Rabbi Claude's Scribbles

  As we sit around the Seder table on the Seder night(s), how many of us really consider the phrase: ‘Avadim Hayinu LePharaoh Bemizrayim’ – ‘We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt?’ I would bet ‘a Shabbat-friendly wager’ (if there were such a thing) that we probably don't give it much thought.   We like singing the tune of ‘avadim hayinuuuuu hayinu’ and look forward to the meal, which will arrive eventually, depending on how much effort we put into retelling the story of the Exodus...and watching the faces of our family and friends longing for us to 'get on with it' - before the inevitable 'so, when do we eat?' question arises. But it's not an easy topic to discuss. We were slaves and we came out of Egypt. Seven weeks later, we were standing at the foot of Sinai and receiving the Ten Commandments from the Almighty.   Then Moshe went up the mountain and some of what he learned up there forms the bulk of this week's Parsha. Exodus 21:1-5 These are the la

"Infamy, infamy, they've all got it in-for-me!" Kenneth Williams' famous (or should it be infamous?) quote from ‘Carry on Cleo’ could equally be applied to Jewish history. 'The Longest Hatred' which was characterised by the cowardly and brutal attack of the Amalekites on the Israelite women and children at the tail end of last week's Parsha, was in evidence yet again last Shabbat in the Beth Israel Synagogue of Colleyville, Texas. Thank Gd this time, our brethren were not harmed. There seems to exist an unending chain that links both attacks across five millennia. The longest hatred does not appear to be in any rush to distance itself from our nation in the past, present or future. It is easy to think that 'they', whoever the current flavour of antisemitism takes on the ancient mantle happens to be, do 'have it in-for-us'. The thought of which is understandably concerning and deeply troubling. I don't think it is a coincidence that

Exodus 10:22-23 Moses held out his arm toward the sky and thick darkness descended upon all the land of Egypt for three days. People could not see one another, and for three days no one could get up from where he was; but all the Israelites enjoyed light in their dwellings. Ibn Ezra (1089-1167) 'No one could get up from where he was': From his house, as in 'let no man leave his place' (Ex. 16:29). For where could they go without light? “We feel really privileged to have the conversations we do about mental health, and also the variety of places we travel to, and the people we get to meet.” Johnny Benjamin is quoted discussing his extraordinary work with Neil Laybourn, the man who, in 2008, convinced him not to jump off Waterloo Bridge. In doing so, Neil literally saved Johnny's life. In 2017, JAMI, the Jewish Association for the Mentally Ill, designated the Saturday on which we read Parshat Bo as its Mental Health Awareness Shabbat. Referring to the ninth plagu

Shabbat Shalom dear friends. I'm in a quandary. Today is the first of January, but I don't know what to wish you. I could utter the usual greeting for the day which is of course, “Happy New Year” but to be honest, I feel a little strange saying these words to my fellow Jews, in Shul from the pulpit, with a great deal of conviction. After all, we've already wished each other this sentiment when we said, "Shanah Tovah" last September as we entered our New Year. Tomorrow night is Rosh Chodesh Shevat, the fifth month of our year! Were it not for our adding a second Adar to our luach/calendar, as it's a leap year next month, the end of Adar Rishon and particularly Rosh Chodesh Nissan would mark the year's half-way point. I don't know about you, but I think it is bad form to wish someone a Shanah Tovah halfway through the year! We know that today marks the first day of Two Thousand and Twenty-Two (2022) in the 'Year of Our Lord' , AD - Anno Domin