THREE KINDS OF HOLINESS This week’s parasha deals with the three different types of holiness we find in Judaism: holiness of the person, holiness in time, and holiness in space. The first two portions of the sidra outline the special responsibilities on the Cohen. Whom may he marry? Under what circumstances may he go to...
STAY HOME, SAVE A LIFE Time and again in this coronavirus pandemic, our political leaders have said that social distancing is vital so as ‘not to overwhelm the NHS.’ In plain terms, that means that we want to avoid the nightmare scenario when there are insufficient resources to meet the needs of those who require...
PRAYING FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNWELL The Torah goes into great detail in this week’s portion describing an affliction knows as tzara’at. This came upon a person as a result of transgressions such as slander. The practical application of these laws with the different kinds of sores and scabs and burns have ceased to be...
THE RIGHT PLACE FOR A LECHAYIM! One stark contrast between our Seder nights and our currently home-based synagogue services is the place of wine. Whilst a fundamental requirement of our Seder was to drink four cups of wine, there is no place for wine or liquor in a regular prayer service, whether held at home...
A message to my dear friends in St Johns Wood From Rabbi Yisroel Fine Tomorrow after Mincha we will read the Haggadah in anticipation of the Seder next Wednesday night. For some it will be a night of thanksgiving celebrating newly born additions to their family. But for others, empty places will replace the recently...
A message to my good friends at St Johns Wood by Rabbi Yisroel Fine As the coronavirus has taken its grip worldwide, a welcome biproduct has been a drastic reduction in the air pollution of our major cities. Pollution in all its forms has eroded the life quality of modern man. We no longer breathe...
ACCEPTING A CALLING And He called to Moses…. [Vayika 1:1] On only three occasions does the Torah speak of a ‘call’ to Moses and each involves a summons to perform a momentous act. The first call came at the burning bush. Moses is shepherding the flocks of his father-in-law, Jethro, and he and he alights...
MIND THE GAP! Margaret MacMillan, in her book History’s People, contrasts the role some individuals can play in shaping history and others being swept up in the forces that are prevailing. There is no doubt that Moses was one of the most influential people in history. A tantalising question is how important was the role...
