Joking Rabbi talks about how he found his soul (From Bucks Free Press)

Lionel Blue is coming to Norden Farm in Maidenhead

2:13pm Friday 2nd December 2011 in Interviews By Rebecca Cain

I GOT off the phone after speaking to Lionel Blue feeling calm and happy. He is someone who seems to know how to make every situation feel like a good one and not only does he speak very wise words but he also tells jokes. The famous Rabbi is bringing his show to Norden Farm in Maidenhead next week. Here he talks to Rebecca Cain about how he wants to get to know his 'congregation' and how he found his soul.

Blue is best known for his broadcasting on BBC Radio 4 and has gathered a huge following of people who look forward to his 'Thought for the day.'

But even at the age of 81 he said he stills gets nervous before going onstage for his shows which tells stories of incidents and conversations with his unique sense of humour.

He said: "When I go on the stage I look at people's faces and find what it is they want from me. Sometimes I get the feeling they want something rather wise and sometimes I get the feeling they want to be cheered up.

"Before I go on I sit in the green room. I get into a panic like most people do before they go onstage.

"I just pray a bit. Fred, who is my version of my guardian angel, I say, 'Fred, what do I do?' He says: 'Forget it all. Go onstage and look at people's faces and they will tell you want to do."

He said he loves the live shows as he gets to interact with the audience as he always has all the lights up.

But it wasn't until he was 20 that the Rabbi discovered his soul.

As he grew up in a Jewish family he had to cope with the realisation he was gay. He said he was a "rather, self-centred, grim youngster" but it all changed at college when jokes came to him after a religious experience.

It was 1950 and he had a girlfriend but after they attempted to make love he realised the erotic part just wasn't there. He walked home and didn't know what to do about it.

It was raining and an elderly woman pulled him into a room with a lot of people seated in a semicircle in a Quaker meeting.

Blue said a person thanked God for all the things which happened to him in life- both good and bad and it all made sense to him. He realised without the bad times you would not realise the good.

He said: "I had an inner conversation with some being. I had my first real friend in the voice going on. I thought at first, was I schizophrenic, which I wasn't. Was I a ventriloquist and the voice my dummy. I didn't know what was going on. I carried on with the conversation and it has been there throughout my life."

He added: "Getting bitter and angry is bad for your health. If you can let out love it helps you."

And he looks forward to every show.

Blue said: "It is a lovely feeling. I don't leave the theatre until every one who wants to see me has seen me. I get to know them. They are a lovely lot. I want to kiss them all but I don't do that. They are my congregation."

An Evening with Rabbi Lionel Blue is at Norden Farm in Maidenhead on December 11 at 7.30pm. Tickets are £16 (£14 concessions) from 01628788997 or go to www.nordenfarm.org.