VE DAY AND THE CALL TO BE HOLY This week, we mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day—Victory in Europe Day, May 8, 1945—coinciding on this Shabbat with the reading of Acharei Mot and Kedoshim, two Torah portions deeply concerned with moral reckoning and the pursuit of holiness. As we reflect on both, the connections are profound. In his historic radio broadcast on VE Day, Winston Churchill declared: “Finally, almost the whole world was combined against the evildoers, who are now prostrate before us.” The Nazi regime, whose ideology was built on hatred, cruelty, and the rejection of human dignity,...

FROM ISOLATION TO ILLUMINATION Last Monday night, our shul was fuller than I have ever seen it. People were even sitting in the aisles upstairs as they crowded in to hear Eli Sharabi, a man who had survived 491 days of brutal captivity in Gaza. Eli sat before us with quiet dignity and deep pain, sharing the unimaginable: his wife Lianne and daughters, Yahel and Noiya, had been murdered by Hamas on October 7. His brother Yossi died in captivity. And yet, Eli’s presence among us was not only a testimony of grief—it was an act of strength, resilience, and...

HOLY ONES We are in a period of the Jewish calendar filled with profound emotion. On Thursday, we observed Yom HaShoah, the day dedicated to recalling those who lost their lives in the Holocaust. Next Wednesday, we mark Yom HaZikaron, when we remember all those who lost their lives in establishing the State of Israel and those who have fallen since—whether in defending its existence or as casualties of terror attacks. The victims of the October 7th attack and the subsequent casualties are deeply present in our commemoration at this time. The celebration of Yom Ha’Atzma’ut, Israel’s Independence Day, which...

DISCONNECT TO RECONNECT Last week, an important event took place in central London called “The Festival of Childhood.” The purpose of the event was to raise awareness of a growing and pressing issue that is impacting the younger generation—namely, the overuse of mobile phones and the often-harmful influence of social media. With children increasingly spending more time online, concerns have been mounting about the effects on their mental health, emotional development, and sense of identity. The online world, while full of potential, can also be a source of anxiety, distraction, and even danger. At the event, Dame Rachel de Souza,...

HEARING THE CALL Our parasha this week begins with the powerful words: Vayikra El Moshe – And He called to Moses…. [Vayikra 1:1] The Torah records three distinct occasions when G-d “calls” out to Moses, each marking the beginning of a momentous task. The first occurs at the burning bush. While shepherding the flocks of his father-in-law, Jethro, Moses arrives at Mount Horeb (otherwise known as Sinai), where a strange sight captures his attention: a bush is engulfed in flames, yet is not being destroyed. He steps forward to investigate this paradox. At that moment, he hears his first divine...

SPRING BLOSSOMS The other day, my niece came round to visit. We proudly showed her our magnolia tree which is in full and majestic blossom. Gazing in awe at its magnificence, she asked if we would mind if she hugged the tree! Putting her arms around its gnarled wide girth, she explained that physically connecting to a tree with its deep roots, endurance and resilience, gave her a sense of calm, serenity and gratitude. We all stood under the immense pale pink cloud of magnolia blossom, united, each in our own way, in our appreciation of the incredible world G-d...