Hashivenu

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. Subscribe by Email This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.Special Guest: Rabbi Jessica Rosenberg.Support HashivenuLinks: 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.

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. Subscribe by Email This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.Special Guest: Rabbi Marc Margolius.Support HashivenuLinks: 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.

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. Subscribe by Email This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.Special Guest: Susan Levine.Support HashivenuLinks: 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!

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. Subscribe by Email This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.Support HashivenuLinks: 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.

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. Subscribe by Email This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.Special Guest: Rabbi Jason Bonder.Support HashivenuLinks: Ritualwell: 10 Embodied Rituals When Some Turn to Church, Others Go to CrossFit - The New York Times Chrissie Wellington – Head chopping: the importance of R&R The Mensch on the Bench and the Future of Judaism | Jason Bonder | The Blogs Casper ter Kuile Angie Thurston | The On Being Project Care of Souls How We Gather Faithful

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. Subscribe by Email This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.Special Guest: Rabbi David Teutsch.Support HashivenuLinks: 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?

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. Subscribe by Email This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.Special Guests: Rabbi Nancy Fuchs Kreimer and Sa'ed Atshan.Support HashivenuLinks: 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

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. Subscribe by Email This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.Special Guest: Rabbi Jeffrey Summit.Support HashivenuLinks: Ritualwell: 10 Contemporary Jewish Songs Rabbi Jeffrey Summit | Tufts Music Jeffrey A. Summit The inspiration for "Delicious Peace: Coffee, Music & Interfaith Harmony in Uganda" - YouTube Delicious Peace: Coffee, Music & Interfaith Harmony in Uganda - Smithsonian Folkways Jeffrey A. Summit Singing God's Words: The Performance of Biblical Chant in Contemporary Judaism (American Musicspheres): Jeffrey Summit: 9780190497088: Amazon.com: Books Abayudaya: The Jews of Uganda: Richard Sobol, Jeffrey A. Summit: 9780789207760: Amazon.com: Books The Lord's Song in a Strange Land: Music and Identity in Contemporary Jewish Worship Book and CD (American Musicspheres): Jeffrey A. Summit: 9780195116779: Amazon.com: Books One More Time - Rev. James Moore & the Mississippi Mass Choir - YouTube לכה דודי - ליאו לבנדובסקי Lecha Dodi - L. Lewandowski - YouTube Author Talk with Rabbi Jeffrey A Summit - YouTube — Delicious Peace: Coffee, Music and Interfaith Harmony in Uganda Jeffrey Summit book talk - YouTube

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, 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. Subscribe by Email This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.Special Guest: Rabbi Mira Wasserman.Support HashivenuLinks: 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”

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. Subscribe by Email This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.Special Guest: Rabbi Jeremy Schwartz.Support HashivenuLinks: Ritualwell: 5 Resources to Inspire Your Writing Soul and Gone: Hebrew Poetry Poetry International "The Jews" by Yehuda Amichai (PDF) Tourists - Yehuda Amichai Our eyes are open but we cannot see the unbelievable - Books - Haaretz.com Amazon.com: Open Closed Open: Poems : Yehuda Amichai The Penguin Book of Hebrew Verse (Penguin Classics): Various, T. Carmi: 9780140424676: Amazon.com: Books From Jerusalem to the Edge of Heaven: Dr. Ari Elon Amazon.com: The Book of Words: Talking Spiritual Life, Living Spiritual Talk (Kushner) (9781580230209): Rabbi Lawrence Kushner: Books Shabbat Celebration and Services - Temple Bnai Israel

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. Subscribe by Email This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.Special Guest: Rabbi Jonathan Kligler.Support HashivenuLinks: 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

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. Subscribe by EmailSpecial Guest: Rabbi Phillip Lazowski.Support HashivenuLinks: 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.

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. Subscribe by EmailSpecial Guest: Rabbi Elliott Tepperman.Support HashivenuLinks: 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?”

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. Subscribe by Email This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.Special Guest: Judith Rosenbaum.Support HashivenuLinks: 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. 

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. Subscribe by Email This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.Special Guest: Rabbi Myriam Klotz.Support HashivenuLinks: 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