Monday 18th May
I have now made it official that Monday is my weekly day off. Now you may ask the question - can a Rabbi have a day off. I mean, doesn't he work 24/7? My answer would be that there is a difference between a Rabbi who is connected to his job 24/7 and one that is available for needs 24/7. A Rabbi has a family, and they also have needs, and so to set aside time when those needs can be taken care of is so vital. I did make it clear that of course for needs such as funerals and stonesettings, the day off would be set aside.
Tuesday 19th May
A nice morning in my Shul office, working on the projects that I am pushing forward in the community at present. One of these projects was also referred to in the recent Jewish Chronicle press relating to my induction. In my speech I had referred to the need for an eruv in the Muswell Hill area, and this quickly became a story.
An 'eruv' is the term given for an enclosed area where it is permitted to carry on Shabbat (carrying is one of the 39 forbidden types of work on Shabbat). A number of hundred years ago, towns would often be enclosed by walls, so there was no problem considering areas or towns enclosed. When these walls were brought down, it became much more complicated to enclose an area. A number of man made boundaries can be used, such as elevated banks, or even central reservations of main roads. But boundaries can also be made of house fronts and garden gates. If for instance, a road goes through the boundary, it would need to be closed off. According to Jewish Law, this could be achieved by putting up two poles and putting some wire from the top of one pole to the second. A number of pairs of poles will then be needed around the boundary of the enclosed area, and this is what constitutes the bulk of the cost of building it.
I think that there are a number of good solid reasons behind building such an eruv and so allowing according to Jewish Law, carrying on Shabbat:
- a religious family would feel comfortable living in our community. We are an Orthodox community and if a few religous families could live in our catchment area, it would only enrich the religious life of the community
- there are a number of families who presently are members and who have said how great it would be if when pushing a buggy on Shabbat, they would not be breaking Jewish Law
- a number of other communities in the United Synagogue are looking to build an eruv. If we are left behind, we will lose any religious core to our community
- family members or friends who live in say Hampstead or Finchley would be able to walk over as a family to Muswell Hill on Shabbat without any worry of carrying
Thursday 21st May
The Talmud class had a visit from Raphy and Maureen from LSJS which was very pleasant and really added to the Shiur atmosphere. The class has such a creative dynanic to it but is also such fun to be a part of. I had to leave prompt on 12pm and with Joost's help in getting me to East Finchley tube station travelled to central London to my monthly talk at Denton Wilde Sapte in Fleet Place. This month I gave a class on the First Commandment, using the commentary of Rashi and last century's great Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik. God exclaims - 'I am the Lord your God who took you out of Egypt, from the House of slavery'. So for instance we looked at the issue of why God introduces Himself with reference to the Exodus and not the Creation. What is the difference between the God of Creation and the God of the Exodus?
A busy day continued with a barmitzvah lesson for David which went very well - I know have the notes of layening the Torah on a computer format so I can email anyone who would like to learn!
Friday 22nd May
Up early this morning to arrive for Shacharit at 7am in Cockfosters and North Southgate Synagogue on Old Farm Avenue. Rabbi Fine had invited me to speak at a breakfast that was annually held there in honour of Yom Yerushalayim, 42 years since the re-unification of Jerusalem. I spoke of how important it is not to think in terms of exile and redemption as if they are two separate time periods that simply meet. In other words, when Jerusalem was recaptured people felt that we were moving from a period of exile straight into redemption. But there is a middle period, where there are signs of redemption but also still clear signs that we are in exile. This is the meaning of our modern State of Israel - it is not what we want totally, but we can still rejoice in its very existence.
Saturday 23rd May
We had the second of our MHY Space, Muswell Hill Youth Service which once again was successful with nearly 25 teenagers and is even becoming first choice minyan for one or two Dads! Joe and Alex davened wonderfully. Sammy, Noah and Ben from Palmers Green layened excellently and others helped as well, The kiddush of chocolate, marshmallows and Pringles went down well! But altogether it is so satisfying to see so many of our teenagers together in Shul. Look out for the next Youth Service in early July.
Sunday and Monday 24th and 25th May
We went down to Richmond as a family and spent the day with friends from Kingston, in Richmond Park enjoying the play areas for children, the roaming deer, and the beautiful weather. The Bank Holiday spirit continued on Monday when we got together with a number of my cousins that live in London - a family reunion of sorts. If you are on facebook and one of my friends, you could view these pictures that my cousin Zila took. I will post one picture that I loved!
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