Rabbi Miriam's sermons

Resources

Va'era Sermon

Rabbi Miriam's sermon - delivered Shabbat morning on 17th January 2026. Shabbat shalom all. It is very special to welcome my friend, the Reverend Tom Mumford from Ipswich Minster, soon to be Chaplain to support the Bishop of Selby. Rev. Tom will address us at the end of shul, so I’m going to say something brief today. And the opportunity is too good not to start with a joke about a priest and a rabbi. A rabbi and a priest are the only passengers on a plane, along with the

Rabbi Miriam's sermons

Kehillat Nashira

Jan 193 min read

Shemot

Rabbi Miriam's sermon - delivered Kabbalat Shabbat 9th January 2026 Tomorrow we begin the book of Shemot, literally “names”. But names are strangely absent from the opening story, as our people’s enslavement in Egypt becomes established then embedded. Perhaps this is because slaves, along with the most oppressed people in human history, have not been dignified with names, sometimes as we know, being numbered instead. But onto this scene comes two figures with names. They are

Rabbi Miriam's sermons

Kehillat Nashira

Jan 155 min read

Chanukah in Our Community and Beyond

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

Vayetze on JWA Shabbat 2025

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 sermons

Kehillat Nashira

Dec 1, 20255 min read

Toldot sermon

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

Rabbi Miriam's sermons

Kehillat Nashira

Nov 24, 20254 min read

Vayera and the Importance of Inter-faith dialogue

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

Rabbi Miriam's sermons

Kehillat Nashira

Nov 10, 20256 min read

Noach

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

Rabbi Miriam's sermons

Kehillat Nashira

Oct 27, 20253 min read

Simchat Torah reflections

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