Peace isn’t merely the absence of conflict. It is something we must create from within. It is about the active, soul-level work of humility, generosity of spirit, and emotional abundance. In this talk, we explore a profound framework for achieving...
What’s next for South Africa: Chief Rabbi talks to Dr Frans Cronje
In this conversation all the big issues of the day are discussed: the GNU’s survival, the decline of the ANC, Trump’s approach to SA, the expropriation act, employment equity, NHI, electricity, Israel and SA’s foreign policy, and much more. Dr Cronje’s ground-breaking...
In pursuit of pleasure | Parsha with the Chief
In this talk we unpack a framework for living with balance — where physical pleasure, emotional needs, and spiritual purpose align. Based on the double parsha of Acharei Mot–Kedoshim and key teachings from Pirkei Avot, the Chief Rabbi explains how mitzvot are not just...
Respect isn’t Polite — it’s Spiritual | Parsha with the Chief
Speech flows from the soul. The urge to speak negatively about others often comes from a need to feel superior. That’s why the real battle isn’t against words – it’s against ego. Pirkei Avot offers a counter-force that can change your life. In exploring this, in the...
Now is the time to reset the South Africa/ Israel relationship: Chief Rabbi’s Yom HaZikaron Speech
Today in Pretoria at the Israeli Embassy Yom Hazikaron service, honouring the victims of terror and the brave IDF soldiers who gave their lives in defence of Israel, Chief Rabbi Dr Warren Goldstein called for a reset in relations between South Africa and Israel. This...
The art of empathy | Parsha with the Chief
Silence is not absence. It is presence without intrusion. Comfort without explanation. Sometimes, the kindest thing we can do - is nothing at all. Why does the Torah emphasize Aharon’s silence after the tragic death of his sons, Nadav and Avihu, in the Torah portion...
Pesach with the Chief: The power of ‘What if?’
The Haggadah opens with a radical thought experiment: what if G-d had not taken us out of Egypt? Jewish history would have been frozen in slavery forever. This bold question lies at the heart of the Seder and forms the foundation of Chief Rabbi Dr Warren Goldstein’s...
Parsha with the Chief: Vayikra – Why we pray
Why do we pray? God already knows our needs so why do we need to ask? In this talk, Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein explores this week’s parsha, Vayikra, through the lens of Pirkei Avot — uncovering the structure, tension, and transformative purpose of prayer. Prayer is...
Christians beheaded in Africa: The world must act now
The recent beheadings of 70 Christians in a church in the DRC is not an isolated incident. There is a continent wide war being waged by Jihadists against Christians in Africa. Each year, thousands of Christians are murdered, raped, kidnapped and beheaded for their...
New Counter Terror Task Force announced by Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi Goldstein announces a new Counter Terror Task Force that will be coming to South Africa to assist with the investigation into the recent attack with an explosive device on a Cape Town Jewish community center. In it the Chief Rabbi outlines the proactive...
Why Israel is winning the war – what Hanukkah reveals
We are living in historic and miraculous times. The world has been transformed in ways we could hardly imagine a year ago. Israel’s remarkable military victories have realigned the balance of power in the Middle East. With shifts in South Africa and the United States,...