Rabbi Jill’s Latest Blog Posts
Celebration of Light: Shabbat morning meditation and music
Shabbat morning of celebrating the light: heart-opening music, meditation, and learning. with Cantor Ken Cohen and Rabbi Jill Zimmerman Saturday November 30 9:30 – 11:00 at private home in West Los Angeles Space is limited. Please write for more information: rabbijillz@gmail.com
Hanukkah Candles Meditation
Here is a wonderful Hanukkah Candles Meditation I learned from my teacher Rabbi Jordan Bendat-Appel. This is my interpretation and some additions. (To hear Jordan’s original video teaching, see the link below.) Meditation 1. Before you light the candles, arrange everything: menorah, candles and matches, blessing. 2. Sit for a few moments in the darkness, …
Fire in the Living Room! What I Know For Sure.
You may have heard about the recently released “disastrous” Pew study* of Jewish life. I’ve been on several conference calls where you could hear the wringing of hands. Why is the professional liberal Jewish world panicking? It’s a wide-ranging study covering many topics but here are a few of the numbers that are causing the …
Endings #BlogElul Day 24
Endings are difficult. When we were at the last retreat of our Institute for Jewish Spirituality rabbinic cohort – 2 years of study, practice, and deep friendships, Rabbi Nancy Flam taught, in the name of Rachael Kessler (z”l) to really pay attention to what we do when we are at the end of something: do we …
Awaken #BlogElul 17
On the 17th day of the month of Elul, we are now on the other side of the full moon, leaning into Rosh Hashanah. Will we be ready? More than preparing the menu or our new clothes, we still have time to awaken our souls from the sleep we may have been in. It’s not …
Forgiveness #BlogElul day 13
As we walk our way towards the new year, today’s Elul topic is FORGIVE. It’s absolutely one of the most significant things we can do in spiritually preparing ourselves for the High Holy Days. Let’s just say that this is easier said than done, especially when we’ve been hurt badly. It involves digging deep, taking …
Elul day 10: Seeing — #BlogElul
When we “see” how wide is our frame ? For ex, if a loved one is impatient with us, do we also see (and remember) all the times s/he is patient? The Hasidic mas ter s often talk about “narrow consciousness – mochin d’katanut” vs. “expanded consciousness – mochin d’gadlut.” Yes, we see what we …
Are You Ready? A Roundup of Elul Inspiration and Resources #BlogElul
The Hebrew month of Elul begins one month before Rosh Hashanah (in 2013, that means it begins August 7.) For some, the High Holy Days represent a time to gather with family and friends, eat apples and honey and wish each other a Happy New Year. For others, the High Holy Days, and the 30 …
