Articles

“…In order that you remember the day you came out of Egypt all the days of your life” (Devarim … Continue reading Remember The Day You Came Out of Egypt

1.               Q. We cover our tablecloths on Shabbos and Yom Tov with plastic, which we normally cut from a … Continue reading Questions Asked on Chol Hamoed

In this penultimate haftora of comfort, Yeshaya speaks even more glowingly about our wonderful future. “Behold darkness may cover … Continue reading ישראל אשר בך אתפאר

As we move through the shiva d’nechemta, the seven weeks of comforting by the nevi’im, we might remember Kiddushin … Continue reading He Promised

The difference is plain. Like day and night. After Yom Kippur we are cleansed, forgiven and atoned for. We … Continue reading Just a Question of Time

The korbonos are in the merit of our Ovos. (Rashi, Bamidbar 28:19 in the name of Reb Moshe HaDarshon … Continue reading Tzaddik B’Emunoso Yichye

Last week we quoted Rashi saying that we bring bulls as korbonos in the merit of Avrohom because he … Continue reading Going in the Right Direction

“Five tragedies occurred on the seventeenth of Tammuz; the luchos were smashed, the korban tamid was no longer brought, … Continue reading Remember; Do Not Forget

“And the people saw that Aharon had died and they cried about Aharon for thirty days, the whole House … Continue reading A Heart Full of Joy

One of the most respected and influential members of Manchester’s wider Jewish community was niftar last week. Humble to … Continue reading Reverend Gabriel Brodie ז”ל

“You shall count seven weeks from the beginning of the reaping and then you shall observe the Festival of … Continue reading A Double Simcha

Chapter One Introduction 1.      Q.  How many days of Chol Hamoed are there in a year? A.      In Eretz … Continue reading Do You Know Hilchos Chol Hamoed?

Mishenichnas Adar marbim besimcha; the time of simcha has arrived and we are supposed to increase our simcha from … Continue reading Ashreinu Ma Tov Chelkeinu …..

“These are the judgments which you shall put in front of them. When you acquire a Hebrew slave, he … Continue reading Gateway to Proper Behaviour

President Trump has recently been talking about his “deal of the century,” in connection with Israel and the Arabs. … Continue reading The Deal of all Time

“And the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled and the attitude of Pharaoh and his … Continue reading Our Personal Yetzias Mitzrayim

At the beginning of Parshas Vayeitzei we read:  “ And Yaakov went out of Beer Sheva and he went … Continue reading Shabbos – Our Spiritual Pit-Stop

In 1621 the Plymouth colonists in America and the Wampanoag Indians wanted to thank G-d for a successful harvest. … Continue reading Thanksgiving

In our daily davening we say that Hashem is “habocher beshirei zimra” – He chooses our songs of praise. … Continue reading Choosing Our Songs Of Praise

Untitled 1 One hundred years after Lord Balfour began the political process to enable millions of Jews to live … Continue reading Why did we lose the Land?

Any rabbi or Jewish speaker who has ever spoken in public on the topic of emuna has probably been … Continue reading Where was G-d in the Holocaust?

Avrohom Ovinu’s statement that he is “like dust and ashes” (Bereishis 18:27) is much misunderstood. People often understand that … Continue reading Revolutionising our Shemoneh Esrei

Simchos Bais Hashoeva come in various shapes and sizes. Some take place in a Succa, some in Simcha halls, … Continue reading בני בני חביבי –  A Tribute to the Residents of Beit Ha’ela

The Gemara Megila (9a) tells that Ptolemy, the king of Egypt, once gathered seventy-two Jewish elders and put them … Continue reading טוב להודות לה’ – It’s Good to Thank Hashem

In the Musaf Shemone Esre of Yom Tov we say, “Rebuild Your Temple….establish Your site….May we go up there … Continue reading How Beautiful Are Your Footsteps

In Pirkei Avos (3:1) we learn: Akavya ben Mehalalel says: “Consider three things and you will not come to … Continue reading A Holy People

In the parsha of Ki Sovo, we read about the vidui maaser, the declaration that one had observed the … Continue reading Look Down…And Bless Your People

Nissan is commonly known as the month of redemption, but the Gemoro in Rosh Hashono (11a) brings another opinion … Continue reading Building the King’s Palace

The best-known section of Ki Sovo is the Tochacha – warning us what will happen if we do not … Continue reading Towards a Successful Rosh Hashono

A joyous atmosphere pervaded the Beis Hamedrash recently at an unusual, almost unique simcha – a triple bris of … Continue reading Mazeltov, Mazeltov, Mazeltov – The Triple Bris

After sixteen years in Glasgow, my wife and I had to consider our options. The shul had declined and … Continue reading Eretz Yisroel

According to a small advert in the Jewish newspaper, Queen’s Park shul in Glasgow was looking for a rabbi. … Continue reading Bonnie Scotland

We were in our kitchen in Amsterdam when the letter arrived from the Rotterdam Jewish Community. We were expecting … Continue reading The Cohen

As we approach Tisha Be’Av, our tefilos for the rebuilding of the Beis Hamikdash deepen in intensity. But what … Continue reading A Month of Rejoicing? – Part 3

Mutual respect between Jews who have different hashkafos concerning the State of Israel was our theme last week. The … Continue reading A Month of Rejoicing? – Part 2

The best-known posuk of Parshas Balak is the praise and blessing Bilaam gave to the Jewish home. “How goodly … Continue reading Bilaam’s Tear

Last week in Beit Shemesh, a wild dog somehow found its way into a block of flats near the … Continue reading Mad Dogs and Jews

The question is sometimes asked why we say vehu rachum straight after neila at the end of Yom Kippur? … Continue reading The Summer: Make Hay While the Sun Shines

After seven weeks of intense preparation, Bnei Yisroel were zoche to be given the Torah on Har Sinai. On … Continue reading אנכי ה’ אלוקיך

There seems to be a question about unwrapping certain bars of chocolate on Shabbos. Can you explain? All the … Continue reading The Chocolate Bar Question

Q. Yaakov, an Israeli businessman has already booked to fly to an important business meeting in England on the … Continue reading Travelling from Israel on the Eighth day of Pesach