It’s a funny time of year. On one hand there is the excitement and anticipation of a long awaited and much needed summer holiday and yet we have just begun the three-week period of national mourning, reminding ourselves of the Churban and that we are still deep in golus (exile).

Can we reconcile these seemingly contradictory emotions?

The Nesivos Sholom notes that the ultimate purpose of a Jew in this world is to achieve dveikus to Hashem, to create a real relationship with HKBH and live with a reality of His existence. This was really the function of the Beis Hamikdash, it created a home for the resting of Hashem’s Presence and a means to find that closeness with Hashem.

The destruction of the Beis Hamikdash, and golus generally, causes a darkness which means creating that spiritual reality is much harder.

But whilst it may not be easy, living with Kiddush Hashem is not just a means of fulfilling the function of the Beis Hamikdash, it is living life as it should be lived.

The Chafetz Chaim would explain Hashem’s words to Moshe: “Ki hamokom asher atah omed olov, admas kodesh hu” “The place on which you stand is holy ground” . Whichever place or whatever situation you find yourself in is holy. Right here and now, this is the time and place where you are able to grow and create holiness.

The holiday season that is almost upon us is also an opportunity to create that Kiddush Hashem. I once heard a beautiful allusion to this in the Shmonei Esrei of Shabbos Mincha .

People need a rest and go on holiday for different reasons and we refer to them in this Shmonei Esrei. One is “menuchas ahavah u’nedovah” – time to spend quality time with family and loved ones. “menuchas emes v’emunah” – time to recharge spiritual batteries, to think, dream and contemplate more, to daven more slowly and spend more time learning. “menuchas sholom, v’shalva, v’hashket u’vetach” – time to recharge physical batteries and relax in quiet tranquillity.

All of these types of rests are fine, so long as “al menuchosom yakdishu es Shemecha”, that they create a Kiddush Hashem.

May we all merit to recharge our spiritual and physical batteries over the summer and live lives of Kiddush Hashem. This is the antidote to the Chillul Hashem created by the Churban.

May I add, that aside from remaining vigilant about spiritual pitfalls over the summer and the importance of tefilla and adherence to halacha generally, please do remind your children about the importance of staying safe. Cycling with a helmet, swimming safely and staying hydrated in the hot weather. We care about our students and look forward to seeing them all back safe and sound in September.

Wishing you all a refreshing summer,

Rabbi J Golker
Menahel

1 Bamidbar, Bein Hametzarim, page 200
2 Shemos 3:5
3 I would be most grateful if any reader would let me know where I may have seen or heard this idea.

Dear Parents,

In November 2018 school leaders across Barnet raised their concerns about the level of school funding, and the threat this poses to us in securing the high quality provision our students deserve.

Since then I, along with other school leaders and governors from many Barnet schools, have written letters to, and met with, local and national politicians to make the case for increased funding.

Unfortunately, the situation has not improved and I am now asking parents to join me in taking action to press for change.

Whilst we hear claims about budgets being protected, in reality, we are all facing cuts. Research from the social mobility charity The Sutton Trust shows that schools have lost out on funding of £5.4 billion since 2015 and that 91% of schools have had their funding cut.

Additionally, independent research shows that secondary schools should be receiving £6,200 per student in order to provide a good education, (not even a strong or great education). Barnet secondary schools receive an average of £4,800 per student. Furthermore, 70 school sixth forms have shut across the country since 2015 as a result of funding pressures; it is a decline that is set to increase.

To balance Hasmonean Multi-Academy Trust’s budget in future years, we have implemented a number of cost-saving measures.

A government Spending Review is due to take place soon. Although there is uncertainty around this due to the Conservative Party leadership elections and Brexit matters, now is the time to ensure our local MPs put education at the top of their agendas.

It is for this reason that Barnet headteachers are now collectively turning to our parent bodies to ask for help.

We would like as many of you as possible to write to local MPs Mike Freer and Dr Matthew Offord to express your concerns surrounding school funding, and to ask them to press for school budgets to be increased.

Their contact details are:

Mike Freer, MP. House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
mike.freer.mp@parliament.uk

Dr Matthew Offord, MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
matthew.offord.mp@parliament.uk.

I thank you in advance for your support.

With kind regards,

Mr A McClusky
CEO Hasmonean MAT

Dear Parents,

Shelach Leacha

20/20 Vision

Imagine two friends going for a walk one afternoon. They meet at Golders Green station and walk all the way down Golders Green Road to the North Circular bridge and back up again to the station.

On their return, you ask them what they saw. The first describes the amazing variety of food stores in Golders Green. He describes the busy restaurants, the various kosher grocery stores and all the delicious delicacies displayed in the many bakeries as well as the enticing aromas that emerge from them.

The second boy is a born businessman. He is less interested in food but notices the currency exchanges at the money changer, which shops have sales or special offers, the latest gadgets and how many properties are for sale or to let.

The same walk, the same street but two very different reports.

Rashi tells us that the spies saw the inhabitants of the land burying their dead. Hashem had intended to distract them from noticing twelve spies touring the country but they interpreted it differently. They said Eretz Yisrael is “a land that devours its inhabitants” (Bamidbar 13:32), a dangerous and inhospitable country.

As my father always told us when we were growing up, we don’t see things as they are, we see things as we are.

Chazal tell us that the Meraglim had “negios”, personal interests. What exactly they were needs much investigation. But whatever they were, it is remarkable how the same people can see the same things and perceive them so differently.

Even someone as great as Dovid HaMelech needed to be taught this lesson.

Hashem delivered a parable to Dovid through the prophet Nosson. A rich man had many sheep and a poor man only had one sheep. This poor man exerted much effort in caring for his one sheep. When a guest arrived at the rich man’s house; instead of slaughtering one of his own sheep, he stole the poor man’s sheep and fed it to his guest. Dovid HaMelech ruled that the rich man was guilty.

Nosson then told Dovid that he was actually the rich man as he had many wives and despite this took Uriah’s wife. Dovid responded by saying “chotosi” – “I have sinned”.

Why present a parable? Just say it straight!

The answer of course is that when presented with a parable you are objective. There is no bias or instinctive defence barrier.

The lesson is clear. As human beings we have to recognise our innate subjectivity. Consulting others, seeking objective advice is a strength not a weakness.

In an effort to constantly improve Kodesh at Hasmonean, I regularly speak to Heads of Kodesh of other schools and try to visit them and their schools as often as possible. Last May I was in New York for a wedding of a former student and used the opportunity to consult with peers in some of New York’s finest Jewish high schools.

And I am also keen to hear from you, the parent body as well as students, all of whom were recently invited to complete a Kodesh survey. The overriding objective is to consult broadly and continue to strive for excellence to deliver outstanding Kodesh at Hasmonean.

Good Shabbos,

Rabbi J Golker
Menahel

 

Dear Parents,

I am very pleased to announce that we now have a new governance structure in place for the Hasmonean Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) with Mr A McClusky as the CEO of the Academy Trust, Mrs D Lebrett as the Headteacher of the Boys’ school and Mrs K Brice as Headteacher of the Girls’ school. I have accepted the responsibility to act as the Chair.

The role of the MAT, under the continued guidance of the Electoral Rabonim, is to guide Hasmonean’s mission by:

• Setting the ethos, culture and vision
• Making decisions about policy and strategy
• Overseeing and scrutinising organisational performance
• Ensuring organisational accountability

In addition, each school now has its own Local Governing Body (LGB) which will focus on its day to day operations, in particular raising the standards of both Kodesh and secular teaching and learning for our children. I am very grateful to Mr S Blumgart & Mr J Halberstadt for agreeing to chair the Girls’ and Boys’ LGBs respectively.

This is an exciting time for the schools as the new organisation allows us to renew the vigour of both the Trustees and Governors. To this end, I would like to broaden the base of the schools’ Governors and encourage you to get involved. As a minimum we need six new Governors for the new structure which provides you with a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of your children and our community, and to build its foundations for years to come. In particular we would like to hear from individuals with experience in the areas of Mental Health and Well-being, Human Resources, Public Relations and experienced Education Professionals. Please see the school website for the full organisation chart, www.hasmoneanmat.org.uk , the direct link can be found here here .

Parents who are interested in becoming a Governor at either the Boys’ or Girls’ School should be in contact with Mrs L Oskis l.oskis@hasmonean.co.uk to let her know that you are interested in becoming a Governor for one of the schools.  Please outline why you think you would be suitable and what skills, experience and qualifications you would bring to the role.

The parent election process can be found here for the Boys’ School and here for the Girls’ School.

 

Best wishes,

Mr G Swabel
Chair of Hasmonean Multi-Academy Trust Board

We are now deep into exam season. The Year 7s have nearly completed their first set of exams while the Year 11 and 13 are facing the rigours of GCSEs and A Levels. At school there is always a delicate balancing act about the message to be sent out about the importance of exams. On the one hand they need to be taken seriously and should be prepared for properly. On the other, they do not matter that much in the grand scheme of things and should not be causing sleepless nights.

Perhaps the main thing, as with many other areas of life, is to maintain a sense of perspective. Exams are useful in telling you what you can do (and sometimes what you can’t). They can validate effort made during the year and most importantly for the public exams, they can allow access to the next stage of education.

What exams don’t do is to provide any kind of judgement on the character of those taking them. Some students will have worked very hard, others seem to breeze through on minimal effort. In addition, exams will not measure kindness, generosity, loyalty, compassion, empathy or a host of other attributes which in the end will be far more important.

So, by all means see exams as significant and worthy of effort but don’t let them become the consuming focus of life to the detriment of all else. Help your children to see that putting exams in context will be the best thing for everyone in the long run.

Wishing you a very good half term break,

Mrs K Brice
Headteacher
Hasmonean High School for Girls