The Olympics have produced some astonishing achievements, but - for me at least - nothing beats the return of the football season yesterday for adrenalin, passion and the danger of resuscitating swear-words you know you shouldn’t use.

From Celine Dion to Tom Cruise: the Olympics have come a long way from earlier versions….though I still wonder whether Murray and Djokovic (and professional giants of other sports) should have their glory at Wimbledon & other venues, but let amateurs shine at the Olympics?

Spoke last night at JW3 after a showing of ‘All The King’s Jews’, a BBC film (1990) on the history of Jews in medieval Britain, a tale of two centuries: arrival in 1066, relatively harmonious co-existence, then deteriorated into persecution & expulsion in 1290. Much better now!

Just heard the sad news that Rabbi Rodney Mariner has passed away. When he was Convenor of the Reform Beit Din/Rabbinic Court, he was a model of common sense and good humour, and I learnt much from him (& little knew back then that I would one day occupy that role myself).

If prison is about both punishment & rehabilitation, how far are we prepared to accept back into society an ex-offender who has done time? See our TALK TV debate yesterday on watch.talk.tv/watch/replay/1… (0.31.00) ….and also if the NHS is our national faith or not? (0.44.50).

Strange how everyone is applauding those at the Paralympics but can get annoyed if have to wait for a wheelchair to pass or avert their eyes when they see someone disabled having difficulty - what’s ok far away isn’t if too near? - hopefully the Games will change attitudes.

What befell the 6 Israeli hostages found dead yesterday? Hamas say they were killed by an Israeli airstrike. Israel says they were murdered by Hamas shortly before being located. Who to believe? I’m much more likely to disbelieve those who took civilians hostage in the 1st place

This is happening tonight (Tues 3rd Sept) and you’re welcome to attend: Click the link below to register⤵️ iifl.org.uk/event/living-a… pic.x.com/bwrtub6fj2

David Lammy's strange announcement, banning the sale of some, but by no means all, arms to Israel reflects the agonisingly conflicted position of many British Jews: wanting Hamas to be destroyed but ordinary Palestinians saved, the war to stop but Hamas not to be able to rearm.

British Jewry is very diverse. Most will support fully the existence of Israel & the people of Israel, but take a more nuanced approach as to the particular policies of the particular government in power - just as Israeli themselves do - and just as British voters do here.

How has Jewish life been affected by October 7th? And, apart from that, what are both the positives and the problems being experienced by British Jewry today? Here’s the verdict that I and others gave at last night’s seminar on it: iifl.org.uk/event/living-a…

My new career (temporarily) - as a film critic: delighted to have been asked to be part of the jury to judge Best Documentary Award by UK Jewish Film. It’ll be a massive change from my usual favourite (Clint Eastwood) but a sacrifice well worth making.

Feel really torn about Lee Carsley & the national anthem: it looks terrible when the cameras show players & mangers tight-lipped, mumbling or hardly knowing the words when representing their country - yet also don’t wan’t to force people to sing against their will. Awkward one.

For Britain to come 2nd in the Paralympics medals table, behind only China, is amazing compared to the size of so many other countries. I assume it’s due to the greater investment we have put into parasports than other countries, but then that too is praiseworthy. Well done GB.

“What would a fair society look like?” At a thought-provoking Voltaire lecture last night by Daniel Chandler, not on solutions, but the vital 1st step establishing guiding principles behind any solutions & the need to get them right if the solutions are to be effective & durable

Things are changing dramatically in the life of British Jews: how they define themselves, what happens at weddings, new customs at funerals, attitudes to joining a synagogue. There are powerful new currents swirling beneath the surface calm: thejc.com/community/the-…

Nahamu’s report is an astonishing inditement on the way 1000s of children are being denied a basic education. It shines a light on British Jewry's dark secret. We need local Councils to intervene after years of looking the other way: thejc.com/community/lack…

“The country is ready” - that’s my message to the Lib Dem conference when speaking later today (did Lab. & Cons. previous years) - “for Assisted Dying to be legalised”. As 84% of the population agree (Populous poll), most Lib Dems might do so too. Let’s stop people dying in pain.

I told the Lib Dems yesterday about Janet, whom I saw dying in hospital & said: “Every night I pray to God I won’t wake up, and every morning I’m disappointed”. That’s who legalising assisted dying is for: those terminally ill, mentally competent, suffering & wanting to let go.

Guess what, I was right: socio-economic segregation in schools is higher in areas with greater numbers of faith schools,says today’s Sutton Trust report; the more faith schools, especially Catholic schools, the higher levels of segregation in education suttontrust.com/wp-content/upl…