Upcoming Lectures, Presentations and Services
IN PERSON AT THE SAVANT HOTEL, LAMEZIA TERME Rosh HaShanah Shofar and Tashlich Service with Rabbi Barbara and violinist Angela Amato Sunday, September 13, 202612 Noon – 2 pmFollowed by a New Year’s pranzo / lunch cost: Donation only CLICK HERE to register Virtual ZOOM Service – Yom Kippur and Yiskor Reading of the Names […]
Hebrew Month Elul: Facts, Tips and Actions
The Month of Preparation On the secular calendar it’s late August while on the Hebrew calendar a new month has begun. It’s the Hebrew month Elul, the only month that does not feature a holiday, a feast day, a fast day or a memorial. And that’s no coincidence. Our sages understood that we Jews need […]
A Tisha B’Av Story
Tisha B’Av – A Jewish Memorial Day to Honor the Memory of the Jews of the Inquisition Tisha B’Av is a day of Jewish mourning. It falls on the 9th day in the Hebrew month of Av which, this year begins at sundown on July 22 and concludes at sundown July 23. There are mourning […]
Yiskor Prayer for a Troubled Soul
May the Eternal One remember the soul of my dear one who has gone to an eternal rest. Although our lives were stressful, my loved one’s difficulties made me strong, gave me an independent spirit and filled me with empathy for those in similar situations. I know that if my (parent/spouse/sibling/relative) had been fully aware, […]
Celebrate Passover End With Mimouna
“Mimouna” Concluding Passover With A Sephardi Festival Celebrate Passover End With Mimouna – Wednesday nightfall April 8 – Thursday daytime April 9, 2026 Mimouna, (pronounced “mee-moh-oo-na” ) is the name given to the little known seder that celebrates the end of the eight days of the Passover festival According to journalist Ophir Toubul (Cafe […]
Sicilian Charoset Just in Time for Passover – Rabbi Frank Tamburello
Rabbi Frank Tamburello is a colleague, a friend and a discoverer of his family’s Sicilian Jewish roots. He serves on the editorial staff of the International Federation of Rabbis where he writes a popular column, “Ravenous Ravs,” that highlights his vast collection of Italian Jewish recipes. Just in time for Passover, Rabbi Tamburello shares a […]
Looking Back – Life Lessons on the Seder Plate
Aging Jewishly – What Our Traditions Tell Us about Growing Old By Rabbi Barbara Aiello The wine stained Haggadot are tucked away in the closet, while only the empty matzah box remains – a reminder of a seder filled with family and tradition, not to mention a “bissel” stress. But now that Pesach 5785 is […]
“I haven’t heard from him in years…” When Parents and Adult Children Are Estranged
Aging Jewishly – What Our Traditions Teach Us about Growing Old By Rabbi Barbara Aiello The cellphone chimed the first few bars of Jimmy Buffett’s “Margaritaville”, jolting Julie out of her ten minute afternoon “schlaf.” “Did I catch you sleeping?” It was Beth, Julie’s oldest friend – the only person other than her husband that […]
Virtual Tu B’Shevat Seder
Join Rabbi Barbara for a VIRTUAL How-To Sephardi Tu B’Shevat Seder Sunday, January 25, 2026 2:00 pm US Eastern / 8:00 pm Italy CLICK for Zoom Link We will make our model seder together using Rabbi Barbara’s Haggadah/Guide that is available for you: CLICK HERE We’ll have blessings, readings and three groups of fruits and […]
Christ is still the Christmas Headline
A Christmas Conundrum – An American Rabbi in Catholic Italy: Even here in Italy it’s headline news that public Christmas celebrations in the US are under siege. But the cream in the cannoli (Italy’s version of “the icing on the cake”), is that a US military base has been forced to dismantle the entire nativity […]
