September 4th, 2015/Elul 20, 5775  For those of you who have attended a Shabbat morning service, the ceremony for taking out and returning the Torah can often feel very theatrical. We rise, we bow, we face the ark, we turn and march around the synagogue, with many kissing the Torah as it passes. Only when […]

Twenty years ago, I suggested that this Sabbath, the Shabbat between Yom HaShoah and yom haAtzmaut, be celebrated as a special Shabbat under the name of ‘Shabbat laAm’ – Our People’s Sabbath – dedicated to strengthening the ties between Israeli Jews and Jews who live in all other countries around the world.How are the 2 […]

10th April, 2015 To keep kosher or not to keep kosher? That is the question! I believe that the question for many Jews today is not whether to keep kosher, but rather what degree of kashrut to keep and for what purpose. Are there various degrees of kashrut? Should keeping ‘somewhat kosher’ be comparable to […]

16th January 2015/25 Tevet 5775 “If first you don’t succeed, try again” This is a simple, basic, common wisdom. It does not imply that you should repeat exactly the same failed attempt… Rather, try to investigate the reasons why your first attempt failed, and try to achieve your goal, reach your target from a different […]