Yalla Issue 3

YALLBYACOMMUNITY MAGAZINE
: CHAZAK
ISSUE NO.3

THE TECH SENSATION
DEVIL Hillel Fuld Exposed
WEARS
Panny THE
FARHI
The
FACTOR
MACROBIOTIC
UNITED WE STAND
Diet by GARETH KOBRIN

Dyslexia & 10top
Dyspraxia
kosher destinations
DEMYSTIFIED for summer

How to turn UNITY EDITION

TECHNO KIDS into

bookworms





Hello,A welcome message from

Rabbi Moshe Levy

Welcome to our third issue of YALLA, Chazak’s
community magazine! We are proud to present to you
an issue that is full of exciting content, all based on our
theme of unity.
Our community is a very colourful and diverse one
and when we come together, it’s a very beautiful scene.
Some of the stories in this edition are about coming
together in trying times; other messages talk of the
power of unity and its importance in our lives. Each
article is inspiring in its own way and, no matter the
message or story, we will all agree that there’s something
magnificent in seeing a community or communities
come together. We only pray and dream and wish that
we could all put aside our differences and love our
neighbours without prejudice.

BY

HRABBIMOSHELEVY

We are often united in one of two ways: through tragedy, G-d forbid, or in simcha - celebration.
In both instances, we put aside our differences and connect to one another for the greater good.
When we do put aside our differences, we are struck with the following profound realisation –
that however powerful we may be as individuals, we are so much more powerful as one united
people. Surely then, the essential ingredient for this dream to be realised, is love! We need to
embody a love for life, for G-d, for family, our community and every human and fellow Jew who
walks the planet. Love can never divide, but only draw others nearer and closer. It is this love
which permeates our community and which makes communal living so much more beautiful.

When we first decided to start Chazak, the most common question people asked us was
whether we really needed another organisation and how it was going to be different to the
other organisations on offer. Chazak’s USP is that we don’t just cater to one age and one type
of Jew. We offer programmes for children, teens, university students, young professionals, young
marrieds and community members of all ages and stages We also ensure we have a calendar
full of events that bring the wider community together on a spiritual level, ranging from the
inspirational Shabbat Chazak to communal father-and-son learning and Shabbat UK Friday
night prayers, with five shuls coming together in unity. We have also added the Mashalla fair to
our repertoire (which you can read about in this issue), challah bakes, football tournaments and
so much more. You see, the main focus of Chazak is unity and harmony in the community.
On behalf of Chazak, may I take this opportunity to wish you, our community, an inspiring,
beautiful and enlightening Shavuot where you come together with others in unison!

Warmest blessings

Rabbi Moshe Levy

Contributors
shira druion
Editor-in-chief

He i d i h u r w i t z
Sub Editor

Sara Elias
Features Writer

LORI H E R B E RT
Graphic Designer

B e n r o bb i n s
britt burstein

chana farhi
chana levy
dani tucker
devori nussbaum
dr leslie solomon
G a r e t h KOb r i n
gitty aronowitz
hannah abrahams
r a bb i m o s h e l e v y
r a bb i s h l o m o f a r h i
r a bb i y i t s y d a v i d
rachel vecht
yehuda azoulay

6 YALLA MAGAZINE

YALLA MAGAZINE 7

TABLE OF

CONTENTS

E D I T O R ’ S L E T T E R pg 10

F E A T U R E S
The Farhi Factor pg 12
The Top 10 Kosher Travel destainations pg 24
The Devil Wears Pannyy pg 46
How to Turn Technokids into Bookworms pg 61
United We Stand pg 66
Glitz and Glam with the social kitchen pg 104
A Brit Milah in Monte Carlo pg 132

E D U C A T I O N pg 38
Dyspraxia andDyslexia Demystified pg 54
The Classroom of 2018

I N S P I R A T I O N pg 76
One Nation One Heart pg 91
Chessecake - Fact or Fiction

R E L AT I O N S H I P S
The Cycle of Life- Transitions, Change
and Resilience pg 84

H E A L T H & W E L L N E S S
The Macrobiotic Diet pg 94
Qigong pg 100

T H E W O R L D O F T E C H pg 34
Tech sensation Hillel Fuld

R E C I P E S
An Aleppian Feast pg 18

CHAZAK IN A FLASH pg 74
The Mashalla Fair

T E E N S E C T I O N
Teen Talk pg 126

C H I L D R E N ' S S E C T I O N
Yalladim pg 128

GREAT RABBINIC FIGURE
Rabbi Amram ben Diwan pg 122

letter

f r o m the e d ito r

10 YALLA MAGAZINE

elcome to our third edition of Yalla! Our Unity edition, just in time for Shavuot! The
theme of this publication is unity, as it was the lofty goal G-d wanted us to achieve
before giving us the Torah. Unity forms the very backbone of the Jewish people and
is ultimately the secret to Jewish survival. It is also the secret elixir to loving the self
and is the key to creating happiness in the home. Oneness belies the very essence of
Judaism in its most esoteric form and it is this oneness that all Jews strive to embody
in themselves, their marriages, their communities and as a nation. When one is ‘at one

Wwith the universe’ essentially one is aligned to his/her designated place in G-d’s world,
which is the recipe for inner tranquillity and serenity.
It gives me great pleasure to welcome on board two extraordinary women: our new graphic designer Lori Herbert whose artistic
talents and flair have created a masterpiece for which we are so grateful, and our features writer Sara Elias. In January, we held
a Chazak young professionals Shabbat in the West End and, as fate would have it, I stayed at Sara Elias for Shabbat and soon
discovered she was a writer. G-d simply knew, we needed her help and there she was, like an angel sent from above. I encourage
you to read her outstanding feature articles on hot topics, including "How to turn techno kids into bookworms" and the real life
story of an observant fashionista, "The devil wears pannyy"
When we thought about the theme for this edition, Unity came to mind for many reasons, including how well it fits in with
the upcoming festival of Shavuot. Read Rabbi Farhi’s feature article, "One nation, one heart" and Gareth Kobrin’s eye opening
feature 'United we stand" which describes how it feels to be a part of the community. We have also included other articles based
on the broader theme of unity, including Rabbi Yitsy David 's "The classroom of 2018", which helps us better understand how to
be more at one with our teens, and "The macrobiotic diet" which sheds much light on how to live more harmoniously with our
bodies. We also have a special tribute article about Rabbi Shlomo Farhi, as he imminently prepares to take on the role of senior
rabbi at the Safra Synagogue in New York. May I take this opportunity to thank our many other contributors, who have carved
time out of their busy schedules to provide us with content to enrich our lives.
We hope that you connect to the many beautiful articles in this publication and draw much inspiration from them. We have
certainly endeavoured to bring you content that is relevant, punchy and moving for the body, mind and soul. But, most importantly,
we hope that the articles help to achieve a sense of oneness in your lives, so the puzzle pieces fit together just that little bit more
comfortably and give you an amplified direction of purpose.
I was fortunate to have grown up in a home where the notion of ‘the other’ did not exist. My parents and grandparents have
always been people who have been deeply invested in others and instilled in us the great importance of thinking about and giving
to those around us. Our Shabbos table and home was always filled with diverse guests from across the spectrum, and my parents
related to them all the same. There was never judgment or hierarchy and imbedded into the ethos of our home was a genuine
respect and love for each person. I could never sufficiently thank my parents for instilling in us this invaluable lesson because it
is what has enabled my siblings and I to see the world through the eyes of unity, where the words 'we' and 'our' form the basis
of our lexicon.
I believe this to be G-d’s version of our world. The goal of Torah life is to bring about a more emblazoned version of unity that
inspires us to love the other without judgment and to care for the wellbeing of the other as if it were our own family as the famous
poet Maya Angelou wrote: "If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded". Selflessness and true
loving of the other are the qualities that G-d celebrates in us, and when we embody them, we begin to reflect Him and become
G-dly, the aspiration of every Jewish soul.
This Shavuot, let us remember that before we can receive the eternal gift of Torah, we need to ensure that our vessel is holy and
is sewn together with the fabric of love for our fellow man. It is only when we become holy vessels that we are worthy of holding
Torah.
May we love and care for one another, just as G-d intended for us to do. And, in turn, may we merit to be loved by G-d in return
and grow in our understanding of our beautiful inheritance, our beloved Torah: the blueprint of our lives and the quintessential
answer to all of life’s quandaries.
Chag Sameach, enjoy the cheese cake feast!

Love & light

Shira

Far

12 YALLA MAGAZINE

rhi
The Rabbi Shlomo Farhi is what teaches, which is confirmed
one would call a Sephardic by the huge numbers of Jews
FarhI phenomenon; an inimitable from across the spectrum
giant of a man whose impact with whom he shares an
factor reaches across continents, impactful resonance.
cultures and deep into
As Rabbi Shlomo Farhi prepares to the hearts and homes of I first heard Rabbi Shlomo
take on his new role at the Safra Shul thousands of Jews around Farhi over a decade ago, in
in Manhattan, we wind back in time the globe. Reb Shlomo, as a basement in the Har Nof
and share the story of the man whose he is fondly known, lives and neighbourhood of Jerusalem.
vision has ignited the Jewish community breathes all that it means to He was addressing a
throughout the United Kingdom and the be a Jew as he embodies the gathering of young South
world at large. Enjoy our tribute feature very essence of 21st century Africans who had come
about the man who has truly moved the Judaism. He is renowned on a trip to Israel. As the
masses. for being able to plug the madricha of the group, I
sacred values and lessons recall being fascinated by
- S H I R A DR U I O N gleaned from the world of how he captured the crowd
Torah into every Shabbatify and how incredible it was
video or Torah class that he to watch him connect so

YALLA MAGAZINE 13

“MY PARENTS HAVE
ALWAYS INVESTED ALL
OF THEMSELVES INTO

THE WELL-BEING OF
THE COMMUNITY AND IT
HAS, IN TURN, INSPIRED
MY SIBLINGS AND ME TO
STRIVE TO DO THE SAME. I
HOPE THAT IN SOME SMALL
WAY I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
DO THAT IN THE LONDON

COMMUNITY, WHICH I
HAVE COME TO LOVE LIKE

EXTENDED FAMILY.”

RABBI shlomo farhi

14 YALLA MAGAZINE

“When I look back on the last 13 years, I am filled
with great nostalgia and an overwhelming sense of
gratitude, as I recognise how fortuitous our coming

to London has been.”

fluidly with the group; as he threw his narrative. He speaks with great been orchestrated by the hand of
candid humour into the class of admiration for his parents and is G-d and has been a beautiful time
piercing Torah insights. He was as impassioned as he tells how his in the trajectory of our lives, and
fiery as it came, but his fire was a siblings have gone on to forge one that has shaped me into the
warm one that ignited the room their own paths in communities person I am today. There have been
with a pulsating energy, as people sat worldwide. “My parents have always many lessons learned, beautiful
enraptured by his obvious passion invested all of themselves into the relationships gained and milestones
for Torah and the values it espoused well-being of the community and reached, which have blessed my life
and which he was able to translate it has, in turn, inspired my siblings in ways in which I could never have
with such natural flair. It is these and me to strive to do the same. dreamed.”
signature qualities and energy that I hope that in some small way I “Moving to London was a big
have become his trademark and have been able to do that in the challenge for our family. We came
USP (unique selling point), and it London community, which I have to a new country we knew very
is what has enabled him to switch come to love like extended family. little about and hardly knew a soul,”
on the hearts and souls of Jews from There is something about growing says Rebbetzin Chana Farhi, who
near and far. organically as a person within a is totally committed to helping
community that too is growing. It
Thirteen years ago, Rabbi Farhi builds very deep her husband. “Now, over 12 years
explains how both he and his wife relationships that
Chana felt that they were at a are irreplaceable,
crossroads as to where to put down and this is what
roots. “As we stood at the precipice made the decision
of our journey in outreach, we had to leave London
many different possibilities on the all the more
table. All I had wanted to do was challenging for us.”
reach out to Jews searching for “When I look back
more, as it had always been my on the last 13 years,
lifelong dream and passion. I was a I am filled with
young and inspired rabbi back then, great nostalgia and
with a very supportive wife and two an overwhelming
young children.” sense of gratitude,
as I recognise how
Born to rabbinic parents, religious fortuitous our
life and, in particular, service to coming to London
the community has always been has been. Indeed, it could only have

YALLA MAGAZINE 15

later, London is our home. It's amazing to see the impact Shlomo has had
on so many thousands of people across England. He has a unique ability
to understand and connect with all different types of people, regardless of
their background, personality type or level of observance. We've made close
connections with so many over the years, which makes it so difficult to say
goodbye, especially to all those at JFT who've become our family here.”
Rabbi Farhi is filled with great emotion as he rewinds back in the journey of
time that saw him teach thousands of students in the different high schools
across London. “My great love for teaching stems from my desire to bring
Torah to life and to attempt to transpose its continuous relevance in our lives.

6Its very essence is what gives our lives value and what makes the journey
worthwhile.”
“I think that in today’s world of ‘virtual reality’, authenticity is the most

16 YALLA MAGAZINE

powerful quality that a rabbi needs to radiate when sharing ideas with 17
people,” says Rabbi Naftali Schiff, CEO of The Jewish Futures Trust, as he
speaks with his hallmark candour and reminisces back to what it was that
he looked for in a young rabbi. “It is obvious that any candidate needs to
be a knowledgeable Jew and needs to display an ability to communicate
in a non-judgmental, contemporary and compelling manner, which are of
course the prerequisites that I always look for when looking to recruit the
best man for the job. I guess I have a deep gut instinct by now in being
able to identify high-calibre candidates to inspire. Once one identifies such
high-calibre leaders, all one needs to do is point them in the right direction
and with the help of G-d, they take care of the rest. It is unusual to find
such incredible natural talent, even more so – combined with such humility,
focus, sincerity and willingness to work in a team. Rav Shlomo is that and
more. The blessing that Rabbi Shlomo Farhi has brought spans the entire

9spectrum of Anglo Jewry and is immeasurable.”
YALLA MAGAZINE

“bWyeehsotapbelidshtinhgat
Chazak, we
could help
to return the

splendour and
dynamism that
had been so
characteristic
of Sephardic
communities
through centuries

of time.”

Chazak it immediately held

great pull for Chana and me,”

says Rabbi Moshe Levy. “We

are extremely proud of our

his Sephardic roots and grow the Sephardic roots and we felt

“Shlomo is like a whirlwind of Sephardi community in the United that this opportunity would present
warmth and energy,” says Rabbi
Ari Kayser, current head of schools Kingdom. It was then that Chazak us with a unique opportunity to
for Aish UK. He reminisces back
to what it was like to watch Rabbi was born. “The story of Chazak is make a difference and, baruch
Farhi in action. “Before I had even
moved back to England from Israel, one that began eight
I began working for Aish and was
thrust in the deep end, as I joined years ago, where a
a sixth former Fellowships trip to
New York. This was even before I dream to invigorate "The dream to
had moved back to England from the Sephardic reignite the souls
Israel. The first thing that struck community in the
me about Rabbi Farhi was how he
seemed to understand every single United Kingdom of our brethren was
participant’s needs. Each student felt began to take shape. the driving force
as though he was speaking to them A dream that would behind our vision
on their level and he did so without connect all segments
preaching and without judgment.
To add to that was his phenomenal of the community and with the help
ability to relay deep Torah messages back to their vibrant of Hashem that
to people of all backgrounds, which heritage. My sister vision has exceeded
made him someone everyone and brother-in-law,
wanted to listen to and emulate.”
Rabbi Moshe and of our greatest
Rabbi Farhi continued to work for Chana Levy, had been
Aish Hatorah for seven years, until living in Israel, but I expectations as
he felt that he needed to enrich
18 knew they would be Chazak continues

the perfect partners to thrive. "
to make our dream RABBI SHLOMO FARHI.
a reality, and so I

proposed it, and to

my great delight, they

accepted,” says Rabbi Farhi. Hashem, with Hashem’s help, we

have watched our efforts bear

“When Shlomo pitched the idea of beautiful fruit as many have begun

YALLA MAGAZINE

YALLA MAGAZINE 19

“When the call to reach even greater “
numbers of Jews across the world presents
itself, there is no question as to whether
to answer with the ancient words of our

ancestors – Hineni!

“Rabbi Naftali Schiff

20 YALLA MAGAZINE

to learn Torah and participate in the many exciting vision has exceeded our greatest expectations
projects we have undertaken to deliver. We are fully as Chazak continues to thrive.”
committed to enriching our Sephardi community with
programmes that are engaging. Hundreds of students Rabbi Farhi tells how he and Rabbi Levy
have participated in our lunch-and-learn programmes, felt that Rabbi Yitsy David would be the
adult learning programmes, marriage and parenting best person to complement the team. “Rabbi
courses, Shabbat Chazak events, as well as from the Yitsy displays a unique blend of charisma and
social media that is posted weekly by both Rabbi humility, which is filtered by a sincere and
Shlomo and myself.” pure love for Torah and the Jewish people. He
has the right credentials for the position and
The Chazak team speaks with great commitment it gives me great nachas as we have watched
when discussing how the organisation’s dreams to him shine and spread his light on hundreds of

build Chazak have come to fruition. “We hoped students, young families and the community
that by establishing Chazak, we could help to return at large. He is an incredibly talented educator,
the splendour and dynamism that had been so totally committed to Chazak and to enriching
characteristic of Sephardic communities through the Sephardi community. His wife Ruty
centuries of time. Sephardic life has always been one is as passionate, and a very sought-after
of colour and passion, and this is what has allowed it kallah (bride) teacher, and they are really a
to make its mark across the continents and in homes wonderful team who I know will only further
and shuls and at every heartfelt simcha. The dream to bolster all that has been achieved to date.”
reignite the souls of our brethren was the driving force Rabbi David explains what he feels is unique
behind our vision and, with the help of Hashem, that about the Chazak team: “Reb Shlomo is well

YALLA MAGAZINE 21

known for being a man with huge talent, but for me, “Chana and I feel very blessed to have accepted the
through the privilege and honour of working with post as Rabbi and Rebbetzin of the Safra Synagogue
him, it has been his middot (character traits) that and pray that this tremendous opportunity will allow
have stood out. He is so humble, cares so much for us the chance to impact from a different platform.
every Jew and is always looking to give more and for The Safra Synagogue’s doors are open wide and it
Chazak to be a better organisation. I have learnt so is a warm and welcoming community, which opens
much from working together [with him] over the past its heart to the whole Sephardic community of
seven years.” Manhattan. The Safra community understands the
importance of catering to the needs of the youth and

Several months ago, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity are emphatic in their quest to create a sustainable
to synergise Chazak’s unique energy with the Safra model, which will ensure the 21st century nurtures
Synagogue presented itself to the Farhi family. “In the next generation of proud and committed Jews.”
the same way as we did 13 years ago, we assessed the
situation and came to a decision that the right place Rabbi Schiff is sentimental as he speaks of Rabbi
to continue to do that which G-d wanted of us was Farhi’s imminent leaving. “When the call to reach
to relocate to Manhattan, to the renowned Safra even greater numbers of Jews across the world
Synagogue on the Upper East Side. presents itself, there is no question as to whether to
answer with the ancient words of our ancestors –
Hineni!

22 YALLA MAGAZINE

Rabbi Farhi speaks of the future of Chazak and how team and I look forward to continued success.”
he has every confidence it will continue to grow
and flourish under the leadership of his esteemed “We bid the Farhi family farewell and send them our
colleague, partner Rabbi Levy, who will act as the prayers, friendship, support and encouragement,” says
new director of Chazak and will be assisted by the Rabbi Schiff with heartfelt emotion. “We know these are
much loved and respected Rabbi David. “We will intertwined with Rav Shlomo’s aspiration to build the
continue to be invested in Chazak’s continued success kehilla of Safra into a jewel in the crown of Sephardic
and will continue to ensure its growth,” says Rabbi Jewry and expand Chazak to inspire and drive forward
Farhi. Sephardic communities the world over, and continue to
partner with Jewish Futures Trust in order to ensure a
“I am delighted that Moshe will be taking over vibrant future for all.”
the reins and am fully confident in him. Moshe’s
Rabbi Farhi has made an indelible impression on

achievements to date are astounding and I am everyone, as he assumes his place in the Jewish narrative,
confident that the winning combination made up of and it is almost impossible to imagine London without
his signature tenacity and absolute commitment to his remarkable charisma, superb leadership, definitive
our community will enable him to build on the strong wisdom and hilarious antics, which have made him
foundations he has been instrumental in erecting, beloved by all. The mark of a true leader is he who
and that he will only become more impactful in his empowers and upskills those who will follow in his
noble undertakings. Rabbi Yitsy David has become footsteps, and it is with this in mind that the Chazak
a beloved educator and respected rabbi to the entire community is confident that Chazak UK will spread its
Chazak community. He has excelled himself on all wings and fly even higher, expanding its reach, always
levels and is totally and 100% committed to future with lofty goals and aspiring dreams as its driving force.
of Sephardi Jewry in London. They are a formidable

YALLA MAGAZINE 23

Travel Section TKoosphe1r0

travel destinations
for summer!

We asked Ben Robbins from Bespoke Kosher
Travel to compile the ultimate list of Top 10
Kosher Travel destinations for summer! Your
next exotic trip awaits you!

South Africa

Breath-taking scenery, incredible

wildlife experiences and a monumental

history

Overview: South Africa is a country rich Food: South Africa has a plethora of options for
with diversity that we can help you plan. Your kosher food; every meal you eat is guaranteed
tailor-made holiday through South Africa to be a winner and we arrange it all for you.
will be an unforgettable mix of cosmopolitan Enjoy a superb kosher safari with the luxury
cities, luscious landscapes and spectacular of a personal chef on hand to cook you a feast.
safaris. Drive through the magnificent Garden Spend an evening relaxing and overlooking
Route, watch the crashing waves and take in the iconic Cape Town vista with a spectacular
the picture-perfect viewpoints at every turn. assortment of kosher wines on tap alongside a
Embark on an exhilarating safari adventure to delicious braai. Sample local kosher delicacies in
see the Big Five at one of our fantastic reserves, one of South Africa’s kosher restaurants. For
and revel in in the awesome sights and sounds days out, we provide you with practically
of the African bush. Explore Cape Town, with packed meals and refreshments that we can
its jaw-dropping views from the iconic Table organise for the duration of your trip.
Mountain and a visit to Robben Island.

24 YALLA MAGAZINE

Above: Table Mountain
Left: The Garden Route
Right: One of the ‘big 5’
spotted on safari

YALLA MAGAZINE 25

Travel Section China the popular Panda Research Center in Chengdu,
followed by a day marvelling at the stunning
A rich and mystical history, a treasure Sichuan countryside. Sample Shanghai’s soaring
trove of monuments, museums and skyscrapers, explore its significant colonial past
must-see marvels, China is a deep, and delve into its surprising Jewish foundations.
intriguing, exotic part of the world This is just a taste of a breath-taking, fulfilling
trip we can help you plan to this vast land.
Overview: Home to over 1 billion people,
with a tumultuous history shrouded in mystery, Food: As an increasing number of foreign
holidays to China are mesmerising and will businessmen and women travel to China to
leave you buzzing from the experiences the seek out opportunities, Jewish infrastructure
country has to offer. Activities range from has grown. There are sizeable Jewish expat
visiting famous, ancient, historical sights, to vast communities in Beijing and Shanghai. Working
and vibrant cities, taking in the awesome natural closely with these communities, we ensure
landscapes. China is an energetic country full you have access to kosher food throughout
of juxtapositions and contrasts. Visit at least the duration of your trip. Additionally, we can
one section of the immense Great Wall and be arrange for you to spend Shabbat with the expat
amazed at the staggering construction that is Jewish communities and understand what life is
more than 2 000 years old. Immerse yourself in like for them in this majestic part of the world.
Beijing, the capital and cultural heart of China
teeming with significant political sites, both Below: The Great Wall of China
old and new. Come face to face with the Xian Bottom left: Panda Research Centre at Chendu
Terracotta Army and spend time with the locals, Bottom right: Xian Terracotta Army
understanding their traditional way of life. Visit

26 YALLA MAGAZINE

Top: Fishermen on poles Sri Lanka
at Galle
Left: A leopard on safari Discover endless Indian Ocean beaches,
at Yala temples, tea and more

Overview: Situated off the southern tip of India,
surrounded by the Indian Ocean, palm-lined beaches
circle this tropical, dense island which lures travellers
in year after year. But Sri Lanka is much more than
an exciting beach destination. When inland, you
are transported into the magical world of Georgian
properties,mansions and Victorian railways,all of which
contribute to Sri Lanka’s British colonial heritage.These
are all interspersed between beautiful tea plantations
and wildlife-filled jungles.
Spend time spotting leopards on safari in Yala, a
bountiful national park in the south east of the country.
In the centre of the island is Kandy, the spiritual capital
for Sri Lanka’s Buddhist community and home to the
Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. Unwind in Galle,
a UNESCO world heritage site and a delightful city
brimming with arty architecture and boutiques. Sri
Lanka is a melting pot of adventure, romance and the
place to refill your tea caddy for the next year.

Food:In a country that is almost three-quarter Buddhist,
there is a small but thriving Jewish community in
the capital, Colombo. We have established excellent
relationships with kosher suppliers,so whether you’re on
safari in a national park,picking tea leaves in a mountain,
or lazing on the beach,we can guarantee to deliver meals
to you on a regular basis, location notwithstanding.
a regular basis, location notwithstanding.

YALLA MAGAZINE 27

Travel Section California before embarking on more fun days of
Californian culture. This State is expansive and
World famous cities and celebrity we can help you realise your California dreams!
spotting, remarkable national parks
and beaches galore; welcome to the Food: There’s no denying that it’s easy to keep
Golden State. kosher in some cities in the US, but don’t be put
off exploring beyond the skyscrapers. We can
Overview: Conjure up an image of California arrange meals to be waiting for you at your hotel
and where does your mind go? No doubt to the in Yosemite National Park, on your overnight
glitz and glamour of Hollywood, acres of jaw- stops during your drive on Route 1, and ensure
dropping national parks, wine in abundance and you have plenty of meals and snacks to keep
sun-kissed beaches. you going throughout the day. Explore what
Tour the West Coast of America and experience America has to offer outside of the urban areas
the captivating Californian vibe. Soak up San with the help of Bespoke Kosher Travel.
Francisco – a tech hub in North America’s
greenest city, home to hip neighbourhoods and Below: Los Angeles
iconic landmarks including the Golden Gate Bottom left: Coastal Highway Route 1
Bridge. Cruise the coastal highway, Route 1, Bottom right: Yosemite National Park, California
which is regarded as one of the best driving
routes in the world. The magnificent scenery
will compel you to stop and capture the priceless
views for your Instagram stories! Arrive in Los
Angeles for a relaxing Shabbat, re-energising

28 YALLA MAGAZINE

Above: Sydney Harbour Australia & New
Bridge and Opera House
Left: Whitehaven Beach in Zealand
Queensland
Below: Milford Sound, Think sun-soaked cities, fabulous
New Zealand, South Island beaches, vast landscapes and incredible
Bottom left: Fish in the wildlife!
Great Barrier Reef
Bottom right: A Maori Overview: A once-in-a-lifetime trip for many,
man with traditional facial Australia is bursting with an array of options that
tattoos incorporate sunbathing, surfing and snorkelling
through to cities, vistas and rainforests. Explore
sophisticated Sydney and cosmopolitan
Melbourne, tuning in to the vibe of the nation’s
warm, laidback lifestyle, while discovering
infamous sights and spectacles. Travel north to
Queensland, spend time at the rich waters of
the Great Barrier Reef, observing the extensive
coral reef and the wider underwater world. Head
to Kuranda and experience the lush landscape of
tropical northern Queensland, before another
day of sun at the sublime Whitehaven Beach.
While it may be small, New Zealand is a
phenomenally beautiful country encompassing
majestic mountain ranges, pristine beaches,
glittering lakes and bubbling geysers. Add to
this the chance to see spectacular marine and
birdlife, engage in thrill-seeking adventures and
learn about the traditional Maori villages and
customs,understanding the history of the people
that shaped this jaw-dropping destination.

Food: We ensure you can visit places further
afield than the main cities in both Australia and
New Zealand, as we work closely with the best
kosher caterers to arrange for the delivery of
meals to destinations throughout Australia and
New Zealand. If you want to spend Shabbat
outside of the city, we can arrange delivery of
special kosher Shabbat packs direct to your
accommodation.

YALLA MAGAZINE 29

Croatia

A Mediterranean mix of UNESCO

historical cities, a sapphire shoreline

and rich, rolling hillsides

Overview: If it’s history and culture you’re after, Journey to Brac and seek out the sun on the
Croatia’s treasured walled cities are pristinely popular Bol beach. And this is just touching the
preserved; splendid period features throughout surface of the wealth of experiences this small,
Zagreb, Dubrovnik and Split tell a story of the beautiful place has to offer.
country’s Roman, medieval and Venetian eras
and influences. Food: Imagine spending Shabbat in historical
Dubrovnik’s pedestrian-only Old Town has Dubrovnik, davening in the second-oldest
even been featured in “Game of Thrones” and functioning Synagogue in Europe, which was
“Star Wars: Episode VIII”. This charming founded in 1352, or scenic Split, where the
town overlooking the peaceful Adriatic Sea is synagogue dates back to the 16th century.
a UNESCO world heritage site, with its stylish Spend your evenings watching the fantastic sun
Baroque churches and fortified stone walls. setting, enjoying a kosher meal on your hotel
Split is equally quaint and home to the balcony, drinking a kosher glass of wine. What
Diocletian’s Palace, one of the most famed could be better?
Roman ruins globally. Out to sea, be sure not to
miss at least a one-day trip to one of Croatia’s
glittering islands; Hvar is excellent for people-
watching and has a sophisticated nightlife.

Top: UNESCO world heritage site – the city of Dubrovnik

Above right: Diocletian's Palace in Split

Below: Bol Beach in Brac, Croatia

30 YALLA MAGAZINE

India

A land of spirituality and saris, fragrant

spices, stunning sights, and that’s just

scratching the surface

Overview: India’s energy is like no other place Adjust to the altitude while relaxing on Shabbat
on earth. The second most populated country in in Quito’s Jewish community, and enjoy a
the world is chaotic and loud, yet peaceful and walking tour and chance perfect your Spanish.
calm too – and it is this diversity which makes it From Quito, the journey continues to the
such an exciting and adventurous place to visit. incredible Galapagos Islands, an archipelago
Today, cities such as Delhi and Mumbai are located just a two-hour flight from Quito,
home not only to beautiful temples and ancient with some of the most vibrant, untouched, rare
tombs, but also to glitzy shopping malls and wildlife in the world. Explore this fascinating
skyscrapers, as India has evolved into one of and exhilarating region via a cruise, island
the world’s fastest growing economies. Journey hopping to experience the amazing ecosystem
from Delhi to Agra to see the marvellous Taj here. From untouched beaches filled with sea-
Mahal, one of the greatest architectural sites lions, iguanas and rare penguins, to gazing at
in the world, before continuing to Rajasthan, blue- and red-footed boobies, not to mention
‘Land of Kings’. The region is brimming with visiting a tortoise reserve, a trip to the Galapagos
majestic palaces and forts, surrounded by Islands is a surreal and unique experience.
outstanding natural beauty, from the serene Food: It is possible to travel to these gorgeous
lakes of Udaipur to the Aravalli Range, one of destinations and keep kosher – simply read
the world’s oldest mountain ranges. Further our website for a fabulous review from happy
north are the Himalayan peaks, with excellent Bespoke Kosher Travellers who have been to this
hikes and gorgeous views. Southern India can part of the world. Kosher meals will be supplied
seem a world apart from the rest of country; throughout your trip, with the highlight being
journey here to unwind among the more your fully kosher, good quality Galapagos Island
traditional, slower pace of life. And West, in cruise; leave it to us to make the magic happen!
Kerala, is where you’ll find fantastic beaches.
Top: Rajasthan elephants and fortress
Food: India’s travelling temptations have
only increased over the past decade. Plenty of Above right: Taj Mahal seen through an archway
Jewish tourists are excited by India so they can
experience its sensual, colourful traditions and Below: Iguanas on the Galapagos Islands
cultures and discover the rich Jewish history
that India holds, which is for many a personal
Jewish heritage. Due to its ever-increasing
popularity, we can arrange kosher facilities and
food for you in places you probably didn’t think
possible, so you can travel without a worry in
the world!

Ecuador and
The Galapagos

Spectacular settings, jaw-dropping
scenery and wondrous wildlife

Overview: Your adventure begins in Ecuador’s
enchanting capital city,Quito.The closest capital
city to the equator is set at a dizzying altitude
of 9 350ft. Quito is squeezed between dramatic
mountain peaks. Its superb setting is home to an
exquisite old town, a UNESCO world heritage
site with beautiful Spanish colonial architecture
and winding cobbled streets.

Travel Section Vietnam and over these incredible ruins. Tour the capital,
Cambodia Phonom Penh, with its own French colonial
heritage, contrasted with stilted villages at the
South East Asia is a captivating, exotic waterfront. Both countries have devastating
part of the world, filled with timeless periods of history and many visit the numerous
traditions, colourful cultures and lush monuments and museums to understand how
landscapes these countries have developed since their dark
times in history.
Overview: A trip to Cambodia and Vietnam
combines an interesting blend of historical Food: It has never been easier to eat kosher and
sights, relaxation and frenetic cities. Situated have a wonderful Shabbat in both countries,
on the South China Sea, Vietnam has a since we started organising trips to the region
fantastic coastline dotted with beautiful beaches in 2015. We have expert knowledge on the
stretching almost the entire length of the best places to be for Shabbat, and the ability to
country. In recent years, an array of upmarket organise kosher food for you throughout your
property developments up and down this trip.
delightful coast has put Vietnam’s beach scene
on the map. But don’t just come to Vietnam to
tan.
The country is full of character, with cities such
as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, which compete for
space with hundreds of speeding mopeds, street
food-sellers, markets and shops that overflow
into the streets. Marvel at French colonial
architecture and visit Chinese Temples around
the corner. Spend time cruising around the large
limestone islands of Halong Bay or hike among
rice fields in Sapa.
In Cambodia, the temple complex of Angkor
Wat is the crowning jewel of the country, and
it’s worth waking early to catch the sunrise

Below: Angkor Wat Temple Complex, Cambodia
Right: Rice fields in Sapa, Vietnam
Above: Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

32 YALLA MAGAZINE

Russia

A tour of two cities

Overview: Visiting Russia’s two most iconic
cities provides an excellent introduction to the
country’s rich culture and historical landscape.
Moscow, a glamorous, buzzing capital, and St
Petersburg, a city renowned for its grandeur and
wealth of cultural treasures.
Created by ‘Peter the Great’ 300 years ago,
immerse yourself in St Petersburg’s historical
vibe by walking along its winding canals and
cobbled streets, weaving through its magnificent
palaces and excellent museums. Wonder around
Nevsky Prospekt, a bustling boulevard with
countless cafes and bars,and take in masterpieces
by Leonardo Di Vinci, Picasso and Rembrandt
at the Hermitage Museum, revelling in an
exquisite evening of classical music.
In Moscow, take in well-known sites on a guided
walking tour, including the imposing Red
Square, home to Lenin’s tomb and the eclectic
domes of St Basil’s Cathedral – a place steeped
in history where multiple significant political
events have unfolded; as well as the impressive
Kremlin complex and Russia’s political power
base. Roam the Old Arbat Street, littered with
boutiques and other tourist delights.
In both cities, understand the Jewish
communities past and present on our private
guided tours, and stop at beautiful synagogues
and interesting museums to gain a better of
understanding of the thriving Jewish life in its
heyday.

Food: Experience a fantastic trip to Russia
without taking any of your own food with you.
When you book a trip to Russia with us, we
recommend the best options to suit your budget
for each night of your stay. Breakfasts and
lunches are provided directly to you; dinner can
either be served in your hotel, or enjoy dining in
a local kosher restaurant.

Above: A reproduction of Saint

Basil’s Cathedral, Red Square,

Moscow

Left: A reproduction of the Her-

mitage Museum in St Petersburg

Ben Robbins studied operations is married to Abby and they have three destinations around
management at the University of children. the world, ensuring
Manchester, and has been working you have access to
in the travel industry for the past 14 years. Bespoke Kosher Travel has compiled an good quality kosher meals throughout your
He worked at Aish UK, overseeing all its extensive list in this article, with overviews trip. The dedicated team of travel consultants
national and international trips overseas, and and sample itineraries to some of the are passionate, experienced kosher travellers
then saw a gap in the private kosher travel destinations the company offers. Each trip and provide their expertise and first-hand
market. He then went on to set up his own can be adapted to suit your unique needs. Be knowledge to many of the locations offered.
company, Bespoke Kosher Travel, where he in touch to find out more about how Bespoke Bespoke Kosher Travel makes dreams
runs trips across the world to many varied Kosher Travel can help you plan that holiday happen!
destinations. Since setting up the company, you thought was simply an impossibility.
he has provided travel packages to over 350 Bespoke Kosher Travel specialises in www.bespokekoshertravel.com
private customers, groups and business understanding the needs of kosher travellers. 020 3151 1660.
travellers from around the world. Robbins It creates bespoke travel itineraries to [email protected]

YALLA MAGAZINE 33

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TECH SENSATION
HILLEL FULD EXPOSED

Shira Druion interviews Israeli tech entrepreneur Hillel Fuld about the Israeli
tech scene, its triumphs, challenges and forecasts.

Tech sensation Hillel Fuld is one of the His real passion for business, combined with his sterling
world’s rare humans who embodies writing experience, allowed him to start blogging when
the unique hybrid of effortlessly astute, blogging was still new and hot off the press.
passionate and idealistic, all of which
manifest in an impressive combination “When you sit with an investor, you need to be able to
of sorts. American-born, Fuld arrived in Israel from New get their attention in the first 10 seconds and get them to
York at age 15 and claims emphatically: “I am living the focus on your pitch and value with 100% of themselves.
dream! Every morning, I get up rearing to start my day, I think that many young companies struggle with being
going to meet unbelievable entrepreneurs, and could able to convey their aims and aspirations into readable and
not imagine a more incredible life for myself. The entire easily consumable content that is simple to understand.
process of my career has been a lifelong dream.” This shortfall can often cost them the chance of being
able to expand. First and foremost, companies want to
Fuld is married and a father to five children, and is understand a product, but you really need to be able to
recognised as an Israeli tech superstar with a social media translate your vision and dreams into a cogent message,
following of tens of thousands across all platforms. He and this is often where I have been able to assist young
shares vignettes of his trajectory with great exuberance start-ups.”
and it is clear that his passion for success is filtered by a
deeply embedded set of Torah values, which have enabled Fuld says many of the companies he has helped in the
him to live a life that is balanced by the noble ideals of past stay in touch with him and seek him out for advice
loving your fellow Jew, among other lofty goals. He says as they grow. “I continue to offer many start-ups advice,
his greatest joy comes from helping young entrepreneurs mostly with no strings attached, but when I encounter a
to find success. “My motivation has never been money, truly remarkable entrepreneur, I sometimes join the team
but rather my joy comes watching others succeed, and as a strategic advisor. For me, the greatest joy is to watch
that has always been what has driven me.” and help these companies continue to flourish and grow
to become truly successful.
After school, he spent several years at Yeshivat Keren
Yavneh and then went on to study political science at “There is no better way to spotlight the Israeli tech scene
Bar Ilan University. After college, he was unsure of what than through video content, which I do through vlogging
to do, having recently graduated. He displayed a solid set (blogging via video). Exposure has led to tremendous
of writing skills, so he was advised he would do well as a growth and very engaged followers. I am really grateful
technical writer. He pursued this for several years, until that this path has allowed me to work alongside
sitting behind a desk became too limiting for him and companies like Oracle, Google, Huawei, as well as some
he knew he needed to explore more exciting endeavours. phenomenal start-ups like proov, Hometalk, Intelligo,

YALLA MAGAZINE 35

and others. I would really like to continue watching the success of
entrepreneurs and to do so by trying to help them with getting the
necessary publicity and exposure.”

Fuld is the quintessential Zionist as he celebrates Israel and all
she has to offer in her full glory. “I travel all over the world for
work purposes, visiting the USA, Australia and Europe. It deeply
disturbs me to see the state of the Jewish community worldwide.
There seems to be a growing apathy and disconnection from
Judaism globally and this really concerns me. In Israel, we are
privileged that we are able to live among our own people, to plug
into great Torah learning opportunities and to be protected by an
exceptional army. Hand on heart, I couldn’t think of a better place
in the world for Jews to live. It is not only the best place, but it is
the only place for a Jew to live freely.”

It is clear that Fuld is one of those entrepreneurs who stays 10
steps ahead of the game. He speaks at a rapid speed, which is
clearly a reflection of the way his brain works, as he juggles his
many projects and commitments with great verve and unrelenting
drive. Fuld says he is the founder of his own start-up, ZCast, which
allows consumers to easily create group audio content, also known
as podcasts.

He is passionate as he speaks about how the temperamental Israeli
climate impacts on the growth in the industry.“Ironically, the more
provoked we are by the violence and tension in the Middle East,
the more innovation we see and, in turn, there’s more expansion
in industry. There is a definite correlation between terror and
innovation. The more our enemies try to stop us, the harder we
push to make the world a better place. I think the terror scene
subconsciously affects entrepreneurs who have this subliminal
narrative underpinning their daily lives. Of course, we would all
rather it was not this way, but Israelis are a very resilient people
and they continue to rise up, time and time again.”

When discussing the competitive advantages that the Israeli tech
scene has in the market, Fuld speaks with obvious pride and a deep

36 YALLA MAGAZINE

understanding of how Israeli life has indeed been the fertile breeding ground
for the start-up nation. “I think there are many factors that have ensured
Israelis have a competitive edge on the global tech scene. The army, of course,
makes a tremendous impact; the highly technical training many experience
in the military; and how could one forget the priceless ingredient of chutzpah
that makes the magic happen? The stats speak for themselves, as today, there
are many more entrepreneurs per capita in Israel than anywhere else in the
world. No matter what area of technology you look at, Israel is leading the
way, sometimes in first place, and in some cases, second to Silicon Valley.”

He warns, though, that the challenge of keeping up with this rapid growth is
ensuring the talent pool also grows, as it is not large enough to support the
mushrooming growth spurts in the industry. “The truth is that the situation
can only be positive and lend itself to more young people making aliyah in
the near future.”

Hillel Fuld is unstoppable and truly exceptional in his commitment to his
people, country and value system. He is a maverick and mascot for the Jewish
people – trailblazing the way forward.

Hillel Fuld is an entrepreneur, journalist, vlogger and leading start-up advisor. Fuld brings over a decade of
marketing experience with leading Israeli and Silicon Valley start-ups, and currently collaborates with many global
brands in an official marketing capacity, including Google, Oracle, Microsoft, Huawei, and others.
Fuld covers the dynamic local tech scene for many leading publications, including Entrepreneur, TechCrunch,
Mashable, The Next Web, Business Insider, The Huffington Post, Venturebeat, and others.
He mentors start-ups across Israel in different accelerators, including The Google Launchpad, the Microsoft
Ventures accelerator, Techstars, The Junction, and more. Fuld has been named Israel’s top marketer, has been
featured on CNBC, and was dubbed by Forbes as “The Man Transforming Start-up Nation into Scale-up Nation”.

Fuld has hundreds of thousands of followers across the social Web and can be found on Twitter at @Hilzfuld

YALLA MAGAZINE 37

DYSPRAXIA

Paediatric occupational therapist Britt Burstein
explains what dyspraxia really means for a child?

Getting ready for school in the and processing along with poor planning,
morning was a nightmare... six- organisation and sequencing skills.This impacts
year-old Josh could never seem on the performance of everyday activities, such
to get going and, when he did, as dressing themselves, using cutlery, keeping
his school jumper was often on track of their belongings, handwriting, among
the wrong way around, his mum needed to do other things. This, in turn, has a negative
his buttons for him, he complained about the effect on their self-esteem when they become
seams in his socks bothering him, and his shoes frustrated that they cannot achieve things that
were on the wrong feet. Finally, when he made their peers are able to do.
it down to breakfast, he spilled the milk, had
to be reminded several times to sit properly on Some of the signs that a child may have
his chair, and his face and clothes were a mess Dyspraxia include:
by the end of breakfast. He never had what he
needed in his bag and his mum had to remind • Delayed development of their motor
him countless times to remember his lunch milestones, such as being late to walk or not
bag, PE kit, etc. School was a challenge – his crawling. Dyspraxic children were often
handwriting was too messy to read, using a pair ‘bottom-shufflers’.
of scissors was difficult and he was always the
last to get dressed for PE. On the playground, • Difficulty sitting still/fidgeting a great deal.
he avoided football with the other boys as
he could not kick a ball properly, and during • Knocks into objects and clumsy – frequently
lessons, he found it hard to stay seated at his falls over or drops things.
desk.
• Awkward running gait.
Josh exhibited the classic symptoms of a child
with Dyspraxia. • Difficulty walking up and down stairs.

Dyspraxia (also known as Developmental • Difficulty pedalling a tricycle / learning to
Co-ordination Disorder, or DCD) is a fairly ride a bike.
common disorder, affecting roughly 5% of
the population, with a ratio of two boys to • Poor ball skills.
every girl (Lingham, 2009). Children with
this disorder have difficulties with fine motor • Poor fine motor skills, eg, pencil skills, using
and gross motor co-ordination, and can scissors, dressing with buttons, zips.
experience problems with memory, perception
• Messy eater and not able to use a knife and
fork together.

• Unable to follow sequence of instructions but
hearing is normal.

Often, school teachers or parents will become
more aware of the signs when they begin to
impact on the child’s behaviour or self-esteem.

38 YALLA MAGAZINE

In order to diagnose Dyspraxia or followed up. Therapy either works on
DCD, a paediatric occupational the child (direct therapy to help the
therapist, physiotherapist or child develop the specific underlying
paediatrician should be consulted. skills causing the problems) or the task
(eg, recommending different types of
When a child is referred to minor equipment such as pencil grips
occupational therapy, usually they or adapted scissors to make performing
are assessed using standardised the task easier). Treatment is also based
assessments which look at their on what is important to the child and
motor, perceptual and sensory skills family. For example, one child may find
compared to thousands of other it very upsetting that he is unable to tie
children their own age. This gives an his shoelaces – it is embarrassing to him
understanding of their functioning that his mother or a friend has to tie
and will identify if they meet criteria the laces of his football boots. However,
to be diagnosed with Dyspraxia, and another child is not bothered by this
how severely they are affected. and it is far easier at that stage for all
his shoes to have Velcro instead of laces.
Once the difficulties have been
identified, a plan of action is put One of the most common presenting
into place. This could be either issues is that of poor handwriting. At
weekly therapy, work with the school times, parents question why this needs
or, if mild, some advice for home to be addressed – after all, once in
and suggestions of activities to be

YALLA MAGAZINE 39

college or at university all work years, I find them the most
is typed anyway. I still believe it rewarding group of children to
is important to address this at assist. They often respond very
a young age because, not only well to therapy and, although
does it help develop fine motor, they cannot be ‘cured’, they find
planning and perceptual skills, methods to be able to perform
but it is also important to build the activities they need to do in
self-esteem. If a child sees that creative and inventive ways.
he can accomplish something
that previously he found difficult, Although children with
the boost to self confidence is Dyspraxia face many challenges,
invaluable. with support, understanding and
therapy, they frequently succeed
Having worked with children and achieve.
with Dyspraxia for over 20

Britt Burstein ( Jacobs) is a paediatric occupational
therapist. She qualified in South Africa in 1996 with a
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy and completed her
Masters at Brunel University in 2006. Britt has lived in
London since 2000 and is married to Martyn and they
have two children. She has a private practice, works for
several charities and contracts to local authorities as
well as provides training to teachers and parents. When
not working, she loves spending time with her family,
travelling, learning and taking long walks.

40 YALLA MAGAZINE

UNDERSTANDING
DYSLEXIA

THE HIDDEN STRUGGLE

- GIT TY ARONOVITZ

Dyslexia is the largest hidden manage in the system, including being fluent in basic
disability in the United Kingdom language skills, which are vital in their being able to
and the majority of people still do succeed as a reader.
not understand it. It is also hard to
believe that young people are still In the last 10 years, the government has invested
not being diagnosed or identified as being dyslexic. millions of pounds to raise awareness about dyslexia.
One of the assumptions of our education system is Part of this investment has included the training
that by the time children start school, the majority of teachers to empower them to become qualified
of students will be competent users of their native specialist teachers, with the aim of bringing more
language. However, anyone in the teaching profession awareness into schools. Although this has had some
will testify to the fact that more children year on year impact, the reality is that schools have limited budgets
are missing the basics of what is required of them to and cannot afford to employ specialist teachers.

Where does this
leave us?

In today’s education system, the onus is
on parents more than ever to advocate for
their children. Parents need to monitor
their children’s progress closely and be
able to be provide them with a language
and literacy-rich home environment that

can support their children being able
to acquire vital reading skills. Playing
games, learning nursery rhymes, reading
books and just talking to one’s children
and modelling good language skills will

YALLA MAGAZINE 41

all help to build a solid foundation on How is dyslexia identified?
which the school can then nurture. When
reading does not develop as it should, early The British Dyslexia Association states four different ways
identification and intervention are key. of being identified:
Research shows that the earlier support is
put in place, the better chance for positive 1. Checklist: This is an informal way of
change. checking specific traits and characteristics
through a number of questions given to help
Why is it important to identify if a young person or adult has dyslexic
identify dyslexia? tendencies. This may not give an accurate picture,
but it can be used as a starting point to think about the
From my own experience in primary school difficulties that may be encountered by the child.
and from what research confirms, it is very 2. Screening: This is normally done using
important that dyslexia is identified early a commercially available tool which does
on in the child’s trajectory. Often, children not need to be implemented by a specialist.
who are pulled out of class for intervention There are many tools, available for both
and who struggle with literacy will think children and adults. Screening tools will look
that they are stupid. However, if they are at characteristic features of dyslexia, including: working
identified as dyslexic, this then gives them memory, phonological awareness as well as visual and
an understanding that it is not about their auditory processing speeds. The majority of these tools
underlying ability, but rather about an issue will give a strong indication one way or another. Although
that can be remediated with the right help. some schools will invest in a screening program, it is more
This knowledge can, ironically, have a very common for the school to refer to a specialist assessor or
positive impact on a child’s self-esteem and educational psychologist.
can provide them with the understanding
and motivation to succeed and ultimately 3. Specialist assessment: This is normally
overcome their limitations. carried out by a specialist teacher who has
undertaken a specific course on dyslexia, which
is either accredited by the British Dyslexia
Association or Patoss. A specialist teacher will
use a standardised assessment that usually takes between
2-3 hours to complete. The outcome of the assessment,
together with all background information, will allow the
assessor to provide a diagnosis in a comprehensively written
report with recommendations and strategies to help support
the child.

4. Psychological assessment: This type of
assessment will be carried out by an educational
psychologist or, if in the workplace, by an
occupational psychologist. This is very similar to
the assessment carried out by a specialist teacher
and can also provide a diagnosis.

42 YALLA MAGAZINE

How does dyslexia affect people Why is the correct help important
differently? and how can we raise awareness
together?
The reason that dyslexia often goes undiagnosed is that it
can manifest in so many different ways and will look very For most children, self-esteem is something which is
different in all individuals. For some, it can impact their negatively impacted and that is why identification is so
reading ability more than their spelling skills, while for crucial. Having an understanding can remove barriers
others it’s the other way around. Dyslexia is also often to learning and help individuals grow in confidence.
accompanied by other difficulties, which makes it more When shared in the appropriate manner, identification
complex and harder to identify. of dyslexia will give them the determination required to
succeed.
What help is at hand for those
with dyslexia? For further assessment and intervention, advice or
support, please call:
Today, dyslexia is well known and understood, which Gitty Aronovitz BA Hons. MA (SpLD - UCL) QTS
means there is a wealth of intervention materials, AMBDA (PATOSS)
support strategies and specialists who are available and
able to support people with dyslexia. It is important to Useful websites:
understand that a one-size-fits-all approach does not Patoss
work and that intervention needs to be tailored to the www.bdadyslexia.org.uk
needs of the individual. www.helenarkell.co.uk
www.patoss-dyslexia.org

Gitty Aronovitz has been involved in education for 15 years and is an experienced qualified teacher with a wide range of skills
both in and outside the classroom. Previously, she was the Rebbetzin of Loughton Federation Synagogue, where she was head
teacher of the Cheder. She received her MA in Specific Learning Difficulties/Dyslexia in 2016 and is qualified to assess and
teach pupils with specific learning difficulties. She is a member of both PATOSS and the BDA society. In September 2017,
Aronovitz opened the doors of The Learning Hub in the heart of Golders Green, which provides children aged 8-16 with the
opportunity to excel in maths and literacy. The Learning Hub has been a great success and is rapidly growing. She is currently
the inclusion manager at Torah Temimah Primary School.

Aronovitz is passionate about ensuring all children leave school being competent readers and have the self-confidence to
believe in their own ability. She is married to Yehuda and they have four children.

YALLA MAGAZINE 43

“THE WORLD IS BUT A CANVAS REQUESTS THE HONOUR OF
FOR OUR IMAGINATION...” YOUR PRESENCE AT OUR
2018 GALA DINNER

TUESDAY, 5TH JUNE 2018

We had a dream,
We shared a vision,
Our goal was to unite and
strengthen the Sephardi community,
To enlighten and connect,
both young and old.
Eight years later those
dreams are materialising...
Please partner with us as we dream once more.
Together, let’s imagine the possibilities as we
step forward into a brighter future.

Minimum suggested donation £250pp

ADVERTISE IN OUR DINNER BROCHURE...

Chazak has achieved tremendous successes, all of which depend on your generosity.
Please join us in this campaign so we can deliver an even greater impact this year!
Additionally, over the past 12 years Rabbi Shlomo Farhi & his family have invested a
tremendous amount of passion, love, wisdom and time into the Anglo Jewish community.
This year’s brochure also affords you the opportunity to show your appreciation to
them as we invite you to share a tribute, personal message, fond memory or donation.

TO BOOK A SPACE IN OUR BROCHURE PLEASE VISIT:

WWW.CHAZAKGALADINNER.COM

Brochure deadline 22nd May 2018

IMAGINING
POSSIBILITIES

Chazak is a member of the Jewish Futures family of organisations

THE As you walk into the uber-cool Danielle
DEVIL Benardout’s home, you aren’t immediately
aware that you are stepping into a fashion
WEARS domain. On first impressions, it seems like
P A N N YY any other immaculately kept North West
London home. Look closer, however, and the details start to
The story of the effortlessly tell a different story. The books are large coffee-table books
fabulous fashionsta Danielle on art and fashion and are arranged in a rainbow of hues, so
your eye sweeps across the lined up spines that form a fabulous
Bernadout colour montage. The pens are no different, all lined up neatly
on the dining table. You would be forgiven for thinking that
- S H I R A DR U I O N they belong to one of the four children who live in this house.
But, look again and you will notice they are the pens of a
professional artist. No felt markers, this lot.

As your gaze drifts towards the garden, you will notice how the
conservatory is populated with coat rails all filled with pristine
white cloth bags, and it is clear that something precious lies
within. It is indeed the case, for inside each white bag lie the
magnificent creations of Danielle’s incredible vision, talent and
hard work – her latest collection of beautiful, high-quality,
Italian-made bags – Pannyy.

46 YALLA MAGAZINE

YALLA MAGAZINE 47

Danielle comes to handbag design with an impeccable
pedigree in fashion, having worked for MaxMara, Karen
Millen and Aquascutum, among others. Speaking to her,
I am struck by her absolute passion for what she does, as
well as her dogged determination to work hard to achieve
success. This, she puts down to the fact that she suffered
from dyslexia as a child and found school to be challenging.
"School was a battle for me," she explains. "Nothing in the
education system at the time said that anything other than
being good at maths and English was of any value. It made
me competitive. I felt I could do just as well as anyone else,
and the fire I had in me then still burns today. I have a need
to prove myself. I had a very clever sister and I just didn’t
measure up academically." When Danielle was blessed to
discover her natural talent for art, things started to change.
"Once I found what I could do and was lucky enough to
love it, I worked my socks off.’

After her A levelS, which include history of art ("which about being technically good – you have to sew
I loved because I could remember things so much better in the pizzazz, it’s got to have personality, like a
when there was a picture!"), she did the foundation course painting. At the end of the day, when you are a
at Kingston University and then decided to stay on to do designer and you go into the workplace, you’re
fashion. "You do lots of different things on a foundation not sitting behind a sewing machine, you’re
course, which includes, graphics, architecture and fashion. I sitting behind your drawings that you give to
had really wanted to be a fine artist – my passion is drawing someone who specialises in making them and
– but when I did fashion, the teacher was super-inspiring. the more that they are inspired by your drawing,
Daniella elaborates and tells how it was this teacher who the better the outcome in the product will be.’
showed her that to be able to give a manufacturer an idea
that they can turn into a product, you have to be really good
at drawing. And with fashion, what’s lovely is it’s not just

In her final year at Kingston, she won the prize
for the best dissertation of the year from the
Royal Society of Art. She was then offered
jobs at Armani and MaxMara. The MaxMara
job, which she accepted, came about partly
because her professor at university was Ian
Griffiths, creative director at MaxMara: "He
hand-picked me, but it wasn’t because I was the
most talented," she says modestly. "You want
someone to come and be your assistant, who’s
going to work really, really hard for you, and he
saw that in me.

"I think the essence [of my being hardworking]
48 YALLA MAGAZINE

comes from insecurity. I hope my children will be motivated to succeed from a healthier space. You can be super-
motivated and want to be super-successful and go for it, but if it does not come from anything other than the
motivation to be brilliant, it can swallow you up. To have the firm self-belief, that’s the dream," she reflects,
"so that when things don’t go right you don’t crumble. At university, if I didn’t come top in the project we were
doing, I would crumble a little. But then," she laughs, "it would make me work even harder!" I note that she
is impressively self-aware, and ask how this came about. "From becoming frum (an observant Jew)," Danielle
replies. "The more involved I have been with learning and growing, the more I have learned about myself."

Working for MaxMara, Danielle went to live in Italy, but after a year or so she started looking into jobs back in
London, and wrote to Burberry and Paul Smith. "Paul Smith has always been my favourite designer – Paul Smith
and Dries van Noten – because they're full of print and colour. At university, aged 18, 19, I decided that I wasn’t
going to put black clothing on – it wasn’t a colour, so why would I wear black? It didn’t make me feel happy!"

Danielle was invited back for interviews and when she walked into the offices at Paul Smith she realised that was
where she was supposed to be – "It was just wonderful," she says.

YALLA MAGAZINE 49

She was offered a job as assistant “I decided that Danielle describes her religious
to Sandra Hill, the director of background as being very secular,
womenswear at the time. But it I wasn’t going "but the Jewish values were
was never going to be an easy ride. to put black always there". (Her father is an
Danielle explains: "She needed clothing on – it active member at Holland Park
an assistant because womenswear wasn’t a colour, Synagogue.) It was during the Paul
was growing so rapidly, but she so why would I Smith years that Danielle became
didn’t really want an assistant. She wear black? It an observant Jew. She was living
was a powerhouse and could really didn’t make me at home and started noticing that
do everything herself. But I think feel happy! her older sister wasn’t around on
she saw that I wasn’t too big for weekends. "I was so preoccupied
my boots and so she felt 'Okay, - D A N I E LL E with my own career – that it was
this girl’s talented, but she’s not BERNAD OUT all that mattered," she says, "but
going to be in my face and I can when I cared enough to ask, I
just about manage to have this one ” found out that she was going to
around.' But it was tough. I say to Golders Green. I lived in town, I
the girls at Hasmonean [Danielle YALLA MAGAZINE didn’t know Golders Green – I’d
occasionally gives talks at the maybe been to Carmelli once in a
school] that it was like the film while."
'The Devil Wears Prada'. I worked
my socks off, but I didn’t just work, Her sister then started going to
I did things for her – I went into Israel a lot and eventually Danielle
her office when she’d gone home, cottoned on to the fact that she was
I swept up and cleaned up and I dating out there. "I remember,"
made her bookshelves beautiful. says Danielle, "speaking to her on
I just made myself indispensable. the phone and she giggled when
And slowly, slowly she gave me I asked her about someone she’d
more and more design work." been on a date with. Then one
day, after that conversation, there
After four years at Paul Smith, was a knock at our door and a
Danielle decided to leave. "I think tall handsome young American
that Sandra was a bit offended. man with a black hat walked
It was difficult." But after eight through the door. And that was it!
years, Danielle took the bull by I think most secular people have
the horns and reconnected with an image of religious Jews as not
her, and now Sandra mentors being very sophisticated, but he
her. Danielle refers to her as her was very sophisticated." Danielle
‘fashion mummy’: "She taught me
everything I know." recalls watching
how the new
50 couple interacted
with each other.
"I was just blown
away. The way they
communicated
with each other