As nature revives itself after the winter, it is customary to recite a special blessing, the blessing of the fruit trees, upon seeing the first blossoming trees.
As the synagogue’s lockdown drill began, I bolted the door, lowered the blinds, and took a seat next to the new bar mitzvah student I’d met only minutes before.
Chants used to read Torah may be an unusual metaphor to assess one’s inner nature, but the symbols that help vocalists create the melodies can be quite revealing.
Around the High Holidays, we may find ourselves remembering loved ones who have died, feeling the emptiness at the holiday table or in the pews during services.