DEDICATED TO THE LOVE, INSPIRATION & GUIDANCE OF THE LUBAVITCHER REBBE

This issue has been dedicated in loving memory of

‫ר‘ נחום פסח בן שרה‬ ‫ומרת באשה חינא בת צביה ע“ה‬ And in the merit of their children ‫ שיחיו‬and families May they see success in everything This issue has been dedicated in loving memory of

‫ר‘ מנחם דובער ב“ר חיים שניאור זלמן ז“ל‬ ‫ומרת גיטא בת רייזל ע“ה‬ And in the merit of their children ‫ שיחיו‬and families May they see success in everything

Letter From The Rabbi Dear Friend, Please enjoy this complimentary copy of our Magazine, full of inspirational and timely content, which we are sure you will thoroughly enjoy. The Holiday of Rosh Hashanah marks the Jewish New Year and is a time of renewal for the world. The unique magazine you hold in your hands will help you re-Jew-vinate and will feed your Jewish mind and heart. We are delighted to bring to our readers our pull out calendar for the forthcoming year, which can be found at the center of the magazine. Whilst we look forward to a new year of growth and expansion in all areas, we invite you to take a look at the some of the highlights of our activities in the recent months, and take this opportunity to thank all those who support the work of Lchaim – Chabad Lubavitch. The onset of the New Year 5778 is upon us and we find ourselves confronted by a growing, new and frightening phenomena – which has struck so close to home as well. Homegrown terror and lone wolf attacks. But whether it is London, Manchester, Orlando, Brussels, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Paris or Barcelona there seems to be one common denominator. The internet. The current violence is being perpetrated by individuals who are being radicalized over the internet from watching a YouTube channel or reading a Facebook post. When a person posts something negative and hateful on the internet, it travels around the world within seconds, contaminating the mind of somebody in

London or Manchester. Some crazy, deranged person may read it and be influenced to go on a car ramming attack. Of course, the ultimate responsibility and blame lies with the attacker. But, is there something we can do to help prevent the next attack? So, what do we do? Start flooding your social media accounts with messages of love, hope and inspiration. Talk about how much you love your life and those in it. Every day post something inspirational, your Mitzvah and act of kindness. Let’s flood the internet with goodness and kindness. It will spread, filling people’s minds with hope and happiness. Ancient battles were fought by soldiers but today we are all warriors on the front lines. It is up to each and every one of us to counter this evil. May this year be a sweet year of blessing for you and your family, and let us pray that by igniting our soul, by inspiring our minds, the world around us will follow. And soon we will all be blessed with the coming of Moshiach speedily in our days. Wishing you a sweet New Year,

Sincerely, Rabbi Yisroel Cohen

DIRECTOR: Rabbi Y Cohen EDITOR: Moshe Cohen SECTION EDITORS: Chabad.org editorial staff, The office of Rabbi Sacks, Doreen Wachmann DESIGN: [email protected], [email protected] PHOTOGRAPHY: Lawrence Purcell, Lchaim photo archives SUBSCRIBE: To subscribe for a free copy of The Holiday Times email: [email protected] ADVERTISE: To be part of The Holiday Times contact: [email protected] THE HOLIDAY TIMES: L’Chaim-Chabad Manchester Correspondence Office 42 Singleton Road, Salford, Manchester M7 4LN Tel: 0161.792.6335 WEBSITE: www.lchaim.org.uk © 2017 by L’Chaim-Chabad Lubavitch of Manchester, all rights reserved, including the right to reproduce any portion of The Holiday Times in any form, without prior written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages. The content in this publication produced by Chabad.org, is copyrighted by the author and/or Chabad.org. If you enjoyed these articles, we encourage you to distribute it further, provided that you do not revise any part of it, and you include this note, credit the author, and link to www.chabad.org. If you wish to republish these articles in a periodical, book, or website, please email [email protected].

2

Tishrei 5778

MI TZ VAH TANK

Visit www.lchaim.org.uk/donate and support the vital work of L’chaim Chabad Lubavitch

A new year letter penned by the Lubavitcher Rebbe giving timeless insight into the identity, strength and secret of survival of the Jewish people To my Brethren Everywhere G-d bless you all, Greeting and Blessing: With the approach of Rosh Hashana, and the introspection that it calls forth, both in terms of one's own world and in relation to the world at large, a good starting point would be some reflection on the physical organism, "the world in miniature" (microcosm). In the human organism there are common functions, in which all organs of the body participate in a common effort; and there are specific individual functions pertaining to individual organs. In the latter case, the individual organ must make a special effort to fulfill its particular function, while the common functions are carried out much more easily. What would happen when a particular organ surrenders its individuality and particular function, applying its energy solely towards the common functions? At first glance it would seem to benefit thereby in saving much effort and in the ability to increase its share in the fulfillment of the common functions of the body, together with the rest of the organs. Yet, needless to say, the results would be disastrous both for the individual organ and for the organism as a whole. For the individual organ would lose identity and essence which are predicated precisely on its ability to perform a particular function. Failure to exercise this particular function would, moreover, lead to its atrophy and, eventually, complete uselessness also in the fulfillment of the common functions. As for the organism as a whole, its deprivation of the particular function and the eventual loss of the limb, would be injurious to the whole body, and even fatal — if the organ in question is a vital one. This analogy can truly be applied to the individual in society, and to a minority group within a state, and to a nation within the community of nations. It is certainly true in our case, both on the national level, as a people, and in regard to every Jew individually. The Jewish people, of whom it has been said long ago "for you are the fewest of all people" (Deut. 7:7), is a small minority among the nations of the world, and the individual Jew is a minority in his environment; even living in the midst of his own people, there are places, sad to say, where the Jew living Jewishly, i.e. in accord with our holy Torah and the observance of its precepts in his daily life, is in the minority. What is the specific function of our people, and of the Jew as an individual? It is, of course, easier to ascertain the individual function of any particular organ in the body than the function of a people in the community of nations. However, in the case of the Jewish people, which is unique in its extremely varied experiences and long history, the answer is not difficult to find. By a process of simple elimination, we can easily ascertain what factors have been essential to its existence and survival, and thus determine the essential character and function of our people. An objective, unprejudiced survey of the long history of our people will at once bring to light the fact that it was not material wealth, nor physical strength, which helped us to survive. Even during the most prosperous times under the united monarchy of King Solomon, the Jewish people and state were materially insignificant by comparison with such contemporary world empires as Egypt, Assyria and Babylonia. That it -was not statehood or homeland — is clear from the fact that most of the time, by far, our people possessed no independent state and has lived in the diaspora. That it was not the language, is

By the Grace of G-d In the Days of Selichoth, 5717 [September, 1957] Brooklyn, N.Y. likewise clear from the fact that even in Biblical times Aramaic began to supplant the Holy Tongue as the spoken language; parts of the Scripture and almost all of our Babylonian Talmud, the Zohar, etc., are written in that language. In the days of Saadia and Maimonides Arabic was the spoken language of most Jews, while, later, Yiddish and other languages. Nor was it any common secular culture that preserved our people, since that changed radically from one era to another. The one and only common factor which has been present with Jews throughout the ages, in all lands, and under all circumstances, is the Torah Mitzvoth, which Jews have observed tenaciously in their daily life. To be sure, there arose occasionally dissident groups that attempted to break away from true Judaism, such as the idolatry movements during the first Beth Hamikdosh, the Hellenists during the second, Alexandrian assimilationists, Karaites, etc., but they have disappeared. Considered without prejudice, the Torah and Mitzvoth must be recognized as the essential thing and essential function of our people, whether for the individual Jew, or in relation of the Jewish people to humanity as a whole. Hence the logical conclusion: The policy of imitating the other nations, far from helping preserve the Jewish people, rather endangers its very existence, and instead of gaining their favor will only intensify their antagonism. In like manner, those Jews who court the favor of the non-religious groups by concession and compromise in matters of Torah and Mitzvoth, not only undermine their own existence and that of our people as a whole — for the Torah and Mitzvoth are our very life, but they defeat even their immediate aim, for such a policy can evoke only derision and contempt; and justifiably so, for a minor concession today, leads to a major one tomorrow, and an evasion of duty towards G d leads to an evasion of duty towards man, and who is to say where this down sliding is to stop? At this time, standing as we are on the threshold of the New Year, a time propitious for earnest introspection and stock-taking, I earnestly hope that my brethren everywhere, both as individuals and as groups (and the larger the group, the greater its potentialities and responsibilities), will recognize the Reality and Truth: The essential factor of our existence and survival is our adherence to the Torah and the practice of its precepts in our every-day life. Let no one delude himself by taking the easier way out, nor be bribed by any temporary advantages and illusory gains. The secret of our existence is in our being "a people that dwell alone" (Num. 23:9), every one of us, man or woman, believing in the One G d, leading a life according to the one Torah, which is eternal and unchangeable. Our 'otherness' and independence of thought and conduct are not our weakness but our strength. Only in this way can we fulfill our function imposed on us by the Creator, to be unto G d a "kingdom of priests and a holy nation", thereby being also a "segulah" for all humanity. With prayerful wishes for a Kesivo vachasimo toivo, for a good and pleasant year, 'good' as defined by our Torah, which is truly good, both materially and spiritually, and With blessing

Autumn 2017

3

Best Wishes for a Sweet New Year from Lorraine, Neville, Daniel & Jamie Gouldman

‫שנה טובה‬

and Best Wishes from the Giffen family

Best Wishes for a Sweet New Year from Family Rosenberg

Best Wishes for a Sweet New Year from Accounts Direct

Happy 40th Birthday Mendel Heidingsfeld

!‫שנת ברכה והצלחה‬

Best Wishes for a

‫שנה טובה ומתוקה‬

from Judith & Michael Seitler

Best Wishes for a Sweet New Year from Nicola, Gary, Zak & Talia Scorah

‫שנה טובה‬

from Family Clayton

Best Wishes for

‫שנה טובה ומתוקה‬

from Marcelle & Geoff Kuhillow, with Leila Berens

Best Wishes for a

‫שנה טובה ומתוקה‬

from Boyd, Noya, Kfir, Eden & Nimrod

4

Best Wishes from Family Feddy

Wishing the whole Kehilla a ‫שנה טובה ומתוקה‬ from Aaron and Judith Gouldman

‫ חג שמח‬from Diana, David, Marcus & Judith Shonfield

Best Wishes for a Sweet New Year from the Sussan family

‫ חג שמח‬from Rose & Harvey Barret and Amber, Quincy & Hasel

Best Wishes for a Sweet New Year from the Levy family

Best Wishes for a Sweet New Year from Laura, Ben, Joshua, Avi & Rafi Gardner

Best Wishes for a ‫שנה טובה ומתוקה‬ from Yaakov Hendel Rosen & Family

from Avi, Racheli Shoam and Osher Levy

Tishrei 5778

‫שנה טובה ומתוקה‬

L’chaim Chabad Lubavitch spring/summer 2017/5777

figures & highlights Nissan / April

Iyar / May

Budget

Budget

£48,000

£40,000

11,000

6,000

reaching out to

reaching out to

people

Highlight: Pesach Holiday Campaign

people Highlight: Lag B’omer Parade of Jewish Pride

sivan / june

tammuz / july

Budget

Budget

£27,000

£12,000

8,500

3,000

reaching out to

reaching out to

people

people

Highlight: Shavuot Holiday Campaign

Highlight: CTeen End Of Year Dinner

av / august

elul / september

Budget

Budget

£12,000

£14,000

4,500

3,000

reaching out to

reaching out to

people

people

Highlight: Roving Rabbi’s Program

Highlight: Kosher Mezuzah Campaign

Support L’Chaim Chabad Lubavitch!

Autumn 2017

5

L’chaim Chabad Lubavitch spring/summer 2017/5777

INFANTS 12 interactive sessions captivating over 60 young minds with the beauty of their heritage.

ADULT EDUCATION Chavrusa Study programs, Holiday hands-on experiences and specialized courses totaling over 140 sessions providing depth and meaning for 190 men & women

CHILDREN 4,000+ children involved in over 165 various club sessions, events, programs and Holiday campaigns

TEENS Over 80 Discussion groups, Shabbatons, fun trips and humanitarian projects organized to continuously inspire 100 Jewish teenage boys and girls.

SENIORS 700+ weekly, Shabbos and preholiday visitations, bringing smiles and happy moments to hundreds of elderly people

SOCIAL SERVICES During this season Lchaim Foodbank has helped 30 seniors, 356 children and 107 families with £135,000 worth of food

800 lives were touched with £25,000 of Pre-Pesach aid. 6

Tishrei 5778

Roundup

COMMUNAL Jewish Awareness 1,800 Jewish homes visited weekly 1,000’S of others touched by Mitzva campaigns, Roving Mitzva Mobile and summer visitations

HUNDREDS have purchased letters in the Kids Torah, or have

been enabled to light Shabbat candles TENS of homes have had their kitchen Koshered or have new Mezuzot on their doorways

SPECIAL HIGHLIGHTS • 500 kilos of Shmura Matza distributed • 112 partcipants celebrated freedom family Pesach Seders run by Lchaim Chabad Lubavitch • A crowd of 3,000 men women and children united proudly at the Lag B’omer Family Funday • 500 Children heard the 10 Commandments at Shavuot Ice cream parties • 350 children participated successfully in the ‘Torah for me’ project • 70 homes had their Mezuzos checked

PUBLICATIONS 70 L’Chaim Kids magazine distributed weekly 500+ Mitzva Campaign Brochures distributed 2,000 L’Chaim magazines distributed weekly 3,500 ‘7 Noahide laws’ cards distributed 5,000 copies of L’Chaim Shavuot edition distributed 10,000 copies of The Holiday Times - Pesach issue distributed

COMMUNITY SUPPORT 35 community organisations and Shuls supported with Shabbos and Holiday Torah readings, children’s programs & Shavuos Ice cream parties, special services and bereavement support. Autumn 2017

7

SPOTLIGHT ON…

Rabbi Levi and Rebbetzin Shaina Cohen, who co-direct Manchester’s chapter of the Jewish Learning Institute for L'chaim Chabad Lubavitch, led a contingent of 18 people for a weekend away in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, NY. Accompanied by Rabbi Daniel Walker of the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation, they joined over 300 participants from America, Canada, South America and Europe, for a ‘Shabbat in the Heights’, a shabbaton arranged by the international JLI, where they enjoyed informative lectures by noted educators, and had the opportunity to meet and make new friends with likeminded individuals who share the same enjoyment of Jewish study . From the moment the participants were welcomed into the beautiful homes of the warm, friendly Crown Heights families that were hosting them, they were made to feel like family. The packed schedule included meeting inspiring personalities, sightseeing, shopping opportunities, discussion groups, Q & A, a special visit to the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s house, office, Shul and resting place. The Shabbaton was truly a most memorable and inspirational experience enjoyed by all. “There is no way to put into words how the life-changing JLI trip “Shabbat in the Heights” touched my soul” commented one participant whilst yet another said “I would recommend anyone looking for a truly uplifting and inspiring experience to join Shabbos in the Heights” echoing sentiments felt by all that joined.

8

Tishrei 5778

Registered ch no:1117126

She and the baby are being cared for in a psychiatric unit and Dad’s not coping well.

Other kids don’t want to play with Daniel - they say he’s grubby and smells of wee. He wets the bed when he’s upset - like now. Mum’s had a new baby and doesn’t believe it’s hers.

PLEASE

The Fed is helping to hold the family together and keep Daniel and his sister out of care. Meanwhile, Mum is slowly improving. Hopefully she’ll be back home in time for Yomtov. Supporting The Fed’s Rosh Hashanah Appeal will help give Daniel the best chance of a happier, healthier, safer childhood.

BE AS GENEROUS AS YOU CAN

Donate at www.thefed.org.uk or call us on 0161 772 4800

‫שנה טובה‬

‫שנה טובה‬ To maintain client confidentiality the name and details of this case have been changed. The circumstances described and support given by The Fed are typical of the work we regularly undertake. Autumn 2017

9

COMMUNITY FEATURES

COMMUNISTS, MUSLIMS AND PROUD JEWS

By Doreen Wachmann

ould recommend thewould formerrecommend Soviet republic of Azerbaijan son and the few people weand brought forpeople a minyan Kaddish. FEW the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan son the few we for brought for aAllminyan for Kaddish. All od place for Orthodox Jewish the friends were not Jewish. But there biggerBut mechitsa thana bigger mechitsa than as a good placelife. for Orthodox Jewish life. the friends werewas not aJewish. there was in Meah Shearim.” in Meah Shearim.” abad shaliach to theChabad country’s capitaltoBaku, Rabbi Shneor But shaliach the country’s capital Baku, Rabbi Shneor as found it just Segal that. has found it just that. These traditional practices life easy for themade rabbilife andeasy his for the rabbi and his Thesemade traditional practices family when they recently celebrated their son’s barmitzvah in son’s barmitzvah in family when they recently celebrated their per cent Muslim possesses thecountry best ofpossesses Islamic the best of Islamic The country 96 per cent Muslim Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan. nalism without the anti-Zionism traditionalism without and the attendant anti-Zionism and attendant mitism which characterises most other Islamic states. He said: “We wanted He separate seating. The separate congregation knew antisemitism which characterises most other Islamic states. said: “We wanted seating. The congregation knew what a frum event should look like. They easily accept frum what a frum event should look like. They easily accept frum 0 years of Soviet suppression of Soviet Jewishsuppression practice, most of After 70 years of of Jewish practice, most of customs. People in Azerbaijan have a lot of respect for religion. customs. People in Azerbaijan have a lot of respect for religion. 000 Jews currently in Azerbaijan are understandably not the 30,000 Jews currently in Azerbaijan are understandably not t observant. But, due toobservant. traditional But, Islamic fromIslamic “Non-Jews come to me asking forcome blessings. walk around in my I walk around in my Shabbat dueinfluences to traditional influences from “Non-Jews to meI asking for blessings. eighbours, in some of religious practice, are as practice, Chabadthey hat and jacketChabad and never a wordand of never antisemitism. I theirareas neighbours, in some areasthey of religious are as hat hear and jacket hear a word of antisemitism. I ant as even strict chassidim. have not known one antisemitic incident in antisemitic the eight years I have observant as even strict chassidim. have not known one incident in the eight years I have beenfamilies here. Azerbaijan is onehere. of the most tolerant They Azerbaijan is onecountries. of the most tolerant countries. They tance, Rabbi Segal told me that sometold families future For instance, RabbiinSegal me that in some future been have a very good attitude to Jews.” have a very good attitude to Jews.” and bridegrooms do and not bridegrooms see each other before brides do not seetheir each other before their ments which have been arranged by their strategic reasons Azerbaijan hasreasons extremely good relations with good relations with engagements which have beenrespective arranged byFortheir respective For strategic Azerbaijan has extremely . Israel. The Jewish state is one the country’s largest armscountry’s largest arms parents. Israel. The of Jewish state is one of the supplier like and in Israel a quarter its oil from Azerbaijan. supplier and of Israel buys a quarter of itsThe oil from Azerbaijan. The : “They don’t date till after their engagement, liketheir in the He said: “They don’t date till after engagement, the buys two countries are allies oppositionaretoallies Azerbaijan’s neighbour twoin countries in opposition to Azerbaijan’s neighbour m communities.” very frum communities.” Iran. ng rituals, based on Islamic practices, verypractices, similar are Mourning rituals, basedare onalso Islamic also very similar Iran. In fact when Bibi Netanyahu the Netanyahu country on visited a fleeting In fact visited when Bibi thevisit country on a fleeting visit sh ones. to Jewish ones. at the end of last year and managed to fit into his 12-hour at the end of last year and managed to fit into his 12-hour egal recalled that when recently a non-observant Jewish Rabbi Segal recalled that when recently a non-observant Jewish schedule a meeting of the community and the students at the lost her sister,woman he accompanied her Israeli sister to shiva lost her sister, he accompanied her Israeli sister to shiva schedule a meeting of the community and the students at the Chabad Jewish school.Chabad Jewish school. house. Rabbi Segal said: “Azerbaijan is a very modern, developed country, : “They build aHe tent for“They the shiva. men said: build The a tent forand thewomen shiva. The men and women Rabbi Segal said: “Azerbaijan is a very modern, developed country, wealthy because of the oil.” tally separate with full mechitsa. see theYouvery wereatotally separateYou withcould a fullnot mechitsa. could not see the very wealthy because of the oil.” The Chabad Jewish in Azerbaijan’s Baku, caters forcapital, Baku, caters for The Chabad Jewish capital, school in Azerbaijan’s . There was no-one Jewish there myself, her sister, women. There wasbut no-one Jewish there her but myself, her sister, her school 10

Tishrei 5778

COMMUNITY FEATURES

200 children. The city 200 boasts two synagogues, both two havesynagogues, Chabad After his Israeli born wife Chavi, the couple wereChavi, sent on children. The city boasts both marrying have Chabad After marrying his Israeli born wife the couple were rabbis, one for the ancient community of ancient mountain Jews and of one shlichut to and Krasnodar, Russia. to Krasnodar, Russia. rabbis, one for the community mountain Jews one shlichut for Ashkenazim who for haveAshkenazim settled in who the country for business have settled in the country business When for Chabad arrivedWhen in Krasnodar there were no shuls, there only were no shu Chabad arrived in Krasnodar reasons, attracted by Azerbaijan’s oil prosperity. reasons, attracted by Azerbaijan’s oil prosperity.5,000 assimilated former Jews. former The Segals 5,000 Soviet assimilated Soviet built Jews.a The Segals Rabbi Segal said: “It isRabbi very interesting to know peopletoofget community, opened shul and planned they left Segal said: to “It get is very interesting to know people of acommunity, openedevents. a shul When and planned events. When th different culture. Wedifferent are attracting We have there were more than 35 children in their kindergarten lots of culture.more We teachers. are attracting more teachers. We have there were more than 35 childrenand in their kindergarten and successful programmessuccessful for youthprogrammes and students. we activities for youth women. for youth and women. forEvery youthSunday and students. Every Sunday we andactivities have 100 come to our have shul for More than 500 100different come toactivities. our shul for different activities. More than 500 They thought that Jewish would that be very similar Azerbaijan Theylife thought Jewish life in would be very similar in Aze came to a Purim party.came We had summer camp forhad more than 150 to aa Purim party. We a summer campto forthat more 150 in than South Russia, foundRussia, the mentality to but thatthey in South but theythere foundvery the mentality the kids. Our programmes kids. are getting bigger and are bigger all the time.and bigger Our programmes getting bigger all the time. different. different. “They all come together. We all encourage them toWe keep kosher and “They come together. encourage them to keep But, likekosher Chabadand shluchim the world, the all Segals But, all likeover Chabad shluchim overmanaged the world, the Segals m send their children tosend a Jewish my wifeschool runs the their school childrenwhere to a Jewish wheretomy wifeinruns adapt orderthe to rejuvenate dying Jewish communities. to adapt in order to rejuvenate dying Jewish communities. Jewish and Hebrew studies with the wives Jewishprogrammes and Hebrewtogether studies programmes together with the wives of the other Chabad ofrabbis. She also has rabbis. weekly She classes the other Chabad also for has weekly classes for women, Mommy and women, Me programmes, prepares brides for the Mommy and Me programmes, prepares brides for the weddings I perform and does lotsI of cooking fordoes our many weddings perform and lots ofShabbat cooking for our many Shabbat guests from all over the world.from all over the world. guests “We are really changing their gives us atheir lot of strength to us a lot of strength to “We arelives. reallyIt changing lives. It gives continue. continue. Hundreds of people do not eatofchametz no on Pesach. After no Hundreds people on do Pesach. not eat After chametz Judaism for 70 years under Communism I am veryCommunism impressed toI am very impressed to Judaism for 70 years under see that so many Jews see keepthat Pesach because learnt from they have learnt from so many Jewsthey keephave Pesach because their grandparents to their cleangrandparents the house and dishes to have cleanseparate the house and have separate dishes for Pesach.” for Pesach.” Rabbi Segal was born Rabbi in Migdal HaEmek, Israel, whereHaEmek, his fatherIsrael, where his father Segal was born in Migdal opened a Chabad yeshiva. opened a Chabad yeshiva. After two years in yeshivot Israel, at in the age of 16 Shneor Afterin two years yeshivot in Israel, atcame the age of 16 Shneor came to study at Manchester’s Lubavitch Yeshiva. to study at Manchester’s Lubavitch Yeshiva. He recalls: “I loved it very much. It“Iwas a small He recalls: loved it veryyeshiva. much. ItI had wasvery a small yeshiva. I had very strong personal connections with Rabbis Akiva Cohen, strong personal connections with Yitschok Rabbis Akiva Cohen, Yitschok Sholom Klyne and Rabbi Eliezer Eidelman. TheyEliezer gave me a lot in They gave me a lot in Sholom Klyne and Rabbi Eidelman. life.” life.” After Manchester, Rabbi progressed a yeshiva in After Segal Manchester, Rabbito Segal progressed to a yeshiva in Morristown, New Jersey, USA. HeNew was Jersey, then sent year’sthen sent on a year’s Morristown, USA.onHea was shlichut to Rostov, Russia, after heRussia, continued yeshiva shlichut towhich Rostov, afterhis which he continued his yeshiva studies in Johannesburg, South and thenSouth in Brunoy, studies in Africa, Johannesburg, Africa,near and then in Brunoy, near Paris, for a year. Paris, for a year.

Autumn 2017 11

COMMUNITY FEATURES

By Doreen Wachmann

IN his previous positions Jewish Leadership Council chief executive Simon Johnson has rubbed shoulders with royalty, top politicians, sports and media personalities. Prestwich-born Simon, whose mum Sheila still lives in Sedgley Park Road, started his working life as a lawyer with a firm specialising in entertainment and media, working for clients like Spitting Image and Monty Python. Sports enthusiast Simon, who used to play for the North Manchester Jewish Soccer League and was Whitefield president of Bnai Brith Youth Organisation, then decided to branch out into the sports arena. He told me: “We were very successful. We picked up the Premier League as a client almost as soon as it was formed in 1992.” That was Simon’s first contact with the Premier League. He was then headhunted by ITV as a programme rights lawyer. Ten years later he was headhunted again, this time as the Football Association director of current affairs, after which he was appointed chief operator of England’s 2018 World Cup bid, working very closely with Prince William and David Beckham. But however much Simon enjoyed his high-flying career in the secular world, his happiest moments have been when he has been working for the Jewish community. He told me five years ago when he was warden of Hampstead Garden Synagogue and was co-ordinating the chief rabbinate consultation process: “Every Shabbat and everything I do for the Jewish community is very different from the sports world. It is more like real life. “I have had pressured high profile jobs with much publicity. I was involved with politicians and sports people. But it had a slightly unreal element. When I walk into my shul and sit in the warden’s box, that’s what life is about, family, spending time with friends and community, helping and volunteering.” Simon, who was a regular attender at Prestwich Hebrew Congregation when he was growing up, then went onto chair Hampstead Garden Synagogue and is currently on the shul’s rabbinic selection committee. In October 2013 Simon was asked to take over as JLC CEO at short notice on an interim basis. He was appointed full time in March 2014. He told me how he felt about his present role. He said: “It is just as busy, just as high profile as my previous positions. I am dealing with just as many big characters. There is just as much political intrigue. “The difference is that it’s in my heart. I’m Jewish. This is my 12 Tishrei 5778

community. To provide my skills for the benefit of the community is extremely satisfying, much more satisfying in a completely different way than in my previous roles. Everything I do is for my community.” The Jewish Leadership Council was formed in 2003 as an umbrella organisation for British Jewry’s major organisations. Unlike its sister Jewish umbrella organisation, the Board of Deputies, which dates all the way back to 1760, the JLC consists of the chairs of these organisations, whereas the BoD is composed of mere delegates who have to report back to their committees and do not have their own decision-making powers. This means, says Simon, that the JLC can address the Jewish community’s long-term strategic challenges more easily. The JLC, whose first chair was the then BoD president Henry Grunwald, works closely with the Board, as well its other 33 member institutions. Simon says: “We co-ordinate a lot of community activity, identify and facilitate comprehensive solutions for community challenges and fills gaps in provision.” Simon boasts that under his leadership the JLC has absolutely revolutionised the community’s fight back against the delegitimisation of Israel. Three or four years ago there was a whole raft of local authorities trying to pass motions boycotting Israel. There hasn’t been a single boycott motion passed since. The JLC helped to launch the Local Government Friends of Israel which builds relationships with local authorities all around the country. Simon said: “We have transformed our community’s abilities to liaise with local government and MPs.” The JLC also came out with a report on Jewish schools which facilitated the creation of the Partnership for Jewish Schools which provides curriculum support, as well as Reshet which supports those working in informal Jewish education. The JLC liaises with most British Jewish organisations, including with Chabad with whom they organise the annual Chanukah in the Square event in Trafalgar Square. Future major events in the pipeline include celebrations to mark the centenary of the Balfour Declaration and next year’s Israel’s 70th birthday. During the last 18 months JLC has appointed four regional managers in the North West, Yorkshire, the West Midlands and Scotland, to ensure that the British community is not being London-centric in its political activation.

COMMUNITY FEATURES

The JLC North West

JEWISH Leadership Council manager North West MarcChabad first gotwhen turned when JEWISH Leadership Council North West regional Marcregional Marcmanager first got Marc turned onto heonto wentChabad travelling withhe went travelli Levyhis loves his religion and his community. friends in Europe. Levy loves his religion and community. friends in Europe. is why he gave up a law to become JLC“Everywhere regional He wentI Chabad were there. I fin Which is why he gaveWhich up a law career to become JLCcareer regional He said: we said: went“Everywhere Chabad werewethere. find their manager last year. selflessness truly humbling.” manager last year. selflessness truly humbling.” He love told my me:job. “I absolutely my job. I gave a career in law to Rebbe’s Then he read He told me: “I absolutely I gave up love a career in law to upThen he read The Army byThe Sue Rebbe’s Fishkoff,Army who by wasSue an Fishkoff, who it. The Manchester is a special place to have unaffiliated whoChabad stayed couples with various do it. The Manchester do Jewish community is a Jewish special community place to have unaffiliated Jew who stayed with Jew various roundChabad couple been up and to raise my children.” USA. been brought up and to raisebrought my children.” USA. Broughton Park-born Marc also a very softMarc spot for Chabad. Marc “It reallybook was and an eye opening book and it high Broughton Park-born Marc also has a very soft spot forhas Chabad. says: “It really was an says: eye opening it highlighted how are.” amazing the shluchim are.” howorganisation.” amazing the shluchim He told “I think Chabad organisation.” is the most incredible He told me: “I think Chabad is me: the most incredible Closerfriendly to home, he Chabad became rabbis friendly with to members, home, he became with Levi andChabad rabbis L Hailing from with an Orthodox family, with manyCloser charedi Hailing from an Orthodox family, many charedi members, Yisroel well asthe Rabbi Daniel Walker, the rabbi of Yisroel Cohen, as well as RabbiCohen, Danielas Walker, rabbi of Heaton Marc says: have always lived in that sort of world.” Marc says: “I have always lived in “I that sort of world.” Park Hebrew Congregation ParkPark Hebrew Congregation where Marc belongs. where Marc belongs. His president father Alan was president of Heaton Hebrew His father Alan was of Heaton Park Hebrew Marc’s wedding to his wife Rachel, nee Ashworth, wa Marc’s wedding to his wife Rachel, nee Ashworth, was Rabbi Congregation and his mother Debbie works in Brackman’s. His Congregation and his mother Debbie works in Brackman’s. His Walker’s first at the congregation. at the congregation. Rachelassistant is now at a teaching Yesoidayfirst HaTorah wife Rachel is now awife teaching Yesoiday assistant HaTorah at Walker’s School. also enjoys the weekly visits of students from Lu School. Marc also enjoys the Marc weekly visits of students from Lubavitch

Autumn 2017 13

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Yeshiva who wish him Good Shabbos in his Whitefield home. Marc’s enthusiasm for his religion and community reaches out far beyond the Jewish world. His mission with JLC is to engage with the leaders of the non-Jewish world in the North West, who, he claims, develop the same loyalty to Jewish practices and the state of Israel as he possesses. He maintains that his infectious enthusiasm is working. He told me: “My role is to engage with the elected politicians across the region, MPs, council leaders and people in civic society to explain the issues that affect Jews in Manchester and nationwide. “I speak with the region’s elected politicians. If there is an issue we can have a quick response. This may involve issues of antisemitism in a constituency or a particular problem on a University campus. Before my role was created, poltiicians did not have a direct line into the Jewish community.” Despite recent reports on the increase of antisemitism in the Labour Party, Marc claims that this is not so among those with whom he deals in the North West. He said: “All the local Labour MPs are extremely welcoming and have actively sought to engage with me and meet with the Community Security Trust. They are all committed to helping the community do whatever we need to do to try combat the rise of antisemitism. The Parliamentary Labour Party is full of excellent politicians, very good people with no troubling views about Israel.” He singled out the North West’s new metro mayors in Manchester and Liverpool for special praise. He said: “Andy Burnham of Manchester is a very good guy. He has sought to engage with us and our member organisations, like the Fed on the social care budget. He spoke at a melave malka at Heaton Park shul. “When Liverpool mayor Steve Rotheram was Lord Mayor of Liverpool he engaged very heavily with Jewish community.” Marc, whose remit covers Manchester, Merseyside, Cheshire and Lancashire, claims that support for Jewish issues among local leaders goes much further than areas with Jewish population. He said: “We now have strong links with politicians who have no connections with the Jewish community in places like Wigan, Bolton, Tameside and Trafford. We have support in very strange places. These politicians are nothing but completely supportive of the Jewish community in fighting antisemitism. “People are involved in the Labour Friends of Israel and the

14 Tishrei 5778

Conservative Friends of Israel in places where there are very few Jews in their constituencies.” He continued: “Some politicians do not realise that schools and shuls are under guard. When I go to my office at the Jewish Cultural Centre I am behind gates with a security guard. It is also the same when I go to Shul or drop my four-year-old twins off at King David School. No-one has ever explained this to politicians. I have accompanied several to Jewish buildings and they are surprised by the levels of security. “We face challenges as a community. A recent report by CST has shown a large increase in antisemitism. But we have an extremely supportive government with security funding for our schools and communal buildings. They have accepted the new definition of antisemitism, which is absolutely critical when dealing with unacceptable and over the top criticism of the State of Israel. We need to say thank you to supportive politicians. Numerous supportive MPs have told me that no-one has ever come up to them and thanked them for their support.” Although some civic leaders are critical of Israeli policies, these politicians are willing to discuss with Marc issues like the deligitimisation of Israel. A proud Zionist, Marc was a founder member of the North West Friends of Israel which was formed three years ago when, during the war in Gaza, there were pro-Palestinian demonstrations outside the Kedem shop in St Annes Square. He said: “I felt very uneasy about a Jewish shop being boycotted in this day and age. I couldn’t believe it was going on in Manchester. The group got together because they weren’t happy with what was going on. Marc feels that North West politicians, “realise that Israel is important for the Jewish community here, where most Jews say that Israel is central to their Jewish identity. We have many civilised and interesting discussions. They are entitled to criticise the government of Israel. There are disagreements, but we can have a civilised discussion in a democracy.” Besides meeting with non-Jewish leaders, Marc keeps in constant contact with Manchester’s rabbinate, synagogues, communal bodies like the Manchester Jewish Representative Council, schools and welfare institutions. He said: “I want to be able to speak with authority on behalf of all the communal bodies. I have lived here all my life. I am a Manchester Jew who cares about all the issues that affect our community.”

Tishrei

A Guide to

Holiday Times, Dates and How-To's

Autumn 2017 15

Holiday Times & Blessings: Shabbat Nitzavim-Vayelech Friday, September 15, 2017 Light Candles at: 7:09 pm Say blessings 5

Shabbat, September 16, 2017 Shabbat Ends: 8:11 pm Rosh Hashanah Wednesday, September 20, 2017 Eve of First day Rosh Hashanah Make an Eruv Tavshilin Light Holiday Candles at: 6:57 pm Say blessings 1 and 4

Thursday, September 21, 2017 Eve of Second day Rosh Hashanah Light Holiday Candles after: 7:59 pm Light candles from a pre-existing flame only, say blessings 1 and 4

Shabbat Ha'Azinu Friday, September 22, 2017 Light Shabbat Candles at: 6:52 pm Light candles from a pre-existing flame only, say blessing 5

Shabbat, September 23, 2017 Shabbat Ends: 7:54 pm

Fast of Gedalia Sunday, September 24, 2017 Fast Begins: 5:13 am Fast Ends: 7:45 pm Yom Kippur Friday, September 29, 2017 Eve of Yom Kippur Light Shabbat Candles at: 6:35 pm Say blessings 2 and 4

Shabbat, September 30, 2017 Yom Kippur Ends: 7:36 pm Sukkot Wednesday, October 4, 2017 Eve of First day Sukkot Make an Eruv Tavshilin Light Holiday Candles at: 6:23 pm Say blessings 3 and 4

16

Tishrei 5778

Say blessings 3 and 4

Thursday, October 12, 2017 Eve of Simchat Torah Light Holiday Candles after: 7:08 pm Light candles from a pre-existing flame only, say blessings 3 and 4

Shabbat Bereishit Friday, October 13, 2017 Light Shabbat Candles at: 6:01 pm Light candles from a pre-existing flame only, say blessing 5

Shabbat, October 14, 2017 Shabbat Ends: 7:04 pm

Thursday, October 5, 2017 Eve of Second day Sukkot Light Holiday Candles after: 7:24 pm Light candles from a pre-existing flame only, say blessings 3 and 4

Shabbat Chol Hamoed Friday, October 6, 2017 Light Shabbat Candles at: 6:18 pm Light candles from a pre-existing flame only, say blessing 5

Shabbat, October 7, 2017 Shabbat Ends: 7:20 pm

Blessings

1 2

Shemini Atzeret Wednesday, October 11, 2017 Eve of Shemini Atzeret Make an Eruv Tavshilin Light Holiday Candles at: 6:06 pm

Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom A-sher Ki-de-sha-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov Vi-tzi-vo-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Yom Ha-zi-ko-ron Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom A-sher Ki-de-sha-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov Vi-tzi-vo-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Yom Ha-ki-purim

3 4 5

Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom A-sher Ki-de-sha-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov Vitzivo-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Yom Tov Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Hoolom She-heh-che-yoh-nu Vi-ki-ye-mo-nu Ve-he-ge-onu Liz-man Ha-zeh.

Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom A-sher Ki-de-sha-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov Vi-tzi-vo-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Sha-bos Ko-desh

make an

Eruv Tavshilin

On Jewish holidays, within each 24-hour (night-day) holiday unit, we are permitted to make preparations for all of that unit, but we are forbidden to make any preparations for the following unit, which begins after nightfall. (For example, on a Wednesday night holiday, one may cook for Wednesday night and Thursday. But anything to be used on Thursday night or Friday may be done only beginning Thursday night after nightfall.) The one exception is when a Friday holiday is followed seamlessly by Shabbat, in which case, cooking is permissible on Friday through a mechanism known as an eruv tavshilin, whereby the cooking process is begun prior to the holiday. If a holiday day -- whether the first or second day of a holiday -- falls on a Friday, an eruv tavshilin is set aside on the day preceding the holiday (Wednesday or Thursday afternoon), so that we will be permitted to prepare for Shabbat (cooking as well as any other necessary preparations) on the holiday. Only one eruv is required per household. This eruv consists of a challah or two matzahs, and a cooked food, such as meat, fish, or an unpeeled hard-boiled egg. Take the food items (it is a good idea to wrap them in aluminum foil, or another distinctive packaging, to easily keep them apart from the rest of the foods in your home), and give them to another person (if possible an individual who is a non-dependant), and say: I hereby grant a share in this eruv to anyone who wishes to participate in it and to depend on it. The one holding the food raises it a handbreadth, and then returns it to the person making the eruv, who then recites the following: BA-RUCH A-TAH ADO-NAI E-LO-HE-NU ME-LECH HA-OLAM ASHER KID-E-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VETZI-VA-NU AL MITZVAT ERUV. Blessed are you, L-rd our G-d, king of the universe, who has sanctified us with his commandments, and commanded us concerning the mitzvah of eruv. Through this [eruv] it shall be permissible for us to bake, cook, put away a dish [to preserve its heat], kindle a light, prepare, and do on the holiday all that is necessary for Shabbat -- for us and for all theIsraelites who dwell in this city. The eruv is put away until Shabbat, when it is eaten. In many communities, it is customary to use the challah as one of the two loaves of bread used at the Shabbat meal.

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Autumn 2017 17

Rosh Hashanah Eve of Rosh Hashanah WEDNESDAY

SEP 20 29 Elul

Make an Eruv Tavshilin. See the ‘make an ‘Eruv Tavshilin’ section for a detailed how to. Women and girls light holiday candles tonight to usher in the holiday. See the ‘Holiday times & blessings’ section for candle lighting times and blessings After the evening services we wish one another, “Leshanah tovah tikateiv v’teichateim—May you be inscribed for a good year!” Special festive meal. After reciting the holiday kiddush , we eat the challah bread dipped in honey. It is then customary to eat a sweet apple dipped in honey; the head of a fish, and other symbolic foods.

First Day of Rosh Hashanah THURSDAY

SEP 21

1 Tishrei

All men, women and children should go to the synagogue to hear the sounding of the shofar. Festive lunch meal; the challah is dipped in honey. In the afternoon, the Tashlich prayer service, in which we ask G-d to “cast away our sins into the depths of the sea,” is recited at a body of water (sea, river, lake, pond, etc.) containing fish. Women and girls light holiday candles tonight after dark to usher in the 2nd day of the holiday. See the ‘Holiday times & blessings’ section for candle lighting times and blessings. Kiddush is recited for a festive holiday meal, the Challah is dipped in honey. A "new fruit" should be present on the table when the candles are lit, and when Kiddush is recited. When reciting the shehecheyanu blessing, the kindler should have in mind the new fruit which will be eaten, the same applies when the shehecheyanu is recited during kiddush. After the holiday kiddush, before washing for bread, the new fruit is eaten.

Second Day of Rosh Hashanah FRIDAY

SEP 22

2 Tishrei

SHABBAT

SEP 23

3 Tishrei

SUNDAY

SEP 24

4 Tishrei 18

Tishrei 5778

All men, women and children should go to the synagogue to hear the sounding of the Shofar Festive lunch meal; the challah is dipped in honey. If you did an eruv tavshilin on Wednesday, cook the foods necessary for Shabbat, using a flame that has been lit from the onset of the holiday. Before sunset, women and girls light candles for Shabbat, using an existing flame. See the ‘Holiday times & blessings’ section for candle lighting times and blessings. Shabbat Kiddush and meal. Challah is dipped in honey.

Shabbat Teshuvah (Shuvah)

Shabbat kiddush and meal. Challah is dipped in honey. Afternoon and evening prayers are followed by havdalah.

Fast of Gedaliah

All men and women over the age of bar or bat mitzvah fast from dawn until nightfall, in commemoration of the assassination of Gedaliah, governor of Judea. (Someone who is ill, weak or finds fastinG-difficult should consult a rabbi).

Rosh Hashanah

High Holidays in a nutshell...

The two-day festival of Rosh Hashanah is observed on the The cry of the shofar is also a call to repentance; for Rosh 1st and 2nd days of Tishrei (corresponding this year to Hashanah is also the anniversary of man's first sin and his repentance thereof, and serves as the first of the "Ten Days September 21-22). of Repentance" which will culminate in Yom Kippur, the In Hebrew, Rosh Hashanah means, literally, "Head of the Day of Atonement. Altogether, we listen to 100 shofar Year," and as its name indicates, it is the beginning of the blasts over the course of the Rosh Hashanah service. Jewish year. The anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve, it is the birthday of mankind, highlighting the special Additional Rosh Hashanah observances include: relationship between G-d and humanity. We eat a piece of apple dipped in honey to symbolize our The primary theme of the day is our acceptance of G-d as desire for a sweet year, as well as many other special foods. our King. The Kabbalists teach that the renewal of G-d's All have special significance and symbolize sweetness, desire for the world, and thus the continued existence of blessings, and abundance the universe, is dependent upon this. We accept G-d as our We bless one another with the words Leshanah tovah King, and G-d is aroused, once again, with the desire to tikateiv veteichateim, "May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year." continue creating the world for one more year. Much of the day is spent in synagogue. G-d not only desires to have a world with people, G-d wants an intimate relationship with each one of us. In addition to the collective aspects of Rosh Hashanah worship, each man and woman personally asks G-d to accept the coronation, thus creating the bond of "We are Your people and You are our King."

We go to a lake, river or to the sea and recite the Tashlich prayers, where we symbolically cast our sins into the water, in evocation of the verse, "And You shall cast their sins into the depths of the sea." We leave our old shortcomings behind us, thus starting the New Year with a clean slate

And as with every major Jewish holiday, women and girls light candles on each evening of Rosh Hashanah and recite The central observance of Rosh Hashanah is the sounding the appropriate blessings. of the shofar, the ram's horn. The shofar is sounded on After the prayers each night and morning, we recite both days of Rosh Hashanah. The sounding of the shofar Kiddush on wine, make a blessing over the challah, and represents, among other things, the trumpet blast of a enjoy a festive repast. people's coronation of their king.

Shofar There are things that are important to us, so we speak about them. There are things so important to us that the words flow out in a burst of emotion, rich words, expressive and vibrant. And then there are things that shake us to the core. Things that do not care for the mind's permission or for the right words—for the mind cannot fathom them, the most poignant words could not contain them. Things that can only break out in a cry, in a scream, and then in silence. This is the sound of the shofar: The very core of our souls crying, "Father! Father!"

Autumn 2017 19

Yom Kippur

Eve of Yom Kippur

FRIDAY

SEP 29

9 Tishrei

Preparations for Yom Kippur begin early in the morning with the kaparot (atonement) rite. This consists of waving a chicken over one's head and reciting a traditional text. The chicken is ritually slaughtered and given to charity. It is customary to give charity generously – a great source of merit. We ask forgiveness and make amends with anyone we may have wronged during the year. On this day the primary mitzvah is to eat and drink in abundance. Two meals – festive affairs – are eaten, one earlier in the day, and one just prior to the onset of Yom Kippur. Immediately before the fast begins, it is customary for parents to bless their children. Before sunset, women and girls light candles, and the fast begins. See the ‘Holiday times & blessings’ section for candle lighting times and blessings. There are five areas of pleasure that we avoid on Yom Kippur - from the start of the fast of Yom Kippur until it ends after nightfall the following night: 1. Eating or drinking. 2. Wearing leather footwear. 3. Bathing or washing. 4. Applying ointment, lotions, or creams. 5. Engaging in any form of spousal intimacy. The Yom Kippur services start with the recitation of Kol Nidrei, followed by the evening services.

Yom Kippur SHABBAT

SEP 30

10 Tishrei

In the morning Shacharit—the morning prayer is recited followed by Musaf, which includes a detailed account of the Yom Kippur Temple service. Yizkor is recited during the Musaf prayer. In the afternoon, Mincha is recited, which includes the reading of the Book of Jonah. Finally, in the waning hours of the day, Neilah is recited. During this prayer we have the ability to access the most essential level of our soul. The Holy Ark remains open throughout. The closing Neilah service climaxes in the resounding cries of “Hear O Israel . . . G-d is one.” Then joy erupts in song and dance, followed by a single blast of the shofar, and the proclamation, “Next year in Jerusalem.” After the fast and havdallah, we partake of a festive after-fast meal, making the evening after Yom Kippur a yom tov (festival) in its own right.

Teshuva - Return

The soul begins in an intimate bond with the Origin Beyond All Things. Even as she invests herself into a material world, into a human form, the imprint of that bond remains. It is that bond that pulls her incessantly to return, like a magnet pulling towards its lost other half. All the searching of the human soul is an outward expression of this dynamic, this thirst to return. Yet as innate as this yearning may be, it must nevertheless be awakened. The soul must first realize she is distant. Return in all its strength and passion is found, therefore, in the soul which has wandered far from her true self and then awakened to recognize she is lost. All is intended. For the soul is G-d’s fishing net. In her desperation to reunite with Him, she finds G-d in every concern of this world. And so, these too are pulled in. And the deeper the descent, the greater the treasure.

20 Tishrei 5778

Yom Kippur

High Holidays in a nutshell...

Yom Kippur commemorates the day when G-d forgave the Jewish people for the sin of the Golden Calf. Forty days after hearing G-d say at Mount Sinai, “You shall not have the gods of others in My presence; you shall not make for yourself a graven image,” the Jews committed the cardinal sin of idolatry. Moses spent nearly three months on top of the mountain pleading with G-d for forgiveness, and on the tenth of Tishrei it was finally granted: “I have pardoned, as you have requested.”

From that moment on, this date, henceforth known as the Day of Atonement, is annually observed as a commemoration of our special relationship with G-d, a relationship that is strong enough to survive any rocky bumps it might encounter. This is a day when we connect with the very essence of our being, which remains faithful to G-d regardless of our outward behaviour. And while it is the most solemn day of the year, we are also joyful, confident that G-d will forgive our sins and seal our verdict for a year of life, health and happiness.

eve of Yom Kippur; 2) Shacharit—the morning prayer; 3) Musaf, which includes a detailed account of the Yom Kippur Temple service; 4) Minchah, which includes the reading of the Book ofJonah. Finally, in the waning hours of the day, we reach the climax of the day: the fifth prayer, the Neilah (“locking”) prayer. The gates of heaven, which were open all day, will now be closed - with us on the inside. During this prayer we have the ability to access the most essential level of our soul. The Holy Ark remains open throughout. The closing Neilah service climaxes in the resounding cries of “Hear O Israel . . . G-d is one.” Then joy erupts in song and dance (a Chabad custom is to sing the lively “Napoleon’s March”), followed by a single blast of the shofar, and the proclamation, “Next year in Jerusalem.” After the fast we partake of a festive after-fast meal, making the evening after Yom Kippur a yom tov (festival) in its own right. We immediately begin to look forward to the next holiday and its special mitzvah: the construction of the sukkah.

For nearly twenty-six hours - from several minutes before sunset on 9 Tishrei until after nightfall on 10 Tishrei (corresponding this year to September 29-30) we “afflict our souls”: we abstain from food and drink, do not wash or anoint our bodies, do not wear leather footwear, and abstain from spousal intimacy. We are likened to the angels, who have no physical needs. Instead of focusing on the physical, we spend much of our day in the synagogue, engaged in repentance and prayer. Preparations On the day before Yom Kippur, the primary mitzvah is to eat and drink in abundance. Two festive meals are eaten, one earlier in the day, and one just prior to the onset of Yom Kippur. Some of the day’s other observances include requesting and receiving honey cake, in acknowledgement that we are all recipients in G-d’s world and in prayerful hope for a sweet year; begging forgiveness from anyone whom we may have wronged during the past year; giving extra charity; and the ceremonial blessing of the children.

Happy New Year - ‫שנה טובה‬ to all the Community Daniel Berke

Before sunset, women and girls light holiday candles, and everyone makes their way to the synagogue for the Kol Nidrei services. On Yom Kippur In the course of Yom Kippur we will hold five prayer services: 1) Maariv, with its solemn Kol Nidrei service, on the Autumn 2017 21

Sukkot

The Day Before Sukkot

WEDNESDAY

OCT 4

14 Tishrei

THURSDAY

OCT 5

15 Tishrei

It is customary to bind together the four species: the lulav, hadasim and aravot today, while in the sukkah. Since the festival begins on a Wednesday night, we prepare an eruv tavshilin. See the ‘make an ‘eruv tavshilin’ section for a detailed how to. On the day before Sukkot it is traditional to give extra charity, for true joy is sharing with others. Women and girls light candles -- preferably in the sukkah -- in order to usher in the holiday. See the ‘Holiday times & blessings’ section for candle lighting times and blessings. After evening prayers, we enjoy a holiday meal. Even if it is pouring rain, on this night it is a mitzvah to at least make kiddush and eat an ounce of challah in the sukkah. We dip the challah in honey.

1st Day of Sukkot

We shake the Four Kinds. Festive lunch meal in the sukkah. We dip the challah in honey. After dark, women and girls light candles -- preferably in the sukkah -- for the Second day of Sukkot, using an existing flame. See the ‘Holiday times & blessings’ section for candle lighting times and blessings. After evening prayers, festive holiday meal in the sukkah. We dip the challah in honey.

2nd Day of Sukkot FRIDAY

OCT 6

16 Tishrei

We shake the Four Kinds. Festive lunch meal in the sukkah. The challah is dipped in honey. If you did an eruv tavshilin on Wednesday, cook the foods necessary for Shabbat, using a flame that has been lit from the onset of the holiday. Before sunset, women and girls light candles -- preferably in the sukkah -- for Shabbat, using an existing flame. See the ‘Holiday times & blessings’ section for candle lighting times and blessings. After abridged Shabbat evening prayers (with the addition of the Yaaleh Veyavo insert in the Amidah) festive Shabbat meal in the sukkah.

3rd Day of Sukkot - Chol Hamoed SHABBAT

OCT 7

17 Tishrei

SUNDAY

OCT 8

18 Tishrei MONDAY

OCT 9

19 Tishrei TUESDAY

OCT 10

20 Tishrei

WEDNESDAY

OCT 11

21 Tishrei 22 Tishrei 5778

We do not take the Four Kinds today in observance of Shabbat. Celebrate Sukkot’s Chol Hamoed ("intermediate days"). Between now and Shemini Atzeret, we may resume much (not all) of our regular, workday activities - except for today which is Shabbat; but, of course, we continue to eat in the sukkah. It is customary to drink a glass of wine each day, in celebration of the festival. During all of the Intermediate Days, Yaaleh Veyavo is inserted during all prayers and in the Grace After Meals. After nightfall, perform the Havdalah ceremony.

4th Day of Sukkot - 2nd Day of Chol Hamoed (intermediate day) We shake the Four Kinds. Chol Hamoed (the "intermediate days") are observed with limited work restriction.

5th Day of Sukkot - 3rd Day of Chol Hamoed (intermediate day) We shake the Four Kinds. Chol Hamoed (the "intermediate days") are observed with limited work restriction.

6th Day of Sukkot - 4th Day of Chol Hamoed (intermediate day)

Shake the Four Kinds Chol Hamoed (the "intermediate days") are observed with limited work restriction. Tonight and tomorrow is Hoshanah Rabbah. It is customary in many communities to remain awake all night. It is traditional to recite the Book of Deuteronomy before midnight, and the Book of Psalms after midnight.

7th Day of Sukkot - 5th Day of Chol Hamoed (intermediate day) Hoshanah Rabbah

We shake the Four Kinds. . During the morning services, at the conclusion of the customary Hoshanot we take a bundle of five willows and with it we strike the ground five times. Chol Hamoed (the "intermediate days") are observed with limited work restriction.

Unity Each of the festivals is an "appointment in time" imparting its particular spiritual quality to the Jewish life cycle: freedom on Passover, wisdom on Shavuot, and so on. The quality imparted by Sukkot is unity. Our interdependence and oneness as a people is expressed by the four kinds taken on Sukkot, and by the sukkah's embrace of every Jew -- every type of Jew, and every individual Jew -- within its walls. Whatever size sukkah we build, we must ensure that it should be a "big sukkah" in essence – a welcome home to each and every one of our brethren.

Sukkot

High Holidays in a nutshell...

For forty years, as our ancestors traversed the Sinai Desert prior to their entry into the Holy Land, miraculous "clouds of glory" surrounded and hovered over them, shielding them from the dangers and discomforts of the desert. Ever since, we remember G-d's kindness and reaffirm our trust in His providence by dwelling in a sukkah – a hut of temporary construction with a roof-covering of branches – for the duration of the autumn Sukkot festival. For seven days and nights, we eat all our meals in the sukkah – reciting a special blessing – and otherwise regard it as our home. Weather permitting, some even sleep there.

with song, music, and dance until the wee hours of the morning. Sukkot runs from the fifteenth through the twenty-first of Tishrei (corresponding this year to October 5 – 11). The first two days of this festival (in Israel only the first day) are a major holiday, when most forms of work are prohibited. On the preceding nights, women and girls light candles, reciting the appropriate blessings, and we enjoy nightly and daily festive meals, accompanied by the Kiddush. The remaining days of the festival are Chol Hamoed ("intermediate days"), when most forms of work are permitted. We try to avoid going to work, writing, and certain other activities – many families use this time to enjoy fun family outings.

Another mitzvah that is unique to Sukkot is the taking of the Four Kinds: an etrog (citron), a lulav (palm frond), at least three hadassim (myrtle branches) and two aravot (willow branches). The Midrash tells us that the Four Kinds represent the various types and personalities that Every day of Sukkot, including Chol Hamoed, we recite the comprise the community of Israel, whose intrinsic unity complete Hallel, Hoshanot, and Musaf, and the Torah is we emphasize on Sukkot. read during the morning service. On each day of the festival (except Shabbat), during the The seventh day of Sukkot is called Hoshanah Rabbah daytime hours, we take the Four Kinds, recite a blessing ("Great Salvation"). According to tradition, the verdict for over them, bring them together in our hands and wave the new year – which is written on Rosh Hashanah and them in all six directions: right, left, forward, up, down and sealed on Yom Kippur – is not handed down by the Heavento the rear. (The Four Kinds are also an integral part of the ly Court until Hoshanah Rabbah. On this day we encircle holiday's daily morning service.) the bimah (synagogue reading table) seven times while Sukkot is also called The Time of Our Joy; indeed, a special holding the Four Kinds and offering special prayers for joy pervades the festival. Nightly Water-Drawing Celebra- prosperity during the upcoming year. During the course of tions, reminiscent of the evening-to-dawn festivities held the morning prayers it is also traditional to take a bundle of in the Holy Temple in preparation for the drawing of water five willow branches and beat them against the ground five for use in the festival service, fill the synagogues and streets times. Autumn 2017 23

Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah Eve of Shemini Atzeret WEDNESDAY

OCT 11

21 Tishrei

Since the festival begins on a Wednesday night, we prepare an eruv tavshilin. See the ‘make an ‘eruv tavshilin’ section for a detailed how to. Women and girls light candles -- preferably in the sukkah -- in order to usher in the holiday. See the ‘Holiday times & blessings’ section for candle lighting times and blessings. Festive evening prayers followed -- in most communities -- by the hakafot dancing. After the prayers, we enjoy a holiday meal in the sukkah. (Tonight and the next day, no blessing is made on sitting in the sukkah)

Shemini Atzeret THURSDAY

OCT 12

22 Tishrei

Morning service. Yizkor is recited by those who have a deceased parent. From today’s Musaf prayer forward, and lasting until the first day of Passover, the words “Mashiv haruach u'morid hageshem” ("He causes the wind to blow and the rain to fall"), are inserted into the second blessing of the amidah. Festive lunch meal in the sukkah. After dark, women and girls light candles for Simchat Torah, using an existing flame. See the ‘Holiday times & blessings’ section for candle lighting times and blessings Festive evening prayers followed by hakafot -- jubilant singing and dancing with the Torah scrolls. After the prayers and hakafot, we enjoy a festive holiday meal (no longer do we eat in the sukkah).

Simchat Torah

OCT 13

Morning service and ‘Hakafot’. Everyone, including children, receives an aliyah. Festive lunch meal. If you did an eruv tavshilin on Wednesday, cook the foods necessary for Shabbat, using a flame that has been lit from the onset of the holiday. Before sunset, women and girls light candles for Shabbat, using an existing flame. See the ‘Holiday times & blessings’ section for candle lighting times and blessings. After Shabbat evening prayers, festive Shabbat meal.

SHABBAT

Shabbat Bereishit - Shabbat Mevarchim

FRIDAY 23 Tishrei

OCT 14

23 Tishrei

24 Tishrei 5778

Morning service: Normal Shabbat prayers. Shabbat lunch meal. After nightfall, perform the Havdalah ceremony.

Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah

High Holidays in a nutshell...

The holiday of Sukkot is immediately followed by an independent holiday called Shemini Atzeret. In Israel, this is a one-day holiday; in the Diaspora it is a two-day holiday, and the second day is known as Simchat Torah. This holiday is characterized by utterly unbridled joy, which surpasses even the joy of Sukkot. The joy reaches its climax on Simchat Torah, when we celebrate the conclusion—and restart—of the annual Torah-reading cycle.

mention Sukkot in the day’s prayers; in the Diaspora, however, we do still eat in the sukkah (but without reciting the blessing on it).

The highlight of the second day, Simchat Torah (“The Joy of the Torah”), is the hakafot, held on both the eve and the morning of Simchat Torah, in which we march and dance with the Torah scrolls around the reading table in the synagogue. (In many synagogues, hakafot are conducted These two days constitute a major holiday, when most also on the eve of Shemini Atzeret.) forms of work are prohibited. On the preceding nights, On this joyous day when we conclude the Torah, it is women and girls light candles, reciting the appropriate customary for every man to take part in the celebration by blessings, and we enjoy nightly and daily festive meals, receiving an aliyah. The children, too, receive an aliyah! accompanied by kiddush. We don’t go to work, drive, write, or switch on or off electric devices. We are permitted to After the final aliyah of the Torah, we immediately begin a new cycle from the beginning of Genesis (from a second cook and to carry outdoors (unless it is also Shabbat). Torah scroll); this is because as soon as we conclude studyThe first day, Shemini Atzeret, features the prayer for rain, ing the Torah, G-d’s infinite wisdom, on one level, we officially commemorating the start of the Mediterranean immediately start again, this time to discover new and (i.e., Israeli) rainy season, and the Yizkor prayer (supplicat- loftier interpretations. ing G-d to remember the souls of the departed). (In the Land of Israel, the celebration and customs of these We no longer take the Four Kinds, and we no longer two days are compressed into one day.)

Joy Unleashed On Simchat Torah, we dance with our feet, not with our heads. If we would dance with our heads, each one would dance a different dance, in a different space, with his friends and not others, or as a lonesome soul. For one head is higher, one is lower, one is here on earth and the other in the clouds or beyond. But we dance with our feet, and all our feet are here on the same earth—none higher and none lower—so now we can all dance as one, with one heart, as one people.

Epilouge

High Holidays in a nutshell...

After the post-holiday evening services, it is a Chabad back into the mundane world. Newly invigorated and spiritcustom to announce: “VeYaakov halach ledarko” (“And ually recharged, he can be assured that in the coming year Jacob went on his way!”). he will have the strength and fortitude to unflinchingly An inspiring month of holidays has reached its conclusion. confront all the challenges that life presents, and bring Now it is time for “Jacob” to take all the spiritual treasures meaning and holiness to every area and situation that he has amassed in these few weeks, and “go on his way” divine providence will send in his direction. Autumn 2017 25

COMMUNITY READINGS & INSIGHTS FEATURES

The Sound of Imperfection

By Rabbi Mendel Kalmenson

Rosh Hashanah is referred to in the Torah as "the day of [shofar] blowing." The sounding of the shofar, the ram's horn, plays center stage. What can we learn from the shofar? On Rosh Hashanah we use the shofar to produce a sequence of three sounds. This sequence is repeated many times during the course of the days' prayers: One, long and uninterrupted, is the tekiah. The next one – the teruah – is made up of short spurts of interrupted sounds,1 while the third, like the first, is continuous—a tekiah again. The first and third sounds represent perfection, as they continue unhindered, and even grow in power with time. It is the second one that sings a different song. The song of imperfection, of obstacles, challenges, and inconsistencies. Of short spurts of energy because that's all that can be mustered. It tells the painful story of struggle, of many attempts, of an equal amount of failures, of shortness of breath. It speaks of limited resources, frustration, losses, setbacks, separations, as well as sudden ends; all of which wrench at the heart like the desperate cry of a child.

But it also tells the story of unbeatable determination, of triumphs (small but many), of the strength to move forward, and of beginnings, all of which inspire hope and faith in the hearts of those who listen carefully, unable to help being moved. According to the mystics, the first sound, pure and unadulterated, reflects the perfect beginning of time in Eden, before there was sin. The second sound, the teruah, is the mournful tune of exile, sung by us—the Jews of Diaspora. It cries of interrupted and inconsistent service of G-d. Of love, awe, and faith that stop short as often as they suddenly ring forth. It is the mouthpiece for those who know too much pain, leaving them with no energy – or worse, no willpower – to blow on. They are hindered by the trials of life, from without and within. They have lost their breath. The perfect world reflected in the sound of the tekiah isn't lost forever – Moshiach is on his way. The third sound, which gains in momentum and concludes with a powerful finale, is even more perfect than the first. It prophesies of Messianic times and the return to Paradise. "And on that day [of Redemption] a tekiah will be sounded from a great shofar"—Isaiah 27:13. The teruah will expire, never to return. _______ Yet the psalmist says, "Ashrei ha'am yod'ei teruah," which translates as "Fortunate is the nation who knows how to blow a teruah." Perhaps a deeper reading is: "Fortunate is the nation that knows – i.e., fully appreciates – the unique sound of teruah!" Amid the darkness and hardship, let the teruah be heard! Let us maximize this once-in-a-world-time opportunity. Wishing us all a year of tekiah, with the arrival of Moshiach.

Rabbi Mendel Kalmenson is the rabbi of Beit Baruch and executive director of Chabad of Belgravia, London, where he lives with his wife, Chana, and children. Mendel was an editor at the Judaism Website—Chabad.org, and is also the author of the popular books Seeds of Wisdom and A Time to Heal.

1. The biblical term teruah has two expressions: the shevarim, three medium-length blasts, and what is commonly referred to as the teruah, a minimum of nine short blasts.

26 Tishrei 5778

READINGS & INSIGHTS

Moshiach 101

Two of the most fundamental tenets of the Jewish faith – as listed by Maimonides among the Thirteen Principles of the Jewish Faith – are the belief in the ultimate redemption, an awaited era of world peace, prosperity and wisdom, and the belief that the dead will be resurrected at that time.

The Messianic Era will be ushered in by a Jewish leader generally referred to as the Moshiach (messiah: Hebrew for "the anointed one"), a righteous scion of King David. He will rebuild the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and gather the Jewish people from all corners of the earth and return them to the Promised Land. At that time, "delicacies will be commonplace like dirt." All the nations will "beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore" (Micah 4:3). Humankind will be preoccupied with only one pursuit: the study of G-dly wisdom. "The earth shall be filled with knowledge of G-d as water covers the seabed" (Isaiah 11:9). Okay, so it's going to happen—that's what we believe. But why is this important today? Why is the coming of Moshiach so central to the Jewish belief system? Because the Torah teaches us that there is purpose to our world. And the Messianic Era is the actualization of that idea. There are those who maintain that this crass physical world is merely a strategic challenge; one that the soul must battle and transcend en route to a heavenly paradise. According to this line of

thinking, the physical and mundane has no intrinsic worth, it retains no value whatsoever once its function has been fully served—it is a means to a spiritual end. While Jewish belief also speaks of the soul's reward in the hereafter, earned through its toil in the course of life's journey, it sees the refinement of the physical and the infusion of holiness and purpose into the mundane as the paramount objective. It is the sanctification of the human body and the world at large that constitutes the very purpose of its creation. From the dawn of time, G-d envisioned for Himself a "dwelling place" right here on Planet Earth. And He put us here to fashion this home. To transform darkness into light. And soon the day will come when G-d's glory will be revealed in this nether-realm, and we will enjoy the fruits of our millennia-long work, the end-product of our labor of love. The curtain will be ripped aside, and all flesh will perceive G-d. It will be the culmination of the master plan. The belief in Moshiach has sustained our nation throughout a 2,000 year exile fraught with pogroms, expulsions and persecution—our ancestors' firm belief in a better time to come, and their trust that they would be resurrected to witness that day. And today, finally, we stand at the threshold of redemption. One more good deed by one more person may be all that's needed to seal the deal. May this New Year be a year of redemption for all.

Best Wishes for a Sweet New Year from Andrew Senior and family

Wishing the community a Sweet New Year from Family Shapiro

Best Wishes from Mischa, Asher and Avner

Shana Tova to all the readers of the magazine from Family YM Smith

‫שנה טובה ומתוקה‬

‫ כתיבה וחתימה טובה‬,‫שנה טובה ומתוקה‬

from Hilary and Joe Foxler and family

from Family Abrams

Wishing all ‫ כלל ישראל‬a ‫כתיבה וחתימה טובה‬ David Eliyohu and Esti Simon

from Family Kahan

Happy New Year from Francine, Eddie, Abby, Ellie, Allana & Orly Edwards

Best Wishes for a Sweet New Year from Family Jacobson

‫שנה טובה ומתוקה‬

Autumn Autumn2017 2015 27

What Will t The election of Donald Trump, Brexit, the spiraling crisis in Syria and the Middle East, the threats of global terrorism have defined this as a year of disruption. Many people are tentative and fearful. Many others hopeful and enthusiastic. Rarely do we see such a visible display of divergent attitudes. What will happen in the coming year? Will the new United States President change things, or will we have just more of the same? How many more upheavals can we look forward to? What new revelations and corruptions will emerge? Are we headed toward better times or worse ones? The questions are many. Answers few, if any. If we have learned anything over the last year it is that predictions are futile. Yet, I will venture to make my prediction anyway. No, I don’t have a crystal ball. I have something far better. Read on. By looking back we can see ahead. The greatest guide for the future is the past. We cannot predict the coming year’s events. But we can learn from those before us who have seen and experienced far worse than we will ever see, and rose above it. What is the secret of the resilience and power of heroic people who endured and thrived despite great suffering? One of the most remarkable and overlooked stories of history was the transcendent ability of Torah scholars to produce an enormous volume of literature despite the harshest circumstances surrounding them. Throughout the Early and Middle Ages, with Jewish persecution at its heights, sages like Rashi, Ramban, Rabbeinu Tam, Rashbam, the Tosafists and so many others – literally hundreds of scholars – wrote thousands of pages, containing the most brilliant and eloquent commentary you will ever read. And no where in their writings will you find complaints, bitterness, depression or demoralization. Pogroms, the crusades, persecutions, expulsions, inquisitions were ravaging Europe. But as much as you analyze their words, you will not uncover an iota of the tragic and difficult events taking place around them! Quite the contrary. Page after page is filled with inspiration, uplifting words, enormous strength and powerful insights. Usually, you would expect to find some mention or reference in a book to the personal challenges of the author. Often authors bare their souls and their life traumas in their writings. But even when they don’t, with a bit of deconstruction and analysis, we can uncover the author’s personal traumas. Indeed, entire studies

28 Tishrei 5778

READINGS & INSIGHTS

l the New Year Bring? By Rabbi Simon Jacobson

today are dedicated to show us how to recognize in an author’s words his abusive father and dysfunctional mother, every grievance against society can be seen in his pages. When it comes to our Torah sages, you find none of the sort. No fear, no tentativeness, nothing in their writings reflects the most trying challenges of their times! And what is even more amazing is that this is not an isolated case. Literally every scholar and sage, from the time of Moses, through all the ages, left us with a legacy of writings that reflect a higher world, not at all scarred or touched by the horrible events of the world below. Where did they have the composure, the presence of mind, to focus and produce such clarity? How were they able to not be overcome by doubts and fears for themselves and their families welfare? Take Joseph: Despite his travails – sold by his own brothers into slavery, 22 years away from his beloved father, orphaned from his mother Rachel – you would think that he would have retained some bitterness. In fact, when Joseph finally reveals himself to his brothers, instead of fury and revenge, despite his great suffering, Joseph ends up calming his mortified brothers: “Do not feel guilty,” he tells them, “for it is not you who sent me here, but G-d,” in order to save lives! Simply remarkable. A powerful lesson for all history. Where did Joseph find such strength of character, such power, to not allow his circumstances to shape his life, and instead he shaped his circumstances? Was Joseph – and all the Middle Age sages – out of touch? Hardly. They were keenly aware and sensitive to the welfare of their own children. Yet, they still were able to rise above the fray. How? The answer lies in a powerful expression: “az men iz tzugebunden oiben, falt men nischt unten.” When you are bound above, you don’t fall below. This is the secret of transcendence: the ability to not be defined by the events around us; the recognition that we are products of our own perceptions, and we write the script of our own destinies. Worship man-made devices below, and your life will be determined by your attitude. Connect to the sublime above, and you will be able to rise above the immediate events and move forward with fortitude and optimism.

If you feel that mortals – or money – control the forces of your life, then you have delivered your own verdict: You will be subject to these forces, with all their unpredictability. If however, like Joseph, you recognize that the circumstances of your life are driven by a higher hand, and nothing, absolutely nothing that humans do can control your destiny, then you have freed yourself from the behaviour of others, and can ride through the challenges and even discover how they have empowered you to “save lives.” The very question – “what will be?” “what will happen?” – is our undoing. If you feel that things “happen” to you, or that you “find yourself” in a predicament or situation, then you have relinquished control, and surrendered your destiny to the “things” that you empower. The secret to success in the new year is to not empower the weak forces that drive fear into our hearts. But to empower your own soul; to recognize that you have within yourself all the necessary strength to fulfill your life’s mission. To realize that things don’t happen to you; you make things happen. You don’t “find yourself” in situations; you place yourself in them. We cannot control the events to come. But we can certainly control whether and how we will be influenced by them. Good ships are not those that can stop the storms or tame the waves; they are the ones that ride the swells, confident in their own ability to know when to thrust forward and when to slow down. Not to minimize the challenges of our times, but we can hardly call the year gone by the worst year in history. By looking back to far worse years we can learn how to proceed. And how much of our troubles are actually psychological? Imagine, if a critical mass would have a change of attitude, and learn from our predecessors how to “bind” ourselves to that which is “above.” But for now, before we address the critical mass, let us look at ourselves. No, we do not know what the New Year will bring. But I will make confident prediction: Your attitude will define your year. No matter what happens this year, whatever up and downs will be coming our way, your destiny will be shaped by your attitudes; you will experience exactly what you allow yourself to experience: You will either be dragged down by the gravitational pull of the earth that you worship, or you will be lifted on the wings of your soul that you believe in.

Rabbi Simon Jacobson heads The Meaningful Life Center which bridges the secular and the spiritual through a wide variety of live and on-line programming, videos, webcasts, podcast, articles, and books. The Meaningful Life Center has been called a “Spiritual Starbucks” by the New York Times. It is an outgrowth of Rabbi Jacobson’s teachings which have captured the hearts of thousands of people over the last 25 years. www.meaningfullife.com/2017-a-prediction/

Autumn 2017 29

COMMUNITY READINGS & INSIGHTS FEATURES

By Rabbi Dr Jonathan Sacks

I am a Jew

The deepest question any of us can ask is: Who am I? To answer it we have to go deeper than, Where do I live? or What do I do? The most fateful moment in my life came when I asked myself that question and knew the answer had to be: I am a Jew. This is why. I am a Jew not because I believe that Judaism contains all there is of the human story. I admire other traditions and their contributions to the world. Nor am I a Jew because of anti-Semitism or anti-Zionism. What happens to me does not define who I am: ours is a people of faith, not fate. Nor is it because I think that Jews are better than others, more intelligent, creative, generous or successful. It’s not Jews who are different, but Judaism. It’s not so much what we are but what we are called on to be. I am a Jew because, being a child of my people, I have heard the call to add my chapter to its unfinished story. I am a stage on its journey, a connecting link between the generations. The dreams and hopes of my ancestors live on in me, and I am the guardian of their trust, now and for the future. I am a Jew because our ancestors were the first to see that the world is driven by a moral purpose, that reality is not a ceaseless war of the elements, to be worshipped as gods, nor history a battle in which might is right and power is to be appeased. The Judaic tradition shaped the moral civilisation of the West, teaching for the first time that human life is sacred, that the individual may never be sacrificed for the mass, and that rich and poor, great and small, are all equal before G-d. I am a Jew because I am the moral heir of those who stood at the foot of Mount Sinai and pledged themselves to live by these truths for all time. I am the descendant of countless generations of ancestors who, though sorely tested and bitterly tried, remained faithful to that covenant when they might so easily have defected. I am a Jew because of Shabbat, the world’s greatest religious institution, a time in which there is no manipulation of nature or our fellow human beings, in which we come together in freedom and equality to create, every week, an anticipation of the messianic age. I am a Jew because our nation, though at times it suffered the deepest poverty, never gave up on its commitment to helping the poor, or rescuing Jews from other lands, or fighting for justice for the oppressed, and did so without self-congratulation, because it was a mitzvah, because a Jew could do no less.

I am a Jew because I cherish the Torah, knowing that G-d is to be found not just in natural forces but in moral meanings, in words, texts, teachings and commands, and because Jews, though they lacked all else, never ceased to value education as a sacred task, endowing the individual with dignity and depth. I am a Jew because of our people’s passionate faith in freedom, holding that each of us is a moral agent, and that in this lies our unique dignity as human beings; and because Judaism never left its ideals at the level of lofty aspirations, but instead translated them into deeds which we call mitzvot, and a way, which we call the halakhah, and thus brought heaven down to earth. I am proud, simply, to be a Jew. I am proud to be part of a people who, though scarred and traumatised, never lost their humour or their faith, their ability to laugh at present troubles and still believe in ultimate redemption; who saw human history as a journey, and never stopped traveling and searching. I am proud to be part of an age in which my people, ravaged by the worst crime ever to be committed against a people, responded by reviving a land, recovering their sovereignty rescuing threatened Jews throughout the world, rebuilding Jerusalem, and proving themselves to be as courageous in the pursuit of peace as in defending themselves in war. I am proud that our ancestors refused to be satisfied with premature consolations, and in answer to the question, “Has the Messiah come?” always answered, “Not yet.” I am proud to belong to the people Israel, whose name means “one who wrestles with God and with man and prevails.” For though we have loved humanity, we have never stopped wrestling with it, challenging the idols of every age. And though we have loved God with an everlasting love, we have never stopped wrestling with Him nor He with us. I admire other civilisations and traditions, and believe each has brought something special into the world, Aval zeh shelanu, “but this is ours.” This is my people, my heritage, my faith. In our uniqueness lies our universality. Through being what we alone are, we give to humanity what only we can give. This, then, is our story, our gift to the next generation. I received it from my parents and they from theirs across great expanses of space and time. There is nothing quite like it. It changed and still challenges the moral imagination of mankind. I want to say to Jews around the world: Take it, cherish it, learn to understand and to love it. Carry it and it will carry you. And may you in turn pass it on to future generations. For you are a member of an eternal people, a letter in their scroll. Let their eternity live on in you. This is a transcript of a whiteboard animation video by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, on the subject of Jewish identity. You can find the full video here: http://rabbisacks.org/why-i-am-a-jew/ To subscribe to Rabbi Sacks’ weekly mailing list please sign up, http://rabbisacks.org/subscribe/. You can also follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

30 Tishrei 5778

Autumn Autumn 2017 2016 31

32 Tishrei 5778