPÖ has softened its policies, but this will remain rhetoric until actual proof of this is shown.”

The EJC expressed likewise voiced concern about the FPÖ entering into an Austrian government coalition.

“The FPÖ has a long history of anti-Semitism and xenophobia and we are concerned about the fact

that they will control government ministries in the new Austrian Government,” said EJC president Dr. Moshe Kantor on their website.

“We hope that the FPÖ will not have a problematic influence on the direction of the government led by the People’s Party and that the Chancellor and his party will be able to discipline the intolerant elements within the FPÖ.”

He added, “The (FPÖ) has tried to correct these elements of its past ideology and now we need to see concrete steps to show that these are not publicity stunts or they will remain outside of the pale for the Jewish community.

“The (FPÖ) can not use the Jewish community as a fig leaf and must show tolerance and acceptance towards all communities and minorities.”

Oskar Deutsch, President of IKG Wien, the Jewish community of Vienna stated on the EJC site, “It can never be normality that a right-wing populist or even extreme right-wing party – whose representatives time and again had difficulties to distance themselves from National Socialism, and who raised their voices against people of different cultures or religions – takes on government responsibility.”

BY ADAM MOSES

economic ties between Israel and the United Kingdom are growing even stronger,” said Ambassador Regev.

“I believe we will see more Israeli companies join the LSE in the year ahead.”

Justine Zwerling, Head of Primary Markets - Israel, London Stock Exchange Group assisted Shefa with the listing.

“The company’s choice of London for its IPO underlines the City’s status as a market open to the world and highlights the strong economic, financial and cultural ties between the UK and Israel,” she commented.

“With 29 Israeli firms now listed in London, we are committed to supporting Israeli companies raise international capital.”

Deutsch regarded as “especially alarming”, the far-right party bearing political responsibility for the police and armed forces.

Following the result, thousands of protesters rallied outside the Hofburg Palace in central Vienna during the swearing-in ceremony where there was a substantial police presence.

“Don’t let the Nazis govern” was seen among dissenting banners.

Coalition plans include tougher rules for asylum seekers, a restriction on “political Islam” and extra security measures to fight terrorism.

Key posts include heading up interior and defence ministries.

The far right party has also named Karin Kneissl, an independent Middle East expert who speaks Arabic and Hebrew the new foreign minister.

Ex-Nazis founded FPÖ in 1956 as a successor to the Federation of Independents representing pan-Germanists and national liberals in Austrian politic.

The Party’s first leader was a former SS officer Anton Reinthaller.

Nowadays the far-right Party denies a connection to Nazi ideology.

France’s National Front leader Marine Le Pen said FPÖ’s success was “excellent” news for Europe.

NEWS IN BRIEF

British PM and US President have first conversation post Trump recognition of Jerusalem

BY ISAAC SHERMAN

Prime Minister Theresa May and President Donald Trump have spoken officially for the first time since the US leader’s controversial recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel earlier this month.

It is understood no mention of the political row between the Mrs May and the US President following his re-tweeting of unverified anti-Muslim videos posted by a senior Britain First member took place in a phone call on Tuesday.

The two leaders reportedly discussed a range of issues.

“The Prime Minister called President Trump earlier this afternoon,” a Downing Street spokesman said.

“She began by offering her condolences over the loss of life in the terrible train crash in Washington State.

“They discussed the different positions we took on the recognition of Jerusalem as the Israeli capital, and agreed on the importance of the US bringing forward new proposals for peace and the international community supporting these efforts.”

Britain, like the majority of European countries and Arab world, vehemently opposed Mr Trump’s plan to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Israeli mining company makes history on London Stock Exchange An Israeli mining company has made history by becoming the first to list on the London Stock Exchange.

Shefa Yamim focuses on the exploration for precious stones in Northern Israel.

Trading in ordinary shares commenced Wednesday.

Shefa is the 29th Israeli company to make the official list and 100th to list in London this year.

Israeli Ambassador Mark Regev joined company representatives, the LSE and investors at a launch ceremony, which concluded with the lighting of the menorah for the first time at the LSE. “Shefa Yamim’s listing serves as further proof that the robust

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

History makers Shefa Yanmin join London Stock Exchange

Shefa raised gross proceeds of £4.15 million and will use net proceeds to advance exploration in the Kishon Mid Reach project.

Avi Taub, Shefa chief executive officer said he was “delighted” with the listing.

“We believe that Shefa Yamim’s diverse assemblage of gemstones makes it unique,” he noted. “The

monies raised will allow the company to accelerate exploration on its priority target, the Kishon-Mid Reach, with the view of commencing production by 2020.

“We look forward to updating the market on our progress.”

Mr Taub thanked existing shareholders for their support and welcomed new investors.

4 ISRAEL NEWS

21 DECEMBER 2017

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

NEWS IN ISRAEL BY JAMES J. MARLOW

FOLLOW JAMES AT TWITTER: @JAMES_J_MARLOW

Girl filmed beating soldier arrested Israel Defence Forces along with a team from the Border Police traced and arrested a 17-year-old Palestinian girl on Monday night who was filmed kicking and punching two Israeli soldiers in an attempt to provoke a reaction, whilst Human Rights Groups were recording the incident.

The scuffle which took place last Friday, occurred in the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh when the girl named Ahed Tamimi and her friend confronted the two soldiers filming with their phones and began shouting, punching and kicking them. They were soon joined by three other Palestinians, one believed to be her mother and all five began pushing the soldiers back.

The IDF said the soldiers acted “professionally” in not reacting to the slaps. Although in a statement, the military pointed out they were perfectly entitled to make arrests because they “used physical violence and prevented soldiers from carrying out their duties.”

According to the Palestinian Ma’an News agency, the IDF

confiscated mobile phones, laptops and cameras from the Tamimi home when the arrest of the one teenager took place.

The incident comes after BBC Match of the Day Presenter Gary Lineker re-tweeted a video by the radical anti-Israel journalist Ben White showing Israeli soldiers rounding up young Palestinian teenagers and throwing them into what appeared to be a cage. The former Leicester Everton Tottenham and England striker wrote the words “disgusting” alongside the video which of course went viral.

However as is the case with many of these Human Rights Organisations, the video was conveniently edited to cut out the earlier part of the film showing the children as young as 12-yearsold throwing rocks and molotov cocktails at passing cars, police and soldiers. The order was then given for soldiers to arrest the Palestinian stone-throwers, although they were detained for only a short time. However, what appeared to be a cage was actually a holding

Israel Defence Force

cell with a spiral door and the teenagers were huddled at the front for the cameraman to make a “good ending” to his video.

The village of Nabi Saleh is a regular staging ground used by Human Rights organisations for provoking clashes with Israeli soldiers and the Tamimi family have a history of being involved in previous violence incidents.

One of the most reported cases was back in August 2015 when an IDF soldier was caught on film trying to arrest 12-year-old Muhammad Tamimi, who had been

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throwing rocks during a violent protest.

In the footage, the soldier restrained the boy, whose arm was in a cast, but a group of women and children, including Muhammad’s sister jumped onto the soldier repeatedly kicking and punching him while he was still holding down the boy with his arm around the Palestinian’s neck. The soldier also got his hand severely bitten by the kid.

This video also went viral online, drawing millions of views from across the word.

NEWS IN BRIEF

5 Week Old infant dies

A 5-week-old infant who sustained very serious head injuries when struck with a table at a simcha hall in Beit Shemesh on Tuesday night, died of his massive injuries in Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem.

Hospital officials report the 5-week-old child arrived as CPR was being performed. The child sustained grave injuries to his head as a result of being struck by a table. Despite efforts and prolonged resuscitation, there was no alternative but to pronounce the child dead.

The event took place during a women’s conference in Beit Shemesh. Shlomo and Eliezer Brandmark, volunteers with United Hatzalah who live near the hall, said: “When we arrived at the site, the participants told us that the toddler who suffered injuries to his head was hit by a table that fell on him in the hall, and we gave him first aid until the arrival of a mobile intensive care unit.”

6 ISRAEL NEWS

Palestinians turn their back on the US Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has called President Trump’s declaration that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel a “crime” and that the US has no further part to play in the peace process.

We have to take legal, political and diplomatic measures,” Abbas said as the Palestinian Authority seek again to become full members of the United Nations.

“The US has chosen not to be a mediator for the peace process. We reject it as mediator. The US is with Israel and supports and backs it,” he shouted at a meeting with senior Palestinian leaders in Ramallah this week.

The US was a “partner” to the Balfour Declaration and “was adopting the Zionist action since Zionism’s establishment until today,” Abbas opined.

The PA leader visited Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to convince the Crown Prince that he must distant himself from their ally, the United States, but Saudi does not share in the vehemence of the Palestinian condemnation of Trump’s move.

They are more interested in co-operation and a pact with Israel to confront the Iranian threat and its spread of Shia Islam across a Sunni

21 DECEMBER 2017

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

dominated Middle East.

David Parsons is the spokesperson for the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem and said their organisations across the world have lobbied governments for years to relocate their Embassies to Jerusalem. “The Czech Republic, Guatemala in Latin America, Philippines and several African nations have all declared Jerusalem is Israel’s capital and are waiting for the US to take the lead before relocating their Embassies.”

At its peak in the seventies, thirteen nations maintained their Embassies in Jerusalem which was always Israel’s declared capital, but due to OPEC threats in 1980 and their goal of cutting off oil supplies to these countries, these countries all took the expensive step of relocating to Tel Aviv. However, according to David Parsons, three nations from Latin American returned their Embassies to Jerusalem around thirteen to fifteen years later in 2006, but this time “It was Hugo Chavez of Venezuela who allied with Iran threatened to cut off oil supplies because of the Israel Hezbollah war in that year.”

But Parsons points out that today Israel has gas supplies and “has

become a high tech innovative hub and other nations in Africa and Latin American wish to upgrade ties and benefit from Israel’s expertise.”

The pro-Israel Christian spokesperson also said that even some Arab countries wish to benefit from Israel’s agricultural innovations.

“The Muslim world can put fear into some Arab countries over the issue of Jerusalem, but many nations wish to engage with Israel.”

Abbas said his Palestinian Authority had joined a further 22 international organizations this week and ‘this will be only the beginning as every Monday we will join another 22 or 30 organizations.” Abbas said. “There are 522 organizations, and we have the right to be members of them.”

Trump’s declaration referred only to Jerusalem, not a united Jerusalem, and the President specified that its borders were still to be determined in negotiations. But Abbas in his anger made it clear saying: “We want east Jerusalem as the capital for Palestine and a city open to the three monotheistic religions.” Jews, he said, “can pray there, practice their rituals and leave while the residents of Jerusalem, Muslim and Christian, stay in the city.”

High Tech comes to the capital

Jerusalem is once again gearing up for its fourth annual Global Investor Summit on 1st February which will be the biggest in the Middle East and the largest equity crowdfunding exhibition in the world.

To be held again at the Jerusalem Conference Centre, over 15,000 people are expected to resister from more than 80 countries. Big names like General Electric, Honda, DuPoint and Samsung along with entrepreneurs, investors, government officials and members of the press from around the world will also be present.

In only five years, the company OurCrowd has built a global network of over 20,000 investors, entrepreneurs, corporations and venue capitalists, CEO Jon Medved said.

“From our unique position connecting this growing network, we’re able to bring the entire ecosystem together at the Summit and help drive the era of tech innovation, and find more ways to transform the world and how we live,” he added.

In a video seen online, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat invited investors from all over the world to attend. “It

should be no surprise that the Summit is held here in Jerusalem - a city that has always been a centre of innovation and inspiration,” he said.

Some of the acts on the main stage will include first-person accounts of start-up tech changing the world, assisting law enforcement in the aftermath of the Las Vegas shooting, drone search and rescue after the hurricanes in Florida and Texas, helping rehabilitate spinal cord injuries, saving lives from medical errors, and much more.

Honda will also introduce their latest (not seen before) robotics pavilion and there will be drone simulation tests in the Judean desert.

If you plan to be in Jerusalem on 1st February, one can register for free at summit.ourcrowd.com

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21 DECEMBER 2017

Chanukah Photo Collage

Amazing Chanukah spectacle at Kosher Kingdom

Healthy for your body and soul

The Chabad Buckhurst Hill tradition of a featured Menorah, turns out to be a delight for all the children this year!

Karin Lawson with Poppy and Charlotte Sitton at the Jewish Care Families Chanukah party at Jewish Care’s Michael Sobell Community Centre

Chigwell and Hainault Synagogue Retirees Chanukah Party was hosted by Rabbi Baruch and Rebbetzen Nechma Davis in their house, which is a yearly event to celebrate Chanukah Mesibas Chanukah from the evening Chaburah ‘Chevras Lomdei Torah’ in Kehal Chasidim Golders Green PHOTO CREDIT: AVI YODAIKEN

Admiring the Ice Menorah at theAish YP Chanukah Party night at the Montcalm PHOTO CREDIT: BLAKE EZRA Kenton ReJewVenate Committee held its annual Chanukah Party at Kenton Synagogue which began with songs from the Moriah Jewish Primary School Choir

The Lubavitch Yeshiva in Hampstead Garden Suburb arranged for the message of Chanukah to reach nearly 2 million people, through the giant advertising boards at Henleys Corner.

Woodford Forest hosts successful Chanukah party for young professionals

The very impressive Menorah made of cupcakes and Dreidel made of Sushi at Kosher Kindgdom

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At Bushey Synagogue, over 100 people attended a special ‘Chanukahfest’ for the 5th night of Chanukah, with Beer Tasting led by expert Sarah Ellis and live music by Buffalo Tale

10 NEWS

21 DECEMBER 2017

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

Ceremony for Holocaust Memorial Day held at Royal Military Academy of Sandhurst Cadets at the Royal Military Academy of Sandhurst welcomed survivors of the Holocaust to a ceremony held ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) 2018.

On 4 December, members of Jewish Care’s Holocaust Survivors’ Centre lit candles of remembrance with cadets to remember the millions of people murdered during the Holocaust ahead of the UK’s annual Holocaust Memorial Day on 27 January 2018.

The Ceremony was organised in partnership with the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust – the UK charity that supports thousands local activities for HMD every year.

Zigi Shipper BEM who was deported as a child to Auschwitz-Birkenau and then sent to work at Stutthof concentration camp, addressed

the cadets. He said: ‘If I live 1000 years I will never understand how they did what they did to so many millions of people. But you must never, never hate. If you do you’ll hate everybody, including yourself and you’ll have no life.

‘I can never thank the British Army enough for what they did for me at the time of liberation and for all of us. They saved my life and I’m very proud to be British.’

The ceremony included filmed testimony from Kemal Pervanić, a survivor of the genocide in Bosnia, poetry reflecting on the genocides in Rwanda and Cambodia, as well as information from the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust on the ‘ten stages of genocide’.

Lieutenant Colonel Whitelegge said: ‘It’s easy for us to disassociate

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ourselves from the past and say it was them not us, but that’s too easy, we need to understand how genocide happens.’

Holocaust Memorial Day is the day to remember the millions of people who were murdered and had their lives changed forever in the Holocaust, under Nazi Persecution and in subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.

The ceremony at Sandhurst was attended by approximately 250 cadets and was timed to coincide with the end of the cadets’ training.

Olivia Marks-Woldman, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust said: ‘This event was a great partnership between Sandhurst Military Academy, the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust and Jewish Care’s Holocaust Survivors’ Centre.

‘The cadets at this ceremony are the future leaders of the British Army. It is particularly important for them to mark HMD and we were delighted to support this event.’

Aviva Trup, manager of Jewish Care’s Holocaust Survivors’ Centre, where survivors can meet, socialise and benefit from a cultural and therapeutic programme, said:

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Zigi Shipper’s Speech

‘Today was an opportunity for survivors to thank the British Army and for the Sandhurst cadets to understand just a little how it feels to be liberated and their impact, as well as their responsibilities, to those they strive to protect.’

Mala Tribich MBE, a survivor of the Holocaust, who attended the event, said: ‘You follow in the footsteps of men of great valour, who in many cases must have seen such tragic sights, yet carried out their duties in those camps they liberated with compassion and such heartfelt feelings. ’As a survivor of Belsen I cannot find words to express my gratitude for what they did.’

After the ceremony, survivors and cadets had lunch together, then the survivors were taken on a tour of Sandhurst.

Following the visit, Holocaust survivor Ivor Perl BEM said: “I felt so honoured to be invited to

Sandhurst. I felt the cadets really wanted to hear our story and genuinely cared. Those young people who are graduating from the Royal Military Academy are exactly who should be told as they have the opportunity to change world history.”

Holocaust Memorial Day takes place on 27 January each year. Last year more than 7,700 local activities took place across the UK in diverse settings such as libraries, schools, workplaces, community centres, faith groups, prisons and many more.

The theme for HMD 2018 is The Power of Words and activities around the country will be exploring how language has been used in the past, and how it is used in the present day.

For more information about Holocaust Memorial Day, or to find out how you can get involved, please visit hmd.org.uk

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12 NEWS

Gateshead Rosh HaYeshiva Reb Avrohom Gurwitz at Bar Mitzvah of Shaya Rottenberg son of Chaim Oizer ztl

The proud Bar Mitzvah boy benching with R Gurwitz

Norwood and JFS announce ‘historic’ partnership to tackle crisis in wellbeing care for children and young people

Hendon Kollel Dinner

Enjoying the evening PHOTO CREDIT: AVI YODAIKEN

21 DECEMBER 2017

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Norwood and JFS have announced an “innovative and transformative” collaboration that, for the first time, sees a dedicated Norwood social worker placed at the school for two days a week.

The move is part of a wider, long-term initiative driven by JFS that focuses on pupil wellbeing and safety. Norwood social worker Susie Moss joins a multi-disciplinary wellbeing team recently initiated at the school; this team includes dedicated staff in the fields of psychotherapy, educational psychology, and counselling.

It is the first time Norwood has placed a dedicated social worker in a school, having previously done so with counsellors and psychotherapists.

JFS Executive Headteacher Deborah Lipkin, said she was delighted that “two venerable institutions that have looked after the Jewish community for many hundreds of years have entered into this historic partnership”.

“This innovative and transformative collaboration will promote the safety, health and wellbeing of the children in our community,” she continued. “Co-location of services is a key part of JFS’s vision. We have the community here, so rather than the children having to go out to seek crucial services such as social work, we provide those services and more right here at the school.”

Mrs Lipkin’s vision for the emotional health and wellbeing of the entire school community is important as “schools are increasingly challenged by the realities of modern day society and must provide a safe environment for young people. Enabling them to gain early access to these services is vital”.

Mrs Lipkin went onto say that Norwood was the natural choice when it came to selecting a partner for this particular venture. “To me it seemed obvious to go to the experts in the field, and Norwood was very responsive to our approach.”

Dolyanna Mordohai, Norwood Head of Children’s Services, said: “I believe this partnership can be used as a model for other schools”.

“What is special about JFS is that their approach,

which we at Norwood share, is about more than just ticking boxes with pastoral care. With the multi-disciplinary team in place, emotional wellbeing becomes part of the DNA of the school. We are excited about the possibilities that this way of working can open up for students, teachers and parents in the school,” she continued.

“Children and young people’s safety and wellbeing are at the heart of the work our Norwood social workers do every day, providing serviced such as: individual support, parent support, crisis intervention, home visits, advocacy, group work and skills training. Our partnership with JFS enables us to reach more young people earlier and to work closely with teachers, parents and other school staff to ensure children are safe and enabled to live a full life.”

Norwood social worker Susie Moss’s main aim in her new role is to “promote the wellbeing of children and families”.

“It’s about supporting the parents and making sure their children’s own holistic needs are met,” she said. “I’ll be working transparently with the school to ensure the children can get the best out of their education and their time here.”

Cementing the partnership

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21 DECEMBER 2017

NEWS 13

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Candy Menorah in Buckhurst Hill Yavneh College Prize Day When you live in a community with a growing Jewish population, many of whom lay low in terms of their Jewishness, having a large Public Menorah and then over 100 people attending a Menorah Lighting is a hugely significant achievement, says Rabbi Odom Brandman of Chabad Buckhurst Hill.

In keeping with the joy and inclusiveness of Chanukah, its universal message of peace, freedom from oppression and the spreading of warmth, goodness and kindness and constantly needing to think out of the box to create something exciting and attractive each year, Chabad of Buckhurst Hill has come up with some fantastic Menorahs over the years and this year did not disappoint.

On Sunday, over 100 men, women and children gathered at the top of Queens Road in the centre of Buckhurst Hill for the annual Public Menorah Lighting in the presence of members of the local Parish Council and the local community.

The yummy candy Menorah

All smiles in front of the candy Menorah

Following the lighting, everyone was invited back to the Chabad Centre for a Family Chanukah Party featuring a 6ft high Candy Menorah. The excitement of the children as they walked through the door could be seen on their faces and while they were waiting for the Menorah to be lit they enjoyed seven stations of crafts and games. These stations included – making an edible Menorah, candle making, gelt table football, life size sit in dreidel, candy floss, wheel of fortune and Chanukah hama beads. Music played and everyone enjoyed hot latkes, doughnuts and other refreshments.

Other Menorahs over the years have included Chocolate, Pearls, Tombola, Recycled Phones, Coins and perhaps the most famous of all, the World’s first Single Malt Whisky Menorah.

Rabbi Odom & Henny Brandman

moved to Buckhurst Hill 13 years ago. One of their first projects was the arranging of a public Menorah at the top of Queens Road. This has been warmly received by local residents and has the strong support of contacts on the County, District and Parish Councils.

Rabbi Odom Brandman, director of the Buckhurst Hill Chabad Centre, said “Chanukah is such a happy time of year and it was amazing to see the community come out in great numbers to support this fantastic event as they do every year in growing numbers. Chanukah is a time to spread light, warmth and community spirit and this event along with others we arrange goes a long way in encouraging this spirit in people”.

David Lammy Hosts ‘Chanukah in South Tottenham Tottenham MP David Lammy has hosted a major Hanukkah event in Stamford Hill, bringing together the Jewish community with Haringey’s political and civic leadership. The event was hosted at the home of the Founder and Director of Chaverim Youth Organisation, Reb Shmuel Yosef Davidsohn.

The event on Thursday 14 December brought together leading representatives of the south Tottenham community, including the Mayor of Harringey, Cllr Stephen Mann, as well as the Leader of the Council Cllr Claire Kober, Cllr Sheila Peacock and numerous other councillors, Deputy Mayor of London, the Queens representative Deputy Lieutenant of Harringey,

Rabbi Pinter from the Union of Hebrew Congregation, Rabbonim as well as representatives from the wider Kehilla including Phil Rosenberg from the Board of Deputies of British Jews and Mark Gardner from the Community Security Trust and a group of boys from Menorah Grammer school, representatives of the police and other emergency services joined Mr Lammy in paying tribute to the contribution that the Charedi community makes in the local area and beyond.

Speaking at the event, David Lammy said: “the importance of such a community and its contribution is something which is greatly valued.”

Moishe Stimler from Menorah Grammer school spoke of the importance in recognising the positive work that the youth of the community give to the community in general.

Shmuel Yosef Davidsohn said: “The fact that ‘Chanukah in south tottenham gets bigger and better every year is a testament to the growing strength of our community’s positive relationships with our local political representatives, our public sector colleagues and partners from across the UK Jewry. As well as a celebration of Chanukah itself, the event was also an opportunity to celebrate the Charedi community’s contribution to wider society.”

The executive head teacher at Yavneh College is Mr Spencer Lewis which was not stated in last weeks’ edition. The Jewish Weekly apologises to Mr Lewis for the error.

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Yavneh College was delighted to celebrate so much student success at the annual Prize day earlier this week.

Guest of Honour Lord Daniel Finkelstein, Jewish Chronicle writer and Associate Editor of the Times addressed the students and their parents emphasising the beauty and importance of education and the challenges that young people face as they go out into the world.

Prizes were awarded both for academic attainment and effort as well as for contribution to the school and the wider community, sporting achievement and musical and artistic talent.

The event included musical

contributions from the school choir, known as the YC Singers and from Year 10 student Gabrielle Adda who played Rondo alla Turk.

Executive Headteacher, Mr Spencer Lewis said, ‘Prize Day is always such a moving occasion as it is an opportunity for us to recognise not just the outstanding achievement of our pupils but the hard work that they put into to their studies. Our prizes for kindness and contribution to the community are particularly pleasing especially the opportunity to present the Dr Dena Coleman Memorial Cup for Chesed, in memory of the late Dr Coleman, founding Headteacher of the school’.

Participants of the prize day 2017

Children ecstatic after receiving letter from Buckingham Palace The children at Nancy Reuben Primary School, Hendon were very excited to receive a letter this week from Buckingham Palace thanking them for the handcrafted 70th Wedding Anniversary cards they made for The Queen and Prince Phillip.

Headteacher, Anthony Wolfson said

The letter from the children

“the children in each class made handcrafted personalised cards which we boxed up and sent special delivery to The Palace. This was a wonderful opportunity to teach the children about etiquette and how to address a letter to the Queen.”

The letter from the palace

14 NEWS

Ruislip Synagogue’s Chanukah spectacular celebration

BY JW REPORTER

Hillingdon Youth Band entertained Ruislip Synagogue in an event arranged by the Ruislip Ladies Guild ‘a Chanukah musical celebration’ held on 17 December 2017 in a scintillating and vibrant fashion. The 21-piece group of boys and girls, aged between 13 and 18, as well as featuring the talent of Shul member Samuel Davis (on the keyboard).

The group showed the 100 plus people crowded into the hall, what it was to be part of a ‘big band’.

Melvyn Care reformed it in 1986 from what it was in the 70’s, and since then it has gone from strength to strength - mainly he says, due to the quality of dedicated staff teaching in Hillingdon schools. The band has been involved with Youth Makes Music at the Royal Albert Hall and they play music across the genre from all of the great composers.

Melvyn, himself has just been

21 DECEMBER 2017

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

awarded the Michael Craxton Award for 2017 for outstanding contribution to the Arts in the London Borough of Hillingdon.

Rabbi Coten welcomed Melvyn - their mentor - and the band and said how the conductor/mentor had galvanised youth. Rabbi Coten lit the six candles and read the blessing, incidentally teaching the non-Jewish participants some Hebrew as well.

Andrea Batsman, Chairman of the Ladies Guild, then added her thanks to the group for their time and efforts, and expressed her thanks to Melvyn for coming ‘from his sick bed’ as the show must go on and he wanted to support his band of talented youngsters.

There then followed musical arrangements - Fly me to the Moon, Hallo, In the mood, Don’t know why, Pick up the pieces and Watermelon man, all interspersed with further information about the band. Melvyn also introduced many soloists - too numerous to identify by name

Woodford Forest hosts successful Chanukah party for young professionals

in this article, to the audience.

The final ‘Bird Land’ - before the interval - had some history behind it. This was played originally to mark the end of the existence of the band, but fortunately, like the phoenix, it rose again and the band continued.

After a very satisfying repast of viennas, baked potatoes, Israeli salad and other accompaniments, we ended our meal with doughnuts and satsumas with tea and coffee.

It is a tribute to the Ruislip Ladies Guild’s efficiency and hard work that the audience were served very swiftly and they deserve an accolade for their efforts.

The second half of our musical journey heard the band play a number of tunes with the final arrangement being that of Sing, Sang, Sung which was greeted with rapturous applause. Thus ended a musical journey which was very professional and much enjoyed by all.

North East London Young Jewish Professionals (NEL YJP) was proud to host its inaugural launch event on 13th December.

The ‘Drinks & Dreidels’ Chanukah party took place at the stylish HDO bar in South Woodford, and was attended by over 20 locals from across North East London and Essex. Playing host to a fun evening of sushi, doughnuts, photography and candle lighting, the event proved itself as a great way for the local community to enjoy the start of Chanukah.

NEL YJP is an initiative set up by Rabbi Abrams of Woodford Forest Synagogue, and supported by his wife Rochel, and members Russell Lindsey and Leivi Saltman. Founded with the intent to bring those in the local Jewish community in their 20s and 30s together in a series of events,

The tasty buffet

NEL YJP will be planning more in 2018 to engage young Jews in the area with more social opportunities. The event was co sponsored by office of the Chief Rabbi & Young US

The guests mingling and conversing

Road safety measures approved for Hendon hot-spot Barnet Council’s Hendon Area Committee, chaired by Cllr Brian Gordon, has unanimously approved a number of highway improvements at Brent Green, Hendon. The decision , taken at the Committee meeting last Monday, follows considerable campaigning by local residents and community groups.

Brent Green is the slip road running from Brent Street to Queens Road, made even narrower and less vision-friendly due to the intensity of car parking on both sides. Continuous traffic utilises the road for direct and speedier access from one main road to the other heading towards Hendon Central Underground station, thereby avoiding the main junction.

For some time residents, and particularly worshippers and other users of Nishmas Yisroel Shul premises located in Brent Green, have complained about the speed of traffic through the short cut. The dangers were spelled out in petitions and letters, by verbal evidence given to the Area Committee and in response to the Council’s public consultation in July.

Ironically, two nights after the meeting, a serious motor vehicle collision occurred in the slip road. A local resident said “ A car was speeding up Brent Green going at least 50 mph crashing in to my wife who was entering Water Brook Lane. Four cars were affected and it

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

could have been a lot worse. At least two of the four cars are likely write-offs.”

After discussion on various different scheme permutations the Committee decided to authorise the conversion of single yellow lines in the vicinity of the slip road to double yellow lines.Two new large signs warning of children going to and from school are to be erected there with sub-plates showing directions. There will be additional “Slow” warnings and a renewal of all existing road markings. Road humps may be considered at a future time, but this idea was deferred as the Council’s policy is to avoid vertical road calming measures except in extenuating circumstances.

Cllr, Gordon told the Jewish Weekly that when the matter came before the Committee in February of this year , it was case of “when” the measures would be implemented rather than “if”. He said “This is the busiest area of Hendon, right in the vicinity of many Shuls, a hotel, densely populated roads and the beginning of the shopping centre. Road safety is of paramount importance, visibility and width at the Green must be improved and motorists must be made to slow down. Our highways officers will endeavour to have the measures in place by March 2018”

21 DECEMBER 2017

NEWS 15

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

Rachel Fink, Head of Hasmonean Girls High School named as new JFS headteacher The leadership team, governors and trustees of Hasmonean High School would like to congratulate Head of Hasmonean Girls’ Rachel Fink on being appointed as the next Headteacher of JFS. Chair of Hasmonean’s Governors Marc Meyer and Executive Headteacher Andrew McClusky commented: “We are both happy and proud of Rachel’s appointment but this news is, of course, tinged with sadness as she has been a very significant part of Hasmonean’s recent history.

“Given just how much Rachel has achieved during her career at Hasmonean, we are not surprised that she now feels ready to take on a new challenge.

“Hasmonean has improved immeasurably under her leadership. She leaves Hasmonean having attained a Progress 8 score of 1.4 for last year’s GCSE girls’ results and an Outstanding Pikuach inspection which highly praised the school’s Kodesh provision.

We wish her every success for the future.

“A working party of governors and members of the Executive Leadership Team will be taking on the responsibility of appointing a suitable candidate to take Hasmonean Girls’ School to its next stage of development.”

Rachel joined Hasmonean in 2002 as a teacher of science and occupied various positions such as Year Leader and Assistant Headteacher before becoming Head of the Girls’ School. In this role, she has passionately promoted the school’s ethos of Torah im Derech Eretz. She has been instrumental in ensuring that her students are proud of their Jewish identity, religion and culture; for example, she has strengthened Jewish studies at the Girls’ School to ensure that textual skills are rigorously taught whilst arranging numerous activities to create an inspirational and inclusive atmosphere. She has also worked incredibly hard to

ensure Hasmonean is ‘outward facing’ by collaborating with Islamia School, for example, to celebrate human rights and commemorate the holocaust.

Rachel has been responsible for the strategy across both the Boys’ and Girls’ schools with regard to care, guidance and support. She understands that every child is different and that the profile of each child requires her to be treated differently. She has also ensured that children are taught that others’ needs are as important and sometimes more important than their own, nurturing them to take responsibility for their actions and to treat others with courtesy and respect.

In addition, she has been responsible for ensuring that the school is compliant with the most up-to-date legislation pertaining to safeguarding and child protection, safer recruitment and the ‘Prevent’ strategy. She has also worked very hard to develop the school’s mental health provision.

In addition, Rachel has also

Rachel Fink

been responsible for Hasmonean’s recruitment and retention strategy. In recent times in particular she has developed a number of creative ways to meet the challenges Hasmonean faces due to the national recruitment crisis, and has left no stone unturned to ensure the best teachers are employed to teach our students. She has focused on staff wellbeing both at a strategic and personal level to ensure our best staff are retained and that all staff are well cared for and supported.

Rachel’s final working day at Hasmonean will be Friday May 25th 2018.

NEWS IN BRIEF

GIFT volunteers brighten up Care Homes over Chanukah Sophia, Eliana and Arielle Shababo visit Jewish Care’s Rubens House, taking Chanukah decorations made in workshops run by Charity GIFT together with hundreds of school pupils from Sacks Morasha Jewish Primary school, Michael Sobel Sinai School, Yavneh College, Rimon Primary School and King David Primary School, Manchester.

GIFT run weekly educational hands-on sessions in schools across London and Manchester, inspiring and facilitating school children to become givers; helping support disadvantaged members of the community.

To get involved contact volunteer@jgift.org

Volunteers at the care home

The age-less job search workshop How to conquer age barriers in the search for work 17 January 2018 | 10am - 1pm At JW3, London NW3 Tickets £5 Keynote speaker Baroness Ros Altmann CBE Recognising the value of older workers

Book your place now at agelessjobsearch.eventbrite.com Registered in England Number 5211299 Charity Registration Number 1106331

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16 NEWS

Chanukah events galore take place in Leeds

BY ADAM MOSES Records tumbled this Chanukah in Leeds at events for all ages with Lubavitch Leeds.

Jewish Women’s Circle ran a successful Candle Making workshop coordinated by Rebbetzin Dabrushy Pink in the build up to the festival.

And Chanukah itself began with a bang as 400 people attended a lighting of the Leeds Giant Menorah at its new location outside the Town Hall.

Lord Mayor of Leeds Jane Dowson lit the shamash whilst Councillor Dan Cohen recited prayers and lit the menorah.

Rabbi Reuven Cohen, who has been lighting the community menorah every year since he erected it 34 years ago, said it was the biggest crowd since its launch.

Festivities continued with a

21 DECEMBER 2017

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

Etz Chaim Synagogue enjoyed a sell-out Chanukah children’s party

BY ADAM MOSES

Etz Chaim Synagogue enjoyed a sell-out Chanukah children’s party on the third night of Chanukah.

Over 150 children and adults came to light the menorah with Rabbi Kupperman and Rabbi

Gilbert.

Youngsters learnt circus skills with Diablo Dan and had a festive supper of hot dogs, latkes and doughnuts.

Each child went home with a dreidel.

Natasha Boyd, Edward Ziff, Neal Parker, Sue Woodrufe, Rabbi Eli Pink and Dion d’Marco at the Grammar School at Leeds

lighting on campus, at Sainsburys Moor Allerton and outside the Lord Darcy Pub in the heart of the Jewish community.

And there with Chanukah parties and menorah lightings at the Grammar School at Leeds and Allerton High School.

Throughout the festival, Rabbi Eli Pink and Rabbi Mendy Chazan visited Allerton High, Rossett, Grammar School Junior and Senior, Brodetsky, LJFS and Menorah

Donut nosh time with Rabbi Mendy Chazan at Allerton High School

where pupils learnt how to produce oil with an old fashioned press and also made doughnuts.

In addition, there were a car menorah parade, a Chanukah pub quiz for JMT Young Professionals and Lights and Strikes for Cteen Junior and Chanukah on the Town for Cteen.

A special Chanukah Torah Tots also took place alongside hundreds of house visits to residents of the Leeds Jewish Housing Association.

Altogether these events made for a record breaking number of Chanukah events.

Chanukah Torah Tots marked the second anniversary of Torah Tots, a monthly parent and toddler group launched two years ago by Rabbi Eli and Dabrushy Pink.

The group has grown exponentially over its short time and on Chanukah had its largest group yet.

PHOTO CREDIT: TOP: JOHN FISHER LEFT: LUBAVITCH LEEDS

Gala Cantorial Concert at Heaton Park Shul

Rabbi Anthony Gilbert and Rabbi Shalom Kupperman at the Etz Chaim Chanukah party PHOTO CREDITS: CLAIRE BROWN

Leeds Kollel hold unique Siyum This past Sunday a special Siyum-a first in its kind- was celebrated by the members of the Leeds Kollel.

It was around eighteen months ago when a suggestion was raised by The Rosh Chabura Rabbi Noson Krausz as to how the Kollel could express their appreciation to the kind and devoted friends and donors who show their support on a regular basis. A new short Seder was introduced towards the end of the regular Sunday Morning Seder, where the Avreichim would learn Mishnayos as a Z’chus for their benefactors followed by the recital of two Pirkei Tehillim. Some of the supporters have sent in names of family members to have in mind to Daven for.

This last Sunday they collectively

finished the entire Seder Noshim.

The Kollel were joined for the Siyum by some members of the community. The Rosh Kollel Rabbi Ahron Kramer was Mesayem and then expressed his warm feelings of Hakoras HaTov to both the Kollel Members and the Kollel’s supporters, highlighting the Hashgocho Pratis that this milestone should come out to be on Chanukah. Chanukah is a time when we focus on our gratitude to Hashem, but a prerequisite to that is one’s ability to thank his fellow man for the gratitude he deserves. The Kollel are now continuing this unique continuous expression of Hakoras HaTov with the learning of Seder Mo’ed.

Last night of Chanukah at King David Primary School

Chazan Yehuda Marx, Heaton Park Shul’s Chazan.

Manchester Boys Choir at Gala Cantorial Concert

Neimim Boys Choir conducted by Chazan Saunders PHOTO CREDITS: LAWRENCE PURCELL

Gala Cantorial Concert, getting a good view from the gallery

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Jessie and Dalia light the final Candle of Chanukah PHOTO CREDITS: LAWRENCE PURCELL

21 DECEMBER 2017

Unite with Light Chanucah Celebration, Grand Lighting of the Unity Menorah,Tesco

Chanukah smiles at the ..Unite with Light Chanukah Celebration at Tesco

Broughton Community Fire station sent Fire Fighters to BJCFP School Nursery

The compleated Unity Menorah with L’Chaim Chabad Rabbi Levi Cohen speaking at Tesco

IsrAction Day for Israel and your Community at Manchester Maccabi

The Kersh, Rosenberg, Bloom,Shtrosberg, Edwards and Goldstone families

NEWS 17

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

Broughton Firefighters at BJCFP School teach Nursery children about fire fighters

Rabbi Shmuli Brown with his Lubavitch Chanukah Olive Oil Press BJCFP School

Shaun Orshansky 7, sitting on some of Israeli goods

Manchester’s Chanukah Light Up! Rabbi Shmuli Brown, as Judah Maccabiah at BJCFP School

PBM hosts a Communal evening of learning and inspiration at Ohr Yerushalyim

Lord Mayor of Manchester Cllr Eddie Newman enjoying his Chanukah Doughnut

Rabbi Benjy Rickman lights the Ice Menorah

Ice Menorah being sculptured by Ice Mat Foster at Manchester Fort

Lord Mayor of Manchester Cllr Eddie Newman and Chanukah Dreidel Man

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Deep in learning on the 6th night of Chanukah PHOTO CREDITS: LAWRENCE PURCELL

18 SPORTS

21 DECEMBER 2017

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SPORTS

ONE NATION... ...MANY TEAMS

W E E K LY

Premier League title race hots up!

BY DAVID SAFFER Brad Wine fired Oakwood A back into the Premier League mix with a 95th minute winner against Camden Park.

But this was a close call for the defending champs who came from behind to win against an improving bottom of the table side with two Dave Woolman strikes on top of Wine’s vintage effort.

Camden gave debuts to Max Martin and Grant Bates who both hit the target.

Daniel Kristall’s team goes into the New Year in a four-way race for the title with league leaders Brady Maccabi, Hendon United and Sports and Redbridge Jewish Care A. “This was a very hard fought win and we were lucky, but having said that, the preparation wasn’t ideal as the referee through no fault of his own was stuck in traffic meaning a late kick off, which I believe suited our opponent,” acknowledged Kristall.

“We completed our warm up early and couldn’t get going for 20 minutes, by which point we were a

goal down.

“Credit to Camden, I said it a month ago and they have strengthened since then. They battled hard, were well organised and had a good game plan.

“If they keep playing like that, they will cause a surprised or two.

I firmly believe they can stay up.

“We scraped past a few teams last year on route to the title and its impossible to play champagne football every week.

“It is a results business at all levels of the game and we got the result. If you can win when you aren’t at your best, it’s a sign of a good team.

“Once again we showed our battling character with Brad’s late goal and this could prove to be a big win. But we must improve we have got nowhere near our best yet.

“The second half last season we were much stronger and I expect that to be the case again.

“Having said that, we end 2017 unbeaten away from home in the league, with one league defeat in the entire year and re the current MSFL Champions, which is not

bad.”

“The better team did not win, Oakwood came off the pitch embarrassed to have won the game,” said proud Camden boss Stirling Kay. “Max and Grant showed the character and ability we were looking for in our players.

“After being one up we were forced into early changes, lost our shape and momentum and Oakwood went ahead with two bad clearances that ended up in goals.

“In the second half we ran the game and got a deserved equaliser.

“We continued to press but the ball would not bounce kindly for us. We were forced into more changes and again got punished when we didn’t adapt quickly enough. Oakwood had their first shot on goal and scored.”

Kay added, “The result was hard to take as we battled hard through out, but undoubtedly we finish 2017 on a high with this performance. We have been hit with so many long term injuries and players not being available so getting a team out each week has been a achievement.

Title chasers Oakwood A

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“We are really looking forward to having five or six players back from injuries and other commitments from the beginning of the New Year. With our ne signings we are very confident we can climb the table and carry on our Cup run.”

The Premier clash between Maccabi London Lions White and Redbridge Jewish Care A was postponed.

Oakwood B moved into contention for the Division One title following a 3-1 away win at promotion chasing Scrabble.

Simon Davies, Max Clynes and own goal claimed the spoils for Jason Stein’s team.

Stein described the match as “a brilliant win”.

“A top class performance from the boys,” he commented.

“This game really mattered and they did a thoroughly professional job, controlling the game from start to finish. In typical Oakwood B fashion we missed a number of chances and were briefly pegged back to 1-1 but we had more than enough to see it over the line.”

“Full credit to Oakwood today, they just about had the edge on us where it mattered,” Scrabble boss Ray Abrahams said.

“Their goals came from corners though and it was good to see us defending well in open play. We looked more comfortable when we changed to a 4-5-1 in the second half and shored up our midfield.”

He added, “I’m proud of the way the boys performed, they worked so hard to turn our recent form around. Hopefully everyone will benefit from a couple of weeks without a game and we can come back in 2018 with key players back in the squad.

“In this league, one or two players can completely change a game and we’ve been lacking options in our last few matches. We are on a bad run but the boys will continue to work hard and we just need a result to get us back on track.”

The clash between Redbridge Jewish Care B and Fathfold A was postponed.

Elsewhere in Division One, Temple Fortune A issued a statement after being unable to raise a team against North London Raiders B. ‘Due to a dire shortage of players, the Club has been forced to postpone tomorrow’s Division One fixture against North London Raiders B. With the second team playing tomorrow the club has been extremely stretched on the availability front this week. One could count forfeitures by Temple Fortune FC on one hand covering many seasons – the policy has always been to fulfill fixtures and only forfeit as a last resort.

So many of the squad have been unavailable for one reason or another and despite Simon Linden’s commendable efforts this week he could not raise more than nine players, which included at least two second team players.’

“We loathe forfeiting any fixture,” said club chairman Nigel Kyte. “But despite signing up to play, knowing that we have regular matches to fulfill, all too many players make themselves unavailable when we need them. Of course, we have a few out injured and others away that we knew about, but all in all we are facing a difficult situation regarding the commitment from some individuals.

“Simon is working hard to turn this around because we refuse to go the way two other clubs have already gone this season,” he added.

“The manager hopes to bring in new additions who want to play for TFFC. This is an unfortunate blip, which hopefully will be rectified by those still committed to the cause - plus some newcomers.

“The forfeiture is extremely disappointing but we will work hard to complete the season. Our apologies go to NLR for pulling out at short notice and to the referee.”

Fairlop skipper Bradley Gayer struck four goals in a thumping 7-0 win against Temple Fortune in Division Two.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

21 DECEMBER 2017 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18 James Jaconelli, Adam Goldman and Jordan Kara also scored.

“The lads played some very silky football,” said manager Aaron Dias.

“The only thing I can fault was poor finishing, it could have been 15 if our forwards brought their shooting boots today.

“That’s two league wins in a row and we are hitting some decent form as we enter the winter break.”

A Joe Metliss hat-trick was the

Brad Wine scores a last minute winner for Oakwood

SPORTS 19

THE JEWISH WEEKLY standout display as Hendon got back on the winning trail after coming from a goal down with a 5-2 victory at Faithfold B. Gav Noe and Lolu Hibbert also hit the target for the visitors.

Centre back Stuart Haring scored The Greens goals.

Faithfold started strongly, bundling in the opening goal from a corner. But despite the early set back, the Bees rallied quickly.

Yoni Cohen bossing the midfield with the defensive trio of Addlestone, Shooter and Kolt keeping the dangerous Avi Markovitz, and debutant target man Jonny Blain, at bay.

Metliss drove in a deserved equaliser and Real got on top by half time.

Early in the second half, Noe turned the ball home then Metliss picked the ball up on the right wing to score wonder solo goal prior to completing slotting home his third after a scramble in the box.

But Faithfold weren’t finished as Hibbert hit number five.

“After a really bad run of form, we put ourselves back on the map

today with a classy performance,” said manager Rafi Addlestone.

“It was an excellent result for Hendon matched by an excellent performance.

“Absentees Martin Smulovitch, Yossi Goldberg, Gilad Kestenbaum and Jordan Alex will be asking themselves whether they will be able to make it back into the side after the holiday break.”

Hirshberger, and scored the Hertswood Vale goals in a terrific 3-2 win at home to FC Team. and Danny Moss scored for the visitors.

Ashley Hirshberger opened the scoring for Vale with a long range effort only for Mitch Young to level after a defensive error.

Vale regained the lead with a strike from skipper Josh Wood before Harry Graham slotted home following a swift counter attack to seal the win three minutes from time.

Josh Cohen saved Young’s spot kick deep into injury time only for Young to knock in the rebound but the points were already in the bag for Vale.

FC player-manager Young said, “In a game where we missed no less than 15 comfortable chances, we are bitterly disappointed to lose.

“They scored a fluke 60-yard goal and then had a player in goal where his performance was one of the best individual performances I have seen from any goalkeeper in 15 years.

“Without him we would have won 6-3 and if we had been more clinical we would have won.

“Well done to Vale, but we move on to 2018 where we look forward to continue to challenge.”

Straw Hat Pirates enjoyed a runaway 5-1 away day triumph at North London Raiders C. Aron Gale (2), Gideon Gale, Sammy Assil and an own goal claimed the points.

“An outstanding win matched by an outstanding performance from all the boys,” said Pirates boss Elliot Kukier.

“Today was a top-class performance from the boys. We have had games when we have been frustrated and let it show in the way we have played, but everyone knew

how important it was to come away with a result today.

“The boys were extremely composed, controlling the game from start to finish. After a frustrating first half where they barely tested our keeper, we came out to absolutely dictate the game.

“After a couple of frustrating results, today’s outstanding win puts us in great stead for 2018.”

Kukier described his man of the match nomination, Gideon Gale, as “unplayable”.

“Gideon dictated midfield from start to finish,” he said.

“He cut out the few Raiders attacks that they had, distributed the ball perfectly and with such composure consistently tested the keeper, and scored a great goal.

“His natural eye for goal was out in full force.”

The match between Catford & Bromley and Mill Hill Dons was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

PHOTO CREDITS: DAVID SAFFER

Dan’s Premiere League Column Maccabi Manchester

BY DAN SILVER

I do not claim to know much about life, as I have only lived through 15 years of it, but one thing I can proudly say is that looking at these current Premier League teams from this season, I can spot a team packed with quality and potential.

In my first ever article, I wrote about Everton’s spending spree in the summer, of which they spent nearly £150M on proven Premier League players such as long-shot genie Gylfi Sigurdsson, rock at the back Michael Keane and many more. I stated that although Everton have broken their record signing and are tipped by many media outlets to compete for the top 4, it will take time for these newbies to fit in, but once they do, they can achieve great things. And listen, I don’t like to say I told you so, but I told you so.

Everton sacked their manger Ronald Koeman after just nine games and haven’t looked back since, with 4 wins out of their past 5 games, including their 3-1 victory against Swansea on Monday night, to climb up to ninth in the league. In my opinion, there is one main reason as to why Everton are on the up recently and it’s all thanks to a certain local hero called Wayne Rooney. England’s all-time top goal scorer was written off of ever playing at a good level since joining Everton is now the 4th top goal scorer

in the league and has been involved in 10 goals in his past nine Premier League games. Say what you want about his life off the pitch, but on it, he’s a true legend of the game.

Now, the other day, I was asked a question saying “Dan, why don’t you ever write about the Jewish home of football, Tottenham Hotspur?” Ok I will. You lost. And not only did you lose in a manner which was extremely embarrassing for the fans which pay to watch you play, but also, you now sit one point behind Burnley. I mean, I love Sean Dyche and all, but you beat a Real Madrid team, managed by Zinedine Zidane and including the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, the worlds ‘best player’ (according to FIFA- which if you ask me is a bunch of nonsense, as did you see Jonjo Shelvey’s performance against West Brom this season?).

Yet Tottenham can’t even put up a fight for Premier league title contention as they’re now 21 points behind the leaders and the team which gave them the thrashing on Saturday night, Man City. Oh and just a disclaimer right here but Man City have already won the league this season. Enough said.

Other results include West Ham and Crystal Palace both securing 3-0 wins under their belt to move out the relegation zones, against Stoke and Leicester, respectively and Chelsea and United securing relatively

straightforward wins against Southampton and West Brom to keep up the pressure on…. ummm no one really, the titles already over, but A* for effort.

Here we go again. Now what really grinds my gears is a player like Mesut Ozil. So graceful on the ball, when he wants to be, the German playmaker has an on and off button for when he decides to dazzle, and guess what, he decides to put the on button on when he faces my beloved Newcastle, with an exquisite volley which headed straight for the top bins to claim a 1-0 win for the Gunners.

Joke. I mean we even played better than them to some extent, with Ayoze Perez failing to take advantage of two rare chances when he put a shot and then a header over the bar. But when I saw this stat, I nearly felt sick.

Newcastle have now claimed just one point from their last 27. Horrific isn’t it. But then again which team can say they’ve won the Inter-Cities Fairs cup in 1969 by beating Újpesti Dózsa of Hungary by 6-2. Exactly.

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Blue v Sedgley Park Celtic Sunday (0-7)

Maccabi ‘Keeper saves the ball

Maccabi win the ball, as Stuart Shapiro looks on..

PHOTO CREDIT: LAWRENCE PURCELL

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Flip Out Brent Cross - Over 100 trampolines in North London!

Flip Out Brent Cross is the UK’s most advanced trampoline arena, trick park and ninja skills centre.

The arena boasts a wide range of energy busting things to do. Challenge yourself with the ninja warrior course (as seen on TV!), try your stealth skills in our laser maze, plunge into the foam pit, try out your balancing skills on the battle beam, flip your way down the tumble track. Set in our massive arena

100’s of trampolines

we also have an Olympic standard trampoline for budding gymnasts, there’s a trick park to try out new stunts and there’s a designated area for under 5’s to keep them safe and having fun. With free parking and a café onsite plus a sky lounge for arena views, we are a must visit destination for any age!

Bar/Bat Mitzvahs!

We’re super excited to be hosting Bar and Bat Mitzvahs during

2018! Our Flip Out guests can see the full potential our venue has to offer. With an exciting space made up of amazing graffiti murals, a ninja warrior course, a laser maze and trick parks, leave your guests speechless with envy and talking about your event for weeks!

Flip Out Brent Cross has a maximum capacity of 150 jumpers at any one time, that doesn’t include family members who want to enjoy the view from the sky lounge!

The venue allows external kosher caterers for private hires. We are working in partnership with Slice.

For any questions around exclusive hires for your special occasion, please call 020 8050 2391. We are happy to tailor your event to your requirements.

Birthday Parties It seems word is getting around and all kids want their next party at Flip Out Brent Cross! Our experiential Earth, Wind and Water themed party rooms are sensational. Expect a forest canopy and log bean bags,

So much fun under one roof!

ripples of blue light creating the feeling of being under water, wind chimes ringing alongside a canopy of dazzling ribbons. You’re guaranteed to have the best time ever!

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online www.flipout.co.uk/brentcross. You can easily book your party on our website or call us for more information 020 8050 2391.

For all enquiries please contact Deborah on 020 8349 5268 Finchley Synagogue Kinloss Gardens London N3 3DU banqueting@kinloss.org.uk www.kinlossevents.co.uk THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

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HaGefen tackles the ‘Shidduch Crisis’ Moshes - The friendly forward thinking family run business since 1984 HaGefen was founded in Jerusalem by Rabbi Chaim Schmerler, the founder and Rosh Yeshivah of Oyrayso in Jerusalem, with the aim to alleviate the Shidduchim pressure in the community - or the lack thereof - or as it is better known in the Jewish community: the ‘Shidduch crisis’.

HaGefen decided to tackle the ‘Shidduch crisis’ by setting up a three-pronged approach, which would hopefully turn the tidal wave of despondency in Jewish homes: 1. Candidates: • HaGefen gives every young man and lady the time of day to explain what they think are looking for in a spouse.

• They handhold them with sensitivity to dispel the haze of uncertainty brought about by a fog of half-truths and misunderstandings reserved for the uninitiated.

• HaGefen works with singles all the way to the Vort, with the aim of fulfilling their dreams and aspirations 2.Parents: We encourage them to • Be proactive with their child’s Shidduch, • ensure every family on the

•

database is given a chance at least once every couple of months and guide them in this uncharted territory of making life altering decisions.

3. Shadchonim: • Encourage them to tackle even seemingly lost cases, • Incentivise them with hourly payments and training • And - most importantly - give them the tools to process Shidduchim on a much larger scale. This is being achieved by kitting out the HaGefen offices in Jerusalem with a state of the art ICT system to handle incoming and outgoing calls (e.g. call queueing, conference calls and messaging), singles’ data and a contact followup scheduler.

We observed what HaGefen is doing in Eretz Yisroel and in September of 2015 we decided to open a branch office to serve the local community in the UK. So far, we had calls from all over the country and even as far afield as Brazil in the Southern Hemisphere!

We estimate that in the UK alone there are roughly 5,000 singles

who’d potentially make up a nice chunk of the Jewish wedding circuit in the next year or two, G-d willing. At the time of writing, HaGefen UK - the London-based branch of HaGefen - has recorded over 1,500 of these, with the hope of reaching every Shidduch-age single across the UK in the near future.

I hope that with the input of our dedicated team of Shadchanim - so far we have sixty local volunteers it will not be long before the pages of The Jewish Weekly will be filled with “Engaged” announcements...

To take part in helping someone in your family, community or place of work, call HaGefen on 02088802555 or eMail hagefenuk@gmail.com (with the subject “Registration Form”.

Moshes has been a friendly forward thinking family run business since 1983, and has recently grown up and expanded to three shops.

An immaculate boutique style experience with an ever increasing flow of new products and ideas to make shopping with us, a pleasure.

Stop by our fresh Sushi counter to enjoy gourmet sushi prepared to your own specifications by our resident sushi Chef. Perfect for a snack, lunch, your party platters, or anytime.

NEW! Enhance your shopping with a cup of freshly ground coffee or a warming hot chocolate. As an opening promotion during Chanukah we will give you a free Beigel’s Danish pastry with your hot drink.

We have a very extensive and competitive wine and whiskey selection, a fantastic range of

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partyware with an unrivalled napkin collection As an added bonus, we have a generous cash back loyalty card.

Plus weekly special offers and discounts.

So, Join our Moshes family, and we will do our best to make shopping with us a pleasure!

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S28 SUPPLEMENT

21 DECEMBER 2017

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Sip, shop and share at Jami’s social enterprise Generously supported by the Maurice and Vivienne Wohl Charitable Foundation, Jami’s social enterprise on Golders Green Road encourages customers to sip, shop and share for the community’s mental health charity.

Daniel Neis is one of Jami’s of ‘Heads Up’ workers who are easily spotted around the trendy Shoreditch style café in their distinctive blue T-shirts. Sharing is the main emphasis at the cafe according to Daniel. “We found that while it’s important to offer the opportunity for people to have a one to one chat with a Heads Up worker to

The front of the shop

signpost them to appropriate resources (statutory mental health services, community organisations like Jami and volunteering opportunities), the main way that people have used these conversations is to ask about how to support others who are struggling with their mental health.” Head Room’s approach has thus developed more of a social focus by helping the community better understand mental health and facilitate their ability to be supportive.

Combining a café with a wellbeing project is a daring venture, but Daniel explains its growing appeal

is “because we’re a local café, so a lot of people come from the community because it looks nice and they like the food. The mental health objective comes through that.” This is accomplished in a different ways throughout the café ; from meaningful quotes artfully hung around the café to the ‘well¬being menu’ featured alongside the food menu.

With the aim to nourish mind and soul, it is packed chock full of information on Heads Up workers, the weekly programme and special events arranged by Daniel and his colleagues.

The weekly programme includes bitesize mindfulness and colouring sessions, a discussion group on mental health and the media and an informal drop in called ‘communitea’ – a chance to have a cuppa, meet new people and help build the Head Room community. People use it as a way to find out more about the café and Jami as well as to contribute ideas for what they want to see on the programme.

Daniel explains that everyone has mental health and so the café is relevant to everyone. “People think

Tasty pastries

mental health only affects a few, but in fact it’s a spectrum we’re all on. It’s not us or them, it’s something we all need to be thinking about.” He adds: “We get a diverse crowd of people coming, Jews and non-Jews alike.”

For those who do want to talk on a one to one basis, the sandwich chalkboard at the entrance to the

café advertises the times that a Heads Up worker will be available to chat. Trained as a Peer Support Worker, Daniel draws upon his own experiences of struggling with mental health to help others and believes this collaborative approach and normalising of issues is often what people need.

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SIP . SHOP . SHARE

Sip your coffee or try our enticing new evening menu with a choice of sharing platters, delicious mains and desserts.

Shop from our ever-changing range of unique vintage and designer goods. You can drop off your donated items at the shop too.

Share how you are feeling today with one of our Heads Up workers.

Pop in for a free chat or come to a weekly drop in session.

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21 DECEMBER 2017

Create the party of your dreams with Cohen’s Caterers When you are marking an important milestone; when you love your guests and want them to be pampered; when you demand elegant service, exquisite presentation, and distinctive cuisine, it has to be Cohen’s Caterers. We’ve been privileged to be part of your lives, at every joyous occasion.

Our family works with your family to create your perfect day, a perfect work of art.

The full Cohen’s catering experience is now yours, wherever you want us. We’ll transform your residence, office, or other private setting into an event that perfectly fits your guest entertaining in classic elegance and style. For that special event at a unique location of your choice, let the

Cohen’s Catering professional team attend to your every need. Be it in your office or an intimate plated dinner at home, our customised menus feature the freshest seasonal foods and wines available in the North west. Cohen’s Catering will design your tailored menu to include beef, veal, lamb and a selection of other creative dishes. Trays, platters, carvings and many other options are available to round off an exceptional daytime or evening event.Going away, business meeting?

We provide on-the-go meals Corporate lunches, vegetarian and vegan meals for all your needs.

This service includes complete Shabbos meals.

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10% Off When you spend £40 or more in store* Terms and Conditions - this offer is valid for redemption in Dunelm Staples Corner or Friern Barnet. Valid for one transaction only. Original vouchers accepted only, no copies.

Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Offer not available on gift card purchases, M2M or Kiddicare. Offer is valid from 27/11/17 and ends at midnight on the 31/12/17. We reserve the right to withdraw this offer at any time.

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Open throughout the December public holidays The Kaifeng Experience

31st December

Voted ‘Best Kosher Restaurant’ Three Years in a Row

Welcome in 2018 with Kaifeng A spectacular 4 course banquet and party in the restaurant

only £68 per person + drinks and service

-0Please book your Take Away early as we often do not have the capacity to accept orders on the night

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Open Sunday to Thursday: Lunch 12.30 - 2.30pm, Dinner 5.30 - 10.30pm, Motzei Shabbat: September - Pesach

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BUSINESS 33

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

CURRENCY US DOLLAR.......... 1.32

0.77

EURO............................... 1.13

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SWISS FRANC.. 1.32

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Tax cheats watch out. HMRC is armed and ready to get you

BY MARC OVITS

BA (HONS) APFS CERT PFS (DM)

PART 1 OF 2 When a gang of tax fraudsters was ordered to pay back more than £2m last week, HM Revenue & Customs was jubilant. After a five-year investigation, it had cracked a scam which used fake invoices to claim tax rebates for film projects. The authority boasted that however far criminals went to hide their ill-gotten gains, it would “pursue every penny to ensure that tax crime never pays”.

The rhetoric is a sign of the waning tolerance of tax cheats of any kind. After years of criticism from MPs over the huge sums — estimated at more than £11bn a year — lost to tax evasion and the hidden economy, HMRC has come under intense pressure to show it can be tough. It is fair to say the risk of being found out has never been higher.

Here are 10 ways — some hightech, some very traditional — that HMRC can use to check if you are cheating.

1. Joining the dots At the heart of HMRC’s counter-evasion efforts lies a powerful computer program called “Connect”. Launched in the summer of 2010, it sifts vast quantities of information — more even than the data stored in the British Library — in its hunt for underpaid tax.

It ploughs through disparate, previously unrelated information to detect otherwise invisible networks of relationships. It automates analysis that would once have taken months, if it could have been done at all.

HMRC does not divulge all the sources of information it feeds into Connect, but it is thought to include details of bank interest, credit card data and Land Registry reports.

In an example of an early success involving Connect, HMRC analysts identified a string of credit card transactions associated with a private London residence. The property was worth millions of pounds and was owned outright by someone with no tax history and a state pension as their only source of visible income. A routine internet search found advertisements for an recruitment agency at the address.

After an HMRC investigation the owner admitted trading there for at least six years, with takings of more than £100,000 a year.

HMRC has been energetically extending its data gathering powers. It recently acquired the right to force apps and platforms such as Apple, Amazon and Airbnb to hand over data — including names and addresses of sellers and advertisers — that would help it identify tax-evading businesses.

Payment providers such as PayPal are another new source of data.

Money services businesses, such as currency exchange services, are the next on the list, according to a recent consultation.

The tax authority insists that its new powers have no implications for individuals’ privacy, as it is only seeking information on business activities. But the Electronic Money Association, which represents companies like eBay, Airbnb and PayPal, worries there are insufficient safeguards concerning the way the data are used. Last year, it said the transfer of personal data to government could have a “profound” impact on consumer trust.

2. International co-operation Ten years ago, there were plenty of palm-fringed islands or Alpine states offering copper-bottomed secrecy to would-be evaders. Anyone with an offshore account could be pretty confident that HMRC would never find it.

That is no longer true. A global crackdown on tax evasion has lifted the lid on offshore secrets. From September, details of bank balances, interest, dividends and certain types of income earned by expats will start to be sent to their home governments wherever they may be. The new rules — known as the “common reporting standard” — will mean that evaders have very few places left to hide.

HMRC has already received some information from offshore centres. Last September it was handed information from the Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories, which it hopes it can use to raise up to £300m of extra revenues, according to official forecasts.

It has also received information from the US which has moved ahead of other countries in closing its net on offshore tax evaders.

Accountants have reported that their clients have seen a number of letters this year from HMRC saying “we understand you have assets in the US” and demanding an explanation.

In a sign of this trend for international co-operation, tax authorities are increasingly working with each other. In a recent example of a cross-border collaboration, Credit Suisse, the Swiss bank, was the subject of simultaneous tax investigations in the UK, France and the

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Netherlands in March.

3. Ghosts and moonlighters HMRC believes it loses billions of pounds every year as a result of undeclared economic activity. Some of the losses it blames on what it describes as “ghosts” — people whose entire income is unknown to HMRC. An even larger share is attributed to “moonlighters” — people known to the tax authority who have sources of income that HMRC does not know about.

It has a multi-pronged approach to tackling the hidden economy.

As well as encouraging recalcitrant taxpayers to come forward, it is seeking new sources of information and investigating other ways of encouraging third parties to help its crackdown.

HMRC has long targeted areas where it believes there might be non-compliance. In the past, it focused on specific trades and professions, such as plumbers, solicitors and doctors. More recently, it has launched campaigns targeting specific types of income that might be relevant to big swaths of the population, such as buy-to-let rental income and income from second occupations.

It is also eyeing a valuable new weapon in its efforts to bring untaxed activities out of the shadows.

Local authorities are increasingly demanding that landlords have

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.

their properties licensed in an attempt to address poor property management. That helps HMRC because it creates a searchable public register of people who are renting out properties.

It wants to go further, though, by making registration for tax a condition of acquiring a licence.

That could extend beyond property letting to include activities such as taxis and planning.

It has also proposed tougher sanctions for those involved in the hidden economy. This would include additional tracking and improved monitoring of taxpayers with a history of non-compliance, and strengthening the penalty regime where an immigration offence is also committed.

34 FEATURE

21 DECEMBER 2017

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

Board of Deputies “turns up the volume” about Jewish life

BY DAVID SAFFER

The Board of Deputies has been safeguarding the interests of British Jews since 1760.

The only democratically elected cross-communal Jewish representative body, its President, Jonathan Arkush, has headed up the board since 2015.

With a mission to protect, defend and speak up for the Jewish community, how does he view the post and oraganisation with its many facets of responsibility?

“The Board is essentially the Parliament of British Jews,” said Mr Arkush.

“You have to position the community by saying the right things at the right time. It means leading from the front, which can be uncomfortable but that’s our outward facing role.”

The Board continually demonstrates its ability to make a widespread impact on society whether on issues of shechita or Brit Milah, forcing the Sunday Times to apologise for publishing an anti-Semitic cartoon or even contacting Manchester United when a holocaust denier was set to launch his book at the club.

Concerning the Premier League outfit, within an hour of hearing about the issue the prospective launch was cancelled showing aptly how quick the Board can get things done.

“Somehow it escaped the powers that be at Manchester United that the person who booked the room was a holocaust denier and anti-Semite but we brought it to their attention because someone has to do that,” explained Mr Arkush.

“There are all sorts of amazing things the community will hear about from apologies in newspapers to the government adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of anti-Semitism but do people stop to think, how do these things happen?

“The Board’s job is to be an advocate for our community. In some quarters that means lobbying, and I’m unashamed about being a lobbyist.

“We are not a secret lobbyist, everything we do is open, proud and unashamed.

“We are here to put forward our community’s view but lobbying

when you are a small community does not produce results overnight.

“But not many of us sit back and reflect that at 300,000 Jews we make up one half of one percent of the community, but look at how much clout we have.”

The Board builds relationships at national and local government level to ensure the Jewish viewpoint is heard but a lot of its work is invisible,” he explained.

“We try not to blow our own trumpet but we’ve won government support on issues concerning anti-Semitism, shechita, brit milah, faith schools and Israel,” Mr Arkush said.

“A whole range of key advances have been secured for the Jewish community and it is a result of the Board’s patient, careful, skillful and professional advocacy.”

So what are some of the key challenges the Board faces?

Mr Arkush explained that the first was to protect the Jewish community from anti-Semitism.

“Anti-Semitism mutates,” he explained. “You can now be as anti-Semitic as you like and never use the word “Jew” because a lot of anti-Semitism today, sometimes called ‘new anti-Semitism’, is directed at Israel. But it’s a pseudonym for anti-Jewish prejudice because Israel is often treated as the ‘Jew of the Nations’.

“When it comes to core anti-Semitism, which is hatred of Jews for being Jews, this is the central responsibility of the elected representative body. Although we react to anti-Semitism when it happens, it means having in place the necessary legal protections so we can invoke the necessary laws when something does happen. But that is easier said than done.

“The Equalities Act and laws against racial incitement are principal legal instruments to attack anti-Semitism but we need to ensure prosecuting authorities are prepared to use them.

“This is a challenge because the Crown Prosecution Service, which does a very good job, is straining against inadequate resources and often won’t bring prosecutions because they set themselves a high threshold of success. So one of the battles is to get them to prosecute when they should as we have the laws in place.”

Board of Deputies President, Jonathan Arkush

The Board is also on hand to ensure Jewish life continues in the United Kingdom.

“Without shechita we’d survive, but for many, the country would not be as good a place to live without our chicken on Shabbat,” explained. “But what if we couldn’t have Brit Milah? If it became unlawful, the reality is we would not be able to live as Jews in this country.

“However, I’m confident shechita and Brit Milah are secure for the foreseeable future. It’s fragile, but at the moment the government and mainstream parties have pledged to protect Brit Milah and Shechita.”

Protecting Israel’s reputation and fighting ill-informed, malevolent attacks against Israel was next on the agenda for Mr Arkush, who was forthright in his response.

“An attack on Israel we feel personally, because for most of us, Israel is at the centre of our identity and emotional connection with being Jewish,” he said.

“We feel an attack on Israel directly, and if we feel stirrings of discomfort, it’s not because we have encountered anti-Semitism in the sense of being called a “dirty Jew” in the street but because of attacks on Israel.”

As for the media response to Israel, Mr Arkush had illuninating views.

“In the main, people don’t realise the overwhelming majority of British media are supportive of Israel, the dishonorable exceptions being

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The Guardian and The Independent,” he explained. “But they have a much smaller readership than the Daily Telegraph, Times, Daily Mail and other newspapers that almost always take a pro-Israel line.

“As for television, it is mixed.

The BBC in our community does not have a good reputation, but on the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign website, their main target in the media is the BBC because they hold that the BBC, and I quote, “is in the grip of the Zionist lobby”.

“When I tell Jewish audiences this they laugh. But the reality is, and it’s not always a message that is well accepted, if you watch the news for a week and write ‘fair’ or ‘unfair’ coverage in two columns, ‘unfair’ and fair’ things are almost always balanced.

“But does that mean the BBC does not say very ‘unfair’ things, no, I don’t want them to say anything unfair, but they do get equally criticised by both.”

As for the advent of social media, again there were fulsome views for the Board’s president.

“Social media has revolutionised many facets of life and it is responsible for some of the perceived growth in anti-Semitism,” Mr Arkush said.

“In the age before Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, if there was a Middle East war and you wanted to get a demonstration out, either pro or anti-Israel, you had to crank out the posters and word-of-mouth for support, but now, put it on Twitter

and 100,000 people hit the streets.

“Social media is a force for good and bad.”

So is the ‘power of the press’ waning because of social media?

“I suspect it is and particularly with upcoming generations who read newspapers less and take more notice of social media,” Mr Arkush said.

“We have a Twitter feed, Facebook accounts and maintain our website. You have to maintain it and we do.”

A lot of research is available about trends surrounding the British Jewry from a plethora of organisations including the Board.

In a recent report, the Board noted 56% of the Jewish community has shul membership, and whilst centrist orthodoxy had gone down 37% since 1990, modern orthodoxy had gone up in the same period over 170%.

A downtrend in synagogue attendance is generally acknowledged, yet elements of orthodoxy do flourish. So is the next generation of British Jews eyeing up different elements of Judaism and is this linked to a surge in the many Jewish schools children can attend?

“The Board is proudly cross-communal and we have made huge advances in our community,” Mr Arkush explained.

“We are much more of a ‘live and let live’ community than when I was as a youngster. We don’t snipe at different sections of our community anymore, or at least rarely,

21 DECEMBER 2017 because we shouldn’t. We all face bigger threats. But it is true that it gets harder to hold onto the middle ground and this is as true for progressive Jews as orthodox Jews.

“A recent Institute of Jewish Policy Research paper on couples and families came up with the intriguing statistic that our out-marriage rate is 26%.

“In my view that is very high, but it has been that level for 20 years.

We should be worried by our statistic and I’m not in the least complacent but in comparison the United States rate is 58% and rising, its not stood still. And when I talk to American colleagues they are desperately worried.

“The United Synagogue has lost ground, but orthodoxy has not because a lot of people in the United Synagogue have become more orthodox. And similarly with progressive families, people have dropped off by a lack of engagement whilst others have become more orthodox.

“But I accept traditional patterns of engagement are changing and synagogue membership is key among them.

“I believe that all synagogue bodies, left to right, face a common challenge of producing a more compelling offering than the one they produce at the moment.

“We have got to get more young people signed up to community membership. These are challenges across all sections of our community.”

Prior to becoming involved with the Board of Deputies, Mr Arkush had a leading role in establishing

The Jewish Manifesto

FEATURE 35

THE JEWISH WEEKLY Hertsmere Jewish Primary School and Yavneh College.

It’s an area he is justifiably proud and one he enjoys experiencing in his role at the Board.

“Jewish schools are really important and I hope no one is offended when I say creating Hertsmere was by a long way the achievement I’m most proud of in the community,” he said.

“My role at the Board is very important but when I see those children run into school with looks of real enjoyment, excitement and enthusiasm on their faces it is such a pleasure.

“Our community has pulled off a really significant achievement.

“Jewish schools were not popular when I went to school; they were the least successful and most parents would not have put them very high on their list of priorities.

“In North West London there were several schools which were not very good. Now, those very same schools, and new ones, are among the highest performing schools in the country.”

He added, “Lord Jakobovits started the push towards getting more of our children into Jewish schools and we could only do that by creating top quality schools that were better than the competition.

“Now, I have not got any evidence for this as the research is not there yet, and such research as it exists from the United States is not conclusive, but I am convinced that the fact that 65% of our children go to Jewish schools in the big centres of Jewish population such as London and Manchester is down to a

critical mass.

“And I am convinced that because so many of our young people go to Jewish schools they naturally gravitate to other Jews in their social life at key stages of going to university and being recent graduates. It’s not an accident to me that Jews tend to concentrate on a small number of key universities because that is where their Jewish social life is comfortable.

“I am also convinced that one of the things keeping our out-marriage rate high but stable instead of rocketing like in the United States has been the success of our Jewish schools.

“It’s true that in the US a lot of kids go to Jewish schools, so that is maybe a flaw in my argument but we have a more traditional community, and I think that makes a difference.

“But Jewish schools are not the only answer. It’s about consistent whole-hearted levels of Jewish observance at home. If children don’t get that, then even the best Jewish education runs the risk of being shed when a child gets old enough to choose.”

Interfaith is an area that has an increasing role at the Board, and Mr Arkush is well aware of its importance.

“Because we are such a small minority in the country, it is crucial we play a proactive role in showcasing the best Jewish life has to offer to the non-Jewish world,” he said.

“It is also right to increase our understanding and mutual respect in other faiths.

“Jews and Christians have been doing this for a long time. The Council of Christians and Jews was born out of anti-Jewish hatred in the1930s.

“I have made deeper engagement with Britain’s Muslims a priority of my term as President and spend increasing amounts of my time in mosques talking to them.

“I am certain the overwhelming majority of British Muslims are moderate and don’t harbour anti-Semitism, but some do harbour very odd views about Jews in too high numbers for my comfort. Perhaps 40% of British Muslims don’t understand why Jews make more news than they do. They put it down to sinister motives.

“The only way to combat this is to say to them, and I do, I’m a Jewish communal leader and I’m a Zionist, now, ask me anything you like. I’ve said this in Islamic Centres and mosques all over London, in Birmingham, Leicester, Bradford and Leeds, and shortly I’ll be going to Manchester and Glasgow.

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When I do this, they don’t view me through the prism of the Arab-Israel conflict, suddenly a light bulb goes on in their head.

“For too long, they’ve seen us and probably we’ve seen them through one prism, and that’s Israel’s conflict with her neighbours.

But that’s not the right prism. It is a very important conflict and we have a lot to say about it, but it’s a conflict 2,500 miles away.

“I point out that we have a common agenda such as shechita, Brit Milah, faith schools and role of faith in society. These are things that affect our daily lives, not the conflict between Israel and its Arab neighbours. And they are getting it more and more. They are frightened of extremism because their children get radicalised.

“Interfaith today plays an enormous role in Jewish-Muslim relations.”

Moving on to the strength of Anglo-Jewry nationwide and struggles of outlying communities, Mr Arkush, whose grandfather came from Poland 110 years, was a minister in Scottish communities, in Cardiff then Blackpool where his father grew up, was forthright.

“I’m a massive supporter of small communities but its not easy,” he said.

“I mourn the loss of so much vibrant Jewish life that we used to have in so many of our regional centres. But its well known now that the draw of London and to some extent Manchester has pulled our young people away from once thriving cemusintres of Jewish life like Cardiff, Birmingham, Glasgow and Sunderland, even Leeds dare I say. They have drawn them like a magnet to London, Manchester and also Israel. And our Jewish life is the poorer for it.

“But I admire enormously the dedication of our regional communities and often amazing individuals who keep Jewish life going, but it’ an uphill struggle.

“I welcome the fact that some young people are going back (due to London property prices), but suspect that because so much of Jewish life is about Jewish facilities, critical mass and Jewish cultural engagements, the trend will not be defeated.

“Our regional centres will continue to shrink. That’s the reality and we have to make the best of it.”

He added, “The Board invests enormous effort in helping Jews in regional communities and we have learnt from census data there is Jewish life in every single electoral district of Britain.

“The Internet links people and its been pioneered to great effect in

Scotland.

“A Chanucah party a couple of years ago because of social media attracted three times more people than expected and it’s been replicated successfully across the country.

“There is a Lancaster & Lakes Jewish congregation, another in Cornwall and others that might not be a conventional community, they might not be traditionally orthodox, but they are deeply culturally Jewish and want to get together for Jewish and Israel events to be Jewish together. And as a Board we must support that notion.”

Moving back to politics and how would Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn becoming Prime Minister affect the Jewish community?

“It won’t be very comfortable,” said Mr Arkush.

“I dare say that one of the first acts he’ll do will be to recognise the State of Palestine and that the warm diplomatic relationship that currently exists will deteriorate but it will make precious little difference to Israel,” he said.

“It is possible that as we have seen in Labour events, people with anti-Semitic views crawl out of the woodwork feeling they have more of a licence. But having said that, I don’t think things will change drastically.

“We will find pathways to the government, we will have the strength of our arguments, there will be people who will be difficult in that government as there are in the present government, but there will be people we can do business with.

“However, I don’t underestimate the fact that it will pose challenges for us and we are doing very careful strategic thinking on that issue right now.”

Overall, with the many areas of engagement the Board has to negotiate diplomatically and culturally, Mr Arkush is positive about the future.

“What an extraordinarily, culturally rich, active and amazing community we have with our care organisations, CST, Chief Rabbinate, Synagogal bodies and yes, the Board of Deputies, which are world class,” he said.

“We are thriving as a community and even increasing our numbers if you look at the census.

“I appreciate the high birth rate among Charedim but we are a successful community and must not talk ourselves down. We must talk ourselves up, turn up the volume of Jewish life because we will succeed when we are committed proud Jews.”

36 JUDAISM

ASK THE RABBI Looking for answers? Send your question to Rabbi@RabbiSchochet.com Alarming divorce rates Dear Rabbi, I am a religious woman from a religious background, as is my husband. Marriage is one of those things we always took for granted in our community so imagine our shock when our daughter announced that her marriage of seventeen years was ending. It came as a huge surprise because we never see them arguing. They seem to get along well. They have no financial pressures. We have a niece, same background to whom the same thing happened just under a year ago. She was married for just three years and we just assumed it was a rare occurrence for a relationship that was wrong

from the start. Now it seems wherever we turn more people than ever in the religious community are getting divorced. Why is this so? I thought we put so much emphasis on the family in our tradition.

Evelyn Dear Evelyn, Divorce rates have been climbing steadily in the past fifty years, and whatever happens in mainstream society ultimately spills over into the Jewish community as well.

There is no one reason for divorce.

It doesn’t typically have to be arguments over money or other such like differences. Sometimes it’s as “simple” as a loss of connection.

The couple don’t have to necessarily be fighting, but they no longer have a relationship beyond logistics with the kids. One spouse or the other is feeling really lonely.

Inattention, disconnection and a lack of communication between the two partners can be strong contributing factors. You’ve heard the expression, “we’ve grown apart.” By definition, “I’m lonely.”

No one likes being ignored, but it’s particularly frustrating when the person doing the ignoring is the one you’ve pledged to be with for life. If a couple can’t find a better way to communicate and show each other they care, it can lead to at least half of the couple feeling like they’d be better off alone.

Maybe it was the case that in times past people remained com-

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mitted to their relationships regardless of how lonely or unhappy they may have been. Not so the case in this 21st century. People want more from life and in their ever constant pursuit of happiness they will do all they can to find it rather than spending the rest of their days in misery.

Bottom line: If your partner uses terms like “lonely,” or “unhappy,” start talking. Immediately!

Mixed Messages?

Dear Rabbi, I was brought up in a home, where there was kosher food, but no separations, my parents ate pork and shellfish, outside the home. Friday nights there were candles and Challah but that was all. We did a sort of Seder, and went to shul for the New Year and Yom Kippur. Both my parents worked on Saturdays.

We always had a Xmas tree and a Menorah, and as children would take it in turns to light the candles on both. Mixed messages? Not really, children grow up understanding the differences and when they become adults thus have a better ability to choose.

My brother married a non-Jewish girl who converted to Judaism.

His house did not serve kosher food, but they observed the festivals both Jewish and Christian.

Their kids did not have a problem with this either. I married a man from an orthodox family who was a strong Zionist, though not particularly religious, we brought our children up to enjoy everyone’s festivals, we celebrated all the Jewish festivals together with Xmas, Easter and Divali. We did not have kosher food and the children were taught that religion was a very personal thing and that it was up to the individual as to how they believed.

Now my daughter is happily married to an observant Jewish man, their children go to Jewish school, all the Jewish festivals are strictly observed - and she makes Xmas lunch with crackers, turkey, and Xmas cake but no tree. My grandchildren, understand the differences, it does not cause any problems.

I think in a modern world and living in such a diverse community, it is important for children to share in and understand all festivities, so they can be like their

friends without the fear of losing their own religious heritage.

Sue Dear Sue, So to be clear, your parents had both a tree and a Menorah, the end result of which your brother married a non-Jewish girl. And you don’t think that the mixed signals in your childhood home contributed to that? Hypocrisy number one!

Oh wait! The girl converted!

But they don’t do kosher in his house and they observe Christian festivals. So the conversion was one of those slapstick ones to placate somebody’s conscience. If religion is a personal thing, as you maintain, why did someone insist the girl convert? Why not just allow for a mixed marriage? Hypocrisy number two!

You married someone from an Orthodox home who was not religious – in other words he was no longer Orthodox. So his background is irrelevant. Hypocrisy number three!

Your daughter apparently chose a different path to you and married someone more observant, but still serves Xmas cake – but no tree! Why not? Go the whole hog!

(Mind the pun). Hypocrisy number four!

You think in a modern world you can expose your kids to everything without fear of them compromising their own faith – yet you exposed your kids to everything in the belief that they could choose whichever faith. Hypocrisy number five!

Thank you Sue for making my point for me so eloquently.

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

21 DECEMBER 2017 Volume 30 No. 14

23 December 2017 Shabbat ends

5 Tevet 5778 London 4.49pm JerusalemTHE5.20pm JEWISH WEEKLY

Vayigash

JUDAISM 37

Parshat Vayigash

Artscroll p.250 | Hertz p.169 | Soncino p.277 The Fast of 10 Tevet is on Thursday, starting in London at 6.16am and ending at 4.46pm

In loving memory of Chaim ben Moshe Bentzion In loving memory of Chaim ben Moshe Bentzion

“He sent Yehuda ahead of him to Yosef, to prepare ahead of him in Goshen; and they arrived in the region of Goshen” (Bereshit 46:28).

Hints to Deeper Messages

by Rabbi Chaim Gross, Editor, Daf Hashavua “Then Yehuda approached him [Yosef] and said, ‘Please, my lord....’” (Bereishit 44:18)

Yosef, in his guise as the Viceroy of Egypt, had previously demanded that his brothers bring Binyamin to Egypt. Yet Yaakov, having already ‘lost’ Yosef 22 years previously, initially refused, lest he ‘lose’ another son. Eventually Yehuda 1st Aliya (Kohen) – Vayikra 12:1-23 persuaded Yaakov to let Binyamin go to Egypt, After childbirth, a lady would wait several weeks by being a guarantor for Binyamin’s safe return. before bringing offering (olah) and a After their arrivalan in elevation Egypt, Yosef ordered his silver sin offering (chatat).

This in completed her sack post-birth goblet to be ‘planted’ Binyamin’s and purification process.that the falsely accused then demanded God told Moshe who Binyamin remainand as aAharon slave. that Our someone sidrah begins had appearance of a particular type of and skin withthe Yehuda challenging Yosef’s demand disease wouldas have to show the white instead (tzara’at) offering himself a slave to Yosef. blemish to a Kohen. The Kohen would evaluate and decide if the affliction was tzara’at, Rabbi Eliyahu Kramer, known as clearly the Vilna Gaon thus impure the (the rendering Genius of the Vilnaperson d. 1797), was (tameh). renownedIf for case was unclear,Torah the Kohen wouldOne quarantine his outstanding scholarship. of his the person a house for seven which great skillsin was to be able to seedays, hintsafter within the Chumash (Five Books of thethe Torah) to many the Kohen would re-inspect afflicted arealaws and and messages the person Oral Torah. commentary declare whetherofthe wasHis tameh or tahor to the opening verse of this week’s sidrah (pure). provides a wonderful example of this.

Question: what were the three types of blemish called? (13:2) Answer on bottom of page 6.

The different cantillation marks placed above or 2nd Aliya (Levi) – 13:24-39 below the words of the Torah, indicating how the Itverses was also possible for tzara’at to develop from a should be sung, are referred to by specific burn.

Tzara’at could eruptmarks on thefor scalp on six the names.

The cantillation the or first beard area, causing a loss of hair. words of the sidrah (quoted above) are: kadma, azla, revi’i, zarak, munach, segol. These names, 3rd Aliya (Shlishi) – 13:40-54 translated literally,form meanof(approximately): first, Aif slightly different tzara’at is detailed, went, caused fourth, threw, treasured. which a moreresting, substantial loss of hair. A metzora (one who has been contaminated with tzara’at) was sentsays outside thehints camp had to The Vilna Gaon thatofthis toand a deeper message.

Yehuda guaranteed tear his/her When garments (see p4had article).

Tzara’at Binyamin’s return,clothing. he had said: “I will guarantee could also infect A suspected garment him [Binyamin]; from my hand [Yaakov] cana was quarantined before the you Kohen made demand about him. Ifwhether I do notitbring to you decision was him tameh.

If it and was stand him up before you, I was will burnt. have sinned declared tameh, the garment

against you forever” (ibid. 43:9). The Midrash comments that with the words “I will have sinned against you forever”, Yehuda was saying that if he would not return Binyamin, he would lose his place in the Jewish nation in the eternal Worldto-come. This showed Yaakov the seriousness of Yehuda’s commitment.

Sidrah Summary: Tazria-Metzorah With this in mind, the cantillation marks indicate

William H. Seward's travels around the world, Wadi Tumilat (1873).

The western end of the Wadi Tumilat is identified as part of the Land of Goshen.

Sidrah SidrahSummary: Summary:Miketz Vayigash “He sent Yehuda ahead of him to Yosef, to prepare ahead of him in Goshen; and they arrived in the region of Goshen” (Bereshit 46:28).

1st Aliya (Kohen) – Bereishit 44:18-30 5th Aliya (Chamishi) – 45:28-46:27 22 years after Yosef was sold by his brothers, they Yaakov travels to Egypt, stopping at Beersheva to now face the prospect of their father Yaakov bring an offering. G-d appears to Yaakov in a night ‘losing’ another one of his sons, Binyamin. Yehuda vision, allaying his fears of leaving Cana’an to go does not yet know that the viceroy of Egypt to Egypt, and promising to make his progeny into standing in front of him is actually Yosef. He a great nation. The Torah lists the 70 members of approaches Yosef, recounting Yosef’s demand to Yaakov’s household who came to Egypt. see Binyamin and Yaakov’s reluctance to let 6th Aliya (Shishi) – 46:28-47:10 Binyamin leave. Having already ‘lost’ Rachel’s other Yosef and Yaakov meet in the region of Goshen. son (Yosef), Yaakov did not want disaster to befall Yosef falls on Yaakov’s neck and cries. Along with Binyamin. five of his brothers, Yosef goes to inform Pharaoh of his family’s arrival and tells him that they are sheep 2nd Aliya (Levi) – 44:31-45:7 Yehuda states that if they return without Binyamin, and cattle farmers. Pharaoh grants them the right Yaakov will surely die. Yehuda offers to take to live in Goshen. Yosef brings Yaakov to meet Binyamin’s place and remain as a slave to Yosef. Pharaoh. Yaakov blesses Pharaoh, who asks him Yosef orders everyone apart from his brothers out his age. of the room. He reveals his identity and asks if his Question: how old was Yaakov when Pharaoh father is still alive. He tells his ashamed brothers not asked him his age? (47:9) Answer on bottom of to be sad; G-d had sent him on this mission in order next page. to sustain them during the famine.

7th Aliya (Shevi’i) – 47:11-27 3rd Aliya (Shlishi) – 45:8-18 Despite the famine in Egypt, Yosef makes sure that Yosef tells the brothers to go back to Cana’an to his family has food. The starving Egyptians give relate to Yaakov that he (i.e. Yosef) is alive and Yosef their animals in return for bread. The is the viceroy of Egypt. Yaakov should come following year, they sell their land to Pharaoh in immediately to Egypt; Yosef will ensure their safety return for more food and seed. They become serfs and sustenance in the remaining five years of to Pharaoh, and are to give him one fifth of all famine. Yosef and Binyamin cry on one another’s produce from that land. Yosef fixes this as a necks. national statute. Yaakov’s family increases greatly.

Point to Consider: what was the reason that Yosef Haftarah and Binyamin cried? (see Rashi to 45:14) Yechezkel prophesies that the tribes of Israel will 4th Aliya (Revi’i) – 45:19-27 eventually be reunited and will reject idol worship Pharaoh instructs Yosef to give his brothers and sin. They will be ruled over by a king from the wagons. Yosef sends them back with money and House of David. provisions for the journey. He sends 20 laden donkeys for Yaakov. The brothers return home and tell Yaakov that Yosef is alive and is ruling over the land of Egypt. Initially, Yaakov does not believe them.

1

4th Aliya (Revi’i) – 13:55-14:20 The Torah details the process through which a In memory of Harav Yisrael ben Harav Uriah metzora purified himself/herself after the period of isolation and the healing of the affliction. This involved a Kohen taking two birds, cedar wood, a crimson thread and hyssop. The Kohen would slaughter one of the birds and – using the wood, thread and hyssop together in a bundle – sprinkle In of Harav Yisrael benmetzora.

Harav Uriah its memory blood seven times on the The

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to us the following message: First of all went the fourth son, Yehuda. Yet why did the oldest son metzora alsolead bring three animal offerings Reuven notwould take the and go first?

Because and three offerings.

Yehuda had meal guaranteed Binyamin’s return, to the Point Consider: what the significance of the point of to throwing away his is eternal resting place amongst the treasured hadhyssop? made this(see cedar wood, crimsonnation; threadheand his personal responsibility, more so than any of Rashi to 14:4) his brothers.

5th Aliya (Chamishi) – 14:21-32

A metzora who could not afford three animal Using a similar technique, the Vilna offers a offerings could instead bring oneGaon animal offering, second interpretation Yehuda’s one meal offering andoftwo birds. message to Yosef, in line with Rashi’s commentary that 6th Aliya (Shishi) – 14:33-15:15 Yehuda was physically threatening Yosef and Tzara’at also affected house owner his entourage, includinghouses. his twoThe sons, if Yosef would report the suspicious signs to a Kohen. refused to release Binyamin: First of all went theThe houseson would be evacuated fourth Yehuda.

He had inbefore mind the that Kohen’s if he arrival.

If the Kohen deep green or deep were thrown out of saw the apalace

by Yosef, hered ‘affliction’, would theofhouse to be would kill i.e. he enforce the order ‘resting’ Yosef and quarantined for aare week.

Hetowould re-inspect his two sons, who hinted by thethen cantillation mark segol, which is made up three dots . the house.

If the affliction hadofspread, the•••infected stones would be removed and replaced. If the affliction nevertheless returned, the house would 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 cause a man to be considered tameh, and details the purification procedure.

7th Aliya (Shevi’i) – 15:16-33 A similar set of laws is listed for a lady who has specific discharges, as well as the laws of niddah (menstruation), which form the basis of the laws of family purity.

Haftarah From the Book of Melachim (Kings II), the haftarah takes places upon the background of the long siege and ensuing famine of the Shomron area 3 (Samria) by the King of Aram. Four metzora’im were put outside the city gates because of their affliction. They discovered and reported that the Arameans had actually left their camp, which allowed the Jews to plunder the camp and thus end their famine.

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

The Ten Commandments were presented on transmission. two stone tablets of five commandments each. two stone tablets of five commandments each. transmission.

The first set of five are the central tenets of The first set of five are the central tenets of mitzvot between ourselves and our Creator According to the Sefer Hachinuch, the mitzvah According to the21 Sefer Hachinuch, the 2017 mitzvah mitzvot between ourselves and our Creator 38 JUDAISM DECEMBER THEtheJEWISH honour parents is interpersonal, but its (mitzvot bein adam le'Makom), whilst second toWEEKLY to honour parents is interpersonal, but its (mitzvot bein adam le'Makom), whilst the second five make up the central tenets of our gratitude component is critical for one's gratitude component is critical for one's make up tenets of ourMeir relationship with the G-d.central According to Rabbi interpersonal mitzvot (mitzvot bein adam five Bein Adam Lechaveiro Part 21:Bein Honouring Parents relationship with G-d. According to Rabbi Meir Simcha, there mitzvot isParents a direct component of the (mitzvot bein adam le'chavero).

Surprisingly, the mitzvah Part to honour Adam Lechaveiro 21: interpersonal Honouring mitzvah that relates to our relationship with parents finds itself on the first tablet.

Why is it Simcha, there is a direct component of the le'chavero).

Surprisingly, the mitzvah to honour (Kibud Av V’eim) II (Kibud Av V’eim) II G-d – the preservation of the chain ofis it Torah classed in this way? mitzvah that relates to our relationship with parents finds itself on the first tablet.

Why

by Rabbi Daniel Fine, Community Rabbi, Stanmore & Canons ParkCommunity United Synagogue

by Rabbi Daniel Fine, Rabbi, Stanmore & Canons Park United Synagogue transmission classed in thisfrom way?parent to child, a chain that is G-d – the preservation of the chain of Torah 130 generations long and that is alive and well appreciation, can even carry severe Last week we noted that this The Rambam writes honouring parents is this appreciation, can even carry severe transmission from parent to child, a chain that is Lastthat week we noted that unto this very day.

Furthermore, this gratitude honouring parents (kibud av punishments.

G-d to be somewhat honouring equated with honouring 130 generations long and that is alive and well Furthermore, this gratitude parents (kibud av punishments.

The Rambam writes that honouring parents is supposed to because train seems uswetocame be be grateful to isG-d v’eim) seems to be a typical isHimself.

This is into being unto this very day. supposed to train us to be grateful to G-d v’eim) to a typical to be way, somewhat equated with honouring Either the takes placeG-d in us; creating us and for all He gives tofor us;creating from a partnership between our parents and 'mishpat' – a mitzvah which for us mitzvah and forrightly all that Heitsgives to 'mishpat' – athat mitzvah which the first half ofiscornerstone the Ten Commandments.

Himself.

This because weofcame into being G-d. If honouring parentsperhaps an gratitude is a cornerstone ofwas our simply relationship is logical; perhaps so much gratitude is a our relationship is logical; so much interpersonal mitzvah, this would be difficult to with fromHim. a partnership between our parents and Either way, the mitzvah rightly takes its place in Him. so that we would have with so that we would have fulfilled many aspects of understand. fulfilled many aspects of G-d. If honouring parents was simply an the first half of the Ten Commandments. the mitzvah even if Torah 2. Rabbi Meir Simcha interpersonal mitzvah, this would be difficult to the mitzvah even(d.if1926) Torahadds of Dvinsk 2. Rabbi Meir Simcha of Dvinsk (d. 1926) adds had not obligated us to do so. had not obligated us to do so. understand.

To further understand the framework of kibud av that honouring parents preserves and reflects honouring parents preserves and reflects that v’eim, there are twochain classic to theare the essence of the of approaches tradition. Parents the essence of the chain of tradition. Parents are mitzvah in the custodians of our Jewish lives; they are the custodians of commentaries: our elements Jewish lives; are the there are of thisthey mitzvah However, there are elements of this mitzvah However, To further understand the framework of kibud av link that connects a child back to Mount Sinai. link that connects child isback to Mount Sinai. much more to which indicate that there is much more to which indicate that athere v’eim, there are two classic approaches to the Parents are responsible for transmitting Jewish Parents are responsible for the transmitting Jewish honouring parents than meets eye: 1. The Sefer Hachinuch (written 13th century) honouring parents than meets the eye: mitzvah inand the tradition commentaries: heritage to their children. The heritage and traditionparents to their children. writes that honouring is based uponThe mitzvah to honour parents facilitates this the notion ofhonour gratitude.

We arefacilitates grateful tothis mitzvah to parents Ten Commandments were presented on The Ten Commandments were presented on The our parents for having created us and for transmission. transmission.

1. The Sefer Hachinuch (written 13th century) stone tablets of five commandments each. two stone tablets of five commandments each. two taking care of us. So central is gratitude in life writes that honouring parents is based upon The first set of five are the central tenets of The first set of five are the central tenets of that rebellion against parents, thus neglecting Sefer Hachinuch, the mitzvah According between and our the Creator the notiontoofthegratitude.

We are grateful to According to theourselves Sefer Hachinuch, mitzvah mitzvot between ourselves and our Creator mitzvot is interpersonal, but for its toourhonour bein adam le'Makom), whilst the second parentsparents for having created us and to honour parents is interpersonal, but its (mitzvot bein adam le'Makom), whilst the second (mitzvot gratitude component is critical for one's five make up the central tenets of our taking care of us. So central is gratitude in life five make up the central tenets of our gratitude component is critical for one's G-d. According to Rabbi Meir mitzvot bein adam relationship relationship with G-d. (mitzvot According interpersonal mitzvot (mitzvot bein adam interpersonal that rebellionwith against parents, thus neglecting 4 In memory of Harav Yisrael ben Eliyahu to Rabbi Meir Simcha, there is a direct component of the le'chavero).

Surprisingly, the mitzvah to honour le'chavero). Surprisingly, the mitzvah to honour Simcha, there is a direct component of the that relates to our relationship with on the to firstour tablet.

Why is it mitzvah mitzvahfinds thatitself relates relationship with parents finds itself on the first tablet. Why is it parents G-d – the preservation of the chain of Torah classed in this way?

G-d – the preservation of the chain of Torah classed in this way? transmission from parent to child, a chain that is transmission from parent to child, a chain that isIn memory of Harav Yisrael ben Eliyahu 4 130 generations long Yisrael and that is Eliyahu alive and well In memory of Harav ben 130Rambam generations long and that is alive andiswell The writes that honouring parents unto this very day.

The Rambam writes that honouring parents is very day. tounto be this somewhat equated with honouring G-d to be somewhat equated with honouring G-d Himself. This is because we came into being Himself. This is becausePart we came into being Theway, Fast of 10 Tevet (Asarah Parallel Thinking 40: The Emergence of Ethics II –our parents and Either the mitzvah rightly takes its placeB’Tevet) in from a partnership between EitherIfway, the mitzvah rightlywas takessimply its place in the from a partnership between our parents and G-d. first half of the Ten Commandments. by Rabbi Geoffrey L Shisler, former Rabbi of New West End United Synagogue honouring parents an The Limits of Human Endeavour the first half of the Ten Commandments.

G-d. If honouring parents was simply an interpersonal mitzvah, this would be difficult to by Rabbi Dr Moshe West to Endunderstand.

United Synagogue interpersonal mitzvah,Freedman, this would New be difficult understand.

The Fast of 10 Tevet (Asarah text is saying. Moreover, a translation is merely The purpose of G-d The reason the baby can see from one end of the B’Tevet), is this coming one person’s interpretation. Inevitably, the to the other, is that this pure soul, as yet communicating with mankind world To further understand the framework of kibud av Thursday. It is unique in that true meaning of the words becomes corrupted.

To further understand framework kibud was to the make it possibleoffor us av unsullied by attachment to the approaches physical world, v’eim, there are two classic to the it is the only fast day that v’eim, there aretotwo classic approaches to the become partners with Him, canmitzvah discerninspiritual truths with absolute clarity. the commentaries: can occur on a Friday. The The death of Ezra took away one of the greatest mitzvah in the commentaries: in order to engage in the As soon as the baby takes its first breath, its soul Rambam (Maimonides d. Jews ever to have lived. After the destruction of perfection of ourselves and merges with its body and comes into contact 1. The Sefer Hachinuch (written 13th century) 1204) writes that the reason the First Temple, it was Ezra who virtually saved the world around us. This with the physical world, obscuring the soul’s 1. The Sefer Hachinuch (written 13th century) writes that honouring parents is based upon we have fasts on days that Judaism from extinction. The Talmud (Sanhedrin requires an understanding of ability to perceive spiritual truths. As we grow writes that honouring parents is based upon the notion of gratitude. We are grateful to calamities occurred is to give us the opportunity 21b) states that had Moshe not brought the Torah evermore attached to the physical world, our the world – both physical and spiritual – as well the notion of gratitude. We are grateful to our parents for having created us and for to reflect upon the causes of those tragedies and to the people of Israel, Ezra would have done so. soul’s vision of spiritual and moral truth is as a moral code to live by. our parents for having created us and for taking care of us. So central is gratitude in life to encourage us to repent. In this way we will, His death was deeply felt by all the Jews of his increasingly blurred. Our notion of morality and taking care of us. So central is gratitude in life that rebellion against parents, thus neglecting time. hopefully, improve our conduct.

Therefore, G-d gave us the Torah and its mitzvot, spirituality becomes subject to our physical that rebellion against parents, thus neglecting experiences. as the guide which directs us. G-d also created This raises a question about the Fast of Asarah Therefore the three events that the Fast of mankind in His image (Bereishit 1:26-27) which B'Tevet. It commemorates the day that the4 Asarah B'Tevet commemorates are connected – highlights that as well as being physical beings In conclusion, is concerned purely with In memory ofscience Harav Yisrael ben Eliyahu siege of Jerusalem began during the time of the they all relate to a decline in Torah study. drawn to physical things, we also possess a understanding the physical world. Mankind 4 In memory of Harav Yisrael ben Eliyahu First Temple. Yet the exile that followed came The translation of the Hebrew into Greek neshamah (soul), a G-d-like quality within us has the capacity to be morally and spiritually to an end when the Second Temple was built created misunderstandings that last to this day. (ibid. 2:7), which serves as an inner guide and is sensitive, and can develop ethical codes and (515 BCE). The exile in which we find ourselves When Ezra died, we moved one step further intimately connected to G-d. spiritual convictions through societal consensus today and many of the tragedies that have away from the original understanding of our and philosophical deliberation. Yet society’s befallen our people since are rooted in the Holy writings. Finally, it is only in the atmosphere King Shlomo (Solomon) writes that, “A person’s man-made notion of morality, ethics and destruction of the Second Temple (70 CE), which of the Holy Land, which was threatened by the soul is the candle of G-d, searching out the jurisprudence, devoid of G-d's objective ethical has no connection to 10 Tevet. How are we siege of Jerusalem, that we can study Torah chambers of our innermost parts” (Mishlei/ goals, can never be free from human bias and still connected to the events that occurred on at its optimum; this cannot be experienced Proverbs 20:27). Rabbeinu Yonah (d. 1264) and prejudice. These are the limits of mankind’s outside of the Land of Israel. that day?

Rabbi Levi ben Gershon (known as the Ralbag, d. endeavours to understand and manage the 1344) explain that the soul’s connection to G-d is world.

In a Selichah (prayer for forgiveness) recited on For those aligned to the Torah, the Fast of Asarah the source for every person’s spiritual intuitions 10 Tevet, the tragedies that befell our people in B’Tevet remains as relevant today as it was when and convictions. In theory, humans can discern We would like to thank Rabbi Freedman for this the month of Tevet are listed: "For these three it was when first introduced by the prophets. moral and spiritual truths about the world, excellent series and look forward to him writing events a fast was instituted: (on 8 Tevet) the without having to defer to the Torah. The Midrash again in the future .

Grecian king Talmai (Ptolemy Philadelphus) explains that this is how Avraham originally came forced the Torah to be translated into Greek; (on 9 to recognise G-d and keep His commandments.

Tevet) Ezra the Scribe, the giver of goodly words, was torn away; (on 10 Tevet) the siege of Yet while the soul seeks eternal moral and Jerusalem began”. What is the connection spiritual Godliness, the body seeks the opposite, between these events? in the form of physical gratification. The Talmud states that a candle shines above the head of an unborn child, with which the baby can see from The translation of the Written Torah into one end of the world to the other (Niddah 30b).

Greek caused irreparable damage. Without an Rabbi Yehudah Loew (known as the Maharal of understanding of Hebrew, it is impossible Prague, d. 1609) explains that the ‘candle’ refers to appreciate the nuances intended by the to the baby’s soul. Before birth, the soul is above written word. Someone who can only approach the baby’s body – outside of it, yet associated the Hebrew text through a translation can with it. only have a superficial understanding of what the Sample from a Greek translation of the Torah

Bein Adam Lechaveiro Part 21: Honouring Parents (Kibud Av V’eim) II

by Rabbi Daniel Fine, Community Rabbi, Stanmore & Canons Park United Synagogue

Answer: 130

memory of Harav Yitzchak Yoel ben Shlomo Halev InInmemory of Harav Yitzchak Yoel ben Shlomo Halev

5

Yehoshua In ben Ephraim of of Yaakov Hirsch Hirsch Inmemory memory Yaakov Yehoshua ben Ephraim

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21 DECEMBER 2017

Parashat Vayigash In this week’s D’var Torah the Chief Rabbi asks how we can maximise the opportunity of every day.

How many days old are you?

This sounds like an odd thing to ask, but it was actually the question that was posed by

Tehillim Psalm 34

JUDAISM 39

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King Pharaoh of Egypt to our ancestor Jacob.

Jacob had just arrived in Egypt. Joseph arranged for an audience between his father and King Pharaoh. Jacob came in, he blessed Pharaoh. Pharaoh then saw how this old man looked young and appeared to be so vibrant in

spirit. So he posed the question – “Kama yemei shnei chayecha?” – “how many are the days of the years of your life?” And Jacob replied – “Yemei shnei meguray” – “the numbers of the days of the years of my sojourn on earth” – “shloshim umeat shana” – add up to “one hundred and thirty years”.

It is in this spirit that we read in the Psalms – “Limnot yameinu cain hoda ve navi l’vav chochma” – “teach us Hashem to number our days, so that we should be wise-hearted”.

The term ‘wise-hearted’ is a fascinating one; you don’t find it in any other language or tradition. Usually we refer to somebody who is wise or somebody who has a good heart. But in our tradition, we find the fusion of the two: somebody who is clever, who is wise and yet, that is accompanied by compassion, by empathy and sympathy.

Similarly, it is not good enough just to feel for a person or for a situation. Our emotions need to be accompanied by clear and logical thought. If we find the capacity to be wise-hearted, then we can number our

This tehillim is for a refuah shelma for the victims of the New York fire: Shilat bat Louza Aliza, Daniel ben Louza Aliza and Yosef ben Ahuva Masuda

Continuing with the Psalms that we add in to our Shabbat morning prayers, we arrive at ‘LDavid bshanoto et tamo, lifnei Avimelech..,’ a fascinating story from Tanach, where King David pretended to be mad to escape death from the Philistines.

King David had originally said to Hashem, ‘All that you created is beautiful, and wisdom is the most beautiful thing of all. However, I fail to understand or to appreciate the value of madness. What satisfaction can You derive from having created a lunatic, who walks about, ripping his clothing, is chased by little children and is mocked by all?’ Our great, righteous and holy King of Israel simply could not understand why G-d created madness?

Hashem replied ‘David, you will someday need this madness, which you now criticize. Furthermore, you

Cold Weather

BY RABBI ARNOLD SAUNDERS

The last couple of weeks has seen some very cold weather with significant accumulations of snow.

The snow started to fall a couple of weeks ago on Shabbat Parshat Vayeshev. I said in my Sermon that day that the snow was forecast in the Sedra as it says “ vayosefu od snow” (Bereshit 37,8 ).

However, that was of course a joke albeit a very funny one!

will even pray that I give this madness to you!’ When David Hamelech was later forced to flee from his father inlaw King Saul, he initially found safety amongst the Philistines, after all the Jews had betrayed him. However, his life quickly became endangered when he was recognised, so he pretended to be mad to escape, and Avimelech threw him out in disgust.

This Psalm, written as a thanks for his miraculous escape, is written in alphabetical order, and perhaps shows that even though we may not understand everything that G-d does, the entire world functions in a perfect order and things always will be understood in the end, whether in this world or the next.

days just like the patriarch Jacob.

Often we are lost for words and that is totally understandable. My favourite saying under such circumstances is – ‘Arichut yamim’ – ‘may you be blessed to have long days’. Just like Jacob, may you find the capacity to maximise the opportunity of every day, inspired by precious memories of the one who has passed away, who will continue to encourage you to do what is right in their memory. We have no clue how many years we are going to live for – Please G-d there will be many – but what we do have control over is how we spend our days.

Let them always be – ‘Arichut yamim’ – long and productive days. Let us be a blessing for our surroundings, making a great impact for the benefit of our society, walking in the footsteps of Jacob our forebear. Therefore, we’ll be able to enthusiastically exclaim, “Baruch Hashem, yom yom” –”Blessed is Hashem on every single day”. Shabbat Shalom.

MITZVOS PIDYON SHEVUYIM D'1J.'l1 ,,.,.,.� n,�n

I have though, in all seriousness, seen a Kabbalistic/ Chasidic prediction of this recent weather in this week “s Sedra, Vayigash.

The letters of the word Vayigash make up an acronym of “ Vav Yiheye Gimmel Shevat” -if the 3rd of Shevat falls on a Friday (as it does this year). If you then read it backwards it can stand for “Sheleg Gadol Yihyeh Vekor” - It will be a year of much snow and cold!

Don’t say you weren’t warned!

REPUBLICAN " NATIONAL COMMITTEE

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MEMBER NUMBER

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Koach Hatorah International and its President Reb Michoel Streicher Had a tremendous influence to elect Donald Trump as our President of the United States.

Is currently on the Republican National Committee Presidential Advisory Board.

Wants to use his powerful! connection with The White House to pardon Sholom Rubashkin and Mordchai Samet and many other Jewish so called White Collar Criminals that have been incarcerated by ridiculous life sentences since the courts are ignoring the whole situation.

We beg the public to please sign the bottom petition and to send it back either by mail to: Michoel Streicher, The Hill Medical Centre, 2A North Field Road, London, Nl 6 SRN or scan and email to koachatorah@gmail.com

Receive Reb Michael's latest, greatest D.V.D by donating £18 to this cause to fund this campaign

THESE ALBUMS ARE NOT AVAILABLE IN THE SHOP S - AND ARE ONLY BEING DISTRIBUTED AS PART OF THE CAMPAIGN

Receive both D.V.D's and a C.D by donating £36 to this cause to fund this campaign

·-----------------------------------------------------------------SEND CHEQUES PAYABLE TO KCST TO: THE HILL MEDICAL CENTRE, 2A NORTH FIELD ROAD, LONDON, Nl 6 SRN '

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DONALD]. TRUM!'

To sponsor a Tehillim for £54 call 0203 906 8488 or email office@thejewishweekly.com

•

Dear Mr President,

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Mr. Michoel Streicher 127449thSt Brooklyn, NY 11219-301 l

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On behalf of the Nation of Israel, we are pleading to you to pardon Shalom Rubashkin and Mordechai Samet and other Jewish so called White Collar Criminals who were given unfair life sentences in jail, while the previous Government had pardoned thousands of mass criminals.

We pray to the Almighty that you will be the right messenger to release them and may G-d grant you another 4 years as President and serving as the greatest president for a full 8 year term, Koach Hatorah International President Michael Streicher

NAME: .........................................................................................................

ADDRESS: ..................................................................................................

COUNTRY: .................................................................................................

SIGNATURE: ..............................................................................................

Rubashkin released - now for the others

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40 KIDS

21 DECEMBER 2017

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Parshat Vayigash In this week’s parshah Yehuda begs Yosef to free his brother Benyamin and even offers himself as a slave.

At this point when Yosef see how much his brothers care for one another, he can no longer hold back his feelings. He sends all his servants and guards out of the room, and when he and his brothers are left alone he says “I am Yosef, is my father still alive?”

The brothers are shocked and ashamed. They cannot believe their brother Yosef who they thought was dead is alive and is the second most powerful man in Egypt. Yosef tells them that it was G- d’s will that he end up in Egpyt so that he would become powerful and have a chance to save the entire family from the terrible famine which was happening.

Yosef then sends his brothers home to tell his father Yaakov that he is alive as well as to invite him to come to Egypt where he will be able to live in peace. When Yaacov hears the good news, he is overjoyed and stops the long 22 years of mourning for his beloved son Yosef.

Yaakov travels to Egypt together with his entire family. On his way to Egypt G d promises Yaakov that He will make his children into a great nation, and that He will take them out of Egypt.

Yosef goes out to meet his father. When he sees him, Yosef hugs and kisses Yaakov. They then go to meet Pharaoh who gives the land of Goshen to them, which is where Yaakov and his family will live throughout the next generations. Pharoah gives them plenty of food and gifts.

Wo r d s e a r c h Can you find the names of the 12 sons of Yaacov?

Arts and Crafts Hand-Made Binoculars

You will need • 2 empty toilet rolls • Differernt coloured paints or felt tips • Any coloured string • Staplers with staples • Scissors

Method 1.

Paint or decorate the toilet rolls as desired. (You can add stickers or sequins for more decoration.)

2. When dry, staple the 2 toilet rolls together like you see in the image on the right.

3. Cut the string to the legnth you desire and staple the ends of the string to the edge of the toilet rolls.

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21 DECEMBER 2017

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CUT OUT & KEEP

TO CREATE YOUR VERY OWN JEWISH WEEKLY RECIPE BOOK

Tasty pizza soup • • • • • • • • •

Ingredients: 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil 1 Tbsp minced garlic 1 small chopped Onion 1 chopped Bell pepper 1 packet of vegetarian sausages 2 tsp Basil 1 tsp Oregano 32 oz low sodium vegetable broth 1 28 oz can tomato sauce

• 1 can diced tomatoes • salt and pepper to taste • Toppings: pepperoni, olives, mushrooms, mozzarella cheese, onions, peppers • Serve with a side of whole grain toast

Method:

1. Heat a large pot over medium high heat. Add olive oil garlic, chopped onion, and bell pepper.Ask an adult for help if required.

2. Cut vegetarian sausages and add them to the pot and let brown.

3. Cook down until the onions are translucent - about 10 minutes.

4. Add the remaining ingredients to the pot and turn the heat down to low. Cover and let simmer for 15 minutes.

5. Serve with whole wheat toast and your favorite pizza toppings.

Did y u kn w?

Fun nature facts The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is the world’s largest reef Despite it’s name, the Killer Whale (Orca) is actually a type of dolphin.

Female lions are better hunters than male lions and do most of the hunting for a pride.

Unlike humans, cows and horses sleep while standing up.

The largest ocean on Earth is the Pacific Ocean.

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Although Polar Bears have white, fluffy fur, their skin is actually black.

maro uraro u00 •

42 KIDS

21 DECEMBER 2017

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VAYIGASH: PUZZLE PIECES!

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TUEY AR.E S:UR.PR.IS:ED TO DISCOVER. TUAT TUE VICEROY OF EGYPT WAS NONE OTUER. TUAN TUEIR. LONG-LOST BR.OTUER., YOS:EF - WUOM TUEY UAD S:OLD MANY YEARS: EAR.LIER..

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21 DECEMBER 2017

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Burnt to perfection

By Chaya Sandler The fire alarm hates me.

It’s out to get me, I’m sure it’s conspiring with the oven. The oven gleefully burns anything I place inside it if I so much as neglect if for a minute. Sometimes I wonder who’s the boss. It’s supposed to serve me, right? Whenever I try to rebel though and not come running at its incessant demands it punishes me, apparently no-one ever taught it revenge is a dish best served cold.

The fire alarm gets its joy in life from tormenting me, it flashes its light very nonchalantly as we silently stare at each other. We both know what’s going to happen the moment I open the oven door. I can almost see it holding its breath, a malicious smile on its lips as we watch the barely perceptible wisp of smoke waltz smugly on its mission of doom, before it lets loose, filling the air with it’s awful shrieks. I should send it for voice training.

My mother keeps telling me that cooking is not a war. But it is. Have you met our food processor? It makes me fiddle with the lid

until it suddenly burst into life with a surge of energy which dies down seconds later from which point I have to continuously prod it awake. I can’t decide which half of life it’s in, is it a moody teenager or a grumpy grandmother.

Anyway, I was innocently reading on the sofa when my brother came to me crying. My parents had gone out to a wedding and he had promised his friends that he would bring in a cake for tomorrow’s party. Uh oh. Me and the kitchen, well I told you already so..... visions of a charred lump, burned beyond recognition in the hands of a stern fire officer flashed in my head. Not a scene I wanted. But my brother was crying..... his little lips were quivering and he was bravely trying to hold back tears. Trying.

Glistening tears lay on his lashes.

I couldn’t leave my brother crying.

I glared at the oven as I pulling ingredients out the began cupboard. The mixer did as it was told. A good start. Then I nervously THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

poured the batter into a pan. Now it was time.

Sliding the pan in carefully, I silently prayed it shouldn’t burn.

It seemed G-d had other plans. The fire alarm jerked my head up from my book. Oh no!

I dumped the burnt lump onto the table. This time I had hoped that since I was doing something good for my little brother.... maybe I could cover it in icing. Um... no. Now the thing resembled a volcano with orange icing sinking into a crater in the middle, slowly rolling down the sides and drawing clumps of -what had been cake- down with it. I lent my head against the counter. Why did this always have to happen?!

The soft pattering of bare tiny feet across sticky lino. The rustled of small pyjamas as their owner strained over the edge of the table. I couldn’t b a r e to raise my head. I had failed him. The short, tiny gasp of....delight? A brown ball threw himself at me. “ It’s perfect!

I told hem I was gonna bwing da best volcano for da science fair!”

Oh. I looked up. I guess sometimes the answer was yes. Was the fire alarm winking at me? Oh well, this time I had burnt it to perfection.

44 YOUTH

21 DECEMBER 2017

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

Parshat Vayigash In a Nutshell Yehuda pleads to Yosef to release Benyamin and offers himself as a slave in Benyamin’s stead. Yehuda knows that he has to be responsible for his brother Benyamin and has to do whatever he can to save him from the decree.

He tells Yosef of his father Yaakov’s reluctance to allow Benyamin who is Rachel’s only remaining child – to make the trip to Egypt, and

the great love Yaakov harbored for his youngest son.

Upon witnessing his brothers’ loyalty to one another, Yosef reveals his identity to them. “I am Yosef,” he declares. “Is my father still alive?”

The brothers are overcome by shock, shame and remorse, but Yosef comforts them. “It was not you who sent me here,” he says to them, “but

G d. It has all been ordained from Above to save us, and the entire region, from famine.”

The brothers rush back to Canaan with the news to tell their father Yaakov.

Yaakov comes to Egypt with his sons and their families and is reunited with his beloved son after 22 years.

On his way to Egypt he stops at Beer Sheva and

receives the divine promise: “Fear not to go down to Egypt; for I will there make of you a great nation. I will go down with you into Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again.”

Pharaoh gives Yaakov’s family the fertile county of Goshen to settle, and they prosper and multiply exceedingly in their Egyptian exile.

Pharoah showers them with

food and gifts.

The rest of Egypt remained in a desperate plight. First they expended all their money in exchange for food that Yosef sold them. Then their money ran out, and they paid for provisions with their cattle. Finally, when they had no money or cattle left, they sold their land and themselves to Pharaoh into servitude in exchange for provisions.

5 fun new hobbies you can try 2

1

ROCK CLIMBING Whether it’s at a local gym or out in nature, rock climbing is not only a really fun way to spend an afternoon, it’s also an amazing workout! You don’t have to be a body builder or even a super active person--rock climbing is an inclusive hobby that literally anyone can get involved in.

4

LEARN AN INSTRUMENT

PAINTING

From piano to guitar to drums, learning how to play a musical instrument is one of the most fun ways to exercise your brain. Studies have shown that playing an instrument can greatly improve your memory, the speed at which you process information, and other cognitive functions.

Painting, sketching, doodling or being creative with a pencil.

Drawing relaxes the mind and body.

5

COOKING CLASSES

HIKING Hiking and nature walks are one of the best and most relaxing ways to experience the beauty of the outdoors.

And it doesn’t have to be a hobby where you go it alone--bring along a friend or a member of the family, or make new friends by joining a local hiking club.

3

From the Essentials of Tuscan Cooking to Tacos, there’s a class that’s sure to wet your appetite. Insider tip: Don’t have a cooking school nearby? Call up your Grandma! she will give you a hand and give you all the advice you need!

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

21 DECEMBER 2017

YOUTH 45

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

News Bites HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH: LEAK FOUND ON NEW AIRCRAFT CARRIER The UK’s new aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, is leaking because of a faulty seal.

The Royal Navy’s future flagship, which was commissioned by the Queen earlier this month in Portsmouth, has a problem with one of its propeller shafts.

The fault on the £3.1bn carrier was first identified during sea trials.

A Royal Navy spokesman said the ship was scheduled for repair and the fault did not prevent it from sailing again early in the new year.

According to the Sun newspaper, HMS Queen Elizabeth has been taking on up to 200 litres of sea

water every hour because of the fault.

BBC defence correspondent Jonathan Beale said the problem was “highly embarrassing” for the Royal Navy and just one of a number of snags still to be rectified.

A Royal Navy spokesman said: “An issue with a shaft seal has been identified during HMS Queen Elizabeth’s sea trials; this is scheduled for repair while she is alongside at Portsmouth.

“It does not prevent her from sailing again and her sea trials programme will not be affected.”

NEW ZEALAND ‘COP CAR KARAOKE’ DRIVES HOME SAFETY MESSAGE Police in New Zealand’s capital, Wellington, have teamed up with other emergency services and the city’s mayor to drive home a road safety message - through the medium of song.

Police responded to a challenge from colleagues in Waikato, writing their own lyrics to a song and filming it in the style of Carpool Karaoke, the Stuff.nz website

reports.

They roped in the Wellington Free Ambulance service and the Wellington Fire Service to record parts of the song, urging drivers to “please slow your car” over the holiday period.

A police dog also sent a message for people not to drink and drive, along with Wellington mayor Justin Lester, attired in his ceremonial

ASIATIC CHEETAHS ON THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION WITH ONLY 50 LEFT Conservationists have warned that the Asiatic cheetah is on the threshold of extinction following a UN decision to pull funding from conservation efforts to protect it.

Fewer than 50 of the critically endangered carnivores are thought to be left in the wild – all of them in Iran – and scientists fear that without urgent intervention there is little chance of saving one of the planet’s most distinctive and graceful hunters.

“Lack of funding means extinction for the Asiatic cheetah, I’m afraid,” the Iranian conservationist Jamshid Parchizadeh said. “Iran has already suffered from the loss of the Asiatic lion and the Caspian

tiger. Now we are about to see the Asiatic cheetah go extinct as well.”

The Asiatic cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus venaticus, is slightly smaller and paler than its African

Dear Agony Aunt Mia,

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.

robes and chain of office.

I have been a little distressed recently and thought that you might be able to give me some advice. One of my close friends has been struggling financially.

She never has much pocket money and when we go out, she can’t afford to do some of the things we all do, like eating out in restaurants and going bowling.

When I go to her house, there seems to be a very minimal amount of food and this worries me the most. I am really worried about her and her family.

They are such nice people and I feel like they need help and I don’t have the means to help them.

Yael Dear Yael, First of all, I would like to praise you for taking the time to write to me your concerns about your friend nd her family. You clearly are a very good friend!

It is very hard for families who are in financial situations, especially when they have no one to turn to. My first suggestion would be to call GIFT. They are an organisation who can help these families and can give you advice and lead you in the right direction.

Another suggestion would be to start an anonymous charity fun run, or open up a chessed fund. Just visit www.chessedfund.com and people can donate online. Spread the word via emails, messages and social media. You can send the money in an envelope through their letter box anonymously.

In addition, you can also have fun in a relatively inexpensive manner. Instead of going out to restaurants, you or one of your friends could host a games evening and chill out with snacks and drinks in your own home. You can also go to a park and have a picnic or go to a free museum. Keep these ideas in mind and your friend won’t feel she is unable to join and you can all be together in a comfortable setting.

Good luck and keep me posted!

Mia

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cousin. It has a fawn-coloured coat with black spots on its head and neck, and distinctive black “tear marks” running from the corner of each eye down the side of its nose.

46 YOUTH

21 DECEMBER 2017

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

Q: What do you get when you cross a cow and a lawnmower?

A: A lawnmooer.

Q: What do you get if you cross a kangaroo and a elephant?

A: Big holes all over Australia!

(Answers at the bottom of page upside down)

Q: Where are sharks from?

A: Finland.

1.

I fly without wings and cry without eyes. What am I? Q: What did the dog say to the flea?

A: Stop bugging me!

2. What can you serve but not eat?

3.

What is the longest word in the dictionary?

2.

A tennis ball 1.

A candle

Smiles, because there is a mile between each ‘s’ 3.

1. Full time, Part time 2. Scrambled eggs 3. Tennis Shoes 4. Dinners on the table 5. Blanket 6. Inside Information

Dingbats Answers THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

21 DECEMBER 2017

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

YOUTH 47

Running Out Of Time

BY CHAYA SANDLER After being arrested by the time police, they were given 24 hours to return Charles Dickens and Lord Griffindor to their own time zones and destroy the time machine. Accidentally arriving home 24 hours too late, Toby and Elliot were arrested.

Griff escaped with Toby’s sister Talia and are under house arrest in Danny’s apartment. Since he cannot leave he is sucked into their saga.

“This is a terrible, incredibly foolish, shockingly ridiculous idea. Let’s do it.” Talia bounced up and down like a kid in a sweet shop as if blowing a hole in the fabric of the universe was something she had always wanted to do. Then again, considering Talia it probably was. This was the strangest night in Danny’s life and it just kept on getting stranger.

“Here goes...” Danny connected the wires and nothing happened. “Oh, well that was anticlimact-” they were suddenly blinded by a glowing darkness and covered in glitter.

“Yay!” A dragon loomed over them, “Did you like the glitter or is ott?” The three of them stared in shock. Talia yelled at Griff, “Quick Hufflepuff, you’re skills finally come in useful- slay the dragon!”

“Oh. That’s hurtful.” Huffed the dragon, it folded it’s arms and stuck out its bottom lip, “I was going to give you directions but now....”

“We are not taking directions from a dragon.” Talia stated.

“Fine, be like that then. We won’t take directions from a dragon robot, see if I care.”

PART 3 “Robot?” Danny squeaked, “why didn’t you say so?”

“What is a robot?” asked Griff.

“Never mind,” said Danny. He went over the dragon who was sulking in the corner.

“We’re really sorry?”

“Why is that a question!”

“Um ok...we’re really sorry, full stop. Now can you give us the directions?”

----------------------------------------Griff drew his pistol, made a shushing motion and inched round the door. Talia gave a tarzan whoop and followed.

“Stealth doesn’t seem to be a strength you posses my lady,” muttered Griff crossly.

Danny strolled in normally and walked behind them to a giant computer screen. “What is this?”

“Don’t touch that!” A small man in a lab coat came running up and stood protectively in front of the computer. They waited patiently until he finished wheezing “Sorry, I don’t get much exercise. Now I suppose you’re the two that are being chased by the Interera police. Your friends are getting bored by the way, you had better rescue them soon.”

“And because they’ll be executed in the morning if we don’t.” “ Oh yeah, that too. Now who is this?” He peered at Danny expectantly.

“I’m.... er, well I’m not really sure what I’m doing here, I went to buy milk and then I’m not quite sure what happened so er...I’m here anyway.”

“Interesting. Well I guess you want to know who I am and what my story is, eh?”

“Not really.” Talia cut him off, “We don’t really care, we just want your help.”

“What my friend means to say good sir is that we would gladly hear your tale, right?”

Griff glared meaningfully at Talia who rolled her eyes and sighed, “Suppose.”

“Oh good.” The little scientist rubbed his hands in glee. “I haven’t talked to anyone in 500 years!”

-----------------------------------------------“So let me get this straight...” Danny began hesitantly, “You worked for the Interera Court, fell out with them and now like to help fugitives in your spare time” “Yes.” “So you could have just said that in 10 seconds instead of spending,” he glanced at his watch, “2 hours almost.”

The scientist looked offended. “It’s more interesting this way.” He looked a bit lost for a moment and then said. “If you want my help, rescue your friends from prison and meet here. Then I’ll arrange for you to be let off all charges. Was that simple enough for you?”

“Simple! We’ll just stroll into the most heavily guarded prison in all of time and walk out with our friends shall we?” Talia threw her hand in the air and glared at the tiny man before them as if he was the cause of all their problems.

“If you want, but i would probably go for something more subtle if I were you.”

--------------------------------------------------Toby was actually considering befriending the spiders. They were probably more talkative then Elliot. He had just finished naming them when the bars disappeared and Griff swaggered in, all debonair. “Griff!” Talia stomped in behind him, her trademark scowl in place. Toby was even glad to see his sister.

A lanky ginger older teen stumbled in behind them. “Talia, new guy! You came to rescue us!”

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“Yep.” Talia didn’t sound very enthusiastic. Griff smiled at him.

“We have indeed come to rescue you master Toby.” 4 guards then walked in pointing their guns.

“You paid off the guards?”

“Not quite.”

“You’re mind controlling them?”

“Um...no.”

“You’ve been arrested.”

“Yep. It’s all part of the plan.”

“Oh so you have a plan?”

“No, but we will soon and being arrested will have been an integral part of it.”

“So we’re all doomed.”

“Not so good sir!” Griff thundered.

“Griff if you give me anything about dying like men, I swear I wil-” “Really sir, we are here to rescue you.

There may have been a slight hitch-” “Slight?”

“Fine we totally and utterly messed up, but no matter. We’ll be out of here soon.”

“Oh so you do have a plan?”

“Not at all good sir. I’m just trying to stay positive.”

“We’re about to die Hufflepuff.”

“See, negativity my lady. You must work on that. Anyway, does anyone have a drink?” “i think the spiders are better company than you lot.”

“Spiders!” Danny yelled. “We’re saved!”

“Is this new guy nuts or something?” Toby asked.

“My name is Danny and I’m not crazy. I know how we can get out of here.”

TO BE CONTINUED

48 WOMEN

21 DECEMBER 2017

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

W oman of W orth ‫ֵֽא ׁ ֶשת ַֽחיִ ל ִמי יִ ְמ ָצא‬ residential family centres across London and the South East.

The Toy Sweep is an annual event held each December during Chanukah. The committee raises money through various fundraising events specifically to help buy additional toys, games, and books for the Norwood services, including ‘Buckets and Spades’, Norwood’s short-break service, ‘Unity’, which offers Debra Kleinman after-school and holiday clubs, As a mother and grandmother, as well as for other services for Debra Kleinman understands children that need a little extra how special Chanukah is, and help at school or at home. Debra how exciting it can be for works closely with the different children to receive presents Norwood services to find out from friends and family. As chair what kind of equipment they of the Toy Sweep Committee, require. “I start speaking to them she along with the rest of her earlier in the year, and help them committee, Jennie Fisher, Laura to create a wish list based on Jackson, Laura Kenner and the budget designated to each Tracey Krieger, work tirelessly service. We usually spend around throughout the year to raise £4,500 to buy toys for all of money so that many of the these departments, and it means children who use the Norwood that the children using these facilities can also have that same facilities have new, up-to-theexperience. Norwood is the minute things to play with that largest Jewish charity in the UK really help their development supporting vulnerable children and wellbeing. Depending on the and their families, children with kind of facility they each have special educational needs and different requirements, whether people with learning disabilities it is for arts and craft supplies, and autism, and has around 55 or toys suitable for those with

DEBRA KLEINMAN

limited mobility, as well as toys for younger children and babies like those that attend the Teeny Tinies facility.”

Once they have the completed list, Debra and the team then purchase all the goodies on their behalf at their annual Toy Sweep event. This year’s event which was held on 3rd December (and featured in last week’s Jewish Weekly) was a great success. Around fifty children who use the Norwood facilities were invited to come along to Toys R Us in Brent Cross with their parents, and each child was given a voucher as a gift from the committee, allowing them to pick their own toy to take home. At the event, Debra made a speech to open the event, and then cut the ribbon to start proceedings. She explains, “It was lovely to see so many children enjoying themselves. It is every child’s dream to get the chance to have full run of a toy shop, so they really had a great time. For some children this might be the only present they will receive at Chanukah, so knowing that we have been able to add to their enjoyment really makes it special. All the children

Laura Jackson

deserve a little joy in their lives.”

When it comes to raising the money, the committee do a range of events for this great cause.

Debra is a keen bridge player herself, so enjoys organising a fundraising bridge competition which this year raised £6000 for the charity. They have also held family friendly charity film screenings, and this year showed ‘The Zoo Keeper’s Wife’, at Reel cinema in Borehamwood earlier this year, which raised around £3,000 to add to their total.

Debra explains, “By raising this money for the Toy Sweep, it will make a big difference to a lot of the children that use the services.”

All of the money raised by the committee goes directly to the charity, and any surplus money is used to help with supporting other areas of the charity. This N

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money is used to buy other key equipment for particular services.

In previous years, they have been able to use this additional money to help furnish a sensory room, and also to supply computers.

The committee were recently honoured at Norwood’s Volunteer Recognition Awards in September at Allianz Park, Mill Hill. Debra explains, “It was great to receive the award, and to be recognised for the hard work that we do. It shows that even as a small committee, we are really able to make a difference.

We are very proud that we alone are able to buy the much needed toys for the Norwood resources and the children that attend their services. Debra feels that the committee’s role is essential to the charity, and enables the children to benefit from new equipment and supplies. “I believe that if it was not for our committee, that something like this would not be able to be done.

It is not high priority compared to many of the other services and facilities needed by the charity, but is definitely something that the children really enjoy and benefit from, and we hope to be able to continue supporting the charity in this way.”

Janine Stein, is a new member of the Norwood marketing team, and worked closely with the Toy Sweep Team this year. She told the Jewish Weekly, “It was so lovely working with Debra and her team for the first time, and to see how enthusiastic and professional they were throughout. Debra has a great energy, and even though it is a small team, they are able to achieve a lot. It is a really great committee run by people with good hearts, and they should all be really proud of what they achieved.”

PHOTO CREDIT: SHARON GREEN

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

21 DECEMBER 2017

ESTHER DONOFF – NUTRITIONAL THERAPIST Esther Donoff had always been interested in health and nutrition, but when she turned 40 she decided to develop this interest into a business. Having originally studied Pharmacology, Esther worked for 11 years conducting medical trials looking at how drugs affected people. Using her scientific background, she was able to build on her knowledge to retrain as a nutritional therapist, looking at how food and lifestyle can also affect people.

Nutrition is a subject often featured in the media, with fad diets and health foods going in and out of fashion, and Esther ensures that any approaches or theories she uses are backed up with credible scientific evidence, and will often do her own research. Nutritional Therapy is a complementary medicine that can be used to improve chronic conditions, as well as enhance general health and wellbeing. Esther explains, “Traditional Medicine treats symptoms, rather than biochemical imbalances in the body, which may be caused by what you eat. I believe that small changes in diet can lead to big changes in health.” Esther can help a wide range of symptoms ranging from IBS, and digestive health through to bone and joint issues, as well as advising on weight-loss, and even those seeking to gain weight in a safe and controlled way. One of the areas that she also specialises in is helping with chronic fatigue syndrome, ME and fibromyalgia.

Before setting up her practice, Esther studied for an MSc in Personalised Nutrition at Middlesex University, along with a Nutritional Therapist Practice Diploma, and NLP Coaching course. Based at the Natural Gateway Clinic in Borehamwood, she is able to see clients either at the clinic, or do home visits in the East Middlesex, North London and SE Hertfordshire area.

WOMEN 49

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

She can also offer consultations via Skype, if required.

Before meeting, Esther sends every new client a questionnaire, which is an in-depth assessment covering a variety of topics from family health to allergies and also any triggers, like stress. With permission, she will also contact her client’s GP to make them aware that they are seeking therapy and check any health issues. “Each person is individual, so there is not a one size fits all approach. Something that will work for one person, may not be effective for someone else, so it is important that I am able to do an assessment to ensure that I have the full picture.”

During the initial 90 minute consultation, Esther will go over some of the points mentioned in the questionnaire, and discuss any underlying issues. She explains, “Modern life can be very stressful, and people are busy all the time, and this can have an enormous effect on wellbeing. It can sometimes be that it is not only nutritional advice that is needed, but what I call a ‘lifestyle intervention’.” Within the consultation, she will also look at ways to help, and offer recommendations regarding changes to diet and lifestyle.

After the session, Esther sends a personalised report recapping information and key points discussed, along with a menu plan

with recipes and tips. The plan that she creates not only takes into account the health issues discussed, but also lifestyle considerations.

She will suggest things that make it easier to stick to the plan, to achieve results. “Nutritional therapy is very different to other therapy. With a massage or counselling, you feel the benefit during the session, but with nutritional therapy the meeting is just the start. I offer the tools, as well as my coaching skills to really help clients embrace change in order to support their own health.

Often clients find an improvement after their first session, but Esther always recommends that follow-up consultations should be made to review progress. For clients with more chronic conditions or underlying causes, additional sessions may be needed, and further tests or supplements required.

As well as private clients, Esther also offers nutritional therapy within the corporate sector offering a tailor-made package for a more productive and healthy workplace with group workshops, and individual consultations. She has also advised on menu plans with internal caterers to help improve health and wellbeing for staff.

When it comes to improving health and wellbeing, Esther’s main piece of advice is to eat more vegetables. “It may sound simple, but I would definitely recommend that

people have vegetables as often as possible, ideally at every meal.

Sunshine is also good. I know that in this country that may be tricky, but even just getting out in the fresh air is enough.” Esther believes that it is important to eat as naturally as possible, and avoid processed food, which is full of additives. “I always say that you should have food that your grandmother would recognise. Meat, eggs, fruit, vegetables, basic natural things. Obviously there are some exceptions like chia seeds and quinoa which may not be something my grandmother has heard of, but for the most part that is a good test!”

As a mother of three, she understands the need to educate and guide children from a young age, so that they are able to make the right food choices, and she has been invited to local schools to speak about health and nutrition. Although Esther advocates a healthy lifestyle, she recognises that sometimes it can be tricky to be ‘good’, so believes that sticking to an 80/20 rule is the best way to stay on track. “If you are sensible for 80% of the time, then a blow out on Shabbat or for a special treat is not going to be the end of the world. The main point to nutrition is to be sensible. That’s what I do in my life, and with my own family, and I wouldn’t expect my clients to be any different!”

Since setting up her business, Esther has learnt a lot about social media and how important it is in terms of marketing. “Before I started, I didn’t do Facebook, Twitter or any of that, but it’s a great way to reach out to people, and make connections.” As well as being contacted through social media, she also receives referrals from clinics and relevant bodies such as the British Association for Applied Nutrition

& Nutritional Therapy (BANT) and Complementary & National Healthcare Council (CNHC).

Often people need different things in their diet at different times, like during pregnancy or the menopause, which they may not realise, and she is able to help and advise. For Esther, being able to use her scientific knowledge and background to be able to help people, is very rewarding. “I think that most people generally know what they should and shouldn’t eat, but if you’re not feeling in optimal health, you may not realise that your diet may be at the root of the problem. I really enjoy being able to help people to become better versions of themselves.”

Esther would like to offer all Jewish Weekly readers 10% off of their first consultation if booked by end of January 2018.

Please quote The Jewish Weekly when making the booking. Esther can be contacted via email, nutrition@estherdonoff.com, through her website www.estherdonoff.comor call her on 07899 249 712.

Do you know anyone who specialises in an area of female expertise and would like to be featured on this page? Let us know by emailing micaela@thejewishweekly.com

TIPS AND TRICKS – USEFUL RESOLUTIONS Jewish Weekly aims to source the most genius, time saving and useful hacks for you every week, so watch this space!

• Quit a bad habit – whether it’s biting your nails, or never being on time, whatever it is, why not break it now? Apparently it only takes 21 days for something to become a habit, so in theory you would hope it will take the same time for it NOT to become a habit aswell!

• Stay focussed – have a clear idea of what you are aiming for, and set yourself a timescale or deadline to achieve it by. It might be getting fit , or learning to drive.

Visualise what it is you want to achieve, and keep an image in your mind, or by the mirror, or even a picture on your phone to keep you on track whenever you have a bit of wobble. Go on, you can do it!

• Achieve your dream – Each week, The Jewish Weekly highlights Jewish businesswomen who have taken the leap, and made their dream a reality by setting up on their own. The one piece of advice they always give is that if you want something you should just go for it. It may be scary, and seem impossible, but you won’t know unless you try. If there is something that you have always wanted to do, this year why not give it a go. What are you waiting for?

If you have any questions or you have a top tip you want to share, please contact us on office@thejewishweekly.com. Your question might be someone else’s solution!

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

50 FOOD

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

21 DECEMBER 2017 15 min Prep Time 15 min Cook Time 30 min Duration 4 to 6 Servings

joyofkosher.com Quick weeknight chicken dinners don’t have to be boring. This Asian-inspired recipe has a zippy ginger flavor and delicious rich miso. Serve with rice, noodles, or in lettuce cups.

INSTRUCTIONS

Sauce • 1 tablespoon cornstarch • 1 cup chicken broth • 3 tablespoons peanut butter • 3 tablespoons white miso • 6 tablespoons soy sauce • 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar • 2 teaspoons ground ginger • 2 teaspoons Sriracha sauce • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Chicken and Vegetables • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced or cubed • 2 red peppers, thinly sliced • 1 bunch scallions, thinly sliced • 3 cups fresh mushrooms, sliced • 4 garlic cloves, minced • Kosher salt • Freshly ground black pepper

PREPARATION

1. In a small bowl, combine corn starch, broth, peanut butter, miso, soy sauce, vinegar, ginger, sriracha, and pepper. Set aside.

2. Add sesame oil to a wok or large sauté pan and place over high heat. Once hot starts to smoke, add chicken, stir frying until cooked through. Transfer chicken to a plate.

3. Stir fry vegetables, in batches, adding more oil if necessary, until vegetables are lightly browned.

4. Add chicken and vegetables back to the pan and add sauce, stirring constantly until thickened.

5. Transfer chicken and vegetables to a platter and garnish. Serve with lo mein noodles, rice, or in lettuce cups.

STIR FRIED PEANUT BUTTER CHICKEN

BASMATI RICE WITH PISTACHIOS

Basmati rice is a luxuriously perfumed rice that is prized throughout the world. We added panache with gorgeous pistachios and tart cranberries. We urge you to take the time to prepare the brightly flavored candied orange peel garnish. DELICIOUS!

5 min Prep Time 15 min Cook Time 20 min Duration 6 Servings

INGREDIENTS • 1 ½ cups basmati rice, rinsed several times until the water is not cloudy • 3 cups water or chicken broth • 1 teaspoon salt • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper • ½ cup pistachios, toasted • ½ cup dried cranberries • 3 tablespoons Candied Orange Peel

PREPARATION 1.

2.

3.

Bring water or broth to a simmer. Add rice, salt, and pepper and cook for about 15 minutes, or until liquid level is even with the level of the rice. Turn off the heat and allow the rice to steam to finish cooking.

Fold in pistachios and dried cranberries.

Garnish with Candied Orange Peel.

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

52 TRAVEL

21 DECEMBER 2017

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

Surprising Berlin

By MARCEL MANSON Tel: 020 8954 5074 www.jewishheritagetours.co.uk A Division of West End Travel Email: marcel.manson@westendtravel.co.uk

CONTINUING HIS FORTNIGHTLY COLUMN, MARCEL MANSON OF JEWISH HERITAGE TOURS AND WEST END TRAVEL, TAKES US ON A TOUR OF BERLIN. In November 1989, the Berlin wall which had been the symbol of Soviet oppression, came down with East Germans driving their Trabants into the West leading the way

to a United Germany. At the time I was an International Marathon runner and in the first reunited Berlin Marathon in 1990 I ran through the empty no man’s land in the East to the venue of The 1936 Berlin Olympics in the West of the city.

When I visited the address for the Central Orthodox Synagogue on Friday evening in time for Shabbat, the Shul was deserted. I was later told they met in people’s homes due to small numbers involved.

Fast forward 25 years and Berlin has become the fastest growing Jewish City in the world outside of Israel with a large Russian and Israeli influx. With low cost apartments to be had in the new

Economy Class from £299 Business Class from £995 Valid on selected departures from Luton Subject to availability.

East Berlin, the Eastern part of the city has become extremely trendy and the sought-after districts such as MITTE, the Museum Island and Under De Linden are part of the essential Berlin highlights.

Postdamer Platz and the Sony Centre was the biggest building site in Europe soon after reunification.

Pre-war this area was a well-known Jewish meeting place in Berlin to such an extent that the Jewish Berliners who helped form and build Tel Aviv named the crossroads between Rothschild and Ben Gurion Boulevards in Tel Aviv, Postdamer Platz.

The way the city has dealt with its past can be seen with a number of memorials and museums.

Close to the Potzdamer Platz is the Topography of Terror Museum, which is where the gestapo had their headquarters. Nearby is the Holocaust memorial , one huge square block covered with nearly 400 stones with an underground museum in the heart of the main tourist city next to the Brandenburg

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Gate and Reichtag Bundestag Parliament building.

The Libieskind designed Jewish Museum, is constructed in the shape of a broken star of David and is one of the most visited museums in the city. In the Western Suburbs a 15 minute train ride from the Centre of Berlin is Grunewald station. Platform 17 is infamous from where Berlin’s Jewish community were deported to their death’s, usually to Aushwitz, Theresinstadt or to ghettos in the East like Lodz & Riga. The platform is lined with memorial plaques commemorating each deportation with a date and number of Jew’s who were deported. What is chilling is that even when the Nazi’s had virtually lost the war in early 1945 they still sent 7 Jews they had found to Theresinstadt. A few miles away is Wannsee the beautiful villa on the lake outside the city where the final solution of the Jews was sealed by the Nazi hierarchy.

Jewish Berlin is now spoilt for choice for places to stay and I

recommend the boutique Heckers Hotel in GrommelStrasse off the KUDAM. This is the nickname for the Kufestendame main shopping street in the West located near the Zoological Gardens and the Tiergarden . In the area is the famous KA DI WE department store which was once Jewish owned and is the Berlin equivalent of Harrods.

The Heckers Hotel is 5 minutes walk from the Central Orthodox shul who do a lovely Friday night meal with plenty of ruach, with dancing and singing through Kabbalat Shabbat and Shabbos dinner. . The exceptional Chabad Berlin centre is close by in the district of Charlottenberg and operates a very good restaurant as well.

Berlin today is a really interesting place to visit - vibrant and positive in outlook. It has has dealt with its dark and evil past with overwhelming memorials including street signs and stolperstein brass memorials outside home’s on pavements depicting the names of families and where they were murdered.

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020 8958 3188 Email: info@westendtravel.co.uk Head Office: 4-6 Canfield Place, London NW6 3BT 020 7644 1500 Email: admin@westendtravel.co.uk www.westendtravel.co.uk Edgware Office: 70 Edgware Way, Edgware, Middlesex, HA8 8JS

JEWISH HERITAGE ESCORTED TOURS 2018 BUDAPEST 18TH JANUARY 5 Days at a stunning Corinthia Spa Hotel Includes Tosca Opera visit LONDON GUIDED WALK - 28TH JANUARY West End Theatre land walk with acclaimed guide Rachel Kolsky £15 need to pre-register as numbers limited INDIA - 14TH FEBRUARY Choice of 3 parts: Mumbai - Kerala - Golden triangle

MOROCCO 22ND FEBRUARY Join Cassablanca Purim party and see all Impoerial cities from Marrakesh to Fez plus desert stay in extended 10 day trip ARGENTINA - 11TH APRIL Join our 2 week tour to beautiful Argentina WEST BALKANS - 13TH JUNE 12 Days Covering Montenegro Croatia Bosnia & finally Serbia for the Jewish music festival in Belgrade

Call Marcel 0208 958 3188 or email marcel.manson@westendtravel.co.uk

Young father desperately needs urgent medical treatment Dear friends, We appeal to you to open up your hearts to help a worthy couple with a young child who have suffered years of crushing financial difficulties. To make matters worse the husband now faces urgent and costly medical treatment abroad. This particular vital treatment is not currently available in the UK. This hardworking couple now have the extra burden of medical and travel costs on top of their ongoing expenses. Local communal leaders are supporting this effort together with me.

Please donate whatever you can so as to give this family a positive future.

Yours sincerely, Rav Y. Reuven Rubin

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Europe’s Largest Kashrut Authority

Kashrut Division of the London Beth Din Kashrut Researcher Salary – Dependent on experience A vacancy has arisen for a full time Kashrut Researcher to join the Food Technology Team within the KLBD. The main duty will be to research and update product information for the IsItKosher search and The Really Jewish Food Guide. This will involve liaising with manufacturers, analysing and collating information received and inputting details into the food database. The Kashrut Researcher will also at times be asked to assist with answering product enquiries received from members of the public and KLBD licensees.

The successful applicant will work as part of a team and will be expected to help out with other duties when required. Full training will be given.

The ideal candidate will: •Be fully conversant with Microsoft Office and have excellent IT skills.

•Be highly organised, have an aptitude for administrative work and a good eye for detail.

•Work accurately and efficiently under pressure and be able to prioritise tasks.

•Take instruction but also work on their own initiative.

•Have good interpersonal skills and a pleasant telephone manner.

Closing date for completed applications is 3rd January 2018.

For further information and to download an application form, visit www.theus.org.uk/vacancies.

If you have any questions, contact the KLBD on 020 8343 6255 or email rcoten@kosher.org.uk.

United Synagogue Registered Charity No. 242552

Shadchan service Text or WhatsApp Mrs Miriam Saunders on 07714 139 791 to arrange an appointment.

Email your resumes to: miriamsaunders26@gmail.com

WE ARE HIRING!

• PA to the Editors • Sales Assistant • Freelance Journalists Email your CV to office@thejewishweekly.com

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