Shabbat Shalom friends,

I have to admit, I am rather perplexed. I was Yesterday at the Ralli Hall Thursday lunch, and someone mentioned that Yom Ha-Shoah had occurred this week. To be truthful, I feel I should have known about it - however on looking at the websites for the Shuls, I found out that there was none of the normal activities which commemorate the tragedy which befell 6 million of our people.

I know it is 80 years since the end of the European War, but it is not as if anti-Semitism has faded away. Indeed there is a growth of it throughout the UK, but also in Europe and America. I believe that if we let it fester, life for us and our descendants could deteriorate exponentially.

Even if each Shul did not feel there was enough interest for a service, surely this community of over 2,500 in Brighton and Hove and another 2,000 in the rest of Sussex, should have had the opportunity for some event - In days past it was co-ordinated by the Sussex Jewish Representative Council - Can I ask where they were?

I do know that in January there was the Holocaust Memorial Day, but Yom Ha-Shoah is our commemoration and time for prayer.

I should say that there was one event organised by BNJC, with a special talk by Dorit Oliver-Wol ff . However what coverage was it given. At the lunch, I asked a very senior member of the New Church Road Community and he failed to mention it.

This is not good enough! I am now asking each Shul to volunteer a person who can co-ordinate their activities with us, so we can give proper coverage, and ask the relevant questions. If no-one else will co-ordinate it, perhaps we can.

In the mean time, the prospect of Eurovision 2025 is looming. Personally I am in a new musical called Eurovision, where amongst other songs, I shall be singing the Israeli winner from 1979 - Halleluyah.

But, much more important is this year and you can see below, we have this year's entry from Israel. Yuval Raphael, survived the Nova Festival massacre by hiding under dead bodies in a "migunit" (portable bomb shelter) for 8 hours after terrorist threw grenades into it. She is one of 11 survivors out of 50 that took shelter in the migunit. 

She began singing after October 7 and has an incredible voice. Currently ranked 4th out of 37 by odds makers, the moving song "New Day Will Rise" inspires resilience in the face of loss.  Please share so her video gets as many views as possible as the number of views can impact the reception of the song. 

Underneath that are two advertisements for educational events put on by two of the Shuls - please be aware of them and think of attending.

This week's Parsha in Shemini. You can see all about it under our Religious Community section

Finally, lets hope for better things from Brighton and Hove Albion when they take on West Ham tomorrow.

Thank you to you all

Best wishes and Shabbat Shalom

Nick