Media – Page 16 – Kehillas Federation

FedTech in Jewish Chronicle

2 January 2018

Is your oven Shabbat compliant? How about that gleaming new fridge or your hi-tech freezer? For religious Jews worried about the halachic status of their household items over the day of rest, help is now at hand. The Federation of Synagogues has produced an online guide, detailing issues to watch out for.

Oneg Shabbos

Parshas Vayechi

27 December 2017

“And Yaakov lived in the land of Egypt” Rashi asks the famous question that relates to these opening words of our Parsha. Why is this Parsha ‘closed off’?

Oneg Shabbos

Parshas Vayigash

21 December 2017

The Netziv in Ha’amek Dovor explains that Yosef had been driven by a sense of responsibility to oversee the fulfilment of his dreams. By his own design, the brothers had already bowed to him and all that was missing was that Yaakov should now join in too.

Oneg Shabbos

14 December 2017

The context can be teased out as the story unfolds of the dramatic events. The status and fame of Yaakov Avinu’s family had spread throughout the region. They were known as Ivrim, the characteristic description of the descendants of Avraham . Rashi1 gives two definitions of the word Ivri: they were m’ever ha’nahar from over the river, the other side of the River Euphrates and secondly, m’benei Ever from the children of Ever. What he illuminates is that there was exclusively only one family fulfilling both qualifications, this being Avraham ’s family, the only descendant of Ever who crossed the Euphrates.

In the Press

Federation Rebbetzins’ Conference – Jewish Tribune

14 December 2017

A CONFERENCE was held last Sunday to provide learning and chizuk to the Federation’s dedicated team of rebbetzins. The conference was held at the JLE and was extremely well attended.

In the Press

Federation Rebbetzins’ Conference -Hamodia

14 December 2017

A conference took place last Sunday to provide learning and chizuk to the Federation’s team of dedicated Rebbetzins. The conference was held at the JLE and was extremely well attended.

Oneg Shabbos

Parshas Vayeshev

7 December 2017

Rabbi Friedman authored a sefer, and as is common practice, put out a pile of ten of his seforim on a table in the lobby of a shul, with a money box next to the seforim and a handwritten sign saying “£9 a sefer.” Mr. S. Alec passed by shortly after, and having had a quick look at the seforim, came up with an idea. He took out a pen and crossed out the words “£9 a sefer,” and changed it to read “£10 a sefer.” He then stood back and waited. Over the next half hour, nine other people passed by, viewed the offer, placed £10 each into the money box and took for themselves a sefer. Mr Alec then took the last sefer for himself without paying.

In the Press

Rabbi Shmuel Yosef Shtizberg meets the Federation Beis Din

5 December 2017

The Federation Beis Din hosted Rabbi Shmuel Yosef Shtizberg, noted mechaber and posek of Gur in Beit Shemesh, for a roundtable discussion on the challenges facing Jewish communities in the UK, vis a vis the application of halachah to contemporary household appliances. Rabbi Shtizberg, with his keen technical understanding, has advised leading manufacturers on matters of halachah and spearheaded the revolutionary project to design Shabbos-compliant smart water meters. The meeting was held in the light of the creation of the Federation’s new technology department, which has already published pre-purchase consumer guides for the usage of ovens, fridges and freezers on Shabbos and yom tov. Members of the Federation’s ShailaText Rabbinic panel were also in attendance.

In the Press

New Rabbi For Ilford Federation

5 December 2017

ford Federation Synagogue has announced the appointment of a new Rav, Rabbi David Singer, who will be joining the kehillah shortly after Pesach. Rabbi Singer, who grew up in Birmingham, began his career as the assistant Rabbi in Singers Hill synagogue many years ago, before moving to Eretz Yisrael, where he lived for over 40 years. In 2013, he and his wife moved to Ireland, where he took

Oneg Shabbos

Parsha Vayishlach

30 November 2017

One of the most complex questions in Jewish Thought that is of real relevance to every Jew in their daily lives, is the understanding of the parameters of the Mitzva of Emunah, as it relates to our interactions with the physical world. How much effort ought to be expended in attempting to achieve a desired outcome? Is the concept of a desired outcome itself an appropriate one? Perhaps an expectation of a particular result, is itself inappropriate? Arguably, we just do what we need to, and Hashem should be left to determine the outcome. At what point is our involvement deemed to be excessive, or indeed too minimal? Is there indeed a notion of doing too much or too little?