Yalla Magazine Issue 7

ARTIST ON SHOW

SHIRA DRUION SPEAKS TO THIS ISSUE’S
FEATURED ARTIST (HER VERY TALENTED

SISTER) DEVORAH KIRKEL.

1: How long have you been an artist? 6: How long do you spend on average per
All my life, for as long as I can remember, but I started painting?
painting formally in high school. I don’t have an average time or number of hours I spend
per painting. It depends on the medium I’m using and the
2: Did you love art from a young age? complexity of the piece.
Did you go to art lessons at a young age?
Yes, I have always had a passion for art and all things creative. 7: What have you learned through your
I went to art classes from around primary school age. weekly art classes?
I can’t say I have learned anything specific, but I think the
3: What is the secret to expressing real more you practise your craft or talent, the better you become
artistic talent? at it.
There is no secret. Everyone has a creative streak in them,
even if they think they don’t. Obviously, people’s creative 8: What techniques do you teach your
talents vary and some people have more of a natural aptitude students?
than others. The same way some people have a talent for One of the main areas of focus in my classes is teaching my
numbers and are better at mathematics, but in general, all students to see beyond what colours come to mind at an initial
people can do a certain level of mathematics. All people can glance. Black is not just black. Black can be made up of burnt
paint or draw or have some kind of creative talent, but most umber, indigo, sienna and black. Mixing colours instead
people don’t even try to express it because they don’t think it of using basic singular colours creates a huge amount of
will amount to anything worthwhile. depth in a piece of work. I also teach students how to handle
brushes when painting. Different brushes and the amount of
4: What inspires your art? pressure applied when using a brush have the ability to create
The world around me. Colours, patterns and designs are completely different styles in a piece.
everywhere, when you tune your mind to begin to notice
them. I have also found many amazing artists via social media 9: Do you think everyone has a natural
and I always look to others for inspiration. creative talent?
Yes. Everyone has some form of creativity within them,
5: What do you think art does to a room? but most people never learn how to access it.
Art makes a room more interesting and diverse. Its creates an
additional layer of interest and different points of focus. It can 10: What are your goals for yourself and
also tie together different colours in a room. your art?
My goal is to eventually produce modern Jewish art. I often
find that Jewish art has a very esoteric feel to it, but I would
like to start producing clean, modern art that has a Jewish
aspect to it.

YALLA MAGAZINE 51

BEW@RE
{THE}
LURK1NG
CYB3RBULLY

ONLINE VICTIMISATION HAS BECOME AN
EVERYDAY SCOURGE, ESPECIALLY FOR SOCIAL

MEDIA USERS. HERE ARE SOME TIPS TO
PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN.
RACHEL VECHT

PARENTAL PROTECTION

Bullying has always been a part of young people’s lives. WHEN YOUR CHILD IS BEING BULLIED:
However, the modern version, cyberbullying, is unique in • The first step is to offer empathy and support. Just try
that it can follow a child 24/7 and wherever they go, leaving to be a sounding board so your child feels comfortable
no escape. It is defined as using technology to embarrass, to open up and talk. Listen to your child about what
harass, threaten or target another person, making them feel has been going on and how it makes them feel.
uncomfortable, upset or unsafe. It is usually deliberate and • Praise and thank them for telling you, which takes
repetitive. Recent studies show at least one in four teens have a lot of courage.
been victims of cyberbullying.

The stereotypical playground bully does not necessarily fit the • Explain that it’s not their fault and bullying always
profile of an online bully. The screen provides an anonymity says more about the bully than the victim.
which psychologists call “disinhibition”. People may say or do
things they would never do in person if they were looking into • Stay calm. Try not to overreact, get upset or angry,
their recipient’s eyes. and do not take over the problem. Agree with
them about the next steps they should take and the
approach they would feel comfortable using.

TYPICAL SIGNS OF CYBERBULLYING: • Discourage your child from retaliating or reacting
• Avoiding friends or school in general; as this often fuels the bully’s behaviour.
• Changes in mood, behaviour, loss of appetite,
not sleeping; • Keep a detailed log of incidents and evidence and
• Being very secretive about their online life; report it to the school. Also use the “report abuse”
• Being nervous, moody or jumpy after looking facility on social media.
at a screen;
• Block the bully online and have strong passwords.
• Encourage your child to engage in activities they enjoy

to relax and boost their self-esteem and confidence.

• Withdrawing from friends, family and usual activities; WHEN YOUR CHILD IS THE BULLY:
• Poor marks at school; • Talk to your child firmly and explain why any form
• Getting angry, irritable or upset very quickly of bullying is wrong, the negative impact it has and
how they can stop.
(tricky as most teens do this anyway);

• Suddenly not wanting to use screens; and • Restrict the use of devices – having a phone is a
• Frequent headaches or stomach issues. privilege.

• Try to look under the surface to identify what led
to the bullying. It can be simply about feeling lonely
or bored.

• Perhaps engage a therapist to give your child tools
to cope with their anger, upset, frustration, etc.

YALLA MAGAZINE 53

PARENTAL PROTECTION

“A lot of bullying
happens on sleepovers
in a group, when kids

feed off each other.”

PREVENTATIVE MEASURES TO KEEP YOUR
CHILD SAFE ONLINE:

The more time children spend online, the more likely they are • For children under the age of 16, it is probably
to be bullied or be a bully. advisable to know their passwords.

• Set clear rules about boundaries for the use of screens, • Educate your child about not sharing passwords
particularly with regard to the use of social media. (other than with you) or any personal information.

• Teach and model important values such as kindness, • Be aware that a lot of bullying happens on sleepovers
respect and empathy. This applies online just as much in a group, when kids feed off each other and may do
as face to face in the “real world”. things they would never do if they were alone.

• Be involved and talk to them regularly about what they • Explain the importance of only connecting with
are doing online, just as you are aware of what they do people you have met in person and trust. Once you
offline. Sit with them and check their posts or messages have posted, you have no control over where the
every now and then. Know which sites they like to use information goes or how it is used.
and how they function.
• Discuss what they would do if they saw something that
• Keep screens in a central part of the home. No screens made them feel uncomfortable or upset, or if they saw
in bedrooms, particularly during the night. You can someone else being bullied. How would they handle it?
turn off messages and apps during certain times. Who would they tell? What if they saw a friend being
left out, or nasty messages being posted?
• Reassure your child that your job as a parent is to
know what’s going on and keep them safe. It can be extremely upsetting for parents to find out that
their children are being bullied or that they are the actual
• Check out all your child’s privacy settings and parental bullies. Connect with your children regularly and show that
controls. you listen and understand. You know your children better
than anyone else.

RACHEL VECHT trained as a primary school teacher at the Institute of Education and
taught in both the state and private sector. She has also worked as a university mentor and
lecturer to student teachers. Over the past 17 years (in addition to becoming a mother to
four children), she has written and delivered 'Educating Matters' seminars/webinars to tens
of thousands of working parents in the corporate and public sector and in schools. She also
privately runs a 10-week Positive Parenting Course covering more general parenting issues,
and offers one-on-one consultations to parents across the UK.

www.educatingmatters.co.uk

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Legacies

HOW DAD'S LIVES ON

A SMILE, A JOKE, A SHARED MEMORY AND A
GIGGLE – HIS IRRESISTIBLE LAUGH AND SENSE

OF HUMOUR LIVES ON.

SUSAN ROSENTHAL

LEGACY FOR LIFE

It arrived after three years. The final liquidation and distribu- There’s more – the many small and wonderful inventions he
tion account for my Dad’s estate. Wound up. The final sum to created, his love of nature and beautiful scenery, the simple
be transferred to his surviving heirs. Soon to be closed. The sunsets, summer rains and adventurous food. They remind
last trace of my Dad’s life, or so it feels. So I ask myself, now me of him every day and always will. As I travel alongside
that the physical being is gone and the remainder of his pos- the roads of my own children’s lives, I find myself asserting
sessions are distributed, how is my beloved Dad remembered? the benefits and joys of nature, a rare bird habituating our
What is his legacy left behind? garden, a new flower budding for the first time, an ancient
When I look at my siblings and myself, I see physical similar- tree in Kenwood that has witnessed many seasons. I’ve even
ities, particularly frown lines, large teeth (like a racing horse, secretly hugged a tree, imaging the trunk as his benevolent
Dad used to say). We all carry some physical reminders of face smiling back at me.
him, but there is something that runs much deeper. However, for me, it is his humour that will live on. A humour
In our case, it’s humour. How can it be that in his last days of bound up in our DNA, a part of being Jewish. Being able
suffering, or more like our suffering in watching his decline, to laugh at ourselves and to find some glimmer of light in a
we found so much to laugh at? Even as he lay bed-bound and dark environment, lives in each one of my three siblings, and
without speech, I could detect a small curl on his lips as we we bounce it back and forth between us like invisible space
found ourselves laughing hysterically at a small joke, which matter, sending meteors of light and laughter onto the people
multiplied into still more jokes over the course of his final interspersed in its path.
days. Even as the Chevrah Kadisha wheeled away the stretcher
There are many other gifts too. A tight family, so much with my Dad’s tepid body slowly from our house, in Johan-
warmth and love between us. Deep caring and, most impor- nesburg, up the lonely, dark street, we quietly chuckled to
tantly, humility, a disdain for brash arrogance and flashiness. ourselves that it would be hilarious if we were hijacked at
As Dad said, those who do and say less are worth so much that moment, and how disappointed the thieves would be to
more. A value too for refinement and old-fashioned class. A find only a body! I could almost hear my Dad roaring with
discipline of serving dinner from the left and taking off from laughter from under his sheet, and it made me feel even more
the right. And, heaven forbid, you clear off plates at the table. connected to him.
As I guiltily do at home, I’m aware of his disapproval lurking This humour is his legacy that will be passed on to my chil-
in my head, telling me that’s not how it’s done. dren and then on to theirs. We will never stop laughing, and
when our bellies hurt, we will rub them and remember our
great grandparents, who had done the same when history had
not been so kind to them, and I will remember his irresistible
laugh with those large teeth and my lips will curl a lot. The
liquidation and distribution account may be closed, but his
legacy is open for business as usual.

SUSAN ROSENTHAL is a qualified as a lawyer in South Africa, before moving to London in 1998, where she worked in
both law and asset management. More recently, she has worked with Jewish Interactive, organising fundraising events,
as well as project work for multiple tech companies. She now lives in North West London with her family, engaging with
her passions for writing, yoga and raising her two daughters. Her biggest joy, however, is coming together with good
friends for a laugh or travelling to undiscovered places.

A leter from Auschwitz

Dear Ruby and Summer

Do you ever wonder why I schlep you girls to shul every Saturday From a religious perspective, I always thought it was easier to
morning? I love our chats along the way, where we ponder the have girls. To an extent, the pressure is off: your children will be
universe – sometimes the only moment in a week we get the Jewish no matter what, and so the tradition will continue. My job
chance. But, we could walk and talk anywhere and at any time. was simply to be cool and show you that Judaism is important to
Why is sharing Shabbat with you so important to me? me, and, if it resonated, it would become part of your souls.
I think it’s different with a son. The educational expectations are
I don’t think I really knew my reasons. more complex, and the stakes are much higher. It is (religious) life
and death.
I am writing this letter after a frenetic 60 hours traipsing across
Poland with Chazak and JRoots, amid the brutality of a country So, I was nervous when your brother joined the party. Did you
drenched in Jewish blood, and suddenly my own motives shine know he was born on a Shabbat morning? I distinctly remember
brightly, like a yellow star in the darkness: – after driving home from the hospital – I thought about this
perfect new boy and what I would eventually teach him about
Shabbat.

You need to know who you are before you can decide what you A few hours later, your mom called with the ominous news.
want to be. You are Jews. The doctors say there is something wrong with him. Suddenly, the worries
around perfect Jewish learning were replaced by whether this
I just spent the day at Auschwitz, where 1.3 million people imperfect little Jew could learn at all.
were murdered – 200 000 children. The vast majority were
exterminated for one reason alone: they were Jews. As I have told you both many times before, I took the news of
Aaron’s syndrome very badly. I cried uncontrollably for the first
time in my life. Inevitably, in order not to drown in the tears of
despair, I searched for meaning. What is Aaron? Why did this happen?
How could life ever be the same?

LEST WE FORGET

"You need to know who you are
before you can decide what you

want to be. You are Jews."

AS GARETH KOBRIN RETRACES THE INDESCRIBABLY TRAGIC
FOOTSTEPS OF THOSE WHO PERISHED IN THE HOLOCAUST, HE
WRITES TO HIS DAUGHTERS ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE JEWISH.

I turned many places for solace. To my friends. To the bottle. "Suddenly my own
To G-d. And eventually, during one long night at Great Ormond motives shine
Street Hospital, next to Aaron’s bed, I started reading Viktor
Frankl’s holocaust classic: Man’s Search for Meaning. brightly, like a yellow
star in the darkness."
I read one line in that book that changed my outlook forever.
“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are
challenged to change ourselves.”

The hardest thing to change in life is our perspective. Frankl’s The Jews of Poland in the 1930s lived just like us. The daddies
book (and a lot of Torah wisdom since) helped me recalibrate my had good jobs and were successful. The mommies built beautiful
brain on Aaron. homes and had elegant clothes. They were happy, just like we are
happy.

This journey though Poland with Rabbi Levy and Chazak has Then it was taken from them.
given me a new perception of what it means to be Jewish.
We learned how young girls, no older than you, were ripped
I thought I could write pages about what we experienced in away from their parents. A mother unable to look into the eyes
Poland this week, but I’ve been trying to think of the words, and of her beautiful daughter for one last time. A father not given the
they won’t come. Because words alone won’t do. chance to kiss his little angel goodbye.

I’ve heard before that many survivors couldn’t speak about the Jews were led like lambs to the slaughter by their German
atrocities. I don’t think it’s only because of the pain it might have shepherds, the Nazi dogs who killed them just for being Jews.
rekindled, but because putting it into words would have limited It didn’t matter if they kept Shabbat or ate kosher; whether they
it. Made it finite. And this was evil on an infinite scale. went to shul or ate matzah on Pesach.

There are many things I pray you girls will never have to hear. The Mischling Test under Nazi Germany’s Nuremberg Laws
We heard stories that I wish weren’t true. One in particular – told defined a Jew as anyone who had one Jewish parent or one
so passionately by our tour guide, Tzvi, in the ghostly grass fields Jewish grandparent. That was it. There was no hiding from
of Majdanek death camp – chilled me to my bones. I don’t want your heritage.
you girls to hear these things, but you must.

60 Y A L L A M A G A Z I N E

LEST WE FORGET

"This is what it

means to be Jewish.

I thought about my mom and To learn about our Because, what is to give light must

dad, the grandparents neither great history, to bleed endure burning.
of you got to meet. Just like

many of those frightened and burn with the
victims of persecution,
children in the Holocaust, I but to revel and ignite I can think of no more apt way
never had the chance to say to end than quoting Victor
goodbye to either of them. But, in the fire of the Frankl: “Our generation is
at least I know where they are righteous." realistic, for we have come to
buried. So many millions were know man as he really is. After
not given that luxury, their all, man is that being who
bodies burned and the remains invented the gas chambers of
scattered across Europe. Auschwitz; however, he is also
that being who entered those
We recited the holy Kaddish gas chambers upright, with
in Lublin, next to 1.5 tons Shema Yisroel on his lips.”
of human ash and bone. I

wept for my parents and the

countless Jews who were turned into dust, instead of The meaning of life is to give life meaning. And that’s what it
returned to dust. means to be a Jew.

But, not all the resting places we visited were so sombre; we also So, be proud of your history. Enjoy every moment of the
had the honour of visiting the kever (grave) of Rabbi Elimelech present. And embrace your future. Be good daughters and
of Lizhensk, where we drank and shared stories and davened for sisters. Be good girls. Be good Jews.

those we loved and love.

This is what it means to be Jewish. Am Yisroel chai

To learn about our great history, to bleed and burn with the
victims of persecution, but to revel and ignite in the fire of
the righteous.

With love Dad

GARETH KOBRIN was born South Africa where he He is married to Aimee and they have three children. When
graduated with a master’s degree in economics from the he is not doing VAT stuff, he loves to write and is obsessed
University of Cape Town. He moved to London just over a with sport.
decade ago where he worked in the banking industry for a
few years, and then qualified as a chartered management If you need any advice on VAT or just want some sports
accountant. He is now the CEO of a tax technology company banter, Gareth can be contacted at Gareth.kobrin@
called VATGlobal, which is part of the VAT IT Group. vatglobal.com.

A knight’s tale

S I R E L LY K A D O O R I E

Images Courtesy The Hong Kong Heritage Project

HEROES OF HISTORY

TAKEN FROM DR MASIE MEYER’S BOOK,
SHANGHAI’S BAGHDADI JEWS: A COLLECTION

OF BIOGRAPHICAL REMINISCENCES.

The Kadoorie family is unique among Baghdadi commercial On his arrival in Hong Kong, his brother Moshe gave him
pioneers. They founded Jewish enclaves in various trading five hundred dollars and said: “Now, do not bother me again.
posts in Asia, maintaining their pre-eminence in commerce You start on your own,” which he did by becoming a broker,
and their status in the highest echelons of society in Southeast eventually building up a firm: Benjamin, Kelly and Potts, to
Asia, despite the repercussions of World War II and the become the premier brokerage house in Hong Kong. In the
Communists’ rise to power in China. They have played a 1890s, he travelled to England, where he married talented
significant role in the economy of the south-eastern coast of and well-educated Laura Mocatta, from a Sephardic Jewish
China and of Hong Kong, which, in the course of a century, family, which traces its lineage from Spain.
grew from a small provincial colony to a huge financial centre.
In 1910, he decided he had enough money to retire.
One of the foremost families in Baghdad, they were merchant He went to England, put his two sons in prep school in
farmers in an era when the currency for trade was livestock. Eastbourne, and sought to buy a house in London. However,
At that time, Iraq, or Mesopotamia as it was then known, was he received telegrams advising him to return to Hong Kong
administered by the Turkish Ottoman Empire. After the First because his partners were squandering his money. Only
World War, Mesopotamia was administered under the British one-tenth of his fortune remained. The boys were left in
Mandate from 1920. Eleazar (Elly) Silas Kadoorie (1865- school. With hard work and some good luck, he was able to
1944) who, until 1901, was known as Eleazar Silas Kelly rebuild his fortune. He concentrated his fortune on the rubber
(he became Sir Elly Kadoorie in 1926), was one of six sons industry, taking out an overdraft with the Chartered Bank.
and one daughter of the philanthropist Salih Kadoorie. Elly All went well until the crash in rubber. The bank asked him
travelled to Hong Kong, via Bombay, to serve as a clerk to clear his overdraft, which he was unable to do. Fortunately,
at E.D. Sassoon & Co, at the princely monthly salary of the chief manager of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank
37 rupees. His brothers Moshe and Ellis were also gave Elly an overdraft. He retained his interest in rubber.
Sassoon employees.
Sadly, in 1919, there was a fire in their home. Laura
Elly was sent to Shanghai to work as a clerk in one of the suffocated and died attempting to save the nanny, who in fact
Sassoon warehouses. Soon after his arrival, a bubonic plague had already left the house. This tragedy was a turning point
struck. His immediate thoughts were for the people dying in the family’s lives. Lawrence, one of Elly and Laura’s sons,
in the streets, so he opened the warehouses to dispense Jeyes became aide-de-camp and private secretary to Elly and built
Fluid, a disinfectant. Later, he was reprimanded, but retorted: up the business. The family interests now extended to rubber
“If you do not value humanity, I’m afraid I must resign right in Burma, Malaya and Indonesia, with diverse interests
now,” which he did. In fact, a barrel of disinfectant, it could in Hong Kong and Shanghai. The family based its close
be said, launched Elly on his meteoric rise to fame partnership on trust. They had only one chequebook and
and fortune. never divided profits; they treated the firm’s accounts as if
all three of them (Sir Elly, Lawrence and his brother, Horace)
were one single person.

YALLA MAGAZINE 63

Marble Hall 1945

In the early 1920s, Sir Elly gave an architect a free hand to The plush Hong Kong Jewish
design Marble Hall, and the family went to England. When Recreation Club proved most
they returned, they were shocked at its grandeur. The iconic effective in preserving Jewish
Marble Hall became well-known to a wide spectrum of identity. The Kadoories
visitors from all parts of the world, including high-ranking actively participated in the
British officers and Zionist emissaries. Sir Elly promoted the welfare and administration
Zionist cause, extending his lavish hospitality to its emissaries of the Jewish communities
and to visiting non-Jewish dignitaries, among them politicians of Hong Kong and Shanghai.
and men of letters, including the famous Bengali poet According to Lawrence: “It’s
Rabindranath Tagore, and the Panchen Lama, who brought my lot to be president of the Hong Kong Jewish Community.
along his Tibetan orchestra, replete with mountain trumpets. I accept the responsibility; in fact, I consider it a privilege.
If I am the richest Jew in town, there’s some obligation that
A TRUE HERO goes with that.” He continued to work in the family firm of
Sir Elly Kadoorie & Sons and re-opened the office in Hong
In 1926, Sir Elly acquired British nationality. His knighthood Kong in 1938. He married Muriel Gubbay, daughter of
in 1926 bears testimony to the value Britain placed on this David Gubbay, the distinguished Hebrew scholar and an
loyal subject for his worldwide altruism, including founding authority on comparative religions.
schools in China and Baghdad.
In Lawrence’s words: “It has been a long tradition in the
Kadoorie family to share their good fortune with others...
I think the best compliment ever paid me came from a
gentleman, not a Jew, who said: ‘It’s good that the Lord helps
the Kadoories, because the Kadoories give.’” They were at
the helm of efforts to alleviate the plight of the victims of
Nazi persecution, who found refuge in Shanghai.

The family sponsored hospitals, relief organisations and Horace founded the Shanghai Jewish Youth Association
educational programmes serving all creeds in Iraq, Iran, of which he was president. It provided facilities for
Syria, Turkey, India, Palestine, China and Hong Kong. recreation and education and vocational training for Jewish
Sir Elly donated land to the Jewish National Fund in order youth between the ages of eight and 18. The Association
to set up a library in the Hebrew University and founded Employment Bureau found employment for over 300
the renowned Laura Kadoorie School, in Baghdad, which members. He organised a summer camp, in his words:
provided religious and secular education to about 1 200 girls “To give the children an opportunity to have a little happiness,
The Nationalist government awarded him a first-class gold plenty of nourishment and fresh air, and thus build up their
and inscribed tablet for promoting medical and educational health... The average weight gained in 18 days, during the
work in China. first summer camp, was 3.3lb per child.”

64 Y A L L A M A G A Z I N E

HEROES OF HISTORY

“The family sponsored hospitals, relief organisations and edu-
cational programmes serving all creeds in Iraq, Iran, Syria,

Turkey, India, Palestine, China and Hong Kong.”

The Kadoorie School accommodated 600 pupils who were up at the family’s Peninsula Hotel, which, in his words, was
taught English, the Bible, Hebrew and general subjects. A being transformed into a bazaar: dressmakers plying their
clinic, manned by specialists, kept a detailed record of each trade, musicians teaching the piano, gamblers playing cards
child’s health, and each sick refugee child received a basket of and rabbis discussing their interpretation of the Torah; in fact,
fruit, accompanied by a letter personally signed by Horace. a transposed strata of mid-European life... To summarise the
episode, I might describe it as my greatest Jewish problem.”

During the Second World War, the Japanese interned the Soong Ching-Ling, Sun Yat-sen’s widow, asked Lawrence
family in Hong Kong and then transferred them to Shanghai. whether it would be possible to give Marble Hall to the
Sir Elly was interned in the stables of his home, Marble Hall, Chinese government. In the words of Sir Michael, Lawrence’s
where Horace looked after him. Sir Elly died of prostate son: “Of course, he said yes. My father didn’t have much
cancer in the stables of his home in 1944. The Japanese alternative.”
allowed Lawrence out of camp to see him just before he died.
The family was then placed under house arrest in the staff Lawrence commented: “Today, under the People’s Republic
quarters of Marble Hall about six months before the end of China, Marble Hall has become a Children’s Palace, where
of the war. The house was guarded by the Japanese guards. pupils chosen from various schools are trained in arts. It is
There was a concealed short-wave radio built into a piece of pleasing to know that this house, of which my father became
furniture, so Lawrence would creep down and listen to the particularly fond, is now used by thousands of happy children
American Armed Forces network. This is how he learned of benefiting from the courses provided.”
the dropping of the Atomic Bomb.

When the Japanese surrendered, Marble Hall became the The family lost much of its wealth during World War II,
‘Allied Headquarters’ accommodating foreign dignitaries. but, within a decade, again reached the highest pinnacle
Lawrence was the first civilian internee to return to Hong of commercial achievement. They played a significant role
Kong, where he found virtually everything in order in in the post-war economic restoration of Hong Kong, and they
the bank. Horace kept him informed about the rapidly are currently involved in nearly every sphere of commerce.
deteriorating conditions in Shanghai. The economy was out Their correspondence clearly shows that life for the Kadoorie
of control. The cost of living seemed to go up by the minute. family was not in the pursuit of pleasure, and they continue
Strong anti-foreign reaction and labour agitations made the family tradition of placing as much importance on
matters worse. altruism as on their business ventures: it appears to be in
their DNA.
BROTHERS IN ARMS
Having lost all they had during the war, the family’s success
Horace attended to the family’s charities and Jewish became their obligation to help the less fortunate to become
communal affairs. The brothers played a crucial role in self-supporting, to restore their self-respect and sense of
helping to repatriate thousands of stateless refugees who had security.
escaped from Nazi persecution in Shanghai. There being no
consular offices in China, they were compelled to go to Hong
Kong and had to wait weeks, if not months, for their visa
applications to be processed. Lawrence “generally put them

YALLA MAGAZINE 65

Sir Elly Kadoorie

The Kadoorie family probably has been and still is the largest single benefactor in East
Asia over the last decades, and several governments recognised their outstanding generosity.
Knighthoods were awarded to Ellis (1917), Elly (1926), Lawrence (1974, he was later given a
peerage in 1981) and Horace (1976), while Sir Michael was honoured as a Knight Bachelor
in the Queen’s birthday list of 2005. Sir Michael is also a Commander of the Order of
Leopold II of Belgium, and was awarded the Ordre national de la Légion d’honneur by the French
government. In 1992, a grateful community dedicated a memorial grove in Israel, with 3 000
trees and a monument, to Horace, the “benefactor of Shanghai Jewry”.

Sir Michael is grateful for the hospitality Asia extended to his family: “We are a very privileged
family to have come to Asia, to have found in Asia a welcome home and to be able to have
survived three generations with a culture which was something very similar to that with which
Jewish families are generally brought up. The ideals, our values and hard work are very much
a part of Chinese culture, so, in many ways, we have been extraordinarily fortunate.”

An excerpt from Maisie J Meyer’s Shanghai’s Baghdadi Jews: A Collection of Biographical
Reminiscences, 2016

DR MAISIE MEYER was born in Her ground-breaking book: From the in English and humanities, both with
Calcutta (Kolkata) and grew up in Rivers of Babylon to the Whangpoo: honours, and she also obtained an
a colonial setting until adulthood. A Century of Sephardi Jewish Life in MA degree in international history
She pioneered the research of the Shanghai (Lanham M.D.2003) is widely at the London School of Economics.
Baghdadi Jewish community of considered the definitive history of The British Academy awarded her a
Shanghai, having appreciated – the Baghdadi Jewish merchants who scholarship to do a PhD. The subject
over 30 years ago – the unique mix settled in Shanghai in the mid-19th she chose to research reflects her
represented by its various components. century. Dr Meyer is a double graduate personal autobiography.

SAVE THE DATE

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL

International
Weekend

Join Chazak for a weekend with Young
Professionals from all over the world!

Last year we welcomed over 200 young Jews
from 13 countries and 20 cities including:
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Geneva, Germany, Moscow, South Africa,
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Leon, Rome, Manchester & London.

DATE: 29 - 30TH NOVEMBER
AGE: 22 - 32 YEAR OLDS

THE SILENT
STR UGGLE

INFERTILITY IS A PART OF OUR HERITAGE; WE
READ ABOUT IT IN THE TORAH, ALONG WITH THE

BIRTH AND GROWTH OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE.

ROMY SHULMAN

TRYING TIMES

Rosh Hashanah is filled with traditional customs passed down This simple example highlights how we experience the world
from generation to generation. We sit around the table with around us in a completely individual and subjective way.
our family and friends, eat apple dipped in honey for a sweet It is not possible for us to understand someone else’s needs
new year, pomegranates to increase our merits, and fish so entirely, and it may be equally difficult for someone else to
that we may be fruitful and multiply like the fish of the sea. fully understand our intentions. Add a sensitive, emotional
Our heritage is not only about our past, but also about our experience like infertility to this mix, and it’s easy to see why
future, and the opportunity to pass on our traditions to future it can be so difficult to offer the right support.
generations.

For many couples, Rosh Hashanah is the public marking of So, what can we do?
yet another year without a baby. Sitting around a table with When someone we care about is in pain or is unhappy, it
family and friends can be a dreaded and painful experience. is human nature to want to try and fix the problem or do
The thought of standing in shul and begging once again for something to make the person feel better. It can be hard
the same heartfelt request can feel debilitating, and questions to accept that sometimes we can’t fix things, and we forget
of faith and purpose can arise that put beliefs about the world that supporting someone is most often not about fixing the
in question. For these couples, Rosh Hashanah can be a problem. Some of us may have no experience of infertility,
difficult and isolating time. but we can all connect to an experience of loss or grief from
Infertility is also a part of our heritage; we read about it in the our own lives. Thinking back to how we felt during those
Torah, along with the birth and growth of the Jewish people. difficult times – and how we felt in relation to our friends and
It can be helpful to remember this aspect of our heritage family around us and the support they tried to offer – can be
over the chagim, enabling us to be mindful and respectful of really useful in guiding us when we try to support others.
couples and families around us who are currently facing these The best way for us to understand what our friends need
challenges. The difference is that in our time, so much can from us is to follow their lead. Some couples really want
be done medically and scientifically, which is, of course, a to talk about what they are going through and share their
blessing, but it brings with it a multitude of new stresses and experiences with friends and family, while other couples feel
pressures – emotionally, physically and financially. intensely private about their experiences and could find the
For friends and family, knowing what to say and do to be first question or indication of support invasive and intrusive.
supportive can often feel daunting, and sometimes even It’s not possible to predict how any given person is going to
surrounded by those with the best intentions, couples react. The best we can do is try to listen, observe and take
find themselves feeling secluded and alone. Even having their cues for the kind of support they need from us.
accompanied many clients on these journeys, I still cannot We can all support those close to us by being mindful of
provide a prescriptive answer for how to offer the right their situation and more sensitive around them. When
support. To put this into a more relatable context, think about the conversation at the table turns to the stress of school
how many variations of a cup of coffee a barista is asked admissions, or the latest buggies on the market, we have
to make in an hour: cappuccino, frappuccino, Americano, the opportunity to change the subject and introduce a new
double shot half caf no foam latte! Clearly, we all have very topic of conversation that is more inclusive. There are many
different and possibly strong views on what makes a good cup occasions for fun or relaxing activities that don’t involve
of coffee. What is your preference and would you be able to children – a manicure date, a movie or just a quick cup of
guess the right order for a friend? coffee can provide an inclusive opportunity to spend time
together.

YALLA MAGAZINE 69

Most of our clients say they face so much uncertainty around “We can all support
their fertility that they just want everything else around them those close to us
to continue as normally as possible. Although a couple might by being mindful
be going through fertility struggles, they are still going to of their situation
work every day, they’re still interested in football, fashion and and more sensitive
cooking, and they still go on holiday and watch TV. There are around them.”
loads of ways for us to relate to them, which are not linked to
fertility, in the same way that we relate to anyone else.

I am not suggesting that this is necessarily easy. Supporting There is no prescriptive right answer for how to support
those we care about can sometimes feel hard. It takes extra those we care about who are struggling with infertility issues.
effort and thought on our part, so it’s also important to take However, at this time of renewal and resolution, we can try
care of ourselves. As noted earlier, just as we can misinterpret our best to tune in with sensitivity, follow the cues of those
someone’s needs, they can also easily misinterpret our around us and be available for whatever they may need from
intentions. So, we should be prepared, in sensitive situations, us. The more we become accustomed to being sensitive to
for the possibility that our efforts may not always go those around us, the easier it becomes for our friends to allow
according to plan. This can sometimes end up being a hurtful us in to help them on their journey.
experience for both sides. It’s really important to view the ONLINE:
situation within the context of the pain and difficulty of what
your friends may be going through. Try not to give up; try to
stick around and be available as a friend as much as you can.

Professional support has its place. If friends or family www.chana.org.uk/
members have opened up to you about their difficulties
in coping, you can show them support by suggesting they CONFIDENTIAL HELPLINE:
contact Chana, and remind them that Chana is a professional 020 8201 5774 | 020 8800 0018
organisation set up specifically to help couples just like them.

Chana’s new book, Un-expecting: Personal stories of resilience, is
available to purchase from Chana and local bookstores from
11 September.

ROMY SHULMAN is an existential psychotherapist and the clinical manager at Chana. She
has enjoyed working in the mental health field for 15 years, both in the NHS and the charity

sector. She has a special interest in working with clients with fertility challenges and also runs

a small private practice, where she works with a broad range of people.

Chana is proud to announce
the publication of...

“You will find strength you never knew you had”

Available NOW from the Chana website
chana.org.uk or call 020 8203 8455

Chana Charity Ltd 1172957

A JEW IN

THE 21ST

CENTURY

C U LT UR A L CON N EC T I O N S

BIANCA SITZER EXPLAINS HOW A VENEZUELAN-
ISRAELI ENDS UP LIVING IN NYC TO REPRESENT
OLAMI AND PROMOTE JEWISH TRUTH AND UNITY.

A Jew in the 21st century is surprisingly still a Jew. How We grew up in a relatively big and strong Jewish community,
we have survived against all odds through the years – with two Jewish schools that we all attended, a beach club
the challenges and hardships – is something beyond (that we all belonged to), and a community centre, Hebraica,
comprehension. But a Jew is and will remain, at his/her where we played sports, swam, danced and met up with
core, a Jew. friends on the weekends. We lived in our perfect little bubble
What do a Venezuelan, an Israeli and an American have in of paradise and had little contact with the reality of the rest
common? Culturally, not much at all, to be honest, and it of the country; always in harmony and welcome, entwined,
would have been difficult to live in these three countries had but not one.
I not also been a Jew. After high school, my parents sent me on a gap year to Israel
Everywhere I have lived, I have found my community, my (I did not protest too much, although I really wanted to go to
little piece of home and a world of commonality with people France and Italy instead) and, rather than going to college in
from very different backgrounds and upbringing. How? the USA afterwards, as many of my friends did, I chose
to stay.

To grow up as a Jew in Venezuela is one of the most precious I grew up with my grandfather’s Yiddishe kop and Bible stories,
gifts life has given me. A country that received us when most my grandmother’s Yiddish jokes, and I went to a Jewish
others would not, my grandparents arrived in Venezuela after school, but only in Israel did I begin to realise for myself that
World War II to an already existing Jewish community. It was a big part of my identity is my Jewish identity. My people, my
warm, surrounded by green mountains, near the beach and history, my future, my family, my values, our values, our home.
with no seasons, just perpetual perfect weather! My European So while I was in college, I decided to make aliyah, and after
grandparents found themselves, after surviving or barely graduating and doing an internship with the Israeli Mission to
escaping the Holocaust, in a tropical paradise. And so my the UN, I joined the army (my family was very proud).
parents were born in magical, warm, welcoming, beautiful
Venezuela, and so were my brother and I.

YALLA MAGAZINE 73

When living in Israel, and especially if one studies political Israel was the opposite of Venezuela. The world was open,
science and sociology, it is difficult to miss that, whether we to me and anyone who wanted it. Buses, taxis, making new
define ourselves as religious or not, the Torah informs Jewish friends; in the street, we all spoke the same language, shared
identity in a very palpable way. It teaches kindness, the a history, shared a home – we all belonged. The country was
centrality of family, Shabbat, solidarity, charity, tradition, mine to build and everyone in it, a partner. Friends from
and especially, the value of education. It establishes a system France, Israel, England, Italy, Switzerland, the United States,
in which questioning is encouraged, human rights are Sudan, Belgium, Finland... the list goes on, and, as different
important, there is justice but the goal is peace, and thinking as we all could be, we were one. In Israel, the values I grew
about who we are and what we stand for is a daily pursuit. up with penetrated every corner of society.
These values are reflected in Israeli society and in every
Jewish community I have ever had the pleasure of living in
or visiting around the world.

74 Y A L L A M A G A Z I N E

C U LT UR A L CON N EC T I O N S

“OLAMI’s work is to

inspire Jewish youth

so they recognise their

responsibility and know

OLAMI that they have the tools

necessary to influenceAfter some years, I decided That is how a Venezuelan-
Israeli ended up living
to visit my family back in NYC to represent an
organisation that operates in
change.”home, and I came across 28 different countries through
320 affiliate organisations,
OLAMI at its first global which impact over 45 000 participants a year with one mission:
summit in Brazil. I met the COO, Rabbi David Markowitz, to inspire young Jews around the world to learn more about
a man with true passion and dedication for good and for his who they are, and who they are called on to be.
people.

OLAMI’s work is to inspire Jewish youth so they recognise I have learnt that we are all different, but we are all the same;
their responsibility and know that they have the tools our commonalities give us ground to build and connect, but
necessary to influence change – and for them to inspire the it is our differences that make us stronger when we work
world, embrace the gift that is their heritage and be a part of together towards a common goal.
this miraculous chain of light-bearers.

There are no boundaries to who we can be, no cultural To be a Jew is to be many things all at once: it is to belong
barriers to who we are as a people. “In our uniqueness lies everywhere and yet always stand out; it is to be a lonely man
our universality. Through being what we alone are, we give to of faith… even if, sometimes, that faith is deeply hidden.
humanity what we alone can give,” said Rabbi Lord Jonathan Rabbi Eliezer Zobin said: “It is to be a part of a conversation
Sacks. across many generations.” I would like to emphasise that it
has the power to transcend space too, not just time.

The plan was that, although I was away from Israel, I would Judaism links us together across the globe, wherever we may
continue to work for its growth and development. When I saw be, through a set of common principles, values, history and
a room in Sao Paulo with hundreds of young Jews from all mission as well as songs, jokes, practices, food, friends and
around the world eager to make an impact and to connect, family. This is why I love my people, and this is OLAMI.
I had a strong feeling that this would be the right platform for
me to do the same.

BIANCA SITZER is a Venezuelan, Israeli based in NYC with a background in political science, national security, and
diplomacy. Passionate about people, Israel, cross-cultural communication and conflict resolution, Bianca currently serves
as the Donor Relations Manager for OLAMI in North and South America where she is driven by her pursuit of truth and
Jewish unity.

UNMASKING THE

veganismM Y T H S
AROUND

Veganism is clearly on the rise. According to research When G-d first speaks to Adam in the first chapter of
conducted by the Vegan Society in 2016, dietary vegans in Bereishit (Genesis, 1:29), Adam is given an herbivorous diet.
Britain have risen from an estimated 150 000 to 540 000. When Noah left his ark, though, he was told that he may now
A different survey conducted in 2018 suggested a significant consume meat. Indeed, the Gemara tells us: “Adam was initially
spike in the number of people going vegan in the UK not permitted meat for purposes of eating.”
since 2016, with more than 3.5 million British people now Some chachamim have understood this statement as reflecting
identifying as such. As of January 2019, Waterstones have the notion that primordial man was denied the flesh of
2 058 book titles with the word “vegan” in them available animals because of his superior moral status. Permission
for sale compared with 994 a year ago. At the end of 2018, for Noah to eat meat was granted only because of Adam’s
various news sources suggested that 2019 will be the year in expulsion from the Garden of Eden and the degeneration
which veganism goes mainstream. Indeed, we are increasingly of subsequent generations, which resulted in man no longer
hearing of people who are becoming more mindful of their being able to be held to such lofty moral standards. It is
diets and starting to favour a vegan diet. argued, therefore, that although man is allowed to consume
THE TORAH’S PERSPECTIVE ON VEGANISM meat, one should aspire to a diet eschewing animal flesh.
Ostensibly, veganism is not a value the Torah promotes. This is indeed the opinion of 15th century philosophers
In many places in the Torah, animal sacrifice and Yitzchak Abarbanel of Portugal and Joseph Albo of Spain.
consumption are mandated. The festival of Pesach historically In more recent times, Abraham Yitzchak Kook (1865-1935),
revolved around, and still today is named after, the Paschal first Ashkenazi chief rabbi of British Mandatory Palestine,
Lamb feast. Perhaps the clearest verse in Tanach expressing in his treatise titled “Hazon ha-Tsimhonut ve-ha-Shalom”,
the permissibility of meat consumption is in Devarim strongly advocated vegetarianism from a philosophical
(Deuteronomy): perspective. Rav Kook claimed that vegetarianism is a Torah
“If you shall say, ‘I will eat meat,’ because your soul desires ideal and that many mitzvot, such as covering a slaughtered
to eat meat, you may eat meat, according to every desire of animal’s blood and sha’atnez, are based on this ideology. But
your soul.” on a practical level, Kook opined that given the present
However, there are several sources that seem to support nature of the human condition it is too difficult for man to
vegetarianism as being an ideal to which man should aspire. sublimate his desire for meat, and man’s focus should first be
on eradicating war and strife in the world between human
beings, leaving vegetarianism to be implemented in practice
when Mashiach arrives.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

EXCLUDING ALL MEAT AND RELATED PRODUCTS
FROM ONE’S DIET IS GAINING EVER MORE

TRACTION, BUT WHAT DOES THE TORAH SAY
ABOUT IT – AND IS IT NECESSARILY KOSHER?

RABBI DANIEL KADA

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

It should be noted, though, that the aforementioned opinions Without clear guidelines, manufacturers are left to decide for
are certainly not the typical rabbinic view. themselves when to apply descriptive labels such as “suitable
This Talmudic statement seemingly supporting vegetarianism for vegans” or “vegan friendly”, meaning the use of such
is a terse statement of the relevant law prior to the time of terms is likely to be inconsistent at best and misleading at
Noah, but it is silent with regard to any validating rationale. worst. I am personally aware of a purported vegan restaurant
Indeed, many commentaries offer different explanations in London where the crust of the bread served with certain
as to why Noah was permitted to consume meat. The Tur dishes had been bought from a company that fries the crusts
(1299-1323), for example, explains that before eating from in lard.
the Tree of Knowledge, Adam lacked a desire to eat meat; It is accurate that to be compliant with certain vegan
only subsequent to eating it did he develop a carnivorous organisations, some comprehensive criteria must be fulfilled.
nature. Thus, Noah being allowed to eat meat simply reflects I have an email from the Vegetarian Society which states
a biological change in the human condition with no moral categorically that in order for a product to be society
overtones to the Gemara’s statement. approved, “it must demonstrate that there are adequate
Additionally, according to some poskim, there is an obligation measures and procedures in place to ensure that cross-
– or at the very least a mitzvah – to eat meat on yom tov, contamination is avoided. This often means that vegetarian
even these days when we no longer have the temple and and non-vegetarian foods are prepared in entirely separate
sacrifices. As such, it is questionable whether one would be areas of the same factory.”
able to abstain from meat on yom tov due to one’s vegetarian The email also states: “The Vegetarian Society would
ideology. consider a product to be unsuitable for vegetarians if there
EATING IN VEGAN RESTAURANTS was even a tiny trace of a non-vegetarian ingredient in it.
There is no grey area there. A product is either free from
non-vegetarian ingredients or it is not.”

It is widely assumed that one is allowed to eat in a vegan What people fail to understand is that this only deals with
restaurant without a reliable kashrut certification. If there manufactured products and not restaurants. Unless the
are no animal products prepared or served in the vicinity restaurant can say with certainty that every single product is
of the restaurant, what could be the issue with eating one Vegetarian Society approved, there is a serious concern that
of its dishes? not all the food is actually fully vegan.

But this is not so simple and there are a number of problems The second problem is that the entire process of making
with eating in such a restaurant. wine or grape juice (from grape crushing and pressing to
The biggest problem is that though there are rules that govern transferring to tanks) must be done by a Jew. Even natural
product labelling for food allergies, there is currently no grape flavour, which is derived from grape crushing, must be
legal definition of “vegetarian” or “vegan” either at UK or kosher. Similarly, balsamic vinegar, which is also made from
European Union (EU) level. The European Commission has grape juice, requires kosher certification and most products
stated that it will begin the process of creating a legal definition that contain balsamic vinegar, such as salad dressings, are
of vegetarian and vegan food this year, but it remains to be seen likely not kosher. Vegan restaurants, of course, have no
whether the UK would adopt any definition set by the restrictions when it comes to wine, grape juice and their
EU following Brexit (if Brexit does happen). derivative ingredients.

78 Y A L L A M A G A Z I N E

“Vegan restaurants, of course,
have no restrictions when it

comes to wine, grape juice and
their derivative ingredients.”

Furthermore, based on the realisation that bonds of friendship are established
by eating together, the chachamim of the Gemara prohibited eating certain foods
cooked by non-Jews in order to limit socialisation which might lead to intermarriage
between Jews and gentiles. This prohibition is known as bishul akum and applies to
foods that are inedible raw and fit to serve to nobility. An aubergine or other such
vegetables, which are inedible raw and served at a royal banquet, would be subject
to this prohibition.

Finally, fruits and vegetables by their nature are kosher. Insects, though, are clearly
proscribed by the Torah. Small insects that are visible to the naked eye such as
aphids, thrip and leaf miners are often found in even the most common produce.
As a result, certain vegetables could require special cleaning and inspection prior
to consumption. It is doubtful that vegan restaurants clean produce in a way that
would render them acceptable for consumption from the perspective of halacha.

Consequently, it is incorrect to assume that a vegan restaurant is automatically
kosher. Care must be taken to ensure all aspects of halacha have been addressed
before eating in such a restaurant.

Tizku Le’Shanim Rabbot

RABBI DANIEL KADA is the rabbi of Wembley Spanish & Portuguese Sephardi Synagogue and registrar of
the Sephardi Beth Din. A sought-after educator, Rabbi Kada is also rosh kollel at Tiferet Eyal in Hendon.
Having studied for more than eight years in yeshivot in both England and Israel, including the kollel of the
former Chief Rabbi of Israel, Mordechai Eliyahu Z’L, where he obtained his smicha, Rabbi Kada is currently
studying towards a dayanut qualification through the Eretz Hemdah Institute of Jerusalem. Rabbi Kada enjoys
learning, debating and most things in life.

Choose

life

ON THE BIRTHDAY OF THE WORLD, EACH JEW IS
RENEWED WITH THE OPPORTUNITY AND TOOLS

NEEDED TO CARRY OUT A LIFE MISSION.
RABBI MEIR SULTAN

ROSH HASHANAH 5780

“The righteous
person is someone

who is called
‘living’, no matter
his age or physical

condition.”

The Gemara says that on Rosh Hashanah: “The books that record who will live and who will
die, lie open before G-d.” Our Ashkenazic friends include a prayer in the Rosh Hashanah
Mussaf called: “Unatana Tokef.” The concept of this prayer is derived from a teaching in the
Gemara: On Rosh Hashanah it is written, and on Yom Kippur it is sealed:
How many shall pass away and how many shall be born,
Who shall live and who shall die,
Who shall reach the end of his days and who shall not.
How is this possible? What does this mean? Is Divine judgment truly so binary, with the
only possibilities being life and death?
We all know people whose hearts beat with vitality but whose days are full of suffering,
from bad choices to bad health, or what looks like just plain bad luck. Weren’t we under
the impression that everything is decided on Rosh Hashanah, not just who shall live and
who shall die?
As the millennials like to say, it’s complicated.

82 Y A L L A M A G A Z I N E

ROSH HASHANAH 5780

Three thousand years ago or so, King Solomon, the wisest of This is the meaning of life and death, as Rabbi Akiva reminds
all men, encountered a young man, apparently healthy, but us in Pirkei Avot:
lying on the side of the road. Solomon asked: “Why are you
lying on the side of the road without doing anything?” “Everything is foreseen, and free will is given, and with goodness the
“I’m tired, I have no strength,” responded the young man. world is judged. And all is in accordance to the majority of the deed.”
The king asked: “Did you work all night? On Rosh Hashanah, it is only decreed upon a person if he
“No,” said the man. “I’m tired of life; I do not have the or she will have the opportunity to grow, most especially
strength to go on.” spiritually. Ultimately, we have free choice to decide what to
The king responded: “If you have not done something to tire do with that which we have been given. Gather the grain for
yourself, you are simply a lazy fellow who wastes his time.” ourselves or our communities, or allow it to rot in the fields.
“You’re the wise king,” the man said. “Offer me advice.” Lie by the side of the road and watch the ants at work, or
The king pointed to a busy anthill at the man’s feet. make the most of our G-d-given lives and talents, however we
“Learn from the ant,” Solomon told him. “An ant lives less are and whatever our choices, health and luck might be. We
than six months. In her time, she cannot eat more than a should use our individual and unique abilities and skills to get
single grain of wheat. But in her life, she gathers enough to closer to G-d through His Torah and mitzvot, or suffer in our
sustain herself for many years.” estrangement. Everything is preordained, but free will is given.
The man shook his head. “What’s the point? Why collect food A tzaddik is often understood as one who has done a lot of
if you can’t eat it?” mitzvot, and a rasha as one who has sinned extensively. But,
“The reason is wondrous,” replied the king. “The ant thinks: in fact, a righteous person is someone who aspires to do the
‘Perhaps the Creator will prolong my days. I will therefore most with the opportunities granted, in service to G-d. The
gather a great amount of food to have something to eat in righteous person is someone who is called “living”, no matter
case I receive longevity from heaven.’” his age or physical condition. The rasha may be called “dead”,
Solomon is right, despite the extraordinary likelihood that though the heart is vigorous and the body perfectly fit. A
the ant will not be granted three score and ten. The ant perfect heart and fit body help no one when they are prone by
recognises its mission on earth. It has abilities that are G-d- the side of the spiritual road.
given. It is a waste of those abilities and precious life not to Rosh Hashanah is a remarkable time – it is the birthday of
work and collect food. Perhaps the ant will indeed perish in man. On Rosh Hashanah, the first human being was created.
six months. However, the gathered grain will not go to waste, This was the ultimate expression of love that G-d has for us. It
neither in its gathering nor by the colony of which the ant is is the day that He embraces us and says: “This beautiful world
a part. cannot exist without you and your G-d-given talents. I created
What is decreed on Rosh Hashanah is, indeed, “life”. On this world solely for you!” Acknowledging and recognising the
this birthday of the world, each Jew is renewed with the magnitude of this statement should ignite within each of us
opportunity and the tools he or she needs to carry out a life the desire to reach our full potential and change a world that
mission. If, G-d forbid, judgment is such that the person is was created for us, for the better.
destined for “death”, those needed tools are not offered.

RABBI MEIR SULTAN, a graduate of Yeshivat Mikdash Melech & Torah Ore, received his smicha from Harav Zalman
Nechemia Goldberg, chief justice of the Supreme Rabbinical Court of Jerusalem. Rabbi Sultan spent time teaching in Aish
HaTorah Jerusalem and currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife and kids. Rabbi Sultan is the leading Sephardic mohel
in Los Angeles, and recently became the managing director of Chazak LA. The Rabbi and his family are involved on the kiruv
front for the greater Los Angeles Jewish community.

LEGACIES

A
SECOND
CHANCE

G-D GAVE US THE MOST INCREDIBLE GIFT ON YOM
KIPPUR. NOT JUST FORGIVENESS, BUT A FRESH START.

RABBI ARI BENSOUSSAN

The holiest day of the Jewish calendar is fast approaching Is this day, Yom Kippur, of any historical importance?
and it behooves every single Jew to take a little time out and Very much so.
investigate what it is that the Torah is commanding us to do. We know about the Mount Sinai Torah giving, or rather,
We are well aware of what the Torah commands us Torah offering, which never really came to fruition due to the
concerning the activities of the day, but let us focus instead sin of the golden calf.
on a much-overlooked aspect of this holiest of days.

YOM KIPPUR

The set of Tablets were broken, and no Torah changed hands Inherit your old life back. Your old purpose once more.
from Moshe to the people. This being the case, when exactly Inherit the Torah, inherit Israel, inherit your dynasty and
did the Israelites receive the Torah from Moshe Rabbeinu? destiny – it all comes back.

Let us continue the story from the fateful sin of the golden A kaparah is a complete wiping of the slate, not just
calf – what happened next? forgiveness.

After 40 long, hard days of prayer to G-d, Moshe finally And that is the essence of Yom Kippur. We get back to the
succeeded in gaining forgiveness for the Israelites’ blunder level we could have been at had we not sinned over the year.
and now he dared to ask for something even greater.

Forgiveness is incredible, but just the word itself connotes the The day Moshe Rabbeinu came down with the second set of
evil act is still fresh in the mind of the forgiver; every time the Luchot (Tablets), a symbol of our clean life born anew, a sign
word forgiveness is used, it must, by definition, speak of what that G-d indeed has allowed us His most prized Torah as an
it was that needed forgiving. Moshe demanded something inheritance for all generations… was on Yom Kippur.
more than forgiveness. “We want back what we lost. We need to really focus on this truth during these days leading
“Give us the Torah. Just as before, I will ascend to the heavens up to the most auspicious and holy day of the entire year.
for 40 days and 40 nights, then I will return to earth holding Teshuva is an anomaly. The rabbis teach that teshuva was
the Torah in my hand... give us back to the level we lost and created even before the world, meaning the idea of returning
let us be yours again. As if we never sinned.” to G-d was something always set in place from before the
G-d responded: “Visalachtah l’avoneinu, uhnchaltanu (And I beginning of time.
forgive your sins, and you will inherit.)” The rest of the year the gates of teshuva are open and ready
Rabbi Shimshon Raphael Hirsch explains it this way: G-d for acceptance, but they only go as far as forgiveness. On
responded in the affirmative to Moshe. He was saying: this most holy of days, not only do we get forgiveness, we
“Not only will I forgive your sins, but you will inherit.” get restored to a level close to G-d, as if we had never sinned
before.

Inherit what? A second set of Luchot.

A clean slate.

RABBI ARI BEN SOUSSAN is a talmid of Mir Jerusalem moved with his wife and four sons to LA to head up a new
and Lakewood BMG, and a musmach of the Jerusalem branch of Chazak International, a community outreach
Rabbinate and Rav Yitzchok Berkowitz shlita. Rabbi Ben initiative. He is a world-renowned lecturer and sought-after
Soussan co-founded Yeshivat Ruach Chaim, in Jerusalem, speaker, and can be found on torahanytime.com inspiring
and was a senior lecturer in Derech, Ohr Somayach, and teaching Jews the world over.
Jerusalem. Recently, Rabbi Ben Soussan

THEloveU N C O N D I T I O N A L

CELEBRATION OF

THE ESSENCE OF JUDAISM IS THAT THE INFINITE
CREATOR CONCEIVED US OUT OF LOVE.

RABBI DORON BIRNBAUM

SCENARIO ONE: SCENARIO TWO:
Hi Orit, how did your exam go? Hi Orit, how did your exam go?
Hi Mum, it went really well, I got 90%. Hi Mum, it went really well, I got 90%.
Oh, wow! Darling, I’m so proud of you. I love it when you Oh, wow! Darling, I’m so proud of you, well done! It’s so
get good results. It’s so important that you do well in school, important that you do well in school. I love you so much.
it makes me love you so much. Whatever happens in your exams, I love you regardless.
But mum, you would love me anyway, right? You know that, right?
Ummm, I guess, but I would be disappointed if you weren’t Yes, mum, I know, I know.
doing well. Anyway, the point is, you did well this time;
I love you so much!

SUKKOT

Do you notice the differences between the two scenarios? The verse: “You are the sons to the Lord your G-d” indicates
What does Mum say? that when you act like sons and cleave to the Holy One,
How does Orit react? Blessed be He, you are called sons, but when you do not act
Which one of these conversations displays a healthy type like sons, you are not called sons. This is the statement of
of love? Rabbi Yehuda.
And Rabbi Meir says: Either way, you are still called sons, as it
Though these are just innocent conversations, they represent is stated: “They are foolish sons.” (Jeremiah 4:22) And it also
two completely different realities within which many of our states: “Sons in whom there is no faithfulness.” (Deuteronomy
teenagers grow up. Conditional or unconditional love. 32:20) And it states: “A seed of evildoers, sons who deal
In the first scenario, Orit is the subject of conditional love, corruptly.” (Isaiah 1:4) And it states: “And it shall come to
and she knows it. Her mum expresses her love as conditional pass that, instead of what was said to them: You are not
on her exam performance and becomes very vague when My people, it shall be said to them: Sons of the living G-d.”
posed a genuine question. Especially nowadays, teenagers (Hosea 2:1)
are very sensitive and spot disingenuousness quicker than The Gemara asks: Why is it necessary to cite these additional
most adults. proofs introduced by the phrase: And it states? All these verses
In scenario two, although Orit reacts in typical teenage apparently make the same point. The Gemara explains why
fashion of brushing aside her mum’s obviously repetitive all the quotes are necessary. And if you would say: Granted,
remarks of love, it is clear that her mum loves her when they are foolish they are still called sons, as the verse
unconditionally. Her love is not dependent on any external states: “Foolish sons,” but when they do not have faithfulness
factor. Pure. Undiluted. they are not called sons; therefore, come and hear another
As the reader, you can decide which type of love is more verse. And that verse states: “Sons in whom there is no
genuine, authentic, enduring, resilient and will produce faithfulness.” And if you would say: It is when they do not
emotionally healthy children. This does not mean to say have faithfulness that they are called sons, as stated, but when
that one without this parental dynamic cannot achieve these they worship idols they are not called sons anymore; therefore,
things, but the question is, which one, as a general rule, is come and hear: And the verse states: “A seed of evildoers, sons
best suited to support these outcomes. who deal corruptly,” which alludes to the corruption of idol
This brings me to the next question: is G-d’s love for us worship. And if you would say that although they are called
conditional or unconditional? “sons who deal corruptly”, they are no longer called full-
Over the years, I have asked hundreds of teenagers this fledged sons of G-d once they have sinned, come and hear:
question, and I would say that 50% vote conditional And the verse states: “And it shall come to pass that, instead of
and 50% unconditional. When I ask those who voted what was said to them: You are not My people, it shall be said
unconditional: “Really!? So, G-d loves you even after you to them: Sons of the living G-d.”
have just sinned?” the number drops rapidly to about 5%. Rashba states that the halacha is like Reb Meir as he brings
Having canvassed the opinion of the next generation, four verses to back up his position.
let’s begin to look at some of the sources that discuss this The last prophet of Tanach was Malachi… he records the
question. message with which the Jews would go into exile.
The word of G-d came to the Jewish people through Malachi:
G-d said: “I love you.”

YALLA MAGAZINE 87

SUKKOT

Let’s take a moment to analyse these sources. “All of Judaism is an
The Torah itself defines the parameters of the relationship endless melody of
between the Jewish People and G-d. We are His children. love.”
The prevailing opinion in the Gemara is that this means G-d
loves us unconditionally.

Even if we our foolish? Yes.

Even if we do not believe in G-d? Yes.

Even if we worship idols? Yes.

Even if we behave corruptly? Yes.

Maharal (Netzach Yisroel, Perek 11) explains why this is so.

Since the Torah defined the parameters of the relationship The Baal Shem Tov said the love of G-d is more powerful to
between us and G-d as parent and child, the nature of this us than the love of parents who had an only child in their old
relationship is that it can never be severed. The relationship age.
between husband and wife is created and can be undone. Once this idea is internalised, a person has a paradigm shift.
A man and woman can become husband and wife and then The lens through which they view their entire Judaism and
return to their single status. The relationship is no longer. understanding of G-d changes.
However, with regard to a parent and child, no matter what After all, how could one be expected to love G-d if He
either party does, the relationship will continue. This is is viewed as an abusive parent? Always waiting to strike,
the type of relationship that is intrinsic. It is, by definition, always waiting for his subjects to slip up. Unfortunately, most
unconditional. teenagers (and adults) live with this paradigm. No wonder
This is how G-d communicated the nature of His love to us. there is negativity surrounding their Judaism.
The nature of the relationship is intrinsic and can never be To put it bluntly, if somebody observes any aspect of Judaism
broken. and doesn’t see with his mind, soul and heart, infinite love,
The Maharal uses this idea to explain why Abraham is not he is not grasping Judaism. We may not always ‘feel’ it, but it
introduced in the Torah as a righteous man, or at least with must be understood that it is there, just like a parent and child.
some background explaining his virtue to have G-d speak with Without this, it is not authentic Judaism, merely the outer
him! shell.
I will quote the end of the Maharal, as it is, in my opinion, If one doesn’t see in every davening, learning or mitzvah – “I
one of the most important passages of Torah for our love you” said G-d – one is missing the core.
generation:

“So that a person should never suggest that the Now, unconditional love does not mean there are no
reason G-d chose Avraham and his descendants, expectations or consequences. The concepts of ‘punishment’
is because of their deeds, and then a person would and ‘fear of Heaven’ require further explanation. Perhaps we
conclude that when they act improper(ly), G-d can cover that in another article.
hates them. This is not the case. If only people But we have to know the paradigm through which those
would understand this, they would not harbour questions and topics must be addressed – through the
such wasteful ideas, that they think G-d ever hates consciousness that G-d loves me unconditionally. The love will
a Jew, G-d forbid…” never be diminished. It will always be there, pure, undiluted.
Nothing I can ever do will change that.
No one should ever think Judaism has anything to do with
crushing, repression or negativity.

All of Judaism is an endless melody of love. The essence of Perhaps this also explains why we leave our house and go into
Judaism is that the Infinite Creator conceived us out of love, the sukkah, to show that we should also have unconditional
He wants a relationship with us in love, a relationship to be love back to G-d that is not dependent on our material assets.
there and accompany us throughout all of the journeys of our We further see this theme of unconditional love with the Arba
life, through thick and thin. Minim. There is a famous explanation that the Arba Minim
Every Jew has to know: G-d loves you the way you are, and represent all types of Jews, even those who have no Torah
G-d takes pride in what you can be. and mitzvot. Yet they are all bound together. Perhaps this is to
This is the main focus of Sukkot. remind us that we must also have unconditional love for each
The Gemara explains that the minimum walls necessary for other.
the sukkah are two walls and a bit. The Arizal explains that Sukkot is the time to appreciate this idea, especially while
this represents the makeup of the upper arm, lower arm and sitting in the sukkah by ourselves or with our families. Feel the
hand. When we sit in the sukkah, we are supposed to have an infinite love of being in G-d’s hug. His unconditional love
awareness that we are sitting in the embrace of G-d. G-d is that can never be broken. Let’s take the time to teach this to
hugging us. The Arizal says that a hug is unique compared our children. Show them that they are loved unconditionally,
to other forms of affection such as speech or a kiss. While the whether they join us for the meal or not.
latter are done towards the face of a person, a hug is centred On a daily basis, our interaction with G-d should be
on the other person’s back. This represents the type of love hearing the nevuah of Malachi – “I love you,” said G-d,
that expects nothing in return. An unconditional love. On and responding: “Yes, G-d, I know, I know.”
Sukkot, this is the awareness that the sukkah is supposed to Chag sameach
cultivate; that G-d loves us unconditionally.

RABBI DORON BIRNBAUM graduated from Hasmonean level through the Open University. Rabbi Doron then joined
High School and went on to study at Yeshivas Beis Yisroel the teaching staff of the Hasmonean Beis programme and
and the Mir for four years. He then got married to Zehava has gone on to head up the Beis Chazak programme. Rabbi
and settled in London, where he went on to learn in the Doron is also an educational director at Chazak. Rabbi
Edgware Kollel and receive smicha from Reb Zalman Doron also joined the Chazak evening Kollel under the
Nechemia Goldberg. He studied psychology at degree leadership of Rabbi Nathan Kahlani.

TALK
ABOUT
A
‘STIFF-NECKED
PEOPLE’

CAN WE RISE TO THE CHALLENGE AND
EMBRACE OUR POSTURAL HERITAGE?

JANE TOBIN GREEN

HEALTH IN MOTION

We are well aware that our much-loved world is sometimes As Mishlei explains: “There is no new thing under the sun,”
far from perfect. Things – spiritual and mental – just don’t so it’s no surprise that the new Jewish nation is fascinatingly
function as well as they are supposed to. Life is kind of pretty described in Ki Tisa as ‘stiff-necked’. The description responds
great, sometimes, but we also sort of muck things up too. As a to the Golden Calf episode, and is used as a metaphor for
flick through the Chumash will show – or, actually, a glance at bnei Yisrael’s obstinacy and stubbornness, where they had been
a newspaper – as humans, we magnificently and consistently unresponsive to the way G-d had proposed to guide them.
fall short of our potential. We mess around with our heritage In the language of the Alexander Technique, the people
and we interfere with our birth right. Of course, as I point out had got in the way of their better selves and interfered with
to my pupils, we’ve done okay on it. I’m continually amazed the natural way, the way of their heritage. In other words,
at how creative, adaptive, spiritual, compassionate and instead of celebrating their birth right, bnei Yisrael enacted an
entrepreneurial we actually are. Particularly so, considering alternative scenario to the direction that should have worked.
the state of our physical selves. I’m preoccupied on a day-to-day basis with the absolute literal
I’m an Alexander Technique teacher, so I’ve pretty much meaning of being ‘stiff-necked’. The issue with the stiff neck
always got one eye trained on people’s posture. Our posture, wasn’t that Moshe had to contend with a burgeoning nation
the way we use ourselves, is one of our heritage gifts that of back-pain sufferers. What’s fascinating from the Alexander
we’ve magnificently meddled with. How many people are Technique way of thinking is how an inflexible – or narrow-
actually operating themselves as they were designed to be minded – way of being can become a stuck habit, which will
used? How many of us move, sit and stand with the freedom, in time lead to inevitable deficits in health, well-being and
ease and grace with which we were blessed as children? mental attitude.
Despite being wonderfully creative, kind, talented, funny
and open-hearted, as far as our posture goes, we ridiculously
compromise ourselves. We are slumped, cricked, pulled,
stretched and squeezed, and the muscles around our spines
and necks are shortened and chronically tightened, seemingly
to breaking point. These are our pretty charmless, most-likely
painful, postural traits or habits.

From moment to moment, we suffer from chronic misuse, I began my own Alexander Technique lessons as a teenager,
unconsciously imbuing our systems with huge amounts at the suggestion of a family friend who was a physiotherapist.
of unnecessary stress and tension. Why do we do this to I had no back pain, but I did have terrible teenage posture.
ourselves? As an Alexander Technique teacher for 15 years, My head poked forward from my neck, I slumped, squeezed
I specialise in trying to unpick this conundrum by showing in my stomach and crossed my arms and legs. Looking
my pupils how to use themselves differently, feet on the back at photos, it seems so bizarre that I should do that to
planet, spine lengthening, in the way they were designed to myself. The answer is obvious to me now: I was shy, so I
function, to find the wonderful sensation of postural freedom unconsciously pulled into myself in order to appear smaller.
that we once took for granted as we hung upside down I totally empathise when, 30 years later, I see my own pupils
from a climbing frame, or played on the floor with perfect unaware that they are mistreating themselves, pulling in their
composure. My pupils say they struggle to sit cross-legged spines, forcing open shoulders or throwing their heads back.
for any length of time, or feel discomfort at their desks, or In fact, as you’re reading this, why don’t you check in and see
walking around an art gallery. I understand this pain. But it what’s happening with your own use? Take your attention to
doesn’t need to be this way. your hands. Are you holding Yalla lightly between your fingers,
or are you hanging on rigidly? What about your feet? Are
they flat on the floor, or stiff and twisted around your chair?
Are your legs crossed, with one hip higher than the other? Are
your toes gripping inside your shoes? Until you started to pay
attention to these and other mannerisms, were you aware that
you were doing them?

YALLA MAGAZINE 91

H E A LT H I N M OT I O N

“From moment to

moment, we suffer

from chronic misuse,

Unfortunately, I think not. unconsciously imbuing have to concede that, despite
That’s the problem with being a ‘stiff-necked people’,
postural habits. We don’t our systems with huge the Jewish people were,
know we do them. Because and are, pretty marvellous
our habits are what we (some commentators believe
know best, and feel so right, that our stubborn nature is
just the thing that enabled
amounts of unnecessarynormal and comfortable,
we think they are harmless, us to survive our extreme
even though they may be stress and tension.” challenges, but that’s a story
damaging us. Although we for another time). Three
get pain (our body’s warning thousand years later, we are
sign), we are unlikely to a great cause for celebration,
associate this with the faulty way we are using ourselves, and through our unbelievably rich existence and spiritual
so are unlikely to stop the very thing we are doing to ourselves connection. But I can’t help wondering what would have
that causes the pain in the first place. happened had we been a little more flexible in thought, a bit
more trusting and more open to possibilities, a bit more open
To counter this, I give my pupils practical thinking skills that to guidance from our better selves. Without our stiff necks,
allow them to move away from the familiar, and so change their would life be just that little bit better?
muscular habits. Through gentle, hands-on, one-on-one work,
I encourage my pupils to give up their habits of excess tension
in order to convert their muscle memory into something more
effective. Giving up muscular habits and ways of thinking For more information about the Alexander Technique, please go to www.
is always a leap into the unknown. But the new confidence, janetobingreen.co.uk or contact the Society of Teachers of the Alexander
freedom and positivity that results is hugely rewarding. Technique at www.alexandertechnique.co.uk.

JANE TOBIN GREEN has been practising the Alexander Technique for over 30 years. She qualified as a teacher in 2006,
and now runs a private practice from her home in Primrose Hill, where she teaches her pupils how to find their postural
vitality and enjoy a more ease-filled life. When not teaching, Jane is addicted to Torah learning and is a graduate of the
London School of Jewish Studies’ Susi Bradfield Educational Leadership Programme. She has three children.

You can find out more at janetobingreen.co.uk and she would love to hear from you at [email protected].

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I N E S C A PA B LY

Yemenite

UK BUSINESSMAN KEITH BRESLAUER’S
GRANDFATHER MAY HAVE LEFT YEMEN MORE THAN
A CENTURY AGO, BUT HE AND HIS FAMILY REMAIN
STEEPED IN THE TRADITIONS OF HIS FOREFATHERS.

RETRACING OUR HERITAGE

My family roots lie deep in the Yemenite community, There were frequent persecutions and expulsions while the
stretching back over many generations. The story really starts Jews lived in Yemen. Despite this, the Yemenite Jews remained
with my grandfather, Yehiyah Breslauer, coming across the loyal to their faith and kept up their high levels of Torah study
desert as a young teenager from Sana’a in about 1905 and and scholarship. In the ninth and 10th centuries, they kept
meeting with his soon-to-be wife, Esther, who was Sabra close contact with the Babylonian rabbis and later developed
born but was from the original Yemenite family whose strong connections with the Egyptian Jews.
earlier generation came from Sana’a and ultimately settled in They also had a special relationship with Maimonides and
Jerusalem. In those early years, the Yemenite community in considered him to be their spiritual leader. An important
the city consisted of a small group of families who lived in the point is that there has been an unbroken line of Jewish life in
Mea She’arim neighbourhood, such as the Adwar, Gamal, Yemen from Temple times until now, and the Yemenite Jews’
Sharaby and Hizme families. One of their members, Joseph customs and pronunciation of Hebrew is considered to be the
Adwar, built a shul for the community that still stands and most authentic of all Jewish communities.
operates today.

The history of the Jews of Yemen is unusual because it Life for the Jews of Yemen changed dramatically during the
goes back further than any other Jewish community outside early 1900s. Three years of drought caused severe famine,
the land of Israel. According to tradition, a large group of and it was at this point that my own family travelled on foot
Jews (some say as many as 75 000) left Jerusalem following from Sana’a to the coast and then sailed to Palestine. (Most
Jeremiah’s prophecy that the exile would occur. They travelled of the Yemenite Jews actually left 30 years later when the
to Yemen and settled there. We know from the Tanach that new State of Israel launched Operation Magic Carpet and
there were trade links between Israel and Yemen going back between June 1949 and September 1950 flew about 50 000 to
to the time of King Solomon. Israel.)

In Yemen, especially over the past 100 years or so, the Jews As my grandparents’ families grew, they found hardship
were not allowed to own land and were excluded from many in Israel under the Ottoman Empire due to the significant
types of work. Many of them became craftsmen – gold- and famine, as a result of which many of their children died. As a
silversmiths, weavers and embroiderers – and passed on their community, they decided to move to the United States (US) in
skills from generation to generation. They were also scribes the 1920s to build a new life.
and calligraphers, and many important Jewish manuscripts
are available to us today only because of the quality of their
work.

YALLA MAGAZINE 95

RETRACING OUR HERITAGE

My wife's grandfather

My grandfather
Mgyrawnifdef'satghreerat

The male representatives of each of the families, including my own
grandfather and my wife Lauren’s grandfather and great-grandfather,
who moved to the US in the 1920s.

My grandfather, Yehiyah Breslauer, blows the shofar in honour of a
shul member’s passing.

96 Y A L L A M A G A Z I N E

RETRACING OUR HERITAGE

After spending some time in New York’s Lower East Side, Fast forward to today and my wife and I find ourselves with
my mother’s family moved to Borough Park, Brooklyn, where more than 150 cousins, many of whom are spread across
there was a growing Orthodox community. My grandfather the US, although the largest concentration is still on the East
became a furniture upholsterer and the chacham of the Coast. Like my mother, my wife’s father, one of the younger
community. Adwar sons, married Ashkenazi but stayed strongly faithful to
the Yemenite tradition and culture. He has worked hard over
They were joined by many of the families, including the many years to preserve and in many cases strengthen
Adwars, who ultimately built and financed the first Yemenite that history.
shul in New York, Ohel Shalom. My mother’s family, the Today Lauren and I are both half Yemenite and find
Gramas, originally had 21 children, 14 of whom survived, ourselves firmly in both the Ashkenazi and the Middle
including my mother, who was the youngest of five girls. Eastern camps. This is unusual as Yemenites are not
Many of the Gramas were orthodox, studied in yeshivas Sephardim, but they share many similar traditions to
and became rabbis, going on to build their own large families the Sephardic cultures, including the Iraqi, Spanish and
and communities. Portuguese, and Egyptian communities. After my wife
and I made our home in London in the United Kingdom
Despite my father being Ashkenazi (his grandfather was born 26 years ago, we decided that our family – Arianna (24),
in Manchester, England, after his family came from the then Sophia (21), Samantha (18) and Aaron (15) – would
Breslau, now Wroclaw, Poland), he was asked to help organise participate and join both the Ashkenazi and Sephardic
the Yemenite Jewish Federation of America in its early years. communities of St John’s Wood and Maida Vale, and we
The federation’s primary purpose was the preservation of have been active for many years in the various related
Yemenite culture, but also to rescue the remaining Jews that charities. Our perspective is that it is absolutely crucial to
were in Yemen by the early 1990s. ensure the minhagim and the halachot of our families continue
to be understood and appreciated by our children as they
Attending one of the meetings to which my father dragged bring great beauty to the Torah and our faith.
me, I met one of the younger generations of Adwars, We are very proud of our roots and we happily celebrate
Lauren, whose father Sam Adwar was a major activist in them. We continue to appreciate the hardship and work
the community. Shortly after, Lauren became my wife. that our families went through while preserving their culture
Lauren’s family was also huge, with 13 children. They and contributing to their local communities. Our children
worked hard to emerge from poverty and largely became continue these traditions, including our son Aaron, who is
very successful jewellers across the US. With their wealth, very involved in Chazak, and we are proud of the impact
they were charitable to the community and their newly we and our friends have had in helping our adopted country.
adopted country. In fact, many of my wife’s uncles served in
the US Armed Forces in WW2 and became leaders in Jewish
and non-Jewish charities.

KEITH BRESLAUER founded Patron Capital in 1999 and (MBA) degree from the University of Chicago and a
is the Managing Partner of Patron Capital Advisers, the Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree from the
investment adviser to the Patron Capital Funds. Keith is New York University School of Business.
active in many charities with current and previous roles and
member of the Investment Committee for the Royal Navy Keith has resided in London for the past twenty-six years
and Royal Marines Charity and Senior Patron to many other with his wife and four children.
charities. He holds a Master of Business Administration

PA S S I N G

THE BATON

AS A COMMUNAL LEADER, RABBI MOSHE LEVY
HAS ACCEPTED THE CHALLENGES AND FOLLOWED
THE TRADITIONS OF HIS FATHER, GRANDFATHER

AND GREAT-GRANDFATHER BEFORE HIM.

Why do parents behave the way they do when raising home tend to become violent and aggressive, according to
children? One answer is that they are modelling the behaviour Evans. It would seem that our upbringing defines who we are,
of their own parents, having learned how to parent in the at least to some extent.
course of being parented. Your child’s environment, especially I grew up in Brooklyn, New York, during the 80s. My father
at home, is said to directly influences growth. was born in Sana’a, Yemen, in 1938 and left in 1949 on a
According to Garry Evans, a researcher at Cornell University, rescue mission known as Operation Magic Carpet, which
a negative home environment can slow a child’s ability to learn brought 49 000 Yemenite Jews to the new state of Israel.
basic skills such as reading and communication. Children from During its course, the overwhelming majority of Yemenite
a happy and quiet home are often cheerful and calm, whereas Jews – about 47 000 from Yemen and 1 500 from Aden – were
children who grow up in a noisy, overcrowded and violent airlifted to Israel by British and American transport planes.

LAND OF OUR HERITAGE

My father often tells me they thought that Moshiach had of food, and inside, it had everything. It was soup with meat
arrived. The verse says: “I will fly you on the wings of an or chicken inside as well as potatoes, vegetables and rice. On
eagle.” Having never seen airplanes before, they thought this Shabbat, we would sit with all the men in the family and go
must be what the Torah meant. around the table, each reading a verse to be repeated by the
I grew up hearing stories about life in Yemen. The way it was others, and then again with targum (the Aramaic translation).
in the shuls, the schools and the relationship the Jews had with In shul, each person would read their aliyah for themselves.
the local Muslims. I heard about how, often, children at the age Every Shabbat we would sing the same songs and, when I
of six or seven would get married so that they would be able asked my grandfather why, he told me that his father would
to retain their Jewish identity: The law stated that if a child sing these songs with tears in his eyes as they spoke about
had no parents, the government would take them and force going up to Jerusalem.
them to convert to Islam. If a child had lost one parent and the My father would always talk about the importance of tradition.
remaining one was sick, the only way they could not be taken Every Friday night, we would sit down and read the Chumash in
was if they were already married. the Yemenite tune and pronunciation. My father did not need
My great-grandfather, Mori Yiḥya Yitzḥak HaLevi, was the last his own book, he just shared with me, as he could read upside
Chief Rabbi of Yemen. I was often told about his unwavering down just as quickly as right-side up. In Yemen, they did not
efforts to preserve the community’s unity in the midst of have enough books for each child, so everyone sat around the
rising contention and disputes over the Kabbalah. He was faced Mori, who held the book, and they had to read from wherever
with daunting challenges, and was tasked with rebuilding a they sat. They knew how to read from all angles.
community that was devastated after the famine of 1905. The When I was only seven years old, my father was one of the
community that once numbered 7 000 souls had dwindled to main people involved in Operation Esther. He flew 12 times
a mere several hundred. His resolve and determination – and in three years, meeting with government officials to help the
his nurturing of good ties with the ruling monarch – helped remaining Jews who wanted to get out of Yemen. The doors
solidify his command and hegemony over the Jewish people had been locked for 50 years and were now open.
throughout Yemen, and he had been given the power to punish When I look at who I am and what I have done with my
offenders by imprisonment. He was devoted to the preservation life, there is no doubt I have been heavily influenced by my
of Yemenite Jewish culture and often dreamed of going up to parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. One of the
Israel. He told my grandfather and his brothers that being a main reasons for the existence of Chazak is for people to
public servant was very challenging, and that they should not connect to their rich culture and heritage. Jews lived in Yemen
get involved, as he had done enough for the whole family for since the destruction of the first Temple 2 500 years ago. We
many generations to come. have now moved on, but our history cannot be forgotten. To
As I stated at the beginning of this article, children do what help the community is a part of who I am, and I view it as a
they see and not what they’re told. My grandfather (who I am responsibility and a privilege to ensure the future is as unique
named after) was known as Mori Moshe. He was the rabbi, and flavourful as the past.
the mohel and the shochet for most of Sana’a. I remember as a
child going to visit my grandparents in Israel every summer
and seeing first-hand what an authentic Yemenite life looked
like. The meal was just like in Yemen. There was fresh laffa
and kubaneh to dip in the chilbeh and zechug. You got one bowl

MOSHE LEVY grew up in Brooklyn, New York, where he received a degree in finance from Touro College, and went on
to receive rabbinic ordination in Eretz Yisrael while studying in the kollel of Rabbi Yitschak Berkowitz shlita. Rabbi Levy
has experience in teaching sixth form students in JFS, Immanuel College, City of London Boys, and Haberdashers Boys,
and gives weekly classes in Hasmonean Boys and Girls School. His weekly ‘Lunch and Learn’ classes in Hatton Garden
are oversubscribed and he is a regular guest speaker in synagogues, as well as at Jewish events, throughout London.
He is a sought-after speaker for schools, synagogues, university students and communal events. It’s hard to imagine
how one man can do so much!

FROM MOROCCO TO

Montreal