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Moon of Dreaming (November/December)  As the nights grow longer, we read many Torah portions about dreams and dreaming. In these long nights, take the time to dream and re-ignite your creativity. Our spiritual focus is on our personal connection to Divine through creative expression. As the weather changes and the days grow shorter, we seek inspiration in  Yirah  (יראה), or the idea of Radical Amazement/Fear/Awe/Reverence. Kohenet Ketzirah  HaMa’agelet  (the Circle Maker) is a maker and teacher of the sacred arts. She...

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The seven-year cycle of Shmita is a family-friendly opportunity to create a physical or virtual time capsule. There are lots of ways to create a time capsule, here are some ideas.  Find an object that represents something important to you from the past year. Or something you wish to release. Add in photos of your family or create a dedicated folder on your computer for a few images that capture this moment in time.  Have each family member write a letter...

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One way to practice release during the Shmita year is to explore where we hold tension in our bodies. This calming embodied meditation can be done nearly anywhere and anytime you need to rest.  Close your eyes and breathe deeply. As you inhale, make a tight fist in your right hand and flex all the muscles in your right arm. As you exhale, release your fist and let all those muscles relax.  On your next inhale, make a fist with your...

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Though we might not all be farmers or gardners, we are all connected to farmers who produce and grow our food. Bring more intentionality to what you eat in this Shmita year by buying more locally-grown foods and getting to know the farmers in your community.   Each new season of the Shmita year, take a moment to eat a special food. As you eat, give gratitude to the many hands involved in bringing that food to your table. You may also...

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The root of the word shmita means to drop or let go. Besides letting the land go fallow, our tradition has also connected the Shmita year with debt forgiveness, especially for itinerant farmers. Every seven years, all debts are forgiven and obligations released, giving everyone a second chance.  As many people grapple with medical debt, student loans and rental or mortgage debt, we can learn a lot from this tradition.  Besides examining our financial debts and the money owed to us,...

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Our ancestors were closely tied to their lands and the Biblical laws of Shmita had a tangible impact on their lives. Throughout the Torah, we learn that if we care for the land, we can enjoy its bounty. If we push it beyond its limits, we will face consequences. Just as we need time to sleep and to rest, so too does the earth. As we more frequently experience the effects of climate change, the need to let our lands rest...

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In a world where we are constantly encouraged to produce, taking time to rest can feel radical. Founded in 2016, The Nap Ministry is an organization devoted to exploring how rest is a form of spirituality and resistance, especially for oppressed people.  Learn more about how The Nap Ministry is making naps a sacred practice at: https://thenapministry.wordpress.com/  To help yourself connect with this aspect of Shmita, find a space in your home that is solely dedicated to rest. Bring blankets, pillows,...

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The Shmita year is a powerful time for reflection on the past seven years, to consider how we can embrace rest and explore what we want to release. Use the following questions to guide you through a writing exercise. Take your time and dim distractions so that you can be fully present.  When your mind wanders, kindly bring yourself back to this physical practice of writing. Return to this exercise throughout the Shmita year to see if your thoughts shift.  The...

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Shmita (Sabbatical) is a sacred practice of rest and release that goes back to Biblical times. Just as we pause for Shabbat every seven days, Shmita takes place every seven years. Think of it as a Shabbat for the land. When many of us lived agrarian lives, Shmita was a year to let our lands lie fallow, and no new crops were planted. All lands are considered shared commons without ownership. By allowing not just the soil to rest, but also...

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Traditionally read during Passover and in some homes each Shabbat, the Song of Songs is a romantic love poem. We think it's perfect to read during Tu B'Av, the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Av, and a day devoted to love. Here's some of our favorite lines.    "You are beautiful, my love, you are beautiful; your eyes are dove-like. You are handsome, my beloved, and pleasant." "Behold my beloved, here he comes. He is leaping over the mountains, bounding...

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Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu Ruach ha’Olam, borei p’ri ha’eitz. Blessed are You, oh Divine Spirit of the Universe who creates the fruit of the tree.

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The seventh night of Hanukkah coincides with Rosh Hodesh Tevet.  While the new moon and new month has long been associated with women, Tevet is extra special.  In North Africa, Greece and Turkey, Jewish communities celebrate this special night with Chag HaBanot (Festival of the Daughters). It’s the day Esther was taken to Ahasuerus’s palace in the Purim story and it’s when we honor the heroism of Judith in the story of Hanukkah. On Chag HaBanot, women and girls across generations...

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Kohenet Keshira haLev Fife (https://www.keshirahalev.com) offers eight questions to guide us in reflection as we wind down and look ahead to a new secular year. Inspired by the great teacher, Rabbi Shammai, who starts Hanukkah with eight candles lit and ends with just one candle, this ritual invites us to count down and release as we move toward (and embrace) the darkest part of the year.  8) What is something you're ready to leave behind this year?  7) What is something...

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Whether you’re spending this Thanksgiving alone or with others, use this blessing to send a message of love and peace to those you care about.    May you feel love and security wherever you go. May you radiate with light and gratitude throughout your days. May a spirit of amazement reside within you always, and may you find peace. (adapted from the blessing for children)

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By Jeffrey Yoskowitz & Liz Alpern If you haven’t made homemade pickles yet, the recipe also works with store-bought sours. Fried pickles make a great hors d’oeuvre, especially with the garlic aioli. Sweet pickles will definitely work in place of sour pickles, but may put your Ashkenazi street cred in jeopardy. Note that a thermometer is important for this recipe. Serves 8  INGREDIENTS FOR THE AIOLI:   1 large egg  1 egg yolk  2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice  1 Tbsp spicy brown...

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Gratefulness connects us up to the great flow of receptivity and generosity. When we begin the day in gratefulness, we step on to the path of love. מוֹדֶה אֲנִי לְפָנֶיךָ רוח חַי וְקַיָּם שֶהֶחֱזַרְתָּ בִּי נִשְׁמָתִי בְחֶמְלָה, רַבָּה אֱמוּנָתֶךָ Modeh ah-nee lifanecha, Ru-ach chai v’kayam, she-hechezarta bee nishma-tee b’chemlah rabbah emunatecha!  I give thanks before you, living and eternal Spirit, for You have returned within me my soul with compassion; how great is Your faith in me!

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Birkhat haGomel (Blessing of Gratitude) is commonly said after recovering from serious illness or delivering a baby, but can also be recited in appreciation for completing a dangerous journey. It's usually recited in a group of at least 10 other adults who can offer the response.  First, one person offers this blessing: Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha-olam, ha-gomel l’chayavim tovot she-g’malani kol tov. Blessed are You, Lord our God, ruler of the world, who rewards the undeserving with goodness, and...