click to dowload our latest edition
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
Message from Rabbi Yossy Goldman What a start to our Chanukah celebrations! We are all absolutely devastated at the terrible terror attack on Sydney’s Jewish community who...
It was my distinct pleasure and privilege to be in New York this week for the Annual Kinus HaShluchim, the international conference of Chabad rabbis. A pleasure because I always look forward to...
“How odd of G-d, to choose the Jews,” an antisemite had scrawled on the wall. One of our own responded, “No, not odd, the Jews chose G-d.” This...
In November 2023, I was a guest speaker in the small town of Spokane, Washington, on the far western side of the United States. The rabbi...
Who do you think was the single most influential person in human history? I looked through many lists that have been compiled over the years. Some...
Negligence is serious. Even an “innocent” mistake requires some atonement. Some years ago, I was driving down an empty and very wide road in Johannesburg, tempted...
Are you a spectator or a participant? Do you only watch your favourite soccer club, or do you sometimes kick a ball yourself? A few years...
Thank G-d, we witnessed incredible miracles in the highly successful air strikes against Iran early this morning. Although it was a pre-emptive strike, Iran has been...
How are we Jews looked upon by the rest of the world? On Shavuot, we will recite Yizkor, the memorial prayer for our loved ones. We...
Strong and sprightly until only recently, Solly Krok, the 95-year-old larger-than-life legend, has now rejoined his beloved wife, Rita, and his dear identical twin brother, Abie,...
A wealthy businessman presented his nephew with a siddur for his Barmitzvah, and the nephew was most disappointed. From his rich uncle, he was hoping for...
Hey, does anybody still make new year’s resolutions? Maybe you do still make resolutions and yours goes something like mine? “My new year’s resolution this year...
The Western Wall is where our people go to pray, to celebrate simchas, and to mourn the destruction of our Holy Temple. As next week we...
Believe it or not, there was a time when Moses was afraid. Yes, the greatest leader of all time, the man who vanquished Pharaoh, split the...
Perspective. What a difference it makes. How we look, where we look, and the way we look at things always colours our impressions. In this week’s...
The elections are over. And now? Is there new hope, or will it be more of the same? Though there may not be an overnight transformation,...
Jews have always been fond of answering one question with another. In fact, Golda Meir was once asked by a journalist, “Why do Jews always answer...
“When Adar comes in, we increase in joy!” That’s a statement straight out of the Talmud. It has been put to music, and traditionally sung during...
Since becoming life rabbi emeritus of Sydenham Shul in 2021, my wife Rochel and I have been travelling extensively. I’ve been invited to speak in more...
Do you know that the Jews left Egypt in haste? Don’t you remember? That’s why we eat matzah on Pesach. “They baked the dough that they...
The first shidduch in history occurs in this week’s parsha. Abraham sends his faithful servant, Eliezer, to find a bride for his son, Isaac. He hands...
I still remember Mr Seligman, my old English teacher back in high school in Brooklyn, standing at the head of the class, acting out the scene...
Times have changed, but what about people? Has human nature evolved over the millennia, or are we basically the same as we always were? About five...
What’s the best way to influence people to modify their behaviour? The Book of Deuteronomy begins with Moses castigating his people about their past misbehaviour. He...
Who is holy? Is it the mystic in the mountains, the monk in the monastery, or the guru in the garage? Perhaps it’s the lady with...
I still remember a particular radio advert from my youth. It was for Salem menthol cigarettes – a jingle to the words, “You can Salem out...
Here in South Africa, our national treasure continues to be the late Nelson Mandela. The status and respect he enjoys even after his death are legendary....
Which is the greater test of faith, affluence or poverty? Is it harder to be a good Jew when you’re successful or when you’re struggling? Surely,...
I like a good advert. Some years ago, McDonald’s was running a campaign, and in the centre of the full-magazine page was a big, fat, juicy...
“That’s some new kitchen Sandra just had done. State of the art!” “Hey, did you see that brand-new car Mark just bought? Every gadget in the...
A high school teacher decided to demonstrate to his class the dangers of alcohol abuse. So, he conducted an experiment. He took one glass of water...
“Everything in life is luck,” Donald Trump is reputed to have once said with uncharacteristic humility. And for a change, the great rabbis of Talmudic times...
So, Israel is 74 years old. Well, actually we’re 3 000 years old, but whether it’s our modern state or our ancient people, the incredible truth...
Come Seder night, how many millions of Jews will be looking much more forward to the kneidlach than the matzah itself? Frankly, I don’t blame them....
A rabbi was walking down the road and couldn’t help noticing how one of his prominent congregants entered a non-kosher restaurant. He couldn’t believe it! So,...
They say adapt or die. But must we jettison the old to embrace the new? Is the choice limited to modern or antiquated, or can one...
The world loves a hero. Every season, Hollywood invents new superheroes to fill the box-office coffers. Today, we even have a Jewish girl as the latest...
And Charlton Heston came down from Mount Sinai and gave us the ten commandments. Oops! Sorry, make that Moses. And he was carrying the tablets with...
Devarim is the parsha associated with Tisha B’Av, the Jewish national day of mourning. After Shabbos, we will recall the destruction of our holy temple nearly...
Tragedy struck in Meron, Israel, last week. Dozens of deaths and injuries in a horrific collapse as thousands were celebrating the joyous day of Lag B’Omer....
