Rabbi Claude's Scribbles

  Lovingly dedicated to the memory of our friend, mother & grandmother Sherril - Sarah bat Chaim Eliezer, aleha hashalom   When I was growing up my knowledge of our collective history consisted of the Bible stories I had learned in school through studying the Torah.   When I write 'Bible', as far as I was concerned, this only consisted of the Torah as we didn't look much at the other two books of the Old Testament.   Yes, I knew about David and Goliath and of course was aware of other historical events connected to our calendar, such as the Books of Ruth and Esther and the destruction of the Temples, but to be truthful, the many books that were included in Neviim (Prophets) and Ketuvim (writings) were a mystery to me.     I understand why Jewish schools don't (or in my case, didn't) teach Tenach.   Many of the episodes are distinctly unsuitable for a young audience.   You can therefore imagine my surprise as I slowly delved into these tomes and expande

President Joseph R.  Biden The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave Washington, DC 20500 United States of America 18th August 2021 10th Ellul 5781   Dear Mr President, I, along with millions of others watched your address to the American people regarding the withdrawing of troops from Afghanistan.  It is not my place to judge you or to assess the rationale that you cited for making your decision.  You are the most powerful human being on this planet and as you said, "The buck stops with me." I was, however, struck by the timing of your actions and the week in which you chose to reveal your policy, in conjunction with the reading of this week's Parsha of Ki Tetzei in a few days' time.  As a person of deep faith, I do not believe in coincidences and would like to share with you some ideas that I have considered in relation to both your decision and the myriad of laws that encompass our Torah reading. Ki Tetzei conta

    בס"ד I really don't know where the time has gone. Three years ago, on 7th Ellul (corresponding with 18th August), Stephnie and I spent our first Shabbat in this wonderful community of Staines.   My trial had begun the previous evening and now, here I was, about to recite this week's parsha of Shoftim before you.   I must have done something right because three years later, I'm still here...and when Shabbat leaves, the 7th Ellul will be upon us again.   Shoftim therefore has a very special place in my heart. And so does the number three. In our religion, as you are aware, certain numbers have greater significance than others.   When I mention the number three, a few examples come to mind: the three prayers that we recite daily; the shalosh regalim, three ‘Foot Festivals’; the shalosh avot, the three Patriarchs and most importantly the idea that in every human conception there are three partners, the two parents and Gd. On the third day, Gd brought forth