The JC letters page, 3rd August 2018

There are 22 Arab nations and an estimated 384 million Arabs in the world There are about 6.5 million Jews in Israel and perhaps a slightly greater number living outside of Israel making, say, 14 million in total which is 0.18 per cent of the world’s population. Israel’s 20,700 sq km amount to 0.004 per cent of the world’s land surface. What is wrong with this tiny area being designated the national state of the Jewish people?

David Levy

London N3

That countries like Britain have sidestepped the question of their pluralistic nationality is a matter of long and hard-fought development, but in many other countries in Europe and beyond the state is clearly there primarily for members of the dominant nation, be it German, Danish, Spanish, Hungarian or Polish. 

What marks those countries’ commitment — however shaky — to equality is the balancing law for minorities, in particular, minority nations, where countries like Denmark do far better than countries like Spain who seem to wish to erase minority culture.

Israel has a unique challenge — to integrate its citizens with equal rights for political activity and representation while recognition of national, religious and ethnic minorities is fraught with complexity, especially as Palestinian identity is simply defined as Arab-Muslim or Arab-Christian, being broadly antagonistic to Israeli nationalism and very poorly able to deal with “Palestinian Jews” (as settlers might become should they stay in a future second state).

Without peace in hand, Israel must remain wary of recognising a Palestinian national minority, while deferring its development of an ethnic “Israeli Arab” identity only increases the chances of either a Lieberman style ethnic re-division or an eventually glaring democratic deficit.

If the “two-state” solution is to develop further, these gaps must surely be better resolved once the other “state in the making” gets to grips with how it to would relate to Jews in a future West Bank Palestine.

We should not be critical of Israel without applying the same demand to a Palestinian state in the making.

Let’s applaud Israel in finally legislating for its key national mission but also agree that it also must recognise and respect its allied minorities, such as the Druse, and find a way to cater for both a somewhat “antagonistic” Palestinian national minority as well as a “friendly” Israeli Arab ethnic minority.

Only if both individuals and communities are guaranteed their full and proper treatment in an equal Israeli society, can it succeed as a stable and prosperous country.

Jonathan Burg

London NW3

Ofsted’s mission

As a former Ofsted Policy Manager for Independent Schools (which included many Charedi schools), I have followed the debates in the JC about Ofsted’s motives with some interest. Amanda Spielman, the Chief Inspector, put Ofsted’s perspective (JC, July 27) with the precision and erudition for which she is known.

Ofsted does not randomly decide to mark out (and mark down) Charedi schools. It has no interest in doing so; indeed, as Amanda Spielman has said, Ofsted wants to be a force for improvement because ultimately children are this country’s future. 

Ofsted is legally required to inspect against statutory criteria; it has no scope for an “a la carte” approach and to do so would be unethical and indeed discriminatory against Jewish children. Why should Ofsted tolerate failures in schools because of their faith? Why would that devaluation of children be acceptable to any community? 

Charedi schools that have failed or slipped in their grading by Ofsted from experience were not arbitrarily marked down because of insufficient promotion of homosexuality; the legal expectation is simply that schools teach awareness of other types of relationships and the legal/ethical tolerance and acceptance that must be applied. That is all  — nothing more. Indeed, high-quality education and a culture of learning is written deeply into Jewish culture. Aspects of yeshivot learning can be akin to university standard. Jewish schools and education have in the main a deservedly outstanding reputation.

Hence Charedi children have a moral right to a rounded education whatever path they may subsequently choose. If some Charedi schools are failing to teach basics or prepare children for the society they will enter then Ofsted has a duty to state this. That applies to any school, faith or otherwise.

Ofsted can explain its perspective further and engage with communities,  through closer working with Pikuach and the NAJOS. Amanda Spielman’s interview and the frequent contacts between Ofsted and the JC should be seen as indicative of good faith.  Threats by some school leaders to take their schools “into hiding”unless Ofsted somehow abandons rigour are both tiresome and counter-productive. Rather, such leaders should show leadership and engage in the conversation with Ofsted that Amanda Spielman has opened.

Nick Biskinis

Ofsted Independent Schools Inspection Policy Manager 2016-2017

Animal welfare

For too long when Shechita UK attends animal welfare conferences, we have been subjected to the ridiculous claim from renowned animal welfare agencies that religious slaughter is the “number-one animal welfare issue” facing this country today. Representatives from Shechita UK robustly challenge this assertion but, even without evidence, it refuses to go away. However, as reported in The Times on Monday, we have at last the evidence to rubbish this exaggerated claim.

There are horrific examples of cruelty taking place in abattoirs and on farms even in schemes that claim to guarantee consumer standards, such as Red Tractor; what must be the situation in farms and abattoirs that are not part of the scheme, let alone other parts of the animal transportation process, which is rarely considered?

Fortunately, the kosher consumer can eat assured that, from farm to fork, your steak or your chicken meets a high standard of animal welfare as even the slightest malpractice may render the animal unkosher.

Shechita UK will use the Times report to remind our detractors that, as shechita represents far less than 0.25 per cent of the slaughter industry, we urge campaigners to immediately rethink their priorities and focus on the millions of animals who suffer every year in conventional abattoirs before criticising a method of slaughter that an ample body of scientific evidence shows meets all animal welfare norms.

Shimon Cohen

Shechita UK, The PR Office

Mah-Jongg Wednesdays

I read with interest Anna Behrmann’s comments (Life, July 27) regarding Mah-Jongg. In her podcast round-up, she wonders why this traditional and ancient Chinese game, widely adopted and adapted in 1920s America and currently much beloved by many Jewish players has not caught on In the UK. She is unaware that, in a pocket of North London, it is being played.

I lived in the USA between 2001 and 2003 and, while there, was taught to play American-style Mah-Jongg. It slightly differs to the traditional Chinese game, with the introduction of jokers into play and a card of new hands each year to keep it fresh and invigorating.

On returning home from America, I was determined to continue playing. I taught my close friends to play and, 15 years later, we still meet every Wednesday night.

Mah-Jongg is a game of skill and luck. Mastery comes with practice but the games can be short and competent players can triumph several times in one evening.

We are all in the prime of life, and absolutely believe that our mental agility is honed and challenged by our weekly games. Moreover, the refreshments, home-baked cakes and weekly news catch-ups that accompany the play, ensures that our Wednesdays remain sacrosanct.

Bett Demby

London N12

Good News wanted

I am trying to find surviving family (nephews/nieces etc) of Isaac Jack Good aka Jack Gudak, who was a famous Jewish colleague of and code-breaker at Bletchley Park with Alan Turing.

Jack never married so there are no children to consult. This is for a research article for the Jewish Military Museum of Ajex. Please contact me on   martin.sugarman@yahoo.co.uk

Martin Sugarman (Ajex Archivist)