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Cup success for Jerusalem

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:15:55 +0100

OLIM LEAGUE CUP FINAL
JERUSALEM 5 ENGLAND FC 2

Two goals from Moishe Lewis helped Jerusalem crush England FC’s double hopes as they won a compelling Olim Cup final 5-2.

England went into the game as favourites having recently clinched the league title, but with only 12 men available, they were missing some key players including Tal Stern, Omer Peleg, Jacob Kalms, and keeper Ariel Solomon. Roy Zenou started between the sticks, and both Lewis Kaye and Daniel Scott are in the squad despite lacking match fitness.

Jerusalem went into the game with a full-strength squad other than centre half Natan Weisenberg who was replaced by the veteran Danny Newman. Eli Warner was preferred to start as lone striker ahead of Lewis Kaye.

Motti Colman had the first chance of the game inside three minutes but his speculative lob forced a smart save
from Fran Salgado in the Jerusalem goal.

The pace of Adam Jaffe kept the Jerusalem defence on their toes, but the stood firm before going in front after 13 minutes. England keeper Roy Zenou was at fault, fumbling a seemingly harmless shot into the path of Eli
Warner and the former North West Neasden marksman made no mistake from close range.

The match became niggly, with both teams putting in some strong challenges as the Jerusalem backline proved hard for England to break down.

Jerusalem made an early change midway through the half, with the combative midfielder Jason Lurie thrown into the action at the expense of Rafi Wreschner.

Warner was causing all sorts of problems to the England defence, linking up well with Avi Korman. Akiva Zniemer almost doubled the lead only to be denied by the woodwork with Zenou beaten.

With Jerusalem’s Gav Cohen and Avi Korman dominating the midfield exchanges, England were relieved to hear the half time whistle trailing by a single goal.

England rejigged things at the start of the second half, with Zenou moving outfield and Terry Newman taking the gloves. He was soon called into action, saving well from Amit Dinowitz and Lolu Hibbert in quick succession.
Jerusalem doubled the lead on 56 minutes when Zneimer evaded the offside trap to fire a low shot past Newman.

England then made their third change in goal when Newman returned outfield, with former FC Heath striker Lewis Kaye going between the posts.

England enjoyed a good spell, with Chad Waldman missing a gilt-edged opportunity before Kaye was called into action to deny the dangerous Zneimer.

Livewire Jaffe then hauled England back into the game, drilling the ball under Jerusalem keeper Fran Salgado. It wasn’t the best of strikes but it gives England the lifeline they needed.

The game was turned on its head a minute later as England drew level. Nicky Plotnek delivered a peach of a cross that was fumbled by Salgado, allowing Tomer Saban an easy tap-in from five yards.

England had barely finished celebrating their equaliser but parity was restored just 30 seconds later as Dinowitz placed a terrific curler past Kaye from the edge of the area.

The England keeper breathed a sigh of relief minutes later as he was shown a yellow card after a wild challenge on Daniel Cohen outside of the area.

The introduction of Cohen caused all sorts of problems to the England defence. It appeared England only had one answer to his rampaging runs, with Josh Hantman the next to clatter into him.

Jerusalem moved into a 4-2 lead as Lewis is rewarded for his hard work as he turned past Yoni Sidi inside the England box and slotted the ball in.

The drama increased as Hantman was shown a second yellow card following a challenge on Jason Lurie, that forced him off, but the referee forgot to pull out his red card.

Lewis ended England’s hopes of a comeback two minutes from time with another composed finish past Kaye to wrap up a 5-2 victory.

David Preston said: "To win some silverware for the second consecutive year is a real achievement.

"The team has been made to work hard all season and this trophy is a fitting reward for their efforts."

England player-manager Yoni Sidi commented:"“Well played Jerusalem, and especially Danny Newman and Dave
Preston who were deserved winners. They soaked up our pressure well and played a good game-plan to counter-attack us.

"Kosky and Newman were like rocks at the back and I think the crowd saw the two best teams in the league tonight go toe to toe and it was a great game.

"We were missing some key players and that was disappointing, but my lads have given it everything like they have done all season."

"We're happy we won the league and will need to come back stronger next year if we want to win the cup."

Jerusalem: Fran Salgado, Yoel Finches, David Preston, Danny Newman, Dan Kosky (capt), Avi Korman, Rafi Wreschner, Gav Cohen, Amit Dinowitz, Akiva Zneimer, Eli Warner. Subs: Lollu Hibbert, Mosihe Lewis, Jason Lurie, Daniel Cohen

England: Roy Zenou, Yuval, Terry Newman, Yoni Sidi, Tomer Saban, Motti Colman, Nicky Plotnek, Josh Hantman, Lewis Kaye, Adam Jaffe, Chad Waldman. Sub: Daniel Scott

Pearl Dental crowned again

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:38:36 +0100

Pearl Dental claimed their third consecutive Israel Night Cricket League title after clinching the Division Two crown with a 40-run victory over YMCA at the Modi'in Cricket arena.

The crucial toss was won by PD's David Wiseman and he had no hesitation in electing to bat. His counterpart, YMCA's Brett Hickson, said that he would have loved to bat first and set a target.

The YMCA players were confident before the game as they had already beaten PDCC once before in the season and Hickson had watched most of the PDCC matches, so he had highlighted the strengths and weaknesses to his team.

Not even a change in tactics by Hickson, by using his two main bowling weapons, Saul Weitzman and Benjy Myers in the first fpir overs could stem the runs flowing from the Pearl Dental bats. Danny Brill and Craig Levy got Pearl off to a very solid start with an opening partnership of 31, followed up by 38 by the Iian Levy/Jason Bloom pairing.

Wiseman and David Lewin continued to pile up the runs with 37. The key to the PDCC batting was the running between the wickets and the fact that they did not lose any wickets in the opening 12 overs. At the interval Wiseman was happy but cautious, saying; "We are thrilled to have gotten 112, but the YMCA are a strong unit so the job is not yet complete."

Hickson and Clint Rubin started the run chase relatively well, but their partnership of 19 was hampered by the loss of three wickets (-15 runs). Weitzman and David Leshansky put up a brave fight scoring 38, but they needed support from their teammates to get close to the PDCC total and the disciplined bowling and fielding unit of PDCC never allowed them to settle.

Brill picked up three wickets, while Wiseman and David Kable chipped in with two apiece to cap off a thoroughly deserving 40-run victory.

Victorious captain Wiseman was "relieved" to win as "we had and an up and down season winning five and losing four, but we seemed to click in the finals." He was full of praise for opposition, saying: "YMCA has proved to be a revelation - coming into the league and immediately establishing themselves as a team to be reckoned with. We know that whenever we play them, we have to be at our best."

Hickson was upset after the game, but admitted that "Pearl outplayed us in all aspects of the game, but as this first season in the night league we have a lot of positives to take out of the game. But kudos to Pearl for playing a great game and deservedly taking the honours.

"Pearl gave us a real lesson in how to play the indoor game. They batted sensibly and clinically, playing the percentages game. Scoring mainly two and threes, playing very few risky shots and losing only two or three wickets was the platform for their good score. They backed this up with accurate bowling and very sharp fielding.

"For me their style of play has been a real eye opener, something I hope to bring aboard when starting the next season with the YMCA’s."

After the prize giving ceremony, both sets of players and supporters shared a few drinks and rated this season of the night league as the best yet.

Wiseman and Hickson were full of praise for their players in a season that has lasted all of nine months. Wiseman mentioned that "after losing some talented players in the last off-season, pressure was on us to replace them."

He went on to say: "In David Kable, Yoni Salomon, Ilan Buchbinder and Rael Olwyn, we were lucky to find some fantastic cricketers and it was because these of guys we were able to make it three on the trot. We can't wait for the next season. We get hung up about winning and losing but ultimately everyone who plays is a winner. The fact that we can play cricket in israel is amazing."

Hickson mentioned a few standout players this season, saying: "I would like to thank my players for their inspirational performances during the season: David 'Chopper' Harris, Saul Weitzman, David Leshansky, Yonatan Karmi, Joe Neppe, Adam Finkelstein, Clint Rubin, Paul Kloot, David Benjamin, Aryeh Meyers and Benjy Myers. Last but not least our manager and sponsor Michael Morris.

Hickson cheekily added that "the league has been a great opportunity to escape some of the housework," before mentioning that he has "absolutely loved the league. The atmosphere has been great while the camaraderie between the players has been excellent. I have personally made many new friends."

This week sees the Division Three final as two Bet Shemesh teams, KAT Israemploy and Gold Insurance Bet Shemesh Lightning battle it out for bragging rights. This game starts at 7:45pm on Thursday evening and both teams would want to end the season off with a win and the gold medal.

GB swimmers looking to make a splash in Israel

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:01:22 +0100

Maccabi GB has selected the Team GB Swimming squads who will be aiming for gold at this summer’s 19th Maccabiah Games.

There will be six Junior athletes and two Open athletes competing. The side’s talent pool is overflowing, featuring some of the best young Jewish swimmers in the country.

The GB squad is double the size of that which competed at 2009 Maccabiah Games. However, although most of the swimmers have represented Team GB at either a JCC Games or European Maccabi Games, all eight will be competing at their maiden Maccabiah on July 18.

The Junior Girls Squad includes 2011 European Maccabi Games medallist, Hollie Fisher. Joining her are Chloe Jacobs, Elisha Kramer and Rachel Ayrton, with Robert Dos Santos and Daniel Schindler completing the Junior Boys. All six are JCC Maccabi Games medal-winners and will be hoping to draw upon this experience in Israel.

The Open Squad sees another joint-JCC Maccabi Games and European Maccabi Games medallist take to the water - Naomi Ayrton, older sister of Rachel.

Completing the line-up is possibly the team’s most experienced swimmer, Adam Warner – winner of the Brighton Pier-to-Pier Race 2012, as well as two Golds (800 and 1500m freestyle) and one Bronze (400m freestyle) at the British Gas Senior and Masters National Championships.

Injecting some much-needed experience and guidance to the Squad will be Team Manager, Abbi Pinnick. She has a plethora of Maccabiot under her belt, having won a Swimming Relay Bronze in 2001 and a Netball Silver from 2009. She has also overseen the Maccabi GB Swimming Squad at the JCC Maccabi Games 2010.

Speaking about expectations for her swimmers at the 19th Maccabiah Games, Pinnick, said, "Having represented my country before at the Maccabiah Games, I know that the Squad will have a fantastic time – it is my job to ensure they enjoy themselves and the whole experience.

"We have some very talented swimmers in both age groups and I’m excited to be part of Maccabi GB alongside them and other members of the Jewish Community from around the world."

TEAM GB MACCABIAH SWIMMING SQUAD:

Junior Girls:
Rachel Ayrton
Chloe Jacobs
Elisha Kramer
Hollie Fisher

Junior Boys:
Robert Dos Santos
Daniel Schindler

Open Women:
Naomi Ayrton

Open Men:
Adam Warner

Double delight for Brady U13's

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:18:47 +0100

Brady Maccabi Reds under 13’s won the Watford Friendly League Yellow division title after a thrilling double header against Finchley Revolution.

The first game was won relatively easily with a 3-0 win with goals from Dan Gaby, Jamie Delane and an own goal.

The second game proved to be a more tense affair, with Jacob Elmon pulling the strings in midfield and Brady hitting the woodwork three times.

Brady peppered the Finchley goal, with several shots cleared off the line, and at 0-0 with 10 minutes to go and Brady needing to win the game to win the title a hat-trick of brilliant saves by goalkeeper Ben Karbaron kept them in the game.

It needed a moment of inspiration seven minutes from time to put Brady ahead and upped stepped Jake Brassey who scored a wonderful solo effort.

Super striker Dan Gaby sealed the win with his his 46th goal of the season to finish the job amid wild celebrations form the players and fans.

Joint-manager Johnathan Vandermolen said: "We are so proud of what the boys have achieved this season."

Co-boss Adam Meranda added: "We really feel that Brady has a very bright future."

MAL slip up against West Harrow

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:35:49 +0100

MIDDLESEX SUNDAY CRICKET LEAGUE DIVISION TWO
MAL 123 Mark Landau 50
West Harrow 124-3
MAL lost by 7 wickets

MAL suffered a seven-wicket defeat at the hands of West Harrow on Sunday.

Conditions did not favour MAL as they were inserted on a green top with a long, lush outfield that made early scoring very difficult.

Mark Landau and Russell Corin battled hard, putting on 28 for the first wicket before Corin was caught at slip.

Chris Tomaszewski joined Landau and the two fought hard to establish a platform putting on 53, with Landau going through to his half century before immediately nicking behind for 50 (4 x 4, 83 balls).

Tomaszewski followed quickly for 9, and Alex Gold was bowled for 0. Daniel Caplan, a winter signing from London Maccabi Vale, threatened some brief resistance with 12, but the wickets continued to tumble and MAL were dismissed for 123 in 36.1 overs.

Given the amount of movement from the surface 123 looked a respectable score, but with the sun out, and the outfield quickening, it proved to be far short of par.

Yoav Lebens and Tomaszewski beat the bat consistently but there were too many four balls and West Harrow were able to get away to a quick start, putting on 35 before Sanjay was well caught low down by Alex Gold from the bowling of Tomaszweski.

Chivan followed soon after, caught from Yoav's bowling by Daniel Caplan. Akash chanced his arm and struck the ball well and Amit grew in confidence, and this pair took the score to 112 before Michael Klinger picked up a consolation wicket, bowling Akash for 42.

West Harrow reached their target in the 23rd over, on a day in which MAL had no luck, but were definitely below par.

Wizo raises nearly £2m

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:56:39 +0100

Wizo UK has raised £1.9 million for its welfare work for Israeli children and families over the past financial year. The news was revealed at its AGM and Rebecca Sieff Day event in London.

Awards went to Nicky Miller, Natalie Pearce, Elissa Winston, Anita Royston, Sylvia Morris and Helen Reisman. The guest speaker was Watford Grammar School for Girls head Dame Helen Hyde, who has driven Holocaust education there after discovering the fate of her own family during the Shoah.

Moriah primary makes headway

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:48:47 +0100

Moriah Jewish Day School has appointed Judy Lethbridge as its new head, replacing Alan Shaw, who is moving to the top job at Hasmonean Primary for the next academic year.

Informing parents of the decision, governors’ chair Alan Capper wrote that the school had wanted “to recruit a head who would drive the school forward.

“We hope that Mrs Lethbridge will place us firmly on the path towards raising our Ofsted rating from ‘good’ to ‘outstanding’. Her track record at her last three schools demonstrates her capability to raise standards for all pupils.”

He added that Mrs Lethbridge, a Pinner Synagogue member, was “keen to enrich the inclusive and tolerant religious ethos of which we are so proud. We all believe she has the vision, ambition and ability to make a difference.”

Shenley's wizard from Oz

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:30:50 +0100

Rabbi Alan Garber will be returning to the UK from Australia to take up the Shenley Synagogue pulpit.

Shenley members unanimously supported the appointment of the minister and his wife Tanya on Sunday, and the Garbers are expected to start work before the High Holy-Days.

The rabbi grew up in Kenton and is a Leeds University graduate. After spending two years in marketing, he studied in Israel, coming back to work at the Jewish Learning Exchange, Kisharon and Noam Primary School. He studied for his semicha in Gateshead and his first appointment was as a university chaplain.

Rabbi Garber then moved to Sydney, his wife’s homeland, to become associate minister of the Great Synagogue. His responsibilities there have been wide-ranging.

The couple’s plans for Shenley include holding “warm and welcoming” services, innovative educational schemes and social activities for all age groups.

“We are looking forward to helping this young and vibrant community grow,” Rabbi Garber said.

Historic title success for LML U18's

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:17:41 +0100

WATFORD FRIENDLY LEAGUE UNDER 18 DIVISION
LONDON MACCABI LIONS 6 PANATHINAIKOS 3

The Holy Grail of winning the top division of the u18 Watford Friendly League was finally achieved by this year’s talented u18 London Lions side in dramatic fashion on the final day of the season

As teams entered the final day the league could have been won by any one of four teams in the climax of an incredibly competitive season

Needing a win from their final match against Panathinaikos to guarantee at least a share of the title, the largest crowd of the season stood in anticipation on the touchline at Rowley Lane as the teams took to the pitch

Lions started cautiously with good possession but with few chances created, the relief around the ground was palpable as Michael Kenley netted to give Lions the lead after 15 minutes.

A trademark curler from outside the area soon followed from Adam Arnold and Lions went comfortably 3-0 up on the half hour mark with a sizzling shot from Stanley Offord that the Panathinaikos keeper was unable to keep out.

Lions then switched off and for a 10 minute spell Panathinaikos took control, with Sam Greenberg having to work hard in goal to allow Lions to maintain the lead.

However, an intricate move from the left flank and a decisive finish from the Panathinaikos striker, pulled the score back to 3-1 before Arnold found the net again with a low driving shot from the edge of the area to take the score to 4-1 at half time.

The game seemed all but over 10 minutes into the second half when Arnold completed his hat-trick to push Lions into a 5-1 lead, only for keeper Greenberg to have to leave the field with a hand injury following a reflex save.

Ben Halmer took over in goal and with Panathinaikos throwing caution to the wind, two consecutive goals brought the score back to 5-3.

With 20 minutes still left to play, Lions supporters were feeling decidedly less comfortable until man-of-the-match Arnold spotted the Panathinaikos goalkeeper off his line to chip him from 25 yards to seal a 6-3 victory.

As the final whistle sounded, Lions players and supporters celebrated as captain Levi Levenfiche led his players off the pitch in the knowledge that history had been made at the club to the sound of popping champagne corks and the traditional euphoric chanting of ‘Championes’.

A mile or so down the road Borehamwood Youth were simultaneously battling with Alexandra Park East and by narrowly winning that match with the odd goal in five they were able to match Lions’ points tally for the season ensuring that the league title would be shared between the two clubs.

This match marked a fitting and emotional end to an incredible journey at London Lions for this squad with a number of players having made over 200 appearances in a Lions shirt since starting out as under-8's, and from which six players will be representing the Maccabi GB team at u18 level in Israel this summer.

Lions: (from back row, left to right) Ben Halmer, Zak Skry, Sam Greenberg, Michael Kenley, Sami Zerovabeli, Casey Sharpe, Stanley Offord, Josh Curtis, Rob Cohen

(Front row) – Daniel Nikolopulos, Adam Arnold, Boaz Goldwater, Levi Levenfiche(c), David Seitler

Youth minister appointment is a unifying force in Glasgow

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:05:15 +0100

Glasgow’s two largest Orthodox congregations — Giffnock and Newlands and Newton Mearns — have joined forces to recruit the city’s first youth and community rabbi.

The appointment of Rabbi Eliezer Wolfson, 30, has been sponsored by the Glasgow Jewish Community Trust, Tribe and the Queen’s Park Charitable Trust. Born in Liverpool, Rabbi Wolfson attended yeshivot in Gateshead and Jerusalem before studying law at Manchester University. He then returned to Israel, where he received his semicha earlier this year. He has come to Glasgow with his wife Elisheva and three children.

“It’s our job to try to make Judaism relevant and inspiring for the youth,” he said. “They should want to live in Glasgow because it should be a place that offers services and activities for them. The community is shrinking yet there is still a lot of life and tremendous potential here.”

Giffnock chairman Nigel Allon was “delighted” at Rabbi Wolfson’s appointment. “He’s a marvellous man with a marvellous education, both secular and religious.” His Newton Mearns counterpart Brian Fox was “keen to improve the religious facilities for the youth in Glasgow”.

The appointment comes as a proposed merger between the two congregations has been shelved.
Mr Fox said the congregations “decided they didn’t want to go down that road at this time. People have different reasons but I think at the end of the day they wanted to retain their independence.”

Protest targets Israel's Eurovision singer

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:52:58 +0100

Israeli singer Moran Mazor was under heavy security protection during her stay in Malmö, Sweden, where she competed in the Eurovision Song Contest. Israeli journalists told Swedish radio that they were followed by a group of young men who said they wanted to bomb the Israelis' hotel rooms.

They got away by telling the men they were from Cyprus. A taxi driver who picked up six passengers from the Israeli delegation's party reportedly called them "damn Jews" and "Jewish whores" in Arabic.

Before Saturday's final, hundreds of Swedes and Danes took part in pro-Palestine rallies in Malmö in which local politicians called for a cultural and economic boycott of Israel under the slogan "Israel, welcome back when Palestine's free".

Daniel Sestrajcic, chair for the Left Party in Malmö and of the Malmö Board of Culture, claimed that Israel does not live up to the Eurovision Song Contest's values of peace, democracy and solidarity.

"Israel is denying the Palestinians from experiencing all that so today we are telling the EBU [the European Broadcasting Union]: You should not to allow Israel to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest," Sestrajcic said in his speech.

On Saturday, the day of the Eurovision final, Sestrajcic took part in a “kippah march” organised to protest against antisemitism and intolerance.

Around 300 people participated in the march, which was rerouted after police granted the Malmö Palestine network permission to set up a protest tent camp on a central square which previous kippah marches have passed through.

According to local media reports, priests, imams, rabbis, politicians, top businessmen and members of the public took part.

Moran Mazor, who celebrated her twenty-second birthday on the day of the semi-final, did not make it through to Saturday's final.

Brilliant Blancos are going up

Sun, 19 May 2013 21:15:21 +0100

JC MSFL DIVISION TWO
NORSTAR B 1 LOS BLANCOS 5

Los Blancos clinched promotion to Division One with, goalkeeper Josh Cohen marking his last game for the club with a goal from the penalty spot.

Further strikes from Joel Kutner, Benjy Israel and a double from player-manager Adam Hersh saw them pip SPEC FC to the runners-up spot.

There was a nervous atmosphere around John Lyon School Playing Fields as Los Blancos looked for one final win to secure promotion to Division One in front of super sponsors Cohen Arnold chartered accountants (for all your accounting needs!)

The nerves showed as Norstar started the brighter and had the first chance. A header from a corner was destined for the roof of the net until Josh Cohen, in his last Blancos appearance, intervened with his fingertips to tip over the bar.

The rest of the half was dominated by Blancos but no clear chances were made. Aryeh Marks scored with a fantastic 'hand of g-d' replica but was correctly booked and the goal ruled out.

The second half was a different story. Los Blancos were not prepared to fall at the final hurdle and stepped up a gear. Midfield duo Josh Caplin and Adam Waters were running the Norstar midfield ragged and it wasn't long before Kutner brilliantly beat his man on the left of the area before firing across the keeper into the far corner.

Sami Birnbaum was brought down after a surging run into the box. As a reward for dedicated service Josh Cohen stepped up to score straight down the middle in his first ever MSFL goal.

Norstar got themselves deservedly back into the game almost instantly and at 2-1 Blancos had to fight. Hersh, chasing the golden boot, used pace power and panache to beat the stars backline and take it past the keeper for 3-1.

At 3-1 Norstar hit bar and post in a goalmouth scramble, but Blancos survived and didn't look back. Hersh added another equally well taken goal for 4-1 and had chances to grab his hat-trick. Substitute Benjy Israel used all of his fresh legs to run from midfield, beating four men, rounding the keeper and slotting home in goal of the week/season contender!

5-1 was the final score and with champagne flowing Blancos have been promoted to Division One.

Blancos boss Adam Hersh told JC Sport: "We started a little nervously but as we got into the game we started to totally dominate and all that was lacking was a goal to kick us on to a comfortable victory.

"This season has been a very satisfying one with many predicting a mid-table finish at best for LB. We have played some excellent football and fully deserve our promotion spot. Commiserations to SPEC who pushed us all the way."

"It is sad to see some of the Los Blancos founding members moving on to bigger and better things. Josh Cohen, who has been Mr consistent between the sticks and has been one of the top goalkeepers to grace the MSFL for many years. His performances have literally won us games and he will be missed and we wish him much luck when he makes Aliyah in the summer.

"Also to our first club captain Dovid Greenberg who has been a mature head in the changing room and always encouraging to younger members of the squad."

Blancos' Joel Minsky told JC Sport: "It was a cagey first half, but Blancos class told in second. We're promoted to Division 1 at first time of asking."

Out of tune with school choir

Sun, 19 May 2013 11:31:40 +0100

National Theatre director, Sir Nicholas Hytner, speaking at the London Jewish Culture Centre this week, was clear about his opposition to boycotts. When his institution embarked on collaborations with the Israeli theatre company Habima, he said: “None of my colleagues said, let’s not work with them.”

But he also revealed that as a young pupil of Manchester Grammar School, he initiated his own boycott – of the school’s Jewish choir, joining the non-religious one instead. “The standards were not high enough in the Jewish choir so I boycotted it on musical grounds.”

Good sport over pin-up status

Sun, 19 May 2013 11:05:11 +0100

Sky Sports presenter Olivia Godfrey has been voted one of the 100 sexiest women in the world, according to a poll of lads’ magazine FHM.

The New London Synagogue member said of her pin-up status, “It’s very flattering although a little random because I am a sports journalist.”

But the 28-year-old qualified ski instructor, who rises at 3am in the morning, said that fiancé, DJ Zeb Wayne, was “pretty chuffed” about her inclusion in the poll. The couple are getting married in three months.

Restoring Freud's couch

Sun, 19 May 2013 10:56:16 +0100

It’s one of the most famous pieces of furniture in the world but the couch where Sigmund Freud psychoanalysed his patients has been showing its age.

London’s Freud Museum last week launched a £5,000 appeal to conserve the historic seat which was bought in Vienna in 1891 and came over here with its owner in 1938.

“A spring has pierced the fabric and stuffing is coming out,” said the museum’s acting director, Dawn Kemp.
But the appeal proved so successful that it has been able to set aside money for further conservation work, on Freud’s “gods”, his prized 2,000-piece collection of antiquities.

Cost of ﬂights set to tumble

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:00:28 +0100

Holidaymakers received a double dose of good news this week with a prediction that the cost of flights to Israel are set to be slashed, and a U-turn by the Israeli government over its proposal to levy 18 per cent VAT on tourism.

According to a senior Israeli tourism official, the price of an air ticket from the UK to Israel may fall by up to 30 per cent when the new open-skies policy comes into force in April next year.

Naama Oryan-Kaplan, director of the Israel Government Tourism Office in the UK and Ireland, said she anticipated prices would be reduced by between 20 and 30 per cent under the new rules which will open up routes to airlines in the European Union.

Carriers are expected to reduce their prices to attract an additional 250,000 tourists from the EU.

“This is a positive development in the Israel tourism industry,” said Ms Oryan-Kaplan. “There will be many options for new carriers to enter the Israeli market, including low-cost airlines.”

A pre-booked return ticket from London to Tel Aviv on El Al currently costs between around £400 and £430 for an adult flying economy class. If the anticipated reduction takes place, the price could fall to as low as £280.

Ms Oryan-Kaplan said: “There has been already an interest from airlines, and new routes should be announced soon.”

The chief executive of Ryanair has told tourism industry figures that the budget airline would consider flying to Israel under the open skies agreement.

Speaking at a UK-Israel business event, Michael O’Leary promised to route Ryanair flights to Israel if there was a level playing field for competition. “We would like a significant portion of our growth to go to places where it needs it — like Israel,” he said.

He noted that more airlines flying to Israel would make travel more affordable for passengers and boost the tourism market. Because of high prices, “tourists avoid Israel”, he said. “It’s a shame because it’s a beautiful country with enormous opportunities.”

He complained that only two of the country’s six airports were being used for international flights. “Israel is a very rich country — build some jet runways and fulfil the enormous tourism potential. We want to open up bases in Israel and put our jets there.”

Meanwhile, UK groups organising trips to Israel have reacted with relief to the Israeli government’s decision to not push forward Finance Minister Yair Lapid’s proposal to levy 18 per cent VAT on hotels and travel services.

“We’re very happy,” said Ilan Scorah, UJIA co-ordinator for tours and gap year programmes. The cost of a UJIA tour, currently £2650, “would have leapt by 12 per cent”, he said.

Harry Jardine, national director of the Federation of Zionist Youth which runs educational tour groups to Israel, welcomed the decision which, he said, followed “great lobby work from organisations across the Jewish world”.

The proposed tax was expected to reduce tourism in Israel by 14 per cent. Last year, 200,000 British tourists out of a record total of 3.4 million visited the country — which was named the eighth most expensive tourist destination by a World Economic Forum report.

LibDems and Jews

Fri, 17 May 2013 13:17:23 +0100

There will be few in the Labour Party sorry to see the back of Lord Ahmed, whose shaming of his party was long-standing and unpleasant.

He jumped before he was about to be pushed. Ed Miliband's handling of the issue was firm and just - and what a contrast with the LibDems. Even if we ignore the way Baroness Tonge was indulged for so long, the way the party has dealt with David Ward has been a disgrace.

Mr Ward, remember, condemned "the Jews" for their failure to learn from the Holocaust. The so-called disciplinary action against him consisted of requesting that he spent a few minutes with a Jew or two. Not only does he still hold the party whip, the LibDem chief whip refuses to comment on the matter. Why is it that the LibDems seem to have a problem with Jews?

Opening the skies

Fri, 17 May 2013 13:16:24 +0100

Last week, we highlighted the benefits to consumers that will flow from the injection of competition into the kosher meat market. This week's news is, if anything, even better. Flights to Israel have always been falsely high.

The Israeli government's internal subsidies and the tortuous process for gaining permission for flights have limited the supply and protected existing carriers - a double whammy for consumers. Even if you want to holiday in Eilat, the absence of regular, direct flights makes it more an expression of faith than a mundane decision about finding a place with good beaches.

But now, after eight years of planning, the Open Skies policy will transform Israeli airspace. Even with current fare prices, tourism is growing - a sign of how wonderful a destination Israel is. With more realistic fares, a boom is almost guaranteed; easyJet already fly to Tel Aviv and it seems certain Ryanair will join them. Not only will the other carriers who now fly have to reduce their fares; there will also be more flights, and to more destinations. Good news all round.

After $57m trial, claims body is still under fire

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:30:44 +0100

As if the convictions in the $57.3 million (£37.6m) fraud case that was wound up in a Manhattan federal court last week were not enough, it was alleged on Tuesday that top officials at the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany were warned about the criminal activity nearly a decade before they called in external investigators.

The fraud was perpetrated over two decades and, of the 31 people convicted, 10 were former Claims Conference employees. Semen Domnitser — one of only three to plead not guilty who were on trial last week — was himself the director of the defrauded programmes between 1999 and 2010. It emerged in the trial that Domnitser had helped people falsely apply for funds from two major programmes.

The Forward has now claimed that a whistleblowing letter was seen by senior leaders of the Conference in 2001. The accusations it contained were corroborated by a preliminary internal investigation but further action was deterred by Domnitser until the federal investigation in 2009.

Clearly, the Claims Conference, one of the most important Jewish institutions in the post-Holocaust world, which has disbursed around $70 billion since its foundation in 1951, must now answer some serious questions about its governance and oversight.

The organisation released a statement in the wake of the trial saying that “Deloitte was hired by the German government to review the processing systems for both individual compensation programmes and homecare allocations, identify any potential weaknesses and recommend improvements.”

A “packet of recommendations”, it said, had already been adopted or were in the process of being adopted.

The questions of how the fraud went on undetected for 15 years — and how the warning went unheeded — remain unanswered. As of going to press, Greg Schneider, current executive director and former chief operating officer; Gideon Taylor, then the executive director; and Julius Berman, the chairman of the conference, had not provided any answers.

The Claims Conference has no doubt required a large bureaucracy to achieve its two aims — to secure funds from governments responsible for post-Holocaust compensation and to distribute that money to victims and survivors.

However, the organisation appears to have fallen down in its management of that bureaucracy.

The scale of its achievements is vast. The Conference secured collaboration between a large number of representatives of the institutions of world Jewry, raised money from German governments before and after unification and established myriad programmes to recognise the ways victims suffered.

But it has come under fire in recent years. A former chairman of the board of the WJC, Isi Leibler, has been a voluble critic of the Conference’s lack of independent oversight and recently suggested that the $57.3m fraud might be the tip of an iceberg.

It remains to be seen how the Conference responds to his accusations and how effectively it will be able to clean its own house.

Naso

Fri, 17 May 2013 10:15:02 +0100

This important blessing, so well known and used with gratitude by Judeo-Christian traditions, is ubiquitous in many services. But it’s curious. God is usually responsible for blessing. Yet here it is Aaron and his sons, the priests, who are asked to do the blessing.

In many traditional synagogues, Cohanim duchen and offer this blessing. So powerful a childhood memory was this for Leonard Nimoy, the actor who played Spock in Star Trek ,that he took the image of the Cohen with separated fingers as his standard and, what became iconic, greeting.

It’s powerful stuff. But controversial, too. Unusually, these blessings are introduced through a command to the priests, “Thus you shall bless them”. This has dismayed classical commentators. Were the priests invoking divine blessing as a parent might or were they themselves engaged in blessing Israel?

The majority understanding is that the priests invoked the divine blessing, a supplication to God. Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch insists the Torah did not suggest a priestly caste with free power to bless. Rather, the priest had clear and distinct instructions to invoke this specific blessing.

Although priesthood is no longer, its legacy survives in many parts of the Jewish world and Cohen and Levite still have roles in liturgical life.

Progressive synagogues have chosen a democratic attitude to the community, where all are Israel and all those who act as shaliach tzibbur have the right and responsibility to invoke this blessing (just as Aaron and his sons). Rabbi John Rayner called this blessing, when used liturgically, “the threefold benediction of the Torah” as an alternative to its priestly title, drawing out the threefold blessing of protection, graciousness and peace. And it’s that which is invoked by mother, father, rabbi or those leading prayers, just as the Torah may have intended.