Friday 13th of September in the year 2024 Shabbat Shalom. Did you know that the number 13 is considered a blessing in the Jewish calendar? A boy becomes a man at the age of 13; the 13 attributes of the Almighty after the forgiveness for the Golden Calf; Maimonides 13 principles of faith; in Jewish…

6th of September 2024 Shabbat Shalom to one and all I’m back and want to thank all of you who wrote asking where I was last week. I had a truly wonderful trip to the UK, managing to spend time with loved ones, both family and friends, to catch up on both good and bad…

23rd of August 2024 371st of October, more than 10 months of anguish and heartbreak Shabbat Shalom! I wish you a peaceful Shabbat. A hundred times every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life depend upon the labours of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order…

16th August, 2024 314 days since October 7th Shabbat Shalom, Shabbat Nachamu – the Shabbat of Comfort Shabbat Nachamu is the Shabbat after Tisha b’Av (the 9th of the Hebrew month of Av a fast day of deep mourning) when we remember the horrific disasters, both self-induced and imposed that fell upon the Jewish people.…

9th of August 2024 307 days since October 7th The 5th day of the month of Av, 5784 Shabbat Shalom! Hope you are doing well and not too overwhelmed by our world situation and our leaders and potential leaders. When it comes down to it, it all depends upon us. Little Ariel Bibas, that beautiful…

1st August 2024 Shabbat Shalom and Chodesh Tov, the new month of Av. Shabbat Shalom to all of us who enjoy our freedom to celebrate the Sabbath as we wish, as we have always done. 300 days and incredibly 115 hostages are still held in captivity, in all probability in the darkness of tunnels and…

26th July, 2024 Shabbat Shalom to one and all. May you have a peaceful weekend This week was a confused and difficult one for the United States of America. I am not talking about the leadership, not about who will be chosen as President, I am starting this missive with a series of video clips,…

19th July 2024 286 days of captivity in Gaza for 120 Israelis Shabbat Shalom! I hope you are well. In the early hours of this morning there was a drone attack on Tel Aviv by Houthis from Yemen some 2,303 kms away. One man died and there were several injuries. The Houthis may be known…

Lies, Damned Lies and Qataris? 12th July, 2024 279th of October 6th day of the month of Tammuz Shabbat Shalom! Did you know that Joseph, son of Jacob, he of the multi-coloured dreamcoat, was both born and died on this day? The 6th day of Tammuz nearly 2,000 years BCE? It is also the anniversary…

5th of July, 2024 Shabbat Shalom, Rosh Hodesh Tammuz Tov (Rosh Hodesh means a new month, as we go into the month of Tammuz) and of course, have a good weekend. Where to start? Elections all over the place, some good results, some worrying and an awful lot of mud slinging. In the UK the…