Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg

Jonathan Wittenberg is the Rabbi of the New North London Synagogue

Latest from Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg

Yom Kippur

On Yom Kippur we bring before God a bleeding heart and a troubled conscience

What questions will be uppermost in our mind on the holiest day of the year?

3 min read

Inspiring hope: Sharone and Yocheved Lifshitz

If we could only listen to the animals

3 min read

We need to acknowledge the pain that others feel

2 min read

Abraham the activist, who challenged God

3 min read

For our children’s sake, it’s time we cared for our planet

A burning sense of responsibility towards our offspring drives me to care passionately for our beautiful, God-infused planet

2 min read

August 3, 2023 12:11

For our children’s sake, it’s time we cared for our planet

The destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam is yet another blow to Ukraine's Jews

A community that has experienced so much pain has been hit again

2 min read

June 9, 2023 11:28

KHERSON, UKRAINE - JUNE 8: Local resident floats on a raft near his house on June 8, 2023 in Kherson, Ukraine. Early Tuesday, the Kakhovka dam and hydroelectric power plant, which sit on the Dnipro river in the southern Kherson region, were destroyed, forcing downstream communities to evacuate due to risk of flooding. The cause of the dam's collapse is not yet confirmed, with Russia and Ukraine accusing each other of its destruction. The Dnipro river has served as a frontline between the warring armies following Russia's retreat from Kherson and surrounding areas last autumn. The dam and plant had been under the control of Russia, which occupies a swath of land south and southeast of the river. (Photo by Alex Babenko/Getty Images)

What it means to be a critical friend of Israel

Israel’s current struggles put Judaism’s moral reputation at stake

4 min read

April 20, 2023 15:22

Israelis watch the Efroni T-6 Texan II planes perform over the Mediterranean coastal city of Tel Aviv during celebrations marking Israel's 73rd Independence Day (Yom HaAtzmaut) on April 15, 2021. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP) (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

What we can to do to wish the world a happy birthday

The Rosh Hashanah liturgy can help deepen our sense of connection with all Creation

4 min read

September 25, 2022 12:10

3D Blue Earth on Space. planet, galaxy, stars, cosmos, sea, earth, sunset, globe.

Farewell to Mitzpah, the shul-loving collie who shared my flock

Rabbi Wittenberg laments the loss of his beloved dog, Mitzpah

3 min read

September 23, 2021 13:19

Farewell to Mitzpah, the shul-loving collie who shared my flock

New Bible commentary is a call to eco-action

Eco Bible Volume 1: An Ecological Commentary On Genesis And Exodus, Rabbi Yonatan Neril and Rabbi Leo Dee,The Interfaith Center For Sustainable Development, £11.61

2 min read

January 25, 2021 12:01

comparing green earth and effect of air pollution from human action, glbal warming concept, green tree and green earth with light and arid land with air pollusion at background

Green Shabbat: how we can make the new normal better for us all

Covid-19 has pressed pause on our civilisation: now we must rethink how we live

3 min read

July 3, 2020 08:09

Green Shabbat: how we can make the new normal better for us all

Going into quarantine means time to explore our hearts and souls

We may all have soon have an unaccustomed amount of time. Let's fill it well, says Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg

3 min read

March 17, 2020 12:04

Going into quarantine means time to explore our hearts and souls

The environmental warning from Sinai

God is revealed not only in the words of the Torah but the entire text of creation

3 min read

June 7, 2019 09:07

What can we learn from Noah?

What can we learn from the biblical story of Noah? Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg links this week's sidrah to this week's UN report on climate change

5 min read

October 10, 2018 09:02

What the rabbi learned from his dogs

When my publisher suggested I wrote about dogs, I wanted to express not just my personal love for the species, but my abhorrence of cruelty and my respect for what so many carefully trained, faithful dogs do for humanity.

3 min read

October 19, 2017 11:52