Climate and the Sh’ma by Leah F. Cassorla Ph.D. ~One of my amazing 7th graders said to me that the second paragraph of the Sh’ma (the V’hayu) says, in his words, “if we follow the commandments, we will have plenty to eat and be safe, but there are people who
I COME HOME by Lisa M. Miller ~walk my wild rocky woodland—indigo bunting familieskatydids, a woodpecker,the rushing creek timbre.God. In tones solstice goldmoss thick, hardwood sentries and baby sapsline my edgesway far out. I’m bigger here, resilient, and only a speck.Soaring thank yous with feet.I know myself. I knowhow to
Earth Etude for Elul 8 by ©Rabbi Robin Damsky ~In his book, This is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared, Alan Lew, of blessed memory, teaches us that the arc of the High Holy Days begins with the grief of Tisha B’Av, even before we approach Elul. As we mourn
Love Psalm from Elohim by Judith Felsen, Ph.D. Dear Ones,This Elul we greet and meet in fields of anguish,barely chanting salutations trapped in unrequited prayerswaiting to be mourned…our hearts engorged with grief and rage beat haltingly,our bodies weary cartons holding our debacle, filled withsymptoms screaming for attention and unknown revenge…
Repentant and Grounded: AllyShip in Elul by Rabbi Mike Moskowitz ~One of the reasons that we are called “Earthlings,”1 b’nei adam in Hebrew, is because our ability to return to a pristine state of purity can be achieved through our connection to the Earth. Our rabbis teach “טומאה מקבל אינו
Earth Etude for Elul 5 by Rabbi Ora Nitkin-Kaner ~The Chasidic Rabbi Nachman of Braslav (1772-1810) was a lifelong sufferer of what was likely depression. When, towards the end of his life, he told his followers that “it is forbidden to despair” (Likutei Moharan II 78:7), it was because he
Earth Etude for Elul 4 by Rabbi Katy Z. Allen Arise / לָקוּם Enough!Too long have youstood still. Arise! Draw nearand walk the verdant woodland trailswith Me. אָז רַבלָכֶם שֶׁבֶתלְבַד. עַכְשָׁו לָקוּם. בֹּאוּ לְתוֹךְ חֹרֶשׁ קָסוּםאִיתִי. Inspired by Devarim 1:6 Rabbi Katy Z. Allen is the founder and spiritual leader of Ma’yan
Earth Etude for Elul 3 by Rabbi Janet Madden Midrash Tehilim 65:4: “Teshuvah is like the sea which is never barred, so that whoever desires to bathe in it can do so whenever they desire.” As the moon draws the tides,so this month pulls our souls to the way of
Earth Etude for Elul 2 by Enid C. Lader ~I walked on the pier above the Saint Lawrence River It happened to be across the street from a grand cathedral built in honor of Saint Anne… To become a saint, people must attest to miracles performed… As you walk into
Waves by Louis Polisson Written after a visit to Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, native lands of the Waccamaw Siouan, Lumbee, and Catawba (Iswa) peoples The sound of waves Breaking on the seashore Heralding The coming of the time for return The sound of a wheel That rolls Like our fools
Turning Earthward by Rabbi Asher Chaim Sofman ~ I sit in my backyard on a cool and beautiful August day. Cicadas and crickets buzz. It’s a workday, but if my laptop’s on, even hours I spend lounging outside can be productive. I’m working, of course. I have multiple programs open
Connecting the Meaning of our Lives to the Spirit of Judaism: Tikkun Olam – Repairing our World Elul is almost here–by Rabbi Katy Allen: The moon is waning once again, this time telling us that we are approaching the Jewish month of Elul. READ MORE… ~Earth Etude for Rosh Hodesh
by Rabbi Katy Z. Allen Elul is almost here! The moon is waning once again, this time telling us that we are approaching the Jewish month of Elul, and this year, the American holiday of Labor Day. It’s tough to let the summer go, but the sun keeps rising and
