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  • The blessing of a new month

    Rabbi Aaron Gol...
    Mar 11, 2013

    Not my words but my father's Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein, Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue's Emeritus Rabbi at our Civic Service this Shabbat
    http://www.npls.org.uk/Sermons/New/CivicService2013AG.html

    A repeated refrain in our Bible readings was "Every one who excels in ability and everybody whose spirit and heart moves them...." but what about the people who had no ability, even though keen? Was their contribution to the work of building the sanctuary or the Temple no less worthy? Of course it needed a Betzalel or a Hiram to produce a beautiful structure, fitting to be the House of God, inspiring in the people the urge to worship God. But what about those with no artistic ability?

    I suspect it is a modern question, although I have no doubt that, way back then, there were always individuals frustrated by the desire to be involved in the higher tasks of life, be it in artistic endeavour, leadership roles or place in society, but seemingly lacking the talent. But maybe only in modern times do we ask what is fair and how can we help those with less obvious ability achieve in life the same as the geniuses or, to use a yiddish phrase, the mazaldik, the lucky ones. The past two or three or four generations it has bothered educationalists, political theorists and socially aware questioners. The vocabulary of earnest discourse includes words and concepts such as equality, dumbing down, positive discrimination and competition.

  • Older People

    Leon A Smith
    Mar 8, 2013

    Nightingale Hammerson, one of the community’s leading charities, is entering into one of its most exciting periods. The 1st anniversary of the merger of Nightingale House and Hammerson House will be celebrated in April. One year in to the merger there are extensive development works either in hand or being planned. We will be talking a little bit more about these plans in the coming weeks in relation to Hammerson House.

    Although I have made the point previously that the physical environment and care are closely interlinked, ultimately our purpose in life is to provide care for those older members of our community in need.

    I was interested to read in the news this week that life expectancy in the UK at just under 80 for men is marginally less than it is with many other comparable Western countries. Whilst that may be an unpalatable fact, it clearly is true. From where I sit, however, running two care homes those figures are difficult for me to identify with. The average age of residents at both Nightingale House and Hammerson House is 90. We have many residents who are in their mid-90s. At Nightingale House we have 15 residents aged between 100 and 106. Hammerson House has one resident who is 109 One could say so much for life expectancy of 79! However, the truth of course is that we are only seeing those older people whose health has deteriorated to the extent that they do need support and care. The average age of people entering care homes has also increased very considerably. Most people today coming into a care home are not making a life-style choice but are there out of necessity and often in circumstances which have been pre-empted by a crisis of some kind.

  • The speech that sent Galloway packing...

    Jonathan Hoffman
    Mar 7, 2013

    I am proud to be the first (I believe) to publish the speech by Oxford student Eylon Aslan-Levy that sent George Galloway on his bike. The motion was that Israel should withdraw immediately from the West Bank. Galloway had proposed, Aslan-Levy was opposing.

    Mr Speaker, thank you for inviting me here tonight.

    To the audience – thank you for coming.

  • The shop that Moses built

    Rabbi Aaron Gol...
    Mar 2, 2013

    The Israelites enter the shop that Moses built. They have dreamt of seeing the product that stands inside – freedom. They glimpse it inside of the store and imagine what it might feel like in their deepest soul.

    They seek what is currently outside of their concrete vision in the deep recess of the shop’s rear and then he appears draped in flowing white robes a prince’s finery combined with a fiery purposeful countenance. The theatre provides assurance of some future award ceremony.

    Now Moses hardly spoke but muttered in the ear of the salesman whose name tag announced 'Aaron.' What a smooth talker. The product sold itself and what price could one put on freedom? However the one who sealed the deal was the real product brand. His humble strength penetrated the doubts of their faltering courage; the comfort in Moses who quietly stood by with the hekhsher - the kosher, fit for purpose stamp of authority that a pharaoh and his daughter had embroidered on his breast – an aura of power endowed by upbringing in a palace.

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