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September 19, 2023 – 8:31 pm | 59 views

Get your head in the game is a common refrain among athletes. Distraction is the last thing athletes can afford. It interferes with their rhythm, disturbs their focus, and wreaks havoc on their stamina. Coaches are often overheard telling players to get their heads in the game.
Judaism is no different. …

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Articles tagged with: spirituality

Vayishlach: Living A Full Life

November 21, 2015 – 11:03 pm | 3,387 views
life - innerstream.ca

Life and Death
When are you most alive, after birth or after death?
That is a crowd stopping question. What in the world does it mean?
Well, think about it. When you were born, G-d breathed a soul, a part of Himself, a slice of heaven, into your body. Your soul is your …

Shlach: Boots On The Ground

June 9, 2014 – 1:37 am | 6,056 views
boots on the ground - innerstream.ca

Ritual
I’m often asked how to make ritual exciting. It’s sad, but true that many Jewish children are raised with a ritualistic form of Judaism that lacks spirit and it is difficult for them to be inspired by meaningless rituals that feel repetitive and redundant. My answer is always the same. …

Balak: To Be Like Dust

June 16, 2013 – 4:24 am | 3,822 views
like dust - innerstream

 Curious Praise
Overwhelmed by the beautiful sanctity of the Jewish people, Balaam burst forth with, “who can count the dust of Jacob?”[1] What did he mean by dust and why did he mention Jacob rather than Abraham?

Naso: The Priestly Blessings of Growth

May 12, 2013 – 5:38 am | 3,220 views
the priestly blessing innerstream

Three Parts
A while back, someone in my congregation noticed that the Kohen, during the priestly blessings, repeated the cantor’s errors, when echoing his intonations. He inquired with the Kohen, who replied that he hadn’t noticed. He explained that when offering the blessing he tries to empty his mind and make …

Chukat: What I Learned From A Wellspring

June 22, 2012 – 6:33 pm | 2,810 views
what wellsprings can teach us innerstream

Springing the Well
Wellsprings are G-d’s gift to the world. Arid climates become fertile when wells are discovered. Parched and thirsty souls find life, salvation and hope with the discovery of a well. A well discovery is cause for celebration and certainly a reason to praise G-d. It comes as no …

Vayeshev: Selling A Brother

December 12, 2011 – 4:12 pm | 2,521 views
selling a brother - innerstream

The Five Rung Pole
There is a hierarchy to the things we love. At the bottom of the totem pole are the vane pursuits of life, such as power, money, success and prestige as well as the toys of life such as cars, houses, furniture and wardrobes. These things make a …

Vayakhel Pekudei: The Bottom Line

February 27, 2011 – 2:46 am | 2,478 views
the bottom line - innerstream

The Generous Economizer
When you see a miser spending money in generous amounts you can assume that something out of the ordinary is afoot. It might be a simcha, such as an upcoming wedding, perhaps a tragedy or an illness. Whatever it is, you would certainly assume an exception before assuming …

Vayigash: Prayer – A Heart Stopping Reunion

December 5, 2010 – 3:38 am | 5,677 views
a heart stopping reunion - innerstream

The Spiritualist and the Pragmatist
We often talk of G-d. To describe our relationship we employ metaphors, such as husband or father that are inspiring to some and off-putting to others. For every person, who responds to the spiritual abstraction of this relationship, there are others that are left unmoved. They …