Rabbis’ and Cantor’s Thoughts and Writings

The Eurovision Song contest helps us to have pride in Israel, the war in Gaza severely tests this pride. Rabbi Mark Goldsmith asks how we stay resolutely Zionist in these circumstances and what we can do to help from the UK.

Every one of us lives with vulnerability. Our Torah portions Tazria-Metzora recognise this and, as Rabbi Mark Goldsmith explains provide a way back for the vulnerable into the community.

Rabbi Mark asks whether we are able to disturb our family celebrations for six minutes of thanksgiving. An impassioned plea for Bircat HaMazon - grace after meals!

Rabbi Mark's sermon for Pekudei begins with the impossibility of ever finding the ideal Rabbi - but asserts that it would not be difficult to find the ideal Reform Jew! And they might be very similar to the ideal Liberal Jew.

Yuval Manor, pictured left with her Leo Baeck High School Haifa school freind Mika Mizrachi, returned to EHRS for Shabbat Ci Tisa and gave this moving sermon, based on the reality of living as a teenager today in Israel.

This sermon for the HIAS-JCore Refugee Shabbat was given by EHRS member Emma Brand. Emma is Co-Director of the Babylon Migrants Project.

Rabbi Mark's sermon asks how we now ensure our Synagogues are able to do great work. Our Torah portions this week gives us two visions, in Terumah it is the 'willing hearted' who contributed, on Shabbat Shekalim everyone is asked to contribute equally. Can today's Judaism encourage us to do both?