JChatting - interviews with a Jewish flavour

  Moshe was born and bred in England, but has been living in Israel since 1998. Moshe has had a successful career in Jewish education for over 25 years, teaching in high schools in both England and Israel, and then working at The Lookstein Center for Jewish Education in Bar Ilan University. Moshe now works as a property manager. Moshe lives in Bet Shemesh with his wife, Helen, and four wonderful children.   1.         What was a place, person or event that transformed your ideas, thinking, or perspective?   Strangely enough it was a Shabbaton when I was in yeshiva in Israel organized by Yavneh Olami for British students - must have been 1987. They brought over this rabbi that none of us had ever heard of before. His name was Jonathan Sacks. He was obviously, very impressive. He told us about his fears for the Jewish people and gave us two messages, about securing the Jewish future, that he wanted us to work on. Firstly, he ...

  Rabbi Johnny Solomon was born in London, and he moved to Israel with his wife Donna and their five daughters in 2012. Rav Johnny is a Teacher, Editor, Writer and Virtual Rabbi. In terms of teaching, he gives classes at Midreshet Lindenbaum and Matan, he is the Educational Director for Zehud and for Kitah, and he also runs his own ‘Online Kollel’ where he teaches classes on Jewish thought and law. As an Editor, he works independently and for Mosaica Press. As a Writer, he produces Jewish content and curricula for Jewish schools around the world, and he also writes a daily thought on daf yomi which can be found on various social media feeds, on Sefaria and on his website. And as a Virtual Rabbi, he offers spiritual coaching, halachic consultations and one-to-one learning to men and women around the world. Beyond this, Rav Johnny is a board member of Chochmat Nashim, and he is one of the three contributors to the RZWeekly podcast. To book a session with Rav Johnny, to invite him to ...

Jeremy Finn lives in Ramat Bet Shemesh, where he has been giving shiurim for the past 15 years. He has worked for Aish HaTorah and Ohr Samayach and is the author of the Sheva DeNechemta series of sefarim - dedicated in memory of his mother.   1. What was a place, person or event that transformed your ideas, thinking, or perspective?  My parents shaped most of my thinking - I never wanted to do anything other than to copy their example of people who love and enjoy being religious, give to the community and created a happy home for my siblings and I.  I consider my father to be my Rebbi in almost every aspect of life, and when I need to know what to do in any situation I will either ask him or think what he would do!   2 . What (Jewish) message does the world   need to hear? Make people smile!  You can dramatically affect someone's life by cheering them up and making them laugh or smile. Just a friendly Hello or showing genuine interest....

  Tanya White is an International lecturer, writer and educator with a focus on Tanach and Contemporary Jewish Thought. She lectures to diverse audiences in Israel and Abroad, driven by a passion to exchange insights on the most pressing topics facing the modern Jewish world. Tanya has published numerous articles in books and on social media, including a highly publicised responsa with Rabbi Nathan Lopez Cardozo which was subsequently published in his latest book. Tanya is a graduate of the Matan Matmidot (Torah scholars) program. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in Jewish Philosophy at Bar Ilan University and is the recipient of Schupf Fellowship for outstanding students. A collection of her thoughts can be viewed on her blog-page: www.contemplatingtorah.wordpress.com 1. What was a place, person or event that transformed your ideas, thinking, or perspective? It’s impossible to single out one person/event or idea. We are all constantly being influenced and influencing. I f...