Shabbat

Sample Story: Light

from Mitzvah Stories: Seeds for Inspiration and Learning, Reclaiming Judaism Press

HONORED BY THE NATIONAL JEWISH BOOK AWARDS

Light by Yisroel Bernath

A Map of a Shabbat Morning Prayer Service

Have you wondered if there's a shape to the flow of Jewish services? There is actually a careful sequencing designed to help ground, lift, and ground your spirit developed by the ancestors. Please see the chart below after reading.

Guided Meditation for the Flame

You can do this meditation on your own or with a group. I have attached a full-size printable copy of the image to this page. On Shabbat, Hanukkah or any holiday with candles, it is a particularly nice time to do this, or for a class. If with a group, let your guests know you have a guided visualization to share, which will involve some chanting first, and some silence afterward. Tell them you will let them know when to emerge from the silence which will last for a few minutes.

Understanding Shabbat as a Spiritual Practice

Ask most Jews what the holiest day of the year is and assuredly the answer you will most likely hear is “Yom Kippur.” While Yom Kippur is certainly a very holy day, did you know that within the Jewish tradition there is also a deeply-held conviction that each and every Shabbat is the holiest day of the year? This is why Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is also referred to as the “Sabbath of Sabbaths.” Every Shabbat, Jews practice traditions that are enriched with spiritual meaning. In this article, let us explore these deeper meanings.

Creating New Jewish Ritual for a Big Birthday

I've never been one to hold birthday parties for myself, but turning sixty felt like the time had finally arrived. I needed a way to transition my soul's balking sense of terror. Where did all of the equanimity from my meditation and other spiritual practices go in the face of all that? How to push through towards hopefully, the gift of a new decade? [video coming soon]

What Age for Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah?

B-Mitzvah (R)evolution

Parenting Today

What is Shabbat? A Time Manifesto

Once normal to civilizations,
The observance of holy days
Has become a radical spiritual act of self care.

Sacred time is shareware.
It’s free.
The only condition is you have to use it before you go,
There’s no refund at the finish line.