Posts by Zoe Winograd

All is lovely in the building of Eden primary

Zoe Winograd — Mon, 20 May 2013 10:24:31 +0100

A belated building dedication at Eden Primary in Haringey was organised to show how the school had made its “house into a home” since opening in 2011.

Parents and staff at the cross-communal primary — one of the government’s first free schools — enjoyed performances and speeches from the 60 reception class and year one pupils. “It is really caring at this school because the mummies and the daddies are kind and help each other,” said one of the young students.
Eden head Jo Sassienie and school co-founder and governors’ chair Peter Kessler spoke about its progress. Ms Sassienie thanked parents of the first pupils for taking “a leap of faith”.

Demand is being sustained with 30 more students enrolled for the September academic year.
As part of the celebrations, a time capsule filled with items made by the children was buried and Olympic triple jumper Yamile Aldama gave an expert lesson in the rudiments of hop, skip and jump.

Eden parent Sara Borchard said: “This school just felt right from the first moment — all-inclusive and friendly.”

It accepts children from all strands of Judaism and has a handful of non-Jewish pupils. “On iss-ues where different sects of Judaism clash, then we celebrate the clashes,” Mr Kessler said. Eden will also be running adult learning activities.

Gefiltefest 2013 - 'biggest yet'

Zoe Winograd — Sun, 19 May 2013 06:00:57 +0100

Gefiltefest, the annual celebration of Jewish food, takes place today, with around 600 people expected to attend.

The event includes cooking demonstrations, learning sessions, hands-on activities and a children’s programme.

It is the fourth time the event has been run and promises to be the “biggest yet", according to founder Michael Leventhal. Highlights are an Ashkenazi versus Sephardi cook-off, hands-on challah baking and the Gefiltefest Food Awards 2013 , which recognise the public's favourite kosher shops and restaurants.

More than 75 volunteers from across the community have been involved in preparing the kosher festival , which takes place at the London Jewish Cultural Centre's Ivy House, in Golders Green.

Mr Leventhal said: “Food is one thing that can unite people . There are very few things that can do that – food can bring people together.”

The man putting the cycling into recycling

Zoe Winograd — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:00:44 +0100

Every year, over 27,000 bicycles are abandoned in London. Most are turned into scrap metal but, thanks to a former Habonim Dror member, some are now being salvaged as part of a scheme to help refugees.

Twenty-five-year-old Jen Stein runs The Bike Project — a group which collects abandoned bikes from around London, fixes them at a workshop in Hackney and donates them to a drop-in centre for asylum-seekers.

He relies on police and councils to report abandoned machines. Since the project started, he and his team of volunteers have repaired over 300 bikes.

Mr Stein was inspired by two brothers from Dafur who he mentored at university. The brothers — who had sought refuge in the UK after their parents were killed — lived on the outskirts of London and could not afford to use public transport. Mr Stein, an enthusiastic cyclist himself, found them two bikes which, he said, “changed their lives”.

Asylum-seekers also come to the workshop and fix their own bikes, allowing them to develop skills and a sense of self-worth, according to Mr Stein.

“These people come from terrible circumstances. Fixing the bikes can feel quite empowering and offers a real sense of hope,” he said.

Praise for ‘brilliant, sensible’ Angelina

Zoe Winograd — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:45:44 +0100

A Jewish breast cancer campaigner has praised Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie for revealing that she has had a double mastectomy, saying it will put awareness of the disease “through the roof”.

Ms Jolie disclosed in an interview this week that she had had preventive surgery because she carried a gene that put her in the high-risk category for the disease.

Emma Parlons had a similar operation after being told by doctors that she carried the aggressive BRCA gene and had an 85 per cent of suffering from breast cancer.

“I felt like I had a time-bomb strapped to me,” she said. “It’s brilliant what Angelina Jolie is doing. It’s so sensible. If she is so beautiful and is willing to have the operation, then it makes it OK for other women to do it.”

According to Jewish Genetics Disorder UK, one in 40 people of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry carries the BRCA gene., compared to one in 500 in the general population. JGD executive director Katrina Jacobs-Sarig said: “I would very much recommend Jewish people be aware of the increased risk.”

Ms Parlons hopes to raise awareness through a celebrity event next month to unveil a specially designed bracelet, which will go on sale in Selfridges and Harrods, with proceeds going to breast cancer research.

“I’m so lucky, my story is a positive one and I want to spread this important message,” the mother of two said.

Creating a safe space for minority students

Zoe Winograd — Fri, 17 May 2013 09:57:44 +0100

“Feminism is seen as a dirty word within the Jewish community and I want this to change.” That is the view of Melissa Leigh, co-chair of the new Union of Jewish Students Women’s Network.

Ms Leigh, 20, is clearly excited about the launch of three UJS projects which aim to improve university life for Jewish students who feel under-represented and marginalised: women; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, questioning (LGBTQ) students; and the disabled.

Ms Leigh, a student at Manchester University, said: “Despite the increase in the number of female Jewish

students, sexism still exists within individual JSocs and is disguised as ‘banter’.

“This includes jokes about rape culture and the belief that women should still be in the kitchen.”

She said she had personally found it “difficult to incorporate egalitarianism into an Orthodox Jewish life,” and believed the new networks would encourage Jewish women to “speak their minds”.

The Women’s Network will run socialising opportunities, motivational talks by inspirational speakers and career guidance sessions to help women at university feel empowered to take leadership roles.

Ms Leigh said: “For too long women have been ignored within the Jewish community and we want to ensure we have a place within the Jewish student movement.”

Emily Carp, also 20 and studying at Manchester University, sits on UJS National Council and is a co-founder of the LGBTQ Network alongside Yael Shafritz. She said the network had two main goals — to create a “safe space” for Jewish LGBTQ students who want to be involved in university life and to ensure that UJS is more inclusive overall.

“Some JSocs are not welcoming to people under the LGBTQ umbrella, but they should be. From the beginning of my university journey, I looked to UJS and I saw that it didn’t represent me — the president and national council were all straight men,” she said.

The second-year student said there were no official figures on how many Jewish members would identify in a LGBTQ group, but the network’s Facebook page has already attracted interest from around 65 students since it was launched in March.

“There must be more people who identify as LGBTQ and are Jewish who we simply don’t know about. We hope to gain a visible enough presence that they feel comfortable to come to us and engage,” said Ms Carp.

Founder of the Disabilities Network, Hannah Brady, 20, was diagnosed with a moderate-to-severe hearing impairment as a child and has had to rely on lip-reading to communicate for the past 14 years.

“I have had problems in the past with university events being held in places with bad acoustics, background noise or lighting which have made participation more tiring and difficult,” said Ms Brady.

The King’s College history student hopes the network will “provide an opportunity for disabled students to assert themselves more strongly within the Jewish community and take greater control over the services provided to them”.

Ms Brady is in the process of organising the network’s first event. She stressed that each individual student’s unique disability could have a hugely challenging affect on their daily university life.

“But we are ultimately seeking to remove any stigmas which may be present among Jewish students surrounding disabilities,” she said.

Lord Ahmed quits Labour Party before "Jewish conspiracy" hearing

Zoe Winograd — Tue, 14 May 2013 09:44:15 +0100

Lord Ahmed has resigned from the Labour Party ahead of a disciplinary hearing into claims he made comments about a Jewish conspiracy.

He was due to face party executives tomorrow after being suspended by the party in March.

The Times uncovered footage recorded in Pakistan in which Lord Ahmed was said to have claimed - while speaking in Urdu - that Jewish lawyers and media were responsible for the length of a prison term he received for causing a fatal car crash.

In a JC interview last week Lord Ahmed suggested he may leave the party before the hearing if he was not presented with a full recording of the interview.

In his resignation letter to party executives Lord Ahmed wrote: “I have been considering my position over the weekend and have concluded that I should resign from the membership… I reject the core story that emerges out of the alleged interview.”

Referring to an earlier apology he made in the case, Lord Ahmed said: “Needless to say that I have many Jewish friends and I felt it was important and necessary to do this.”

Lord Ahmed had previously said he could not remember making the remarks, but apologised unreservedly and said he would be “utterly devastated” if it was proved that he had spoken in such terms.

Facebook looking to buy Israeli app for $1 billion

Zoe Winograd — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:09:37 +0100

Facebook is in negotiations to buy an Israeli web navigation company for $1 billion.

Facebook approached Waze six months ago but recently upped its bid from $200 million to $1 billion. Waze has refused offers in the past including Apple’s bid for $500 million.

The Waze app provides 44 million subscibers a navigation system which uses real-time information about road conditions in Israel.

As part of the negotiations, Waze has asked to remain in Israel as an independent brand.

Facebook has bought two Israeli applications, including Snaptu for $70 million in 2011 and Face.com for $60 million in 2012.

Fergie moved by plight of Odessa home children

Zoe Winograd — Mon, 13 May 2013 10:38:04 +0100

The Duchess of York, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Tracy-Ann Oberman and Caprice were celebrity supporters of the inaugural dinner of the UK support group of Tikva Jewish children’s home in Odessa. Mitch and Jane Winehouse were also among almost 300 people at the Mayfair dinner, which raised £.1.1 million.

As guests sat down, the duchess told the JC: “I’m here as the heart of a mother to help make the smile of a child. The Jewish people have always got behind me and so I thought tonight was a good opportunity to say thank you.”

Sir Ranulph, the guest speaker, talked about his experiences as an explorer, going on to implore his audience to give generously to children “whose lives would otherwise be hideous”.

Members of a young Tikva committee were moved to tears when a video was screened of children they had recently visited at the home having their own party to celebrate the evening.

The committee, established after the visit to Ukraine, talked at their table about the “unimaginable” conditions the abandoned children had been surviving in before they came to Tikva.

Since 1997 more than 1,500 children have been accommodated at the home. “After you see where they have come from, you don’t want to let them go,” said committee chair Samantha Rosen, 23.

Talking informally with Ms Oberman, Tikva supporter Richard Matthews said it was “the last chance” to help the children. Mr Winehouse expressed “amazement that any child should be living on the street” and called on the “Jewish community to do a little more”.

The first Tikva Award was presented to Harold and Anna Schimmel for their continuing support by Chief Rabbi of Odessa Shlomo Baksht and the home’s chief executive Refael Kruskal.

British Friends of Tikva executive director Karen Bodenstein wants to promote greater awareness of Tikva’s work “to save the Jewish children of Odessa from severe abuse, neglect and death”.

Entwine linking to UK for overseas aid

Zoe Winograd — Mon, 13 May 2013 10:19:22 +0100

A scheme to encourage more young UK Jews to engage in overseas aid has been launched in London.

Entwine, the young professional arm of America’s Joint Distribution Committee, hosted its first British event for around 75 keen social activists. Run by former participants of JDC programmes, Entwine will be organising a series of promotional activities for short-term overseas service trips and will be educating young people about communities facing poverty.

Entwine UK’s Nikki Levitan said it was a “one-of-a-kind movement” which would “create global leaders”. Over here it will work in partnership with JHub, the Pears Foundation and World Jewish Relief.

American guest speaker Shaun Goldstone, 25, spoke about his experiences on a 13-month Entwine programme in Ethiopia. He explained the problems facing the Ethiopian Jewish community, including inadequate water, medical and educational facilities.

His ambition is to become involved in the building of an Ethiopian hospital. “JDC will be there for many more years to come and it is up to our generation to put the word out.” Other Entwine programme participants recounted experiences in Shanghai, Moscow and Haiti.

One Londoner who has been on an Entwine scheme is Talia Blank, 24, who said that in Turkey she had found an “inspiring community facing adverse conditions”. She had been astonished by the fear of being identifiably Jewish in public — “no one would wear a magen David”.

Bibi held secret talks with Palestinians

Zoe Winograd — Mon, 13 May 2013 10:06:28 +0100

The head of the PLO Executive Committee, Yasser Abed Rabbo, has revealed that secret discussions about peace talks took place between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the PLO two years ago.

According to the Times of Israel, Mr Netanyahu and Mr Abed Rabbo met several times in 2010 and 2011 at the house of Israel chief negotiator Yitzhak Molcho.

Mr Abed Rabbo told the Times of Israel that during these meetings, Mr Netanyahu talked about reverting back to pre-1967 borders.

Mr Abed Rabbo said: “We discussed all the issues. But I sat and demanded in those meetings that Israel present its map for a two-state solution concept, and publicly declare its willingness to speak about the 1967 lines as the framework for the meetings. Molcho was not prepared to present a map and the meetings were truly exhausting, a lot of chatter without agreements. They were kept secret until now, actually.”

He added: “This was classic Netanyahu. He spoke about 3000 years of Jewish history, about his father and what he saw with his own eyes. When he finished his preface, I turned to him and said, ‘Let me tell you something — we don’t trust you and we don’t believe you. This is the general feeling among Palestinians and this is my feeling also.’

“Netanyahu didn’t rule anything out. He mostly listened. He asked me about the idea of a joint committee to manage issues related to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem — as Mr Olmert had suggested.”

The Prime Minister’s Office has refused to comment.

Orthodox teens throw rocks at Women of Wall

Zoe Winograd — Fri, 10 May 2013 12:55:33 +0100

Thousands of strictly Orthodox teenagers have attempted to stop the Women of the Wall from holding a service at the Western Wall.

Early on Friday morning, a police barricade stopped protesters from attacking the women who were given the legal right to pray at the wall in April. According to sources, the men were throwing rocks, water bottles and other items.

“They’re doing this to provoke us, and it’s an insult to Judaism,” said one protester.

Knesset members from Meretz, Tamar Zandberg and Michal Rozin, joined the Women of the Wall, while Likud MK Miri Regev stood in support of the protesters.

Ms Regev told reporters, “We must respect all strains of religion in Israel, but we must maintain traditional norms at the Western Wall.”

Three Charedi men were arrested for disturbing the peace with police reporting that more arrests may be made.

A statement made by the Rabbinical Assembly said: "We are shocked and horrified to see the desecration of a Jewish holy site by Jewish religious extremists. We call for a full investigation by the Israeli government."

The Women of the Wall gather monthly at the women’s section of the Western Wall to pray.

Find it hard to hear in the cinema? Forget deaf aids — try these glasses

Zoe Winograd — Fri, 10 May 2013 09:30:43 +0100

An inventor has developed a system which will allow deaf people to enjoy visits to the cinema without having to watch special screenings for the hard-of-hearing.

Jack Ezra, 56, has built the prototype for glasses that would enable deaf film-goers to read sub-titles during any movie. The sub-titles, displayed on a separate screen, would be invisible to those not wearing the glasses.

The former JFS student said: “The deaf seem to be left out of everything and this would allow them to go to the movies whenever they like.”

The former teacher, who now runs his own 3D technology company, is seeking the £135,000 funding he needs to produce and market his invention.

He said: “This would change the film industry, bringing in a whole market of people who have been forgotten about.”

Stephen Hawking’s boycott call sparks galactic row

Zoe Winograd — Thu, 09 May 2013 10:20:55 +0100

Stephen Hawking’s decision to join the academic boycott of Israel has prompted anger from the organisers of a conference he was due to address.

The acclaimed physicist and author of A Brief History of Time was due to be the keynote speaker at the fifth President’s Conference hosted by Israeli President Shimon Peres next month. But he has told Mr Peres that he will not be attending “based on his knowledge of Palestine”.

Conference chairman Israel Maimon said: “The academic boycott against Israel is in our view outrageous and improper, certainly for someone for whom the spirit of liberty lies at the basis of his human and academic mission.”

Israel Law Centre, a civil liberties group, told Wired magazine that in order to be consistent, Prof Hawking should now pull the Israeli-designed Intel chip out of the computer that enables him to talk.

A spokesman for anti-boycott group Fair Play commented: “Professor Hawking’s misguided withdrawal from the President’s Conference is both bizarre and unfortunate. President Shimon Peres is one of Israel’s strongest and most consistent advocates for peace.”

There was confusion when a Cambridge University spokesman initially rejected the claim that Prof Hawking was boycotting Israel, saying the scientist had withdrawn on “health grounds, having been advised by doctors not to fly.” Hours later, however, it was confirmed that it was a boycott.

This year’s conference will celebrate Mr Peres’s 90th birthday with guests including former US President Bill Clinton, former President of the USSR Mikhail Gorbachev, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Barbra Streisand.

Cambridge University: Stephen Hawking to boycott Israel conference

Zoe Winograd — Wed, 08 May 2013 16:59:20 +0100

The University of Cambridge has confirmed that Stephen Hawking is not attending a conference in Jerusalem as part of an academic boycott.

The acclaimed physicist who works at the university was due to be the keynote speaker at the fifth annual "Facing Tomorrow" conference hosted by Israeli President Shimon Peres next month.

The British Committee for the Universities of Palestine issued a statement this week that Professor Hawking’s decision was based on his support for the boycott.

"His independent decision is based upon his knowledge of Palestine, and on the unanimous advice of his own academic contacts there", it said.

The group said the statement had been approved by the professor of mathematics.

Initially a university spokesman had said the 71-year-old scientist had withdrawn on “health grounds, having been advised by doctors not to fly.”

The conference Chairman Israel Maimon said : "The academic boycott against Israel is in our view outrageous and improper, certainly for someone for whom the spirit of liberty lies at the basis of his human and academic mission… The imposition of a boycott is incompatible with open, democratic dialogue."

Stephen Hawking's withdrawal from Israel visit is due to 'health reasons'

Zoe Winograd — Wed, 08 May 2013 13:36:28 +0100

Stephen Hawking has announced that his decision to not attend the Israeli President’s Conference is due to “health reasons” and “not an academic boycott” as previously claimed by the British Committee for the Universities of Palestine.

Professor Hawking, world-renowned physicist, was due to head the fifth ‘Facing Tomorrow’ conference hosted by Israeli President Shimon Peres in June but he told Mr Peres last week that he will not be attending.

Earlier today, sources claimed that Professor Stephen attributed his decision to a new-found “knowledge of Palestine.”

The information stemmed from a claim made by the British Committee for the Universities of Palestine that Professor Hawking had approved a statement saying that: "his independent decision to respect the boycott, is based upon his knowledge of Palestine, and on the unanimous advice of his own academic contacts there".

According to a University of Cambridge spokesperson , the 71-year-old professor of mathematics has asked the committee to remove the statement.

Stephen Hawking to boycott Israel conference

Zoe Winograd — Wed, 08 May 2013 09:43:26 +0100

Professor Stephen Hawking has pulled out of a conference to be held in Jerusalem as part of an academic boycott of Israel.

Reportedly, the well-known physicist told Israeli President Shimon Peres that he will not be attending the ‘Facing Tomorrow’ conference in June “based on his knowledge of Palestine.”

The British Committee for the Universities of Palestine described it as "his independent decision to respect the boycott, based upon his knowledge of Palestine, and on the unanimous advice of his own academic contacts there". The statement came with Professor Hawking’s approval.

Professor Hawking originally agreed to headline the fifth annual conference hosted by Mr Peres which, this year, will also celebrate the President’s 90th birthday.

A Fair Play spokesman said: "Professor Hawking's misguided withdrawal from the President's Conference is both bizarre and unfortunate. President Shimon Peres is one of Israel's strongest and most consistent advocates for peace through negotiation and compromise with the Palestinians, and the President's Conference is a venue for promoting his approach. Professor Hawking could have joined the Conference and explained his views on the conflict in the region, just as many other participants have done. By boycotting the conference, he has thrown away this opportunity and will help nobody."

‘Auschwitz cook’ arrested on war crimes charges

Zoe Winograd — Tue, 07 May 2013 14:25:41 +0100

A 93-year-old alleged SS member was arrested in Germany last night.

Hans Lipshis, who was taken into custody from his care home near Stuttgart, was accused of taking part in murder and genocide at Auschwitz.

The accused has admitted to working at the camp from 1941-1945 but has denied any knowledge of the killings that took place. He told reporters that he was a “cook for the entire time.”

Mr Lipshis was allegedly a member of the SS-Totenkopf Sturbann, which guarded the camp. He fled to the US in 1956 but was deported to Germany in 1983 after being accused of being a Nazi war criminal. The Lithuanian-born man was added to the Simon Wiesenthal Centre's list of wanted Nazis a few weeks ago.

Director of the Simone Wiesenthal Centre in Jerusalem Efraim Zuroff said: “We welcome the arrest. I hope this will only be the first of many arrests, trials and convictions of death camp guards.”

Karen Pollock, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, commented: “More than anything, the arrest of Hans Lipschis sends out a clear message that old age and the passage of time are no barrier to the prosecution of alleged Nazi war criminals – that is exactly as it must be.”

There will be no escalation with Syria, says Israel

Zoe Winograd — Tue, 07 May 2013 09:58:10 +0100

Israel has downplayed the possibility of escalation following its air strikes on Syrian targets over the weekend.

Yair Golan, head of the IDF northern command, told Israeli reporters: "It is always right to prepare and train, but there are no winds of war.”

On Sunday, Israel carried out an air strike on a military research centre in Jamraya near Damascus. This followed a hit on Friday on a shipment of strategic missiles.

Although Israel has not officially admitted to carrying out the operation, anonymous intelligence sources told journalists that both strikes targeted Fateh-100 missile shipments sent from Iran for Hizbollah in Lebanon.

Israeli Deputy Defence Minister Danny Danon said: "The state of Israel is protecting its interests and will continue doing so. I am not confirming or denying the reports."

There will be no escalation with Syria, says Israel

Zoe Winograd — Tue, 07 May 2013 09:58:10 +0100

Israel has downplayed the possibility of escalation following its air strikes on Syrian targets over the weekend.

Yair Golan, head of the IDF northern command, told Israeli reporters: "It is always right to prepare and train, but there are no winds of war.”

On Sunday, Israel carried out an air strike on a military research centre in Jamraya near Damascus. This followed a hit on Friday on a shipment of strategic missiles.

Israeli Deputy Defence Minister Danny Danon said: "The state of Israel is protecting its interests and will continue doing so. I am not confirming or denying the reports."

Redbridge Council approves Chigwell eruv

Zoe Winograd — Mon, 06 May 2013 10:58:17 +0100

Chigwell and Hainault Synagogue moved a step closer to the first Essex area eruv after Redbridge Council unanimously approved its plans last week. But given that the religious boundary will cover more than Redbridge, project leaders now await the go-ahead from Epping Forest District Council.

The synagogue’s Rabbi Baruch Davis said Redbridge had been “very respectful and interested” in the eruv. “We have a lot of young families at our shul and the eruv would mean that both parents and their little children could come to shul on Shabbat.” An eruv allows the pushing of prams and the carrying of items on Shabbat and the festivals.

The 700-member synagogue has been discussing eruv plans since 2010 — “it is a big thing these days”.