Nina Amir's Thoughts on Human Potential, Personal Growth and Practical Spirituality
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 [...]
Tisha B’Av, the saddest day in the Jewish calendar, begins tonight. The Mishna says that five disasters occurred on this date, including the destruction of the First and Second Temples. The Rabbis who lived during the time of the destruction of the Second Temple were, understandably, preoccupied with the causes of these calamities. In one well-known source they tell [...]
It’s been a while since I posted anything about change, but today this video below arrived in my email box not once but twice, and I saw it on Facebook. So, I watched it not once but twice. People around the world are singing about one love, one heart…one God…in an effort to create change [...]
As my daughter left this morning to attend Easter Sunday services with her non-Jewish boyfriend, I thought about what she might take away from that service. I know she won’t be thinking about Easter from a personal growth standpoint as I do. And, despite my own Jewish leanings and upbringing, as always, I look at [...]
In light of yesterday’s post about the teen suicide and other recent deaths at my children’s high school, I’m posting something today that was written by a junior at that very same high school. It’s amazing and hope-inspiring to know that even one child has ALL the answers to how to create change in their [...]
They say, “Hope springs eternal.” For some it does. For some hope seems a way of life, a way of being, a part of who they are. For others, finding hope for the future takes effort or even real work. Today, as the United States of America and the rest of the world watched, the [...]
I live in an area directly affected by the deaths of Chabad Emissary Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his wife, Rivkah. They have relatives living in nearby Monterey, CA. Plus, I know the Chabad Rabbi, Yochanan Friedman, in Santa Cruz quite well. He and I had an opportunity to discuss the tragedy on Monday after a [...]
Not everyone knows that Sukkot is known as the “Season of our Joy.” This year, given the unstable economic situation in the United States, as well as around the world, however, I think many people are experiencing it as the season of our fear. However, the fact that this Jewish holiday is characterized by joyous [...]
Yesterday someone sent me the link to a movie trailer that’s a must watch. However, it’s not only a must watch, it’s a call to action. I’ve posted it below for you to watch. The Shift Movie Trailer However, don’t just watch it and say, “That’s nice,” or “That’s interesting.” Get involved. Become a change [...]
Last night as I sat in temple and watched a parade of different costume-clad people read and chant in a variety of unique, creative and humorous way from the Megillat Esther, I realized an important reason why on Purim we are supposed to in some way blur the difference between evil Haman and the good [...]
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