Chas Newkey-Burden's Blog, page 14

A treasure trove from Israel

Last week, my best friends from Israel, Tal and Hadar, visited London again. As usual we had a fun day out, chatting, shopping, eating and giggling. I was reminded afresh that there are no warmer people than Yemenite Israelis. As usual, they arrived clutching bags bursting with presents for me from Israel, including a t-shirt, [...]

Bend it like Beckham

Over the years I’ve done three one-to-one interviews with David Beckham, who announced his retirement yesterday. He was always both interesting – the Sunday Mirror described my interview with him for The Big Issue as “his most open interview” – and interested. He has that politician’s knack of making you feel very special. So I’m [...]

Loving Hatufim season two

I’m currently watching season two of Hatufim, the Israeli drama which inspired the US series Homeland. Judging by the early episodes, season two is a whole lot better than the first. It gripped me from the off. When we discussed season one last year, there were very mixed feelings. If you’ve seen season two, I’d love [...]

BDS: It’s Not About The Occupation

The BDS (boycott, divestment and sanctions) movement was launched out of the blue in 2005 and is a progressive affair, primarily focused on encouraging Israel to leave the disputed territories it took in 1967. Right? Well, the only problem with this story that the BDS circulates is that it airbrushes the inconvenient truth that boycotts [...]

‘A crime and a disgrace’

An 83-year-old Holocaust survivor has told the Israeli parliament that its treatment of her and her fellow survivors is “a crime and disgrace”. In an impassioned speech, Dora Roth told the Knesset’s Health and Welfare Committee: “Seeing a Holocaust survivor who can’t afford to heat his home in the winter and can’t afford to buy food [...]

It was like sitting with a president

Although I’m an Arsenal fan I am sad that Sir Alex Ferguson is to retire as manager of Manchester United. His achievements at Old Trafford speak for themselves: 38 trophies including 13 league titles, two Champions League trophies, five FA Cups and four League Cups. This is a big call, but in my opinion Sir [...]

Love to Israel from Windsor via Brooklyn

This year, I’m running the Windsor Half Marathon to raise funds for Israel’s oldest charity, Colel Chabad. Colel Chabad operates free soup kitchens across Israel, serving up more than one million meals each year. Many of the diners are elderly Holocaust survivors who come as much for a warm smile and simple human contact as [...]

Photo week on OyVaGoy

I’m quite busy with work at the moment, so rather than post articles this week, I’m going to post photos from my various trips to Israel. I’ll add a new photo to this post each day. I hope you enjoy them – and I’d love you to add (in the comment section) your own photos [...]

Menachem Begin: A Life, by Avi Shilon

I’ve just finished reading Avi Shilon’s new biography of my favourite Israeli leader of all, Menachem Begin. I was a little surprised when it was marketed as the first biography of Begin, as Ned Temko published a fine one in 1987. (Indeed, Temko’s book is even namechecked in Shilon’s Bibliography.) However, Shilon’s book digs deeper, [...]

They’re under starter’s orders

Three of my friends are running today’s London Marathon. Josh Gershuny is raising funds for Magen David Adom, Damian Schogger is running for World Jewish Relief, and Charles Braunstein is fundraising for Emunah. I wish all three a safe and enjoyable run. My prediction for the order they will finish in is this: 1st: Damian [...]