Words From the Rabbi | Temple B'nai Israel

2 days ago
10 min

Thoughts on the Lulav and the Etrog

Somewhere tucked away, ready to pop out when I least expect it, I have a campaign-style button with a picture of a milkshake on it. This...

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Kimberly Ginsberg

Sep 7
8 min

Thoughts on the Symbolic Foods for Rosh Hashanah

I was in Evanston last week at the “Kosher Jewel” to pick up a couple of items and as I glanced at the packages in the kosher meat...

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Kimberly Ginsberg

Sep 1
10 min

Thoughts on Encountering a Different Prayer Nusach

The word “nusach” which in modern Hebrew means a formula, a version, or a rite, with regard to the prayer service, is used in two...

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Kimberly Ginsberg

Aug 12
10 min

Thoughts on Sheva D’nechemta – Seven Haftarot of Comfort

During the past two weeks we have entered into a period of preparation for the High Holiday season which will soon be upon us. I wrote a...

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Kimberly Ginsberg

Jul 27
9 min

Thoughts on Eicha – The Book of Lamentations

This week, we come to the end of the three weeks, beinhametzarim, between the straits, the two fast days, that I wrote about a couple of...

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Kimberly Ginsberg

Jul 21
9 min

Thoughts on the Direction of Prayer

For the past year, I have been serving, in addition to my rabbinic duties at Temple B’nai Israel, as one of the registry chaplains at...

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Kimberly Ginsberg

Jul 13
7 min

Thoughts on the Three Weeks

Unless we regularly consult the Jewish calendar, many of us are blissfully unaware of the significance of the period of time that is...

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Kimberly Ginsberg

Jun 29
7 min

Thoughts on Yom Kippur Katan

It continues to amaze me as I examine Jewish traditions of prayer, that even after four years of weekly columns, close to 200 essays,...

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Kimberly Ginsberg

Jun 22
7 min

Thoughts on Perek Shirah

Several years back, I stumbled upon some interesting volumes published by a young Orthodox rabbi from Great Britain, living in Israel,...

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Kimberly Ginsberg

Jun 16
2 min

Words from the Rabbi June 16, 2023

Friends, As the threat of Covid recedes, more and more activities have returned to pre-pandemic levels. Of course, now that we have been...

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Kimberly Ginsberg

Jun 9
9 min

Thoughts on Bar and Bat Mitzvah

Most rabbis by now have given up on explaining that there is really no verb “to bar mitzvah someone” or to be “bat mitzvahed.” Bar and...

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Kimberly Ginsberg

Jun 2
5 min

Thoughts on the Sabbath Song Yom Zeh L’Yisrael

I still have fond memories of younger years in college and Seminary joining in song around the Shabbat table. I’ve written about it...

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Kimberly Ginsberg

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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