(Credit Graphic: Andy Blumenthal)
Showing posts with label Spirituality. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spirituality. Show all posts
January 29, 2021
December 4, 2020
Awesome Vase 4 Shabbat Shalom
November 1, 2020
Tefillin: Our Wi-Fi To G-d
Tefillin are our antennas to Hashem!
And like an antenna, we are able to pray and have our signal amplified to G-d as well as be able to be imbued with G-d’s spirit and direction to us in life. With the Straps of the Tefillin as well as the boxes and knots, we spell out the letters of G-d’s name on our head and on our arm. Thus, we are not only wrapped in this “spiritual antenna,” but we literally wear G-d’s words on the parchment in the Tefillin boxes and with His holy name stamped on our centers of thought and feeling.
In short, Tefillin is opportunity for us to network over Wi-Fi with the Master of the Universe. It takes us out of the daily grind of looking at the world in selfish, shortsightedness of what’s in it for me today, and how can I get more gold and goodies than the next guy or girl. Inside all of us, we have a soul from G-d, and through our spiritual Wi-Fi connection, we can energize that part of ourselves with a good, strong signal straight to the Big Guy upstairs.
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumethal)
October 9, 2020
Sunflowers For Shabbat Shalom
Perfect for enhancing the Shabbat and holidays!
The sunflowers provide warmth and happiness for the honor of these special and spiritual days!
May Hashem in His abundant mercy grant us a full healing and peace to welcome the Shabbat and to celebrate this weekend a joyous Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah.
Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach! ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
May 3, 2020
We Impact Each Other's Souls
And I rarely write twice on a book or movie, but this was so impactful.
First on our souls, Sharansky writes:
The law of attraction, interconnection, and interdependence of human souls...there is a universal gravitational pull of souls, of the bond between them and influence of one soul on the other.
Wow, Sharansky understood the deeper meaning of the soul and how they all emanate and are pieces from G-d and they are all connected to their source and each other, and what one person says or does impacts all the others (and thereby G-d himself).
Literally, I experienced this the other day...when I personally made amends on something I felt that I had done wrong, and I could literally feel somehow righting a wrong in the universe and G-d, Himself, smiling down on me.
It was the best feeling I think I have ever had in my life.
Second on fear, Sharansky writes:
My inner freedom [is] more powerful than the external bondage...[and] fear of the L-rd...is a necessary prerequisite for man's achieving inner freedom, and is also the prerequisite for spiritual resolve, the fear of the L-rd is the only thing that can conquer human fear.
Wow again. Sharansky through his nine years of suffering and hardships in Soviet prisons and labor camps found his deep inner strength to resist the tyranny of the KGB worldly masters and overcame them with his finding his fear and faith in G-d and was able to overcome.
These are two amazing heavenly lessons that Sharansky shares with us from enduring and overcoming his incredible worldly hardships.
I am so glad I had the opportunity to read this and am with G-d's help continuing to quench my thirst for this type of wisdom and true enlightenment. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
May 1, 2020
Shabbat Shalom and Stay Healthy!
February 12, 2020
Israel 2020: Day 3
Saw the beautiful 15th century Abuhav Synagogue, the Candle Factory, the artist colony, and the of course, the holy graves of the Tzadikim to pray.
It was a marvelously spiritually uplifting experience (as well as being up high in the mountains) and is an overall beautiful and unique city of ancient winding alleys and treasures at every turn.
So grateful to have had this opportunity to visit there, thank you Hashem! ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
February 7, 2020
A Cool Shabbat Shalom!
Congratulations on another week of hard work and accomplishment.
Now it's time for a day of spirituality, mindfulness, thanksgiving, and much needed rest and relaxation.
Heal and rejuvenate your body, mind, and soul.
A time for Hashem, self, family, and community.
Shabbat is a true gift from G-d. ;-)
(Credit Graphic: Andy Blumenthal)
December 28, 2019
The Beauty of Tefillin
Like the colorful coat that Jacob gave Joseph to wear, the mitzvah of tefillin that G-d gave us to wear is also filled with spiritual color and the love of Hashem. This is in no way intended as sacrilegious or as trying to change our holy mitzvot. Rather it is an artistic attempt to see the tefillin in a new way that perhaps excites and bring Jews back to this important mitzvah.
Over time, as I continued to learn and grow as a person and as a Jew, I found much of my way back to Yiddishkeit and to wearing my holy tefillin with love and Joy. To me they are forever colorful and full of spiritual energy that are uplifting to me as I pray with them on for Hashem’s everlasting mercy and blessings for all of us.
(Credit Image: Andy Blumenthal)
December 27, 2019
December 26, 2019
December 13, 2019
December 8, 2019
The Best of Jewish Nigunim
November 5, 2019
Hearts and Stones
There are people with hearts of stone, and there are stones with hearts of people.The people know who they are, and the stones reside where has G-d set them.
In the final redemption, the peoples' hearts will turn back to Hashem and the stones with hearts will rebuild the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
September 12, 2019
What’s Your Fantasy Synagogue
We all go to synagogues that we like in some ways and don’t like in others, but have you ever thought about what your fantasy synagogue would be like if you could make one?Last Shabbat, we were invited for lunch by some wonderful friends who had been sports writers, and the topic of fantasy football came up, where people compete for coming up with the best team by picking their own players and forming their ideal team. I said, half jokingly, wouldn’t it be great if we could do the same thing with synagogues and pick the best aspects of each and make an ideal house of worship for ourselves where we could pray, learn, grow, and experience holiness and community.In the article, I detail "the best of the best" when it comes to synagogues and the ultimate ideal synagogue is of course, in the coming of the Mashiach and the rebuilding of the Temple.
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
March 2, 2019
Jerusalem Center of The World
This beautiful artist and thoughtful map was published in 1581.
It shows the 3 continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa as 3 leaves of a clovers with Jerusalem at the center.
Jerusalem, Israel is the focus, nexus and crossroad between these 3 worlds of Western, Asian, and African civilizations.
Israel is so multi-cultural and holy to the 3 major monotheistic religions of the world (Christianity, Islam, and Judaism).
Light, healing, peace, and prosperity should emanate from Jerusalem to the whole world and G-d should bless us from his heavenly abode. ;-)
(Source Photo: Wikipedia)
September 15, 2018
Reflections B4 Yom Kippur
Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called, "Reflections Before Yom Kippur."
"I get up in the middle of the night, and I’m still 3/4 asleep. My mouth feels dry, and I walk over to the mouthwash to refresh. I reach for the bottle, but I grab the image in the mirror..."
Hope you enjoy this true story and the parable for living our spiritual lives and not just reach for the ego image in the mirror.
May you be sealed for another year in the book of life. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
July 23, 2018
Tisha B'Av @Kotel - Ushering In The Redemption
1) The singing of Ani Ma'Amin at the Kotel yesterday in 2018.
2) An amazing NCSY kumzitz, including at the beginning, the singing of Kol Berama Nishma/Rachel Mivakah at the Kotel a few years ago in 2015.
"A voice is heard in the Heavens, lamentation, and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children; she refuseth to be comforted for her children, because they are not. Thus saith the Lord: Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears; for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. And there is hope for thy future, saith the Lord; and thy children shall return to their own border. "
Both are so beautiful, and we imagined G-d looking down from the Heavens and being moved to rebuild the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and bring his amazing presence closer to us once again on Earth.
Oh let it be! ;-)
July 2, 2018
How Do I Choose?
It was about how we are confronted in life with whether to follow our impulses or our values.
I think there is a lot to this topic...
Some may see it as the little good angel standing over one shoulder and another bad angel standing over the other trying to convince us what to do when it's decision time.
Others may be perpetually torn between temptations or pleasures of materialism and the flesh versus of pursuing what you know to be spiritually good and right in this world.
Either way, as human beings, we are a complex make-up of both body and soul.
Do we give in to temptation and do what feels good--more money, more food, more clothes and jewelry, more houses, cars, and yachts, more vacations, more carnal pleasures from the proverbial "wine, women, and song" or do we pursue the path of spirituality, serving our maker, caring and giving and doing good for others and the world?
It sounds simple, but our impulses tell us one thing and our values tell us another.
Are we being selfish or selfless?
Perhaps, too much of anything is bad for us--even too much giving and selflessness--we need to care for ourselves too--we are mortal, we have needs, we have to nourish ourselves, and we need to live.
But you can't be a glutton or a slave to your impulses--you can't take and not give, your can't indulge until you make yourself sick, or take at the expense of and harm to others.
Like all things in life, there is a need for balance.
Certainly our spirit should guide our animal.
If and when our animal is dictating to our spirit then we are in real trouble. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
June 15, 2018
Making A Real Difference
I thought it was a nice way to motivate people working there.
"What people are saying:
You are making a difference."
Later in the sign, it says:
"The work you do is important."Isn't this really what is critical to people--that what they do is important.
Yes, we need to earn a living and pay our bills.
And sure, we'd like something left over to save for a rainy day.
But our lives are more than materialism.
We are spiritual beings inside.
At the pinnacle, we need to know that our lives mean something!
- That we are touching people's lives.
- That we will be remembered for the good we did.
- That our good deeds and words will live on.
- That our children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren (etc.) will carry the lessons and message forward.
- That we've contributed in some meaningful way to the fight of good over evil in this world and the next.
- That we've shown proper respect and worship to our L-rd/Maker/Sustainer.
When we make a difference, it's about so much more than what money can buy.
It's about our soul, our contribution, and even destiny. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
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