Recent articles and news from Tiferet Bet Israel. http://www.tbibluebell.org One of my "little secrets" is that some of my favorite parts of our liturgy--in terms of content which allows me to deepen kavannah, my intention--are the passages we recite to ourselves before we even begin our formal service with the morning prayer http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=432 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=432/ Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT It is such a pleasure to have the opportunity to create diverse musical programming for our Music in the Sanctuary concert series each year. It gives me the chance to hear so many interesting musicians as I look toward what might be exciting to brin http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=425 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=425/ Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT December is our freylikh month, our joyous month of Hanukkah; and with the celebration of the Festival of Lights we have two wonderful community musical events coming our way which I would like to share with you: Latke-Kicking Klezmer on Sunday, Dec http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=417 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=417/ Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT When I adopted my rescue dog Lenny, we attended many weeks of training classes to learn basic commands and teach him to behave like a mensch (three years later, we are still working on this). In training class, the trainer will ask you, "Is he food-m http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=409 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=409/ Fri, 28 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT This past August, we enjoyed our third Shabbat at the Shore in Margate, NJ. My absolute favorite way to spend Shabbat is in nature: to be able to come such a magnificent outdoor space and spend Shabbat in the rhythms of the day is unparalleled. The http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=401 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=401/ Thu, 27 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT I am not sure where I got this quotation--whether I read it, someone sent it to me, or whether I saw it one someone's kitchen magnet and scribbled it down--but I try to remember it daily: "God respects me when I work, but He loves me when I sing." http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=392 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=392/ Thu, 25 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT As I sit to write this article, Pesach ended one week ago, we began the journey to Shavuot and three new things happened in my schedule last week. I began teaching a meditation class, the Adult B'not Mitzvah class began, and the Adult Choir began reh http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=382 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=382/ Fri, 27 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT We are in the period of the Omer, counting the seven weeks between Pesach and Shavuot, which comes on Tuesday evening, June 7, June 8 and 9. Last month I wrote about the Omer period in the context of meditation and transformation. Every Jewish holi http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=374 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=374/ Wed, 04 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT We have just concluded the fourth season of the Music in the Sanctuary series, and what an incredible season it was. I want to thank our Program Director, Hilary Yohlin, as well as our Music Committee, Joseph Bender, Marc Bernstein, Sylvia Brodsky, http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=365 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=365/ Tue, 29 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT As a result of last month's article and the World Wide Wrap on February 13, many women at TBI have been approaching me to discuss tefillin -- it is very exciting! Nancy Hite's account of her experience at minyan laying tefillin moved many of you. Th http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=355 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=355/ Wed, 16 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT The connections we have to various Jewish rituals can be very personal, intense and sometimes nostalgic. Sometimes we do not even know exactly why we are drawn to certain rituals above others; they seem to have an archetypal or ancient hold on us, a http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=347 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=347/ Wed, 09 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT Ase l'cha rav, uk'neh l'cha chaver.
Find for yourself a teacher, and acquire a friend.
-Pirkei Avot 1:6

There are so many things that go on at TBI which are hardly visible, or visible to only a small sector of our community. http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=336 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=336/ Thu, 13 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Hanukkah is about miracles. I want to tell you about one that sits right in our TBI home. When I arrived at TBI in 2007, we had about 12 kids in the Junior Choir. They came to rehearsals on Sundays, rain or shine, and loved to sing. We worked on son http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=307 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=307/ Tue, 30 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT With daylight hours diminishing by minutes each day at this time of year, it's apparent that winter is soon upon us in full force. The winter solstice is one of my favorite times of year, as I'm assured that daylight will now be increasing bit by bit http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=299 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=299/ Wed, 03 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT Etz chayim hi lamachazikim ba, v'tomcheha m'ushar
D'racheha darchei noam, v'chol n'tivoteha shalom.

It is a tree of life to those who grasp it, and all who uphold it are blessed.
Its ways are pleasantness, and all its paths a http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=280 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=280/ Wed, 29 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT The Mishna describes the first day of the month of Tishrei -- Rosh Hashanah - as the day when humanity is judged. My favorite part of the High Holy Day liturgy, hands down, is the U'netaneh tokef section of the Musaf service. Its theme of judgment http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=289 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=289/ Wed, 29 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT This month's interview is the third in a series on the topic of prayer. I am grateful to the interviewee, who wishes to remain anonymous, for the feelings and experiences shared herein. For some of us, the ability to pray comes easily on a regular ba http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=271 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=271/ Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT Art Skaroff has been a member of TBI (and its predecessor, Norristown Jewish Community Center), with his wife Debra and their daughters Sarah and Rebecca, since 1980. He was on the Board of Directors for many years, has served on the ritual committee http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=263 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=263/ Fri, 21 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT Cantor Shammash and her mother Estelle participated in Cantor's Assembly mission to Poland and Israel during the summer of 2009. In a previous issue of Ma'aseem Cantor shared highlights of the visit. In anticipation of Yom Hashoah, we asked her to http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=253 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=253/ Tue, 18 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT This month's article is the first part in a four-part series on prayer. I spend a significant amount of time leading prayer, preparing prayer, praying, and discussing prayer with others. I am fascinated with how people pray, why people pray, and espe http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=245 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=245/ Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT I would say I have been a "dabbler" in Kabbalah study over the last decade. While it is the current "in thing" on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and in many yoga circles, to truly study and understand Kabbalah is yet another story. After reading h http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=235 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=235/ Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Friends,

Our third Music in the Sanctuary series begins this month! We have three incredible concerts to offer you this winter and spring:

I'll kick off with a vocal recital, joined by pianist Don St. Pierre, on Sunday, Jan http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=225 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=225/ Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT I really looked forward to lighting Hanukkah candles when I was a kid. It was the magical part of the holiday for me, standing in front of the candles, building upon light each day until we got to that fully lit moment on the eighth night. Presents http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=215 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=215/ Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT This month I would like to highlight our Friday night musicians, who give a huge amount of their time, energy and spirit to making Kabbalat Shabbat very special at TBI.

Aaron Simon has been a lifelong member of TBI. Music has been part o http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=205 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=205/ Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT Sukkot is a very underrated holiday. I think many of us tend to feel that we've done a lot of hard work over Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, especially with the fasting and the al chet litany (recounting of sins), and that we've had enough holiday tim http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=189 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=189/ Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT Here comes Rosh Hashanah, again! It always seems to creep up on us, no matter how aware we are of it. We have the month of Elul to prepare, yet unless we consciously attune ourselves to the Jewish calendar, it can be but a blip on our personal radar http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=190 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=190/ Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT You probably have heard by now that TBI is "twinning" with Kehillat Netzach Israel, a Conservative synagogue in Ashkelon, Israel. There are various exciting projects we are taking on as a community in which to get to know our new friends better, of http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=176 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=176/ Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT If I had a nickel for every time someone has said to me over the course of my life, "You have such a talent! Oh, to be born with such a talent..." Yes, it is true that I have a talent for music, an inclination for it (just as I decidedly do not have http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=168 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=168/ Tue, 19 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT This is a partial re-print of an article that appeared in the Winter 2008-09 publication of Kolot, the magazine of the Conservative?Masorti Movement, by Hazzan Henry Rosenblum, Dean of the HL Miller Cantorial School at the Jewish Theological Seminar http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=138 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=138/ Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT Haverim,

Our Music in the Sanctuary series is off to a wonderful start! We had two of our five concerts last month, a string quartet of students from the Curtis Institute of Music on January 11, playing Haydn, Mozart and Dvorak quartets, http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=144 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=144/ Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT Second Avenue...Molly Picon...Abraham Goldfaden...Sholom Secunda...these names and places used to be household friends to our parents and grandparents, and could we say that our children would recognize any of them? Imagine...

In its hey http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=158 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=158/ Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT Light Up Your Life

Haverim,

Who doesn't love Hanukkah? It's such an easy holiday to love: low-stress, candle-filled, oil-laden...and the presents! Hanukkah is "win-win," in that there is little we have to give of ourselves o http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=132 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=132/ Tue, 16 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT Haverim,

Have you called TBI recently and been put "on hold"? What did you hear? Our new and improved phone system now allows us the feature of programming "hold music" for your listening pleasure. No more silence on the airwaves as you http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=124 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=124/ Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT Dear Friends:

L'Shana tovah tikatevu! May you and your families be inscribed for a year of health and success. I look forward to celebrating the new year with you later this month.

Summer was busy here at TBI! We have been http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=110 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=110/ Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT Haverim,

I hope you have had an uplifting, fresh start to the New Year and are looking toward a meaningful Yom Kippur. I look forward to spending this month celebrating the start of 5769 with you.

It is a wonderful coinciden http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=116 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=116/ Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT Haverim,

We made it through the desert, through the long stretch of counting the omer, and here we are ready to receive Torah! Shavuot begins on Sunday night, June 8 with our confirmation class leading ma'ariv, followed by some study to http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=96 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=96/ Fri, 30 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT SOULMATE MUSIC

Dear Friends,

Am Yisrael Chai! Israel's 60th birthday, Yom HaAtzma'ut, finally arrives on May 8, the third day of Iyar. We have been celebrating this milestone community-wide for a few months now, and last mon http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=86 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=86/ Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT C'EST TROPE!*

The B'nai Mitzvah students work diligently (and complain maybe just a little) at mastering two trope (cantillation) systems: those for the chanting of Torah and Haftarah. They always ask me a good question when we begin stu http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=69 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=69/ Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT JAMMIN' AT TIFERET BET ISRAEL

This month is packed with events! I want to highlight a few of the musical events as we look toward Pesach and Yom Ha'atzma'ut, celebrating Israel's 60th birthday:

Have you ever watched Edie Har http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=78 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=78/ Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT WHY SHABBAT?

Haverim,

If you have been at Friday night services, you've noticed that we've been singing a piyyut called Yedid Nefesh, composed in the 16th century by Kabbalist Rabbi Eleazar Azikri. It begins "Yedid nefesh, a http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=62 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=62/ Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT "Tu B'Shevat Higia, Hag Ha'ilanot!...."
I would like to extend a warm welcome to Rabbi Sylvan and Rhoda Kamens, who join the TBI community this month--B'RUCHIM HABA'IM! I know that the entire extended TBI family joins me in embracing you and http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=53 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=53/ Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT On Sunday afternoon, October 28, 2007 the Tiferet Bet Israel community honored me with a beautiful installation ceremony and reception, formalizing my appointment as your cantor. I am touched by your presence and loving support on that special occas http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=46 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=46/ Tue, 04 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT Haverim,

I love to travel, and one thing I always try to do is visit a local synagogue. I have been to shul in London, Prague, Rome, Florence, Venice, Istanbul, Tsfat and Athens, among other places. No matter where I am in the world, kno http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=36 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=36/ Tue, 30 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT Haverim,

We Jews have been praying our hearts out for a really long time. Imagine if we just spoke our prayers, rather than chanting and singing them, how absolutely dull that would become! I think we might have gotten tired a long tim http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=24 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=24/ Tue, 16 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT Haverim,

First things first, I would like to thank you all so much for such a warm welcome to Tiferet Bet Israel! I feel so delighted to be a part of this vibrant community, and I have been overwhelmed by your gestures of welcome and http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=23 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=23/ Sun, 16 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT