The Jewish Weekly Issue 281 - June 1st

World Jewry mourns Rabbi Edelstein

Hundreds of thousands of Jews attended the funeral of Rabbi Gershon Edelstein at Ponovezh Yeshiva Cemetery on Tuesday.

A huge police presence tracked the funeral procession to the grounds from Ponevezh Yeshivah, which Rabbi Edelstein led since 2000. Bnei Brak was closed to traffic.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu led tributes to the 100-yearold spiritual leader of the Degel HaTorah Party and mainstream Ashkenazi ultra-Orthodox community in Israel.

Netanyahu said Rabbi Edelstein, President of the Council of Torah Sages, led a life of “holiness” in a heartfelt tribute.

“The world of Torah, along with the entire people of Israel, has lost a wise and renowned leader,” he noted. “I mourn his passing and send my most heartfelt condolences to the members of his family.

“Rabbi Edelstein always remembered the days of his youth in Soviet

Russia in which he was obliged to study Torah in secret. In contrast to this, here in Israel, he openly spread his wings over the Lithuanian yeshiva world. He never took anything for granted. On the contrary, the responsibility for shaping the spiritual image of masses of Jews guided him day and night.

“Rabbi Edelstein was imbued with love of Israel for everyone. His sensitive attention to the challenges of the generation led him to guide, direct, strengthen and encourage. His lessons in Talmud and Jewish law gave expression to his immense diligence. His great persistence will continue to inspire those who listen to his teachings.”

Netanyahu recalled a meeting with Rabbi Edelstein earlier this year. He said: “The light that shone in his eyes was full of understanding, Jewish wisdom left an indelible mark in him. The importance of instilling the heritage of Israel in the children of Israel sprang from the depths of his soul. His good name will be remembered by everyone in this generation and in generations

to come.”

President Isaac Herzog, in the midst of a diplomatic visit to Azerbaijan, commented: “Rabbi Edelstein was a spiritual leader of great stature whose greatness in Torah and fear of G-d influenced our generation and will impact future generations. His Jewish-Torah approach found expression in the educational principles he espoused, which respected the people and the individual. This is a great loss to the yeshiva world and the entire Jewish nation.”

Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi David Lau said Jewish people around the world lamented the death of a great rabbi.

“May the memory of this righteous man who led the Jewish people be a blessing,” he noted.

Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef recalled his “leadership through humility and immersion in Torah”, adding that he consulted with him on numerous occasions and received his blessing.

Rabbi Edelstein was treated at Mayanei Hayeshua Medical Center in Bnei Brak over Shavuot with breathing difficulties. According to reports, he delivered a daily Shiur from his hospital bed on Monday and was writing Tuesday’s when his condition became critical. Doctors failed to resuscitate him.

Rabbi Edelstein was born in Shumyatch, near Smolensk in the former Soviet Union, in 1923.

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Elder son of Rabbi Zvi Yehuda and Miriam Edelstein, his late wife’s father, Rabbi Mordechai Gershon Movshovitz, was rabbi of Malstovka.

Rabbi Zvi, author of Ben Aryeh on Shas, led the Shumyatch community.

When Rabbi Edelstein’s mother fell ill with typhus, he learned Torah with Rabbi Zalman Leib Estolin in exchange for his father teaching Torah, and was looked after with his younger brother Yaakov by an aunt, Rebbitzin Rivka Tzvia Paz in Klimovich, studying secretly with Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu Shneur.

After his mother passed away, the family travelled on the Novorossiysk ship from Odessa to Palestine, arriving Lag B’Omer.

After living in Jerusalem, the brothers studied at Lomza Yeshivah in Ramat Hasharon where their father led the community.

A decade on, Gershon was among the first students at Ponevezh Yeshiva, founded by Rabbi Yosef Kahaneman in Bnei Brak, under Rabbi Shmuel Rozovsky.

In 1946, after semicha, Rabbi Edelstein began to teach. In 1948, he married Rebbetzin Henya Rachel, who passed away in 2001. She was the daughter of Rabbi Yehoshua Zelig Diskin, rabbi of Pardes Channa. Following her death, Rabbi Edelstein set up a Seder Taharot class at home in her memory.

In an 80-year association with Povenezh, Rabbi Edelstein taught and guided students at the yeshiva.

Ba’al Tokei’ah from 1945, following succession issues in the mid-1990s then death of Rosh Yeshivah Rabbi Dovid Povarsky in 2000, Rabbi Edelstein led the Yeshivah

with Rabbi Baruch Dov Povarsky and Rabbi Shmuel Markowitz. When the yeshiva split and ran from the same complex, he led one with Rabbi Povarsky, the other was headed by Rabbi Markowitz.

After Degel spiritual leader Rabbi Aharon Leib Shteinman died in 2017, Rabbi Edelstein became joint new leader with Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky then solely led the party after his death in 2022.

In 2003, he was appointed to the Council of Great Torah Sages of the Degel Party.

In recent times, Edelstein was praised for ordering communities to follow government guidelines against COVID-19 including social distancing.

Debate has already started as to who will succeed the esteemed spiritual leader with no obvious candidate according to reports.

Rabbi Edelstein is survived by Rebbetzin Meira Levi, Rabbi Zvi Yehuda Edelstein, Rabbi Bezalel Edelstein, Rabbi Yisrael Edelstein, Rebbetzin Beila Adler and Rebbetzin Shoshana Garboz, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. His son, Rabbi Shimon Yo

UK Lords visit Israel

The largest official delegation from the UK House of Lords has visited Israel this week.

The European Leadership Network and All-Party Parliamentary Group for Britain-Israel organised the four-day trip to strengthen relations.

ELNET UK’s CEO Joan Ryan and the Lords APPG Chair Lord Leslie Turnberg led the 20-strong delegation. The group visited the Old City of Jerusalem, Knesset where they met Speaker Amir Ohana, and Yad Vashem.

Ohana tweeted Monday: “Inter-parliamentary relations have an influence on the quality of the relationship between Israel and Britain, a connection that we attribute great importance to and continuously work to strengthen.”

Lord Turnberg and Lord Michael Howard laid wreaths at Yad Vashem on Tuesday.

The delegation visited border regions and held a briefing about the Iron Dome air defense system. They also heard about coexistence projects and met with British Ambassador Neil Wigan.

Joan Ryan, former chair of Labour Friends of Israel, said the unique trip enabled British Parliamentarians to learn about Israel’s successes, challenges and opportunities to “enhance and build” on the UK-Israel relationship.

Lord Turnberg added: “There are so many ways in which Israel and the UK can work together, from healthcare and technology to agriculture and cyber security. The Lords on this delegation have an impressive plethora

of experience and interest and we are looking forward to being inspired on how we can take the UK-Israel relationship forward during this delegation.”

The Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem Hagit Moshe told delegates that the Abraham Accords hadn’t made a big impact in Jerusalem but with help from partners like the UK, it was possible to “build bridges between people and make an impact”.

Minister of Intelligence Gila Gamliel told the delegation the same Iran that calls for death to Israel also calls for death to the UK.

Lord David Watts, on the Israeli-Palestinian issue, called for dialogue between the two parties, without underestimating the challenges.

yesterday in the Judea and Samaria settlement Shaked.

Meir’s widow, Tal, spoke movingly at the cemetery. He is the 20th Israeli killed in terror attacks this year.

Regional council leader Yossi Dagan blamed the government for removing security checkpoints and called for them to be reinstated.

A manhunt continues for the terrorist who killed Meir Tamari in a drive by shooting near Hermesh in the Shomron area on Tuesday.

Hundreds attended his funeral

“The writing was on the wall, if the checkpoint had been active, the attack would have been avoided,” Dagan reportedly said. He told mourners: “You loved the Land of Israel with all your soul, you were a pioneer and a true idealis.”

Minister of Settlements Orit Struck paid tribute, she said: “The entire nation of Israel embraces you in your pain.”

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has vowed to catch the terrorist behind the murder.

Outrage at auction of Hitler items

Jewish organisations have called on Bloomfield Auctions in Belfast to withdraw from sale two Adolf Hitler lots next week.

The items going under the hammer are an initialled silver-plated pencil believed to be given to Hitler by Eva Braun in 1941on his 52nd birthday and signed photograph by the Nazi leader.

The pencil is inscribed ‘Eva’ in German with the initials ‘AH’.

Karl Bennett, Bloomfield managing director expects global interest in the pencil, purchased in 2002 with an estimate of £50,000 to £80,000. The framed photo has an estimate of £10,000 to £15,000.

“The importance of Hitler’s engraved personal pencil lies in the fact that it helps to unravel a hidden piece of history, giving a unique insight into Hitler’s personal relationships, which he scrupulously kept hidden from the public eye,” he reportedly said. “Much of Hitler’s personal appeal during his dictatorship derived from his carefully constructed identity as the father of the German

nation, who rejected personal connection in favour of loyalty to his country. This love token of a personalised pencil from Eva on his birthday helps reveal the deception behind Hitler’s public facade.”

Bennett accepts there will be reservations about selling and collecting Hitler-related pieces.

“As a high-end collector of militaria items, they preserve a piece of our past and should be treated as historical objects, no matter if the history they refer to was one of the darkest and most controversial in recorded history,” he said.

The auction has caused concern in Jewish communities across Europe. Rabbi Menachem Margolin of the European Jewish Association made a moral appeal in a letter to the auctioneers.

He wrote: “We simply cannot fathom how a love trinket such as an engraved pencil or a signed photograph constitutes a historical object of any inherent historical value. In Europe today and indeed further afield, Auction houses are buying and selling to the highest bidder other items such as watches

or ashtrays belonging to Hitler, Hermann Goring cutlery sets, even Wehrmacht toilet paper. The defence from Munich to Maryland is the same, these items are of historical interest. They are anything but.”

Rabbi Margolin added: “Let there be no doubt, items of genuine historical interest do belong in museums or places of learning. This we fully support. But the buying and selling of items such as yours are dangerous on a number of fronts: they create a macabre trade in items belonging to mass murderers, the motives of those buying them are unknown and may glorify the actions of the Nazis, and lastly their trade is an insult to the millions who perished, the few survivors left, and to Jews everywhere.”

Rabbi Margolin asked Bennett whether he would sell the pen that belonged to Robert Murphy who killed 12 and injured 30 at the LaMon Restaurant in East Belfast.

He concluded: “We are repeatedly told by Auction houses that Hitler sells. This may indeed be true. But what is sold and to whom is a matter of public decency and moral responsibility at the end of the day. It is in

this spirit of decency that I ask you again to withdraw the Nazi auction items, to send a message that some things particularly when so metaphorically blood soaked, should not and must not be traded.”

Regarding authentication, Bennett said a lot of research and collaboration with vendors gave him confidence he was selling the actual items.

Alexander Historical Auctions in Maryland sold a watch believed to belong to Hitler for $1.1m in July 2022. Other Nazi-related items sold included a golden eagle from Hitler’s bedroom. Rabbi Margolin joined Jewish leaders calling for the auction to be cancelled.

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CAA and Wiesenthal Centre blast rock star Waters

Campaign Against Antisemitism has launched a petition to ban former Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters from performing at music venues following a controversial concert in Berlin last week when he wore what appears to be a Nazi SS-style uniform.

Over 2,100 people signed CAA’s petition, which notes Waters has a ‘long history of baiting Jews’, with an initial target of 500 signatories within days. A revised target of 2,500 looks set to be exceeded.

Jewish protesters showed contempt to Waters, who denies accusations of antisemtism, at his Frankfurt concert last Sunday, singing Am Yisroel Chai.

Waters, 79, is in the midst of a This Is Not A Drill European and South American 2023 tour. He is due to play Glasgow, London and Manchester in the coming week.

In October and November, Waters is scheduled to perform across Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile and Peru before finishing in Costa Rica, Columbia and Ecuador in December.

Jewish and civil rights groups protested outside the Festhalle venue where over 3,00 Jews were beaten by the Nazis at the Festhalle site in 1938 and later sent to concentration camps.

“Against this historical background, the concert should not have taken place under any circumstances,” reportedly said Sacha Stawski of the Frankfurt Jewish community

up the demonstration.

Waters won a court case to play the Festhalle concert after it had been cancelled.

Police, meantime, have opened an official investigation against Waters on suspicion of “incitement to public hatred” after the Mercedes-Benz Arena gig in Berlin (May 17).

Footage shows Waters wearing a long black and red armband with hammers instead of swastikas. During the show he aims an imitation machine gun at the audience.

Holocaust victim Anne Frank and Pal-

accidentally shot dead during an IDF operation in the West Bank last year are also projected side by side on a large screen.

Israel's foreign ministry accused Waters of “desecrating” the memory of Anne and six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust.

Waters has claimed parts of the Berlin performance were against fascism, injustice and bigotry. But the Simon Wiesenthal Center have called on German authorities to prosecute Waters for ‘Holocaust distortion’.

Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Associate Dean and Director of Global Social Action dismissed Waters’ comments. “Shame on Frankfurt authorities and Mercedes Benz arena in Berlin for providing antisemite Roger Waters this venue for his concert,” he raged.

“Will Germany prosecute Waters for Holocaust distortion or will promoters rush to book the antisemite for more lurid 3-D anti-Israel hate fests masquerading as concerts?”

German police spokesman Martin Halweg confirmed investigations are ongoing into the Berlin concert on “suspicion of incitement to public hatred” as clothing may glorify Nazi rule.

“The clothing resembles the clothing of an SS officer,” he reportedly said.

Police will pass findings to the public prosecutor after allegations are reviewed.

A CAA spokesperson said: “Waters incessantly needs to insist that he is not an antisemite. He has a penchant for breaching the International Definition of Anti-

is ‘smear sword wielded at behest of the Israeli Government’, and has a long history of baiting Jews. That his show apparently includes a visual equation of Israel to Nazis, which extends his record of making such comparisons, is all the more reason for these venues to steer clear of him. Artistic freedom does not justify hate.”

Bury South Labour MP Christian Wakeford has called for Waters to be banned from performing in Manchester at the AO Arena on June 10th.

Wakeford accused Waters in the House of Commons of playing in Germany dressed as an SS soldier. His “divisive actions” may result in “anti-Jewish hatred”, he noted.

Commons leader Penny Mordaunt confirmed the Home Office would listen to concerns.

CAA has written to Everyman Cinemas calling for it to cancel screenings of his new film Roger Waters: This is Not A Drill, Live from Prague.

Simon Wiesenthal Centre’s Top 10 antisemitic events of 2013 feature Waters.

SWC noted: ‘Waters serially slanders Israel as an apartheid state, compares it to Nazi Germany and denies that the Iranian regime poses any threat to the Jewish State. At a time of resurgent antisemitic hate crimes in Europe, Waters used his status as a musician to denigrate Judaism when he affixed a Jewish star on a floating pig during his summer concert tour across the continent.’

In 2018, Waters again made the centre’s

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WJC hails Biden’s antisemitism strategy

World Jewish Congress has welcomed US President Joe Biden’s launch of the National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism last week.

Biden’s administration has developed the first comprehensive plan across US agencies to foster Jewish life and address rising antisemitism in American history.

The strategy includes actions that will be implemented across government agencies. It calls to action public officials, private sector leaders and Americans from every walk of life.

The initiative reflects input from over 1,000 Jewish community stakeholders, faith and civil rights leaders, State and local officials to tackle bigotry, hate and bias that fuel divisions in America.

Biden noted in the published document: “We are taking a historic step forward. I am proud to lead my Administration’s efforts to counter antisemitism and urge all Americans to join me in ensuring that in America, evil will not win. Hate will not prevail. The venom and violence of antisemitism will not be the story of our time. The power lies within each of us to transform that story.”

Biden recalled neo-Nazis marching through Charlottesville, Virginia six years ago chanting, “Jews will not replace us”, a reference to the Nazis in the 1930s.

“What happened in Charlottesville drove me to run for President,” he stated.

“Repeated episodes of hate, including numerous attacks on Jewish Americans, have shaken our moral conscience as Americans and challenged the values for which we stand as a Nation.”

WJC President Ronald S. Lauder noted: “The president’s leadership in directing the vast federal government to coordinate and act to protect Jewish Americans is unprecedented and essential in the fight against anti-Jewish hate. The WJC is appreciative that the White House has incorporated specific points for which we advocated, and we commend the administration for elevating the voices of Jewish students, a WJC priority.

“The United States now joins a growing number of European governments in releasing strategies to support Jewish communities. The next step will be to thoroughly execute those plans, and the WJC will work to support the US strategy in its next phase. We must have concrete action, not just words.”

The first United We Stand Summit at the White House in September 2022 brought together communities to combat hate in all its forms.

Biden observed: “We must stand united, regardless of our backgrounds and beliefs, to affirm that an attack on any one group of us is an attack on us all and that hate can have no safe harbour in America. Together, we must acknowledge and confront the reality that antisemitism is rising, both at home and abroad. Loud voices are normalising

NJA and partners launch Waters campaign

The National Jewish Assembly, West Midlands Friends of Israel, North West Friends of Israel, North London Friends of Israel and Glasgow Friends of Israel are urging venues to cancel hosting Roger Waters' performances.

Recognising Waters' well-documented history of antisemitism and recent stunts that distort Holocaust memory, diverse communities have rallied together to express strong opposition to providing a platform for hateful rhetoric. The campaign's aim is to prevent venues from inadvertently facilitating the spread of antisemitic views and supporting an artist who promotes discriminatory ideologies.

NJA Chairman Gary Mond said: “The immense level of support demonstrates the real strength of feeling throughout our community that antisemitic and Israel-hating views are unacceptable. Waters' concerts need to be cancelled forthwith.”

NJA and partners have engaged supporters across the country, encouraging them to voice their concerns to venues hosting Waters' performances.

A spokesman said: “The response has been overwhelming with thousands of passionate individuals taking action and making their voices heard. NJA and partner organisations are grateful for the

tremendous support from community members who share a commitment to combating antisemitism and promoting understanding. By leveraging the power of online activism, NJA and its partners have mobilised a grassroots movement of concerned citizens committed to upholding values of justice, inclusivity, and respect. The response from venues has been notable, with some expressing willingness to reconsider hosting Waters' performances in light of public concern.

“This campaign serves as a testament to the power of collective action in advocating for change. NJA commends the dedication and involvement of all those who have participated demonstrating commitment to combating antisemitism and fostering a society that values mutual respect and tolerance.”

NJA and partners will continue to actively engage venues, raise awareness and advocate for responsible decision-making that aligns with principles of justice and inclusivity.

A spokesman said: “By standing united, the community can make a significant impact in promoting a society free from discrimination, hatred, and divisive ideologies.”

this venom, but we must never allow it to become normal.

“Antisemitism threatens not only the Jewish community, but all Americans. People who peddle these antisemitic conspiracy theories and fuel racial, ethnic and religious hatred against Jews also target other communities. Our intelligence agencies have determined that domestic terrorism rooted in white supremacy, including antisemitism, is the greatest terrorist threat to our Homeland today.

“Protecting the Jewish community from antisemitism is essential to our broader fight against all forms of hate, bigotry and bias, and to our broader vision of a thriving, inclusive, and diverse democracy. History

centrality of the IHRA definition and understands that it is the best weapon in the battle against antisemitism.

Herzog welcomes new ambassadors

President Isaac Herzog has received six new ambassadors from around the world to Israel.

Official ceremonies took place for representatives of Sri Lanka, Ecuador, Guatemala, Ethiopia, Uruguay and Portugal at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem.

Incoming ambassadors were welcomed by the IDF Orchestra playing national anthems in the Ceremonial Plaza. They were presented with letters of credence in the Great Hall.

Herzog held an audience with each ambassador who signed the guest book.

Ambassador of Sri Lanka Menik Hitihamy Mudiyanselage Nimal Bandara led dignitaries to present credentials.

Herzog recalled the first visit of an Israeli president in Sri Lanka was by his father, Chaim Herzog, who met President

Jayewardene in 1986.

“My parents were very impressed with what they saw in Sri Lanka,” he told Bandara. Herzog told Ecuador Ambassador Maria Concepción Barahona Páez: “Ecuador is a close friend of Israel. We hosted President Lasso just last year. It was a great honour for us. I believe it dramatically strengthened our relations.”

Ambassador of Guatemala Ava Atzum Arévalo de Moscoso previously served as Deputy Foreign Minister for her country. Herzog said: “You represent one of the countries historically closest to Israel, from day one.”

And de Moscoso said: “We are celebrating 75 years diplomatic relations this year and five years since our embassy moved to Jerusalem. Everyone in Guatemala loves Israel. It is an enormous privilege for me to represent my country here.”

Herzog and the Ambassador of Ethiopia, Tesfaye Anteneh discussed the importance of relations between Ethiopia and Israel.

Herzog noted: “It is a great honour to receive your credentials given the historic and sentimental ties between Israel and your country. We have an incredible Ethiopian community in Israel and are looking forward to strengthening our relationship as much as possible.”

Anteneh added: “Ethiopia and Israel share long historic ties, which began with the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon 3,000 years ago. That is why the connection between our nations is so wonderful. I intend to focus on strengthening the bilateral ties between our nations during my time here. And I further came to study Israeli technology.”

Anteneh welcomed news that the government had established a ministerial committee to deal with the needs of the Ethiopian community last Sunday.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the news in his weekly cabinet meeting. The move was a continuation of ministerial committees he established under previous governments he led that led to “important achievements”.

Netanyahu noted: “There are additional challenges but this committee is the tool to continue advancing our brothers and sisters from the Ethiopian community in Israel. I know it will receive the cooperation of all ministries as has been the case up until now.”

The Ambassador of Uruguay Manuel Etchevarren Aguerre told Herzog that ties with Israel were very important.

“Israel has been a friend of ours from the beginning and to this day,” he noted.

The Ambassador of Portugal Luís Filipe Ribeiro da Silva Barros was last to present credentials. Herzog told Barros of the importance of relations with Portugal.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met members of the triumphant the Beitar Jerusalem football team after they won the 2023 Israeli State Cup last week.

Club owner Barak Abramov, coach Yossi Abukasi and senior team officials attended the celebration, which took place two days after Beitar defeated Maccabi Netanya 3-0 in the final at the Sammt Ofer Stadium in Haifa.

Netanyahu, a fan of Beitar, thanked the team for bringing the trophy back to Israel's capital.

“You played a great team game,” he said. “Your rivals also played well but you played better.”

He added: “After 14 years, you closed the circle. I want to tell you that as a fan, I share in the joy. I am certain there will be more opportunities.”

Netanyahu revealed that when the team was playing the government was debating the state budget, which has now passed.

He quipped: “We sat and watched and almost missed a few votes, but you did not miss any opportunity. You really played magnificently. Congratulations to you. Mazel tov. Let's go Beitar!"

Culture and Sport Minister Miki Zohar, Economy Minister Nir Barkat, Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion, Jerusalem Municipality Director General Itzik Lari attended the gathering.

The match, however, will be remembered more for crowd disturbances than Beitar’s triumph which saw the trophy presentation cancelled after a pitch invasion by celebrating Beitar fans.

President Isaac Herzog, Minister of Culture and Sports Miki Zohar and Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion were at the presentation but evacuated by security.

Herzog later presented the State Cup to Beitar Jerusalem at his official residence.

There were reports initially the trophy may be awarded to Netanya due to a mix up in regulations.

Israel Soccer Association chairman, Shino Zuares, described the incident after the game as an “embarrassing

Prime Eitan APC’s operational

The Israel Ministry of Defense Tank and APC Division and IDF has delivered the first series of Eitan APCs to the Nahal Infantry Brigade.

Soldiers operated the Eitan APCs in landmark combat scenarios in northern Israel.

Brig. Gen. Oren Giber, IMoD, said hard work in developing, testing and manufacturing had taken place to operationalise the first Eitan company in the brigade.

Giber also said the Eitan was a groundbreaking leap in wheeled combat vehicles and first for the IDF.

“It offers a unique set of capabilities including superior mobility and survivability for fighting forces,” he noted. “It has the capability to fight alongside Merkava battle tanks and infantry vehicles.”

Collaborative efforts had taken place across domestic and international industries.

Giber said: “Each Eitan delivered to the IDF will replace M113 vehicles, ensuring combat soldiers are equipped with stateof-the-art, highly protected and capable weapon systems, assisting them in securing victory on the battlefield and ensuring safe return home.”

Col. Oren Simcha, IDF Nahal Brigade commander, noted: “The Eitan APC will transform the brigade and allow us to become more operational, independent and protected. We understand the weight of this responsibility and professional challenge in adopting this tool.”

Col. Yaniv Avitan, IDF Technological and Logistics division, added: “Our unit’s professional personnel will continue to work around the clock with partners to ensure the Eitan’s operationalisation. This will increase the mobility of ground forces and protect infantry soldiers in various types of combat.”

The Eitan Armored Personnel Carrier can carry 12 combat personnel. A 750-horsepower Eitan APC can reach 90 km per hour, has all-terrain capabilities and can be in operational for multiple days.

Engineers developed state-of-the-art technologies including peripheral cameras with day-night vision, front calculation technology and touch monitors.

The Iron Fist Active Protection System will be implemented with additional systems developed with Israeli security industries, IDF Ground Forces and IMOD.

moment for Israeli soccer” and branded fans’ behaviour as “disgraceful”. He said: “This is not the way we wanted to end the season. To see the president being escorted off the pitch was embarrassing, I am personally embarrassed at the scenes that took place here.

“Once the president left the field there would be no hoisting of the cup. I had to personally apologise to the president, everyone needs to take a good hard look here as to what happened. We can’t even give the winning team the cup in what was an embarrassing incident.”

But Abramov blamed the football association. He said: “If the association does not know how to control a crowd, they should not be holding soccer games.”

Abramov added, “If they take the cup from Beitar, we will challenge it.”

Regarding the crowd trouble, Abramov said: “The fans were a great source of pride for us during the game, and the ceremony took so long to begin, over 45 minutes. The security couldn’t control the situation and this was not under our control but that of the football association. It was an embarrassment and a disgrace as to what happened, this cup is ours, no one else’s.”

Mayor Lion spoke with Minister Zohar about the invasions and flares thrown onto the pitch as it damaged sportsmanship of the game.

“We both agreed that it’s time to uproot the violence at the stadiums,” he told reporters.

Beitar’s win was their eighth in the competition’s history.

Beis Gavriel has big heart

Beis Gavriel Lubavitch Federation Synagogue in Hendon organised the funeral of Holocaust survivor Jessie Salmon, 91, who had been in a nursing home in Folkestone.

Rabbi Menachem Junik had been contacted by The Association of Jewish Refugees as Jessie had hidden her Jewish roots after her family experiences during the Shoah.

Rabbi Junik arranged for taharah and gave a eulogy at the funeral. Shul members sang Tzomo Lecho Nafshi and Ani Maamin.

When the Nazis invaded Jessie went into hiding in Belgium and was sent on the last boat to England in 1940 but she was refused entry to Dover. On route to the Isle of Wight, Jessie’s boat was torpedoed, so the Red Cross sent her from Southampton to a detention camp in Alexandra Palace.

Jessie’s father was a resistance fighter and executed in the summer of 1944, 45 members of her family were murdered in Auschwitz.

Thanks go to the United Synagogue, Misaskim and Beis Gavriel for support.

NJA Scottish First Minister concerns

The National Jewish Assembly has raised concerns over a recent meeting between First Minister of Scotland, Humza Yousaf, and Palestinian Authority Head of Mission, Husam Zomlot.

NJA views discussions as a “troubling and misguided” decision that undermines the pursuit of peace and fosters an environment of hostility towards the State of Israel.

Whilst NJA does not oppose meetings with representatives of the PA, British Jewry expects ministers to speak with Palestinian counterparts about troubling issues such as the Palestinian ‘Martyrs Fund’, antisemitic rhetoric in PA school textbooks, and complicity in inciting violence against Israelis.

A spokesman said: “NJA believes diplomatic engagement should be guided by principles of fairness, objectivity and a commitment to dialogue in the pursuit of peace. We are concerned that pressing issues were not tabled during the meeting. This raises doubts over Yousaf’s impartiality and willingness to engage in productive and balanced discussions on the complex Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”

They added: “It is disappointing to witness a high-ranking official of the Scottish government missing an opportunity to discuss barriers to peace with PA

Bibi to attend COP 28

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog will attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai in November.

The COP28 summit will be Netanyahu’s first official visit to the Gulf kingdom.

Over 70,000 delegates will include world and industry leaders, academics and youth representatives.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum sent formal letters to the Israeli leaders for the conference (November 30 to December 12).

Summit (December 1-2) and day of rest (December 7).

These days are expected to include technology and innovation, inclusion, frontline communities and finance. The final two days are non-thematic days as negotiations are expected between nations.

The UAE is one of the 10 largest global oil producers. The state oil company produced 2.7 million barrels of oil per day in 2021. It plans to double output to five million barrels per day by 2027.

Countries meet at the Bonn climate conference this month to reflect on progress to climate targets. It is thought talks will include involvement of polluting industries.

G7 leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK and US along with the EU concluded a three-day summit in Hiroshima, Japan last week where they discussed “global challenges”.

representatives. We call on First Minister Yousaf to reconsider his approach to engaging with the PA by prioritising discussions about issues that exist within the PA and Palestinian society, which are obstacles to achieving peace with Israel.

“NJA remains committed to advocating Israel's right to exist in peace and security and to combating all forms of antisemitism. We engage with political leaders, community representatives and stakeholders to promote understanding, mutual respect and a just resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”

The first Global Stocktake following the 2015 Paris Agreement concludes at COP28 to assess the world’s progress towards achieving climate goals including phasing out fossil fuel emissions, zero-carbon alternatives and energy systems towards net-zero targets.

The UAE has controversially nominated Sultan Ahmed al Jaber, head of the state oil company, as president of the summit. Over 130 EU and US lawmakers have joined others in calling for his removal.

In a joint letter to the UN, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and US President Joe Biden expressed “profound concern” the fossil fuel industry would “exert influence” on talks.

The opening ceremony (November 30)

will be followed by a World Climate Action

Leaders from Australia, Brazil, Comoros, Cook Islands, India, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Vietnam, OECD, International Energy Agency, World Health Organisation, World Trade Organisation, International Monetary Fund and World Bank also attended.

Our amazing team of volunteers support people with learning disabilities and autism to live their best lives.

To explore opportunities that you can fit around your life, visit www.langdonuk.org or call London: 020 8951 3942 or Manchester: 0161 773 4070.

“The Members bring fun and fulfilment to my life and I love to see them grow and become independent young people”

-Michaela Gibbons

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A huge Langdon thank you to all our volunteers!

“I like teaching Hebrew and helping others to learn it too”

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NJA fights back against Nakba Day antisemitic rhetoric

The Nakba Day rally in London, characterised by its vitriolic rhetoric and deeply troubling displays, underscores the persistence of antisemitism in contemporary society. It is disheartening to witness such gatherings that perpetuate historical revisionism and propagate dangerous narratives that justify violence against Jews with bloodthirsty cries for a renewed Intifada. Nakba Day, with its attempt to equate the establishment of the modern State of Israel as a racist, colonial enterprise, is profoundly antisemitic.

The event, ‘Nakba 75 – End apartheid, End the occupation’, witnessed thousands assembling outside the BBC offices and marching to 10 Downing Street, where a rally was held to denounce Britain’s perceived support for Israel. Banners accusing Israel of ‘ethnic cleansing’ and placards comparing Israel to Nazi Germany were displayed, in direct contravention of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism, which the UK adopted in

December 2016.

Such comparisons trivialise the horrors of the Holocaust and undermine the legitimacy of the Jewish state. Equating Israel, a nation founded in the aftermath of genocide, with the regime responsible for the systematic murder of millions of innocent people is not only historically erroneous, but serves as a cheap antisemitic jibe at Holocaust memory and an affront to Holocaust survivors and their descendants.

The presence of Jeremy Corbyn only amplifies the troubling nature of the Nakba Day rally. Corbyn’s participation in an event that propagates antisemitic rhetoric demonstrates a lack of regard for the concerns of the Jewish community and a failure to foster an environment of understanding and dialogue. But that’s hardly surprising to anyone who has observed Corbyn and his acolytes’ incessant vitriol against Israel over the last several decades.

The calls for Intifada as the only solution

and slogans proclaiming the eradication of Israel from ‘The [Jordan] River to the [Mediterranean] Sea’ not only undermine the prospects of peace but also deny the Jewish people’s right to self-determination in their ancestral homeland. Such rhetoric is not only inflammatory but also fundamentally antisemitic, as it seeks to deny the Jewish people their right to exist in Israel and severs the historical, religious, and cultural ties between Jews and Israel.

Accusing Israel of being a ‘racist, apartheid state’ and equating Zionism with fascism and Nazism not only oversimplifies the complexities of the situation but also perpetuates an atmosphere of hostility towards Jews. It is crucial to acknowledge that Zionism, at its core, is a national liberation movement aimed at establishing and preserving a homeland for the Jewish people. Equating Zionism with racism or colonialism not only misrepresents its principles but also strips the Jewish people of any agency in exercising national

self-determination.

The participation of various organisations, such as Amnesty International and the National Education Union, in the rally raises serious concerns. These organisations are openly aligning themselves with events that propagate hate. The blatant ultracrepidarianism of these organisations knows no bounds, as they profess to uphold inclusivity and tolerance, except when it comes to the Jewish community, while supporting Palestinian organisations and movements whose radical Islamist doctrines are anything but tolerant and progressive.

Leading communal organisations, such as the National Jewish Assembly, rightly calledout the Nakba Day rally for what is was: a hate-filled attempt to deligitimise Israel and legitimise violence against the Jewish state. Any serious interlocutor in the peace process must strive to create an environment where diverse perspectives can be heard and understood without resorting to hate speech or flat-out denying the rights of others.

In the face of the antisemitic rhetoric voiced at the Nakba Day rally in London, British Jewry and its allies must stand united against hatred and historical revisionism. Antisemitism has no place in our society, and it is our duty to reject it unequivocally. It is imperative for us to build a future free from the shackles of prejudice and intolerance that the Nakba Day types would gladly throw on us. Heath Sloane is the Press and Marketing Manager for the National Jewish Assembly.

Be careful what you wish for…

This week I am writing about legislation and I ask that you bear with me. Legal matters can sometimes be dull and impenetrable and I can say this with some authority having been a solicitor for almost 30 years.

The Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 is due to come into force very soon and for many of us, is a welcome arrival. It provides for a complaints procedure where a Jewish student feels their right to free speech has been infringed. We are all familiar with what this might involve; denial of student union funds to a Jewish Society for anything other than religious matters and aggressive protests against Israeli speakers on campus or simply refusal to allow them to attend at all. The act is in part a response to this and the ‘cancel culture’ which has seen individuals banned from voicing opinions at universities on subjects which are treated as having only one possible and any alternative view must be prevented from being presented. A key part of this act is the creation of a Director for Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom whose role

it will be to guide investigations as to how free speech on campus is working in reality.

So far, so good until I read that the Director, whose powers derive from the new act is likely to be Professor Arif Ahmed from the University of Cambridge.

Prof. Ahmed in a blog in February 2021 said: “…I am....strongly against Gavin Williamson’s requirement that universities adopt the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism. This ‘definition’ is nothing of the kind; adopting it obstructs perfectly legitimate defence of Palestinian rights. As such it chills free speech on a matter of the first importance”. In a debate at the Oxford Union in November 2022, when speaking about free speech, he said: “…the most important topics that we face and let me tell you what they are, for instance, Israel and Palestine, that’s one of the most important topics that

we face, globally today…”.

Take a pause here. The person who is going to be in charge of dealing with issues concerning free speech on campuses in the UK not only wants to see the IHRA definition abandoned by Universities, he believes that one of the most important topics globally is that of Israel and Palestine.

No mention of the scores of thousands killed in the Russo-Ukraine war, nothing about the increasing threat of nuclear weapons being developed by Iran and nothing about the numbers of people coming to the UK illegally and some dying in the attempt and absolutely nothing about climate change. No, one of the most important topics globally (his words) is Israel and Palestine. So there we have it, one of the biggest problems in the world today is with the Jewish state. It has an

unpleasantly familiar ring to it and begs the question - how is it someone with these widely broadcast views is going to be in such a position of influence when it comes to attacks on Israel.

Looking at the act I see that it states: “….references to freedom of speech are to the freedom to impart ideas, opinions or information”. In other words, the opinion that Israel is responsible for the lack of peace with the Palestinians is likely to be protected by legislation, as will the opinion that Israel is an Apartheid State. So much for the IHRA definition helping to protect Jews in universities as proposed by Lord Mann in his recent report on anti-Semitism in Universities. Prof. Ahmed has made his position very clear and what is also clear is that all the good work of Lord Mann and the Parliamentary Task Force on Antisemitism in Higher Education under his watch could easily count for nothing. As for the new legislation, the well-worn phrase comes to mind – be careful for what you wish for.

Robert Festenstein is a practising solicitor and has been the principal of his Salford based firm for over 20 years. He has fought BDS motions to the Court of Appeal and is President of the Zionist Central Council in Manchester which serves to protect and defend the democratic State of Israel.

The presence of Jeremy Corbyn only amplifies the troubling nature of the Nakba Day rally.

“The opinion that Israel is responsible for the lack of peace with the Palestinians is likely to be protected by legislation, as will the opinion that Israel is an Apartheid State. “

Kisharon’s Israel trip of a lifetime

included a visit to Ashdod beach. Every pupil despite differing physical disabilities enjoyed floating in the sea and joined in surfing.

Pupils planted trees and also visited the Meorot interactive museum of Jewish heritage learning from interactive projections and experiencing sensory exploration of light and sound.

The children’s independence skills soared throughout the trip.

and parents but most importantly our pupils.”

Collins thanked Gvanim for initiating conversations of the exchange and colleagues for ensuring the trip ran safely and smoothly.

Kisharon Noé School took pupils on the trip of a lifetime to Israel.

The school’s first ever tour to Israel was part of an exchange programme with Gvanim School in Ashdod. Israeli pupils visit Kisharon later this month.

Parents never imagined their children would have an opportunity to travel with school friends to Israel. The trip has made the dream a reality.

The itinerary was meticulously planned for eight pupils and five staff members. From the moment the group stepped on the plane the adventure begun with ELAL staff inviting children to see the cockpit. Highlights included attending a Bar Mitzvah ceremony at the Kotel, being escorted into the old city of Jerusalem with shofar blasts, music and davening. Excursions

Staff arranged for family members and friends living in Israel to meet up with the group, including Sivan, a Sherut Leumi girl who volunteered during her national service at Kisharon’s decade ago.

Kisharon’s relationship with Gvanim School was behind the initiative. Pupils enjoyed making new friends when they visited the school.

Deputy Headteacher, Adina Collins said: “It was a privilege to plan, lead and pioneer the Israel tour. Bringing this opportunity to our pupils is a dream come true for myself

He added: “The parents of pupils who attended have been supportive and showed overwhelming gratitude in providing this opportunity. Seeing pupils arrive safely in Israel and explore the Jewish homeland was heart warming. We have made memories that will be treasured for the rest of our lives.”

Pupils were brimming with happiness on their return.

Micah said: “The Israel trip was excellent, my favourite part was seeing family and hanging out with my teachers and new friends Noam and Ariel from Gvanim school in Ashdod.”

Raphael commented: “I loved surfing, going to the Kotel and seeing the Bar Mitzvah boys celebrating and dancing.”

Chanochi added: “I can’t believe Kisharon has helped me to live my dream of

going to Israel and the Kotel.”

Kisharon look forward to welcoming Gvanim pupils this month and are planning a future tour to Israel.

The 20th Finchley Scout group took part in the Cub District rafting day.

Children in three teams worked together and built their own rafts in the morning, they were safety checked and raced in the afternoon having lots of fun.

Cubs rafting fun GIFT ignites the spirit of giving for shavuot

Participants said they had a brilliant day and amazing time.

Through a series of engaging activities and initiatives, GIFT has brought together diverse groups within the community to make a positive impact and spread joy in the lead up to this special festival.

Among the initiatives, a pre-Shavuot Mother & Daughter event was held at the GIFT offices in London, where beautiful flower arrangements were made for families supported by GIFT.

Batmitzva girl Annabelle Fleischmann, together with her friends and family packed 100 beautiful Shavuot packs for GIFT recipients. These packs included fresh flowers in a vase and the ingredients to create Torah scroll cookies.

Annabelle’s mother, Alisa told us “We loved working with GIFT on Annabelle’s Batmitzvah project and would highly recommend it to others looking to do something meaningful in the lead up to a Bar or Batmitzvah. Esther from GIFT helped us plan something really special for families to receive for Shavout - Annabelle’s Hebrew birthday. We invited close friends and family to the GIFT Hub; where we arranged flowers in vases, decorated bags and filled them with food and treats. It was

a wonderful experience and has really enhanced her Batmitzvah. Thank you GIFT.”

GIFT Manchester engaged over 100 students from King David & Broughton Jewish Primary Schools in plant pot decorating for residents of Heathlands Care Home, Shavuot cards for GIFT families & flower arranging & cupcakes decorating for Beenstock Care Home residents.

Yavneh Girls made cheesecake truffles for GIFT families, showcasing their commitment to giving back and spreading

happiness during Shavuot.

In addition to these activities, GIFT by Feast, Manchester’s Giving Kitchen, went above and beyond by organising special deliveries to GIFT families for Shavuot to ensure their holiday could be celebrated with joy and abundance.

GIFT Israel involved a total of 240 students across 10 different classes in handson activities and hosted a community activity where children decorated flowerpots for families in need.

JTeen parent programme Seed Matchfund Campaign 2023

JTeen hosted a successful parent event last week on preventing emotional health problems in children.

The event featured three leading speakers. The evening commenced with an enlightening presentation by Dr. Frazer Rosenberg, a G.P renowned for his work treating adults and teens. Dr. Rosenberg emphasised the significance of recognising essential warning signs of emotional distress in children, so that problems can be prevented instead of reacted to. He also highlighted the vital role of fostering a sense of connection within the family unit and positive impact that has on teen emotional health.

Founder of Jteen Yaakov Barr delivered a powerful talk. He not only shed light on the importance of emotional resilience in children, but also provided practical ideas and strategies for parents to help their children

be able to face problems and challenges.

Rebbetzin Chana Hughes, a family and couple therapist, offered a thought-provoking talk that captivated the attendees. She shared insights on effective communication techniques with children and teenagers, emphasizing the significance of open and empathetic dialogue.

Each participant received a JTeen parent programme that included key takeaways and actionable ideas from the speakers.

JTeen trustee Riki Greenberg commented: “The sessions are an incredible opportunity for parents to gain insights and practical strategies to support their children’s emotional well-being. The event underscores our commitment to empowering parents and equipping them with the tools they need to nurture emotionally healthy teens.”

JTeen rabbinic advisor, Dayan Eliezer Zobin, pointed out: “For parents to engage in such a programme, to enhance their understanding of mental health and how to support their children, is essential and can make all the difference in our teens’ development.”

The next parent session is 11th June on how teens can reach out for help to JTeen support.

Experts will be give tools to parents on teens coping with peer pressure and friendships. The sessions complement JTeen’s ‘prevent programme’ in schools across the community.

Seed, the UK’s leading Kiruv organisation working with adult and family Jewish education, is launching its 2023 Match Fund Campaign on Sunday 4th June. The 36 hour campaign, which is aiming to raise £1,000,000, launches with an abseil challenge simultaneously in London and Manchester. Seed is raising funds to restore the mesorah to families across the UK.

This year, Seed is encouraging people to step out of their comfort zone and challenge themselves to raise money. In London, abseilers will go down Beaufort House, a 50m high building near Aldgate station and in Manchester the intrepid supporters will go down the Old Palazzo tower. While staying connected to the rope when abseiling is blatantly critical, Seed wants to focus on the equally important message of staying connected to their Yiddishkeit.

Rabbi Malcolm Herman, CEO of Seed says: “We live in an age full of distractions and many families drift away from Torah and mitzvos. We’ve observed a shift in priorities in the way people chose to live and spend their valuable family time. Our mission at Seed is to share the wisdom and beauty of a true Torah lifestyle, encouraging limmud

HaTorah and shmiras hamitzvos.”

Seed has been at the forefront of Torah education for young families since its inception. Amongst the founders of Seed were Dayan Chanoch Ehrentreu ztl and ybdl Reb Matisyahu Salamon shlita. The Founder and National Director is the inimitable Rabbi Joey Grunfeld. Whilst Seed has adapted its original model of One to One, it remains true to the Torah world and Torah values. One to One still plays a vital role but it in today’s world Seed runs a plethora of formal and informal learning experiences to suit all ages. Whether you want to attend the Seed Shul, learn to read Hebrew, travel to Israel, attend parenting workshops or bas/ bar Mitzvah classes, online or in person, Seed has something for anyone looking to rebuild their kesher with the community, their children and their mesorah. Over 14,000 face to face encounters took place this academic year.

Help Seed raise vital funds to keep Jewish families connected. Every donation during the 2023 Seed MatchFund Campaign will be matched by generous donors. To sign up to become an ambassador please go to www. charityextra/seed/signup or to donate and more information, please go to www.charityextra/seed

Trusted wealth management for the community

Shalva

Fifty-six years ago, Israeli soldiers captured Jerusalem. They struggled and suffered, and despite the pain and bombardment, they soon announced that ‘Har HaBayit is in our hands.’ This Yom Yerushalayim, like in years past, Israel celebrates the overcoming of difficulties that ultimately led to great outcomes.

One Jerusalem story that captures this defiance of odds is that of Kalman and Malki Samuels. Having faced the challenges of raising their son Yossi, who was born a healthy infant but was rendered deaf, blind and hyper-active after receiving a faulty vaccine, for many years, they wanted to help families going through similar situations. They co-founded Shalva, which means ‘serenity’, in 1990 and worked incredibly hard to build Shalva into one of the world’s leading organizations servicing people with disabilities, providing them quality care, helping their families, and promoting social inclusion on a large scale. Despite the tremendous challenges,

Embodying the Values of the State of Israel

fun with their friends and learning important independent living skills. The parents can shop, focus on their other children, or simply take time for themselves. Regaining strength each week with this slight respite is a vital part of what allows the parents to keep going and raise their child within the home environment.

the world. Its influence has become global, and I say that humbly.”

When COVID19 broke out and no one could gather in-person, Shalva began to answer questions remotely. Realizing that advice could be given, and classes could be taught remotely, Shalva decided that its expertise should be shared across borders. It began helping organizations from abroad remotely via Zoom. “As a result of this experience,” says Samuels, “we learned to work and share everything we had, including various therapies, on Zoom. Shalva’s staff began helping organizations from abroad that were hungry for Shalva’s

tive status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council, an honorary recognition that allows Shalva to influence the world more broadly as a leading advocate of inclusion and equality for people with disabilities.

Like Jerusalem itself, Shalva embraces diversity. It prides itself on providing services to participants from across all sectors of Israeli society. Shalva’s programming begins with babies who are just a few weeks old and continues assisting children and families into adulthood. Not only does Shalva provide programs for a wide variety of adults and children, but it religions, and beliefs, thereby embodying a

Like Jerusalem, which is multifaceted and provides something uniquely special for everyone who visits, Shalva too focuses on every individual. Each child and adult in Shalva’s programs receives the personalized care he or she needs. Today, the Shalva National Centre comprises a state of the art, 12-story facility, of some 220,000 square foot, located in the heart of Jerusalem and perched above the new Route 16 highway entrance to Jerusalem. The first building many see when they enter Jerusalem, Shalva has come to embody core Jerusalem values of inclusion, diversity, and love.

Each year, 150,000 visitors pass through Shalva’s National Centre to learn more about Shalva’s comprehensive life-cycle programmes, cutting-edge therapies, inclusive educational frameworks and social and recreational activities that have empowered families to raise their children with disabilities within the framework of the family. “Shalva is a game-changer,” says Samuels, “and we have greatly impacted the way the world addresses disabilities.” With so many diverse visitors who come to Jerusalem looking to understand its deep roots and history, Shalva shows them what Jerusalem’s present and future holds.

each week, all year round. Parents

The municipality of Jerusalem works closely with Shalva, as does the Israeli government. Samuels credits Israel’s Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs for its assistance in partnering with the organization. “The social services offered in Israel are excellent,” says Samuels. “We are proud to be part of a very large system of social services that is outstanding. Israel can be proud of itself. Over the last thirty-three years, the progress that has been made in all areas of social services is phenomenal.”

Samuels recalls the meaningful words of Nir Barkat, former mayor of Jerusalem, who said that while Israel is praised as the start-up nation, Shalva serves as a paradigm of Israeli social start-ups. Shalva is a light unto the nations, said Barkat, which embodies the values of our prophets in helping the weakest members of our society.

As we celebrate Yom Yerushalayim, we remember the strength and fortitude it took to regain the city and recognize the immense impact that Shalva is now making globally, all from the heart of Jerusalem.

Each year, 150,000 visitors pass through Shalva’s National Centre to learn more about Shalva’s comprehensive life-cycle programmes…

ASK THE RABBI

AN ALTERNATIVE ANSWER TO SHEVY

Dear Rabbi

Here’s an alternative response to Shevy, who asked why women cannot say Kaddish: Kaddish has many aspects and at its most basic, it is a mechanism to help acknowledge a loved one. Women don’t say Kaddish in shul because us rabbis think they should stick to child-bearing and house-keeping. We are so scared of losing control of the community, we often behave without compassion and truth.

Traditionally, there has been a quorum of ten to answer “amen” and these were men because women were largely excluded from shul. We don’t live in Roman or Medieval times and our practice should evolve to reflect current conditions.

I hope you find consolation for your loved one and moving forward, I will support women wanting to say Kaddish in shul.

PS: Rabbi, gravity is an objective scientific phenomena; spirituality is an abstract idea. Your idea of spirituality may be stomping round with a bottle of whiskey. Someone else’s idea of it may be helping out an ill or bereaved person. To equate gravity and spirituality is ignorant or intellectually dishonest.

Your final line to Shevy, “I know even after reading this answer, every bit of your emotional defence mechanism is going to reject it, but putting emotion aside, think about this rationally,” is just plain bullying.

Kay

Dear Kay

A rabbi was suffering from a

persistent stomach ache. No matter how many doctors he consulted, no one could bring him comfort. Then one day he sought the advice of a particular specialist who dabbled in alternative medicine. The specialist asked the rabbi if he ever had a sermon he had wanted to give but was unable. The rabbi looked excitedly at the specialist: “Yes! I have this wonderful sermon I had always wanted to deliver but my synagogue board never allowed it. It’s an hour long!” The specialist encouraged the rabbi to deliver the sermon then and there, whereupon when he was done, his stomach ache was alleviated.

It occurs to me that you must have been suffering from something similar. I hope with your patronising letter, attacking rabbis with ignorant statements, you feel somewhat better.

To your precise points: (1) “Kaddish is to acknowledge a loved one.” Not really. There is no reference whatsoever to a loved one in Kaddish. Just exaltation of G-d. Have you ever considered why? When a human being dies, a piece of G-d ‘dies’ together with him, figuratively speaking. Man was created in the image of G-d and the fate of man is ultimately the fate of G-d Himself. Every human life is a Divine piece of art and has infinite and eternal value. In reciting the Kaddish we attempt to rebuild not only shattered souls, but also to rebuild a piece of G-d that has gone missing from our midst.

(2) “Traditionally there has to be a quorum of ten to answer ‘amen’.” Nonsense! Traditionally

there has to be a quorum of ten for any prayer deemed uniquely holy - be it reciting “borchu,” the repetition of the Amidah, the special “kedusha” prayer said in the repetition, and other such like, including Kaddish. That’s just a fact that has been in place since those very prayers were first introduced.

(3) “Women were largely excluded from shul.” Another absurd distortion of truth. Women were every bit present already in the Temple itself (which is where we learn the whole notion of a mechitza from). And they were present in shuls throughout the ages. Why you would concoct such falsehood, beggars belief.

(4) “Moving forward I will support women saying Kaddish in shul.” Actually, many women do say Kaddish in shul. They just don’t say it in a women’s only service, which was the basis of Shevy’s initial question. Did that critical detail get lost on you or did you conveniently choose to ignore it?

(5) “Spirituality is an abstract idea.” Sheer utter gibberish. To suggest, as you do, that spirituality is relative to each person based on subjective experiences is not just intellectually dishonest, as you accused me, but indeed just plain ignorance. All aspects of Jewish spirituality are deeply rooted in the revelation at Sinai. Its teachers will go to great lengths to demonstrate those roots, relating their teachings to verses of the written or oral tradition of Torah.

Jewish spirituality speaks of human purpose and meaning in this world. Spirituality is not

something you do for your own good alone, but a means to fulfil the purpose for which you were created. Everything has Divine purpose, every event has Divine meaning; nothing is just here because it is here.

As I noted in my response to Shevy, which I will reiterate here: The Rabbis of the Men of the Great Assembly were lofty, spiritual giants and composed the Kaddish prayer through deep Divine insight. Within that they also devised the formula by which this prayer can work. In a quorum of ten men. If I took your argument to its logical conclusion, why wait for any service altogether? Why not say the Kaddish on your own whenever you want? Who says it requires a Synagogue, a service, or any number of people?

If I hold a pen in my hand and then let go, it will fall. You know why? It’s called gravity. Whether you accept, believe or reject the laws of gravity, the facts don’t change. That’s just how it is. So too, in the spiritual realm. Certain things only work in a certain way.

Halacha defines spiritual realities. For example, it tells us that you cannot eat milk and meat together. That is a spiritual

reality. Physically you can eat milk and meat to your heart’s content. But spiritually, it causes you harm. Similarly, you can say Kaddish without a quorum of ten men, but insofar as what Kaddish was designed for – it would be a meaningless gesture.

(6) “‘I know even after reading this answer every bit of your emotional mechanism is going to reject it is plain bullying.” I’m sorry you feel that way. Shevy certainly didn’t (see below). But your very letter, filled with a torrent of condescending emotion and not an iota of rationale or truth, has masterfully proven my point, so thank you for that.

SHEVY’S RESPONSE

Dear Rabbi

I want to thank you for your response to my question about Kaddish. I felt uneasy reading it but after reading it several times and thinking about it, I do accept what you explained. So thank you and keep it up. I enjoy your column.

Shevy

Dear Shevy

Thank you for your feedback. Can I introduce you to Kay? (See above).

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

Our Bar and Bat Mitzvah Project ensures that young people, on their special day, can share it with a child Holocaust victim who was denied a future.

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Torah from Israel Never “Get Over It”

“Let the stranger praise you, but not your own mouth”. This proverb from Mishlei implies that often, outsiders, are better able to distil the virtues which we ourselves, take for granted. Ironically, it is often times hateful and antisemitic slander which reminds us of the deeper qualities of Jewish identity.

A few weeks ago, Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City, ridiculed observance of Passover. Contemptuously, he mocked that “it [Pesach] happened over 3000 years ago..get over it”.

Despite his malicious scorn, Rudy is absolutely right, and, of course, absolutely wrong. Yetziat Mitzrayim did occur over 3000 years ago, but we can’t “get over it”, nor for that matter, do we ever want to “get over it”.

We call this inability to “get over it” by a different name. We call this distinctively Jewish trait “historical consciousness”. We don’t live in a historical vacuum but are tethered both to the past generations as well as to a long lineage of future people we will never meet. As Elie Weisel once observed “Jews are born old”. Most of us can trace our yichus genealogy to four or five previous generations, despite the horrific interval of the Holocaust. Many of us carry names of ancestors we never met, but whose stories we retell and whose lives inspire our own. Beyond our genealogical familiarity, we are also coupled to our past through the great people whose works we study, whose ideas elevate us, and whose heroism shapes our lives.

Yomim tovim connect us with our glorious past. We celebrate the very same chagim which past generations observed, and in almost the same exact fashion. For us, chagim don’t commemorate archaic events which happened “over 3000 years ago”. For someone with historical consciousness, these epic events “happened” last year, and they “happened” fifty years ago to our parents, and they will keep on happening, every year, in the very same manner and on the exact same date.

NAPOLEON DIDN’T LAUGH

Rudy Giuliani scoffed at our historical consciousness, but Napoleon stood in awe. Walking by a synagogue, he heard men wailing in a foreign language. Inquiring about the odd sounds, he was informed that on Tisha b’av Jews were grieving for their lost mikdash. In response to his inquiry as to how long ago this tragedy occurred, he was informed that the calamity causing all this ruckus occurred over 1800 years earlier. Fascinated with our collective memory he remarked “A nation that can mourn for so long the loss of its land and temple, will return one day to their land and see

it rebuilt”. Within 150 years, his prophecy partially materialized. No too long after Napoleon’s First Republic of France fell, we rebuilt our own history. It is likely that some of the descendants of those wailing French Jews who lay crumpled on the floor, currently walk with pride in the land of Israel.

I was recently asked which Jewish subject is most neglected in American Orthodox chinuch. As a Rabbi, I was probably expected to highlight an area of talmud torah study which is deficient, and whose study should be bolstered. I replied that the topic of Jewish history was insufficiently instructed in school curriculums. In the absence of any historical framing, mitzva observance can become lethargic and can, eventually, wilt under social and cultural pressures. A historical context lends backdrop, texture, and spirit to religious practice. Additionally, historical consciousness provides numerous building blocks for religious success.

TIMELESS VALUES

Culture, customs, and human conduct are always in flux, and, as social standards fluctuate, cardinal values tend to fade. Judaism enshrines fundamental and immutable values which are impervious to the ebb and flow of time. Our core values, divinely delivered and therefore unassailable, are all riveted to holidays, and our observance of these holidays reinforces the timelessness of these beliefs. Pesach underscores divine sovereignty, human liberty, and Jewish destiny. Shavuot confirms that an entire nation heard the directly revealed voice of Hashem, while embracing a life of commandment and covenant. Sukkot demonstrates both divine providence for individuals as well as divine authorship of history. On Rosh Hoshana we submit to divine justice while accepting moral accountability. Yom Kippur reminds a fallen person that Hashem is compassionate and offers teshuva and forgiveness. Historical holidays reinforce core religious values, preventing their slow but gradual erosion. Historical consciousness reminds us that, despite the pressures of society, we possess eternal values, which remain immune to the ravages of time and culture.

BELONGING

We are social animals, but sadly, we often sever ourselves from relationships and from community, sinking into the dark abyss of individualism and lone liness. As the modern world expands, we are becoming ever more lonely. We exchange information at breakneck speed, but we are quickly losing the art of communication, and when communication fails, we “unbelong” and sink into solitude. Historical consciousness connects us to a multi-generational com munity and redeems us from the loneliness of unbelonging. We live alongside generations of people of shared values and of common destiny.

Ironically, belonging to a historical community often strengthens affiliation with actual contemporary communities. Ideally, life is Israel is patterned upon this correlation between historical commitment and live communal experience. As we are all living through a common historical narrative, and one which we share with our past, we feel, or should feel, a deeper identification with one another. Belongingness is contagious. We are not meant to live alone. Halachot such as kosher restrictions, minyan requirements and shemirat Shabbat all encourage clustered living. Historical awareness, and in particular, communal chagim reinforce these communal bonds which ritual establishes. Belonging to something larger than ourselves boosts happiness and well-being, while strengthening faith.

MORTALITY AND MEANING

We are all haunted by our mortality. Everything we accomplish and everything we build in our limited time on earth will ultimately fade to dust. We all hear Shlomo Hamelech’s gloomy voice whispering that man is futile, and his accomplishments are empty. What possible meaning can our limited lives possess? Without any meaning, life is empty, and we struggle for identity and for purpose.

In part, we transcend the limits of our mortality by incorporating our own lives into a larger historical partnership. We are partners in a larger historical project called Jewish history, and each brick we

lay serves as the foundation for future brick layers. Together, with labourers of the past, we jointly craft Jewish history. The edifice may not be completed by the time we leave this earth, but our lives have acquired worth and purpose. As they catapult future generations to loftier heights, our accomplishments are never pointless. Historical consciousness responds to Shlomo’s charge that all human achievement is vacant, by reassuring us that nothing is vacant when aligned with the arc of Jewish history.

LIVES OF ACCOUNTABILITY

Living in history also makes us more accountable to history. It is easy to detect the ripple effects of past generations. We benefit from their successes just as we suffer from their malfunctions. The past 2000 years of galus have been an agonizing nightmare instigated by the religious collapse of previous generations. The past has carved out the present.

The future holds similar expectations for us. Historical accountability forces us to inspect our behaviour and to make decisions based on long term factors. This is especially true in Israel where our decisions will affect all future generations of Jews. Modern culture encourages the deflection of personal responsibility, but historical consciousness mandates lives of accountability. Accountability forces us to behave with conscience, selflessness, and vision.

The secret of Jewish faith is that we never get over the past. We continue to create a past for the future.

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

Lashon Hara: The Ultimate Corruption of Speech

One day, a young boy came home from school with a note for his mother. He gave it to her with a smile, and said, “My teacher gave me this paper and told me to give it only to you.”

His mother read the letter quickly, and her eyes filled with tears as she then read the letter out loud to her son. “Your son is a genius. This school is too small for him, and the teachers are not qualified to teach him. Please educate him yourself.”

His parents embraced this mission, teaching him and raising him to become one of the greatest thinkers of his time. He became a leading innovator, a Torah sage, and inspired an entire generation.

Years later, after his mother passed away, he was going through some old family documents. He noticed a folded paper in the corner of a drawer, and curiously opened it.

On the paper was written: “Your son is mentally incapable. The teachers do not want to teach him anymore. Please educate him yourself.”

He cried as he remembered his mother reading the letter to him, realizing the positive impact it had on his life. That night, he wrote in his diary: “I was a mentally incapable child, but because of my hero mother, I became the person I am today.”

This is the power of words. The words of his teachers could have destroyed him, but the words of his mother supported, empowered, and enabled him.

LASHON HARA

Do you ever wonder what people really think about you? Whether they think you’re brilliant, caring, and fun; or lazy, self-centered, and boring? The truth is that you’ll never know; people only talk about you openly when you’re not in the room. In these situations, don’t you think it’s possible that people might put you down, say negative things about you, or even make fun of you behind your back? After all, we have all been in the room when someone else was the subject of gossip. Gossiping is such a common occurrence; it seems to be an almost built-in practice of human nature. We all know people who can find something bad to say about anyone; they criticize anything and everything, anybody and everybody; words of negativity flow easily from their mouths. But even if we are not negative people, we still experience the desire to occasionally put other people down, to share negative stories about them behind their backs. Why do we feel this compulsion to speak negatively about others, to criticize and gossip about them?

This leads us to a fundamental question: what exactly is the nature of lashon hara (evil speech)? There is a common misconception that lashon hara refers only to sharing false information about another person. People claim that if something is true, however, there is nothing wrong with sharing it. You’ll therefore often hear people

say: “but it’s true,” as if this is a good defense, exonerating themselves from any possible wrongdoing. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. There is a separate prohibition of lying (“Mi’d’var sheker tirchak”; Shemos 23:7). The Torah prohibition of lashon hara refers specifically to sharing true, negative information about someone (in order to harm them). In order to understand the prohibition against lashon hara, we must clarify why we may not say something hurtful about another person, even if it is true.

In addition to the prohibition itself, the punishment for speaking lashon hara is puzzling as well. The Torah describes a strange punishment for one who speaks lashon hara: In addition to receiving tzaraas (affliction), he must leave the camp of the Jewish People and remain outside, isolated and alone. What is the meaning of this punishment, and why is it fitting for one who spoke negatively about another?

THE POWER OF SPEECH

In order to understand this topic, we must briefly review a concept we have discussed several times before. As human beings, we are naturally isolated and separate from one another. We are individual beings, all living in our own subjective world and inner universe. We will never be able to experience life through anyone else’s perspective — only through our own inner consciousness. We have our own thoughts and feelings; things no one else can see. We face our own hardships and tribulations that no one else truly understands. This results in several difficulties. If I am trapped in my own inner world, how can I connect with other people? How can I know what’s going on inside their heads? How can I share my inner life with them? How can I overcome the infinite barrier between myself and everyone else?

As we have explained before, this is the gift of speech. Speech is the mechanism that enables us to connect with other people and overcome the barrier between us. You begin with your inner thoughts and experience. You then form the specific words that will encase your thoughts as you give them concrete form and throw these words out into the world around you in the form of vibrations. If another person is nearby, their ears can pick up these vibrations and translate them into sound. These sounds form words, and the words form sentences. They must then keep track of all the different words and sentences, hold on to them, and bring them back from memory as they work to recreate a complete picture of everything you said. Amazingly, this person can now experience your inner world inside their own mind. They now contain a piece of you within themselves. The barrier between your worlds has been diminished.

THE MOUTH AS THE ORGAN OF CONNECTION

The mouth is therefore the organ of connection, holding the potential to create deep, existential connection. As we have previously explained, all the functions of

the mouth serve to connect two disparate pieces together: Eating connects the physical body to the angelic soul; if you don’t eat, your soul leaves your body. Speaking connects people’s inner worlds together; when you speak with someone, you share your inner world with them. Kissing connects two physical bodies together, reflecting a deeper form of internal connection and oneness.

THE POTENTIAL OF SPEECH

Speech holds the power to create relationships, lift people up, expand people’s minds, and enable genuine communication and connection. An interesting illustration of this concept is the fact that a person’s rebbi (spiritual teacher) is considered, in a sense, to be his father. This is because there are two essential aspects of a human being requiring two different forms of creation. A child’s physical makeup is formed from his biological parent’s DNA, but the inner being — the soul, the mind, the consciousness — is yet to be fully expressed and developed. When a rebbi imparts deep Torah wisdom to his talmid (student) through speech, the ideas that were once only in the rebbi’s mind are now within the student’s as well. The rebbi has, through the power of speech, helped create the inner world of his student. In doing so, he becomes a partner in this student’s creation. In a deep way, he has become this student’s father as well. According to halachah, the rebbi — the spiritual father — trumps the biological father in some ways. The Rambam paskens (codifies) that if both your father and your rebbi require your kavod (honor), your rebbi’s kavod comes first. This is because your father brought you to Olam Hazeh — this physical and fleeting world — whereas your rebbi helps bring you to Olam Haba — the eternal World to Come. This process that your rebbi facilitates is realized through the power of speech, as he imparts wisdom and understanding to you. We therefore see the creative power and potential of speech. It connects us together, helps bridge our inner worlds, and allows us to expand our minds as we learn from others.

LASHON HARA: CORRUPTION OF SPEECH

Once we understand the purpose of speech, we can begin to comprehend just how abhorrent lashon hara truly is. Lashon hara takes the very tool of connection — speech — and uses it to disconnect people from each other. When you speak negatively about someone, you create a wall between the subject of your negativity and the person you are speaking with. The very tool of connection has been corrupted to achieve its opposite goal.

EXAMPLES IN THE TORAH

There are examples throughout the Torah illustrating the disastrous effects of lashon hara, showing its power to disconnect:

• The first, primal example of lashon hara in the Torah was in Gan Eden, at the very inception of creation. The nachash (snake) is notorious for

speaking lashon hara to Adam and Chavah, condemning itself to a life of curse. It is notable that what the nachash said about the Eitz HaDaas was, in a sense, true, but it caused a major disconnect between Adam and Chavah, and between them and Hashem.

• Another example of lashon hara’s disastrous effects is the sin of the Meraglim (spies). Again, what the Meraglim said about Eretz Yisrael was technically true. The problem lay in the fact that they used speech to create a separation between Klal Yisrael and the land of Eretz Yisrael, and in doing so, created a separation between Klal Yisrael and Hashem as well.

• Another interesting case of lashon hara is Miriam’s criticism of Moshe. While her intentions were noble, and she even intended to help create connection between Moshe and Tzipporah through her words of rebuke, she was judged according to her lofty level. Through her words, she created a rift between herself and Moshe, and potentially did the same between Moshe and Tzipporah, as well as between Moshe and Klal Yisrael. She was therefore punished for the sin of disconnecting others through negative speech, forced to temporarily leave the camp of Klal Yisrael.

Now that we understand the severity of lashon hara and its devastating effects on those around us, we must ask the obvious question: Why do we feel so compelled to speak negatively about others? In our next article, we will delve deeper into this fascinating topic and try to understand it on an ever more profound level.

Rabbi Shmuel Reichman is a bestselling author, international speaker, and the CEO of Self-Mastery Academy. He has lectured internationally on topics of Torah thought, Jewish medical ethics, psychology, and leadership. His bestselling book, The Journey to Your Ultimate Self, serves as an inspiring gateway into deeper Jewish thought. He is also a business, executive, and leadership coach, with a unique approach based on Torah values. After obtaining his BA from Yeshiva University, he received Semicha from Yeshiva University’s RIETS, a master’s degree in education from Azrieli Graduate School, and a master’s degree in Jewish Thought from Bernard Revel Graduate School. He then spent a year studying at Harvard as an Ivy Plus Scholar. He currently lives in Chicago with his wife and son where he is pursuing a PhD at the University of Chicago. To enjoy more of Rabbi Reichman’s content, to contact him, or to learn more about his services, visit his website: ShmuelReichman.com

Q: A friend recently mentioned that I should find a business mentor for my small business as I have run into some problems recently. I’m not quite sure how that will help me?

A: There has been a growth in popularity for Mentoring in a business context. A mentor is someone who is probably further up the ladder in their business with more experience and understanding of the business journey you are going through, as they have already travelled this path.

The reason why having a mentor is helpful is because most businesses tend to go through similar challenges and face common issues such as financing, marketing, setting goals, sales and the like. This is particularly true for specific sectors, so it makes sense that industry insights and guidance from someone who has been there and done that would be an advantage.

A mentor is different from a business consultant or coach; a consultant is usually hired for expert technical advice to address specific business issues, whereas a coach is performance driven and will focus on challenges and areas of development. Contrast this with a mentor, who is much more informal and can advise and motivate towards improving business skills, by sharing

knowledge and lessons learnt.

Owning a business can be stressful and frustrating and being able to openly discuss challenges with someone else provides many bonuses, such as fresh insights from an objective outsider and bringing a different perspective to the challenges you are struggling with. Most importantly, they bring experiences to the table and can act as a successful role model.

In short, there is much to be gained from having a business mentor in terms of knowledge and sage advice, as well

Q. Business has been a bit quiet recently and people have told me to get with the times and use social media to create more interest. The truth is I don’t really understand how it can help me with my customers and, in any event I’m not sure where to start.

The internet has transformed the way businesses operate, with many only operating online – Etsy is a perfect example of this as an online market place for small businesses. Whilst this literally allows the world to be your customer, it does require a lot more work in terms of engaging with potential customers through gateways such as your own website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat – even plan old texting.

Social media is effectively a public community and way of communicating with anyone, at anytime and anywhere. What those involved have in common is an interest in the topic under discussion and from a business perspective this would be a product or service. The conversation may be around how good a business is and recommending that product or service to friends, family and whomever else is in their network. On the other hand, they could be dissatisfied and they will post online how bad

the company is and alert others not to use it.

The change this sort of ‘chat’ has brought about is that a business can grow their customer base by influencing the narrative in a positive way –posting pictures of products, new ideas, positive comments from customers and negative comments can be addressed to repair any damage. The tone of conversation with social media is friendly, as people chat informally, using first names, so when engaging it is best to sign off from an individual member of the team.

The best first step is to make it as easy as possible for customers to contact and message you. Have transparent contact options on your website and even regular communication through blogs and newsletters. Don’t miss opportunities to hear what customers are really saying and respond appropriately; customers will see you value

as widen opportunities through industry connections and providing a ‘leg up the ladder’. A survey by the UK’s Department for Business Innovation and Skills, found that 94% of SME’s (Small Medium Enterprises) using external support have seen benefits; these firms are more ambitious and have higher relative turnovers.

Whilst it is clear what the benefits are from being mentored, the mentor themselves can gain from the experience. Lord Young of Graffham, who enjoyed a successful career in retail and

property for over five decades, once spoke of the benefits of mentoring when promoting National Mentoring day “I had a mentor when I started my business and…..I know as I have acted as a mentor many times, it is very rewarding to both parties.”

How do you find a mentor? Well, you can look to colleagues within your profession, or better still, use a mentoring platform run by an organisation. The JCommerce mentoring platform has different mentors across industries such as IT, property and marketing.

their opinions. Produce quality content – even if you have to hire someone to help you with this, as you can use the conversations to promote bonuses, rewards, contests and competitions, which in turn creates new business. It is also important to admit when something has gone wrong and use social media channels to show the issue is being resolved and that you are there for the customer

As with everything, balance is important. Remember that social media is just ONE new channel for engaging with your clients and has not replaced all others.

LSJS Education Page

“A quality assurance process that is fit for purpose?”

We live in a world where judgements are made all the time. How many stars was a film given? What grades did you get for you’re a-levels? Which brand of peanut butter is better than all the others?

In education, we are also judged, and that judgement is a quality assurance that we are doing a good job. Quality assurance, at its best, should be a chance to self-reflect; an opportunity to reassure our stakeholders that we are providing a good service; an exploration of our strengths and areas for improvements. The best quality assurance is collaborative and advisory. Quality assurance is generally a good, and necessary, part of any programme or organisation.

And then there’s Ofsted. The Office for Standards in Education quality assures education. Ofsted has been in the news a

lot recently. Maybe you think that the fuss about Ofsted is exaggerated, or maybe you think that schools are wrong to be critical about Ofsted? Well, here is a case study to help you make up your mind.

A few weeks ago, in north-west London, the London School of Jewish Studies (LSJS) was inspected by Ofsted. Many people don’t realise that as well as schools, Ofsted inspects teacher training institutions. LSJS runs several routes into teacher training: a one-year full time School-centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) route, School Direct Primary and Secondary routes and an Assessment Only route. (To find out more about these routes, please look on our website, www.

lsjs.ac.uk). Our four-day inspection was run by three inspectors, accompanied by two “shadows” who were learning how to inspect. The inspection included observations of our trainees in their schools, multiple interviews of our trainees, subject tutors, mentors, ITT staff team, trustees and graduates.

The eventual outcome was great for LSJS. We were given highly positive feedback and we will be able to continue to provide excellent training and produce highly skilled and inspirational teachers for our Jewish schools.

But there has been a huge cost of this process to the mental health and wellbeing of all involved. We were traumatised

by a process that was not collegial, not supportive and not positive. Many of our schools have had similar experiences when they were inspected. Ofsted might argue that their processes are purposeful and necessary. Does the end result justify the means? I don’t believe so. In all aspects of our lives, we should try to be role models, leading by example. We should always put ourselves in the other’s place and try to see how our actions and words are perceived by others. This is a central tenet of Judaism. And that is what all teachers – all human beings – should be striving to achieve.

Yes, quality assurance is important. But we need to have an inspection process that is collaborative and fit for purpose. The fuss in the press about Ofsted is not exaggerated. It needs to change.

RECOVER FROM ADDICTION

ADDICTION IS ONE OF THE GREATEST ILLS of the 21st century, destroying the life of the addict and causing indescribable pain and suffering to his or her family members. The British Jewish community is not immune to this societal ill, and every month more men, women and teens fall prey to various addictions. The trouble is further compounded by the fact that there is no rehab centre in the UK that is suitable to Torah-observant Jews who wish to maintain their religious lifestyle.

FINALLY, THERE’S GOOD NEWS FOR BRITISH

JEWS, with the solution being a short flight to Israel and a beautiful kosher rehab centre in Israel’s Givat Shemesh, right outside Beit Shemesh. In Retorno, a beautiful, spacious compound that fuses pastoral beauty with intensive therapies, people suffering from addiction find healing and recovery. Founded over three decades ago, Retorno Addiction Rehabilitation has bestowed healing and new life to thousands of former addicts, their spouses, children and communities, allowing patients to return home clean, eager to rebuild their lives, and empowered to live every day of life in control of their urges.

RECOVERY AT RETORNO

» A narcologist medically oversees and escorts the detoxification process

» Medical and mental health treatment by medical and therapy staff and 24/7 monitoring

» Private treatment with an English-speaking social worker and addiction specialist

» Group therapy in English

» Hebrew language ulpan

» Weekly therapy session

» Dietician to ensure healthy eating habits

» Weekly 12 Step Group

» Gardening in organic greenhouses

PLEASANT! This is the prevailing sentiment of those returning from a tour of Retorno, Israel’s premier rehab centre for the Orthodox sector which is located in a rustic area just outside of Beit Shemesh. Addiction is a universal illness that doesn’t distinguish between communities, sectors, genders or affiliations, and it encompasses a range from substance abuse to gambling to cigarettes, technology or alcohol. The scope and extent of addiction is tremendous, and it strikes people of every age and social class.

ADDICTION IS DEFINED AS

UNCONTROLLED DEPENDENCY that causes the addict to repeat activities or consume certain substances, even if he or she has no desire for it, since the avoidance of the source of addiction causes severe physical and/ or emotional distress and incites a desperate urge to relieve the experience. An addict is caught in a state of psychological and physical dependency on the activity or substance, which robs him of his freedom to choose and reduces his life to a vicious cycle of need and use.

Unfortunately, the Jewish community in England has no shortage of families dealing with the devastating patterns of addiction, and it is enough for one member of the family to suffer addictive behaviors to destroy an entire family from the inside. It’s important to realise that often a person’s addiction is not obvious to the world since addicts are pros at denial and concealment. Yet what that person might be an expert at masking from the world is much harder to hide from his immediate family, and therefore, what’s happening behind someone’s closed doors may be very different from what appears on the surface.

Founded over thirty years ago, Retorno has guided over 2,000 men and women through addiction treatment and recovery and given them a new lease on life. Our devoted, warm and professional staff is comprised of experts in the field of addiction counseling and therapy.

Originally founded in 1991 for the Jewish community in Mexico, the concept of Retorno was brought to Israel five years later by Rabbi Eitan Eckstein, a social worker, renowned lecturer, and one of the world’s foremost experts on addition. Retorno is widely-acclaimed in the medical world for its innovative treatment and prevention of a variety of addictions in all stratums of the population, based on the understanding and experience that addiction does not distinguish between sector, age or community. Retorno is recognised by the State of Israel and is highly recommended and endorsed by Rabbanim from every stream.

Treatment at Retorno includes staying in the Alon in the detox centre for men and the Elah detox centre for women. Both centres operate with full gender separation and with separate staff. centre that operate under the supervision of Israel’s Ministry of Health and with medical and mental health teams that specializes in addiction. Patients stay in the detox centres for a period of up to three months and then continue their recovery process within their community.

» Horseback riding therapy

» Bi-weekly animal therapy

» Trips

» Weekly hydrotherapy

» Daily sports activity with physical trainer

» Bi-weekly group nature walks to relax and unwind

Retorno’s breathtaking campus amidst rolling green hills and tranquil lush valleys contributes powerfully to the rehabilitation process. The faculty is professional and attentive to the patients’ needs, while remaining focused on the singular goal of leading patients to reclaim their lives.

At Retorno, patients also gain from the religious atmosphere which includes kosher food with excellent kashrus certification, 3 daily minyanim, and shiurim in Torah and mussar. Shabbos and Yomim Tovim are celebrated in a Torah atmosphere. Retorno’s Rabbi, Harav Chaim Hellman shlit”a, lives on the campus, and avreichim come daily to learn with patients.

IF YOU’RE FAMILIAR WITH A FAMILY THAT IS STRUGGLING

with the addiction of one or more family members, or if you’re personally acquainted with anyone within the British Jewish community who is suffering from addiction and needs help, tell them about Retorno, the rehab centre that’s just right for them.

Retorno founder Rabbi Eitan Eckstein and members of the Retorno staff will be traveling to London and hosting a comprehensive 2-day open house in the course of which they will share information and content to the British Jewish community and meet privately with members of the community seeking advice and consultations.

To make an appointment, call: 020 4571 1236 Or go to www.retorno.co.uk

IT’S POSSIBLE TO RETURN TO LIFE, AND THE EXPERIENCE CAN EVEN BE RELATIVELY

Another delicious recipe from Denise Phillips

For more recipes and inspiration visit my website: www.jewishcookery.com

Summer Savoury Strawberry Salad With Candied Pecans

New season baby vegetables are particularly flavoursome and look very attractive at Shavuot time. I like to make this salad with a colourful mixture too. They develop from the same seeds as their bigger ‘brothers’ – the secret is the way they are grown. Spring water and harvesting them after two weeks instead of three to four months provides a more sophisticated way of eating vegetables. Baby leeks, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, cauliflower, broccoli, radishes, beetroots, turnips, courgettes are all good examples which are now readily available in your local supermarket.

Preparation Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 5 minutes Serves: 4

Ingredients

225g fresh strawberries, halved

1 small red onion, thinly sliced

2 large avocados sliced

110g fresh goat cheese, crumbled

200g mixed salad greens

12 mint leaves, chopped

For the Pecans

150g pecan

3 tablespoons brown sugar

30g unsalted butter, melted

1 teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon nutmeg

For the dressing

1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 teaspoons honey

Juice and zest of 1 lime

Pinch of salt

Method

1) For the dressing whisk together vinegar, olive oil, mustard, honey, lime, zest and salt in a small bowl. Set aside.

2) For the pecans, heat a frying pan over medium heat. Melt butter. Whisk in sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Continue to whisk until mixture melts down into a syrup. Add pecans and cook for 2-3 minutes, until toasted, stirring frequently to avoid them sticking together. Remove them to piece of parchment paper and let cool.

3) Assemble the salad in a large bowl, toss the ingredients together.

4) Pour the dressing over the salad and top with cooled candied pecans.

WE'VE ALWAYS GOT TIME FOR TEA

KKL, JNF UK’s legacy department, has been serving the Jewish community for over 70 years. Our highly qualified team combines first-rate executorship and trustee services with personalised pastoral care. We can support you in the way that close family would, keeping in regular contact with you and taking care of any Jewish needs (such as saying kaddish for you) in accordance with your wishes.

For a no-obligation and confidential consultation, and to find out more about supporting JNF UK’s vital work in Israel, please get in touch.

Call 020 8732 6101 or email enquiries@kkl.org.uk

A Magnificient Sukkot Elma Luxury Hotel Zichron Yaakov

• Guest rooms & cottages of various sizes offer spectacular views of the beautiful Mediterranean

• Delight your palette with exquisite Kosher Cuisine freshly prepared that the Hotel is renowned for

• A wonderful Chag atmosphere with personal hosts & Inspiring Tefillah

• Intriguing Shiurim by Scholar in Residence

• Supervised Kids Club

• Entertainment Program and activities

• Welcome refreshments and afternoon tea

Sunday 09 – Monday 17 October

EXPERT ADVICE

Q. My husband received a dementia diagnosis some months ago and I want to do all that I can to support him so that he is able to live well with dementia. Please can you advise me on things like benefits that we might be eligible for? I’d also like to find out more about services that are available for us in the community.

A. I’m pleased that you have reached out as there is a lot of support available in the community for people living with dementia and their unpaid family carers.

Firstly, I recommend that you get in touch with Jewish Care’s Direct helpline. Our advisors will be able to refer you to our Social Work and Community Support Team to look at the support services available for your husband. This could include visiting one of Jewish Care’s specialist dementia day centres, for example, where people living with dementia can socialise and enjoy stimulating activities in a nurturing environment with experienced staff, supporting them in a person-centred way.

You may also like to go along to Jewish Care’s Memory Way Café, a warm and friendly environment for people living with dementia and their family carers which includes reminiscence and an opportunity to meet others in similar situations.

Our Jewish Care Direct helpline advisors may refer you to our Benefits Team who can provide a benefits check and assistance to apply for any benefits you may be entitled to. Our Family Carers Team offer one-to-one emotional support and advice. They can also help you to compile an emergency care plan as well as providing a dedicated dementia carers support group. In addition, they could support you with requesting a carers assessment from your local authority, as you may be offered respite.

If you would like to get in touch with Jewish Care’s Family Carers Team, receive our Family Carers Newsletter or find out more about any of Jewish Care’s vital services, please contact the Jewish Care Direct helpline on 020 8922 2222 or email helpline@jcare.org

SHIPPING

STEPHEN MORRIS SHIPPING

With almost 40 years experience, our company has the ability to move household and personal effects and antiques and fine art with the professionalism and care that comes from that experience coupled with an attention to detail.

We construct our own Tri-Wall and wooden packing cases on site and employ full-time art installers and handymen for those ‘extra’ jobs that always need doing on a move or installation. And size is no limitation – we have moved trains, boats and planes across the world and even bridges and a 5,000 seater tent!

Contact: 020 8832 2222 info@shipsms.co.uk www.shipsms.co.uk

CHARITY

JEWISH CARE

Jewish Care is the largest health and social care organisation serving the Jewish community in London and the South East. Our vital services touch the lives of 10,000 people every week. We provide services and offer a wide range of support groups to older people, people with mental health needs, Holocaust survivors, people living with dementia, people with a variety of needs and carers support.

FINANCIAL SERVICES (FCA) COMPLIANCE

JACOB BERNSTEIN

A member of the APCC, specialising in financial services compliance for: Mortgage, Protection and General Insurance Intermediaries; Lenders, Credit Brokers, Debt Counsellors and Debt Managers; Alternative Investment Fund Managers;

• E-Money, Payment Services, PISP, AISP and Grant-making Charities.

Contact: 020 7781 8019 info@richdale.co.uk www.richdale.co.uk

WEALTH MANAGMENT

MARC OVITS – BA (HONS) APFS CERT PFS (DM)

Over 25 years of successful experience in financial services including 11 years of investment banking experience.

Offering expert independent financial advice to individuals, businesses, charities and trusts. Individual services:- Wealth Management, Investment, Retirement, Estate/IHT, protection planning, Tax Mitigation and Cash Management Solutions

Business & Charity services:- Investment Planning, Business Succession & Business Exit Planning, Business Protection, Corporate Pensions, Employee Benefits, Cash Management Solutions, Profit extraction strategies

Alpha Wealth Management

Contact: 020 8203 6920 info@alphawm.co.uk www.alphawm.co.uk

BUTCHERS

KOSHER DELI

Kosher Deli was established with the intention of making kosher meat and poultry affordable for all with the convenience of multiple locations and a comprehensive delivery service. All this without compromising on kashrus or quality. Locations in: Golders Green, Hendon, Temple Fortune, Edgware, Borehamwood & Manchester

ESTATE AGENT

Contact: 020 8381 4450 info@kosherdeliuk.co.uk www.kosherdeli.co.uk

MARTIN FRYDENSON - ROUNDTREE REAL ESTATE

Roundtree Real Estate are your local experienced Estate Agent having been established on the High Street since 2009. We are both ARLA and NAEA Propertymark regulated and we are here to offer you expert advice in Property Sales, Lettings, Commercial and Full Management Services, covering Hendon, Golders Green, Finchley, Colindale and surrounding areas. We have built long standing relationships with all our clients and should you have any property related queries please do contact us.

Contact: 020 8922 2222 helpline@jcare.org www.jewishcare.org

Contact: 020 8203 2111 mail@theroundtree.com www.theroundtree.com

YOUR FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPLIANCE EXPERTS in association with richdale

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

MARTIN HEIMAN – SMARTINET

We’ve been providing businesses with all of their communication needs since 2010. We specialise in supplying businesses with VoIP Packages, Mobile Plans, Broadband, Card Merchant Services, Leased Lines, On-Hold Marketing, and Call Centre Services. Smartinet, your reliable and efficient business communications provider.

UK ALIYAH ADVISORS

KIM BASH REAL ESTATE – KIM BASH

After 10 years working in Real Estate in Israel, Lim established KBRE having seen a growing need for a supportive, proactive service that would help English speaking Olim to navigate the real estate landscape in Israel.

At KBRE we are with you every step of the way – before, during and after you have bought your property, be it a home or an investment. With our agents spread over Israel we are able to help no matter where you want to live or invest.

Contact: 0333 613 0000 connect@smartinet.co.uk smartinet.co.uk

BUILDING AND PARTY WALL SURVEYING

MATRIX SURVEYORS LIMITED

Offering a range of building surveying services and specialising in party wall matters, nationwide, for both consumers and businesses, including; -

• Pre-acquisition Surveys

• Party Wall Matters

• Defect Inspections

• Schedules of Condition

• Insurance Reinstatement Costs Assessments

Contact:

Toli Moscovitz BSc (Hons) MRICS

0161 823 6973 info@matrixsurveyors.co.uk www.matrixsurveyors.co.uk

• Planned Preventative Maintenance Schedules

• Construction Project Management

• Licence for Alterations

• Insurance claims

Contact: +972 (0)54 441 5704 (phone & whatsapp) kim@kimbashrealestate.com kimbashrealestate.com/about/

MANAGED I.T. SERVICES PROVIDER (MSP)

SIMON MOSCOVITZ BSC (HONS) – EUROTEK UK LIMITED

We are a well-established and successful Managed I.T. Services Provider (MSP) with a clear sense of purpose. We plan, design and enable the procurement, implementation, protection and management of a wide range of modern technologies through an earned and trusted partnership with our clients across the UK. We enable our clients to be operationally efficient by successfully embracing their digital transformation journey.

• Why choose Eurotek UK?

Deliver > Manage > Automate > Secure > Backup

Contact: 0161 660 2745 hello@eurotekuk.co.uk www.eurotekuk.co.uk

Family Fun

Hope you had a lovely Shavuot! The counting continues in the week’s Sidra! Although last week, the family of Kehas had been counted and explained what they would be carrying with the Mishkan, the two other families, that of Gershon and Merari are only discussed this week. Gershon is to carry the curtains and the coverings of the Mishkan as well as the ropes that held up the curtains of the courtyard. Merari is to carry the beams, bolts, pillars and sockets of the Mishkan. The Parsha continues with the laws of who is allowed into which section of the encampment surrounding the Mishkan. Most famously, one who has Tzara’at (which often came as a punishment for speaking Lashon Hara) was told to exit all three camps and sit in isolation.

Word Search

We then have the laws of the Sotah, the person who is punished as a result of suspected misbehaviour, but blessed if the accusations are false. This leads to the laws of the Nazir - a person who willingly accepts upon themselves to refrain from drinking wine or cutting their hair. At the end of their time as a Nazir - (during which, they are described as “holy”) they nevertheless bring a sin-offering to bring home the message that self-denial is not always a healthy manner of serving Hashem and part of being human is to recognise what the body needs - all while keeping within the Halacha.

The Kohanim are then taught how to bless the Jewish People and the words used should be familiar to you.

“Yevarechacha Hashem Veyishmerecha” - May G-d bless you and protect you.

“Ya’er Hashem Panav Eilecha V’chuneka” - may Hashem shine His face to you and grant you favour (it’s nice to be liked, especially by Hashem!). Finally, “Yisah Hashem Panav Elecha, Veyasem Lecha Shalom” - May Hashem raise His face (i.e. forgive us) and give you peace. Peace, we are taught, is the container into which all blessings can fall. If there’s no peace, whether internally, within a family, within a community, within a country, then all power and prestige, fame and fortune measure even less than the full stop at the end of this sentence. Much ink has been spilled on the depth and beauty of each of these words.

The Parsha ends with Pesukim that are read on Chanuka - they describe the Korbanot that the princes of each tribe offered up for the inauguration of the Mishkan. Although each appear to be identical - (check them out) they are each recorded individually (and not to make the Sidra the longest in the Torah, which it is), in order to teach us that our service of G-d is unique, even if it appears that “everyone is doing it” (and today we can only wish that “everyone does (any given Mitzva)” as sadly, many people are not aware of the Mitzvot that we are commanded, so how much more precious are the Mitzvot we do and the Torah we learn which we hope one day to teach to others.

Facts

Nasso is the longest parsha in the Torah with 176 verses.

Interestingly the longest psalm in Tehillim also had 176 verses, Psalm 119 and the longest volume of the Talmud had 176 daf, Bava Basra!

Tangram Challenge!

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

Word Wheel

The goal of a word wheel puzzle is to create as many words possible with the letters in the word wheel.

Each word must contain at least three letters. You can only use each letter once and every word must have the letter in the centre of the wheel.

Last week’s words

Use the area below to write the words you have found.

Here are some words you may have found from last week – you may have found more!

gilds guids iglus lings lungs nidus sigil sling slung

Jokes Riddles

Q: Why did the bicycle fall over?

A: Because it was two-tired!

Q: What do you call a bear with no teeth?

A gummy bear!

Q: Why did the tomato turn red?

Because it saw the salad dressing!

suing using bindis blinds blinis builds busing dingus guilds

isling lungis siding sluing bluings sibling sidling sliding buildings

1. I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have no body but I come alive with wind. What am I?

2. What has a face and two hands but no arms or legs?

3. I have eight nights of light, gather around, it’s Hanukkah night. What am I?