Words From the Rabbi | Temple B'nai Israel

May 19
6 min

Thoughts on Codex Sassoon 1053

This week’s exciting news in the world of Judaica was the report of the purchase of the oldest known, nearly complete, manuscript codex...

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Kimberly Ginsberg

May 11
7 min

Thoughts on the Synagogue

Over the years I have been affiliated with a variety of Jewish institutions. Some have called themselves “synagogues.” Others prefer...

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Kimberly Ginsberg

Apr 27
6 min

Thoughts on Mah Yedidut

In earlier essays I’ve written about some of the joyous Shabbat songs, Zemirot, traditionally sung around the table at mealtimes. We...

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Kimberly Ginsberg

Apr 21
7 min

Thoughts on V’yitein L’cha

For many, Shabbat provides a much-needed respite in the midst of a very busy weekday schedule. It can be a time for rest and relaxation,...

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Kimberly Ginsberg

Mar 31
5 min

Thoughts on Rabban Gamliel’s Teaching in the Haggadah

The main mitzvah that we attempt to fulfill at the Passover Seder is the telling of the story of the Exodus to our children and to...

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Kimberly Ginsberg

Mar 26
7 min

Thoughts on the Four Children in the Haggadah

On the Shabbat prior to Passover, Shabbat HaGadol, we read the concluding portion of the book of Malachi, the last of the prophets, as...

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Kimberly Ginsberg

Mar 17
8 min

Another Take on the Korbanot Section of the Morning Service

A couple of years back in this series, I devoted an essay to the traditional inclusion in the preliminary prayers of the daily service of...

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Kimberly Ginsberg

Mar 10
8 min

Thoughts on Parashat Parah

Now that Purim has come and gone, we are in the last thirty days prior to the holiday of Pesach. Aside from shopping, cleaning, and...

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Kimberly Ginsberg

Mar 3
9 min

Thoughts on Shabbat Zachor

As we move into the month of Adar, we mark this Shabbat the second of the four special shabbatot during the late winter and early spring...

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Kimberly Ginsberg

Feb 24
10 min

Thoughts on the Fifth of the Four Evening Blessings of the Sh’ma

One of the names of the central prayer of every Jewish service is the Shmoneh Esreh. “Shmoneh Esreh” means eighteen and refers to the...

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Kimberly Ginsberg

Feb 2
8 min

Thoughts on Trees and their Fruits and their Blessings

I think that I shall never seeA poem lovely as a tree. A tree whose hungry mouth is prestAgainst the earth's sweet flowing breast; A tree...

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Kimberly Ginsberg

Jan 27
7 min

Thoughts on Al Tira MiPachad Pitom

For the last couple of days I’ve had an “ear-worm,” a song running through my head endlessly wherever I go. This is not an unusual...

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Kimberly Ginsberg

Jan 20
8 min

Thoughts on Blessings After Eating

Some time back we looked at the blessings that comprise the Birkat HaMazon, the blessings after meals. Those four blessings are in...

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Kimberly Ginsberg

Jan 13
6 min

Thoughts on the Shabbat Table Song D’ror Yikra

I’ve written in earlier pieces about a number of the Zemirot, the Shabbat table songs, that customarily are sung during Shabbat meals. I...

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Kimberly Ginsberg

Jan 6
9 min

Thoughts on the Opening of the Evening Service

The main elements of our daily worship services are the recital of the Sh’ma with its surrounding blessings and the Amidah which is in...

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Kimberly Ginsberg

Dec 30, 2022
11 min

Thoughts on the Fast Day of Asarah B’Tevet

There are only two major fast days on the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur and Tisha B’Av, however we do have a number of minor fast days...

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Kimberly Ginsberg

Dec 23, 2022
7 min

Thoughts on a Medieval Piyyut for Chanukah

We have seen in past essays piyyutim, liturgical poems, written for the various holidays of the Jewish year. Aside from poems that have...

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Kimberly Ginsberg

Dec 16, 2022
10 min

Thoughts on the Torah Readings for Chanukah

In the book of Isaiah the prophet proclaims, “Hoy kol tzamei l’chu la’mayim,” “All who are thirsty let them come for water.” This might...

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Kimberly Ginsberg

Dec 9, 2022
11 min

Thoughts on Chanukah Candle Lighting

As Chanukah approaches next week, beginning on Sunday evening, December 18th, I thought it might be appropriate to review the traditions...

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Kimberly Ginsberg

Dec 2, 2022
9 min

Thoughts on the Ashrei (A Closer Look)

Early in this series, during the fall of 2019, we took a brief look at the prayer known from its opening word as “Ashrei.” As explained...

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