The following is an index and summary of articles on this website which are specifically concerned with Jewish Festivals.
The Spiral and the Beam
The short essay "The Spiral and the Beam-April 2012" examines the Festivals as moments out of time in a cycle of re-presented moments of spiritual activity. It also makes the point that the physical and the spiritual are complimentary rather conflicting aspects of the same divine reality.
You can read it HERE.
Jewish New Year
The article “The Sound of the Shofar (Sept 2007)” contains an online liturgy with audio files of the Jewish New Year Shofar calls. It is intended for use by Isolated Jews who would otherwise not be able to listen to the call of the shofar. You can read it HERE.
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Sukkot
* The article “Clouds of Glory-Shelters of Joy (Oct 2011)” is a short reflection on the sukkah and on our relationship to the “Presence” of God. It features a beautiful and informative video produced/directed by Ryan Lifchitz and introduced by Yaakov Lehman. You can read it and view the video HERE.
* The article “Sukkot in the Midst of a Storm” makes a reflection on the Festival specifically for contemplatives. It focuses on Bitachon ( reliance on Divine Providence). You can read it HERE.
* This essay "One Thing I Ask (Psalm 27) - October 2012" is a short meditation on Psalm 27. It interprets its fourth verse as a model definition of the dedicated contemplative's experience. It was written during the festival of Sukkos and so it goes on to examine the meaning of Divine Shelter in the contemplative's daily prayers. You can read it HERE.
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Pesach (Passover)
* In the article “Expansive Pluralism and the Knowledge of God” you can read my thoughts on the narrow spaces which prevent our prayer or our religious practice from being open. It makes use of the traditional comparison between “Mitzrayim”: a place of narrow confinement and the “merchav-Yah” the expansive openness which God provides. You can read it HERE.
* The article “Contemplative Prayer: Encountering Freedom (April 2010)”
Reflects on the escape from Mitzrayim (Confinement) to the Merchavyah (expansive freedom)
Lag B'Omer
The article "The Holy Fire of Shimon Bar Yochai "celebates this festive day.
You can read it HERE.
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Shavuos
The article “Torah is My Bread - (Shavuot 2010)” reflects on the link between Pesach and Shavuot. It reflects on the tikkun which contemplatives can effect by their prayers as well as through their entire lives of dedicated prayer.
You can read it HERE.
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Hannukah
* The article Hannukah Gelt: Trusting in God (Dec 2009) examines the nature of the victory celebrated in this festival and reflects on the text “Not by might and not by power but by my spirit” from Zechariah 4:6
You can read it HERE.
* The first part of the article “Beit El-The Dedication of the Temple” (Dec 2008)" contains seasonal reflections on the festival with a specifically contemplative nuance. You can read it HERE.
* The article Shamash: The Ninth light (Nov 2007) contains a reflection on the Shamash light of the Hannukah menorah. You can read it HERE.
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Elul
The article “Sound the Shofar in Elul (Sept 2008)” considers how we can change the future if not the past in a reflection on this penitential season. You can read it HERE.
Elul: Hide and seek for Contemplatives. (Aug 2009)
Although this is an article for the penitential month of Elul...it is also a reflection on the relationship of a contemplative Jew with God. It examines the search and the struggle implicit in any real life of dedicated prayer. You can read it HERE.
Elul: Teshuvah- An Elul Reflection (Aug 2010)
A brief comment on the text "Heal us and we shall be healed" which reminds us that it is only when God "turns to us" that we can begin to return to Him. You can read it HERE.
A brief comment on the text "Heal us and we shall be healed" which reminds us that it is only when God "turns to us" that we can begin to return to Him. You can read it HERE.
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Tisha B'Av
The article "Repair and Return:Fifty Days to Let God Find Us - (Aug 2011)" considers acts of Jewish asceticism in the light of this day of penitence and of Parshah Vaetchanan. It also considers its place in the lead up to the Days of Awe as a time for moving towards a deeper encounter with the Divine.
You can read it HERE.
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Tu B'Shvat
The article "Contemplative Roots and Branches - (February 2012)" makes reference to the festival of the "New Year for Trees" and relates this festival to our acts of "orientation" towards the One is who is HaMakom--the only True Place. It refers to the work of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov and Rabbi Avraham Kook who both marvel at the cosmic influence that our humble acts of contemplative prayer and acts of prayerful study are capable of achieving with God's blessing.
You can read it HERE.
