The Power of Song, The Power of Faith St John’s Wood shul was full to capacity on two extraordinary evenings this week. On Sunday night, more than 1,200 people came together to enjoy the music of the Israeli singer Ishay Ribo. His songs, infused with deep faith and rousing joy, seemed to touch every heart...
The Legacy of Two Survivors This week our parasha, Toldot, is a portion whose very name – toldot, “generations” -challenges us to think about lineage, inheritance, and the stories that shape who we become. At the same time, the Jewish world has been mourning the recent passing of two remarkable Holocaust survivors and educators, Manfred...
From Chayei Sarah to the BBC The resignations of BBC Director-General Tim Davie and News CEO Deborah Turness mark a moment of reckoning. Their departure followed revelations that a Panorama documentary had edited a Donald Trump speech in a misleading way, and came amid deepening concern over the BBC’s coverage of Israel and Gaza. Jewish...
Between Heaven and Earth: A Dialogue In this week’s parasha, Abraham takes audacity to a new level. G-d informs him that he will destroy Sodom because of its wickedness and Abraham argues back! “Shall the Judge of all the earth not do justice?” (Bereishit 18:25). Abraham doesn’t let go. The argument goes back and forth....
ABRAHAM AND SARAH’S FANCLUB When Abram and Sarai came to the land of Canaan, they didn’t come by themselves. They arrived with Lot, Abram’s nephew. They arrived with all their possessions. Then the verse adds: “and with the souls they had made in Charan.” (Bereishit 12:5). Rashi (in his second, peshat explanation) observes that the...
