Over the past five years the world has seen some of the most remarkable political revolutions ever. March 2003 saw the downfall of Saddam Hussein’s tyrannical regime. In November 2003 former Soviet republic of Georgia saw the Rose Revolution leading to the instalment of a proper democratic government. Then, in…
Month: March 2006
Must We Constantly Struggle?
“As the plane landed at Ben Gurion airport, the Captain made his announcement: "Please remain seated with your seatbelt fastened until this plane comes to a complete standstill and the seat belt signs have been turned off. To those who are seated, we wish you a Merry Christmas, and hope…
The Festival of Marriage & Family Values
This Shabbat is the fifteenth day of the month of Av. Some in Israel markthis day with a “Festival of Love” and commemorate it with all night rock concerts, most noticeably on the shores of Lake Kineret. There are also those who celebrate it by attending "Love, Sexuality and Art…
Shavuot: Relationship Guidance From God
Thousands of self-help books have been published offering guidance to men and women pursuing romantic relationships. With so much help at hand one might have thought that this generation would be experiencing the most fulfilling relationships ever. The reality however is that the divorce rate is at record levels and…
The Answer to Political Apathy
My teenage years were spent thirsting for a big idea. I was searching for something that would catch my imagination. Although I went to an Orthodox Jewish school, there was nothing I was taught that fired my passion. In fact, by the age of sixteen I was rather apathetic about…
Freedom: The Real Thing
On Pesach we celebrate the emancipation of the Children of Israel from slavery in Egypt. Less then two months after the Children of Israel left Egypt they stood at the foot of mount Sinai to receive the Torah from God. The Torah is a book of Laws that govern our…
Why I No Longer Celebrate Xmas
My grandparents moved to the UK from mainland Europe in the 1930s. Upon setting up home they made a conscious decision that their children should be British first – being Jewish came a distant second. Thus, my mother and her siblings were brought up celebrating Xmas with all its trimmings….
Life Is One Big Game
According to the following Midrash, victory is the theme of Sukkot: The divine judgment on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is comparable to a civil dispute being judged in a court of law. And the first day of Sukkot is akin to the end of the court case when the…
The Legitimacy of Difference
Many refer to Sukkot as the festival of Jewish unity. The Midrash (Agadah Leviticus 23) tells us that the "Four Species" (the citron, palm branch, myrtle and willow) that Jews shake on Sukkot represent four disparate types of Jews. Holding the "Four Species" together symbolizes the unity of all Jews….
A Sukkot Meditation
As a teacher, rabbi and writer I am fortunate to be able to interact positively with many people. Often people come to speak with me or join a class that I give with a passionate craving for spiritual knowledge and inspiration. Unbeknown to them their desire to learn and to…