Like many of you, I’ve been consumed with the terrible shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh this weekend. At the same time, I’m trying to keep my attention on the midterm elections next week. This November newsletter focuses on these two issues and is dedicated to memory of the thirteen lives taken […]
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The Spirituality of the Ordinary
Today is Rosh Chodesh Mar Cheshvan. I think of Mar Cheshvan as an invitation into the “spirituality of the ordinary.” This last month was filled with one spiritual peak after another – Rosh Hashana and the Shofar, the Ten Days of Teshuva, Yom Kippur and for some, building a sukkah, getting the Lulav and Etrog and 9 […]
Grab Your Shofar!
Entering Elul and Committing to Spiritual Preparation Today is Rosh Chodesh Elul, the beginning of the 40 day teshuva period climaxing on Yom Kippur. For thoughts about the spirituality of preparation see my newsletter post from August 1 here. In synagogues around the world this morning we began blowing the shofar and reciting Psalm 27, “L’David Mizmor.” […]
On your mark, get set….. Preparing to Prepare for the New Year
Greetings from Jerusalem, where I am teaching in the Pardes Institute summer program and reconnecting with so many fabulous people here. While we are deep in the summer, the Jewish new year, Labor Day and the start of school are not that far off. Indeed, the Hebrew month of Elul has its own set of […]
Hearing with an Open Heart in Av
Wisdom for Listening in the New Month Today is Erev Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av – also known as Yom Kippur Katan, the monthly time set aside for reflection and teshuva to boost the atoning and renewing power of Rosh Chodesh. The quality of hearing is the Tikkun for the month of Av. Tammuz and Av are […]
