By Rabbi Ilan
Wisdom & Inspiration for the Journey Ahead
Today is the Jewish holiday of Tu B'Av, sometimes known as Jewish Valentine's Day. Where does Tu B'Av come from and what is it about? It's all about love! Love, however, isn't easy to come by or to maintain. Thankfully God (via Moses) has...
Thanks for tuning in to the Torah of Life podcast. I'm excited to bring you our first (of many!) interviews, with my friend and teacher Rabbi Ari Saks. Rabbi Ari shares his wisdom about how we can find our calling in today's...
Tisha B'Av is the saddest day of the Jewish year. The Temples in Jerusalem were destroyed, our people were exiled, and several calamities befell the Jewish people on Tisha B'Av. What can we learn from it? Should we even still observe the...
We all get stuck. We all want to stay in our safe, happy places. And yet, when we stay too long, we lose out on the opportunities we're waiting for. This week's torah reading has a challenge for us. Will we answer it? Thanks...
How do we balance our individual needs with those of the communities we belong to? What happens when our communities desires and ours don't match? Do we have to go along to get along or can we find a middle ground to...
Jewish law is filled with teachings about how to mourn. We cover the mirrors, we eat round foods at shiva, we don't wear new clothes, we avoid social gatherings, we sit on low stools, we say kaddish, and much more. Amidst...
Are we sinners or are we saints? Are we heroes or villains in the story of life, and does it even matter? How is it that sometimes the animals can see what's right in front of us, that we're too blind...
Why do we rebel against that which is good for us? We sign up for courses and don't do the reading. We join a gym and then never go. We tell our loved ones we'll spend more time with them and...
On this podcast, I share with you where I've been and why I've been absent these last six weeks. Unfortunately, my father Rabbi Melvin Glazer died on April 22nd, and it's been a whirlwind since then. I'm so glad to be back...
How do we get to the Promised Land? What does Passover mean for us today? What does Moses have to tell the Israelites about Passover as they set out for a new land? Do they need Passover as they start anew? Do we? Thanks...
Are you bringing yesterday's offerings into today's times? Are you trying to move forward but always looking in the rearview mirror? I think Torah has a message for us all about why looking forward, with new identities and states of mind is...
The great Roger Bannister died this weekend at the age of 88. Why was he important? How did he change the world? What can we learn from him? Listen in and hear about his story, and how it can inspire us...
How should we think about taking on new challenges? What do we need to be successful? In this week's Torah reading we discover a Biblical recipe for taking on new endeavors. God appoints Bezalel to be the master architect of the tabernacle,...
What do we do when the enemy comes looking for us? Why do we remember the difficulties of our ancestors even now? This Shabbat is Shabbat Zachor, a Shabbat of Remembering. What do we remember, and why? Thanks for listening to the Torah of...
When faced with tragedy, how do we respond? What does God want from us today? How do we make the world into a dwelling place for holiness? Parshat Terumah has some wisdom for us. Shabbat Shalom. Thanks for listening to the Torah of Life podcast,...
Is there a way to be mindful when all around you there is energy? How do we stay grounded and centered when the world as we know it is changing rapidly before our very eyes? Parshat Mishpatim has some guidance for us. My...
This is a recording of an evening service (Ma'ariv) recorded live at the recent conference of Ohalah: the Association of Rabbis, Cantors, and Rabbinic Pastors for Jewish Renewal. The recording has been edited to take out extraneous noises, and to...
When do we feel nourished by prayer and when do we leave in frustration, thinking its hopeless or we'll never get it right? Can prayer be an uplifting experience for us? How do we balance the traditional words with sharing the prayers...
In a world of isolation and loneliness, how do we find connection and community? When things look bleak, can anyone save us? Can we? This podcast is dedicated to the memory of my mother Donna Glazer, who's 11th yahrtzeit is today....
What do we see when we look out into the world? Do we see fear and anxiety or do we see hope for a better future? Can we lift up our eyes to a brighter tomorrow? In this podcast, I share a teaching...
Parshat Bo and Embracing Spiritual Spontaneity
Why doesn't Pharaoh let the Israelites be free? What will it take until all people are free? Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Ilan To read the full text of Rabbi Heschel's speech on Religion and Race, click here: http://voicesofdemocracy.umd.edu/heschel-religion-and-race-speech-text/ To read Dr. King's classic "I Have a Dream"...
Why do we run away when we are called to a higher level of service? It may surprise to you to learn that even Moses suffered from impostor syndrome. How did he get past it, and how can we? Shabbat Shalom.
Goal Setting for a Fabulous 2018, Part One
What is God's light and how do we access it? The answer might surprise you..... Happy Hanukkah!