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Hashivenu — Judaism
Hashivenu

Hashivenu is a podcast about Jewish teachings and practice around resilience. Cultivating resilience in challenging times, both individually and collectively, is an essential path to personal renewal.
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Find out more about the show at About (https://hashivenu.fireside.fm/about), and learn about our theme song at Theme Song (https://hashivenu.fireside.fm/theme-song).
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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org (https://ReconstructingJudaism.org)

Latest Episodes:

Building Covenantal Community in the New Year and Beyond Oct 10, 2024

With the High Holiday season underway, Deborah welcomes Justin Rosen Smolen, Reconstructing Judaism's Vice President for Thriving Communities and Partnerships, for a wide-ranging conversation about covenantal community. They explore how the idea of covenant, from biblical narratives to contemporary community-building, emphasizes relationships, mutual responsibility and interdependence. They consider how liberal religion can help address societal issues like loneliness and division, and advocate for conversations that build inclusive, thriving communities. Later, Deborah and Justin explore a Reconstructionist understanding of covenant, emphasizing the importance of shared values and intergenerational dialogue, and recognizing that while diverse perspectives may create tension, they also provide opportunities for growth and deeper understanding within the community.

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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.

Special Guest: Justin Rosen Smolen.

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Rabbi Elyse Wechterman, CEO of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association May 16, 2024

Rabbi Elyse Wechterman recently announced that she will step down from her position as CEO of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association (RRA) in June after leading the organization for the past nine years. Elyse stops by Deborah’s office to look back on her tenure and look ahead to what’s next. The two longtime colleagues commiserate over the day-to-day realities of leading an organization, including a friendly debate over the pros and cons of “zeroing out” one’s email inbox (4:54). Elyse explains how being willing to let some things go in order to focus on what’s important has helped her decision making as a leader (9:21). Elyse reflects on how the RRA has changed over the last nine years and on the accomplishments she’s most proud of, such as increased collaboration amongst rabbinical associations (15:30). Deborah and Elyse discuss the nature of change and how although it can be scary, it is often a positive (26:22). Finally, Elyse shares her favorite verse from the Talmud and why it’s resonating with her as she approaches this transition (34:00).

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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.

Special Guest: Rabbi Elyse Wechterman.

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Cheryl Cook, CEO of Avodah Mar 28, 2024

Rabbi Deborah Waxman welcomes Cheryl Cook, CEO of Avodah, for a wide-ranging conversation. The two longtime friends and hevrutah partners recall their early conversations about Israel and Palestine (3:00). They discuss the nature of leadership in general as well as their own perspectives as women in leadership (10:10). They touch on the importance of resilience in how they have been able to navigate the turbulence of the last 10 years (12:10). Cheryl lays out the mission and work of Avodah (16:30). Later, Cheryl asks Deborah to reflect on the role of gender in leadership and Deborah shares how her feminist ideals shape her approach (18:15). Cheryl talks about stepping into the role of CEO in 2015 as a mother of young children and how she is making the effort to model a different kind leadership for other women (23:00). They close by looking ahead to future generations of leaders that they hope will include not only women, but Jews of Color and people from underrepresented groups as well (33:03). At the start of the show, Deborah catches us up on all things Hashivenu and previews her upcoming 10th anniversary celebratory event “When Women Lead" (happening Wednesday, April 3rd at 7pm EDT). You can find ticket information here.

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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.

Special Guest: Cheryl Cook.

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How to become our fullest, most expressive selves? Practice, practice, practice Oct 24, 2023

Weeks ago, Rabbi Deborah Waxman and founder Yoshi Silverstein scheduled this discussion about embodied Jewish practice and antiracism. Did it make any sense to have this conversation in the wake of Hamas’ Oct. 7 massacre of Israeli civilians and hostage taking, the subsequent and unfolding war and its tremendous toll on Palestinian civilians? After pausing to consider, they decided that such a conversation is more important than ever, both to themselves and listeners. Silverstein, founder and director of the Mitsui Collective, explains that in difficult times like these, embodiment practices can help us understand and name the extent to which strong emotions are having an impact on us. Awareness and practice are key to being able to respond to stressful stimuli in a healthy way. He outlines several simple practices that can help, including orienting and box breathing, and quotes Viktor Frankl, the psychotherapist and Holocaust survivor whose writing deeply informs how humans understand trauma. "Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom."

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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.

Special Guest: Yoshi Silverstein.

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Yom Kippur: A Celebration of Collective Release Sep 12, 2023

In ancient times on Yom Kippur, the high priest of Israel presided over an elaborate, mystical service atop the Temple Mount. Today, many traditional synagogues recount this ritual with the avodah service. In this episode, Rabbi Deborah Waxman, Ph.D., speaks with Rabbi Vivie Mayer about what the avodah service — which they acknowledge is mainly attended by the “die-hards” — can teach us today. “What Yom Kippur is really enacting and celebrating is collective release,” Mayer says. The two discuss what it means to move from the most intense, holy day of the year to the mundane business of daily life and how to bring insights from the former to the later. They delve into the differences between individual and collective atonement and responsibility; wondering about the collective release and catharsis offered by practices of the Second Temple era. They also lift up a contemporary Israeli song, “Seder Ha'Avodah” by Ishay Ribo.

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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.

Special Guest: Rabbi Vivie Mayer.

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S4 Ep. 9: Season of Reflection and Repentance Sep 19, 2022

In this special episode, Rabbi Deborah Waxman, Ph.D and Rabbi Sandra Lawson discuss their respective processes of preparing for the High Holidays. This isn’t about leading services, but about how, as human beings, they undertake an accounting of the soul, leading to repentance for their own actions and forgiveness toward others. The two friends and colleagues delve into Maimonides as interpreted by Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg in her new book On Repentance and Repair. (Among his many contributions, Maimonides, a medieval Torah scholar, philosopher and physician, outlined five steps needed to make true repentance.) Rabbi Sandra describes her difficult relationship with her late mother, and the forgiveness needed to truly care for her mother during illness. The two widen the lens and examine repentance from a societal point of view: how can society account and repent for harms caused to so many groups: Blacks, indigenous Americans, Asian Americans and so on. The two agree that an American reckoning with its troubled legacy is needed. “I think about teshuvah and when it comes to racial justice work, my focus first of all, is primarily within our Jewish spaces,” Lawson says. “I have found that many Jews who benefit from white privilege tend to continue to look outward on racial justice in the larger world, which is fine. But that also needs to be with our own internal work.”

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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.

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S4 Ep. 8: Songs of Joy and Mourning May 05, 2022

Reconstructing Judaism board member and Tikkun Olam Commission co-chair Shahanna McKinney-Baldon opens up with Rabbi Deborah Waxman, Ph.D. and Rabbi Sandra Lawson about her time singing for the ska and reggae band Highball Holiday. The educator, activist and artist, who comes an African American and Ashkenazi family, talks about rediscovering her singing voice in middle age, and shedding certain inhibitions and self-consciousness. (Co-host Rabbi Sandra Lawson also recounts embracing public singing in her 40s, partly to connect with Jewish liturgy.) McKinney-Baldon frankly discusses the grieving process following the 2021 loss of her father, as well as her wrestling with the Jewish prohibition on listening to music — let alone performing — during the traditional morning period. The trio discusses a Reconstructionist, values-based approach to engaging with, but not necessarily being dictated by, Jewish tradition. She also discusses her work on the Tikkun Olam Commission and describes the ongoing process of gaining support for a movement-wide resolution supporting reparations for slavery.

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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.

Special Guest: Shahanna McKinney-Baldon.

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Edot Midwest Regional Jewish Diversity Collaborative — Edot Midwest Regional Jewish Diversity Collaborative (“Edot”) is a network of partnerships and activities focused on affirming Jewish racial and ethnic diversity across communities in the Midwest region. Investing in the leadership of Jewish People of Color (JOC’s) is our driver for change.
"I helped coin the term ‘Jews of color.’ It’s time for a history lesson" by Shahanna McKinney-Baldon
Listen to Highball Holiday on Bandcamp
Follow Highball Holiday on Instagram
Milwaukee ska legends Highball Holiday preached racial unity

S4 Ep. 7: The Smooth River Apr 08, 2022

On Sept. 3, 2019, Richard Cohen’s wife, Marcia Horowitz, was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer. Horowitz lived 160 more days. In his acclaimed 2021 book, The Smooth River: Finding Inspiration and Exquisite Beauty during Terminal Illness, Cohen, a lawyer and Reconstructionist leader, recounts those days and what the couple learned about life as Horowitz's death approached.

In this special episode, Richard Cohen discusses with Rabbi Deborah Waxman how the couple eschewed the common framing of terminal illness as a battle with the disease – something that is either one or lost. “We wanted to regain some sense of normalcy of who we were, and by doing good for other people, we felt good about ourselves. We were getting our heads above the cancer. It was not going to subsume us.”

Rabbi Waxman and Cohen also discuss how the couple’s approach mirrors resilience practices contained in many Jewish teachings. Quoting from the book of Psalms, Waxman says, “Out of a narrow place, I called to God. God responded and got me out into an expansive place. That tension between narrow and expansive, for me it has been such an incredible guiding metaphor."

Rabbi Sandra Lawson will be back as co-host in the next episode.
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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org. Episode transcript is forthcoming.

Special Guest: Richard S. Cohen.

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Read the book: The Smooth River
Ritualwell - death and mourning — While Judaism places great emphasis on our lives in this world, death is an inevitable end for all of us. Often Jews who have been distant from traditional Jewish practice for their whole lives seek the comfort of traditional Judaism in the face of death. For mourners, whose lives are often turned upside down by death, the traditional practices of mourning can provide structure and comfort. Here you will find resources that address each aspect of the process of navigating death and mourning—from the moment of death, to the burial of the body, the tearing of clothes, the weeklong practice of shiva, and the recitation of kaddish.
A Mussar Practice for Grief
Kaddish: A Podcast about Death and Dying
Reconstructing Judaism
Evolve: Groundbreaking Jewish Conversations

S4 Ep. 6: Being an Ally with Empathy, Humility and Courage Dec 28, 2021

There’s an increasing focus in popular discourse on allyship, particularly when it comes to people of color and other marginalized groups. What does it mean to be an ally, both to individuals and to groups? How can one begin to do that work in a way that is meaningful and is about helping others and not about assisting one’s ego or placing oneself at the center of the story? In this episode, Rabbi Deborah Waxman, Ph.D. and Rabbi Sandra Lawson – longtime friends and now colleagues – discuss these questions using examples from their own lives. Noting the importance of relationships and context, they delve into the difficulty of saying and doing the right thing at the right time, citing examples of which they were proud and where they might have done better. In the discussion, Rabbi Sandra stresses that white people who aim to be allies to people of color should, “be humble and be curious, and be open to learning, instead of thinking that [you] can't learn anything.”

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Read these show notes on the web at https://hashivenu.fireside.fm/47

This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.

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S4 Ep. 5: JewAsian Oct 26, 2021

Helen K. Kim is Professor of Sociology at Whitman College and in 2019 assumed the position of Associate Dean for Faculty Development. She is also the co-author of JewAsian: Race, Religion, and Identity for America's Newest Jews along with her husband Noah Leavitt. In this interview, Kim discusses macro topics such as racism in the Jewish community and the rancorous debate over communal demography. She also discusses more personal matters, including her experience of her son’s recent bar mitzvah. The episode begins with Kim talking about her search for wisdom in the Jewish tradition and how she found inspiration in the works of Maimonides, the medieval Jewish philosopher and Torah commentator. Later, she expresses her frustration with Jewish organizations that long acknowledged the prevalence of racism behind closed doors but steered clear of addressing racism publicly. “Why are we choosing to run away from [these realities]? Why don't we choose to run towards them and try to do something about them to become anti-racist.”

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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.

Special Guest: Helen K. Kim.

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JewAsian: Race, Religion, and Identity for America's Newest Jews — JewAsian is a qualitative examination of the intersection of race, religion, and ethnicity in the increasing number of households that are Jewish American and Asian American.
"Funny - You Don't Look Jewish" by Helen K. Kim — Episode guest Helen K. Kim writes that, "Raising [my children] Ari and Talia with a strong and nuanced sense of identity is not so simple as having kimchi in our refrigerator and challah on Friday nights."
What It's Like For Non-White Jews During The High Holidays — Helen K. Kim and Rabbi Sandra Lawson were both featured in this 2015 HuffPost Religion piece asking a few racially and ethnically diverse American Jewish families to offer a reflection on their relationship to Judaism.
A Jewish-Asian Couple's Union Leads to a Scholarly Interest in Intermarriage — NY Times profile on Helen Kim and Noah S. Leavitt
The Laws of Teshuvah in the Mishneh Torah — The Laws of Teshuvah By Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon ("Maimonides"); translated by Eliyahu Touger
Rabbi David Basior on Teshuvah as Resilience — Rabbi David Basior speaks about how the Jewish value of teshuvah holds power in interpersonal relationships.
The Challenges and Unexpected Rewards of ‘Teshuvah’

S4 Ep 4: In the Same Place, As the Same Person Sep 10, 2021

Amanda Mbuvi, Ph.D., is the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College’s new vice president for academic affairs. Mbuvi, a Hebrew Bible scholar and nonprofit leader, is the first Jew of Color to hold such a leadership position at an American rabbinical seminary. We delve into Mbuvi’s desire to deepen how people and communities think about diversity and identity. Mbuvi shares her enthusiasm for using the Bible in general, and Genesis and Exodus in particular to explore questions related to community and identity. Mbuvi and Lawson talk what it means to be women of color and leaders in the Jewish community, reacting to the findings of the Jews of Color Initiative's latest study, “Beyond the Count: Perspectives and Lived Experiences of Jews of Color.” (Eight in 10 respondents said they have experienced discrimination in a Jewish setting.) “So I think for a lot of people, when they say Jew of Color, they think about it like a child with divorced parents: on the weekends, you're Jewish and then during the week you're Black. It's like, you sort of go from one to the other, but not that you were both at the same time, in the same place as the same person. I think that's just something people have had a lot of difficulty getting their minds around,” Mbuvi says. The episode was recorded the week before Rosh Hashanah and Lawson, Mbuvi and Waxman share their hopes for the High Holidays and the coming year.

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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.

Special Guest: Amanda Mbuvi, Ph.D. .

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Reconstructing Judaism's High Holidays Collection for 2021/5782 — featuring Mahzor resources, original music, video teachings, new liturgy, resources from congregations & rabbis and more.
"Grief Belongs in Social Movements. Can We Embrace It?" by Malika Devich-Cyril — A Black activist reflects on intergenerational trauma, community, and coming to terms with death in movement building.
https://forward.com/news/471478/in-a-first-jew-of-color-to-lead-major-us-rabbinical-school/ — From The Forward: Amanda Mbuvi’s appointment marks the first time a Jew of color will lead a major rabbinical school. But that’s not why officials there selected her.
High Holidays 2021/5782: Feeling Grief and Hope Through the Shofar Blast — Rabbi Deborah Waxman, Ph.D., explores the sounds of the shofar blasts - the vibrations that give us permission to feel our losses and grief and at the same time point us toward cycles of renewal – in this High Holiday 5782 video message.
“Beyond The Count” Study by the Jews of Color Initiatve — Beyond the Count: Perspectives and Lived Experiences of Jews of Color is an unprecedented study of the Jews of Color community that will enable the Jewish community to implement more change for racial equity and inclusion.
Belonging in Genesis: Biblical Israel and the Politics of Identity Formation — In her 2016 book Belonging in Genesis, Amanda Mbuvi highlights the ways narrative and the act of storytelling function to define and create a community. Building on the emphasis on family in Genesis, she focuses on the way family storytelling is a means of holding together the interpretation of the text and the constitution of the reading community.
Reconstructionist Rabbinical College — Founded in 1968 to serve the Jewish people and the wider world, RRC is dedicated to teaching Judaism as an evolving religious civilization and to engaging with the riches of Jewish tradition to create meaning, connect to the sacred and bring individuals and communities to greater love, justice and peace.

S4 Ep. 3: Creating a Jewish Community Where All Can Thrive Jun 23, 2021

Marcella White Campbell is executive director of Be'chol Lashon -- a pioneering organization that strengthens Jewish identity by affirming the racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity of the Jewish people. We discuss her multiracial Jewish family's own experiences as a window into the Jewish community's troubled record in welcoming Jews of Color. She reflects on her own growth into leadership, motivated by the rising cohort of young Jews of Color who deserve a Jewish community where they can thrive and contribute. And she reflects on the rich interplay of her Jewish and Black identities in making meaning at a time of personal loss. Join us for a rich and deeply moving conversation.

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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.

Special Guest: Marcella White Campbell.

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S4 Ep 2: Paradox, Complexity and Liberation: A Conversation with Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein Apr 13, 2021

We're joined by Professor Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, one of fewer than 100 Black American women to earn a doctorate in physics -- and a Reconstructionist! We discuss the insights she draws from her background as a Black and Ashkenazi Jew, and the richness, complexity, and fruitful challenges that diverse voices bring to the Jewish community. She and Rabbi Sandra Lawson discuss their respective experiences as trailblazers within the physics and the rabbinate. Finally, we delve into theoretical physics and Jewish theology as she explains why she included the ma'ariv prayer in her new book, The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey into Dark Matter, Spacetime, and Dreams Deferred.

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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.

Special Guest: Chanda Prescod-Weinstein.

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Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, PhD
The Disordered Cosmos by Chanda Prescod-Weinstein | Hachette Book Group
Chanda Prescod-Weinstein (@IBJIYONGI) / Twitter
Spotify Playlist for The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey into Dark Matter, Spacetime, and Dreams Deferred - playlist by The Disordered Cosmos
Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein's Jewish Universe - Alma — A conversation with the Black Jewish theoretical physicist on her new book, "Disordered Cosmos," and her fight to make the night sky accessible to all.

S4 Ep. 1: Judaism, Resilience, and Racial Justice - Beginning the Conversation Mar 01, 2021

We begin a new season focusing on Judaism, resilience, and racial justice, and welcome a new co-host: Rabbi Sandra Lawson, director of racial diversity, equity, and inclusion for Reconstructing Judaism. We dig deeply into the complexities of engaging in racial justice work within the Jewish community, the necessity for deep listening and empathy toward Jews of color, and the need to draw on resilience practices to stay committed to the challenging but vital process of teshuvah on the path to redemption.

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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.

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S3 Ep. 12: Writing Ourselves into the Book of Life — The High Holidays and Choosing Life Sep 11, 2020

At this extraordinary High Holiday season, so many people are experiencing losses of many kinds. We speak with Rabbi Margot Stein about the lessons she learned about resilience while navigating profound loss -- the death of her eldest son, Aryeh. We discuss the practices that sustain her, and explore how Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur invite us to choose life, in many ways, again and again.

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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.

Special Guest: Rabbi Margot Stein.

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A Mother’s Memorial Meditation On Life And And Death - U’netaneh Tokef 5776 — This is a sermon delivered by Rabbi Margot Stein at Congregation Mishkan Shalom Philadelphia, PA on September 15, 2015, in honor and memory of her son Aryeh Stein-Azen, z”l.
MIRAJ ~ A Capella Jewish Women's Voices for Sacred Times
High Holiday Materials for 2020/5781 | Reconstructing Judaism — A rich collection of creative materials for High Holidays 2020, including more than 40 pieces of original music
Council for Relationships - Philadelphia Area Therapy for Couples, Families and Individuals - Council for Relationships
The Middleton Center — An open and welcoming place, The Middleton Center for Pastoral Care and Counseling invites people from all and no faith backgrounds to enhance the connections between body, mind and spirit. The Middleton Center combines best practices in spiritual and psychological care with a spirit of hospitality.

S3 Ep. 11: Creativity and Counterculture Aug 20, 2020

Rabbi Michael Strassfeld has made a life and career at the core of Jewish counterculture, combining a deep connection with Jewish text and tradition with a passion for creative experimentation with new, accessible and relevant forms of Jewish community and practice. In our conversation, we discuss his experiences as a founder of the havurah movement, co-creator of the groundbreaking Jewish Catalog series, and rabbi of the SAJ. Toward the end of our conversation we turn to the Jewish future, reflecting on the opportunities presented by digital culture and on new paradigms for Jewish prayer.

While this episode was recorded before the Coronavirus pandemic, the theme of disruption as an opportunity for Jewish creativity speaks to our current moment. As we release this episode, Reconstructing Judaism has released newly-reinterpreted High Holiday liturgy created by a committee chaired by Rabbi Strassfeld. You can find it under "New Liturgy" at https://www.reconstructingjudaism.org/highholidays2020.

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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.

Special Guest: Rabbi Michael Strassfeld.

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Michael Strassfeld
New Liturgy for High Holidays 2020 — Creative High Holiday liturgy for remote services, crafted by a committee chaired by Rabbi Strassfeld. Click on "New Liturgy" on this page to find it.
The First Jewish Catalog: A Do-It-Yourself Kit (Amazon link)
The Second Jewish Catalog: Sources and Resources (Amazon link)
The Third Jewish Catalog: Creating Community (Amazon link)
The Jewish Holidays (Amazon link)
A Book of Life: Embracing Judaism as a Spiritual Practice (Amazon link)
Reconstructing Jewish Communities: A Learning Module | Reconstructing Judaism — On the opening night of the Reconstructing Judaism conference in November of 2018, an extraordinary panel of rabbis reflected on a crucial question: how do we reconstruct Jewish communities in this time and place, to meet tomorrow’s challenges?
Prayer for the Shabbat after Pittsburgh -- Jewish Ritual
Havurat Shalom
Ansche Chesed — History — "Happily, the late 1970s and the Chavurah movement, in which small groups of like-minded Jews created autonomous, egalitarian and lay-led minyanim, brought new life and vigor to Jewish communal life and to Ansche Chesed…"
National Havurah Committee — The National Havurah Committee (NHC) was founded in 1980 to facilitate the activities of fellowships known as havurot and to spread havurah values and enthusiasm to the larger Jewish community, thereby serving as a model for revitalizing Jewish living and learning in North America.
The Jewish Counterculture in the Michael Strassfeld papers | Special Collections Cataloging at Penn — The Michael Strassfeld papers, 1901-2015 (bulk: 1968-2015), which came to Penn in 2015, are now processed and open for research. Theycontain the records of the his education and life’s work. Represented are elements of his Orthodox upbringing, traditional Jewish education, influence of the Jewish anti-establishment and countercultural movements, and his training and practice as a Reconstructionist Rabbi.

S3 Ep. 10: Moments of Wholeness Aug 03, 2020

When our world falls apart, what sustains us? We recorded this conversation with Rabbi Shira Stutman, senior rabbi at 6th and I Historic Synagogue in Washington, D.C, in early April 2020 — shortly after coronavirus response had brought face-to-face communal gatherings, and indeed most people's social lives, to a screeching halt. Speaking at a time of profound global dislocation that affected our most personal connections, we discussed the challenges we faced, the adaptations we and our institutions were beginning to make, and the unexpected insights we'd glimpsed into what is truly essential, insights that continue to resonate months later.

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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.

Special Guest: Rabbi Shira Stutman.

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Pandemic | Lynn Ungar — What if you thought of it as the Jews consider the Sabbath— the most sacred of times? Cease from travel. Cease from buying and selling. Give up, just for now, on trying to make the world different than it is. Sing. Pray. Touch only those to whom you commit your life. Center down.
Sixth & I - Historic synagogue in downtown Washington, DC
Coronavirus resources from Ritualwell
A Virtual Shabbat Box: To Celebrate and Renew All of Your Senses | Reconstructing Judaism
Virtual Passover Box | Reconstructing Judaism
A Virtual Shavuot Box | Reconstructing Judaism
Recon Connect | Reconstructing Judaism
Jewish Values and the Coronavirus | Reconstructing Judaism
A Man Doesn't Have Time In His Life by Yehuda Amichai - Famous poems, famous poets. - All Poetry
#TrendingJewish 16: The Greatest Teacher, Failure Is — Rabbi Shira Stutman talks about learning from failure, and how Jewish organizations must take risks to change and grow. Rabbi Stutman discusses how Sixth & I was both inspired by, and a departure from, Mordecai Kaplan’s vision of a synagogue center.

S3 Ep. 9: The Power of Ritual Jun 25, 2020

Is Harry Potter a sacred text? According to our guest, Casper ter Kuile, Ministry Innovation Fellow at Harvard Divinity School and the co-founder of the Sacred Design Lab, it is if you bring that approach to the series. His study of the ways in which people find meaning through text, community, and tradition has opened up vibrant conversations that break down the walls of "religious" and "secular" by illuminating the human experiences that unite them. In his new book, The Power of Ritual, he explores the ways that ritual -- even when nominally secular -- can help us build community, find meaning, and connect our past with our future.

This conversation was recorded in late March of 2020.

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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.

Special Guest: Casper ter Kuile.

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The Power of Ritual: Turning Everyday Activities into Soulful Practices (Amazon) — Casper ter Kuile, a Harvard Divinity School fellow and cohost of the popular Harry Potter and the Sacred Text podcast, explores how we can nourish our souls by transforming common, everyday practices—yoga, reading, walking the dog—into sacred rituals that can heal our crisis of social isolation and struggle to find purpose—a message we need more than ever for our spiritual and emotional well-being in the age of COVID-19.
Read the Introduction of The Power of Ritual
Insights - Sacred Design Lab — The structures of community and spirituality are rapidly changing. Learn about the innovative ideas, creative solutions, and emerging trends that are shaping our culture. (Contains links to PDF monographs: Design for the Human Soul, How We Gather, Care of Souls, Something More, Faithful, and more.)
How We Gather (PDF)
Harry Potter and the Sacred Text (Website) — Reading Fiction Doesn’t Help Us Escape The World, It Helps Us Live In It
‎Harry Potter and the Sacred Text (Apple Podcasts) — It’s the English class you didn't know you missed and the meaningful conversations you didn't know you craved. Join Vanessa Zoltan and Casper ter Kuile as they bring thought, reflection and laughter to Harry Potter; not just as novels, but as instructive and inspirational texts that will teach us about our own lives

S3 Ep. 8: Whole-Body Judaism May 21, 2020

Yoshi Silverstein’s passions — which include Jewish outdoor and environmental education, as well as fitness and movement — each strive toward creative embodied Jewish practice. We explore how these approaches can contribute to a resilient Jewish community, and conclude by applying them to the upcoming holiday of Shavuot: how might they help us experience revelation and gratitude in the midst of an uncertain future?

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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.

Special Guest: Yoshi Silverstein.

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Mitsui Collective – Resilient. Together. — Building resilient community around nature & wellness, embodied Jewish practice, and multiracial justice.
About – Yoshi Silverstein
Overview - Hazon — JOFEE stands for Jewish Outdoor, Food, Farming & Environmental Education. These experiences connect people to Judaism, community, and the natural world through hands-on, thoughtful and engaging Jewish content across different ages, Jewish backgrounds, and religious approaches.
EDOT – עדוֹת-המידווסט The Midwest Regional Jewish Diversity Collaborative – UW–Madison — Edot HaMidwest: The Midwest Regional Jewish Diversity Collaborative (“Edot”) is a set of partnerships and activities focused on affirming Jewish racial and ethnic diversity across communities in the Midwest region. Supporting the leadership of Jewish People of Color (JOC’s) is our driver for change.
Shavuot
Shavuot resources at ReconstructingJudaism.org
Celebrating the Seven Days of Shavuot: A Journey of Revelation and Relationship (From Evolve) — Let’s expand our observance of Shavuot—affirming our relationship with the Earth and our commitment to deepening our relationship with all people.
Revelation Can Be Terrifying (from Evolve) — The Bible’s description of the shuddering of the people at Mount Sinai reflects a deep truth about how moments of revelatory insight can be frightening.

S3 Ep. 7: Including Everyone Apr 21, 2020

It's a fundamental Jewish belief that all human beings are created in the divine image. But society all too often treats those with disabilities as second-class citizens. In our conversation with Jay Ruderman, we discuss his family foundation's work to advocate for and advance the inclusion of people with disabilities, both within the Jewish community and in society at large. We also delve into the dangers posed by the current pandemic to those with disabilities, as well as the opportunities this moment offers to affirm our deepest values by treating every person with concern and care.

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Ruderman Family Foundation — The Ruderman Family Foundation believes that inclusion and understanding of all people is essential to a fair and flourishing community. Guided by our Jewish values, we advocate for and advance the inclusion of people with disabilities throughout our society; strengthen the relationship between Israel and the American Jewish Community; and model the practice of strategic philanthropy worldwide. We operate as a non-partisan strategic catalyst in cooperation with government, private sectors, civil society, and philanthropies.
LINK20 — LINK20 is a global social movement led by a network of young activists, with and without disabilities. Our goal is to raise awareness on the right of people with disabilities to be fully included in our society and strengthen young activist’s leadership skills and influence in promoting inclusion and social justice.
Ruderman Synagogue Inclusion Project | Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston — The Ruderman Synagogue Inclusion Project (RSIP) is a partnership between CJP and the Ruderman Family Foundation that supports synagogues in creating communities where people of all abilities are valued equally and participate fully.
Fully Alive: Discovering What Matters Most, by Timothy Shriver (Amazon link)
Reconstructionist Communities Make Disability Inclusion a Top Priority | Reconstructing Judaism
What Does it Mean to be a Leader? Inspiration from Jewish Disability Advocacy Day | Jewish Week — Column by Rabbi Deborah Waxman, Ph.D., on Judaism and disability

S3 Ep. 6: Spiritual Leadership in Times of Crisis Apr 02, 2020

As the coronavirus pandemic took hold, Rabbi Joshua Lesser created a Facebook group to support and connect clergy of all faiths struggling to respond to the crisis. Over five thousand people joined within the first two weeks. We discuss the exponential growth of the multifaith community he created and reflect on both the practical challenges and interior dimensions of spiritual leadership in times like these. Rabbi Lesser also explores the lessons he learned about community and vulnerability as an out gay rabbi during the height of the AIDS crisis, and how that experience informs his work now.

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Special Guest: Rabbi Joshua Lesser.

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Sojourn — The Southern Jewish Resource Network for Gender & Sexual Diversity (SOJOURN) is the American South's resource for Jewish & LGBTQ+ programming, education, support, and advocacy. Our mission is to advance LGBTQ+ affirmation and empowerment across the South.
Streaming Services - Congregation Bet Haverim
Multifaith Clergy & Spiritual Communal Responses to Covid-19 (Facebook group)
Atlanta Rabbi Starts an international, multifaith support system for clergy...
Brené Brown
When the threat is random, the Jewish response is compassion | Jewish Week — Op-ed from Rabbi Deborah Waxman
Evolve Episode 3: Preparing our Communities for Conversations on Race
Hashivenu S3 Ep. 5: Catching Our Breath — As the current pandemic disrupts our lives and everyday connections, we each face the dual challenge of saving lives and caring for our souls. Rabbi Deborah Waxman reflects on the Jewish spiritual imagery that unites these concerns and shares a practice of breath work that can sustain us in stressful times.
Spotify – Congregation Bet Haverim

S3 Ep. 5: Catching Our Breath Mar 24, 2020

As the current pandemic disrupts our lives and everyday connections, we each face the dual challenge of saving lives and caring for our souls. Rabbi Deborah Waxman reflects on the Jewish spiritual imagery that unites these concerns and shares a practice of breath work that can sustain us in stressful times.

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Hashivenu Episode 19: Gratitude — Rabbi Deborah Waxman shares a personal Jewish practice that sustains her in difficult times, in the hopes that it might help cultivate resilience among our listeners.
Oh Pure Soul: Elohai n’shama | Rabbi Shefa Gold
Elohai Neshama by Rabbi Judy Kummer on Soundcloud
Recon Connect Beit Midrash - Rabbi Deborah Waxman on Vimeo
When the threat is random, the Jewish response is compassion | Jewish Week — Op-Ed by Rabbi Deborah Waxman

S3 Ep. 4: Despair to Awakening Mar 20, 2020

As our lives are disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, we speak with Dr. Ameet Ravital, a clinical psychologist who specializes in treating trauma. We reflect on personal experiences of anxiety and grief, and discuss strategies he uses to support an orientation toward joy even in the hardest times. Our conversation draws on [his beautiful essay, "Despair to Awakening", free to read at Evolve: Groundbreaking Jewish Conversations].(http://evolve.reconstructingjudaism.org/despair-to-awakening)

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Despair to Awakening (Essay on Evolve) — A clinical psychologist who specializes in treating trauma, Dr. Ameet Ravital offers three suggestions about how to approach our despair about the state of the world.
Website of Dr. Ameet Ravital
Self-care during a pandemic (Blog post from website of Dr. Ameet Ravital) — COVID-19, the corona-virus, now being called a global "pandemic", is here and we have to cope with it. Measures to contain its spread may feel extreme and challenging (school and work closures, social distancing, isolation and quarantining of any persons suspected of being infected, and incessant sanitizing of all surfaces). Here are some suggestions for keeping our immune systems strong, and taking care of ourselves emotionally in the face of uncertainty, as we gradually reduce the scope of our lives to staying at home for an indefinite period of time.
Dorshei Derekh – Germantown Jewish Centre

S3 Ep. 3: The Song of Community Feb 03, 2020

We speak with Rabbi Lauren Grabelle Herrmann, Rabbi of the SAJ: Judaism That Stands For All. Our conversation explores the importance of placing joy and connection at the center of vibrant Jewish community, even (or especially) one deeply committed to social justice and activism. We also discuss the lessons learned from building a start-up congregation, and how they translate into her work at a 98-year-old flagship Reconstructionist synagogue.

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Special Guest: Rabbi Lauren Grabelle Herrmann.

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Kol Tzedek
SAJ – Judaism That Stands For All
Hashivenu Episode 15: Singing Together
History of SAJ
SAJ on Facebook
After a Hiatus, Jewish Life Returns to West Philly – The Forward — This 2006 article from the Forward chronicles the beginnings of Kol Tzedek.
A Reconstructionist Shul Grows in West Philly - Jewish Exponent — This 2018 article from the Jewish Exponent explores the vibrant growth of Kol Tzedek in the years since its founding.

S3 Ep. 2: Living in Beloved Community Jan 09, 2020

We speak with Rabbi Sara Luria, co-founder of Beloved, a home-based spiritual community in Brooklyn. Our conversation explores the power of putting love, nurturing and acceptance at the center of community life. We also explore what Beloved Brooklyn can teach the broader Jewish communal world, and reflect on new models of leadership opened up by forty years of women in the American rabbinate.

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Special Guest: Rabbi Sara Luria.

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S3 Ep. 1: Finding Sustenance in Covenantal Community Dec 10, 2019

Rabbi Sid Schwarz has devoted his career to the practice and study of building rich and engaging Jewish communities. In our conversation, we talk about the groundbreaking congregation he built, Adat Shalom, which continues to serve as a laboratory for innovation to this day. And we ask the question: as new platforms for Jewish life and community emerge in the 21st century, what values and practices make a community truly sustaining and meaningful?

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Special Guest: Rabbi Sid Schwarz, Ph.D..

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Rabbi Sid Schwarz | Rabbi, social entrepreneur, non-profit CEO, author
Clergy Leadership Incubator | Training Visionary Spiritual Leaders for the American Jewish Community — The Clergy Leadership Incubator (CLI) is a two-year program to support and encourage rabbis serving congregations or other new models of spiritual community in the areas of innovative thinking, change management and institutional transformation.
Kenissa: Communities of Meaning Network — Kenissa: Communities of Meaning Network connects individuals who are leading contemporary efforts to re-imagine Jewish life and community.
Congregation Beth Israel of Media
Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation |
About Pearlstone - Jewish Retreat Center & Outdoor Education Campus | Pearlstone — Pearlstone Center's mission: to ignite Jewish passion while connecting guests with the land and Jewish values; our peaceful retreat center, sustainable farm, and dynamic programming enable and inspire vibrant Jewish life.
Congregation T'chiyah — Reconstructing Jewish life in Metro Detroit
Detroit Jews for Justice — Organizing Jewish community in Metro Detroit to participate in movements for racial and economic justice.
Justice in Detroit: Reconstructionists Lead the Way — 2016 article from Reconstructionism Today on the relationship between Congregational T'chiyah and Detroit Jews for Justice
Ritualwell: Rituals and Prayers for Communal Life

Season 3 Intro: Resilience Through Community Dec 09, 2019

In this upcoming season of Hashivenu, we’re going to talk to a lot of people who are thinking about and practicing how to create community. Many of them will be talking about synagogues, since that is a primary location of Jewish community, but this isn’t a pitch for synagogues. It’s a pitch for binding relationships, for mutual obligation, for connection, so we’ll also be talking to folks building communities in spaces other than synagogues. I hope you’ll listen with open hearts and will find insights and strategies to fill you up and nourish you on your own journeys.

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S2 Ep. 8: Halleluyah: Fueling Our Social Activism through Gratitude and Praise Nov 07, 2019

What drives us toward justice? Often, we're driven by a sense of the world's brokenness that keeps us up at night. In our conversation with Rabbi Alex Weissman, we explore an alternative motivation: what gets us up in the morning? In a conversation based on his essay for Evolve, Halleluyah, and his other work around spirituality and activism, we discuss how deeply-felt experiences of gratitude and blessing can move us toward empathetic action.

See below for a link to a guided meditation led by Rabbi Weissman for the 2018 cohort of Reset: Spiritual Practice for Activists.

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Special Guest: Rabbi Alex Weissman.

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Evolve: Halleluyah — Through practicing gratitude and recognizing the complexities of privilege, we are better suited to pursue the work of changing the world. (Essay by Alex Weissman)
Evolve: Jewish Approaches to Justice Work
Video from Reset: Meditation by Rabbi Alex Weissman — Video of guided meditation along the themes of this episode, led by Rabbi Alex Weissman for the 2018 cohort of Reset: Spiritual Practice for Activists
Ritualwell: 10 Resources to Inspire Gratitude
Shlomo Wolbe - Wikipedia

S2 Ep. 7: Discernment and Renewal at the High Holidays Sep 20, 2019

The holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur call us to deeply individual reflection while embedded and connected with community, and to a humility that nevertheless acknowledges that our choices matter. We speak with Rabbi Barbara Penzner about the spiritual dynamics of the High Holiday days, and their power to help us find discernment, connection and renewal.

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Special Guest: Rabbi Barbara Penzner.

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"If Not Higher", by I. L. Peretz
Audio: "If Not Higher by I.L. Peretz" (Courtesy of Yiddish Book Center)
Rabbi Simcha Bunim of Peshischa — "Keep two pieces of paper in your pocket at all times. On one: “I am a speck of dust,” and on the other : “The world was created for me.”"
Tashlikh Reconstructed — “We accept the responsibility for changing and for changing this world. That is what people need to stay in hope. And without hope, there is no energy for no creative new solutions,” says Rabbi Amy Bernstein in this moving video, Tashlikh Reconstructed. Produced by Kehillat Israel, A Reconstructionist Congregation in Pacific Palisades, Calif., the video explores the centuries-old Rosh Hashanah tradition of symbolically casting off sins into a body of water, illustrating how one community has reconstructed a ritual born in the Middle Ages for our anxious, post-modern times. Kehillat Israel also demonstrates how the phrase Reconstructing Judaism perfectly encapsulates the mission of Reconstructionist communities.
Ritualwell Resources: Month of Elul — Each year as summer fades into fall, Jewish tradition invites us to turn inward. The month of Elul precedes the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. We dedicate this time to preparing ourselves for the holidays so that we can experience them as fully as possible.
Ritualwell: Rosh Hashanah — Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, is the first of the High Holy Days or Yamim Noraim (Days of Awe). It weds seriousness with celebration and begins the 10 days of repentance that culminate in Yom Kippur. The new year focuses our attention on themes of judgment, repentance, memory, and the divine presence in the world. At the same time, Rosh Hashanah invites us to celebrate birth and creation on many levels
Ritualwell: Yom Kippur — Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, falls ten days after Rosh Hashanah. When the Temple stood in Jerusalem, the High Priest effected atonement for the entire people through an elaborate ritual. Today, in the absence of the Temple, each of us stands, alone, together, naked as it were, before God. Yom Kippur is the dramatic culmination of the entire season of teshuvah, repentance.

S2 Ep. 6: Portraits of Resilience Sep 11, 2019

Daniel Jackson is an MIT professor and award-winning photographer who edited an extraordinary collection: Portraits of Resilience pairs images and first-person accounts of MIT community members who have struggled with mental health issues. We dig deeply into Judaism's powerful psychological and spiritual resources for resilience, particularly for those grappling with the isolation and shame that can come with depression.

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Special Guest: Daniel Jackson.

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Portraits of Resilience — At once a photo essay and a compendium of life stories, Portraits of Resilience brings us face to face with twenty-two extraordinary individuals, celebrating the wisdom they have gained on the front line of a contemporary battle. With astonishing honesty and openness, they describe their experiences of depression and anxiety; how they endured their darkest moments and ultimately found purpose and meaning in their struggles.
Portraits of Resilience (Amazon link)
Daniel Jackson Photography
Professor Daniel Jackson
Ritualwell: 10 Jewish Mental Health Resources
Need help with mental health?

S2 Ep. 5: Raising Our Voices Aug 02, 2019

Dr. Koach Frazier is an audiologist, an activist, a rabbinical student and a powerful musician. We speak about singing and drumming, and explore how music can support us, uplift us, and lead us to transformation personally and collectively.

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Special Guest: Koach Baruch Frazier.

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Ritualwell resources: 10 Songs to Lift Up the Soul — Learn about the connection between music and activism from Dr. Koach Frazier in conversation with Rabbi Deborah Waxman at the podcast Hashivenu: Jewish Teachings on Resilience.
Video: "Cultivating Resilience Through the Practice of Lament"
Breathing in Pesach
Koach Frazier | Ferguson Voices
Who Raised You? Podcast — Season 1, Episode 1 of this podcast featured Koach Frazier. "Join us for a kitchen table chat about remembering to breathe, the music of black church and Judaism, and revolutionary listening."

S2 Ep. 4: The Spiritual Activist Jul 01, 2019

Claudia Horwitz's life's work has focused on integrating spiritual practice with the work of social change. In this conversation, she shares the strains that social justice work can inflict on activists, and articulates the importance of deep inner work in anchoring and sustaining individuals and groups in their work of tikkun olam.

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Special Guest: Claudia Horwitz.

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18 Rituals for Social Activism from Ritualwell — Rituals have sustained the Jewish people throughout history. Below are 18 rituals which address, inspire, and motivate social activism, as recommended by Ritualwell.
dont push the river | Resources for Transformation — Claudia Horwitz's personal website
The Spiritual Activist: Practices to Transform Your Life, Your Work, and Your World (Amazon link)
Professor Jem Bendell on Deep Adaptation

S2 Ep. 3: Changing the World from the Inside Out Jun 11, 2019

This compelling conversation with Rabbi David Jaffe explores the essential relationship between the pursuit of justice and the spiritual growth that comes from self-knowledge. We discuss his personal experiences of moral and spiritual awakening, as well as the tension between experiencing the brokenness of the world and opening ourselves to the unity of all creation.

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Special Guest: Rabbi David Jaffe.

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S2 Ep. 2: Love Received, Love Extended Apr 28, 2019

This wide-ranging conversation with noted teacher of spirituality Rabbi Sheila Peltz Weinberg begins by recounting the influences that led her toward integrating meditation and yoga into Jewish spirituality. She then digs deeply into the essential interplay between spiritual experience (love received) and spiritually-rooted justice (love extended not only to neighbors, but to strangers, even in the face of trauma and fear.) We conclude by discussing of the transformative practice of spiritual direction.

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Special Guest: Rabbi Sheila Peltz Weinberg.

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Rabbi Sheila Peltz Weinberg homepage — Sheila Peltz Weinberg: Author, Poet, Rabbi & Teacher
God Loves the Stranger: Stories, Poems, Prayers: Sheila Peltz Weinberg (Amazon link)
Shalom Meditation – Institute for Jewish Spirituality — Join Rabbi Sheila Weinberg for this meditation on shalom.
In the Divine Image – Institute for Jewish Spirituality — Join Rabbi Sheila Weinberg for a meditation on, and exploration of, what it means to experience life as b’tzelem Elohim – created in the divine image.
Walking as Practice – Institute for Jewish Spirituality — This meditation is from Preparing the Heart: Meditations for Jewish Spiritual Practice. Rabbi Sheila Weinberg describes walking practice as a way of paying attention to the sensations in the body, gathering our attention and focus in the body.
Sylvia Boorstein: That's Funny, You Don't Look Buddhist: On Being a Faithful Jew and a Passionate Buddhist (Amazon link) — Sylvia Boorstein was mentioned in this episode as a teacher of meditation who embraces and integrates her Jewish identity into her work.
Spiritual Direction | Reconstructionist Rabbinical College — The spiritual director serves as a companion and witness — someone who helps you (sometimes with questions, sometimes just by listening) to discern the divine where you might have missed it, and to integrate that awareness into your daily life.
10 Mindfulness Rituals and Meditations from Ritualwell — In support of Hashivenu we are highlighting rituals that have sustained the Jewish people throughout history. Below are 10 mindfulness rituals and meditations recommended by Ritualwell.
Meditation Resources from Ritualwell
Embracing the Stranger resources from Reconstructing Judaism — The pieces in this collection address the stranger we encounter inside as we grow in self-awareness, the strangers we meet in the world around us, and the intersection between the two.

S2 Ep. 1: Trauma, Healing and Resilience Mar 21, 2019

In this interview, Rabbi Jessica Rosenberg delves into her deep interest and growing expertise in the varieties of trauma and how trauma has informed Jewish experience on both the individual and the collective level. Equipped with this awareness, we then discuss ways to move beyond trauma and cultivate resilience, and how these approaches inform her development of Reset: Spiritual Practice for Social Justice Organizations.

Update: See the show links below to read Rabbi Rosenberg's new book, Introduction to Trauma, Healing and Resilience.

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Special Guest: Rabbi Jessica Rosenberg.

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"Introduction to Trauma, Healing & Resilience" by Rabbi Jessica Rosenberg — We are thrilled to make this accessible and groundbreaking work available to the public and hope that you will find it useful and will share it widely.
Reset: Spiritual Practice for Social Justice Organizations
Learning Network: Embodied Ritual for Trauma, Resilience and Healing — We will explore how trauma theory and the tools of Jewish ritual can help us to grieve and process hurts we’ve experienced, build resilience and power for surviving and thriving in oppressive conditions and experience joy, growth and celebration. We will explore how to acknowledge trauma in public ritual spaces safely, responsibly and accessibly. You will have the opportunity to design your own ritual(s) in a supportive and inclusive space. You will come away with the knowledge and practical tools to build healing rituals for yourself and your communities.
Ritualwell: Rituals for Healing & Hard Times — Hard times are inevitable. But support and healing are available in many forms. Rituals — from mikveh to meditation — can help us move from darkness to light.
Aurora Levins Morales - Historian as Curandera — Having a historical understanding of the present makes everything we do more effective. It allows us to see the local faces of large patterns of events and causes, and understand how our immediate experiences are connected to those of people who came before us or emerged out of different pasts than our own. History is also the story we tell about the past to explain the present and imagine the future, a job that can't be left to storytellers with a stake in exploitation. The Historian As Curandera talks about my vision of what an activist historian does and why it matters.
The Historian as Curandera (PDF)
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma (Amazon link) — Trauma is a fact of life. Veterans and their families deal with the painful aftermath of combat; one in five Americans has been molested; one in four grew up with alcoholics; one in three couples have engaged in physical violence. Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, one of the world’s foremost experts on trauma, has spent over three decades working with survivors. In The Body Keeps the Score, he uses recent scientific advances to show how trauma literally reshapes both body and brain, compromising sufferers’ capacities for pleasure, engagement, self-control, and trust. He explores innovative treatments—from neurofeedback and meditation to sports, drama, and yoga—that offer new paths to recovery by activating the brain’s natural neuroplasticity. Based on Dr. van der Kolk’s own research and that of other leading specialists, The Body Keeps the Score exposes the tremendous power of our relationships both to hurt and to heal—and offers new hope for reclaiming lives.
generative somatics | the center for somatic transformation — The mission of generative somatics is to grow a transformative social and environmental justice movement -- one that integrates personal and social transformation, creates compelling alternatives to the status quo and embodies the creativity and life affirming actions we need to forward systemic change.
Trauma, Healing and Resilience Resources (PDF) — A few of our favorite trauma and healing books, podcasts, and websites, lightly sorted, though they all overlap and defy categorization.

Episode 21: Tikkun Middot Feb 04, 2019

This conversation with Rabbi Marc Margolius explores the spiritual practice of Tikkun Middot, a mindfulness-based approach to cultivation of character traits. We explore how this practice can help us better live out our values in challenging times, navigating and learning from our inevitable shortcomings in a sustainable and compassionate way.

Production note: while Rabbi Margolius can be heard clearly, our phone connection with Rabbi Waxman was of unexpectedly poor quality. Our apologies for the spotty audio, and thanks to our producer Sam Wachs for his skillful editing to minimize its impact.

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Special Guest: Rabbi Marc Margolius.

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5 Mussar Teachings and Practices from Ritualwell
Reconstructionist Convention "Food Justice Panel" Excerpt - YouTube — Mike Dahl, Executive Director of Broad Street Ministry, on compassion
Hashivenu: Episode 8: Hineni —Being Present — How do we pull ourselves together when we feel scattered or unfocused? In this episode of Hashivenu, Rabbi Myriam Klotz and Rabbi Deborah Waxman invite us into the spiritual practice of "hineni" -- being present and responsive.
Hashivenu: Episode 6: Mindfulness — In challenging times, we often search for firm ground to stand on. In this interview with Rabbi Jordan Bendat-Appell of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality, Rabbi Deborah Waxman explores mindfulness as a path that can anchor us, nourish our Jewish lives, and sustain us as we strive to fulfill our Jewish values.
Mindfulness & Tikkun Middot Project for Jewish Organizations – Institute for Jewish Spirituality
Resources to Support Practice in Our Time – Institute for Jewish Spirituality
2019-01-09 Parshat Bo Meditation - Rabbi Marc Margolius Video on Vimeo — This week for parshat Bo, which describes God "hardening" Pharaoh's heart, we sit and bring compassionate attention to the contracting and opening of our own hearts.

Episode 20: Choosing Life Dec 04, 2018

This special episode was recorded before a live audience at the Reconstructing Judaism convention in November 2018. I interviewed Susan Levine, an extraordinary person and a member of the Board of Governors of Reconstructing Judaism.

Trigger Warning: Susan and I discussed resilience in the aftermath of a suicide attempt. Susan is wise and grounded and deeply reflective, both about her attempts to end her life, and about her decision to live with integrity and beauty afterward. We want listeners to be prepared for what's coming.

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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.

Special Guest: Susan Levine.

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Links:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline — We can all help prevent suicide. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. Call 1-800-273-8255.
Ritualwell: 10 Jewish Resources on Suicide — 10 resources on suicide prevention and response from Ritualwell.
Ritualwell: 10 Resources to Inspire Gratitude — Learn more about the importance of gratitude as a source of resilience.
Hashivenu: Episode 19: Gratitude — In Episode 19 of Hashivenu, Rabbi Deborah Waxman shares a personal gratitude practice that she has found sustaining in difficult times.
Song of the Sabbath (from Kol Haneshamah pp. 734-736) — This Yiddish poem by Kadia Molodowsky, quoted by Rabbi Deborah Waxman during this interview, is here reproduced from the pages of Kol Haneshamah: Shabbat Vehagim.
Congregation Ner Shalom — Congregation Ner Shalom is a Reconstructionist Synagogue in the Santa Rosa area, serving Sonoma and Marin counties.
Or Shalom Jewish Community — Or Shalom Jewish Community is San Francisco’s first and only Reconstructionist congregation. We embrace Jewish tradition and values as we encourage questioning and experimentation. We honor spiritual growth through many paths: prayer, music, art, food, reading, studying and working for social justice. We invite you to find your Jewish home at Or Shalom!

Episode 19: Gratitude Nov 08, 2018

The recent shooting attack on a synagogue in Pittsburgh has been deeply traumatic. In its aftermath, Rabbi Deborah Waxman shares a personal Jewish practice that sustains her in difficult times, in the hopes that it might help cultivate resilience among our listeners.

Also, in this episode you'll learn how to tune in for a special episode of Hashivenu that will be streamed live during our upcoming convention.
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Ritualwell: 10 Resources to Inspire Gratitude — Learn more about the importance of gratitude as a source of resilience.
Flavors of Gratefulness | Rabbi Shefa Gold — Each day I wake up with an intention that when I open my eyes I will see and recognize God’s Face in the details of the day I am about to encounter. I have many different melodies for the chant. I make up a new one almost every day that expresses my particular mood, inspiration, anticipation, attitude or flavor of my gratefulness. On this page, you can download a PDF of the melodies as well as listen to them online.
Flavors of Gratefulness App | Rabbi Shefa Gold — With Rabbi Shefa Gold’s app you can awaken to all the many dimensions of gratefulness with Modah Ani. Wake up each day to a new melody to fuel the intention (kavanah) to see and recognize God’s Face in the details of the upcoming day.

Episode 18: Fitness Oct 16, 2018

What's the connection between marathon training and prayer? Can CrossFit shed light on building meaningful communities? We speak with Rabbi Jason Bonder about the intersection between fitness and spirituality.

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Special Guest: Rabbi Jason Bonder.

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Episode 17: The High Holiday Season Sep 06, 2018

The holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur drive us to make sense of what's truly important, and sustain us as we strive to recapture those ideals. In this conversation recorded days before Rosh Hashanah, Rabbi David Teutsch and Rabbi Deborah Waxman share the meaning they find in deep themes of the High Holiday season, and reflect on their own evolving relationship with those ideas.

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Special Guest: Rabbi David Teutsch.

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10 Rituals to Assist with Making Teshuvah
Teshuvah: A Reconstructionist Perspective | Reconstructing Judaism — A study sheet on the evolving concept of teshuvah over the ages
Mahzor Leyamim Nora'im - Reconstructionist Press Bookstore — Prayerbook for the Days of Awe
Teshuvah and Compassion | Reconstructing Judaism — This study sheet on teshuvah and compassion draws our attention to the interplay between our ability to forgive others, and God's ability to forgive us.
Finding Forgiveness | Reconstructing Judaism — Is forgiveness an imperative toward which we should strive?

Episode 16: Multifaith Encounters Jul 09, 2018

Multifaith dialogue has the power not just to build bridges of understanding, but to foster personal spiritual growth and transformation. We speak with Rabbi Nancy Fuchs Kreimer and Professor Sa'ed Atshan, a Palestinian Quaker Christian, about their experiences in multifaith work.

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Special Guests: Rabbi Nancy Fuchs Kreimer and Sa'ed Atshan.

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10 Jewish Interfaith Prayers & Rituals — Ritualwell resources on interfaith encounters
Rabbi Nancy Fuchs Kreimer, Ph.D. | Reconstructing Judaism
Dr. Sa’ed Atshan takes up tenure track position in Swarthmore’s Peace and Conflict Studies program | Peace and Conflict Studies at Swarthmore College

Episode 15: Singing Together Jun 04, 2018

Singing together can be a profound and powerful experience. We speak with Rabbi Jeffrey Summit, an ethnomusicologist and a research professor at the music department at Tufts, about the role that music plays both in animating Jewish life and in helping us to cultivate resilience.

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Special Guest: Rabbi Jeffrey Summit.

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Episode 14: Midrash May 14, 2018

The holiday of Shavuot is approaching. This year (2018) on the secular calendar it begins on Saturday evening, May 19. On Shavuot, we celebrate receiving the Torah, the foundational text of the Jewish people. "Torah" has multiple meanings in Jewish tradition. Most folks know it as the Five Books of Moses. But “Torah” in a broader sense is much more. It’s the collection of each and every generation’s engagement with sacred text and with our efforts to live lives of holiness and connection — to each other and to the divine.

In that expansive spirit, we are bringing you a two-part podcast series leading up to Shavuot. In this episode, Rabbi Mira Wasserman and I discuss Midrash, the way ancient rabbis read scripture in new and creative ways, giving old words new life, meaning and relevance.

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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.

Special Guest: Rabbi Mira Wasserman.

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Ritualwell: 5 Creative Resources for Torah Study
About our name and theme song: Hashivenu
Lamentations 5:21 — הֲשִׁיבֵ֨נוּ הי אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ ונשוב [וְֽנָשׁ֔וּבָה] חַדֵּ֥שׁ יָמֵ֖ינוּ כְּקֶֽדֶם׃
Midrash Eichah Rabbah
Jews, Gentiles, and Other Animals: the Talmud after the humanities — In Jews, Gentiles, and Other Animals, Mira Beth Wasserman undertakes a close reading of Avoda Zara, arguably the Talmud's most scandalous tractate, to uncover the hidden architecture of this classic work of Jewish religious thought. She proposes a new way of reading the Talmud that brings it into conversation with the humanities, including animal studies, the new materialisms, and other areas of critical theory that have been reshaping the understanding of what it is to be a human being.
New Books Network podcast: Mira Beth Wasserman, “Jews, Gentiles, and Other Animals: The Talmud After the Humanities”

Episode 13: Hebrew Poetry May 07, 2018

The holiday of Shavuot is approaching. This year on the secular calendar it begins on Saturday evening, May 19. On Shavuot, we celebrate receiving the Torah, the foundational text of the Jewish people. "Torah" has multiple meanings in Jewish tradition. Most folks know it as the Five Books of Moses. But “Torah” in a broader sense is much more. It’s the collection of each and every generation’s engagement with sacred text and with our efforts to live lives of holiness and connection—to each other and to the divine.

In that expansive spirit, we are bringing you a two-part podcast series leading up to Shavuot. In this episode, I speak with Rabbi Jeremy Schwartz about modern Hebrew poetry, a recent expression of Jewish text. We talk about how modern Hebrew poets take apart traditional language and ideas and create something new from ancient building blocks.

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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.

Special Guest: Rabbi Jeremy Schwartz.

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Episode 12: Embodied Prayer Apr 24, 2018

For Rabbi Jonathan Kligler, prayer is a whole-body experience, helping us reboot our awareness of how good it is to be alive, even -- or especially -- in a troubled world. Join us for his deep conversation with Rabbi Deborah Waxman on this episode of Hashivenu.

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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.

Special Guest: Rabbi Jonathan Kligler.

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10 Embodied Rituals — Below are 10 embodied rituals recommended by Ritualwell.
Selection of Morning Blessings from Kol Haneshamah — The Morning Blessings are discussed extensively in this episode. This excerpt from the Reconstructionist prayerbook Kol Haneshamah includes Hebrew, English, transliteration, and commentary on these blessings.
Reconstructionist Press - Kol Haneshamah: Shabbat Vehagim
Rabbi Jonathan Kligler's homepage
Woodstock Jewish Congregation
Recordings - Rabbi Jonathan Kligler
Hineni: Essays and Torah Commentaries from Twenty-Five Years on the Bimah: Rabbi Jonathan Kligler

Rabbi Phillip Lazowski blessing (now rabbi) Deborah Waxman as she became bat mitzvah on November 17, 1979. — Episode 11: Yom HaShoah Apr 10, 2018
In this special extended episode for Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day), we hear from Rabbi Phillip Lazowski, who survived the Holocaust as a child. He shares experiences that shaped his vision and sense of purpose: amidst horror and loss, episodes of hope and humanity.

A note from Rabbi Deborah Waxman:

Thanks so much for listening to Hashivenu. I want to let you know that this episode is slightly different from most of our episodes. It’s a conversation with my childhood rabbi, Rabbi Phillip Lazowski, a really wonderful man. Rabbi Lazowski is a Holocaust survivor and this episode is to commemorate Yom Hasho’ah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. His story truly embodies resilience, and it’s a very hard story, full of loss and horror. So first, a warning that some of what he talks about is not appropriate for young children.

We made a decision here at Reconstructing Judaism not to cut his story short, so while most episodes of Hashivenu are about 25 minutes long, this is longer, about 43 minutes. This won’t be our habit, but we thought it appropriate for this episode.

I wanted to give you the heads up to listen especially for Mrs. Rabinowitz, the nurse who plays an incredibly important role in Rabbi Lazowski’s survival. She first appears around 7 minutes into the interview, but you’ll hear about her two more times, and it’s an amazing story. Rabbi Lazowski, Mrs. Rabinowitz and everyone he talks about demonstrate that we can, even in the most extreme circumstances, choose to act in ways that affirm life and connection and love. May this remembrance teach us.

Below: Rabbi Phillip Lazowski blessing (now rabbi) Deborah Waxman as she became bat mitzvah on November 17, 1979.

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Special Guest: Rabbi Phillip Lazowski.
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Reconstructing Judaism
5 Rituals and Prayers for Yom HaShoah from Ritualwell
Profile of Rabbi Lazowski - Jewish Historical Society of Greater Hartford
Rabbi Emeritus Phillip Lazowski (Beth Hillel Synagogue)
Rabbi Philip Lazowski Says Sharing His Painful Holocaust Experiences Has Been Therapeutic; Also An Obligation, So The World Won't Forget - Hartford Courant
Conversation with Rabbi Philip Lazowski - Jewish Ledger
Amazon.com: Philip Lazowski: Books
Rabbi Philip Lazowski blessing (now rabbi) Deborah Waxman as she became bat mitzvah on November 17, 1979.

Episode 10: "You Were Strangers in Egypt": Passover and Sanctuary Mar 19, 2018

On Passover, we retell our history as strangers and slaves in Egypt. What obligations flow from this memory? We speak with Rabbi Elliott Tepperman, whose congregation recently made a decision to serve as a sanctuary for undocumented immigrants. Join us as we discuss the Jewish values that moved his community to action.

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Special Guest: Rabbi Elliott Tepperman.

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10 Social Justice Haggadot and Supplements — We have gathered ten haggadot and supplements that focus on social justice themes. The haggadot and supplements below explore confrontation, hope, resilience, and finally, the potential for social and political transformation.
Bnai Keshet
Synagogues Show Solidarity With Detained Immigrants on Holy Day - WNYC News - WNYC
Prepare me to be a Sanctuary: Rosh Hashanah Day 1
Mikdash: The Jewish Sanctuary Movement | T'ruah — T’ruah works as part of an interfaith network to mobilize synagogues and other communities to protect those facing deportation or other immigration challenges. By becoming “mikdash” or sanctuary synagogues, communities pledge to take concrete actions, which may include legal support, housing, financial help, and other assistance for the sojourners in our midst.
Brightness Of Noon — Rabbi Tepperman appears in this documentary. Airing on ABC-affiliated stations nationwide, "Brightness of Noon: The Intersect of Faith, Immigration and Refugees," a two-part documentary, highlights the stories of undocumented immigrants and refugees– who fled economic despair and unfathomable violence only to face an uncertain future in the United States – and the faith groups who are posing a question to us all, “Are we willing to take some risks in order to protect human life and basic rights?”

Episode 9: Purim and #metoo Feb 26, 2018

The Book of Esther contains striking examples of women speaking out against oppression in ways that both empower and imperil them. Are there parallels to the #metoo movement? Join Judith Rosenbaum, Executive Director of the Jewish Women’s Archive, in a wide-ranging discussion with Rabbi Deborah Waxman on resilient responses to trying times.

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Special Guest: Judith Rosenbaum.

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Archiving #MeToo | Jewish Women's Archive — Jewish women have #MeToo stories to tell, and we invite you to share yours.
Can We Talk? The JWA Podcast — Each month on Can We Talk?, JWA's podcast team brings you stories and conversations about Jewish women and the issues that shape our public and private lives.
Queen Esther and Bella Abzug: Costumes, Leadership, and Identity | Jewish Women's Archive — On Purim we dress in costume to create a new persona. We delight in unexpected images. We poke holes in the humdrum everyday roles of men and women, rich and poor, young and old. Our assumptions about people shift, and thus, the holiday transforms us. People often choose different costumes and personas as a strategic tool to help them stand up against injustice. In this Go & Learn guide we will focus on two remarkable Jewish women: The biblical figure, Esther, and the historical figure, Bella Abzug. Both women fought for justice and liberation, adopting personas that helped them to achieve their goals. In our featured document, Bella Abzug tells us how she decided to wear distinctive hats and gloves as a strategy for overcoming the disregard she experienced as a young female attorney fighting for justice.
She Said No! | Reconstructing Judaism — This song by MIRAJ recounts Vashti's heroism during the Purim story.
10 Resources for #MeToo and a Feminist Purim — In Episode 9 of Hashivenu we learn about the importance of lifting up women's voices as part of the #metoo movement, in the context of the story of Purim. Below are 10 resources to honor women's voices recommended by Ritualwell.

Episode 8: Hineni — Being Present Feb 13, 2018

How do we pull ourselves together when we feel scattered or unfocused? In this episode of Hashivenu, Rabbi Myriam Klotz and Rabbi Deborah Waxman invite us into the spiritual practice of "hineni" -- being present and responsive.

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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.

Special Guest: Rabbi Myriam Klotz.

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Upcoming Shabbat Yoga: Putting the Pause in the Pose at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, March 2-4: — Let yoga move you through the rhythms of the Sabbath, a day of sacred rest and refreshment. Asana practice serves as your guide to embodying essential qualities of the Sabbath using the uniquely integrative approach of Shabbat Yoga.
Institute for Jewish Spirituality — Cultivating mindful leaders. Revitalizing Jewish life.
Bekhol Levavkha: A Training Program for Jewish Spiritual Directors - Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion — "Bekhol Levavkha: A Training Program for Jewish Spiritual Directors" is a two-year program for Jewish leaders who feel called to tend to the unfolding life of spirit in themselves and others.
10 Embodied Rituals from Ritualwell

A Special Announcement Jan 30, 2018

This is Rabbi Deborah Waxman. Thanks so much for listening to our podcast, “Hashivenu: Jewish teachings on resilience.” Our next regular episode is on its way in February. But I wanted to take a moment to let you know about our organization’s new name: Reconstructing Judaism.

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ReconstructingJudaism.org
Who We Are and What We Do — Reconstructing Judaism. This phrase embodies the decades-long, evolving mission of all who have been a part of Reconstructionist Judaism. Now, Reconstructing Judaism is the new name of the central organization of the Reconstructionist movement, replacing the former: Reconstructionist Rabbinical College & Jewish Reconstructionist Communities.

Episode 7: Ecology Jan 22, 2018

In a wide-ranging conversation about ecology, Tu B'Shvat and shmittah (sabbatical year), Rabbi Fred Scherlinder Dobb and Rabbi Deborah Waxman explore the ways in which Jewish tradition and ecological consciousness provide compelling models for resilience and sustainability.

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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.

Special Guest: Rabbi Fred Scherlinder Dobb.

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Adat Shalom — Adat Shalom has a rich and varied history, rooted in an evolving and active Judaism. We are a participatory member-led congregation of singles and families, dedicated to providing innovative and egalitarian services and leadership to our community.
Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life (COEJL) | Protecting Creation, Generation to Generation — The Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life (COEJL) deepens and broadens the Jewish community’s commitment to stewardship and protection of the Earth through outreach, activism and Jewish learning.
Writings by Rabbi Fred Scherlinder Dobb
10 Prayers and Rituals for the Environment from Ritualwell
Hazon Shmita Project — The Shmita Project is working to expand awareness about the biblical Sabbatical tradition, and to bring the values of this practice to life today to support healthier, more sustainable Jewish communities.
Resilience.org — Resilience.org aims to support building community resilience in a world of multiple emerging challenges: the decline of cheap energy, the depletion of critical resources like water, complex environmental crises like climate change and biodiversity loss, and the social and economic issues which are linked to these.

Episode 6: Mindfulness Jan 07, 2018

In challenging times, we often search for firm ground to stand on. In this interview with Rabbi Jordan Bendat-Appell of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality, Rabbi Deborah Waxman explores mindfulness as a path that can anchor us, nourish our Jewish lives, and sustain us as we strive to fulfill our Jewish values.

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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.

Special Guest: Rabbi Jordan Bendat-Appell.

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10 Mindfulness Rituals and Meditations from Ritualwell — In honor of the launch of the new podcast Hashivenu: Jewish teachings on resilience, created by Rabbi Deborah Waxman, we are highlighting rituals that have sustained the Jewish people throughout history. In the January 2018 episode we learn about Jewish mindfulness and meditation from Rabbi Jordan Bendat-Appell. Below are 10 mindfulness rituals and meditations recommended by Ritualwell.
On Resiliency: Cedar and Reed (Video) — A Jewish mindfulness teaching and practice based on the Talmud, Ta'anit 20a. There are different models for how to be strong in the midst of a storm -- try that of the reed. With Rabbi Jordan Bendat-Appell of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality.
Institute for Jewish Spirituality. Cultivating Mindful Leaders. Revitalizing Judaism. — We believe that leaders who engage in Jewish spiritual practices that are grounded in mindfulness are better equipped to contribute to building Jewish communities that are vibrant, resilient, and wise; they are able to meaningfully address the brokenness of our world.
Our Guest in the News

Episode 5: Activism Dec 05, 2017

The story of Hanukkah invites us to kindle lights in the darkness, and to overcome despair with hope and action. In this spirit, Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum reflects on the extraordinary work of her community, and how it embodies the fundamental connection between spiritual life and social activism.

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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.

Special Guest: Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum.

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18 Rituals for Social Activism from Ritualwell — Below are 18 rituals which address, inspire, and motivate social activism, as recommended by Ritualwell.
House of Peace Jewish-Muslim Outreach
Jews And Muslims Come Together In These Touching Photos — On a recent Friday, members of Congregation Beit Simchat Torah (CBST) arrived at the Islamic Center at New York University in ponchos and rain boots. They dried their laminated signs that read, “Jewish New Yorkers support our Muslim neighbors,” and greeted worshippers attending the weekly Jummah Prayer.
CBST: Building a Bold Spiritual Community of Resistance and Love | Congregation Beit Simchat Torah — CBST is engaging in a process of discerning what it will be to be a powerful spiritual community of resistance and love. This is a marathon - as Heschel said in 1944 - just as evil as the forces of fascism are, we must be as forcefully good.
Shabbat at Congregation Beit Simchat Torah

Episode 4: Chanting Nov 07, 2017

According to Rabbi Shefa Gold, “Chant is the bridge between the inner life and the outer expression; between the solitary practice and the shared beauty of fellowship.” She has set verses from Jewish liturgy and from the Hebrew Bible to chants that are both beautiful and meditative. This episode explores how the ancient practice of chanting can cultivate renewal while bringing traditional liturgy to life.

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Special Guest: Rabbi Shefa Gold.

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Rabbi Shefa Gold — Rabbi Shefa Gold develops and leads Hebrew chants based on Jewish sacred texts for transformative spiritual growth.
Flavors of Gratefulness App | Rabbi Shefa Gold — With Rabbi Shefa Gold’s app you can awaken to all the many dimensions of gratefulness with Modah Ani. Wake up each day to a new melody to fuel the intention (kavanah) to see and recognize God’s Face in the details of the upcoming day.
Chants & Practices | Rabbi Shefa Gold — This page lists all the chants & practices in alphabetical order with links to the chants. (In the submenu, you can also view chant listings by the ‘categories’ used in The Magic of Hebrew Chant.) Click the chant’s name to see the full page for that chant.
Resilience: Im aylech — To hear the various parts of the chant, use the audio players.
Psalm 138:7 — Psalm 138:7, the source text of the chant included in this episode.
Ritualwell: 10 Rituals Which Feature or Include Chanting

Episode 3: Humor Sep 29, 2017

The upcoming holiday of Sukkot is known as z'man simkhateynu, the season of our joy. In keeping with that theme, Rabbi Seth Goldstein joins us for a special episode on humor. Whether opening us to laughter and joy, or easing the way in difficult times, humor can be a powerful path toward resilience.

Bonus feature! Check out Rabbi Deborah Brin's video on Laughter Yoga at Vimeo.

Find out more about the show at About, and learn about our theme song at Theme Song.

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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.

Special Guest: Rabbi Seth Goldstein.

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4 Rituals Acknowledging Humor from Ritualwell.org — In honor of the podcast Hashivenu, we are highlighting rituals that have sustained the Jewish people throughout history. In the third episode, we learn about how humor offers a tool to lighten the darkness. Here are 4 unique rituals which acknowledge humor, recommended by Ritualwell.
Carpooling with Rabbi — Seth Goldstein's video series. "When Kirsten was the Community Engagement Coordinator at my congregation, she lived just a few blocks from my son’s school. After I did the morning drop off I needed to pass by her house on the way to work. So I offered to give her a ride…"
Torah tl;dr — Seth Goldstein's micro-Torah-podcast. "Torah tl;dr injects a little wisdom into your day, giving you a highlight of the Torah portion in 60 seconds. New podcasts every Friday, just in time for Shabbat."
"The Spanish Inquisition" from Mel Brooks' "History of the World: Part I" — See the movie segment referred to in this episode.
Wikipedia article on Jewish Humor — Jewish humour is the long tradition of humour in Judaism dating back to the Torah and the Midrash from the ancient Middle East, but generally refers to the more recent stream of verbal and often anecdotal humour of Ashkenazi Jewry which took root in the United States over the last hundred years, including in secular Jewish culture...Jewish humor, while diverse, favors wordplay, irony, and satire, and its themes are highly anti-authoritarian, mocking religious and secular life alike.
Laughter Yoga with Rabbi Deborah Brin
Rabbi Deborah Brin's homepage

Episode 2: Teshuvah and Forgiveness Sep 05, 2017

As the High Holiday season approaches, Jewish people across the world begin to reflect on their behavior of the past year. They wonder: what does it mean to forgive? What does it mean to seek forgiveness? In a conversation with Rabbi Vivie Mayer, we explore the complexities of teshuvah (repentance) and ways to seek it as the Jewish new year approaches and throughout the year.

Find out more about the show at About, and learn about our theme song at Theme Song.

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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.

Special Guest: Rabbi Vivie Mayer.

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10 Rituals to Assist with Making Teshuvah (Ritualwell.org) — Below are 10 unique Teshuvah rituals recommended by Ritualwell.
Reconstructionist Approach to Teshuvah (ReconstructingJudaism.org) — A study sheet on the evolving concept of teshuvah over the ages.
Mahzor Leyamim Nora'im (Reconstructionist Press Bookstore) — Our Mahzor is an inclusive, comprehensive volume for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services; one that is rooted in the traditional Hebrew liturgy, yet fully contemporary.
Listen to Dodi Tzafati Lach (Rabbi Shefa Gold)
Teshuvah and Compassion (ReconstructingJudaism.org) — This study sheet on teshuvah and compassion draws our attention to the interplay between our ability to forgive others, and God's ability to forgive us.
Finding Forgiveness (ReconstructingJudaism.org — A personal reflection on the ins and outs of finding, and granting, forgiveness.
Bedtime Shema Writing Project (Ritualwell.org)
Sylvia Boorstein's website

Episode 1: Shabbat Aug 10, 2017

In this episode of Hashivenu: Jewish Teachings on Resilience, Rabbi Jacob Staub, Ph.D., talks about one of the deepest and best known of Jewish practices, Shabbat. We read about this ancient practice in Genesis, with God creating the world in six days and then resting on the seventh—and from that, we get the concept of a day of rest.

Rabbi Staub is a professor of Jewish philosophy and spirituality at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. He’s written widely on many topics, including a beautiful extended chapter on the Jewish Sabbath in “A Guide to Jewish Practice, Volume 2 – Shabbat and Holidays,” published by the RRC Press. You are invited to review the chapter by clicking on the link under Episode Links, below.

Find out more about the show at About, and learn about our theme song at Theme Song.

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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.

Special Guest: Rabbi Jacob Staub, Ph.D..

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