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Submitted by Dr Edie Friedman Since my retirement from JCORE, the organisation I started in 1976, l have had time to take frequent walks on Hampstead Heath, giving me the opportunity to reflect on those 49 years: thinking through why I started JCORE, what it has achieved and what is the state of Jewish social justice…

Submitted by Professor Francesca Klug A German, a Frenchman and a British Jew were marooned on a desert island. They decided to pass their time by setting up a writing contest about elephants. After much reflection, Herr Schmidt produced a comprehensive inventory of all known herds. Setting aside some initial embarrassment, Monsieur de Bois eventually…

Submitted by Rabbi Howard Cooper It’s been more than a year now and the future looks bleakly uncertain. Can Israel’s leaders really be trusted? They seem so certain of themselves, so assured they know what is best for the people, they are so proficient at issuing orders, and so reluctant to hear the people’s complaints.…

Submitted by Brian Klug I. Preamble Let me say first how pleased I am that this study day is being held at St Benet’s under the auspices of the St Benet’s Institute, and how much I appreciate the time and thought that Eva has put into organising the event. ‘Catholic engagement with other religious traditions’…

Submitted by Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah Back in January, overwhelmed by the horrors of the impact of ceaseless war in Gaza on the civilian population, and the continuing captivity of the remaining hostages, I felt completely powerless. What could I do? What could we do? Like many of us, I was already supporting various Israeli-…

Submitted by Rabbi Nathan Godleman ‘He considered the thing he must say, chose the words with which to say it, tried them on his tongue, and fashioned them tentatively on his lips. Revulsion welled up in him, raised the gorge in his throat, and without assent or awareness on his part set his feet in…

Submitted by Rabbi Michael Shire Tomorrow will be the 140th day of the taking of hostages from Israel into Gaza as negotiations take place in Paris again to seek their release. That is four months, 2 weeks and 6 days hidden away in underground tunnels or locked rooms, surrounded by armed guards and without medicine,…

Submitted by Rabbi Colin Eimer I’ve only had a standing ovation once in my rabbinic career. And, of all things, it was for a sermon. In1982, Israel was fighting a war in Lebanon and had occupied Beirut. We came home from Rosh Hashanah services to learn of a massacre in two Palestinian refugee camps, Sabra…

ְBlessed are You, our Living God, Sovereign of the universe, whose commandments make us holy and who commands us concerning the freeing of captives. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם. אֲשֶׁר קִדְשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל פִּדְיוֹן שְׁבוּיִים:

“Save their soul from death, keep them alive in famine” (Psalm 33:19) לְהַצִּיל מִמָּוֶת נַפְשָׁם וּלְחַיּוֹתָם בָּרָעָב لينقذ من الموت أنفسهم ويستبقيهم في الجوع