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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 …

Connecting with Breath and Spirit

Every living being breathes. From our first breath to our last, we are given this unasked-for gift. Our breath arrives for us each moment like a miracle. And then our bodies answer, with our exhale out into the universe – letting go, releasing a bit of who we are to the All. It is the …

Blessing Practice

As we begin to turn toward the season of forgiveness, for ourselves and others, there are several practices, we can learn that help soften our souls.

Life lessons from the saddest day of the Jewish year

On Tisha B’Av – the 9th day of the Hebrew month of Av – we commemorate and mourn the destruction of the 1st and 2nd Temples in Jerusalem. For modern Jews, how might we make sense of this? A profound teaching may be uncovered from this little-known day: the fall of the Temple reflects …

The Breath

Our class yesterday, entitled “Connecting with Breath and Spirit” was all about how to begin or continue a mindfulness practice . We looked at a few verses from the very beginning of Genesis that reflect how core breathing is to all life. We read that “Adonai/The Mystery/Source of All formed the human being of the …

What I Learned About Mindfulness At A Bridal Shower or “Life as a Celebration”

My first cousin’s daughter is getting married. A first wedding for my cousin, who is like a sister to me. A group of 12 women gave the first bridal shower for this wonderful bride-to-be last Sunday. A group of women who have long-time and deep connections to my cousin, who herself is one of the …

Your Torah, Our Torah

Every one of us has a story. A story woven from the unique blend of gifts that are the core of who you are — what you have learned, what has endured, what you hold most dear. This Shavuot, we explore what happens when those singular stories meet at the foot of a mountain — and how that ancient moment still lives in us today.