Daily Video Updates
Dear All, With so many of us stuck at home and isolated from one another I’ve decided to put together some videos for you from within London’s Bevis Marks Synagogue. […]
Tag Archives: Liturgy
Ashamnu – S&P Addition By Subtraction
Throughout the month of Elul and the High Holy Days we recite the selihot (apology) prayers. One of the most important elements of this service is the vidui, or confession. […]
Holland Park Synagogue – London
The Spanish & Portuguese congregation of Holland Park, London built their beautiful synagogue in 1928. I had the pleasure of celebrating its 90th anniversary on 10 March 2019. Despite my […]
Passover and the Splitting of the S&P
On the 7th day of Pesah 1827, at London’s Bevis Marks Synagogue, the reading of the spitting of the sea also split the congregation. Typically, Haham Raphael Meldola read the […]
Selihot – Collective Caring
The month long recitation of Selihot provides Sephardim with ample opportunity to consider the sometimes theologically challenging language of penitence. Rabbi Gaguine (1884-1953), in his monumental work ‘Keter Shem Tob’ […]
Thanksgiving – A Spanish & Portuguese Jewish Holiday
Jews do not generally treat civil holidays as Jewish holidays. While some might mark them in some manner, others don’t even do that. With regard to the American holiday of Thanksgiving, a minority […]
Aseret Yemei Hateshuva/Ha’azinu – Thinking Differently
Most years on Shabbat Teshuva (‘The Shabbat of Repentance,’ between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur) we read the parashah of Ha’azinu. Contained in its words are exhortations to serve God and […]
Shalom Says Hello 