Judaism: Holidays

Seasons of the Moon: Tammuz – The Burning of the Torah

Jul 6, 2020
by Rabbi Yaakov Asher Sinclair

Where one burns books one will in the end burn people.

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Rabbi Yaakov Asher Sinclair

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In 1972, Rabbi Yaakov Asher Sinclair opened SARM Studios the first 24-track recording studio in Europe where Queen mixed “Bohemian Rhapsody”. His music publishing company, Druidcrest Music published the music for The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1973) and as a record producer, he co-produced the quadruple-platinum debut album by American band “Foreigner” (1976). American Top ten singles from this album included, “Feels Like The First Time”, “Cold as Ice” and “Long, Long Way from Home”. Other production work included “The Enid – In the Region of the Summer Stars”, “The Curves”, and “Nutz” as well as singles based on The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy with Douglas Adams and Richard O’Brien. Other artists who used SARM included: ABC, Alison Moyet, Art of Noise, Brian May, The Buggles, The Clash, Dina Carroll, Dollar, Flintlock, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Grace Jones, It Bites, Malcolm McLaren, Nik Kershaw, Propaganda, Rush, Rik Mayall, Stephen Duffy, and Yes.

In 1987, he settled in Jerusalem to immerse himself in the study of Torah. His two Torah books The Color of Heaven, on the weekly Torah portion, and Seasons of the Moon met with great critical acclaim. Seasons of the Moon, a unique fine-art black-and-white photography book combining poetry and Torah essays, has now sold out and is much sought as a collector’s item fetching up to $250 for a mint copy.

He is much in demand as an inspirational speaker both in Israel, Great Britain and the United States. He was Plenary Keynote Speaker at the Agudas Yisrael Convention, and Keynote Speaker at Project Inspire in 2018. Rabbi Sinclair lectures in Talmud and Jewish Philosophy at Ohr Somayach/Tannenbaum College of Judaic studies in Jerusalem and is a senior staff writer of the Torah internet publications Ohrnet and Torah Weekly. His articles have been published in The Jewish Observer, American Jewish Spirit, AJOP Newsletter, Zurich’s Die Jüdische Zeitung, South African Jewish Report and many others.

Rabbi Sinclair was born in London, and lives with his family in Jerusalem. He was educated at St. Anthony’s Preparatory School in Hampstead, Clifton College, and Bristol University.

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Comments (3)

(3) Alice Fischer, July 11, 2020 11:29 PM

When animals are burnt alive next come humans

The Catholic church in Spain used to burn alive dogs and cats - who would be roasted alive. Next came the inquisition, and next in the West came the burning of women - blamed as witches. The countries that have the highest number of crimes against animals, also have them against humans. Today in Spain a criminal public event takes place where the horns of a bull are torched, and everyone cheers. How can you expect such humans to be in the image of G-d.

(2) Mechi Fendel, July 10, 2020 2:35 PM

1233 the Rambam is burned in Paris

Almost 10 years later, the Talmud is burned in the same spot. Rabeinu Yonah of Gerondi always felt it as a sign how the Rambam is to be considered sifrei kodesh...Defer haMada and Guide of Perplexed In https://books.google.co.il/books?id=FN-49cCN5qIC&pg=PA104&lpg=PA104&dq=burning rambam paris&source=bl&ots=vaRk__jgJ6&sig=ACfU3U0MUIctFxH9SYNQ95Ze_nstxZ2VtQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjotdWy8sLqAhVZilwKHdMIBHEQ6AEwCXoECAIQAQ#v=onepage&q=burning%20rambam%20paris&f=false Page 103,104

(1) Richard Polak, July 6, 2020 2:08 PM

Beautiful

Rabbi, thank you for these wonderful videos. I watch them – every single one of them. They are excellent insights - they improve my life and motivate me to do more service to God. Thank you so much.