Category: Rabbis blog

Ekev My heart and Tefilla are with the families of those bereaved after the horrific bomb blast that shook the city of Beirut to its core leaving a wake of death and destruction. over 300 thousand have been left homeless. May Hashem provide speedily recovery physically, emotionally and psychologically to all who are so desperate at this tragic time. It has been reported that Israel has offered humanitarian support to Lebanon despite the country being considered an enemy state. There are no coincidences as to when events happen. They always correlate to the weekly portion. In Parshat Ekev Moses continues his closing address to the children of Israel, promising them that if they will fulfil the commandments of the Torah, they will prosper in the land they are about to conquer and settle in keeping with G‑d’s promise to their forefathers. By Israel reaching out to Lebanese citizens displaying compassion despite the previous wars they are showing the world that Israel is deeply committed to the sanctity of life which...

Va'etchanan - Shabbat of Comfort The Shabbat after Tisha Beav is known as Shabbat- Nachamu which means the Shabbat of comfort. Its name derives from the opening words of the Haftorah of Isaiah that reads  "Console, console My people," says your God. Isaiah 40:1 As Rashi (our classic medieval commentator) explains: Isaiah now returns to his prophecies of the future; since from here to the end of the Book are words of consolations, this section separated them from the prophecies of retribution. During the three weeks from the 17th of tammuz until Tisha Beav we read Haftorot that described the impending destruction, the spiritual and moral decline of our people and the resulting punishments. They are known as the "three Haftorot of retribution". In contrast Shabbat Nachamu begins the "7 weeks of consolation" which leads us right up to the week of Rosh Hashana when we begin afresh. However a question still lingers. How can we be consoled after two millennia of suffering and persecution, pogroms...

Tisha Beav- An opportunity  Tisha Be’av represents the day we collectively mourn for the destruction of both Temples. Throughout the ages Tish beav has been marred by tragedy for the Jewish people. Many events began on or around Tisha Beav. Here are just a few examples: in the middle ages 1095CE the first crusade by Pope Urban II brought about the death and destruction of thousands of Jews, 1290 CE the expulsion of the Jews from England, 1492 the inquisition in Spain and Portugal culminating in the expulsion, 1942 Deportations from Warsaw Ghetto to the Treblinka concentration camp. On a broader level Tisha Be’av is the day marked for commemorating all tragedies that have occurred to our people throughout the ages. This is reflected in the Kinnot we recite on the evening and morning of Tisha Beav which spans the period of the first Temple until the Holocaust of modern day. Kinot are really an extension of the book of Lamentations- Eicha which translates...

Devarim- Shabbat of Vision  As we have concluded our first week back at Shul for weekday services and we look forward to our first Shabbat service since March 2020, I would like to sincerely thank our executive and helpers for all their support during this challenging period. I am proud and inspired by the many acts of kindness that have been done for each other. I thank Hashem for keeping our community safe during this period yet at the same time reflect on the fact that so many have passed away in our wider community and we will be reciting a special memorial Teffilah on the first Shabbat. I am aware and understand that some of you may be unable to attend shul and other public places for the time being. As other members start returning to Shul, I want you to know that you are not forgotten. You are still an integral and valued part of our community and we will continue to...

Pinchas In last week’s Sedra, Balak had commissioned Balaam to destroy the Jewish nation on behalf of Moab and Midianites, two territories on the Transjordan plains close to the dead sea. Balaam first tries to curse the people, but his plan fails abysmally. Instead of issuing curses Balaam utters some of the most profound blessings the Jewish people have ever received. And so, onto plan two; enticing the Jewish people to idol worship via sexual immorality and promiscuity. This plot has much more success. The Jews succumb to temptation and rampant immorality spreads through the camp. God brings a plague that threatens to destroy the entire nation. It is only halted when the courageous zealot Pinchas acts extra judicially killing a leader of the tribe of Shimon who publicly acts immorally with a Midianite princess, Kozbi (not to be mixed up with the Kozbi show). The damage though had been done. 24000 are dead. Pinchas at the start of this week’s portion...