LJ Thought for the Week: B’har Life is full of paradoxes. One particular paradox is highlighted in this week’s Torah portion, parashat B’har (Leviticus 25:1-26:2). There we learn that we live in cycles of seven years, and that in the seventh year, there should be a Sabbath for the land (25:2-7). We also learn that […]
BEETROOT Ukraine’s most famous national food is borscht, for which the main ingredient is beetroot. Rabbi Igor Zinkov of the Liberal Jewish Synagogue, who is Co-Chair of the World Union/European Union of Progressive Judaism Ukraine Emergency Support Fund, writes: The story of Pesach is the story of freedom – and we will all be praying for those […]
PRAYER FOR REFUGEES AT PESACH Eternal God, our Creator and Liberator, as we celebrate together at our seder and rejoice in our many blessings, we pause to remember those across the world whose lives are blighted by the curses of poverty and persecution. We think of the many millions in flight from tyranny, violence and […]
Eternal One, Rock of our Existence, the Source and Sustainer of Life, as President Putin wages war on Ukraine and the forces of autocracy wreak havoc and attempt to instil terror and fear in every heart, we call on You to strengthen the people of Ukraine in their collective will to muster the courage and […]
Rosh Ha-Shanah Rosh Ha-Shanah New Year New moon of Tishri Dawning darkly First stars Sparkling pathways From the past Into the future Hinneini Here I am Standing on the threshold Of the new year Ready But Retreating T’shuvah? I turn back from the brink Sarah’s laughter Ringing in my ears New life? New beginning? Is […]
DEDICATED TO THE UN CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE (COP 26), GLASGOW, 31.10.21-12.11.21 Learning from Noah Warning from Noah flood waters drenching half the Earth. But this time no saving remnant and no prospect of a remnant saved not even an olive-branch-bearing dove. Meanwhile where the sun bakes frenzied fires igniting incinerating everything in their wake. And […]
THE BIRTHDAY OF THE WORLD Rosh Ha-Shanah; the Jewish New Year. But there’s nothing very new about it. The COVID-19 pandemic continues. The world will not be free of it until all the world’s peoples are vaccinated. When will that be? Meanwhile, devastating floods and raging fires. Climate catastrophe is not a future threat it […]
Shabbat shalom everyone. It’s an honour and a great pleasure to be invited to speak today at this first European Union for Progressive Judaism Pride Shabbat morning service.I would like to take this opportunity to express heartfelt solidarity for all those living in countries where LGBTQ+ people do not have the protection of equality laws […]
Shabbat shalom everyone. It’s an honour and a great pleasure to be invited to speak today at this first European Union for Progressive Judaism Pride Shabbat morning service. I would like to take this opportunity to express heartfelt solidarity for all those living in countries where LGBTQ+ people do not have the protection of equality […]