About Rabbi Barbara
| Italian Heritage |
Rabbi Barbara speaks
Italian and is a first
generation American
whose family originates in
Italy. Her father, Antonio
Aiello was raised in
Calabria in the small
mountain village of
Serrastretta in the
Province of Catanzaro, and
worked with the Partigiani
(Italian Partisans) during
World War II.
Italian and is a first
generation American
whose family originates in
Italy. Her father, Antonio
Aiello was raised in
Calabria in the small
mountain village of
Serrastretta in the
Province of Catanzaro, and
worked with the Partigiani
(Italian Partisans) during
World War II.
Rabbi Barbara is a graduate of Indiana University
of Pennsylvania where she received the
Distinguised Alumni Award. She holds a MS from
The George Washington University in Washington
DC and received “smeicha” (rabbinic ordination)
from The Rabbinical Seminary International and
the Rabbinical Academy in New York City.
In addition, Rabbi Barbara is a founding member
and board member of the International Federation
of Rabbis and rabbinic advisor to Congregation
Ner Tamid in Bradenton Florida where she visits
regularly to perform B’nai Mitzvah ceremonies,
Shabbat services and educational forums.
Rabbi Barbara is creator of The Kids on the Block
puppet program used around the world to teach
children and adults to accept and appreciate
difference and diversity and an award-winning
author of a book series based on the puppet
program. She has been honored as a
Washingtonian of the Year, a “Good Parent to
Know,” by Parents Magazine and has been
featured in dozens of newspapers and magazines
in the US and throughout Europe.
Rabbi Aiello is a winner of the International
Platform Association’s Speaking Ladder
Competition and she and received the Surgeon
General’s Medallion for Excellence in Public
Health from Dr. C. Everett Koop. As “The Radio
Rabbi,” Rabbi Barbara hosted her own Sarasota,
Florida radio program featuring Jewish culture and
current events.
Dedicated to serving Jews of all backgrounds,
including interfaith couples and families, Rabbi
Barbara performs personalized interfaith wedding
ceremonies throughout the US and Europe, Bar
and Bat Mitzvah preparation and ceremonies in
Italy and Florida which are specially designed to
welcome and celebrate the participation of
interfaith parents on the bimah.
“It is my honor and my joy to serve Jews of all
backgrounds. For those who are just
discovering their Jewish roots, we are here to
help you and welcome you. For those who are
searching for an open and welcoming Jewish
experience, we open our door and our hearts
to all.”
Rabbi Barbara Aiello
of Pennsylvania where she received the
Distinguised Alumni Award. She holds a MS from
The George Washington University in Washington
DC and received “smeicha” (rabbinic ordination)
from The Rabbinical Seminary International and
the Rabbinical Academy in New York City.
In addition, Rabbi Barbara is a founding member
and board member of the International Federation
of Rabbis and rabbinic advisor to Congregation
Ner Tamid in Bradenton Florida where she visits
regularly to perform B’nai Mitzvah ceremonies,
Shabbat services and educational forums.
Rabbi Barbara is creator of The Kids on the Block
puppet program used around the world to teach
children and adults to accept and appreciate
difference and diversity and an award-winning
author of a book series based on the puppet
program. She has been honored as a
Washingtonian of the Year, a “Good Parent to
Know,” by Parents Magazine and has been
featured in dozens of newspapers and magazines
in the US and throughout Europe.
Rabbi Aiello is a winner of the International
Platform Association’s Speaking Ladder
Competition and she and received the Surgeon
General’s Medallion for Excellence in Public
Health from Dr. C. Everett Koop. As “The Radio
Rabbi,” Rabbi Barbara hosted her own Sarasota,
Florida radio program featuring Jewish culture and
current events.
Dedicated to serving Jews of all backgrounds,
including interfaith couples and families, Rabbi
Barbara performs personalized interfaith wedding
ceremonies throughout the US and Europe, Bar
and Bat Mitzvah preparation and ceremonies in
Italy and Florida which are specially designed to
welcome and celebrate the participation of
interfaith parents on the bimah.
“It is my honor and my joy to serve Jews of all
backgrounds. For those who are just
discovering their Jewish roots, we are here to
help you and welcome you. For those who are
searching for an open and welcoming Jewish
experience, we open our door and our hearts
to all.”
Rabbi Barbara Aiello
Rabbi Barbara Aiello
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Rabbi Barbara is the
National Chaplain for
Bugles Across America,
a volunteer organization
that is dedicated to
honoring military
veterans by playing
TAPS at their funerals.
National Chaplain for
Bugles Across America,
a volunteer organization
that is dedicated to
honoring military
veterans by playing
TAPS at their funerals.
Email rabbi@rabbibarbara.com
Today you can find Rabbi Barbara deep in the “toe
of the boot,” where she serves Synagogue Ner
Tamid del Sud (The Eternal Light of the South) the
first operational synagogue in Calabria in 500
years, since Inquisition times. In addition she is
director of the IjCCC (The Italian Jewish Cultural
Center of Calabria) where she teaches classes on
Italian Jewish culture, the Hebrew language and
helps Calabrians who have Jewish roots to learn
more about their past.
Dedicated to the growth of progressive liberal
Judaism in Italy, Rabbi Barbara regularly serves
Congregation Or Chadash in Turin. There she
works with members of the Steering Committee to
bring modern liberal Judaism to Jewish and
interfaith families. In 2006 Rabbi Barbara led the
first ever Rosh HaShanah Progressive Jewish
service in an Italian synagogue. The event took
place in the Ivrea synagogue outside of Turin.
of the boot,” where she serves Synagogue Ner
Tamid del Sud (The Eternal Light of the South) the
first operational synagogue in Calabria in 500
years, since Inquisition times. In addition she is
director of the IjCCC (The Italian Jewish Cultural
Center of Calabria) where she teaches classes on
Italian Jewish culture, the Hebrew language and
helps Calabrians who have Jewish roots to learn
more about their past.
Dedicated to the growth of progressive liberal
Judaism in Italy, Rabbi Barbara regularly serves
Congregation Or Chadash in Turin. There she
works with members of the Steering Committee to
bring modern liberal Judaism to Jewish and
interfaith families. In 2006 Rabbi Barbara led the
first ever Rosh HaShanah Progressive Jewish
service in an Italian synagogue. The event took
place in the Ivrea synagogue outside of Turin.
| Raised in Pittsburgh, PA |
Rabbi Barbara's father,
Antonio, played trumpet in the
Lodge Band of The Italian
Sons & Daughters of America
in Pittsburgh, PA.
Antonio, played trumpet in the
Lodge Band of The Italian
Sons & Daughters of America
in Pittsburgh, PA.
| © 2007 Rabbi Barbara Aiello, All rights reserved. |
Rabbi Barbara Aiello was
guest speaker at a special
interfaith service in Bergamo,
Italy. The service celebrated
the 40th anniversary of
"Nostra Aetate," the Papal
Encyclical that affirmed the
Jewish religion as the "older
sibling" of the Christian
church. The service was led
by Don Patrizio Rota
Scalabrini and Don Ilario Girelli
of the Parish of San Giuseppe
in Bergamo. It included music
and song from both the
Catholic and Jewish tradition.
Rabbi Aiello spoke about the
words found inside the
mezzuzah, words shared by
both faiths.
guest speaker at a special
interfaith service in Bergamo,
Italy. The service celebrated
the 40th anniversary of
"Nostra Aetate," the Papal
Encyclical that affirmed the
Jewish religion as the "older
sibling" of the Christian
church. The service was led
by Don Patrizio Rota
Scalabrini and Don Ilario Girelli
of the Parish of San Giuseppe
in Bergamo. It included music
and song from both the
Catholic and Jewish tradition.
Rabbi Aiello spoke about the
words found inside the
mezzuzah, words shared by
both faiths.
Before becoming a rabbi,
Barbara Aiello was creator of
The Kids on the Block puppets,
(1977) an international
company dedicated to teaching
children and adults to accept
and appreciate differences and
disabilities. The puppets are in
use today in every US state
and 33 countries.
Barbara Aiello was creator of
The Kids on the Block puppets,
(1977) an international
company dedicated to teaching
children and adults to accept
and appreciate differences and
disabilities. The puppets are in
use today in every US state
and 33 countries.
