Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis

Why will this Shabbat be extra special?

A key ingredient of receiving Torah in one’s life, is being a decent, person.

From the Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

The most remarkable letter in the Hebrew Alphabet

That one letter is also a word and writing four of them in a row also forms a word.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi: Emor

A Kiddush Hashem in Golders Green

This week's parasha speaks of sanctifying G-d's Name, Kiddush Hashem. At the Golder's Green attack, nobody intended to perform this commandment, but it shone forth from them.

Arson attacks escalate against UK Jewish community

A string of firebombings targeting London's Jewish institutions rattles Britain’s Jewish community. 'We cannot, and must not, wait before we understand just how dangerous this moment is for all of our society,' says Chief Rabbi Mirvis.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi:

How tragedy turns into a reward

In our prayers, we often ask Hashem to bless us with יְשׁוּעָה וְנֶחָמָה, salvation and consolation. Throughout our history, as they do this week, the two come together.

UK Chief Rabbi’s Pesach Message:

“A kippah and a Kiddush cup."

Keith Siegel's request for his first Shabbat at home tells us something about the Jewish people and continuity.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi:

The ultimate key for a fulfilling Jewish life

As we finished reading the Book of Exodus, its overall message becomes clear.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi:

What is the most powerful image in the Torah?

The most powerful image is one that stands for our facing one another.

From the Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

An entire Shabbat devoted to giving

This Shabbat, in addition to reading the parsha of Mishpatim, we will read the haftarah for Shekalim.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi:

The wisdom of children

Let’s listen to what our children say. Often, they just comment on things. They say sweet nothings. But sometimes there’s something really perceptive. Like Miriam.

Parashat Bo

Freedom from slavery

why did Moshe convey the message “ַכּחצת " “at approximately midnight"?

Chief Rabbi of Britain:

Calling Gaza genocide trivializes the word

Britain's Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, denounced accusations of genocide in Gaza as being motivated only by hostility to the Jewish state.

UK Chief Rabbi on Shemot:

The hallmark of great Jewish leaders

How did Pharaoh’s daughter know that the baby in the Nile was a Hebrew child?

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi:

Jewish failure

Sometimes what I perceive to be good for me could actually be bad, and what I think is bad could actually be something absolutely extraordinary for me.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi:

The greatest of all gifts

One of the greatest of all minchas is actually, the ring that the groom gives to a bride under the chuppah. In order to show that he loves and cares for her.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi:

Parashat Vayetze and Thanksgiving: To be Jewish is to be grateful

In this week's parasha, Leah thanks G-d when Yehuda is born and we thank G-d every morning before we get out of bed.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi:

Esau - our broken clock

Eisav certainly ranks as one of the worst personalities presented to us in the entire Bible. And yet, here we see that he did excel in something.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

Parashat Vayera: The most irrelevant instruction?

Now, what are the chances that you, or I, or anybody, might actually come across the pillar of salt which used to be Lot’s wife to say the mandated blessings? The meaning of this commandment is much deeper.

From the Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

A D’var Torah for Yom Kippur

What should be done when around the world Jewish communities are facing such challenging times?

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

Shabbat Shuvah or Shabbat Teshuvah?

The answer is found here: Why do I say the two magic words?

Messages of hope

A positive look at the new year

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

When Rosh Hashanah doesn't fall

Our tradition demands that we give greater priority to regular over irregular.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi:

We can always stand tall

Just as we were entering into the Holy Land, stones had a position of prominence.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

Coincidence?

D’var Torah for Parshat Ki Teitzei

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi:

Until the last hostage. D’var Torah for Shoftim

‘Yisrael v’oraita chad hu’- the Jewish people and the Torah are one.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi:

A person or a people?

D’var Torah for Re’eh.

UK Chief Rabbi Mirvis:

'Gov’t recognition of Palestine a betrayal to hostages' families'

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis criticizes the UK government for considering Palestinian state recognition while hostages remain in Hamas captivity, warns it would be a "blow" to their lives.

Parashat Va’etchanan:

The Jewish dual responsibility

Why all the repetition?

D’var Torah for Tisha B’av

Picking up the pieces

The pendulum of Jewish fate swings very swiftly from one extreme to the other.

From the Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

A message of hope during challenging times

Jeremiah I, this week's Haftorah:The almond seen by Jeremiah sends out an exceptionally poignant and sadly relevant message to us at this saddest time of the year.

Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis

A message of hope

A message of appreciation for the "B'nei Yisrael" - the children of the State of Israel.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

A nation that rises like a lion

Praying for Israel's success.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi:

The symbolism of the desert

There are many explanations as to the significance of deserts, of wildernesses, within our tradition.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

Make those moments last.

D’var Torah for Parshat Behar: Ramban says that Yovel, the Jubilee year in our parasha, means taking something forward.

UK Chief Rabbi:

Watch: Address on Yom Ha'atzmaut

There was an incredible atmosphere at the annual Yom Ha'atzmaut service, organized by Bnei Akiva UK and hosted by Finchley United Synagogue.

The deeper meaning of numbers

Six, seven, eight and nine - what ideas do they signify?

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi:

The taste of Pesach: D’var Torah for Isru Chag

At the end of a long and wonderfully fulfilling festival, we don’t just want to put it behind us. The Miouna keeps the festival spirit alive, but we have to keep it in our hearts as well.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

The essence of our Passover Seder

D’var Torah ahead of Pesach.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi: Parshat Parah

One of the greatest parables I have ever read…

How can I accept irrational commandments?

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi:

Family first. D’var Torah for Purim

What did Joseph and Mordechai have in common?

Hypocritical UK Muslim "leaders" expose hatred of the Chief Rabbi

You will not find any condemnation from them for the October 7 massacre, just for Chief Rabbi Mirvis' unabashed Zionism. Op-ed.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

The joyful times to come…

Our hope is that with the beginning of this month of Adar, our joy will not only grow throughout this month but continue to increase as we move forward.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi:

Mishpatim: To see or be seen…?

As far as the Temple was concerned, it was important not only to be seen but also to see. What about other situations?

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi: Yitro

Every child is the one and only.

Honoring one's father and mother is only one of two lessons on family life in the parasha.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

Leadership that lasts

D’var Torah for Parshat Beshalach.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi:

Never again

In the face of wickedness, there is no room for patience.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

Fasting on a Friday? D’var Torah for Asarah B’Tevet/ and halakhot

Asarah B’Tevet was the original cause—the first event that, had a domino effect, setting many other tragic events in motion. (See selected Halakhot for this year's fast, that falls on a Friday, at end)

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

How to make your voice heard

D’var Torah for Parshat Vayigash.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

First, establish the facts…

If you want to solve a problem, you need to have the facts, whether they are needed to solve Pharaoh's dreams or the was in Gaza and Lebanon.

UK Chief Rabbi says Met failing to protect Jews

British Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis criticizes London police for failing to ensure that a Saturday protest planned for next month will not target local synagogues.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

How can we bring peace between rivals?

Parashat Vayeishev portrays the dilemma of Jacob and his rival sons.

What will our monuments look like?

A person’s l.egacy is not confined to a physical marker

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi:

Vayetzei: How do you respond to your dreams?

Our dream, right now, is “Beshuv Hashem et-shivat Tziyyon” — “May Hashem enable the captives of Zion to come home.”

Toldot:

What can be learnt from Eisav’s favourite outfit?

What is your most favourite outfit of clothing? For what special occasion did you wear it?

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

The Akeida was a major misunderstanding

So what was this all about?

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

Words produce light - for Parashat Noach

There is a message in the meanings of two Hebrew words in this week's Torah reading.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

Our tradition demands hope

D’var Torah ahead of midnight Selichot,

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

We must be happy; we’ve got no choice

Yesterday's parsha has a message that will get us throught these challenging times.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

Watch: Remembering and never forgetting?

Why a dual imperative?

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

Keeping the peace in our homes

Through just walking into our homes and looking at the mezuzah, we are reminded of the importance of compromise.