Hashivenu

By Reconstructing JudaismSociety & Culture Health & Fitness Mental Health Religion & Spirituality Judaism

Hashivenu episodes

March 02, 2021S4 Ep. 1: Judaism, Resilience, and Racial Justice - Beginning the Conversation
We begin a new season focusing on Judaism, resilience, and racial justice, and welcome a new co-host: Rabbi Sandra Lawson, director of racial diversity, equity, and inclusion for Reconstructing Judaism. We dig deeply into the complexities of engaging in racial justice work within the Jewish community, the necessity for deep listening and empathy toward Jews of color, and the need to draw on resilience practices to stay committed to the challenging but vital process of teshuvah on the path to redemption.
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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.
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Links:
Rabbi Sandra Lawson (homepage)
Resources on Race (Evolve: Groundbreaking Jewish Conversations)
Reconstructing Judaism Names Rabbi Sandra Lawson Inaugural Director of Racial Diversity, Equity and Inclusion | Reconstructing Judaism
Presidential Inauguration Talk - Rabbi Deborah Waxman, Ph.D. - YouTube
Two Concepts of Liberty (Isaiah Berlin) - Wikipedia
Isaiah Berlin, "Two Concepts of Liberty" (PDF)
The Song of Miriam, by Rabbi Ruth Sohn (Open Siddur Project)
39 min
September 11, 2020S3 Ep. 12: Writing Ourselves into the Book of Life — The High Holidays and Choosing Life
At this extraordinary High Holiday season, so many people are experiencing losses of many kinds. We speak with Rabbi Margot Stein about the lessons she learned about resilience while navigating profound loss -- the death of her eldest son, Aryeh. We discuss the practices that sustain her, and explore how Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur invite us to choose life, in many ways, again and again.
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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.
Special Guest: Rabbi Margot Stein.
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Links:
A Mother’s Memorial Meditation On Life And And Death - U’netaneh Tokef 5776
— This is a sermon delivered by Rabbi Margot Stein at Congregation Mishkan Shalom Philadelphia, PA on September 15, 2015, in honor and memory of her son Aryeh Stein-Azen, z”l.
MIRAJ ~ A Capella Jewish Women's Voices for Sacred Times
High Holiday Materials for 2020/5781 | Reconstructing Judaism
— A rich collection of creative materials for High Holidays 2020, including more than 40 pieces of original music
Council for Relationships - Philadelphia Area Therapy for Couples, Families and Individuals - Council for Relationships
The Middleton Center
— An open and welcoming place, The Middleton Center for Pastoral Care and Counseling invites people from all and no faith backgrounds to enhance the connections between body, mind and spirit. The Middleton Center combines best practices in spiritual and psychological care with a spirit of hospitality.
36 min
August 20, 2020S3 Ep. 11: Creativity and Counterculture
Rabbi Michael Strassfeld has made a life and career at the core of Jewish counterculture, combining a deep connection with Jewish text and tradition with a passion for creative experimentation with new, accessible and relevant forms of Jewish community and practice. In our conversation, we discuss his experiences as a founder of the havurah movement, co-creator of the groundbreaking Jewish Catalog series, and rabbi of the SAJ. Toward the end of our conversation we turn to the Jewish future, reflecting on the opportunities presented by digital culture and on new paradigms for Jewish prayer.
While this episode was recorded before the Coronavirus pandemic, the theme of disruption as an opportunity for Jewish creativity speaks to our current moment. As we release this episode, Reconstructing Judaism has released newly-reinterpreted High Holiday liturgy created by a committee chaired by Rabbi Strassfeld. You can find it under "New Liturgy" at https://www.reconstructingjudaism.org/highholidays2020.
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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.
Special Guest: Rabbi Michael Strassfeld.
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Michael Strassfeld
New Liturgy for High Holidays 2020
— Creative High Holiday liturgy for remote services, crafted by a committee chaired by Rabbi Strassfeld. Click on "New Liturgy" on this page to find it.
The First Jewish Catalog: A Do-It-Yourself Kit (Amazon link)
The Second Jewish Catalog: Sources and Resources (Amazon link)
The Third Jewish Catalog: Creating Community (Amazon link)
The Jewish Holidays (Amazon link)
A Book of Life: Embracing Judaism as a Spiritual Practice (Amazon link)
Reconstructing Jewish Communities: A Learning Module | Reconstructing Judaism
— On the opening night of the Reconstructing Judaism conference in November of 2018, an extraordinary panel of rabbis reflected on a crucial question: how do we reconstruct Jewish communities in this time and place, to meet tomorrow’s challenges?
Prayer for the Shabbat after Pittsburgh -- Jewish Ritual
Havurat Shalom
Ansche Chesed — History
— "Happily, the late 1970s and the Chavurah movement, in which small groups of like-minded Jews created autonomous, egalitarian and lay-led minyanim, brought new life and vigor to Jewish communal life and to Ansche Chesed…"
National Havurah Committee
— The National Havurah Committee (NHC) was founded in 1980 to facilitate the activities of fellowships known as havurot and to spread havurah values and enthusiasm to the larger Jewish community, thereby serving as a model for revitalizing Jewish living and learning in North America.
The Jewish Counterculture in the Michael Strassfeld papers | Special Collections Cataloging at Penn
— The Michael Strassfeld papers, 1901-2015 (bulk: 1968-2015), which came to Penn in 2015, are now processed and open for research. Theycontain the records of the his education and life’s work. Represented are elements of his Orthodox upbringing, traditional Jewish education, influence of the Jewish anti-establishment and countercultural movements, and his training and practice as a Reconstructionist Rabbi.
41 min
August 03, 2020S3 Ep. 10: Moments of Wholeness
When our world falls apart, what sustains us? We recorded this conversation with Rabbi Shira Stutman, senior rabbi at 6th and I Historic Synagogue in Washington, D.C, in early April 2020 — shortly after coronavirus response had brought face-to-face communal gatherings, and indeed most people's social lives, to a screeching halt. Speaking at a time of profound global dislocation that affected our most personal connections, we discussed the challenges we faced, the adaptations we and our institutions were beginning to make, and the unexpected insights we'd glimpsed into what is truly essential, insights that continue to resonate months later.
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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.
Special Guest: Rabbi Shira Stutman.
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Links:
Pandemic | Lynn Ungar
— What if you thought of it
as the Jews consider the Sabbath—
the most sacred of times?
Cease from travel.
Cease from buying and selling.
Give up, just for now,
on trying to make the world
different than it is.
Sing. Pray. Touch only those
to whom you commit your life.
Center down.
Sixth & I - Historic synagogue in downtown Washington, DC
Coronavirus resources from Ritualwell
A Virtual Shabbat Box: To Celebrate and Renew All of Your Senses | Reconstructing Judaism
Virtual Passover Box | Reconstructing Judaism
A Virtual Shavuot Box | Reconstructing Judaism
Recon Connect | Reconstructing Judaism
Jewish Values and the Coronavirus | Reconstructing Judaism
A Man Doesn't Have Time In His Life by Yehuda Amichai - Famous poems, famous poets. - All Poetry
TrendingJewish 16: The Greatest Teacher, Failure Is
— Rabbi Shira Stutman talks about learning from failure, and how Jewish organizations must take risks to change and grow. Rabbi Stutman discusses how Sixth & I was both inspired by, and a departure from, Mordecai Kaplan’s vision of a synagogue center.
38 min
June 25, 2020S3 Ep. 9: The Power of Ritual
Is Harry Potter a sacred text? According to our guest, Casper ter Kuile, Ministry Innovation Fellow at Harvard Divinity School and the co-founder of the Sacred Design Lab, it is if you bring that approach to the series. His study of the ways in which people find meaning through text, community, and tradition has opened up vibrant conversations that break down the walls of "religious" and "secular" by illuminating the human experiences that unite them. In his new book, The Power of Ritual, he explores the ways that ritual -- even when nominally secular -- can help us build community, find meaning, and connect our past with our future.
This conversation was recorded in late March of 2020.
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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.
Special Guest: Casper ter Kuile.
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Links:
The Power of Ritual: Turning Everyday Activities into Soulful Practices (Amazon)
— Casper ter Kuile, a Harvard Divinity School fellow and cohost of the popular Harry Potter and the Sacred Text podcast, explores how we can nourish our souls by transforming common, everyday practices—yoga, reading, walking the dog—into sacred rituals that can heal our crisis of social isolation and struggle to find purpose—a message we need more than ever for our spiritual and emotional well-being in the age of COVID-19.
Read the Introduction of The Power of Ritual
Insights - Sacred Design Lab
— The structures of community and spirituality are rapidly changing. Learn about the innovative ideas, creative solutions, and emerging trends that are shaping our culture. (Contains links to PDF monographs: Design for the Human Soul, How We Gather, Care of Souls, Something More, Faithful, and more.)
How We Gather (PDF)
Harry Potter and the Sacred Text (Website)
— Reading Fiction Doesn’t Help Us Escape The World, It Helps Us Live In It
‎Harry Potter and the Sacred Text (Apple Podcasts)
— It’s the English class you didn't know you missed and the meaningful conversations you didn't know you craved. Join Vanessa Zoltan and Casper ter Kuile as they bring thought, reflection and laughter to Harry Potter; not just as novels, but as instructive and inspirational texts that will teach us about our own lives
43 min
May 21, 2020S3 Ep. 8: Whole-Body Judaism
Yoshi Silverstein’s passions — which include Jewish outdoor and environmental education, as well as fitness and movement — each strive toward creative embodied Jewish practice. We explore how these approaches can contribute to a resilient Jewish community, and conclude by applying them to the upcoming holiday of Shavuot: how might they help us experience revelation and gratitude in the midst of an uncertain future?
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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.
Special Guest: Yoshi Silverstein.
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Links:
Mitsui Collective – Resilient. Together.
— Building resilient community around nature & wellness, embodied Jewish practice, and multiracial justice.
About – Yoshi Silverstein
Overview - Hazon
— JOFEE stands for Jewish Outdoor, Food, Farming & Environmental Education. These experiences connect people to Judaism, community, and the natural world through hands-on, thoughtful and engaging Jewish content across different ages, Jewish backgrounds, and religious approaches.
EDOT – עדוֹת-המידווסט The Midwest Regional Jewish Diversity Collaborative – UW–Madison
— Edot HaMidwest: The Midwest Regional Jewish Diversity Collaborative (“Edot”) is a set of partnerships and activities focused on affirming Jewish racial and ethnic diversity across communities in the Midwest region. Supporting the leadership of Jewish People of Color (JOC’s) is our driver for change.
Shavuot
Shavuot resources at ReconstructingJudaism.org
Celebrating the Seven Days of Shavuot: A Journey of Revelation and Relationship (From Evolve)
— Let’s expand our observance of Shavuot—affirming our relationship with the Earth and our commitment to deepening our relationship with all people.
Revelation Can Be Terrifying (from Evolve)
— The Bible’s description of the shuddering of the people at Mount Sinai reflects a deep truth about how moments of revelatory insight can be frightening.
32 min
April 21, 2020S3 Ep. 7: Including Everyone
It's a fundamental Jewish belief that all human beings are created in the divine image. But society all too often treats those with disabilities as second-class citizens. In our conversation with Jay Ruderman, we discuss his family foundation's work to advocate for and advance the inclusion of people with disabilities, both within the Jewish community and in society at large. We also delve into the dangers posed by the current pandemic to those with disabilities, as well as the opportunities this moment offers to affirm our deepest values by treating every person with concern and care.
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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.
Special Guest: Jay Ruderman.
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Links:
Ruderman Family Foundation
— The Ruderman Family Foundation believes that inclusion and understanding of all people is essential to a fair and flourishing community. Guided by our Jewish values, we advocate for and advance the inclusion of people with disabilities throughout our society; strengthen the relationship between Israel and the American Jewish Community; and model the practice of strategic philanthropy worldwide. We operate as a non-partisan strategic catalyst in cooperation with government, private sectors, civil society, and philanthropies.
LINK20
— LINK20 is a global social movement led by a network of young activists, with and without disabilities. Our goal is to raise awareness on the right of people with disabilities to be fully included in our society and strengthen young activist’s leadership skills and influence in promoting inclusion and social justice.
Ruderman Synagogue Inclusion Project | Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston
— The Ruderman Synagogue Inclusion Project (RSIP) is a partnership between CJP and the Ruderman Family Foundation that supports synagogues in creating communities where people of all abilities are valued equally and participate fully.
Fully Alive: Discovering What Matters Most, by Timothy Shriver (Amazon link)
Reconstructionist Communities Make Disability Inclusion a Top Priority | Reconstructing Judaism
What Does it Mean to be a Leader? Inspiration from Jewish Disability Advocacy Day | Jewish Week
— Column by Rabbi Deborah Waxman, Ph.D., on Judaism and disability
38 min
April 02, 2020S3 Ep. 6: Spiritual Leadership in Times of Crisis
As the coronavirus pandemic took hold, Rabbi Joshua Lesser created a Facebook group to support and connect clergy of all faiths struggling to respond to the crisis. Over five thousand people joined within the first two weeks. We discuss the exponential growth of the multifaith community he created and reflect on both the practical challenges and interior dimensions of spiritual leadership in times like these. Rabbi Lesser also explores the lessons he learned about community and vulnerability as an out gay rabbi during the height of the AIDS crisis, and how that experience informs his work now.
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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.
Special Guest: Rabbi Joshua Lesser.
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Sojourn
— The Southern Jewish Resource Network for Gender & Sexual Diversity (SOJOURN) is the American South's resource for Jewish & LGBTQ+ programming, education, support, and advocacy. Our mission is to advance LGBTQ+ affirmation and empowerment across the South.
Streaming Services - Congregation Bet Haverim
Multifaith Clergy & Spiritual Communal Responses to Covid-19 (Facebook group)
Atlanta Rabbi Starts an international, multifaith support system for clergy...
Brené Brown
When the threat is random, the Jewish response is compassion | Jewish Week
— Op-ed from Rabbi Deborah Waxman
Evolve Episode 3: Preparing our Communities for Conversations on Race
Hashivenu S3 Ep. 5: Catching Our Breath
— As the current pandemic disrupts our lives and everyday connections, we each face the dual challenge of saving lives and caring for our souls. Rabbi Deborah Waxman reflects on the Jewish spiritual imagery that unites these concerns and shares a practice of breath work that can sustain us in stressful times.
Spotify – Congregation Bet Haverim
38 min
March 24, 2020S3 Ep. 5: Catching Our Breath
As the current pandemic disrupts our lives and everyday connections, we each face the dual challenge of saving lives and caring for our souls. Rabbi Deborah Waxman reflects on the Jewish spiritual imagery that unites these concerns and shares a practice of breath work that can sustain us in stressful times.
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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.
Support Hashivenu
Links:
Hashivenu Episode 19: Gratitude
— Rabbi Deborah Waxman shares a personal Jewish practice that sustains her in difficult times, in the hopes that it might help cultivate resilience among our listeners.
Oh Pure Soul: Elohai n’shama | Rabbi Shefa Gold
Elohai Neshama by Rabbi Judy Kummer on Soundcloud
Recon Connect Beit Midrash - Rabbi Deborah Waxman on Vimeo
When the threat is random, the Jewish response is compassion | Jewish Week
— Op-Ed by Rabbi Deborah Waxman
21 min
March 20, 2020S3 Ep. 4: Despair to Awakening
As our lives are disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, we speak with Dr. Ameet Ravital, a clinical psychologist who specializes in treating trauma. We reflect on personal experiences of anxiety and grief, and discuss strategies he uses to support an orientation toward joy even in the hardest times. Our conversation draws on [his beautiful essay, "Despair to Awakening", free to read at Evolve: Groundbreaking Jewish Conversations].(http://evolve.reconstructingjudaism.org/despair-to-awakening)
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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.
Special Guest: Ameet Ravital.
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Links:
Despair to Awakening (Essay on Evolve)
— A clinical psychologist who specializes in treating trauma, Dr. Ameet Ravital offers three suggestions about how to approach our despair about the state of the world.
Website of Dr. Ameet Ravital
Self-care during a pandemic (Blog post from website of Dr. Ameet Ravital)
— COVID-19, the corona-virus, now being called a global "pandemic", is here and we have to cope with it. Measures to contain its spread may feel extreme and challenging (school and work closures, social distancing, isolation and quarantining of any persons suspected of being infected, and incessant sanitizing of all surfaces).
Here are some suggestions for keeping our immune systems strong, and taking care of ourselves emotionally in the face of uncertainty, as we gradually reduce the scope of our lives to staying at home for an indefinite period of time.
Dorshei Derekh – Germantown Jewish Centre
37 min

About Hashivenu

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Hashivenu is a podcast about Jewish teachings and practice around resilience. Cultivating resilience in challenging times, both individually and collectively, is an essential path to personal renewal.…