Shabbat Shalom (Parashat Acharei Mot/Kedoshim)

1. From the Rabbi  

Perhaps the most famous verse, we read this Shabbat, is, ‘And you shall love your fellow as you love yourself.’ (Leviticus 19) Rabbi Akiva, in the Sifra, suggests this is the ‘clal gadol’ - central principle of the Torah, the grounding standard from which all decent Jewish behaviour can be learnt.

What is less well known is that another Rabbi of the first century, Ben Azzai, suggests another verse as an even more foundational ‘clal’. Ben Azzai offers, ‘this is the story of the generations of Adam’ (Genesis 5).

At first glance it hardly seems a fair fight. Not only is Akiva a more significant figure than Ben Azzai, but Ben Azzai’s verse doesn’t seem to demand anything in terms of our behaviour. In its Biblical context the acknowledgement that ‘this is the story of the generations of Adam’ is merely a bridge connecting the story of the first human and into the narratives to come.

That said, there are problems with Akiva’s mighty ‘clal’. What if you don’t love yourself? What if you think, God forbid, that a bit of domestic violence is compatible with love? What if you think that love requires only an emotional feeling, and not action? Akiva’s verse can run out of power.

Ben Azzai’s verse on the other beckons the reader in, you have to start thinking, looking things up – that’s good news. You can find yourself, all of a sudden, a descendent of Adam yourself. ‘This story’ becomes ‘my story,’ and then one is forced into an engagement with Adam’s creation in the image of God. That means I am, you are, each one of us are created in the image of God and that means that anything done to hurt any human is an affront to the Divine. It doesn’t matter whether you like ‘your fellow’ or not, you can’t hit another human being, you can’t oppress another human being, the responsibility for another human hangs heavily on all our shoulders.

There is much that is wonderfully inspiring in Parashat Kedoshim, read this year with the added bonus of Parashat Acharei Mot, but cast adrift on a desert island, I would take Ben Azzai’s verse with me, before even Akiva’s ‘clal gadol.’

Shabbat shalom

Jeremy Gordon

2. Reflections: To read the online version of the weekly commentary on the Torah Portion -  Reflections, click the following link - http://www.masorti.org.uk/reflections.htm

3. The week Ahead

The Kabbalat Shabbat service this evening begins at 6.30 pm. Tomorrow morning Shacharit is at 9.15 am. This Shabbat we are honouring our Helping Hands volunteers who do such good work for our community. Also this Shabbat, Lester Kershenbaum is celebrating his 70th Birthday - Mazal tov Lester from all the community. Debbie and Lester invite you to join them for a celebratory Kiddush following the service.

Following the Kiddush tomorrow, there will be a Communal Lunch for those who have booked. If you would like to come and have not yet booked the office can take late bookings up until 1.00 pm today.

On Sunday morning Shacharit will be at 9.30 am in the Bet HaMidrash. There is no Midrash Shiur this week. Rabbi Elaina Rothman's Hebrew reading class is at 10.15 am in the Rabbi's study. The Cheder meets as usual at 9.45 am.

4. Forthcoming Events

Sunday 10th May at 11.00 am - Dedication of a new Children's Classroom in loving memory of Doris Sinclair z"l (Mother of Gina Sanders)

Tuesdays 12th   19th   26th   MAY  -  8.00 pm in the Bet Midrash Learning at New London presents - Three Rabbis of the Talmud
In this adult education series Rabbi Gordon will look at three of the most provocative and remarkable Rabbis of the Talmudic period. 12th May -We will begin with Shimon Bar Yochai, wandering mystic and hero of Lag B’Omer – which is celebrated on this day. Next up (19th May) is  Chanina Ben Dosa, healer and magician. Finally on May 26th, we conclude with Reish Lakish,  gladiatorial thug turned Rabbinic master. These classes will be text based and open to all.   Cost £5 per session

Monday 18th May at 7.30 pm - NLS AGM  To download a copy of the final draft Memorandum and Articles of Association click here

5. Refuah Shelaimah
We were sad to hear that Sylvia Shaw suffered a major stroke last Shabbat. She is in the Royal Free and our thoughts and prayers are with her.

6. Beyond NLS 

Fancy a cheap month in Israel?  We received a request from an old friend of NLS now living in Israel looking for someone who would like to exchange houses during August. They have a 6 bedroom house in Mzakeret Bataya Israel and need to be in London during August doing research. Please contact me (Stephen) for more details.

Sunday 3rd May - You are invited to a Yom Hatzmaut Dance Party at New North London Synagogue. The party will take place in the atmosphere of a Shuk featuring dancing with Marcelo Marianoff, tasty and interesting Israeli food, fun activity stalls for kids of all ages run by Noam and a superb range of Israeli merchandise for adults and kids too! This event will support the work of Israel Activists for refugees and the poorest in Israeli Society. Please click here for: www.nikkez.com  for more information.

Monday 4th May - Strangers into Citizens 
National Day of Action & Celebration - join the largest ever call for justice for migrants at a rally in Trafalgar Square. Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg will be speaking. Further details at: http://www.strangersintocitizens.org.uk 

Strangers into Citizens is a campaign by the country’s largest alliance of civic institutions for a pathway into citizenship for irregular migrants who have made new lives in the UK. We are calling on the Government to implement an “earned amnesty” as part of its overhaul of the UK’s immigration policy. We propose: Those who have been here for 4 or more years should be admitted to a 2-year pathway to full legal rights (“leave to remain”) during which they work legally and demonstrate their contribution to UK economy and society. After that 2-year period, subject to knowledge of English and employer and community references, they would be granted permanent leave to remain.

Second Generation Network
The Second Generation Network is a group of people living all over the UK whose parents were survivors or refugees from the Holocaust. We are mostly, but not exclusively, Jewish. We’re interested in, and explore, the effect of the Holocaust on our own lives. There are groups in London; Bristol and South West; East Midlands; Glasgow; Leeds / Manchester; Merseyside. For more information contact: info@secondgeneration.org.uk Second Generation Network, Wiener Library, 4 Devonshire Street, London W1W 5BH

Shabbat shalom

Stephen Cotsen