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…

16th September 2022 Shabbat Shalom! Today’s Hebrew date is the 20th of Elul, 5782, almost Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year which isn’t really a NEW year but rather the “Head of the Year”. It has been an interesting week, a week in which even the most determined anti-monarchist has been following the Royal family.…

9th September 2022 13th Elul 5782 Shabbat Shalom dear friends. I know it is hard to absorb the depth of sadness that Britain is experiencing now. Queen Elizabeth II represented everything that is good in a leader, albeit a nominal leader, a titular head, but a figurehead representing dedication to post and people, humility, dignity;…

2nd September 2022 Shabbat Shalom everyone! Can you believe that it’s already September? 2022 is in its ninth month, let’s see what the remainder of the year gives birth to! For a change I’m going to start right away with news so that we can talk about the more pleasant aspects of life, leaving us…