THE MAGAZINE FOR THE ARMED FORCES JEWISH COMMUNITY

menorahAutumn 2014 Afghanistan for the final time...

The First World War Centenary Jewish Military Contribution

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From the menorah Autumn 2014 Editor Col Martin Contents Newman DL FCIPR 30 From the Editor...... 04 he past few were disproportionately high, Another Amport success...... 06 months have been as were deaths, casualties Lessons of history...... 06 difficult and often and decorations. The same Padre’s Corner...... 07 T uncomfortable applied to WWII. Three The first world war centenary for members of the Jewish Battalions of the Royal the Jewish military Jewish communities Fusiliers (the Judeans) were contribution ...... 08 throughout the world, and formed from volunteers to British Jewry in the particularly in Europe. serve in the Middle East. As great war...... 12 Without entering into a a faith we earned our spurs. 22 1914-1918 The five Jewish discussion about the politics In the following pages VCs of WWI...... 16 of the Middle East and the you will read of the five A subbie with style...... 19 recent hostilities, it has created Jewish VCs won valiantly Revision’s Batlskin is the a situation where many during WWI in addition to 34 future for total head and opponents of Israel feel they splendid related articles by face protection...... 20 are able to comment without Elkan Levy and Padre Reuben In Focus...... 22 differentiating between Jews Livingstone. It was the first Afghanistan for the and the Government of a time we saw Jewish chaplains final time... probably...... 24 country with whom they do not in uniform on the front line. New historical Sefer Torah see eye to eye. We have even Next year sees the 100th for armed forces ...... 28 seen it on the streets of the UK; anniversary of Gallipoli and Diary dates 2014...... 28 Hitler salutes, desecration of the formation of the Zion More kosher ratpacks...... 29 Jewish Cemeteries, anti-Semitic Mule Corps, the forerunner 32 A Jewish serviceman of two posters, damage to Jewish of the Judeans and the 70th world wars remembered...... 29 owned shops and businesses Anniversary of the Liberation Get cooking apple and elderly Jews attacked on of Belsen by British Troops. We cinnamon cake...... 31 the street. Comments that are in the process of arranging The liberation of would have been subdued commemorations for those Bergen-Belsen...... 32 in the past are now creeping these events including services Armed Forces Day 2014...... 34 out at fashionable cocktail in London and Hohne. Full parties. The media often fails information will be circulated to disguise poorly reported in sufficient time for our bias. We are in danger of community members to become returning to the days of Oswald involved alongside the veterans Mosley with anti-Semitism of AJEX. As our veterans grow becoming acceptable again. older the baton is being passed 08 22 We are fortunate in the to those of us who are still in Armed Forces, an organisation uniform and it is increasingly where racism is not tolerated important that we support and where people of all faiths AJEX in flying the flag. and none, occasional black Finally I must congratulate humour and banter apart, mix our chaplain, Rabbi Reuben THe mAGAZINe for THe Armed forces JeWIsH commUNITy well as an extended community. Livingstone on successfully The Menorah Team Submissions On the Cover… menorahAUTUmN 2014 AfGHANIsTAN We have proved that you can be completing his PQO course Editor: Col Martin Newman DL FCIPR Write: The Editor Remembering the Fallen for THe fINAl TIme... both a proud Brit and a proud at Sandhurst. As we Associate Editor: Rabbi R Livingstone CF Menorah Magazine Jew. One hundred years ago approach Rosh Hashana Designer: Rowena Wilson 12 Conisborough Place Sponsors the Jewish Chronicle heralded and the High Holydays the Advertising: Tammie Ridler (01536 526667) Whitefield, Manchester, M45 6EJ Menorah Magazine gratefully ‘Britain has been good to the Honorary Officers of the [email protected] Email: [email protected] thanks all the sponsors, Jews. Jews will be good for Jewish Committee for HM Publisher: Lance Publishing Ltd Tel: 07717 717981 donors and contributors THe fIrsT World WAr Britain’. The now famous Forces and the Friends of First Floor Tailby House, Bath Road, who have made this edition ceNTeNAry JeWIsH mIlITAry recruiting message was taken Jewish Servicemen and Kettering, Northants, NN16 8NL Hard copy may be sent by post. For digital submissions, of the magazine possible. coNTrIbUTIoN up by the Chief Rabbi and some Women wish you and your Print: Lance Print Ltd please use Word or plain text documents and send all images 60,000 Jews answered the call families a very happy, peaceful Unit 3, Houghton Hill Industries, Houghton Hill Farm, clearly captioned, and in as high a resolution as possible. All Armed to arms. Our numbers serving and fulfilling New Year. Houghton, Huntingdon, Cambs, PE23 2DH photographs will be edited and colour corrected by the designer. forces dAy 2014

MENORAH | 4 MENORAH | 5 followed Moses out of Egypt positive attitude to life. It seeks because they were persecuted by a plan of action; an optimistic PADRE's Pharaoh. One thousand years alternative to the spiritual later, in Persia, Queen Esther malaise all around. People revealed her Jewish identity and cry out for a vibrant, relevant Corner our nation was salvaged. Why? faith - for without that, life By Rabbi Reuben Livingstone CF Because Haman threatened becomes a void. And all that to exterminate us. On this this view says to them is, Es is n the prayers we ask a view, both Hitler and Bevin shver tzu zein a Yid. Yes, we are LESSONS question: Im kevanim- contributed – unintentionally avadim - slaves to the idea of © OF HISTORY Im ka’avadim. Are we – to the survival of our people. Jewish suffering and misery! By David Bentata (Gibraltar 2014) I to be considered proud Yes, Jews do shine spiritually We must change our children of G-d, or are we merely in adversity. If you stopped any attitudes toward Judaism. Stop it!…. Enough!.... No more! servants? Are we the masters Jew a hundred years ago on the Let us cease being slaves Another So much violence, so much killing of our own choices, or are we muddy, impoverished, decrepit to a defensive religion. Let In the name of any god, any faith the victims of bad choices? streets of Galicia and asked us proudly declare that our Brought to man by some demonic wraith We are accustomed to him ‘Vos macht a yid?’ –‘How’s survival is due to an exalted Amport With actions so graphic, so chilling highlight the antiquity of life?’ He would defy the odds Jewish ethos! We play into the the Jew. We are an ancient and respond optimistically, hands of our oppressors when success No more news… no more Wars people, sometimes called ‘Baruch Hashem!’ ‘Thank G-d.’ we make them the centre of The annual Armed Forces Jewish No more politics of violent madness Historicissimus - the most But the problem is that Jewish thought. Even if anti- While the life of so many is ended historical of nations. No other this thinking is negative. It Semitism did not exist, the Families Weekend and reunion By those who claim to be so offended Rosh Hashana people has lived as long as asserts that the bad things we world would still desperately was again a resounding success Bringing down only death and sadness Wisdom Israel, nor contributed in the have endured - anti-Semitism, need the ideals, values, and and a complete sell-out. same way to the treasures of poverty, and the hardships standards of the Torah! We measured the world by our yardstick civilisation; nor suffered such of Jewish survival are a vital So, let us refrain from uest speakers both our guests with frames Freedoms we assume from birth Rosh Hashanah is calamities in every epoch of its element in Jewish life. They emphasising the antiquity of this year included Judeans uniform prints Won by the struggles of past generations not only the New existence! We are proud of our are the sharp prod by which Judaism. Rather, we should Colonel Richard and then the tables were Creating tolerance as the main foundations Year but also the resilience. We have outlived the Jew is kept Jewishly alive proudly stress the modernity G Kemp, a great turned when PMC, Major Yes… we thought democracy had worth our persecutors. What is the - otherwise he would sink of Jewish teaching. Judaism, friend of our community Danny Sharpe presented day of judgement. secret of our survival? What is into a state of fatal spiritual as a moderate, tolerant, and and Yanky Fachler, author, him with a framed original But forgot the lessons of History As such, it is the the source of our strength? atrophy and be lost. There is profoundly grounded faith military historian and experts Judeans Fusilier cap badge, a Was not Rome the height of culture? Some maintain that, merit in this view. But there has a vital word for our times, on Jewish military history. particularly rare item. Again Yet a man considered a savage time for us to re- paradoxically, relentless is also great danger. It implies for our problems, for the Interesting explanatory we were entertained by the With elephants and army did ravage evaluate and reflect oppression and anti-Semitism that Judaism has no positive dangers – moral and physical Shabbat services were band of Hampshire and Isle And Rome fell to this bearded vulture on our lives and to have ensured our longevity. content and no significant - that threaten us today. conducted by our padres, of Wight Army Cadet Force. According to this view, had comment for our current life Shana Tovah to all our Rabbis Reuben Livingstone The weekend also offered There is no redemption, no mercy confront ourselves we not so often been rendered and its issues. It is but a defence military community – keep and Simon Taylor and Colonel an valuable opportunity When fighting against the fanatic and ask questions. avadim – servants and slaves, against tragic outside forces. safe and have a terrific year! (Rabbi) Menachem Sebbag to discuss matters of Who values death by bullet or knife we might have ceased to be This idea - usually expressed of the Netherlands ~ the importance to all and meet Far more than you value your own precious life banim - children who are worthy implicitly rather than explicitly Geordie Dutchman. We were fellow military Jews in a I see this new horror has become systematic survivors and scions of our – subtly dispirits the Jewish joined for Shabbat dinner by convivial and informative heroic ancestors. The Israelites heart which longs for a bright the Chaplain General and environment. Our chaplains We have played the false friend the Chaplain-in-Chief of the and the committee are now Slyly arming opposing factions RAF was our guest at our post working on January 2015 and Thinking this was the way Shabbat regimental dinner. wee look forward to meeting From our comfort to hold sway The chairman, Colonel more new faces over the While TV news brought us the actions Martin Newman presented weekend 9-11 January 2015. Gird your loins for the battle It is but a few miles away It may even be closer Home-grown like any friendly poser Biding time for the black flag day

And even as I write these words I hope I am mistaken And all humans will see sense So men of peace will soon commence Ending war until violence is forsaken

David Bentata is a designer, poet and former member of the Gibraltar Regiment.

MENORAH | 6 MENORAH | 7 of military service that goes the Nazi army were awarded back to the Torah itself and Germany’s highest military continues prominently in the honour, the Knight’s Cross. State of Israel. But even our Professor Derek Penslar history in the British Forces of St Anne’s College, Oxford The First World goes back over three hundred University of Toronto, has Jews, in fact, have a very long years. A common European done extensive research into and distinguished tradition of anti-Semitic fabrication was to Jewish military service in War Centenary accuse Jews of being unwilling the 19th century. He notes military service that goes back to join the military - but the that, based on archives, it The Jewish Military facts tell a different story. can be seen that in France, to the Torah itself and continues During World War I, a census Austro-Hungary, Italy, and prominently in the State of instituted by the German several other countries during Contribution Military High Command known the Victorian era, between Israel. But even our history in Rabbi Reuben Livingstone LLM CF, Jewish Chaplain to HM Forces as Judenzahlung (literally 4-18% of military officers were ‘Jew-count’) was carried out to Jewish; hugely more than the British Forces goes back The centenary commemoration of the First World War substantiate claims that Jews the proportion of Jews in the over three hundred years. marks not only an important milestone in modern were under-represented in wider populations. In Russia, the German Military and thus under different conditions, history but also the tumultuous beginning of a century unpatriotic. Though suppressed the same situation prevailed. that would change the face of Europe and the world. and never publicised, the results This was partly because a roundly disproved the claims. military career offered Jews and integrate them into the over 400,000 in WWII. The rom a Jewish commitment and citizenship. Five Jewish soldiers won in Palestine. In 1918, three The Jewish authorities who greater equality of opportunity traditional Jewish world. very same phenomenon was perspective, the The number of identified the Victoria Cross awarded Jewish units, the 38th, 39th had conducted a parallel census - especially in technical areas Later, during WWII, out of true in the Soviet Red Army. Great War - the so Jews who served during WWI for valour “in the face of the and 40th battalions of the and found the statistics of such as engineering, artillery, a Jewish population in Britain Remarkably, nearly 200,000 F called ‘war to end based on British military enemy”. The courage shown Royal Fusiliers were part Jewish involvement to be very and logistics - where they estimated at only 400,000, Polish Jews fought against all wars’ - would also sow records was around 50,000. But by Sergeant Issy Smith of the Jewish Legion under high, were denied access to the excelled. It also gave them approximately 65,000 Jewish Nazi Germany in the ranks of the seeds of the Holocaust then, as now, it was not entirely (Shmulevitch), Captain General Sir Edmund Allenby official archives. Remarkably, the means to shine as men men and women served in all the Polish Armies - on Polish and of the utter upheaval of uncommon to be reticent in Robert Gee, Lieutenant in Palestine. These unique thousands of men of Jewish and put to rights the noxious three services of the British soil and in exile. Despite this Jewish life on the Continent. declaring one’s Jewish identity. Frank Alexander de Pass, regiments were disbanded descent and hundreds of what stereotype of the passive Jew. Armed Forces. As in WWI, tremendous contribution to But there is another parallel Many Jews also changed Private Jack White (Weiss), after the First World War. the Nazis called ‘full Jews’ In the late 19th century British Jews bore more than the war effort, the official and more optimistic British their names for fear of anti- and Lance Corporal Leonard Many Eastern European served in the German military the famous Rabbi Israel Meir their full share of the War Polish historical bibliography Jewish story - that of proud Semitism in the ranks. These Maurice Keysor still resonates Jews served in the Pioneer with Hitler’s knowledge Kagan of Radin, known as effort in operations around of WWII shamefully service and sacrifice for King factors mean that the actual in the annals of Army Corps, working as labourers and approval. Cambridge the Chafetz Chaim, wrote a the globe - on sea, land, ignores this contribution and country; and of exemplary number was likely higher. history. No less than fifty on the infamous trenches. The University researcher Bryan guidebook for Jewish soldiers and in the air – and won [particularly as there were Jewish soldiers received the number of such foreign Jews in Rigg has traced the Jewish called Machane Yisrael. It is three Victoria Crosses. They nearly 5,000 Jewish officers]. Distinguished Service Order. the Labour Corps is estimated ancestry of more than 1,200 highly significant that, despite continued to do so in later Jewish military chaplaincy In addition, Jews formed (from the British Jewry Book of Hitler’s soldiers, including offering special leniencies for conflicts including Malaya, in the British Armed Forces their own unit, the Zion Mule of Honour) at over 4,600, two field marshals and fifteen serving personnel, nowhere Kenya, Korea, Northern under the authority of the Chief Corps, fighting at Gallipoli including those who served in generals (two full generals, in the work does he say that Ireland, the Falklands, Rabbi, has been the sustaining and the Dardanelles in 1915. the Middlesex Alien Companies eight lieutenant generals, Jews should not serve or that Iraq and Afghanistan. spiritual force behind Jewish The Zion Mule Corps and and the Egyptian Labour Corps. five major generals (“men fighting is prohibited. On the In the same way, American service for nearly 120 years. the Jewish Battalion went Jews, in fact, have a very commanding up to 100,000 contrary, the author reaches Jews served in disproportion It’s unique history was very on to fight with distinction long and distinguished tradition troops”). In approximately out to these men and attempts to their numbers: nearly much forged out of the 20 cases, Jewish soldiers in to recognise their importance 250,000 in WWI and well experience of the First World

Continued overleaf

JEWISH CHAPLAINS 3. Rev. I Brodie - 8 8. Rev. N Goldstone - 4 13. Rev. B Lieberman -16 SERVING IN ARMY January 1918 - France February 1918 January 1917 France CHAPLAINS’ DEPARTMENT 4. Rev. L Falk - 25 January 9. Rev. D Hirsch - 14 14. Rev. S Lipson - 22 1914-1918 1918 - Palestine August 1917 - France January 1915 1. Rev Michael Adler, 5. Rev. I Frankenthal 10. Rev. W Levin - 27 October 15. Rev. L Morris - 22 Senior Jewish Chaplain - 11 June 1916 1918 - Italy, Egypt, Palestine January 1915 - France,Italy [1909], Deployed January 6. Rev. J Geffen - 21 11. Rev. N. Levine - 9 16. Rev. H Price - 23 1915 to France August 1917 - France July 1918 - France October 1917 - France 2. Rev. A Barnett - 30 7. Rev. M Gallop - 26 March 12. Rev. E Levy - June 17. Rev. V Simmons - 24 March 1916 - France 1917 – Salonika, Greece 1917 France August 1915 - France © KenDrysdale / shutterstock

MENORAH | 8 MENORAH | 9 War when Jewish Chaplains In those days the order for an annual event and, for some seven times. This august event ventually, there first formed part of the British this parade was “Dress as for years, was commanded by was the precursor to what has were 17 uniformed Army on active service. Church Parade”, i.e. Helmet and Colonel David de Lara Cohen, become the annual Association Jewish Chaplains Jews were officially Side-Arms. Every Unit turned V.D. The adjutant was one of Jewish Ex-Servicemen Ewho served in the recognised in the British out in “Full Dress” filling the of his regimental officers, Parade at the Cenotaph. Army Chaplains’ department Armed Forces as a distinct Synagogue with varied coloured Major Gordon Kennard, and When Rev Cohen was between 1914 and 1918 in all religious body from 1889. The uniforms of all types, with all the R.S.M. was Sergeant- called to become Chief theatres of war. By the Second Visitation Committee of the kinds of head-dress including Instructor J. H. Levy of the Rabbi of Sydney, Australia World War, there were at least United Synagogue had been bearskins, busbies, shakos, Scots Guards (said, at one time, in 1904, he was succeeded 38 - including Lieutenant- responsible for the religious and helmets. The officers were to have ‘the loudest word of by a remarkable man - Rev Colonel Israel Brodie who would and spiritual welfare of Jews accommodated in front of the command in the Brigade of Michael Adler, Minister of the later become Chief Rabbi. in public institutions. It Ark, and the rank and file in Guards’). The latter becoming Hammersmith Synagogue. One hundred years on, we decided to extend the scope the main ground floor of the Lieutenant Colonel, with After the War Rev Arthur are all connected to the First of its activities to serving building. The public, which D.S.O. and O.B.E. - having Barnett CF, wrote of World War, either through our members of the Forces and included friends and family been mentioned in despatches Michael Adler: own family history, the heritage applied to the War Office of those present, occupied of our local communities - or for the formal appointment the gallery. For all civilians because of its long-term impact of a Jewish Chaplain. This admission was by ticket only. on society and the world we request was granted in 1892 The whole parade would form live in today. From 2014 to and the Rev Francis L. Cohen, up under the supervision of a At the outbreak of the first World War he was the only Jewish 2018, across the world, nations, Minister of the Borough prominent senior officer and, Chaplain to have held His Majesty’s Commission in the Army. communities and individuals Synagogue in London, was headed by a Regimental Band, He was faced now with the tremendous task of organising an of all ages will come together adequate Jewish Chaplaincy for work in the field as well as at appointed as the first Jewish would march ceremoniously to mark, commemorate and home. The peculiar problems of the Jewish Serviceman scattered Chaplain to HM Forces. into synagogue. Personnel remember the lives of those in almost every army unit were well-nigh insurmountable. In In 1897 Rev Cohen obtained included representatives of the addition, the War Office was at a loss to know what to do with who lived, fought, and died the sanction of the British Royal Navy, Royal Marines, a Jewish Chaplain in the field and refused to allow Adler to go in the Great War. The Jewish Admiralty and the War Office Army, Militia, Army Cadets, overseas. It was only his persistence and tenacity which finally community will play its full part through those numbers of Jews, for a special annual service for Volunteers, Yeomanry, British overcame the objection, and in January 1915, for the first in the proud knowledge that it current members of The Armed Jewish men in the Forces. Every Red Cross and St. John time in the history of the British Army, a Jewish Chaplain was made a significant contribution. Forces Jewish Community, that year the event was attended by Ambulance Detachments; ministering to Jewish troops in the field...It is not possible here That selfless commitment serve with devotion and sacrifice important representatives of as well as veterans of all the to continue the story of how he built up the Jewish Chaplaincy continues unto this very day in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces. the Fighting Services, including campaigns in India, Egypt, during the war. Suffice it to say that it was a creatio ex nihilo. the Chaplain General and Africa and Canada. The With no precedent to guide him, with nothing but his own forcefulness of purpose and growing experience, he organised the senior members of the Army Metropolitan Police were Jewish Chaplains World War II department with such efficiency that before the war was over he Chaplains Department. The represented. Encouraged by the had received promotion in rank, a twofold mention-in-dispatches 1. Rev. S Amias 11. Rev. E M Davis 21. Rev. B Hooker 31. Rev. W Morein Honorary Officers of the United Honorary Officers of the United and the signal honour of the D.S.O. He was indefatigable in his 2. Rev. A Berman 12. Rev. L I Edgar 22. Rev. S Hooker [Died on Active Duty] Synagogue also attended. Synagogue this Parade became energies, infectious in his enthusiasm, dynamic in his influence on 3. Rev. M Berman 13. Rev. M Elton 23. Rev. S Isaacs 32. Rev. A D S Pimontel his colleagues, and impressive in his devotion to the Jewish 4. Rev. C M Bloch 14. Rev. B Epstein 24. Rev. J Israelstam 33. Rev. H J Rabonwitz soldier’s well-being. Many thousands of Jews will remember him 5. Rev. I Brodie 15 .Rev. I N Fabricant 25. Rev. M A Jaffe 34. Rev I Rapaport with gratitude and honour. During those tragic years he made 6. Rev. S Brown 16. Rev. J Gill (Lifschitz) 26. Rev. I Levy 35. Rev. E E Urbach Jewish history... 7. Rev. B M Casper 17. Rev. M Gollop 27. Rev. M A Lew 36. Rev. M Wagner 8. Rev. T Chait 18. Rev. B Greenberg 28. Rev. B Lucki 37. Rev. J Weintrobe 9. Rev. B Cherrick 19. Rev. E T Hamburger 29. Rev. S Margulies 38. Rev. H Bornstein 10. Rev. P Cohen 20. Rev. L H Hardman 30. Rev. A A W Miller [Died on Active Duty]

Jews were officially recognised in the British Armed Forces as a distinct religious body from 1889. The Visitation Committee of the United Synagogue had been responsible for the religious and spiritual welfare of Jews in public institutions.

MENORAH | 10 MENORAH | 11 of London’s East End and especially against Britain’s great vigour, describing Col JH Patterson, commanding 38th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, the other ghettos of Britain. alliance with Russia, the arch the board’s attitudes as The Judeans. The immigrants formed persecutor of the Jews at that “ridiculously Gilbertian” BRITISH JEWRY IN an almost self-contained time. The Jewish Chronicle’s and the provincial councils artisan community of their first editorial after the outbreak stepped in vigorously where own. Religiously they were of war hurriedly reversed its the Board had failed to act. THE GREAT WAR more positively orthodox policy and spoke of “the futility The outbreak of war was Elkan D Levy than the United Synagogue of those who cry peace, peace, seen by the Jewish Chronicle, but maintained a grudging when there is no peace.” undoubtedly reflecting the The Board of Deputies met for its regular meeting admiration and respect for One of the immediate predominant sentiment of on 19 July 1914 and passed a resolution “to send an the institutions of Anglo- problems which faced the the community, as a chance Jewry. The more assimilated community was the nationality for Anglo-Jewry to repay address of sympathy to the Emperor of Austria on the Jews in return had made of the large number of England for her kindness and assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand.” the cause of the immigrants immigrants. Passports were hospitality. “England has been their own and devoted their rarely carried or held and all she could be to Jews, Jews The Jewish population Lord Chief Justice of England, not yet in its leadership. talents and energies towards often the immigrant Jew had will be all they can to England” of Great Britain at this time Rufus Isaacs was the first First or second generation the Anglicisation of the East no evidence of citizenship. was the slogan in their opening was about 350,000 of whom Jew to hold the position. English born, and increasingly End and the amelioration of Britain was embarked on wartime editorial. This slogan about three fifths lived in Below them was the mass anglicised, they formed the conditions of the ghetto. her first continental war in a was painted on a large sign London. Provincial Jewry was of middle-class Jews, mostly the backbone of the United Major institutions including century and foreigners were board outside the JC offices in standards were lowered. divided into a mass of small professional and mercantile, Synagogue and the franchise the Chief Rabbinate, the immediately suspected of being Finsbury Square and remained The war produced an communities with the great who formed a large part of the of the Board of Deputies. United Synagogue, the Board enemy. German and Austrian there throughout the war. At unusually virulent strain industrial towns – Manchester, organised community although Finally there were the Jews of Deputies and the Board citizens were interned, mainly Whitechapel recruiting station of anti-foreign feeling. The ew people at that Leeds, Birmingham and of Guardians all tended to in the Isle of Man, as were on Wednesday 5th August the Times throughout the war meeting thought Glasgow – as the main keep the community together Turkish nationals. There was great crowd included over 500 maintained a policy of using that the Sarajevo centres. There were also small despite the latent fissiparous at one time a separate Jewish young Jews and the community the terms “German” and “Jew” F killing would be communities in the mining tendencies of Jewish internment camp, and two encouraged enlistment. Chief synonymously. Many leading any different from the various areas of South Wales and organisational life. A most of those who died there still Rabbi Hertz issued a recruiting figures in English life came political assassinations the mining and shipbuilding powerful common denominator repose in a Manx churchyard. message “Israel expects every under suspicion. Sir Alfred that had occurred in towns of the North East. The Jewish population of Great was the Jewish Chronicle, By the beginning of 1915 son of Israel to do his duty” and Mond received an official call Europe. Within three weeks The community was still Britain at this time was about by then a very Zionist anti-foreign attitudes had synagogues throughout the at his London home asking war had broken out. ruled by a number of related paper. Widely read in upper considerably diminished only to land held recruiting meetings. why he kept carrier pigeons families, known to historians 350,000 of whom about three class Jewish homes it also be revived after the torpedoing There was a popular belief in his garden. They were Hyde as the Cousinhood. The engendered queues of readers in of the Lusitania on 7th May. that Jews did not make good Park pigeons which gathered first Lord Rothschild still fifths lived in London. Provincial the Whitechapel Public Library. The Board of Deputies soldiers, which in due course there because they were fed. presided over New Court with Jewry was divided into a mass of So highly was it regarded that declined to get involved in led Chief Rabbi Hertz to pay The Sephardi community, his brothers and ruled the a ghetto teacher, attempting to exempting Jewish enemy an official visit to the Western in an excess of patriotic community as a benevolent small communities with the great instil the glorious moments of aliens from internment front. Sir John French, Englishness, developed a dislike though much feared despot. English naval history into his or repatriation because it the commander-in-chief, of Ashkenazi Jews because Representatives of this group industrial towns – Manchester, small pupils asked how Nelson regarded the whole question in a despatch gratifyingly they were German, and even were making their way in Leeds, Birmingham and gave his famous message as not being specifically mentioned “the large Jewish considered withholding funds English life; Herbert Samuel at Trafalgar. Back came the Jewish, and attempted to community now serving from the Judith Montefiore was in the Liberal cabinet Glasgow – as the main centres. answer “Please Sir he put it pass its responsibilities onto with the Army in the field”. college at Ramsgate in case formed by Asquith at the in the Jewish Chronicle!” one of the friendly societies. At this stage about 40% of any of those studying were beginning of the war and his Sentiment in the community The Jewish Chronicle, and Jewish recruits were rejected enemy aliens. The United cousin Edwin Montagu joined was firmly against Britain’s its correspondence columns, on health grounds, although Synagogue, being full of many

him there soon after. The © Willequet Manuel, Sandra Cunningham / shutterstock entry into the war, and attacked this attitude with towards the end of the war Ashkenazim of fairly recent

Continued overleaf

MENORAH | 12 MENORAH | 13 immigration avoided anti- by a shortage of voluntary the nation, conscious of its British forces the ghetto the immigrants and the respect of Jewry in foreign supporters within upper- sections of the community. German hysteria, although workers. Some 3500 Belgian huge losses in the incredible would volunteer before it was government on matters such countries had been handled class Jewry on the one hand, At the same time the one of its ministers questioned Jewish refugees came to slaughter of the Western front conscripted. A small number as clothing contracts gave the since 1878 by the Conjoint and the acculturated Jewish community was grappling with the fact that it maintained Britain at the beginning of and the general failure of of Jews returned to Russia ghetto increasing confidence Foreign Committee a joint community which feared that the question of a specifically the “German-Polish ritual”. the war, many of whom had such slaughter to produce any to fight with Kerensky’s in its dealings with the organisation of the Board the Zionism would destroy Jewish military unit. Attempts Those with German names been very prosperous but positive reactions, looked for government, but the majority outside non-Jewish world. of Deputies and the Anglo its hard-won standing and to form such a unit had been often considered a change; now needed assistance. fresh sources of manpower. refused, no doubt influenced Suddenly they realised that Jewish Association. The privileges in English society resisted both by the War Office the Minister of the Liverpool Most Synagogue bodies Almost the only unwounded by the heavy casualty figures they could survive without presidents of the two bodies, on the other. Matters came and by the community itself, Old Hebrew Congregation in waived contributions from young men in London by whose existence could no the Jews of the West End. D L Alexander KC and Claude to a head in May 1917 when but the formation of the Zion Princes Road abandoned his men on active service while then were the young Jews of longer be denied. Fearful In many ways the year G Montefiore were assisted by the president of the Board of Mule Corps, and its record surname of Friedberg in favour the Federation of Synagogues Whitechapel who were not of further anti-Jewish of 1917 was viewed by the at Gallipoli had somewhat of Frampton, a Dorset village. relieved all those on active liable for English conscription riots, Samuel persuaded community as an annus weakened the opposition. Economically the beginning service of their subscriptions and, as Herbert Samuel told the government to bring in mirabilis. Since the early days There was real concern in the of the war brought hardship to the Burial Society while the House of Commons, there compulsory conscription of the war it had been clear to community at how such a among immigrant workers. for non-British nationals the British government that an Before the war most of the unit might behave under fire; Food prices rose rapidly, in the summer of 1917. attack on the Ottoman Empire there had after all been no and the JC complained that Before the outbreak of the would both take pressure off acculturated members of the Jewish military units since the while the price of the bagel war the immigrant populations the Western front and bring Maccabees. It was therefore remained stationary “its which vastly outnumbered the many other benefits to the community had sent their sons agreed that they would become circumference has become indigenous and acculturated war effort. Two attempts to to public school. With the rapid the 38th Royal Fusiliers, suspiciously less”. However Jews had relied upon them defeat the Turkish armies at despite which the unit was the expansion of the Armed to represent their views and the first and second battles of expansion of the army at the always known as “the Judeans”. Forces meant huge clothing their requirements to wider Gaza in April 1917 had failed Subsequently the 39th was contracts of which the East society whose language miserably, and Prime Minister outbreak of war and the need for raised in Palestine and the End and other immigrant areas they did not speak and Lloyd George felt that a much- junior officers, public schoolboys 40th in New York. All three received a fair share. One little whose attitudes they did not needed military success would battalions fought creditably pageboy at a ghetto wedding comprehend. By the summer come in the Middle East far received an automatic commission and are commemorated on arrived in an officer’s uniform, of 1916 all had changed. sooner than in France. One of the Royal Fusiliers Memorial complete to the smallest Before the war most of the his most successful generals and subsequently the junior officers in Holborn, the only war detail, which his father had Jewish Officers and men, Hammersmith in training November 1914 acculturated members of the was Allenby and in June 1917 bore the brunt of casualties. memorial in the UK which no doubt fashioned from community had sent their he was sent to the Middle East. contains the word “Jewish”. khaki clippings! Manchester still receiving the benefits! was a distinct feeling that sons to public school. With the Allenby neither The war dragged on to its Jewry supplied most of the The senior Jewish chaplain, allied subjects of military age rapid expansion of the army underestimated the Turks miserable end in November army’s ground sheets and the the Rev Michael Adler, was in “ought either to serve in the at the outbreak of war and nor dismissed the problems 1918. The vast social changes khaki boom generally brought civilian life the Minister of the army of the country of their the need for junior officers, of the theatre of war. Having Lucien Wolf secretary of the Deputies and the president of which it had brought within prosperity to the tailoring Central Synagogue in Great birth or in the army of the public schoolboys received an made careful preparations, and committee, considered by the the Anglo Jewish Association British society were reflected and dressmaking trades. Portland Street. In January country of their adoption.” automatic commission and having received an instruction Foreign Office as spokesman wrote a letter to The Times in the Jewish community. The Board of Guardians 1915 he went to France and The feeling was so strong subsequently the junior officers from the Prime Minister to of the Jews. All three shared in an attempt to strangle the Old certainties had gone, found its support much in a number of Anglo Jewish that anti-Jewish riots broke bore the brunt of casualties. “give Jerusalem to the British an inability to understand or declaration before its birth. the old leaders were weary, demand, but generally helped ministers served as chaplains out in the summer of 1917. By the summer of 1916 many people as a Christmas present” appreciate the immigrant or With great courage Chief many of the younger men to alleviate the most severe in the field. In 1916 Rabbi These lasted three days in of the younger members of Allenby attacked at the end of Jewish nationalist viewpoint. Rabbi Hertz wrote a letter who would be expected to poverty without receiving A I Kook, formerly Chief Leeds in June, and there were the community who had October and on 9 December By the early summer of in strong refutation and the take their place were dead, help either from government Rabbi of Jaffa, who had been a further two days in Bethnal devoted time and effort to Jerusalem surrendered. This 1917 the government was president of the Board of the East End was no longer or national funds. Most stranded in Switzerland by the Green in September. Senior the immigrants were dead. was the first major success of considering a declaration Deputies was forced to resign. subservient to the West End charities however found their outbreak of war became the figures within Anglo-Jewry At the same time British arms in the whole war. in support of Zionist aims. On 2 November 1917 the and British Jewry along with income falling, the demand Rav of the Machzike Hadass hoped that if the law was the increase in wartime Relations between the On this the community was Balfour Declaration was its non-Jewish counterparts for their assistance rising, Synagogue in Brick Lane. changed to allow friendly regulations, and the close Jewish community and the split between the immigrants duly issued to wild rejoicing faced with uncertainty the and the position made worse By the summer of 1916 aliens to volunteer for the relationship between government particularly in and their few Zionist among the pro-Zionist problems of the interwar years.

MENORAH | 14 MENORAH | 15 Captain headquarters Issy Smith VC volunteered Frank 34th Prince Albert Victor’s Robert Gee and ammunition (18 September 1890 to serve in the Alexander Own Poona Horse, and was VC MC MP dump. Captain – 11 September British Army de Pass VC awarded the Victoria Cross for (7 May 1876 Gee, finding 1940) was a in 1904. As (April 26, his actions on 24 November – 2 August himself a prisoner, British-Australian a sergeant 1887 - 1914 near Festubert, France. 1960) Born in managed to escape recipient of the Victoria Cross. in the 1st November He was killed in battle the Leicester, he and organised In recognition of his VC, he was Battalion, The 25, 1914) was next day, 25 November. was 41 years a party of the also awarded the French Croix Manchester Regiment, Smith an English Lieutenant de Pass entered old, and a temporary captain brigade staff de Guerre and Russian Cross was engaged in the Second recipient a German sap and destroyed in the 2nd Battalion, The with which he attacked the of St. George (4th class) by the Battle of Ypres. On 26 April of the Victoria Cross, the a traverse in the face of the Royal Fusiliers, when he was enemy, closely followed by respective governments. 1915, Smith, on his own highest and most prestigious enemy’s bombs. Subsequently awarded the Victoria Cross for two companies of infantry. Born Ishroulch Shmeilowitz in initiative, recovered wounded award for gallantry in the he rescued, under heavy fire, a his actions on 30 November He cleared the locality and Egypt, Smith travelled to Britain soldiers while exposed to face of the enemy that can wounded man who was lying 1917 at Masnières and Les established a defensive flank, as a child stowaway and first sustained fire and attended to be awarded to British and exposed to enemy bullets in Rues Vertes, France: then finding an enemy machine- them “with the greatest devotion Commonwealth forces. He the open. Lieutenant de Pass An attack by the gun still in action, with a to duty regardless of personal was the first person of the lost his life in a second attempt enemy captured revolver in each hand he went risk”. His conduct secured a Jewish faith and the first to capture the sap which brigade forward and captured the gun, recommendation for the Victoria Indian Army officer to receive had been reoccupied by the killing eight of the crew. He Cross, which was awarded to the VC during World War I. enemy. His Victoria Cross is THE FIVE was wounded, but would not Smith in August 1915. He was 27 years old, displayed at the National Army have his wound dressed until and a Lieutenant in the Museum in Chelsea, London. JEWISH VCs the defence was organised. of WWI Jack Regiment (Lancaster). Originally remained with the battalion gun fire, with White VC assigned to a battalion destined through the Gallipoli campaign. disastrous results. Leonard campaign. On 7 August 1915 was born Jacob for France, he missed the Eventually, he and his unit were When his own Pontoon had Maurice at Lone Pine, while serving as Weiss in Leeds, battalion’s deployment while ordered to join the Tigris Corps, reached midstream, with every Keysor VC an acting lance-corporal, 29 Yorkshire, on home on compassionate leave to attempting to relieve the Siege of man except himself either (3 November year-old Keysor performed an 23 December attend the death of his father. Kut. After the failure of the relief dead or wounded, finding that 1885 – 12 act of bravery for which he was 1896 into a Instead, he was transferred effort, White’s unit participated he was unable to control the October awarded the Victoria Cross. Jewish family. to the 6th King’s Own Royal in the counter-offensive in 1917. Pontoon, Pte. White promptly 1951). Born in England, Keysor Later in the war he took part in After finishing his education, Regiment (Lancaster). It was during the 13th Division’s tied a telephone wire to the emigrated to Australia shortly the fighting in France, serving he joined the family business, The 6th King’s Own crossing of the Diyala Pontoon, jumped overboard, before the outbreak of the First in the trenches along the a waterproofing company. Royal Regiment River that he earned the and towed it to the shore, World War. He enlisted in the Western Front. He would later When the First World War (Lancaster) was attached to Victoria Cross. During thereby saving an officer’s First Australian Imperial Force achieve the rank of lieutenant broke out, he returned home the 13th (Western) an attempt to cross a river he life and bringing to land the in August 1914 and served in before being discharged from from a business trip and Division. saw the two Pontoons ahead of rifles and equipment of the Egypt before landing at Gallipoli, the army on medical grounds volunteered for active service Originally ordered him come under heavy other men in the boat, who Turkey at the beginning of the at the end of the war. with the King’s Own Royal to Gallipoli, he machine- were either dead or dying. © V.J.Matthew / shutterstock. Wikimedia

MENORAH | 16 MENORAH | 17 A SUBBIE You could be WITH STYLE Two weeks in the life of Lt John Cvancara in the Algarve, as a NATO Delegation Liaison Officer. n Email from my all’ for the team. Seemed like Training Major it might be a dogsbody job at started the ball first, but turned out to be a John’s staff car... getting A rolling. “Do you definite highlight in my military ideas above his station. relaxing in the sun... speak any languages? Would career. Two of the busiest days you like to be a DLO?” As usual, of my life. Booking rooms for and dinners, but a constant line the back, you’ve missed out. I said yes, then decided to have meetings, sorting out passes, of meetings, press conferences, And all those so called a look and see what a DLO is. arranging vehicles, and generally and eating on the move. Angela stars who say they get bored Situated on the top floor of a three storey block the apartment has its Very difficult to nail it down, ensuring that the team were Merkel was a very down to earth of people waving and taking own residents’ swimming pool. It has the advantage of being away and had to wait until the admin in the right place, at the right person, with no airs and graces, pictures of them, swap with me, order came through. The role time, with the right people. Obama was a genuine character. because it’s great. But my real from the bustle of the town centre but within walking distance (10 was to be a Liaison Officer The German delegation were a Tiring, very warm in SD highlight was down at Cardiff minutes to the marina and another 5 to the town centre). for a Delagation at the NATO docks. (No Martin, not that Summit. Still as clear as mud. The DLO and the type of highlight!) The area It has a twin bedroom, open plan kitchen and lounge. The kitchen has a 4-ring hob, oven, The first week was held in German delegation was fenced off, with security microwave, toaster, fridge freezer and washing machine. There is a family sized bathroom. The Lancaster House, just across and police everywhere. A lady lounge has a sofa (which converts into two more single beds) and a table to seat four. A TV, the road from The Boss. from outside the fence asked if DVD ,CD player and WiFi are also available. Both the lounge and bedroom have patio doors Somehow the FCO managed it would be ok for her to take a which open onto the balcony offering views over the swimming pool and across Lagos. to cram an hour’s work into picture of me. It came out badly, There is ample car parking space in front of the building. four days, but it did give so I coerced the security team ample opportunity to do the to let me outside the cordon. www.algarveestatemanagement.co.uk tourist bit going to work. Ten minutes later, and one very apt meia The second week was down happy chat, and lots of pictures in sunny Cardiff. Consisted were taken with the family. Prices: of collection passes, recce There followed, a line of families Nov to Mar £190 of the Celtic Manor Resort asking if they could have there Apr & Oct £255 to orientate ourselves, and picture taken with me. All in a May & Sept £290 liaising with the Delegation days work for some people, but June £330 Foreign office teams. it was a definite “Andy Warhol July & Aug £410 I was embedded with super bunch, all very friendly and and medals, and my feet were 15 minute moment “ for me. the German team, and was chatty, and a perfect example aching on Friday evening, but an Note: John has failed to responsible for the Defence of a classless team. Rubbing opportunity that I’d take again say that he is now the proud Minister, Ursula von der shoulders with the leaders of and again. Highlight of the two owner of the NATO mountain Leyen, and her MA, Colonel the world, getting an insight weeks? If you’ve never been in a of freebies ranging from mugs, Heico Hubner. My role was into how the powers that be run convoy with 12 police outriders pens and pencils, bottle- to guide, locate, troubleshoot things. I came to realise that stopping everything for you to openers and note pads to and generally be a ‘there for summits are not all shiny lights fly through, you haven’t lived. miniature jars of jam! Well If you haven’t had a chauffeur done John and equally well driven BMW 7 Series, with a done on your appointment personal protection officer in as secretary of Army the front, while you lounge in Reserves Basketball (Ed).

The German delegation were a super bunch, all very friendly and chatty, and a perfect example of a classless team.

To book accommodation please contact Judith Hall on 01536 711884 Apartments can also be booked very competitively at [email protected] © Jiri Flogel / shutterstock MENORAH | 19 REV1226_BATLSKIN_ULTIMATE_210x297 X1a.pdf 1 31/08/11 3:16 PM

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| © 2011 REVISION MILITARY INC. BATLSKIN™ IS A TRADEMARK OWNED BY REVISION MILITARY S.A.R.L. AND USED UNDER LICENSE BY REVISION MILITARY INC. BE REVISION READY.® AND REVISION® ARE MENORAH 20 TRADEMARKS OF REVISION MILITARY. REVISION MILITARY BV, WEENA 327, 3013 AL ROTTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS. In Focus Around the camps

Capt Andy Holsgrove shows the Silver Torah breastplate presented to Manchester’s United Synagogue (Meade Hill Shul) in 1917 in memory of Cpl Laurence Boodsman of the Manchester Regiment. Cpl Boodsman was killed in action at Gallipoli 99 years ago. The breastplate is always used on Armed Forces Shabbat and the Shabbat closest to Remembrance Day. Cpl Jamie Peters Jamie Cpl ©

Jewish members of Middlesex & North West London Army Cadet Force on annual camp are pictured during a Havdala ceremony in the Padre Simon Taylor found a small Jewish Community Army medical officer, Capt Laurence Baum, a member of the Armed field, saying farewell to the Sabbath and the start of a new week. at Middlesex an NW London ACF’s Annual Camp. Forces Jewish Community treats an elderly lady in Kenya THANK YOU STUART AND Welcome home SANDRA to Padre Reuben Livingstone. Just in time for the High holydays after a month at BATUS with 1 YORKS.

big thank you to them participating in a gruelling Euan Chief Engineer bicycle ride around Paris. Sandra moves Stuart and said: “This was the hardest on ASandra Rose who challenge we’ve undertaken always seem to be walking, so far. This appeal was t’s always The Army and the RAF were represented by Col Martin Newman DL, swimming or cycling for some important to us and our Armed good to Wg Cdr Roy Catterall DL and Capt Andy Holsgrove of the Duke of Lancaster’s worthy cause or other. Forces Jewish Community. Regiment at the stone setting of WWI and WWII veteran Jacob Silverberg hear from (see full article in this magazine). The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment is now Our Sefer Torah appeal is We did it. So go to the Smart IEuan the custodian of two Jewish VCs, Sgt Issy Smith and Pte Jack White. about £250 better off thanks to Giving website and give.” Sandison. Since leaving Padre Simon looks for think it was helpful for the the Army the unit to have someone on hand Sweet tooth? Gibraltar former REME and Mercian potential recruits who knew and understood hen the good news Cadet's GCSE Regiment captain has settled hen Army ‘There was a lot of interest them. What better than a is that that sticky success into a new career in the oil Reserves from from the community and I Rabbi in uniform?” he said. toffee pudding azeltov to industry working out of Baku The London T is being retained Cadet Samuel and announced his marriage to W Regiment in the Kosher operational Marrache of the Marina Reizman in Scotland. (Princess of Wales Royal ration packs. Note the letter MGibraltar Cadet The happy couple have bought Regiment) of Edgware were K. That’s you’re assurance Force. Samuel, who passed out as an apartment in Modiin Israel recruiting in Canons Park that it’s a kosher ration top cadet of last where a Chuppah will be held in a predominantly Jewish year’s intake has shortly. And he’s grown a beard! area, they were quick to take now achieved I know the whole community up the offer of support from nine A* passes in wishes them well for the future Padre Simon Taylor, chaplain this year’s GCSE and a hearty mazel tov. Not to Middlesex and North West examinations. Padre Simon Taylor represented the Armed Forces Jewish Community when he attended and participated in the AJEX annual Remembrance sure about the beard though. London Army Cadet Force. Well done. Service at Willesden Cemetery. He is pictured with Rev Alan Greenblat.

MENORAH | 22 MENORAH | 23 felt like it flew to pieces, bits certainly reinforced why the of the ceiling crashing down, safe minimum distance from a fittings like air conditioning car bomb is taught as 400m (not units on the walls flying off, 200m)! Annoyingly I’ve still got things knocked over all over a feeling of over-pressure in my the place, and a choking cloud left ear from the explosion, for of dust. Then there felt like a which the initial prescription moment’s stillness, enough for from the US med centre was the me to announce a surprised phlegm-releasing expectorant “F- me” to my colleagues, Mucinex, somewhat randomly. before someone shouted to It’s still not right. However, take cover and the fire alarm to my surprise, application of started going (presumably from anti-biotic ear spray recently all the dust in the air). It felt has helped enormously – like the building had been hit evidently a lengthy infection by a rocket, but we gradually was caused by dust being forced started finding out that it was into the ear by the blast. a suicide car bomb which had half-light, troops now shuttling was that it was quite heavy! rammed into the back of an First time going to the mess hall to get take- We had another brief and then ISAF convoy entering the gate outside the out breakfasts. I took a final finally we were told to mount to camp – the detonation was wire on an op opportunity for a nervous toilet up. We put our protective gear about 200m away (sounds far, We were attached to a US break. We had our “warry” on, including our “combat but it wasn’t), and could be Army unit to support a major photos taken in front of our nappies” (or my Tier 2 groin clearly seen through our fire clearance operation – quite a vehicle, feeling a little self- protection), climbed up the exit, with direct line of sight rare event by that stage of the conscious about it, hoping not ramp and strapped in. The over all the blast walls. Charred campaign. This would be a first to give too much an impression ramp closed – quite an ominous debris from the vehicle and – for me and my two colleagues. of “newbies” to the platoon experience – and suddenly the grimly – even body parts from We were up very early that we would be riding with. As only view I had of the outside the attacker lay all around us morning, while it was still we got closer to the departure world was through the gunner’s outside. Unhelpfully, the first dark and the mess hall was time, there was more standing screen. The noise of the engines announcement by jittery and still closed – for breakfast I around and waiting, chatting. increased and we lurched non-English speaking security had the first of what would be Everyone was very interested in forward, bit by bit, heading things up). Rather nicely, I was forces was that it was an insider many, many Clif bars over the the rifle I had, it being a novelty for the gate of the FOB. I was temporarily promoted as an attack – when a disgruntled next few days… The Forward among all the M4s. The verdict both nervous and excited. Afghanistan acting Squadron Leader for the individual shoots another from Operating Base (FOB) was duration of the tour, and came the same side, and normally blacked out at night and no back with a US Meritorious they don’t consist of a massive white light was allowed, so for the final Service Medal awarded for explosion. Anyway, it changed it was extremely dark as we my efforts. So here goes… our response somewhat, and gathered our kit and went to dragged out the incident meet our point of contact. There time... The Suicide well past its conclusion – all was a lot of waiting around. Car Bomb the while my Facebook page We felt a bit self-conscious as One morning I happened sat open in the tumbled outsiders. Finally someone probably to be at my desk, confusion of my desk, told us to go out to where all By Flight Lieutenant Justin Salmon RAF checking Facebook somewhat surreally. This was the vehicles were formed up of all things, when one of the more and being prepared, and told spent a long time inevitable sensitivities too. I 2014, doing an information suddenly there dramatic to go find the Sergeant First thinking how best decided a series of vignettes operations role embedded with a was a colossal boom, moments Class we would be riding with. to relate my recent might work best. I was US team – broadly, information and the somewhat of the The sun was now coming up, I deployment to deployed to Afghanistan for operations involve influencing flimsy (and it tour, and all around US soldiers Afghanistan – it seemed such my second and undoubtedly target audience behaviour turns out quite and prepped their Stryker vehicles, a huge subject to try and tackle final operational tour from 14 without using traditional exposed) 2-storey engineer vehicles and so on. in an article, and there were September 2013 to 29 March kinetic means (that is, blowing building I was in Engines were running in the © msiudmak, Alexander Smulskiy / shutterstock

Continued overleaf

MENORAH | 24 MENORAH | 25 behind ballistic eye protection, journey away from the airfield. and after a short delay and It would prove to be a tough, final preparations, we lifted off. occasionally nerve-wracking To my surprise, we taxied like and occasionally grim, but regular aircraft, but about 3 almost always interesting 10 Annoyingly I’ve still got a feeling of over-pressure metres off the ground, though days as we supported another we quickly gained altitude when big clearance operation. in my left ear from the explosion, for which we eventually “took off”. Lights the initial prescription from the US med centre went out, and for about an hour Driving and a half, we flew over snow- through Kabul was the phlegm-releasing expectorant Mucinex, capped ridges and mountain Driving through Kabul was tops lit by the eerie light of a always an experience, and somewhat randomly. It’s still not right. full moon. Occasionally there something I never got tired were lights from buildings of. This proved to be a regular or compounds, including reminder of ordinary life in one which appeared to be Afghanistan, and some of surrounded by multi-coloured the sights were genuinely hobbling by on crutches, Las Vegas casinos in their Afghan traffic cop, in his but they decided not to bright Christmas lights – surprising. In one part of the with roads barely worthy of ostentation and flashiness characteristic white hat and continue that post. At last somewhat psychedelic, and an city, goats would rummage the name. Elsewhere, huge, – weddings are evidently a blue uniform, spotted her I feel like I’m settling down odd sight in the otherwise dark through rubbish by the side flashy, brightly lit “Wedding big deal in Afghanistan. distress and advanced into the from the tour, but I miss the Afghan mountains. I looked for of the road, with legless men Halls” dominated, resembling In one part of town, a small melee of cars with a real air camaraderie, the excitement, the other Black Hawk, but could boy angrily threw a metal of nobility, lifting his hand to the sense of purpose and the not see it until we descended bolt at our vehicle, though it stop the traffic to allow her to satisfaction of working on to our destination airfield, bounced off harmlessly. I had cross. That gave me hope for something important. I miss where I was deposited with my seen him weighing something the future of Afghanistan. the people I worked with – I pack, and found myself being in his hand as we approached, often wonder where they picked up in a gator and taken then recognised the shape Readjustment are and what they’re up to. to a somewhat forlorn and of the chunk of metal as he Months on, I still think of I’m still in touch with some, lonely tent; the consequence eyed us sullenly and I guessed Afghanistan almost every including one American of the drawdown was that his intent, then laughed at day. Occasionally I dream from the “Jewish Sabbath the airfield was mostly rubble his brazenness as he hurled about it. This tour was more Fellowship” at my base, for bulldozed flat and utterly dark the thing at us. Needless to intense, more interesting and which I briefly became the lay at night. Travelling alone in say we just drove on. Most much more satisfying than my leader (the first time I went, Getting my own He pointed and explained that unfamiliar places where there of the time, Afghans would previous tour. I actually miss not long after arrival, I was Black Hawks if I sat there, I’d get a good were no Brits could often be seem to just be ambivalent it terribly, and it felt like it slightly surprised that our It was a very cool experience view and also have the heaters a taxing experience, but to towards us and generally took a long time to settle down group should consist of a Brit, the first time I rode in US Black blowing in my face. Later in my relief it wasn’t long before ignored us. Sometimes we’d after getting back, feeling very a German and an American). Hawk helicopters. I had two, the flight, I was very grateful my ride turned up for yet get flashes of anger at the restless. Decompression in I miss the exoticness of just for me! I was in a new part for the heater, though it did another interesting journey inconvenience we caused. Cyprus helped a lot with the Afghanistan and working of the country, which was novel nothing for my then frozen through the night to my Occasionally someone would transition, where I managed alongside other nations. I in itself, but in trying to make legs and backside. Eventually final destination – my final give us a friendly greeting. to do some dinghy sailing even miss the food sometimes my way out to a small camp to the engines started up and surprise being that it was a Traffic was always busy and rode a horse for the first – a Turkish cookhouse that I the south, I discovered that I the rotors started turning. and chaotic, and we would get time in my life, in a lovely sometimes frequented served would be the only passenger The crew strapped on their stuck in it like everyone else. short Mediterranean respite. some of the best food I’ve on the Black Hawks picking armoured faceplates, Often Afghans would take Spending 3 weeks in Japan ever had, and it was free! I me up. It was a fairly leisurely which gave them their lives in their hands as during my post-operational miss the scenery, and never pre-flight process – they took a sinister ninja they attempted to cross the tour leave also helped a great tired of that while I was there, my blood group and identity appearance road. I remember one time a deal, but then I felt crushed by with Afghanistan’s imposing details, and fortunately I with just young woman in a headscarf the comparative mundaneness and dramatic mountain had the presence of mind their eyes struggling to make her way of work after that. I ranges – it could be a beautiful to ask the crew chief which showing between the cars across the volunteered for another tour tourist destination one day. was the best seat to sit in. multi-lane road. A keen-eyed in Afghanistan for September, © Nate Derrick / shutterstock

MENORAH | 26 MENORAH | 27 Torah to complement the full sponsored bike ride in France to size Paul Mervis Memorial raise funds towards our costs.” A Jewish Scroll which will continue to It has been decided to More Kosher serviceman of NEW live at Amport House for use keep the appeal open to raise at our major services. The new more funds to build an Ark for two world wars HISTORICAL scroll is perfectly portable and Amport House to hold both Ratpacks will allow Padre Simon and me our Torah scrolls. Anyone can SEFER TORAH to arrange services wherever donate conveniently through remembered needed and where duty takes us. Smart Giving… Just go to As we go to press Padre Reuben FOR ARMED “We are grateful to all https://smartgiving.org.uk/ Livingstone will just have returned those who generously donated, event/friends-of-jewish- from a month long deployment to FORCES including many of our own servicemen-?preview=1. members, and to Stuart and Hopefully they will soon give Suffield in Canada with 1 YORKS. Sandra Rose who undertook a us an easier link to use! e probably needed ‘K’ designation is rather the exercise as helpful in contrast to Halal his previous task meals which have a specific hanks to the The scroll was originally part H was to oversee, religious logo). Padre Reuben generosity of the of a collection presented to Czar and no doubt test, the continued: “It is absolutely Western Charitable Nicholas II by a Russian Jewish production of 30,000 kosher essential to indent for these T Foundation, the community and it is unlikely to operational ration packs. using the NSN number Western Marble Arch Synagogue, have been used for many years. He said: “Remarkably, over and not to take no for an associated individuals and The parchment itself is little over the last three years we have answer. If we don’t use a members of our own military 12 inches high and will enable munched our way through bulk of the ORP’s ourselves community we have taken our chaplains to use it on their many, many thousands then this massive amenity on charge an historical Sefer travels around our dispersed of these. Apparently the may not be extended to us! Torah which has now been communities. Rabbi Reuben Halal eaters also rather like There will be a significant hile Joe back home. On recovery fully refurbished, has been Livingstone, Jewish chaplain to them. Lots of taste tweaks number of these (around Silver, the he transferred to the Royal declared kosher and is now HM Forces, who sourced the scroll and excellent lean quality 3,000) depoted at Bicester membership Flying Corps, to become usable. It will soon be adorned and arranged its refurbishment, Gilbert’s meat, which is and available through the W officer of the the RAF, and served on with a new purple mantle said: “I am delighted that we certified as Halal as well system for anyone who asks.” Friends of Jewish Servicemen London Defences until he emblazoned with our crest. now have this beautiful Sefer as Kosher, will make these You can demand kosher and Women was researching was demobilised in 1919. the best ever - and top of ORPs through your unit. his family history, especially He rejoined the RAF in the line in Ratpack terms! Make sure your QM is the military connections, WWII and spent four years Anyway, the guy on the right aware of the NSN number he realised that his late in the UK and South Africa. of the photo in the ridiculous 8970-99-190-6873. uncle, Jacob Silverberg, Joe felt his memory had to be DIaRY DATES 2014 face-rig is the shomer.” his father’s brother, was recorded and a headstone was We are incredibly fortunate buried in Failsworth Jewish commissioned and unveiled to have MOD funding and Cemetery in Manchester during Armed Forces Week support for Kosher ORP’s. The but had no headstone. in the presence of Col Martin over runs can be absorbed into Jacob Silverberg’s service Newman, in his capacity as 9 November 16 November the wider system and kosher was unusual. He joined the Deputy Lieutenant of Greater

Remembrance Shabbat Service AJEX National is also Halal for Muslims Royal Lancaster Regiment in Manchester, Wing Commander Richmond Synagogue

Remembrance Service © Rhonda Roth / shutterstock (the fairly anonymous July 1916 and two months Roy Catterall DL of the RAF, & Parade Whitehall later he was fighting in Captain Andy Holsgrove 10 November Arras and Ypres where he of the Duke of Lancaster’s Remembrance Sunday 2015 was wounded and evacuated Regiment, representatives of 9-11 January AJEX and their standards and 11 November Armed Forces Jewish members of the Silver family Armistice Day Weekend Amport House who travelled from all over the UK and from overseas. 15 November 5 March The service was conducted AJEX Shabbat Service Purim by Rabbi Yanky Prijs of The St John’s Wood Synagogue Meade Hill Synagogue , the 4-11 April Last Post was sounded by a Passover synagogue member and Col Newman recited Kaddish on behalf of the family. Joe said: “It was right and proper that Jacob’s memory is perpetuated and I would like to thank everyone involved for making the moving ceremony possible.”

MENORAH | 28 MENORAH | 29 Ray Park To advertise in From allrecipes.com • Boiler the next issue of • Repairs this publication, Apple • Installations • Gas please contact • Electrical Tammie Cinnamon • Plumbing Mobile: 07944 028416 Tel: 07960 044185 Cake Home: 020 8381 4384 01536 526667 By Lisa Chernin Newman

Email: [email protected] As you all know, it’s traditional to eat sweet treats for the Jewish New Year in order to insure that you enjoy a sweet year. This recipe for a rich apple cinnamon cake has been making the rounds on Facebook just in time for Rosh Hashanah and will guarantee your year gets off to a sweet start. To make it parve rather than dairy, Think Print simply substitute margarine for the butter and soy or almond milk Lance Print is an established printers for the dairy milk. It’s perfect for Rosh Hashanah, but a slice would based in Huntingdon near Cambridge. be lovely with a nice cup of tea or coffee at any time of the year. At Lance we combine skill, experience & knowledge to provide a complete professional service.

We aim to fill our clients with confidence in the knowledge that any work undertaken by us, will be completed to the highest possible standard. Call Today: (01480) 492183 ients www.lanceprint.co.uk Ingred 1/3 cup brown sugar (not packed) 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 2/3 cup white sugar 1/2 cup butter, softened 2 eggs it’s all about the Charities we support! 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour In 2013, ALL ABOARD raised up over an amazing 10,000 Gift 1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder funds for more than 50 charitable Aid donors, enabling us to claim causes, each of whom were money from the HMRC on the 1/2 cup milk desperate for the financial help, sale of these donors’ goods. 1 apple, peeled and chopped following government funding cuts and difficult financial times for If you would like to become many of their staunch supporters. involved at ALL ABOARD – by paration We were able to do this by turning donating your personal or Pre unwanted items into money and company’s goods, by volunteering 1. Preheat oven to 350 F / 175 C degrees. Grease and flour a 9 x we intend to go from strength to at one of the shops or at Head 5-inch loaf pan. Mix brown sugar and cinnamon together in a bowl strength in the coming years. Office, or if you would simply and set aside. Beat white sugar and butter together in a bowl using like to be kept informed of our an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, ALL ABOARD’s achievements progress, you can contact us via are unique. We raise the money the website, email or by phone. until incorporated; add vanilla extract. without buying in any merchandise, 2. Combine flour and baking powder together in another bowl; stir by collecting directly from donors, We are proud to be a service into creamed butter mixture. Mix milk into batter until smooth. and without trading on Saturdays “for the Community, by the Pour half the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Next add half the or Jewish Holidays – quite unusual Community, in the Community”, apples and half the brown sugar cinnamon mixture. Lightly pat in the world of retailing! says Carol Marks, the organisation’s chief executive, who apple mixture into batter. It is YOU our Jewish Community commends her volunteers, staff 3. Pour the remaining batter over apple layer; top with remaining donors, whose generosity in and Trustees for their hard work, apples and add more brown sugar/cinnamon mixture. Lightly pat donating your goods keeps us dedication, loyalty, commitment apples into batter; swirl brown sugar mixture through apples using motivated to do more. It was and innovation as well as thanking a finger or spoon. YOU who helped these charities the donors and customers for the by opening your wardrobes and part they all play in this communal 4. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the cupboards, but again uniquely, not endeavour. centre of the loaf comes out clean, 30 to 40 minutes. your wallets. We aim to generate the most money we possibly ALL ABOARD SHOPS LIMITED can from your no-longer loved, www.allaboardshops.com required or wanted items. And [email protected] Wishing you all a delicious New Year! even better, we have now signed 0208 381 1717 © mythja, Digivic, RTimages / shutterstock MENORAH | 31 the lives of many prisoners and some of the medical staff who came to help them. Over 14,000 of the liberated prisoners had died by June 1945. The Two Jewish Chaplains were crucial to the liberation of the camp, Reverend Isaac Liberation Levy and Reverend Leslie Hardman. They worked The British army torch the huts of tirelessly, bringing hope to Rev Leslie Hardman CF, Senior of Bergen-Belsen following the liberation survivors, holding services and Jewish Chaplain 2nd Army was present at the liberation undertaking mass funerals in The living lay with their cooperation with the Royal Norman Turgel. He was heads against the corpses Engineers who used bulldozers shown around the hospital and around them moved the to bury the bodies. Reverend by Gena, a survivor of awful, ghostly procession of Levy had previously been Polish ghettos who came to Bergen- emaciated, aimless people, serving in the Middle East, Belsen via Buchenwald. Six with nothing to do and with where he was captured by the months later, the two were no hope of life, unable to move Afrika Corps. At Bergen-Belsen married by the Reverend out of your way, unable to look he worked tirelessly with the Hardman who described Belsen at the terrible sights around former prisoners, speaking of the wedding as ‘a symbol of them ... This day at Belsen was their incredulous reaction on hope after so much death’. the most horrible of my life.’ seeing the Star of David on Harold Burgh, a British the cap of an army officer. Roz Currie Jewish soldier, was only 21 One of the first liberators Curator at the Jewish when he entered Bergen- at the camp was Sergeant Military Museum Belsen in 1945. As the seventy year anniversary of the liberation of the camp approaches, he still remembers the stench of bodies awaiting burial that pervaded the surrounding countryside. He saw local German men and women brought in to move the piles of corpses, while pleading that they had no idea of what had happened so close to their Bergen-Belsen was originally a prisoner of war camp, liberation there were at least homes. Burgh remembers 53,000 people housed there. hundreds of people dying from established in a huge military complex in the North of British troops entered food brought by the liberating Germany. In 1943 part of the camp was taken over by the Nazi Bergen-Belsen on 15th April army. Fresh bread and meat SS to become a ‘holding camp’, intended for Jews who could 1945. They found over 13,000 was too much for already unburied bodies and many starving people, left without be exchanged for German civilians held by enemy powers. more severely ill and starving food and water for days due to risoners suitable to the liberation. remained including Anne inmates. Richard Dimbleby the Allied advance. At the end for exchange were By March 1944, the camp Frank and her sister Margot accompanied the liberating of each day all of the British usually citizens of had expanded to house male who died in March 1945. forces, and his comments soldiers stripped and were P an Allied country prisoners no longer able to The SS began to move were broadcast on the BBC: sprayed with or had emigration papers work to recuperate before prisoners from the front lines ‘Here over an acre of ground pesticides, from the British authorities in being sent back to other camps during 1944. From December A British soldier talks to an emaciated lay dead and dying people... then given Palestine. Living conditions to work as forced labourers. 1944, over 85,000 adults prisoner. The prisoner, Louis Bonerguer, fresh were initially better than at Thousands of them died at and children were brought to was also British and had been dropped uniforms. by parachute to work in German other concentration camps, Bergen-Belsen of disease, Bergen-Belsen by transport occupied territory in 1941. After his This was and prisoners were allowed starvation and exhaustion. in cattle cars or on death capture, he was interned at Belsen. to prevent personal belongings and From August 1944, a woman’s marches which could last the spread to wear their own clothes. camp was created. Those for weeks. The camp became with no attempt at medical of typhus, However, only 2560 Jewish who could work were quickly increasingly over-crowded, help from the SS. As late as which was Reverend Isaac Levy’s prisoners were released moved on to other slave there was little or no food April 1945, thousands more Norman and Gena Turgel rampant in from Bergen-Belsen prior labour camps, but many and epidemics began to prisoners were brought to the the camp dress uniform, on Gena’s wedding dress was made display in the Jewish

break out among prisoners camps and at the time of the © Ronald Wilfred Jansen, Patricia Hofmeester, Yakovlev Sergey/ shutterstock of British parachutes. and claimed Military Museum

MENORAH | 32 MENORAH | 33 Stephanie and Stuart Ronson Meade Hill Synagogue in cadet forces, their friends, AJEX is Manchester hosted a special supporters and families, to wish you a safe, speedy Shabbat service attended by join forces while the country return to your native land serving and AJEX members. pays tribute to the work and here The Chief Rabbi’s Prayer for sacrifices made by those our Armed Forces was recited men and women who have throughout the country. served, are serving or who for them, Col Martin Newman said: will serve in the future. “Armed Forces Day is an “I would like to express my opportunity for the whole thanks to AJEX for taking for you Service family, from veterans, the lead in so many of these Tel: 01923 850100 serving regular and volunteer events. It is always a delight to Email: [email protected] personnel, members of the march alongside our veterans.” and for the future…

• AJEX Remembrance • Jewish members of Jewish Community. Two For the sacrifices of the HM Forces took part moving ceremonies were held, past and the present first at the AJEX Memorial AJEX in Armed Forces and then at the Normandy Invites you to join the Day celebrations Veterans’ site. Jeffrey Fox Armed Forces Branch, • AJEX Welfare • consisting of current throughout the UK. welcomed the participants and Offers help to guests, which included local serving Jewish members. he main Jewish school and college students, Please call Head Office for ex-servicemen and more information. event, organised and said how pleased he was women and by AJEX, was held to have such a senior Jewish their dependents in need T at the National officer in such a high profile Memorial Arboretum in post taking the salute. • AJEX Education • Staffordshire where the On Armed Forces Shabbat Wide reaching programmes in conjunction reviewing officer was Lt Col – Armed Forces Day itself – with our Jewish Military Museum Simon Soskin, Brigade Major members of the community of the Household Division. in uniform attended morning Wreaths were laid on behalf services at their local of AJEX by Jeffrey Fox, the synagogues. In London Padre AJEX National Chairman and Reuben Livingstone and Brian Bloom, Lt Col Soskin AFJC secretary, Brian Bloom along with some Normandy led the now traditional walk The wreath party veterans and by Col Martin about visiting synagogues at the Normany Veterans’ Memorial Newman for the Armed Forces in North West London. The

EST. SINCE 1960 Solomon Levy FRICS Estate Agents • Property Consultants • Valuers & Auctioneers www.gibestateagents.com [email protected] “ The longest established Estate Agent practising in Gibraltar” Whether looking to buy, sell or rent property in Gibraltar or Southern Spain, with over fifty years experience, at Solomon Levy FRICS we are here AJEX Head Office to help you in whatever way possible. and Jewish Military Museum Wishing all the Ajex readers Shield House, Harmony Way, London, NW4 2BZ Sole Director, S. Levy MBE EDJP a Happy & Kosher Passover Lt Col Soskin, the Reviewing officer Head Office Tel: 020 8202 2323 Museum Tel: 020 8201 5656 3 Convent Place, Gibraltar • Phone: (+350) 20077789 or (+350) 20042818 Email: [email protected] Visit: www.ajex.org.uk MENORAH | 34 We buy your old Jewish and Zionist books, Manuscripts, Letters, Silverware etc.