Jonny Gould’s Jewish State

145: Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis: "If you're a rabbi and everyone loves you, you're not a rabbi and if you're a rabbi and nobody loves you, you're not a mensch!"

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Episode notes

This is a rather special episode featuring a competition winner from North West London Jewish Day School who won the chance to make an episode of Jonny Gould's Jewish State. 

Awareness of news and current affairs is certainly heightened by the pressure of social media - so imagine a young person growing up in this day and age.

I ran a competition for the pupils of Year 6 and I said to the class, “get me an interesting interviewee and write down the questions you’d like to ask them”.

I was delighted that 11-year-old Maya Amit stepped up to the plate and secured time with the Chief Rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis, who invited us to his home. 

This episode is presented with Lemon Soul in loving memory of the late Jonny Zucker, a born educator, children’s author and primary school teacher, who also trained as a radio journalist. His mission was encouraging children to read, he visited school after school, library after library.

With thanks to the Chief Rabbi for giving us his valuable time at home, to competition winner Maya Amit and mum Raquel.

To Miss Caplan and Mr. Radomsky at North West London Jewish Day School and to Nigel Canin and all at Lemon Soul, a publishing house from EdTech company, 2Simple, in loving memory of the late, great Jonny Zucker.

Jonny, I hope you’d be proud of this initiative x

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