Tag: High Holy Days
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Finding Holiness in Vulnerability: Lessons from Hospital Chaplaincy
In this second day Rosh Hashanah sermon, Rabbi Adrian M. Schell reflects on the profound experiences he has had as a hospital chaplain. Drawing from the teachings of Martin Buber and Jewish scripture, Rabbi Schell shares moving encounters with patients that reveal the sacred nature of human connection. Through stories of hope, loneliness, and the…
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Isaac and Ishmael – Their Untold Story | Rosh Hashanah Sermon by Rabbi Adrian M. Schell
In this moving Rosh Hashanah sermon, Rabbi Adrian M. Schell takes us through the untold narrative of Isaac and Ishmael, two estranged brothers separated by trauma and reunited only by their father Abraham’s death. With a focus on themes of resilience, reconciliation, and renewal, the sermon delves into their shared trauma and reflects on the…
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Small Steps, Great Success – The Journey of Teshuva
How is your stock-taking – cheshbon haNefesh – going? Now, only 10 days away from the start of the new year and 20 days from Yom Kippur, how much do you feel prepared for the big days in our Jewish calendar? And in general, is this whole Elul business of introspection, reflection, and transformation, meaning…
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Rabbi’s greetings for the New Year
My dear friends,dear congregants,guests and visitors,Chayim and I send you heartfelt greetings for a blessed Shanah Tovah u’Metukah, a year of goodness and sweet experiences!How deeply embedded in our hearts are the many fine memories of the services we observed together, the simches we celebrated, the joys and sorrows we shared, the hospitality you provided us,…
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A final thought for 5779
For the last Shabbat in 5779, our Torah comes with one of the readings I love most in the entire year. In parashat Nitzavim we find the following directive: “I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. You shall choose life.”But, what does it mean to choose life? It’s not…
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Indifference to our world is intolerable, unethical and it breaches our morality
Chaverim,In this week’s column I’d like to share with you an excerpt from my sermon I delivered last Friday. The sermon was about the powerful dictum of Parashat KiTeitzei, wich asks us not to remain indifferent — “Lo tuchal le’hitalem“.Lo tuchal le’hitalem – you shall not remain indifferent – it is an in-your-face moral and…
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Please help us – so that we can help others
You shall not deduct interest from loans to your countryman, whether in money or food or anything else that can be deducted as interest. ” (Deuteronomy 23:20)Chaverim,The Torah portion, Ki Teitzei, prescribes a great act of tzedakah. The idea that we ought to assist our brethren in reduced circumstances with timely, interest-free loans so that…
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Yizkor: Let my cry come before You.
As a deer yearns for streams of water, so I yearn for You, O God. My whole being thirsts for God, for the living God. Psalm 42:2 Hear my prayer. Let my cry come before You. Do not hide from me in my time of sorrow. Turn Your ear to me. When I cry, answer…
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Mishkan ha Nefesh: A dwelling place for our souls
Chaverim,This is not the first time, I have mentioned it, but I think it is still exciting news. Together with our sister congregations in South Africa we will embark on a new spiritual journey, introducing a new prayer book for the High Holy Days: Mishkan HaNefesh. The new Machzor will be a valuable tool for…
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Approaching the High Holy Days: The one key, you like to start with.
Do you have also a bunch of unmarked keys at home which you know that the each key must fit somewhere? Perhaps to an old box or door, perhaps to a lock, to your car, a gate, a diary, a neighbour’s house, or to a cupboard. You haven’t had the time to check every key…
