Ilana Spitz Epstein, at The Blogs

Jul 12, 2023, 9:38 AM

Ilana & Rabbi Daniel Epstein front row, first and second from the left. With the Board of Management of the Western Marble Arch Synagogue, May 2022. (Leivi Saltman (www.leivisaltmanphotography.com))

Picture this: you're going about your day, running errands, and suddenly you have three groups of enthusiastic tourists knocking on your front door, eager to experience something Jewish during their visit to London. As the Rabbinic couple at the...

Aug 3, 2020, 11:09 PM

Can I have a scoop of cow-tastrophy, in a cone please?

I often think about ice cream, I rarely think about cows. Don’t worry. This isn’t an eco-warrior piece (though that isn’t a bad thing). My thoughts generally are nowhere near that altruistic. Actually, I mainly think about food and I...

Jul 22, 2020, 11:00 PM

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For the love of babka

Top row: My cousins Anat and Dana, my brother Boaz, me, my sister-law Chaya, my brothers Kalman and Bentzi. Bottom row my grandparents and my sister-in-law Tamara.

I was 6: while the adults spoke in foreign tongues of the old days, I clutched my cake, and took small bites of goodness that it took me years to learn to recreate myself

May 24, 2020, 12:55 PM

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‘I wish they would close all the shuls!’

I was never a big fan of prayer - my mind wanders, I make deals with God - but this pandemic has upped my role in helping others 'do Jewish,' and it's been good for me too

May 14, 2020, 10:10 AM

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Zaftig: (of a woman) having a full, rounded figure; plump

My 18th birthday, and my brothers' joint celebration graduating from grad school and college. In the picture from left to right, my future sister-in-law Tamara, my brother Bentzi, me, my sister Zahava and my brother Boaz, and the perfect Strawberry Shortcake.

After a lifetime of sneaking sweets and feeling shame, I've figured things out. Can we rescue our daughters from this obsession with weight?

May 6, 2020, 2:32 PM

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Dying alone, and ‘chessed shel emet’

Rabbi Daniel Epstein officiating at the funeral of Herbert Max Fraenkel, over Facebook Live, on April 27, 2020. (courtesy)

When you're the community rabbi, you know you may have to bury the occasional 95-year-old stranger; what you don't expect is your connection to him

Apr 28, 2020, 6:57 PM

Our Son’s Beret Quest

Yoel aged 1.5 doing post kickboxing workout stretches.

Daniel and I have been asked by Yoel’s commander to write him a letter to celebrate his Massa Kumta (beret journey compilation ceremony). We won’t be there to celebrate this achievement with him, not just because we live in...

Apr 27, 2020, 10:45 AM

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My first real Yom HaAtzma’ut

The day we made aliya, the 5-month-old and his bible quoting father.

After 3 months in Israel we thought we knew how to celebrate. Then we saw our neighbors dragging sofas and dining room tables to the park

About Me

Ilana Epstein is a dedicated member of the senior rabbinic team at the Western Marble Arch Synagogue in Central London, partnering with her husband Daniel. As a Educator of Jewish history, culture and tradition, she imparts her knowledge and passion to the community. Ilana studied at Yeshiva University Stern College, where she acquired a strong foundation in her field. She was selected for the inaugural cohort of the prestigious Rabbi Sacks Scholars programme. With a deep appreciation for the beauty of Judaism, Ilana seamlessly connects the significance of small traditions to the grand tapestry of Jewish history, fostering a profound sense of belonging and understanding within the community.