Teachings

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 …

Practicing Self-Compassion Daily

Practicing bringing love and blessing and compassion to our own selves is a daily inside workout.  These four phrases help remind us what’s involved:

4 Ways to Enter Your Day

One of the most joyful times of my life was the year I spent becoming certified as a Master Gardener. As part of my training, I attended a lecture by a talented landscape gardener whose speciality was “Entrances.” He taught that the garden plantings leading up to your doorway set the tone for your guest’s …

I Fell

At some point last night, I remembered what one of my teachers taught: Panic is a choice. It’s not what happens to us, it’s how we respond.*

feet standing on the ground

This Doesn’t Feel Like Holy Ground

  I don’t know how you are doing lately – but an awful lot of people I know are feeling overwhelmed, too busy, burdened by the energy of the season and many are struggling to walk through family illnesses and loss and economic difficulties.  The end of the year often tends to be like this.  Perhaps we …

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 …

Candid

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