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The Call That is Answered by Presence
In this very week’s Torah portion (Shemot – coincidence?) Moses is tending his sheep in the wilderness, and he notices a bush that is on fire but not being consumed…
The Backstory: RENEW
Last month, the weight of the pandemic felt personally unbearable. A go-to strategy to relieve despair and renew my own spirit is to reach out to see if perhaps others can relate. I hopped onto Twitter with this simple question: “What is one word you’d use to describe your emotional state right now? Mine is …
Hold Both Truth & Joy
This is the sermon I delivered on Rosh Hashanah at the Jewish Collaborative of Orange County in 2019. People asked to read it – so here it is: Rabbi Alan Lew, of blessed memory, writes that the High Holy Days season promises nothing less than total personal transformation – IF we do the work, and …
Remembering What is Important
If there is anything the events of the past few months have taught us, it is that every day is a precious gift. We never know what is around the corner – pain or joy or both. How do we remember what is important? Many of us are bone-tired, whether from the endless political battles, …
the silence that speaks
Upon awakening the first morning in our new place, the very first thing I noticed was the deep silence. Instinctively I took the deepest breath I had taken in months. Until we moved here to Laguna Woods, I didn’t even realize the noise level in west Los Angeles. I had obviously gotten accustomed to the …
Is Jewish Mindfulness A Trend?
Why is “mindfulness” is such a big deal right now? IT’S NOT JUST A TREND. In our crammed, overloaded, overly-busy lives, mindfulness offers us a way to calm down, pause, and take a breath. Whether with meditation or yoga or prayer or singing or walking in nature, mindfulness practices provide ways to live consciously and …
Lift Out of Despair
I honestly can’t remember a time like this before. I know I’m not alone. Many of us are living with outrage, fear or anxiety front and center. It might be the relentless beat of painful world events. Or it could be something personal: a difficult diagnosis, coping with chronic illness, or the loss of someone …
a mindful summer: a soul-soothing approach to jewish spirituality
Bring spiritual awareness to your days as you move through summer. This 4-session webinar series is about finding ways to imbue every day with gratitude, presence, and lovingkindness. You will learn simple practices that you can start doing immediately to make this summer a restful place of delight. We will focus on these four …
The Present is the Present: Free Webinar with Rabbi Jill Zimmerman
I hope you will join me for this soul-filled one hour webinar on Thursday June 15, 2017. I would love to share with you what I’ve learned about how to integrate simple & powerful spiritual practices into each day, no matter the circumstances. Whether you are thrown by the relentlessness of “breaking news” or dealing with …
Rabbi Jill’s Meditation & Mindfulness Booklist
Jewish Meditation & Mindfulness Books (* most highly recommended) As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support! *Meditation App: I use Insight Timer (available on the Apple & Android app stores.) See you there! Bloomfield, Diane. Torah Yoga: Experiencing Jewish Wisdom Through Classic Postures. Jossey-Bass, 2004. *Boorstein, Sylvia. That’s …