Rabbi Jill’s Latest Blog Posts
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 …
In Memory of Those Who Dreamed of Kugel: Yom HaShoah
This week, we commemorate Yom HaShoah (April 28, 2022), Holocaust Remembrance Day. When we lived in Israel for a year, as part of my rabbinic training at Hebrew Union College, I was asked to participate in a ceremony remembering the victims of the Holocaust. The ceremonies for Yom HaShoah, many of which are centered …
Spiritual Journeying: Counting the Omer
Counting the Omer is a spiritual practice that is profound and transformative, universal and entirely personal. It is the next step in the Passover experience as we move out from our newfound freedom and journey into the wilderness. This year, in 2022, we start with day one the evening of the second seder, Saturday, April …
Hanukkah Night #8: What Brings You Joy?
Tonight we light the 8th candle for Hanukkah and ask the final question. Tonight, each candle is about JOY & laughter. When we collect moments of joy, we bring light into our lives. Tonight’s question for journaling and discussion is: What 8 things bring you joy or laughter? Here are mine: Reading Tales of the …
Hanukkah Night #6: What Helps You Stop & Rest?
Tonight we light the 6th candle of Hanukkah. And it is also Shabbat, the day of rest. We light the menorah first, and then our Shabbat candles. The question for tonight is: Can you name 6 things that help you rest or stop or take a needed breath? As my teacher Rabbi Sheila Peltz Weinberg …
Hanukkah Night #7: Grateful
Tonight we light the 7th candle of Hanukkah. All throughout this holiday, we have been collecting the ways we actively bring light into our lives, or how we recognize the light. Every night we light one more candle, following the principle of gradually increasing the light (Talmud, Shabbat 21b:5) The experience of being grateful fills …
