Times: Shabbat starts tonight at 5:13 pm, and ends Saturday night at 6:11 pm. The weekly Torah portion is Acharei Mot, and Shabbat Mevarchim Iyar. Rosh Chodesh is on Sunday and Monday.

Mincha in the CBD: Mincha, whisky and kugel today 1:00 pm. Mincha continues at 1:00 pm Monday to Friday using the SMS reminder system.

Study: The Wednesday shiur and lunch starts at about 1:15 pm after mincha.

Thought of the Week with thanks to Yudi New. The Torah tells us that it was forbidden to enter the Holy of Holies. This is because G-d says: “In the cloud, I will appear over the cover of the Ark.” The reference is to the cloud of incense burned on Yom Kippur.

Yet, Rabbi Meir Shapiro sees this as a message to the Jewish people throughout history to never give up hope. No matter how thick or dark the clouds appear, G-d assures us that He will appear. And rest his Holy Shechinah amongst us.

This message is particularly pertinent to this Shabbat, which sits between the ‘clouds’ of Yom Hashoah and Yom Hazikaron. This is when we remember our darkest and most difficult times. Buoyed by the lights and holiness of Yom Ha’atzmaut, Lag Ba’omer and Shavuot ahead. May we merit the ultimate redemption and light speedily in our days. Shabbat Shalom.