Rosh Hashana
Along the timeline of history there are days which stand out, days which are burnt into our memories. Such days we remember clearly where we were and what we were doing at the time. Be it the outbreak of WW2,…
The Chief Rabbi’s Rosh Hashanah Message
On 23rd June 2019, something extraordinary happened in Turkey; something which provides an insight into how each of us might successfully navigate a society which feels more divided and despondent than it has for many years. Increasingly, when faced with…
Our Father, Our King.
Our Father, our King. You are judging us today. This is, after all, the Yom HaDin, the Day of Judgment, and You, after all, are the King. But You are also our Father. Please judge us as a father would…
The Real Impact
As we approach the new year, we are packed with mixed emotions of solemn and joy. The day of judgement is a day of glorifying Hashem and telling of his royalty and kingship over us which enables us to be…
Macro or Micro?
It’s Rosh Hashanah and that gets you thinking. Many questions pass your mind, what’s with the apple and honey? What’s with the Shofar? Isn’t one day enough to celebrate as a New Year? As the questions start piling in and…
Heroes in the Sand
And gave us the Torah, and brought us into the Land of Israel” (Dayeinu, Pesach Hagaddah) There is a famous question, asked year after year at almost every Seder table. Why did the Holy One, Blessed is He, give us…
The Chief Rabbi’s Pesach Message 5779
The two central themes of Pesach – peoplehood and freedom – have the potential to either provide great blessing or pose great danger to our society. The Exodus from Egypt paved the way for the Israelites to become a people.…
Passover Tells Us: Teach Your Children Well
As one nation after another in Africa and the Middle East engages in a fight for freedom, Passover, which begins this week, still has much to teach us about the nature of that fight. The Jewish festival of freedom is…