FAST AND SLOW Earlier this week, Google announced the launch of Willow, its latest and greatest quantum computing chip. It performed a calculation in under five minutes that would have taken the best of other supercomputers 10 septillion (that’s 10 followed by 24 zeroes) years to perform! Obviously, we are still a long way from this new chip having practical applications, but it is an indication of the continued speed of innovation we see in the technological world. What applies in technology does not apply in ethics or morality, especially Jewish ethics. Issues need to be considered, evaluated and given...
NO GAPS If you get the chance this Shabbat to observe closely the Hagbaha – the lifting up of the Sefer Torah after leining, you will notice something very unusual. This week’s parasha, Vayeitzei, is written in the Sefer Torah as a continuous piece of Torah text of more than five columns. There are no gaps, no paragraph breaks. Neither open paragraphs, which begin on the next line (known as petuchot), nor closed paragraphs which begin, after a break of nine letters, on the same line (known as setumot). There is only one other sidra in the Torah that shares...
ISAAC’S SENSORY EXPERIENCE It is well-known that a blind or partially sighted person can develop heightened ability in other senses to compensate for their loss of sight. We see this clearly in this week’s parasha where the blind Isaac touches, listens, tastes and smells to clarify the identity of the person of front of him. Isaac sends out his son, Esau to hunt for game so that he may eat his food and bless him. Rebecca overhears and instructs Jacob to pre-empt Esau. He should don his brother’s clothes and bring food that she will prepare so that Isaac will...
RABBI LORD JAKOBOVITS – IN MEMORIUM Friday 22nd November (21st Marcheshvan), marks the twenty-fifth yahrzeit of HaRav Lord Immanuel Jakobovits z”l, Chief Rabbi from 1967 to 1991. He passed away on 31st October 1999, 21st Marcheshvan 5760. Rabbi Jakobovits was born on 8th February 1921 in Königsberg. He was knighted in 1981 and in 1988 he became the first Chief Rabbi to be appointed to the House of Lords. His sudden death, aged 78, was a devastating blow for Anglo-Jewry and indeed, for world Jewry. His loss was felt especially keenly in St Johns Wood where Lord J was a...
THE LEGACY OF RABBI LORD JONATHAN SACKS Z”L This Thursday (20th Marcheshvan), will be the 4th yahrzeit of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, z”l. Next Moztei Shabbat (23rd November), we will be holding a Melave Malka (post Shabbat light meal) in tribute to him with words of inspiration from Rabbi Michael Laitner and music from Rabbi Yossi Binstock. This is open to all the community – please join us! Rabbi Lord Sacks passed away on the Shabbat of Vayera, 2020. Let me share with you a thought that formed part of the hesped, the eulogy that I gave for him at...
