Laurie Maurer

Oct 14, 2024 | jewishnews.co.uk | Laurie Maurer |Louisa Walters

Rabbi Doron Perez had two sons. One, Daniel, was injured, kidnapped (and 163 days after 7 October was confirmed murdered), the other, Yonatan, injured on 7 October, married on 17 October. Rabbi Perez has become world famous for his sons’ stories and his unwavering faith and awesomely inspiring words, written and spoken, as a rabbi, father of a hostage and a heroic Jewish leader. He wrote a booklet for the High Holy days.

Aug 4, 2024 | jewishnews.co.uk | Laurie Maurer |Louisa Walters

On 7 October Staff Sergeant Roey Weiser, a soldier in the Golani 13th Brigade, was stationed at the Kerem Shalom border crossing with Gaza. He was near the safe room when terrorists entered the area. He could have gone to the safe room and stayed there, saving his own life. However he took on the task of ensuring that as many soldiers as possible could also reach it, and thus found himself protecting many other lives, but giving up his own. Hannah Szenesh spent the summer of 1944 in a prison cell.

Apr 12, 2024 | jewishnews.co.uk | Laurie Maurer

Careless talk costs lives. Loose lips sink ships. These statements were the mantras of Britain during the Second World War. The Torah has always warned us against evil speech, lashon hara, but even innocent gossip can lead to devastating consequences. Our sages compare speaking lashon hara to murder, and I think we have seen evidence for this on personal and national levels. Words can ruin lives, whether directly or indirectly.

Jan 17, 2024 | jewishnews.co.uk | Laurie Maurer

There is a famous old story of a wealthy businessman with three sons. He wanted to hand over his business to one of them and decided to test them to determine who was the most suitable for this task. Each son was taken to an empty room and asked to fill it as best he could. The first son donned his hard hat and filled the room with soil, using bulldozers and shovels, packing the space from floor to ceiling.

Aug 2, 2023 | jewishnews.co.uk | Laurie Maurer

Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z’l tells a story of a dinner party he once hosted. At the end, everyone said thank you to him and Lady Elaine and left. One guest insisted on thanking the entire staff – something Rabbi Sacks had never experienced in his time in office. That person was John Major, who served as Prime Minister of Great Britain.