Rabbi Jill’s Latest Blog Posts
Hanukkah Inspirations Night 3: What 3 musicians or poets inspire you?
Tonight we light the 3rd candle. Our question for tonight’s lighting is: What 3 musicians, poets, or artists inspire you? Many of us turn to art, poetry, and music for inspiration and light. It is so important to nurture the creative sides of ourselves. Music and poetry and art express what is often difficult to …
Hanukkah Inspirations #2: Formative Experiences
Tonight we light the 2nd candle. For the 1st night, we lit one candle for something we know for sure. Now we turn to experiences. For this 2nd night of Hanukkah, our question is: Which two experiences helped shape who you are today? A premise for these Hanukkah Inspirations is that it is our job …
Hanukkah Inspirations #1: What You Know For Sure
In this new Hanukkah series, I’ll be sharing a daily question and some inspiration for each of the eight nights of Hanukkah. The questions will be geared toward what creates light within you that you share with the world, and they will be great for journaling, and discussing with friends. Tonight’s question is: What do …
When Words Seem to Fail: Draft a Poem
Early on a Tuesday morning in 2022, a dear member of our Hineni community who lives in Chicago and is a wonderful poet alerted me to the unfolding tragedy in Highland Park, Illinois. Another mass shooting, this time at a Fourth of July parade that I remember attending growing up on the North Shore of …
Poetry for Healing & Hope: Come Join Us
I bought my first book of poetry when I was in college. I was searching for my place in the universe and in a threshold moment of becoming. Poetry became important in my own healing process, as I figured out what I needed to leave behind and what I would take with me into adulthood. …
Broken-hearted But Determined
As I sit here writing to you, the scent of jasmine is wafting into my office window – and it sits here right here alongside my broken heart. How in the world do we deal with nineteen children’s lives being cut down in a senseless act of violence? With ten innocent Black Americans gunned down …
Israel’s “Secular High Holy Days”
Israel’s Memorial Day, Yom HaZikaron, is celebrated on Tuesday, April 25, 2023. It is a national holiday that commemorates “fallen soldiers” – those who have given their lives for the country. And then within forty-eight hours, we celebrate Yom Ha’Atzma’ut, Israel Independence Day, which is today. A week ago, we honored those lost in the …
What Journey Are You On Right Now?
How would you answer? This past week, in the Spiritual Journey workshop that many of you attended, I took a poll. Here was the question: What is the primary journey you are on right now? Choose one. Learning to become who I truly am Healing myself Life transition Caring For loved ones Making a physical …
