When we think of Shavuot, often the first thing we hear about is cheesecake. And all the other delicious dairy goods we celebrate with.However, Shavuot is not just the festival of dairy. In fact, it has five different names that each encapsulate a unique element of this joyous holiday.• Zman Matan Torah - the time …
Tragedy at Mount Meron
Joy is gone from our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning.Lamentations 5:15 Celebrations of joy in honour of Tanna Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai on Mount Meron ended in tragedy. Forty-five people, old and young, are dead. More than 150 injured. A terrible catastrophe that the bleeding heart refuses to believe. Congregation Adass Jisroel Berlin …
Not forgotten – Not forgiven
Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes' Remembrance Day Holocaust Martyrs 'and Heroes' Remembrance Day is dedicated to remember the victims of the Holocaust - this inconceivable crime that Nazi Germany and their aides from other countries inflicted on the Jewish people. The day is also dedicated to commemorating the deeds of heroism and rebellion against the oppressors in …
Commemoration of the women-protest in Rosenstrasse against the “Fabrik-Aktion”
On February 27, 1943, the so-called "Fabrik-Aktion" of the Nazis took place, during which thousands of Jews were arrested at their workplaces of forced labor and then deported to Auschwitz. In Berlin thousands of men were held in the internment camp at Rosenstrasse 2-4, the former welfare office of the Jewish Community in Berlin. When …
Continue reading "Commemoration of the women-protest in Rosenstrasse against the “Fabrik-Aktion”"
Purim – a special holiday for many reasons
Ta’anit Esther: Thursday, 25. February 2021 / 13 Adar 5781 Purim: Friday, 26. February 2021 / 14 Adar 5781 For most holidays we are used to celebrating an extra day when outside of Israel. Purim, however, is the only holiday which varies from city to city (within Israel). Depending on if the city was surrounded …
Continue reading "Purim – a special holiday for many reasons"
International Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Holocaust
We remember and ask We remember! We remember that on January 27, 1944, soldiers of the Red Army reached the Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp and liberated it. They encountered Dante's inferno on earth. We honour the 6 million murdered Jewish children, women and men. On today's International Day of Remembrance we commemorate the victims of the …
Continue reading "International Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Holocaust"
Hanukkah in the pandemic
Hanukkah, the festival of lights, the eight-day annual Jewish festival commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BC. This year Hanukkah 5781 falls during the pandemic. Just like on the Seder evening of the Passover feast one asks: "How does this night differ from the other nights", this time we could …
1945 – 2020 The Nuremberg trials
The first major war crime trials in Nuremberg began on November 20, 1945. 24 leading personalities of the German state were held accountable for the war and mass murder. Erich Kästner, present as reporter in Nuremberg courtroom 600, says: “The chairman of the court opens the session. The American chief prosecutor is followed by the French. He …
Jewish Soldiers in the First World War – First highly decorated, then deported
In sadness and dejection we remember the confident, courageous and brave, turned into disappointed, betrayed and ostracized Jewish soldiers and officers who fought for Germany in World War I and lost their lives. Around 100,000 Jewish soldiers and officers fought in the German army in World War I, 78,000 of them from the front. 12,000 …
Continue reading "Jewish Soldiers in the First World War – First highly decorated, then deported"
Rabbi Baron Sacks of Adgate in the City of London זצ”ל
Gadol beIsrael, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks passed away this morning, Shabbat Vayerá. Rabbi Sacks served as the Chief Rabbi of the Commonwealth from 1991 until 2013 and continued as an inspiring and highly esteemed figure throughout his life. His influence and brilliance was extraordinary and will be sorely missed, not only by the British community …
Continue reading "Rabbi Baron Sacks of Adgate in the City of London זצ”ל"