The RE Podcast

Please send The RE Podcast a Text Message!
In this episode, I speak with Mandeep Singh, trustee and volunteer at Khalsa Jatha British Isles, the oldest gurdwara in Europe (established in 1908), and co-founder of Gurdwara Aid. Together we explore some of the depth and nuance of Sikhi that is often overlooked in RE classrooms, challenging common misconceptions and offering more authentic ways to teach the tradition.
In this episode we discuss:
Why Sikhi is not a fusion of Hindu Dharma and Islam, but a distinct tradition whose scripture draws together over 1,000 years of spiritual wisdom from people of many faiths and backgrounds.
How Sikhs understand truth as something to become, rather than simply something to believe.
The significance of the Mool Mantar, and why the question that follows it ("How do I become truthful?") is just as important as the opening declaration itself.
The Sikh understanding of the Divine, including the concepts of Sargun and Nirgun, and why words such as Divine often communicate Sikh theology more accurately than simply saying God.
Why equality is fundamentally a theological belief in Sikhi—not just an ethical principle—and how this shapes practices such as langar and seva.
The meaning of the saint-soldier ideal and why Sikh symbols such as the kirpan represent far more than physical weapons.
The three broad ways Sikhs may identify themselves today (Amritdhari, Keshdhari and Sehajdhari Sikhs).
The importance of using authentic Sikh vocabulary in the classroom, including:Sikhi rather than Sikhism
Guru as an enlightener rather than simply a teacher
Divine rather than God where appropriate
Dharamsala as the historic name for what is now commonly called a gurdwara.

Why Sikhi is not opposed to ritual itself, but to rituals that have become empty or mechanical.
The concepts of Gurmukh, Bhagti, virtuous habits and spiritual transformation.
The Sikh understanding of the Four Ages (Yugas) and its cyclical view of time.
The rich but often overlooked history of Sikhs in Britain, including:Maharaja Duleep Singh and Princess Sophia Duleep Singh
Sikh contributions during both World Wars
The Battle of Saragarhi
Notable British Sikhs including Hardit Singh Malik and Narinder Singh Kapany.

The importance of accurately representing Sikhi in the media and in RE, particularly when discussing recent events.
Resources mentioned
Khalsa Jatha British Isles (Holland Park, London) – Britain's oldest gurdwara and an excellent destination for school visits.
https://www.khalsajatha.com/home
Gurdwara Aid – supporting gurdwaras and Sikh organisations across the UK.
https://gurdwaraaid.org/
The Gurdwara Handbook – a comprehensive operational guide for gurdwaras covering governance, safeguarding, finance, food safety and much more.
https://gurdwarahandbook.com/the-handbook/
The Churning – Mandeep Singh's Substack exploring life, wisdom and the Guru Granth Sahib through personal reflection.
https://thechurning.substack.com?utm_source=navbar&utm_medium=web
Support the show
Find out more;
Twitter: @TheREPodcast1
Insta: @TheREPodcast
Webiste: www.therepodcast.co.uk

Please send The RE Podcast a Text Message!
I met Anne Nadel at Westminster Synagogue at the AREIAC face to face. She told me she was a reform convert married to an Orthodox husband. Listen as a chat to Anne and her husband, Simon, about how they met and how they have navigated family life. We discuss the differences between Orthodox and reform, how you convert to Judaism and why converts are highly respected in Judaism. But also we see there is more than unites them than they disagree on and this is a beautiful lesson from this marriage built on equality and respect!
Support the show
Find out more;
Twitter: @TheREPodcast1
Insta: @TheREPodcast
Webiste: www.therepodcast.co.uk

Please send The RE Podcast a Text Message!
If you have come across Laurie Rosenberg before, you won't have forgotten him. If you haven't had the pleasure then you will love this chat.  Laurie is a Jewish Educator who is able to move from the profound to the frivilous with natural ease.  We discuss;
His work as a Jewish educator
The importance of good RE
Why teaching Judaism is an important part of RE and how we can do that well
Spiritual intelligence
His Jewish identity and what it is like to be a Jewish person in modern Britain 
his work with the Holocaust Education Trust and the arresting parallels between anti semitism in Nazi Germany and today.
Links mentioned in the episode;
www.hopenothate.org.uk
www.het.org.uk
www.survivorfilm.com
Support the show
Find out more;
Twitter: @TheREPodcast1
Insta: @TheREPodcast
Webiste: www.therepodcast.co.uk

Please send The RE Podcast a Text Message!
There has been lot in the news recently that is trying to cause hatred towards the Sikh community because of the actions of one Sikh who acted against strongly held Sikh beliefs and values.  While we recorded this before the tragic death of Henry Novak, many of the points we discuss are a powerful counter to the attacks of the Sikh faith. Please note there are many mistakes in the reporting of this story, most significantly that a Kirpan was used as the weapon.  This simply isn't true.  While the perpetrator presented as a Sikh, the weapon attributed to the crime was a straight, 8 inch blade as opposed to the smaller, curved blunt ceremonial sword known as a Kirpan.  The Kirpan is a symbol of standing up against injustice and must never be used as a weapon.
This diverse group of Sikhs discuss diversity but focus on what unites them which is a belief in the oneness of God (Ok Onkar), service, equality and earning a good living. 
I chat to Amy Ark, Jatinder Loyal, Harry Singh Panesar,  Kuljinda Shokar about hair, names, Sikh history, Sewa, equality, marriage, the role of men and women, how to (and how not to teach Sikhi) and an all important reveal at the end of the episode....
Glossary
Sikh (pro. Sick): The follower 
Sicki (pro. Sicky): The name of the religion
Gurdwara: Doorway to the Guru
Guru Granth Sahib Ji (Gru Granth sub gee): Living guru
Sewa (pro. sevva) - Selfless service
Anand Karaj  - Sikh wedding ceremony
Hukam (pro, hookum): Wisdom/commandment
Bhai Kanhaiya: Gave water to enemy soldiers while in battle
Websites
https://www.pinkladoo.org/
Support the show
Find out more;
Twitter: @TheREPodcast1
Insta: @TheREPodcast
Webiste: www.therepodcast.co.uk

Please send The RE Podcast a Text Message!
To celebrate the first Jewish Culture Month,  I invite Anna Silver onto the podcast to talk about diversity in Judaism. To find out more about Jewish Culture Month, go to;
https://jewishculturemonth.org.uk/
Anna Silver is Education Officer at the Board of Deputies of British Jews and she is a wealth of knowledge on this topic.
We discuss;
Mistakes when teaching Judaism;
The interplay of culture, ethnicity and nationality with Jewish identity
Ideological diversity in Judaism 
Messianic Judaism
Clarification on holy texts
It is a rich conversation that I hope will support your teaching of authentic and diverse Judaism.
https://jewishmuseum.org.uk/schools/in-the-classroom/inclusive-judaism/

Support the show
Find out more;
Twitter: @TheREPodcast1
Insta: @TheREPodcast
Webiste: www.therepodcast.co.uk