Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis

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.

Re’eh:

Thirsty for Torah

Should we take water to people, or should we wait for them to come and ask for it?

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

Hashem’s reputation is in our hands…?

The source for this is a passage of the Torah we all know by heart.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

Words of encouragement. D’var Torah for Parshat Devarim

The Bracha that Moshe Rabbeinu gives to the Jewish people over all ages is found in this parasha.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

The best way to influence people

People will most likely be influenced by you, if they know that you love them.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

Korach: ‘One word says it all’

What was at the root of this machloket, this conflict?

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

‘Our children are watching’.

D’var Torah for Parshat Shelach Lecha.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

Behaalotcha: Two key features of outstanding Jewish leadership

A true leader is somebody who guarantees that the community doesn’t only feel the presence of Hashem in Shul, in the sanctuary, but wherever we are. And there is another key feature.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

The safe rooms that were not so safe

Please Hashem protect the State of Israel from those with cruel intent, who seek to destroy Her.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

Through what merit is the Jewish people saved?

D’var Torah for Parshat Bechukotai.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

From where do we know that ten men constitute a minyan?

D’var Torah for Parshat Emor

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

Kedoshim:"It doesn’t make sense"

So often, we feel that the only predictable element of what’s happening in the world is its unpredictability.

From the office of the UK Chief Rabbi:

‘After death we say holy things’

The Rambam tells us that the mitzvah of kiddush Hashem is the mitzvah of ‘Kol beit Yisrael’,

From the Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

Readings for your Seder table 5784

A series of readings to choose from for your Seder table, offering an opportunity to highlight important themes for Israel and the Jewish people in these challenging times.

Parshat Tazria: The happiest month?

From the month of Nisan, we are taught that it is not just during times of sorrow that we should empathise with others, it is also when they are happy.

Shmini: What are the two middle words of the Torah?

In pre-computer times, the scribes knew how many words and how many letters there were in the entire Torah.

Tzav: Here is a riddle for you:

What it says on the tin should be what you find within it.

Office of the Chief Rabbi

The true meaning of Shalom: Shabbat for Israel

From the entrance to Kibbutz Be’eri in southern Israel, a message for Shabbat Shalom.

Do you know the minor festivals this weekend?

Did you know that this Friday and Shabbat there are some minor festivals on the Jewish calendar?

There are seven words in our tradition for a gift

The longest single word palindrome is ‘Venatnu’, in the book of Shemot. What does it symbolize?

Following cancer diagnosis:

UK Chief Rabbi composes prayer for King Charles

The prayer beseeches G-d to prolong the King's days, 'so that he may continue to rule over our nation in good health and happiness.'

Beshalach: Where did musical instruments come from?

What extraordinary faith brought the women to take musical instruments with them to the desert!

Vaera: Miracle within a miracle

Fire and water intertwined - so can we.

Shemot: A phenomenon of this war

There is a phenomenon associated with the current tragic war, which we must preserve well beyond it.

Jacob never died

This profound and extraordinary statement is recorded in the Gemara.

The crucial ingredient for Jewish survival

This week, the Chief Rabbi identifies the crucial ingredient for Jewish survival over thousands of years.

Vayishlach: Winning a war may be necessary, but it bears a price

The Chief Rabbi writes that there are no unscathed winners in a war, but that sometimes they must be fought.

Parshat Vayeitzei: We should be positive and never despair.

Just when life for the Jewish people is intolerable, that’s when Hashem can bring our Yeshua, he can bring our salvation.

Chayei Sarah and the tragic war: The Jewish people is one family

The contribution to the Jewish people is being made by so many whose names we do not know.

Parshat Vayeira: It’s what you do that counts

During the current tragic war in Israel, I have been so inspired by the actions, by the practical elements of what so many people are doing.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

Bring them home

The Chief Rabbi addressing thousands of people gathered in Trafalgar Square to call for the release of hostages taken by Hamas.

A special message for the Jewish community from the Chief Rabbi

Lessons from the head of World Mizrachi who married off one son last week while another son was still missing in action.

Address by the Chief Rabbi - Pray for Israel

The United Synagogue, The Office of the Chief Rabbi and the Rabbinic Council of the United Synagogue held an evening of prayer.

What’s the most important part of any major event?

The value of the day is not what happens on that day, but the impact of that day and the days, months and years that follow.

Yom Kippur: The difference between hope and ‘good’ hope

What’s the difference between hope and ‘good’ hope? Surely all hope is good?

Rosh Hashannah: Two steps to achievable teshuva

There are two great barriers to teshuva. They are surmountable.

How do some people justify antisemitism?

Time and time again people have said that the Jews themselves cause antisemitism. Do they?

Elul: We can have hope in the future!

What the line "have hope in Hashem" in the last verse of the psalm we say during this period means.

Shoftim: The most popular D’var Torah this Shabbat

Never forget this great lesson of the Torah – “Tzedek, tzedek tirdof,” – “Justice, justice you shall pursue.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

Kisoh, kosoh and ka’asoh

The Talmud tells us three ways to assess character. The three festivals show how this works.

Eikev: Why did the rebbe ask for a cigar?

The Rebbe didn't even smoke.

Seven weeks of consolation!

Three weeks of sadness requires seven weeks of consolation. That’s the period of the calendar that we are in right now.

Tisha b’Av: A good leader gives us hope

Although the nation is facing numerous challenges, Moshe gives them hope, and what a wonderful message that is for all of us.

Matot Massei: What difference does it make where we live?

Our environment sets a tone for our lives.

Britain's Chief Rabbi receives his Knighthood

Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis recognized by King Charles III for his services to the Jewish community and interfaith relations and education.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

Pinchas: What would it be like without you?

To what degree will we be missed when we’re not there?

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

Korach (Diaspora): Humour can be dangerous!

Humour is wonderful, but humour can also be dangerous.

Shlach Lecha (Diaspora): How not to use the Torah

You might have somebody who has been schooled in the ways of the Torah, but doesn’t want to translate their knowledge into action.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

Behaalotecha (Diaspora):“I was filled with dread and panicked.”

We should never forget that whatever it is we’re doing or saying in life, it’s never totally off the record, because the mic is always on.

UK chief rabbi praises Scottish Jewish-Christian joint glossary

Document seeks to explain Judaism and connection to Israel to Christians who are members of the Church of Scotland.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

"Jerusalem” does not appear in the Torah – why?

For Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem's Liberation Day.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

Bechukotai: A challenge for Shavuot this year

Why not go for it? Why not engage with Torah?

'An extraordinary Shabbat!'

Britain's Chief Rabbi reflects on coronation of King Charles

Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis: What a privilege it was for me to be in attendance for the coronation of our King.

King Charles III crowned

'Monarch cherishes his warm relationship with British Jews'

King Charles III's formal coronation took place this Saturday. Israeli and Jewish leaders share their blessings.

What do the Coronation and Parshat Emor have in common?

From the moment we’re born, whether we like it or not, we’re all living in a fishbowl – people are noticing us.