26th April, 2024 October the 203rd Shabbat Shalom, Moadim le Simcha (what one says in the middle days of a festival wishing joy) I hope that your Passover Seder was meaningful and introduced a little joy into our complex lives. I promise to tell you all about our Seder later, but want to begin with…

19th April 2024 11th Nissan, 5784 195 days since October 7th Tonight we begin Shabbat haGadol, the great Shabbat, directly before Pesach. We read from Leviticus 14 – 16 and learn all about Elijah whose role in Judaism and Pesach are fundamental. Shabbat Shalom to all who care, Shabbat shalom to all who believe in…

12th April 2024 Shabbat Shalom dear friends, Shabbat Shalom and Eid Mubarak I hope this missive finds you well, undoubtedly disturbed but well. I decided to begin with a quote from Rabbi Jeremy Rosen’s missive of the week rather than my own because what he wrote today is so incredibly pertinent. It is the story…

5th April, 2024 181 days since October 7th Shabbat Shalom, Blessed Easter week and Ramadan Kareem OK, Let’s jump right in. It was a tragedy when the World Central Kitchen truck was hit and aid workers killed. It was a tragic mistake and one that will be thoroughly investigated. We have apologised, our President Herzog…

29th of March 2024 Shabbat Shalom, a blessed Good Friday and a Holy Easter. I remember the time when we used to think it funny to say “Chaos reigns and we all get wet” but I stopped laughing on October 7th. Chaos reigns in an ever confused and threatening world. Chaos in a world of…

22nd of March 2024 12th Adar II 5784 167th of October Shabbat Shalom dear friends. Shabbat Shalom, Purim Sameach, Ramadan Kareem and a blessed Holy Week beginning with Palm Sunday Do you remember the old story about the teacher who sees two children fighting in the playground, one of whom is beating the living daylights…

15th March 2024 161st day of October Scarred and Scared Shabbat Shalom dear friends. For a change I want to begin with a letter from a friend. It fascinated me and helped me understand many aspects of what it means to be both here in Israel and in the country of one’s residence, the USA,…

8th March 2024 153rd of October Shabbat Shalom dear friends. Shabbat Shalom today, International Women’s Day. I thought that the slogan “Me Too except for Jew” was exaggerated, but as time went on and not one women’s organisation condemned the vile attacks of Hamas, the demonic instances of necrophilia, sadism, paedophilia, genital mutilation of women…

1st March, 2024 October 144th Shabbat Shalom, I wish you a peaceful weekend I want you to imagine a beautiful sunny day, driving down road 232, the verges covered in fabulous carpet of wild red anemones, so famous in the south of Israel. We had driven down this road many times in the past to…

23rd February 2024 Shabbat Shalom dear friends. A peaceful, kind weekend to one and all irrespective of how you pray, to whom you pray and in which direction. I wish you well. Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of the Moslem faith. It is celebrated on the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and…