Rachel Barenblat, Author at CBI Berkshires Reform Jewish Synagogue

About Rachel Barenblat

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But we are proud to say that Rachel Barenblat contributed 317 entries already.

Entries by Rachel Barenblat

Classes, Community, Education, Events, From The Rabbi, Jewish Holidays, Newsletter, Spiritual Life

From the Rabbi – October 2026

We made it: the fall holidays are behind us. It’s always a whirlwind: from the Selihot (“Pardons”) havdalah and cemetery service the weekend before Rosh Hashanah, through Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, to building the sukkah, and our Sukkot Harvest Moon Potluck and bonfire, and a week of Sukkot, and Shemini Atzeret services with Yizkor, all the way to our Simhat Torah celebration with seven joyous songs and the end and beginning of Torah’s story to launch us into the new year. Whew!

October 15, 2026/by Rachel Barenblat

Divrei Torah, Elul, From The Rabbi, Jewish Values, Resilience, Response to Tragedy, Runway to the Days of Awe, Teshuvah

How Do We Begin Again?: Bereshit 5787

Earlier this week I sang El Maleh at the countywide memorial for the victims of the Oct. 7 attacks. I remembered what it felt like to wake up on October 7th three years ago, at the tail end of the long season of Jewish holidays, to the news that kibbutzim were under attack, that a music festival was under attack. The terrible images. The feeling like we couldn’t catch our breath. Sometimes I still feel like I can’t breathe with it.

October 9, 2026/by Rachel Barenblat

Chevra Kadisha, Days of Awe, Divrei Torah, From The Rabbi, Sermons, Spiritual Life, Teshuvah, Yizkor, Yom Kippur

Balancing Dust & Stars: Yom Kippur 5787

This is the sermon that Rabbi Rachel Barenblat offered during Yom Kippur 5787 morning service on Monday, September 21, 2026.

September 21, 2026/by Rachel Barenblat

Days of Awe, Divrei Torah, From The Rabbi, Kol Nidre, Sermons, Spiritual Life, Yom Kippur

Hanging in the Balance: Kol Nidre 5787

This is the sermon that Rabbi Rachel Barenblat offered during Kol Nidre 5787 evening service on Sunday, September 20, 2026.

September 20, 2026/by Rachel Barenblat

Contemplative Practice, Days of Awe, Divrei Torah, From The Rabbi, Jewish Values, Resilience, Response to Tragedy, Rosh Hashanah, Sermons, World News

Keeping Our Balance: Rosh Hashanah 5787

This is the sermon that Rabbi Rachel Barenblat offered during Rosh Hashanah I 5787 morning service on Saturday, September 12, 2026.

September 12, 2026/by Rachel Barenblat

Days of Awe, Divrei Torah, From The Rabbi, Guest Posts, Jewish Values, Rosh Hashanah, Sermons, Teshuvah, Tikkun Olam

Guest Post | The Practice of Finding Balance: Erev Rosh Hashanah 5787

This guest sermon was offered by cantorial soloist Ziva Larson during Erev Rosh Hashanah 5787 evening service on Friday, September 11, 2026.

September 11, 2026/by Rachel Barenblat

Classes, Days of Awe, From The Rabbi, Jewish Holidays, Pesach, Response to Tragedy, Shavuot, Shemini Atzeret, Spiritual Life, Yizkor, Yom Kippur

An Opportunity to Learn About Yizkor

One of the things we do on Yom Kippur is pray the prayers of Yizkor, the memorial service that takes place four times a year: at Passover (spring), at Shavuot (summer), at Yom Kippur (fall), and at Shemini Atzeret (also fall – a mere 11 days after Yom Kippur).

August 31, 2026/by Rachel Barenblat

Days of Awe, From The Rabbi, Jewish Holidays, Newsletter, Rosh Hashanah, Runway to the Days of Awe, Spiritual Life

From the Rabbi – August 2026

While I was away on retreat as part of the Clergy Leadership Program with the Institute for Jewish Spirituality, an email came into my inbox asking why, as a Reform community, we would postpone tashlich (the ritual of throwing bread into a body of water as we pray for help releasing our mis-steps) until the second day of Rosh Hashanah. After the retreat I wrote back and said: that’s my next newsletter column!

August 17, 2026/by Rachel Barenblat

Divrei Torah, Elul, From The Rabbi, Jewish Values, Resilience, Response to Tragedy, Runway to the Days of Awe, Teshuvah

When Life Is Unjust: Shabbat Shoftim

This week’s Torah portion, Shoftim, is about judges and justice. Every town needs justices and magistrates who must judge the people with equitable justice. This is also the Torah portion where we find “Justice, justice shall you pursue!” Just as Torah spent a lot of time in Leviticus telling us to be holy as YHVH our God is holy, now we’re reminded that we also must act justly because YHVH our God is just.

August 14, 2026/by Rachel Barenblat

Divrei Torah, From The Rabbi, Jewish Values, Resilience, Response to Tragedy, Reverse Omer, Runway to the Days of Awe, Teshuvah, Tisha B'Av

Taking Stock: Shabbat Matot-Masei

This week we’re in parashat Matot-Masei, the last parsha in the book of Numbers. We begin with instructions about vows and oaths: who can make them, and who can make them but might be overruled. We don’t use the term “vow” often in modern life. But the promises we make to one another and to God matter.

July 10, 2026/by Rachel Barenblat