The last few months have been both emotionally exhausting and exhilarating at the same time. The build-up to the general election and the threat of Labour Anti-Semitism shook Anglo Jewry to its core, challenging most of its working assumptions about our status and security here in the UK.  The initial stalemate surrounding Brexit and our … More The New Normal

Shabbos Zachor 5780   On Wednesday morning, I had an idea To deliver a drosho with pre-Purim cheer   I know it’s unusual, but that’s how it goes A sermon as a poem, rather than prose   Let’s go back in time, to days of yore To an event, unique that hadn’t happened before   … More A Drosho in Rhyme

To view my induction address at Finchley Federation Synagogue click  here Enjoy!    

In a world where you can be anything, be kind. This quote from Jennifer Dukes Lee is trending, but for tragic reasons. We live in a cruel world, and if you live online, it’s a very cruel world, where anonymous individuals can say the most spiteful things. What are we meant to take from this? … More The Second Tablet

Most of us are looking for the magical formula to be able to strike the perfect work-life balance. It’s never easy to find and so it’s somewhat reassuring that greatest human being who has ever lived struggled to cope with the workload. Moshe Rabbeinu cannot keep up with the needs of the people. It takes … More Yisro – Shining Bright

At the end of the sedra we are introduced to an episode that impacts all of world history. The Bnei Yisrael have just experienced a direct revelation of the Almighty, they see His providential Hand reversing the laws of nature at the Red Sea. They become phenomenally wealthy, in addition to the wealth that they … More Beshalach – A Crisis of Faith?

We are well into the story of Yetzias Mitzrayim and the beauty of these weeks is that they give us the opportunity to discuss the themes and ideas of Pesach without the Pre Pesach pressure of getting our homes and our hearts ready. These sedras are essentially a dry run to give us a chance … More Bo – Leaving Our Personal Mitzrayim

Learning to Lead I was teaching in a school in Manchester this week and I mentioned a concept that met with some resistance. I happened to say that when we daven we speak to Hashem, but when we learn Torah, Hashem speaks to us. When we buy an appliance, we intuitively expect it to come … More Shemos – Learning to Lead

The climax of this week’s sedra is without a doubt the reconciliation of Yosef and his brothers. The Torah tells us that things got to a point where Yosef could no longer hold back, he sends everyone else out of the room and reveals his identity to them. What happened? Why was he suddenly unable … More Vayigash – Unity does not mean we are all the Same

Natan Scharansky recalls Chanuka in a Russian prison camp after he had successfully managed to light candles on the first five nights. On the sixth night of Hanukkah the authorities confiscated my menorah with all my candles. I ran to the duty officer to find out what had happened. “The candlesticks were made from state … More Heroes – Chanukah / Miketz 5780