THE TRACE OF G-D Can you break off a conversation with G-d? Abraham did! At the beginning of this week’s parasha G-d appears to Abraham as he was sitting by the entrance of his tent, looking for visitors. He spies three strangers approaching. Turning to G-d he says: “My L-d, if I have found favour in your eyes, do not leave your servant.” [i.e. Please wait until I have given hospitality to these men.] He then turned to the men and said: “Let me send for some water so that you may bathe your feet and rest under this tree”...

RESPONSIBILITY Next Shabbat, 20th Marcheshvan, 4th November, is the third yahrzeit of Rabbi Lord Sacks, zichrono livracha. In tribute to his memory, you are invited to join me together with Rabbi Dr Raphi Zarum, the Dean of the London School of Jewish Studies, as we explore the inner world of Rabbi Sacks – how he taught and how he thought. This will take place next Wednesday evening at St Johns Wood shul at 8.00 pm. How we miss Jonathan Sacks at this particular time! We crave his words of comfort and inspiration.  There is much to draw from as we...

SHABBAT REST AND SHABBAT STRENGTH It was very special seeing so many of you in shul last Shabbat, both on Friday night and Shabbat day, raising your voices in prayer and song. When we come together at times of crisis, we all feel stronger. Please join us again this Shabbat. Large numbers of our soldiers on the front line are unable to have prayer services. Our songs and tefilot represent them as well as ourselves. A passage in this week’s parasha shows us the special capacity of Shabbat to be a source of strength and comfort to our people in...

IN G-D’S IMAGE President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak together with other world leaders have condemned the actions of Hamas in unambiguous terms. These voices were echoed unequivocally in our shul last Tuesday in the powerful speeches of Lucy Fraser MP and Tom Tugendhat MP upholding Israel’s absolute moral right to protect itself. This Shabbat, we commence the book of Bereishit and read the story of man, created in G-d’s image. Yet only three chapters later, Cain kills his brother Abel and by the end of the parasha, man’s wickedness is so great, G-d “regrets” the creation of...

HERITAGE If you were asked to choose the perfect Torah verse to start a child’s Jewish education, what would it be? Perhaps the opening of the Bible? “In the beginning, G-d created Heaven and Earth.” Or maybe, the first of the Ten Commandments? “I am the L-d, Your G-d.” In fact, the Talmud (Succah 42a) says it is the verse from the last parasha, read on Simchat Torah, followed by the Shema: “Torah tziva lanu Moshe morasha kehilat Yaakov” “Moses commanded us the Torah, the heritage of the community of Jacob.” (Devarim 33:4) The core of our Jewish identity is...