This week, Rabbi Miriam is joined by her teacher Rabbi Zvi Hirshfield at Limmud. He share a 90-second video sermon on Parashat Vayechi. Rabbi Miriam reflects: "Limmud  festival was phenomenal in so many ways and one was being around so many teachers. So it was an honour to learn from Rabbi Zvi Hirshfield again and for him to give this week's Insta sermon. Thank you @pardesinstitute  for Rabbi Zvi and for all the inspiration you've given so many of us."

This week, Rabbi Miriam has been representing Kehillat Nashira bringing Chanukah light into many different spaces. Earlier this week, Rabbi Miriam visited Meadow Hill Care Home, a newly opened care home in Castleford Close, Borehamwood. She lit Chanukah candles with residents and staff, sharing songs, blessings, and a moment of warmth and connection. It has also been a painful week for the Jewish community. News from Sydney, Australia has reminded us that even when events tak

This week, Rabbi Miriam shares a 90-second video sermon on Parashat Vayishlach . She reflects: "A 90 second sermon on something that's difficult to talk about. Particularly in a family setting like shul. But because abuse thrives in silence, it's important to share this story and speak out against it happening in our communities and our world. If the Torah can, so can we. " If you'd like to read the full story, please click the link below: https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.34?l

Written by Gaye Daniels - November 2025 To explain what having a Bat Mitzvah meant to me at my tender age of 71, I should explain something about my life.   I grew up in an anglicised family, but we always celebrated the major Jewish festivals. I have always been passionate about being Jewish and a strong supporter of Israel.   My married years were observant, and when divorced, I tried to continue with as much as I could living by myself. However, I gradually developed an i

Rabbi Miriam's Vayetze sermon - delivered Shabbat 29th November 2025 What does it look like to have a safe home? The home is usually the place where we expect to “switch off” our threat responses. A place where you are physically protected, but also one with psychological safety. If home doesn’t feel safe, the body can stay in a chronic stress state and never truly relaxes.  On the other hand, a home with good physical and psychological safety has long-term positive effects o

Rabbi Miriam's Toldot sermon - delivered Kabbalat Shabbat 21st November 2025 Our parasha is Toldot, which contains the story of Yaakov and Eisav’s brotherly wranglings. It all starts with the twins wrestling in utero, which leads their mother to ask the existential question: “לָמָּה זֶּה אָנֹכִי” “if so, why do I exist?” In a time before obstetricians, she speaks to God via an oracle or teacher and is given a prophecy that the older twin will end up serving the younger - th

This week, Rabbi Miriam shares a 90-second video sermon on Parashat Toledot. She reflects: "It's one of the biggest questions in the Torah for me, and one with a clear answer despite religious commentaries (particularly the newer ones) tying themselves in knots to justify our Avot and Imahot's flawed human behaviour. Glad to have the Ramban and Radak onside for this one. "[Yaakov] was punished for initiating such a sale because he had upset the norms of civilised society by d

This week, Rabbi Miriam Lorie joined BBC Radio 2's Pause for Thought. Listen here , In about 40 minutes Sara Cox will begin her epic Great Northern Marathon Challenge for Children in Need - an incredible feat for an amazing cause. The first county she’ll be crossing is Northumberland - I expect she’s there warming up right now. Northumberland is where my family had our summer holiday this year, so Sara, if you’re listening, here are my reflections on Northumberland… and spir

Rabbi Miriam's sermon - delivered Kabbalat Shabbat 7th November 2025 I’m not sure about you, but I’m still waiting for the nice, quiet time beyond the two years of feeling tense. Don’t get me wrong, the news cycle seems better than the awfulness of even a few weeks ago. But that’s not a particularly high bar.  I expect that some people here, along with some of my American colleagues, are feeling anxious about Mamdani’s appointment. Others among my colleagues voted for him, s

This week, Rabbi Miriam shares a 90-second video sermon on Parashat Lech Lecha. She reflects: "Lech Lecha starts our people's particular story, but it also shows us our dignified place among other dignified people's stories, and our role in relation to the whole world. We cannot have one without the other. Let's remember both this Shabbat." Watch the full video and hear her full teaching:

Rabbi Miriam's sermon - delivered Shabbat 25th October 2025 on the celebration of Beth and Iona Farshi's Batmitzvah Iona, your dvar Torah brought the words you leined to life, giving us all inspiration for confidence among our own “generation”, our own peers and communities.  And Beth, your poem was amazing, combining research and some really deep ideas, with poetic expression, and your amazing, precious essence.  The name Noach means “rest” and when he was born, Noach’s fat

As we begin the Torah anew with Bereishit, Rabbi Miriam invites us to reflect on the timeless lessons of our first parasha. She says: ”This first parasha of the Torah contains so many heartbreaking truths about humanity - our innate competitiveness, our need to possess and have power over others, our capacity for violence... but I believe also our incredible capacity for self-reflection and progress.”

The following reflections were made by Rabbi Miriam during the different parts of the Simchat Torah service this week. They offer further explanation, context, and moments of reflection, helping us hold the complex emotions of this time: gratitude, relief, awe, and tenderness. The return of the hostages has brought with it both tears and song, sorrow and celebration. Before Hallel Being Jewish is saying Kaddish and Hallel in the same breath. For now, Hallel feels the predomin

This week, Rabbi Miriam Lorie invites us into her succah to reflect on vulnerability in a 90-second video sermon. Torah: "You shall dwell...

Rabbi Miriam's Rosh Hashana sermon - delivered Tuesday 23rd September 2025 Losing the 'we' In Morocco, Gibraltar, Turkey, Israel,...

Whether you’ll be busy in the kitchen preparing festive meals, or on the road traveling to loved ones, music has a way of setting the...

This week, Rabbi Miriam Lorie joined BBC Radio 2's Pause for Thought. Listen here This week, I’m going to open a vault that has been...