Aging Jewishly – Rabbi Barbara’s Book

Aging Jewishly – Rabbi Barbara’s Book

What our traditions tell us about growing old In 2009 I began a Jewish journey that led me to not only serve as rabbi to men and women in a Jewish retirement community but to live among the residents as well.  I viewed my apartment in the Independent Living wing of...
Is It Me or Are Packages Too Hard To Open?

Is It Me or Are Packages Too Hard To Open?

What Our Traditions Tell Us about Growing OldBy Rabbi Barbara Aiello “Hey, Stan, that’s quite a handle you got there!” Macey shouted in surprise as he noticed the giant bandage on his friend, Stan’s hand. And indeed the mass of tape and gauze was enormous and yes the...

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...
Olive Oil Beaten For The Light

Olive Oil Beaten For The Light

The Torah commands an ancient practice that lives today in Italy It is May in Calabria, an isolated region stretching from the “instep” to the “toe” of the Italian “boot,” and the olive trees are in bloom. Tiny cream colored flowers grace each branch as we southern...
Lag B Omer Interfaith Understanding

Lag B Omer Interfaith Understanding

Lag B Omer Interfaith Understanding The festival of Pesach is behind us. We’ve wiped the wine stains from the Haggadot booklets or, if we used special dishes, they are now put away. Finally the bread and cookies are back in the pantry and with a smile  of satisfaction...