Parsha

MEDITATION: What Divine Presence Feels like Inside (Parashat Bechukotai)

/ Meditations, Bechukotai, בְּחֻקֹּתַי

In this meditation, we explore five phrases from the blessings God promises us if we walk in God’s ways, moving thorugh various aspects of feeling God’s indwelling inside us, from presence and non-rejecting acceptance to slowing down into steadiness, letting go of burdens and learning to stand tall and confident. The five phrases are: 1) […]

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SHORT ESSAY: Ona’at Devarim and Negative Self Talk (Parashat Behar)

/ Behar, בְּהַר

Would you call out someone else’s weakness the way that your inner critics shame your own weakest parts? (Click image to read more)

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MEDITATION: Negative Self Talk and Our Divine Essence (Parashat Behar)

/ Meditations, Behar, בְּהַר

In this meditation, we look at the prohibition against ona’at devarim, speaking in a way that is shaming or hurtful to another person, and we apply it to ourselves and to our own internal criticism and shaming and negative self-talk. We take some time to notice it and shine a light on this inner talk,

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SHORT ESSAY: Returning to our Holding (Parashat Behar)

/ Behar, בְּהַר

(Originally published in 2021) The Torah wants to ensure that, no matter how far we wander, we always know our way home. (Click image to read more)

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SHORT ESSAY: Peah: Rest Your Inadequacy Here (Parashat Emor)

/ Emor, אֱמֹר

We all have an ani, a poor person, inside us, a part of us that feels impoverished, inadequate, less than, deficient in some way, a part that makes mistakes and does not get it right some – or maybe even most – of the time.  These parts want something; they want something desperately; they have

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MEDITATION: Peah: Rest Your Inadequacy Here (Parashat Emor)

/ Meditations, Emor, אֱמֹר

In this meditation, we explore the mitzvah of peah, of leaving the corners of your fields unharvested for the needy. We consider the needy parts of ourselves, the parts that want love and attention and the parts that feel impoverished and inadequate in some way, and we invite those needy parts to rest in the

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SHORT ESSAY: Sefirat HaOmer and the Soul’s Journey Home (Parashat Emor)

/ Emor, אֱמֹר

(Originally published in 2021) The journey of the Omer is an apt metaphor for the journey taken by each of our souls in this world from birth to death. (Click image to read more)

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love cute kids baby

QUICK THOUGHT: Do Not Hate Your Inner Brother (Parashat Kedoshim)

/ Kedoshim, קְדֹשִׁים

Do we hate parts of ourselves? It may be hard to recognize, but I think most of us do. (Click image to read more)

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two boys sitting on gray wood plank

QUICK THOUGHT: “Love Your Neighbor as Yourself”: Reverse the Verse (Parashat Kedoshim)

/ Kedoshim, קְדֹשִׁים

Reverse the verse: Love yourself as you would love a friend. (Click image to read more)

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MEDITATION: Kamokha: As You Love Yourself

/ Meditations, Kedoshim, קְדֹשִׁים

The commandment to “love your neighbor as you love yourself” assumes and depends upon a strong love of self. In this meditation, we work on this “yourself” side of the command, using the Torah’s words here to move through an exploration of how we reject and hate parts of ourselves to befriending and loving those

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