Woodside_park Synagogue

Ask YY the reasons Why

A Learning Weekend at

Woodside Park.

We were delighted to welcome Rabbi Y Y Rubinstein, the well known author over Shabbat 4th & 5th March 2011.


There were three opportunities to hear him speak over the weekend. Below are reports written by Linda Holder and Carolyn Raven who attended 2 of the events


Friday Night Dinner

RABBI YY RUBENSTEIN'S FLYING VISIT
By Linda Holder

Kabbalat Shabbat at the Wiseman Linden was like no other thanks to the jovial and unique Rabbi YY. A familiar voice on BBC Radio, he was engaging and refreshing. This was a sermon with a difference, for the tone was less spiritual and far more irreverent than one would ever expect. The more cerebral might find his humour verging on the slapstick (you can see why he is so well loved by Manchester students) and the more politically correct would most likely be offended, but he had the gift of injecting a sense of fun.

For the most part, he was quite self deprecating and I was going to say down to earth, but that wasn't really the case since he was regaling us with tales about his various flying experiences.

I worried that with all the digression and witty asides that he might lose us en route but he always neatly brought us back on track. He explained things in laymen's terms such that one almost forgot that he was a Rabbi, but one never forgot his message.

Indeed, behind all this witty banter did lie an important message and that is that you never really know yourself until you are faced with disaster or imminent death, such as a plane crash, when you soon discover, as your life flashes before you, what you really hold dear. We all have a dark side and rather than wait until we are faced with death we should strive to recognize those inner demons and deal with them.

When the floor was opened to questions I was surprised to find that no one had anything to say. Were we awe struck or simply all a bit tired after a hectic week?

I had a question to put to him in his capacity as student Chaplain. I wanted to know what he was doing to support the Jewish students in the face of growing anti-Semitism.

He explained that he advises students to know who they are and to be proud of themselves as Jews and not to be apologists. I was left a touch disappointed because I also hoped to hear something a bit more concrete such as an action plan and practical advice.

Having said that, if it was a matter of being entertained Rabbi YY certainly did that. Indeed he was a real star and I hope it won't be too long before he is back.



Shabbat Lunch
By Carolyn Raven

Forgive me for addressing a Rabbi by his first name but that's just the sort of relaxed environment that this last Shabbat was and that Rabbi that YY is: down to earth, easy to listen too and accessible to all. His wit and humour never seem to mask the message,enabling all, whetever level of observance to be enthralled by his personal story telling .

YY spoke in a range of accents (although Scottish was by far the most accurate!) of stories of hope and strength that he had experienced in his 'life' travels. The ultimate message was about the four levels of suffering and why us? We were all able to empathise with at least one level of suffering. It was emotional, thoughtful, layered with wit and the messages were very thought provoking.

It was wonderful to spend a Shabbat with a cross section of the community and certainly great for parents to be able to relax (not to mention not cook!) whilst our children were entertained. YY, as ever, personified the Shabbat ruach so too did the great food.


To read more about Rabbi YY click the link to go to his website