ShabbatUK 2014: Chief Rabbi's message

ShabbatUK 2014 – ONE WEEK LATER

At a time when we are still under the spell of last week’s remarkable Shabbat experience, I would like to share a few reflections with you.

First of all, thank you so much for participating in ShabbatUK. Together, we enjoyed a historic weekend for the British Jewish community. The overall remarkable impact was due to everything that you, your family, your friends and community did which collectively gave tremendous joy and inspiration to the whole of the British community.

ShabbatUK took place on Parshat Noach, in which there is a poignant description of the aftermath of the flood. What was the first thing that Noah did once the flood was over? There are occasions in our lives when we are struck by extraordinary experiences; events that have the potential to provide a turning point in our lives; times when we feel that perhaps Hashem is trying to tell us something.

The flood was certainly such an event. All of mankind had been destroyed except for one single family. Emerging as a new Adam, how was Noah going to respond to the monumental experience that he had lived through. The Torah gives us the answer;

“And Noah, the man of the ground, recommenced life and planted a vineyard. He drank the wine, became drunk and rolled on the ground in his tent” (Genesis 9:20).

For Noah, it was as if the flood has not occurred. He quickly moved back to being his original self. What a missed opportunity!

Please ensure that the remarkably impactful experiences that we enjoyed last Shabbat at family, communal, national and global levels, will prompt us to guarantee that this coming Shabbat will be different the one we had 14 days before.

In this spirit I call on you please to yet again “do one more thing”, something extra or different for this Shabbat. Perhaps, if these activities are not your regular practice, you can light the Shabbat candles, bless your children, attend a Shul service, have a great Shabbat meal, make kiddush or havdalah or sing the Grace after Meals. Or, perhaps this Shabbat you can make it more meaningful by refraining certain activities you might normally do. Whatever it is that you decide, I have no doubt that your day will be immeasurably enriched.

Together, let’s ensure that the impact of ShabbatUK will live on.

With warm regards and very best wishes.

Shabbat Shalom!

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis