Author Archive

A peek under the tent of white prayer shawls during birchas kohanim, the priestly blessings during holiday prayers.

A response to Mick Brown's article in the London Telegraph.

Yes, it is true that we are a pretty close knit community but keep it real, keep it real. Leave nostalgic simplification to Norman Jewson.

Portraying the inner workings of a religious community provides for ample camera material. Judgement was an episode on the BBC TV series Silent Witness back in 2008. A team of pathologists investigate a murder on our streets. Quite banal…

A young man wears his shtreimel on a brisk walk with his daughter so that her afternoon nap be a peaceful one.  I look away, I want to be alone. I walk on for a while and get to…

Every time there was a guest speaker, a Rabbi from abroad perhaps, we would hear that sound.  It is strange, that  one sound could instill fear, boredom, joy and dread, depending on context.

The term-opening speech by the dean…

Like a stadium wave, in a domino effect, the congregation rises. A messy instrumental cacophony fills the chapel. The melodious leading notes strangely protrude nonetheless to make their sombre call. “Like as the hart, desireth the waterbrooks,” a few adult choristers…

Motel stands at the Milky kitchen sink and Ruchi at the Meaty one. Sleeves rolled up, both scrubbing pots, their lids and other paraphernalia.  Each investing elbow grease to glean a sparkling utensil.  The cheerful rivalry between them would have…

The air vaporises as he exhales, his facial protrudents are fresh and cold, icy cold. The wooden bench slats each neatly arranged just over an inch apart, dig into his cold hands that are sandwiched beneath his thighs. The glass…

A jet black peyoh trapped between a pillow and a cheek, its lower twist and curl intact, a white wool night Kappel still firmly on its bearer’s head. The slumber was young and deep.  Before Yoel had got to bed,…

Chaim Wassertzog, an overweight, forty year old, had a way with “kids who were off”. Wherever he would meet one, he would talk to them,  provide them with food, he would comfort them when they were worse for…