I’m teaching rabbinic students a text in the Talmud that is famous for a story it contains (more on that another time). But a question that I keep asking myself is why the idea of hurt feelings and public shame is considered to be such a major concern that the Read more…
To be – to choose life – to be written in the book of life. A sermon this year for Rosh Hashanah – there’s so much to think about and reflect upon. I’m sure my colleagues will run the full gamut of issues but much as I’m drawn to the Read more…
About 18 months ago I gave a sermon about Deuteronomy 10:1-2 and Menachot 99a:12. I want to talk about this thought provoking text again today because I want to reflect on the centrality of texts to my life. Rav Yosef teaches a baraita: This verse teaches that both the tablets of the Covenant and the pieces of the broken tablets are placed Read more…
I want to reflect on trauma in the UK Jewish community in the 21st century. The ideas are under developed but began percolating over the summer of work. Because I have been at a baby blessing, a funeral, shiva, three weddings, a stone setting and a memorial service. And there has been a Read more…
I’ve just come back from Limmud presenting for the Lyons Learning Project at a conference of learners totalling nearly 3000 people. Now I want to suggest that my mission within the Lyons Learning Project is in part to engender Jewish conversations about how and why to be Jewish in the Read more…
Shabbat Shalom. It is really a truly great honour and privilege to be standing here this evening with you and speaking from this pulpit. Thank you for the warmth of welcome and to my colleagues for being generous with their time. I am excited to meet so many of you Read more…
I’ve been asked a couple of times recently about whether I think synagogues should join Citizens UK. Yes, they should. Here’s a couple of things I’ve written about it. This is an extract of my Thought for the Week on 7 May 2015 for the LJS: When we celebrated Pesach, Read more…
I just returned from a weekend away with Liberal Judaism for their first ever ‘Citizens UK community organising’ training for Liberal Judaism communities. I have written about Citizens UK previously and posed some of the challenges that I see in their philosophy and methodology. However, in my earlier post I did state Read more…
This sermon was delivered on the occasion of the final dedication of ‘Seatscape‘ at the LJS – a project to stitch new seat covers for the synagogue chairs, launched as part of the synagogue’s centenary (hence the puns throughout). Last week I threatened to say something interesting this week about Read more…
A few weeks ago my post of the ‘Banned List’ for synagogues was shared and commented upon by many people. A number of comments were sympathetic or felt my frustrations were echoing their frustrations. However, at the same time a number of comments pushed for solutions. It was all well and good Read more…