…gave to our civilisation, we have been empowered to appreciate the importance of religion in an ever-increasing secular age, and the relevance of tradition in an untraditional world. Today, we are consecrating an even, a stone, and Targum Onkeles on Parshat Vayechi explains to us the significance of the stone in Jewish tradition. He tells us that even is a…
…than co-authors of our lives, allowed Joseph to survive without resentment about the past or despair in the face of the future. Trust in God gave him immense strength, which is what a leader needs if he is to dare greatly. Vayechi: Moving Forwards Yocheved, Miriam, Shifra, Puah, Tzippora, and Bitya were leaders not because of any official position they…
…are not prisoners of events but active shapers of them. VAYECHI: Judaism allows us to inhabit a culture of grace and hope. If we work hard enough on ourselves, we can be forgiven. FROM THE BOOK OF SHEMOT: SHEMOT: When you learn to listen to views different from your own, realising that they are not threatening but enlarging, then you…
…Lecha Vayera Chayei Sarah Toldot Vayetse Vayishlach Vayeshev Mikketz Vayigash Vayechi Shemot (Exodus) The book of Exodus – Shemot – is the West’s meta-narrative of hope. It tells an astonishing story of how a group of slaves were liberated from the mightiest empire of the ancient world. Theologically, its message is even more revolutionary: the supreme power intervenes in history…
Jewish time always faces an open future. The last chapter is not yet written. The messiah has not yet come. Until then, the story continues – and we, together with God, are its co-authors….
The drama of younger and older brothers, which haunts the book of Bereishit from Cain and Abel onwards, reaches a strange climax in the story of Joseph’s children. Jacob/Israel is nearing the end of his life. Joseph visits him, bringing with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. It is the only scene of grandfather and grandchildren in the book….
The way to peace is to realise that our grasp of truth is partial, fragmentary, incomplete. That is the human condition. Truth matters, but peace matters more. That is Judaism’s considered judgement. Many of the greatest crimes in history were committed by those who believed they were in possession of the truth while their opponents were sunk in error. To…
Truth and truthfulness are fundamental values in Judaism. We call the Torah “the law of truth” (Malachi 2:6). The Sages define truth as the signature of God. Yet truth is not the highest value in Judaism. Peace is….
Judaism allows us to inhabit a culture of grace and hope. If we work hard enough on ourselves, we can be forgiven….
I believe that family is the birthplace of freedom. Caring for one another, we learn to care for the common good….