Nina Amir's Thoughts on Human Potential, Personal Growth and Practical Spirituality
Most people don’t realize that through its choice of words, the Old Testament places emphasis on goal setting. In fact, it seems that God expects us to set targets for ourselves and at least to try to hit them. In other words, we are supposed to take the time to come up with resolutions or [...]
Do you have faith in God? If not, why? Does your lack of faith constitute a sin? On Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish Year, the Day of Repentance, we contemplate faith. This past summer while I as at the Aleph Kallah, author Arthur Kurzweil taught me that the “Jewish way of holiness [...]
Ever wonder why you keep turning over a new leaf-the same leaf-year after year? Ever wonder why you keep asking for forgiveness-for the same sins-year after year? Ever wonder why your targets never change even though you keep resetting them and trying harder to hit a bull’s eye-the same bull’s eye-year after year? On the [...]
How honest are you with other people and with yourself? It’s easy to figure out the latter and to repent for the sin of being dishonest with others. We can even tell them we are sorry and ask for forgiveness. We can even try to right the wrong. It’s harder to admit how we have [...]
Halfway through the Days of Awe, and we – I – turn contemplate the reason I’m here at all. What is my soul’s purpose? What am I supposed to be doing with my days on the physical plane, and, more importantly, and I fulfilling my soul’s purpose? Some people have a hard time discovering their [...]
The High Holy Days and the Days of Awe revolve around the theme of t’shuva, a Hebrew word that means “turning” or “to turn.” I often think of it as “returning” as well. Today, we think about t’shuvah. Anyone can contemplate this subject. What you are turning towards at this time? From what are you [...]
As Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year came to a close on Saturday evening, the Days of Awe began. They lead us right up to the holiest day of the year, Yom Kippur, the Day of Repentance. During this time we are told to turn inward and reflect upon our words and deeds over the [...]
We’ve had a new president for five days. Has anything really changed? Many of us felt more hopeful watching the inauguration, but what about now? Has that hope lingered? It’s hard to keep hope alive. It’s hard to stay positive, especially when nothing seems to change – or at least not to change quickly or [...]
Yesterday I learned that Rabbi Alan Lew had died. I didn’t know Rabbi Lew well, but I had the honor of teaching at an event where he was the keynote speaker two years ago. I remember his speach well; in fact, I used what I learned from him later in a talk I gave – [...]
The Torah portions we read the past two weeks, Vayigash (Genesis 44:18-47:27) and Vayechi (Genesis 47:28-50:26), offer us a chance to look at our own lives over the past year and to consider how past events during the last 12 months have gotten us to the place we now stand. It also helps us to look forward [...]
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