About the Author


Rabbi Yaakov Asher Sinclair

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.


 

Shavuot: The Empty Landscape

Why is there no identifying mitzvah with this holiday?

 

Why Bad Things Happen To Good People

Nothing is as challenging to our faith as seeming injustice and tragedy. How does a believing person reconcile an apparently cruel world with an Omnipotent and Merciful Creator?

 

What's Wrong With Wikipedia

Democracy is a wonderful institution, but it's not infallible.

 

Comfort In Time Of Loss

When we lose someone close to us, the pain is almost unbearable. How can we find solace and comfort at such times?

 

Why Eat Kosher?

What's the connection between working in a recording studio and eating non-kosher food?

 

What's So Wrong With Bread?

A deeper look into the meaning of matzah and chametz.

 

Tying The Knot

The Book of Vayikra begins a series of complex laws about the service of the Holy Temple, but even though the laws of the Torah are precise, they require individual creativity.

 

The Ultimate Labor Saver

Man has always dreamed about a robot that would do everything for him. But the ultimate labor saver has been around for more than three thousand years.

 

Isn't stiff necked a physical condition?

 

Unmasked: Purim and the Meaning of Anti-Semitism

Esther hid her Jewish identity. Revealing it saved the Jewish nation.

 

Do You Believe In God

Each one of us can make our lives a space of holiness and feel the presence of God. Here's how...

 

Nothing Is Incurable

There is no such thing as an incurable disease.

 

Out Of This World

On Friday night in shul, we sing in Lecha Dodi about 'the face of Shabbat.' How can Shabbat have a face? BTW Don't miss Rabbi Sinclair's singing debut on this channel! (He is available for Bar Mitzvas and Weddings...)

 

Burning Bridges

Sometimes the only way you can escape your own Egypt is by burning your bridges.

 

Sixteen Seders to Egypt

Is the Exodus just ancient history?

 

Shevat: Gateway to Eternal Life

How does winter symbolize the bursting forth of life? Exploring the depth of Tu B'Shvat

 

A Legend In His Own Lunchtime

Even though he grew up as a prince in Egypt, Moshe never forgot his roots.

 

Kindness and Truth

Why does the Torah call the prohibition of incest 'kindness'? Why didn't Jacob want to be buried in Egypt?

 

Heart To Heart

The language that needs no translation.

 

Deep Connection between Art and Judaism: Seasons of the Moon – Tevet

Art is inspiration wrestling with constriction.

 

Stress is Good For You!

Researchers believe that some stress can help to fortify the immune system. For instance, stress can improve how your heart works and protect your body from infection. But on a deeper level, rising to challenges and overcoming them is the essence of life.

 

Tradition!

Tradition is more than chicken soup. It's more than borscht or bagels and lox. It's more than a fiddler on the roof. It's the reason why the Jewish People believe in God.

 

Why Pray?

How can a Jew pray three times a day with almost exactly the same words? What if I don't WANT to pray? Am I supposed to open my heart with a can opener? Am I some kind of robot? Watch this video to find out the answer.

 

A Birthright Experience

A university student experiences a life-changing birthright experience at a Jerusalem Shabbat table.

 

The Perfect Host

The Arabs and the Jews both share a reputation for being excellent hosts. Where does this come from, and how can you be the perfect host?

 

Go to Yourself

Becoming more spiritual means moving outside our comfort zone and journeying inside.

 

Hush!: The Month of Cheshvan

Now is the time to reflect and integrate the spiritual insights gleaned from the holiday season.

 

How To Perform A Miracle

The Jewish Year has two beginnings. How can something have two beginnings?

 

The Shadow: The Meaning of Sukkot

What is the deeper meaning of the shade of the sukkah?

 

Hide and Seek - Yom Kippur

When is God is closest to us? On the day of no 'hide and seek.'

 

The Hum of the Universe: The Month of Tishrei

According to the Jewish mystics, everything in the world is singing.

 

Married Forever!

What is the spice that keeps a couple married forever?

 

How to Choose the Ideal Life Partner

How do you choose the right marriage partner? Rabbi Sinclair brings a sound piece of advice from this week's Torah Portion.

 

The Master of War

The Yiddish Theater often used to make fun of religion - but they didn't always get the last laugh.

 

Love Letter

The Torah isn't just knowledge; it isn't just holy; the Torah is G-d's love letter to the world.

 

Seasons of the Moon: Av– IBM and The Nazis

How were the Nazis able to carry out the Holocaust - something extremely complex - without a computer?

 

The Self-Made Man

More elusive than the Yetti or the Loch Ness Monster is a species that no one had ever positively identified - The Self-Made Man.

 

Only One Job

We only have one job here in this world - what is it?

 

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

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

 

The Dark Side

If Bilam was a prophet like Moshe - why did he use it for evil?

 

The Liberty Bell's Crack

Why do we "proclaim freedom throughout the land" with a broken, imperfect bell?

 

Hocus Pocus

Why do Jews strap black boxes on their arms and on their heads? Isn't that kinda weird?

 

The World's Most Infectious Plague

The most infectious disease in the world isn't Bubonic Plague; it isn't Anthrax; it isn't even Covid 19. The world's most infectious disease in this week's Torah portion, Parshat Chukat.

 

Racial prejudice - War - Poverty - Violence - Intolerance

The dream of peace seems to be as far away today as it's ever been. Why is that?

 

Being Yourself

Whether we wear the same jeans or the same suit - it's all too easy to just follow the crowd, but to be close to G-d means being yourself.

 

Looking For Trouble

You can go through life as a tourist - or as an inspector. A tourist is looking to be impressed. An inspector is looking for trouble. Why did the spies that Moshe sent into the Land of Israel become inspectors instead of tourists?

 

Seasons of the Moon: Sivan - Hearing is Believing

Why do we say, "Hear O Israel!" rather than "See O Israel"?

 

With the Beatles

Rabbi Sinclair reveals the secret of the Beatles' phenomenal success.

 

Music, Maestro, Please!

Order is one of the keys to success in life. In this video Rabbi Sinclair describes his early attempts at piano lessons - and the life lesson that they taught him.

 

Seasons of the Moon: Iyar – The Power of Connectivity

A mystical look at the meaning of this Jewish month.

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