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...

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

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...

Though I wrote a few paragraphs on this Psalm about a year or so ago, I did not go into much detail.  This passage is usually read very...

In our sanctuary at Temple B’nai Israel there is a piece of artwork on the right side of the bimah as you look toward it.  It comprises a...

Some time back I wrote about the havdalah paragraph inserted into the opening weekday blessing of the Saturday night Amidah, the one that...

A couple of months back we looked at one of the traditional zemirot, the table songs for Shabbat, Yah Ribon Olam by Rabbi Yisrael Najara....

There are a number of prayers that one finds in the Siddur that have been added to the traditional liturgy by the Kabbalists, Jewish...

Throughout the holiday of Sukkot and continuing on Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, we add the Hallel Psalms to our holiday worship....

As soon as Yom Kippur departs, we begin getting ready to celebrate the festival of Sukkot which begins this Sunday evening.  We will be...

Before sundown on the eve of Yom Kippur, we gather in the synagogue for the Kol Nidre prayers. This formula annulling vows made between...

As we have seen in the previous two pieces that I’ve written, the Rosh Hashanah Musaf service is unique in that instead of the normal...

Last week we focused on the first of the three sections added into the Rosh Hashanah Musaf service, the Malchuyot or Kingship verses....

When I have written about the Amidah in past posts, I have noted the difference between the number of blessings recited on weekdays and...

The opening line of the first paragraph in the Shulchan Aruch, the major 16th century law code of Rabbi Yosef Karo, in the laws of...

There is no requirement to recite specific biblical verses or special prayers at a funeral, however certain passages appear as suggested...

When I was in college, at the University of Pennsylvania, many years ago, a group of fellows who came regularly to the Hillel for Shabbat...

Thoughts on Yedid Nefesh Continuing with my college days reminiscences from last week, following my sophomore year living in the Jewish...

Jewish Scripture is made up of 24 books which are sometimes counted as 39 (e.g. The Book of Twelve Minor Prophets can be counted as one

Two angels descended to earth, each one carrying a basket. Wherever anyone stood in prayer