Simon Rocker

PUBLIC PROFILE

Simon Rocker
Registered: 3 April 2008
Location: Hendon
Simon Rocker is Judaism Editor of the JC

LATEST DISCUSSIONS

  • RE: The Next Chief

    "Gob-smacked!!! For once in my humble opinion Millis talks sense." Advis3r

  • RE: The Next Chief

    "Isn't this the right time to call an end to this anachronistic institution? After all, he isn't the Chief Rabbi as such. He's the head rabbi of the United Synagogue and those religious groups that (...)" Joe Millis

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POSTS BY SIMON ROCKER

Leo Baeck welcomes first lady principal

By Simon Rocker, February 9, 2012

The Leo Baeck College has held an induction service for a new principal for the first time.

Rabbi Dr Deborah Kahn-Harris - a rabbinic graduate of the college and the first woman principal in its 66-year history - was formally installed in a ceremony conducted by Rabbi Colin Eimer of Shaarei Tsedek North London Reform Synagogue.

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US and Israel look for UK donations

By Simon Rocker, February 9, 2012

The head of the controversial Israel lobby group J Street will attempt to raise funds for the organisation during a visit to London later this month, the JC has learned.

Jeremy Ben-Ami, its founding president, who will be speaking about his new book at Jewish Book Week, will also hold a number of meetings to enlist support for a fighting fund for candidates in the American elections this year.

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Laura marks her Board card for May polls

By Simon Rocker, February 9, 2012

Laura Marks, head of a commission to encourage more women to lead the Jewish community, will stand for election as vice-president of the Board of Deputies in May.

But controversy was brewing this week over a rule change proposed by a rival candidate, which would effectively scupper her bid.

Ms Marks, founder of Mitzvah Day and head of the commission on women set up by the Jewish Leadership C

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Kate's chasidic dress sense

By Simon Rocker, February 9, 2012

Don't be surprised if the Duchess of Cambridge were to go shopping in Stamford Hill because one of her favourite coats was inspired by a kapote.

Katherine Hooker, designer of the London Contrast coat, told New York magazine that it was based on "a young boy's Chasidic coat" that she once bought in a junk shop in Israel during a visit as a teenager.

It was "black silk with a little collar, cu

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What Jackie said competition

By Simon Rocker, February 9, 2012

The lucky winner of our caption contest - and recipient of two tickets to see Jackie Mason in London this month - is Estelle Ries of Radlett.

In her entry, the comedian tells Mikhail Gorbachev in the above photo: "If I give you my autograph, everyone will want one!"

And here are Jackie Mason's own suggestions. To Gorbachev, he says; "Have you ever thought about converting?

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Muzzle Tov: a dog's life

By Simon Rocker, February 9, 2012

You recall last week I lauded Muzzle Tov, the greyhound who won his race after Shabbat. He was back in action last Saturday, when he should have been taking kiddush in his kennel, and this time he managed only fifth. Mind you, the Torah talks about resting your cattle, not your dog.

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Shmuley B in da house?

By Simon Rocker, February 9, 2012

Rabbi Shmuley Boteach wants to run as a Republican for Congress. The talk show host intends to pitch for the party's nomination for a New Jersey district. If he were chosen to stand and then elected in November, he would, he believes, be the first rabbi in the house.

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No ears for Mr Livingstone

By Simon Rocker, February 9, 2012

Rabbi Alan Plancey, emeritus United Synagogue minister and a Conservative councillor, experienced chilly feet this week, not because of the snow but the idea of going to a charity dinner for Orthodox school Side by Side, whose guest is Labour mayoral candidate Ken Livingstone.

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Hidden cost behind the growth of Charedim

By Simon Rocker, February 9, 2012

Halls Green, outside Sevenoaks in Kent, was once a woodland activities centre for children, run by a Christian charity. But the newest residents will not be spending their days abseiling or shooting arrows.

The teenage boys of what is now the Yeshivah Gedolah Torah Veyirah will study in the garden of England, a world away from the inner-city streets of London's Stamford Hill.

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Zionist Federation keeps Rabbi Rich as patron

By Simon Rocker, February 6, 2012

The Zionist Federation has rejected a move to oust Rabbi Danny Rich, the chief executive of Liberal Judaism, as one of its patrons.

ZF joint vice-chairman Jonathan Hoffman tabled the resolution to remove him at a meeting of a national council last week.

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Must the chief be a Zionist?

By Simon Rocker, February 3, 2012

Today the JC carries an advertisement for the top job in British Jewry: the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth. Whether the post has been advertised before I don't know, although in 1965 the then selectors said "there should in no circumstances be any advertisement".

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Charedim plan free school

By Simon Rocker, February 2, 2012

Plans are being drawn up for the first strictly Orthodox Jewish free school.

Rabbi Nesanel Lieberman, currently head of the Toras Hashem Primary in Hendon, is working to open another school in north-west London in September next year.

The free school model has been criticised in some Orthodox circles because only half the places can be reserved on the basis of faith.

But Rabbi Lieberman h

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Hasmonean gives highest value in DfE league tables

By Simon Rocker, February 2, 2012

From September, pupils at the Hasmonean High in north-west London can take GCSE Chinese.

It is as an example of the forward thinking that is paying dividends at the Orthodox school, the top Jewish secondary in terms of academic progress made by pupils from 11-to-16, according to new Department for Education performance tables.

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Belsen liberator statue attacked in Scarborough

By Simon Rocker, February 2, 2012

Scarborough police are pursuing the possibility of a racial motive behind the vandalism on the eve of Holocaust Memorial Day of a statue of a British soldier who helped to liberate Belsen.

Yellow paint was splashed over the sculpture, known as Freddie Gilroy and the Belsen Stragglers, last Thurday night.

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Does Cora read the torah?

By Simon Rocker, February 2, 2012

The online salon talk this week has been whether award-winning ITV drama Downton Abbey requires a mezuzah.

Leading character Lady Cora (below) has already been revealed to be the daughter of Cincinnati millionaire Isidore Levinson.

Later this year you will be able to learn about her matrilineal line when her mum - played by Shirley MacLaine - turns up in the next series.

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