Rabbi David Schneider’s Weekly Words of Wisdom 16: Emor

(Leviticus 21-24)

Earlier on this week I was discussing the parsha with my friend and colleague, Rabbi Shlomo. “We should note”, he said, “that ‘moed’ (festival) comes from ‘vaad’ (meeting), for is not every festival really just a meeting with G-d?” All very interesting until you remember that Rabbi Shlomo is in fact a spider who’s made a web in the corner of the synagogue store cupboard which has been my home for several weeks, a home I now have to share with twelve papier mache golden calfs made by the cheder children, plus the deflated shell of a bouncy castle which the honorary officers, in their wisdom, have purchased for weddings, barmitsvahs and other occasions. (I have at least managed to ensure that the bouncy castle has a mechitzah, so that males and females can bounce with modesty in separate sections). (more…)

Working with Woody

As you get older, you find that the years start to take on a familiar rhythm: New Year, Valentine’s Day, the clocks go forward, Marks and Spencers release their best/worst figures ever, local news programmes film teenagers opening their A level results, the clocks go back, and finally Woody Allen releases his latest movie. At that point (more…)

Rabbi David Schneider’s Weekly Words of Wisdom 17: Bamidbar

(Numbers 1:1 – 4:20)

And, whilst we’re at it, Behar and Bechukosai (Leviticus 25-27)

Every Jew should try in his lifetime to emulate Moses. Look at me, for instance. Moses went up on high to receive the Torah from G-d, so I too have gone up on high. The only difference is that whereas Moses ascended upon Mount Sinai, I have ascended upon a clock tower in Stockwell, South London, right opposite the seedy-looking flat where Jeremy the Radio 4 so-called producer lives. (more…)