UK news

UK shechita supporters at odds with French rabbis over foie gras

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:42:38 +0100

Shechita UK has strenuously denied claims from the head of the Paris Rabbinical Court that Israel’s proposed ban on foie gras could lead to European countries outlawing shechita in retaliation.

The British-based group, founded in 2003 to promote awareness and tolerance of shechita, expressed their support for the bill while dismissing Rabbi Yirmiyahu Menachem Cohen’s assertion that it would “[provide] our enemies with a double-edged sword.”

A spokesman said: “Shechita UK’s position on foie gras … is very clear. We do not believe that a ban would have any impact whatsoever on the campaign to protect shechita. If anything the reverse is true.”

The group suggested that by prohibiting the trade and importation of foie gras, Israel would be sending out a message that Jews, and particularly those who practise shechita, value animals’ rights.

“The treatment of geese in the production of foie gras is of grave concern to Jews. It is a fundamental principle of k ashrut that animals must be unharmed and undamaged prior to slaughter and the production of foie gras is of course no exception to this.”

Pet Shop Boys defy boycotters to play in Israel

Marcus Dysch — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:03:03 +0100

Pet Shop Boys will perform in Tel Aviv later this week after defying anti-Israel activists’ calls for them to pull out of a planned concert.

Pop stars Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe said that while they opposed “crude and cruel defence policies” of the Israeli government, comparisons with apartheid South Africa were “a caricature”.

The veteran pop group has sold more than 50 million records and picked up dozens of awards in the past 30 years for hits including West End Girls, Always On My Mind, and It’s a Sin.

The gig at Tel Aviv’s Nokia Arena is part of a European tour and is expected to go ahead as planned on Sunday evening.

Rejecting the calls for a boycott, Mr Tennant wrote on the band’s website: “I don't agree with this comparison of Israel to apartheid-era South Africa. It's a caricature.

“Israel has (in my opinion) some crude and cruel policies based on defence; it also has universal suffrage and equality of rights for all its citizens both Jewish and Arab.

“In apartheid-era South Africa, artists could only play to segregated audiences; in Israel anyone who buys a ticket can attend a concert.”

The duo have regularly joined gay rights campaigns and supported other human rights issues.

Activists from the anti-Israel group Innovative Minds plan to picket a Pet Shop Boys appearance at a film screening on London’s Southbank on Wednesday evening.

Innovative Minds had asked the performers to “open their eyes to the ugly reality of apartheid Israel, to cancel their concert and stand with the oppressed Palestinians”.

Serota and Kapoor get top awards in Queen's Birthday Honours

Jennifer Lipman — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 00:01:00 +0100

Anglo-Jewry's contribution to cultural life was recognised this week as the director of Tate, the sculptor Anish Kapoor and the founder of the Jewish Film festival were included on this year's Queen's Birthday Honours List.

Sir Nicholas Serota, the Hampstead-born art expert who oversaw the establishment of the Tate Modern, was made a member of the order of the companion of honour, a prestigious award conferred for "services of national importance". Sir Nicholas, who was knighted in 1999, becomes one of only 65 people at a time to hold the honor, and follows in the footsteps of Lucian Freud and Harold Pinter.

Eight years after the first UK Jewish Film Festival, its founder and director Judy Ironside was made an MBE for services to drama. The veteran stage and film actress Claire Bloom, seen most recently as Queen Mary in The King's Speech but famous for roles in films including Look Back in Anger, opposite Richard Burton, was awarded a CBE.

Kapoor, who was born in Bombay to an Iraqi Jewish mother, and whose work is displayed around the world , including in Israel, was knighted, while art collector and philanthropist Janet Wolfson de Botton was made a dame for charitable services to the arts. Mrs de Botton, the granddaughter of Great Universal Stores managing director Sir Isaac Wolfson, chairs the Wolfson Foundation, which offers grants to promote excellence in a range of fields.

Thomas Heatherwick, designer of the London 2012 Olympic cauldron, whose Jewish grandmother fled Nazi Germany to come to London, described being made a CBE as "an immense honour".

"My passion is the public world around us that we share with each other," he said. "I'm proud to have had the chance in recent years to work on public projects of national significance."

Theatre school founder Anna Scher was made an MBE.

Others were honoured with CBEs for their philanthropic and charitable contribution, including Dr Leonard Polonsky, who in 2010 pledged £1.5 million to Cambridge University to build an online collection of rare books, including important ancient Jewish texts, and Merseyside businessman Max Steinberg, who as chief executive of Liverpool Vision has been a key figure in the city's regeneration.

The former Liverpool King David High governors' chair, who is currently spearheading Britain's first museum marking mass immigration, including the journeys of thousands of Jews escaping the pogroms, expressed surprise at receiving the honour. "I'm working with an excellent team," he said.

Norma Brier, former Norwood chief executive, was made an OBE for services to children and people with learning disabilities, which she said was "a great tribute to Norwood and its wonderful services," .

She added that the honour also reflected her work as chair of the national Learning Disability Advisory Group and trustee of Children England.

Other recipients of awards included British Jewish jeweller Laurence Graff with an OBE

Aldenham parish councillor Gillian Balen, who has been heading patients ' panels at hospitals in her area for more than a decade, was made an MBE for services to health and the community in w est Hertforshire . "The best thing is that the person who nominated me felt it was necessary – that means more than the award," said Mrs Balen.

Breast cancer survivor Angela Cox, who now guides women suffering from the disease, was made a medallist of the order of the British empire. "I never could have imagined this when I was diagnosed – I didn't even think I would be alive," she said.

David Newman, an academic and dean of Ben Gurion University, received an OBE for services to higher education and promoting academic links between the UK and Israel.

Haim Levy, president of the Gibraltar Jewish community, was made a CBE, while Jewish philanthropist Michael Moritz, chairman of Sequoia Capital, whose father fled Nazi Germany for Britain, was made a KBE.

Holocaust Centre receives £500,000 Lottery award

Anna Sheinman — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 14:50:21 +0100

The Holocaust Centre, Beth Shalom, in Nottinghamshire has been awarded £500,000 by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The money comes in the form of an endowment grant which the centre must match by raising the equivalent sum over the next four years.

Helen Whitney, CEO of the Holocaust Centre, said she was “thrilled”.

“It is vital that the centre’s work, education programmes, and unique exhibitions grow and flourish, ” she said.

“We have one of the only exhibits in the world on the subject of the Holocaust that is appropriate for primary school children,” she explained. “The endowment will help ensure that our work can continue in perpetuity.”

The centre has a permanent exhibition on the Holocaust, as well as research and seminar facilities. The money will be used to develop the centre’s education and outreach programmes, which provide for children, parents, adults and disadvantaged communities.

Beth Shalom is one of only 13 UK organisations to have successfully applied for an endowment - one of the others is the Wiener Library in Russell Square, central London, which this week it had been awarded £1 million.

Board warns of ‘enemies’ spying on its meetings

Marcus Dysch — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:30:17 +0100

Live online broadcasting of Board of Deputies meetings has provided greater scrutiny of the organisation’s work, but could allow “hostile activists” to spy on the community.

A decision on whether to continue the streaming of meetings is due to be taken by deputies this Sunday following a controversial trial of video technology over the past year.

In a risk assessment report, Board executives admitted that “hostile activists could watch broadcasts and gather intelligence on communal activities”, but conceded that JC reports of meetings would allow similar opportunities to the Board’s “enemies”.

Members of the Board’s finance and organisation division who have been considering the benefits of the streaming system, have voted unanimously for it to continue. A motion to be proposed at Sunday’s plenary meeting will ask deputies to ratify the decision.

The report said the trial had allowed “all Jews to understand the decisions taken by the Board” and to “see how meetings are conducted”.

But it acknowledged that there was greater potential for embarrassment if poor conduct at meetings was aired live.

“Adverse comments by deputies could cause reputational damage or be subject to legal action,” the report warned.

A password system was considered in an attempt to restrict from recording, editing or rebroadcasting sections of meetings, but the Board concluded that such measures would not “prevent determined hostile viewers”, but may discourage “legitimate” viewers.

During the trial, deputies who did not want to be shown in the online broadcasts were given the option of speaking at a microphone which could not be heard outside the meeting room and from a position which was hidden from the camera.

The practice is expected to continue despite complaints that it made the system unworkable, with deputies’ comments being reported by journalists and tweeted by other deputies nonetheless.

My Britain’s Got Talent dream is over — at least I can do the housework now

Sandy Rashty — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:00:17 +0100

Impressionist Francine Lewis was this week getting over her disappointment at not winning Britain’s Got Talent with the help of a little dusting and hoovering.

Ms Lewis, who was lavishly praised by the judges in last Saturday’s final of the ITV talent show but came second from bottom with only two per cent of the public vote, said that at least she could now get on with her housework.

“I’ve got to sort out my house. I’ve been so busy and totally neglecting it – it’s a mess!”

But once she has finished clearing up, she will focus on pursuing a career as a professional entertainer. “I have lots of meetings booked but I’ve no idea what’s on the horizon. My family are my priority, but if I could also have a career that would be brilliant.

“I’ve always wanted to be on TV. Always. I want to be the face of ITV for the future.”

Ms Lewis’s performance in the final — labelled “genius” by the judges — included impressions of Katie Price, Geri Halliwell and Stacey Solomon. She also took the chance to wish her son, Jake, a happy seventh birthday in front of the 18 million viewers.

“It was an amazing experience,” said the 37-year-old mother of two. “My son was watching from the side. He cried and cried when I didn’t get through. But my daughter never thought I would make it to the final line-up.”

Ms Lewis attributed getting through to the final to an interview in the JC which had persuaded readers to vote for her. “I just have to say thank you to everyone who reads the JC and who supported me,” she said.

Saturday night’s show was interrupted when a former contestant invaded the stage to throw eggs at BGT supremo Simon Cowell, disrupting the performance of singing brothers, Richard and Adam Johnson, in the process.

“I felt really sorry for the two boys,” said Ms Lewis. “It was awful for them.”

Charedi fear over Gove education reforms

Simon Rocker — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 12:30:17 +0100

Education Secretary Michael Gove’s wish to put a greater focus on evolution in the GCSE science curriculum could pose problems for strictly Orthodox schools, a Jewish education consultant warned this week.

The minister announced the move on Tuesday as part of his reforms to raise the standard of school exams.

But Michael Cohen, an adviser to Orthodox schools, said: “I don’t see Charedi schools going along with it. It is something that flies in face of their ethos and culture. It is clear this kind of proposal is definitely going to create difficulties for Charedi schools.”

Mr Gove’s plans to make evolution a compulsory part of the primary school curriculum have already caused consternation among Charedi educators and the National Association of Jewish Orthodox Schools has lobbied his department for a rethink.

A draft primary curriculum says that young children should study fossils as evidence of evolution, know about Charles Darwin and understand how the human skeleton has evolved “since we separated from other primates”.

While modern Orthodox schools feel able to reconcile evolution with Jewish teachings on creation, Charedi schools regard it as opposed to traditional doctrine.

If greater emphasis were put on evolution at GCSE, Charedi pupils would be likely to have to sacrifice marks by ignoring the topic.

Mr Cohen believed that Jewish schools generally would welcome the thrust of Mr Gove’s reforms for “ a more rigorous and academic approach”.

But he added: “It is important to recognise that Charedi schools have been set up by their community and parents send them to these schools where they know they will be kept away from delicate, sensitive or problematic issues like evolution.”

Unconfirmed reports on the internet this week suggested that a question deemed unsuitable by Charedi teachers in a GSCE science exam this year was blacked out for pupils who sat it.

Rabbi Avraham Pinter, principal of the state-aided Chasidic girls’ secondary school, Yesodey Hatorah, said he was unaware of the details of science papers this year.

But he confirmed that “sometimes Charedi schools, if they find anything in the paper which could be offensive to parents, advise children to avoid that question”.

He said that he expected Charedi concerns to be raised in consultations about the reforms. “We are confident that the government will take into consideration the educational priorities of parents and children of all faiths, and ensure that this topic is covered in a balanced and sensitive manner.

G4S: Israel work does not break international law

Marcus Dysch — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 12:00:17 +0100

Security company G4S has defended its work in Israel and denied that it breached international law in its management of security systems at prisons in the West Bank.

Shareholders repeatedly questioned the firm’s new chief executive, Ashley Almanza, about contracts in Israel during the company’s annual general meeting in the City of London.

There have been repeated calls for G4S to pull out of deals which see 6,000 staff provide screening equipment at checkpoints and manage security systems at Ofer prison near Ramallah.

G4S confirmed earlier this year that a number of contracts affecting the firm’s work in the West Bank expire in 2015 and will not be renewed.

Activists demonstrated outside the meeting, with a mock “apartheid” wall set up to represent Israel’s security barrier.

Around half the questions asked during the two-hour meeting referred to contracts in Israel and when the company would terminate its work there.

Among the shareholders attacking Mr Almanza was John Hilary, executive director of charity War on Want, who said he was concerned by the company’s work in Israel.

Danish MP Nikolaj Villumsen claimed that prisoners were tortured in Israeli jails where G4S works. Activists in Copenhagen are lobbying the city council to terminate its contracts with G4S over the issue.

Mr Almanza told shareholders that G4S had “not breached international law” but would “continue to keep the matter under review”. He said that stance would not alter even if the company was “making five times as much money in Israel”.

Palestine Solidarity Campaign chairman Hugh Lanning attended the AGM and said G4S had “learned that there’s a price to be paid for profiting from Israel’s crimes.

“PSC’s campaign against G4S will continue until it stops making money from human rights violations, illegal detention and torture against Palestinians and withdraws from doing business with Israel’s prison service”.

A G4S spokesman said the company’s position had not changed since April, when it confirmed that a full review of its Israel contracts had taken place in 2011 and that the decision “to exit contracts” was taken “in line with our own business ethics policy”.

The Israeli embassy in London has previously praised G4S for helping to prevent suicide bombers and “ensuring convicted terrorists remain under lock and key”.

Thousands petition for Sir Nicholas Winton to be given the Nobel Prize

Jennifer Lipman — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 11:26:07 +0100

A petition bearing the names of more than 212,000 people is being presented to the Nobel Prize committee today urging it to honour Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton.

Known as "the British Schindler", Sir Nicholas, who is now 104, saved 669 children from the Nazis by arranging the eight trains that made up the Czech Kindertransport.

At considerable personal risk, the young British stockbroker ensured that the children escaped occupied Czechoslovakia on the eve of the Holocaust.

Now, 75 years later, children at a school in Prague have launched a campaign for his deeds to be recognised with the Nobel Peace Prize.

Today the pupils will take their petition directly to the committee in Oslo and call on them to consider the matter as a priority.

The prize cannot be given out posthumously.

"Through his actions, he contributed to the idea of 'the fraternity of nations' as set out

in Alfred Nobel's final testament," said one of the pupils, Dominika Kourilova.

"When I look at my children, grandchildren and now great-grandchildren I realise we are all part of a family – now of a few thousand – which would have never been but for Sir Nicholas Winton," added Lady Milena Grenfell-Baines, who was one of those saved by Sir Nicholas.

"He must never be forgotten and by being awarded the Nobel Prize his action should be an example of the difference one can make not merely by leading an exemplary life in a purely passive way of doing no wrong, but going out and finding and helping those suffering and in danger."

UK Muslim group says it will sue Jewish activist

Marcus Dysch — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 11:00:17 +0100

The founder of an organisation which records Islamophobic attacks is engaged in a legal battle with a Jewish woman who he claims defamed him on Twitter.

Fiyaz Mughal has threatened libel proceedings against Israel supporter Ambrosine Chetrit after she allegedly criticised the Tell Mama group. He has accused her of siding with the anti-Islamic English Defence League.

Speaking publicly about the case for the first time this week, Mrs Chetrit said: “I am not anti-Muslim, I am not an EDL supporter, I just want to be able to say that I support Israel without the abuse that I received.”

Mrs Chetrit, a music publicist, has around 23,600 followers on the social media site.

Tell Mama was set up to help British Muslims report discrimination, and to monitor incidents in a similar way to the Community Security Trust’s recording of antisemitism. Israel activist Sir Trevor Chinn is among its patrons, and CST works closely with the group.

Mr Mughal said the Jewish community was Tell Mama’s “greatest ally”.

Referring to the case, he said: “It has nothing to do with people’s views on Israel. It has nothing to do with people’s views on Islamic radicalism. It’s a question of defending our reputation in relation to what she has said.”

The tweets in question were sent in September last year and February this year. In one, Mrs Chetrit allegedly likened Tell Mama to the Stasi and claimed the group was “trying to close down pro-Israel accounts” on Twitter. Mr Mughal’s lawyer, Dr Farooq Bajwa, said she had also implied that Tell Mama encouraged antisemitism.

Mrs Chetrit’s lawyer, Mark Lewis, said the tweets did not refer to Mr Mughal and were not defamatory.

Mr Lewis has reported Mr Mughal and Mr Bajwa to police after their letter to Mrs Chetrit demanding an apology and damages was sent to her home address, which she had not made public.

Dr Bajwa previously represented the Palestinian blood libel cleric Sheikh Raed Salah in his attempt to avoid deportation from Britain.