Festivals archive
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The Ultimate Festival of Joy: D’var Torah for Sukkot
The Ultimate Festival of Joy Every year, thousands of people stayed up all night and no one felt sleepy. This was for the Simchat Beit HaShoeivah, the celebration of the Read more... -
Thought for the Day: Yom Kippur 5787
Kol Nidre Reminds Us Who We Are Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, begins on Sunday evening with the Kol Nidre service. This year it will Read more... -
Thought for the Day: Rosh Hashanah 5787
BBC Thought for the Day – Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis – BBC Sounds 11 SEPT 26 What Are Anniversaries For? Every one of a certain age can remember exactly Read more... -
The Chief Rabbi’s Rosh Hashanah Message 5787
In 2025, Netflix released a documentary entitled “Don’t Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever.” It followed Bryan Johnson, a billionaire entrepreneur who has devoted his life to slowing, Read more... -
The Importance of the Journey: D’var Torah for Shavuot
The Importance of the Journey We are all familiar with the concept of a countdown, but in Jewish tradition, we’ve got a count up. That’s exactly what we have been Read more... -
Chief Rabbi’s Pesach Message 5786
“A kippah and a Kiddush cup.” This was Keith Siegel’s request when he emerged from 484 days of unimaginable torture at the hands of Hamas in Gaza. His daughter, Shir, Read more... -
D’var Torah for Purim
My brief message for Purim this year, which is so different from all other years. Read more... -
A D’var Torah for Yom Kippur
As we approach Yom Kippur, I am mindful of the fact that we are currently in the era of the unpredictable. Here in the UK it commenced with the Read more... -
When Rosh Hashanah Doesn’t Fall: D’var Torah for Rosh Hashanah
Why can Rosh Hashanah never commence on a Sunday, a Wednesday, or a Friday? Our sages taught us to remember this with the saying ‘lo adu rosh’- Rosh Hashanah, that Read more...
