THE LOST ARK Steven Spielberg’s fantasy movie, “Raiders of the Lost Ark” draws its inspiration from the holy Ark, described in this week’s parasha. The Ark disappears from Jewish life at the end of the First Temple period. Some sources suggest it was buried somewhere under the Temple Mount to avoid it falling into enemy...
THE OLDEST BIBLE IN THE WORLDComing to London next week is a most remarkable book. It will be on display at Sotheby’s for a week before moving on to other selected locations around the world before being auctioned in New York in May. With an estimate reserve of $30-$50 million, it may well become the...
DISASTER AID The devastating destruction that has taken place in Turkey and Syria is absolutely heartbreaking. The picture of the newborn baby pulled from the wreckage in Syria, is an image that will come to define this tragedy. Although the baby was in the rebel-held area of northern Syria, no effort is being spared to...
PREVENTIVE MEDICINE I grew up in Stamford Hill in a shul known as Grove Lane or Stamford Hill Beth Hamedresh. It was the custom there, every Shabbat, to make a Mi Shebeirach LeCholim – a prayer for the sick, at the end of the layening. We follow this practice as well in St John’s Wood....
HOUSE-BOUND There is a gap between Liberation and Exodus. After the tenth plague struck, Pharaoh implored the Israelites to leave immediately. Nevertheless, the Exodus did not take place untilthe morning. Indeed the Israelites were commanded: “And no person shall leave the entrance of his house till morning.” (Shemot 12:22) The late Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik (Festival...
