1st December, 2022 Shabbat Shalom dear friends. For the first time in 23 years I don’t know how to begin this week’s missive. In fact, I don’t know how to approach this week’s missive, because it is not in my nature to criticize Israel’s potential government, even when I disapprove of their policies, but this…

25th November, 2022 Shabbat Shalom! I hope that all my American friends had many things to be Thankful for yesterday. Even if in many ways Thanksgiving has lost its original meaning, the idea of giving thanks for what we have when on the other 364 days of the year we tend to complain, is, or…

18th November 2022 Hello! Shabbat Shalom! Hope you are well. Can I begin with a question? Why on earth does the USA feel that they have to investigate the death of  one specific journalist when at least 45 journalists have died in war or revolution situations this year? Could it be because it involves the…

11th day of the 11th month 2022 Shabbat Shalom dear friends “The optimist sees the rose and not its thorns; the pessimist stares at the thorns, oblivious to the rose.” ― Kahlil Gibran On the anniversary of the loss of lives in World Wars and two days after the anniversary of Kristallnacht  it is perhaps hard…

4th November 2022 Shabbat Shalom! I hope this missive finds you well. “The fault lies not with the mob, who demands nonsense, but with those who do not know how to produce anything else.” Cervantes in Don Quixote So the Israeli elections took place and the results must be accepted, whether we like it or…

28th October 2022 Shabbat Shalom! Gosh where has this year gone? It’s almost Halloween aka All Hallows Eve, which began life as a Christian Festival leading up to All Hallows Day, to remember those who have passed away or to be somewhat less delicate, the Mexican’s call it the Day of the Dead! As with…

21st October 2022 26 Tishri 5783 Shabbat Shalom dear friends! Actually, I think it’s Shabbat Shalom! My addled brain has had to deal with many interruptions to the normal calendar because the last few weeks have been a crazy round of Shabbat, New Year, Shabbat, Yom Kippur, Shabbat, Tabernacles, Shabbat Tabernacles and then – guess…

After Kippur The fast is over but the need to atone is not. Here are my thoughts as I set out on another adventure The most common mistake, the cause of so much antipathy, is categorising people – putting them in boxes. Not just nationality, not just colour, not just origin but predominantly, their way…

30th September 2022 5th day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei in the year 5783 Shabbat Shalom! I hope your New Year, the first day of Tishrei, was sweetened not only by the traditional honey but by a sense of renewal. This is the period of time in which we wish each other “Hatima Tova”…

23rd September 2022 27 Ellul 5782 Shabbat Shalom! Gosh, it’s nearly 5783, yes that’s right five thousand, seven hundred and eighty three! That’s 3,761 years more than the Gregorian Calendar. I find that fascinating and even proud that the Hebrew calendar predates the Gregorian by so many years! Before I sit down to write to…