This is was a sad and somber week. It began with the tragic news of the passing of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks ob'm. A giant of our time. A brilliant leader, scholar and teacher who was able to effectively communicate the timeless wisdom of our Torah and its values, with clarity, conviction and compassion. Rabbi Sacks touched, changed and inspired the lives of so many. In fact one of our Shule members told me that he was in the middle of reading one of Rabbi Sacks' books when he heard the terrible news. From a Rabbinical perspective, you'd be hard pressed to find a Rabbi or Rebbetzin the world over who did not gain inspiration, guidance and clarity from his talks and writings and in turn frequently share those teachings during a shiur, sermon or whilst engaging in pastoral care. Rabbi Sacks was a unique gift not only to the Jewish people, but to humanity as a whole. Prince Charles wrote "I have lost a trusted guide, an inspired teacher and a friend" and paid tribute to Rabbi Sacks as a “source of wisdom, sanity and moral conviction in bewildering and confusing times". Fascinatingly, we found out last night from Rabbi Sack's niece, that the last letter to be read to him on Friday afternoon just a few hours before his passing, was from our Prime Minister, The Hon Scott Morrison MP, expressing his best wishes and his gratitude for his leadership and inspiration. What a loss. We extend our condolences and sympathies to his dear family and indeed to all who benefited from his wisdom and warmth. May the Almighty grant them comfort and healing. There are many "must watch" videos by or about Rabbi Sacks, today I recommend the following: This week we also commemorated Kristalnacht. The night the Nazis terrorised the Jewish people by desecrating, ransacking and burning synagogues, homes and businesses. We kept the lights on in our Shule, as did hundreds of other Houses of Worship and Jewish institutions around the world. In the words of Rabbi Israel Meir Lau, “The Nazis knew one thing: If you want to hurt the Jew, you have to hurt the synagogue. The heart of the Jewish people is the synagogue…on the night of the 9th of November, make them full of light…it shows that we are not only with the past, with remembrance, but with hope for a beautiful light-filled future". Our Shule was established by those who lived through and witnessed these atrocities. They chose to rebuild; their lives, their Yiddishkeit and their communities. They chose to stand up against antisemitism, intolerance and hatred by shining light over the darkness. That light, of remembrance, courage, determination, hope and Jewish tradition will continue to burn brightly in our Shules, homes and in our heart and soul. And then on Remembrance Day we paused to remember and honor the sacrifice of the men and women who served our nation, fighting for the values and ideals we hold so dear and never to be taken for granted. Lest we forget. Our response to these three sad occasions are much the same. This week's Parsha, Chayei Sarah - The life of Sarah - which talks not of her life but of her passing, uplifts and comforts us with a message of hope, by teaching how those who came before us continue to live on and inspire, when we choose to uphold and perpetuate their legacy, their teachings and the way they lived their lives. Let us ensure their memory is forever a blessing by continuing to shine the light of morality, authenticity, faith, understanding, sensitivity and the relevance of Judaism’s messages in our ever changing world. Wishing you and yours a Shabbat Shalom! Rabbi Shmuel |