Mysticism and Spirituality

Jewish mysticism, also known as Kabbalah

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Mysticism and Spirituality

And His Name Will Be One

One of life's greatest paradoxes is that the universe has been created in such a way that it could appear [to some] that there is no Creator at all. What looks like empirical evidence of a Creator to one person appears to be nothing more than randomness to another.

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New Testament Insights

Unraveling the Controversy of Healing on Shabbat in the Gospels

Some of Jesus's more contentious conflicts stem from his healing on this Holy day. But if healing on Shabbat is generally permitted in Jewish law, what is the real point of the story?

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Mysticism and Spirituality

Understanding and Protecting from Evil Eye

Evil Eye, known in Hebrew as "Ayin Hara" (עַיִן הָרָע), is the belief that a malevolent gaze can bring some degree of harm or misfortune to those it befalls. Mentioned a few times in the Gospels, it is a topic worth exploring in modern times.

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Mysticism and Spirituality

Angels Ascending and Descending on the Ladder

Jesus quotes a very deep midrash in the Gospel of John. Many readers miss this reference, but his audience did not. Journey with us as we unpack these metaphors and seek understanding.

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The Fourth Revolution of Torah

The times we live in are unique. While troubling and challenging on one hand, they also provide never-before opportunities to connect with the Creator. Learn about the Fourth Revolution of Torah and how to take part.

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Mysticism and Spirituality

The Ruach - Soul Series pt. 2

Ruach can become misaligned when we get overly fixated on beauty. Rather than praising and opening ourselves to the Author of beauty, we make beauty itself an idolatrous object of admiration and devotion. Beauty then becomes an end in itself instead of a medium to connect to the Source of beauty.

Mysticism and Spirituality

Bitachon: The Cornerstone of Inner Peace and Resilience

Cultivating Bitachon (Trust) and embedding it more deeply into our psyche is a lot easier said than done. Often progress comes through hard times and significant life trials, similar to those we see in Abrahram's life.

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Mysticism and Spirituality

The Preexistence of the Soul

When we meet someone who does not seem to fit into the normative behavior of their generation, we might call them an "old soul." But, can the soul be older than the body?

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Mysticism and Spirituality

Babel and the Ethics of Technology

At first glance, the Biblical account of the Tower of Babel might appear to be closer to a children's story with its deceivingly simple moral, warning of the dangers of misapplied human ingenuity. However, the Rabbinic tradition whispers a much deeper story - one that is still relevant in our time.

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Mysticism and Spirituality

TzimTzum - Creating Space, Creating Potential

Though a foreign concept, "tzimtzum" offers a unique perspective that helps to understand a myriad of topics, such as; the creation of the world, the existence of time within eternity, good versus evil, and how the Divine interacts with the mundane.

Mysticism and Spirituality

What Does It Mean to be Made in the Image and Likeness of the Creator?

Rendered commonly as "image", Tzelem can also mean "form", or "shadow". Often, Tzelem represents the spiritual components of humankind, representing the fact that humans are composed of "soil" (adamah), "blood" (dom), and supernal qualities.

Mysticism and Spirituality

Israel Under Attack - Here is What You Can Do

With the war in Israel beginning, there are things you can do to help.

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Mysticism and Spirituality

Messiah: Part 2, The New Normal

In Part 2, we look at the key dynamics humanity now faces after Adam's sin, the role of the Messiah to repair these, and how we have a shared responsibility to participate.

Mysticism and Spirituality

The Nefesh - Soul Series pt. 1

“Some people are inclined to contemplate the essence of their souls. Others can live their entire lives - even lives of intellectual activity - without taking an interest in their souls at all.

Torah

A Sukkah of Peace

After having conducted a 40-day retrospective of our year, ultimately repenting for our mistakes on Yom Kippur - we are provided a moment to look forward to the year ahead. This is why Sukkot represents a kind of fresh start, the beginning of a new paradigm in our spiritual growth.

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Mysticism and Spirituality

The Divine Council

Does G_D rule the world through a Divine Council of supernal angels? For many, this may be a new idea, however, deep within the Rabbinic tradition, this is quite ancient.

Mussar

Soul Refinement - Guarding Our Speech

To the best of my knowledge, no legal system on earth holds verbal insults and thought crimes in the same category as more egregious and obvious crimes like murder and adultery. However, in the spiritual economy of the Bible, these are very much connected.

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Mysticism and Spirituality

3 Stages of Change According to Kabbalah

These stages can transform us into stronger, more resilient individuals when embraced and understood. Surprisingly, this idea is hinted at in the Biblical story of Jacob with the three types of sheep.

Mysticism and Spirituality

40 Days of Spiritual Metamorphosis

As summer fades into autumn, a sacred period arrives in the Jewish calendar that carries profound spiritual significance. We're all invited to embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery, repentance, and reconnection with the Divine during this time.

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New Testament Insights

The Healing of the Blind Man

What is the lesson of the healing of the blind man? Is it simply a recorded event, or is there more for readers to take away from this moral?

Mysticism and Spirituality

New Book - Exploration of the Soul

Though concealed from many, the Bible's inner wisdom and soul, particularly its exploration through the Jewish tradition, remain some of humankind's most practical, timeless, and profound writings.

Videos

Developing the Soul - Mussar Series. Part 4 ▶

In this final session, we recap some of the concepts of this study, focusing on some common areas of imbalance many of us will want to be aware of.

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Mysticism and Spirituality

Our Test: The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil

The Sages described these times we live in as 'great and terrible' - also remarking that they themselves would not want to be alive for the tests we face, implying that these tests provide a great opportunity for us.

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Mysticism and Spirituality

What Does the Bible Say About the Afterlife?

The concept of the afterlife, particularly heaven, and hell, has been the subject of fascination and contemplation across various religious and cultural traditions. But, what does the Bible say about these topics?

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Mysticism and Spirituality

Understanding the Klippah

One useful but complex topic is known as the "klippah", which means "husk", or "shell" in Hebrew. Though esoteric, this work will make this complex idea simple enough to begin applying today.