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
Rabbi Jill’s Meditation & Mindfulness Booklist
Jewish Meditation & Mindfulness Books (* most highly recommended) *Meditation App: I use Insight Timer (available on the Itunes & Android app store.) See you there! Bloomfield, Diane. Torah Yoga: Experiencing Jewish Wisdom Through Classic Postures. Jossey-Bass, 2004. *Boorstein, Sylvia. That's Funny, You Don't Look Buddhist: On Being a Continue Reading
Meaningful Quotes on the Sabbath on Pinterest!
Check out the timeless, poetic wisdom of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel in bite-size pieces on my Pinterest board. I've taken Heschel's "greatest hits" from his classic book, The Sabbath in the hope of inspiring us all to take time to unplug, be present, and appreciate what is. Rabbi Heschel's wisdom is timeless and poetic. He teaches that as human Continue Reading
In Light of the Darkness
It takes a concerted effort to find a resting place when we are surrounded by heart-breaking news both in the world and for many, in our own lives. And yet, our tradition teaches the deep lesson of Shabbat: pausing and resting and taking a breath is essential to building our universe. In this spirit, I’m sending you something I wrote last week about Continue Reading