Yalla Issue 2

Sadly it was Chanukah of that year at the age of
26, when Lavi Greenspan descended into a world
of darkness.

a second glance…. This only makes him all the more But it is in darkness that we get to see, enjoy and truly
special in my eyes. appreciate the beauty of light. Lavi is one such light.

His name is Lavi Greenspan. Anyone who knows him, With the finals in law school looming, which are difficult
who has just read his name, is smiling. Because they for the average student, Lavi had willing friends and
know I’m right. This is a bona fide hero. His picture family read to and prepare him for his exams which he
should be there in the dictionary next to the word went on to pass. A group of thirty lawyers volunteered
hero, to give it shape and texture. to help this remarkable young man take the bar
exam to qualify as a lawyer which would allow him to
Lavi was just like everybody else. In every way. Just a practise in the state of New York. He nailed it first shot!
guy, going to University, studying Law. Learning Torah
with his Rabbi. Having a great time with good friends. He received Semichah, ( rabbinic ordination) and
went on to earn his master’s in social work.

Until he wasn’t. All after that fateful day. All without being able to look
in a book!
Until he discovered that he was always thirsty and
that his face was bloated. I went to Queens with my daughters so they could see
and learn from such an incredible person.
Until he found out he had Cushing’s disease.
He said to them “I’ll bet you want to know, what made
Until he had many open head surgeries. me go on? I could’ve stayed in bed and cried myself
to sleep every night!”
Until he got sideswiped by a car he never saw.
Lavi noticed on that random day that he’d lost his No one would have blamed him.
peripheral vision.
There were 4 things that he shared… all each
Until he got meningitis which interrupted the treatment profoundly moving in their own right.
which would have saved whatever eyesight he had
left. “First, I had Hashem. I can tell you that since I became
blind, I feel that Hashem is carrying me in his hands.”

YALLA MAGAZINE 45

“When I pray I feel like I’m talking face to face with Him. everything that comes to you is there to help and improve
We are NEVER alone. you. Why would I be angry?

Second, is my Rabbi, R’ Yehudah Parnes. When I was in The sheer positivity of Lavi, his force of courageous
the ICU with wires coming in and out of my body he came determination burns bright. He even had us laughing!
to visit me. The nurse told him he could have one minute. (“I don’t really even know how I look anymore! I know I’m
Rabbi Parnes said that was all I needed and he was right. good looking, I’m just not sure how good looking!”)
He came to my bed and whispered one sentence in my
ear. “Lavi, I need to tell you one thing. I am here for you.” A hero is not someone extraordinary. A hero is an ordinary
person, who does extraordinary things.
He was my guiding light and a pillar of support for me in
the good times, and in the so-called difficult times. Lavi is living his life to the max, achieving more than most
able people ever dream of achieving in one lifetime. He
Third, is the Jewish community. My family is incredible they relates to the world and everyone in it without a shred of
were there with me in the hospital always. But the stream jealousy or resentment and instead with only love. (While
of visitors, the friendship and support from family, friends walking with him he suddenly stops. I can hear in the
and the community, was beyond. People I didn’t even distance the siren of an ambulance, let’s pray together,
know came to visit me to cheer me up, just because we that whoever is in it, whatever they are in it for has a full
were Jewish brothers. and complete recovery!)

My last reason for moving on and for making something Top that off with a beautiful smile and that, my friends, is
of my life was my connection with Torah. It was through extraordinary.
Torah that I learned Gam zu Letovah, that this too is for
my best. I am not angry at life or at God because I know It is strange how someone who cannot see is so
He loves me. If a child goes to the hospital and the only instrumental in helping us all to see the world with more
thing that will save the child’s life is surgery, the doctor is clarity. Stranger still, is the idea that what unmasked the
obligated to perform the surgery. The surgeon is the only warrior within him was the significant challenge he faced.
one who knows how to perform that surgery and in a Winning the battle against his set backs has helped the
spiritual sense, our surgery can only be performed by our tens of thousands who have drunk from his well of wisdom
father in heaven. and who has helped through his social work.

A child doesn’t get angry at their dad for performing the Purim means lots. Plural. We all get a lot in life. What
procedure, even if it hurts. Even if there is no anaesthesia, differentiates the heroes is how they choose to deal with
through the pain and the tears, you know that the only theirs. Which of the two possible lots do they choose?
intention is to help, to heal, to improve so you don’t And as for all the rest of us, which do we want to choose?
get angry. If you see the positive, develop and grow Emboldened by the unconquerable force called Lavi, I
know which I’d like to choose!

Happy Purim!

46 YALLA MAGAZINE

HEROES

AND

VILLAINS

CHAZAK COMMUNITY NIGHT

January 17Th Moshe Vs Pharaoh: Tactical Leadership R’ Moshe Levy

January 24Th Amalek: Murder for the Sake of Heaven? R’ Yitsy David

January 31St Yitro: Tank Man R’ Shlomo Farhi

February 7Th Haman: Persian Roulette R’ Moshe Levy

February 14th Mordechai: Last Man Standing R’ Shlomo Farhi

February 21St Esther Vs Vashti: The Fight Against Hedonism R’ Yitsy David

March 7Th Aharon: The Paragon of Peace R’ Moshe Levy

Open to men and women of all ages 47

Chazak Community Centre: 64 Brent Street
Wednesday nights | 8pm YALLA MAGAZINE

MUMS

AT WO R K

Motherhood is a full time job, especially
in the UK where it comes with enormous
responsibility to keep a home afloat.
It is incredible to see though, that
despite these commitments of
being mama, there are thousands of women who choose
to balance the tricky tightrope and stay loyal to their
professions of choice for a variety of reasons. For some it
is to continue to contribute to the world beyond the realm
of motherhood so that they may continue to uphold their
passions, while for others it is to contribute to their society
and the world at large and for many being a breadwinner
is a major in the equation.

Judaism certainly holds motherhood in the highest regard
as what made the matriarchs so remarkable was their infinite
ability to revolutionise a generation through ensuring that
their children went on to become the torch bearers of our
heritage.

We have chosen to explore the seeming dichotomy of
balancing a profession with motherhood together with
three talented and powerful women who work across the
disciplines and will hopefully bring to light the reasons
behind their choices and how these have impacted on
their lives.

- SHIRA DRUION

48 YALLA MAGAZINE

Three inspiring women share insights 49
on how they balance the tightrope of

their professional lives
with motherhood.YALLA MAGAZINE

MOTHERHOOD

“The children are at the absolute centre of our lives, Interior designer Jenny Ghatan says, “Being a mother is
and the focus of tremendous love and attention, says not something I ever questioned or wondered about
Cindy Levy, a super successful Management consultant in depth. I saw the women around me including my
on a top firm in the city. “I took quite long leaves when mother, sister, aunts and my cousins all play their roles
each child was born, and hope that they feel I am as wonderful and devoted mothers and I knew I would
accessible and present for them in terms of both time one day, I too would become a mother and take it
and attentiveness. I really treat key moments and seriously. I am the youngest of 36 first cousins. They
events as entirely non-negotiable. I also use every all live in Brooklyn and each one has between 4-8
spare moment to be with them when not at work. children!”
Through all of the years of HIS football around North
London, I was often one of the only mums on the pitch Ghatan is inspiring as she discussed motherhood. “A
in the rain (I have many witnesses!). I would visit my son mother influences her child and that ultimately influences
at Gateshead weekly, but I am told I am not allowed society. A mother strives to nurture and to teach her
on the premises!” children, which hopefully contributes to the creation of
a brighter world. Women are privileged to be able to
These sentiments are echoed by Chana Kanzen give life to another human being and this is something
who started Jewish Interactive in 2013.”Motherhood I do not take for granted.”
is my most important job. Nothing motivates me more.
Mine (and my husband’s) greatest creations are our CA R E E R
children - to experience their learning journeys, to help
them navigate their challenges and to watch their “I started my career at 21 and already had a number
characters’ develop is the most rewarding job I could of years fully in the work place prior to having a family,”
ever do. It is also the most challenging! But it is they who says the formidable Levy. “ The initial motivation was
are the future and my legacy. the independence, the excitement of getting to know
the business and financial world and feeling that I was
When I am at home, I concentrate on being truly learning at a rapid pace and making a contribution. At
present for my family. This does take constant work and the time that I met my husband and then had children,
requires discipline to become mummy and switch off I felt that I was sufficiently embedded in my current firm
from the 24hr onslaught of emails and messages that to handle the maternity leaves and the challenges of
need attention. Being aware of this and making the the multi-tasking between family and the career. My
space to be truly present is very important. The benefits career has continued to be important to me. At this
of investing myself in both home and work is that I am stage, it is more about having a level of impact over
fulfilled, independent and happy and my children have time, leading larger teams and setting high standards.
a living role model who can show them that anything It is also energising to be engaged in so many of the
is possible. I fill every second of my day with something profound changes in the financial and business world.
meaningful that I am proud of - and it is part of me. I sincerely hope that the career experiences that both
of us have bring fresh perspectives and experiences to
the children and broaden their horizons.

Kanzen too is heartfelt as she discusses Jewish Interactive Jennifer Ghatan attributes her passion for
and it is evident that she is deeply passionate about the the arts to her upbringing in a home of rich
necessary and noble work she does, providing Jewish cultural history nestled within the mosaic
children with relevant and exciting content. “First and of Brooklyn, New York.Jennifer earned her
foremost I believe in providing all children with access Bachelor of Science and Master of Social
to a high quality Jewish education. Unfortunately the Work degrees from NYU. Eventually
reality is that there are a shortage of Jewish studies and continuing her education, she graduated
Ivrit teachers and they are often unqualified and lack from the Parsons School of Design and
basic educator skills. Kids are spending up to 80% of worked at hospitality architecture firm,
their time online, making worksheets and passive learning Bluarch Architecture + Interiors. She
irrelevant to them - leading to a generation of children established JNK Interiors in 2009 focusing
being turned off Jewish learning. Jewish Interactive is mainly on residential design.
providing an answer to these problems. While we can
never replace quality experiential learning with an Jennifer moved to London in 2012 and
inspiring human teacher, we can improve engagement has since had two children and started
and learning experiences through technology.” JKG Interiors. She was recently invited
to join leading UK designers
She explains that Ji Tap, the platform it offers has over to design a room in
120,000 parents and teachers in 43 countries, all of the celebrated
whom are empowered to provide interactive games Designers’
and lessons that take children on a learning journey. Showhouse,
It is a way of democratising education and sharing Holiday House
interactive, responsive, personalised content in the London.
language and space that is current for the youth of
today.

F U E L L I N G C R E AT I VI T Y

“I believe creative people need to exert their creative energy, says Ghatan emphatically. “I do not believe that all
mothers must work, but I do believe that men and women with inspired minds should endeavour to engage their creative
selves regularly and feel stimulated in order to maintain a positive state of mind. I am not one to sit idle. I feel compelled
to fill my days and nights productively so that I feel satisfied with myself as a person in this world. Productivity for me can
be in the form of interacting with my children, volunteering or learning something new. My profession helps me to continue
being a student in a sense, because I learn new things each day. I may learn about a new technique in furniture making
or understand better how to handle certain situations with clients or tradesmen. Much of the profession of interior design
is about cultivating relationships and it is through relationships that we learn so much.

YALLA MAGAZINE 51

ON assuring me all would be under control. I returned 12
BA L A N C E hours later at 9 PM to find him still in his pyjamas running
from child to child! We have been extremely fortunate
“Juggling the many opposing roles is often fraught. to have extended family and neighbours always
Kanzen says, “I’m good at juggling many balls. But at helping out at certain stress points. Grandparents
times a few more are thrown into the mix and inevitably have flown in on occasion to rescue us, but we have
you drop some. When I’m juggling well, looking good, managed all in all!
getting oo’s and ah’s from the audience - then there
is nothing better. But when I’m being thrown too many, Now with teenagers, the kids are quite independent
and drop some - there is nothing worse. It has taken and the household is busy. We are all in and out
me years to try and achieve a good balance and working, studying, engaging with friends and community.
each year I refine more. There is no such thing as a They see my husband and I having a large number of
superwoman. Something always gives - My job is to commitments, and increasingly they do as well. They
ensure the area that gives is not the same area all the also see the ups and downs of challenging career
time. which I hope provides the perspective that one needs
to ‘roll with the punches’. From a work perspective, most
Ghatan affirms that a lifestyle of work and play requires colleagues and clients have a genuine sensitivity to
much multi-tasking and is indeed a juggling act. I love the demands of family. Everyone over their careers has
motherhood too much and am also passionate about moments when they need to duck out or carve out time
my profession. I wouldn’t be happy if either of them was for a family priority. What is most important is being fully
missing from my life. I think I have a good balance at engaged while in the work setting -- people are quite
the moment between work life and family life. Working forgiving (and even oblivious) to the times away with
and motherhood means I am often juggling, holding family. I always advise younger women to take longer
the burden of guilt for not being there for everything leaves but then make sure they are engaged while at
and for having to rush off to get to meetings or site the office.”
visits. For my profession, I keep my office at home and
maintain approximately 5 projects at a time so that I THE
can balance work life and family life and ensure that I CHALLENGES
am still on top of everything going on within my business
and within my home. If I was less involved with my children, Kanzen admits “As a CEO of an organisation that has
I would have an office practice with higher project flow. offices in USA, Israel, UK and SA I need to travel quite
a lot. The ability to video conference call has been life
“I think that the responsibilities at home and at work changing and has allowed me to speak to at least 3
interface very well. I have never fully understood why countries every day. However, it is when a face to face
such vast segments of society see such a tension meeting is required that I am forced to make difficult
between them. Clearly, the early years provide a decisions, which I feel is more challenged by being a
number of sheer logistical challenges in terms of having woman. Somehow it is easier for a man to travel for
sufficient support and help. There are many dramas work. When I need to go there are countless schedules,
from those early years with 3 children age 3 and under, menus, shops and Shabbat meals that need to be
alongside very demanding clients. I once had a call organised on top of the trip!
from a client on a Sunday morning at 9 am, and had
to go into the office to sort something out, my husband Levy admits, “The biggest sacrifice all around is having

limited down time, less opportunity for hobbies, events Cindy Levy obtained her degree in
in the community, learning and friends. These are harder Economics and went on to do nan MBA
to justify between the family and work commitments. I and has been amanagement consultant for
also sacrifice some of the extra work-related events 25 years. She is married to
and networking that happens in the evenings, in order Isaac levy of Gibraltar
to maximise time at home. On the margin, one sacrifices and is a mother to
a bit of the connectivity that is quite important to her three children
maintain when working in a large firm. I don’t know if aged 18, 17 &
the children feel that there have been sacrifices with 15.
respect to their upbringing. I am scared to ask them!”
Chana Kanzen B.Ed(hons) QTS. Dip.Ed now
DEFINITION CEO of Jewish Interactive. In 2013 she set
OF SUCCESS up Jewish Interactive in the UK, now a thriving
NGO. She currently still directs the UK’s
Ghatan lights up as she defines success. “Seeing my expanding team and sits on their Board of
two children love each other as they do is light bulb Directors. She regularly lectures to parents
moment when thinking of success. They are so caring, and teachers on a variety of educational
loving and generous with one another that it makes topics. She has spoken at Google HQ in
me feel proud. Professionally, In would say that I moved London and Tel Aviv, Apple HQ
countries 5-years-ago, gave birth to two babies within London and NYC and
that time and I was invited to design a room in the very at Oxford University’s
prestigious Holiday House London, which is currently Department for
open to the public. Leading designers were asked Education.
to each design a space which is then open for one Chana was also
month, the proceeds of which go to the Breast Cancer the Head of
Research Foundation. Having been a social worker in Jewish studies
my former life, it feels good to fuse my passion of design at Morasha
with my passion for making a difference. Jewish Primary
school in London,
“It is extremely rewarding to see the kids’ increasing England.
independence, and desire to shape their own paths,
“says Levy. I also feel that the biggest success in some
ways was to sustain everything through the natural ups
and downs.

SUPPORTIVE
SPOUSES

“Even though my husband is truly supportive,” says
Kanzen, “it is very challenging to weigh up whether the
decision to travel is worth leaving the family and there
has never been a time I have gone where I have not
questioned if it was the right decision.

LESSONS LEARNED

Levy says, “the solution to a large extent is to simply stay in the flow by not quitting and not writing
things off too early. One Rabbi that my husband and I speak to periodically for advice would
always encourage me, “If you still have at least a 50% chance of making it work, keep going.” I often
expected many people to advise me to scale down my career - but none of the people closest
to me ever did, not my husband, not my parents, not my in-laws. That support and encouragment
is game changing.

“I have learned that feeling guilty doesn’t help anyone, says Ghatan. “It also does not change
anything. I have come to realise that if I am upset about something, then I need to try to change it
as opposed to simply feeling bad about it. I have also learned through working and raising young
children that discipline is necessary and the occasional absence is okay and in fact, beneficial for
their growth and independence.

THE COPING TOOLS

- CHANA KANZEN

1 2

I have 4 that I have learnt and are essential:

Switching off at weekends- completely! - Shabbat is

a gift and I have become really strict with Sundays Holidays - we go away regularly as a family unit -

too. At weekends I am Mummy, wife, friend - Monday even for short breaks - it is a time to reconnect and

am I turn back to CEO. be present.

54 YALLA MAGAZINE

“T H E B E A U T Y O F MOTHERHOOD

A mother understands what a child does not say. Mothers can hear sentences

in the silences of their children. God has given mothers the special gift of

intuition because it gives her a strong sense of what is right for her children,

what they are good at, how they may excel in the future what gifts and

abilities she needs to make sure are developed in their lives as G-d intended.

- J E N N Y G H ATAN

”

3

Accept you can’t do it all - when I accepted this

my life became more balanced. I used to pick up

from school every day - running from work to be a

mum while trying to take calls - rushing the kids off to 4
bed so I could get back to work. When I took the
decision to not pick them up from school 3 days
week - I could do a full day’s work and then come

home and be present for my family and do so in a

calm state. I now pick up once a week only (which Support system - I have the most amazing Mother in
is sacred) and Fridays’ I work from home- Many law, patient husband, fantastic cleaner, supportive
working mothers do the same - flexible working friends.
hours are key.

YALLA MAGAZINE 55

FOR SALE/TO LET: WELL STREET KITCHEN

203 WELL STREET, HOMERTON, LONDON, E9 6QU

FITTED RESTAURANT & RESIDENTIAL UPPERS

Large residential catchment
Vibrant secondary parade in East
London anchored by a popular Tesco
Metro and a number of independent
retailers and businesses
Commercial element provides a single
fronted lock up shop with A3 planning
consent.
Small forecourt area with external
seating
Internally, the premises provides a small
bar counter and a dining area
Separately accessed residential element
provides a one bedroom apartment
Gross approximate internal area: 848 sq
ft (82 sq m)
Licenced to trade Monday to Sunday
11.00am-22.00pm

Freehold offers in the region of £950,000
Leasehold offers for the restaurant
element will also be considered

For further information please contact:

Jonathan Moradoff, MRPAS

Director - Restaurants, Bars and Clubs

Davis Coffer Lyons

T  002709586792989520279080 YALLA MAGAZINE
M

[email protected] 

ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE
Hello Big AI

It’s Totally Real and All around You

Killer robots. Threatening humanoids. Robo- machines to exhibit or simulate intelligent behavior’.
apocalypses and evil robots taking over the world. In other words, whenever a computer/machine does
For those of us who have seen movies like Blade something without being explicitly programmed to do
Runner, I, Robot, and Ex Machina or read articles in the so, that’s AI.
popular press about artificial intelligence (AI), these
scary and sinister buzzwords seem to sum up the term A trivial, but illustrative example of this would be your
‘AI’ quite well. Unfortunately, artificial intelligence is too average email Spam Filter: Gmail (or whatever email
often painted as a something scary and negative client you use) automatically puts emails into your
that will soon steal all of our jobs, or perhaps even spam folder. Clearly, Gmail was not told explicitly that
worse, completely and totally overpower us. such-and-such an email is spam; rather by analysing
millions upon millions of emails, it has ‘learned’ on its own
The reality, however, is much more nuanced and much (or has been ‘trained’) to do this pattern recognition
more rosy and cheery than the media lets on. I can task on its own. Indeed, artificial intelligence very
almost guarantee that you are already reaping the often centres on pattern recognition, whether that be
rewards and benefits of AI in some shape or form, and with self-driving cars, AI-driven medical diagnosis, and
you probably do not even realise it! So, what is AI, more.
how is it used, and what is in store for the future?
Self-Driving Trains, Planes, and Automobiles
What is AI?
Would you buy a car which drives itself? If you said
The Oxford English Dictionary gives us a good ‘no’, you’re not alone: Nearly half of consumers (48%)
starting point for discussing what AI is all about, responding to a recent MIT survey said they’d never
defining it as ‘the capacity of computers or other buy a car that completely drives itself. People are

- M AT T H E W M I L L E R

YALLA MAGAZINE 57

scared of what they’re not familiar with; that’s just human trains (which are a lot easier to train and maintain than
nature. But, did you know that whenever you fly, you are cars) on the Thameslink, which is set to regulate and
relying on the magic and mystery of AI to get you to speed up the service.
your destination?
AI in Medicine
Although at this time we still have (and need) pilots to
guide planes, the pilots themselves take advantage of AI is slated to have a major impact on healthcare. In
auto-pilot features which boils down to a sophisticated terms of AI innovation in this space, there are hundreds
network of sensors throughout the airplane which of companies (from little startups to major corporates)
continually assess and adjust the speed, rate of which are changing the face of healthcare across
climb, and other factors. Companies, such as Boeing, three main areas: diagnostics, treatment, and business/
are looking to take this technology to the next level, administration. AI health tech-related technology
completely removing the human pilot from the mix. will also have a significant impact on the industry.
Accenture estimates that it will add more than $100B
Did you know that the average American spends to the industry by 2035.
nearly 300 hours a year driving and that 94% of road
accidents are caused by human error? Self-driving cars Adoption for this technology is high: around 86% of
can help us take advantage of all that lost time and US healthcare provider organizations, life science
drastically reduce the occurrence of auto accidents. companies, and technology vendors are currently
On the ground, most of the big auto companies using artificial intelligence technology (according to
(from Tesla to Ford to Toyota) are working on making Tata Consultancy Services), despite the fact that FDA
autonomous vehicles a reality, despite obstacles approval can sometimes be a roadblock to speedy
such as governmental regulation and the sometimes adoption. Here are some concrete examples across
unpredictable nature of the road. the three broad areas:

Road-ready self-driving cars are not just a thing of the ● Diagnosis: IBM Watson has produced a cancer
future: this year alone, we have seen Uber’s plans to diagnostic tool which examines a vast database of 20
buy over 20,000 autonomous Volvo SUVs (a super million research papers and typically makes diagnoses
fleet and a super feat!), Waymo (a Google spinoff) in only 10 minutes.
has tested self-driving cars on the road without a driver
behind the wheel, and the UK government has made ● Treatment: MedAware is applying machine learning
promising statements, saying that they plan to begin (a type of AI) to the problem of prescription error,
testing autonomous vehicles on roads as early as making sure people take the correct medication.
next year, with plans to have driverless cars on Britain’s
roads by 2021. London is already testing self-driving ● Business/Administration: Mendel.ai automates
matching cancer patients to clinical trials through

58 YALLA MAGAZINE

personal medical history and genetic analysis. What Does the Future Have in Store?

Food for Thought It is exciting to think about the future of AI, but don’t
forget AI is all around you! From Netflix’s recommendation
How will the rise of robots (domestic and otherwise) engine telling you what shows to watch to Facebook’s
affect religion and Judaism in particular? Perhaps the curated newsfeed, algorithms are everywhere. But, what
question is better-phrased in the present: how does this will the future look like in 5,10, 20 years? We can never
influx of innovation affect religious praxis and beliefs? really know, but what we can do is make sure AI stays
A few months ago, The Guardian reported about on track and is responsible.
Softbank’s humanoid robot ‘Pepper’ that donned
robes to provide low-cost funerals complete with It is true that there are dangers and challenges involved
live-streaming option in Japan. Is this something which in building AI and automating people out of jobs in the
Judaism would condone or sanction? process. However, if we play our cards right and make
sure we do not encode our own biases into the systems
Although it is unlikely that robots would ever be given we create (which is easier said than done), there is a
full clerical status (i.e. become a rabbi), perhaps they bright future in store for us. As Andrew Ng (founder of
could assist in some key rabbinic functions, such as
officiating at funerals, visiting the sick, taking care of the Coursera, AI thought leader, and more) said,
elderly (there are a bunch of such robots already on
the market), and more. More controversially, last month, “Just as electricity transformed almost
Sophia (a humanoid robot from Hanson Robotics) everything 100 years ago, today I
was granted citizenship by Saudi Arabia. Could we, actually have a hard time thinking
as Jews, accept robots as converts? What about as of an industry that I don’t think AI will
citizenships of the State of Israel? transform in the next several years.”

Matthew Miller is passionate about technology and its
impact on society and businesses. He currently works
at Cognition as an AI research analyst and Interim
Head of Social Media and also serves as the Head of
Communications for PMA Digital Solutions, a boutique
digital transformation firm. He considers himself to be a
global citizen, having lived in 6 cities and 4 countries,
all before the age of 25. He currently lives in Hendon
with his wife, Georgia and happily awaits his next
adventure.

59

LEISURE Consumers now devote a larger proportion of their income
PROPERTY to leisure and eating/drinking-out than ever before and
MARKET: that adjustment is now ingrained in our culture - our love
of food and its importance in our lives is only getting
Growth and Opportunities bigger. As long as your restaurant or leisure concept offers
something people want, has a unique selling point, and
offers genuine value, then your slice of the ‘experience
economy’ is there for the taking. That said, the period of

60 YALLA MAGAZINE

- J O NAT H AN M O R AD O F F,
D AV I S C O F F E R L Y O N S

increasing economic and political uncertainly we now be attributed to business confidence and the mounting
find ourselves in has made many restaurant operators pressures they are facing.
think more carefully about expanding their brands. We
are experiencing mostly flat trading levels in the UK pub At Davis Coffer Lyons, we work exclusively advising
and restaurant sector, according to our research with landlords and operators within the licensed and leisure
CGA Peach, the Coffer Peach Business Tracker. Brands property market. In the last six months, restaurant operators
and independent restaurants trading in London are wanting to open new sites or expand their concepts are
doing better, but the nerves in the market can largely focusing their efforts on ‘low risk’ sites such as those in

YALLA MAGAZINE 61

prime London leisure locations. Despite the economic prices even amongst the prime London hot spots -
landscape currently, there is still enormous competition unfortunately there is absolutely no evidence as yet
for these properties. to support this. Any wavering pressure on rents is limited
to secondary locations so don’t assume there are
Our landlord and developer clients of course consider bargains out there just yet in the top locations. We
covenant strength but this isn’t the only important thing are starting to see some effects on premiums though
to them; a cuisine and concept which complements - a gentle softening due to an increase in available
the rest of their estate; one that promises robust foot- supply. You might even find some extra deals offered
flow through an avid social media following and active by landlords on incentives in the rental package, but
engagement with a clearly defined and nurtured if they are being more generous - there is often a
audience. Landlords are willing to take a chance reason pertaining to the quality of the particular site
on someone new to the market who has something in question.
different to offer if they can deliver some collateral;
a finely-tuned strategy, a convincing landlord pack With the recent rise in business rates, making sure
and better still, experience of trialling their concept the rent is fair has become even more crucial to
through pop-ups, tastings or chef residencies which those running a restaurant or licensed business. The
give their brand some bandwidth. rent review process itself has been subject to much
scrutiny and its shortcomings criticised by restaurant
Even those who are successful in securing a great site operators in particular. Whilst it’s imperative that the
will be aware that recent changes to business rates market continues to make opportunities to debate
have been cited as the biggest business concern by this subject, our view is that these problems generally
restaurant and pub operators, followed by rising food rear their head in recession and become less of an
costs, concerns in finding the right staff (especially with issue in rising markets, i.e. they only bite in the bad
fraught Brexit process looming), followed by increasing times. As long as you have the right property agent
property rents. When it comes to business rates, yes, to represent you, you will get the best deal you can.
many restaurant and pub operators particularly in
the South East of the country, have been hit hard.
However it’s important to keep a balanced view; the
old Valuation List was very out of date and needed
replacing. Many licensed properties elsewhere in the
country were paying too much and felt that better
performing locations in more affluent areas had
had it too easy for too long by comparison. Even
premises in the latter have seen fall in rates if their
property value has dropped. Cries of frustration by
those operators who have been a victim of their own
success - pubs in particular - are often justified, but no
one is saying it’s a perfect system. It might be flawed,
but unfortunately there is little political will to change
it any time soon. Perhaps the Government feels they
have more pressing things to worry about over the
next 18 months.

The period of increasing economic and political
uncertainly we now find ourselves in has led many
to believe that this will lead to a drop in rental

62 YALLA MAGAZINE

“As long as you have 63
the right property
agent to represent
you, you will get the
best deal you can.”

Jonathan is a highly experienced agent in acquisition
and disposal of leisure properties. Acting for both
landlords and tenants he has worked with a broad
range of high profile clients and brands throughout
the UK, Eastern Europe, the USA and the Middle
East. He has advised on some of the largest and
most prestigious leisure projects and opportunities in
Central London and across the UK.
He has extensive knowledge on both acquisitions and
disposals across all leisure property with a particular
focus on bars, clubs and other late night venues. With
a strong understanding of the market coupled with
an impeccable list of contacts he has acted on a
diverse range of property transactions including
disposal of individual units and portfolios; sourcing
acquisition targets; specialist advice to clients to
maximise values; developing emerging concepts;
and formulating marketing and sales strategies.
Jonathan regularly participates in conferences and
seminars on the latest developments in his field –
including topical areas such as planning & licensing
changes – ensuring clients benefit from cutting-edge,
informed and reliable advice.

YALLA MAGAZINE

DAVIS COFFER LYONS
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E: [email protected]
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DAVIS COFFER LYONS

Davis Coffer Lyons has the most highly experienced team of leisure property
professionals in the UK, based in London, covering Development Leasing, Disposals,
Acquisitions, Investment, Landlord & Tenant, and Valuation services.

We deal exclusively with all types of leisure property including restaurants, shopping

64centre dining, cafes, coffee shops, food retail, bars, pubs and nightclubs.

YALLA MAGAZINE

TU B’SHVAT
LESSONS
FOR LIFE

- R A B B I Y I T S Y D AV I D

Tu B’Shvat is certainly one of the more interesting Jewish
festivals. It almost sounds like a lovely idea, even cute – to
go ahead and celebrating the Birthday of the trees. But
Judaism is a not a token gesture religion, there must be
more to it?

Despite sounding seemingly simple it in fact encourages us
to appreciate the hidden depths of the many interesting
and sometimes odd customs in Judaism. There are many
interesting insights shared about the blessing of the
trees including how they show an appreciation of G-d’s
magnificent and beautiful world.

The notion of the bikkurim, the giving first fruits as an offering
in the temple is also linked to Tu B’Shvat. In appreciation
and acknowledgment that even those things that we take
for granted and deem as insignificant nature, are in fact
part of the complex masterpiece of creation that was
created and is continually being orchestrated by the
hand of G-d.

I would like to focus on a separate lesson that can be learnt
from this holiday and is one that is particularly relevant to
parents and teachers, although not exclusively.

We will start with a question. An observation.

If Tu B’Shvat is an appreciation for the fruit of the trees as
opposed to the trees themselves, why is it that we choose
to celebrate them now? Surely it is more appropriate during

YALLA MAGAZINE 65

the spring time when the fruit can be picked and tasted?
Why now, when not only are they not ripe or ready but are
not even visible or starting to grow?!

I believe the answer is simple yet powerful…

On the surface level in the cold, dark winter months, the
trees appear not be flourishing, nor blooming. In fact, they
look dead! One would certainly be excused for giving up
hope if looking at them from through those lenses.

But if you look deeper and take a closer look, you will
realise what is going on inside that tree, behind the dark,
thick bark. If you had to cut open the tree, you will see that
what appear to be a lifeless looking “shell” of the tree, is in
fact a home for a world of potential and hope.

The question Tu B’Shvat begs of us to ask ourselves is:
what are we doing now to ensure the future blossoming
of our sapling trees? Have we given up hope and been
demotivated by the lack of growth so far. Or can we look
beyond the immediate future and understand that often
worthwhile investments take time and patience to bloom
before manifesting their greatness.

We all have relationship in which we have invested in so
much. How much more should we give before we start to
see results? How much time should we spend nurturing and
loving before noticing a change or an outcome?

The lesson we can learn from Tu B’Shvat is more than just
patience.

“It is exactly during this period of
darkness and despair that the

real growth is taking place.”

The more we invest now and appreciate what lies
beyond the surface, the more likely we are to see
our efforts turn into something real that we can
appreciate.
Fruits are succulent and tasty when they are
fully formed… But let us not forget that they are
only formed through undergoing the process of
various seasons and stages.

“If you had to cut open the tree, you will see that what appear to
be a lifeless looking “shell” of the tree, is in fact a home for a world
of potential and hope.”

“Growing
up Sephardi in
Chicago meant that
I was different, but it was
different in a good way”

- MIMI MEYER

68 YALLA MAGAZINE

MEMOIRS
OF A
SEPHARDIC GIRL

Sephardic Life in the windy city of Chicago

- MIMI MEYER

Iwas recently walking through the Meah other Turkish and Rhodes (from the island of Rhodes)
Shearim section of Jerusalem, renowned for its families. Anyone who has ever been to Seattle can
religious articles, when I went into a book shop testify that there is very strong presence of Sephardic
looking for a prayer book for my daughter. I families. Though I grew up in Chicago, we would
asked the sales assistant for a siddur. He spend our summers visiting my grandparents and a
asked me, “What nusach (custom)?” as he pointed huge assortment of aunts, uncles, cousins and various
to a row of multicoloured siddurim and I found myself more distant relatives in Seattle. My memories are
in a quagmire of Hebrew abbreviations; Aleph for of close family get togethers, singing, lots of Ladino
Nusach Ashkenaz, Samech for Nusach Sephard, Ayin that I didn’t understand and wonderful food! Borekas,
Mem for Edot Hamizrach (Eastern and Middle Eastern Bulemas, Panasicos, Biscochos, Pishcado con ouevo
custom). y’limon, Ouevos Caminados, Suklatch. My Nona was
always in the kitchen adding a little bit of this and a
As I was Sephardic, one would think I would immediately little bit of that and magically preparing a sumptuous
go for the Nusach Sephard. However, one would be feast.
mistaken! That would be too easy. That one is also for
Ashkenazim. The nusach that Sephardim use is Edot My mother being from an Ashkenazi background,
Hamizrach. Being in Israel, a country in the Middle and a wonderful cook in her own right, did not even
East, I would have thought there would be a majority attempt to master those delicacies and they were
of Edot Hamizrach siddurim, but to my dismay, it came treats reserved for our summers only.
third after both Nusach Ashkenaz and Nusach Sefard.
Back in Chicago, my father was the Rabbi for the
The truth is I should not have been surprised. I was Sephardic Congregation in Evanston (a near suburb
a product of a Sephardic home brought up in a of Chicago). I was the only Sephardic girl in my
predominantly Ashkenazi world. school. I grew up learning my Aleph Beis, but when
I was home it was pronounced Aleph Bet. I learned
My father’s family came from Turkey. His parents the tune for bentching at school, but at home we
settled in Seattle, Washington with a large number of

YALLA MAGAZINE 69

“We Sephardim have a lot to be proud of...”

sang Birkat Hamazon to a different melody, with a with your different customs, food, languages; the more

paragraph in Ladino added at the end. At school I multi-cultural, the merrier. I remember high spirits and

davened from an Ashkenazi siddur with all my friends, lots of deep embraces from perfumed ladies with lacy

but at home and on Shabbat the words, songs and doilies on their heads, dangling gold Jewellery and

order were all different. I remember my embarrassment foreign accents. My father’s Kahal also attracted a

when I went to my friend’s house for a sleep over on lot of Gerim (converts) who were drawn to the spiritual,

Shabbat and going to shul with her and not being welcoming and colourful Sephardic customs.

able to follow along. I tried to cover up my lack of Growing up Sephardi in Chicago meant that I was
different, but it was different in a good way.
knowledge of the Ashkenazi Shabbat davening, by
looking over her shoulder at what page she was on

the whole time. It was only when I was seventeen and in Israel for

I remember going to summer camp in New York and a year of learning in Michlala College for Women,
being with other Sephardic girls my age for the first that I found out some sad truths. I was reading a
time. With their dark good looks and clinking gold book called “The Source” by James A. Michener, and
bangles, I gravitated towards them. “Oh, are you I came across a chapter that described a strong
Sephardic too?” they exclaimed, looking over my fair perceived class difference between Ashkenazi Jews
skin. I felt like I was part of a special club. and Sephardic Jews. My world shook. I had never
experienced, or felt it in my life. Yes, we were different,

When I got to high school, I actively chose to bring but never for better or worse. I remember reading the

an Edot Hamizrach siddur to school with me. It would pages and then reading them again. There was no

have been easy to try to fit in with my friends, but I was Google at the time to see if this was just the author’s

brought up with immense pride in being Sephardic. It fantasy or if this was really a “thing”. As most things that

was different, it was exotic, and it was cool. I remember are important to you, I started seeing it everywhere

going to the bar mitzvah parties of our Ashkenazi I looked. The beggars on the street in Israel were

friends in the community. We had a nice catered all darker and obviously from the more “Sephardic

dinner, there was often some dancing around in a countries”. I noticed certain inflections in people’s

circle and we went home. The Bar Mitzvah parties in voices and small movements of body language when

the Sephardic Congregation were nothing like that. I mentioned I was Sephardic. I became sensitive,

Fragrant food all cooked by the ladies, ululation, but never less proud. It was unfathomable to me

noise, beats of Middle Eastern music, rhythmic that something so beautiful could be perceived as

dancing. The families that came to the Sephardic anything less than.

70 SECfaceomupnialhyg.dareorTdgrh,icaeMtyiweowaxniceyworewe, arIfesrsroanmaeolll,tPiSaenacrllslliofuarosn,ivmikYeaeT, muaerenkvedney,r,yMEloigkoenyreopmctw,yYcAeAfoallcgL.thoLeTeAmrhiraee’Ms, AGWsSsuthaAghidrZegtedIneNdusIcEtiohccianmasmlwleine(gmbreaaftmcockyrhSmfreoappmkaihnreaSgnre)dt.msicinbafoorryTyhsie.nsuIgIhsgraamedeasljt,doioperintecysiodpefoolderf

that if my Bashert was Ashkenazi, I would change my Selichot. What a rich cultural tradition we bring to the
minhagim to Ashkenazi, as it is customary to follow world. In an Ashkenazi centred society, it is sometimes
your husband’s minhag, as my own mother had done. easy to forget to be proud of who we are. In the past
I also realised I would have been very sad to do twenty years in London, I have seen so much growth,
so. In the end it didn’t matter, because my husband- both in popularity and in resources of the Sephardic
to- be was also Sephardic, with his parents from community. With more Sephardic synagogues and
Calcutta, originating in Bagdad. It meant I could institutions opening up to meet the ever-growing
keep my Sephardic davening and customs and pass need. Our prayer books may not take up the most
it all to my own children. shelf space, but our impact can be felt all over the
world. And don’t forget the food!
Moving to London twenty years ago was a bit of an
eye-opener. I think in Europe, class is considered a Mimi Meyer has a degree in Psychology and is a
much bigger divide than it is in America. My husband graduate of Michlala Jerusalem College for women
told me stories of how he had been bullied at school as well as the Susi Bradfield Fellowship Programme.
for being Sephardic, not just by other boys, but also She is an accomplished teacher and public speaker,
by the teachers! Sadly, I saw and heard it myself, with experienced at both adult and teenage education.
comments about who are getting into their schools, She has taught at Hasmonean High School and
and with whom they should allow their son or daughter LSJS and has been giving shiurim on various topics
to go out. As I don’t “look Sephardic”, people have to women’s groups for over 10 years. She is wife to
said very discriminatory things in my presence. It Rabbi David Meyer, the Executive Director of PaJes
deeply saddens me that in this day and age we and mother to five wonderful children.
are still fighting stereotypes about class differences.
I hope I am raising my children well in their love of
their Sephardic heritage (through both sides) and in
their love of Klal Yisrael, no matter their background;
cultural, religious, geographical or otherwise.

We Sephardim have a lot to be proud of, not
just historically, with so many great Rabbis hailing
from our parts of the world, including Maimonides,
Nachmanides, Ibn Ezra, Rabbi Yosef Karo, Don
Yitzchak Abarbanel, to name just a few. We also
have so much to give with our strong spirituality and
deep love of our fellow man. We have a tendency
to include everybody into our fold and an obsession
of Hachnasat Orchim (hospitality). Our devotion to
prayers is second to none, with our stirring songs of

YALLA MAGAZINE 71

THE A historic
look at
M AG I C the Persian
CA R P E T carpet
trade
of Persia
- ESSIE
Merchants from East and West have been
moving goods back and forth for centuries, SA K H A I
and rugs have been an essential part of
trade between Europe and the Middle East
for just as long. Many consider rugs originating
in Greater Persia to be the pinnacle of the
art form, as they have achieved a number of
world record sales in international auctions
and are the gold standard of Oriental rugs in
the western world.

Some 2500 years ago, my ancestors left
Jerusalem for Persia and were welcomed by
Cyrus the Great. Since then, their history is
well known throughout the world, especially
the story of Queen Esther and her uncle
Mordecai that happened in that land, which
relates to the celebration of Purim. The holiday
in the Jewish calendar finds its origin in the
triumph of the Jewish people under the Persian
Empire and their salvation through Esther and
Mordecai’s righteousness. Beyond the tale just
being about the importance of being earnest
and true, the story demonstrates the reverence
with which textiles were treated in the time
of Achashverosh in the Tanakh, commonly
known as Xerxes I, who reigned from 486-465
BCE. The greatest honour bestowed upon
Mordecai (much to the chagrin of Haman)

YALLA MAGAZINE 73

“This rug represents From the private collection of Essie Sakhai.

some of the greatest Originating at approximately the same time as the story
events in Jewish history of Purim, the oldest datable knotted-pile rug is the Pazyryk
Carpet dating from 500BCE, which was discovered in
- E SSIE SAKHAI Siberia in the mid-twentieth century and continues to
be maintained by the State Hermitage Museum in Saint
”was to be paraded through the city of Shushan or Petersburg, Russia. Although it is not the first carpet to
ever be woven, it was preserved especially well after
Susa draped with the highly esteemed royal cloak, having been frozen into a block of ice in a Scythian
described as being woven in blue and white, with linen nobleman’s Altai Mountain tomb between Irkutsk and
and purple. This respect afforded to fine fabric is not Novosibirsk (then part of Russian SFSR), which allowed for
limited to clothing in Persian culture, but also the rugs that it to be unharmed for almost 16 centuries. It incorporates
are laid on the ground. Rugs tend to carry especially one frieze of horsemen and another of fallow deer, which
profound value amongst nomadic societies, and with the recall influences from the Achaemenid Empire and its seat
Jewish nation facing constant persecution and forced at Persepolis. One can note that the textile was found
expulsion since the exodus from Ancient Egypt to the 2,800 miles away to the northeast of where the design
Babylonian captivity all the way up to the 20th century, draws its inspiration, indicating that some distance was
movable goods have been essential to the frequently covered between the area of stylistic influence and its
displaced Jewish economy. The Purim custom of dressing eventual resting place, an immense distance, equal to
up in costume and bringing charity to the downtrodden that from Persepolis to Belgium. This would demonstrate
in society are also reflected in the placement of a rug one of two things— if the carpet were created closer to
on the ground, both disguising the floor and giving it the the heartland of the Persian Empire, it suggests that there
gift of cover. And much like Esther, the Persian carpet is an was enough exchange of goods to facilitate the piece
art medium that is both dazzling and modest, with radiant making its way to Siberia. If the carpet originated farther
beauty that can completely transform the interior space toward Siberia in Scythia, on the other hand, it implies
of a room. that there was enough exchange of cultural influence to
bring the motif across Eurasia. Both scenarios are common
The Jews who arrived in Persia engaged in many trades, within the history of carpets, not only physical movement
and some adopted the art of carpet weaving while of carpets from place to place, but also movement of
using Jewish motifs to maintain their culture and tradition. visual culture through exposure over time.

Rugs that represent the history of Judaism like this example Almost a thousand years later, the Spring Carpet of
of a very fine Persian Tabriz carpet illustrated above are Khosrow I was a spectacular rug woven for the Sasanian
a result of the combination of Jewish heritage and Persian imperial palace in Ctesiphon during the king’s reign from
carpet weaving skills. 531-579 CE. It was perhaps the most exquisite specimen
to have ever existed and was resplendently coated
with precious metal and stones for its hundreds of feet
in length. The pattern was that of a heavenly garden,
with plants of many varieties in rectangular formats, much
as can be seen in a regular garden. This was further
enhanced with depictions of irrigation and varieties of
flora in vivid detail. The carpet was unfortunately torn

74 YALLA MAGAZINE

“‘without exaggeration one of the most Copyrights reserved Essie Sakahi Family collection
rare Persian carpets in the world.”

75

apart by invading Arabs during their conquest in dynasty Shah Tahmasp sometime before 1540 (946
631 CE, and soldiers kept fragments of its lauded in the Iranian Solar Hijri calendar) for the shrine at
cloth as war loot, and the only records that exist as a the tomb of Sheikh Safi ad Din in the city of Ardabil.
testament to the grandeur of the rug are written and Vincent Robinson and Company on Wigmore Street
not pictorial. We can only imagine the splendour of in Cavendish Square brought the piece to London
the piece, the power it would convey on behalf of at the end of 1891, and The Times described it a few
Khosrow Shah, and the wonder with which it would months later as a piece that ‘beggars description’ and
have been beheld in the sixth century. that it was ‘without exaggeration… the finest Persian
carpet in the world’. It was, in short, unlike anything
The use of Persian carpets as table covers in European ever before seen in the United Kingdom or anywhere
Old Master paintings allows reliable dating of certain else in Europe at the time. As a consequence of the
motifs and styles of carpets imported from Persia and artefact’s deified status among rugs, the Victoria and
Turkey from the 14th century onward. Early Anatolian Albert Museum’s collection now surpassed any other
carpets in particular have had a great deal of group of carpets in the world. Prices soared shortly
exposure in Renaissance Italian pieces, and have thereafter in Europe, and £2,500 became a meagre
been analysed thoroughly as a result. The existence sum for any rug of top quality, let alone the greatest
of a carpet trade from East to West was therefore well in the world. What was not revealed about the
established by this time, and rugs had already found carpet was that it actually consisted of two rugs that
their way into the general consciousness of some were cut up and reassembled to make one superior
Europeans by way of imagery in religious paintings. whole, and the remaining usable pieces were used
Indeed, from the 15th to 17th century, Oriental carpets decades later to make the second Ardabil Carpet
remained of capital importance throughout Europe that now lies in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
and indispensable in court and church ceremonies. While both carpets are born from the same material, it
European appetite for Persian rugs was not so strong is clear that the London example had an exceptional
from the early 18th to the 19th century, until there was effect on the psyche of Great Britain and the rest of
renewed interest following an 1891 exhibition of the the Western World at the end of the 19th century,
carpets owned by the Imperial House of Hapsburg revitalising the demand and sales of Oriental carpets
shown in Vienna, followed by another exhibition the for the next hundred years.
following year in London where the Ardabil Carpet
was acquired by the South Kensington Museum for The most prominent centres of carpet production in
£2,500 and thereby brought Oriental rugs once the Middle East were and still remain Persia/Iran and
again to the forefront of European consciousness. Turkey—these also are the countries with the largest
population in the region. Iranian rugs are known for
Originating in Iranian Azerbaijan and possibly in the their city, most prominently Isfahan and Kashan, as
city of Tabriz in particular, the Ardabil Carpet was likely well as Tabriz, Kerman, Yazd, and Mashhad. Each
made by the order of the second ruler of the Safavid city’s carpet style has overall design characteristics

“radiant beauty that can
completely transform the interior

space of a room.”

76 YALLA MAGAZINE

that act as a marker of the piece’s derivation. There cannot be overstated, and with proper love and
is no single compendium that acts as a guide for care, the beautiful pieces can be kept safe and well
carpet weavers relating to which style they should be preserved for generations.
following as operators within a given regional zone.
Nevertheless, each weaver will adhere to traditional Essie Sakhai was born in Tehran, Iran. He is a rug
forms and colours passed on through time as a matter dealer and expert on tyhje ancient Iranian art form of
of course, and thereby this manner of preserving a Persian Carpets and Oriental Rugs.
local flavour has maintained itself as a geographical
brand for centuries. The perpetuation of unchanging His family has been dealing in carpets since 1766.
patterns only becomes altered naturally when outside He was trained by his father Benayahoo Sakhai in
influences come and modify the long-standing the identification and authentification of rugs from an
designs, infusing them with new tastes to be brought early age. He has been based from his showrooms
into the realm of accepted standard. in Lond’s Mayfair since 1982 and has written three
books on the art of the Persian Carpet; “The Story
As a result of this increased popularity, a large influx of Carpets”. “Oriental Rugs: A Buyer’s Guide and
of Oriental rugs were imported to Europe and North “Persian Rugs and Carpets, the Fabric of Life.”
America and treated as ‘soft furnishings’, thereby
not being as well maintained as they were in their
countries of origin. Many rugs which were exceedingly
well preserved and hundreds of years old arrived in
the West simply to be mistreated and subsequently
ruined after only a few years of abuse. It is a sad tale
of neglect that continues to this very day, and only
through awareness and education on this fascinating
art form can the pieces themselves be treated with
due care and respect.

For centuries, the Persian carpet has been the best 11
ambassador of Iran’s ancient and historic culture.
Through dynasty to dynasty, Persians have been
weaving all along, and the kaleidoscope of their
colour and fabrics stands as a monument to their
ingenious craftsmanship. With the story of Purim and
the salvation of the Jews of Persia, we can all take a
moment to reflect on the beauty of rugs from ancient
Iran, ornately made, stunning to behold, and fabulous
in value but resilient when trod upon. I am sure that
for centuries to come, Persian carpets will be held in
the same regard as other art forms, and appreciated
for their unique characteristics as well as the years
of labour and skilled craftsmanship that they require
to become truly extraordinary. The time, thought, and
energy that go into the creation of a magnificent rug

YALLA MAGAZINE 77

78 YALLA MAGAZINE

A MAN

O F FA I T H

Daniel Hakimi, an inextricable link in the
Persian chain of our Jewish heritage

- SHIRA DRUION

Over the last decade of my Hakimi is a deeply impassioned Sephardic man who
journalistic career, there have been exudes the most genuine and palpable love of G-d,
few interviews which have made me humanity and the Torah. His face lights up as he regales
laugh and cry as authentically as I with hair - raising anecdotes that could only happen
did that wintry Sunday morning as I to man of the faith, who is so connected, that through
sat across the desk from Mr Hakimi, otherwise known as listening his words I too feel more plugged into the
the owner of the renowned Daniel’s bakery in Temple spiritual reservoir from which it is obvious he draws
Fortune which has become an institution for London much wisdom. As he rolls out one story after another,
kosher eaters who queue for their famous challot, it is obvious that he has chosen to be tapped into a
buns, bagels and other traditional culinary delights. frequency of spirituality that is totally pure and pristine.

Hakimi hails from Iran, otherwise known as
Persia (hence the relevance of the article
for our Purim/Persia’s edition) and tells how
he was a head teacher of a large Jewish
school in Iran prior to his coming to UK.
When I ask if there are any Jews remaining
in Iran, his answer shocks me. “There are still
5000 Jews in Shiraz and 15000 in Tehran.
Miraculously, I was able to come and live
in London through the hand of G-d.”

“The truth is that the Jews and Muslims lived
peacefully for the most part during that
time. We were not affected by the war, it
was rather directed at anyone who was
anti the regime. But, it was very stressful
to live in those conditions. My daughter
had come to live in the UK and my son
was living in Paris. My daughter gave birth
to her oldest child and wanted my wife to
come and help her here.

YALLA MAGAZINE 79

“I felt G-d with me My wife managed to get a visa and then continued to
stay in the UK. I remained there for a year and a half
completely during and then managed to secure a fake green passport
the whole process. for small fortune, £14 000. This new document gave me
a Muslim name instead of the usual red passport which
- DANIEL Jews carried.”
HAKIMI
He tells me how he escaped from Iran one snowy
” day through a series of supernatural miracles that he
believed were totally orchestrated by G-d. I took a bus
from Iran to the Turkish border and when we got there,
it was 6:00am, and the ground around us was covered
in snow. I was ordered to get off the bus so they could
do a search on me. I had to give the bus driver all
the money I had brought with me to safeguard which
he held onto for a cost of 10% of the total sum. I also
left a medallion my son and daughter had given me
on the neck of one of the other passengers and then
proceeded to go into the border security search area
for the next 12 hours. It was the most terrified I have ever
been in my life and I treated it like Yom Kippur, fasting
and uttering every prayer I could remember off hand
including the shema and Ana Bekoach. I prayed they
would not detect that I had changed my name and
passport affiliation to an Islamic name. At the end of
the search, as I was leaving they asked me for money
and one of my friends paid it for me and they let me go.
I felt G-d with me completely during the whole process.”

Mr Hakimi tells how he went from Turkey to France where
his son had been living and that he lived there for a
year and half with him before coming to England which
was allowed by the a Jewish government employee.

80 YALLA MAGAZINE

“G-d has a goodHakimi is one of twelve children, six sisters and six

brothers. As he begins to tell me about his mother
Batya, his face shines with a special light. “My mother

memory, he neverwas what we call a ‘chachama’ a wise and very

special woman. She had a beautiful soul and was

forgets!” He isgood to her core, always doing chesed for others

and the embodiment of an aishet chayil. To date, she

empathic whenhas over 175 great grandchildren. Her children were
always her priority in life and indeed she has left a

he looks at melegacy that is truly to her credit and which honours

her so befittingly.”

piercingly and tells“When we were growing up, we had neighbours who
lived next door. They were very poor and didn’t have
enough food for their four growing boys. Despite the me that all the good
fact that we were already twelve children, my mother deeds we do get
would worry for them like her own children and take
them food. You will not believe it when I tell you the

repaid. It is obviousend of the story which took fifty years to unfold.”

“When my mother was in her eighties, she moved to

he believes this withIsrael to live with my sister. Sadly, when she was 84,

she developed Alzheimers and needed to move to

a special old aged home that could provide her

ever y iota of hiswith the adequate care she required. It was very

expensive and we managed to pay for the first month

small frame as the firebut it was not an affordable long term plan. Out of
nowhere, like an angel sent by Hashem, one of the
boys she helped was now a wealthy businessman in his eyes ignites the
and tracked her down after hearing she had come to room.”
live in Israel. He knew it was too expensive for us and
took on paying the high costs for her until she died.

Can you believe it?! 50 years later, he repaid the

debt he felt he owed my mother Batya.”

YALLA MAGAZINE 81

“Should I tell you another story?” He asks with a giggle” They come from all over like Stamford Hill, Harrow and
“Of course, what a question,” eagerly awaiting another sometimes from Manchester to buy them. Sometimes the
faith-filled tale intertwined with Sephardic, spicy energy que is 25 minutes long! Knowing that my challot are on
that is a like a life force of its own. so many Shabbat tables all over London and beyond
is very special to me and the highlight of my job!” It is
“A few years ago, my sister who lives in Kfar Sabbah in these seemingly simple yet profound insights that reveal
Israel called me to ask me if I would donate a Torah his deep faith and connection to Judaism and it is clear
in memory of my parents. We had between two and that is what is most important to him in his life.
three thousand people there, all of whom had come to
honour my parent’s memory, including many of their 175 As I sip on my café mocha, I am imbibed into a
descendants. Every time I go to Israel, I like to visit the Sephardic world of self-sacrifice that is tightly sewn
shul as the Torah is the only one in that shul and is very together with a profoundly deep love that is carried
dear to all those who use it and to our family.” over from a generation so different to our own, where a
commitment to one’s faith is not a given and the words
Hakimi is steadfast in his commitment to his values and to his of Mr Hakimi are like music to the soul.
family. “We spend every Shabbat together with our children
and grandchildren. There is not a Shabbat that goes by “After my wife left Iran, I remained there for a further
where we are not together. He lauds his wife as he lavishes year and a half before leaving. One day, my sister in
praise on her with the most genuine love and admiration. law’s husband was released for one day after two and
“She is the master key of our home. When I prod further and half years. (He was imprisoned for involvement with the
ask him if he feels like his wife is his soulmate, he looks at me like Israeli government during the term of office of Golda
I fell from the moon, “not just my soulmate! She IS my soul, we Meir.) He told us all that there were two boys in prison
are one and the same and she is truly the best wife I could wanted to commit suicide. Pesach was imminently on the
ever have wished for.” It is a beautiful moment in time to listen horizon and he told us that the inmates in prison were
to a husband speak so tenderly of his wife after 57 years of desperate to have someone come and do a Seder for
marriage.” them and I volunteered much to the horror of many who
knew how dangerous a task that was to undertake. But
My son, daughter and son in law are together with me in the to me, the thought of two Jewish boys wanting to commit
business and we work well in a team.” suicide was too much to bear so I felt I needed to do
whatever I could to prevent it from happening.”
He tells me how Daniel’s started with one small shop
in Temple Fortune and slowly as the next door shops Mr Hakimi tells how he took with him enough Matzot,
became available, they extended bit by bit and it marror and eggs for the twelve inmates as well as a
is glaringly obvious that what is invested in the walls chicken bone. The Iranian prison guard was not aware
of his bakery is most of all his heart and soul. When of the reasoning for our having this special meal and
I ask him what he loves most about his bakery, his he came up to me during the Seder to interrogate me
face glows and his words warm my soul, “I love that as to why I was conducting this and started to question
so many people make Hamotzi on our challot every me. With a smirk on his face, he asked “Why I was using
Shabbat. the chicken bone, egg and the green leaves. “I am not

82 YALLA MAGAZINE

sure how the words found their way to my tongue, teared up at the many
but I gave him answers which satisfied him including poignant tales that Mr
the reason for suing the marror was because it Hakimi has shared with
correlated to the green belt worn by an Islamic me.
priest and the egg being a prevention against
sin and the chicken bone representing the Islamic “Mr Hakimi, you
equivalent of Moshe Rabbeinu. He enjoyed my are amazing in the
answers and left us alone which was a big miracle.” kindness you do for
others. It has been
I am transported to a different world when I listen to
this miraculous Pesach story that must have been
so obviously orchestrated by the hand of G-d and
one which certainly for the most part belongs to
a bygone era where Jews sacrificed their lives for
altruistic reasons like true heroes. “That whole night,
another man and I stayed up talking on the prison
floor, covered in a blanket. I was supposed to stay
for both Seder nights, but at 7am, I was rushed out
of the prison and told to go home.”

“I went straight back to my synagogue where I was deeply inspiring to
embraced by everyone upon arrival because listen to you. ” He
they really did not believe I would come back humbly responds with
in one piece. I could not crying and I was then absolute humility, a shy
given the great honour of holding and opening smile and signature
the Sefer Torah. We know Hashem is our shield as twinkle in his eye, “my
we say every day in the Amidah, ‘G-d is our shield’
and I know Hashem did a great miracle for us all
by allowing me to stay protected. Baruch Hashem
those boys did not commit suicide and moved to
Israel. I am overwhelmed with deep happiness when
I think about that miraculous day and to know that it
helped to save their lives.”

As our interview heart is like that.”

comes to an end, I am I couldn’t agree more.

overwhelmed with a

profound admiration

and awe after having

Photo credits - Shimon Mayerfeld YALLA MAGAZINE 83

84 YALLA MAGAZINE

THE DAY

M Y G R A M PA
CAME TO
VISIT

- DANIELLA JAFF KLEIN

Daniella Jaff Klein takes us a personal journey back
in time in her moving short story about her beloved

Grampa Sam…

The day my grampa came to visit was a Friday. He had familiar sound sent a thrilling shiver through me, knowing I
died 10 years before, but I guess enough was enough. I was about to see him again after so long.
had moved all the way from South Africa to London and
I now had three children, none of whom he’d met. Life had When I opened the door I was pleased he smelled the
moved on and so much had changed, and we hadn’t same as he had in his 80’s. It was when I liked him the most.
even had a chance to discuss any of it. So he must have Faint mothballs riding on a clear ocean-like soap smell.
decided it was time for a visit. His eyebrows were as bushy as ever and he stood there,
leaning on his stick with a mischievous grin.
I kind of expected him before he arrived. That morning I
woke up and there were three little robins on my window His Panama hat placed rakishly on his head. “What took
sill. Robins have always been the sign of my Grampa. And you so long?” he barked. But I knew he was happy to see
three together was very unusual. Also, I had been playing me. He used his stick to gently urge me out of the way
Claire de Lune as I was falling asleep the previous night, and, walking past me, crossed into the hallway. Then he
and mysteriously it was mentioned in the book I had been allowed me a long-awaited and wonderful hug. He felt
reading. I knew something was up. small and frail. After all he had been dead for ten years,
and before that was way into his 80’s or 90’s.
When the doorbell rang it was pretty obvious. Unlike most
people who either knocked considerately, or pressed He wondered into the living room, looked around and sunk
the buzzer lightly, Grampa has no qualms about others’ into the nearest arm chair. Taking off his hat, he smoothed
sensitivities. He pressed the bell about 5 times in quick down his fluffy gray hair backwards and put the hat on to
succession and then just kept his finger on the buzzer. The the little table nearby.

YALLA MAGAZINE 85

“It was good having
him back.”

- DANIELLA JAFF
KLEIN

86 YALLA MAGAZINE

“He smoothed down his fluffy gray hair
backwards and put the hat on to
the little table nearby.”

“Well,” he growled happily, “what does one have to sound. And then, just as she was about to reach the
do to get a whiskey around here? It’s been about 10 tip of that great big nose a huge and sudden roar
years.” And with that he bestowed on me his beatific filled the room and we all jumped and shrieked with
smile. It was so good having him back. laughter. Grampa guffawed hugely enjoying our mirth.
Micah came to see what was going on.
Micah was sitting at the kitchen table. He half looked
up from his i-pad and asked half heartedly “who’s “What’s that young man?” Grampa asked, poking his
here?” Jessie, who had been in the pantry, wondered stick rudely at the I-pad in Micah’s hand. By this time,
in and looked aghast at Grampa and then at me, her Jessie was standing behind grampa and stroking his
eyebrows shooting upwards. hair and tidying his eyebrows, just as I had loved to
do.
“It’s Grampa Sam.” I said
“It’s….. an….I-pad?” said Micah, bemused.
“But….” She said – her eyes getting even wider.
“Well what’s it for?”
“I know, I know,” I shrugged. “Just go with it.”
“I was doing my math’s homework on it.”
“So,” said Grampa. “You must be Jessie, what a lovely
girl. Come here and put your finger on my nose.” Well,” said grampa, “that’s a load of nonsense, if you
Jessie smiled, looked at me, and then went over to can answer this problem for me, you don’t need to
Grampa. She knew this trick. She knelt down next to him do any maths homework. Now come sit here.” and
and gently and knowingly placed her finger on the he tapped his stick next to him to show Micah where
spot between his eyebrows. He leant back happily to sit. Micah, a little begrudgingly but with no other
and closed his eyes. The skin on his face was almost option, followed the instructions and went to sit on
translucent and looked papery-thin. He had brown the floor next to him.
sun spots across his cheekbones. And his wonderful
wild eye-brows streaked with different shades of gray, “Right,” said grampa and he rubbed the front of his
dominated his features. Slowly she traced a path head between his thumb and middle finger. Micah
downwards, down the vast slope of his nose. “Slower” looked at me with that look meaning “you can’t be
he said sweetly, “it must be slower. And softer. Start serious”.
again.” Jessie kept smiling. This was all part of the
game. She started again and almost imperceptibly We waited. Grampa was seemingly frozen. We all
let her finger trail slowly down his nose. It was as if looked a bit closer to see if he had fallen asleep.
time stopped and all our breathing stopped. Not a And then, “Right, I remember. So a chap is on a boat
on a river. The river is flowing at 15 miles per hour

YALLA MAGAZINE 87

“I knelt down next to him and
took his hand in mine.”

relative to the shore. The chap is rowing upstream through the 3D viewer describing to Grampa the slide
and is moving 1.5 miles per hour relative to the shore with the Japanese cherry blossoms. He was leaning
at this rate. The chap’s hat falls into the water and back with his eyes closed and discussing the details
floats. It is 15 minutes before he notices that it has of the picture with them- still so clear in his mind’s eye.
gone. At that point, he immediately reverses direction
and rows back to catch up with the hat, rowing with When he saw Gabriel, his face lit up and he said:
the same strength or power with which he had been “And who is this fine young man?”
rowing before. Now, how long will it take him to catch
up with his hat which is pushed down stream by the Gabriel looked at him wearily, “Gabriel.”
current?” Again, that smile of his, looking so pleased
with himself for setting such a challenging problem for “Well, young man, do you like horses? I have a song
Micah to solve. about one.” Gabriel ventured closer and Grampa
lifted him on to his knees.

Micah stared at my grandfather, completely Knees jiggling up and down he sang:
unimpressed. “Are you asking me to give you an “Ride a cock Horse
answer?” “Absolutely,” said Grampa, still looking to Banbury Cock
pleased with himself. “Let’s see what they’ve been to see a fine lady upon a white horse
teaching you at school, whether they’ve been with rings on her fingers and bells on her toes
teaching you to think for yourself.” “Ok,” said Micah, she can make music wherever she goes.”
“give me a minute.” With that, he tapped a few times Gabriel was smiling now. “Again!” he demanded!
on to the I-pad, waited a couple of seconds, looked “Well, let me sing another one,” said Grampa.
up, and said, just a little cheekily, “15 minutes.” D’ye ken John Peel with his coat so gay?
D’ye ken John Peel at the break o’ day?
“Well, I’ll be damned!” This time it was grampa’s turn D’ye ken John Peel when he’s far, far a-way.
to look at me aghast. “Things have changed a bit With his hounds and his horn in the morning?
gramps.” I said. “Watch this.” I looked up and said: I laughed at the memory of Grampa singing this song
“Alexa, play Rimsky Korsakov!” And with that, the sounds over and over to the point that my grandmother,
of a rich and melodic orchestra burst out through the Nonna, was not very polite about John Peel. In fact I
speakers playing “Flight of the Bumblebee” one of think it was the only time I can recall her swearing.
his favourite compositions. Grampa leaned back his
head and roared with laughter. Then he settled with
his eyes closed, and drank in the sound, with joy.

…..

It was time to wake up Gabriel and bring him downstairs.
When I returned with him, I found the older kids looking

88 YALLA MAGAZINE

Gabriel was also not enamoured with John Peel. 89

“I like horses,” he said. “But not lions. Lions will eat me
up.”

“What about pink dragons” said Grampa. “you must
know about pink dragon?”

Gabriel looked quizzically at Grampa. “You ask
your mommy to tell you about Pink Dragon and
Black Dragon and the fine little swallow who was
Pink Dragon’s friend. And how they used sulphur and
brimstone to make fire. Those were marvellous stories.
Now.” He said abruptly, “It’s time to get going.”

I asked Micah and Jessie to take Gabriel outside to
the trampoline. “Bye,” said Micah as he hugged him
with a huge smile. “That was really fun. “ Jessie gave
him a more lingering hug and then smoothed his
eyebrows upwards so that they were out of his eyes.
“Bye Grampa Sam, I love you.” And she ran outside to
join her brothers.

“Right you are.” he said. “It’s been wonderful.” I knelt
down next to him and took his hand in mine. It was
soft and smooth just as I remembered. His nails were
perfectly manicured. Square shaped with white lines
through them.

“Grampa,” I began, it was a struggle to get the words
out. My heart was aching. “Grampa, before you died,
we had lots of heated debates about whether there
was an after life and if there was any kind of conscious
life after death…”

“Sweetheart,” he interrupted putting his other hand
over mine, “you know we can’t discuss it…”

YALLA MAGAZINE

“I know, I know…. It’s just that at the time…. I had said…
that if…. when you die,” I was struggling to get the
words out,” if there was any way, any possible way, then
please would you communicate with me…” I smiled,
“even if it proved you wrong.”
He smiled gently and stroked my hair with his other hand.
“Yes, sweetheart, I do.” and then, squeezing my hand.
“Communicate with you.” He sighed. “All the time.”
I closed my eyes and tried not to let the tears come. He
had never been one for sentimentality.
When I opened them again, he was gone. I stood up, and
gazed out into the garden where the kids were kicking
the football. The sun was setting pinkish red behind the
Ash trees and I heard a hoot from the resident owl. There
was a little robin scuffling near the strawberry patch. I
walked inside.
There was the Panama hat, lying on the little table next
to the armchair, exactly where he had left it.

Daniella Jaff Klein has spent an inordinate amount of time studying and
reading. She loves her husband, her three children, the criminal justice
system, human rights, her cat, watching her kids play football, writing short
stories, doing yoga and eating artichokes. But not necessarily in that order.

90 YALLA MAGAZINE

YALLA MAGAZINE 91

REFLEXOLOGY
REVEALED

Wisdom from my We live in an incredibly fast paced world where technology
seat at the feet keeps us available and plugged in all the time. It’s a world
of convenience food and polluted cities where our lives
- KELLY KAHN are bombarded with messages and demands every minute.
We over-indulge, and there is little peace and stillness in
our lives.

In such a world many of us are not always able to cope very

92 YALLA MAGAZINE

“Reflexology is a supportive

healing practice and is not
an alternative to seeing
your doctor.

”

well. We are struggling with our well-being. To address this achieve homeostasis (balance) in the body. I tell my
we need to make small, gradual changes in the way we patients that when I press areas in their feet, hands and
live and take care of ourselves so that over time, it has a ears it’s almost like taking a remote control that sends
positive impact on our minds and bodies. There are many nerve and blood supply to their various organs and
things one can do to help along these lines, and one of body parts that really need attention. This is because the
them is Therapeutic Reflexology treatments. feet, hands and ears are microcosms of the whole body,
and I like to think of it with the analogy of a hologram.
Reflexology is an ancient healing tool that helps to

YALLA MAGAZINE 93

The feet in particular are very honest and it incredible to was overwhelmed with stress. I found her adrenals were
see how what is going on in the body is reflected in the overtaxed, her diaphragm line and solar plexus reflex
feet. Reflexologists do not diagnose medical problems, were tight in the feet, and her system was generally out
but rather address aspects of well-being by providing of balance. After the treatment she reported feeling calm
insight and very important subtle shifts in energy that help for the first time in a week and felt she could now manage
patients manage and process the accumulated stress her situation. This is the kind of outcome we seek to reach
of living. as Reflexologists, an overall sense of improved wellbeing
and relief of specific issues.
Each patient is an individual and requires a slightly
different treatment and an investigation in their lifestyle Another patient arrived complaining of constipation
and emotional state. With regular reflexology sessions one and bloating. I found certain areas in her feet reflected
can improve one’s overall well-being as the body system congestion in her system. I saw her for about seven
becomes more balanced, sleep is more enhanced and sessions in total over two months and after each session
the cells at a basic level start functioning better. she would be able to go to the loo more regularly for a
few days. The length of this regularity improved over the
In the world today it is increasingly important that we period until her bowel movements normalised entirely on
prioritise our health, remember what is important in life, take their own because her body had become healthier and
time to look after ourselves and find moments of stillness. now functioned more effectively.
We will always have busy schedules, but our bodies are
not always managing the pace and we need to get A man came to see me reporting that every winter he
some ‘me’ time to rest and restore. Most of us are needing would repeatedly suffer with chest infections. I worked
that deep rest, allowing our mind to settle even if it is only with the chest and colon reflexes in his feet and hands
for an hour a week. specifically. The first winter I saw him regularly, then
gradually lengthened the time between his sessions until
I recently had a patient who arrived in a rather he came once a month in the winter months over several
emotional state, not having slept the night before. She years. He reported that his chest problems significantly
decreased as a result of these sessions.

Over the last eighteen years, I have watched reflexology
act as a powerful tool for healing in all forms. It is incredible
to have watched from my seat and the feet and would
encourage those seeking healing to test it out and give
this ancient method of wisdom a chance to help your
body to become healthier, stronger and more balanced.

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