A joy that has no bounce
Each month in the Jewish calendar symbolises many things, one of which is the general energy for that month. The energy of the month fills through every aspect of our lives, if we pay attention. The month of Adar, the…
Rabbi Adrian Michael Schell
Proudly Jewish - Proudly Progressive
Rabbi Adrian Michael Schell
Proudly Jewish - Proudly Progressive
Category Torah
Shabbat Zachor: God’s outcry
It is an interesting co-incidence that on this Shabbat we commemorate all the violent and destructive attacks on the Jewish people in the past while we also begin with the reading of the third book of our Torah—Leviticus, Vayikra in…
Vayakhel: I feel blessed to work with these wonderful women
The Torah portion Vayakhel presents Moses’ speech to the Israelite community at one of the many special gatherings during their wanderings in the desert. The speech opens with a brief restatement of the commandment to keep the Sabbath. However, the…
Tetzaveh: Why is light the most common symbol for God?
Friends, Our Torah portion speaks about the ner tamid, which is often translated as the “eternal light” but it would be better to understand it as “always light” because it always had to be tended to. The Hebrew suggests this…
May the Eternal bless you and guard you.
Friends, One of our Friday evening highlights during services is, without a question, the blessing of our children. As you can see from the picture above, there are quite a lot of them joining Kani and Deborah each week for…
Mishpatim: Taking a bribe is no different to digging a pit and not covering it properly.
Friends, A story is told of two men in a boat when one suddenly decides to start drilling a hole underneath his seat, the other man protests – “what are you doing, we’re all going to drown”. But the…
Parashat Yitro: We can create a beautiful world
Friends, Some people think that the real meaning of Judaism is to pay attention to God through ritual. Other people think that the real meaning of Judaism is to pay attention to other people through acting ethically. Guess what? They…
2019 is a year of celebration and a chance in bringing South Africa together
Chaverim Yakarim I have been asked to share my sermon from last Friday via the AdKan with all of you. Please let me and/or ManCom know what your thoughts are on the subject, and please join the conversation. Shabbat Shalom—Rabbi…
Parashat Bo: Fighting the gods of Egypt
Chaverim Yakarim As many scholars have noted, the plagues that struck Egypt during the Exodus can be interpreted as being assaults on the various gods of Egypt: the Nile, the sun, even to the firstborn of…
2018 is coming to its end …
Chaverim Yakarim —dear friends 2018 is coming to its end, and while we traditionally use the High Holy Days to look back, I’d like to invite you to do so, one more time. 2018 came with hopes, hopes for freedom,…