In this meditation, I offer a reading of the Akedah (the Binding of Isaac) from the lens of the inner child, focusing on two pivotal moments in the text — the first, when Avraham and Yitzhak “walk together” and the second, when Avraham binds up his son. We explore these in terms of our own […]
MEDITATION: Learning To Walk With Your Inner Child (Rosh Hashanah) Read More »
In this meditation, we look at teshuva as “return” with its emphasis on relationship and connection as opposed to self improvement, considering that perhaps God’s primary desire is simply to be with us, that it is the connection itself that is the goal, and in all our focus on fixing ourselves we lose sight of
MEDITATION: Come Home, Just As You Are (Rosh Hashanah) Read More »
In this meditation, we look at the mitzvah of helping someone lift up their fallen donkey, considering carefully the words hakem takim imo which mean “you shall surely lift up with him” (Deutonormy 22:5). Rashi explains that “with him” means only if he participates, and this is our jumping off point for considering how it
MEDITATION: Rising up Together (Parashat Ki Tetzei) Read More »
In this meditation we explore the verse Tamim tihiyeh im Hashem Elokeha (Deuteronomy 18:13), “Be wholehearted with Hashem your God” as an instruction to give yourself over completely to the simple but not easy task of being true to yourself and to God in you at all moments. We consider the stress of constant worry
MEDITATION: Be Yourself No Matter What They Say (Parashat Shoftim) Read More »
In this meditation, we look at the story of the daughters of Tzelafchad and consider the courage that it took to stand up and say their piece. We feel into our own conditioning into silence and the possibility of stepping forward and of God’s great rejoicing when we do, tasting the resounding “yes” that God
MEDITATION: God Says Yes To You (Parashat Pinchas) Read More »
In this meditation we look at the difference between God’s vision of how to get water from a rock and Moshe’s vision, the one being relational and honoring, allowing a process to unfold, and the other using aggression and force (Numbers 20:7-13). We consider how these processes apply to us internally and externally in our
MEDITATION: Not Forcing (Parashat Chukat) Read More »
In this meditation we explore the mentality of comparison and evaluation that leads to Korach’s envy and our own, and then we look to the much earlier Yaakov’s yesh li kol, “I have all,” meaning “I have everything I need” as an alternative orientation that allows the divine to fill us up and help us
MEDITATION: Knowing Our Own Wholeness (Parashat Korach) Read More »
In this meditation, we look at the mitzvah of tzitzit as a symbol of our “tie” to God and as a reminder of who we really are in our divine essence and of the loving way in which God continually gazes upon us. Sources:Numbers 15:38-39Sefat Emet, Shelach 5635 (4:6)Psalms 97:11Midrash Tanchuma Shelach 15:1Rashi on Numbers
MEDITATION: Tzitzit: Remembering Who We are (Parashat Shelach) Read More »
In this meditation, we look at the passage of vayehi beneso’a ha’aron as offering a healing mode in two parts. The first part, kumah — arising, involves empowering and separating from the difficult forces around us, the “haters” that are scattered by God’s power. The second part — shuvah — returning, involves turning back in
MEDITATION: The Twin Powers of Arising and Returning (Parashat Beha’alotecha) Read More »
In this meditation, we consider the possibility that God is not in the thunder and lightning, but in the “still small voice” as Elijah discovered, or in our narrative, in the arafel, the thick cloud of fog that Moshe entered, and in the silent alef of the divine revelation. We explore the loud voices within
MEDITATION: Is God In the Thunder and Lightning? (Shavu’ot) Read More »