Teachings: Deepening Shabbat & Holidays

Sacred time is share-ware. It's free. The only condition is you have to use it before you go, there's no refund at the finish line. Once normal to civilizations, the observance of holy days has become a radical spiritual act of care for yourself, your family and community. The relevance, meaning and beauty of Shabbat and Jewish holy days is provided here in many free articles for you. Before you move to a new page, please consider this:

Are you willing to say to employers, schools, partners and politicians: “Today is set aside as holy, not to be diluted away by overdoses of work, money matters, politics, homework, telephone solicitations, television commercials. This time is my birthright. You can't have it!"

And what if they say: "Take ownership of your own time?! You can't have it! We must use your life to feed our bottom lines!"

Can you imagine yourself joining in leading the spiritual (r)evolution with a response that might sound something like this:

"Oh, no, I won't give all my precious time to you. We Jews build beautiful meaning-making experiences in time,we savor festival meals, engage in soul refining rituals, in order to live consciously, we take time to reflect and refine how we act, how we live, how we love and how we work.

"I am writing the Torah of my life with each fixed day. I want to ripen deliciously in the sun of life, not race whipped to the finish line. I have every right to experience these Jewish holidays in their deepest intentions: nurturing my relationships, celebrating the journey, rejoicing in and respecting the power and diversity of Creation."

And if they say: "No reason to think, no need to reflect. Feel your feelings?! You look up at the stars and express the awe you feel? You stop to question the ethics of your own actions?! 

"You say you're not coming in tomorrow so you can sit with your children or friends in a sukkah and meditate on the fragility of life, the beauty of nature! You're late because you stopped to say a memorial prayer for your parents? 

"Listen, the work ethic is your spiritual model! Our company is your family. What's all this about freedom and Jews?"

And you'll say?................

An Introduction to Lag b’Omer

By: 
Rabbi Goldie Milgram

The thirty-third day of the Omer, is a festival known by the phonetic sound of the number thirty-three in Hebrew, Lag b’Omer. Bonfires are lit and ecstatic dancing and mystical studies are undertaken in honor of the memory of the luminary of Jewish mysticism, Rabbi Shimon bar Yohai, known by the acronym Rashbi.

Rashbi is recorded as having died on day of the thirty-third day of the Omer after telling the secrets of his mystical practices. He is traditionally considered to be the author of the primary Jewish mystical text, the Zohar, which means radiance. And that very text says that Rabbi Shimom and his home were filled with a dramatic radiance while he shared his final secrets on the day of his death. The many teachings we have in his name shed light to this day on practices which support a core tenet of Judaism: our capacity to evolve as people; which is why special customs for children and families also prevail on this day including:

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Eight Ideas for a Meaningful Hanukkah

By: 
Rabbi Goldie Milgram

Here are eight ways to make each night of Hanukkah more special and interactive with your friends and family, they also work for congregational events, please share on Facebook and further to help deepen the meaning of Hanukkah world-wide. 

1. Family History Night. One night of Hanukkah invite family of reference and/or preference to come over for candle lighting. Family of reference are the people we are related to by birth or adoption; family of preference are the close people we add to our lives to enhance our sense of expanded family. Be sure to have a video camera or tape recorder. Ask each person to come prepared to 

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Reframing Hanukkah Gelt in Meaningful Ways

By: 
Rabbi Goldie Milgram

Here's a way the gift of the gelt  can be transformed: [money given as gifts on Hanukkah]

On one of the nights of Hanukkah open all of the tzedakah boxes in the house and count the money. You might also keep a tzedakah box on the counter by your desk at work, many caring people who come through the building will help to keep it brimming. Announce the total.

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