Have you ever wondered why more people have a fear of public speaking than of dying? The reason is simple. They don’t want to be in the position Christina Aguilera found herself in yesterday as she sang the national anthem at the Super Bowl. In front of millions of people she messed up part of [...]
10 Days and 10 Ways to Return to Your Best Self: A T'Shuvah Guide
September 12, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Last year I ran a series of 10 posts during the High Holy Days to help people with the t’shuvah process, the process of returning to their best selves. I have compiled those posts into an ebook called 10 Days and 10 Ways to Return to Your Best Self, A T’Shuvah Guide, that is now [...]
Improving Your Aim and Setting New Targets
September 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment
From the beginning of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, until the end of Yom Kippur, the Day of Repentence, Jews have 10 days to return or turn back–t’shuvah–to their best selves. How do you do this? Here’s an excerpt from my workbook, Get Ready, Aim, Shoot, and Hit Your Bull’s Eye This Year that [...]
The Seventh Day of Awe: Honesty
September 25, 2009 By Leave a Comment
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 [...]
Fifth Day of Awe: Soul's Purpose
September 23, 2009 By 2 Comments
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 [...]
First Day of Awe: Sins Against Other People
September 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment
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 [...]
When Forgiveness Seems Impossible
October 10, 2008 By Leave a Comment
I sat in Yom Kippur services struggling with an issue I’ve grappled with for several years now. As I looked at the faces of two people, I found it impossible to forgive them. With the gates closing, I could not reconcile the idea of forgiveness with their ongoing actions. “Oh, God,” I prayed, “Forgive me, [...]
Who Shall Live and Who Shall Die? And Can We Avert the Decree?
October 8, 2008 By Leave a Comment
We are told that on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, “it is written” and on Yom Kippur, the Day of Repentance, “it is sealed.” What is “it”? Our fate for the next year. With Erev Yom Kippur, the beginning of this awe inspiring day, almost upon us, it is important to think about who [...]
The Strongest Prayer on the New Year
September 28, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is almost upon us. Depending upon where you live, it might be less than 24 hours before you find yourself sitting in a synagogue somewhere thinking about the last year, the new year, what you need to repent for, who you need to go to and ask for forgiveness, and what [...]
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