Behar-Bechukotai 5785: Arriving Home
Last Friday our family experienced a mini ingathering of the exiles: Our oldest came home for the summer, our middle one returned from nine months on a gap year program, our youngest didn't have a classmate's b-mitzvah to attend. And so, for the first time since last summer, our whole crew was around the table for Shabbat dinner. However briefly (I left on a business trip Sunday morning), we got to feel a special sense of at-homeness that can happen when all the chickens are in the coop. Of course, having everyone at home isn't all sunshine, rainbows, and lollipops. Everyone needs to eat, and everyone has different foods they like or don't like, so the regular "Have you had any thoughts...
Emor 5785: Da Pope
Last Thursday and Friday were, hands down, the best days in Chicago social media history. Why? Because, in the words of the ginormous headline in the Sun-Times Friday morning, the papal conclave had elected "Da Pope." Robert Prevost, born on Chicago's south side, became, overnight, Pope Leo XIV--and Chicago, where I live, was here for it. The memes were flying: The Wiener Circle, one of Chicago's many beloved (treif) sausage vendors, posted an image of their marquee: "Canes nostros ipse comedit" (translation: "He has eaten our dogs"). "Chicago produced a pope before a quarterback who throws for 4,000 yards" (a reference to the Bears' long and miserable history of quarterbacks). "God bless...
“Middot and Meniyot” -or- “Musar My Way”
Episode 29: "Middot and Meniyot" -or- "Musar My Way" We often think of prayer as a practice of reaching out, of shifting our attention toward God "out there". But, it can also be a matter of turning inward, connecting to the divine -- and divine qualities -- in our own souls. Rabbi Rachel Gartner introduces us to her practice with the obstacles to shining the light of her soul more brightly into...
“God Lifts All Who Fall”
Episode 28: "God Lifts All Who Fall" Rabbi Jacob Staub recalls a teaching of his "rebbe" Sylvia Boorstein: whatever is happening, however you feel, whatever you know to be true, no matter how frightening, no matter how painful, no matter how difficut -- "Don't Duck!" But, how? Jacob leans into the arms of God, who lifts all who fall -- even him, even you. He invites you to join in this...
Why Worry When You Can Pray
Episode 27: Why Worry When You Can PrayWhen COVID-19 hit, rather than limiting religious life, Hazzan Harold Messinger (and his colleague Rabbi David Ackerman) of Beth Am Israel, created a new Zoom-minyan. Rather than bemoan not singing together, he used music on his end to engage people in their bodies and souls on their end. We invite you to have a taste of his Zoom minyan.P.S. check out the...
Morning Walking Practice
Episode 26: Morning Walking Practice There are many ways to pray, but fundamental to them all is opening awareness to that which is Beyond, to the All, to God. Cantor Josh Breitzer, in this time of pandemic, has turned his walking-commute into a walking-practice, bringing attention to the mundane aspects of the world around him, to wake up in payer. Read the episode transcript
Taking “Modeh Ani” Out of Bed and Into Our Lives
Episode 25: Taking "Modeh Ani" Out of Bed and Into Our Lives Is it possible to be fully grateful for our lives the first thing upon waking? How might the first prayer of gratitude, "Modeh Ani", help us cultivate a life of thanks and awareness. Rabbi Danielle Upbin shares her personal practice of mindfulness and chant. Read the episode transcript
Creating a Sacred Space to Pray
Episode 24: Creating a Sacred Space to Pray Many of us know where to sit in our synagogues for prayer, and allow the space to lead us into prayer. But, what do we do when we are on our own, even if joining in Zoom-prayers? Cantor Shayna DeLowe shares her personal experience of creating a sacred space for prayer, so that we might pray with her, as well. Read the episode transcript
A Rabbi, Yehudah Amichai, and Leonard Cohen Daven Together
Episode 23: A Rabbi, Yehudah Amichai, and Leonard Cohen Daven Together Weaving traditional liturgical melodies and the poetry of Amichai and Cohen, Rabbi Neil Blumofe walks us deep into the heart of love, through the morning/Shacharit service. Read the episode transcript
Expectancy — not Expectation
Episode 22: Expectancy -- not Expectation "All of Scripture is holy, but the Song of Songs is holy of holies" said Rabbi Akiva -- and also Rabbi Shefa Gold. She mines this book as a source of inspiration and personal teaching, through chant and silence. "Here comes my beloved!" Read the episode transcript
What Are We? The Redemptive Power of Prayer
Episode 21: What Are We? The Redemptive Power of Prayer In the early part of the morning service, we meet a passage that carries us through a profound contemplation of our lives. Rabbi Jordan Bendat-Appell leads us through the prayer, and into it, to find our way to love. Read the episode transcript
A Conversation about Purim with Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie
In case you missed it, watch Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie in conversation with Rabbi Josh Feigelson, IJS Executive Director. This live public event sponsored by IJS, took place on Thursday evening, February 12, 2021 with an audience of more than 600 people. Rabbi Amichai shares a unique perspective on Purim and offers new ways to celebrate virtually this year. Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie is...
Kissing the Mezuzah Opening the Door to Prayer
Episode 20: Kissing the Mezuzah Opening the Door to Prayer Who doesn't like to kiss? But, how many extend that to kissing the mezuzah? Aviva Chernickk has -- as a practice when she comes home and leaves the house, and as a prompt to cultivate the love invoked in the Shema. Read the episode transcript
Chant as the Heart of Prayer
Episode 19: Chant as the Heart of Prayer Cantor Audrey Abrams brings her background as a music therapist (and her self-awareness as a "shower davener") to help us use chant to open the heart, face our truth, and emerge more whole. Read the episode transcript
I am? And You are? Dialogic Personal Prayer
Episode 18: I am? And You are? Dialogic Personal Prayer Grounding his practice in the teachings of Rabbi Abraham Isaac Hacohen Kook and Rav Dov Singer, Rabbi Yosef Goldman leads us into a deep engagement with our own lived experience, grounding us in a heart of gratitude. Read the episode transcript
Listen to Rabbi Josh Feigelson on a New Episode of Drinking and Drashing
Newly released! Listen to IJS Executive Director, Rabbi Josh Feigelson, discuss Jewish Spiritual Practice, Parshat Yitro, and much more in the latest episode of Drinking and Drashing: Torah with a Twist.Available wherever you get your podcasts!
Waking Up to Blessing
Episode 17: Waking Up to Blessing Rabbi Susan Leider invites us to join her as she wakes up, connecting the daily Birkhot Hashachar to each step along the way. Read the episode transcript
Chant to Open the Heart
Episode 16: Chant to Open the Heart Chanting a niggun is not only an outward expression of yearning. It can also penetrate the heart. Rabbi Hannah Dresner, chanting in her car, leads us in practice from a parched place, to open to the flow available at all times. Read the episode transcript
Music to Evoke Prayer
Episode 15: Music to Evoke Prayer Music is so evocative! In just a few notes we can be taken back in time to a far-off place, to a connection with another person. How does that work? What is added through words? Cadence, intonation, emphasis? Join Rabbi Lydia Medwin as she sits with and unpacks her experience of "Change is Gonna Come" with Otis Redding, and find your own prayer through music,...
Personal Morning Davening
Episode 14: Priestly Blessing: Lovingkindness Prayer Rabbi Ari Lev Fornari starts his morning davening (prayers) with the awareness that prayer is an embodied practice. He connects with sensation, with sound, with memory, and with the words of the Tradition for a personal engagement with the morning liturgy. Read the episode transcript