I don’t turn my back on the congregation very often, but when I do, it is in prayers like the Barechu or the Amidah. And when I am not facing you, I see the ark, crafted by a congregant, now of blessed memory. I see the woodwork, refinished and polished by volunteers last fall. And […]
About Rabbi Benjamin Zober
Posts by Rabbi Benjamin Zober:
There is No “I” in Synagogue
Rabbi Benjamin Zober 2020 Posts, Newsletter
Dear Friends, Rabbi Sara and I miss you all terribly. We are continuing to find a way to bring Shabbat and other Jewish events into your homes in the best way possible. Many of you have become regular visitors to the virtual shul streaming from our living room. Others join our Zoom Torah Study on […]
‘Tis the Season – for Voting!
Rabbi Benjamin Zober 2020 Posts, Newsletter
Dear Friends: If you haven’t heard, there’s an election. While the internet, radio, and television are filled with campaign ads, the other election has not gotten quite as much press. The World Zionist Congress is holding its election to determine the leadership and influence the policies of Israel’s National Zionist Institutions, which affect so much […]
How Do We Bless the Pie?
Rabbi Benjamin Zober 2019 Posts, Newsletter
Dear Friends: Did you know that Thanksgiving was a Jewish holiday? Ok, it is not technically Jewish, but it does cover many of the themes of a true Jewish holiday: family, food, and guilt. More seriously, giving thanks is a big piece of Jewish practice and any holiday that encourages it is in keeping with […]
Our Book, Our Simcha
Rabbi Benjamin Zober 2019 Posts, Newsletter
Dear Friends: There once was a rabbi who remarked, “I’m glad to see you at services on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, but I’d rather you celebrate Passover, Purim, and Simchat Torah.” Passover and Purim make sense: tales of triumph over evil, exciting stories, and delicious foods. But Simchat Torah? What even is it and […]
Sounds of S’lichot
Rabbi Benjamin Zober 2019 Posts, Newsletter
I asked myself: who’s listening to these words of confession? Magnificent Ear of the universe, are You my personal confidant? Or am I just talking to myself? Then I got it: the question is a diversion — to distract me from hearing who I really am. Dear Friends: I first encountered S’lichot at Plum Street […]
Prepping Early for the High Holidays
Rabbi Benjamin Zober 2019 Posts, Newsletter
Dear Friends, It is hard to believe, but the season of preparation for the High Holidays is almost upon us. Starting on Saturday evening with Tisha b’Av, the observance of the date when the Temples were destroyed and Judaism as we knew it changed irrevocably, we launch ourselves into the frenzy of the fall. This […]
Letter Home From Camp
Rabbi Benjamin Zober 2019 Posts, Newsletter
Last week, Rabbi Sara and I went to camp. In so many ways, it was like summer camp that I attended as a child: campfires, songs, hikes, swimming (and some Judaism – I went to a Jewish overnight camp). Camp was always one of the most accepting places I went to. Away from home, away […]
Adult Ed and Aveilut
Rabbi Benjamin Zober 2019 Posts, Newsletter
Dear Friends, As we move into the summer months we are beginning a new phase of adult education. Our first offering, moving into the time of mourning before Tisha B’Av, is Death and Dying in the Jewish Tradition. Over the course of five Sundays, we will examine both the rituals and practices associated with death […]
Security Update
Rabbi Benjamin Zober 2019 Posts, Newsletter
Dear Friends, After the terrorist attack in Poway, CA, we have all been asking questions about our safety and our future. We have been forced to examine how we do business at the Temple, how we secure our entrances and exits, and what we need to do to keep everyone safe when they are here. […]
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