Queen and King
On Friday evening we yearn for the arrival of the Sabbath Queen, recalling the mystics of Safed who walked into the fields singing to greet her.…
Read articleThe Greatest Sin
The High Holiday Vidui – the Jewish confessional prayer – contains a broad list of transgressions. This meditation suggests that the greatest sin of all is failure…
Read articleGates
Standing before the gates of heaven in prayer – yearning for them to stay open long enough for true repentance to be heard – is a…
Read articleRepentance Inside
What does it take to internalize a deep sense of repentance, so that real change is possible? What will it take to be the man G-d…
Read articleForgiveness Inside
Seeking forgiveness from G-d is relatively easy. Forgiving myself for my misdeeds requires an act of bravery. It’s so much easier to make amends to others, to…
Read articleLet Your Heart Stir
This three-stanza prayer/poem reflects the spiritual journey of t’shuva, repentance and return. The first stanza represents the month of Elul, when we are literally called to…
Read articleAwake You Slumberers!
“Awake, ye sleepers from your slumber, and rouse you from you from your lethargy. Scrutinize your deeds and return in repentance.” – רמב”ם Are you awake?…
Read articleRhythms, Revised for Elul 5772
This meditation is about contrasting rhythms of life, time moving in a straight line and holiness moving in circles. Although it can be said at any…
Read articleThe Season of Healing
The Days of Awe are a time for introspection and self-assessment in anticipation of repentance, forgiveness, thanksgiving and rejoicing. This rhythm binds who we are now…
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