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

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. Whilst we look forward to a new year of growth and expansion in all areas, we invite you to take a look at the roundup from the recent months, and take this opportunity to thank all those who support the work of Lchaim – Chabad Lubavitch. 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

This issue has been dedicated in loving memory of

‫ר’ מנחם דובער ב‘‘ר חיים שניאור זלמן‬ ‫ומרת גיטא בת רייזל ע‘‘ה‬ And in the merit of their children ‫ שיחיו‬and families, may they see success in everything

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Mrs. Malcah Cohen CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Moshe Cohen DESIGN: [email protected] SECTION EDITORS: Chabad.org editorial staff, Doreen Wachmann, Geoffery Kuhillow, Karen Schwartz PHOTOGRAPHY: Lawrence Purcell SUBSCRI E: To subscribe for a free copy of The Holiday Times E-MAIL: [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 © 2015 by L’Chaim-Chabad 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].

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Here’s Edith. She’s 89 and has a brain tumour. She can’t look after herself any more and has no relatives to care for her.

Reg charity no: 1117126

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But she doesn’t feel alone 6 - she has a loving family 10 at Heathlands Village. 1

This Rosh Hashanah please remember Edith and others we care for at Heathlands Village. Here they know they are valued and loved and, with your support, people who cannot afford to pay for their care, will still be safe, happy and well cared for in our beautiful home.

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Everyone with Edith in the photo above works or volunteers for The Fed and looks after her in their own way: they pop into her room for a morning hug, stop to chat as she’s on her way to the activity centre or meet up with her for coffee at our Central Cafe.

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KEY 1. Carol Moffatt, Activity Centre Manager 2. Irene Lungu, Team Leader First Floor Flats 3. Sheila Heywood-Holt, Operations Director 4. Sharon Druce, Volunteer 5. Yvonne Holmes, Hospitality Assistant 6. Andi Davies, Finance Officer

7. Rochelle Broman, Fundraising Manager 8. Angela White, Catering Assistant 9. Lisa Miller, Physiotherapist 10. Karen Johnson, Clinical Director 11. Sue Cleary, former Clinical Manager, friend and volunteer

Happy New Year from Edith & her Fed Family To support our Rosh Hashanah Appeal go to: www.thefed.org.uk call Barbara on 0161 772 4079 or send your donation to The Fed, Heathlands Village, Heathlands Drive, Prestwich, M25 9BS

NO JEW PASSED OVER ON PESACH

L’Chaim-Chabad staff and volunteers worked tirelessly throughout the Pesach season to provide educational, humanitarian and social programs that catered to the entire spectrum of Manchester Jewry. More than 250 people enjoyed a hands-on matza bakery experience, geared towards both children and seniors. While the kids were rolling the dough, L’Chaim volunteers were out on the streets giving out hand baked matzas to more than 2,000 people across the North West of England. The L’Chaim food bank was on hand to ensure those less fortunate were provided with the material necessities of the holiday, including food, clothing and shelter. More than 50 families were assisted by the Food Bank. Numerous public Passover sedorim were conducted for the elderly, singles and families, along with a full explanatory Seder for those looking for a deeper, more scholarly experience. On the final days of the festival, dozens of rabbis walked for up to three hours to bring the joy and inspiration of Passover to close to twenty synagogues and communities across the city. Thanks to the dedicated staff, volunteers and students at Chabad, thousands were able to enjoy a more meaningful, liberating and joyous Passover experience.

UPDATE

SPRING/SUMMER 2015/5775

H I G H LI G HTS JEWISH WOMEN’S CIRCLE

MI TZ VAH TANK

LAG B’OMER CELEBRATIONS FOR ALL

Lag B’Omer was celebrated throughout Manchester with a pride and joy befitting the holiday. L’Chaim-Chabad set out to coordinate programming and events for people of all ages that would be as much memorable as it was meaningful. More than 1200 children enjoyed a break from their school day to take part in outdoor carnivals, which were loved by the teachers and principals almost as much as the students themselves. Numerous groups enjoyed barbecues and bonfires, as per the tradition of the day. At the CTeen barbecue, teens used the informal relaxed setting to springboard discussion about the holiday, and Jewish traditions and their relevance in modern lives. The weekly Mishmar club for primary school students enjoyed tales around a bonfire, while the Holy Law and Heaton Park synagogues combined for a unique children's program, carnival rides, face painting, barbecue and “Kumzitz” - a fireside evening of song and inspiration with the Sameach Choir and Rabbi Chazan.

SHAVUOS HOLIDAY CAMPAIGN As the time for the celebration of Shavuot came around, Kids in the Little Chefs program were crafting

Shavuot decorations, while more than 70 women enjoyed baking cheesecakes in preparation for the festival. From Bowdon in the south to Bury in The North, dozens of Synagogues enjoyed ice cream parties following the reading of the Ten Commandments, which were heard by thousands throughout the city. Students at Jewish Day schools in the Greater Manchester were all able to enter into a raffle for grand prizes if they listened to the Ten Commandments on the holiday. A welcome sight at numerous of these synagogues were L’Chaim volunteers who marched on foot across the city to share the joy and meaning of Shavuot with the masses.

CTEEN EUROPEAN SHABBATON IN HOLLAND

Life as a Jewish teenager in Europe can be difficult these days. But transcending differences of language, some 170 Jewish teenagers from Europe - including a proud delegation of Manchester teens- met up in Amsterdam this summer for the Second Annual CTeen (Chabad Teen Network) Europe Shabbaton. Together they found a shared identity, shared interests and concerns as Jews, to foster an experience of Jewish bonding and identity-building. The teen’s had a spirited Shabbat with a special guest Rabbi Jacobs - Chief Rabbi of the Netherlands. The teens also had the opportunity to make new friends, and enjoy some of Holland’s favourite sights, including bike tours, canal cruises and a visit to the famous Zaanse Schans dutch village.

JLI JUDAISM DECODED COURSE

The Jewish Learning Institute of the Lchaim Chabad Lubavitch adult education department held a fascinating six-session course entitled Judaism Decoded, this summer, shedding light on the mysteries surrounding biblical interpretation. How do we know our interpretation is true? If it is true, why is it subject to differences of opinion? And with so many interpretations to choose from, how do we know which one reflects its original intent? These and many more questions, were discussed and debated by participants. Skilfully presented by rabbi Levi cohen, participants discovered the sheer elegance of the "source code" on which Torah law is built; enjoying a fascinating, behind-the-scenes glimpse of the most intellectually sophisticated religion in existence.

RCS SOULMATES COURSE

Judaism places unparalleled value on shalom bayit, peace in the home, and Jewish text and tradition is rich with effective tools, tips, and meditations to enhance our marriage. The Rosh Chodesh Society a sisterhood dedicated to empowering and inspiring and empowering Jewish women, a project of Lchaim Chabad Lubavitch’s Jewish Women’s Circle, held a seven session course, entitled ‘Soulmates’. Presented by Rebbetzin Mindy Chazan, participants were able to tap into Judaism’s vast reservoir of wisdom, both practical and kabbalistic, on a topics which were likely never broached by the Hebrew school teacher.

“The sessions were really informative, and answered many questions that I’ve had from my childhood. The only drawback was that we didn’t have more time!” Judaism Decoded participant Tony B.

“We wait for you every year, you guys are the highlight of our chag!” Member of a Synagogue visited on Shavuos

“This Lag B’omer funday was brilliant, when can you come back again?” Mr. Wolf, Head Teacher NCJPS

“The Cteen Shabbaton was incredible! The Shabbat was an amazing and unifying experience, creating friends from all over the world!” Teen Leader Daniel S.

“I always thought Judaism was just about the food, this course introduced me to whole new world of understanding.” Soulmates participant Sarah H

I will never forget the amazing atmosphere that C-Teen creates, and especially after this trip, I am proud to say that I am a C-Teen leader!! Teen leader Rachel M.

“I’ve been eating matza for 70 years I finally got to make my own and appreciate the process.” Senior Becky H.

“I cannot say the matza led to a proper Passover seder, but my children definitely asked more than four questions.” Samantha B. Recipient of Shmura Matza

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INFANT • Mummy & Me weekly Shabbat party • Little Chefs model matzah bakery • Little Chefs cheesecake making • Mitzvah Club bi-weekly club CHILDREN • Twice weekly Mishmar extra curricular study program • Weekly Shabbat children’s services • Weekly Shabbat afternoon clu seudah • Kids bowling trip • Lag B’omer fun day in schools • Lag B’omer family BBQ • Lag B’omer Mishmar bonfire • Shavuot mitzvah mission campaign • Shavuot Ice Cream Parties • Mishmar Gimmel Tamuz gathering • Mishmar end-of-year shabbat meal CHABAD TEEN NETWORK • G • Bar & Bat Mitzvah tutoring • Teen Leadership Program • NY Shabbaton mini reunion • Lag B’omer BBQ • End of year party • Cteen European Shabbaton • Summer camp placement ADULTS • One on one study sessions, all over, all the time • Thursday night weekly Chavrusa Programme • Studies’ session • RCS ‘Soulmates’ course • JLI My Studies course on Talmud • JLI ‘Judaism Decoded’ course • Pre Pesach classes • Post Pesach Torah conference • Lag B’omer Kumzitz • Shavuot Cheese Truffle making for women • JLI Tisha B’av video presentation SENIORS • Weekly visitation bake • Public Sedarim in care homes • Shavuot Ice Cream Party COMMUNAL • Home visitations • Mitzvah Mobile • Synagogue support services • Mezuza campaign • Tefillin campaign • Shabbat Candle campaign • Sefer Torah campaign • Kosher Kitchen campaign • Jewish Book drive • M Sale of Chametz campaign • Public Pesach Sedarim • Joyous holiday visits to synagogues • Gimmel Tammuz gathering • Torah study cycle completion celebrations • ‘Chayenu’ daily study booklet for people on the go • Small community support PUBLICATIONS • Weekly Lchaim Publica laws’ brochures • The Holiday Times - Pesach edition • L’Chaim Shavuot edition SOCIAL SERVICES • Daily food distribution • Shabbat to share • Visits to the alienated and lonely • Clothes distribution • Emergency financial aid • Bereavement support • Pre Pesac

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ub • Pre-Pesach model matzah bakery • Boys Moshiach seudah • Girls Moshiach Girls weekly chill zone • Boys weekly chill zone • Junior Cteen monthly meetings Sunday morning men’s ‘Torah Studies’ session • Monday evening women’s ‘Torah ns • Friday night Kiddush services • Monthly Shabbat meals • Pre-Pesach Matzah Moshiach campaign • Noahide laws campaign • Shmurah Matzah distribution • ation • Weekly Kids Lchaim publication • Mitzvah campaign brochures • Noahide ch food parcels • Pre Pesach financial aid • Summer Holiday & camp fund

L’CHAIM CHABAD LUBAVITCH

ROUNDUP SPRING/SUMMER 2015/5775

OVER 600 PROGRAMS 1000’S OF PERSONAL INTERACTIONS WEEKLY

Autumn 2015

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L’CHAIM UPDATE

SPOTLIGHT ON… JLI By GEOFF KUHILLOW

EDUCATION, education, education, former prime minister Tony Blair once replied when he was asked his priorities for office. And the same may be said of Rabbi Levi Cohen. For this dedicated 31-year-old seems to spend every waking hour – and possibly some while asleep – thinking of, and teaching, Jewish education. He holds the lofty title of Director of Education and Programming for L’Chaim-Chabad Lubavitch in Manchester. But, in reality, that’s an umbrella for a mind-boggling cornucopia of teaching programmes that occupies more hours in a week than most people could contemplate. But first, a little about him. Levi was born in Manchester a year-and-a-half after his parents, Rabbi Akiva and Malka Cohen, were sent here by the Rebbe to open the Lubavitch Yeshiva. He is the seventh of their 12 children – eight boys and four girls. One of the boys, Elchonon, is a teacher at a yeshiva in Jerusalem and all his brothers work for the Chabad organisation in one capacity or another. Levi learned at his father’s yeshiva for four years, followed by a year in New York and then a year at Lubavitch Yeshiva in Cholon, Israel. Then he studied for semicha at Lubavitch HQ – 770

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Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights. Not only did he become a rabbi there, he also acquired a wife! For it was while studying in New York that he met Argentina-born Shaina. The couple now have a seven-year-old son, Mendele, and four-year-old twins Chaya Mushka and Soroh Leah. At work, there’s hardly a spare minute in his incredibly hectic schedule. He takes 5-10 classes a week – some for men, some for women and some mixed – teaching everything from bare basics of Judaism to complex Talmudic and Kabbalistic studies. In addition, there are lots of one-to-one learning sessions at people’s workplaces by day or homes by night. And on Shabbos, he takes charge of post-barmitzvah boys at the Holy Law Synagogue for a discussion group, musaf and Kiddush. Levi is also responsible for the Beis Hamedrash chavrusa programme where, once a week, yeshiva boys pair up with folks without any yeshiva experience – and they learn in a yeshiva setting a topic at a pace to suit them. And if that little lot isn’t enough, he manages to find time – heaven knows how! – for the Jewish Learning Institute. The JLI? Let Levi explain:

What is the Jewish Learning Institute?

“It’s a fantastic network that teaches three topics a year, each for six weeks, simultaneously in 350 cities worldwide,” he says. “It is of such a high standard – like that of a university – that it makes Jewish wisdom, heritage and knowledge accessible in a very thorough way. “The local JLI chapter was started in the summer of 2013 with a class of 15 people, regardless of affiliation or background. “Now the numbers are growing at the course in Beis Menachem. It is made up of men and women, aged 30-80, who all have one thing in common – they acquire an enormous amount of Jewish knowledge.”

What is unique about the JLI?

Levi says: “For a start, there is nowhere else like it. “It was begun 16 years ago in New York by Rabbi Ephraim Mintz, based on the teachings and directives of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. “The focus was on making Jewish learning more meaningful and accessible to every type of Jew. “Very soon, Rabbi Mintz realised that it was a formula that deserved a wider audience and chapters started springing up across the United States and then the world. “One of the unique aspects of the JLI is that we make use of many different types of thinking, be it procedural, analytical, emotional or any other. “And the JLI takes the training of its teachers very seriously with conferences, training sessions and teaching support.”

How do you see it benefiting the Manchester Jewish community? “In so many ways,” Levi says. “It’s the perfect way of giving the ‘regular Jew’ here in Manchester an opportunity to acquire knowledge in an incredibly wholesome way. “The classes are presented in a way that engages, educates and inspires the students. “In addition, the JLI provides a forum to answer many of their questions which otherwise would have gone unasked. “The goal is to have more and more people benefit from this programme and that it will be just a starter for the individual to continue studying with the impetus to learn and learn.”

How does it fit in with all the many other Chabad programmes you run? “It fits in perfectly,” says Levi. “Education – as the Rebbe taught us – is a far deeper connection with our Judaism than all other traditions and customs. “To connect on an intellectual level is a cut above all other methods. “When a person really understands something, he or she can connect and relate to it a lot more than just going through the motions. “Having said this, all other things that we do – such as the tefillin campaign, kitchen koshering and holiday awareness – are very important but may not necessarily give the person the chance to fully appreciate. “All of our programmes are important but, in a way, this is the most important of all.”

What are some of the topics covered by JLI?

“In the past we have done ‘Judaism Decoded’, which was the breakdown of how the Torah works,” says Levi. “Some courses are very specific, like ‘The Art of Parenting’ or ‘How Happiness Thinks’. And this coming year we will be doing ‘The Journey of the Soul’, which is the Jewish take on afterlife.”

What type of response have you had so far?

Levi says: “It has all been positive. One woman wrote to say that at first she was a bit sceptical because of the price (it was £50 for a six-part course). But now she says she would be prepared to pay double. “Another student wrote to say that lectures were presented in a professional and entertaining manner, complete with summaries and Powerpoint presentations. “What’s more, the man added gratefully: “And I did not fall asleep!”

What goals do you have in mind with this programme? “That’s easy,” says Levi. “It’s to bring geulah (redemption), which will be a time when ignorance is eradicated from the world. “And we’re doing this through education.”

Autumn 2015

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Community Features

By Karen Schwartz

MAKING AN Yeshivas Lubavitch Manchester Yeshivas Lubavitch Manchester draws quite the crowd. In fact, over the years it has attracted so many students from around the world that it has outgrown its current home. The yeshivah started in 1982 with the blessing and direction of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson. It was founded to offer a yeshivah education to young men who didn’t come from observant Jewish backgrounds. At the beginning, it had 10 students and two staff members, and operated in a space rented from a Lubavitch youth center. Today, it welcomes 80 young men and has a staff of ten. Some of its students at this point are the children of

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previous yeshivah attendees. Students stay for two or three years, during which time they take courses that prepare them to become rabbis, teachers or youth workers, and then go on to further pursue education in those arenas. The yeshivah’s new building project will make way for a replica of Brooklyn, New York’s 770 Eastern Parkway about 15 months from groundbreaking. The building will include a 20,000 square foot yeshivah, as well as a school and synagogue. The yeshivah will have space for 120 students.

Yeshivas Lubavitch Manchester prepares for a move to an all new purpose built campus, that will take the success even further, after 30 years of making its mark on the Manchester Jewish community as well as impacting the larger Jewish Community internationally.

Here are views on the Yeshiva from various community members:

Mr Sholom Weiss

Mr Sholom Weiss remembers when the Lubavitch Yeshivah in Manchester was just an idea. Weiss, administrator for the Manchester Yeshiva, was one of six people who got together to start it. He left the family business and, with a blessing from the Rebbe, went full-time into yeshivah work. Today, his students hold a variety of posts globally that put their yeshivah knowledge to work. Weiss has headmasters in schools, Lubavitch emissaries, and some men who’ve gone on to university. There’s an ophthalmologist in London, for example, who walks an hour each way to lead services and teach at a synagogue that doesn’t have a rabbi, he says. “If I look around the world, I have got my alumni in key positions all over. We’re making our mark in the world. They’re using the knowledge they gained in yeshivah to help people to become more knowledgeable about Judaism and to be able to go out into the world to be able to improve their own Judaism.”

“We’re making our mark in the world.”

Rabbi Yosef Akiva Cohen

Rabbi Akiva Cohen joined as the school’s dean as the yeshivah was starting. The Rebbe encouraged him to take the position, he recalls, and gave him a warm welcome. The goals for the yeshivah since the beginning have been to help students grow in Yiddishkeit and Chassidus, and to bring the light of Chassidus to the community, he explains. Every Friday, students go out into the community, and on holidays, as well. Many are preparing to become emissaries of the Rebbe. “They are learning very well and are very successful in all their studies but arealso very successful in spreading the light, interacting with people in schools, homes and offices. They invite people to learn in the yeshivah once a week, a lot of people are coming to study one-on-one. They’re involved in all the holidays, doing tremendous work for the community, they get involved with the youngsters, small communities, young professionals, and old age homes.”

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Rabbi Dovid Hickson

Rabbi Dovid Hickson, local Businessman, Lubavitch activist and a yeshivah trustee, recalls how the yeshivah began and says he is proud of what it has grown into. In addition to being an educational yeshivah for young men from around the world as well as local students, it has enriched the community, he explains. It provides role models for young people and encourages them to dedicate themselves to the Rebbe’s vision over the course of their lifetimes, he says. “Yeshivas Lubavitch Manchester is the jewel in the crown of Kehilas Lubavitch and beyond. It was born out of a desire for an institution that would anchor, influence and energise our Lubavitch community. It is living up to these expectations and more, and is growing both quantitatively and qualitatively. From the outset, we were fortunate to be guided and encouraged by the Rebbe, who addressed numerous answers and letters to the yeshivah and even gave it its name of ‘Yeshivas Lubavitch Manchester’ as well as conditions to be met.”

Mr Carl Harrison

Carl Harrison resident and activist for Jewish people in York, UK, first got involved with the Lubavitch community some 40 years ago, when he met a rabbi in Leeds on the university campus. One rabbi led to another. Now goes by the yeshivah when he’s in Manchester, and helps facilitate students’ visits to area Jews. “They have been extremely helpful. The yeshivah bochurim go beyond, go the extra mile, so to speak. It’s a labor of love and dedication, and a very admirable way that they conduct themselves. They have a deep care for their fellow yidden, their fellow Jews. Nothing is too much trouble. If they can help, they’ll do their best to help, no matter what it takes. I think it’s very, very important (to have the boys come). They bring the Torah, they bring the true Judaism to York and that is so important, I feel very deeply about that.”

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Rabbi Yossi Blesofsky

Rabbi Yossi Blesofsky - Director of Chabad in Northeast Queens, NY, is the proud parent of Yeshiva Alumnus, and is now sending his fourth son to study in the yeshivah. “While there, they learned the tools required to be able to study on their own -- the Talmud as well as Chassidic philosophy. They also learned the importance of being responsible and contributing members of society.” What I like about the Yeshivah and what I think is so important about its message is that it combines the beauty and rich deep scholarship of yesteryear while at the same time finding the right language to inspire a young man who lives in the modern era of iPhones and iPads.”

Mrs Jennifer Berger

Jennifer Berger, activities volunteer coordinator at THE FED (Federation of Jewish Services), has worked with the yeshivah students to provide a feeling of continuity for Jewish residents at a residential care home for the elderly. They come for Shabbat dinner in the winter and lunch in the summer, making the meals lively and full of tradition. “I wanted to enhance the feel of Shabbos in the building, whatever the residents did in their homes before they came here, I wanted them to be able to carry on while they’re here, and the Lubavitch boys have really helped us to achieve that. They come before holidays, they’re always here, and they come and visit on a Shabbos, they’ll come and chat to residents. They’ve all got something special about them, they’re all great boys. As far as we’re concerned they are a big link for our residents. Having someone come in and perform the things that they’ve been doing all their lives, it certainly eases them in and settles people in.“

Mr Bernard Stone

Bernard Stone, president of the Cheetham Hebrew Shul, has had yeshivah boys coming to help make a minyan for decades. The community, which is made up mostly of elderly people, is always glad to see them. “My shul, we had trouble getting a minyan. Boys used to come down to the shul to help us out. All the little boys that used to come are big boys now. Now one boy comes for Shabbos Mincha. He says a few words of Torah. This one who comes now just only started recently, the last one we had for three years was homegrown, he left us to go to yeshivah in Jerusalem. He used to come every Shabbos mincha. I’ve seen the young boys grow up to be rabbis. We like the boys to come – we know them, they’re like family to us.”

“We like the boys to come – we know them, they’re like family to us.”

Mr Sammy Morhaim

Sammy Morhaim, head of Jewish Studies at King David School, has yeshivah students in to run assemblies during the year, often near Purim and Shavuot. They also put on a Chanukah play that students and staff look forward to, he says. “I think that it is great that the Yeshivah encourages the students to get involved with the community. It is also good for our pupils to engage with religious Jewish role models. I hope the yeshivah will continue to involve themselves with our school, especially around the holidays.”

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Holiday Times & Blessings:

Shabbat, September 19, 2015 Shabbat Ends: 8:09 PM

Shabbat, October 3, 2015 Shabbat Ends: 7:33 PM

Shabbat Nitzavim Friday, September 11, 2015 Light Candles at: 7:17 PM

Yom Kippur Tuesday, September 22, 2015 Eve of Yom Kippur Light Candles at: 6:50 PM Say blessings 2 and 4

Shemini Atzeret Sunday, October 4, 2015 Eve of Shemini Atzeret Light Holiday Candles at: 6:21 PM

Wednesday, September 23, 2015 Yom Kippur Ends: 7:59 PM

Monday, October 5, 2015 Eve of Simchat Torah Light Holiday Candles after: 7:28 PM

Say blessing 5

Shabbat, September 12, 2015 Shabbat Ends: 8:27 PM Rosh Hashanah Sunday, September 13, 2015 Eve of First day Rosh Hashanah Light Holiday Candles at: 7:12 PM Say blessings 1 and 4

Shabbat Ha’azinu Friday, September25, 2015 Light Candles at: 6:43 PM Say blessing 5

Shabbat, September 26, 2015 Shabbat Ends: 7:51 PM Sukkot Sunday, September 27, 2015 Eve of First day Sukkot Light Holiday Candles at: 6:38 PM

Tuesday, September 15, 2015 Rosh Hashana Ends: 8:19 PM

Monday, September 28, 2015 Eve of Second day Sukkot Light Holiday Candles after: 7:46 PM

Fast of Gedalia Wednesday, September 16, 2015 Fast Ends: 7:59 PM Shabbat Vayelech Friday, September 18, 2015 Light Shabbat Candles at: 7:00 PM Say blessing 5

Say blessings 3 and 4

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Tuesday, October 6, 2015 Simchat Torah Holiday Ends: 7:26 PM Shabbat Bereishit Friday, October 9, 2015 Light Shabbat Candles at: 6:09 PM Say blessings 5

Shabbat, October 10, 2015 Shabbat Ends: 7:17 PM

Light candles from a pre-existing flame only, say blessings 3 and 4

Tuesday, September 29, 2015 Holiday Ends: 7:44 PM Shabbat Chol Hamoed Friday, October 2, 2015 Light Shabbat Candles at: 6:26 PM Say blessings 5

Blessings

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Light candles from a pre-existing flame only, say blessings 3 and 4

Monday, September 14, 2015 Eve of Second day Rosh Hashanah Light Holiday Candles after: 8:22 PM Light candles from a pre-existing flame only, say blessings 1 and 4

Say blessings 3 and 4

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

Rosh Hashanah SUNDAY

SEP 13 29 Elul

Eve of Rosh Hashanah

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

SEP 14

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.

TUESDAY

Second Day of Rosh Hashanah

MONDAY

1 Tishrei

SEP 15

2 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. After nightfall, perform the Havdalah ceremony.

WEDNESDAY

Fast of Gedaliah

SEP 16

3 Tishrei

SHOFAR

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 should consult a rabbi.) See the ‘Holiday times & blessings’ section for end of fast times.

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!"

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Yom Kippur Eve of Yom Kippur

TUESDAY

SEP 22

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 WEDNESDAY

SEP 23

10 Tishrei

TESHUVA RETURN

In the morning Shacharit—the morning prayer is recited followed by Musaf, which includes a detailed account of the Yom Kippur Temple service. 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 nightfall havdallah is recited ending the fast. We partake of a festive after-fast meal, making the evening after Yom Kippur a yom tov (festival) in its own right. Yizkor is recited before the Musaf prayer.

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.

18

Tishrei 5776

Sukkot SUNDAY

SEP 27

14 Tishrei

MONDAY

The Day Before Sukkot

It is customary to bind together the four species: the lulav, hadasim and aravot today, while in thesukkah. 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

SEP 28

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.

TUESDAY

2nd Day of Sukkot

15 Tishrei

SEP 29

16 Tishrei

We shake the Four Kinds. Festive lunch meal in the sukkah. The challah is dipped in honey. After nightfall, perform the Havdalah ceremony in the Sukkah.

3rd Day of Sukkot - Chol Hamoed (intermediate day) WEDNESDAY

SEP 30

17 Tishrei

THURSDAY

OCT 1

18 Tishrei

FRIDAY

OCT 2

19 Tishrei

Shake the Four Kinds 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 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.

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. Women and girls light candles -- preferably in the sukkah -- in order to usher in Shabbat.. See the ‘Holiday times & blessings’ section for candle lighting times and blessings. After evening prayers, Shabbat meal in the sukkah. We dip the challah in honey.

Autumn 2015 19

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

OCT 3

We do not take the Four Kinds today in observance of Shabbat. Kiddush and Shabbat lunch in the Sukkah. We dip the challah in honey. After nightfall, perform the Havdalah ceremony in the Sukkah. 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.

SUNDAY

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

SHABBAT 20 Tishrei

OCT 4

21 Tishrei

UNITY

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.

"In sukkot (huts) you shall dwell for seven days; all citizens of Israel shall dwell in sukkot." In this verse, the Hebrew word sukkot, which is the plural of sukkah, is spelled without the letter vav, meaning that the word can also be read as sukkat, "the sukkah [of]." Thus the verse is also saying (under the Torah's system of multi-meaning exegesis) that "all citizens of Israel shall dwell in the sukkah." Explains the Talmud: the Torah wishes to imply that "it is fitting that the entire people of Israel dwell in a single sukkah." 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

Shofar & Lulav

Home & Hospital visits

If you or someone you know

CANNOT MAKE IT TO SHUL and would still like to participate in the cherished Mitzvos of hearing the Shofar (on Rosh Hashanah) or shaking the Lulav (on Sukkos) Please contact L'Chaim on 0161.792.6335 or [email protected] mmunity e whole Co ba th g in h is W nu vcuy v

veu,

20 Tishrei 5776

Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah SUNDAY

OCT 4

21 Tishrei

MONDAY

OCT 5

22 Tishrei

TUESDAY

OCT 6

23 Tishrei

JOY UNLEASHED

Eve of Shemini Atzeret

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

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

Morning service and ‘Hakafot’. All males, including children, receive an aliyah. Festive lunch meal. After nightfall, perform the Havdalah ceremony.

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.

Autumn 2015 21

Tishrei in

1

What Are The High Holidays?

Coming in for Landing Think of your year as a kind of space odyssey: You take off, fly around and occasionally get lost. There could be lots of excitement, but then there's the collateral damage - at times, even grand mess-ups. So now it's time to come back home. There you'll get your gear back in tune, reset your sightings, refuel and then take off again with renewed strength to do things even better this time.

A High Holiday Guide for those in the Fast Lane

fast

Where is home? Home is your inner self, that invincible, pristine core, never scathed, ever intact. Torah is your way to get back in touch with that place and to keep the connection solid. What are the High Holidays? The High Holidays are a period of special days at the onset of the new Jewish year, at the cusp between summer and autumn. What's so high about the High Holidays? You are. Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simchat Torah - these are days for you to get more spiritual, more connected, more fulfilled and in tune with your divine inner self. Some days are set aside for reflection and soul-searching, others for joy and celebration. They are filled with meaningful customs and beautiful rituals - especially meaningful and beautiful when you understand what's going on. Which is why we put together this short guide...

22 Tishrei 5776

2 3

Elul

Reconnect You're coming in for landing. Home base is sending out a clear, powerful signal. It's Elul, the last month of the Jewish year and to amplify that signal, we blow the shofar every morning. The month reaches a climax with the days of selichot when Jews gather in the early morning hours for extra, intensified prayers. You need to establish a connection with that signal. How? Here are some suggestions: • Join a Torah study group.

Rosh Hashanah

Re-entry

You're in range. You're tuned into the signal. At this point, home base asks that you identify yourself. It's Rosh Hashanah, a day for saying, "I am a Jew, I belong with this people, I connect, I identify." Once that's established, you can go to the next step, taking on more, learning more, getting yourself into better shape. But everything starts with your idea of who you are. Shofar Rosh Hashanah is called "the birthday of the universe." It's the day that the Grand Programmer of All Things sits back to consider whether this universe is really worth playing and then reboots the system. In fact, "Rosh Hashanah," actually means, "Head of the Year": Like a head contains all the switches for every part of the body, Rosh Hashanah is the time when every day of the year is initialized into the system. It's a crucial stage, when every moment must be filled with good thoughts, words and deeds. Precisely when is reboot? You guessed it: At the first blast of the shofar. Rosh Hashanah has a unique mitzvah: To hear the shofar, a simple ram's horn. After the Torah reading usually around noon - 3O blasts of the shofar are sounded in a prescribed pattern. Later come another 7O for a total of 1OO blasts. Synagogue When the Master of the Universe is dealing with global

• Grab some more mitzvahs like mezuzahs, tefillin, Shabbat candles, charity and volunteering. • If you already have mezuzahs and tefillin, it's customary to have them checked by a scribe at this time. • It's also a good time to make an inventory: What went right, what went wrong, what new habits need to be installed, what needs repair—and what needs to be thrown out of your spaceship. In fact, it doesn't hurt to start on some of those alterations right away. The Details: The shofar is blown every morning except for the eve of Rosh Hashanah. The first selichot are said on Saturday night September 5, 2O15, after midnight, and continue every morning until Rosh Hashanah.

issues, why bother Him with our prayers? Without our prayers, He directs the universe as a king, with strict, impersonal judgment. Our job is to bring a two-way dimension into that relationship, closer to a warm and healthy parent-child model. In fact, the sounds of the shofar are meant to emulate the pleading cries of a child. That's what's behind the prayer, "Our Father, Our King!" Festive Meal We're so solid about our relationship with The Boss that we start celebrating a good year even before it's begun. Each day of Rosh Hashanah, we make both lunch and dinner a festive meal. The strategy is simple: When a father sees his children have confidence in him, he usually follows suit. The same applies to our Father Who Runs the Universe. These feasts are rich with symbolism. We start with kiddush and sweet challah. On the first night, the meal begins with an apple dipped in honey, as we say, "May it be Your will that this year be good and sweet." All the foods are sweet, nothing bitter. On the second night, we eat a new seasonal fruit right after kiddush. Work As with every Yom Tov, we don't go to work, drive, write or switch on or off electric devices. We are permitted to cook and to carry outdoors. Tashlich On the first day of Rosh Hashanah, late in the afternoon, we walk to a body of water containing live fish and recite a prayer that G d, out of His great compassion, will toss our past failures into the sea.

Autumn 2015 23

4

The Ten Days

Return

Now that you know who you are, it's time to come in for landing. That's why the days from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur are known as the Ten Days ofTeshuvah. Teshuvah is too often mistranslated as "repentance." Repentance implies that you were bad and now have to become good. Teshuvah means simply to return. Meaning that you were always essentially good, just that certain behaviours may have been somewhat off base - and now all you have to do is rediscover your true place and your true self and return to there. This is the most spiritual season of the year, a time when our souls are closer to heaven than to earth, whether we notice it or not. On any day of the year, the soul can reach high. On these days, it can touch its essence. Spend these days in meditation, prayer and study ofTorah.

5

Our spaceship has been landed and towed into the hangar for repair. But how do you fix a soul? Screwdrivers won't help. What you need is glue.

You see, fixing a soul is much like fixing a relationship: You need a bond so powerful that all flaws are overlooked and no one has any desire but the good of the other. That's why Yom Kippur is called The Day of At-One-ment: The day that we are at one with our Source Above. Feasting

Yom Kippur

Repair

With each Vidui, the soul is freed and climbs higher and higher, until the ultimate high with Neila, which is recited as Yom Kippur is about to come to an end, as the Gates of Heaven begin to close. On Yom Kippur, after the Torah reading, Yizkor is recited to remember the souls of the departed. We pledge charity on behalf of parents and beloved ones now in the "world of truth." However, the charity cannot be given on Yom Kippur itself, since we do not handle money or write checks on this day.

Eat two good meals the day before Yom Kippur—it's a mitzvah. In fact, feast today and fast tomorrow and it's counted as though you fasted for two days.

At the conclusion of Neila, the entire congregation cries out the Shema Yisraeland the shofar is sounded to usher the holiness of the day back to its place—and to announce the incoming holiday (more on that soon).

Take lots of fluids and avoid heavy foods. Avoid nuts and other edibles that stick in your teeth.

Fasting

If you have children, place your hands on each child's head, one at a time, and give each one a blessing. Forgiving If someone feels you've wronged him or her, try to make up before the fast. At the same time, forgive the misdemeanours of others against you. According to how you forgive others, that's how G d forgives you. Kol Nidre As the sun kisses the horizon, the cantor's voice pierces our souls with the Kol Nidre. But the most vital prayer—repeated eight times over the 25 hours—is theVidui. That is when we accept responsibility for every possible human mess-up we may have made, ripping out their residue from within us. It's not easy to remember all of them, so the prayer book provides a list in alphabetical order. 24 Tishrei 5776

Some think Yom Kippur is a sad day. But how could the highest day of the year possibly be sad? It's just that dealing with physical needs on this day would be the biggest downer, unplugging that connection and hurling us back into the mundane world. That's also why we dress in white on this day, to remind us that today we are as high as the angels, who need neither food nor drink. And yet higher. Finishing As soon as Yom Kippur is over, we return home for a joyous feast. We wish each other "Good Yom Tov!" According to the Baal Shem Tov, we are now in the purest day of the year, since all the souls are clean and shiny like new.

6

The Sukkah

Rehearse

Basic Sukkot Information: Sukkot is an eight-day holiday with three special mitzvahs: • To dwell in a sukkah • To hold the Four Species • To be happy (yes, that's also a mitzvah) The first two and the last two days are Yom Tov, when work is forbidden. During the five days in between, for the most part work is permitted, albeit with certain restrictions. The Sukkah "For seven days, all Jewish people should live in sukkahs, in order that all your generations will remember that I had the Jewish People living in sukkahs when I took them out of Egypt." —The Five Books of Moses, Book III (Leviticus) "The sukkahs were the clouds of glory that surrounded and protected us."—The Talmud Now your spaceship's bright and spiffy and ready to fly. But in order to stay connected during this year's odyssey, best you first rehearse the steps in a controlled environment. That's the sukkah; an all-encompassing, embryonic, virtual world where whatever you do is a mitzvah. Eat, you're doing a mitzvah. Talk, you're doing a mitzvah. Just sit there—you're powerfully connected from head to toe. Upon release from this immersive environment, you'll treat the big world the same way: Discovering how everything you do is another way to connect to the Infinite. Which is the whole idea of Torah. How to do the sukkah thing: Before Sukkot, construct a temporary, 3–4 walled structure directly under the sky—no trees or

overhang above. For roofing, toss on any cut, inedible vegetation that will last for seven days. Favorites are western cedar, bamboo and corn husks (without the corn). Use enough to provide more shade than sunlight. Time-hungry? There are pre-fab sukkah kits that go up in a matter of minutes—just make sure your walls are secure and firm. Check with a salted sukkah-dweller for more details. For seven days, make the sukkah your official home. Don't panic: As long as you eat your meals there, you're okay. But try to include anything else that you would normally do in the house—like reading a book or talking with a friend. Fill your sukkah with guests, enjoy great meals, sing songs, tell stories and speak words of Torah wisdom. Every night of Sukkot invite one of the Seven Shepherds of Israel, in this order:Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron,Joseph and David. On the first night of Sukkot, regardless of weather conditions, make kiddush and eat at least part of the meal in the sukkah. The rest of Sukkot, if the weather gets awful, you can leave the sukkah. After all, you would leave your own house if the roof were leaking buckets, wouldn't you? Each time you leave the sukkah and return to eat a grain-based meal, say a blessing: Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-he-nu Me-lech ha-olam a-sher ki-de-sha-nu be-mitz-vo-tav ve-tzi-va-nu le-shev ba-sukkah. [Blessed are You, L-rd our G d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to sit in the Sukkah.]

The Four Kinds

7

Reunite

"On the first day, take the fruit of the etrog tree, unopened fronds of the date palm, myrtle branches and willows of the brook and rejoice before G d, your G d for seven days." —The Five Books of Moses, Book III Each one of us discovers a small corner of some galaxy, but together we perceive the wonders of an entire universe. So now, get networked—with your Arba Minim ("Four Kinds") device. Here, four very diverse floras create one integral whole. If one is missing—even a humble willow branch—the circuit is broken. Just like us, the Jewish People: Regardless of knowledge or observance, each individual is unique and essential. How to do the Arba Minim thing: Easier than eating cake: The lulav (palm branch) comes wrapped with three myrtle branches and two willow bush branches. Hold those in your right hand and say the following blessing: Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-he-nu Me-lech ha-olam a-sher ki-de-sha-nu be-mitz-vo-tav ve-tzi-va-nu al netilat lulav. [Blessed are You, L-rd, our G d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments & has commanded us concerning the taking of the lulav.]

Now pick up the etrog (stem down) in your left hand. First time this year? Then say the blessing for new things: Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu me-lech ha-olam she-heche-ya-nu ve-ki-yi-ma-nu ve-higi-a-nu liz-man ha-zeh [Blessed are You, Lord our G d, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.]

Hold the etrog together with the other three species. You did it. Repeat every day of Sukkot excluding Shabbat. The custom, however, is to wave the arba minim three times in all six directions: Face east and wave three times to the south, three to the north, three east, three up, three down and finally, three west (over your shoulder). Hoshana Rabba The seventh day of Sukkot is when the global rain factor is set. We circle theTorah reading table in the synagogue seven times with the arba minim while reciting special prayers, and then beat a bundle of five willow branches on the floor. You have a better way to make it rain? Autumn 2015 25

8

Shemini Atzeret

Rejoice & Refuel

"On the eighth day will be a withholding for you. You shall do no burdensome work." - The Five Books of Moses Why is it called a with¬holding? Because G d is like a king who hosts a seven-day party. When everyone is about to leave, he holds back his closest friend and says, "It's hard for us to part. Stay another day and we'll party with whatever is left." - TheTalmud

9

What drives a Jew to take on the entire world and be different no matter what? Guilt can be pretty powerful, but as we have seen today, it's not always effective. The Baal Shem Tov revealed a far better fuel: The power of joy. That's why, for Chassidim, the greatest celebration of the year is the last two days of the High Holiday season,Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah, days dedicated to the joy of being a Jew. Details: One more day to eat in the sukkah—but without the Leshev BaSukkah blessing. We make a holiday kiddush and enjoy a festive meal at night and by day. Shemini Atzeret begins the prayer for rain. Yizkor is also said. On the first night of Shemini Atzeret, we do hakafot (explanation coming up). As with every holiday, we do no work.

10

recycle

Now to the control room for a debriefing. That's when you get called up to the Torah and we read from its final verses. Then, for instructions on your upcoming mission, we begin reading the Torah again from "In the beginning"—to remind you that whatever you see out there, all of it extends from a single oneness calledG d. Hakafot The Five Books of Moses are divided into 53 portions, called parshas. Each week, we read one parsha, completing the entire scroll every year. The cycle begins on the last Shabbat of the month of Tishrei and ends on Simchat Torah. To celebrate, on the night of Simchat Torah, we take out all the Torah scrolls from their ark, parade with them around the reading table seven times—and dance and sing with them. The next morning, we call everyone for a turn at as we conclude the Torah reading. Then we sing and dance with the Torah again. Go find another people that dances with a book. But for Jewish people, Torah is not just a book to study, it is life. For over 33OO years, we have held tight to it, despite all odds, and it has kept us in existence. On Simchat Torah, they say, the Torah itself wants to rejoice—and we provide the legs.

Epilogue

blastoff!

Tishrei, the High Holiday month, is one long, grand high. But it's just a preparation. Your mission begins now, as you blast off into the everyday, workaday world. It's going to be a different world now. Because Tishrei has left you a different person. You're connected, so your world is going to be connected. And that's the point of our entire mission: All together, we're going to make a whole new, plugged-in world.

26 Tishrei 5776

Simchat Torah

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STUDENTS EATING LUNCH AT THE CHABAD HOUSE ON CAMPUS

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28 Tishrei 5776

Happy Birthday!

Community Features

HOLY LAW SHUL CELEBRATES ITS 150TH By Geoff Kuhillow A GROUP of pious Ashkenazi immigrants from eastern Europe gathered beneath corrugated iron erected over two backyards. The year was 1865 – and the Chevra Torah shul was born. Who among those strangely-garbed, Yiddish-speaking Russian Jews, most of them living in the slums of Red Bank, could ever have imagined that their cramped new house of prayer in Park Place would one day evolve into the edifying Holy Law South Broughton Congregation on Bury Old Road, Prestwich, which we know today? As the Holy Law now celebrates its 150th anniversary, it’s perhaps a fitting time to reflect on those poverty-stricken pioneers who disgorged from trains at Manchester’s Victoria station and made their homes a few hundred yards away near the top end of Cheetham Hill Road. Three times a day they davened in the primitive sanctuary they had set up in Park Place - in between trying to eke out a meagre living on sewing machines in the mushrooming sweatshops. Isolated in their self-imposed ghetto, they worked horrendously long hours. But out of a devout love of Yiddishkeit and Orthodoxy, they somehow managed to find time to attend shiurim, too. Indeed, it is said that anyone who didn’t attend at least three shiurim a week would be asked to leave the kehilla.

Soon the Park Place meeting place had to be abandoned and the congregation moved to premises in Fernie Street at the back of Lord Street in the same area. It remained there from 1875-1878. Next came a move to a loft above the “Hay Shop” in Cheetham Hill Road from 1878 to 1901. Not surprisingly, it became known as the “Hay Shop Shul”. Then, in 1901, came amalgamation with the Beth Aaron Shul, which had been founded in 1898 in Red Bank. And the Holy Law and Beth Aaron Synagogue and Beth Hamedrash was born. The congregation met in a converted church in Bank View, Red Bank. The Beth Aaron had been led by wealthy Samuel Aaron Claff, who owned the building and after whom the name “Beth Aaron” originated. The newly-amalgamated synagogue became universally known as the “Claff Shul”. It remained in Bank View until 1933 before a major move to Prestwich and a merger with the Sedgley Park Synagogue. What a wonderful occasion it was on September 15, 1935, when the high and mighty of the community mingled with oh-so-proud congregants to see the present gleaming Holy Law building on Bury Old Road consecrated by the Chief Rabbi, Dr J H Hertz.

Sadly, there are no records now available that would shed light on the Chevra Torah’s growth and activity. But an old Pinkus of 1887 – a THE Pinkus (constitution and ledger) of the old Chevra Torah forerunner to the Holy Law - in a beautiful Hebrew script constitution – recorded in a beautiful Hebrew script by a certain Meir ben Perez from Vilna gives us a few clues. While the state-of-the-art structure was being built, services It lists the aims and objectives, the rules and regulations, the were held in the basement of the Odeon Cinema on Bury New hopes and aspirations of the original founders. Road from 1933-35. Among the rules – translated into English so many decades later by an esteemed Holy Law minister, Rabbi Julius Unsdorfer – was the primary stipulation: “Members must attend regularly Divine services.” Other major points were: “It is obligatory upon every member to listen to the Rav’s discourse. “It is forbidden to talk during prayers or the Reading of the Torah. “Members should refrain from engaging in quarrels of any kind, whether in connection with the Chevra or otherwise. “On the death of a member, the Chevra is responsible for all arrangements for taharah, funeral, etc. No outsider may perform these rituals. All members should attend the funeral.” Every member had to pay three old pence a week or risk having his membership terminated.

Another merger was to come years later – in 1978 – when the old South Broughton Synagogue, of Sabrina Street, was to come under the umbrella, creating the grand title Holy Law South Broughton Congregation. Throughout all its guises, the shul has been fortunate in attracting top spiritual leaders and chazanim. As the 19th century was drawing to a close, the growing Holy Law was fast becoming Manchester’s leading east European congregation. As such, it needed a distinguished rabbinic leader. And it found him in the much-revered Rabbi Menachem Ber Dagutsky, who had come to England in 1886 from Lida, Lithuania (now Belarus). Autumn 2015 29

TOP hats a-plenty at the induction of Rabbi Julius Unsdorfer as minister in July, 1950

He was to lead the congregation with distinction for 30 years and during his rabbinic career was involved in all the major institutions of Manchester orthodoxy. Another one of the “greats” was Rabbi Julius Unsdorfer, who was inducted into office by the Communal Rabbi of Manchester, Dr Alexander Altmann, on July 9, 1950. Rabbi Unsdorfer loved his congregation... and the congregation loved him right back. The community mourned when he died in 1978. The Irish charm and melodious voice of Dublin-born Rabbi Ivan Wachmann then found a home in the Holy Law as he ministered to the congregation for 17 years. After he left the shul in 1990, he began a new career when he moved to Florida and became Spiritual Leader of Temple Shalom Synagogue in Pompano Beach. He later made aliya and died in Israel in March, 2013, at the age of 77. The present Rov, Rabbi Yossi Chazan, has become a legend. What a joy it was for the shul when, in 1991, the New York-born rabbi accepted an offer to become its spiritual leader. A light will often be seen burning in his office at an unheard-of hour when most other people are asleep. There this father-of-12 will be learning, studying, davening, preparing shiurim and sermons, and attending to the hundred-and-one myriad duties which take up every waking hour of his day. Chazanim of the modern era have been a joy to behold. Reuben Berkovits was the shul's chazan from 1953 to his retirement in 1973 – and his singing is still talked about in wonderment by older members of the congregation. Other fine chazanim like Rev Warshavsky, David Gordon and Edwin Ross followed him at Holy Law. Then, at the tender age of just 22, Zevi Neumann became the shul’s youngest-ever chazan when he began leading services in 2001. He inherited his love of chazonus – and his appealing and inspiring voice – from both sides of his family. “My mother’s great grandfather was chazan of the Baal Hatanya, the first Lubavitcher Rebbe, in Lubavitch, Russia,” he says with pride. “And my father’s father, Reb Faish Neumann, was vice-president of the Pressburg Jewish community in Czechoslavakia and had a most delightful voice.” Zevi and his wife Shosh have six-year-old twins, Tzvi and Hadassah. “Tzvi has a lovely voice and comes to chassidic concerts with me,” says Zevi. “Who knows, he may well continue the family tradition.” 30 Tishrei 5776

THE Holy Law’s present Rov, Rabbi Yossi Chazan, pays his respects at the graveside at Urmston cemetery of an earlier revered minister, Rabbi Dagutski

‫ב“ה‬

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3 Milton Crescent • Cheadle, SK8 1NT • 0161-428-1818 [email protected] • www.chainetwork.com

YOUTH Ckids: Monday 3.30-5.00pm @NCJPS BMC: Bat Mitzvah Club for girls once a month, starting 19th October, time tbc Cteen: Teen Club for Girls once a month, starting Tuesday 8th September, time tbc Cteen: Teen Club for Boys, Thursday 6.30-7.30pm, starting 15th October Cheder: Every Sunday morning, individual teaching for your child of any age or level Alef Bet Programme: in partnership with the Hale Trust Parent & Child Learning: Saturday Evening starting 31st October 6.00-6.30pm, from then on 15min after Shabbat ends - for a half hour

WOMEN Pre Rosh Hashanah Challah Bake Make your very own dough - with 4 different fillings Wednesday 9th September, Doors open 8pm, Start 8.15 - Please RSVP Mommy & Me Thursdays 10.30am starting 15th October Jewellery Making Wednesday 28th October, 8.00pm Hands on Food Demo Wednesday 4th & 11th November, 8.00pm

ADULT EDUCATION One + One learning - all week Torah Studies for Women: Wednesday 8:15pm Torah Studies for Men: Thursday 8:30pm Business Shiur: At the Klyne Group, Old Trafford Friday 10:15am Six week course from the JLI Journey of the Soul: An Exploration of Life, Death, and What Lies Beyond Commencing Tue 27 Oct, 8:15pm for men & women.

Dear Reader, We would like w Healthy & Swee ish you and your dear family t New Year an a Happy, it be a year w d ith all the bles well over the fast. May sings that you want, come to need and fr revealed manne uition in the fullest measu re in an open r, with the ulti of Moshiach N mate blessing ow! the coming As now is a ti me of giving, we would like please consid to er a donation to partnering with our effort ask you to s by making our charity Ch to continue to ai serve the enti Network, enabling us on your genero re us contribution community. We rely s. With warm be st wishes and many thanks in your support advance for Rabbi Peretz & Chavi Chein

YOM TOV HOSPITALITY Rosh Hashana Meals Yom Kippur: Break the fast Sukkot Meals Sukkot Tea: Tuesday 29th September, 5.00pm Soup in the Sukkah: Thursday 1st October, from 8.15pm Hakkafot: 4th October, Minchah 6.20pm, Kiddush, Hakkafot and celebration 7.20pm, Yomtov meal 8.00pm

COMMUNAL Inspire - 19/20 Kislev: Wednesday 2nd December 7.45pm Special inspirational evening with guest speaker Rabbi Ari Shishler from Johannesburg, South Africa. Please keep this date free, more details to follow. Chanukah Public Menorah lighting @ Sainsbury’s Cheadle Wednesday 9th December Bikur Cholim: Hospital visitation, Shabbat & Yomtov Hospitality and meals Monthly Shabbat Minyan: 10am start followed with a hot kiddush. 12 Sep. 10 Oct. 21 Nov. 5 Dec. Please be in touch for more details about our inspirational Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur Minyan Autumn 2015 31

Chabad City in the

SERVING MANCHESTER'S JEWISH BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY

Through an array of educational, social and business opportunities, Chabad in the City offers a bespoke Jewish service for Manchester's Jewish business and young professional community chabadinthecity

32 Tishrei 5776

THANK YOU TO OUR 2015 CORPORATE SPONSORS Michael Backner of Bridge Insurance Brokers Risa and Zalman Klyne of The Klyne Group Richard Shonn of 151 Products Nick Freeman of Freeman & Co. Yousef Tishbi of Realty Estates Ian Lewis and Daniel Berke of LHS Solicitors Jonathan and Ed Gee of CG&Co Andrew Berkeley of David Samuel Properties

To partner in future events and programmes contact Rabbi Shneur at [email protected]

Autumn 2015 33

Community Features By Doreen Wachmann

Sephardi Rebirth in Hale

and sonFATHER Rabbis and Shlomo son and Rabbis Amir Shlomo Ellituv and haveAmir Ellituv have ed to Sephardi ministered congregations to Sephardi in congregations South Manchester in South Manchester y 40 years. for nearly 40 years.

s historic Sephardi Now this community historic Sephardi is to enjoy community a rebirth is to as enjoy a rebirth as fully ornate a beautifully new synagogue, ornateincorporating new synagogue, the incorporating best of the best of and modern oriental features, and modern is set to features, open in Hale is setBarns to open in in Hale Barns in ing months. the coming months.

first time For on Rosh the first Hashanah time onservices Rosh Hashanah will be held services in will be held in Hayim’s new Shaare £2.5m Hayim’s building new complex £2.5m in building Wickercomplex Lane. in Wicker Lane.

ed Rabbi Amir An excited said: “A Rabbi Sephardi Amir shul said:the “A Sephardi size of ours shul the size of ours re than 200 with seats more has than not200 beenseats builthas in the not UK been since built in the UK since 0s.” the 1920s.”

Rabbi Amir Ellituv visits the mayor of Trafford with the Jewish Rep Council

mir, who has Rabbi lived Amir, with who hishas family lived in with a house his family on thein a house on the ue building synagogue site for the building last 18 sitemonths, for theislast watching 18 months, is watching the liking of an influx the liking of Sephardi of an influx merchants, of Sephardi attracted merchants, by attracted by truction on thea construction daily basis. But onhe a daily is notbasis. content But just he istonot content just to Manchester’s cotton Manchester’s industry, cotton who were industry, arriving who from were arriving from d watch. With standan and extremely watch. With hands-on an extremely approach hands-on to his approach to his Mediterranean lands Mediterranean with different lands oriental with minhagim. different oriental minhagim. and remembering ministry and the remembering Talmudic injunction the Talmudic that “your injunction that “your In 1917 of 1917 these some newcomers of these broke newcomers away andbroke away and are your builders”, children are Rabbi yourAmir builders”, daily takes Rabbipart Amirindaily the takes part in some the In established the West established Didsbury theNew West Synagogue Didsbury on New Palatine Synagogue on Palatine process himself, buildingasking process thehimself, men onasking the job thetomen teach on the job to teach Road. Road. r crafts. him their crafts. As theoff Withington the Withington wasCongregation set to move was into set newto move into new to him onI the spoke night to him before on he thewas night rushing beforeoff heon was a rushing on a AsCongregation premises on Queen’s premises Road on (now Queen’s Queenston Road Road), (now Queenston between Road), between erved summer well-deserved break. summer break. 1918 and 1921 the 1918 Haham and tried 1921to the make Haham peace tried between to make the peace between the me proudly: He “Today told meI proudly: did some“Today metal Iwelding. did some I get metal welding. I get two communities.two Butcommunities. 40 families broke But 40 away families and founded broke away and founded personally involved in all the personally differentin processes.” all the different processes.” Shaare Sedek Synagogue Shaare Sedek on Lansdowne Synagogue Road on in Lansdowne 1925. Road in 1925. ding, which The is building, due for completion which is due at for thecompletion beginning of at the beginning of It was to Shaare ItSedek was to that Shaare RabbiSedek Shlomo that Ellituv Rabbicame Shlomo in Ellituv came in ill include2016, a Shabbat will include lift to the a Shabbat mezzanine lift to gallery the mezzanine for gallery for 1977. Israeli-born1977. RabbiIsraeli-born Ellituv was of Rabbi Moroccan Ellituv was lineage of Moroccan but lineage but and a combination women and of oriental a combination and modern of oriental features. and modern features. he was brought uphewith wasAshkenazi brought up minhagim. with Ashkenazi minhagim. mir said: “The Rabbibuilding Amir said: will “The be beautiful, building oriental will be beautiful, but oriental but He told me: “I andHe all told my siblings me: “I and went allto myAshkenazi siblings went yeshivot. to Ashkenazi yeshivot. h a modern also look with anda an modern outstanding look and ceiling.” an outstanding ceiling.” I was brought to I Shaare was brought Sedek to from Shaare my Ashkenazi Sedek from shul myinAshkenazi shul in im have lived Sephardim in Didsbury have since lived in theDidsbury latter part since of the the latter part of where the Jerusalem Jerusalem I took services whereinI Ashekenazi. took servicesIt in was Ashekenazi. my It was my ntury. Wealthy 19th century. shipping Wealthy merchants shipping were attracted merchants to were attracted to mama lashon.” mama lashon.” ’s cleanerthe air area’s and large cleaner villasair and andmansions large villas with and themansions with the But peace-loving But Rabbi peace-loving Shlomo wasRabbi happy Shlomo to follow wasShaare happy to follow Shaare of improved advent transport of improved facilities. transport They wanted facilities.to They wanted to Sedek’s oriental minhagim. Sedek’s oriental Introducing minhagim. adult Introducing education and adult education and he cramped escape conditions the cramped of a large conditions part of of thea North large part of the North post-barmitzvah post-barmitzvah classes, Rabbi classes, Ellituv increased Rabbi Ellituv his increased his ster Jewish Manchester communityJewish in Redbank community and Strangeways. in Redbank and Strangeways. community’s adherence community’s to theiradherence faith. Membership to their faith. was Membership also was also a became The so popular area became with upwardly so popular mobile with Jews upwardly that mobile Jewsbythat boosted dozens boosted of largebyfamilies dozens who of large escaped families the who 1979escaped the 1979 y was dubbed Didsbury Yidsbury was dubbed and Palatine Yidsbury Road,and Palestine Palatine Road, Palestine Islamic Revolution Islamic in Iran Revolution and took in Iran refugeandin took Southrefuge in South Sephardi Road. Jews tended Sephardi toJews keeptended themselves to keep to themselves Manchester. to Manchester. ves more themselves than their Ashkenazi more thanneighbours their Ashkenazi and thus neighbours and thus Rabbi Ellituv also Rabbi playedEllituv and still alsoplays played his and partstill in the plays wider his part in the wider e ravages avoid of assimilation. the ravages of assimilation. South Manchester South Jewish Manchester community, Jewish especially community, at North especially at North st Sephardi The shul first inSephardi the area, shulthe in Withington the area, the Withington Jewish Primary School, Jewishwhere Primary he School, taught daily where forhe many taught years daily for many years ation ofCongregation Spanish andof Portuguese Spanish and JewsPortuguese was andJews was anditsstill still supervises Jewish supervises education, its Jewish as welleducation, as at the as well as at the hed in Mauldeth established Road in in Mauldeth 1904 asRoad an offshoot in 1904 ofas an offshoot of Homes. Morris Feinmann Morris Feinmann Homes. m Hill’s Manchester Cheetham Hill’s Congregation Manchester of Congregation Spanish and of Spanish and After Rabbi Martin After van Rabbi den Bergh Martin left van theden Queenston Bergh leftRoad the Queenston Road ese Jews, Portuguese now the Jewish Jews,Museum. now the Jewish Museum. Spanish and Portuguese SpanishCongregation and Portuguese in 1994, Congregation the future in of 1994, the future of hington’s But Spanish Withington’s and Portuguese Spanish minhagim, and Portuguese which minhagim, which South South Manchester’s twoManchester’s Sephardi synagogues two Sephardi camesynagogues into came into me to London had from comeAmsterdam to London from in 1656, Amsterdam were notinto1656, were not to 34 Tishrei 5776

question as an exodus of younger members to Hale meant dwindling numbers in both Didsbury shuls. Rabbi Ellituv undertook the pastoral needs of both Sephardi congregations as negotiations for the amalgamation of the two communities raged for three years. Members agonised over which minhagim to adopt, which building to maintain and keep and whether to build an offshoot community in Hale. he amalgamation of the two communities into Shaare Hayim Synagogue was achieved in 1997 with Rabbi Ellituv and his members alternatively using both Queenston and Lansdowne Road buildings. Rabbi Ellituv said: “During the amalgamation period when we were bringing the two communities together, we had to change some minhagim of both synagogues. We managed harmony. Now people have forgotten who came from Shaare Sedek and who from Queenston Road.” When the Ashkenazi South Manchester Synagogue in Wilbraham Road moved to Bowdon in 2003 about 50 Ashkenazi members still living in Didsbury joined Shaare Hayim. Rabbi Ellituv said: “We tried many things to accommodate them and make them feel at home. We introduced Yizkor, which Sephardim only say before Neilah.” It was more than a decade after the amalgamation before Shaare Haym finally decided to close the beautiful Shaare Sedek building on Lansdowne Road in 2010. Proceeds of the sale went towards building the new synagogue in Hale.

Shabbat lunch. It is very lively.” But he admitted: “The younger generation have moved out of the area. We need to ensure the future of the Sephardi community in Hale where most people are living.” Rabbi Amir says: “There are lots of young families in shul in Hale Barns. Around two thirds of Shaare Sedek’s 350 members live in Altrincham. It is a very exciting time. The wider Manchester Jewish community will benefit greatly from the shul. “Everyone who comes to it enjoys the Sephardi outlook even if they have Ashkenazi backgrounds. They enjoy our tolerance and our traditions which are a blend of oriental minhagim, incorporating lots of Spanish and Portuguese tunes. On Rosh Hashanah we will have between 200-250 people, including children.” Rabbi Amir founded JPRO, a group for professionals which meets in his house and organises singles events. He is also active in local interfaith work, is a chaplain at Manchester Royal Infirmary and governor at Broughton Jewish Primary School and shares Shaare Hayim pastoral duties with his father, regardless of where members live. He says he enjoys harmonious relationships with all the other shuls in the area, including Chabad, Hale Hebrew Congregation and South Manchester Synagogue.

About 17 years ago Rabbi Amir joined his father as Shaare Sedek assistant minister. A minyan was established in Hale in 2002, initially in a kosher restaurant and then in private homes. Five years ago Rabbi Amir and his family moved to Hale and held the minyan in his house. Meanwhile his father Rabbi Shlomo, now living in the grounds of the Queenston Road synagogue, still keeps the Didsbury Sephardi community vibrant, by inviting more than 30 people to his home for Shabbat meals. He still continues to do this, even after the recent death of his beloved rebbetzen Esther. Rabbi Shlomo said: “We have a very happy community with lovely kiddushim. Every Shabbat 30-35 people eat with me. It’s a lively area. It is not the end of the road. It is like a kosher restaurant in my house. A rota of ladies comes on Thursday to help me cook. I invite different families for Friday night and New Shul plans

Queenston Rd Synagogue

Rabbi Shlomo Ellituv in NCJPS

Autumn 2015 35

36 Tishrei 5776

TA'AM GETS BETTER A Taste of Israel on Bury New Road!

Community Features

by Karen Schwartz

The Holiday Times interviews Amos and Martine Vaizman, proprietors of the popular kosher restaurant Ta'am Grill & Deli, ahead of their upcoming development plans and change of venue. Can you give us some background about Ta'am? From my early childhood I was in the kitchen. As a youngster my father ran a successful bakery, restaurant and deli, and I spent much of my free time helping him in the kitchen. My father was great, every customer was served with smile, and he prepared the food with the perfect israeli taste, people just kept coming back. I learnt a tremendous amount from my dad. I came to Manchester to study accountancy and financing in Manchester Metropolitan University, and whilst there I also rediscovered my Judaism. I went on a journey back to my routes, learning, discovering and observing more and more Mitzvot. Amos recalls "when I committed eating strictly Kosher, I yearned for rich flavoured Kosher Israeli cuisine that I grew up with, I didn't think that this would eventually become a reality." After marrying my wife Martine, I was involved in different job opportunities, but I felt they weren't the right place for me. We decided that we would replicate the Israeli deli and restaurant of his youth, right here in Manchester. We went about getting started, and with the help of Hashem, we were able to overcome all the obstacles and get started in the premises we're in today".

What made you think it would be successful? Our strategy was to provide consistently great Kosher food, not fast food but great food all time.

non Jewish community. It is so rewarding to see the bridging of gaps between communities as a result of the warm atmosphere in Ta'am.

Can you comment on your standards of kashrut? We are committed to serving the best quality food, but we are even more committed to the highest standards of Kashrut and to every detail of Jewish law. At times it may look more profitable to compromise or cut corners, but in fact one only gains by following what Halacha says to the finest detail. For example, there many days, where keeping the restaurant open is allowed halachically, but not considered to be best practice. We always to close the shop, and find that the following days are so much busier!

Does Ta'am contribute to the community? As part of the community we always try to help communal organisations and institutions where possible, especially those that are promoting and supporting Torah study. Many of these institutions are working on tight budgets and very often come at short notice. At Ta'am we always strive to cater for them with the best possible service and rates, to suit their needs.

What are your plans for the future?

We try to create the warm Israeli atmosphere here at Ta'am and give each customer a personal feel.

From the start we had a final vision of where it would eventually lead us, but we had to begin by building solid foundations, with the shop we have today.

Over the few short years, Ta'am has become very popular. We attracted a very diverse crowd, from black hatters to the local

We are now in the final stages of completing preparations for exciting developments that will take Ta'am to a whole new level.

We strive to serve great food made fresh daily, a large selection of salads, with the best service possible for the circumstances.

Autumn 2015 37

Work is now being completed on a new two floor premises, to which we will move when completed. The ground floor will host a modern state of the art deli and take away counter, which will enable Ta'am to offer their customers a better and quicker service. The first floor will host a beautifully decorated, spacious and comfortable restaurant. From the beginning when Ta'am exploded onto the Manchester food scene, we've seen Hashem's helping hand literally guiding and aiding us constantly, from starting so strong, the business we've had, to the pending move, we have so much to be thankful for.

Amos and Imran outside Taam’s current venue

38 Tishrei 5776

Israeli Salad Recipe A taste of Israel to enhance your Yom Tov table! 2 large tomatoes USE: salad bowl 2 cucumbers YIELDS: 6 servings 1 red or green pepper 1 scallion 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 Tbsp. minced fresh parsley ½ tsp salt Pepper to taste 1 tsp minced fresh mint (optional) ¼ cup oil 2 to 3 Tbsps. Lemon juice Wash tomatoes and cut into ⅓ inch cubes. Peel cucumbers and dice into ⅓-inch cubes. Dice pepper into cubes. Chop scallions’ fine. Place all vegetables in salad bowl. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Autumn 2015 39

Readings & Insights

Kindness with a heart of its own

By Doreen Wachmann

SAFED is one of Israel’s four holy cities, renowned as an ancient centre of Kabbalah. But Safed today is blighted by poverty. Nearly half the city’s families are known to the social services and are dependent on welfare and nearly 80 per cent of the city’s inhabitants live below the poverty line, half of these religious Jews who are resistant to working outside the home. One man determined to change the economic face of Safed is Rabbi Zalman Bistritsky. Rabbi Zalman founded Chasdei Lev 13 years ago in memory of his late father Rabbi Lev Bristitsky, who was sent by the Lubavitcher Rebbe in 1976 to be Chief Rabbi of Safed. Rabbi Zalman, who spent a year at Manchester’s Lubavitch Yeshiva as a student counsellor, told me: “My father was very devoted to the Safed community. He tried to be a Chief Rabbi, not only for the religious people, but also for the non-religious, whom, he said, were more important. He believed that people have to live together, religious and irreligious.

Families needed on-going professional help to make them not only self-sufficient, but also financially and psychologically successful. He said: “We changed our vision to help people to be financially successful. We want to make Safed a strong financial city where people live normally. “We opened a programme called Family Plus, to bring families from financial minus to plus. In our programme we take poor families who want to change their lives. If we see that they really want to change, they undergo a 12 month - programme in which participants gain professional training in financial matters like budgeting, mortgages, pensions, careers and job advice. One of our projects is to bring companies to Safed to create more jobs. But these days you can work online from home you don’t have to be with a big company.” Motivation to change and improve their lives both financially and psychologically is all that is required to be accepted on a Chasdei Lev programme.

“When he died we wanted to continue his vision for the needy people in Safed. In the first years we just handed out food boxes and clothes. After five years I realised that generations were trapped in poverty and dependence.”

Social workers also work with the family on improving relationships between the husband and wife and their children which can impact upon their family budgeting and financial situation.

He explained: “The main problem is that there are second and third generations of poor families. Poverty is what they saw when they grew up. That is basically why people are not working. There are not enough jobs but we believe that if someone really wants to work, he will find work.”

One satisfied customer is father-of-12 Chaim.

Rabbi Bistritsky realised that short term help of donations, vouchers and food parcels was not helping the problem.

40 Tishrei 5776

He told me: “For a full year Chasdei Lev professional advisors came to our house every motsei Shabbat, advising us on how to budget home finances, as well as about my relationship with my wife. They went through all our savings and pensions and checked that the money was in the right places so that I am saving for the future.

Computerised classes

“An amazing business “An advisor amazingreally business opened advisor my eyes reallyand opened gave my eyes and gave me ideas, how to make me ideas, my klezmer how to music make my business klezmer a lot music better business a lot better and how to make myself and how better to make known. myself I ambetter reallyknown. workingI am on really working on the ideas. They really the ideas. did a special They really job and did really a special helped job and our really helped our family.” family.”

Three years ago Ophir Three and years his ago family Ophir returned and his tofamily Safed returned after a to Safed after a Giving a speech at an award ceremony in the presence of Israeli President Reuven Rivlin stay in the USA. stay He and in the his USA. wife opened He and ahis store wifebut opened their a store but their business venture business was unsuccessful venture was and unsuccessful they lost a lot andofthey lost a lot of “Today I am out in“Today the world, I am open out into the accepting world, open change to accepting and ch money. money. loving myself. I noloving longermyself. cry every I nonight. longer I am cryaevery betternight. mother I am a bette For two years Ophir For and two his years wife Ophir wereand struggling his wifeuntil werethey struggling until they to my children andtoam mybetter children to myself. and amEverything better to myself. is looking Everything i heard about Chasdei heard Lev,about whichChasdei means,Lev, kindness whichof means, heart. kindness of heart. up.” up.” Ophir said: “Their name Ophirsays said:everything. “Their nameWhen says everything. you don’t have When you don’t have All these people All andthese thousands peoplemore and owe thousands their successful more owe their s money you have amoney lot of pressure you haveata home. lot of pressure They helped at home. us toThey helped us to outcomes to Rabbioutcomes Bistritsky’s to unique Rabbi Bistritsky’s vision. unique vision. live without pressure live without in the family pressure and inhandle the family the children and handle the children But he claims that But parthe of claims what made that part him of thewhat visionary mademan him he the visionar better, as well as how better, to manage as well as our how money. to manage our money. is was spending aisyear was at spending Manchester a year Lubavitch at Manchester YeshivaLubavitch in Y “I had a lot of ideas “I had on how a lottoofmake ideasmoney, on howbut to Imake didn’tmoney, have but I didn’t have 1998 as a senior student, 1998 assent a senior to help student, the younger sent to pupils help the and younger p the tools.” the tools.” perform outreach perform in the community. outreach in the community. Now Ophir is working Nowwith Ophir the is tools working he gained with the from tools Chasdei he gained from Chasdei He said: “Manchester He said: Lubavitch “Manchester Yeshiva Lubavitch influencedYeshiva me for influenced my m Lev to set up aLev website to setto up promote a website his home to promote removal his home removal future. It was a very future. full and It was good a very year.”full and good year.” business. business. Every year ChasdeiEvery Lev helps year Chasdei 100 families Lev helps with up 100 tofamilies 50 hours with up to Rachel (not her real Rachel name)(not is a her single realmother name) of is afour single boys, mother aged of four boys, aged of professional advice of professional at a cost ofadvice nearly at £2,000 a costper of nearly family.£2,000 per three to 10. three to 10. She said: “Fears paralysed She said: me. “Fears I felt paralysed constantly me.guilty I felt and constantly a guilty and a failure. By the grace failure. of G-d, By at the 41grace I wasofintroduced G-d, at 41to I was `angels introduced to `angels on earth’, Chasdei onLev. earth’, To Chasdei my joy and Lev. to To the my joy joy of and myto the joy of my Donations can be sent to: counsellors, I did counsellors, a psychological-spiritual-physiological I did a psychological-spiritual-physiological turnaround whichturnaround took time which and was took hard. timeBut andthe was team hard. But the team Lev, Chasdei stayed close to me. stayed close to me.

Rabbi Bistritsky with Mr Rivlin Israel's President and Mr Kendal head of the National Economic Council

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Autumn 2015 41

Readings & Insights

The

Ambassador and the Rebbe

Yehuda Avner,

the religiously observant acclaimed Israeli diplomat, author and ambassador who served seven Israeli prime ministers and presidents in many roles, and was a conduit to world leaders for decades, passed away March 24 in Jerusalem. He was 86 years old. Born in Manchester, England, in 1929 to the Haffner family, Avner emigrated at the age of 18 to then British Mandate Palestine and fought in Israel’s War of Independence. In 1956, he joined Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and served the top echelon of Israel’s leadership across the political spectrum - as a speech writer for Prime Ministers Golda Meir and Levi Eshkol; as a senior adviser to President Zalman Shazar, and Prime Ministers Menachem Begin, Yitzhak Rabin and ShimonPeres; and as Israel’s ambassador to the United Kingdom and Australia. He wrote about his years of service to

Israel in a best-selling and critically acclaimed memoir, “The Prime Ministers.” A proud practicing Jew, Avner was a familiar sight at state dinners in Washington, D.C., and other world capitals, eating kosher food and wearing his signature crocheted kipah. In his memoirs and other writings, Avner eloquently described the encounters of those he served with the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory. We bring you a Chabad.org article “To Ignite the Soul,” where Avner wrote about visits to the Rebbe by Yitzhak Rabin, then Israel’s ambassador to the United States, and later visits by Israeli President Zalman Shazar and Prime Minister Menachem Begin.

To Ignite the Soul Yitzhak Rabin was a straight-as-a-die agnostic, and shy to a fault. So, when on a spring day in 1972 he was kept waiting at 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, for his appointment with the Lubavitcher Rebbe, he became fidgety.

Rebbe's face beamed. It was an angelic face, half curtained by a square gray beard, and topped by the trademark black fedora, with the effect of a bastion that protected the mind from iniquitous invasions.

He was distinctly uncomfortable among the multitude of bearded men bustling to and fro around him, all identically clad in black suits and fedoras, and all seemingly indifferent to the peeling paint, cracked linoleum, and indefinable odor of the Tudor-style edifice that housed the headquarters of the world Lubavitch movement.

But what lured Rabin most were the eyes. They were wide apart, sheltered under heavy brows and arched over by fine eyebrows. Their hue was the azure of the deep sea, intense and compelling, exuding wisdom, awareness, kindness, and good fellowship. Yet, as I was later to learn, when the Rebbe's soul turned turbulent, they could dim into an ominous gray, like a leaden sky.

Yitzhak Rabin was then Israel's ambassador to Washington, and his president, Zalman Shazar, had asked him to convey his greetings personally to the Lubavitcher Rebbe – Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson – on the occasion of the Rebbe's 70th birthday. So there Rabin sat, a blue and gold velvet bar-mitzva yarmulke perched precariously on his head, like an alien in a foreign land. When he was finally ushered into the inner sanctum, the

42 Tishrei 5776

These were the eyes of one who could see mystery in the obvious, poetry in the mundane, and large issues in small things; eyes that enthralled believers until captivated in gladness, and joy, and sacrifice – all of which was wacky to the no-nonsense, secular diehard, Yitzhak Rabin. He and the Rebbe spoke mainly of Washington affairs; but when the sage turned to things celestial, like Torah, eternity,

and spiritual destiny, and spiritual the ambassador's destiny, the eyes ambassador's glazed over.eyes He glazed said, over. "Only to He reiterate said, "Only my fullest to reiterate blessings. myAnd fullest to add, blessings. I And Dogmas of thisDogmas sort were of this too sort inscrutable were too for inscrutable this forthethis accept honor of accept the prime the honor minister's of thevisit prime to me minister's not on my visit to me n Palmach-bred, austere Palmach-bred, old soldier austere to whom old soldier reality to waswhom a reality was abut in own account own recognition account but of the in recognition Lubavitch movement's of the Lubavitch mo physical phenomenon, physical notphenomenon, a metaphysicalnot marvel. a metaphysical marvel. dedicated work indedicated spreadingwork the love in spreading of God and the His loveTorah of God and H among our fellow among Jews, wherever our fellow they Jews, be." wherever they be." Nonetheless, he was Nonetheless, impressed.heExiting, was impressed. he confided Exiting, to me, he confided to me,

"That man knows"That more man about knows what's more going about on in what's Israel going and onThe in Israel and hadThe two men been two friends men had for years, been friends and they forcloseted years, and they the Middle East than the most Middle members East than of most the Knesset." members of the Knesset." themselves for a themselves good hour, at forthe a good end of hour, which at the Mr. end Begin of which M informed Rabbi Schneerson informed Rabbi that I Schneerson would return that to I New would York return to N President Shazar was President pleased Shazar to hear wasofpleased the encounter. to hear of Asthe a encounter. As a from Washington from to brief Washington him on the to White brief him House on talks. the White House t youngster, Shazaryoungster, had been nurtured Shazar had in been Lubavitch nurtured lore; in and Lubavitch lore; and

now, in the twilight now, of his in the life,twilight he was of elated his life, to rediscover he was elated its to THUS rediscover its thatTHUS IT was five days IT was later that I found five days myself later ensconced I found myself en enchantment, like enchantment, some forgotten like bead some from forgotten a broken bead thread. from a broken alone thread. with the Rebbe alone with in histhe wood-paneled Rebbe in hischamber, wood-paneled its cham simple furnishings simple antique furnishings with time-worn antique with distinction. time-worn dis On his rare visits On to New his rare York visits he would to New abjure York diplomatic he would abjure diplomatic Dog-eared Talmud Dog-eared tomes and Talmud other tomes heavy, and well-thumbed other heavy, wellprotocol, choosing protocol, to call on choosing the Rebbe to call in on Brooklyn the Rebbe as a in Brooklyn as a volumes volumes bookshelves, lined his redolent bookshelves, of centuries redolent of of cen disciple, rather than disciple, solicitrather the Rebbe than solicit to callthe on Rebbe him at to thecall on him at lined the his scholarship and conducted disputations by generations conductedofby genera Waldorf as a headWaldorf of state.asThis a head aroused of state. the ire This ofaroused members the irescholarship of membersand disputations swaying, chanting, swaying, thumb-stabbing, chanting, thumb-stabbing, skull-capped learners, skull-capped of the Israeli government of the Israeli andgovernment press, prompting and press, an prompting an inhabiting an academic inhabiting world an in academic which students world in don't which study students do exasperated Shazar exasperated to exclaimShazar one Purim to exclaim eve enone route Purim to eve en route to and teachers don't and teach. teachers Everybody don't teach. learns. Everybody learns. 770, while lolling 770, in a limousine while lolling escorted in a limousine by siren-shrieking escorted by siren-shrieking

NYPD outriders, "What NYPDdo outriders, they want "What of me doback theyhome? want of I may me backWe home? I may spoke in Hebrew We–spoke the Rebbe's in Hebrew classic, – the mine Rebbe's modern. classic, Andmine mod be the president ofbe Israel, the president but I'm also of Israel, a simple buthassid I'm also going a simple to hassid to as hegoing dissected my as Washington he dissectedreport, my Washington his air of report, authority his air of meet his rebbe. Who meet can hisobject rebbe.toWho that?" can object to that?" deepened. It camedeepened. of something It came beyond of something knowledge. beyond It wasknowledge. in hisMenachem state of being, his something state of being, he possessed somethingin he his possessed soul, in SOME TIME later,SOME on a balmy TIME later, July day on in a balmy 1977, July Menachem day in 1977, something to something him under given the to chestnut him under and the maple chestnut trees and ma Begin was similarly Begin confronted. was similarly A bushy-haired confronted. reporter A bushy-haired in a reporter ingiven a of Brooklyn of than Brooklyn under rather the poplars than under and the pines poplars of and baggy suit asked him baggy with suitVillage askedVoice him with effrontery, Village "You Voiceare effrontery, "You are rather Jerusalem – to which, Jerusalem mysteriously, – to which, he had mysteriously, never journeyed. he had never jou the newly electedthe prime newly minister elected of prime Israel, minister so why have of Israel, you so why have you

come to see Rabbi come Schneerson? to see Rabbi Surely, Schneerson? protocol requires Surely, protocol he requires he The presentation, The interrogation, presentation, andinterrogation, clarification had and taken clarification h come to you." come to you." close to three hours. close It was to three now hours. after two It was in the now morning, after two and in the mor I was exhausted. The I was Rebbe, exhausted. full of The vim and Rebbe, vigor, full asked of vim me and to vigor, ask This altercation took This place altercation on the took steps place of the on the Lubavitch steps of the Lubavitch communicate the communicate following message the following to Mr. message Begin: "By to Mr. Be headquarters, where headquarters, the Rebbewhere was welcoming the RebbeMr. wasBegin welcoming Mr. Begin maintaining your maintaining firm stand on your Eretz firm Yisroel stand in on the Eretz White Yisroel in th amid a blaze of amid photoaflashes. blaze of"Why, photoindeed?" flashes. the "Why, prime indeed?" the prime House, you have House, given strength you have to given the whole strength of the to the Jewish whole of th minister began with minister easy rapport. began with "A good easyquestion." rapport. "A good question." people. You have people. succeeded Youinhave safeguarding succeededthe in integrity safeguarding of the int And then, with anAnd air of then, deep with reverence, an air of"Ideep havereverence, come here"I have come herewhileEretz Eretz Yisroel avoiding Yisroel a confrontation while avoidingwith a confrontation the United with th because I am enbecause route toI Washington am en routetotomeet Washington president to meet president States. That is true States. Jewish That statesmanship: is true Jewishforthright, statesmanship: bold, forthrig Jimmy Carter for the Jimmy firstCarter time. So foritthe is most first time. natural Sofor it isme most to natural for me to without pretense, without or apology. pretense, Be or strong apology. and of Be good strong and want to seek the want blessings to seek of this the great blessings sageof ofthis the great Jewish sage of the Jewish courage." courage." people. Rabbi Schneerson people. Rabbi is one Schneerson of the paramount is one ofJewish the paramount Jewish Heamong dictated this inHe a voice dictated thatthis wasinsoft a voice but touched that waswith soft fire. but touched personalities of our personalities time. His of status our is time. unique His among status isour unique our people. So yes, certainly, people.his So blessings yes, certainly, will strengthen his blessings mewill as strengthen I me relaxing, as I And now And he made now relaxing, a tent of he hismade slender a tent fingers, of his fixed slender fing embark on a mission embark of acute on aimportance mission of acute for ourimportance future." for our future." me with his eyes,me andwith saidhis with eyes, a surprisingly and said with sweet a surprisingly smile, swe "How come you visit "How us so come often you and visit appear us so to often be so and close appear to to be so "Would the rabbi"Would care tothe comment rabbi care on to that?" comment asked on the that?" asked the us, yet you never became us, yet you a Lubavitcher? never became Why?" a Lubavitcher? Why?" reporter. reporter.

I sat back stunned I sat at the back directness stunned at of the the directness question. Itofwas the questio true. This probably true. wasThis my probably third or fourth was my meeting third or with fourth the meeting

Yehuda Avner, right, before Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin's meeting with the Rebbe

Yehuda Avner

Yehuda Avner, diplomat and author, at hisAutumn home in Jerusalem 2015

43

Rebbe. Over the years I had become a sort of unofficial liaison between various Israeli prime ministers and the Lubavitch court. Swallowing thickly, I muttered, "Maybe it is because I have met so many people who ascribe to the Rebbe powers which the Rebbe does not ascribe to himself." Even as I spoke, I realized I had presumed too much. I could hear my voice trailing away. The Rebbe's brows knitted, and his deep blue eyes grayed into sadness. Softly, he said, "Yesh k'nireh anoshim hazekukim l'kobayim -- There are evidently people who need crutches." A long and pregnant pause followed. Perhaps his secret threads of perception and communication were tracking my thoughts, for what he said next answered my unspoken question. Raising his palm in a gesture of reassurance, and with an encouraging smile, he said, "Let me tell you what I try to do. Imagine you're looking at a candle. What you are really seeing is a mere lump of wax with a thread down its middle. So when do the thread and wax become a candle? Or, in other words, when do they fulfill the purpose for which they were created? When you put a flame to the thread, then the candle becomes a candle." As he was speaking, a rhythmic cadence crept into his voice in the manner of a talmudist poring over his text, so that what he said next came out as a chant: "The wax is the body, and

Yitzchak Rabin waits for his meeting with the Rebbe

the wick the soul. Ignite the soul with the fire of Torah and a person will then fulfill the purpose for which he or she was created. And that is what I try to do – to ignite the soul of our people with the fire of Torah." A buzzer had been sounding periodically, indicating that others were awaiting their audience. So I rose and took my leave, pausing at the door to ask, "My candle – has the Rebbe lit it?" "No," he said, clasping my hand. "I have given you the match. Only you can light your candle."

Wishing the entire community a

Sweet New Year

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44 Tishrei 5776

Readings & Insights

HELEN THOMAS TOLD ME TO GO HOME

By David Nesenoff

It was early May 2010, and I sat at my desk in my office at home staring at my computer screen. I had been a Conservative rabbi for 20 years, but we all have our moment, or moments, when we evaluate life and ponder our purpose, when we ask ourselves those big questions: What do I really want to do? What is important to me? What will I accomplish in my future? While we are contemplating these deep thoughts, we may even begin to think that we are figuring it out. At those moments, it is so difficult to remember that the story has already been written. . .

December. (He somehow knows how to contact the right people.) They asked him if he was confused. “Are you sure you mean the Chanukah celebration, and not the upcoming Jewish heritage celebration?”

The Land of Israel was on my mind. My wife, Nancy, and I had recently returned from there, and I cried on the plane. I’m too embarrassed to give the details, but whenever I leave, I cry.

I took time out from my busy schedule of contemplating my life, and drove down with the two teenagers to celebrate Jewish Heritage Month with the president. Maybe this would be a good place to find a group of Jews to ask my “Any comments on Israel?” question and put a spotlight on my precious homeland.

I decided that I wanted to do something for Israel. I would make small video snippets of Jews talking about Israel. I would ask, “Any comments on Israel?” and they would say how much they like the spirituality, or the falafel, or the archeology, or the beaches. I would put the short pro-Israel comments on my website, and presto, everyone would watch. All the ills and ill-wills would be readjusted. At the time I was using my website, RabbiLIVE.com, to broadcast prayer services for American Jewish soldiers in Afghanistan, Iraq, and on aircraft carriers. . . and also for some very lazy Jews in Boca Raton, Florida. I figured this would be the best place to post my Israel falafel videos. I would push that magic “viral video” button on my keyboard and help Israel’s public relations in the world. Meanwhile, my teenage son, Adam Natan, was up in his room, also busy. (We named him Adam Natan because he was the first male on my wife’s side in 90 years.) He has a website of his own for teenagers to learn about and discuss Jewish topics. He is quite a remarkable young man—he went to Washington by himself and streamed the entire AIPAC conference live on his website. That May, Adam called up the White House and requested to attend the President’s Chanukah celebration the following

“Oh, the upcoming Jewish heritage celebration,” he answered. (It is a proud parental moment when our children learn the power of a white lie.) The White House media office was kind enough to provide press credentials for Adam, his friend Daniel Landau and me.

On May 27, 2010, I stood in the White House briefing room with my cell, calling, very specifically, anyone and everyone I knew, bragging, “You’ll never guess where I am!” Suddenly, I saw former president Bill Clinton walk by. Everyone ran to the door as he passed. He greeted us swiftly as he moved along, and I turned to the person next to me and said, “That’s Bill Clinton!” The man said, “I know. I’m Joe Biden.” We attended President Obama’s first press conference in 10 months, in the East Room of the White House. The topic was the oil leak in the Gulf. The three of us had brilliant questions prepared to ask if called upon, but alas, no such luck. The big room was packed with seasoned reporters from all over the world, and only a handful were given the honor to ask a question. Helen Thomas, dean of the White House Press Corps, was one of them. After the president’s briefing, we had an hour before the Jewish heritage celebration. We thought we would leave the grounds of the White House for a little walk. As we headed for the gate, I noticed Helen Thomas walking toward us. Our paths were about to cross. I gave my son and his friend a quick rundown: She’s one

Autumn 2015 45

of the most famous reporters in the world, and had been covering the White House since the times of Eisenhower and Kennedy. She was the only member of the press to have a designated seat of her own—front row, center, in the White House briefing room. She was a journalist for 60 years, and I was a journalist for 60 seconds; I figured it was time we met. So we stopped her and exchanged pleasantries. Although my cameras were in the White House, I had my small Flip video camera on me, and I started filming. She looked directly into the lens and gave some rather gracious advice about journalism: “You’ll always keep people informed and you’ll always keep learning.” I was waiting until later in the day to shoot my Israel question at the guests of the Jewish celebration, but something made me fire one round a little early. “Any comments on Israel?” Hashgachah pratit, divine providence. The ultimate Creator of this story, and all stories, placed in my camera the video snippet that would aid Israel and change my life. “Tell them to get the hell out of Palestine,” she said. If I was in a back alley in New York and a skinhead said that to me, we would probably rumble. But we were at the White House, she was 89 years old, and, if you’ve seen my photo, I’m the skinhead. The whole thing was very confusing. So I decided to be a journalist, and I asked her, “Where should they go?” “Home!” “Where’s home?” I asked. “Poland and Germany.” Back home to Poland and Germany. I wish I could go back to the shtetlach andshtieblach of Poland. My grandparents’ town of Drobnin, where on a Friday evening the smell of challah no doubt permeated the town, and candles twinkled in the window of every home. I wish I could go back. But not one shtetl, not one candle, not one Jew is there. The anti-Semites erased them. We went back to New York with the video. I called a writer from The Jewish Week and told him what happened, and he said two words: “No story.” I had suffered anti-Semitism on the White House lawn, and now I experienced secular Jewish apathy in New York. I wanted to post the video immediately on my website. But even if you are a billionaire CEO with private jets and thousands of employees, you need to hire a 15-year-old to figure out how to put something on a website. (Those who can afford it can hire a 12-year-old.) I needed my son to post the video, and unfortunately he was tied up with final exams and driver’s ed. An entire week went by, and the video remained in my camera.

went viral, into the millions. At a time when the events of the flotilla fueled the foggy views of anti-Israel and anti-Semitic people, my video cleared the air. Helen Thomas was forced to resign in shame, and her co-author and agents dropped her. She was banished from the White House; her name was removed from the front-row seat and from various awards throughout the country. Every media outlet in the world converged on me, the good, the bad and the ugly. I received thousands of threatening hate e mails as well. Law enforcement and private agencies got involved. Everyone wanted to know about the guy behind the camera; my inbox was flooded with the entire international press corps asking for an interview. Hashgachah pratit. Helen Thomas said, “Go home,” and I did. After being a Conservative rabbi for over 20 years, I traveled home to my roots. And so did my family. My son Adam studied at Chabad’s Mayanot Yeshiva in Jerusalem, and then at the Rabbinical College of America in Morristown, New Jersey. On Sukkot he built sukkahs in Guatemala with the Merkos Shlichus program. On Pesach he delivered matzahs and conducted a Seder for Jews deep inside Cuba. My daughter Shira studied in Crown Heights at the Machon Chana Women’s Institute for Jewish Studies, and then at a Chabad seminary in Montreal. An accomplished dancer, she now teaches dance to the daughters of shluchim over the Internet. My wife and I are very proud of our children. I not only went home; I went to 100 homes. I have traveled to and spoken at more than 100 Chabad Houses throughout the world. From the Chabad Houses of Sydney and Melbourne to those in Manchester and Liverpool, from Boca to Boston to Bellaire, from Fairfield to Flamingo to the Friendship Circle of Livingston, New Jersey, I have been inspired and I have, thank G d, inspired others as well. Each time I tell my story, I offer my conclusions about how to fight anti-Semitism. I tell my audiences that the way to fight anti-Jewish is by doing Jewish. Do Torah. Do Mitzvot. Do Shabbat. Do kosher. I know this is what the Rebbe would have wanted me to say. Hashgachah pratit has taken me from the White House to over 100 Chabad Houses. There are 4,900 more to visit; each one brings me closer to home. David Nesenoff with his family

Hashgachah pratit, divine providence. Something happened that week in the Middle East that brought Israel into the spotlight. On May 31, 2010, Israeli soldiers boarded a flotilla of boats that were bent on defying the security blockade of the Gaza Strip. The “peace activists” on one of the boats beat the Israelis with metal rods and attacked them with knives. Several of the activists were shot during the confrontation. The whole world was against Israel. Helen Thomas stood in the White House, inches in front of the president, before the entire international press corps, and said, “It was a deliberate massacre by Israel against peace activists on the high seas.” That night my son had some time. We posted the video at around 2 a.m. Friday morning. We forwarded it to some people, including Jewish blogger Jeff Dunetz, publisher of the blog “Yid With Lid.” My son left for the weekend on a teenage Shabbaton. After Shabbat I turned on the computer to see if anyone had looked at the video. There were over 700,000 views. By Sunday it

46 Tishrei 5776

David Nesenoff

David with Rabbis Shemtov & Grossbaum

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