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Jewish Renewal, Wisdom

Bnei Mitzvah in the Garden

September 12, 2011

At the beginning of our first class meeting we were all a bit nervous…could we have a good class with only three students, two boys and a girl, all age 12? But it’s clear: Yes we can! We are already enjoying the benefits that come with a small group: flexibility and easy group bonding. Today’s…

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Spirituality, Wisdom

Since Before Creation

September 6, 2011

You were before creation You have been since creation You are in this world And You will be in the next world This metaphysical teaching is found in Birchot Hashachar, “dawn blessings,” from the daily Jewish liturgy. Originally, the blessings were a series of early morning meditations designed to help us wake right into spiritual…

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Wisdom

Noah's Ark

September 5, 2011

Recently a new small animal came under my care. He is a very friendly, curious little newt, with a bright red belly. His companion is a catfish. The two live together in a tank that glows green with tiny plants covering the surface of the water. A small cadre of snails helps the catfish maintain…

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Prayer, Spirituality, Wisdom

God's True Name

September 5, 2011

Sometimes people ask me, why, in Judaism, is there a reluctance to pronounce God’s true name out loud? Historical answers are available, and here is a link to a good one. But sometimes I offer a spiritual answer, too. We don’t have a definitive pronunciation of God’s name, because no one knows what the true…

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Family

Into the Dark

August 27, 2011

In the dark night of the forest, in a small clearing illuminated by a fire ring, we sat with our teenage children, and sang. We sang campfire songs, Beatles songs, favorite pop songs.  We sang: If heaven and hell decide that they both are satisfied Illuminate the “nos” on their vacancy signs If there’s no…

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Spirituality, Wisdom

Breathing into Consciousness

August 10, 2011

How does one explain that we live at multiple levels of consciousness? That our bodies, hearts and minds are each occupied with their own concerns, all at the same time? That we need only learn how to direct our attention to each and a richer life will be available to us? That the “four worlds…

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God, Philosophy, Wisdom

Which God?

August 8, 2011

I am in New York City, again, where my mother lives. Someone makes a joke about retirement. “Life begins after the kids leave home and the dog dies.” But I do not laugh. The joker could not possibly know: two weeks ago my mom’s beloved dog died and yesterday my mom had had a heart…

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Political, Wisdom

Loss of Youth

July 25, 2011

Is Anders Behring Breivik, who killed 80 teens at a Labour Party summer camp on an island, insane? My answer is based on knowing nothing about his inner or personal life. It is completely based on my own personal life. My teenage children attend a Labour Party summer camp on an island. They have become Party…

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Animals, Prayer, Spirituality, Wisdom

Dare to Pray

July 14, 2011

For a few days now, I’ve watched a tiny spider flash across my windshield. No insects live in my car, so I know this spider has been hungry. This morning I tried to save him. When he paused on the window, I pulled over to the curb. I grabbed my tools: a piece of paper…

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Dreams, God, Philosophy, Wisdom

Signs

May 30, 2011

A boy hides his face, wrapping his thoughts and feelings in a thin jacket. He peeks out of the folded collar just enough to know where he is headed. The next day, a dove coos outside a church. Sadness parts, a path inside opens up. So say the signs. Philosophically, I find this idea of…

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