Words From the Rabbi | Temple B'nai Israel

Jun 29, 20237 min read

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, 20237 min read

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, 20232 min read

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, 20239 min read

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, 20235 min read

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, 20236 min read

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, 20237 min read

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, 20236 min read

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, 20237 min read

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, 20235 min read

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, 20237 min read

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, 20238 min read

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, 20238 min read

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, 20239 min read

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, 202310 min read

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, 20238 min read

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, 20237 min read

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, 20238 min read

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, 20236 min read

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, 20239 min read

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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