Thoughts for Sedra Va’Etchanan Rabbi Jonathan Guttentag From the Latin Poet Virgil Omnia Vincit Amor love conquers all, to the (almost) contemporary Beatles, All You Need is Love, love is an important part of human existence. For Judaism, though, there is an extra dimension – love directed at the One …
Eychah essah levadi, torchachem umasa’achem v’rivchem How can I bear by myself, your contentiousness, your burdens and your quarrels (Devorim 1;12) The Sedra before Tisha B’Av always contains a reminder of the saddest day in the Jewish calendar that will occur in the next week. The exclamation by Moshe; eychah …
Thoughts for Sedra Matot & Massei Rabbi Jonathan Guttentag Velo Tachanifu et Ha’aretz: You shall not bring guilt upon the land in which you are, for the blood will bring guilt upon the Land. (Bamidbar 35;33) The Torah’s prescriptions for one who takes human life, conclude with a general exhortation: …
Thoughts on Sedra Chukat-Balak The government has issued its new regulations, and the Chief Rabbi and the United Synagogue have followed suit by issuing their guidelines. Like other countries where the lockdown has gradually been lifted, it has become permitted for public religious life to be resumed in official religious …
Thoughts for Sedra Korach This week’s announcement by the Prime Minister that weddings would shortly be permitted to resume, coincided with Sedra Korach – which is normally read at the height of the Jewish wedding season, before the Three Weeks. Sedra Korach is always a good time to talk about …
Thoughts For Sedra Shlach Lecha Our current circumstances find some echoes from our current Torah reading. Last week’s Sedra contained the verse familiar to us from Shul “Vayehi benesoa Ha’Aron vayomer Moshe, and it was when the Ark journeyed and Moses said..” (Bamidbar 10;35). Commentators explain that this signifies that the …
Yevarechecha … May the Lord bless you and keep you; Ya’er …. May the Lord cause His face to shine to you and be gracious unto you. Yissa … May the Lord lift up His countenance to you and grant you peace (Bamidbar 6;24-26) The three part blessing detailed in …
Come my friend, to meet the bride, let us receive the face of Shabbat My dear friends, As we stand ready to spend this extraordinary Shabbat apart and yet together – let us do so with joy and an elevated sense of uplift. It is a challenging situation for us …
The Manchester Arena terrorist atrocity On Tuesday 23rd May 6pm 2017 Rabbi Guttentag was asked to represent the Jewish Community of Manchester and join the multi-faith platform at the vigil in Albert Square. Below are Rabbi Guttentag’s thoughts on the appalling events that unfolded at the Manchester Arena. We are stunned …
