Other archive
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Why is the Book of Esther included in Tanach?
Transcript Why is the book of Esther included in Tanach? You might be wondering: how could it be possible for Esther not to be in Tanach? It’s one of our Read more... -
Shemini Atzeret: A most unusual festival!
Transcript: Shemini Atzeret is a most unusual festival. Other festivals have special mitzvot: on Rosh Hashanah we blow the shofar; on Pesach we hold a seder; on Chanukah we light Read more... -
Succot: So many festivals in just a few weeks!
Transcript: This month is packed with major festivals, but we need them all. As I see it, in the same way as we need all three paragraphs of the shema, Read more... -
Yom Kippur: Guaranteed happiness in 5783?
Transcript How can we all guarantee that we’ll be happy in 5783? Our Yom Kippur Kol Nidrei evening service commences with a verse from Psalm 97: “Ohr zarua letzadik, uleyishrei Read more... -
Is Rosh Hashanah on the wrong day?
Transcript: Do we celebrate Rosh Hashanah on the right day? In our davening on the New Year we proclaim, “HaYom harat olam!” – “This is the day on which Hashem Read more... -
Elul: I am for my Beloved
Transcript “I am for my Beloved and my Beloved is for me.” These beautiful words, authored by King Solomon in Shir HaShirim 6:3, in the orginal Hebrew, “Ani ledodi vedodi Read more... -
The Chief Rabbi’s D’var Torah for Shavuot and the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
Transcript There is a strong connection between the festival of Shavuot and the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. On the festival, for our Torah reading, we will read from Parshat Yitro about Read more... -
Pesach: Are you thirsty without knowing it?
Transcript When are we thirsty without even knowing it? At our seder tables, we declare, “Kol dichfin yeitei v’yeichol. Kol ditzrich yeitei veyifsach.” – “Let all who are hungry come Read more... -
Shabbat HaGadol: How can one shabbat be ‘greater’ than all the others?
Transcript How can any one shabbat be greater than all the others? This coming shabbat will have the title ‘Shabbat HaGadol’ – The Great Sabbath. Many reasons are given as Read more... -
Shemini Atzeret: The conclusion we’ve been waiting for
Transcript: During the coronavirus pandemic, some of us have been missing conclusions. Due to restrictions for example, some graduation ceremonies have not taken place. School years have ended without an Read more...