Rabbi Michael’s Induction Speech

Chief Rabbi, Rabbanim, Rebbetzins, MP Catherine West, Chair Daniel Shaw, Honorary Officers, US President Michael Goldstein, honoured guests, colleagues, family, and friends—and most importantly, members of this warm and dynamic community. Thank you for sharing this day with us. Some of you were instrumental in our journey to this shul: a special thanks to Sophie Dunoff from University Jewish Chaplaincy, Stephen Frosh, Rafi Zarum at LSJS.

Tracey, my partner in everything. It is a blessing to build this life and this community with you. I couldn’t do any of this without you. To our children—Shalva, forging her path in Israel, and to Oriel and Amalya, who have integrated into London life so beautifully—we are so proud of you, and so grateful that you are part of our shul and our work. And to our parents and family joining from as far as Australia and America, thank you for being with us today. Your support has been instrumental on this journey.

It is an honour to stand here as your rabbi. While this ceremony marks a formal induction, it is truly a moment to reaffirm the partnership we began nearly a year ago—a partnership rooted in a shared love for Jewish life. Today is a renewal of our covenant as a community and a declaration of our shared future on the vibrant path of modern Orthodoxy.

This past year has been one of full circles. Just last week, I stood under the chuppah to officiate at my first Muswell Hill wedding, having come directly from a stone-setting which was the first funeral I conducted in this role. The couple, David and Claudia, had met years ago at a student Friday night dinner we were part of in Oxford. In those two moments—one of profound sorrow, the other of boundless joy—I felt the immense privilege of being a rabbi: the honour of building lifelong relationships and being present with you not just for a moment, but through the journey of your lives.

As we approach this Shabbat, we will read Parshat Balak, and I find myself drawn to the words of Bilam. Hired to curse, he found himself unable to utter anything but blessings. And among them are the words we recite every day upon entering this shul: “Ma Tovu Ohalekha Yaakov, Mishkenotekha Yisrael” – “How goodly are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel.”

Bilam, an outsider, saw with startling clarity the intrinsic goodness of our community. He saw the harmony and shared purpose that make our ‘tents’—our homes and families—and our ‘dwelling places’—our synagogues—truly beautiful. He saw what makes us good, even when others seek to find fault.

I’ve often given tours of the synagogue to visiting schoolchildren, and they ask: “What is the most important thing in the shul?” They expect me to point to the Ark or the Torah scrolls, and those are indeed the sacred heart of our sanctuary. But I always tell them the most important thing is the people. It is you—the community that fills these seats—that transforms this building into a holy place.

Rav Kook explained the difference between the two terms in Bilam’s blessing. A ‘tent’ is what we use on a journey; it represents our need to grow and evolve. A ‘dwelling place’ is where we feel at home; it represents our need to be rooted in eternal values. For a modern Orthodox community, this is our sacred task: to be both a tent and a dwelling place. To be a community that is constantly growing, while remaining deeply rooted.

And as I look back on this past year, I see a community that has truly lived out the blessing of Ma Tovu.

I see it in our Year 6 cooking programme, where our children embraced tradition not as a duty, but as a delicious adventure, fostering a joyous Jewish identity and learning vital aspects of kashrut as part of the programme.

I see it in the vibrant unity of our Sukkah Carnival, where generations came together to celebrate, reminding us of the strength we draw from one another.

And I see it in the moments of profound sorrow and solidarity. Our memorial for October 7th was a vital gathering where we leaned on each other, reaffirming our unshakeable bond with Israel and with each other, holding both grief and hope in our hearts.

Even amidst such challenges, our thirst for spiritual growth flourished. Our renewed Shavuot learning programme was a testament to our community’s commitment to Torah, proving that we thrive on the deep and thoughtful exploration of our heritage.

These are our ‘goodly tents’ and ‘dwelling places’. They are not just concepts from the Torah; they are moments we have built together, right here.

So, what is our vision for the future? It is to continue building. Tracey and I are passionate about creating pathways for everyone—young and old—to take the next step on their Jewish journey. Programmes like the Young Wardens will give our B’nei Mitzvah a meaningful role in the service, seeing them through their celebration and beyond.

We are here to build on the incredible foundations laid by previous rabbis and generations. The late Rabbi Sacks taught that, “A leader must have vision, but also realism. He or she must think the impossible but know the possible.” Our ambition is to see this community for all that it is, and to work with you, in partnership, to realise the vision of all it can become.

Thank you for being here. We have so much to celebrate and so much to look forward to.