In case you missed it…seven must-read stories from the past week!
Sir Ben Helfgott receiving his honour from Prince Charles, and Kinder meeting the heir to the throne are among this week's top reads...
Relive the past week on jewishnews.co.uk with our top-seven must-read stories from the past seven days…
Scroll down to read our pick of this week’s stories, which included a Holocaust survivor being honoured, a Scottish celebrity being abused due to support for Israel, Prince Charles hosting Kindertransport refugees to mark the 80th anniversary and new figures on domestic abuse in the Jewish community.
1) Arise, Sir Ben! Shoah survivor knighted by Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace
One of British Jewry’s most well-known survivors was honoured by the heir to the throne yesterday. Holocaust survivor and former Olympian Sir Ben Helfgott received his knighthood at Buckingham Palace from Prince Charles. A day before his 89th birthday, the former champion weightlifter was praised for his “determination, dedication and unparalleled perseverance”, as he was honoured for his contribution to services to Holocaust remembrance and education.
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2) Rabbi of UK’s biggest United Synagogue community quits ‘with immediate effect’
Rabbi Chaim Kanterovitz and his wife, Bianca, informed the leadership of Borehamwood and Elstree United Synagogue (BES) that “they wish to leave their roles as Senior Rabbi and Rebbetzen”. In a letter sent to the synagogue’s 4,000 members, Simon Mitchell, chair of BES, stated: “They and the United Synagogue have mutually agreed they will leave their role immediately, although they will continue to live in the BES Rabbi’s house for the next few months.
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3) Gerard Butler gets abuse for wildfire tweet after attending pro-Israel event
Actor Gerard Butler, who recently supported Israeli soldiers at a fundraising event, has received a torrent of abuse from pro-Palestinian activists since posting a picture of his home destroyed in the California wildfires ravaging the state.
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4) Prince Charles hosts Kindertransport refugees to mark 80th anniversary
Many of the 80 Kinder, members of the Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR) who had come to attend a lunch on Tuesday at St James’s Palace, shared their stories with the prince – as well as with each other. Some of them sang Happy Birthday to the Royal, who turned 70 last week, and one even brought him a card.
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5) Five Jewish schools to hire specialists for mental wellbeing of students
The unprecedented intervention, which includes JFS, JCoSS and Yavneh College, is all the more noteworthy because it brings together Jewish organisations and charities working in education, mental health and youth services. Under the plans, five schools – including Broughton Jewish Primary School in Salford and Rimon Primary School in Golders Green – will hire a Wellbeing Practitioner, in recognition that one in ten children now suffer from a mental health issue.
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6) Mitzvah Day 2018: Jews and Muslims unite to make 2,500 bowls of chicken soup
The 10th annual Jewish-led day of social action, saw more than 25,000 volunteers take part in over 1,400 events across the county, including many interfaith initiatives, with 40,000 worldwide. Volunteers chopped vegetables, made matzo balls and stirred vats of soup, as part of a nationwide interfaith ‘#ChickenSoupChallenge’ initiative at 20 locations across the country.
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7) Jewish victims of domestic abuse ‘wait two more years than average’ to seek help
Women living within the community experienced abuse for at least 11.5 years before reporting their ill treatment, according to Jewish Women’s Aid (JWA). In contrast, domestic abuse victims from wider society wait an average of nine years, the latest figures from national organisation Women’s Aid reveals.
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