Ravenswood works

History reminds us of the undervalued. We cannot always see what is in front of our eyes. JK Rowling’s synopsis of Harry Potter was rejected 12 times. Bach was ignored for 100 years. Van Gogh died an unknown artist.

Today, Ravenswood Village, according to Norwood, “now unfortunately represents a dated model of care” (Norwood opens consultation on future of Ravenswood Village, thejc.com, 16 April).

I believe that it is a brilliant model of care that will come to be appreciated in time. Its demise would be a tragic loss.

The so-called “fulfilling life in the community” that has ideologically replaced “the village” can only work for people of some capacity and independence who are fortunate enough to be part of a community, which is so hard to find in a busy city, even for ourselves.

The residents of Ravenswood Village — my son is one — are able to live a life of physical freedom and safety within a community of people who know and care for them. Max can walk out of his home, go to the stables where he helps out, pop into a home to say hello and return to his home. In a home in London, he would be a restless prisoner.

Ravenswood is a community. The quality of care, patience, devotion and commitment of the staff inspires our deep appreciation, a feeling we share with the other parents.

If the theorists put their theories aside and actually looked at what was in front of their eyes at Ravenswood, they would do what was necessary to restore and relaunch a model for the people - and there are many - who can best thrive in that setting.

Bette Rabie

London NW11

Be proud to be Jewish

David Baddiel’s book Jews Don’t Count is a must read. It brilliantly exposes the double standard we see in progressive circles when it comes to racism against Jews. The countless examples of hypocrisy will convince even the most stubborn sceptic.

But more importantly — as he recounted last week (I did not expect my book to help people overcome shame, 16 April) — his book has held a mirror up to Jews, many of whom have been carrying the shame of being Jewish without even realising.

Hiding your Jewishness, wondering if your enemies “have a point”, caveating your Zionism (we never hear people say “I love France but don’t agree with its policy on x”) are all examples of shame and the antisemite hears them loud and clear, even if we don’t.

Antisemitism is not a response to what Jews do and it isn’t caused by Jews. What used to be called “The Jewish Question” was always really an antisemitic question.

The question, or the problem, is not Jews — it’s antisemites.

So we can’t eliminate antisemitism but we can and must combat the internalised antisemitism which so often manifests itself in shame. As the late Rabbi Lord Sacks said, “Non-Jews respect Jews who respect Judaism. They are embarrassed by Jews who are embarrassed by Judaism”.

Two other must read books are Bari Weiss’s How to Fight Anti-Semitism and Ben Freeman’s Jewish Pride, both of which helped me to understand this issue much more clearly.

It is time to reject the shame, stand up and proudly say: “I am a Jew and I will be counted”.

Claudia Mendoza,

Co-Chief Executive

Jewish Leadership Council, Hendon, NW4

Not just for the Jews

In David Herman’s article (Asking about Lippe Weiss is the new Jew Test, 16 April) he says that no gentiles are talking about these shows.

If he looks on the Shtisel Official Facebook group he will find there are 11,000 members from all over the world and all religions who love this series and watch the other series mentioned in the article.

In fact my non-Jewish friend in New York just watched the whole series this week, which she loved.

Stella Bentley

Bushey

We have covered it

In an article earlier this month (Antisemitism Body to Lose ‘Pears’ Name, 9 April), Dr David Hirsh makes the baseless claim that academics at the Pears Institute for the Study of Antisemitism have failed to shine a light on the rise of antisemitism within the Labour Party. In fact, together with Professor David Feldman, Director of the Pears Institute, we have written the first peerreviewed paper on the subject, published in the Political Quarterly.

In addition, Feldman has written seven articles documenting and analysing Labour’s antisemitism problem, a number of them co-authored with us. These have appeared in the Jewish Chronicle, Guardian, Haaretz, Financial Times and the Independent.

The Institute’s interventions on the issue of Labour and antisemitism have been acclaimed by Jewish communal leaders, influential members of the Labour Party and by journalists. The editor of the

JC described one article as “a brilliant piece about Labour antisemitism which I urge you to read”.

It is troubling that Dr Hirsh fails to acknowledge this body of work.

Dr Brendan McGeever, Birkbeck, University of London Dr Ben Gidley,

Birkbeck, University of London

Are you Ivan Smodlalaka?

I am a curator at Brighton Museum and the Royal Pavilion. I am presently engaged in research into the painter and Royal Academician Edward Wolfe (1897-1982). One of his portraits is of a young boy called Ivan Smodlalaka and it was shown at the Royal Academy in 1960 (see image below).

The name is definitely of middle European origin and perhaps he was part of a refugee family?

In the portrait Ivan looks to be about 13 so he might in his early 80s by now?

I would very much like to know if any of your readers know Ivan or remember his family.

Martin Pel FSA m.pel2705@gmail.com

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