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10 May 2017/14 IYAR 5777

KNIFEMAN WITH MEAT CLEAVER THREATENS TO KILL YOUNG JEWS

BY JAMES MARLOW

Shomrim Stamford Hill, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol, received dozens of emergency calls on Tuesday evening after a man produced a meat cleaver on Upper Clapton Road in North London. Shomrim immediately dispatched units to the scene who were minutes away whilst

police were also called. Witnesses say they saw a male attempt to enter a kosher food store in an extremely aggressive fashion, shouting anti-Semitic abuse and obscenities. Staﬀ saw what was taking place outside the shop, and before he could enter they locked the door. But the man ran towards another kosher shop, this time gaining entry whilst

brandishing a meat cleaver in one hand and what appeared to be a large knife in his other hand. He shouted, “Where is the boss, I will kill him.” Staff at the second kosher store replied several times that the owner was not there and the man eventually ran out of the shop and onto the street, still armed with the weapons. The male described as white then allegedly ran towards two young Jewish girls aged 14 and 8, shouting “You Jews run away from here before I kill you,” according to Shomrim. When Shomrim arrived at the scene, they were told the armed man had run towards a block of flats close by. Shomrim volunteers followed him into the area and cordoned off the zone, stopping all members of the public from approaching. Another Shomrim team who arrived on the scene retrieved the CCTV from one of the shops to get an idea of what they were dealing with. Soon after the police arrived, an armed unit appeared on the scene and were immediately sent in to where the suspect was last

CANVASSING FOR VOTES

With less than four weeks before perhaps the most important general election in twenty years, party helpers were out in their droves along with their party candidates knocking on doors and hoping to turn out the vote on 8 June. In Finchley and Golders Green, Conservative candidate Mike Freer said he felt good about the response he received on the doorsteps. The heart of the Orthodox community in Golders Green, which is generally a 90% Conservative area, was targeted last Sunday. Elsewhere the Labour candidate Jeremy Newmark was out with Matthew Offord CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 PHOTO CREDIT: SHOMRIM

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ASK THE RABBI P17

PARSHAT EMOR

OAKWOOD ARE CHAMPIONS! SPORTS P23

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11 year old wins £2200 in a bag of crisps BY MELANIE SINCLAIR Noam Levi, a Year 6 pupil In Hasmonean Primary School, has won £2200 from a golden ticket found in a bag of Walkers ready salted crisps. On Sunday morning, Noam opened his bag of crisps hoping that it would nourish him through till lunch; yet to his utter delight saw a golden ticket that could nourish him for a lot longer! Noam, who lives in Edgware and is an avid football player, told The Jewish Weekly how he “can’t believe” that his packet was one of just 84 winning packets in the UK to contain the golden ticket. Mum of ﬁve Elda didn’t believe

him when he told her either. “I thought he was just playing a joke on me, but when he showed me the ticket and I had a proper look I was really taken back; £2200 is a lot of money for an 11-year-old. I’m just so thrilled for him!” Noam said that he wants to do a few things with his winnings. He mentioned that he wanted to use some of the money for charitable activities, one of which was to feed a homeless man for a week. He would also like to pay for someone’s shopping for shabbat if they cannot aﬀord it. The Manchester City fan also mentioned that he would like to take his grandmother out for a

nice meal to Kaifeng, and to top it all, he would like to take his dad and brother to Uman for Rosh Hashanah. His mother has insisted that he needs to make a bucket list “as that way, the money won’t run out too quickly and he can make sure that everything he really wants to do with it is done. These days money goes so quickly; we don’t want him using it all up too fast. It is important for him to prioritise and really spend it on what’s important.” Noam is planning to celebrate with his classmates by supplying them with chocolate for their school end-of-year-trip.

Noam with his winning ticket and lucky bag of crisps

Jake celebrates Barmitzva with ‘Grandpops’

Jake with his grandfather Harry, parents Janine and Russel and sister Lily

Jake Lowy celebrated his Bar Mitzvah at Jewish Care’s Clore Manor home in Hendon recently with his grandpa Harry (Herschel) Helfgott together with his parents Janine (Helfgott Lowy) and Russell and his sister Lily, who is 11. As his grandpa wasn’t able to attend the bar mitzvah at Jake’s shul, Cockfosters & Southgate, the family brought his bar mitzvah to the home so that they could celebrate the simcha together. Rabbi Daniel Epstein of Cockfosters & Southgate Shul and Rabbi Junik who provides Jewish Care’s pastoral support to residents and members were there to celebrate with the family. Rabbi Junik visits Harry, at the home

Children help out for Israel Celebrating Israel’s Independence by helping others, GIFT facilitated sessions in various schools across London and Manchester, including; Sacks Morasha Jewish Primary School, Independent Jewish Day school, Sinai Primary School, Hasmonean Girls School & King David High School. Students made shrink art keyrings and special ID

card holders to be given out to lone soldiers through Make A Soldier Smile and The Michael Levin Lone Soldier Centre. Students also made cards and rainbow loom band bracelets to be given out to children in hospitals in Israel. King David High School, children also made Teﬁllat Hadrech cards for IDF soldiers. The day was a great success with almost 500 children getting involved and making a diﬀerence.

Primary school children get busy

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every day to help him put on his teﬁllin. Jake, who attends JCoSS school, layned his Bar Mitzvah sedra in the home’s synagogue. Speaking later on, he said, “It was a very inspirational and emotional experience for both me and my grandpops. I will cherish this moment forever.” Jake’s mum, Janine added, “We had no idea what to expect with my Dad, as we know with dementia, it is always so unpredictable. It was like someone switched something on in my Dad when his tallit was put on him. His face lit up listening to Jake...to see my Dad so happy and emotional made it so worthwhile.” Rabbi Epstein reﬂected on the

service at the home afterwards, commenting, “This was one of the most emotional Torah readings I have ever experienced. Jake read his upcoming barmitzvah portion for his grandfather and when we put a Tallit (prayer shawl) on him and he touched the Torah spindles and recited the blessings word perfectly, with no prompting. “If we teach our children when they are young, even if their memories become locked away in later life, the prayers of our youth never leave us. Mazal Tov to the whole Lowy family.”

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10 MAY 2017

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Mizrachi ‘Day of Inspiration’ held at Kinloss BY ISSAC SHERMAN

The audience are inspired

Rachelle Fraenkel speaks to the audience

Rabbi Andrew Shaw CEO of Mizrachi UK talks whilst Rabbi Lawrence and Rabbi Stav look on

Last year, Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence of Finchley Synagogue, put on the ﬁrst ‘Day of Inspiration,’ at Kinloss, in a joint venture with Mizrachi UK. A few months ago, Rabbi Lawrence approached Mizrachi UK CEO, Rabbi Andrew Shaw, and they began discussion aimed at making a quantum leap for this year’s event. The idea revolved around bringing over several of the very best speakers from Israel, and sending them around the country over Shabbat, as well as a full days program at Kinloss. And a full day it was, starting at 8.15 am with Shachrit, and culminating with Maariv at 10.30pm. In between, a great array of speakers were on oﬀer, for the hundreds of people who attended throughout the day. The event was opened by Rabbi Doron Perez, CEO of Mizrachi World Movement, and Rabbi Lawrence. Rachelle Fraenkel, whose son Naftali was one of the three boys who were tragically kidnapped and murdered in Israel in 2014, gave a powerful speech to end the morning session. Her talk entitled ‘Memory and Remembrance,’ highlighted how the Jewish festivals and laws take memories and turn them into present day experiences. One such example is how the memory of leaving Egypt, has been turned into a constant living act of remembrance, through celebrating Pesach. She mentioned that at the Shiva

New Shalva Center opens in Jerusalem

History was made last week when hundreds of friends and donors traveled from around the world to gather in Jerusalem to celebrate the much anticipated grand opening of the new Shalva National Center, home of love, of hope and human dignity. The day began with a stirring rendition of “To Dream the Impossible Dream.” “I fell in love with the concept that Shalva represents”, said Nir Barkat, Mayor of Jerusalem “It is an icon and a role model for the world. Shalva has shown innovation in dealing with children with disabilities and I believe it will create ripple effects around the world.” Leslie and Gordon Diamond, who dedicated the center, flew in from Vancouver, Canada with family and friends. Also dedicated were the expansive Shalva Inclusive Parks in memory of Ambassador Ronald E. Arnall. “Shalva epitomizes Tikkun Olam, making the world a better place and respect for family dignity. I am sure that Shalva will serve as the gold standard in its field for many years to come,” said Gordon. “For me and my family, it is an amazing honor to help this institution.” Gordon continued,

“Imperfection is inevitable in this world. We cannot make this a perfect world. But this is where society can shine. There is no more shining model than Shalva.” In the words of Chairman of Shalva, Avi Samuels, “we have built a center of excellence, full of color, a magical place for the children of Shalva. We are humbled to open this state of the art facility.” MK Chaim Katz said that “This is a huge day of giving. There’s so much heart and so much soul. I am bursting with pride to know that these world class facilities are available right here in State of Israel.” The ribbon-breaking ceremony began with the sounding of 10 extended shofars. Mayor Barkat exclaimed, “When people come to the city of Jerusalem, they ask me what they should see. I tell them to go see the City of David so they see their roots. And then I tell them to go and see Shalva. People who enter this center do not go out the same people. This place changes them.” The new center’s construction cost approximately $54,000,000 and houses some of Israel’s largest and most advanced disability accessible facilities including a 400

of her son, someone remarked how the entire nation of Israel had not seen such public unity since the six-day war. Other keynote speeches were given by Sephardi Chief Rabbi Joseph Dweck, Rabbi Benjy Leven, founder of world outreach organisation Gesher, Rabbi Daniel Stav, who is the Chief Rabbi of the town of Shoham and many others prominent speakers who were flown out for the weekend. Panel discussions on various topics were had throughout the day, including names such as Rabbi Taragin, from Yeshivat Hakotel, Rabbi Kanterovitz from Borehamwood, and Rabbi Laitner from the United Synagogue living and learning department. Rabbi Lawrence gushed how he was proud that people had been exposed to “such a phenomenal range of top educators, containing some of the brains behind the leadership that shapes our very nation. From the tragedy of Rachelle Fraenkel, to the aspirational and inspiring leadership of Gila Fine, the brilliance of Rabbi Milston, to the work done in the wider field by Rabbi Leven, the weekend has been a true inspiration to so many people.” Rabbi Shaw noted “how proud he was that over 3000 people had heard 13 top speakers at shuls across London and Manchester over Shabbat, culminating in the grand finale at Kinloss.”

seat auditorium, semi-Olympic hy- and supporters said “your bounddrotherapy pool and a fitness room less love and your selfless care with disability accessible equip- for your brothers and sisters with ment. The center’s cutting-edge disabilities makes this earthly site therapy facilities have enabled Shalva to bring cutting-edge technology and therapy solutions to Israel for the first time. Thousands of children with disabilities and their families participate in rehabilitative therapy, inclusive education, vocational training and recreational activities on a daily basis. The new National Center is the largest and most advanced facility for children with disabilities in the world, and serves people with disabilities of all ages, religions and ethnicities free of charge. Shalva was founded 27 years ago Festive scenes at the Granb Opening in response to the personal experience of Malki and Kalman Samuels, whose son Yossi became blind, deaf and acutely hyperactive at the age of eleven months as the result of a faulty vaccination. Malki and Kalman, who received very little support from the paltry services available at the time, dedicated themselves to ensure that other families and children receive the help they need. Kalman who emotionally and whole-heartedly thanked his audience of philanthropists, dignitaries Mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat cuts the ribbon

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heavenly. I have gratitude to the Almighty and gratitude to each of you who continue to impact precious lives.”

ISRAEL NEWS 8

10 MAY 2017

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NEWS IN ISRAEL BY JAMES J. MARLOW

FOLLOW JAMES AT TWITTER: @JAMES_J_MARLOW

Knesset resumes Tel Aviv train station expands

Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, held its first day of its summer term on Monday after its break which included Passover and Independence Day. This current term is scheduled to conclude at the end of July. The first plenum session opened with a debate on motions of no confidence in the government presented by the opposition which failed to receive a majority. The agenda also included speeches to mark Herzl Day. Addresses were then delivered by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Opposition Leader MK Isaac Herzog and Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein. At the centre of the summer term are expected to be laws concerning the Jewish Shabbat, reforms by the Finance Minister aimed at helping families, and the public broadcasting act, which threatened to bring down the government in March and has still not be resolved.

MK Yair Lapid who heads the Yesh Atid party believes there will be deﬁnitely be a general election within the next twelve months due to tensions rising between the prime minister and Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon. The latest polls put the Likud on 28 seats down from 30 while Yesh Atid is up to 24 seats from 11. The Labour party, now known as the Zionist Union, is polling at 12 seats from their current 24.

Inside the Knesset

Israel Railways announced that they are expanding the two busiest train stations in the country at a cost of about NIS 82 million (£17.5 million). Savidor Centre and HaShalom stations in Tel Aviv, which are used daily by tens of thousands of passengers, are already under construction. The Savidor Centre station has two terminals - one in Tel Aviv at the Arlozorov terminal and the other at the Diamond Exchange complex in Ramat Gan. The new terminal on Modai Bridge will be the third at a cost of around NIS 32 million (£6.8 million). Approximately 55,000 passengers pass daily through Savidor Centre station. The project is expected to be completed in November 2017. The HaShalom station is not however scheduled to open until

October 2019 because the new terminal will be added south of Derech HaShalom. Once completed, it will be possible to enter and exit the railway station on the other side of the road in order to reduce the congestion. Some 55,000 passengers also pass daily through this station. Due to the work taking place at HaShalom, Ayalon Highway will

be closed in both directions during the weekend from the end of August. A political crisis erupted earlier this year over the maintenance work taking place on Shabbat, but Israel Railways eventually received approval for the Shabbat construction and the coalition parties accepted the verdict. In 2015, Israel Railways said the work to the HaShalom station would cost NIS 17 million, (£3.5 million), but later admitted that was just for the ﬁrst phase of the operation. Altogether the cost would be NIS 50 million.

The planned terminal on Modai Bridge in Ramat Gan

Haniyeh elected new head of Hamas

Hamas’s former chief in the Gaza Strip Ismail Haniyeh has been elected “Supreme” leader of the Palestinian terror group, replacing Khaled Mashaal who is based in Qatar. Mashaal served the maximum two terms in oﬃce beginning in 2004 following the Israeli

Hamas in action

assassinations of Hamas founders Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi. The group’s oﬃcial website announced that the Hamas Shura Council elected Haniyeh as head of the movement’s political bureau. Haniyeh, who had long been

seen as the leading candidate, is expected to remain in the Gaza Strip, though this may make it harder for him to manage the group’s international ties abroad, as traveling in and out of the Strip is difficult. Other names in the running included Mashaal’s deputy, Moussa Abu Marzouk, and senior figure Muhammad Nazal. But because the vote took place behind closed doors, it is difficult to verify if indeed it was a democratic vote. The 54-year-old takes charge of Hamas as it seeks to ease its international isolation. The group just issued a new policy that claims it now accepts the notion of a Palestinian state in territories captured by Israel in the Six Day War of 1967. At the same time, it still calls for the destruction of Israel. The new policy which, does not

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replace Hamas’s founding charter, rejects the establishment of the State of Israel, claiming it “illegal” and asserting a Palestinian claim to the entire land of Israel and a so-called right of return for all descendants of refugees. It also reserves the right to wage “resistance and jihad for the liberation of Palestine.” Israel has dismissed the new document as an attempt to “fool the world” into believing Hamas has softened its stance. Haniyeh was elected Palestinian prime minister in March 2006 following general elections, which saw major gains for Hamas. He was dismissed in June 2007 by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank, after the Hamas so-called coup in Gaza. But Haniyeh continued to act as Gaza’s de facto

political leader ever since. Mashaal, 60, has led the Hamas political bureau since 1996 and has been a veteran with close ties to regional powers Qatar, Egypt and Turkey. He has been key to Hamas attempts to break out of its political isolation. It is unclear what he will do next.

Ismail Haniyeh

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10 MAY 2017

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Kisharon raise record 1 million pounds for brighter futures

Kisharon raised over 1 million pounds last Sunday evening at the Brighter Futures Annual Dinner attended by more than 600 guests at the Hilton Park Lane Hotel. The dinner was hosted by Emma and Adam Castleton, whose son, Elias, is a pupil at Kisharon School. Guests had the pleasure of hearing two remarkable speakers, the first, Karen Gaffney, president of a non-profit organisation dedicated to championing the journey to full inclusion in families, schools,

Sally Phillips

the workplace and the community for people with developmental disabilities. Karen, who herself has Down’s syndrome, recalled her own experience of the opportunities and challenges faced and of the crucial importance of Kisharon’s role in creating these opportunities for people with learning disabilities. “Many of us with intellectual disabilities have talents and skills that are too often overlooked or are hidden away because there is no opportunity to develop them. The team at Kisharon are working very hard to change all that. They are working hard to build brighter futures for people like me, giving us the opportunities to weave into the fabric of life around us. The dedicated team at Kisharon all share a common vision of hope for a full and inclusive life for people like me; people who were born with something extra.”

Actress and comedian Sally Phillips, best known for her roles in Bridget Jones and Miranda - who most recently presented the acclaimed “A World without Down’s Syndrome” documentary - reﬂected on her own experiences as a mother of a child with Down’s syndrome. Sally spoke in glowing terms of her positive experience with the Jewish community, having otherwise been isolated by her own. Sally Phillips said: “Knowing people with learning disabilities is the only lasting way of countering discrimination. You [The Jewish Community] already know this. You’re famous for knowing each other’s warts and all and being there for each other regardless. You carry each other’s burdens in a truly admirable way. Look at you - 600 of you - all here tonight to raise money to give each other

Abby & Yossi Goldberg, who were part of the dinner committee, with Karen Gaffney

an equal chance. When you’re truly in community - it’s not ‘children with Down’s syndrome’ - it’s Ruby, Jonathan, Ariel, Robert. Enabling Olly and people like him to be an equal player in our generally unwelcoming and very un-Jewish society is quite an undertaking. Please continue to model to the rest of us how to do it and support Kisharon’s outstanding, admirable and very important work.” People with learning disabilities whom Kisharon support were integral in every aspect of the evening, including Eli Cohen who made Hamotzi and Chaim Dovid Rotenberg who lead the benching, and

the all-important appeal speech by Debbie Rosten, which raised the record £1,041,000. Kisharon’s “I’m Good” appeal video featured a track donated by The Mowgli’s and a collective of 32 musicians. The ﬁlm’s upbeat tone and Brighter Futures theme represented the atmosphere of the evening with the positivity and opportunity of all those whom Kisharon supports. The £1,041,000 raised will go towards the £2.1million voluntary requirement needed to sustain annual operating costs for Kisharon. Richard Franklin, Director of Fundraising, Marketing & Communications, said: “Last night’s record-making Kisharon Dinner surpassed all our expectations. This is principally due to the magniﬁcent support received from an incredible committee, committed table hosts and most importantly, the chairman, chief executive and board who have transformed a truly wonderful organisation.”

PHOTO CREDIT: JOHN RIFKIN

Bevis Marks Synagogue Receives National Lottery Support The S&P Sephardi Community has received a National Lottery development grant, of £221,100 (64% of the initial planning costs) from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to develop plans for an exciting new project at Bevis Marks Synagogue. If successful in securing the full grant in Spring 2019, the project, costing some £4.6 m with a 64% contribution from HLF, will vastly improve facilities and access at Bevis Marks. It will ensure that Bevis Marks can be maintained as a living place of worship

Bevis Marks Synagogue

and community, a cultural centre and historic attraction. It will also enable Bevis Marks to reach out to a wider community with a rich and engaging educational programme. The community at Bevis Marks synagogue has faced the threat of closure many times. A change in geo-demographics has led to a migration of the Spanish & Portuguese Jewish population away from the City, however the community has remained faithful. The building and its collections stand as a living monument to 300 years

of continuous worship in the City of London. It is this intrinsic combination of use and heritage that is at the heart of the significance and value of Bevis Marks Synagogue. There are many reasons that can be cited as to why Bevis Marks synagogue is a significant heritage asset – its grade 1 listing; its intact Wren-style furnishings; it being the oldest synagogue in use in the UK – but fundamental to all of these is its continued use since 1701. No other synagogue in Europe has this continuity of practice, of community, of building, of collections. As a result, Bevis Marks is more than just a historic building, it is the repository of a unique inheritance, both of physical collections such as ritual silver, textiles and furniture, and of intangible heritage – a minhag – of melodies and customs, handed down from generation to generation for over 300 years. New staff and a dynamic activity programme will see a step-change

PHOTO CREDIT: BLAKE EZRA

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Chazan and choir perform in the Synagogue

in operation and heritage management, with an aim to dramatically increase visitor numbers. Previously un-displayed collections will be made accessible. Crucially, the site will become ﬁnancially sustainable, with income generating activities sympathetic to an active place of worship. Heritage assets will be safeguarded for future generations. Commenting on the award, Executive Director, Alison Rosen said “We’re delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund has given us this support. Bevis Marks has been both a religious centre and heritage site for over 300 years. With this grant we hope to be able to both preserve and increase its presence and

functionality for another century and more.” Senior Rabbi Joseph Dweck commented: “Bevis Marks expresses the beauty and grandeur of our history in Britain. With the HLF grant we will be able to showcase the many personalities, artefacts and stories that form the fabric of Sephardi Jewry in the United Kingdom and that laid the foundations of Jewish life here. The story of the Jewish people in the UK begins at Bevis Marks and every British Jew should see it at least once. The news of the HLF grant is a huge encouragement to the Sephardi Community and to British Jewry.”

10 MAY 2017

Bank holiday Torah marathon BY ISSAC SHERMAN

Whilst many are still sleeping, groups of men across the world get up early to study Talmud, before they go to work. One such example can be found in Hendon and Edgware each morning. The early morning study group, known as a ‘chaburah,’ is led by Rav Ilan Halberstadt in Hendon, whilst the Edgware branch is led by Rav Zvi Marmorstein. The first shiur starts at 5.45 am, followed by two more, at 6.15 and 6.45. After 2 and half years of dedicated early morning learning, the groups finished the tractates they have been studying, namely ‘Sanhedrin’ and ‘Sukka.’ For the members of these early morning groups, bank holiday usually means a break from rising before dark, however ahead of last week’s bank holiday, they decided to do something a little different. Both groups participated in an intense day of learning at the Holiday Inn Hotel in

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Elstree, reviewing the Talmud they have learnt for over 8 hours. The day ended with a joint grand siyum (The compleion of a unit of Torah study followed by a celebratory meal ) where prominent speakers included dayan Abrahams. Rabbi Halberstadt noted how “many of the boys were amazed that they could learn for so long, and how the time simply ﬂew by!” He said that “it wasn’t easy for people to give up a bank holiday, but they made the time and eﬀort, and all left very inspired by what they achieved.” The Hendon chabura has now started a new Masechet/Tractate this week (Megila) and takes place in Beis Hamedrash Toras Chaim (Dayan Abraham), whilst the Edgware chabura started masechet Chagiga. There is a choice of two programs; at 5:45am and 6:15am. New-comers are all welcome.

CAPTION

Eight hours of learning

The Siyum

PHOTO CREDIT: MENAGOLD

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Princes Road - It’s better than Penny Lane BY DAVID SAFFER

he Beatles put Liverpool as a city on the global stage back in the swingin’ sixties. Indeed the Beatles Story Exhibition and “new” Cavern Club are must-see attractions for Fab Four fans journeying by road, rail or the many cruise liners that stop over as a port of call. Liverpool FC’s Anfield Stadium and Albert Dock are likewise among other popular sites. The city is also known for buildings with stunning architecture, and for aficionados near the summit of every Top 10 list is Princes Road Synagogue. Originally the home of Liverpool Old Hebrew Congregation, the Grade II listed building in Toxteth was designed by Scottish brothers William & George Audsley, who found inspiration for its painted and gilded Victorian interior whilst travelling in Europe. The siblings went on to become early pioneers of the first New York skyscrapers. Members of the congregation funded the project, which was completed and consecrated by Chief Rabbi Dr Nathan M Adler in September 1874. Costing £13,000 – over £100m today – with seating for 874 worshippers, this historic shul is known

locally as the jewel in the crown and down the years has witnessed tales aplenty. Princes Road also houses an exhibition of the congregation’s 250year history. The first Jews settled in Liverpool around the 1740s. Historians detail synagogues in Cumberland Street, Turton Court and Upper Frederick Street before a first purpose-built shul in Seel Street seated 290 worshippers in 1808. Thirty years on, a group of members broke away to form Liverpool New Hebrew Congregation. Remaining congregants became the “Old” Hebrew Congregation. They outgrew the building, necessitating a move to its present Princes Road site. Thousands of Jews flocked to the city from Europe shortly after this Victorian period, and the Jewish community hit a peak of 8,000 in the 1940s but now stands at around 2,000. Princes Road survived two World Wars but underwent major repairs after an arson attack destroyed Torah scrolls and caused extensive damage in 1979. Sadly, long gone are the days when Princes Road, which now has around 200 members, was bursting to capacity. But Shabbat and festival services still take place alongside regular shul tours, concerts and events to keep this historic

CAPTION A pre-1960 picture of Princes Road Synagogue

building in the public eye. Indeed, Princes Road shul is enjoying a renaissance under the dynamic leadership of Rabbi Ariel Abel and his wife Shulamit in a permanent, part-time role. The couple facilitate shul visits and Shabbat hospitality, and they are involved in educational events and student Shabbatonim. In a wide brief, Rabbi Abel serves Jewish residents across small towns in Merseyside, Cheshire, Lancashire and Greater Manchester. He also leads the Southport community on an ad hoc basis. Most recently, Rabbi Abel has been selected for commission with the rank of Ch4 (Captain) into the Royal Army Chaplains

Rabbi Ariel Abel with Vicar Andrew White

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Department. Posted to Merseyside Army Cadet Force, it will not affect his role as rabbi of Princes Road Synagogue. Away from shul life, Rabbi Ariel is a freelance journalist and works as an academic consultant. Born and educated in Manchester, he graduated in Semitics and Languages at Manchester University prior to gaining semichah in Israel. During a period of rabbinical globetrotting, Rabbi Abel, who has four children from his first marriage, served communities in Berlin, Liverpool and London. Rabbi Abel also worked in South America before returning to the rabbinate in the United Kingdom. Currently completing law exams at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston, he was Princes Road minister from April 1999 to October 2002. So has the role changed a second time around as spiritual leader of the city centre shul? “Membership was younger in my first spell but it was the older contingent of the Liverpool Jewish community,” he explained. “Members need a rabbi to take them through life events. “Life is the tapestry that it is and human experiences enable you to consult better. “When you go through certain situations, people are comfortable asking for advice as you have a pastoral edge in that sense.” The 42-year-old minister added, “We are a synagogue in a vastly developing city. Liverpool has come on in leaps and bounds; it’s hustling

and bustling with tourism as cruise liners dock here all the time. “Tourists come from all over the world, and our shul is now on the city trail for attractions. “We welcome schools each month and have a packed rota that provides cash inflow. I also get lots of emails from people asking to visit our shul so we arrange tours. “On top of simchas, we hold shul events for the Jewish community that are well attended, and because we are a ‘cathedral’ synagogue, we host civic events. “Lots of families opt to come here because of our setting, decorum, type of service and decor, which is magnificent.” Princes Road, Allerton Hebrew Congregation and Childwell Hebrew Congregation alongside welfare and educational bodies link to Merseyside Jewish Representative Council. The trio of Orthodox shuls cooperates at various times such as at Purim enabling as many youngsters to gather together as possible. When it comes to Jewish identity, Princes Road enjoys tremendous success as people search for their roots. “We come into contact with so many people of Jewish descent for whom the city centre is a place to find a Jewish connection,” Rabbi Abel explained. “It’s been incredible, Liverpool is very much a through-zone for Jewish refugees. “Princes Road is rejuvenated in a sense that although we might not fill our seats anymore on a Shabbat or festivals, people regularly

10 MAY 2017 connect with us. “The Wirral no longer has synagogues but people get in touch from the area. We’ve experienced the same north and south of Merseyside going into Chester, Warrington and Widnes. “This is far from a part time role. We have continuous engagement with Jewish people and those of Jewish descent. People come and spend a Shabbat with us. It’s been fascinating.” Rabbi Abel added, “During my ﬁrst spell, I had to take a three-mile walk to shul, which was a geographical dislocation, but being in town we are in the midst of a multicultural, developing city where the shul serves as more than just a congregational location. “We are a magnet for people seeking anything Jewish. “People are looking for a spiritual connection, to be in a synagogue, an ancient place where they can connect and be welcome. They are not part of our shul membership, but nonetheless we are very happy that as many people as possible want to show an interest.” He continued, “We are based in an area which has Jewish connections and positive inﬂuences. “Louise Ellman is the local

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THE JEWISH WEEKLY Member of Parliament; she lobbies for Jewish people and Israel in parliament, yet this is a Muslim-populated area. But they support her as she is humane and cares about constituents. People know her and it’s had a really positive eﬀect. “Also, because the shul has been here so long, we are prominent and visible. “Things have bounced back for the Jewish community, and not just at our shul. The rabbis at Childwell and Allerton, at Lubavitch, and our student chaplain are all positively making waves.” When it comes to interfaith and outreach work, Rabbi Abel and his wife, Shulamit, have clearly come to the fore. They are members of Faith Network for Manchester and independently operate a network of contacts to improve inter-communal relations. “We do a huge amount of work to reach dispersed Jews and keep Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis updated,” he explained. “Because of this interfaith work there is a better understanding of Judaism. “We share meals and conversations on a Shabbat with people from Liverpool and beyond. We

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Rabbi Abel with MP Frank Field and delegates at a recent inter-faith meeting

sit around a table dining, learning about each other, enjoying time, and singing songs. “This interaction has been really fulﬁlling and word gets out through the grapevine. “Results are there to be seen and we are building on it. Also, in the age of social media, through Facebook, we are in dialogue with other religions. “The Jewish religion has become

an integral part of a cosmopolitan city, and in Liverpool we have the wherewithal, a safe pair of hands to deal with sensitive issues. “There are sensible people from various backgrounds and religions who can steer conversations in a productive direction.” Rabbi Abel added, “People come to our shul not only because it’s a synagogue but because they want to view an architectural gem of

a building. Princes Road is a national treasure, and we are a listed building where the acoustics are unrivalled. “Cruises make a beeline to Liverpool because it is a destination of amazing culture. “Liverpool is blessed as a city. Our shul is blessed with the extra attention it gets, so the more visitors that come our way the merrier.”

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10 MAY 2017

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New paving stone at Jewish Museum A paving stone was unveiled at the Manchester Jewish Museum last week in memory of Jack White VC. Jack White was born Jacob Weiss in 1896 in Leeds, the son of a Russian Jewish immigrant Father and British Mother. His family subsequently moved to Manchester. At the outbreak of WW1, he was studying in Sweden, but returned to the UK to enlist in the 6th service battalion king’s own and served throughout the war in the Middle East at Gallipoli and in Mesopotamia, modern day Iraq. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry during an attempted crossing of the Battalion, including White,on the night of 7/8 March 1917. His two grandsons Robert and Jack Eden were present, together with all the grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Lt Col Justin Tancrel who unvield the plaque of Jack White

Jack White VC Grandsons and Grandchildren, and Great Great Grandchildren at MJM Sunday morning

PHOTO CREDITS: LAWRENCE PURCELL

Rep Council hold AGM The AGM of the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester and Region was held on Sunday morning at the Nicky Alliance centre. Guest speaker was Garry Shewan, Assistant Chief Constable , Greater Manchester Police pictured addressing the meeting.

Jack White in his War days

Garry Shewan,Assistant Chief Constable,Greater Manchester Police

The Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester AGM PHOTO CREDITS: LAWRENCE PURCELL

Jack White VC Manchester Jewish Museum Standard Bearers

Head Stone for Jack White VC in Blackley Jewish Cemetery

The Jack White VC stone which was unveiled at MJM

Gala dinner celebrates 140 years of caring for the Leeds Jewish community Leeds Jewish Welfare Board celebrated its 140th anniversary in style with a gala dinner at Etz Chaim Synagogue on Sunday night. The event was attended by 240 guests who took pride in the charity’s rich history and outstanding achievements. Guest speaker Michael Portillo regaled the audience with witty and charming anecdotes of both his time as a cabinet MP and, latterly, as a television pundit and presenter. Elizabeth Bradbury, Russell Manning, Jonathan Straight and Becky Teiger gave addresses on behalf of The Board. LJWB thanked the Jewish community for their generosity and the generosity of their forefathers, which created an organisation that has ﬂourished and responded to changing social and philanthropic needs. LJWB was originally known as the Board of Guardians, and guests heard how leaders of the Jewish

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community founded the organisation in 1878 as a response to poor immigrants arriving from Eastern Europe, to make sure Jewish poverty didn’t become a big issue in the Jewish community. Claimants had to go before a panel of Guardians, and handouts were given to prevent them from going door to door to ask for money. With the origin of the Welfare State, LJWB evolved into a more sophisticated organisation, as it is

today oﬀering “hand up” rather than “hand out” solutions to support the wellbeing of the community. Registered care services are offered alongside community support to people with mental health problems, learning disabilities, families experiencing emotional breakdown, people with dementia and children with special needs, enabling them all to live fulﬁlled and independent lives.

The Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester AGM

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JUDAISM 17

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ASK THE RABBI

Rabbi Schochet has been writing an Ask the Rabbi column for nearly two decades with a huge following. Hailed as the Piers Morgan of the Jewish world, his writing is witty and informative with no question too controversial. Looking for answers? Send your question to asktherabbi@thejewishweekly.com Marriage on a Saturday? Dear Rabbi I am looking to get married next winter and want to do so on a Saturday night. After making inquiries I’ve been told that I would have to wait till several hours after Shabbat concludes before I could have my Chupah. What’s the issue and could exceptions be made? Yvonne Dear Yvonne This might come to you as a surprise, but back in the day weddings were held regularly on Fridays, with the Chupah before sunset and the festivities would incorporate a grand Shabbat feast. Today of course we have music, videos, photography, etc. and the various halls which are well beyond reasonable walking distance, so Friday weddings are just not practical. In Jewish law, one does not get married during the intermediate days of a festival because of the

principle of “not mixing one joy (wedding) with another (festival).” To that end, some halachic codiﬁers ruled that by extension one should not get married on the day immediately preceding a festival because the festivities could run into the night and thus encroach on the festival thereby mixing the two joys. It follows logically therefore, that getting married on a Friday poses its own risks whereby it can overlap with Shabbat causing a violation of the Shabbat. Looking at it from the other end – the Saturday night – shares a similar concern. The various preparations involved – cars, setup, not to mention hair and makeup, would cause an issue on Shabbat. As such, the mandatory requirement is that enough times passes after Shabbat goes out to enable these preparations before the wedding commences. We don’t want you starting married life with an immediate violation of Jewish tradition and would rather

you wait stepping into that Rolls until after three stars come out. It’s a better way to ensure you see stars in your eyes all through your married life. Troublesome teens Dear Rabbi My adolescent daughter is behaving quite rebelliously. We are an observant home and she goes to a Jewish school. But lately she seems to not want to partake in any religious ritual. She sits at the Friday night table reluctantly, no longer goes to service on shabbat morning. I try to communicate with her – I am certainly a good listener and pay attention to everything she’s saying, but she insists “you just don’t get me Dad!” I am losing my patience. Trevor Dear Trevor Perhaps much of your answer lies in your opening words, “adolescent daughter.” The obedient child of yesterday is now a growing teenager with a mind of her own. She wants to assert her independence and to do things out of conviction rather than blind obedience. All too often we put our kids through the motions when they’re younger but fail to introduce them to the underlying joy and pleasure in what they are doing. So they readily comply. But as soon as they’re old enough to ﬁnd their own voice they want to do things their own way. The real challenge is to introduce and encourage Jewish tradition and values as something they would want to do, not just something they have to do. But it’s not too late and it all depends on how you handle things from here. You don’t get to lose

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your patience with her. Bear in mind, how you speak to your children becomes their inner voice. I cannot overemphasise how critical that is. So talk to her and remember, being a good listener is not just about paying attention to every word she’s saying. It’s about paying attention to every word she’s not saying as well!

Anglo-Jewish community woes Dear Rabbi Why is the Anglo-Jewish community so unfriendly? I recently moved here from South Africa and ﬁnd people so cold. I’m single and have been attending my synagogue for three months now and apart from the occasional Shabbat Shalom, not a single invite. Doris Dear Doris You got a Shabbat Shalom? Wow! Consider yourself lucky! I like to always observe my surroundings. So having been in Toronto recently (my hometown) I was walking the streets on Shabbat and strangers left, right and centre invariably nod or smile and wish you a Shabbat Shalom as they pass you in the street. A couple of

weeks ago I was walking on the streets of Mill Hill and there were some random people clearly on route from Golders Green/Hendon to Edgware. As they walked past me I made eye contact and said “Good Shabbos.” It wasn’t reciprocated and the reading in his eyes was more like, “do I know you? Why are you talking to me?” Maybe his mother taught him not to talk to strangers. Or maybe he knew me and doesn’t like me. I don’t know. But I think it’s inbred in general English psyche to remain a little aloof, sad as that may be. For all those of you reading this, next time someone smiles at you, smile back. When they greet you, respond in kind. And if you should happen to be in a Shul where there’s a charming South African lady called Doris, open your hearts and your homes to her.

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

JUDAISM 18

Emor In his D’var Torah this week, the Chief Rabbi explains how the Omer can act as our own personal treasure hunt. Continuity and accuracy are required for the counting of the Omer. We learn this from this week’s Parasha of Emor – the Torah tells us, Sheva Shabatot Temimot Tehiyenah, ‘These must be seven whole and complete weeks’. We count the Omer in anticipation of the arrival of the Festival

of Shavuot, when we receive the Torah afresh and anew. And during these days of the counting, we search for the value and relevance of Torah in our lives. With this in mind, King Solomon in the book of Proverbs says, ‘Uchmatmonim Tachbesenah’, ‘Search for Torah like one who searches for hidden treasure’. ‘Continuity and accuracy are required for the counting of the Omer’ Matmonim, ‘like treasure’,

Tehillim Psalm 9

In this weeks Psalm, King David marvels at how Hashem engineers the ‘natural’ decline of Israel’s enemies, to the startling point of complete oblivion. How can such onetime all powerful rulers, completely disappear out of world, and onto the pages of history books? Names such as Haman and Pharaoh clearly point to the fact that Hashem will always punish the wicked in the end, despite their apparent initial success. Mark Twain was famous for many reasons, but one quote about the Jews has stood since 1899. “If statistics are right, the Jews constitute but one percent of the human race. It suggests a nebulous dim puﬀ of stardust lost in the blaze of the Milky way. Properly, the Jew ought hardly to be heard of, but he is heard of, has always

10 MAY 2017

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according to our Sages can be divided into two parts, mem – tet – monim, ‘count forty-nine’. And from here we learn that with regard to the counting of the Omer, ﬁrst of all, there needs to be continuous practice. If you miss out on a single day then you won’t be able to recite the Bracha anymore, it needs to be ongoing throughout all forty-nine days. And similarly, the counting must be accurate, the exact day without making a mistake – how

This weeks Tehillim is in memory of Zvi Aryeh ben Avrohom

been heard of. He is as prominent on the planet as any other people, and his commercial importance is extravagantly out of proportion to the smallness of his bulk. His contributions to the world’s list of great names in literature, science, art, music, finance, medicine, and abstruse learning are also away out of proportion to the weakness of his numbers. He has made a marvellous fight in this world, in all the ages; and had done it with his hands tied behind him. He could be vain of himself, and be excused for it. The Egyptian, the Babylonian, and the Persian rose, filled the planet with sound and splendour, then faded to dream-stuff and passed away; the Greek and the Roman followed; and made a vast noise, and they are gone; other people have

sprung up and held their torch high for a time, but it burned out, and they sit in twilight now, or have vanished. The Jew saw them all, beat them all, and is now what he always was, exhibiting no decadence, no inﬁrmities of age, no weakening of his parts, no slowing of his energies, no dulling of his alert and aggressive mind. All things are mortal but the Jew; all other forces pass, but he remains. What is the secret of his immortality?” Many famous people have followed in the path of King David, in marvelling at G-d’s complete, mastery of the world, and we can add Mark Twain’s name to the list. To sponsor a Tehilim email oﬃce@thejewishweekly.com

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many weeks and days in the sequence. When I was studying at Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh, our Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Goldvicht explained as follows: If let’s say somebody was to tell you that out in a forest, there is some hidden treasure, and they would give you the map with directions and you would be shown the exact spot where the treasure is, you’d go off to that place, you’d start to dig. I am telling you now that actually, the treasure is 10 feet below the surface of the ground – but you don’t know that. You could dig for six feet, seven, nine, maybe even nine and a half feet and not reach the treasure. You could say ‘Ah, this must be a mistake’ or ‘perhaps he was just bluffing’. Alternatively, you could dig for twenty or thirty feet and still not reach the treasure if you are digging at an angle. So, when it comes to Matmonim Tachbesenah, ‘searching for treasure’, we need continuity and accuracy. And so too with regard to all of the Mitzvot, to find the inner meaning and beauty and relevance of the Mitzvot of the Torah

in our lives. If you keep the odd Shabbat, or have a particular Chag experience, it might be lovely, but that won’t be enough to enable you to appreciate the great beauty and relevance of these Mitzvot in our lives. ‘When it comes to our search for the meaning of Torah in our lives, let’s do it continuously and let’s be accurate in our practice of it’ Or if you are keeping the Mitzvot continuously, but in a halfbaked way, with certain compromises and allowances here or there, because there is no accuracy, likewise, you might not appreciate their full value. And so, from the counting of the Omer, we learn an important lesson. When it comes to our search for the meaning of Torah in our lives, let’s do it continuously and let’s be accurate in our practice of it. In that way, we will be able to reveal how essential the Torah is in our lives – that it is indeed, the greatest treasure that exists on earth. Shabbat Shalom

Nach Review: Yehoshua Chapter 3 BY YITZCHOK MORDFIELD Yehoshua gets up early in the morning, and the Jewish people journeyed from Shittim and arrived at the Jordan River. After three days, the oﬃcers in the midst of the camp commanded the people, telling them that when they see the Aron Hakodesh (Holy Ark) being carried by the Kohanim and the Levi’im, they shall get up and follow it, provided there is a distance of 2000 cubits between the people and the Aron Hakodesh. Yehoshua tells the people to prepare themselves because Hashem will soon be doing wonders for them. He then told the Kohanim to carry the Aron Hakodesh and to walk in front of the people. Hashem then tells Yehoshua to command the Kohanim, telling

them that when they come to the River Jordan’s edge, they shall stand in the water. Yehoshua tells the people to take 12 men, one from each tribe. According to the Malbim, a prominent Torah commentator, these men were chosen to witness the miracle that was about to happen. The Jordan River was at its highest point at the time because the Jewish people entered Israel in the month of Nissan, which is a time when the mountain snows started to melt and run into the River. The miracle that was going to happen was that just as the feet of the Kohanim touch the River Jordan, the waters will be cut oﬀ, and the waters that descend from upstream will stand as one column. This is what happened.

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JUDAISM 19

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In memory of David Yochanan ben Moshe

Emor In memory of David Yochanan ben Moshe

“G-d spoke to Moshe, saying: ‘Command the Children of Israel that they shall take for you pure olive oil, pressed, for illumination, to kindle a continual lamp’” (Vayikra 24:1-3).

Solutions in the Sidrah: The Broken Windows Theory by Rabbi Yoni Birnbaum, Hadley Wood Jewish Community

Sidrah Emor Sidrah Summary: Summary: Emor

the double bread wheat offering (shtei ha’lechem) 1st Aliya (Kohen) – Vayikra 21:1-15 is brought and melacha is forbidden. G-d instructs Moshe to tell the Kohanim not to come into contact with a dead person, with 5th Aliya (Chamishi) – 23:23-32 the exception of when burying specific close Rosh Hashanah is called ‘a day of shofar blasts’. relatives. They are not allowed to shave their Yom Kippur is a day of fasting. On these days, heads or wound themselves during a mourning melacha is also forbidden, but the punishment for doing melacha on Yom Kippur is more severe. period (Rashi). There are restrictions on whom he, saying: ‘Command the Children of Israel that shall take for you pure olive Aliya (Shishi) – 23:33-44 Kohanim can marry. There is a mitzvah to show 6th they On Succot we bring the four species (arba’a mination, to kindle a continual Kohanim specific forms of lamp’” respect (Vayikra (Rashi). 24:1-3). minim) and dwell in temporary booths (succot). A Kohen Gadol is not allowed to bury a close The seven days of Succot are followed by relative, nor marry a widow (see p.4 article). Shemini Atzeret. On the first day of Succot and on Shemini Atzeret, we refrain from melacha. 2nd Aliya (Levi) – 21:16-22:16 Specific types of physical blemishes on a Kohen 7th Aliya (Shevi’i) – 24:1-23 disqualify him from bringing offerings in the Moshe is told by G-d to instruct the people Temple; however, he may eat from the offerings. to bring pure olive oil for the daily Menorah A Kohen who is ritually impure (tamei) can neither lighting in the Mishkan (Tabernacle). Moshe is bring nor eat an offering until he is pure (tahor). commanded to provide flour for the show bread The laws of terumah, the first crop tithe given to (lechem ha’panim) that is placed on the table the Kohanim, are stated. Whilst this tithe should (shulchan) in the Mishkan and which remains not be eaten by a non-Kohen, a Kohen’s wife and there for an entire week. his Cana’anite servant are permitted to eat it. A man is caught blaspheming and is sentenced and put to death. 3rd Aliya (Shlishi) – 22:17-33 Offerings brought to the Temple must be free of Question: how many loaves of show bread were certain blemishes which disqualify them. An baked every week? (24:5)? Answer on bottom of animal cannot be brought as an offering until it is at least eight days old. Offerings have to page 20. be eaten within a certain time. The mitzvah to Haftarah The prophet Yechezkel (Ezekiel) details the sanctify G-d’s Name is given (see p.3 article). halachot which will pertain to Kohanim in 4th Aliya (Revi’i) – 23:1-23:22 Laws of Shabbat and the festivals are listed. On Messianic times. Some of these laws are more Pesach, which lasts seven days, we eat matzot. stringent than those listed in the sidrah. The first and last days are Yom Tov, on which we refrain from specific prohibited activity (melacha). On the second day of Pesach, the barley Omer offering is brought. There is a mitzvah to count 49 days from 16 Nisan (the second night of Pesach) until the night before Shavuot. On Shavuot itself,

United Synagogue Daf Hashavua 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 Available also via email US website www.theus.org.uk ©United Synagogue To sponsor Daf Hashavua please contact Loraine Young on 020 8343 5653, or lyoung@theus.org.uk If you have any comments or questions regarding Daf Hashavua please email rabbigross@theus.org.uk

In the mid-1990s, the then them to witness others behaving correctly. mayor of New York City, Living in an environment in which they can Rudolph Giuliani, desperately personally see the respect others have for the wanted to reduce the rules encourages them to do the same. notoriously high levels of crime in the city. To achieve This week’s sidrah contains the foundational this aim, he decided to mitzvah of ‘Kiddush Hashem’ (sanctifying G-d’s Sidrah Summary: Tazria-Metzorah implement a plan dubbed Name). The verse says: “You shall not desecrate ‘The Broken Windows Theory’. The concept was My Holy Name, rather I should be among Children of Israel, for I thatAliya eliminating signs12:1-23 of public disorder, sanctified metzora would alsothe bring three animal offerings 1st (Kohen) small – Vayikra sanctifies You” (Vayikra 22:32). suchchildbirth, as a broken window a housing project, am and G-d threeWho meal offerings. After a lady would in wait several weeks litter on streets,anorelevation graffiti onoffering walls, would helpato Point to Consider: what is the significance of the before bringing (olah) and the wood, heart crimson of this mitzvah lies hyssop? one central, reduce more serious crime. cedar thread and (see sin offering (chatat). This completed her post-birth At essentially simple idea. Everything we do, Rashi to 14:4) purification process. positive or negative, influences others. To research theand effectiveness the proposal, God told Moshe Aharon thatofsomeone who whether 5th Aliya (Chamishi) – 14:21-32 learn from the way others behave, as well behavioural scientists set up atype fewof skin social People had the appearance of a particular A metzora who could not afford three animal adopting the prevailing trends in society. Such experiments to would test have the totheory. One test as disease (tzara’at) show the white offerings could instead bring one animal offering, trends can be a tremendous force for good in the involved a car park with multiple entrances. blemish to a Kohen. The Kohen would evaluate one meal offering and two birds. Thedecide researchers blocked off entrance with world, or they can, G-d forbid, be the opposite. and if the affliction wasone clearly tzara’at, 6th Aliya (Shishi) – 14:33-15:15 temporary fences and put up a (tameh). sign indicating thus rendering the person impure If the Tzara’at also affected houses. The house owner that was people shouldthe only use would the other entrance, Doing the right thing, and thereby setting case unclear, Kohen quarantine would report the suspicious to a Kohen. a positive example for signs others, createsThea which was 180 metres when the person in a about house for seven days, away, after which house would be evacuated before the Kohen’s the Kohen to would the afflicted areaa and returning theirre-inspect cars. However, they left small ‘Kiddush Hashem. As Rudolph Giuliani’s arrival. If the Kohen saw a deep green or deep red clean-up of crime in New York declare the so person tamehcould or tahor gap in whether the fence that was a person just successful ‘affliction’, he would order the house to be demonstrates, the effects of a positive (pure). squeeze through if they wanted to. They also City quarantined for a week. He would then re-inspect can be truly amazing. placed a sign that locking Question: whatindicating were the three types ofbicycles blemishto example the house. If the affliction had spread, the infected the fence wasAnswer prohibited. They then placed called? (13:2) on bottom of page 6. some stones would be removed and replaced. If the 1bikes next to the fence. The only thing they varied 2nd Aliya (Levi) – 13:24-39 affliction nevertheless returned, the house would thealso testpossible was whether the pre-positioned bikes Itinwas for tzara’at to develop from a be demolished. However, if replacing the stones were Tzara’at locked to the fence of the second burn. could erupt (in on breach the scalp or on the solved the problem, the Kohen would declare the rule), area, or justcausing leaning anext house tahor (pure). beard losstoofit.hair. The Torah lists specific discharges that would 3rd Aliya (Shlishi) – 13:40-54 Fascinatingly, when the bicycles were not locked A slightly different form of tzara’at is detailed, cause a man to be considered tameh, and details to the fence, so that the second rule was which caused a more substantial loss of hair. A the purification procedure. observed, only 27% of people broke the first rule metzora (one who has been contaminated with 7th Aliya (Shevi’i) – 15:16-33 and squeezed gapcamp in the fence. Yet A similar set of laws is listed for a lady who has tzara’at) was sentthrough outsidethe of the and had to when the bikes they(see hadp4placed were specific discharges, as well as the laws of niddah tear his/her garments article).there Tzara’at locked to infect the fence in direct breach ofgarment the rule, (menstruation), which form the basis of the laws could also clothing. A suspected 82%quarantined of people broke the first and made squeezed was before the rule Kohen a of family purity. through the gap. decision about whether it was tameh. If it was Haftarah declared tameh, the garment was burnt. The research indicated that Giuliani’s plan was a From the Book of Melachim (Kings II), the haftarah 4th Aliya (Revi’i) – 13:55-14:20 good one. One of the most powerful ways to takes places upon the background of the long The Torah details the process through which a encourage people to act properly is by enabling siege and ensuing famine of the Shomron area metzora purified himself/herself after the period (Samria) by the King of Aram. Four metzora’im of isolation and the healing of the affliction. This were put outside the city gates because of their involved a Kohen taking two birds, cedar wood, affliction. They discovered and reported that the a In crimson thread and hyssop. The Kohen would memory of Yehudah Lev ben Shevach Arameans had actually left their camp, which slaughter one of the birds and – using the wood, In memory of Yehudah Lev ben Shevach allowed the Jews to plunder the camp and thus thread and hyssop together in a bundle – sprinkle its blood seven times on the metzora. The end their famine.

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responsibilities. From the Kippur time of service, the sin of limited than a regular Kohen, and he could not ofcarry sanctity, for he led the Yom have contact with anyone after their death, Judaism holds a different view of what a where the Golden when Kohanim assumed he aloneCalf, entered thethe Holy of Holies. With their priestly role,heuntil today, theyhehave and except for a met mitzvah. privileged position is, namely that such positions regards to whom could marry, washeld more Privilege andFrom Responsibility continue hold a Kohen, privileged carry responsibilities. the time of the sin of limited thantoa regular and position he couldinnotthe JUDAISM 20 10 MAY 2017 THE JEWISH WEEKLY Jewish community. the when van the Kohanim assumed have contact with anyone after their death, byGolden Rabbi Calf, Dr Martin den Bergh, Childwall Hebrew Congregation, Liverpool Nearly 2000 years after the destruction of the their priestly role, until today, they have held and except for a met mitzvah. second Beit Hamikdash, the Kohanim still hold a continue to hold a privileged position in the A Kohen is the first to be called to the reading of privileged place in the Jewish world and still Jewish community. In today's world, many The the sanctity Torah acknowledged when present of isthe Kohen impacts onthe hisat accept restrictions on their lives. They are not a Nearly 2000and years after the also destruction of Privilege and Responsibility the beginning of bentching with aare zimun personal life, even today. restrictions of the people holdingsecond fleeting fashion, nor a momentary trend. They are Beit Hamikdash, theThere Kohanim still (quorum) hold a by Rabbi Dr Martin van den Bergh, Childwall Hebrew Congregation, before Birkat Hamazon – and in some he is the bedrock of our understanding that with on whom he can marry he iscases generally privileged positions are often A Kohen is the first to be calledLiverpool to the reading of privileged place in the Jewish world and still invitedrestrictions toto lead The Kohanim also forbidden be the present in lives. a building or close media or sports celebrities. the Torah and is acknowledged when present at accept privilege comes responsibility. Like the Kohanim onbentching. their They areinnot a bless fashion, thetocommunity with Birkat Kohanim (the proximity a dead with the exceptions of and unlike many of today’s celebrities, our the beginning of bentching with a they zimun are (quorum) Sometimes betterfleeting nor abody, momentary trend. They are priestly blessing) on Yom Tov. spouse, before BirkatofHamazon – inalso some casesnegative hehis is the his very closeoffamily (parents, children sanctity the known Kohen impacts on for their leaders keep their privileged positions by In today's world, many The bedrock our understanding that with invited tolife, lead the today. bentching. The Kohanim and siblings) or responsibility. a met mitzvah,Like one the whoKohanim has died remembering and honouring their responsibilities character traits than foralso theirprivilege even There are restrictions of the people holding personal comes bless the he community withand Birkat (the and with noprivileged one many to bury him/her. of today’s celebrities, contribution toKohanim society and whom can marry he is generally privileged positions are often on Thisunlike status originated with theour role within the community and the wider world. priestly blessing) on Yom keep their positions to important issues. Very few of close them leaders to beglobal present inTov. a building or in media or sports celebrities. forbidden which the Kohanimprivileged fulfilled by carrying byout sustain their success forwith more a fleeting andHamikdash honouring to a dead body, thethan exceptions of remembering Sometimes they are better proximity sacrificial services in the their Mishkan (Tabernacle) When the Beit wasresponsibilities standing, the period, beforefamily another groupspouse, of with ‘stars’ and the wider world. very close (parents, children known for their negative his and the Beitcommunity Hamikdash (Temple), and the This privileged status originated the takes role within restrictions on the Kohen Gadol were evenas more their place. siblings) or a met mitzvah, has died teachers ofHe thehad community. we alldegree have a character traits than for their and which the Kohanim fulfilled one by who carrying out demanding. to uphold While the highest to for uphold degree sanctity (see sacrificial in the Mishkan (Tabernacle) ofmitzvah no oneservices to bury him/her. contribution to society and with sanctity, he leda the Yom of Kippur service, Vayikra status the Kohanim Beit holds Hamikdash (Temple), to important global issues. Very few of them and Judaism a different viewand of as whatthea where he19:2), alone the entered theofHoly of Holies. meant With that they had aheresponsibility teachers of the community. we allpositions have a regards sustain their success for more than a fleeting When privileged is, namelyWhile that standing, such to whom could marry, to he maintain was morea the position Beit Hamikdash was the higher than stateaof sanctity, which was mitzvah to uphold a From degree sanctity (see carry responsibilities. the of time the more sin of limited period, before another group of ‘stars’ takes restrictions regular Kohen, and he recognised could not on the Kohen Gadol wereof even by all the Israelites: “You shall sanctify him, Vayikra 19:2),Calf, the status the of the Kohanim meant the Golden Kohanim their place. demanding. He hadwhen to uphold the highestassumed degree have contact with anyone after their death, for he for offers bread of your G-d; he shall that they had a until responsibility maintain a their priestly role, today, theytohave held and a metthe mitzvah. of sanctity, for he led the Yom Kippur service, except higher state sanctity, which was recognised continue to of hold a privileged position in the be holy to you” (ibid. 21:8). Without maintaining Judaism holds a different view of what a where he alone entered the Holy of Holies. With this ritual sanctity, the Kohanim could not enter by all the Israelites: “You shall sanctify him, Jewish community. Nearly 2000 years after the destruction of the privileged position is, namely that such positions regards to whom couldofmarry, he was the Beit Hamikdash compound to perform for he offers thehe bread your G-d; he more shall Beit Hamikdash, the Kohanim still hold a carryPrivilege responsibilities. From the time of the sin of limited a regular Kohen,Without and hemaintaining could not second and Responsibility their priestly duties. be holythan to you” (ibid. 21:8). A Kohen is thewith first to be called to the reading of privileged place in the Jewish world and still the Golden Calf, when the Kohanim assumed have contact anyone after their death, thisHebrew ritual sanctity, the Kohanim could not enter by Rabbi Dr Martin van den Bergh, Childwall Congregation, Liverpool the Torah acknowledged when present at accept restrictions on their lives. They are not a their priestly role, until today, they have held and except for aand metismitzvah. the Beit Hamikdash compound to perform the beginning of bentching with a zimun (quorum) fleeting fashion, nor a momentary trend. They are continue to hold a privileged position in the their priestly duties. before Birkat Hamazon – in some cases he is the bedrock of our understanding that with Jewish community. In memory of Yocheved bat Berl Dov years thealso destruction of his the privilege The sanctity of the theafter Kohen impacts on In today's world, manyNearly invited2000 to lead bentching. The Kohanim also comes responsibility. Like the Kohanim Beit Hamikdash, the Kohanim still hold a and unlike many of today’s celebrities, our of the people holdingsecond personal life, even today. There areKohanim restrictions bless the community with Birkat (the A Kohen is the first to privileged be called to the reading of privileged place in the world and still leaders keep their privileged positions by on whom he can and he is generally positions are often priestly blessing) onmarry YomJewish Tov. 4 In memory of Yocheved batinBerl DovTheyorare the Torah and is acknowledged at accept forbidden to be present alives. building in close media or when sportspresent celebrities. restrictions on their not a remembering honouring In memory ofand Yocheved battheir Berlresponsibilities Dov the beginning of bentching with a zimun proximity to a dead with thetrend. exceptions of within the community and the wider world. Sometimes they (quorum) are betterfleeting fashion, nor abody, momentary They are This privileged status originated with the role his bedrock very closeoffamily spouse,that children before Birkat Hamazon – in some cases negative he is the known for their our (parents, understanding with which the Kohanim fulfilled by carrying out and siblings) or aresponsibility. met mitzvah, one who has died characterThe traits than for theirprivilege invited to lead the bentching. Kohanim also comes Like the Kohanim sacrificial services in the Mishkan (Tabernacle) Review of Rabbi Yoni Birnbaum’s Challenge and Continuity: A Dedicating the new Bushey with unlike no one many to bury of him/her. contribution to societyCemetery and and bless the community with Birkat Kohanim (the today’s celebrities, and Beit Hamikdash (Temple), and as our the Study of Rabbinic Responses to Modernity, Science and Tragedy important Very Beth few of them bytoDayan Ivan global Binstock, London Din, Rabbi of St John’s Woodprivileged United Synagogue priestly blessing) on Yomissues. Tov. leaders keep their positions teachers of the community. While we all havebya sustain their success for more than a fleeting remembering andHamikdash honouring their When thetoBeit wasofresponsibilities standing, mitzvah uphold a degree sanctity the (see by Rebbetzen Ilana Epstein, Cockfosters & N Southgate United Synagogue; period, before another group of ‘stars’ takes within the community and the wider world. restrictions on the Kohen Gadol were even more This privileged status originated with the role Vayikra 19:2), the status of the Kohanim meant Head of Project Development, US Living & Learning their place. Thefulfilled dedication the newoutKing David Hotel borders of demanding. Heishad tooutside uphold the highest degree which the Kohanim by of carrying that they had astill responsibility to maintain a the historic holy city. section of the cemetery at of sanctity, for he led the Yom Kippur service, sacrificial services in the Mishkan (Tabernacle) higher state of sanctity, which was recognised Rabbi Yoni Birnbaum has Amongst the pages of this book, we see a marks theof latest holds Bushey a different view what a where alone entered“You the Holy Holies. With by all he the Israelites: shallof sanctify him, andJudaism Beit Hamikdash (Temple), and as theThe been a familiar and inspiring depiction of the world of great Rabbinic voices Talmud describes the procedure for formally stage of that thesuchUnited privileged position is, namely regards to whom he couldofmarry, he was more for he the offers the bread your G-d; he shall teachers of the community. While we all positions have aextending writer on the pages of the stretching from the Talmudic era, in the towering borders of Kohen, Jerusalem, thenot Synagogue undertaking carry responsibilities. From the of theits sin of limited a regular and so hethat could be holythan to you” (ibid. 21:8). Without maintaining Daf Hashavua. I was yeshivot of Sura and Pumpedita in Babylon, all mitzvah to uphold a degree oftime sanctity (see status of the holy city applies to other areas as to provide a the Golden Calf,responsibility when the Kohanim assumed have contact with the anyone aftercould theirnot death, this ritual sanctity, Kohanim enter therefore delighted to be the way to the modern era, together with Vayikra 19:2), the status of the Kohanim meantwell. This involves, in part, a procession led their priestly role,dignified until today,resting they haveplace held and except for aHamikdash met mitzvah.compound to perform Beit asked to review his first everyone in between. These are personalities that that they had a responsibility to maintain aby the the Sanhedrin (High Court) around the continue to holdwhen, a privileged in the their sadly, theposition end of life priestly duties. book: ‘Challenge and speak to Rabbi Birnbaum. In his clear and higher state of sanctity, which was recognisedperimeter of the new area, with the chanting of Jewish community. arrives. Nearly 2000 years after the destruction of the Continuity: A Study of concise way he has made them, and the way they by all the Israelites: “You shall sanctify him,Tehilim (Psalms), such as Psalm 91. for the bread of your G-d; he shall second Beit Hamikdash, the Kohanim still hold a Rabbinic Responses to Modernity, Science and think and deal with halachic questions, accessible The he firstoffers Ashkenazi cemetery in Alderney Road A Kohen is the(ibid. first to be called to the reading of place in the Jewish and still Tragedy’, published by Vallentine Mitchell. to us. Theprivileged practice has developed that theworld dedication be holy toopened you” 21:8). Without maintaining E1,the was in acknowledged 1697 and closed inpresent 1852. at Torah and is when accept restrictions on their lives. TheyVarious are not a 4 In memory of Yocheved bat Berl Dov of cemeteries follows this model. this ritual sanctity, the Kohanim could not enter ThetheUnited Synagogue is responsible for a beginning of bentching with a zimun (quorum) fleetinghave fashion, nor aupmomentary trend. They are In this volume, Rabbi Birnbaum divides Rabbinic Of particular interest to me is the way Rabbi customs grown around the essential the Beit Hamikdash compound to use perform dozen cemeteries. Those are before Birkat Hamazon –ininregular some cases he is the bedrock of our understanding that with responsa into these three categories, with each Birnbaum describes how halachic decision their priestly duties. in 1873; Waltham Abbey, requirement of encircling the area whilst reciting Willesden, invited toopened lead the bentching. The Kohanim also privilege comes responsibility. Like the Kohanim category providing insights into a much broader making is reached: “Far from being a monolithic Psalms. In some communities, seven circuits of opened 1960, and Bushey, in 1947. (the subject. For the past two years, Rabbi Birnbaum process, consisting of a direct application of blessinthe community withopened Birkat Kohanim and unlike many today’sOthers celebrities, a new cemetery areofmade. requireour has guided us through the weekly Torah portions, principles set out in the legalistic section of the priestly blessing) on Yom Tov. leaders keep their privileged positions by Visitors to Bushey will be familiar with the old members of the Chevra Kadisha (Burial Society) seamlessly interweaving ancient concepts with Talmud and the later Codes of Jewish Law, in remembering and honouring their responsibilities to fast and recite selichot (penitential prayers). section, with its own entrance at the north end 4 In memory of Yocheved bat Berl Dov modernity. He uses the same sensibility while reality [halachic decision-making] involves a within the community and the wider world. This privileged status originated with the role of Little Bushey Lane. The current main section, Because Kohanim are precluded from close teaching the uninitiated about the massive field deeply insightful understanding of both the theprayer Kohanim by carrying contact with the dead, some communities withwhich the two halls,fulfilled was opened in 1967.out that is Rabbinic responsa, which is the topic of historical and traditional application of Halacha, in the Mishkan An sacrificial extension, services across Sandy’s Lane, was(Tabernacle) opened specifically involve Kohanim in the dedication of as well as the ramifications that a particular ruling his forthcoming PhD dissertation. and Beit Hamikdash (Temple), and as the a new cemetery, before there are any graves in 1979. may have”. teachers of the community. While we all have that a would restrict their presence. A central component of Rabbi Birnbaum’s to uphold a degree of sanctityfor(see Themitzvah new section has been in preparation approach can be found in his introduction: “one We at Daf Hashavua congratulate Rabbi the status the Kohanim six Vayikra years. 19:2), Provision has ofbeen made meant for When the new Bushey Cemetery will be of the central roles of a Rabbi has been the ability Birnbaum on his book and recommend it that they had responsibility to maintain dedicated, a the service will begin with words of approximately 8,500a interments. to analyse critical issues of the day and provide to anyone who wishes to gain a greater higher state of sanctity, which was recognised spiritual reflection from the Chief Rabbi and an appropriate response, drawing on the depth understanding of how halachic decisions are Thebyground been drained and paths have all thehas Israelites: “You shall sanctify him, the perimeter of the new area will be encircled and breadth of Jewish tradition in order to do so”. reached. Next January Rabbi Birnbaum will be been A new the prayer hall of (with a unique forlaid. he offers bread your G-d; heand shall with the chanting of Psalm 91 and other psalms. His treatment of the differing approaches of the spending a sabbatical in the prestigious position be holy to design) you” (ibid. 21:8). Without maintaining eco-friendly has been constructed. Chatam Sofer (1762 – 1839) and Rabbi Moshe of Daniel Jeremy Silver Fellow at Harvard It is a vain hope to say that we wish the thiswill ritual sanctity, couldformally not enter What happen whenthe theKohanim Chief Rabbi Feinstein (1895 – 1986), given their times and University for a term. We wish him every success. cemetery will not be used. Such is the way of the the Beit Hamikdash compound to perform opens cemetery on 21 May? differing environments, is particularly instructive. the world. People die and need to be buried. We their priestly duties. Copies available from The procedure for dedicating a cemetery is hope and pray that those who die will have lived With the same care and consideration, Rabbi www.vmbooks.com, adapted from a discussion in the Talmud out in full the measure of their years, and that Birnbaum himself tackles difficult subjects, from Amazon and all good (Shavuot 15b) relating to extending the area of the community will be able to attend to their the Rabbinic responses to modern challenges to bookshops. theInTemple precincts and the of Jerusalem. needs in death with the highest standards of 4the difficulties inherent in reconciling seemingly memory of Yocheved bat area Berl Dov incompatible truths in science and Torah. dignity and respect. In Temple times, there were precise rules Lastly, he looks at questions which emanated regarding the consumption of offerings, either in from the Jews living in the ghettos of Warsaw, the grounds of the Beit Hamikdash (Temple) or Kovno and Vilna during the Second World within the boundaries of Jerusalem. For War, where the Rabbis did not shy away from example, if the Beit Hamikdash was around the intrinsic difficulties they encountered, as today, a household head could not take his evidenced by their deeply moving responses. Pesach offering and drive back for a Seder

Privilege and Responsibility by Rabbi Dr Martin van den Bergh, Childwall Hebrew Congregation, Liverpool

with his family in Herzliya. He would need to eat it in Jerusalem. Even then, a location like the

Answer: Twelve

memory Reuven Yehuda Leivish InInmemory of of Reuven benben Yehuda Leivish

Inmemory memoryofofChaim Chaim Moshe Bentzion In benben Moshe Bentzion

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

SPORTS EEKLY

ONE NATION... ...MANY TEAMS

Redbridge blow title in dramatic end to season

difficult to break down; we nicked games and finished the strongest side whereas other teams Redbridge Jewish Care A needed to defeat struggled as the season went on. third placed Hendon United A to pip Oakwood “All the lads are buzzing and I’m really to the title by a point but lost 4-3 in a thrilling please for Ric; he’s been involved for over 10 encounter at Hadley FC. years so it’s an amazing way for him to bow Oakwood joint-managers Daniel Kristall and out. Ric Blank were kept informed of the heart-stop“He’s seen Oakwood go all the way to the ping action throughout the match. top, which is fantastic.” “To win the title is huge for “It’s an amazing sense of achievement for everyone but it’s a stepping stone. We want to retain the title but also want to go for the cups.” Kristall added, “Redbridge will be disappointment but they’ll be challenging again next year. “The biggest surprise was they didn’t see the game out after going 3-2 Oakwood’s joint managers Daniel Kristall and Ric PHOTO CREDIT: DAVID SAFFER Blank celebrate winning an unexpected title ahead late on but once pressure the club and we deserved it,” said Kristall. is involved anything is possible. “We made a shaky start to the season and “For the integrity of the league it was imporwent out of the Peter Morrison Trophy early so tant Hendon went for it, and they did, so you we could fully concentrate on the league. have to give them a lot of credit.” “Everything turned when we beat Hendon Blank first played for Oakwood in 2006, and in consecutive weeks at their ground. From the though he is stepping down as co-manager he turn of the year we had belief and went on an will still be associated with the club. unbelievable run. “The boys were messaging me and it was “We didn’t beat teams by seven or eight horrendous getting the updates, but in the end goals like Hendon and Redbridge but had the it was amazing, just an incredible day,” he said. best defence in the league conceding only 15 “I’ve won Division One and Division Two goals. but lost three finals, so to win the Premier title “The key to our success was being solid at is unbelievable. the back. We were a very workmanlike team, “We’ve improved so much over time and this BY DAVID SAFFER

year have become a serious outﬁt.” He added, “It’s amazing for the club to win the title because you get that taste of winning, so I’ve challenged the boys to now win two trophies in a season. “To be compared with great amateur teams they win in batches over a few years and that is what they have to now aspire to doing.” It was a case of what might have been for Redbridge boss Jon Jacobs’ battling team who were league runners up and Anekstein Cup ﬁnalists. “The game was probably one game too many for us,” he said. “We wanted to show that we were the best team in the Maccabi League but have just come up short. “We had the title in our hands when 3-2 ahead but Hendon equalised almost immediately to bang the door shut. Redbridge will be back to challenge next season and this time, hopefully will go one step further. “I congratulate Oakwood on winning the title; the table doesn’t lie and they deserve all their success.” In a quite astonishing end to the season, Avi Korman opened the scoring for Hendon with a penalty kick only to be pegged back by the title chasers when Zac Neiman equalised with a powerful header from a corner. Redbridge wasted opportunities to take the lead and Hendon made them pay when Zac

Lewis edged Hendon back in front with a close range ﬁnish. Hendon then went close to a 3-1 lead before half time. Redbridge leveled when Steve Summers nodded home shortly after coming on as a second half substitute on 72 minutes. And the Essex team thought they had clinched the title when Sam Sollosi slotted home three minutes later. But moments later Josh Harris equalised to set up a nerve-jangling ﬁnish to the game. Both teams had chances before Yoav Kestenbaum broke Redbridge hearts two minutes into injury time.

Action as Redbridge lose the league

Raiders win the Morrison Trophy

Full Story and photos on page 22 PHOTO CREDIT: LAWRENCE PURCELL

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

SPORTS 22

10 MAY 2017

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

London Lions and Redbridge observe a minute’s silence before kick off

SPORTS NEWS BY DAVID SAFFER

Raiders defeat South Man 4-0 to win first Peter Morrison Trophy

Oscar Wagner, Jordan Marks, Jordan Nathan and Nick Lewis scored the goals to land Raiders manager Dan Shafron his maiden trophy in his first full season in charge. “This is a special achievement for the club, and to make history is an incredible feeling,” Shafron said. “I’m delighted we have won the only trophy to elude us and am really proud of the squad. “We’ve got a very special group, not just the 16 involved today and players that couldn’t make the journey, but also the management. They’ve all played a huge part in this success.” David Dinkin and Matt Stock had goals disallowed for Raiders in a tight first half, but the Londoners cut loose with three goals in 20 second half minutes. Raiders took the lead when Wagner drifted in from the right wing before firing home a speculative strike. Jonathan Rochwerger then sent Marks clear, and though his initial effort hit the inside of a post, Rochwerger tapped home the rebound. Nathan fired home Raiders’ third goal with an audacious rabona kick into the top corner. And a fourth goal followed when Lewis tapped in from a yard out after a Marks free kick was initially blocked. Rochwerger was named man of the match. “We started tentatively and allowed South Manchester to get at us on a couple of occasions, but I felt it was a matter of time before we came into our own,” said Shafron. “I told the boys to raise our standards at half time. We started the second half with far greater intensity, and once we scored our first, we were in total control.”

Time for a cool drink at half-time

Jordan Marks, Jordan Nathan, Nick Lewis and Oscar Wagner

Action from the game

A dejected South Manchester Sports Club 1st after losing 4-0

The Peter Morrison Trophy

Contesting in the middle of the pitch

The victorious North London Raiders A

PHOTO CREDIT: LAWRENCE PURCELL

More action from Redbridge V Hendon

A Redbridge free kick

Redbridge on the attack

PHOTO CREDIT: DAVID SAFFER

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

CURRENCY

UNITS/1GRB GBP / 1 UNIT

US DOLLAR.......... 1.29

0.77

EURO............................... 1.18

0.84

SWISS FRANC.. 1.30

0.76

SHEKEL....................... 4.66

0.21

FILLING A VACUUM - ENDING A CYCLE BY MORDECHAI ULLMAN

“To be honest with you, at this moment in time I must own over 1000 bicycles, yet I can’t even ride one...” Mark Abrahams tells me at our interview on Sunday. He has earned the respect and appreciation of charities, police forces and prisoners. Networking with all the above, as well as with prestigious universities and top-class bike suppliers, you would be forgiven for thinking Mark’s primary source of income is the two-wheeler market.

It isn’t – Mark specialises in IT. A mere two years ago, Bushey-based Mark Abrahams thought up a venture from which thousands will gain annually. It is called “Recycle your Cycle.” Now, besides the environmental benefits of three thousand bikes per year made fit for reuse instead of going to the landfill, there is a further societal benefit. The recycling process takes place in Category-C prisons. What prisoners do if unoccupied is anyone’s guess, so various prisons do

oﬀer recreational, educational and training courses. However, Recycle your Cycle is unique in that it trains prisoners in a skill they can reuse once freed. “This will hopefully help them to either ﬁnd a job or go self-employed as there is demand for bicycle repair and vacuum cleaner repair technicians,” Mark says. This relatively young venture could thus serve as prevention for further crime. Government statistics, published in April this year by the Ministry for Justice, reveal

that the reoffending rate in 2015 was an overall 25%. Although this marked a slight reduction from the previous year, the figure of juvenile offenders had been on the rise, as well as adults released from custody, both being at 38% or more chance of reoffending within one year of their release. Mark’s experience in the last two years is every aspiring entrepreneur’s dream: sourcing on average 300 bikes per month, getting a foot in the door of major supplier Evans Cycles, and creating jobs

Mark Abrahams

for 150 prisoners in over 7 prisons. His method is one that has many lessons and life skills for start-up businesses, notwithstanding the fact that Recycle your Cycle is a not-for-profit endeavour. The primary beneficiaries are hospice charities. “We have a relationship with hospices across the UK.” The refurbished bikes are sold in charity shops, benefiting local hospices. So, where does Mark source the cycles? Universities are keen to rid their campus of graduates’ Continued on page 24

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

BUSINESS 24 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23

possessions, especially if they’ll be put to a worthy use. Same goes for the police, whose collection of stolen or abandoned bicycles achieves little by collecting dust in the police station! In addition, bicycle retailers such as major supplier Evans Cycles have a trade-in deal. Bring in your bike to purchase a new one and receive up to £250 trade-in cash, the lion’s share of which goes towards this charitable cause. This way, Mark will collect over 1500 bikes in the course of April and May 2017 alone! Recently, the recycling has grown into Vacuum Cleaners, or, as they are known on these shores, Hoovers. “We wanted a product that could enable prisoners to learn a skill that could help with their employment prospects as well as have a profit margin for the charity”, Mark explains. If a first-hand Dyson costs £350 and you can buy a refurbished one with a six-month warranty for £70-£100 wouldn’t you consider it? The current figure at the workstation refurbishments stands at 200 Hoovers per month. Turning up to the prisons proudly sporting his Kippa and sometimes even his Tzitzit out, Mark enjoys the prisoners’ banter and requests for “bagels with smoked salmon”. “We have workshops in several prisons around the country,” Mark explains. From Coventry to Cardiff, Liverpool to Leicestershire, both police forces and prisoners are grateful for this lease of life granted to the inmates. Instead of menial tasks inmates are more often assigned, each prisoner helps to fix approximately ten bikes a month and, more recently,

10 MAY 2017

THE JEWISH WEEKLY Dyson’s and Henry’s. “It’s a full morning work from 8:30am to midday, followed by lunch, then back to work till 5pm”. You see real job satisfaction from some of the prison inmates when they show me how they’ve taken a broken bicycle and totally stripped it down to component parts and rebuilt it using both refurbished parts and new parts, ready for use, plus they are pleased they are giving something back to society as the bicycle or vacuum cleaner will be going to a charity. The prison term is served as usual and the workshops take place on the premises of the prison. However, one great way of ensuring the prisoner will not re-offend and end up behind bars once more, is to help them get on their own two feet by enabling them to have a viable career option upon their release or even set-up a repair business for themselves “This country is bicycle mad”, Mark explains, “Especially with the weather warming up”. With quality refurbished adult bicycles starting at £50.00 and childrens at £20.00, this enables all sections of the wider population to gain the social, fun and health benefits of cycling. University students are some of his most frequent beneficiaries of the Recycle your Cycle enterprise. Recycle your Cycle has come a long way since the “early days“ (i.e. 2015!) when Mark himself used to do the schlepping, transporting the bikes from supplier to the workshops in his own van. Not so today, where a full team of employees ensure the wheels of the bikes keep turning, enabling the disadvantaged to begin their own

positive cycle in life. This is just the start as the plan is to open more prison workshops and to have workshops outside of the prison environment to help disadvantaged groups gain some vocational skills. We hope that over time this venture will raise signiﬁcant funds for Hospice and other charities plus have helped some ex-offenders gain employment and not re-oﬀend. As this venture is now up and running Mark is turning his hand to a new venture, this time commercial around Cybersecurity, hopefully more about that in a few months.

Mark with his wife Rina and daughters Carly and Elisse

Mark with his wife and daughters

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

10 MAY 2017

SPORTS 27

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

SPORTS NEWS BY DAVID SAFFER

Leeds shatter treble dreams of champions Haroldeans to lift Feldman Trophy Louie Hewson (2) and Jon Zolte struck the goals that brought cup glory to the Yorkshire side. Mike Bloomberg’s title winners were stunned by the shock result but will again start as favourites when the teams clash in the Shonn Trophy ﬁnal at Salford FC on Sunday. Maccabi boss Adam Kristall was delighted with the triumph but knows his team will have to dig deeper to secure a cup double. “Haroldeans will come out with a point to prove, so we have to forget this result and focus on the challenge ahead,” he said. “It’s another big cup game coming up but this

victory is a huge confidence booster.” Looking back on his team’s win, he commented, “Haroldeans were going for the treble and are a great side. We respected them, but this game was won in midfield and our midfielders had more grit in that department. “They had the league’s top scorer in Adam Shiffman, but we defended well to keep him quiet. “We were underdogs but went out determined to stay in the game, so to win was fantastic. “Our tactics were spot on and we deserved the win.” Bloomberg was magnanimous in defeat and

looking forward to the big game this weekend. “We’ve no complaints whatsoever; as Leeds were the better team,” he said. “They were more organised, more motivated and deserved to win. “We possibly underestimated them but prematch I didn’t have that impression. We all need to look at ourselves because they were very impressive and I’m looking for a reaction.” After Bobby Fishel had a ﬁrst minute goal for Haroldeans disallowed for offside, the Leeds trio of Dan Shaw, Louie Fisher and James Landes bossed the key midﬁeld battle. Leeds took the lead when Fisher sent Hewson

TABLES PREMIER

OAKWOOD A

REDBRIDGE JEWISH CARE A

HENDON UNITED SPORTS A

MACCABI LON LIONS A

NORTH LONDON RAIDERS A

BRADY MACCABI

-5

FC TEAM A

-41

CAMDEN PARK

-14

WOODFORD WANDERERS

-35

SPEC FC

-73

Hendon United U15s complete the perfect season The triumphant teens came from an early goal behind to defeat Alexandra Park 5-3 and record a 16th consecutive victory in landing the championship. Captain Dan Silver (2), Mel Simons, Sam Goldberg and Avi Glausiusz struck the goals on an unforgettable day for the youngsters. Sharpshooter Goldberg also claimed the Golden Boot for the league with his 27th goal in 11 appearances. “On the ﬁrst day of the season we lost to this team 5-2 in a cup match, so we have come on leaps and bounds in winning every league game,” said manager Elliot Glausiusz. “We’ve improved throughout the season, and it’s been a joy to watch. “Our defence has been outstanding, not only keeping it tight at the back but they’ve popped up with quite a few goals. “All the lads have been great and Sam (Goldberg) has been exceptional in attack. “This season was the ﬁrst time they had played together in a new team, so for a debut season together it’s been a fantastic achievement. “Next year is a GCSE year, which will bring its challenges, but we have enough commitments from the boys to keep going so I’m pretty excited for the team.”

ONE

REDBRIDGE JEWISH CARE B

MACCABI LON LIONS B

SCRABBLE

FINCHLEY CITY

NORTH LONDON RAIDERS B

OAKWOOD B

LOS BLANCOS

-10

FAITHFOLD A

-12

ATHLETIC BILBAUM

-34

HENDON UNITED SPORTS B

-46

TWO

L’EQUIPE

TEMPLE FORTUNE

RC UK FC

REDBRIDGE JEWISH CARE C

The Champions

REAL HENDON

MILL HILL DONS

-22

RESULTS

NORTH LONDON RAIDERS C

-1

FAITHFOLD B

-13

CATFORD & BROMLEY MACC

-11

HERTSWOOD VALE

-16

BOCA JEWNIORS

-61

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

clear to ﬁnish with aplomb for the opening goal 14 minutes. Zolte made it 2-0 when he powered home a header from a corner on 55 minutes. And there was no time for Bloomberg’s team to recover as Hewson capitalised on a defensive mix up with an overhead kick over Haroldean’s stranded keeper for a superb effort on the hour. Fishel scored a consolation goal in added time. Leeds schemer Dan Shaw picked up the man of the match award.

PREMIER HENDON UNITED SPORTS A

REDBRIDGE JEWISH CARE A

REDBRIDGE JEWISH CARE C

ONE FINCHLEY CITY

SPORTS 28

10 MAY 2017

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

PREMIER LEAGUE BY JEREMY BITTON

Sunderland and Middleborough suffer crushing relegation back to the Championship Sunderland and Middleborough have now both been relegated from the English top flight after losing critical games against Bournemouth and Chelsea respectively. Champions-elect Chelsea dominated proceedings at Stamford Bridge to consign the Riverside club to relegation with a 3-0 win, whilst Sunderland’s 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth saw the Black Cats suffer the same fate, having won just five of the 34 games, with Cherries striker Joshua King providing the final nail in the coffin. Boro manager Steve Agnew, who took over from Aitor Karanka, was unable to stop the rot, with Boro suffering from a chronic lack of goals. Alvaro Negredo (9) was the only player to score more than five times in the Premier League this season. Middleborough fans will now be fearing the worst, as reports claim the future of both the manager and some of the club’s top players are in the balance following their return to the Championship. Negredo will likely return to Valencia once his loan deal terminates, while others could depart the club this summer. Gaston Ramirez could jump ship, as well

as Victor Valdes. Ben Gibson is a transfer target for a number of clubs, including tonight’s victors Chelsea. As for Agnew, he remains in charge as caretaker manager and it is yet to be decided if he will continue into next season. In contrast, The Black Cats will be going into their Championship season with a little more stability after Moyes confirmed that he would attempt to mastermind Sunderland’s immediate return to the Premier League Asked if there had been a decision on his future, Moyes said: “Ellis and the board want me to stay.” “I don’t know what you mean by ‘decision.’ I’ve got a four-year contract, so I don’t know what you’re talking about ‘a decision.’” Asked if he was definitively committed to Sunderland for next season, Moyes replied: “Yes, so we have to work, we have to find a way to get things correct. “Right from the start, we did say it looked like a rebuilding job to be done,” he added. Relegation woes

Arsenal look to do battle with bitter rivals Spurs for Premier League speedster this summer

Wilfred Zaha could be on the move

Arsenal will reportedly to go head-tohead with bitter North London rivals Tottenham in the £30m pursuit of Crystal Palace winger Wilfred Zaha this summer, according to The Sun. Zaha, 24, has been in scintillating form this season despite Palace’s struggles in the relegation battle, recently scoring in Palace’s impressive win at Premier League champions-elect Chelsea. The Eagles are keen to oﬀer their star academy product a new contract; however, the Ivory Coast international could be set to demand a move to a bigger club if reports are to be trusted. Zaha may be looking to prove himself on the big stage once more after a failed spell at Manchester United in 2014, which saw him come back to his boyhood club with his proverbial tail between his legs. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is said to be

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willing to offer either Carl Jenkinson or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in part-exchange. The Frenchman has yet to announce whether he will sign a new contract at the Emirates Stadium, with Wenger said to be eyeing an attacking reshuffle should he choose to stay this summer. In contrast, Pochettino’s Spurs will be looking to add some much-needed speed and penetration to their flanks, an attribute Zaha could certainly help bring ahead of their upcoming 2017/18 Champions League and Premier League campaigns.

10 MAY 2017

SPORTS 29

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

Chelsea eye mouthwatering £170m double swoop to form lethal new-look strike-force

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is said to be planning a complete overhaul of their strike-force this summer in the aftermath of completing their likely Premier League title success. Despite this, the Italian is refusing to rest on his laurels and is plotting two big name transfers in the summer despite being linked with two of the biggest jobs in Europe. Inter Milan are reportedly keen to lure the Italian tactician back to his homeland, while Barcelona could try to bring him in as the departing Luis Enrique’s replacement. With Eden Hazard constantly being linked with Real Madrid and Diego Costa still the subject of a big money oﬀer from Chinese Super League clubs, Chelsea are reacting early by targeting two world-class attacking players. According to ESPN, Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez is keen to make the switch across London amid speculation that he is growing frustrated with life at the Emirates Stadium. The Chilean, 28, has just over a year

remaining on his current contract, with contract renewal talks not scheduled in the immediate future. Arsene Wenger remains conﬁdent that the attacker will put pen to paper on a new deal despite the Frenchman failing to conﬁrm his future whereabouts. Gareth Bale is perhaps a surprising name mentioned, but reports in Don Balon suggest he could be keen on a return to the Premier League with Chelsea. The Welshman has endured a mixed four-year spell at Real Madrid and could call time on his career in La Liga for a move back home. Despite winning the Copa Del Rey and two Champions League titles, Bale has not always been too popular, with an ever-demanding fan base criticising him for his continuous injury setbacks. Reports that Real are keen to sign Hazard could spell the end for Bale at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Chelsea looking set to pounce should Hazard look to jump ship this summer.

Football tournament scores for it’s schools

On a sun-soaked Sunday afternoon this week, over 2000 people descended on Power League in Mill Hill to enjoy a unique community event that has had many families requesting that it become an annual fixture in the community calendar. For the first time ever, a combined 5-a-side tournament and Funday allowed entire families to enjoy themselves in a warm and exciting atmosphere. Arie Cohen of Daco Design, who headed the committee organising this event explained, “We thought that this event was a great way to achieve many objectives. We wanted to find an original and fun way to raise money for tzedakah. Since more of us are increasingly being advised to exercise and look after

Charity through football

our health, we thought of organising a football tournament, aligning individual teams to a school of their choice, channelling their competitive spirit into competing to win the £5,000 prize for their school.” The tournament sponsor – Moshe Feldman CEO of Global Kosher, alongside dozens of team sponsors were delighted at the incredible exposure that the event generated and in particular the financial benefits for event-partner Hatzolo NW. Hatzolo NW have been seeking extra funding to run first-aid, lifesaving courses and training programmes in the community. With such a strong show of support by so many families, these training programmes can now become a reality and something from

which everyone can benefit. With 24 teams and over 150 players representing schools from across the educational spectrum – both primary and secondary, the competition was keenly contested. With such a large prize at stake, waiting to benefit their chosen school, the tournament was nonetheless conducted in a spirit of respect and camaraderie. After a hard-fought tournament, the spectators and players were honoured to have popular local MP Mike Freer accompanied by Councillor Dean Cohen presenting the Global Kosher Cup together with the cheque of £5000 to the winning team sponsored by HOME-SOLVE Building Maintenance who will be donating the prize to their school -Menorah Foundation. The runners up who played such a big part in providing a thrilling finale were sponsored by Heiman Beds and represented Menorah High School for Girls. They also received their runners-up medals from Mike Freer amid thunderous applause in appreciation for their conduct and sportsmanship throughout the rip-roaring final. To augment the tournament, a group of ladies headed by Mrs Vered Landau organised an unforgettable Funfair replete with an array of stalls, rides and culinary delights provided by Reich’s caterers and Uncle Doovys. From

PHOTO CREDITS: ARIW COHEN

THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

Winning Team Trophy Presentation with Mike Freer, Dean Cohen, Moshe Feldman and Raﬁ Klopman (Hatzola Committee member)

donkey rides to bungee jumping, tombolas to balloon modelling, inﬂatable rides to puppet shows, every age group was catered to and kept enthralled throughout the afternoon. The police were also in attendance, allowing children to “try out” their police car and build a rapport with the members of the community alongside Hatzolo members who gave the youngsters an inside view of the Hatzolo ambulance. For the older boys, pitches were made available for football training and impromptu games, keeping them busy right up to the end of the day which saw them depart tired but wanting more! On hand to secure the event was the ever-dependable KASPA security group headed by Michael Green who, along with a team from Shomrim, were able to keep a close lookout for the safety and

wellbeing of such a large crowd. Many messages of thanks were conveyed regarding the event and families enthused how much they had enjoyed the atmosphere and the togetherness from across the community. All in all, it showed what a great community spirit there is in London, and the good things that can be achieved when people come together.

Teacup Ride at the Funday

10 MAY 2017

KIDS 31

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

CUT OUT & KEEP

TO CREATE YOUR VERY OWN JEWISH WEEKLY RECIPE BOOK

FRUIT PIZZA ROLL-UP Ingredients: • • • •

Prep Time: 10 minutes

1 whole wheat tortilla Cream cheese Cut up pieces of your favourite fruit Honey

Method: 1. Spread cream cheese over a whole wheat tortilla.

Nut Free

2. Slice up your favorite fruit in small pieces. For example, bananas, blueberries, strawberries and peaches 3. Drizzle the top with honey 4. Roll up and eat!

DAIRY

Did you know? Banana Facts

If you tape a banana peel over a splinter, the enzymes help the splinter work its way out of your skin

More songs have been written about bananas than about any other fruit.

Rub the inside of a banana peel on a mosquito bite to help keep it from itching. This works for other bug bites and burns too!

To whiten teeth naturally, rub the inside of a banana peel on your teeth for about two minutes every night.

If you put a banana in the refrigerator, the peel will turn dark brown or black, but it won’t aﬀect the fruit inside.

Bananas are the only fruit that contain the amino acid tryptophan plus vitamin B6. They help your body produce serotonin — a natural substance that makes you happy.

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YOUTH 36

£ 1 0 0 0 MILONELION

10 MAY 2017

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

DIPPER

Aid Aid Aid

sos.

DDDD W

(Answers at the bottom of page upside down)

Q: Why was the maths book sad? A: It had to many problems

Q:What is a boxers favourite drink? Q: What’s the slipperiest country?

A: Punch

A: Greece

Q:What’s the tallest building in the world? A: The library, because it has the most stories.

1. The letter M

1.Grand Stand 2.Big Dipper 3. First Aid 4. One in a Million 5. West Indies 6. Emergency Stop

Dingbats Answers THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM

2. He was walking… not driving

3. What is more useful when it is broken?

2. A bus driver was heading down a street in Bournemouth. He went right past a stop sign without stopping, he turned right where there was a “no right turn” sign, and he went the wrong way on a one-way street. Then he went on the left side of the road past a police car. Still - he didn’t break any traﬃc laws. Why not?

3. An egg

1. What comes once in a minute, Twice in a moment, But never in a thousand years?

PARENTING 38

10 MAY 2017

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

Love is all you need – but what is love?

RABBI MALCOLM HERMAN

Love, as the song goes, is in the air. It is also thankfully in most functioning homes. But what is real love? How can we know if what we are giving will be reciprocated lifelong? In this week’s article Rabbi Herman looks at the meaning of love. Some years ago a lecturer I know was giving a talk about marriage. He told the audience of married couples that it was important to articulate their love on a regular basis. At that point a man in the audience raised his hand and said, “What do you mean? I told my wife two years ago that I love her and if anything changes I will let her know!” I hope that they are still married. In recent weeks we have been highlighting the components that create a healthy home environment before we embark on the practicalities of everyday parenting. In this column we highlight the most basic of all aspects, which is love. It almost seems redundant to express the importance of love. We all need love. It is an elemental, emotional necessity. When we are loved we feel valued. A relationship starved of love is starved of oxygen. But as we shall demonstrate, even love comes in different shapes and sizes. Given its importance, it is hardly surprising that love is the theme of every song and every other film. Yet there is an irony in the observation that despite that proliferation in the world of entertainment, in domestic life, love is sometimes assumed and left unspoken. That is unhealthy. In today’s generation it needs to be expressed in a variety of sensible and wholesome ways. But let’s begin with a definition of love itself, based on classic Jewish thinking. The word is used in a very broad variety of contexts. Compare “I love you” to “I love

chicken.” Can they really stand side by side? My love of chicken is realised by employing someone to slit the chicken’s throat, strip it of its feathers, (kasher it,) chop it into eighths, roast it in a pot and then consume it with roast potatoes. Not exactly what we mean when we appear with bunch of red roses and

declare “I love you.” (I hope!) In English the terminology is used identically, although really when I say “I love chicken” I really mean “I love me and indulging in the taste of chicken is a personal treat.” To use the term “love” for both chicken and romance risks polluting the concept. The love of genuine

romance is the love of giving. The love of chicken is the love of taking. In classical Hebrew we discover a diﬀerent level of meaning. Love means to extend beyond myself in an unconditional giving to another. Sounds a bit wordy but it is a world of diﬀerence. Real love is genuinely about you, not me. In fact, some

link the word “aHAVa” – love – to the Hebrew word “Hav,” which actually means “give.” Classical Hebrew is a Divine language. The root of the word captures its very essence. Again, to quote Torah sources: “Words that emerge from the heart enter the heart.” There is energy in

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pure emotion that is palpable and penetrating. And real love has a power of reciprocity. Parental love can be confusing. Does it nurture or smother? Motivate or stultify? This is a vital question. How can we diﬀerentiate between a love that is healthy and welcome and a love that may

eventually be resented and rejected? The starting point begins within the parental heart. The more our love is unconditional, the more it is the love of giving rather than the love of taking. Unconditional means that “I love you because you are you.” It is not because of what you do for me or what I expect from you.

When a child grows up within that genuine environment, they ﬂourish. It is literally warm summer sunshine that cultivates growth. That love fosters a relationship of depth and mutuality that will last lifelong. Don’t get me wrong. I am not saying that parents can’t have expectations of their children. Of course they can and should. But those expectations are not tied to their love. That is why love is never up for question irrespective of a child’s behaviour. A parent may not celebrate their actions, but it is vital that bad behaviour is never linked to parental love. Nor should we ever withhold love as a punishment. Children need to know that we always love them even if we have to correct their behaviour. The two are not linked. In the next article we move from theoretical to practical and discuss ways of expressing love for real. Without giving away the precise details of what is to come, I can say that once in every two years is nowhere near enough. Rabbi Malcolm Herman Associate National Director seed uk For questions or comments email mherman@seed.uk.net He is the co-author of Everyday Parenting for Everyday Parents together with Professor Irvine Gersch. To ﬁnd out more about classes and courses see www.seed.uk.net Rabbi Herman’s parenting column features every fortnight in The Jewish Weekly and his book can be purchased on Amazon.

COMEDY 44

10 MAY 2017

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

Language is sadly fading…. COMEDY BY ED MOSS

learned a new word this week – “monopsony.” A monopsony, it would appear, is “a dominant buyer in a market of sellers.” This is in the same way that a monopoly is a dominant seller in a market of buyers. Without naming or shaming, a certain very famous internet retail giant is both a monopsony and a monopoly. Many internet operations flourish by taking money for ‘stuff’ therefore it denies the owners their profit by transferring it to itself as owners of the platform upon which it operates. The comparison websites are a perfect example. Taking an average £60 commission from each completed transaction (the owner of moneysupermarket.com has become a billionaire working on that principle), one often wonders if it might be more practical for those being compared to simply reduce their prices by that very same £60 in the first place! But then that’s me being very simplistic. Anyway, back to words. On the pronunciation front, we were treated, not too long ago, to the fine actor Idris Elba and the £7million Sky campaign where he trumpeted “mumfs” (months) and Game of “Frones” (Thrones), amongst other attacks on the language. The pressure on English pronunciation is kept up by the likes of EastEnders, where they take “pho-ohs” (photos), “faught” it was a “fret” (thought it was a

threat), have “free fings” (three things) they need to do, use “twiher” (twitter) and have a “faahzand” (thousand) people to see before “vey” (they) run their “char-ih-ee marafans” (charity marathons) to “keh-er-in” (Kettering). Even the hugely erudite Mark Labbett, a chaser on ITV’s The Chase, is heard making a higher offer of “forty fousand” (forty thousand) pounds to contestants. And the delightful Alex Smith, cohost of the rather safe “One Show” on BBC1 never lets the “g” at the end of a gerund (a word ending in ‘ing’) get in the way of a good bout of prime-TV-for-the-kids mispronunciation. Appalling. Not content with having to continually suffer the transformation of English into our second language nationally by the cast of EastEnders, television presenters and other miscellaneous English-language-manglers, the assault on grammatical correctness is now being spearheaded by the “creative” advertising agencies who follow each other like sheep when a “new” idea comes along. Not to be outdone with Estuary English taking over TV, the advertising agencies have thrown their own hats into the ring with completely nonsensical and stupid straplines for brands that are meant to be amusing, but in fact, leave the majority of the public cold, especially when they are repeated ad nauseam for weeks on end. The first of these was the utterly meaningless campaign by mobile

phone operator O2. They insisted we all “be more dog,” which is about as intelligent - or possibly even less so - than a dog having its own campaign to “be more ﬂea.” This was followed by one of the ‘independent’ (ha ha - independent my foot) insurance comparison websites telling us that Fred (or Barney, or whoever it is) “is soooooo Money Supermarket.” Yes, in the same way, and as intellectual as saying Sir Richard Branson “is so magazine.” Utterly and totally nonsensical. However, in following those advertisers with their stupid, meaningless straplines, the creative agency for Olay - and do bear in mind that the agency is actually being paid for this - has come up with the astounding, ground-breaking, original and near death-defying statement “Your best Beautiful.” Meanwhile, Gala Bingo insists you “Play happy” as you part with your money, and Rightmove, the estate agency, tells us to meaninglessly “Find your happy” (“ﬁnd your stress” more like!). However, not to be outdone, Jacobs have decided that to enable us to “snack happy,” their new crackers are more “lunchy.” A noun conveniently turned into an adverb. Which presumably means my new bleach must be more “toilety.” They’re all at it, telling us to “happy” ourselves. In reality, these are all certainly as creative and as award-winning as a heavy cold. The one area of mispronunciation that surely has to leave an

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adverse mark on people is that of names. Now I don’t refer just to parents who have a suicide pact with the deed-poll office when their child, having reached 18 years of age, realises they have been saddled with the name of a stair-lift company, brand of motorcycle or a wine region in Alaska. Moving on to solutions. “A homogeneous mixture composed of only one phase.” So why are so many companies now the providers of “solutions”? I have noted a company in Leeds that provides “total panel solutions,” whatever they are. I picked up on an internet legal practice that was busy “creating family law solutions for you.” If you get in your car and drive, you are bound to see “furniture solutions,” “kitchen solutions,” “employment solutions,” and “building and maintenance solutions.” And I have also come across “ski solutions,” “refuse solutions,” “holiday solutions,” “hairdressing solutions” all so uncreative. What is wrong with all these people? Yes, I appreciate that they are not copywriters and that they are professionals in their own respective fields and more than likely very good at what they do. But why don’t they take a little advice when devising a strapline? Another one that winds me up is “new and improved.” Now even Lord Winston would I’m sure agree that it can’t be improved if it is new. It would have been like Lord Fellowes announcing the very first Downton Abbey programme is new – yes, that bit is correct – and “improved.” No, no, no. It cannot be improved if it is new and has never been around before.

“Pre-order.” Another wonderful statement. Everyone is now using “pre.” Pre-owned (second-hand or used to you and me). Pre-drinks (that’s the art of getting drunk before you go binge drinking). “Preloved” (that means buzz all, but is beloved by the Arthur Daley car salesmen type). I actually have several scientists working on “pre-order” at the moment. Early indications are that it’s proving as big a headache to explain as the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, in other words, pi to you and me. You know, 3.14159265359 ad inﬁnitum. Personally, when it comes to buying something, I thought you either ordered it or you didn’t order it. In the meantime, I’ve come up with a few of my own. By analogy, wiping your runny nose surely has to be referred to henceforth as “pre-sneezing.” Opening the car door must be “pre-driving.” Doing the weekly shop is of course “pre-cooking.” And waking up in the morning is undoubtedly “pre-working.” Oh and without doubt buying your copy of The Jewish Weekly can certainly count as “pre-reading.”

Ed Moss

10 MAY 2017

THE JEWISH WEEKLY

FOOD 45

joyofkosher.com This simple, classic Italian dish is easy and quick to make. Serve with warmed baguette. “Chiffonade” is a French term which means “rags.” To make a chiffonade of basil; stack the leaves and roll them into a tight cigar shape. Slice crosswise into thin strips. Fluff the strips to separate them. INGREDIENTS • • • • • • • • •

1 (1-pound) box thin spaghetti 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 red onion, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced 1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar 2 teaspoons Gefen Coarse Sea Salt 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 bunch basil, rinsed, patted dry, in a chiﬀonade Baguettes

25 min Duration 20 min Cook Time 5 min Prep Time 6 Servings Servings

PREPARATION 1. Cook spaghetti according to package directions. 2. While spaghetti is cooking, prepare sauce: In a 4-quart saucepot over medium heat, heat oil and onions. Cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and vinegar; cook for 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

3. Drain spaghetti and add to tomato mixture. Toss well. 4. Toss in basil just before serving. Serve immediately with warmed baguette.

SPAGHETTI WITH TOMATO AND BASIL

WATERMELON MARGARITA GRANITA Granita is like a healthy snow cone and if your watermelon is sweet you don’t need to add any sugar. NOTE: Granita can be stored in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 weeks. PREPARATION INGREDIENTS • 4 cups seedless watermelon, cubed • 1 tablespoon ﬁnely grated lime zest • 8 tablespoons lime juice (about 4 limes) • 4 tablespoons orange juice (about 1 orange) • Lime wedges, for serving (optional)

1. In a blender or food processor, puree watermelon, lime zest and juice, and orange juice until smooth. 2. Pour watermelon mixture into a shallow dish and cover tightly with plastic wrap. 3. Freeze, mixing every hour, until frozen, about 3 hours. 4. Using the tines of a fork, scrape mixture until ﬂakes form. 5. Freeze, covered, until ready to serve in margarita glasses, garnished with lime wedges, if desired.

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240 min Duration 15 min Prep Time 6 servings Servings