Finding Happiness
Aging Jewishly – What Our Traditions Tell Us about Growing Old By Rabbi Barbara Aiello Nan looked up from her Kindle and observed the man she’d been married to for over forty years. “Kurt, you’re pacing and when you’re pacing I know something’s not right.” “OK, so I’m pacing what’s the big deal?” was Kurt’s […]
How to Tackle Too Much Stuff – A Jewish Approach to Decluttering
How to Tackle Too Much Stuff – A Jewish Approach to Decluttering Rabbi Barbara Aiello “Can I help you with that?” The question came from the UPS driver who had just delivered a package to Jeanette’s next door neighbor. Jeanette offered a grateful smile and let the young man lift the box she was carrying […]
Is There a Message in My Grandson’s Brushed Up Hair
Is There a Message in My Grandson’s Brushed Up Hair Rabbi Barbara Aiello Helen couldn’t help but smile when she received a scan of her grandson Jake’s graduation picture. “I’m printing this out,” she said aloud. “Jake is handsome as all get out and I’m taking this to my bridge club to show the girls.” […]
Jewish Ritual Rescue
Jewish Ritual Rescue What Happens to Judaica When Our Kids Don’t Want It? Last year in a local Goodwill store I found a very old Kiddush cup. It sat on a shelf crowded with an assortment of pewter and silver goblets and was so tarnished that I nearly missed the inscriptions. Engraved on the […]
What Makes Jews So Smart?
And the Answer Is… The Bar and Bat Mitzvah! “I’m pooped!” Natalie collapsed into her easy chair and fanned herself with her ever-present apron as she recounted her latest trip “up north.” “My son, he’s an editor and my daughter, she’s a photographer with some of her pictures in National Geographic, and their children, what can […]
Pittsburgh Massacre Thoughts
A Pittsburgh-born Rabbi’s Thoughts on the Pittsburgh Massacre It started with pennies. At first my dear friend’s teenage daughter didn’t take it seriously. After all, the boy who was throwing pennies at her couldn’t even get the insult right. “He’s calling me a KITE,” she said. “That’s how stupid he is. He doesn’t even know […]
Jewish Conversion In A Modern Age
I’m about to marry “Jewish” – should I convert? Not long ago, in 2003 to be exact, a Sex and the City episode featured an anxious Christian, Charlotte York, beginning her journey to convert to Judaism. All set to marry Harry Goldenblatt who promised his mother that he’d marry Jewish, Charlotte hopes to make conversion […]
Reconstructing Judaism
Sinagoga Ner Tamid del Sud in Calabria Is Italy’s First Reconstructionist Synagogue Reconstructing Judaism is the brand new name given to the Jewish Reconstructionist movement, the fourth largest Jewish movement in the world, the only movement founded in the United States, and the only stream of Judaism that has offered the Jewish world a […]
Hava Nagila
Hava Nagila Ten Fabulous Facts for Bubbyes and Zaydes to Share Hava Nagila, a melody that originated more than 200 years ago, was born as a song without words (in Hebrew, “niggun”). During the era of forced inscription into the Czarist Russian army, young Jewish boys were taken from their families to serve 25 years […]