Bible - Mindful Judaism - Jewish Meditation and Contemplative Judaism

February 7, 2018March 2, 2018

What are Your “God Moments?”

There are some moments in life that can only be described as “God moments.” We may think that these can only be feel-good moments of pleasure and joy, but this is not always so. God moments may be experienced both when witnessing the miraculous or when feeling great terror or pain. God moments are those moments in our life where the naked truth is fully unveiled and we bear witness to the awe found in profound presence. Continue reading “What are Your “God Moments?””

February 2, 2018February 16, 2018

What is Prayer?: How Do I Pray? And Can Prayer Be Meaningful?

Over the past few months, I have been reflecting very much about prayer. Especially since beginning Rabbinic study and founding Mindful Judaism, I have been exploring the following questions: What is prayer? How do I pray? And can prayer be meaningful?

There is a Rabbi Jonathan Sacks quote in the introductory essays to the Koren-Sacks siddur (Jewish prayer book) that I absolutely love: Continue reading “What is Prayer?: How Do I Pray? And Can Prayer Be Meaningful?”

January 21, 2018March 2, 2018

“Engaged” Judaism: Is God a Liberal? Or a Conservative?

The other week, I was listening to a podcast on Jewish Mindfulness. It was an interesting and foundational interview and really made me think about the future of Judaism, more specifically, the future and direction of Jewish Mindfulness, what an engaged Judaism looks like, and to even ask the question if God is a liberal or a conservative? Continue reading ““Engaged” Judaism: Is God a Liberal? Or a Conservative?”

December 25, 2017February 16, 2018

Psalm 151: A Mindful Jewish Meditation on Christmas

While I am not Christian and do not identify as a Christian, I would like to offer these important, eternal words and the meditation below in honor of the Christmas holiday today and all those who celebrate Christmas. Continue reading “Psalm 151: A Mindful Jewish Meditation on Christmas”

December 19, 2017March 2, 2018

The Chanukah Miracle: Not by Might, Not by Power, But By My Breath

A few hundred years before the events of Chanukah, Alexander the Great expanded his lands and the Hellenistic worldview from the city state of Macedon to one of the largest empires ever to exist in the world, reaching from the Aegean and Egypt to as far as India.

Just like today, the Judean world was replete with struggles and tensions about how to practice Judaism – a religion that has always been small in number – in a genuine and heartfelt way while living in the broader community and world. Continue reading “The Chanukah Miracle: Not by Might, Not by Power, But By My Breath”

December 14, 2017August 2, 2018

What is Chanukah “Really”?: Rededicating the Temple and Sanctuary for Today

What is Chanukah Really - Rededicating the Temple and Sanctuary Today

As the nights darken and grow longer and colder, I notice myself growing a bit more introspective. The New Year is soon approaching, and it is a natural period of contemplation and looking back and ahead. This is the time of Chanukah. This is a time of reflection, embracing the dark and light, and a period of rededication. But a rededication to what? Continue reading “What is Chanukah “Really”?: Rededicating the Temple and Sanctuary for Today”

December 7, 2017May 27, 2018

Wrestling with God in the 21st Century: Ally or Adversary?

I often reflect on the place of God in the 21st century. In this postmodern age of hyperrationality absent truth and meaning, it feels as if God is dying. Still, I am not yet ready – and will never be ready – to say Kaddish for God.

Each generation and individual person must struggle passionately with God and self and find our own unique way to do so, because it is not God’s life on the line, but ours.

While we don’t wrestle with emanations of God along the riverbank, like Jacob, we wrestle with the Divine each and every day – in each moment – through accepting our strength and limitation, struggling with our demons and seeing the Divine face in them, embracing life – our life – as it is with all of its complexities, and acting in the most compassionate way we know how.

Continue reading “Wrestling with God in the 21st Century: Ally or Adversary?”

November 24, 2017March 2, 2018

Where is God?: The Gate of Heaven is Here

One of the most important spiritual questions of our day and ages past is, “Where is God?” Following catastrophes, holocausts, and the traumas of ordinary life, there is no perfect answer. Yet I have slowly come to realize that God is right here! Just here! Wherever you are! Continue reading “Where is God?: The Gate of Heaven is Here”

November 10, 2017March 2, 2018

Sabbath Rest: Each Breath is a New Sabbath

In the Book of Genesis (chapter 1), it is told that upon each day of creation, God looked after all of creation and said, “It is good,” and on the Sabbath day, God sat down, took a breath, returned again to creation, and now said, “It is very good” (Genesis 1:31).

On Shabbat, as on every day, there is nowhere to go, nothing to do, no one to be. “Every day is a good day” (Blue Cliff Record, Case 6). Continue reading “Sabbath Rest: Each Breath is a New Sabbath”

October 29, 2017March 2, 2018

How to Read the Bible: A Contemplative Jewish Approach to Torah Study

The Hebrew Bible – called the Torah by Jews – is the most important book in the Jewish tradition. It is also one of the most important books in the Christian tradition and has impacted the history and unfolding of Western civilization, the Islamic worlds, and global history in countless ways. But what meaning and importance does the Bible have for us today? And how can we read it with 21st century eyes? Continue reading “How to Read the Bible: A Contemplative Jewish Approach to Torah Study”