Words From the Rabbi | TBI Working Site

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4 hours ago
7 min

Thoughts on Hallel HaGadol

The term “Hallel” which is a song of praise to God can be a bit confusing as we've seen in earlier discussions. I have written over the c...

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Rabbi Edward Friedman

Oct 23
7 min

Thoughts on Hodu Ladonay Kir'u Vishmo

I've always referred to the opening prayers of the services both on weekdays and Shabbat and Festivals as the “preliminary service.”

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Rabbi Edward Friedman

Oct 15
6 min

A Thought on Parashat Tzitizit

You may recall that on Passover night there is a discussion in the Haggadah about the timing of the Seder.

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Rabbi Edward Friedman

Oct 8
9 min

Thoughts on Tefillat Geshem

As we come into the Autumn months, the dry summer months in Israel come to an end and the rainy season starts just in time for the holiday o

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Rabbi Edward Friedman

Oct 1
8 min

Thoughts about Ata B'chartanu

Sukkot begins this weekend on Friday evening and continues throughout the week. As on every other day of the year, we continue to recite the

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Rabbi Edward Friedman

Sep 25
6 min

Thoughts on Avinu Malkenu

Our relationship to God reflects our differing concepts of divinity. Sometimes we think of God in abstract terms as a power that brought abo

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Rabbi Edward Friedman

Sep 16
6 min

A Thought on the Uv'chen Prayers

All of our services follow a basic structure and those who are familiar with the weekday prayers can see what is added into them on Shabbat

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Rabbi Edward Friedman

Sep 10
7 min

Thoughts on Selichot

In last week's “Thought,” I wrote about one of the distinctive prayers recited at the Selichot services each year.

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A Thought on the Selichah of B'Motzaei Menucha

Rabbi Edward Friedman

Sep 4
5 min

A Thought on the Selichah of B'Motzaei Menucha

A week from Saturday night we will gather around our computers for a Zoom service of forgiveness.

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Thoughts on the Blessings for Repentance and Forgiveness

Rabbi Edward Friedman

Aug 29
7 min

Thoughts on the Blessings for Repentance and Forgiveness

We have entered into the month of Elul this week, the month preceding the High Holidays.

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Thoughts on the Blessings for Torah Study

Rabbi Edward Friedman

Aug 20
7 min

Thoughts on the Blessings for Torah Study

When one is called to the Torah for an aliyah, one recites a blessing prior to the reading of the designated section: “Praised are You, Lord

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Rabbi Edward Friedman

Aug 14
8 min

Thoughts on the Yotzer Or Blessing

Back in January, I wrote a piece about the El Adon hymn which is added into the Shabbat morning worship in the first blessing of the Sh'ma,

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Rabbi Edward Friedman

Aug 7
5 min

Thoughts on Psalm 34

Many of our sages throughout the centuries are known to us not so much by their proper names, but by the titles of their most important work

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Rabbi Edward Friedman

Jul 31
6 min

Thoughts on L'cha Dodi

It is not always clear how or when most prayers came into our Siddur. For the most part, our liturgy goes back a millennium and half or

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Rabbi Edward Friedman

Jul 23
7 min

Thoughts on Eli Tziyon

The month of Av begins this week on Wednesday. That means that in the coming week we will mark the major fast day of Tisha B'Av beginning on

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Thoughts on the Blessing of the New Month

Rabbi Edward Friedman

Jul 16
7 min

Thoughts on the Blessing of the New Month

Cantors like to tell the story of the occasional shul-goer who turned up one week in the synagogue. That week happened to be the Shabbat bef

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Rabbi Edward Friedman

Jul 9
7 min

Thoughts on the Daily Hallel

In a section of the Talmud in which various rabbis give suggestions for pious conduct, Rabbi Yose ben Halafta, a major second century sage,

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Rabbi Edward Friedman

Jul 2
5 min

Thoughts on V'hayah Im Shamoa

This biblical passage from Deuteronomy 11, that is recited in Jewish tradition every morning and evening, is one of the more troubling

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Rabbi Edward Friedman

Jun 25
5 min

A Thought on the Blessing for Knowledge

Upon arising each day, after giving thanks for the restoration of consciousness in the Modeh Ani prayer, and then ritually washing one's

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Rabbi Edward Friedman

Jun 17
5 min

A Thought on Psalm 19

Several years ago, I was attending a rabbinic retreat in New Hampshire at a summer camp located in a wooded area of the state. As part of t

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