17/18 January 2025, 18 Tevet 5785

וְעַתָּ֕ה הִנֵּ֛ה צַעֲקַ֥ת בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בָּ֣אָה אֵלָ֑י וְגַם־רָאִ֙יתִי֙ אֶת־הַלַּ֔חַץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר מִצְרַ֖יִם לֹחֲצִ֥ים אֹתָֽם׃

Now the cry of the Israelites has reached Me; moreover, I have seen how the Egyptians oppress them. (Ex 3:9)

This week we begin the book of Shemot, Exodus. The story of liberation and the empathy that comes from it is our Jewish story – our leitmotif, if you like, that characterises us and our footprint in this world.

We come back to it again and again, we have known suffering and liberation. And I find myself thinking of our place here, in Britain as Jews, as we begin 2025.

Someone who works in government for an MP reflected, as he was talking to me, about the fact that so many of the British Jewish events over Chanukah had speakers from the Israel Embassy. This created some confusion.

It’s a conundrum that I discussed with our BoD Representatives.  The Jewish community goes to great lengths to teach and explain that no Jew should be equated with, or have to explain or justify, Israel policy or governmental decisions.

Jews of Britain in the Diaspora have their own, separate, identity. It’s that which I am concerned with right now – and ensuring that exists for us all.  Of course, every Jew has their own personal relationship with Israel, perhaps with family there, as well having perspectives on what is happening.

This seems relevant for this Shabbat when we first encounter the Exodus story that has marked us as Jews. On Shabbat afternoon, we have another Havdalah event and conversation, as we have been offering for the past year – we will talk about the connections and disconnects around this topic. Where are you? Being a Jew right now – what is required of us and what do we require? 

Shabbat Shalom and see you soon,
Rebecca