I’ve Always Wondered
The Rabbi’s Assistant answers questions that someone might be too shy to ask.
Please contact us if you have questions about Congregation Beth Shalom, synagogue life, Jewish history or practices, why we do what we do at the times when we do, etc. We can learn together.
In other words, if you are saying to yourself, “I’ve always wondered…” then you should be asking the Rabbi’s Assistant. I don’t let on as to who is asking!
“Let My People Go!” Originally Published January 22-23, 2021.
Within this week’s parashah, which is Bo, we read of one of the times that God directs Moses to sally over and exhort Pharaoh to
Who Was Moses Hess? Originally Published January 15-16, 2021.
Moses Hess (originally Moritz Hess), was born on January 21, 1812, in Bonn, Germany, and passed away on April 6, 1875, in Paris, France. Along
What Is a Gittith? Who Was Asaph? Originally Published January 8-9, 2021.
Psalm 81 (which is also the Psalm of the Day for Thursday) begins: לַמְנַצֵּ֬חַ ׀ עַֽל־הַגִּתִּ֬ית לְאָסָֽף׃ For the leader; on the gittith. Of
Who Was Serah? Originally Published January 1-2, 2021.
Serah (שֶׂרַח בַּת אָשֵׁר) was the daughter of Asher, who was a son of Jacob. We read about her briefly last week, in Vayiggash (Genesis
Who Was Ephraim? And Why Were His Bones Fused? Originally Published December 25-26, 2020.
Ephraim (אֶפְרַיִם) was the younger brother of Manasseh, and they were the sons of Joseph and Asenath, who was given to Joseph as a gift
What Is Targum? Originally Published December 18-19, 2020.
“Targum” (תַּרְגּוּם) is Aramaic for interpretation, translation, or version. Originally referring to a spoken translation of Tanakh into the language of the listeners, made by
“Let My People Go!” Originally Published January 22-23, 2021.
Within this week’s parashah, which is Bo, we read of one of the times that God directs Moses to sally over and exhort Pharaoh to
Who Was Moses Hess? Originally Published January 15-16, 2021.
Moses Hess (originally Moritz Hess), was born on January 21, 1812, in Bonn, Germany, and passed away on April 6, 1875, in Paris, France. Along
What Is a Gittith? Who Was Asaph? Originally Published January 8-9, 2021.
Psalm 81 (which is also the Psalm of the Day for Thursday) begins: לַמְנַצֵּ֬חַ ׀ עַֽל־הַגִּתִּ֬ית לְאָסָֽף׃ For the leader; on the gittith. Of
Who Was Serah? Originally Published January 1-2, 2021.
Serah (שֶׂרַח בַּת אָשֵׁר) was the daughter of Asher, who was a son of Jacob. We read about her briefly last week, in Vayiggash (Genesis
Who Was Ephraim? And Why Were His Bones Fused? Originally Published December 25-26, 2020.
Ephraim (אֶפְרַיִם) was the younger brother of Manasseh, and they were the sons of Joseph and Asenath, who was given to Joseph as a gift
What Is Targum? Originally Published December 18-19, 2020.
“Targum” (תַּרְגּוּם) is Aramaic for interpretation, translation, or version. Originally referring to a spoken translation of Tanakh into the language of the listeners, made by
“Let My People Go!” Originally Published January 22-23, 2021.
Within this week’s parashah, which is Bo, we read of one of the times that God directs Moses to sally over and exhort Pharaoh to
Who Was Moses Hess? Originally Published January 15-16, 2021.
Moses Hess (originally Moritz Hess), was born on January 21, 1812, in Bonn, Germany, and passed away on April 6, 1875, in Paris, France. Along
What Is a Gittith? Who Was Asaph? Originally Published January 8-9, 2021.
Psalm 81 (which is also the Psalm of the Day for Thursday) begins: לַמְנַצֵּ֬חַ ׀ עַֽל־הַגִּתִּ֬ית לְאָסָֽף׃ For the leader; on the gittith. Of
Who Was Serah? Originally Published January 1-2, 2021.
Serah (שֶׂרַח בַּת אָשֵׁר) was the daughter of Asher, who was a son of Jacob. We read about her briefly last week, in Vayiggash (Genesis
Who Was Ephraim? And Why Were His Bones Fused? Originally Published December 25-26, 2020.
Ephraim (אֶפְרַיִם) was the younger brother of Manasseh, and they were the sons of Joseph and Asenath, who was given to Joseph as a gift
What Is Targum? Originally Published December 18-19, 2020.
“Targum” (תַּרְגּוּם) is Aramaic for interpretation, translation, or version. Originally referring to a spoken translation of Tanakh into the language of the listeners, made by