Articles archive
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Pinchas: What would it be like without you?
Transcript A rabbi once returned to his shul after a vacation. One of his congregants said to him, “Rabbi, you should have been here to see what it’s like without Read more... -
Balak: Every one of us can make time sacred!
Transcript Where do we find the festivals of Pesach, Shavuot and Succot in Parshat Balak? The parsha tells us that after Bilam had cruelly struck his donkey three times, Hashem Read more... -
Shelach Lecha: How not to use the Torah
Transcript It is possible for a person to be an expert in Torah law without practising any of it. For example, this could be an academic who has studied the Read more... -
Beha’alotecha: “I was filled with dread and I panicked.” Why?
Transcript: I was filled with dread and I panicked. What had happened? I had given an address to a large audience and then I stepped down from the stage without Read more... -
Nasso: Why is peace like a suitcase?
Transcript: Peace is a suitcase. Now why do I say that? In Parshat Nasso we’re given the Birkat Kohanim – the ‘duchaning’ – the blessing that the Kohanim bring from Read more... -
Shavuot: Oil, water, wine and milk are like Torah – how?
Transcript In our tradition, Torah is compared to four different types of liquids. Let us focus on this in anticipation of the festival of Shavuot through which we will dedicate Read more... -
Yom Yerushalayim: “Jerusalem” does not appear in the Torah – why?
Transcript: Why does the name of Jerusalem not appear in the Torah? On 21 separate occasions in the book of Devarim we are told about, “bamakom asher yivchar Hashem,” – Read more... -
Join us for the Festival of Torah
This year, the Office of the Chief Rabbi has been working with communities, encouraging them to plan Torah learning programmes which are more creative and more impactful than ever before. Read more... -
Bechukotai: A challenge for Shavuot this year
Transcript There is a most intriguing commentary of Rashi at the commencement of Parshat Bechukotai. The parsha starts, “Im bechukotai teleichu…” – “If you walk in my statutes…” and what Read more... -
Charles’s embrace of faith shows how just how much times have changed
Nearly a thousand years ago, a coronation was a time to weep for the Jewish community, but today, it is a time for great celebration On 3 September 1189, Richard Read more...
