Zohar Ammud Yomi

In this episode I read a text sheet prepared by Professor Nathaniel Berman https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathaniel_Berman on Sitra Achra (the Other Side)-- supernatural evil that can be found here: bit.ly/sitraachra

In this episode in honor of the month of Shvat when we celebrate Tu Bishvat (the New Year of the Trees), we have part one of our interview with Professor JH Chajes who wrote the recent book The Kabbalistic Tree (https://www.psupress.org/books/titles/978-0-271-09345-1.html) Also see ilanot.org. A wonderful discussion ensues! If you would like to purchase the book go to the above website and enter the code ILANOT for %30 off.

Reading texts on the idea of the Tree of Life/ Etz Chayyim in honor of the Hebrew month of Shvat. Here is the text sheet: bit.ly/etzchayyimtexts or bit.ly/etzchayyim

Service at Pleasantville Community Synagogue led by Rabbi Ben Newman and Rabbi Shoshana Leis on 1/13/23.

In this episode Rabbi Laura Duhan Kaplan (https://www.sophiastreet.com/) Leads us through a text sheet prepared by Professor Daniel Matt on the idea of Devekut in Kabbalah.l Here is a link to the text sheet to follow along: bit.ly/devekut

In this episode we present texts on the idea of "devekut" (clinging or cleaving to the Divine) as collated by Daniel Matt here: bit.ly/devekut in honor of the Hebrew month of Tevet.

In this episode we explore quotes from the Zohar and other traditional Jewish sources, as well as a piece by Emmanuel Levinas on the human soul, and how we may approach the Infinite within us by contracting our egos.

In this episode Rabbi Ben Newman leads a short guided meditation on Or HaGanuz, the Hidden Inner Light of Awareness.

In this episode Rabbi Ben Newman interviews the acclaimed Professor Daniel Matt on the idea of Or HaGanuz (the hidden light) in honor of the Hebrew month of Kislev, and in particular, this text sheet that he prepared on the topic: bit.ly/thehiddenlight

In this episode, we present teachings on Or HaGanuz (The Hidden Light) from a series of texts compiled by Professor Daniel Matt. The link to the text sheet can be found here: https://bit.ly/thehiddenlight

In this episode we present teachings from Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi on "The spiritual path and the terrain of the soul." Enjoy!

Some teachings from HaTzaddik HaShotek (The Silent Tzaddik) Rebbe Mendel of Warka on the spiritual power of silence.

This week Rabbi Ben discusses a poem by Marge Piercy, and talks about the power of blessing as having awareness of what IS in the current moment.

In this episode we explore the power of intention in language and eating through commentaries on the Torah portion of Noach by The Baal Shem Tov and Menachem Nachem of Chernobyl.

This week we discuss Sukkot using a Yehuda Amichai (below) as our jumping off point. We welcome guests Rabbi Shoshana Leis, Rabbi David Siff, and Michael Safranek Yehuda Amichai poem: http://www.phys.unm.edu/~tw/fas/yits/archive/amichai_amaninhislife.html

Teachings on the Jewish New Year and the story of the Clever and Simple Men from Rebbe Nachman of Bratslav.

The traditional piyyut (song/poem) Ben Adam, as sung by Rabbi Ben Newman.

A short meditation on the sounds of the shofar (ram's horn) in honor of the Hebrew month of Elul and the upcoming Jewish New Year.

In this episode Rabbi Ben Newman reads a mindfulness-influenced translation of Psalm 27 from Rabbi Sheila Peltz Weinberg.

In this episode, Rabbi Ben introduces us to the spiritual preparation of the month of Elul (the month leading up to the High Holy Days) via an excerpt from Rabbi Alan Lew on Elul and this week's Torah portion Parshat Re'eh. He also ends with a reflection on his time at the Rising Song Institute summer gathering with Joey Weisenberg, and a poem he wrote about the power of music.