SERVING G-D WITH JOY Shalom This coming Monday is the Matzeivah, the tombstone consecration of Rabbi Lord Sacks of blessed memory. It takes place at the Bushey New Cemetery at 2.15pm. It will be held outside and members of the community are invited to attend. In Rabbi Sacks’ honour, leilui nishmato, let me share a...
Being the King in one’s Palace The name of the parsha means ‘judges,’ and the theme of the parsha is ‘authority’ or ‘leadership’ – we encounter judges, kings, rebels and more. All societies require structure, and this needs some form of hierarchy – not inequality, but order and structure, which will inevitably entail some individuals...
“See I have placed before you today blessing and curses. The blessing is when you listen to the commandments of the Almighty which I have commanded you today.” Deuteronomy Chapter 11, Verse 26 & 27 The book of Devarim, Moses’ valedictory speech to the Jewish people is known as Mishna Torah – a repeat. Moses...
STRANGERS IN OUR MIDST One of the core commandments of Jewish Ethics is expressed in the verse in this week’s parasha: “Love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” (Devarim 10:19) The medieval work on the Mitzvot, the Sefer HaChinuch, explains that this commandment extends to our supporting refugees who are...
HUMILITY Both Richard Branson in his Virgin Galactic and Jeff Bezos in his Blue Shepherd have commented on the awesome experience of being up in space, looking down at earth. “Nothing could prepare you for the view of Earth from space,” said Branson. “It is one thing to recognise it intellectually,” said Bezos. “It is...
REACHING OUT This coming Motzaei Shabbat, Saturday night, is Tisha B’Av, the fast of the 9th Av. After the Maariv service, we will read the book of Eicha, Lamentations, the prophet Jeremiah’s lament for the destruction of the Temple and the exile of our people. The book begins with the words, Eicha Yashva Vadad, “How...
Consoling my 9 year old son, Yosef, after the England game was a very tricky parenting moment! I am sure many can relate….. I’m sure many across the country feel a deep sense of disappointment, failed dreams, and unmet aspirations…. One of the truly major challenges of parenting, and life in general, is managing expectations...
ACHIEVING OUR GOALS The outstanding performance of England in their semi-final match against Denmark displayed a team that won the nation’s heart. Onwards, now, to the final! Is football coming home at last? The transformation of a group of talented players into a confident team, who gave of their best, has given us all a...
SETTING GOALS AND SCORING GOALS At the time of writing, England is still in the Euros and the quarterfinal match against Ukraine will be played in Italy on Shabbat afternoon. Perhaps some extra devotion may be evident in the Shabbat morning prayers this week! For those nations already eliminated, the post mortem has begun. Why...
BALAK’S OWN GOAL With England through to the next round of the Euros, due to play Germany, next Tuesday, I am reminded of an occasion, a few years ago, when an English team playing a German team placed football fans in a moral dilemma. In 2012, Chelsea were in the finals of the Champions League,...
