Last Stab at the Summer Question

I wanted to post an response to the summer question after realizing you snuck one in before your summer journey. I spent the summer reading many different spiritual books and seeking the big question about why we are here. I mixed in some books on evolution to seek to understand our biological/pyschological make-up about why we believe in G-d. I love that we are seekers, for it implies the journey we are on during our lives and potentially aftewards.

Looking forward to continuing to seek...

New Year, New Question

We have entered the New Year 5771. In what ways have the Jewish High Holy Days (Rosh Hashana and/or Yom Kippur) been spiritual for you?

Endless Summer ??

As our summer comes to a close, although recent temps don't seem to dictate that fact, I find myself reflecting on the past few months from a spiritual point of view. As my kids and I traveled the world, together and separately, I worked hard at staying present and in the moment, enjoying the abundance that the universe was constantly providing for me. I used what ever down time I had to read anything I could get my hands on regarding spirituality. My summer reading list consisted of; The Four Agreements, Don Miguel Ruiz - The Fifth Agreement, Don Miguel & Don Jose Ruiz - The Year of Magical Thinking, Joan Didion - The Untethered Soul, Michael Singer - A New Earth, Ekhart Tolle, The Tao of Pooh, Benjamin Hoff & Raising Cain, Dan Kindlon & Michael Thompson - listening to Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao, Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

On July 31st I traveled to Mammoth Lakes with my children. This was our first trip to Mammoth since my wife Erica died in a snowboarding accident there in February. Needless to say, the weeks leading up to the trip were met with some anxiety on my part. On the Friday before we drove up, something was pulling at me all day, telling me I should attend shabbat services that night at Or Ami. I don't why there was any resistance in me but it took a little convincing from a friend I was with that day and it was decided we would attend that evening. As we celebrated shabbat and listened to Julia Weisz's sermon I was amazed by the Torah portion that I had seemingly stumbled into ( Ekev5770). The story was of Moses leading the Jews to Israel and reminding them of the hardships and pain they had suffered prior to leading them into the promised land. Julia's words about the the need to visit the root and most difficult part of our grief prior to healing were so incredibly poignant. The power of her sermon and the warmth of the Or Ami community gave me the strength to make that journey, which I knew would help us tremendously on our path of healing.

On Saturday afternoon, July 31st, Megan, Tyler, our dogs Boo & Mr. Butters, and I hiked up to the very spot where Erica took her last breath. We sat, we meditated, we cried and we healed. As we sat on the hill side we took in the vast and incredible view up the valley in front of us, out to Mono Lake and up to the crest of Mammoth Mountain to our right. The sun shone softly on our backs, filtered by the trees behind us and directly on to the flowers we had placed in Erica’s honor. It was a beautiful moment and we could feel Erica’s presence immeasurably. We spent the rest of the weekend hiking and celebrating life with friends, basking in the light that surrounded us.

Two weeks ago I traveled to a small town outside of Mexico City next to the Teotihuacan Pyramids site. A friend and I spent four days living with Don Miguel Ruiz and his son Don Jose along with about 20 other spiritual seekers of all ages, races, and from geographical locations around the globe. We learned about and explored the spiritual philosophy of the ancient Toltec culture and the significance that the pyramid site played in their spiritual practices. It was an enlightening journey and I highly recommend checking out their books, The Four Agreements and/or The Fifth Agreement. The Fifth Agreement actually covers the first four.

All I can say is that after a summer of reading, traveling, and reflecting I have made the irrevocable decision that I choose to be happy, I choose not to be a victim, I choose not to judge myself or others, and not to concern myself with the judgments others may have of me. I have chosen love and light over despair and darkness. I have chosen spirituality what ever that may be and wherever that may lead.

The summer maybe coming to an end but the search for spiritual fulfillment never will.

Summertime Judaism

The question about summertime spirituality gave me only a moments pause. We go camping once a summer at least with several families at Morro Bay state park. Each morning we Jewish moms gather for Torah study, inviting whichever children care to come to take a turn reading and discussing. It is one lovely way to start the morning. We also have Shabbat evening together camping, inviting everyone and sharing our tradition and holy day with us. Not only is the Challah and grape juice a bit hit but the feeling that surrounds us is also. Now, how to have every day feel that way!

Recharging my Batteries

This summer I plan on recharging my spiritual batteries by being lazy. Probably not very ambitious or inspiring but it sounds perfectly wonderful to me. I have a HUGE stack of books and magazines that I haven't had time to peruse and I am looking forward to sitting on my backyard swing and reading and chillaxing. I also plan on having many super casual, pajama dinners with friends and family. To top off my spirituality tank, I look forward to attending shabbat services as a congregant (and not as a worker). The President's announcements are just about the last part of the service and I couldn't "relax" until my "speech" was over. All those years of giving announcements prevented me from "being in the moment" of the service as I was too focused on what I would say when I got on the bimah. Now, ahhhhhh, I can sit back, relax, and get reaquainted with the beauty of summer and shabbat.

Summer....Connections....Spirituality

Okay, this is an easy question to ponder. Well, the truth is that there is not much pondering involved, hence my quick response! The summer is all about recharging, reconnecting and reminding. The recharging part is easy to understand and needs no explanation, the reconnecting falls in similar category. I look forward to getting together with friends who we do not see (or not see often) during the regular year.
As the reminding part, maybe it's just where I am, but there's so much going on; things I cannot control (like when did my daughter become a middle school student?!?) and I want to just be in the moment and savor where we are and what we are doing.
The spirituality comes into play because when I am really connected in the moment and taking it all in, I feel a deeper connection. One that comes from the awareness and acceptance of spirituality. For me this happens most often outdoors and in nature. I've been at the beach twice this summer and sitting in my beach chair, looking out towards the horizon, I am reminded of all that is beautiful and tranquil and right with this world.

Margaritas for breakfast

Sit by the beach and try to figure out what plan the Big Guy upstairs has in mind for me in the upcoming year. If that doesn't work, I'm goin' back to margaritas for breakfast.

A New Question for the Month

This Month's Question:

As summer approaches, what will you do (or what can you do) to make this summer spiritually fulfilling?

I'm A Jewish Imposter

I have never held a Torah. The closest I have gotten to a Torah is kissing it through the mad rush at High Holy Days services. I do it, and I make my children do it, but I'm not even sure why.
Does this make me a Jewish imposter?

I have other books which I use for spirituality, other readings, and other prayers that I say, because I can understand them. They all have to do with believing in and trusting God's will for me, but I feel nothing when I hold them and they aren't very special. They are not based in any religion, and you can buy them in any Barnes and Noble.

I often feel like a hypocrite when I stand up every time the arc is opened, sit down when it's closed, and when I recite prayers in Hebrew which I have memorized (and I'm not even sure what they mean and if I'm even saying them correctly, so I whisper).
This usually brings me shame (what else is new?)

Should I continue to go undercover, or should I start looking into the Torah?

Hard to put into words

For me, holding the Torah is holding a sacred vessel that swells with intense, powerful energy.

I can almost hear amazing, swirling sounds, voices, and music emerge as soon as the Torah is opened, considering all that is contained inside.

Torah carries Godly messages written in human form.

I've learned over time that Torah is many things at once. It is a Jewish identity, a guidebook, a contract, and a vision for the future that binds generations and connects Jews across the world.

It instructs us to strive to be holy and to be the best we can for the sake of human kind and for the world.

It's hard to put in words the feeling I get every time the Torah is opened, let alone given the honor of holding it.