Category Archives: Tefillah

A Review of Chanukah Torah 2020

Posted on December 28, 2020 by rebleib1

I am privileged to share some Torah that I developed over the course of Chanukah 2020 with the help of my students, family members, and friends. As always, I enjoy hearing from readers in the comments if you have any … Continue reading →

Posted in Chanukah, Classroom Experiences, Halacha, Holidays, Talmud / Daf Yomi, Tefillah | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Coronavirus and Maintaining Belief in Challenging Times

Posted on March 28, 2020 by rebleib1

Many in my large Jewish community have lamented the closure of our Shuls and schools in the face of the devastating Coronavirus cutting a deadly path across our nation. I am among them. Yet I tend to react to difficult … Continue reading →

Posted in Communal Matters, Tefillah | Leave a comment

Sukkah, Beit Hamikdash, and Eternal Love

Posted on September 28, 2018 by rebleib1

I had the opportunity the other day to have my middle school students over in my sukkah, and I shared the D’var Torah below. I am sharing it now for any larger benefit it may serve. There is a curious … Continue reading →

Posted in Holidays, Succot, Tefillah | Leave a comment

Exploring Lecha Dodi, Part 6: Verse #4 – Hitna’ari

Posted on June 17, 2014 by rebleib1

Other entries in this series: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 We continue on to Verse 4: התנערי מעפר קומי לבשי בגדי תפארתיך עמי על יד בן ישי בית הלחמי קרבה אל … Continue reading →

Posted in Lecha Dodi, Tefillah | 5 Comments

Review of Koren’s New Youth Siddurim

Posted on March 7, 2014 by rebleib1

Feb. 2015 update: I just saw a friend’s newer copy of the Ani Tefillah Siddur, and was pleased to see that it includes Chol Hamoed, including full services for Hoshana Rabbah and Hoshanot. So those critiques in my review should … Continue reading →

Posted in Communal Matters, Jewish Education (meta), Tefillah | Leave a comment

Exploring Lecha Dodi, Part 5: Verse #3 – Mikdash Melech

Posted on June 25, 2013 by rebleib1

Other entries in this series: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 6 Continuing with our analysis of Lecha Dodi, we move on now to the third verse of the song, Mikdash Melech: מקדש … Continue reading →

Posted in Lecha Dodi, Tefillah | 2 Comments

Hoda’ah and the Meaning of Thanksgiving

Posted on November 21, 2012 by rebleib1

I just posted about the Halachic propriety of Thanksgiving, but perhaps a Hashkafic take is in order as well. I’ve been learning Shemoneh Esrei with my Sixth Graders, and just the other day we got to the final three Berachot, … Continue reading →

Posted in Classroom Experiences, Holidays, Tefillah, Thanksgiving | Leave a comment

Teens and Tefillah: A Response to Rabbi Jay Goldmintz

Posted on November 7, 2012 by rebleib1

Not too long ago I read the fine article “Why Aren’t Our Kids in Shul?” by Rabbi Jay Goldmintz, concerning what many of us increasingly find a losing battle to inspire our teenagers to engage with Tefillah in Shul. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Classroom Experiences, Communal Matters, Jewish Education (meta), Tefillah | Leave a comment

My All-Time Favorite Moments in Iggerot Moshe: Sources

Posted on November 7, 2012 by rebleib1

For some time now I have delivered intermittent classes for adults on landmark Teshuvot in Iggerot Moshe. I am posting the sources, and in some cases linking to places elsewhere on this site where I have written up notes from the shiur, … Continue reading →

Posted in Communal Matters, Halacha, Tefillah | Leave a comment

Exploring Lecha Dodi, Part 4: Verse #2 – Likrat Shabbat

Posted on July 13, 2012 by rebleib1

Other entries in this series: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 5 | Part 6 Having explored the Refrain and Verse 1, we move on now to Verse 2 of Lecha Dodi. לקראת שבת לכו ונלכה … Continue reading →

Posted in Lecha Dodi, Tefillah | 4 Comments