Tonight we light the 6th candle of Hanukkah. And it is also Shabbat, the day of rest. We light the menorah first, and then our Shabbat candles. The question for tonight is: Can you name 6 things that help you rest or stop or take a needed breath? As my teacher Rabbi Sheila Peltz Weinberg teaches about the Sabbath - "Pausing is not an option. Pausing is Continue Reading
Are You Ready To Take A Breath?
Stop right now. Put your hand on your heart and take a breath. What a time we are in. There is so much free-floating anxiety and fear. Trust in institutions is shattered. It is not only the political climate. There is the fear of out-of-control climate change and the coronavirus. Truth itself is questioned. We feel it in traffic and on social media. Continue Reading
Our Only Real Choice
When we feel burdened by the injustice in the world or the trials in our own lives, it is important to remember: we always have a choice. We may not be in control of what happens, but we are in charge of how we respond. This is where our power lies. In each moment or outrage, upset or shock, we can take a breath and ask: how can I respond in a way that is Continue Reading
Shabbat is The Day We Let Go of the Illusion…
Shabbat is the day we let go of the illusion that we are in control. We accept the world as it is given, rather than trying to mold it to our wishes. We are free to impose our will by DO-ing six days of the week. On the seventh day, Shabbat, we are supposed to take a breath and just BE. I love Rabbi Alan Lew's teaching that on Shabbat, God takes a breath. Continue Reading
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 with intent, with peace in our Continue Reading