Tag: Spirituality

Exploring Judaism’s Omer Playlist

Exploring Judaism's Omer playlist is meant to accompany you throughout the seven weeks leading up to Shavuot: Bring a bit more music to life!

Exploring Judaism April 8, 2024 Holidays Music

Why I Love Tefillin

Rabbi Lauren Tuchman writes "Why I Love Tefillin" and explores how all people can wear tefillin, based on her own experience.

Rabbi Lauren Tuchman February 6, 2024 Accessories for Prayer Every Day

How to Write a D’var Torah

There are many ways to write a d'var Torah. Read how this rabbi thinks about giving divrei Torah and what she thinks about while writing.

Rabbi Sydni Adler Rubinstein December 26, 2023 Every Day Learning

A Conservative Jew in Jerusalem

What is it like being a Conservative Jew in Jerusalem and how do we understand the holiness of the holiest place in the world?

Emily Jaeger December 26, 2023 Conservative Judaism Israel

This is the Bread of Affliction

This is the bread of affliction: Matzah adorns our Seder plates and nourishes our souls, as well—this food is fulfilling.

Rabbi Mark Asher Goodman December 26, 2023 Food Holidays

When the Holidays Are Hard

Everyone celebrates Rosh Hashanah differently, but sometimes, the holidays are hard. What can we do when this is true?

Rabbi Lauren Tuchman September 11, 2023 Elul Holidays

5 Kavanot for Elul

Here are 5 kavanot, intentions, for the days and weeks of Elul, approaching the Holy Days. This includes poems, books, and self-reflection.

Rabbi Ilana C. Garber, Adam Berkowitz August 17, 2023 Elul High Holidays

What Am I Afraid Of?

As we continue the work of Elul, examining the words of Psalm 27 can teach us about going beyond the inner voices and what we ...

Rabbi Dr. J.B. Sacks August 17, 2023 Elul High Holidays

Deja Jew, or, Asking the Question Yet Again: Why Be Jewish?

Dig deeper into Jewish identity, memory, spirituality, and wisdom, exploring more into the question: "Why Be Jewish?"

Rabbi Dr. Bradley Shavit Artson August 13, 2023 Daily Living Embodied Prayer

Celebrating the High Holy Days From Home

Celebrating the high holy days from home gives us ample opportunity to bring the sacred even further into our lives.

Rabbi Sydni Adler Rubinstein August 13, 2023 Elul High Holidays

Beyond the Sea

Parashat Nitzavim, which we read just before Rosh Hashanah, speaks of the importance of repenting and returning to God after we have sinned.

Ilana Kurshan, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva June 9, 2023 Parashat Nitzavim Parashat Nitzavim Dvar Torah

Lamps Give Lights

Behaalotcha describes the appointment of seventy elders to help judge the people and leadership in terms of the phrase "lamps give light."

Ilana Kurshan, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva May 19, 2023 Parashat Behaalotcha Parashat Behaalotcha Dvar Torah

The Interplay of Routine and Intention: Keva and Kavanah

Our prayers are almost always a mixture of both keva (oft-recited text) and kavanah (deeper layers of meaning).

Rabbi Dr. Karen Reiss Medwed, The Observant Life (Book) May 16, 2023 Every Day Prayer

The Baby in the Brick

Our parashah describes a puzzling episode, following the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai when elders of Israel envision God.

Ilana Kurshan, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva February 5, 2023 Parashat Mishpatim Parashat Mishpatim Dvar Torah

Tefillin: A Reminder of What is Holy

Rabbi Julie Schwarzwald on wearing Tefillin: As I go about my work and my mundane routine, I am regularly reminded of what is holy.

Rabbi Julie Schwarzwald January 25, 2023 Accessories for Prayer Every Day

Make the Bitter Sweet

Just three days after escaping Egypt, the Israelites find themselves in the desert with no water, causing spiritual crises.

Ilana Kurshan, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva January 19, 2023 Parashat Beshalach Parashat Beshalach Dvar Torah

Blessings and Bodies: Praying Without the Book

Jewish spirituality doesn’t live in a book. Our bodies can guide our awareness and blessing. What could this practice look like in your life?

Rabbi Susan Leider January 5, 2023 Blessings Daily Living

The Sound of Prayer

This week's haftarah brings meaning to words without meaning—nonsense—and how to pray without understanding the literal meaning.

Bex Stern Rosenblatt, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva December 30, 2022 Parashat Shemot Parashat Shemot Haftarah

Songs for Hanukkah

Hanukkah songs include those that follow candle lighting, as well as S'vivon sov sov sov, Hanukkah O'Hanukkah, and Neir Li.

Reena Bromberg Gaber December 6, 2022 Hanukkah Holidays

What does it take to feel Jewish?

Collecting experiences helps us feel like we belong. By doing ‘Jewish,’ we create meaningful Jewish lives where spirituality feels less contrived.

Rabbi Susan Leider November 16, 2022 Conversion Jewish Identity

Lulav and Etrog: The Four Species

Besides dwelling in a sukkah, the other significant mitzvah of Sukkot is the taking up of the arba·ah minim, literally “the four species.”

Rabbi Alan Lucas, The Observant Life (Book) October 28, 2022 High Holidays Holidays

Sukkot at Home

While celebrating Sukkot at home, rituals include lighting candles, sitting in the sukkah, and customs related to the sukkah.

Rabbi Alan Lucas, The Observant Life (Book) October 28, 2022 High Holidays Holidays

What is Simhat Torah?

Simḥat Torah means “the joy of Torah” and is the name for the day on which the annual cycle of Torah readings begins and ends. ...

Rabbi Alan Lucas, The Observant Life (Book) October 28, 2022 High Holidays Holidays

Rituals of Sukkot

Sukkot, one of the shalosh r’galim, the three pilgrimage festivals is celebrated five days after Yom Kippur.

Rabbi Alan Lucas, The Observant Life (Book) October 14, 2022 High Holidays Holidays

Sukkot Candle Lighting

The laws for lighting candles on Sukkot are almost identical to the laws for Shabbat candle lighting, with the exception of covering eyes.

Rabbi Alan Lucas, The Observant Life (Book) October 13, 2022 High Holidays Holidays

Yom Kippur Candle Lighting

Following the Yom Kippur meal, candles are lit in a similar fashion to those lit on Rosh Hashanah. A Yizkor candle is also lit.

Rabbi Alan Lucas, The Observant Life (Book) October 3, 2022 High Holidays Holidays

Yom Kippur Evening Service

Maariv, the evening service, following Kol Nidrei on Erev Yom Kippur, is similar in many ways to daily Maariv but has notable differences.

Rabbi Alan Lucas, The Observant Life (Book) October 3, 2022 High Holidays Holidays

Yom Kippur Morning Services

The Yom Kippur morning service is similar to Rosh Hashanah, with the exception of the Amidah and the selections for the Torah service.

Rabbi Alan Lucas, The Observant Life (Book) October 3, 2022 High Holidays Holidays

Yom Kippur Yizkor Service

The Memorial Service, Yizkor, is recited on Yom Kippur, one of four times throughout the year, to remember loved ones and Jewish martyrs.

Rabbi Alan Lucas, The Observant Life (Book) October 3, 2022 High Holidays Holidays

What to Read to Prepare for the High Holidays this Year

Rabbi Mordechai Rackover recommends these reads to help you prepare for the themes, liturgy, and spirit of the High Holidays.

Rabbi Mordechai Rackover September 16, 2022 Elul High Holidays

Rosh Hashanah Musaf Service

The Musaf Service for Rosh Hashanah contains familiar opening and closing blessings of the Amidah with the usual High Holiday interpolations.

The Observant Life (Book), Rabbi Alan Lucas September 16, 2022 High Holidays Holidays

The Shofar on Rosh Hashanah

Sounding of the shofar is a characteristic mitzvah of Rosh Hashanah. The holiday is alternatively called the Day of Sounding the Shofar.

The Observant Life (Book), Rabbi Alan Lucas September 16, 2022 High Holidays Holidays

Elul’s Shofar: A Poem

Elul's shofar blasts daily remind us of all we need to do to prepare spiritually for the upcoming holidays and the start of the new ...

Rabbi Suzanne Brody September 1, 2022 Elul High Holidays

Havdalah Solo: My (Slightly Awkward) Spiritual Self-Care

My Havdalah candle, wine, spices, and I did my own Havdalah ceremony all alone in my backyard. It was my own form of spiritual self-care.

Marion Haberman April 27, 2022 Havdalah Shabbat

Blurry image of cleaning supplies with the words Spirtually Cleaning the Hametz within our souls

Spiritually Cleaning the Hametz Within Our Souls

With all of this physically taxing work, it can be easy to miss the spiritual preparation for this celebration of our collective redemption.

Rabbi Nolan Lebovitz March 31, 2022 Passover Preparing for Passover

Tag: Spirituality

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