Rabbi Andrea’s Sermon 22nd September 2025 / 29th Elul 5785

A PRAYER FOR A NEW BEGINNING

Ribbono shel Olam — Master of the Universe

Avinu Malkeinu — our Father, our King:

On this night of beginnings, we stand before You, in pain and in hope.You are the Creator of the Universe; You renew creation each day, we beg You to give us strength.

We live in a Country we cherish. We have been blessed here in England with freedom to learn, to pray, to build families, and to contribute to the common good.

And yet, Holy One, you know the fear that has returned to our doorways.We have seen antisemitism rise again — in the streets and on campuses, online and in our neighbourhood’s — ugly words on placards, threats shouted at our children, desecrations and harassment that we thought would be unthinkable in our time.

Shield us, O God.

Shomer Yisrael, Guardian of Israel, spread Your shelter over every Jewish home in this land.We have suffered enough. Let the bullies be answered by the rule of law, let those who traffic in hate be silenced by truth, and let the innocent walk unafraid. And tonight, as we gather in this sanctuary, we cannot ignore what weighs on our hearts: Israel, our people’s heartland, still at war; rockets and alerts, funerals and fear. Among us are families with loved ones taken hostage or newly released and forever changed.

Elohai ha-Shavui ve-ha-Ben Chorin, God of the Captive and the Free, please guard the soldiers of Israel who risk their lives; protect every civilian in danger — Jewish and Arab alike; bring the hostages home alive, in body and in spirit; and grant leaders the wisdom and courage to end this cruelty swiftly and justly.

We pray, too, for innocent Palestinian civilians, whose lives are crushed by terror and war; shield them from harm and bring a future where their children and ours can sleep without fear.

Eternal One, you search the hidden rooms of the heart, and You know that our pain has been compounded by politics we cannot control.

We have read announcements and reports that our own government is preparing to recognise a Palestinian State even as hostages remain in captivity and terror still threatens our people. We feel betrayed by those who ought to be guardians of our security.

God of Truth, we ask, let recognition of nations never be a reward for violence. Let diplomacy be moored to justice. Make our leaders steadfast in protecting minorities at home and in demanding the release of the hostages and the disarming of those who glorify murder. Let this Country, which we love, stand clearly against antisemitism in every party and on every street.

But, God, we are not only bruised by the outside world. We confess that inside our own walls we have stumbled. Our synagogue — this very home — has been torn by debates... Words have been sharp; friendships have broken; lashon hara has found a perch on our tongues.

Even tonight, seats that once were filled by habit and by love stand empty because hearts are aching. No one is happy with what is going on. There is frustration because nothing seems to happen. There is irritation because hard work and generous donations have not been properly appreciated.

And so, we have spoken in anger. We have judged each other by rumours. For this, Ribbono shel Olam, we ask Your forgiveness. We have forgotten that we are one family under Your covenant.

How ironic that the state of this building, of this synagogue somehow reflects the problems we currently face as Jews.

The heating may not work properly; sometimes we don't manage to properly welcome everyone, new member and long-standing members. The microphones falter: often we refuse to listen to each other. These are not only maintenance problems. They are mirrors of a wider rift — in the Jewish world of our city, where groups stop speaking to one another, and in our own shul, where we seem to have lost the habit of listening. We rush to conclusions, we lend our ears to rumours and insinuations, we ration tolerance like a scarce commodity.

Tonight, we name these as what they are: defects and transgressions. And tonight, we pledge, before You, to repair them. Warm our house with patience; amplify the quiet voices; keep the conversation. From this night until the gates close at Ne’ilah, the Aseret Yemei Teshuvah — the Ten Days of Return — are open before us.

Av Harachamim, God of Mercy, leave the door ajar for those who will walk through. Give us the courage to seek forgiveness and to grant it.

Let each of us choose:

• one call to make,

• one apology to offer,

• one silence to keep where gossip would have been easy,

• one meeting to mend a broken friendship,

• one act of generosity that reopens a shut heart.

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If we have wronged, let us own it. If we have been wronged, let us loosen our grip on resentment.

Let our committees and conversations be guided by shalom and emet — peace and truth — so that by Yom Kippur we have taken real steps towards reconciliation.

If we can be united in these Ten Days, then united we will stand against the rising tide of antisemitism and we will overcome the social isolation that as Jews we suffer.

Teach us, God, to be slow to speak and quick to listen. Plant humility within us so that we can say, “I was wrong” and “I am sorry.” Help us remember that a synagogue is not an address; it is a community of people bound to Your Torah.If our walls must be repaired, let the first repairs be the bridges between us.

Eternal One, show us again what binds us.

We are held together by Torah study — by voices learning and arguing for the sake of Heaven. We are held together by the joy of bnei mitzvah at every age.We are held together by the task of Jewish education — teaching our children to love being Jewish. We are held together by support for Israel — not because we must all agree, but because we share a people’s destiny.We are held together by the fight against antisemitism — standing shoulder to shoulder with courage and wisdom.

Our best answer to those who would scatter us will be a community that chooses each other again and again.

Baruch Atah Adonai, Who hears prayer: Heal the wounds inside our community. Where friendships have fractured, let forgiveness set bounds that were broken. Where suspicion has grown, give us the curiosity to know one another again.

Baruch Atah Adonai, Who loves life: Protect our children in their schools; protect our elders on their walks to shul; protect those who wear with pride Jewish necklace and Jewish symbols. Guard our security volunteers who stand watch outside — may they never be needed, and may they always be appreciated.

Barach Atah Adonai, Who makes peace: Guide the leaders of Israel — civilian and military — to protect the innocent and pursue a just peace. Uproot the wicked who glory in death and lift up peacemakers who glory in life.Guard all civilians — Israeli and Palestinian — who long to raise families, study, work, and pray in safety.

Tonight, we ask not only for safety but for renewal. This is Rosh Hashanah — the birthday of the world and the birthday of our better selves.

Write our names in the Book of Life so that we learn that community is stronger than our disagreements.Write us into a year of kindness, where we show up for one another’s simchas and sorrows.

Let this be the year we choose action over cynicism:

• We will study together.

• We will celebrate together.

• We will support Jewish Education.

• We will strengthen ties with Israel.

• We will stand up publicly against antisemitism.

  
  

And in these Ten Days, we will begin — one phone call, one apology, one repair at a time.

Ribbono shel Olam, we know there is goodness outside these walls — neighbours, colleagues, and leaders who stand with us. Bless them and multiply their courage.

But the strongest ally we have is You, Eternal, our God and the God of our ancestors.With Your help, we will be better Jews tomorrow than we were today.

So, we ask: Avinu Malkeinu, katveinu b’sefer Chayim tovim — inscribe us in the Book of Good Life.Avinu Malkeinu, chaneinu va’aneinu — be gracious to us and answer us.Avinu Malkeinu, asei l’ma’ancha — act for the sake of Your Name.

Bring the captive’s home. Guard the soldiers and all civilians. Lift the fallen and heal the wounded. Rekindle our support for one another.

May the shofar we hear awaken compassion in us and restraint in the powerful. May it call us back to You and to each other. May it be the sound of return — and of return together.

Baruch Atah Adonai, Magen Avraham u’Foked Sarah, Shield of our ancestors and Keeper of Your promises. Seal us for life, for peace, and for unity.

And let us say: Amen.

Rabbi Dr. Andrea Zanardo, PhD