Simon Rocker

Latest from Simon Rocker

Tanach

‘A fascinating odyssey’: the rabbi who podcasts the Bible

Rabbi Alex Israel’s audio guide offers commentary of the Tanach in daily bite-sized chunks

4 min read

‘A fascinating odyssey’: the rabbi who podcasts the Bible

Rewilding Grassroots Jews: Daniel Susser and Jen McAlister

Back after a break: Grassroots Jews returns this year to offer a different kind of Yom Kippur

2 min read

Show of hands: applause detracts from the spiritual occasion, says our writer

The trend for rounds of applause in synagogue makes regulars like me clappy-unhappy

2 min read

Full house: Beis Medrash Elyon in Hendon

London rabbis ban schools from opening next term unless they accept more pupils

1 min read

What can rabbis say in an age of driverless cars and killer drones?

We may need our spiritual resources more than ever to preserve our humanity

4 min read

August 3, 2026 13:01

Confronting the challenge of AI: Rabbi Daniel Nevins

The destinies of Black and Jewish people are ‘intertwined’ says Ashley Jackson

Jesse Jackson’s daughter, who announced her conversion to Judaism last week, spoke about her life and her civic activism at JW3 this week

4 min read

July 31, 2026 10:31

Can our burial system reflect the way we live now?

Synagogue membership and burial rights are linked – which can cause problems for some Jewish people

2 min read

July 30, 2026 11:22

Bushey New Cemetery, a 16-acre Jewish burial ground extension in Hertfordshire, opened in 2017 (Blake Ezra Photography)

Proposed marriage law reforms could benefit mixed-faith couples

Changes in legislation would enable mixed-faith couples to have a legally recognised Jewish ceremony

2 min read

July 23, 2026 16:27

Rabbi Lisa Barrett at the marriage of Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash (Photo: Chelsea White)

Kairos ‘genocide’ document risks stoking antisemitism, Israeli embassy warns CofE

Israel’s chargé d’affaires conveyed ‘grave concerns’ over the text in a meeting with the Archbishop of Canterbury

1 min read

July 22, 2026 14:02

The archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, speaking at the Synod debate on Kairos II (Church of England/Sam Atkin)

Rabbi Rebecca Birk to be new senior rabbi of LJS

The Finchley Progressive leader will take over at the flagship Liberal congregation from the retiring Rabbi Alexandra Wright

1 min read

July 21, 2026 11:33

Three new Jewish peers announced as Prime Minister takes his leave

Cathy Ashley, Saul Lehrfreund and Sir Brian Leveson have been given seats in the Lords

1 min read

July 17, 2026 14:29

Jewish human rights lawyer and activist Saul Lehrfreund

London pastor launches campaign against anti-Israel Christian document after Synod vote

A petition against Kairos II, which the Church of England this week voted to ‘engage’ with, claims it is harmful to the cause of peace

2 min read

July 17, 2026 12:27

Pastor Regan King in the Judean Desert (Courtesy)

One ‘big family’ – Jewish school with Muslim majority earns good Ofsted

King David Birmingham has developed ‘constructive relationships’ with the wider community, inspectors said

1 min read

July 15, 2026 16:26

King David Jewish Primary School in Birmingham has faced difficulties since October 7

Chief Rabbi condemns ‘shameful’ Church of England Israel motion

Archbishop of Canterbury says that to ‘hear’ Palestinian Christian document that accuses Israel of genocide does not mean the Church agrees with everything in it

5 min read

July 13, 2026 17:25

The ex-Aish rabbi who opened up a universe of knowledge

Rabbi David Steinberg co-founded TheTorah.com, which brings academic Bible scholarship to wider audiences

4 min read

July 13, 2026 17:00

Spreading the word; Rabbi David Steinberg, co-founder of TheTorah.com

Church of England leaders support ‘engagement’ with Israel ‘genocide’ document despite Chief Rabbi’s warning

Sir Ephraim Mirvis said the document, which alleges a ‘Zionist project to seize all of Palestine’, could ‘only harm the cause of peace’

3 min read

July 13, 2026 11:18

Dame Sarah Mullally, the archbishop of Canterbury, addresses the Church of England General Synod at The Church House on February 10, 2026 (Getty Images)

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Simon Rocker

Latest from Simon Rocker

‘A fascinating odyssey’: the rabbi who podcasts the Bible

Back after a break: Grassroots Jews returns this year to offer a different kind of Yom Kippur

The trend for rounds of applause in synagogue makes regulars like me clappy-unhappy

London rabbis ban schools from opening next term unless they accept more pupils

More from Simon Rocker

What can rabbis say in an age of driverless cars and killer drones?

The destinies of Black and Jewish people are ‘intertwined’ says Ashley Jackson

Can our burial system reflect the way we live now?

Proposed marriage law reforms could benefit mixed-faith couples

Kairos ‘genocide’ document risks stoking antisemitism, Israeli embassy warns CofE

Rabbi Rebecca Birk to be new senior rabbi of LJS

Three new Jewish peers announced as Prime Minister takes his leave

London pastor launches campaign against anti-Israel Christian document after Synod vote

One ‘big family’ – Jewish school with Muslim majority earns good Ofsted

Chief Rabbi condemns ‘shameful’ Church of England Israel motion

The ex-Aish rabbi who opened up a universe of knowledge

Church of England leaders support ‘engagement’ with Israel ‘genocide’ document despite Chief Rabbi’s warning