The Rebbetzin's Husband

I know a few people who carry pre-printed cards in shul, to hand to those who try to converse with them during davening. The notes are meant...

The other day, someone asked me regarding a large local synagogue, "They must never have money problems, right?" He pointed t...

I commented to someone the other day that I enjoy meetings, and it's actually true. If the cause is good, if the people are committed,...

Surely you have heard about the February 8th Wall Street Journal article, "After These Jewish Prayer Services, Things Come 'To Life...

Five years ago, I put together a list of ideas for an amplified synagogue Youth Program. The goal was to create a program that would be more...

I received the following inquiry the other day, from a reader; it is mildly edited: Just saw the Igros Moshe's teshuvah stating that i...

I received this question recently: Dear The Rebbetzin's Husband, In the shul I attend, a man who receives an aliyah (is called up to the...

[Preface: Historically, Jews memorialized their loved ones by funding lamps for the synagogue or study hall on their relatives' yahrtzei...

I believe that shuls which want a davening-focused experience should make sure their 'management' – the rabbi, president, gabbaim – ...

A frequent visitor to my shul in Allentown was wont to label ArtScroll "Anti-Semitic". His claim was straightforward: Siddurim an...

[ Originally posted in 2009 here . I repost it now because the original received too few comments, and because I love it ] Yeshivat Hesder...

The Ritual Committee, acting with the Rabbi and Gabai, if any, shall assist in the conduct of religious services and distribute honors. (St...

Regarding my "Owning the Rabbi" post , an anonymous commenter wrote: One also finds the opposite situation: Rabbis "owning...

[ The Kosher Cooking Carnival for Kislev is now on-line here ] Over the years, I've heard people say, from time to time, "We should...

Yom Kippur ended a few hours ago, and I'm giddy. This is no surprise – I'm always giddy after Yom Kippur. Sugar and forgiveness are ...

Do you know which shul employee is the most important? It’s not the custodial staff. It’s not the caterer or the Kiddush Krew. It’s not the ...

[ This week's Haveil Havalim is here ] I've written quite a bit about the phenomenon of talking in shul - two of my favorite posts...

[ This week's Haveil Havalim is here ; enjoy! ] Wow, was that weird. This past Shabbos was the first time I ever witnessed a proba (Shab...

[ This week’s Haveil Havalim, hosted by the incredible Jack, is here ] On the way to the beis medrash for night seder on Sunday, I caught a ...

[ The Kosher Cooking Carnival for Adar I is here ] Sam was called to the Torah, and immediately after his aliyah he recited Birchas haGomel ...