As I sit here writing to you, the scent of jasmine is wafting into my office window - and it sits here right here alongside my broken heart. How in the world do we deal with nineteen children's lives being cut down in a senseless act of violence? With ten innocent Black Americans gunned down while shopping for food? How is it possible that those of us Continue Reading
The Backstory: RENEW
Last month, the weight of the pandemic felt personally unbearable. A go-to strategy to relieve despair and renew my own spirit is to reach out to see if perhaps others can relate. I hopped onto Twitter with this simple question: “What is one word you’d use to describe your emotional state right now? Mine is ‘exhausted’.” No photo, no cute emoticon Continue Reading
Prayer for Yom Kippur
In the next 25 hours, as you gather together to participate in Yom Kippur prayer services, in-person or online – Or perhaps you take silent time at the beach to contemplate your last year - Reflect: What & from whom did you learn? Who did you hurt, intentionally or otherwise? What amends do you need to make? For what are you Continue Reading
Love Yourself On The Way To Wholeness
High Holy Day Soul Work, Part 5 As Rosh Hashanah comes closer, our prayers become more urgent, because ready or not, the holy days are upon us. We reflect more deeply on our misdeeds of the past year, and where we have fallen short of being our best selves. Part of the powerful ritual we go through each High Holy Day season is the cleansing of our Continue Reading
Do The Cosmic Turn: Teshuvah
High Holy Day Soul Work, Part 4 The cosmic principle of the entire High Holy Day season is teshuvah - to turn. Unfortunately, it is often translated as “repentance” which sounds severe and judgmental. However, teshuvah actually means “to turn, return, restore.” My teacher, Rabbi Lawrence Kushner writes of teshuvah: “All God ever says is return (teshuvah) to Continue Reading