Do you know anyone visiting Wimbledon? Chabad Wimbledon are running their annual Hot Kosher Food stand with burgers, hot dogs and of course strawberries and (pareve) cream. Details here.

There is still time to book for Camp Gan Israel Summer Camp and we’re counting down the days with throwback pictures on Facebook and Instagram from over 40 years of camp. Follow Chabad Lubavitch Leeds on social media and see who you can recognise! Our highlights schedule is online, and bookings are open here .

Wishing you a Good Shabbos,


Rabbi Eli Pink
Director of Education
Chabad Lubavitch Leeds

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Politics in Israel are never dull, but the last few months the protests and have ongoing and getting more unpleasant. While there have been some glimmers of light – the chat going around of someone asking to borrow an Israeli flag for a protest, being lent one by someone who told them they need it back the next day for the counter protest comes to mind – generally it seems that Israeli society is becoming more fragmented.

There have even been challenges by secular activities to the ubiquitous Tefillin stands run by Chabad Lubavitch in Israel (and across the world). Thankfully the result has been more publicity and an upsurge in public support.

Although this column is not the forum to discuss these issues at length, there is a lesson to be learnt from this week's parshah. G-d instructs Moses to go to war against the Midyanites who had caused many Jews to die after leading them astray into immorality and idolatry. Moses is told to chose "elef l'mateh" - one thousand soldiers per tribe - to go out to war.

Chassidic thought explains that the word "Midyan" means "discord" or "strife" - the ultimate enemy of any society. Because of this, the war against Midyan involved "elef" from each tribe. The word "elef" comes from "alef" - the first letter of the Alef Bet that is counted as one. In order to conquer Midyan, the Jews needed to be united as one.

Traditionally the tribe of Levi did not accompany the other tribes into battle when the nation went to war, their job was Torah study and service in the Temple. (As an aside, this is another hot debate in Israel about yeshiva students serving in the Army. One of the strong arguments of the yeshivot students is that there has always been a tradition of torah students supporting the army spiritually through their study. It happened in the armies of Moses and Joshua and in the armies of King David and King Solomon, and is explicitly referenced in the Torah, sung about by King David in Psalms and discussed in the Talmud.)

Contrary to this tradition, the Levities did join the war against the Midyanites. The word "Levi" means "to join" or "to unite". The war that the Jews fought was also a spiritual battle to overcome their own egos, their "midyan", so that they could "levi" - "unite" - with their fellows.

We are currently in the Three Weeks leading up to the destruction of both the First and Second Holy Temples on Tisha B'Av. The Second Temple was destroyed because of unwarranted hatred - a lack of Jewish unity. Unfortunately Israelis are regular reminded that we have no shortage of enemies without. We must make sure that we join in unity within, to help and inspire our fellow Jews. Then we will merit to bring the ultimate and complete redemption and true peace with Moshiach now!