Category: Thought of the week
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Thought of the week
This week, we read the double portion of Parashat Matot-Masei, closing the Book of Bamidbar. These portions speak of journeys, vows, wars, and the borders of the Promised Land. Masei lists the forty-two journeys taken by Bnei Yisrael through the wilderness, a vivid chronicle of wandering, growth, and eventual arrival at the edge of destiny.…
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Thought of the week
This week’s parashah, Pinchas, is both challenging and inspiring. It begins with a difficult and violent episode, yet moves quickly into themes of leadership, continuity, and promise. Pinchas is rewarded not for zealotry alone, but for restoring peace among the Israelites. Later, we see Moses preparing to pass the mantle of leadership to Joshua, ensuring…
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Thought of the week
Parashat Balak – A People That Dwells Alone This week’s parasha, Balak, offers a story full of irony, divine intervention, and an enduring truth: you cannot curse what G-d has blessed. Balak, the king of Moav, is terrified by the Israelites approaching his borders. Though Israel has no intention of harming him, he hires the prophet‑for‑hire…
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Thought of the week
This week we read Parashat Chukat, a portion filled with mystery, sorrow, and resilience. It begins with the strange and symbolic ritual of the Parah Adumah – the red heifer – whose ashes purify those who have come into contact with death. Paradoxically, the priest performing the ritual becomes impure himself. This profound contradiction opens…
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Thought of the week
Parashat Korach — In a Nutshell In this week’s Parasha, Korach leads a rebellion against Moses and Aaron’s leadership. Professor Arnold Eisen says: ‘Korach had it wrong: it’s not that every Israelite is holy but that we can be. Everything depends on how we use the gifts in our possession, the days at our disposal, and…
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Thought of the week
Israel and the Fight for a Freer Middle East This week, as missiles launched by the regime in Iran continue to threaten Israel’s cities and citizens, we are reminded once again of the profound challenges facing the Jewish state. Yet, even in this moment of peril, there may be an opportunity to re-shape the region…
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Thought of the week
Dear Friends, As we approach Shabbat, our hearts are turned toward Israel, which now faces an escalating conflict with the Iranian regime. We hold in our prayers all those impacted—especially our sisters and brothers in Israel—and we also think of the people of Iran, many of whom suffer under tyranny and have no voice in…
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Thought of the week
Over the past few days, the weight of Jewish history and vulnerability has pressed heavily on us once again. In Stamford Hill, Jewish-owned businesses were attacked. In Paris, synagogues were vandalised and a Shoah memorial desecrated. In Colorado, Jewish members of Run for Their Lives — a group that walks weekly in solidarity with the…
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Thought of the week
30th May 2025 – As Shavuot Approaches: A Time to Reconnect and Renew In just a few days, we will celebrate Shavuot—the festival marking the moment when our ancestors stood together at the foot of Mount Sinai and received the Torah. That transformative event, 3,337 years ago, continues to resonate in our lives today. Heaven…
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Thought of the week
23rd May 2025 – We Will Remember Them: Sarah and Yaron This Shabbat, we remember Sarah Milgram and Yaron Lischinsky—two beloved souls who chose peace, compassion, and love. Both were dedicated peace activists who worked to build bridges between Israelis and Palestinians. Their shared dream of a better world, grounded in empathy and interfaith dialogue,…