Rabbi Claude's Scribbles

Parshat Vayakhel: It's All Too Much Last summer, following the evacuation of the troops from Afghanistan, my shul in Bushey found itself being featured in both the local and national headlines. At the height of the crisis, seventeen refugee families arrived in the area having boarded a flight from Kabul to escape the Taliban. Our local councillor contacted the Rabbi and told him that there was a desperate need for items such as warm clothing, toiletries, school supplies and toys. Our community banded together to provide these and within three hours, on Sunday, 22nd August, the shul car park was packed with dozens of black rubbish bags containing donations of said items. These were handed out to thirty grateful families living in local hostels. By Thursday night, the number of recipients had risen to seventy-two. I remember the pride I felt watching the news snippet on the BBC. It was the ultimate Kiddush Hashem - sanctification of Gd's name and I am certain that a similar proj

  What do the following have in common? ·         The first seven James Bond movies (from 'Dr No' until 'Diamonds are Forever'). ·         The pentalogy of Jason Bourne thrillers. (and incidentally, did you notice how both fictional characters have the same initials – not forgetting Jack Bauer from ’24’ fame?!) In both the early Bond and Bourne films, you associate one specific actor with each of the respective series. In the 1960s and once more in 1983 for “Never Say Never Again’, The billboards promoted 007 by informing us that: 'Sean Connery IS James Bond'.   Poor George Lazenby probably knew that he didn't stand a chance.   He even acknowledged this with first line in 'Her Majesty's Secret Service', when he looked at the camera wistfully and said, "This never happened to the other fella!" Did Jeremy Renner in 'The Bourne Legacy' remind us that we would rather be watching Matt Damon?   I mean no offence to Mr Renn

  I don't remember the precise date, but it must have been in the late summer of 1981, perhaps even into the early weeks of the new school year. My parents took me to see a new film at the cinema. I recall that it was unusual for the three of us to go to the 'pictures' together as my mother had a preference for the theatre. However, the three of us saw the film at either the Golders Green ABC or the Hendon Classic, both of which are sadly long gone. I remember the thrill I felt watching the film. It was simply fabulous! The hero, the heroine, the action and the dénouement were unforgettable. If you've ever seen "Raiders of the Lost Ark" on a giant cinema screen, you'll know exactly what I mean! Memories are made from occasions like these. In hindsight, I expect that part of my fascination with the Mishkan, The Tabernacle and the Batei Mikdash, The Temples along with their artefacts could find its origins in this week's Parsha. I could talk about th