Northwood & Ruislip United Synagogue welcomed Professor Raphael Zarum for an insightful pre Yom Kippur Talk
Aviva Wilford reports
Northwood and Ruislip United Synagogue hosted Rabbi Professor Raphael Zarum, Dean of the London School of Jewish Studies, on Monday 29th September 2025, for an engaging and thought-provoking lecture on the story of Jonah and the Whale.
Speaking to a packed audience just days before Yom Kippur, Professor Zarum explored why the Book of Jonah is read on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. He highlighted the themes of repentance, inner reflection, and personal transformation, using Jonah’s time inside the great fish as a metaphor for the spiritual journey of Yom Kippur.
Drawing on biblical commentary, Midrash, and even modern literature and film, Professor Zarum showed how the imagery of the whale has echoed through stories from Moby Dick to Pirates of the Caribbean. He invited the community to see Yom Kippur itself as a journey “into the belly of the whale” – an opportunity to look inward, confront personal challenges, and emerge renewed.
He also shared a striking Midrash comparing Jonah’s experience inside the fish to entering a synagogue: “On Yom Kippur, the shul itself becomes the whale – carrying us together on a deep journey beneath the surface, bringing us spiritually closer to Jerusalem.”
The lecture combined humour, scholarship, and accessible teaching, leaving attendees inspired to approach Yom Kippur with deeper focus and meaning.
Rabbi Green, Rabbi of Northwood & Ruislip United Synagogue, said:
“We were delighted to welcome Professor Zarum back to our community. His ability to connect ancient texts with modern life gives us a fresh perspective on Yom Kippur and what it means to truly repent and renew ourselves.”
Northwood and Ruislip United Synagogue continues to host leading speakers and educators, offering members opportunities to deepen their Jewish learning and spiritual engagement.
Rabbi Dr Raphael Zarum is Dean of the London School of Jewish Studies (LSJS) and holds the Rabbi Sacks Chair of Modern Jewish Thought, established by the Zandan family. He lectures in Jewish Education and New Readings of Classical Texts, as well as training teachers, educators and rabbis. In addition, he serves as the Scholar-in-Residence at the Central Square Minyan in Hampstead Garden Suburb.
Rabbi Zarum has rabbinic ordination from the Rabbi Sacks and the Montefiore Kollel, a PhD in Theoretical Physics from King’s College London and an MA in Adult Education from University College London. He is also a graduate of the Mandel Leadership School in Jerusalem. He regularly writes articles for the Jewish press and essays for journals and book collections. Rabbi Zarum is an acclaimed educator who travels the globe lecturing in many Jewish communities and diverse institutions.