My blog | Temple B'nai Abraham

Please join us for a fun, musical and still CASUAL Shabbat this coming Friday, March 15, at 6:30 PM when we will feature guest artist Avram Pengas. He was originally supposed to be our guest in February, but the

snowstorm had other plans!

Join me for Machzor 101 on September 12

Submitted by Jessica Epstein on Tue, 09/04/2012 - 9:42am

Cantor Epstein's blog

Submiited by Cantor Jessica Epstein 9/4/2012

We stretch our bodies before we work out. We floss our teeth before we see the dentist. We even clean up for the cleaning lady! When things are important to us, we prepare accordingly. But do we prepare ourselves for the High Holy Days?

Elul and the Perpetual Pagans

Submitted by Jessica Epstein on Tue, 08/21/2012 - 2:21pm

Cantor Epstein's blog

From Cantor Epstein 8/21/2012

There are many prayers in the siddur whose words we digest slowly. We savor the melody and power of the familiar Shema, or enjoy the the rise and fall of the chanted words in the V’ahavta. We grasp the meaning of the words, “The Lord is One,” and “You shall love the Lord your God.” But there are other prayers and liturgies over which we mentally glide, as they only form one small aspect of our larger worship service.

One prayer that has jumped out at me lately is the Aleinu.

A Tribute to Cantor Norman Summers

Submitted by Jessica Epstein on Tue, 01/10/2012 - 11:55am

Cantor Epstein's blog

From Cantor Epstein, 01/10/2012

Many of you in the community have heard the sad news that Cantor Norman Summers, the Cantor Emeritus of Temple B'nai Jeshurun in Short Hills, passed away at the end of December.

Cantor Summers was a caring husband, a devoted father and grandfather, and a beloved part of the B'nai Jeshurun family.

Y'Varechecha (Janowski) Cantor Norman Summers

Eight Things You Might Not Know About Hanukkah (Part 2)

Submitted by Jessica Epstein on Tue, 12/06/2011 - 12:55pm

Cantor Epstein's blog

From Cantor Epstein, 12/06/2011

#5 In the original celebration of Hannukah, no sacred oil is mentioned and no candles are lit. This tale was created by later rabbis to help mute the zealotry connected to the actual war and lessen the influence of the Hasmoneans (whom they hated – see #8).

#6 The best place to put a hanukkiah is on a windowsill – WRONG!

The ideal place to put a hanukkiah is outside your front door, to the left of the entrance, but most people don't because it's impractical.