Times: Shabbat starts tonight with candle lighting at 8:16 pm, and ends Saturday night at 9:16 pm. The weekly Torah portion is Parashat Mishpatim.

Upcoming Events Date TBC in February Cyber Security Presentation with Zohar Dromi: Can you trust Google? Learn the difference between generic security and tailored security.
More details to follow.

Mincha in the CBD: Mincha will return in February.

Study: The Wednesday shiur and lunch will return after the summer break on 6 February..

Thought of the Week with thanks to James Kennard. As the culmination of the process of accepting the Torah, Moshe writes the “book of the covenant.” He reads it to the people (Shemot 24:7). But what was in this book?

There were three views in the midrash (Mechilta, parasha 3). Rabbi Yosi says that the book was the beginning of the Torah, recording Jewish history up to this point. Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi held that it was the laws given at Sinai. Rabbi Yishmael took a completely different view. It was the blessings that would befall the people if they remained loyal to God, and the curses if they did not.

The Jews replied: “We will do, and we will listen.” Based on the views above, they were thereby accepting the legacy of Jewish history. They were accepting the obligation of the commandments. And their stake in the collective Jewish destiny. With that, the Jewish people were born.