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Come Home This New Year
There are several images of this time of year – the Jewish High Holy Days – that float in my consciousness. Like background music, they hum.
Despite Shame, Here’s What To Celebrate Today
It feels impossible to find joy in a national celebration when I’m watching policies unfold that contradict the values this country should represent. How do you honor a place you love when you’re witnessing…
A Blessing for Those Who Keep Showing Up
The moments that test our humanity have a way of returning. In the spring of 2020, as images of separated families and children in cages pierced our collective consciousness, something beautiful emerged alongside the heartbreak. Voices rose from every corner of our communities—neighbors, friends, strangers —all refusing to let cruelty masquerade as policy. In that …
Join the 10-Day Mindfulness Challenge Today
We are living through times that are overwhelming and soul-crushing. It’s too too much! Many of you may feel stretched too thin, unmoored and destabilized. You are not alone. These are very daunting times for our hearts and souls. AND YET: Every breath you take can shift your entire day. By pausing – even for …
Embracing Uncertainty: Cultivating Hope
Hanukkah Night 8: We light all the candles! I am sad to see Hanukkah 2024 end. The lights of the menorah have increased every night. My social media feeds are filled up with light. The unique menorahs, lit by diverse families from around the world are amazingly joyful. This Hanukkah with its sparkling light has …
The Joy of Jewish Learning: A Hanukkah Reflection
Tonight’s guest post was written by Rabbi Oren Postrel, a friend and colleague. On this seventh night of Hanukkah, he talks about how we find joy in Jewish study and learning. R. Jill The Path With Heart community continues to kindle the bright flames of Hanukkah. Over the past seven nights, we have looked at …
Gratitude Lessons from Hanukkah
You may be challenged to find gratitude when the world is burning. Our greatest spiritual teachers encourage us to find gratitude in even the smallest things. This practice builds our resilience and endurance so that we won’t be consumed by grief and fear. As we come to the sixth night of Hanukkah, with the increasing …
Hanukkah Night Five: Dedicate Yourself
The word “Hanukkah” – חֲנֻכָּה – means “dedication“. Tonight is about remembering and affirming what dedication means to you. The lights on our hanukkiah (menorah) are not only for beauty. They should serve as a reminder of our core values and the meaningful actions we take to uphold them in the world. In This Time …
Hanukkah Night Four: Miracles
Tonight We Light Four Candles. The holiday of Hanukkah’s primary symbol is the miracle of light. In the second century BCE, the army of Antiochus IV Epiphanes desecrated the ancient temple. A small army of Jews, led by Judah Maccabee, regained the temple, they wanted to rededicate and purify it. They found a tiny bit …
Hanukkah Night Three: Memories Bring Light
Tonight we light three candles PLUS the Shabbat candles! You light the Hanukkah candles first, and then the Shabbat candles. Tonight’s focus is on Memories and how they can bring light into our lives. Memory holds a central place in Judaism because it connects us with our history, values, and identity. We remember how we …